tidbits of our life

*We're thinking of starting Gracie in violin lessons. It seems to fit her. I would love to have her take piano, but alas-we do not own a piano! We can rent a violin so it makes more sense to do this rather than have her take piano with no piano at home for practice. Chris is 100% for our girls taking music lessons. I've talked to 1 person in town and am waiting to hear back from another place. I think it'll be fun if she starts this.

*I'm about to start working on the student directory for Gracie's school. Fortunately, some people have gotten the ball rolling on this already, so I think this year's work will be less time consuming than last year. We also have found a place that will do the printing, folding & stapling for a 'not too bad' price. This will save MUCH time & effort on my part!

*I think we may not be too far away from the "celebrity crush" phase of Gracie's life-or perhaps we're already there! Right now, she has a soccer poster along with a horse calendar in her room. However, I think she may be trading those in for "High School Musical" things soon! Here are some pictures she drew in her journal. (At least it's a 'Dora' journal which is still "little girl-ish!")

She also spent some of her allowance on having Chris download some of the HSM songs. He then put them on his old iPod and has been letting her listen to them. She thinks she is BIG STUFF! She "let me" listen to it last night and he had also put Miss Patty Cake songs and other Bible songs on there too which I was glad of. I can't let her grow up too fast all at once! ~baby steps, baby steps~ Of course, as much as I like "High School Musical," I'm not liking it as much as I used to since all the hullabaloo about Gabriella's pics. *sigh* I'm disappointed. A funny thing about me posting these pictures: I asked Gracie to bring me her Dora journal. She saw me sitting at the computer. She scrunched up her nose in her "I'm not liking this" scrunch and said, "Are you going to put it on your blog?!?" She knows me all too well!

*Here is another picture she drew that I thought was cute. She really does enjoy drawing and I think she's actually pretty good. Of course, I may be a bit biased.

*I was telling Gracie about the verse that says, "In my Father's house are many rooms....." I think when I first told her about the verse I used the word mansion. Isn't there a translation-or maybe another verse-that uses the word mansion? (update: I searched on heartlight.com and found that in the New King James Version, it does say, "In my Father's house are many mansions....") Anyway, Gracie has been talking about how it's neat to think about God building a mansion for her. She also asked today if we knew what God looked like. I told her that no, we didn't and I didn't think the Bible told us. I said He didn't look like us and probably looked more like a spirit (which of course means nothing to a 7 year old!) She said she always thought he looked like a person-but a really big one!

*I read these verses today and liked them. Psalm 139:23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. The words, "anxious thoughts" stood out to me because I have lots of those! I liked thinking about God knowing what they are and being able to comfort me. I also liked the part about him looking to see if I'm doing anything offensive and leading me to do the right thing. I know there definitely ARE things I do that are wrong and I want Him to lead me to do the right thing.

*We enjoyed visiting with baby Caroline & her parents last night in the hospital although we really wish we could visit with them OUT of the hospital. Our Life Group went over and shared communion together along with some songs and dinner, along with a birthday cake for her mommy! Baby Caroline was so cute smiling & watching all the kids play in the little play area that was set up. She is doing better BUT is still struggling with her eating.

*Katie is still as sweet-yet crazy-as always. She is pure joy!