This Week on the Brady Bunch....

Hallie and Bailee competed in AWANA Games this past weekend. Hallie got First Place in Bible Quizzing and Last Place in the Games. We laughed thinking of the scripture... The last shall be first and the first shall be last!!! She gets to go to State and compete at Helena, MT in mid-March.

Bailee celebrated Dr. Suess' Birthday by dressing like "Thing 1" for their Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast at school!
Charlie is wearing a very special Bomber Jacket. It was my little brother "Josh's"

This week Jay decided he wants to have four kids when he grows up to be a daddy. He's already picked out their names. He's going to have two girls named Water and Zip. Two boys named Horse and Rainbow. If he can't remember their names he's just going to call them Funky 1, Funky 2, Funky 3, and Funky 4! Why didn't I think of that?

Quiet Time

So, I had another question about how I spend my hour with My God and My Lord?

I hate to admit it but I am most consistent with my "quiet-time" when I am in a Bible Study with others. Tara, you already know this about me. I do my daily homework and then I pray through what I just learned.

If I am not in a bible study... I have read daily a chapter out of Power of a Praying Wife and Power of a Praying Parent, My Utmost for His Highest, and right now I am re-reading Purpose Driven Life. All of which are thick with scripture. I've also been known to read a chapter out of Proverbs and Psalms. Or I'll study the scriptures given to us in church on Sundays. Just Give me Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz is a study of the Book of John, soooo good! But don't get away from the scriptures, I got into the habit of just reading and lost the scripture study and it is not the same. Also, taking some time to memorize scripture is always a huge blessing.

After I study, then I pray. I have to write in a prayer journal because I tend to fall asleep if I don't. I have also been known to pray scriptures out loud over my family, I haven't done that in awhile probably need to start again. I have a notebook filled with some of my favorite promises from HIM for me and my family! Then I always hear prayer request throughout the week to pray specifically for others.

If the boys still haven't woken up, then I turn on some praise music and start cleaning in a prayerful, worshipful mind-set!

Your Quiet time with Him is personal and won't be the same as mine. I thought I might share what mine has been like over the years. It grows and develops and changes just as your walk with Him. This may sound a little corny but... when I first started spending time with Him I got a mental picture of a flower. Reading His word and Praying to Him is like sunshine and rain to a flower. We need it daily. It can't grow and be pretty or healthy without both of these important elements. The longer I go without one or the other the worse I get. Isn't that right, honey?

Bonkos for the Broncos!

Today was spirit day at Washington Jr. High!!! Last night Brady ran Riley to "Stuff-Mart" to get her some blue and gold nail polish and blue and gold ribbons. She and I painted her nails blue first then a gold glittery top-coat! She got up early to crimp her hair (can you believe it, Mom?). Personally, I loved crimping my hair, just for special occasions, of course!!! She also wore a t-shirt she had printed up with "BONKOS FOR THE BRONCOS". I can't believe Riley is on the verge of becoming a teen-angel! I was just getting accustomed to the tweens. She doesn't even like Limited Too anymore! So far so good, she is awesome! She just penned some poems about her siblings tonight. I thought I'd include them in this post! I thought some of y'all might enjoy knowing she hasn't changed completely. (Remember her sweet little poems she wrote in the third grade, that she would read to the family?)

Hallie

My adorable lil’ sib,
With musical talent divine,
I’ve been with you since the crib,
Now you’re almost nine!
You have this certain air,
It lets people know “You can,”
We make an awesome pair,
My cutie, Hallie Anne!

LYLAS, (well actually you are my sister)
Riley

Bailee

My dearest little sis,
With a giggle so fine,
Your sweetest little kiss,
Earned your way into this heart of mine,
With your bubbly personality,
And that simply gorgeous face,
You possess originality,
My little Bailee Grace!

Love always,
Riley

Jay

My energetic brother,
With your famous little prayers,
I’d never want another,
To pray for my affairs,
Slowly your eyes close,
Then you bow your head,
Your innocence, it shows,
When you thank Him for our daily bread,
And every now and then,
You say these precious words,
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Love,
Riley

Charlie

My tiny little man,
You are growing way too quickly,
This was NOT the plan,
Your feet are supposed to stay tickly,
With eyes so blue and that cute button nose,
You are forever to be my baby,
I love you so much, from your head to your toes,
I might let you grow up, just maybe

Your biggest sister,
Riley

How Do I Manage?

This post is for my new blog-friend.... She asked how I manage my home with so many kids. That is a really big question! I wasn't sure exactly what info you are interested in so, I'll just give you what prayerfully comes to mind and you can ask anything more specific.

