Mommy's Helper

Today when Caroline woke from her nap I was in the middle of something so Miss Mat offered to take care of her. When I made it to Caroline's room I found Madison comforting her, "Mom will be right here." and she had put 12 stuffed animals in her crib. Madison does her best to take care of Caroline.

Here are a couple of pictures of the big girl helping. I love the cloth in Madison's hand she is very good at wiping Caroline's face after each bite.

Sometimes I need a bigger clue

Today before "coffee" (the Kerr family ritual where anyone who wants to hang out with lots of kids, moms, dads, and grandparents meet at Borders at the Mall, every Saturday at 10:30am for coffee, fellowship, and fun) we went to the Dollar Store for a few items Madison handed me some Tums along with many other misc. items to put in the basket. I then gave the items back to her to put away or re shelved them myself (except for the cute Carebear socks.) Then we head to the mall where we do one of her favorite things "go walking" she pushes her stroller with Goodnight Bear and I push Caroline around the empty mall. As we are walking around she says her tummy hurts earlier she tried telling me this with the bottle of Tums. Oops I didn't get it that's OK though when we saw Grandma she asked her for Tums. Grandma didn't have any, but thankfully Nana did. So with a prayer and a pink Tums she was "feeling just fine" in no time.

Chicken Bones

Today Madison and I were playing one of her favorite games, Who am I. I ask something like, "I'm an animal that eats nuts, and runs across our fence." She answers, "A squirrel." I asked, "I am an animal that likes to chew on bones." Did she answer dog? Nope, her answer was "Caroline." She is right Caroline does love to crew on chicken bones while she is teething. This tip came the girls Great Grandma Bogie who said Jason's dad loved to do this. I keep a zip lock bag of clean chicken bones in our freezer just for Caroline. I was not to excited about my daughter gnawing down on a chicken bone at first, but I actually read that it is perfectly okay in a Medical Baby Book and that the cartilage from the bones is good for them. So Madison is correct Caroline is an animal that crews on bones. We sound so prehistoric.

Jenga

Tonight we were all out on the deck and Madison said, "Does everyone want to play Jenga?" Of coarse we did, even Caroline. I realized this was the first time all four of us played a board game together. It was very fun. Jason now thinks Jenga is a strength for Madison. I see many family game nights in the future. I love my family.

My Help is from the Lord....

What's on the front of your fridge?

Right now I have this verse on mine..

Psa 121:1 A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence, cometh my help.

This verse reminds me to go to God and every time I look Pikes Peak I am reminded of this verse. When the psalmist wrote this he was probable referring to seeing the pagan worshippers worshiping their false gods on mountain tops. When I look at pikes peak this is not what I see, but I do see many things vying for my attention to go to them for help instead my help from, the Lord, which made the heaven and earth. Psalms 121:2

I choose not to put verse 2 on my fridge but rather memorize it and declare it after I read verse 1.

I'm so grateful to find help in my God.

Cara eating pizza on the Dishwasher door

Two things she usually does not get to do.

County Fair or Hemsey's Backyard

What a fun BBQ it was a county fair theme. Funnel cakes, face painting, bubbles, games, snow cones, and just a lot of fun hanging out. Thanks to all who made it a memorial event. As we were leaving Madison said, "That was fun let's do it again soon." Well put my dear Madison. Caroline was asleep before we got out of the neighborhood. She was a trooper the whole event was during her nap time, but no way would she fall asleep and miss anything.

Yesterday we enjoyed "fight night" at the Kondratow's. I know fight night needs some explaining. The guys watch UFC wrestling, the girls sit and talk, and the kids entertain themselves- most of the time. It is a fun time we look forward to once a month, oh and did I say the guys always cook an amazing spread. Uncle John heads it up with some killed food.

Kind, Tenderhearted, and Forgiving

I have gotten so excited reading and working the book of Ephesians this past month. Here are a few of the things that are jelling in my heart and changing my life.
Eph 4:31,32 KJV
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Both of these verses have figure of speeches in them. God uses FOS to make an emphasis.
The FOS polysyndeton is used in vs 31. It means many ands are used making an emphasis on each word. God wants us to stop at each point weight each word not just hurry on to the conclusion.

The opposite FOS -asyndeton- no ands is used in vs. 32 Making the emphasis on the conclusion even as God for Christ sake forgiven you.

God wants us to focus our attention on the fact He has forgiven us so we should forgive others.

