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9/4/08
You Want WHAT?!?!
"Mommy, I want to have pink hair."
"Where did you see someone with pink hair," I gently asked my 4 year old...amused at such a silly suggestion.
"I didn't, Mommy, I saw a girl with green hair and I thought I would like to have pink hair."
After a little pressing to figure out where she saw this girl - so I could make sure she NEVER saw her again - I figured out that we drove past a teenager on the block next to our house and that was were the idea blossomed.
Unsure of what to say next, I said what any good mom would say, "You'll have to talk to your daddy about that one." (I of course figured she would forget before he ever got home from work).
But sure enough, she remembered. The minute daddy walked in the door from work she asked," Daddy, can I have pink hair?" My husband, so authoritatively said - "Go ask your mother." Fortunately, she ran off to another room. I looked at my husband and explained that she already had asked me and that I had put her off to him, figuring he would say NO!
I racked my brain for a biblical answer as I try to mold my daughter into the young woman that I wasn't. I figured that she was a little too young to understand this:
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)
And I'm not really sure that pink hair qualifies as beauty anyway. I asked my husband if it would be blasphemous to show Nicole where it says, "Thou shalt not color your hair pink..." in the Bible (she can't read, she wouldn't know the difference), but the Holy Spirit immediately reminded me of the scripture:
"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
(Proverbs 30: 5-6)
I was stumped.
Later that night, I was combing her hair before bed when she mentioned to me that she wished she had curly hair like her cousin. Ah Ha! The light-bulb went off in my brain. I knew just what to say...
Mom: "Sweetie, God gave you straight hair and you should be thankful for what He has given you."
Nicole: "But I want curly hair!"
Mom: "If God wanted you to have curly hair, He would have given it to you. He made you perfect just the way you are. AND...if God wanted you to have pink hair He would have given that to you as well. But instead, He gave you beautiful blond hair and I think He likes it that way."
Nicole: "But I want pink hair!"
Mom: "Well then sweetie, maybe you should pray about it and if God wants you to have pink hair, then one day you'll wake up with pink hair."
Done. Enough said. End of conversation.
Until this evening when, out of no where, Nicole said," Daddy, I really want pink hair." My husband looked at me and said, "Leah - we have tattoo's how can we tell her No?" I gently reminded him that both of us were over the age of 18 when we got our tattoo's and that he could tell that when she is 18 she can color her hair whatever color she wants. Somehow, my message got lost in translation because the next thing I heard was...
"Nicole, when you are 14 years old...you can make your hair whatever color you want."
Yes, go back and read it again. I said 18...he said 14. Lord help me please, it's gonna be a long road with this little gal!
Lord, please help our precious daughters to see themselves in Your perfect image. To be content the way that You made them and not to be swayed by the things that the world says are important or cool. Keep them pure, modest, and help them to learn to focus on the hearts and not their appearance. Amen.
"Where did you see someone with pink hair," I gently asked my 4 year old...amused at such a silly suggestion.
"I didn't, Mommy, I saw a girl with green hair and I thought I would like to have pink hair."
After a little pressing to figure out where she saw this girl - so I could make sure she NEVER saw her again - I figured out that we drove past a teenager on the block next to our house and that was were the idea blossomed.
Unsure of what to say next, I said what any good mom would say, "You'll have to talk to your daddy about that one." (I of course figured she would forget before he ever got home from work).
But sure enough, she remembered. The minute daddy walked in the door from work she asked," Daddy, can I have pink hair?" My husband, so authoritatively said - "Go ask your mother." Fortunately, she ran off to another room. I looked at my husband and explained that she already had asked me and that I had put her off to him, figuring he would say NO!
I racked my brain for a biblical answer as I try to mold my daughter into the young woman that I wasn't. I figured that she was a little too young to understand this:
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Peter 3:3-4)
And I'm not really sure that pink hair qualifies as beauty anyway. I asked my husband if it would be blasphemous to show Nicole where it says, "Thou shalt not color your hair pink..." in the Bible (she can't read, she wouldn't know the difference), but the Holy Spirit immediately reminded me of the scripture:
"Every word of God is flawless;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
(Proverbs 30: 5-6)
I was stumped.
