Cookies and Pumpkins

Over the weekend we made some chocolate chip cookies and some peanut butter cookies.  Claire loves helping.  Here are a few pictures.  (Claire is also going through a phase of not wanting to have her picture taken.  She avoids eye contact whenever the camera is in-hand.  It makes for some very odd pictures of the top of her head.)

Our church has a pumpkin patch as a fundraiser for the children’s department.  Last night we volunteered to man the patch and sell pumpkins.

Claire helped.

I tried taking a few pictures of Claire in the middle of the pumpkins, but she kept running away.

What’s better than having your name spelled out in pumpkins?

Tonight we are attending a small group meeting.  We’re hoping to make lots of new friends.  Then on Thursday, we’re headed back to Tulsa for the weekend.  And Sunday, we’re planning another trip to Sea World.  Hopefully there will be lots of good pictures.  Have a great week!

Love’s motivation

“It doesn’t take much experience to discover that your mate will not always motivate your love.  [But] when God is your reason for loving, your ability to love is guaranteed.  That’s because love comes from Him.  The love that’s demanded from you in marriage is not dependent on your mate’s sweetness or suitability.  The love between a husband and wife should have one chief objective: honoring the Lord with devotion and sincerity.  The fact that it blesses our beloved in the process is simply a wonderful, additional benefit.  Being able to wake up knowing that God is your source and supply – not just of your own needs but also those of your spouse – changes your whole reason for interacting with your mate.  No longer is it this imperfect person who decides how much love you’ll show, but rather it’s your omni-perfect God who can use even a flawed person like yourself to bestow loving favor on another.  Love motivated by mere duty cannot hold out for very long.  And love that is only motivated by favorable conditions can never be assured of sufficient oxygen to keep it breathing.  Only love that is lifted up as an offering to God – returned to Him in gratitude for all He’s done – is able to sustain itself when all other reasons have lost their ability to energize us.  Love that has God as its primary focus is unlimited in the heights it can attain.”

Today’s Dare:  Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs.  Whether it comes easy for you or not, say “I love you,” then express love to them in some tangible way.  Go to God in prayer again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person – unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

I am so thankful that God brought Steven into my life.  God is so good to me!  I am honored and humbled to have the privilege of loving Steven.

Fantastic Friday!

Steve took off work today, and we went to the Memphis Zoo.  We’ve been to lots and lots of zoos all over the country; and so far, the Memphis Zoo is our favorite!  We liked it so much that we are now season pass holders.  Anyone visiting us here in lovely Memphis will now get to go to the zoo with us.  I promise you’ll love it!  Here are some great pics from today.

Claire getting ready to go

a red panda

Claire checking out the animals

the cheetah looks to be “on the hunt”

Looking at lions – Claire repeated the names of all the animals today.  She’s talking so much!

This was the first time Claire was into EVERY animal at the zoo, not just the monkeys and fish.

peeping at the penguins

Claire LOVED the frizzledy chickens.  The frizzledy rooster crowed, and she crowed right back at him.  It was hilarious!  Claire’s the one crowing in this picture.  (BTW:  Frizzledy chicken is a term Pops used, i.e. “Your hair looks like a frizzledy chicken.”  I can only assume these were the chickens to which he was referring.  I have no idea what these chickens are really called, nor do I care.  I love the term “frizzledy chicken.”)

Here’s a better picture of the frizzledy chickens, just so you can see if your hair might resemble this.

petting a horse

Someday Claire will ask us where babies come from.  We will show her this picture.  (She’s in an egg shell.)

Claire cheering on the critters – here we were watching gibbons swing and jump while playing chase

one of the gibbons

There were several fall displays at the zoo.  We decided to turn one of them into a photo op.

The Memphis Zoo’s latest exhibit is the Teton Trek.  It’s fantastic!  This picture was taken from the top of the waterfall.  You can see the grizzlies playing in the stream below.  The grey wolf pack and the elk herd are off to the left, and in front of the lodge is a fountain that mimics Old Faithful.  Amazing!

Claire’s favorite animals of the day were the frizzledy chickens, the monkeys and gibbons and the penguins.  She LOVES the zoo!  It’s not too far from where Steve works, so Claire and I will be going to the zoo quite often.  I can’t wait!!

Tomorrow, we’re helping to set up the pumpkin patch at church (a fundraiser for our church’s children’s department).  It should be a lot of fun.  Hopefully we’ll get some great pictures.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday Drive

Yesterday we decided to take a drive and explore the Tennessee countryside.  The scenery was beautiful.

Our destination – Ghost River

The trick to this whole Ghost River trip – it’s in Moscow, TN.  Moscow just happens to be a speed trap, and we got caught!  Check out this site:  http://www.speedtrap.org/city/10816/Moscow  It sounds like we will get the ticket dismissed for the low price of $90 as long as Steve makes the hour drive to meet with the judge.  From what we’re reading (and what Captain Jackson said when he pulled us over), the court costs are merely a toll for the privilege of driving through their little town.