First of all, I have a wonderful husband who comes to my rescue anytime I get in a bind (like scheduling conflicts, doctor appointments). He also takes the girls to school every morning and when his schedule allows it he calls me and offers to pick up the girls and run them to violin or to cheer at a game ect.... He is also really wonderful about dinner. I try to cook nice meals but, sometimes it is just Schwans or last night we picked up take-out. We go out to eat about once a week.

I also have a wonderful Christian woman come to my house for three hours a week during the school year to clean the floors and the bathrooms (this is new for me). In the summer the girls help me with the cleaning. They also are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and picking up after themselves around the house. Riley my oldest has started doing her own laundry. My first and third graders are starting to help me with their own laundry. The girls also get their own breakfast and make their lunch if they don't want what is offered at school. I really think it is important for my kids to know how to take care of themselves when they leave the nest. I want them to know life is about balancing work and play. When you finish the work then you can play!

It is my goal each day to spend time with my Lord(about an hour). Reading His Word and Praying. I wish I would get up every morning and start my day with Him, but I'm not consistent. So, I spend the day looking for that uninterrupted hour. I usually find it. I can't do life without Him! I need His wisdom, encouragement, forgiveness, and perfect love. Another one of my daily goals is to do something nice for someone. Taking too small clothes to someone, mail a card or a package, having people over for dinner (about once a month), sometimes my days are so busy just praying for someone other than myself is enough.

When you are a mother of little ones it is so difficult to continually be pouring into others. Some days it feels as if there is nothing left to give. That is why it is so important to run to the Lord to be filled up again.

AND TO KNOW THIS LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE-THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.
Ephesians 3:19

Let me know if you just wanted to know how I organize my cabinets and closets! Or when I change my kids clothes from summer to winter? Or how to remove a sucker stain from a leather couch?

Southern Northerners

Are y'all tired of snow yet? We are still enjoying it but, running out of new things to do in it. We've made snow angels, snowmen, snowballs, and snow ice cream. I think we still have another month of below freezing weather.

Happy Birthday Bailee!

Today is Bailee's Seventh Birthday! Seven! 7! One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN!!! How did she get to be seven? She is such a funny little six, I mean seven year old. Her favorite color is still blue. She likes cereal or yogurt for dessert instead of some sweet thing the rest of us are eating. She loves the cold weather "cause I'm a winter baby" she says through her toothless grin. At this point, I think she needs to pursue a career in advertising and marketing. The librarian loves when Bailee comes to the library because she starts "selling" the books to the other kids! You always know exactly how she's feeling, there's no guessing with her! I love this little doll God gave me to play with. Some little boy out there is going to fall hard for her. I hope he's saving his money cause she really loves sparkly jewelery, the bigger the better! (I need to teach her wisdom is far more valuable than pretty stones)

We had a slumber party last night. We took 'em bowling, ate, sang, opened presents ect. FUN! FUN! FUN!

Daniel Study

Success! We've been trying since December to have a get together for our Daniel Bible Study Group and it finally happened last night! It was a sweet time of fun and food!!! We did miss some of our sweet girls...Jamie, Anna, Rene, Wendi, Rhonda and Sherry. And congratulations to Amber for bringing sweet baby Alise into the world this week!!!! These women have become so dear to me and I am so glad to see them every week. We are on week ten of our study and I am so proud of these busy women for sticking with it! God has been showing us some amazing things about trying to lead lives of integrity.

A Saturday in Montana

Hoop Heaven

Hallie and Bailee were half-time entertainers for the High School girls B-Ball game this past Saturday Night. They participated in "Hoop Heaven" which was a basketball clinic for elementary girls. The Miles City Cowgirls were state champs last year and have only lost one game so far this season.

Truth in Humor

Yes, I was joking about my last "Venti" post. However, humor just isn’t funny unless it reflects some semblance of truth. So, I thank you for allowing me to say somethings I've been thinking. First of all, I am soooo glad to know my mom is reading the blog. The purpose for the blog has been fulfilled. The sweet contact with my friends is icing on the cake(which in my recipe book is totally necessary). I really appreciated Etta's post on blogging. It was exactly what I needed to read, I gained a new perspective. She's a deep pool. Me, I'm a pond that can get deep when it rains or really shallow when it's hot. I'm proud to announce I am listed among Jeanine's friends. She, like Etta, is an amazing Godly woman. Thank you for being patient with me as I grow as a Christian and a blogger.