Update!

Ok...just a quick potty training update...Jillian has had 1 accident in 2 days!!! I know, for any male out there, that is an awfully boring post...but I am so excited I can hardly stand it!! Not only for progress...but because diapers are SOOO expensive these days!! Woohoo!!

I hate politics.

My heart has been so heavy today. Not only for all the events of September 11th, but for our country itself. I think all of the events have just reminded me how impactful hate can be regardless what you do. I have really had to earnestly pray in this area, because I know that I know the Lord is the only one who can fix our countries issues...and yet I know He has a perfect plan, regardless of what happens. We spent 2 1/2 weeks in China. What came on our TV was controlled...what was printed in the papers was controlled...what our guides were allowed to tell us was controlled. I do not believe our government is in anyway attempting to control what we see...but I do believe our media is. Just go to a check out line at the grocery store. I was stunned today at the headlines of the magazines glorifying Barack Obama, and slamming Sarah Palin. Now, obviously, I am a McCain/Palin supporter...but frankly, I don't even think it matters. For the most part, our media, the entertainment business, so many famous actors...all seem to be so extremely liberal....and in control of what the Average Joe sees. Journalism is a thing of the past...I really believe that. There is no fact stating...it's opinion stating. My mother was wondering who the real Sarah Palin is. Well, according to one channel...she's this, and the other, she's that. Because everybody wants to put a slant. Please give me (and us) just the facts, and let us make up our own mind. Do I think all liberals are awful evil people....of course not. My kids would have one grandparent in their life if I did. But do I think the liberal MEDIA is trouble right now....absolutely. Do you realize, if you didn't have a 24 hour news channel, how little you would know about the world around you. I honest to goodness need to cut off my cable so I can't see it. I would be SUCH a happier person if I didn't hear all the slamming of Palin for her solid Christian beliefs, and senseless bickering of both parties over ridiculous issues. I know for so many out there, the real issue is not what mine is. My real issue is my children's eternal life....and the quality of life they will have her on earth. I'm afraid the Hollywood elite is jeaopardizing both of those items in my children's life. As most of you know, I have 4 children...that I am praying for every single day. I'm praying that they will stand strong to Christian values when they are bombarded with homosexuality issues in middle school. I am praying that my daughter's (and sons) will stand strong when promise rings are being ridiculed by their pop idols. I am praying that they stand strong, and stand with the love of Jesus Christ, and not the poison of hate that is being spewed against Christians, and their rights, and values. The Lord is going to have to come in and not only heal this generation coming up and what they are being bombarded with...but our country as a whole.

Show Me Your Teeth!!!

Well, as pitiful as this is...I am adding pictures that my dear sweet worker...Ashley...added to her facebook. I then, downloaded them to my computer, and now to my blog. The challenge is...she posted the silly pics. Right now, when you ask Jillian to smile...you literally have to tell her, "show me your teeth". That's how you get her to smile. And for a little while, it worked beautifully, but now, she's just gone a little nutso with it. Of course, I'm sure it's because she would get great laughs for it, therefore, it just has to get bigger and better each time!! LOL!! So, here are several great pictures of Jillian's teeth.


This last picture is of Collin and Philip...Ashley's boyfriend. My kid's have absolutely fallen in love with him. He loves to play with them...and as you can see...he and Collin think very much alike! lol!!

Potty Training

This is not a picture of one of my kids. I do have one equally as precious of Madison wearing her pj's and barney slippers, reading a book, sitting on the potty. However, those were the days before digital photography, and since I still have no scanner....I have no way to post them. But regardless of who is in the picture...it is a classic potty training pic. The stance...the distraction...the proper placement on the seat, careful not to lose balance. So complicated!! Or not. We are potty training Jillian. We are generally having great success with this. Although, I have to remind myself that last time I potty trained a child...I just had kids. I didn't own a store, and have bigger kids that had to get to more important events as opposed to just a play date. So I humble myself to you, and tell you my patience is just not what it used to be. Same age, same issue, different place in life for mom. And different child. I know all kids have a mind of their own, but Jillian takes that to a whole notha level!! She can be as stubborn as .....well....her momma. As a general rule, I am proud to say, I win. Ever so often, I realize there is just no point in making such a big issue of something so small, and I let it slide. But for the big issues...I will win. All that being said...I am convinced Jillian knows full and well when she needs to potty. But she may not want to stop what she's doing long enough to go. She will sometimes even casually come get a diaper out of the cabinet, lay it on the floor, and try as hard as she can to diaper herself. Saying poo-poo all the way. Ummm, clearly, if she's capable of diapering herself, then she's capable to sit on the potty and poo poo where mommy doesn't have to touch anything. And I think we are working through those challeneges as well. It's so funny to me how just a few short years change your life. When I was potty training my 3rd...we just stayed home. And he could run around naked, and rush to the potty, etc. I can't exactly let Jillian run around naked. Although she would really like to! lol!! But, even though we are having to do it differently than before....I think it's going to work just fine. I'm very impressed with how smart she really is. So, run down for day 1, 2, and 3 of full potty training....is thumbs up. A few accidents, and a few stubborn accidents. But this too shall pass...and our budget will be so thankful for for the lack of diapers and wipes that have to be bought with our budget!! Joy! Joy! Joy! Now, if I can just get her to learn to swim...we'll be good.

