Gracie's Papa D

What a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday we had. We spent four days in Clovis with all of Larry's family. It was so wonderful to get together and enjoy one another's company. Angel spent the entire weekend with Daniel at Tia Diane & Uncle Joe's house. I think my son would leave me in a heartbeat to stay with them for a few months. He's assured me that he would never want to leave us, but I dunno 'bout that one. He loves his cousin Daniel and both boys *cry* when they have to leave eachother. Alliah loves to hang out with cousins Alexis, Santana and Amy. Uncle Tommy and Lori are gracious enough to add one more girl to their clan and they take Alliah in. Little Miss Gracie is stuck with mommy and daddy ~ although Grandma Silvia tries to keep her most of the day. The funniest part of this trip to Fresno was Grace. As we were packing the car, getting ready to leave, we made the mistake of telling Grace we were going to visit Papa. Papa D (David) is Gracie's most favorite person *next to mommy* :) She cried the en-tire way there. She did laugh at Angel and Alliah a few times as they tried to amuse her anyway they could. Yes, she'd laugh or get distracted for a few minutes then she went right back to crying, "Paaaa-paaa!" She did this all the way to Los Banos. We stopped and got some ice cream there so she took a break from the constant whining. But once we got back in the car, the crying continued all the way to Madera - when she finally fell asleep. She tired herself OUT! We stay at David & Silvia's trailerhome while in Clovis. They live with Tia Sandy & Uncle Laz most of the time so their trailer is always available when we visit. We arrived at Papa's trailer about 11:30pm and Grandma Silvia tried to wake Grace up. She kissed Gracie all over, raised her arms in the air, took off her shoes, turned on lights, but Grace was not about to wake up anytime soon. Finally, at about 12:30AM we went to bed. At 8am the next morning,guess the first thing out of Gracie's mouth? "Papa!" Thankfully, Papa and Grandma came over early to see the kids and Grace jumped with excitement and ran into Papa D's arms. Each day there, she was inseparable from David. She would wrap her arms around his legs - he could barely walk! Then she'd move over to Grandma Silvia's arms and just nestle her little head on Grandma's shoulder. After we returned home Grace began to really miss Papa D. Even in her sleep she'd cry and yell "Papa!" I had to wake her up one night because she was so upset. We called David the next day to tell him and he couldn't believe it. He sounded so happy that she loves him so much - and THAT she does! Grace spent the first 11 months of her life falling asleep in his arms so she's got his name written all over her heart! :) Another thing to be thankful for this season....Grandparents and family who love us so much and whom we love even more!

My Blessed Life

There's a story in the bible about a woman named Hannah who wanted a child more than anything in the world. For years Hannah prayed and asked the Lord to grant her her hearts desire and, finally, in His perfect time, the Lord answered her prayer. While she waited, I'm sure Hannah tried her best to live happily with the husband she had and to live content with the life she was living. But there still remained a longing in Hannah's heart to nuture, to mold, to teach, to hold, to love a child. Like many women, as a young girl, Hannah must have dreamed about the child she would someday hold in her arms. I can imagine her closing her eyes wondering what it would be like to hear her baby's laughter as she kissed his cheek, to smell the fragrance of her newborn's skin, to feel her babe burrowing into her chest, feeling a tiny hand grab tightly onto her finger. To hear the words "Mama" sing across beautiful, little baby lips and the cry that could only be comforted by her would be her dream come true. As she walked through the market, she would watch the little ones dancing through the street, excited for the yummy treats their mommies were getting for them to eat. While going to fetch water from the well, she'd be the first one to offer help to a struggling mommy. She'd jumped at any chance she could get to hold any little one in her arms. Everywhere she went, it was the children Hannah noticed most. With each passing year, the yearning inside Hannah's heart grew stronger and stronger. While she tried her best to be happy, some days would be too much to handle. Tears would flow from her eyes no matter how hard she tried to keep them back. Her husband would ask, "Aren't I enough, Hannah?" She wanted to scream YES! but inside she would say "I wish you were." She loved her husband and she loved the Lord, and I'm sure she did her very best to be thankful. But deep inside, she was empty, undone, unfullfilled.