Later that night, I was combing her hair before bed when she mentioned to me that she wished she had curly hair like her cousin. Ah Ha! The light-bulb went off in my brain. I knew just what to say...
Mom: "Sweetie, God gave you straight hair and you should be thankful for what He has given you."
Nicole: "But I want curly hair!"
Mom: "If God wanted you to have curly hair, He would have given it to you. He made you perfect just the way you are. AND...if God wanted you to have pink hair He would have given that to you as well. But instead, He gave you beautiful blond hair and I think He likes it that way."
Nicole: "But I want pink hair!"
Mom: "Well then sweetie, maybe you should pray about it and if God wants you to have pink hair, then one day you'll wake up with pink hair."
Done. Enough said. End of conversation.
Until this evening when, out of no where, Nicole said," Daddy, I really want pink hair." My husband looked at me and said, "Leah - we have tattoo's how can we tell her No?" I gently reminded him that both of us were over the age of 18 when we got our tattoo's and that he could tell that when she is 18 she can color her hair whatever color she wants. Somehow, my message got lost in translation because the next thing I heard was...
"Nicole, when you are 14 years old...you can make your hair whatever color you want."
Yes, go back and read it again. I said 18...he said 14. Lord help me please, it's gonna be a long road with this little gal!
Lord, please help our precious daughters to see themselves in Your perfect image. To be content the way that You made them and not to be swayed by the things that the world says are important or cool. Keep them pure, modest, and help them to learn to focus on the hearts and not their appearance. Amen.
8/30/08
If I only had a Donkey...
My daughter came out of her Sunday School Class excited to tell me about their lesson. It usually only takes a few seconds for me to figure which story she is telling, but today this was not the case. I am embarrassed to say that I never did figure this one out on my own: she was describing a donkey with super-powered eyes. Stumped? Probably not. But I was. So, I got in the car in the church parking lot and immediately looked up the scripture reference. Numbers 22: 21-35. That's right...Balaam's donkey had super-powered eyes, ya'll. And I wish I had a donkey just like his! You see, his donkey was able to see the angel of the Lord standing before him with sword drawn.The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her." (Num 22: 32-33)
Your path is a reckless one before me...
How many times has God said that to me before? And I am sure that each one of those times I berated my donkey and beat him just like Balaam did to get him back on my path.
But not this time.
Oh no, if I only had a donkey with super-powered eyes...I promise I'd listen.
Are we supposed to change jobs or stay the course?
What are we supposed to do when we lose our house this winter?
Where do we go to rent and start over financially?
Will Joshua ever learn how to speak normally and live a fulfilling life?
Oh no, if I only had a donkey with super-powered eyes...I promise I'd listen.
Are we supposed to change jobs or stay the course?
What are we supposed to do when we lose our house this winter?
Where do we go to rent and start over financially?
Will Joshua ever learn how to speak normally and live a fulfilling life?
I have heard the saying before:
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Well, I can tell you that we keep God rolling on the floor with laughter around here. Just 3 weeks ago we were accepting a transfer to Oroville, WA...that is until my husband went to visit and decided...ummm, no. Not for us. Now, we may be staying where we are so he can spend a few more years in his current job before trying to transfer out. But that will be interesting since we are indeed losing our house (due to a family business deal gone bad...and not in our favor...If you are considering going into business with or accepting money from a family member, stop right now and say NO...God is using our humiliation and defeat to speak to you...JUST SAY NO!!!) and renting in Southern CA is not always the best option.So which path do you really want us on LORD?
Since I don't have a donkey...and couldn't keep it in my tiny backyard even if I did, I guess I will have to continue relying on the LORD to open and close doors as we map out our earthly future. He has been faithful to do so in the past, and I am sure He will continue closing all the wrong doors in the future. A few open ones would be appreciated too.
