A Car Full of Poop

I have never experienced something like I did yesterday.

I was enjoying some coffee with a friend, mind you we were enjoying the Colorado evening outside and were close to my parked car. Isaac had asked to play in the car, we call it alone time, he often has been allowed to do this before. I do not leave my child unattended while in the store or mall, however, if he needs some alone time, I have no problem providing a safe environment for him to do so. So yesterday, shortly after I got my coffee, he asked me for "aown tim" which in Isaac talk translates as "alone time".

I walked him to the car, which remained in eye sight and just a few steps away, and he played and waved while I talked. At one point, Isaac had given my a funny look, not a happy playing look, so I walked over to the car and to my surprise my precious one was upset. As soon as I opened the car door an aroma wave of poop hit me in the face.

Figuring he had just gone poop - which is a common result of his "aown time". However, I soon realized that there was poop in his shoes, under the inserts of his shoes, in his socks, down his pants, in his hair, up his back and ALL OVER the back seat.

There was poop in his car seat, there was poop on my back window and in various places through out the back seat. I open the driver side door to get some wipes out of the front seat and I find more poop.

There was poop on the dashboard, down the front of the glove box, in the passenger seat and all over the center console. To my surprise there were wipes covering most of these areas. My precious little son had gotten into the wipes and attempted to clean up the mess. Bless his heart!

I was left with no wipes following his clean up efforts so I striped him down to his birthday suit and rinsed him off with the bottled water I had in my truck. I then wrapped up his naked self in a blanket that was also in my trunk and thrown the diaper and clothes away. I did save the shoes as they are his FAVORITE!

However, my sweet pea was still very upset and when I asked him why, he promptly told me "binkie got dirty, I can't cween it. I can't do it. I wust can't do it" I told him I had to throw his binkie away which make him more upset but then I promised him I would buy him a new one.

His response "new orange binkie?"

Mama: "Yes baby, mama will buy you a new binkie"

Isaac: "Orange!!! Orange"

I agreed to purchase him a new orange binkie - apparently that one was his favorite.

We got home, daddy helped clean up Isaac while I cleaned the car... however, after using an entire container of Clorox wipes, Antibacterial Windex, two rolls of paper towels, soap and water, I had to leave a dryer sheet in the car and leave all the windows down as the smell would not leave the vehicle.

And today, the smell still lingers, the car seat pads are washed and dried, and I am now struggling to remember how they went on the car seat in the first place. But, we are no worse for the wear and the car is clean, which I have wanted to do for a few weeks.

It was a humbling mama experience, one that I can laugh about now, but one that still makes my heart hurt just a little bit...

Wordless Wednesday

My OCD in FULL Swing

Just a little evidence of the fact that I suffer from OCD... just a little bit...

I recently have fallen in LOVE with cutting coupons... I have saved up to $40.00 in one shopping trip, leaving the final balance around $80.00...

... I have gotten FREE cleaning supplies which for me, is almost better than flowers...

... I have another excuse to purchase some cool color tabs and pull out my sharpie markers...

... and the BEST part of it all: it fits nicely in my purse so I never have to go without it.

My goal for May's grocery shopping is to only purchase items I have coupons for and NOT to get carried away with the "stocking up" mentality... after all, the point is to save money, not purchase items you don't need simply because you have a coupon!

I will say, if the brand name item with a coupon is still more expensive than the off brand, the coupon will have to wait, either for a better sale or the trash can... I love my off brand items!

Here's to fun shopping for FREE! or at least for LESS!

Ironing...

I don't iron, EVER, so when I do, I typically use the kitchen counter, the dining table or even the floor as my ironing board...

... so if I don't iron often, what would cause me to iron my jeans? Let alone at 6:40am on a Saturday Morning?

Go HERE to check out what made me iron so early in the morning...

A new morning routine...

Starting this morning...

... I will attempt to make my own coffee...

... not just my own coffee... but my very own WHITE CHOCOLATE MOCHA!

I am attempting to do this because it will limit the amount of time I spend in the drive thru Starbucks line, thus it limits the amount of money I give them...

Prayers are appreciated, as I LOVE my white chocolate mocha's from Starbucks...

Fish Video!

Isaac LOVES his fish. I am sure they will go deaf before they die of hunger.

We are still attempting to potty train, so far it's not too stressful. Mama is just praying for the fish to last another few weeks. After all, mama does not have a good track record when it comes to keeping goldfish alive.

So far so good...

Well...

I am happy to report...

... the fish are still ALIVE!!!!

They now have a few new rocks in their bowl and a nice big blue shark to keep them company...

... oh and we bought another package of diapers at the store...

... so I think the fact that we have kept the fish alive while potty training goes in waves is a pretty good thing...

I would say this "experiment" has been a success... so far...

Potty Training = Gold Fish

Two Gold Fish = $.28 each

Thomas the Train Underwear = $5.00 for 10 pairs

Isaac goes potty in the big boy potty and keeps himself clean = Treat (Fruit Snacks, Suckers, Etc)

Isaac gets a treat = Gold Fish get a treat

Potty Training a two year old boy = Hard Work but FUN!