A Century of Living

I have for some time wanted to go into nursing homes, and interview some people that have lived their lives. I've wanted to know what their regrets were. I so desperately want to learn from them. I remember when I was wanting to get pregnant with Collin, I would think of how hard that newborn stage was. And how I wasn't just really sure I wanted to go through that all over again. Then in the back of my mind, I would remember how fast that stage went. One day, you give birth, and the next day.... they start kindergarten. I did NOT want to get to the age of 45 and wish that I had more children. And then a few older people told me how they really wished they had had 1 more child. That it just seemed so hard in the midst of raising young children, but then, how truly fast time goes....and then they are gone and out of the house. So it became official...I wanted that 3rd child. Ok, just for fairness sake..then I wanted that 4th child...but ONLY if I could adopt. But that's beside the point. The whole round about thought process of all that is this: I saw a movie this morning called "A Century of Living". It was an unbelieveably fascinating, moving, and eye opening experience to watch. Times have changed so much over the last 150 years...and I just can't say it's all been for the better. Obviously, some conveniences we couldn't live without. But these people spoke differently, lived differently, loved differently, and worked differently than we do. They had baking days, and washing days, and shopping days. To wash was an all day experience. I think most of us know that already about pioneer days, but to see actual interviews with people who lived it, was so great for me. By no means am I saying I want to go back to those days, but I do so desperately wish some of those values would come back. The loyalty to family, to country, and to God were clear in every single one of those interviews. Women stayed home with the kids, and the husband worked. And took pride in the fact that his wife didn't have to work. Why is it so different now?? It seems that most men now, totally expect their wives to work...and our society puts women down that want to "just stay home". I think that's what I see in those Andy Griffith episodes. Modern day living...with those same values. Why can't we have it all now? What possibly can we do to get back there? Or is it even possible?

I know this post has nothing to do with my journey with jillian...or anything about my family. But I think it is an important thing to remember how far we've come. I lose sight of the great many blessings we have been given. None of us have had to live through the great depression, or the dust bowl. Most of us won't have children that die of a cold because there was no doctor in our town, and it turned to pneumonia. Most of us, (ok I can pretty much say all here) won't have to jump train cars to get a ride somewhere, and steal 3 rolls to tide us over for the day. It's just crazy what these people went through. A couple of them weren't able to have children, and talked about the grief they experienced from that. But then went on to talk about how life will deal you some blows, and you move on....because that's life. So inspiring! I was absolutely glued to this movie....and I'm trying to figure out where to buy it. I want to watch it again, and I want my children to watch it....and maybe we can all learn something from it.

Another delay for me....

Sorry for such a delay. If you've read Anna's blog....you have seen that a week ago today she went to be with the Lord. I just really can't imagine what that family is going through. Continue to pray for them....when all the family has gone back home, their older daughter is back at school, and the mom is at home by herself, I'm sure the quiet will get to her. The Lord alone will have to see her through this unbelieveably difficult time.

Since my post last week, we have certainly had an adventure. We headed down to see the opening game for LSU. It was so stinkin hot we couldn't stay past half time. We thought since the game had been moved up to 10 am it would help...but it only re positioned the sun to be square in our faces. We did have a great time with the couple we went with, so it wasn't all lost by any means. We headed out on Saturday afternoon only to be faced with bumper to bumper to bumper traffic of people trying to evacuate due to Gustav. We really thought we had planned for plenty of time, and were a little surprised to get stuck...but it didn't last long at all..thankfully. We did stop at one gas station to fill up the tank, only to be told they were out of gas. Scary thought. We did make it home safe and sound and were so thankful we went. On Labor Day, Gustav came ashore, and crushed my Dad's house. We had known it was going to be worse than Katrina for them in Baton Rouge, but we really never imagined it would be as bad as it was. Daddy said it looks very much like where Katrina hit in New Orleans in spots in Baton Rouge....if that makes any sense. By the time Gustav got here, the wind wasn't too bad, but it drenched us. My store flooded Tuesday and Wednesday. Thankfully, my floors are concrete and most of my merchandise is on racks...so we just had to get some shop vacs in there. My kids school has been cancelled all week...so that has been interesting. They think since they are on a surprise "vacation", then we should be doing something fun every single day. HUH??!! So, we are trying to take advantage of a more leisurely schedule, as we prepare for them to be off again next week.

That is the run down for us. We are enjoying an evening at home tonight with just Chandler. The little one's are all at friend's, and my friend asked for Jillian for the evening. And of course, I would never, ever want to hurt my friend's feelings....lol!! Hope all is well out there for everyone! Blessings!

Devestation.

There is a little girl in one of our China adoption yahoo groups, that just about a few hours ago, was pulled off of life support. The family brought her home in June. They knew she had a heart defect. They were getting it fixed. There were some challenges with a cath, and it evidently ripped a vein. She has not regained her consciousness since. I read those prayer request emails come through, and last night it hit me like a mack truck. What could this family be going through?? What emotions are they feeling right now?? I am physically nauseated right now. I know the Lord can TOTALLY work miracles...we've seen it time and time again...and recently. I'm asking you to pray for total healing for Anna. I don't know them. I've only read emails they've sent along the way. If you'd like to see a picture of her, you can follow this link... http://prayingforanna.blogspot.com/ . I know sometimes I get so many prayer requests, that it just helps when I have a face to put with the name. I am praying we'll be able to see the Lord's hand at work one more time. His name will be glorified....regardless of the outcome.