Well, Mark's parents got the keys to the new place this weekend! We checked things out on Friday and then spent a good portion of the day Saturday just cleaning and painting the trim while Mark's dad framed a wall downstairs. The boys did really well. The carpet is all being replaced due to pet owner's and smokers being the previous tenants so we put some big blankets down and Cole pretty much stayed on them. Plus, both boys slept almost 2 hours at the same time so I was able to tape off all the trim in the dining and living room.
I went back after dinner to work on the office. There were some bookshelves that were attached to the wall which Mark and Dad A had to take down. The previous own had just painted around them so we were needing to paint that room anyway. I've spent probably a good 10 hours there painting it all and I've got probably another 4 hours until it's all done. I think I must just be slow!! But I've very meticulous so that's good. Then, once that dries, we'll have to repaint the trim too before the new carpet can go in. So, I've got my work cut out for me this week!! Mark doesn't like painting much so he's been watching the kids while I go and do that. It's been a great break and I've been listening to some great bible teaching during that time.
Some of you know that we meet with a small group of other Christians every other Sunday night. It's kind of like a bible study I guess. We have a potluck, talk about what God is doing in our lives and talk about the bible teachings we've heard lately. Francis Chan's church in Simi Valley has been very inspirational to us. Just seeing them study the word and really try to live out what it says is so different that your typical "American church" and I know Mark and I have both been challenged to pray about what that means in our lives. Their church has been reading different books of the bible each month to get people to really spend time learning what Jesus did, said, who God is, what He desires for us and how to grow closer to Him.
Our small group has also be trying to come alongside and do the same thing so we've been reading in the book of Luke. It's amazing to see the faith people had in Jesus to heal them. No question, just asking Jesus to cure their disease, cast out demons plaguing their loved ones... it's a faith I certainly lack. They would just go to Him, ask to be healed and Jesus would do it!! One centurion even just sends his servants to ask Jesus to heal another servant saying he knows that even is Jesus just speaks it, that his servant can be healed... and he was! I'm not sure why I always wonder if God wants to heal us or fix us or desire good things for us. Not good things like cars, nice houses, lots of savings. But to be content, to love others and have good relationships with our friends and family. Something to be thinking about for all of us.
On another note, my kids are just getting cuter and cuter. Asher is learning his colors. The other day I went to put on my shirt and he just shouts "GREEN!!!" I was surprised b/c I didn't know he actually knew any colors... I thought he just knew certain objects were known as certain colors... like his green car or red truck. Plus, there was a possibility he could be color blind. My uncle Jeff on my mom's side is color blind so my mom could be a carrier, and I could be a carrier, and either of my boys could have gotten my carrier gene (which is on the X chromosome) so if they did, they would be color blind too. I don't even know what kind of color blindness my uncle has... I think it's a red/green one. Anyway, so Asher is naming colors correctly more and more so I think he's good!
Cole is the expert waver.. so sweet! And now, when you say "yay" he starts squealing and clapping his hands. So stinking adorable! He can scoot around a lot, pretty slowly, but he can get all over the living room. He's starting to get on his hands and knees so maybe he will crawl like the average baby instead of like an army dude like Asher did. The boys both take a bath together now which is much easier on mama and more fun for them. Asher is such a good brother... sharing toys, sharing the space in the tub and helping wash Cole. I cherish it and really hope to teach my boys that giving is what God asks of us, no matter who has what first... b/c it's all God's and our reward is in Heaven, not here on earth.
Here are some cute photos of Asher from being in the backyard the other day. He is getting to be SO FUN!! And HILARIOUS! These are all in order, within about a 2 minute time-span. Enjoy!
I went back after dinner to work on the office. There were some bookshelves that were attached to the wall which Mark and Dad A had to take down. The previous own had just painted around them so we were needing to paint that room anyway. I've spent probably a good 10 hours there painting it all and I've got probably another 4 hours until it's all done. I think I must just be slow!! But I've very meticulous so that's good. Then, once that dries, we'll have to repaint the trim too before the new carpet can go in. So, I've got my work cut out for me this week!! Mark doesn't like painting much so he's been watching the kids while I go and do that. It's been a great break and I've been listening to some great bible teaching during that time.
Some of you know that we meet with a small group of other Christians every other Sunday night. It's kind of like a bible study I guess. We have a potluck, talk about what God is doing in our lives and talk about the bible teachings we've heard lately. Francis Chan's church in Simi Valley has been very inspirational to us. Just seeing them study the word and really try to live out what it says is so different that your typical "American church" and I know Mark and I have both been challenged to pray about what that means in our lives. Their church has been reading different books of the bible each month to get people to really spend time learning what Jesus did, said, who God is, what He desires for us and how to grow closer to Him.
Our small group has also be trying to come alongside and do the same thing so we've been reading in the book of Luke. It's amazing to see the faith people had in Jesus to heal them. No question, just asking Jesus to cure their disease, cast out demons plaguing their loved ones... it's a faith I certainly lack. They would just go to Him, ask to be healed and Jesus would do it!! One centurion even just sends his servants to ask Jesus to heal another servant saying he knows that even is Jesus just speaks it, that his servant can be healed... and he was! I'm not sure why I always wonder if God wants to heal us or fix us or desire good things for us. Not good things like cars, nice houses, lots of savings. But to be content, to love others and have good relationships with our friends and family. Something to be thinking about for all of us.
On another note, my kids are just getting cuter and cuter. Asher is learning his colors. The other day I went to put on my shirt and he just shouts "GREEN!!!" I was surprised b/c I didn't know he actually knew any colors... I thought he just knew certain objects were known as certain colors... like his green car or red truck. Plus, there was a possibility he could be color blind. My uncle Jeff on my mom's side is color blind so my mom could be a carrier, and I could be a carrier, and either of my boys could have gotten my carrier gene (which is on the X chromosome) so if they did, they would be color blind too. I don't even know what kind of color blindness my uncle has... I think it's a red/green one. Anyway, so Asher is naming colors correctly more and more so I think he's good!
Cole is the expert waver.. so sweet! And now, when you say "yay" he starts squealing and clapping his hands. So stinking adorable! He can scoot around a lot, pretty slowly, but he can get all over the living room. He's starting to get on his hands and knees so maybe he will crawl like the average baby instead of like an army dude like Asher did. The boys both take a bath together now which is much easier on mama and more fun for them. Asher is such a good brother... sharing toys, sharing the space in the tub and helping wash Cole. I cherish it and really hope to teach my boys that giving is what God asks of us, no matter who has what first... b/c it's all God's and our reward is in Heaven, not here on earth.
Here are some cute photos of Asher from being in the backyard the other day. He is getting to be SO FUN!! And HILARIOUS! These are all in order, within about a 2 minute time-span. Enjoy!
Getting up to go running.
Dancing, running and shouting.
Running by, shouting all the while.
Looking up, still making lots of noise.
And then the typical, 2 year-old meltdown.
No worries, back up and having fun again :) Gotta love it.
