Simon is wearing some hand-me-down shoes from one of my childhood friend's children!
Lately Simon has been getting 'hurt' quite often. These times when he isn't really hurt are usually just a distraction ploy from discipline ... so I started giving him 'medicine' to help him. The medicine is very, very hot and spicy mustard. He will take it and doesn't enjoy it at all, so, as a result, he is getting 'hurt' less often!
Evie-Grace still isn't sitting up by herself!
I hope that is 'okay' at 5-ish months.
We joke with her that she is the laziest little girl!
Lazy and content, though!
Simon helping make ratatouille...Simon helped wash the eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms. He is more likely to eat dinner if he helps make it, so ...
He also ate some mushrooms and zucchini raw and like them a lot.
The eggplant ... not so much.
Yesterday Simon and I exercised to "Elmocize" from the library. He had lots of fun. The sad part of this story is that I seriously think I pulled something AND I was actually sweating. Anyway, he had so much fun! I need to see if I can buy a similar, more updated dvd for him.
This is my dad.
The resemblance to Evelyn is remarkable.
When Evie was born, I thought the shape of her hairline and head reminded me of pictures I had seen of my dad when he was little, but it wasn't until Mom brought over a photo album last week that I really realized the similarity!
My dad and his dad.
(still reminding me of Evelyn Grace)
My dad and his parents.
My grandmother's middle name is Evelyn, and her sister's name was Grace :)
Dad and his younger brother Randy standing on a couch and looking out the window.
So, this is what Evie might look like ... but with hair (hopefully!)
The other day I was on the couch ( I felt really dizzy and my eyes were hurting...I blame it on these new contacts) and Simon came up...
Simon: Mommy, Jesus is watching over you.
Me: Where is he?
Simon: He's in the sky. He is such a big and strong man.
Gigi and Simon on Saturday at the Arboretum!
We had so much fun that mom got us a family membership for a year! So, from what we understand, everytime we go, up to 6 people can get in for free! And, on Tuesdays, they often have "Mommy and Me" activities that Simon would love. PLUS, with the membership, free parking!
The Arboretum makes Dallas a bit more appealing!
Simon working a plow!
Here is an excerpt from an email my friend Kellie recently sent out.
(Remember, Kellie is serving in a country that rhymes with rafanagastan).
The words were written by a female 'coworker' of hers in the same country. Kellie felt like the words exposed her heart as well.
"I've exchanged precious moments with loved ones for ordinary ones with strangers.
Independence for helplessness..
Beauty, freedom, romance, independence, youth ... these Western idols came crashing down..."
Kellie went on to add that "...all of the things I miss can become idols to me if I believe that they will satisfy me more than the God of this incredible universe..."
Two stories of encouragement:
On Friday, I was worried because Evie had been in her bouncy seat, and Simon, as he was playing with her, bounced the seat really hard, and I was quite upset, thinking about shaken baby syndrome, etc. So, I called Matt at work (I was crying) and he prayed for Evie AND looked up details about shaken baby...(what would we do without google???)
Anyway, my friend Debi knew about it as well and took the time to encourage me:
"...The Lord is merciful and thankfully watching all the time!" I love how these words of faith were right at the top of her reflex thoughts!
Some more pictures from the Arboretum!
I was able to go to a friend's home last Wednesday evening for some sewing 'lessons.' She hemmed a couple of pairs of jeans for me. I had no idea you could hem pants so easily on a machine. I might be able to do that! (If I can remember how to thread the machine!)
Another seamstress friend is planning a mending party soon at our home, won't that be fun?? Let me know if anyone reading wants to get in on the details ... :)
A bonus of facebook: Access to friend's profiles, which includes favorite quotes and books.
A dear friend of mine whom I look up to (Julia) has listed as one of her favorite books Don Aslett's "Clutter's Last Stand" I read excerpts online from Amazon, and the book looks amazing. I might would be able to get rid of more accumulation with this book's help!
And here is an amazing quote 'stolen' from Heidi's profile:
"Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head."
William Cowper
Our picnic at the arboretum.
Gigi and Simon
Okay, here is a brilliant idea that I have recently started.
As I was cleaning out our hall closet with toiletries and the like, I came across so many half-bottles of conditioners that I came to not like and across lotions that I will never use.
So, I am using the conditioners and lotions as shaving cream and they work amazing!
Resourceful, huh?
So, with my hope to visit the Arboretum more, I envision, (in a few years) being able to go somewhere like the Arboretum, with Evelyn Grace, and ... we could wear matching dresses!
How cute would that be??
I guess I'll have to make them, though, so it would probably not happen. Unless we go with almost-matching separates and I bet I could find some fairly close matches there in the store....
Ms.Helen and Evie Grace.
Here is a quote I like that was published in the Depression Era
by Ladies' Home Journal Magazine...
"The return of good times is not wholly a matter of money. There is a prosperity of living which is quite as important as prosperity of the pocketbook...It is not enough to be willing to make the best of things as they are. Resignation will get us nowhere. We must build what amounts to a new country. We must revive the ideals of the founders. We must learn the new values of money. It is a time for pioneering--to create a new security for the home and family...Where we were specialists in spending, we are becoming specialists in living."
And another quote, from Peter Marshall...
"Church members in too many cases are like deep sea divers, encased in the suits designed for many fathoms deep, marching bravely to pull out plugs in bath tubs."
And another quote from Herman Melville's short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener,"
"I remembered the bright silks and sparkling faces I had seen that day, in gala trim, swan-like sailing down the Mississippi of Broadway; and I contrasted them with the pallid copyist, and thought to myself, Ah, happiness courts the light, so we deem the world is gay, but misery hides aloof, so we deem that misery there is none."
Here is a passage from Elisabeth Elliot's book, The Path of Loneliness.
I came across this passage in college, and the truth behind it has been embedded on my soul
(as it is prone to worry and to imagine future tragedies)
It often happens that those whose loss is greatest receive the greatest share of grace, mercy, and peace... Those who only watch and pray and try to put themselves in the place of the bereaved find it almost unendurable. Sometimes they weep uncontrollably, for their imaginations never include the grace.
I took off Simon's shirt, so at least one part of his clothing could leave the Arboretum dry!
I can't wait to go back to the Arboretum with Matt!
And this time, no camera! (That way I can just really enjoy my kiddos) and not think about snapping great pictures.
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