Improvements Continue

Eric has gotten some more of Elena's room accomplished. He put in - by himself, no less - built in wall shelves (insert man-grunting noises for putting holes in the wall), and has started the wainscoting process. Seeing the light at the end of this tunnel! Very exciting! And Elena loves putting her babies to bed in the new shelves...very cute! Enjoy the pictures!

Welcome Honesty...

I'm not normally one to be a proponent of the younger genre' of music icons...their choices in life are not always that of good or Godly ways. Still, I have to take a moment to applaud some of them that do make some positive, meaningful choices that will impact our young ones looking up to them.

Recently, a Candies shoe ad was run with a mono-kini clad Britney Spears, who looked fabulously and disgustingly (c'mon, ladies, you know you are all with me on that one...I mean it in the nicest way!) perfect. That photo is beautiful!!! My backside will never, ever look that smooth or buxom, and I am jealous to the core. Until she ran the unretouched, unphotoshopped version as a way of conveying her message that there is no such thing as perfect (and goodness! She doesn't even look bad in her bad photos! What does that say about our misguided, skewered idea of what beauty is supposed to be?!?! IMPOSSIBLE!).

She has been through an awful lot and there have honestly been times where I have shook my head in disbelief, but for this action I commend her for her bravery considering her line of work. She is not allowed to be any less than perfect. Still, she chose to share her imperfectness to, literally, the world. And THAT is really beautiful.

There is no such thing as perfect on this earth...we are all flawed. Only in Christ are we made perfect, in His image and in His sight, and only when we stand before and with Him will we truly see and experience that perfection. The world is the last we ever need to think of or worry about when it comes to how we should measure up...in appearance or otherwise! Celebrate your unique, imperfect beauty! Thank God for what He has given to you. There is someone out there that wishes the flaws you dislike so much about yourself were theirs as blessings ...and vice versa!

Ok, Mommy...I give in...but just this once...

Elena, as many of you know, is incredibly tender-headed, so trying to brush her hair, let alone "decorate it" is a feat in itself! Today, I begged for her to let me do something with it, and she let me...YEA!!! Not super excited about it until I was done, but she did let me, so I am on cloud nine! Even Diva liked it!

And Now, For The "Awwwwwww..." Moments

More Photos from the Zoo

Brookfield Zoo

We spent Thursday visiting the Brookfield Zoo with friends from Elena's preschool - Miss Renee' and Grace. They have season passes and were very kind to invite us for a day out. The weather was perfect and the girls were a hoot to follow around. We saw so many different animals...Elena was thrilled with the camels, Grace loved the giraffes, and both girls were excited about the monkeys and the peacocks that walk about the zoo freely. We were a little startled when I almost stepped on a striped ground squirrel and he bounded away rather abruptly. We also seemed to make friends with the peacocks as they began to follow us very closely...not sure why since we had no food for them...hopefully we didn't stink! :) It was a great day spent with wonderful friends, finished with dinner at Friday's and sidewalk chalk coloring outside on the back porch as we watched the sunset. Enjoy the pictures!

Renovations Continue

And the renovations continue in La Casa de Meidel...Eric is close to completion of man-land...AKA: the garage...and has moved onto Elena's room. From guest room, to baby room, to toddler room...we now graduate to little girl's room, where Elena has been very active in the decision-making process of color and "theme". Quite funny, except when Eric actually started...suddenly, Elena did not want the changes and was really worried about losing her room! But after a lot of explaining about what we were doing and why, and that she had been excited before, and then finally getting to see the paint up, she is now back into excitement mode (seriously - she tried locking us out of her room there for a bit because we were clearing things out to start...little did she know that mommy and daddy can get in there whether she wants it or not. Guess she forgot that this was originally her idea!!!). If it's anything like my closet, I expect nothing but fabulous! :) You can see Elena forlorn in one of the pictures about moving things...but she was helping despite her sadness...and trust me, she is sleeping in it now, even though not finished yet, because she wants to check on it and let the new room know it is welcome... REALLY FUNNY!!!

Fun Photos...to Make You Smile

It's nap time, Diva...

