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March 31, 2008
Natalie's Beauty Salon
Today Natalie asked for her barrette jar to be opened and then directed me to put all of them in my hair, handing them to me one at a time. Obviously, I wasn't looking in the mirror at the time as they are quite randomly placed. She kept saying, "so pretty" and looked very pleased with what she had created. What you can't see in this picture is that I have several scarves around my neck, belly and even legs as well, also placed with her instructions. I kind of looked like an eighties rock star. Too fun.
She's getting over a cold, so a bit needy of her Mommy today. Going from one activity to another and not really able to play by herself much. In addition to the makeover, we've listened to a whole lot of Bible songs and drawn Grammys, Granddads, doggies and kitties over and over again in different colors by request. Sooo...it's 1:30 and my jammies are still on! Face washed, teeth brused, but jammies still on. Everything's going in little stages today. But I'm getting quality time with my girl, so it's all good.
Posted by Shannon at 01:29 PM | Comments (6)
March 25, 2008
How Much Does Natalie Love Her Hat?
This much:
She wouldn't go to bed without it.
Posted by Peter at 09:19 PM | Comments (1)
An Easter Realization
Last week I asked God to help me really appreciate Easter, to give me a new insight into what He's done for me. I kind of felt ashamed having to pray a prayer like that, I mean, salvation is so amazing, how can it lose its wonder for me? But I am human, and it's so easy to get caught up in myself and other distractions or move through the day automatically. But neither did I want to feel as though I had to have an intense emotional experience to show Him my appreciation for his sacrifice. As an emotional girl, that tends to be my mindset.
God answered this prayer in my quiet time on Thursday, when I was directed to Hebrews 12:1+2:
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I pondered the words and read it a few times, and suddenly it hit me right between the eyes. That little phrase, "for the joy set before Him"--that joy was me, you, us. Jesus was looking forward to reconciliation and relationship with us, and it was that joy that got Him through the pain of the cross! Wow!
Maybe you're reading this thinking, "Duh, Shan!" And I may be the only dunce who hasn't read this correctly before. :) I've always read it more like, "Inspite of the joy of heaven and being God, Jesus set that all aside and died for me," or "Jesus gave up all the fun he could have had and chose me." But I've had it all wrong, and the dawning of truth in my heart has been so cool. Our pastor shared the same verse Sunday and again it resonated and gave me the new appreciation of Easter that I asked for so sheepishly. And it just keeps hitting me...
But I'm learning--slowly--that God doesn't resent or scoff at our prayers for more of Him.
Posted by Shannon at 06:19 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2008
Easter
Here is the girl in all her Easter "finery." :) The Hello Kitty socks from her Easter basket over the tights are my favorite. Needless to say the ponytails didn't last long, but she was still a hit at church, and she was inseparable from the hat (thank you, dollar section at Target!). There were white gloves too (totally Daddy's doing) that didn't go over so well.
We pulled her out of her crib and took her to the 6:30 baptism still in her jammies. On the way her comments from her carseat were "sleepy" and "naptime?" Poor girl. But upon arrival she of course got more energetic with "all the people" around. She enjoyed watching people "take a bath" in the baptism pool we got for the fellowship hall. Then we had a yummy breakfast and headed back home to change and finish lunch preparations. Then back for church in time for Mommy to sing at the end of first service, then stayed through the second service. She had a blast running around in her Easter clothes, schmoosing (sp?), seeing her Uncle Sam and future Aunt Tara, playing in nursery and watching Mommy sing. But very predictably fell asleep in the car on the way home. :) Poor poopsy.
Upon arrival at home, Peter and I took turns running inside to change and grab our contributions to Easter dinner at Grammy and Grampy Cook's, leaving Sleeping Beauty in her carseat. Then she continued napping on Grammy's lap while the men finished preparing the Easter spread. Still not awake at mealtime, we spread her out on the couch while we hungrily dove in. A few minutes later she popped up, as if realizing what she was missing. Fully refreshed by her power nap, she proceeded to fill her belly pretty exclusively with ham and strawberry jello salad. Oh, and of course, some pickles too. :)
After a visit, it was home again, to just BE. Mommy and Daddy were pretty pooped too after a full Saturday of me having a girl shopping day and Peter hanging out with the boys and watching Natalie, and both of us getting to bed pretty late a few nights in a row. Watched a little "Enchanted," drank a little cocoa, ate a quick dinner, put the girl to bed, and plopped in bed with a book myself. Ah bliss!
Posted by Shannon at 10:27 AM | Comments (3)
March 18, 2008
Here Are Your Quiz Answers
1. "Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone, dare to have a purpose firm, dare to make it known."
2. "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for Him each day. In every way try to please Him, at home, at school, at play."
3. "Give me oil in my lamp, keep it burning, give me oil in my lamp I pray."