We also passed quite a few plantations and cotton fields.  Steve had never seen a cotton field before, so he got out and picked some.  Somehow I missed getting a picture of that, but here’s a picture of a field ready for harvest.

And to keep the cuteness factor going, here are some pictures of Claire brushing her teeth.

Love makes sacrifices

“Life can be hard.  But what we usually mean is that our life can be hard.  But too often the only way we notice that life is hard for our mate is when they start complaining about it.  Then instead of genuinely caring or rushing in to help, we might think they just have a bad attitude.  But love makes sacrifices.  It keeps you so tuned in to what your spouse needs that you often respond without being asked.  Love inspires you to say “no” to what you want in order to say “yes” to what your spouse needs.  Let love pick you up out of your self-pity and turn your attention to your spouse’s needs.  Love is willing to make sacrifices to see that the needs of your spouse are given your very best effort and focus.”

Today’s Dare:  What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse’s life right now?  Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part?  Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.

Steve and I take great care of each other.  For example, I was recently diagnosed with severe scoliosis.  I am undergoing treatment three times a week to correct it.  This process is somewhat painful and uncomfortable as my spine moves around and my nerves are causing muscle spasms in different parts of my body.  Steve has stepped up to make sure that I lift nothing (other than Claire – and not even her if he’s around).  He gets my ice pack for me every evening and warms my heating pack for me when I’ve had enough of the ice.  He applies the muscle rub when I need it, even though he hates the smell and the hot and cold feelings that follow.  He takes such good care of me, even though it means a little more work for him after a full day of work at the office.  Steve’s sacrifices definitely make me feel loved and valued.  Thank you, Steven, for taking care me – not just now, but always.  I love you!

Just FYI:  For those of you who haven’t heard about my recent diagnosis, it’s nothing to worry about.  It most likely is a result of the car accident I was in 11 years ago.  (I was rear-ended.  I was sitting still waiting for the car in front of me to turn left.  A truck, who was still accelerating, rear-ended me, causing me to hit the car in front of me.  My car was totaled, and I felt like I was too.)  Two weeks ago, my left arm went numb; so I went to the emergency room.  Shortly after we arrived, the feeling came back.  After they made sure that I wasn’t having a heart attack or stroke, they ran a huge battery of tests.  They determined that I had a pinched nerve in my neck and referred me to a neurologist.  I, choosing to go my own way, made an appointment with a chiropractor.  They took additional x-rays and did a nerve scan.  One’s spine should not have a curve more than two degrees, mine has three curves – the one in my neck is six degrees, the one between my shoulder blades is 11 degrees and the one in my lower back is eight degrees.  The one in my neck is pinching the nerve, causing the muscle spasms and numbness, etc.  The chiropractor is adjusting me three times a week, and my spine is responding well.  I’ve had four treatments so far, and I’m already taller.  And I get free massages, courtesy of the insurance company (as part of my therapy).  The complete treatment will take approximately 10 months – once the curvatures have been corrected, I’ll continue going in once a week until my muscles are trained to hold my spine in place.  During this process, I am achy and my muscles spasm occasionally and are tender to the touch.  This is temporary, and I am getting better.

Love encourages

“Marriage has a way of altering our vision.  We go in expecting our mate to fulfill our hopes and to make us happy.  But this is an impossible order for our spouse to fill.  Unrealistic expectations breed disappointment.  The higher your expectations, the more likely your spouse will fail you and cause you frustration.  Divorce is inevitable when people refuse to allow their spouses to be human.  You must choose to live by encouragement rather than by expectations.  Love teaches you to give them room to be themselves.  Don’t you want married life to be a place where you can enjoy free expression of who you are, growing within a safe environment that encourages you even when you fail?  Your spouse does too – and love gives them that privilege.  Make a commitment to daily let go of unrealistic expectations and become your spouse’s greatest encourager.”

Today’s Dare:  Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home.  Think of one area where your spouse has told you you’re expecting too much, and tell them you’re sorry for being so hard on them about it.  Promise them you’ll seek to understand, and assure them of your unconditional love.

While I can’t think of a specific example of this in my marriage, I can clearly see where I have put unrealistic expectations on other relationships in my life.  I am learning to allow others to be human, and I am learning to let go of offenses.

Steve and I determined early on in our relationship that we would be one another’s biggest fan.  When you’re always looking for something to cheer about, you tend to stop seeing all of the things that could potentially annoy you and start seeing all of the wonderful things your spouse does.

I love you, Steven.  Unconditionally.  Completely.  Forever.

Lovely Weekend!

We went to the park to play.  Here’s a video of Claire going down the big slide all by herself!

Steve monkeying around

Steve with his sisters, Kalei and Nicole

Claire enjoying fish sticks

Steve’s sisters came to visit for the weekend.  We had a great time with them!  The weather was perfect, the company was great, and we can’t wait to do it again!  Love you, Kalei and Nicole!!