Freedom from Quiet Time Guilt

Last month at my college roommate reunion, I mentioned an article I had read about "Quite Time Guilt". I have been struggling with that lately, and decided to post the link to the article. I am someone who struggles with feeling like I have to do the right things to earn God's love and favor. However, He has already given these things to me for free through Christ. I think this article is great for anyone who struggles with the same thing. The link to the article is below. I'd love to hear your thoughts...

http://gregscouch.homestead.com/files/quiet_time_guilt.htm

Cereal Time

Yesterday, Micah got to eat rice cereal for the first time. I had forgotten how messy that can be and why bibs are a must have. He seemed to enjoy the experience. Also, three nights ago Micah slept from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am. This is a cause for great rejoicing and celebration in our home. He has earned his first ice cream cone (to be redeemed after his first birthday).

King Tut

Yesterday we went to the Dallas Museum of Art to see the King Tut Exhibit. Two of the college students in our Bible study needed to go to the museum for a class, so we decided to make it a field trip.



Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed in the exhibit. It was amazing to see so many artifacts that came from ancient Egypt and were preserved for so many years. Abigail's favorite item was a small chair that King Tut probably used to sit on as a little boy. I did not know this before going, but King Tut is not actually there. It makes sense that his body cannot be carted around the world - but we were still a little disappointed. We did get a picture with his mural.



We all had the most fun in the children's area of the museum. They had an area where we could make rubbings over different texture plates. They also had an assortment of different types of boxes to arrange. We liked making a tall tower and knocking it over.





Abby and Kari played really hard so they fell asleep on the way home. What a fun way to spend an afternoon!

Neti Pot

I got a really bad cold last week and decided to try out a sinus cleansing system. I thought about using the neti pot, but then decided on the bottle. The neti pot uses gravity, but, with the bottle, you can squeeze the water, which gives it more pressure. I found the NeilMed bottle along with fifty salt packets at CVS for about $13. I thought about making it myself, but I could not find sodium chloride by itself at CVS. I only had iodized salt at home - and that would really burn. Basically, I poured a salt packet into the bottle and filled it with warm water. I leaned my head over the sink and squeezed the water into my nose. All of the water came out of the other side - it was a really weird feeling. However, it didn't hurt like when I get water in my nose at the swimming pool. I can't say that my cold is any better, but it hasn't gotten any worse, either. I've been able to at least breath out of one side of my nose. I'm not sure if it was worth $13, but I don't regret buying it. In the future I think I'd make my own at home with some Kosher salt and a water bottle with a squirt lid.

successful failure

That's suppose to be an oxymoron right? Like "jumbo shrimp". Even though Abigail is not potty trained and we abandoned boot camp today around noon, I learned several valuable lessons:

1. You cannot make a child "go" in the potty if they are not ready.
2. Woolite Pet Odor and Stain Carpet Cleaner is not just for pets.
3. You think your child will do anything for a fruit snack - but really they won't.
4. If I watch one more episode of Dora the Explorer I might explode.
5. I am definitely taking the batteries out of the Elmo Potty Chair.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I will let you know when we decide to give it another shot. In the meantime its back to diapers...

micah

We have decided to postpone potty training until Monday. We had too much going on this weekend to give it a good shot.

barnhouse

I just got home from a college roommate reunion in Austin. There were eight of us who lived together. Our house looked like a barn and was falling apart, but, for us it was our home - our family. We are spread out now, but we reunite every couple of years. These amazing women challenge and encourage me every time I see them. We are still family.

Many of them are avid bloggers, so I was inspired to give blogging another try. This post will be an intro. My goal is to update every couple of weeks.

I am married to Gene and have two children. Abigail is two and Micah is four months. We took Abigail (who I sometimes refer to as Abby) to the mall before Christmas to ride the carousel. In the picture she is saying, "Giddy up, horsey, giddy up!"

During our reunion my friend who has four children gave me potty training advice. She recommended what I will refer to as "potty training boot camp". Basically I push the liquids and put Abby on the potty every twenty minutes. I heard about this method from several other friends, but never worked up the nerve to try it. I purchased an egg timer yesterday and we are going to Target today to buy some big girl panties. Tomorrow we will train.