Jesus, please keep the fish alive until the boy is potty trained. We love you! Amen

Capture life in Pixels

My sister has started a new adventure... and if anyone can do it, she can... she is the one in our family who I would say is the "artist"... she is creative, she can use a sewing machine, she can play the piano, she can do almost any craft there is and she enjoys them.

She has recently set out on a mission to capture everyday life in pixels. Her goal is not capture the perfect picture… if there even is such a thing. Her goal is to capture the personality, character, and uniqueness of each subject. She see's photography as an art.

You see, our grandma is a water color artist. And our great-aunt is a children’s book author. Not to mention our great-uncle works magic with rocks and gems. And she is blessed with the artistic gene, and it just happens to come out in her photography.

She has captured some of my favorite memories as a mama...

She has brought back memories from childhood with a click of her lenses...

(on a side note, I ran into a parked car on my bike in Jr. High because I was checking out a cute boy, so that is why I just LOVE this picture)

She has taken ordinary days and turned them into life long beloved pictures...

And I could not be more proud of her. Please check out her personal blog: CLICK HERE

It is on her personal blog where you will fall in love with the most precious little niece one auntie could ask for and get a little peek into her life.

Check out her photography site: CLICK HERE

It is on this site that you will see what a great artist she is behind the camera.

I love you Mandy! I know there was a time in life when we use to beat up on each other on the play ground, and you know better than anyone that I would do just about anything for you. I support you in this new adventure and am so excited I could just pee my pants and spit Dr. Pepper out my nose. So here is to a great new adventure, may Sweet Jesus bless it richly and beyond your wildest dreams... I LOVE YOU!

It's Hard Work... Being a Boy...

Isaac likes to fix things... everything really.

He is getting really good at the typical "guy" stuff...

... you know, using tools and watching TV...

... although, sometimes it's REALLY hard work...

... being a boy...

Beauty....

Since when is this UGLY....

and since when is this BEAUTY?

Go here to see what else is said about beauty.... CLICK HERE

Need vs. Want...

It's been a while since I left the hospital, almost 3 months. I have spent my days working on Ministry stuff, hanging out with Isaac and finalizing the last details with regards to my book. It has definitely been busy, just not the 8-5 kind of busy.

Over the last three months Andrew and I have been blessed with watching the Lord provide for us on a daily basis.

After all, He has provided us a comfortable place to call home. It meets our needs. We have enough space, we enjoy our family time in our home and we have "made it our own"...

I have watched the Lord challenge me in areas I never knew He cared about. I am not the crafty/art person in my family. I am not one to keep something just in case I could re-use it one day. I have watched the Lord challenge me personally in this area...

I have created a space for Isaac and I to hang out as the weather turns warmer... I have created it for really, really, cheap... And to top it all of He gave me the design idea while I spent time with Him one day...

I have watched the Lord challenge me in my shopping... I have become addicted to coupons and have watched Him bless us with the exact coupons we need at the time we need them. I have been blessed with FREE cleaning supplies, which is music to my ears and makes my heart beat faster and faster as I just think about it... I have saved over $30.00 within one trip to the store, and have not gone without the necessary items...

I have witnessed the Lord move in my son's heart. I have been blessed with the opportunity to be at home with Isaac during the day, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to have conversations like this:

Isaac: "I can't do it mama... I can't"

Mama: "Yes you can... You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you...."

Isaac: "Pays the Lood... I did it mama"

That was our conversation as we drove home last night, he was having a hard time getting a toy he wanted while strapped into his car seat... I just love the way he says Praise the Lord!

I have watched the Lord provide more than my son needs on a daily basis. After all, a kid doesn't really NEED fruit snacks, a room to call his own, a bathroom to call his own and more toys than one Mama could count.

Right now, at this time in our life, I find us trusting Him just like we did when He blessed us with our son... When He blessed us with Isaac, I was trusting Him to bring peace to my husband as he struggled with anxiety. When He blessed us with Isaac, we trusted Him with our finances and when He blessed us with Isaac, we trusted Him with him...

So for now, for today, I will cling to Him and His word and trust again... I will pray this scripture over my husband as he goes to work each day and as I send out more resumes and wait for the Ministry and the book to move according to His desires. I will trust in HIS promise!

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

The Toy Store

We had to do some running around for the Ministry today and Isaac asked me if we could go to the Tree Toy Store when we were done.

Isaac: "Ccccan we go to the treeeeee toy store?"

Mama: "You want to go to the toy store? What toy store are you talking about?"

Isaac: "Pay with my monies and toys"

So what this conversation meant was that Isaac wanted to go to the Dollar Tree and by a toy with a dollar. You see, when we do running around we often visit the Dollar Store for snacks and other goods and if Isaac is a good boy, he gets to pick out a toy and pay for it with real money. (Real money normally means the change at the bottom of Mama's purse)

I just love the fact that my kid thinks the dollar store is the toy store! Notice his new red truck in the picture.... He bought himself!