And the next time your donkey lays down in the middle of the road - don't beat him....turn around and go back to whence you came!
8/18/08
Happy Birthday Josh!
Our little man turned 3 on Saturday. It was a wonderful celebration revolving mostly around "red car" (Lightning McQueen, from Cars). The 5 of us celebrated with his favorite dinner, ice cream cake, a movie, and a few presents. You can see him proudly displaying his new red car shirt and camouflage boots above.
Many of you know the struggles we have had with Joshua's health. I am so happy to say that he is feeling great and growing again! He is completely off his medicine and hasn't even asked for it in weeks.
I have started another blog entitled "For the Love of Josh" where I am writing about my struggles and victories raising a wheat free/ gluten free toddler. I am posting recipes, product reviews, and great ideas (little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on gluten free pancakes). Stop over and check it out and if you know anyone struggling with the joys of food allergies, let them know too!
8/13/08
8/4/08
A Little Bit Redneck
You might be (a little bit) Redneck if...
(yes, the brown heap is my husband)
(note the cute little boy in his underwear in the front yard)
We may live in the city, but we'll always be (a little bit) redneck at heart!
You spend your spare time helping your husband
make a ghillie suit and then he hangs out
in the front yard after dark to test it's functionality.
make a ghillie suit and then he hangs out
in the front yard after dark to test it's functionality.
(yes, the brown heap is my husband)-AND-
If your husband moves the grill to the front porch
so he can watch the live MMA fight through
the front window while he cooks.
If your husband moves the grill to the front porch
so he can watch the live MMA fight through
the front window while he cooks.
(note the cute little boy in his underwear in the front yard)We may live in the city, but we'll always be (a little bit) redneck at heart!
7/31/08
Accountability
My precious family is trying to help me lose my postpartum weight. Truth be told, Abi is almost 6 months old and I have lost 30 pounds, but I still have about 25 to go. Complicating the matter right now is the fact that I am extremely hypothyroid...which also accounts for the fatigue and depression I have battled since Abi was born. But that is a post for another day...
We were eating dinner a few nights ago - our favorite...Take-out from Jalapeños Mexican Grill (I still haven't quite mastered working from home and cooking on a regular basis). I had eaten one beef flouta and was intentionally saving the 2nd for lunch today. I started to take a bite of refried beans when my precious, loving, well-intentioned husband said, "Don't you think it is time to stop eating - since you want to lose weight and all?" Ummm yeah, cause I just lost my appetite.
My husband must be in cahoots with my daughter, because today we were on our way home from the park when I decided to jump in the Taco Bell Drive-thru line for a large Pepsi.
Confession time: Coca-Cola and Pepsi are my drug of choice. If not for them, I would either be a chain smoker or raging alcoholic. I know it is not right, nor is it healthy. But it is reality right now. MY husband HATES that I drink soda (and I drink a lot of it ).
So anyway, I tell the kids, "Mommy is just going to get a drink and then we'll go home." My 4 year old says, "Mommy, you don't need a drink from here." I replied,"Oh really, and why not?" She very matter of factly stated, " Because you can get a drink of water at home."
Ouch!
It's a conspiracy, I tell ya! No mercy!
7/29/08
Thankful Thursday
Today I am thankful for the following:
For the first time in 4.5 years, I will not have to buy diapers again...
for the next 2 months!
Joshua is officially potty trained and Abi has enough diapers left over from the baby shower (yes, she is almost 6 months old and we are still lavishing in the wonderful gifts of our friends) to last us at least 2 months.
What will I possible do with the $$$ I will save by NOT buying diapers over the next 2 months???
Any great ideas?
7/27/08
Abi's Bedtime Song
I love you, Abi
And I always will
Forever, true
I love you, my child
Have peace from God
As you close your eyes
May you have a sweet,
sweet sleep,
Tonight...
And I always will
Forever, true
I love you, my child
Have peace from God
As you close your eyes
May you have a sweet,
sweet sleep,
Tonight...
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