Four girls turn Four!

Yesterday we had a GREAT day for the girls :)

Our day started beautifully with Sabbath and a wonderful church service. Then the kids had Adventurer's. They enjoyed it very much.

We came home and TRIED to get the girls some rest. They knew what the evening had in store for them though. Bug and Peanut did fall asleep, but Duck and Diva would not.

Finally it was time to go. We got all the kids in the car and headed out. When we got there, the girls got SO excited! And as their friends began arriving they just got more and more excited. Build-a-bear is such a GREAT place to have a birthday party! They handled having FOUR birthday girls SO well too! :) EVERYONE had a great time too. Bug, Peanut, and Diva all chose to make kitties. And Duck made a pink Teddy Bear. When we were finished at BAB, we headed downstairs to Gloria Jeans and gave the kids their DELICIOUS cupcakes and juice boxes while the adults enjoyed something to drink too.

I had such a great time watching the kids. The girls had SUCH a great time, their little faces were so bright. Bug found some Hello Kitty accessories she was petting. She clearly wants them, I may see about getting them for her when she is in the hospital. And maybe an outfit for each of the girls animals too. Surprise them all!

Tonight we did Quesadillas for dinner since Bug loves them SO much! And if you can believe this, my daughters asked for YOGURT instead of cake!! NO CAKE MOMMY! So we did Birthday Yogurt and family gifts tonight for them. I figured they were all caked out! LOL In the last week and a half we've had cake three times!

Tomorrow I'm planning to take them out to breakfast too. :)

Tomorrow is there official birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUG AND PEANUT!!!!

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Reading Challenge Book Reviews February 21, 2010-February 27, 2010

Summer, by Karen Kingsbury:
100+ Books (7/100), Support Your Local Library (4/50), New To Me Christian Author (2/20)

My BFF had borrowed this series from the Library, and although she LOVED it, I had no plans to read it. I had a list of my own books that I wanted to get through and I didn't feel that they fit in my "plan." But then one day I needed something a little lighter to read. She had just finished THIS book, which is actually the second in the series, and she suggested I read it. I'm glad I did. I am now in the middle of the third book, and I am going to get the first book from the library this week, and will have to either get the fourth book by special order from another library or buy it because for some reason this library does NOT have it.

This book is about the Baxter family and their challenges. A large part of the story revolves around Ashley who is pregnant. Her ultrasound reveals that her baby has a fatal birth defect. She does not want to believe it and prays for a miracle. She also asks her family to pray for a miracle in the form of a misdiagnosis or a miracle healing. She is advised by her well meaning sister to have an abortion, as her unborn child would have a life of no more than a few hours. Ashley refuses and it causes a great rift. Over time Ashley's child's condition is re-confirmed and she comes to accept the diagnosis. Her child is born and...

Sorry, I NEVER reveal the ending!!

IN PROGRESS:
-Someday, by Karen Kingsbury
-Soldier Dead
-The Bible

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B90, Day 38: He Made EVERYTHING

Scripture: Job 38:4

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand."

Observation: The Lord is speaking to Job and is challenging him and basically putting him in his place.

Application: How can I complain about my sorrows and troubles when God has been there since the beginning of everything. I haven't got a clue what it took for God to create the Earth. My troubles seem small in that picture. I know God can handle my problems!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please watch over me and my family. I know you can handle all of my problems. After all, you created the Earth!

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Thankful Tuesday

Today I am thankful for:
-My Father in Heaven who knows all, has all the power, and provides unending comfort to me in my time of need. I know if I lean on him, he is there for me.
-My incredible daughters, who no matter the circumstances they rise to the occasion! No matter how many doctor's appointments they have to go to, they continue to spread joy to everyone around them with happy smiles on their faces.
-My wonderful Best Friend, she keeps my head above water. She reminds me to "Let go, and Let God handle it" and she is always there with a shoulder, or sometimes that single tissue. :D
-Bug and Peanut's Daddy, for providing for them without question, staying involved despite the distance, and being a good friend to me.
-My church family, for their support, their love, and their prayers.
-The chickies, because they are the chickies! :)
-Quiet time to read God's Word.

I hope you all have a blessed Tuesday. :)

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B90, Day 37: I know HE lives

Scripture: Job 19:25

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

Observation: Job says this to his friends during one of his speeches of sorrow.

Application: I have always loved this verse, the promise held within it. God is there, a living part of our lives. At the end of it all he will come here and stand on this Earth.

It's a powerful statement and a powerful belief. It helps me when I question myself too much.

Prayer: Lord, thank you so much for the promises you have given us buried inside you Word. Thank you for the grea comfort your love provides me.

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B90, Monday Morning Check-in, Day 53

I am writing this on Sunday night so that I don't forget.

I am working on day 37 right now. I fell so far behind. I am just working hard on reading whatever I can whenever I can. These last weeks have been insanely hard for me, but I WILL NOT give up. God's words are giving me strength.

I am in Job right now. Job has ALWAYS been a favorite of mine. A story of patience and faith in the face of seemingly unending adversity. I hope to have patience and faith as well. :)

I hope that in a week I have a MUCH better report to give.

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Reading Challenge Book Reviews February 14, 2010-February 20, 2010

1984, by George Orwell
100+ Books, Support Your Local Library, 451 Challenge

WOW... So I finished reading 1984 this evening. And I am so glad I re-read this. I read it 18 years ago as a high school freshman and have thought to read it again several times. It was worth it!

This particular version was not edited to American spellings, and honestly, I enjoyed it. I believe that some of the phrasing and slang was unchanged as well if I remember the notes correctly.

I am chosing not to do an overall review of the book but instead to focus VERY narrowly on one particular piece of the book. I wrote this up quickly by hand during the course of reading the book because it struck me SO strongly, and I decided that this is all I really want to say about 1984. There's so many other reviews out there. So here goes...

I first read this at the age of fourteen. Long before i ever had my first sexual encounter. With so much of Part II devoted to the discussion of sex and how the deprivation of sex leads to better Party members, I don't know how a class of young kids could truly understand it.

The idea of denying sexual release to give more energy to the Party members for Party purposes (such as the Two Minute Hate, Hate Week, etc.) makes sense now that I understand how much energy can be released with a good sexual release!!! But how would an average 14 year old know that?? So therefore, how would most 14 year olds get this book fully?

Still, it was a GREAT GREAT read and I'm SO glad I read it!!

How Starbucks Saved My Life, by Michael Gates Gill-100+, Buy One and Read It

This was a great, fast, lighthearted read about a 64 year old white guy down on his luck who finds himself suddenly working at Starbucks. He learns respect for himself, his Partners, and the Guests.

Mike, as prefers to be called at Starbucks, fills the book with memories of his childhood and pre-Starbucks life.

I found myself DEVOURING this book, IN my local Starbucks!! Loved it.

In Progress: Soldier Dead

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