Happy Birthday Amanda!

Happy Birthday Amanda! I don't have a recent pic of you to put up, but we wanted to wish you a happy birthday!

Dogs and Babies

I made potato soup for dinner last night. Nothing weird about that, but the weird part was while I was peeling potatoes. Now when I peel potatoes I just try to get it done, with most of the peelings landing in a bowl, but some of them do end up on the floor. It is easier to pick them up when I'm done instead of picking up every little piece that I drop when I drop it. So back to last night. I was sitting at the table, peeling potatoes and Emily was swinging (that's how I'm able to peel potatoes, swings are great!) I dropped a few peelings. Once I saw Kendall come and pick one up, I assumed she was just going to eat it and didnt worry about it. So I kept peeling (potato soup requires a lot of potatoes!) When I got done, I looked into the living room. Evidently Kendall had made several trips into the kitchen while I was peeling the potatoes because there wasn't a single peel on the floor of the kitchen. They were all in a circle in the living room. She must have eaten the chunk of peeled potato I dropped, but just arranged the peels. I guess it was easier to pick them up off the living room floor than under the table anyway:)

Emily is now three months old and is startign to get some hair back...she rubs her head back and forth so fast she's rubbed a lot of it off. She has a bald spot on the back, but it will grow back. We thought maybe she was trying to look like Grandpa:) .Here are a couple pictures of her. It was cold so we had to bundle up for our weekly trip to Walmart yesterday

Church was tiring Sunday. One minute she was awake playing on the floor, the next minute this is what I found.

And it is looking very promising that I may actually be able to pull this daycare thing off. I'm still praying!

A Puppy in a Pickle

Ok, so last night, Kendall disappeared for a couple hours. Since I'd had to move the bed where the headboard is against the window for daycare, she's spent a lot of time laying in there. It provides a great view out. Now I don't know how she did it, but after not seeing her for a couple hours, including while we ate (which usually attracts her) I started wondering where she was. I hollered for her and heard a muffled bark. Ok, that made me curious. Exactly what kind of mess had she gotten herself into? I thought she was in the bedroom so I went in there. She wasn't where I thought she would be, but I could hear her collar jingling. I went to the head of the bed. I looked over. And sanwiched between the window (which was cold because the temperature had already dropped) and the bed, there stood a schnauzer. She could go backwards 2 steps and forward 2 steps but that was all the range of movement she had. So I put Emily down and managed to free the dog. Yeah, the bed that way is "safer." Anyway, today, Kendall has resumed her position on the back of the couch, I havent found her on the bed at all:)

Ok, and I had to add a couple cute pictures of a little girl that keeps outgrowing her clothes!

Another video

Here's a video of Emily from Wednesday.

Interest....but not til summer

I have had another family come look at my daycare, sounds very promising, but they don't need care until summer. I have another lady that said she was going to come tomorrow or Friday but she has never confirmed which day. She also doesnt need anyone until summer. A third lady said she would call this week to set up a time to meet with me, not needing anything til summer but she hasnt called back yet. If I could only find someone to watch between now and then, everything would be good.

Snow Puppy

It must make you feel good to go run through the snow when it is 6 degrees out. Maybe I should try that. Kendall says that I seem to have forgotten about her on here, so here's a Kendall picture right after she came in yesterday. She was covered in snow and running as hard as those little legs would take her (which if you've never witnessed is pretty fast!)

Neon Signs

About 4 years ago I remember sitting, thinking about the future, not really understanding where life was leading me. I had broken up with my boyfriend, honestly looking back, one of the best things that ever happened to me, but of course I didnt see that at the time. I had dated a guy who I had come to discover I couldn't stand. So I was left with the question, is there anyone out there for me and how will I know if I find him. I remember struggling with this for quite a while and one night, while talking to my mom on the phone I remarked, "I wish God would just give me a neon sign." Still struggling with this a few days later, my mom made a comment. She said that maybe God would use a neon sign, it just might say Budweiser on it. So....you can imagine me shrugging her off as completely ridiculous. God wouldn't use a Budweiser sign, would He? Fast forward several months. My best friend had moved, but before she left, she convinced me to sign up on one of those free dating sites online. Or sorta free, you could look but not initiate conversation. I never thought I'd actually talk to anyone, then one day, I got an email. The guy sounded interesting. I responded (5 days later to get the nerve, but I responded.) So then, we emailed and chatted online for about a week, every free minute we had. THEN, we talked on the phone for a while (hours daily for a month) and we decided we needed to meet. So we did. He was great. I really liked this guy and was asking God again if I should get serious about this guy, still secretely wishing God would put a neon sign on him that said, yes he is the one, fall in love with him. I Knew that would never happen. All the while, I'd forgotten about my mom's comment about the beer sign. Then one day I told this guy I wanted more pictures of him and he obliged. He sent me a picture of him and a group of his friends, (you see where this is going) and do you know what was right above his head? Yep, a neon Budweiser sign. So yes, even in crazy ways that seem totally like freaky coincidences, God is there, showing us where to go.