Rain, rain, go away...well, Mommy is singing that, Elena wants the rain for more use of the new umbrella...

Just a Mom

Mom sent this to me and I am posting it to pass it on. I think in this day and age, we have an awful lot of women - moms - who feel like they are nothing because others have judged them for not being more than a mom. There is nothing - NOTHING - more admirable, talented, fulfilling, or important than that of being a mom. And for those that can't be...you are a "mom" to someone, and your work and worth is no less. So I post this and say God Bless and go forth....

One day I found myself at our Town Hall business office. The clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like , "Official Interrogator".

"What is your occupation?", she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air and looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask, " said the clerk with new interest, "just what is your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,"I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my masters (first, the Lord, then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?!) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction that just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants ages 13, 7 and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model ( a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mom".

Motherhood...what a glorious career!

May you as a stay at home wife and/or mom...never feel less than you are. Most people would love to be you...freedom to do for others as you will and a supportive, loving husband to back you all the way...God be with you, and again, God bless you.

Happy Easter!

We are grateful for today and what it means. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He died for our sins, covered them by His blood, and surpassed death so we may do the same some day. All because of Him...all for Him.

I hear the Savior say,

Thy strength indeed is small;

child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all.

All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I

Whereby Thy Grace to claim;

I'll wash my garments white

In the blood of Calvary's Lamb

And now complete in Him

My robe, His righteousness,

Close sheltered 'neath His side,

I am divinely blest.

Lord, now indeed I find,

Thy pow'r, and Thine alone,

Can change the lepers' spots

And melt the heart of stone.

When from my dying bed

My ransomed soul shall rise,

"Jesus died my soul to save,"

Shall rend the vaulted skies.

And when before the throne

I stand in Him complete,

I'll lay my trophies down

All down at Jesus' feet.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Mom is 60 years young today...and I am thankful to be her daughter.

She loves the Lord, loves her family, and loves others with such dedication.

She makes the most beautiful quilts and she shares her talents with those in need, like elderly women who want to learn to quilt and knit themselves, and give quilts to our men and women in the military who have so little of their own while in service to their country.

She has health issues that most would be angry and upset about, and her medicines make her miserable physically both inside and out. She doesn't hide it and is thankful to be alive. I am thankful she is alive and we get to have her here with us. I know there are a lot of people who wish they had their moms still...

I have a lot of good memories growing up because of my mom. She traveled all over the place for dance and vocal recitals and ball games for all of us. She gave up a lot for us so that we could have nice things. She taught us to appreciate what we had and what we were given. With 5 kids in the family, I think many would think we went without...I think we were far richer than most that had everything they wanted or asked for. Money can't buy love or true happiness. Things don't fill the space that a Mother's love can. My mom did that and still does.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I'm so glad you were born.

Proverbs 31:28

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:"

First picture is of mom with me many, many years ago. The rest are of celebrating mom's birthday, and with all her grand-babies.

Good Friday

And it is good...I posted this last year and want to share it again. We celebrate today and this weekend because it was this time that made us free. May God be Praised, raised above All so all may see His Love, His Mercy, His Gift. He is God!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-r-M_dORk0

John 12:27
"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour."

Matthew 27:50-54
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed,"Surely He was the Son of God!"

Funny

Everyone brings the dog to the gym...right? Apparently, this is now the comfiest place in the house to nap. Hope this makes you smile today...it cracked me up!

Visiting Family

We spent a few days this past weekend visiting family. Getting the cousins all together is a lot of fun...and well, just A LOT! I still don't know how our parents did it with 5 kids ALL the time! It's never completely organized, and things never quite come out as you planned, but it IS always fun and always filled with good memories. These are pictures of spending time at Jaimie's house - we had Sal with us the first night, and then had everyone get together later on. Taking the kids to the mall, hanging out at home and even bath time together for the little ones...although, those pictures are omitted for privacy...hehehe...was all good for a laugh! Thank you, Jaimie and Tony, for giving up your room and feeding us so well, and thank you to everyone for taking care of Elena while I was gone on Saturday! We love and miss you so already!