Gungor "God is not a white Man"

saw this video at church a few weeks ago.  was given a similar disclaimer as the one Im about to give.  this video is NOT saying sin is OK.  it is NOT agreeing or disagreeing with any particular view.  it is just making the point that sometimes we "put God in a box".  sometimes we think the way we do something, or the way our church does something or our culture does something is the "right" way.  sometimes we fail to realize our traditions, while they may not be wrong, are not biblical. 

sin is NOT OK.  God gave us guidelines to follow for our own good.  rules to help us live more abundant lives, to save us from unnecessary hurt.  not rules to follow to pat ourselves on the back when we get them right and then point at others to show them how wrong they are. 

people are all different forms of messed up.  including me.  God loves us all, just as a parent loves their children even when they are not perfect.  could you imagine if i decided i didn't love Presley or Miley anymore because they messed up or disagreed with me or disobeyed me.  that's absurd.  to think God loves any of His children less than He loves you or me is just as absurd. 

make wise choices.  avoid sinful behavior. be good examples. but let God judge.  love people despite your disagreeances and allow the Holy Spirit to do His job. love as an action, even when the warm and fuzzies are not there.

being a Christian means i believe in God,i believe Jesus died for me and saved my soul so that one day when this temporary life is over i will spend eternity with Him. period. by grace, not because i have somehow earned it. it does not mean that i have somehow achieved a position on a pedestal that makes me any better than anyone else. compare yourselves to the only Holy One, not me or any other Christian or you will certainly find yourselves disappointed. we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus while on earth.  study the Word and tell me how often your see Jesus playing the role of judge and how often you see Him pouring out unconditional love.

annnnnnd, that tangent is now over.

Presley update

We went to see Dr. Freedman today.  She was great with Presley.  Presleys eye pressure was 36 today.  Too high.  But she isn't having many symptoms so they are OK with that for now. 

2 weeks ago we tried to do half of the blood pressure pill and her symptoms started to return so we went back on the whole pill.  Dr. Freedman suggested that sometimes the glaucoma can "settle down" and stop causing the symptoms.  So right now the plan is too start several new eye drops (now up to 5 different ones a day) and next week go back down to half a pill.  after 2 weeks we are to email her and let her know if her symptoms are returning or if her eye is adjusting to the pressure.  If she seems to adjust we will keep reducing medications and hope for the best.

She felt like this was the only alternative to surgery.  I got the sense she didn't necessarily feel like it would work but that taking an eye out was such a huge ordeal (obviously) and that we should exhaust every option first, being that Presley is not in extreme pain right now. 

So, I agree.  Lucas and I certainly want to feel like we did everything we could to keep her eye.  Though I feel stuck back in the "waiting game" , I trust that Gods timing is perfect.

When we walked out of the building today Presley said, "so im going to start some new eye drops and stop taking my pill?"  and we said yep.  She said, very matter of fact..."thats not going to work."

We will see.  We will pray.  It will work out.

genetics

                                                   wonder which Baby # 3 will look like??

H is for...

H is for...

Happy Birthday Miley!

H is for...Hoons = Balloons

(the only present she asked for)

H is also for...

Hotch = Watch

Hool = Pool

Hogurt = Yogurt

Hock Hock = Rock Rock

Hotter = Water

Love that girl

La Luna (Pixar)

We took Presley and Miley to see Brave today.  Very cute movie.  They showed a Pixar clip titled La Luna  before the movie that made the whole thing worth it.  I could only find a small clip of it, but you need to see the whole thing.  I am aware that once you see it you may not get the same goosebumps as I did.  God speaks to our hearts in different ways.  But He used this simple cartoon to reassure me today.  To tell me He has the parts that are "behind the scenes" under control.  I have not doubted this.  Just feels good to hear it sometimes.

crowns

"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my JOY and my CROWN...Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
                                      Philippians 4:1-7

instagrams

jello

sunbathing

strange obsession

birthday gifts from WV

july 4th

dragstrip ear "puffs"

parents magazine

sleepyhead

yuk

scary

baby daddy kisses

sidewalk chalk

catching butterflys...or sand

target trip

convenient, lazy, overwhelmed, call it what you want but, we combined the girls birthday parties this year.  Presley didn't care and Miley didn't know any better so we got away with it.  it was sooooo hot, but we were able to stay inside for the most part and the kids had the pool in the backyard so we survived.  they had a blast.

love the monogrammed cakes!  (miley kept bumping into hers, so it has a few dents, but they were beautiful and yummy...by Delicious Bakery of course)

take a close look behind the party favors

Presley asks for a pinata every year, this year i remembered to get it.

by the time i got out to take a picture she had already busted it.

i didn't do a great job of getting pictures of everyone

thankful for our family and friends.

thankful for the unbelievable joy Presley and Miley bring to my life