During the crucifixion scene of the Easter service, Mommy tries to assure a worried Marina, "Don't worry, Jesus will come back alive. And He will beat the bad guys and WIN!"
Marina replies, "Mommy, after Jesus wins...can we go home??" LOL!!! I think I laughed all the way until the resurrection!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter 2009
Saturday morning the kids awoke to special Easter baskets awaiting them on the kitchen table. Then we participated in the annual Oakhurst Egg Hunt. The kids got to meet the Easter bunny and gather candy-filled eggs w/ other kids. Then we headed to the mall to finish purchasing our Easter outfits.
Saturday evening, we attended the Easter service at church. It was an incredibly powerful and creative presentation of the gospel message. They had a Stomp routine, full choir, special artist Sarah Kelly, human video, biblical drama with live animals, etc...
Saturday evening, we attended the Easter service at church. It was an incredibly powerful and creative presentation of the gospel message. They had a Stomp routine, full choir, special artist Sarah Kelly, human video, biblical drama with live animals, etc...
Sunday morning, we arrived at church bright and early in our Easter best outfits. In Kid's Connection Rye & I presented character monologues as part of the creative gospel message. I played Mary Magdelene and Ryan played Peter. I helped to lead worship at the end of service. It all came together to make a great Easter service for the kids.
After church, we met the rest of the Brody clan at Buca's for a special Easter lunch. Then we headed over to Grandma and Papa's house for another Easter egg hunt. What a fun weekend for the kids! And what great experiences we shared in church, in the neighborhoods, and as a family. :)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
So Much More!!!
We just finished a 10 week study of the book of Esther.
I began the journey with hopes that I would find a way to let God break some personal bondages in my heart. But even that seemed too good to be true, since I have unsuccessfully fought these inner battles for years. Yet God showed Himself to be so much greater than I dared imagine. Not only did he break those bonds and set me free.....He also gave me an insatiable hunger for His Word. That's something I hadn't specifically anticipated. But, boy, am I glad He did it in me! I sincerely feel forever changed. I wish I could be so open and honest about every step of the journey....so that perhaps someone in those same shoes could be encouraged. But I believe some things are meant to be kept between myself and my God. And perhaps others who are struggling can be encouraged merely by the result....a confident woman, free to love herself, others, and her Creator. Free to live in relationship & daily communion w/ Him. If you've never experienced that before, goodness sakes! You're missing out! Please don't wait. Run to Him. He's waiting. He always has been. And if He can wait as long as He did for stubborn me to come around....He can wait for anyone. That's the thing tho. He doesn't just wait. He also prods and tugs and beckons us to join Him in relationship. Amazing. The power of the Cross means so much more to me this Easter. :)
I began the journey with hopes that I would find a way to let God break some personal bondages in my heart. But even that seemed too good to be true, since I have unsuccessfully fought these inner battles for years. Yet God showed Himself to be so much greater than I dared imagine. Not only did he break those bonds and set me free.....He also gave me an insatiable hunger for His Word. That's something I hadn't specifically anticipated. But, boy, am I glad He did it in me! I sincerely feel forever changed. I wish I could be so open and honest about every step of the journey....so that perhaps someone in those same shoes could be encouraged. But I believe some things are meant to be kept between myself and my God. And perhaps others who are struggling can be encouraged merely by the result....a confident woman, free to love herself, others, and her Creator. Free to live in relationship & daily communion w/ Him. If you've never experienced that before, goodness sakes! You're missing out! Please don't wait. Run to Him. He's waiting. He always has been. And if He can wait as long as He did for stubborn me to come around....He can wait for anyone. That's the thing tho. He doesn't just wait. He also prods and tugs and beckons us to join Him in relationship. Amazing. The power of the Cross means so much more to me this Easter. :)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Morales Girls' Road Trip!
To celebrate Mom's bday this year, we hit the road to travel down to Springfield, MO to visit Lindsey and Brian. We had such a blast together! Shopping, dining, and even hitting up an Improv/Comedy club! Such good times!!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Fruits & Veggies
I've started using my juicer.It's crazily addicting!!! I feel so much energy on this vegetarian menu that I've actually kicked the coffee habit. A 3-year habit of downing 2 cups of coffee a morning, just to wake me up.......GONE!!! No w/drawal or headaches. Weird!
And, seriously, my craving for junk food=completely GONE!!!