I was like Hannah. For years I wanted to have a child of my own. I gave every ounce of energy I had to my neices and nephews, my friends' kids, even the kids in my neighborhood. But my heart would break into pieces when one would fall or hurt himself, or get scared, and only his mommy could quiet the tears. I wanted to have a child that only I could comfort. I wanted to be the one a child would run to when he was scared. I had so much love to give and I was more than ready to do the work. Finally, after 12 years of trying, crying, waiting, frustration, anger...the Lord answered my prayers. Angel. Alliah. Grace. These three have created My Blessed Life. The love that has been created within mine and Larry's hearts is undescribable. These three kids have filled out mouths with laughter and have put unwritten melodies in our hearts. There's nothing sweeter than hearing "Maaaawwwwwmmmmm" being screamed down the stairs. There's nothing greater than seeing a proud smile on a face that just brought home an A+ on a test. There's nothing more precious than looking in on my sweet babies as they sleep, all tucked-in in their beds. I have waited for this all my life.

This Thanksgiving Season I have chosen to slow down, take a break-and a breather-from all the hustle and bustle the Season brings to thank God for listening. My children are what I am most thankful for. I am so thankful to God for holding onto me when I was questioning Him and blaming Him while we waited. He was full of undertanding when I was so angry with Him. He knew all along that there were three shining stars out there that He had created just for me. He knew my babies while in their mother's wombs (their birthmother's wombs) and He was with them when they took their first breaths. His angel's danced over them with singing the day they were born. He cared for them and watched over them until they found their way to my heart. Now, He has entrusted their little lives to us. I pray that God will continue to equip me and Larry to raise up children who will love God with all their hearts, love people and be filled with compassion for the world around them. As in the words of Hannah, "For this child I have prayed and the Lord has answered my prayer." Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings...but especially for my children.

Love & Logic

So I'm taking a parenting class on Tuesday nights called, "Parenting Your Kids With Love & Logic." The premise of the class is raising kids that think. They think about their actions, and the rewards or consequences that will follow. It's about learning to give your children choices. Choices that I, as the parent, can live with. "Do you want to wear your red coat, or your blue coat?" The point is the child WILL wear a coat, but they get to choose which one. As for elementary kids, "Do you want to do homework before you get your snack or after?" The kids WILL do homework, but they get to chose when. As teens? Do you think you can be home by 9pm or is 9:30 better for you? The point? The teen will be in the door before 10pm. It's a really interesting class that gives parenting techniques that not only save lots of arguing and frustration, but it also keeps the responsibility on the child. If the parent has a problem with the kids' actions, it soon needs to become the child's problem. It encourages parents to take care of themselves and limit confrontations, yelling and repeating yourself over and over and over. I have used these techniques with my kids for the last four weeks that I've been in class. Here's how it went down:

Angel: Angel has had his Playstation in the car for the last week and a half. I'd asked him to take it out and put it away more than three times. Finally, I said, "If you want to keep your playstation, it needs to be out of the car before bedtime tonight. If you leave it in the car overnight again, you're telling me you don't want it and I can sell it, okay?" He agreed. Unfortunately, my 11 year old son left it in the car overnight, again. I was so sad that he had done that. I picked up the playstation and put it away. He's not asked for it, he hasn't mentioned it, nothing. My poor son is living with the consequences of his actions. He can't yell at me or accuse me of taking it away, because I gave him a choice, and he chose. Now he's playstation-less because of his choice. My response? "How sad, son. I'm sorry you don't have it anymore. I know that must feel really bad." I hugged him and that was it.

Alliah: We were shopping at Target for some church dresses. She's growing like a weed so all her dresses were becoming way too short. There were a few we found on sale so she tried four dresses on. Every one of them looked amazing on her. We put them all in the basket. As we walked down the aisles looking at shampoo, soaps, etc., she remembered she wanted a new journal. I put my newly acquired skills into action. "Well, Alliah, you've chosen four dresses. All of them look really good on you, but you want a new journal also?" She responded with an emphatic YES! I offered a switch. I told her that she could exchange one dress for a journal (they cost just about the same...great sale!) She hesitated. Had I just said, "no", she would have hung her face throughout the store, thus making me mad and putting all the dresses back and her leaving with nothing. Instead, I left it up to her. She stood there in front of the cart, staring at the dresses for about 30 seconds. She chose to put one dress back and pick a new journal. She was as happy as a kite and we had a wonderful time browsing through the aisles of Target together. I didn't chose for her, but I gave her options I was willing to live with. She left with three dresses, a journal, and a thankful attitude. I left with peace of mind.

