My brothers need so many prayers right now.
They both have proven really good at making one terrible decision after another.
They have each strayed away from their faith and their Christian upbringing, and it is just so sad to see all the pain and grief that they are putting my parents through (not to mention the rest of our family). They don't feel guilty for making these poor choices, and they cannot understand that the things they do affect so many more people other than just themselves. They act like they are invincible, untouchable, immature little kids. I dont know what I can do for them, other than pray.

shower time

This morning I took a shower. Now keep in mind, this is not an easy feat with two preschoolers running through my house unsupervised. Fortunately, Hannah was still asleep, so I didnt have to worry abut her reaching things she shouldn't, getting out choking-hazard-sized toys for her sister to play with, or acting like she was in charge when Mommy wasn't looking. Instead of worrying about those things, I had to distract Aliah long enough to get myself clean in the shower. I locked her in the bathroom with me, dumped a bucket of blocks on the floor, and started washing my hair. Aliah didnt seem to mind at all that she has been confined to our tiny bathroom space with only a pile of blocks to play with. She loved the noise she made when she threw them on the linoleum floor.
After ten minutes and just a few rounds of peek-a-boo from behind the shower curtain, I was a much cleaner, happier, more sane Mommy.
I should have done this a long, long time ago!

They are destroying the kitchen now, so I need to get back to cleaning up their messes.
Please forgive my lack of blog posts lately. Aliah literally takes up all of my time and energy right now. She never stops moving, is always running and climbing and bouncing, and she is constantly asking for food. Example: she just ran up to me with a cup of cheerios in her hand, wanting me to open it for her. It never stops.

Smells like a flower, stings like a bee.

Hannah got her first bee sting today, Memorial Day 2010.
She was outside with her daddy, smelling the flowers in the front yard. Apparently someone stepped on the bee's nest and irritated them. Mike got stung first, on his toe. He told Hannah there were bees, and that she should run into the house, where it was safe. But she was so scared and panicked that she refused to move. Consequently, Hannah got stung next, on her shoulder. (I am so thankful that Aliah didn't get stung!)

Hannah acted like this bee sting was a major medical trauma. She wailed and got so upset that Aliah started in on it, too.

I tried to make this a lesson in obedience: "Hannah, when Mommy and Daddy tell you something, you need to obey. Right away." But she isn't ready to hear that quite yet.

Questions about Heaven

Last night, Hannah and I had a long conversation about going to heaven. She said she believes in God and Jesus, and knows that Jesus died for her sins "on a cross." I told her that if she believes, and says she's sorry for the wrong things she's done, then she can go to Heaven too, to live there forever. "Like Amber", she added.

Then she asked "Where is Amber's cross? Where is her body?" I had to explain the concept of a spirit to her (this is very abstract stuff for a five year old). I said something like "Your body dies, and stays here on earth, but your spirit stays alive. All of your thoughts and feelings and everything that you believe in are still alive, and that is the part of you that goes to Heaven." I dont know if she understood that, but it was the best thing I could come up with.

Hannah continues: "Well I am not ready to die on a cross." She thought that when we die, we are all crucified on crosses, as Jesus was. She was taking "die on a cross" very literally! So I explained that only Jesus had to die on the cross, not us. "He died on the cross to take away our sins", she reiterated. Yes Hannah, He died on the cross so that we don't have to.

"Ok Mommy", she said, "If I say Im sorry, then when can I get 'bappit-tized'?
Maybe when Im eight, or nine, or eleven?
I think eleven would be a good age, don't you?"

I am feeling really really frustrated and useless and like I can't accomplish anything today. WHY can't I just finish one task, just ONE thing, without being interrupted or having seven more messes to clean up while my back is turned?!
Oh my gosh, do I need a break from these kids!!!