I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior loves, My Savior lives

My Savior My God
by: Aaron Shust

January 22-a sad day in history

Here are a few thoughts on abortion and some links to a few articles that I found interesting.

I am against abortion. There is no question in my mind what God says about the issue. That being said, if you are pro-choice (obviously this means the mothers choice, as the baby's vote isn't taken), think long and hard about why. If you understand the DNA of the baby from day 1, if you really can comprehend the heartbeat going from 18 days old, then you must fall into one of two categories. You are either against abortion, or you don't properly value life. There is no denying the life that is there, there is no denying it is human. I may be wrong, but I think everyone knows this. Even the most vehemently pro-choice abortionist doctor knows in his or her heart what is going on. Human life is being destroyed. Comfort, plans and personal gain have blinded the truth. Be sure to note, no one is fooled by the lie that the fetus isn't yet a human life, this is only said as a lie to ones self to avoid the consciences cry for justice. Ultimately if you don't value life, it is because you don't understand the purpose of it. Why are we here? The Bible has the answers. Take the time to read Gods word, seriously.

Is abortion really a Womens Rights Issue?

Chilling Almost Beyond Belief

The Deadly Logic of Abortion

another year of Christmas celebrations

Yeah, its a little early, but you can always put off reading this for another day. I am trying to get ready for advent before its here. I got an advent calendar last year. You know, the little wooden decorative thing that has little doors to put little treats in for little people. I was looking for a way to make it Christ-centered. I came across the Jesse tree. A suggestion from John and Noel Piper. I love her ideas for different traditions (see the links on the side). I also love that the Pipers aren't Santa fans. I read Noel Pipers take on why not to do Santa and posted a link to it last year. This year I am going to post John Piper's take on ole saint nick. For the calendar I am going to stick a verse in each little door with a little treat to represent whatever that days symbol is. Thrilling to hear about I'm sure. ;) I hope that any of you who claim Christ will really consider these thoughts before telling your kids that a really jolly old man will be coming to your house with gifts. I pray that those of you who don't claim Christ will strongly consider Him. It's not something you can take or leave. A decision must be made, you are for Him or against. During this holiday season...consider Christ.

Now to Piper's thoughts on Santa....

There are Christmas decorations that are explicitly Christ-exalting; there are decorations which are neutral and can become secular or Christian by their context; and there are anti-Christian symbols which function to divert attention from Christ and give Christmas a secular meaning palatable to our culture. In the latter category we put Santa Claus. The American Santa Claus is a far cry from the old German Saint Nicholas who came on December 6th. The development of the Santa Claus myth in our culture is precisely a substitute for and a diversion from the offensive Christian reality: “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Therefore, Noël and I have never made Santa Claus part of our celebration and have taught our sons why we think this jolly old man is such a tragedy in our land.

Click here for a link to the entire article.

hunting season

I love fall. Apple orchards, leaves, sweaters and jeans, pumpkin patches, all of it....so fun. There is one thing this little family doesn't handle all that well, the hunting trips. I love that Mike hunts. I love that he enjoys being in the woods. I love that he gets to go with my dad. I do NOT love that he is gone. Last year I was just getting to the point where the kids were distraction enough...I didn't cry all that much, and he was home before I knew it. I was thinking this year would be even better. I was so wrong. As Mike got ready to leave tonight Ava was crying. As he walked to the car, Liela broke down. Slowly Maxwell realized what was happening. Before I knew it we were all in tears. He will be back in about 48 hours. Ridiculous to say the least. I understand it's silly. But we have the best dad around. Mike is awesome. All four of us know it. We can't help but be sad when he goes. We LOVE him!!!

pastor

I have been thinking lately about my role in encouraging my pastors. A while back I was talking to some of the girls in the youth group and I asked them how much they pray for Mike. It was really rhetorical but I asked them to think about it....and at the same time reflect on the fact that mike prays for each of them daily. Mike also takes time to pray for their families, specific to each situation he prays different things. I started to think about the same in my life. Do I even pray a passing prayer for my pastors? Do I even spend time giving a thoughtless "help him as he leads"? It's quite shameful. I definitely don't do it like I should. Part of my reasoning, once I reflect on it, is that I appreciate my pastors so much. Pastor Chittock preaches an amazing sermon every week, holding my attention and teaching me obvious truths that my stubborn brain just will not seem to think of on its own. So I don't pray for him to handle the word well, he always does. But I should be praying for these things. There are lots of things that I don't pray for because of this stupid unintentional reasoning. SO....I have been thinking about this for a while and found a few good sermons and articles about reasons to, and how to pray for your pastor. Here they are, as I am quite sure these people can articulate much better than I.