Grace: Gracie loves TV...she is a TV baby! "Cartoons" is one of her favorite words - and now 'Calliou' is a new favorite word. She LOVES that cartoon and even sings the theme song at the top of her lungs and dances in circles every time it comes on. Calliou was on and after about an hour of watching tv already I wanted the tv off. I sat down on the floor next to Gracie, sang the song along with her then said, "Do you want to watch a little bit (showing her a "little bit" with my fingers) of Calliou or do you want a looooong time (showing her "a long time" by stretching out my arms) of sitting with mamma and reading a book?" I held up one of her favorite books. Now Grace is just 20 months old so I didn't know if she'd understand. She put her pointer finger on her chin, looked up to the ceiling and said, "uhhhhh....BOOK!" She got it! I didn't have to turn the tv "No more," followed by Grace screaming and throwing herself on the floor. She walked over to the tv, turned it off, walked to the couch where we sit to read books, saying "up...book." We sat and read a book, she had snack and went down for a three hour nap afterwards. In just three minutes of offering a choice, I gave myself three hours of quiet.

I am amazed. Not only does this work with children, but with adults, too. I've tried it on Larry (those details I won't share LOL) and even we ended a conversation on a happy note, in what could have been an otherwise compromising conversation. I'm learning everyone needs to feel they control something within their own life. With each choice, they learn to live with the rewards of their choices or the consequences of them. There's no blaming because it was their choice! It sounds so simple, but it's not always simple to do. It takes some practice. I've blown it more than once, but I keep trying! :)

Happy October?

I can't believe it's almost the end of October already. Time is flying by faster than it normally does. This can be attributed to the fact that we have been one busy family. We've been working at the church quite a bit. It's the end of the year so there' lots going on. Also, I've started working 4 days a week now instead of three and longer hours. My old work schedule was Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 to 3 a.k.a "Spoiled Hours." Now I work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 to 4 a.k.a. "Normal Hours." Some friends of mine work M-F 8-5 and sometimes 6 at night! Hats off to them, really. I don't think I could handle that with work, three kids, one Tuesday night class, church work, housecleaning, grocery buying, and I can't leave out reading a book here and there to my kids! How do they do it?! Whenever people ask me to do something it's usually followed by a, "IF you have any time" or "in your SPARE time" said sarcastically. When I hear people say that it makes to stop and think, "dang, I AM really busy. No wonder I'm dead tired all the time!" I think partly to blame is that I've started staying up late again. And I've been drinking too much diet pepsi again. I was in such a good habit of going to bed at 9pm and waking up between 5-6am...taking my time in the morning, loving it! Now? I'm tired, stressed out, frustrated with some things going on in life that are beyond my own control, and feel irritated that things that I saw some progress in seem to be regressing. All the while, I try to keep a happy face and a sweet disposition with my kids and husband but inside just about to crumble. Now, I know I'm just being plain honest here today. I think I've turned this blog session into a "Kristie Needs To Vent" session. Sorry about that. Anywho....now you know how to pray for me!! LOL I need strength, some encouragement, some laughter, something! *sigh* What's a girl to do...

Daddy's Girls

Total Knock Out

Grace. What more can I say about this adorable little bug that I call all mine? It amazes me how much she already wants to be like her big sister. Alliah is into putting curlers in her hair at night. Grace sits on the bathroom floor as Alliah lovingly stares at herself, rolling each pink curler around her long, black locks of hair. A few nights ago, Alliah put three curlers in Gracie's hair. Since that night, Grace wants curlers in her hair every night, too. She only puts up with them until bedtime and then they bother her and she yanks them out. I quickly grabbed my phone to click these pics because Gracie just looked too cute for words.


I don't know if you can see the words on her robe pocket, but it says "TOTAL KNOCKOUT." I took this pic just before we left to pick up Angel and Alliah from Awanas. This second pic is from when we got home. Car rides always knock Grace out. Here you can definitely see she was "knocked out." And she was out all night - 11 hours of sleep! Hallelujah! This mommy finally got a good, full nights rest too. But isn't she just adorable???