I may take a bite of a chip or and sip of a soda...and I have to push it away b/c it is completely unappealing to me anymore. So, so weird!!! What I crave now are my fruit/veggie juices, my baked sweet potato for lunch, and my fruit/protein blend for snack. Here's the recipe for the fruit/protein blend. I 'borrowed' it from my fave coffee shop:
1 Cup Frozen Fruit (you can easily buy a bag of frozen fruit at a grocery store)
1 Cup Soy Milk
1 Tablespoon Flaxseed Oil (also can be purchased at any grocery store)
1 Serving Protein Powder...optional (I added this ingredient on my own, just for an extra protein boost)
Blend it up and it's a really good, nutritious alternative to those high-cal Foo-Foo drinks that I've been drinking for years!
Next step=start working out!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Decision Time
I had it all planned out.
I was going to start taking a writing course thru Christian Writer's Guild this summer. And I was going to spend my summer w/ my kids the way I always do....taking nice long walks in the morning, hitting the pool everyday, and just enjoying our time together without school or any other time commitments. Then in the fall, I was going to continue my writing course while providing my 4th year of childcare for little Emma...which is a flexible job w/ gr8 pay. The girls will begin preschool this fall, so I was looking forward to having a few mornings each week ALONE...free to workout, get coffee with a friend, or just work on my writing assignments. I feel so strongly that God's plan for my life includes writing. Getting His message out thru the written word. That's so exciting!!!
BUUUUUUTTTTTT......this week I was verbally offered a different job. It's a job I've wanted for a long time. A very exciting opportunity. But at what cost??? I would have to sacrifice some of my time w/ my kids. And many details in our daily life would have to change. Could I manage this new job, have quality time w/ my kids, AND continue w/ the writing course?? I'm tired just thinking about it! lol. But selfishly, I want it all! (blush) So....what do I do???
I feel like I have 2 doors standing in front of me. Both are enticing and both have reward behind them. But they both cost a measure of sacrifice as well. Which do I take??? I'm at a total loss!
Thankfully, I have a husband behind me who supports me through every decision. We plan to sit down and discuss the options. I pray that as the leader of the home, he will have wisdom to point things out that I just don't see. (He is so good at that!!!)
I'm also comforted by a single thought: In the midst of a storm, or confusion, or uncertainty, God calls us to hide in the shelter of his wing. He is a Rock, and we can find safety within his cleft. I recently heard a speaker mention that in times of darkness, when you just can't see the answer or the way to go, it's then that we hide in the cleft. He covers the opening with His hand, and we are safe inside. Yes, it's dark in there, but we can rest assured that He has never been closer than times like that! And later on, when we look back, we can see just how close He really was. Thank you, Lord, for your safety and security. Please give us wisdom. And give me strength to make the right choice. And to have peace about that decision. Amen!
Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 63:7 "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings."
I was going to start taking a writing course thru Christian Writer's Guild this summer. And I was going to spend my summer w/ my kids the way I always do....taking nice long walks in the morning, hitting the pool everyday, and just enjoying our time together without school or any other time commitments. Then in the fall, I was going to continue my writing course while providing my 4th year of childcare for little Emma...which is a flexible job w/ gr8 pay. The girls will begin preschool this fall, so I was looking forward to having a few mornings each week ALONE...free to workout, get coffee with a friend, or just work on my writing assignments. I feel so strongly that God's plan for my life includes writing. Getting His message out thru the written word. That's so exciting!!!
BUUUUUUTTTTTT......this week I was verbally offered a different job. It's a job I've wanted for a long time. A very exciting opportunity. But at what cost??? I would have to sacrifice some of my time w/ my kids. And many details in our daily life would have to change. Could I manage this new job, have quality time w/ my kids, AND continue w/ the writing course?? I'm tired just thinking about it! lol. But selfishly, I want it all! (blush) So....what do I do???
I feel like I have 2 doors standing in front of me. Both are enticing and both have reward behind them. But they both cost a measure of sacrifice as well. Which do I take??? I'm at a total loss!
Thankfully, I have a husband behind me who supports me through every decision. We plan to sit down and discuss the options. I pray that as the leader of the home, he will have wisdom to point things out that I just don't see. (He is so good at that!!!)