Ministering to Your Pastor

Praying for Your Pastor

AND 5 reasons to pray for your pastor:
1. He carries the weightiest responsibilities.
2. He's just a man.
3. He is called to discern the worst issues.
4. He is being watched with eagle eyes.
5. He is leading a completely volunteer army.

Good gifts

So...I'm a little older...probably not much wiser. I am overwhelmed by the many things God has given me to enjoy in this life and to use for His glory. I am often wondering how to deal with it in a right way. I want to be thankful. Growing up you hear about seemingly awful things happening and they don't hit home, but as I age my experience and the experience of my peers has broadened. It means a lot more to me now when I hear about someone losing a family member to cancer, because I have. It means more when I hear of someone losing a baby, because though I have never lost my own little babe, I have little babes that I love and care for every day. It weighs more heavily on me when I hear of someone losing a spouse, because I have a husband that I love and adore more than I thought even possible. The good gifts that God gives are sometimes a burden to me. I feel guilty for having them. I am so thankful that my kids are currently healthy, but I am so aware that I haven't deserved this, so I feel bad that God choose to give me these little babes. I love my husband, I love that I have been with him as mine for 7 years, and have had the privilege of knowing him for so much longer. I feel bad when I see someone talk about a bum husband. I deserve the bum. There is also the flip side....wanting more. I would love a big yard for my kids to play in, or 2 cars so I can drive them to the zoo in the middle of the week. These 'bigger and better' things cloud what should be thankfulness that I have a home and a car. Thankfulness is indeed a difficult task. Its never as easy as prayer. Prayer is the simplest command to follow. If you don't know what to pray, pray about that. I can rest secure in the fact that asking God to help my inappropriate thankfulness is the best remedy. Thankful for the good things, not guilty, and thankful for not having 'more' because God has seen fit to give me just this much. That rant out of the way...here are 28 things God has given me to love for my 28th birthday (in no special order...other than the first few of course)....

1-Michael Philip
2-Ava Evangeline 5 years old and sweet as they come
3- Liela Michal 3 years old-my personality twin...enough said
4-Maxwell Cole 1 year old and super cool
5- not to make this list spiritual, but Mike bought me a Bible on my 27th birthday and I love it...its special b/c he picked it and thought it was 'me'
6- a super sister who knows just what I'm thinking because we were raised by the same two crazies
7-my friend beth (she means more to me than she thinks)
8- mountain dew
9- Get Smart (the tv show not the movie)
10- nutter butters
11- Dumb and Dumber
12- a home
13- candles
14- COFFEE
15- the cabin
16- notting hill
17- gum
18- macaroni grill
19- beach volleyball
20- my sewing machine
21- baby gates
22- cinnamon rolls
23- phones
24- baskets
25- wild cherry pepsi
26- jeans
27- nail polish
28- hooded sweatshirts

baby cakes

Liela Michal Sherf.....she's 3 years old and spunkier than ever. I love her so much. She is her own little person. She copies Ava just enough to let her know she cares but is totally different. We were on vacation this last week and went shopping. We went to some antique shops and let the girls pick out whatever they wanted. Baby doll?, purse?, maybe something pink?, no...liela came to me super excited and said, "momma I found a carrott I want to buy!!!" She had in fact found a fabric carrott for $2 and later in the day a barbie guitar. She rocked that guitar. =)
On the morning of her birthday I was sitting right by her when she woke up. She looked right at me and held up her 3 sweet little fingers and said in a calm voice, "momma, I'm 3 today." She took a minute and then added, "when I was a little girl, I used to be 2 like meggie, but now...I'm 3." I loved it.
Liela is stubborn, beautiful, hilarious, grumpy, fun, stingy...the list goes on. People want to be liked by Liela, because they know she isn't just liberal with her kisses and hugs....she doesn't just give out her love to everyone that shines a smile. Mike, Ava, Maxwell and I don't realize this as much because she loves us and shows it often. She is a stinker, I can't get enough of her, her curly hair, her 1/2 lisp or her beautiful little face.

