Lesson Learned

You know that thing you keep telling your child not to do, over and over again? They even get in trouble for doing it, but for some reason keep going back and testing that boundary. Well, Andrew now understands why I kept telling him not to "swing" the baby when he was in his Jumperoo. He learned that if you try and "swing" the baby the Jumperoo might break and send your baby brother crashing to the tile floor. Thankfully, Gabriel was not harmed in this lesson learned the hard way. We no longer have a Jumperoo for Gabriel to play in, but if that is the worst thing that happens today than we are doing well enough!

Another lesson learned along with this for Andrew was that if you yell and kick at your momma because you want to be fed now (and I mean immediately after said Jumperoo incident) that you get sent to your room. Then, if you continue to yell and scream and stomp on the floor that you get into more trouble, and for some reason lunch does not get made at that moment. It is always better to ask nicely for something, and to do what your momma says...when she says it. And yes, I do realize that this lesson will have to be learned again by my darling three year-old!

30 Day Challenge

I have started the Revive Our Hearts 30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge. Boy is it a challenge! When you set out to do something that is going to honor God and bring Him glory Satan attacks. The second day was rough, and I found myself not speaking kindly to my husband. Today is day three. It is so easy to look toward your husband, kids or friends to meet all the emotional needs you have, and then get frustrated when those needs aren't met. I know that only God can meet the deepest needs in my heart. Why do we always forget to look to Him first?

I have also started the Devotion to End All Devotions. It is a 36 week journey to study the Bible on your own. I know that the most important relationship I have is the one with my Redeemer. Next is my husband. My relationship with all others will be better if I am striving to be where I need to be with Christ and then my husband. My kids need to see where my priorities are. The world shows them to focus on themselves, that they are all that matters. The show that are out focus on how to manipulate situations to make them what you want, and then there are no real consequences. I want my kids to focus on Christ. Focus on His love and acceptance. Focus on following Him instead of their so-called friends at school. Life is a journey and I want them going on the right path...therefore I need to strive to be on the right path too, and be a more godly wife and mother.

Pray for me as I am on this journey. I know that Satan hates the family. He hates marriage. I know that I will be attacked. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Looking Forward

There is so much going on with so many of our family and friends. People are hurting and trying to heal. As I look forward to the future I have peace because I know that God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. He wants to give us a hope and a future. We serve an awesome God. No, we don't know what lies ahead. There are always things that we wish we could change. BUT and this is a big but, God is in control. He is still on His throne. He is still sovereign. We can have peace. It is available. Just like the old hymn says, "there is power in His blood". So my message to everyone and myself is to take heart. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey". Take a deep breath, smile, love God and keep going!

Friends, kids and Texas

Well, this was the first truly good day in a while. I got the two oldest off to school, got my two youngest dressed, myself ready and headed to Ikea where I met a friend. It was great to see a familiar face and have sometime face to face to talk to another woman! It's always good to visit with friends. I found a few things I needed and I got a few things that were just cute! However, I got home to realize that one of the things I got was wrong. So, now I guess I have to drive another hour back there sometime soon. It took over an hour to get there in traffic, but only 40 minutes to get home! Crazy DFW traffic.

On the way to Ikea Andrew saw a golf course and said, "They have golf courts in Texas mom! Do they have more than one?" Little kids make me laugh. Everything is "Look! They have ____ in Texas!" Anything you can think of or pass on the road, I have heard in that sentence. Not just by the three year-old, but by the older two also!

Now to make dinner. We have been spending more time together as a family. We have been sitting down at the dinner table together. I didn't realize how much we weren't eating dinner at the table together, or how important it is to the children. They feel like they are a priority. It has fostered great conversation. It really doesn't take more work to go into the dinning room at this house. In Oklahoma it was a lot easier to put the kids at the breakfast bar and for the adults to eat in the living room. I love this house. It is a great house for our family. I know that God has a plan in us being here. He has never failed us yet!

Accomplishment

We have all of our stuff and have begun to get settled. I have actually got one room done. The formal dining room. No boxes in there, the dishes are in the china cabinet, the rug is down and the chairs are around the table. We have stocked up the fridg and freezer, so that means that we can actually sit down at a table tonight and eat together as a family. It will be a new concept for us! It has been weeks since we have been able to do that.

Blog Name

So, I decided to explain the name of Crayons and Ketchup since some of my friends looked at me funny at lunch today when I was told them the name. I decided on it randomly when I randomly decided to start a blog. It seems that there is always crayons and ketchup around my house. With four children you have to have ketchup, with three of them boys (although only 2 eat big people food) they some how get the stuff every where! Then, you have the crayons that I always seem to be stepping on, washing off walls, or getting a pretty picture that was made with them. There are several things that are a constant in our house, and crayons and ketchup seem to be two of them.

Going Away Lunch

I had a wonderful lunch today with wonderful friends. So many that care, and that I will truly miss. I wish I could take them all with me to Texas as we move. It was so good to see everyone, some that I don't get to see that often. I did good...I didn't cry. Now, Saturday when we have our cookout with all our friends and family, then I will probably cry. I will probably not be okay on Tuesday as they load all of our stuff up. What a change that is coming. I still can't believe that I am leaving this great place. I love this town. It is the only town I have lived in. This is for my husband..."I have lived in a five mile radius my whole entire life." He thinks that is the funniest saying. It's just how us okies talk!