All things considered: This is Random Top 10

1. Have you seen the movie "Fireproof"? It is an amazing movie and I highly recommend anyone to watch it. It is not just a movie for troubled marriages because it can help refine even the best relationship. The book "Love Dare" is also worth going through. There are so many good nuggets to digest in that book.

2. In the month of January, we saved around $300 using the envelope system from Financial Peace University and it all went to paying off debt. I think February will be even more.

3. Jack is very close to walking...very close. He barely holds on to my finger but one day he is going to take off. He has also decided that is adventurous and is trying all sorts of foods. My mother introduced him to a fork and he thought it was the greatest. He does not have to touch the food that way and once it makes it into his mouth he decides he likes it. Jack Jack is still every once in a while spitting up. Yes, he is almost 14 months and it smells disgusting.

4. Keegan is now in full singing mode, which makes my heart very happy. He sings "Happy Birthday Cake" (his rendition of the Happy Birthday song). He knows that cakes=birthdays. Here is how it goes. "Happy Birthday Cake to You, Happy Birthday Cake to You, Happy Birthday Keegan, Happy Birthday Cake to You."

5. Potty training was officially put on a hold for a few weeks. We tried last Saturday and he was completely mortified and was crying like a he was scared of the potty and the toilet. I decided to have him watch Elmo Potty everyday (which he LOVES) and have the potty sitting around until he takes more of an interest. The thing now is that he very aware of when poops or pees and he immediately needs his diaper changed. That is a good sign, but we are going through a lot more diapers with him.

6. I have been super busy lately. I am not sure what is soaking up all my time, but I feel as if there has not been down time. It could be that I am a little more involved at church coupled in with all the misc stuff that needs to be taken care of around the house. Who knows. This blog has been shuffled to the end of the list...but I am hoping for a come back.

7. Keegan is going to attend Mothers Day Out in the fall! YEAH for Keegan and YEAH for mom!

8. American Idol could be one of those things taking up my time. Here is my run down so far. Anoop and Jackie are top picks for a wild card spot. Tatiana has some psyche issues and I really think she needs help. Danny Gokey is FABULOUS! And can you believe that Jasper boy made it? Christine and Corey...maybe you can pound it out with him when he sent home. The girl in the blue, Stevie...oh goodness...what is America coming to if she made it in the top 36?

9. Howie Do-It. It is a hidden camera show by Howie Mandel. It is on Friday nights and is Hi-larious! Did anyone see the Pink Bunny Singing Telegram...I almost peed in my pants..or the Soap Opera try-out?

10. I am learning tons right now spiritually in so many angles. When you pray for things in your life, hold on... because God WILL challenge you. The answer usually results in a finger pointing back at all the ways that I do not trust Him. It also shows my faults and insecurities as well. God...you know me inside and out don't you? I hope that I will learn from all the things going on right now and come out stronger in the end.

Desert Song

Songs have always spoken to me, but some songs resonate with you more than others. I am helping lead this song at church in a couple weeks, so of course it has been playing on my ipod and soaking in. For so many of my thoughts and struggles in my spiritual life, for people I know walking through illness, for people I know who have recently gone through a divorce, for people who have lost their jobs, for those who have lost loved ones... It is a firm and confident declaration of our faith that moves beyond circumstances in this earthly life.

Brooke Fraser wrote this song and Jill McCullough performed it with her live for the Hillsong recording. You have to watch this video and listen to Jill's testimony. It is powerful.



Here are the lyrics....
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

I'm a big boy now...

Keegan officially is a big boy. I can not turn back time and I can not stop him from getting older. Hate that! He is now sleeping in his big boy bed and has not attempted to get out at all. He is sleeping in a twin bed for a while until we put him in his official full size bed that his crib makes into. We realized that full size mattresses are expensive if you want to get a good one! So, why not use the free twin size mattress in the attic? For the first week he slept the same direction that he did in his crib. I did not know how to fix the problem, but he soon he realized that his head belonged on the pillow on the other side!

Here is another way he is getting older. He does not like me to dress him, so I have to wait for him to get totally frusturated to help the poor guy out.

Keegan is making all these new revelations in life. We were sitting at the dinner table and he pointed to Jonathan and said, "You", then pointed to me and said, "You", then pointed to Jack and said, "You", and finally pointed to himself and in a resolute way said, "ME!" It was like the big light bulb in his head went off. He is learning all sorts of things as well. The one thing in the last week that totally caught me off guard is when we pulled to a stop sign and he said, "Look mommy...an OCTAGON!" I had him repeat it back to me because I could not believe that #1 he knew that word and #2 he put two and two together that a stop sign was in that shape. I am enjoying his mind develop and hearing all his new words, sayings, and imaginary play. It is truly amazing.

Now if he can be a whiz at potty training (no pun intended). Soon to find out....