Proverbs 11:23

"He who refreshes others will be refreshed himself." I have had this verse written on the chalkboard in our kitchen for about 6 months. Usually when I put a verse up, it is a concept or character quality that I am trying to implement into our family. Often it is something that I want to nurture in my own life, and I just try to get the rest of the family to join me in the pursuit.

A few days ago, the girls and I had an unpleasant encounter downstairs in the basement playroom. Daddy told them that they needed to clean the playroom up before they went to bed down there (it was WAY TOO hot to sleep upstairs in their bedrooms), and then he took Michael upstairs to put him to bed. About 15 minutes later, I went down to check on the progress and they were all three sitting on the floor playing a game. Needless to say, mama was NOT happy. They were sent to bed, I was frustrated, it didn't end well.

The next morning, Maddie and Meredith came upstairs and had breakfast; where's Marky? I decided to let Marky keep sleeping. After about another 30 minutes, I went downstairs to check on her; lo and behold she wasn't sleeping but had been up for about an hour CLEANING UP THE PLAYROOM!! I was so surprised and so happy. SHE was so happy that she had done it. She had done such a great job, and I was so thrilled (it was a real mess). I asked her what had possessed her to do such a thing and she said, "Well, you know that verse that is upstairs on the chalkboard? I thought that if I cleaned up the playroom then I would be helping you and that I would feel good too." What a sweet heart my Marky has. I am blessed everyday by her helpful spirit. I am so proud of the little girl that she is. She is growing and changing into the person that God has planned for her to be.

Some days, something actually sinks in!! WHOO HOOOO!!!

Reader beware

This is what I heard Meredith shriek from the bathroom this evening...

"Mommy!!! My poopy melted when I flushed it!!"

Oh my goodness... where does she get this stuff???

August 13

I feel like it has taken an entire week for me to recover from being gone on vacation for a week. I got unpacked "right away" and of course, did the laundry that needed to be done, but from then on I feel like I've been a race horse going around a track. Getting ready for school, keeping up with summer activities like swimming and friends, not letting the yard be neglected, looking in Michael's drawers and realizing that all of his clothes are too small, staying on top of all of the ordinary tasks that don't thrill me like dishes and mopping - these are the things that have kept me busy these past few days. I'm waiting for a moment for it to all slow down so that I can catch my breath before school starts next week!! I'm really looking forward to school starting again, but I keep trying to remind myself that summer isn't over yet. We still have a few days, and thankfully the big girls are home with us this weekend so we can have a final summer celebration. Today we are going to ride our bikes over to school because the class lists for the big girls have been posted. This is such a fun time for them to find out which friends they are in class with.

Today is my sweet niece Brittany's birthday. She is 9 and "oh so FINE". I remember driving out to Nebraska very early in the morning to see her shortly after she was born. I remember being on the phone with Lisa as she was starting labor, and then Lisa called me an hour or so later and Brittany had already been born - I couldn' t believe how fast she had been born. Brittany was a very beautiful and very "long" baby. She is 9 months younger than Marky, and seemed inches longer when she was born. She still is much taller than Marky and is still so very beautiful!! So... Happy Birthday, sweet Brittany. You are precious to me and I love you. I hope that your birthday is as sweet and special as you are.