JULY 12, 2003

....not just in o'ten and o'eleven, we'll be together from now until we're up in heaven...... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her......SO MUCH PAIN MAY COME OUR WAY, THERE MAY BE A DAY WHEN WE'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO SAY. WHEN THE CONVERSATION STOPS, AND WE'RE FACING OUR DEFEAT, I'LL BE NEXT TO YOU AND YOU'LL BE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO ME.........she became his wife, and he loved her......every night be tucked in close to you, raise our kids where the good Lord's blessed, point our rockin chairs towards the west, and plant our dreams where the peaceful river flows, where the green grass grows........I want to take you out, I want to do everything right, I'll take you to your favorite shop, I'll even let you use my favorite coffee cup.....with you my brown eyed girl.....when everything is wrong, I'll come talk to you, you make things alright, when I'm feeling blue....I don't know where I'd be, without you here with me, life with you makes perfect sense, you're my best friend.....Well, you know, anybody saying they want to go out with you is... pretty great... isn't it...Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away...... just to see you smile, I'd do anything, that you wanted me to, when all is said and done I'd never count the cost, It's worth all that's lost, just to see you smile....I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her....It doesn't matter if the guy is perfect or the girl is perfect, as long as they are perfect for each other........ The best part about being married is that we always get to be next to each other -Michael Philip Sherf-

hope in God

I'm sure examples like this happen all the time but....here it is. Ava's cousin gave her a fake $20 bill from a monopoly set. She asked me today if she could put it in her bank. I told her sure, "but you do know that's fake right babe?" Av said, "no, why would he give me this?" I said, "just to play with...its fun." "so I can't take it to the store?" "nope." She got over it....but I couldn't help but think about false hope. There is one way of salvation....one real currency....the blood of Christ. Hope in God. If you don't, you are that girl with a fake $20 at the store, pretty as it may be....you're not paying for a thing.

zero no more

Whenever Ava is asked the "kids" ages she says max is zero. Well, not anymore...because my baby is one. One time when we all got T-shirts to walk in the breast cancer walk with my Aunt Elaine I tried to teach her about ages and how babies sometimes go by months, not just zero. We went through each of them, hers is a size 5 (she was almost 5), Liela is a size 3 (she'll be 3 in July), but when we got to Maxwell and his shirt was 24 months....it didn't make sense to her....me either. Not sure why I used that to try and teach her about calling babies by their months old but whatever. To put it plainly...hes a chunk...and I love it.
He is snuggly and cute and fun. He throws things and comes over to slap your face with a smile and then crawls away like he kissed you. A friend once told me boys were fun because hers would come in from playing outside, run over, squeeze her leg, and run back out...just to give mom a snuggle. I didn't think this would be me for quite a while but Maxwell has begun the same. He crawls over, puts his head right on mine and closes his eyes for a sec, then crawls away like he got his fix. I love it more than I can express in a blog. He's my little man. So precious I don't know what to do.
Also intimidating. I know what my girls are to be. I know I can't raise them perfectly but I know what I am supposed to be teaching them because I am trying to preach it to myself everyday....but Maxwell....he is to be the leader. Strong for his family. Knowing the truth so intimately that he can turn and lead his family spiritually (if God chooses in his grace to save my boy). The quote comes to mind, "if there is a problem with a marriage...look at the husband." Well, that husband came from somewhere....and his momma raised him. I am nervous to raise my boy. I want him to know how to lead. I want him to be a good man. I'm glad its not just me. I am so thankful he has Mike to look up to. Mike is a great husband and the greatest dad. I just loved him when I married him. I didn't think about what kind of a dad he would be. I thought about things like where we stood on theological issues and how we both wanted kids...but I just don't know that you can tell what kind of a dad they will be until they are. I am constantly amazed at what a great dad he is....constantly. Playing with them, praying with them, reading with them, wrestling with them, walking with them, talking with them, snacking with them....awesome. So....my little guy has a great example...and I have a great husband...and my girls have a great picture of what they should be looking for....and I cannot believe my baby is one.

dramatic little thing

Sunday nights, about once a month, we have a youth group get together. This past Sunday night was at the VanHouten's house. They live in Carleton, the mosquitoes were a little thick as we left to get in the car. I couldn't find my keys....blah blah blah. ultimately the door or the car was open for a while as I looked and the mosquitoes were getting in something fierce. This is the conversation that followed....for much if not all of the ride home.