Labor Day Weekend

Some ventured out into the wild blue yonder: sleeping in tents, counting the stars, fishing in the lake, gathering around the campfire at dusk. Others enjoyed a delicious barbecued steak and corn on the cob fresh off the grill with friends and family. Others went out to eat a yummy meal and caught a matinee at the movies, with popcorn and soda and jujubees. Me? I stayed home. In my pajamas. All day. I watched about a zillions shows on the Food Network and then did some baking (of course!) Don't get me wrong, it was a great weekend! I did exactly what I wanted to do: NOTHING. My sister Liz and her family are staying with us for a few weeks while their new house is getting ready so we always have fun when we're together. We could just sit on the couch, eating ice cream, and talk and it would be fun. We always end up laughing about something - even though we both could cry too. This Labor Day weekend didn't fly by, nor did it lag. It just was. And it was exactly what I needed!

The What If's

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to wonder "Is that chocolate or is that poop?"

If I had never became a mother...
I would never have to use the bathroom or shower with the door open

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't step on legos with every step, causing me to scream out in pain

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have gained this spare tire that I carry around the space where my tummy used to be.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to buy Handi Snacks and Goldfish crackers by the pound.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have had the pleasure of pulling the back on someones pants open to see if they pooped.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have to buy an entire new wardrobe for them while I, myself, make do with one good pair of jeans and one cardigan.

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have sat up until the wee hours of the morning lulling a crying baby to sleep when all I wanted to do was cry myself.

If I had never became a mother...
I would never have eaten so many cold meals in my life.

***************

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't get to see young minds grow and discover the beauty of the earth

If I had never became a mother...
I wouldn't have three sweet little warm bodies who find no greater joy than crawling into bed with their Mama for a good morning snuggle.

If I had never became a mother...
I would never know how proud I could feel when someone does something that seems so small.

If I had never became a mother...
I never would have had another beating heart lay so close to my very own, literally.

The 1st of the Month

Happy September! That's it for today.

Alliah Turns Nine!

My Alliah is now NINE years old! Where did the time go? Yesterday (Sunday) we invited our family over for lunch to celebrate the life of this special little girl. As Alliah was trapsing all over the house, grinning from ear to ear with excitement, I couldn't help but feel overwhelming thankfulness to God for this little one. I know that God has big plans for my girl and I am so thankful that Alliah has the desire to find out what they are. We started the morning off at church. Since it was Alliah's birthday I invited her to sing with me and the worship team. She was elated! She usually sits on the front row and sings as loud as she can. But for her birthday, she stood on that stage with the other singers and sang her little heart out. With a mic! It was so cute when she'd come in too early or hold the note longer than she should have. She'd be up there singing every Sunday if she could. After church, and all the hugs and gifts from people at church, we headed home to prepare for the family coming to visit. Alliah was so helpful and wanted to make sure everything was just right. We decorated the house with a butterfly theme in purples and pinks. Balloons and gifts filled the living room. We had shredded beef tacos with my homemade pico de gallo salsa, Tia Liz made mexican rice, and Tia Nicole made a macaroni salad. Larry also made his infamous guacamole...it was all sooo delcious.

As we all gathered around the table to sing "Happy Birthday" and blow candles, my heart skipped a beat when I looked at Alliah and saw the beautiful young lady she suddenly became. Yes, she's only nine, but when I think of that little toddler that came and stole our hearts at just three years old, tears began to well up in my eyes. Not seeing anymore baby features made me want to cry. But then when I thought of the gifts she asked for? Alliah didn't want Barbies or Polly Pocket. She wanted nail polish, CDs, skinny jeans! I think Tia Nicole's gift hit the top ten list Alliah had in her head: hoop earrings! My little girl is growing up. And fast. Her daddy just about hit the roof when the neighborhood boys came knocking on the door asking if they could come in and wish Alliah a happy birthday (makes me laugh just typing this LOL). Larry quickly answered with a "NO, and go home!" Really, he did. We have got one beautiful girl on our hands...and boys are starting to notice! I feel sorry for them because they got Larry to deal with. Thankfully, I don't have to worry one bit in that department. Larry has got it covered! Even if she is THINKING about noticing boys? Larry will scare every one of them away with just a look. It's already happening!!

Alliah is a true servant. A caring, compassionate, wonderful girl who does her best in everything she does. I don't know what lies ahead for her, but I will do my best to teach her, tell her, exemplify to her what it means to serve the Lord whole-heartedly and walk in His ways. Thank you Lord for my Alliah. May we do all you instruct us to do so she will walk in the paths You have ordained for her to follow. Happy Birthday Alliah!