Now you all know that I've been having some real struggles lately, wishing for another neon sign, or answers to the big question about if I'm really going to have to give my daughter to someone else to spend every day with when I so desperately want to stay with her myself. I'm needing answers, so I've gone back to those verses I've memorized and read hundreds of times in debating on whether to move to Wyoming, take a job at Petit Jean, find a guy to love, have a baby, get a job here, every major decision I've made in my adult life, this is what I've fallen back on, the best thing in life. So it seems as if all of you out there have a firm grip on reality and are doing ok with life, but I'm having some problems, so I thought I'd put a few words of encouragement. They are helping me, maybe they will help you too:)

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalms 56:3

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord: Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalms 27:13-14

May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalms 20:4

Sow your seed in the morning and at evening do not let your hands be idle. For you do not know which will succeed whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6

Whether you turn to the right or the left you will hear a voice behind you saying This is the way, walk in it. Isaiah 30:21

Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23

But the Lord said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." Judges 6:23

If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17

I will instruct you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalms 32:8

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

And a quote from Ella Fitzgerald, "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

Amazing, Emily is still sound asleep, in the middle of the floor. She was laughing a Kendall playing with a toy one minute, the next she was asleep. Now I need some cuddle time with that cute little girl because that time may be limited very shortly, whatever God will have me do, I have to learn to accept, even if it isnt the answer I think I want.

Happy Birthday Big Emily

I have friends and then there are friends that let you rename them big Emily. Happy Birthday Emily!

Avon, Pampered Chef, Home and Garden Party

Ok, so these are the only other options that I'm coming up with for making money since the daycare thing doesnt seem to be working out. But I may have to do every one of those sales things in order to make enough money. Avon has very little start up costs, so I may try that anyway. I am always hearing people say they wish they had an avon lady, so maybe I can fill that bill. I'd do better than Mary Kay, I'm sure Avon has a product that I could actually use:) And I'm checking into all of those others because I need something. The thought of going back to work full time and only seeing my daughter for about 2 hours a day is terrifying to me so I've got to figure something out. Suggestions welcome! I am good with a sewing machine, (Neal says I should learn to make holsters because they are expensive). I actually thought that I wish Mary or Ruby needed someone to come stay with them during the day and clean their house, cook their meals, run errands for them, and visit with them. Unfortunatetly though, I dont think that would be a paid position. It might provide me with good stories to write a book I'd love to write, although I dont know when I will ever be able to do that. Ok, I know you are all out there praying, meanwhile, I've figured out that if I can make $600 a month I will be as good off as if I were working.

Pray

There are lots of things that need prayer today. I'll quickly mention a few. Some of you know my friend Cassie who has cancer. She needs a miracle.

An older lady that I've gone to church with since junior high fell and broke her hip. She's over 90, so it will definitely be hard on her.

And real quick (crying baby) I have someone coming to look at my daycare tomorrow. It may make the difference on whether I can stay with my baby girl or not, so I really need them to like me so that I dont have a serious emotional breakdown!

Advertising strategy anyone?

Does anyone have any hidden advertising talents, unshared ideas, or wonderful ways to attract people for daycare? Watch this video...this is what I don't want to miss!

Growing Fast

Emily had her two-month doctors visit yesterday, about a week later than normal, but with Christmas, the doctor had taken a vacation and didnt return until yesterday. She's growing really fast! She is now 11 pounds 10 ounces and 21 inches long. She is doing great holding her head up, is ready to roll over any day now, and has figured out how to push herself from the middle of her bed to the top where she gets her head against it and it makes her mad! It's so amazing watching her discover new things...for instance yesterday she discovered a different flavor. It was grape because that's what flavor infant tylenol is. She wasn't super crabby but she did start acting like she didnt feel too great in the afternoon so I gave her some. My discovery, to get just the right amount of medicine in those little droppers is tricky! But by bedtime last night she was all grins...and she slept from midnight to 5! That was great...I put her in bed and then Neal brought her to me this morning so I didnt have to get out of bed for a full 8 hours (I did have to change a diaper and feed her, but my feet didnt hit the floor for 8 hours!)

Sunday at church the message was on peace and three things we should do for the new year. Celebrate Jesus everyday. Stop worrying. and ok, so I got stuck on the stop worrying part and don't remember the third thing. That one caught me because I have been worrying constantly over how I'm going to be able to stay home with Emily. If the lady ever returns my calls and comes by, we will be licensed (two things had to be fixed, and they are fixed, so unless she comes up with something else, we will be licensed). I've had some phone calls concerning daycare, but only one family came by and I've had no one actually say they want me to watch their children. I admit, I do feel a little hypocritical because the reason I'm trying to do daycare is that I don't trust a stranger with my kid, but yet I want strangers to trust me with their children. So anyway, I'm trying not to worry about it, but time is running out. I need someone to watch because I will terribly unpleasant if I dont get to be with Emily for more than a couple hours a day! So please if everyone out there would pray that this daycare thing will work out, then I have faith that it will. The verse they kept using on Sunday, "Don't be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition, present your requests to God." Ok, I may have combined translations but you get the idea. So I'm trying really hard to do that. I just never imagined it would be so hard to get kids to watch. Especially when I called around yesterday and there is only one place in Raymore that would actually watch an infant right now and they are charging way more than I would charge. And there was one lady that could watch an infant starting in March. That's it. So surely there are more infants out there that need daycare, if only I could find them......

Videos

I got a few short video clips over Christmas and finally got them on the computer. its hard to judge which one im putting on here....