4. "Everybody ought to know, who Jesus is."
5. "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing."
6. "This is my commandment that you love one another, that your joy may be full."
7. "The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E."
8. "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do."
9. "Zaccheus was a wee litte man, and a wee little man was he."
10. "Deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a fountain flowing deep and wide."
Amy comes out the big winner with 9 correct answers (although we hate to fuel her competitive flame don't we girls :) ) with Esther runner-up at 8 correct.
And Debbie gets an honorable mention for being the only one to know Dare to Be a Daniel!
Good job all round! Thanks for playing! XOXO
Posted by Shannon at 09:38 PM | Comments (1)
March 11, 2008
Nataliestyle
The song is silly, but dancing is serious work.
Sort of.
Posted by Peter at 08:04 PM | Comments (3)
March 09, 2008
Tired?
Sometimes, Natalie isn't the best judge of whether it's time for bed.
Posted by Peter at 07:13 PM | Comments (1)
March 07, 2008
Quiz Time!!
Ok, calling all former Sunday school and VBS kids! Along the same lines as my last post, since I've been hearing these "Bible Songs" every stinkin' day, sometimes several times, I thought, why not test everyone else's knowledge?
So, your task, should you choose to accept it, is to supply the next line for the cues from the "classics" below. I look forward to your answers in our comments section or on your own blogs! (Except Jennie, who cannot play because she has the unfair advantage of having watched the Bible songs video many more times than I have, not to mention being a P.K!)
1. "Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone......."
2. "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for Him each day. In every way try to please him....."
3. "Give me oil in my lamp..."
4. "Everybody ought to know...."
5. "I will sing of the mercies of..."
6. "This is my commandment that...."
7. "The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me...."
8. "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing..."
9. "Zaccheus was a wee litte man, and a ....."
10. "Deep and wide, deep and wide, there's a...."
Posted by Shannon at 10:36 PM | Comments (6)
March 06, 2008
Bible Songs
Natalie's favorite video right now is her "Bible Songs." It's in a set of tapes my friend Jennie passed on to us (thank you my dear friend!). They were probably made in the 80s or 90s, a bit corny, but so great. They're all the old Sunday school songs we know and love (ok, not all of us honey :) ), and she absolutely loves them. She requests a viewing almost everyday and sits enraptured in her Dora chair for the full 25 minutes.
Now she's started trying to sing the songs, which is sooo awesome! Of course, my saved-later-than-preschool hubby worries that we are 'brainwashing' her, but I assure him she will have plenty of time to reason out her faith. In the meantime, "I'll be a Sunbeam" and "Dare to be a Daniel" are essential for her spiritual growth. :)
Posted by Shannon at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)
Family Day
Yesterday was so nice. Peter didn't have work because of the weather. We all slept in, and then he made us eggs and tortillas. Natalie was in her favorite jammies and didn't want to part with them, sooo...she wore them all day! I did a few chores, but mostly played with her. We watched one of her videos together. After lunch, Peter headed to the gym and a doctor's appointment, Nat napped, and since I felt pretty rested from the night before I spent the time sitting on my cozy bed getting some correspondence done that I'd been wanting to do for awhile, along with some God time. Very refreshing. Good thing too, since today I'm taking care of my sick family. This time I was the one in my jammies until the afternoon :)
Posted by Shannon at 09:12 PM | Comments (0)
Desperate for Spring
With the sidewalks still icy from yesterday's storm, Natalie and I were feeling desperate for some outside time in any way, shape or form. Poor Peter was inside with the stomach flu, a walk was out, so we headed out to just soak in the remaining sun from our yard and stomp in the puddles and mud.
I had collected our snowman parts the day before as it had melted. Natalie found them on the porch and headed out to the remaining snowman butt. I tried to explain to her that the snowman was melted and we'd have to wait until the next snow, but she was determined. I tried to put the fallen belly and head back on for her, but they were frozen to the ground, so what the heck? She put the snowman's face back on his butt :) But since it was mostly frozen and she had to stick stuff where it would go in, the face came out looking pretty funny indeed.
I was going to take a picture but after she finished she started to dismantle it again. She made several trips back and forth from snowman to mud puddle to "wash" his eyes, nose, buttons and heart in the water.
With that task complete she requested her sled. I informed her our sledding hill was all muddy, so we'd have to wait until the next snow, which was sure to be soon. :( Well, she was persistent, so once again, I thought, what the heck?
She climbed in and I gave her a shove down the muddy/icy hill. I heard her giggle with glee. I pushed her back up and before I could give her another push, she gave herself a shove and when she got to the bottom swayed her torso back and forth trying to keep going. On the last run, she flipped in to the surrounding mud, creating the pictures you see here.
And she had all this fun in the midst of a head cold. What a trooper!
Posted by Shannon at 08:44 PM | Comments (4)