Ava: Momma!!! Shut the door! They are getting in.
(she is sobbing as she said that)
Me: ok, I'm looking for the keys just a sec babe. Ok, got em....we will just drive for a little while with the windows down and you guys shew them out.
A: ok (now half crying half laughing, followed by smacking her legs and sobbing once more) Why isn't Liela crying about this!?
Liela: because they are just mosquitoes Av, they just itch.
A: hurry home momma, hurry. Oh, WHYYYY did we come to the VanHoutens. WHY!? this was a bad idea.
M: do you have a bite from them or are you just scared? (I procede to tell Ava what they do, why they bite us but that when you smack them they either get squished or go away)
A: oh momma, you shouldn't have told me that. All I can think of is them biting me and putting their nose on me and drinking my blood. it makes me cry even more.
(much louder and sobbing through it)
WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?
WHY WOULD GOD MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!?
(I am now laughing but trying to be sensative to my sweet ava babe)
(now off the freeway getting close to home)
A: why are we slowing down, we have to get home fast!
M: the speed limit changed.
A: who gives us the speed limit? God?
M: sortof, he gives us the government so they can decide what is best for everyone and how fast we should go.
A: what's the government doing right now?
M: sleeping its 10:00.
A: well, I bet some governments are just getting up....like Chinese ones.
OOooooh, we shouldn't have gone there to the mosquitoes.
M: Ava, they are everywhere....even at our house. I'll show you them sometime.
A: are there different kinds? Are there Chinese mosquitoes?
M: we will check them out later.
A: (in a final voice of dismay) I have to tell daddy about this. this is just awful.

I get quite a kick out of the exchange, but I also thought, the 'why is this happening to me' is a very real sentiment that we have at times. Though even the best analogies break down at some point, it definitely reminded me of my occasional "why God" thoughts. God has a plan for us, and in our finite minds, we think everything is falling apart. God has planned it. He is in control. He is driving the car knowing that we will make it just fine, even with some bites along the way....and in the end, in heaven for those he has called, we will be completely satisfied in him. maybe not the way we want to get there, but in the way that is best for us. In the way that brings glory to Him.

If you were wondering: upon inspection Ava had NO bites.

Avatar

2 minutes and 21 seconds into the movie....confusion has overtaken me. (Could have been the 11:00pm start time but whatever.) 2 hours and 21 minutes in I was somehow still awake and into the movie. (Haven't done that in a while.)

SO....despite my rough start....I watched the whole thing.

I am a little disturbed by the way some Christians have talked about Avatar. I didn't think I wanted to see it because people talked about the nudity of the Na'vi. After seeing it I wonder if that was just an excuse to complain about something mainstream. They are blue aliens and what I saw on them I can see every week at church on someone with a tight shirt. I could see more if I went to the beach or maybe even in my own living room on someone's facebook pictures from vacation. Half-nakedness is no stranger to the christian...so long as its kept near the water. hmmmm.

I am also bothered that some people who are claiming to be "christian" are so quick to oppose environmental issues. We of all people should care about this world. To us who claim Christ...we know this is not just our location or home for the time being. This earth should not be a place to use and abuse until God destroys it and takes us home. This is God's creation, which He will one day make new. We are supposed to be the caretakers. We are supposed to be good stewards of what God gives us. We of all people should be on the front lines of caring for the planet.

I know there are ways to interpret the na'vi trying to bring Grace back and Jack turning into a na'vi...but really I think its just a story. Much like the other 'stories' we embrace. It doesn't mean James Cameron really thinks people can come back as na'vi...its a story. an amazing world that God gave him the imagination to create. Yeah, there is an environmental edge to it. Probably does more good than harm to us who have an appliance for every possible food item. If you've got a waffle iron, sandwich maker, griddle, stove, oven, toaster, quesidilla maker, microwave and others...I'm thinking it could do a lot of good to think more about the earth and what we are doing.

Here are two quotes. Take from them what you will.

Our dominion over the world gives us the right to use the world, but also a responsibility. We do not have a Gaia-type link with the world. We are not to worship it. Industrialization is not necessarily wrong, and is frequently the right exercise of our cultural mandate. But coupled with this is a responsibility for creation. As Christians—indeed, as a human race—we are to protect our environment. This is not because we see industrialization as inherently bad, but because we have the responsibility that comes with dominion. Basically, God is saying, “The world and all its animals are yours to use. Don’t mess them up.
P. Taylor, The Six Days of Genesis, (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2007), p. 77

Cameron said: ''I see it as a broader metaphor, not so intensely politicised as some would make it, but rather that's how we treat the natural world as well.There's a sense of entitlement - 'We're here, we're big, we've got the guns, we've got the technology, we've got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every damn thing on this planet.'"

happy mothers day

Needless to say its been quite a week. kids sick, husband sick, me sick, kids feeling better and husband and I still sick, toys everywhere without an adult in the mood to enforce clean up....madness. Tomorrow is Mothers Day. My Liela has coughed through the last several nights, Maxwell is congested and teething, Mike is coughing so much he is shaking the bed and waking me up so I am downstairs watching Get Smart and waiting to see if his medicine works enough to let me sleep w/ him...my most favorite thing.

