"Paging Dr. Mattson, Paging Dr. Mattson"

A couple of years back I took advantage of the awesome sales on costumes come November 1st. I found some steals... like a karate costume for $3 and a Jedi costume for .49 cents. Yep! 49 cents because it was out of the package and the mask was larger than the costume, so the cashier was kind enough to sell it to me at this ridiculously amazing price. Anyway, since we don't celebrate Halloween, we can partake in the sales and really enjoy dress up afterwards. So, the boys have a hamper full of costumes that they dress up in, usually on a daily basis. Last night was 'Doctor' night. Our pediatrician has been Dr. Mattson, since Miguel was 7 years old. Almost 10 years for him, and their whole lives for the little guys and Isabella. I know some of you know him and are blessed by him as well. He retired over a year ago, but told me that this is his life, so he continues to come into work and see our kids. We hate to think of the day he will actually retire, but for now, my boys love to play 'Dr. Mattson'.




Daddy: "Dr. Mattson, Dr. Mattson... Please check my heart!"

Zack proceeds to come over to Daddy and belts out...

"Open the eyes of my heart, Loooord, open the eyes of my heaaaart! I wanna seeeee you. I wanna seeeee youuuuuuu."

Guess Zack is fully aware of what the best kind of medicine is for a 'sick' heart, isn't he?





Oh, and for you Dr. Mattson fans, yes, I am fully aware that Dr. Mattson doesn't wear glasses, but Zack insists that all doctor's do... do you remember the post where Walker insisted that all french Doctor's wear mustaches like this one?



Don't ask... we have never been to a french doctor...

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We had a productive family meeting last night. After Dr. Mattson's house call, of course.

-We discussed how we can improve our Sunday mornings and ideas on having them run more smoothly.
-We discussed how we are going to start up our Tuesday's Child time again.
-We discussed prayer requests.
Do you have something or someone you would like us to lift up in prayer? My children have really been enjoying praying for others, so it would be our privilege to pray for you. These faces would love to intercede on your behalf!!!

Proverbs, Saltines, and Waiters

PROVERBS 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Mommy: Christian, do you know what this verse means?

Christian: Well, if you eat too much fruit you will have a tummyache, so God says don't eat too much fruit."

Then after our bible study, we all got to doing our schoolwork and Christian took it upon himself to make us all a snack...

Christian: Mom, can I use the bread, jelly, and chips?

Mommy: No chips, Christian.

Christian proceeded to make everyone PB&J and saltine sandwiches. They were actually really good!

As Christian brought each one of us our sandwiches to our work station, I was so blessed to see his loving and giving spirit.

Christian not only gave Walker a special sandwich, but he went and filled up Walker's cup with water and brought it to him.

Mommy: Christian, you have such a servant's heart, Buddy!

Walker: And a waiter's heart, too! He is a really good waiter!

(I wish you all could have seen how much Walker's compliment meant to Christian. He didn't react near as much to mine.)

Tio And Tia In Town And A Princess Turns 3 Months Today

Labor Day weekend my little brother, Manny, and his lovely wife, Susan, came to pay us a visit before they move on over to Florida. We are totally going to miss having them in the same state, but are excited to see what God is going to do in this new chapter of their lives. (Our future niece or nephew will not be Californian, but a Floridian.) The kids were so happy to have their Tio and Tia in town and planned a little 'show' for them the first night and Miguel made everyone dinner. The little guys put on their costumes (We had a dinosaur, an Indiana Robin, and a 'Incredible Zack' using a snake as his whip!) and did some karate, then sang 'Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord' and 'Big House' with cute little dance moves to go along with it. They even made Tio and Tia be a part of it by making them wear silly hats and beat on the drums. When they were finished everyone was giving them high fives and clapping and making a big deal saying 'Good job, good job', but I have to add this sweet memory that I will never forget. My Mom was sitting next to me and looked over at me, tapped me on the leg, and said "Good job, Mom." Her comment made me realize how privileged I am to stay at home and be able to spend this precious time with my children.
It was fun going to the mall, stopping in the preggie clothes store with Susan, and making her put on the fake belly. Since we will most likely not get to see her belly in person, my sister and I made her put it on. She looked so cute and since she is not showing at all yet (she is only 10 weeks pregnant with her first), this gave us a good clue of what would be to come.
We had fun at the BBQ thrown by my parents, and the kids loved playing RISK with Tio and I loved chillin' with my SIL. I am totally going to miss them, but we are already saving our pennies to visit them next fall, hopefully, and visit Disneyworld for the first time, too.
Please lift them up in prayer as they prepare to say goodbye to so many friends and start their new life in Florida!!! I love you, guys!













