Love Dare

Our Sunday school class is reading "Love Dare" a 40 day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love.  It was and is a little scary to read it..because I discovered that I have flaws.  No really.  So far and only after 3 days..it has really opened my eyes and already I can see that by changing me...our relationship is better.  I know some other couples were scared to read the book and do the daily dares as well.  Some of the reasons for my fear was letting go of  the belief that "I'm right..you're in the wrong" that lie that I had a grasp on.  Also, the fear of the dares.  Because by doing the dares you make yourself vulnerable or what I sometimes think of as weak.  Like the first day is "Love is Patient" and the scripture is:  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. -Ephesians 4:2.  The dare seemed simple:  do not say anything negative to your spouse today.  Wow!  That is simple...I hardly say anthing negative to Andy....but I noticed that I rarely said anything positive either. 

Instead of posting pictures of me and Andy which would probably be more appropriate for this blog..I will post more pics of the kids...these were taken today.

 This is what happens when you are not very clear in your direction.  "Lauren, hold up your craft for the camera."

Asher trying to figure out how the swing works.

Lauren doing a new dance move.

crazy day

You know that it has been a crazy day when by lunch you are at the hospital and by evening you are at an event called Pudding Olympics. 

I thought that Lauren might have dislocated her elbow yesterday.  Not from a fall, but from a pull.  We were outside enjoying the beautiful day.  I was holding Asher and trying to help Lauren up by grabbing one of her hands.  As I pulled her up she lost her balance and her arm did a slight twist. She rolled on the ground holding her elbow.  The next few minutes were what I like to call "mommy blur"  when too many thoughts and worries enter your mind at once.  I called Andy once..no answer...I called the church..no answer.  I called my parents (because parents know everything)...no answer.  Her elbow looked normal..so I knew that was a positive...but she refused to move it. She was screaming and crying..Asher was crying.   I kept calling Andy but found out later that he had left his phone in the car.  I called Ms. Tammy from church to seek medical advise and she said that if she couldn't move it...then go to the hospital clinic.  By the time I got to the hospital..Lauren had stopped crying and was moving her arm.  When I got Asher into his stroller..Lauren was telling me jokes.  Then my "mommy blur" cleared...and I began having these thoughts.."if she seems ok..do I really want to take 2 small kids in the hospital by myself and have them wait for who knows how long..when they could be at home taking their naps?...but on the otherhand what if something is wrong?'  So I called Ms. Tammy again and she said that if Lauren was not in pain and she could straighten her arm..then she probably had not dislocated it...but had pulled something.   So instead of  going  into the hospital, we went to Wendys for Frostys instead. 

I am posting pics from last night so that you can see that Lauren is ok.  Notice the flip flops she is wearing in one of the pictures...yep those are mine.  She is going to have her daddy's feet.  Also please know that it is common for my kids to be half dressed.

Last night Andy and PVBC hosted the "Pudding Olympics"  Here are a few pictures that capture a glimpse of the fun and the mess!

Just a swinging

For several months I have been looking for a swing set for the kids.  I have looked online, looked at stores and looked in our neighborhood to see the different kinds available..and after months of looking I found the perfect one.  The free one.  Miss Nikki and her daughter generously gave us this swing set and tonight was the first nice night to try it out.  As you can see the kids loved it!