It Could Be Worse

Ever have a do over day? A day where you thought, "Okay, this is not working for me. We need to rewind the footage and start this puppy over and MAYBE things will turn out better."

Ever had a "never want to relive this day again day?" A day where the very thought of a "do-over" sends chills of dread and sweat trickling down your face? Well, bruthas and sistas, today was one of those days.

As I took my troubles to the Lord, I began to realize my God was bigger, stronger, and more powerful than the obstacles facing me. I focused on the promise and not the problem, and I really struggled with this at first...

And God answered prayers. He came through. He made a way where there seemed to be NO WAY.

And now, I think, well...it could have been worse...

I could've been this fella

getting an exam from this girl...

and receiving a shot..in the gut..

*sigh* 

It's Night O'Clock!

I'm a little persnickety when it comes to bedtimes around here. We folks here at the Chambers' household believe in  REST.

And especially when it comes to the little person that lives here. She goes to bed at straight up 8 o'clock if not earlier.

I am OCD about getting her to bed because a rested child is a happy child, and a rested mommy, is a happy mommy, and a rested husband is a rarity.

So...on those occasions when bedtime is delayed, I fight feelings of irritation and find myself hollering, "Syd! It's nearly nine o'clock...you have GOT to go to BED!"

So, this evening, as I was cajoling Syd towards the bedroom, she stopped, looked at me and said, "Mommy, I know...it's night o'clock. I gotta go to bed."

Yes, dear. It is night o'clock and we ALL need to go to bed.

Words with Nerds

I haven't blogged in so long I am plumb embarrassed.

So, in the spirit of the "blame game," I must tell you that my blog negligence all started with what seemed to be nothing, but it turned into a BIG something.

I FINALLY joined the masses and upgraded to a smart phone in September and what to my wondering eyes did appear but a whole new fantasy land of time wasting games, apps, and smart phone gotta haves.

So, in all the spare time that I USED to blog, I am being a word nerd, or blowing up defenseless pigs, or trying to sink peoples' ships, or checking ever-present email, facebook, and pinterest pins.

For that, I am ashamed, deeply apologetic, and downright abashed.

But, it all stops here. I have too many things I want to remember that I gotta get on this blog for posterity's sake!

I need to remind myself of:

the way Sydney says, "Oh, mama, you silly goofball!"

and the way she prays, "Dear Jesus, I love you, be my friend, live in my heart, help me to listen and obey and stop cryin all the time, and I want to live for you always..."

 the fantastic Christmas we had with Uncle Rick,

the night classes Chris is taking so he can advance his therapy degree,

and the way Syd says, "Mommy! Clause it! Clause it! I gotta go to potty" as she is watching cartoons...

and the feelings of hopefulness that are flooding my soul right now because I KNOW God has heard my heartfelt prayer for another child even though it has not happened yet...

how Syd turns 3 in Febuary. How did that happen? She was just an infant that I held in my arms a few minutes ago. My baby is growing up.

and that she is 99.9% potty trained, which is a HUGE blessing and took a whole lot longer than I expected.

And now, a completely random photo.

I want to live here and receive my mail here.

Yes. I do.

And if you've never had a full body lemon grass scrub while laying on a table in the outfit God gave you under a waterfall, well, baby, this is place to get one done. Good thing my modesty went out the window with the whole giving birth to a child thing 'cause you can't have any shyness during this treatment.

Please. Let me go back to the Mokara.

If you listen closely, you will hear it calling my name.

And my pocketbook.



Stationery card

Year in Pictures New Year's Card

Turn family photos into holiday cards at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

A List

1. Pilgrim costumes are pretty cotton pickin' awesome.

2. A Santa hat makes turns anyone into an elf...instantly.

3. Fritos ARE the dinner choice of toddlers.

4. If Fritos are not available, fried chicken is the next best thing.

5. The most intelligent physicist, engineer, or philosopher will never be able to comprehend the unfathomable power of a new playground.

Nerdy, Ungirly, and Disturbing

Nerdy:

My child is a starfall.com addict. Yes, it's true...and (putting on Reading Teacher hat) I highly recommend it to anyone with a toddler-age child.

She'd rather practice her letters more than anything...well maybe not more than watch Toy Story.

But, a letter-clickin', readin' girl she is. She's a nerd...already.

And I am perfectly fine with that...maybe it's because I've worked with SO many kids who have reading difficulties that I am absolutely DETERMINED that my KID is going to get EVERY possible exposure to literacy now that I can offer her. I don't want her to face the reading battle.

Ungirly:

She's also not a very girly girl.

Her new favorite games are: throw the ball, toss the ball, hurl the ball, bounce the ball, kick the ball, and bounce the ball.

She loves big trucks, motorcycles, tractors, dirt, and rocks. The girl will stop in the middle of the sidewalk to pick up a rock. She hates stockings, hair bows, and barrettes.

She loves money and counts it out to make sure I have not borrowed any.

Disturbing:

She does not like dolls, or frills, tea parties, dresses, baby bottles, and especially those Barbies...which is evident in the fact that she always puts the Barbie in this upside down couch which is eerily similar to...

a coffin.

I told you it was disturbing.

How to Ride a Tropical Bird

Just in case you ever wanted to know....

This is how it is done.

Notice the shoes must come off...

The hair must fling violently...

And the dismount must be done with grace and style...