And these are my complaints....to that I say....AWESOME.

I have prayed with the girls for a lot of things over these last few months. There is no lack of sadness for me to explain to them. Aunt Elaine w/ as Liela puts it, "spots on her lungs that we hope isn't cancer" (said quickly and run together w/ a lisp), babies in the hospital (some with great unbelievable outcomes, some with devastating prognosis that I wish no mother ever had to experience), little girls dying, car accidents happening, the list goes on.....

I turn to my girls and teach them to pray about their coughs...it may sound like I am trying to trick myself into believing this but....I have them thank God for the cough. Thank God that our major concern is a cough, and that in actuality that just means we are building up our immunities for the future. I am well aware that my problems could change...we could have lots of things go wrong...but for now, I am overwhelmed by all that I have. So if I end up staying on the couch tonight, and Maxwell is fussy tomorrow b/c of his teeth, and liela coughs all day, and Mike can't even get the energy together to help with lunch on mothers day, I will be overwhelmed with thanks for all that I have. My best mothers day yet! For sure...I can snuggle 3 kids this mothers day...couldn't do that before!

HE AROSE

Yet another gramma tally special.
I cannot...I repeat....CANNOT...sing "He arose" w/out seeing my gramma tally with her hymnal in one hand and her other fist lightly pumping. Then the scene flashes to her making pancakes on the cabin stove w/ the exact same song blasting from her lungs. Mike only envisions the latter. I love her.
She has done so many things the right way. She talks about God w/ me. Not in an overbearing way....just as it comes up. I love it. I hope to talk that way w/ my kids. In our day to day lives I hope to make our story important as it relates to Gods story. I don't want my day to day to be one thing and God is one of the many other "things" in our lives. I hope he is THE THING that all other things relate back to.
Tally makes God easy. She has shown me how to have Him as Lord but also friend. He isn't someone we only see on Sunday...or even just in the morning, afternoon, or night when we spend time in the word....He is someone we see in everything. From the beauty of the butterfly ;) to the graciousness of giving me a Godly husband...His hand is in it. The little things that she has done not only strike me when she does them...but with each passing year...they carry more and more weight and importance. I love her more every time I sing that song. Somewhat b/c of the singing w/ the hymnal....but mostly b/c it was just as heartfelt and exciting to her at the cabin. If I didn't share my birthday w/ her...and one of my other cousins did...I would be TOTALLY jealous.

Good Friday

I have been loving easter this year. I really think the things we do w/ our kids help remind us of what we are talking about and celebrating and remembering. Every time we teach them we teach ourselves again. This morning in our good Friday service I found myself nervous to look up b/c I thought for sure the Lord was returning right then...I don't know what I thought would happen if I did look up...maybe just that it would be bright...I don't know....funny. =) We have some really great traditions that we are starting though and I am really excited to watch our kids grow up around the word. I hope God chooses to open their hearts to Him. I have never, until having these sweet kids, felt the potential pain and potential excitement behind the verse my gramma Tally always always always would write to us in cards and stuff...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

I am really excited about the chances God gives Mike and I to teach them about Him.

The easter bunny...santa's right hand man

Clearly I take issue w/ both figures. Santa is only primary in that he gets much more attention than the giant bunny delivering treats and green fluff on the resurrection of Christ. Doesn't it sound awful when you hear the two put together like that? A bunny delivering treats on the resurrection. At the Easter bunny's best he distracts from Christ. What a terrible thing to do to our children. Can we not find a better way to celebrate? Without the birth and death of Christ we would be hopeless...bound for hell and damnation for eternity. Our fate would be sealed as souls destined to spend eternity without the God who created us to be fulfilled and satisfied only in Him. What a tormented and horrible eternity that would be. But we do indeed have a way of escape. Christ was born. Christ died on the cross to bring souls to himself and glorify himself. He didn't just die....he rose from the dead. What a thrill! Can you imagine having never heard the gospel and having someone go through it for the first time. You are a sinner bound for hell....there is nothing you can do. You need an eternal sacrifice and you couldn't even live right enough to save yourself. BUT GOD....how exciting...how thrilling that through our salvation God chooses to glorify himself. And now as Christians we want to remember this glorious day. The day Christ arose from the dead. The day he conquered death for all those who simply trust. How can we remember this day of utmost importance?

a bunny

kind of makes me sick

not sure what to call this

Why do we feel so entitled.