In verse 31 God says Let all bitterness, and wrath, and clamor..... be put away. God is giving us permission to let these feelings go. He is letting us know it is okay not to harbor these feelings. The Moffat translations says to drop these things. Isn't that cool DROP them. Let these feeling go, get rid of them.

Something else I found is bitterness is opposite of kind in the Greek. Wrath opposite of tenderhearted in the Greek. Anger opposite of forgiving in the Greek.

I did not know what clamour meant so I took some time looking at it. The Greek word is kraugē It means an outcry, tumult, or grief. It is translated 6 times. Clamour one time, cry or crying the other 5 times. Including cryings in Rev 21:4 no more death or sorrow, or crying, neither shall there be anymore pain. That is wild to think God says we can put away crying.

I also loved looking at the word kind in vs. 32
Kind is the Greek word chrēstos it is translated 7 times one of those times is goodness in Rom 2:4 the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Wow kind and goodness are the same word God tells us to be just as kind as He is good. So good that it leadeth man to change.

Here are all 7 of the uses of chrēstos
gracious I Peter 2:3
easy Mt 11:30
better Luke 5:39
kind Luke 6:35, Eph 4:32
good I Cor 15:33
goodness Rom 2:4

The greek word for tenderhearted is only used 2 times. Here and in I Peter 3:8 the word compassion is the same word as tenderhearted.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: sympathetic, relate to the other one.

God reminds us to be sympathic and compassionate.

I want to be kind, tenderhearted and always able to forgive. God knows I can I just need to do it. Thankfully I am surrounded by a household that trys to live this way so when I fall short they along with God are able to forgive me. I am humbled by that forgiveness.

Love these girls!

Thankful to be a Mom

It was a very sweet day. Jason got up with Caroline at 7:30 and I got to sleep in until 7:45. She couldn't stand not seeing me so J finally let her crawl up the stairs into our bedroom and I had the pleasure of her getting me out of bed. Madison woke shortly after and we headed to the dining room to find all my homemade gifts. Jason and the girls painted flower pots, made garden decorations, and put together a beautiful photo album, and a wonderful card. These were wonderful but what I enjoyed the most was being reminded I am a blessed woman with an amazing family. I loved being surrounded by excellent moms- my mom, my sisters, and my mother-in-law. I loved the many hugs and Happy Mother's Day greeting I received from Madison. I loved this day.

We headed to fellowship where I was around many wonderful moms and was wished a very Happy Mother's Day by many. We came home to prepare for a house full. Jason's parents and all of my family. The men prepared the menu and food and served all of us ladies. It was so fun. James brought the moms spectacular bouquets. The kids played at the water table and in the sand box. They are all getting so big and play so well together. Even Caroline and Novalee loved sitting on a blanket with one another.

After everyone let I realized I forgot to give my mom something so Madison and I walked to her house. As we sat and visited Madison almost fell asleep on Grandma's lap and was so tired she convinced me to let her stay there and take a nap. Grandma was into it so I walked home alone then when back to pick her up after nap time- ha ha nap time she laid down for 30 min. then convinced Grandma to play. I should of known. Oh well they had fun.

The best part of the day was being reminded that I am a mom- how sweet it is.

Living in Care-A-Lot

The thing that occupies Madison's time the most are Care Bears she received her first one on her second birthday and her passion for them really started last Holiday. When the group began to grow. Since she loves these guys so much I've decided to keep track of all of them. I think this is the start of her first collection. I'm not really a collecting type of person. My dad is maybe she got this from her. Anyways I will go with it since she is enjoying herself.

12/06 Cheer Bear from Jayden

12/07 Big Share Bear (Caroline's) from Nana and Papa

12/07 Rainbow Bear (Caroline's) from Kondratows

12/07 Funshine Bear from Mom and Dad

12/07 Little Good Night Bear from Grandpa and Grandma

02/08 Proud Heart Kitty from Grandma

03/08 Harmony Bear from Mom and Dad

03/08 Little Share Bear from Wallaces

04/08 Little Brave Heart Lion from daddy and the very next day she received Big Brave Heart Lion from Grandma

05/08 Grumpy Bear from Grandma

05/08 Big Good Night Bear and Take Care Bear she purchased at a yard sale. Madison prayed the night before to find a little Carebear and a big Carebear at a yard sale.

These Carebears do a lot in a day. Madison takes them for walks in she doll stroller. She puts them on the stairs to pretend they are in an airplane. They come to the rescue when Madison needs to be reminded of things like sharing. I love that she has found so much joy in a bunch of stuffed animals.