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Our Isabella Grace turned 3 months old this morning. I know I should be aware of how fast time flies when they are this little, but you NEVER get used to it! She is such a joy to us all and we praise God for bringing this sweet pretty girl into our lives.

Within the last month, Isabella discovered her toes, her hands, mommy's jewelry, and Daddy's hair. It is so amazing to see her trying to interact with each of us through her 'talk' and by trying to touch us and be a big girl. She is sooo strong and has been holding her head up since day one, but we can even put her in the Exersaucer already! She is not a big fan of tummy time, but loves to swat at her toys in the pink gym she was given by Katie. Thanks, Katie! She is still not a fan of leaving the house, so I suppose she will be a bit of a homebody, which is ok, since gas prices are getting ridiculous again.


"Where did I leave that pink daisy? Hmm..."


"Happiness is being the center of attention!"


"Zack you're ruining the picture!!"


"Mooooom, Zack's bothering me!!!!"

The fun begins....

Flashback Friday

Dani Joy over at Gospel to Gidjon does a flashback Friday each week and they are so fun, because you get to check out her hair-do's from the past. I hope to one day get my scanner up and running so you can check out my funky hair from way back when, but for now, check out this one:

Zachary Joseph, 2 days shy of turning 6 months old and just learned how to sit up.



Do you think Isabella looks like Zack?

The Lord Looks At The Heart

UPDATE:
Whoo... I got several private emails concerning this post. So, I wanted to add a little more thought about the scripture below and share it with you. So, if you have already read the post about 'the outward man', then here is the update...if you haven't read the post below, please read it first then read this update:

Wives, I most certainly am not saying you should not take time to prettify yourselves. I am not saying you shouldn't paint your toenails (Shoot...I went and got a pedicure just hours after typing up this post!). I am not saying you should no longer take time to consider which outfit makes you feel great and look great and in turn makes your husband take notice of your sexy legs! (Thanks for the compliment last night, Timmy.) I am most certainly not saying you should no longer shower and stop shaving your armpits... unless that is something you are happy with already doing. Although I do recommend partaking in both, ladies. What I was trying to get across is that we should not be consumed with the outward man. That we should not be spending more time putting on eyeliner and mascara and acrylics than with our God. That we not spend so much time worrying about what we will wear today and about how we are having another bad hair day, than we do about the time we spend worshipping Jesus! To be honest, this isn't something that consumes me when I have a newborn. I am happy to get a shower, let alone have some eyeshadow on... but there are times where I know I look in my closet and think, "I have nothing to wear!", and must sound so ungrateful to God for all the wonderful pieces of clothing in my closet and dresser. Or days where I am tired of my long hair and how "I just can't do anything with it!", and the Holy Spirit convicts me for complaining. I totally do think we should take time to clean ourselves up, and my husband LOVES for me to wear make-up and will often compliment me on my eye make-up job. And remember the post where I went as far as to perm my hair because he loved the way it used to look when we first started going out?! And I know there have been many a time when I tried on an outfit and felt spectacular in it and well, even the Proverbs 31 woman dresses herself in fine linen and purple. So, please know that this scripture is not an excuse for you to no longer work at pleasing your husband with your outer beauty, but a reminder that it should not be above your time with the Lord. Lastly, I was talking about what the Lord looks at, not what your man looks at... we all know that those are two very different sets of eyes, Ladies!! So, don't go throwing away your make-up bags, lingerie, and curling irons... I don't want to start getting any hubby hate mail.