I'm also comforted by a single thought: In the midst of a storm, or confusion, or uncertainty, God calls us to hide in the shelter of his wing. He is a Rock, and we can find safety within his cleft. I recently heard a speaker mention that in times of darkness, when you just can't see the answer or the way to go, it's then that we hide in the cleft. He covers the opening with His hand, and we are safe inside. Yes, it's dark in there, but we can rest assured that He has never been closer than times like that! And later on, when we look back, we can see just how close He really was. Thank you, Lord, for your safety and security. Please give us wisdom. And give me strength to make the right choice. And to have peace about that decision. Amen!
Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 63:7 "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings."
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Quotes of the Week
While Ryan and I were discussing various favorite music from the 90s, Mark piped in and said, "You know, I'm the best thing that happened to the 90s!" Oh WOW!!! He must get his humility from his father!!!
Marina was playing with her plush kitty beanie baby, when suddenly she informed me, "Kitty is licking her coo-coo...just like Lacey do!" Yes, people, 'coo-coo' is what we call it in this house. lol!
This one puts me over the edge! I sent Reese to school with lunch money the other day. (Mainly because I didn't have time to pack him a lunch). It was his first time purchasing 'hot lunch' at school, so I clearly prepared him for the situation, not wanting him to panic when he didn't find his lunchbox in his backpack that day. After school, I drilled him about lunchtime. "Reese, did you give your lunch money to your teacher?? Did you get hot lunch today?? Did someone help you?? What did you eat??" To which Reese replied, "I had chocolate milk." Hmmm.....chocolate milk. "What else did you have Reese??" "Nothing. Just chocolate milk." Instinctively, my motherly feathers were ruffled, and I wanted to know why in the world my child was not fed lunch! Before accusing the school, I asked Reese again and again, "Are you SURE you didn't eat anything?? Nobody gave you lunch?? You only had chocolate milk??" To which he gave me the same reply. Only chocolate milk. Hmmm.... So I called the school office and nearly chewed out the first unsuspecting lady that picked up. She transferred me to Reese's teacher, who assurred me that Reese HAD eaten an entire lunch that day. He had been given a choice between nachos and a cheese sandwich...and he'd chosen the cheese sandwich. Having been hasty in accusing the poor teachers, I quickly covered my embarassment by thanking this teacher and telling him I had been SURE Reese was misrepresenting the truth. (I know, I lied!) Phew! Hang up the phone....and go confront Reese. "Reese, are you sure you didn't eat lunch?? Not even a cheese sandwich??" Reese looked up and said, "Yeah, I had a cheese sandwich...and chocolate milk....AND applesauce." What?!? My goodness, child!!! I'd just been duped by a 6yr old!
Marina was playing with her plush kitty beanie baby, when suddenly she informed me, "Kitty is licking her coo-coo...just like Lacey do!" Yes, people, 'coo-coo' is what we call it in this house. lol!
This one puts me over the edge! I sent Reese to school with lunch money the other day. (Mainly because I didn't have time to pack him a lunch). It was his first time purchasing 'hot lunch' at school, so I clearly prepared him for the situation, not wanting him to panic when he didn't find his lunchbox in his backpack that day. After school, I drilled him about lunchtime. "Reese, did you give your lunch money to your teacher?? Did you get hot lunch today?? Did someone help you?? What did you eat??" To which Reese replied, "I had chocolate milk." Hmmm.....chocolate milk. "What else did you have Reese??" "Nothing. Just chocolate milk." Instinctively, my motherly feathers were ruffled, and I wanted to know why in the world my child was not fed lunch! Before accusing the school, I asked Reese again and again, "Are you SURE you didn't eat anything?? Nobody gave you lunch?? You only had chocolate milk??" To which he gave me the same reply. Only chocolate milk. Hmmm.... So I called the school office and nearly chewed out the first unsuspecting lady that picked up. She transferred me to Reese's teacher, who assurred me that Reese HAD eaten an entire lunch that day. He had been given a choice between nachos and a cheese sandwich...and he'd chosen the cheese sandwich. Having been hasty in accusing the poor teachers, I quickly covered my embarassment by thanking this teacher and telling him I had been SURE Reese was misrepresenting the truth. (I know, I lied!) Phew! Hang up the phone....and go confront Reese. "Reese, are you sure you didn't eat lunch?? Not even a cheese sandwich??" Reese looked up and said, "Yeah, I had a cheese sandwich...and chocolate milk....AND applesauce." What?!? My goodness, child!!! I'd just been duped by a 6yr old!