I can't get over all the people that think Tiger Woods' apology wasn't enough or wasn't sincere or whatever. What did he do to you? Why does he even need to apologize to us? I understand the public image thing but since when does someones popularity require them to hold our standards. He is responsible to God and to his family...but to me....no way. Why do we think that b/c our kids may watch him and idolize him he should talk about how wrong he was? Those w/ kids that were let down should be apologizing themselves...for allowing that child to idolize someone they absolutely knew was a fallen sinner well before his public exposure. Even those with good morals should be viewed through the scriptures...righteousnesses are as filthy rags right people?

Outside of the specifics of Tiger....facebook. I cringe at the status updates that complain about facebook. ITS FREE PEOPLE!!! Why would you ever deserve to upload pictures and comment and stalk people for free? I understand that there are advertisements and all that but I doubt you buy certain brands b/c they support facebook and thus are directly supporting your free social network. The people who run facebook can do whatever they want...b/c they run it. You want it a certain way....start your own site. I'm not saying that we can't make suggetions....but the seemingly angry comments on the way people are frustrated or mad at facebook is beyond me.

Entitlement is indeed a problem in our country and world....but not just among unbeleivers on judge judy who can't figure out why they have to pay for a car accident if the person has insurance...or the person who breaks a window in the process of a robbery and cuts himself and then wants money for the injury...its a problem among believers...including these sherfs.

Valentine thoughts

Mike is seriously the greatest thing ever. Mike does things that could be a valentine special everyday of my life. I was thinking today after I came home to a counter full of washed pots and pans and little girls in the bath...."I think some people would just do this for valentines day....but Mike does this stuff all the time." I am baffled by his niceness. He is the greatest husband I have ever even heard of...and I live w/ him....so if anyone knew his faults....it would be me. I feel bad for him....b/c w/ all his niceness, try as I might, I am still a brat. I can't get enough of him though.

Feelin' a little Old

I am feeling slightly old....but don't mind. We went to a movie the other day w/ some kids from church. I don't feel like they are younger to the point that we don't know what to talk about...but it is funny sometimes when the 'kids' are around 20. We went in and Mike sat us somewhat close to the front of the theater. I asked if we were too close and he said, "aaa, I don't know its fine." After that he mentioned three times that he felt too close. So we finally decided to move. I felt like our eyes couldn't adjust like the young kids these days. I know we aren't that old but it did make me laugh. I also felt like it was too loud and worried about my eardrums. Then when we got to our new seats I smelled a dirty diaper. It was that newborn diaper smell. I was seriously looking around for a baby. Then it hit me that it smells oddly similar to popcorn....which is what it was. Buttered popcorn from the guy right in front of me. I was cracking up at how my movie experience has changed from high school high. Just so we are clear....I love that I am older....I love that I think of my little man Max at that smell....I love that I need to move back w/ my over 30 husband....I love and cherish my stage in life right now.

good friends and family

Over the last few weeks so many people have been so super nice to me. My gramma Tally has watched the girls for almost all of my doctor appointments and seems genuinely sad when I get back in a timely fashion. She loves my girls and they love her. Liela is always 'talking to Tally' on the play phones at home. Today she told me she wants to, "go to the village with Tally." I LOVE that they know her and love her so much.
The last two weeks several people have taken my girls for a few hours just to give me some time to rest and get ready for the new little boy. I am too stupid to take a nap apparently b/c I had some burp cloths (well, cloth diapers but I certainly don't plan to use those as they were intended) that I decided about 3 days ago I would make cute with some fabric and ribbon. So Friday I took my couple of free hours and sewed. It was actually relaxing though and I have some super cute things to take to the hospital. I am pretty excited about that.
My friend Kate came over Thursday for a visit. We already had dinner plans (thanks to my other friend Beth) so she brought us something to stick in the fridge for Friday night. I don't think I've made much of dinner all week now that I think of it. I feel like I don't need the breaks that I am getting but I would probably feel differently if I wasn't getting them.
Mike is the best too. He is at a graduation open house right now with two very talkative and fun little girls. I am relaxing in his office....what a nice boy!!! I couldn't have picked a better match for me. We will find out soon how nice this new little boy will be. I hope he sleeps just like his sisters.