Wordless Wednesday

I would give anything to cuddle with you right now my precious little one... I miss you!

All we need are some flowers....

I recently did a make over on the front porch. I am officially addicted to HGTV and I LOVE the shows: Take it Outside and Crib Appeal. So... I started with a budget of $30.00.

I already owned the chairs. They are technically inside chairs that match my dining set. But I have too many so I put 2 outside.

I needed to create something that was cheap, had storage for Isaac's toys and was attractive. I really like the traditional look of the red and white table cloths so I purchased one from a fabric store for $4.99 and went from there.

I already had the big red storage bin and Nana & Papa had the small red bucket, so I had storage, I just needed to get creative about securing it so the toys don't blow away or get taken...

Because the chairs were white, I wanted a table to match... so I had to purchase 2 cans of spray paint which totaled $5.00 - Thanks to WALMART! Any guess to how I made the table without using a single nail?

I made the table out of 2 TV dinner trays that we already owned. A little spray paint and they looked like a brand new set. I found a large piece of wood in my neighbors trash and decided it would make the perfect table top. I spray painted that too.

I trimmed the table with damaged crown molding from Lowes - which was free because it was damaged - a little wood filler and some spray paint and it looks like it has always been one big table - And I held it all together with a little magic called "Liquid Nails" which we already owned from a previous project. The coolest part of the table - I happened to attached the wood in a way that I could still fold down the top for easy storage, so it is basically on big TV tray!

The most expensive part of the entire make over, was the clear over lay on top of the table, which I bought and had cut to size at Lowes. The fake glass was $20.00 and I cut a piece of the table cloth to fit under neath.

I threw together some accessories I had around the house and am currently on a hunt for some cute planters to add to the decor.

Now, all we need are some potted plants and warm weather so we can play outside. I am so excited to hang out with Isaac out there this summer! I will post a few FINISHED product pictures complete with Isaac playing and the potted plants a little bit later, but for now, our tiny outdoor space is a nice extension of our house...

Man, I love HGTV!

Easter at our house...

Easter started off with a "special breakfast" - in our house a "special breakfast" is normally something with lots of sugar and icing of some kind. And Easter morning was no different - we had cinnamon rolls and milk!

While daddy got Isaac dressed, mama hid a few fun things around the house...

... Isaac got the hang of picking up the "sports themed" eggs, but notice he left the candy behind. Precious thing didn't think those little chocolate and peanut butter eggs in the yellow wrapper where for him... mind you, they "are" for him, mama and daddy just eat them too!

He sure did get lots of jelly beans and chocolate!

He loved every bit of it! He did find a few things that were not candy, such as a few books, some music toys, and of course some goodies from his Grandma & Grandpa and his Papa & Nana.

I tell ya, this kid make out with the goods, so did we... We made out with a living Savior and we could not be more excited about it! Just like my kid is excited about his "candy bucket", I am excited to know that my Savior lives! It was a great, peaceful, restful and family centered Easter at our house this year. It was perfect!

It didn't end with Friday

Friday, Good Friday, was a rough day for me. Not only because it was Good Friday and the very memory of what my Savior did for me tends to make me cry... but because there was a knock on my door, a package was delivered and fear, anxiety, doubt, and worry set in...

Shortly after receiving the information, I got in the car, and drove... I drove and drove and drove some more...

I tried over and over to remember the scriptures I have firmly founded my faith on...

I tried hard to remember that He is on my team...

I tried hard to remember that the "information" I received, was not the truth, nor was it from Him who speaks the truth.

I tried to be patient, I attempted to "count it all joy", I failed... I think mean people suck and I think the Bible supports that theory.

I tried to remember that I was not alone in this, after all, He was hated before me. After all, that was what this Friday was all about, the intense hatred of my Jesus and His suffering...

I tried to stand firm. I tried to remember the promise, that not a hair on my head will perish, but by standing firm, I will gain life...

Through my flood of tears, I tried to remember a song I love! (Sunday by Tree 63)

Nothing’s sacred, the days are cheap
Truth is thin on the ground
Still our prophets are crucified
Nobody believes we’re stumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

Someone’s saying a prayer tonight
For hungry mouths to be filled
Someone kneels in the dark somewhere
And darkness is already crumbling
It’s Friday, but Sunday comes

Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away
Sunday – Hallelujah – it’s not so far, it’s not so far away

Broken promises, weary hearts
But one promise remains:
Crucified, he will come again
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming
It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming

And now that Sunday has come, the peace has started to appear. The fear has started to dissipate and the anxiety no longer paralyzes me for hours, just minutes at a time now...

Needless to say, I found Him, on this weekend, the one where He suffered and died and conquered the grave, I found Him, well really, He found me. I know first hand what it means for Him to come to our rescue, for Him to never give us more than we can handle and I know first hand what it means when He says that He will never leave nor forsake us. I now know why those scriptures mean so much to me. I know why His word means so much to me.