Dear Santa, 

I think I'm raising a local street artist.  My doors and walls are covered in her beautiful art work. :-)  For Christmas, I'd really love a year supply of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and Clorox Wipes.  Santa, I love her art work, I'd just prefer if it was not on my wall.  I've attached a copy of her beautiful.

Sincerely,

Aprill

Football Season

School is in and that means the beginning of High School Football. Luis and Q'Orianka have started a tradition of attending the game every Friday. Here is a fun picture of the going to Friday's game. Q'Orianka is wearing one of the players jersey. She was a hugh success. Everyone wanted to take her pictures. She had her picture taken with the player who's jersey this belonged to. I should be getting that picture this week.

New Discovery

I love it when children take an interest in something new. Today, Q'Orianka found a "new" book to look at. Its called 'Active Labor' I was watching her flip through the pages, to see what she would do. The next thing I know, she's showing me a picture, with a concerned look on her face. "Mom", she said, why is she sitting on her baby". A woman in active labor in the squating position, with a baby half out. I told her she wasn't sitting on the baby, she was having a baby. She said no mom, she sitting on the baby. So ask her where the baby was, she said her bum. I told her that's how the baby comes out. She's been fascinated with the book all day. When Luis woke she showed him the picture and told him how the baby comes out. We then explained that the baby doesn't come out of your bum, and where it comes out of. She took this new information really good. Which made me very happy. I was wondering when she would get around to asking how the baby comes out. The pictures were in black and white and probably from the 70's or 80's and not really very clear, but it gave her an understanding about how our baby will be come out of my tummy. I pulled out another book for her tomorrow, 'Spiritual Midwifery' which has more pictures of woman having babies. She liked to see the pictures when the new mom was holding the baby and smiling. One picture, had the mom, delivering a baby, with her mouth open like she was saying Oh, Oh, Oh,....Q'Orianka asked why she made that face. So I asked her what she says when Luis has a surprise for her. Her eyes lit up and she said OH,OH, Oh. I said that is that's what she's saying, having the baby is like having a special surprise. She looked at the picture and said ok.

Now I need to follow her example and decide how much information to give her. If she shows interest tomorrow will talk about it again. Then maybe, maybe, I'll look for some non-graphic, non-hysterical women having babies on youtube to show her. I'll play that one by ear, I don't want to bombard her with more information than she is ready for.



By the time, she had to go to bed, she had Suri looking at the book with her. So I had them sing a couple of songs to our new baby, then say goodnight and give him a kiss. It was really cute!! I might have war over the new baby, both girls will want to always be holding him. Q'Orianka still tries to hold Suri. And Suri usually fights back, because she doesn't want her too.

Kitchen Decorating

Now that the reality of getting a house is here. I found the perfect design for my kitchen. Luis picked the color. I wasn't to sure about, since I had another idea in mind. Then as I was looking through the design binder I created, that has pictures of design ideas for different areas of the house. I found these pictures. I'm really excited, I can't wait until we move in and I can start working on making it ours.

Father's Blessing

The cutest thing happened tonight. Luis gave the girls and I a blessing, (the girls haven't been sleeping well the last couple of days.) After the blessing, we explained what a blessing was and who it comes from, Q'Orianka's eyes were so big as we explaining. So almost before we'd finished talking, she was wanting to give papa a blessing, so she stood behind him on the couch, put her hands and his head, she asked Luis what she should say, so he gave her his name then she proceeded to give blessing/prayer, it was so cute, she's talking about a couple of things that were mention in the blessing, plus a couple of other things she says at her bedtime prayers. We could hardly keep a straight face. Then Suri, the little copy cat, stood up put her hands on Luis' shoulds and said amen.

Kids can be so amazing!!!

Health Care Options

I want to share with everyone a wonderful way to share everyones health care burdens that I discovered today. A friends of mine's midwife was telling us about this program, It's called

Samaritan Ministries International.

-This is how it works!
Samaritan Ministries is a health care sharing ministry, not health insurance, so members’ needs are handled differently than insurance. Each month every Samaritan household is assigned to share in the medical need of another member.

Here's how the process works:

-Medical Need Begins
A Samaritan Ministries member has a need and calls the Samaritan Ministries office.
Packet is sent and prayer begins A Samaritan Ministries staff member sends a Need Processing packet to the member, who is added to the prayer list so fellow members can begin praying.

-The need is presented
He completes the form in the packet and returns it, with his medical bills, to the office.

-The need is processed
The Samaritan Ministries staff verifies the need information and prepares it for publication in the monthly newsletter.

-The need is published
The need is assigned to specific members, who are informed through the monthly newsletter.

-Members respond
The members send their shares along with notes of encouragement to the need assigned to them. They also pray for the member with the need.

-The burden is lifted
The member receives letters with financial gifts, notes of encouragement, and confirmation of prayers.

-God is glorified
The member is encouraged and praises God for His provision.

Memorial Day Weekend

Here are some fun pictures from the Beach. It was the first time both of the girls had really been in the water. For Suri this was amazing progress. She hate water, seriously, tub time is a nightmare and she won't play in the little pool we have for her. She prefers to put dirt in the water instead.