1 Samuel 16:7
The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

It got me to thinking... how much time am I spending on the outward man (showering, putting on make-up, finding the 'perfect' outfit, going shopping for more 'perfect' outfits, putting on anti-wrinkle creams, manicures, pedicures, doing my hair, etc.) as opposed to the inward man. Am I putting in as much effort on my inward man, as I am my outward man? Am I spending as much time with my Heavenly Father as I am in front of the mirror? I felt convicted as to how much I worried about wearing the right color of lipstick with that pretty blouse, than I did about finishing my bible study and really reflecting on what God was trying to tell me. If I really stopped and thought about the time I spent with Jesus today in comparison as to how much time I spent getting my outward man ready this morning, I think it would shock me. So, this verse really spoke to me. Not that God is telling me to no longer have a pedicure, or that I am consumed with vanity because I do my make up each day (well most days), but that I needed to really realize what was truly important. God looks at my heart, not my hairdo and I want to make sure that I spend my day pleasing HIM and not man.

So, on that note, I will not be making the outer man of such significance...


... but, making the inner man my highest priority.

Walker-ism's

Walker: Mom, is there anything I can help you with?

Mom: (Isabella crying as I hold her) Not now, Buddy, unless you can nurse Isabella for me.

Walker: (Silly grin across his face) Moooommmm, my pimples aren't that big!! (as he grabs his chest) Even Dad's pimples aren't that big!

Have You Thanked God Today?

Have you taken a moment to thank God today that you are able to homeschool your children? That you have the privilege and honor to be their teacher every hour of every day? That you are the one that is there to direct and guide them through all the things they encounter in their daily life? That you are the one that makes the decisions as to what their little sponge brains are exposed to? That you are teaching them to love God with all their hearts, with all their soul, and with all their strength as God has commanded(Deuteronomy 6)? What an amazing opportunity we have and I am sure most of us take it for granted. In the world we live in, nothing is just granted to us. We must go through a legal system to make sure it is acceptable in the world's eye and my sweet sisters, homeschooling is so borderline. So, count your blessings. We are truly blessed to be able to homeschool! It is an amazing gift and we must never forget that it is by God's grace that we are able to do so, because I know that the public school education I received certainly did not prepare me for this task. It is only by God's grace that my children can do their 3 R's.





It is also only by God's grace that homeschooling allows for them to do wonderful things during their school week that attending public school would not allow.

Such as camping in Gramita and Grandpapa's unfinished house during the middle of the week.

Pitching a tent in what will be their grandparents living suite,

bring in Harlan Pepper,

our killer Basset Hound,

for protection,

lay out their sleeping bags and a ton of pillows,

tell stories,
laugh hysterically,

roast marshmallows and make s'mores with Mom and Dad,

listen to the coyote's howl all night,

count endless stars in the sky,

and wake up and have their breakfast,

at their leisure,

in their tent.










Or allows you to take a day off to go visit Dinosaurs that happen to be living in southern California.




Or visit the beautiful beaches on the West coast and spend the day taking beautiful pictures like this one that Karizma took.




Or take time off to welcome a new little brother and spend time loving him, holding him, wearing him, and making up silly nicknames for him like... Zackadee.




Or take a family trip to the pumpkin patch (Christian-1 1/2 and Walker 3, and a very pregnant with Zack Mommy).




Or take field trips to Disneyland, LOTS of field trips to Disneyland, at the drop of a hat... a Mickey ears hat, that is. (Zack 10 months old)












That is the beauty of homeschooling. One of the few things that make homeschooling so amazing, so blessed, and so fun. That we have the freedom to add in extracurricular activities as often as our hearts desire! What are some of the things you enjoy doing as a homeschooler?


So, today, take a moment, or many, to stop and thank God that you are able to homeschool your children. That you live in a country where this is legal.. at least for now... and pray that God gives you the energy to train them up the way they should go so when they are old they will not depart from it! (Proverbs 22:6)