Chloe's and Jillie's haircuts

Here are the long awaited photos of Chloe and Jillian after their haircuts. Let me know what you think. :) Aren't they gorgeous little girls?!?!? :) Jillie's hair is just as curly as it was before I cut it and Chloe just loves hers because she doesn't get nearly as many tangles and she doesn't have to have her hair in a piggy - she can just wash and go. (And mom likes that too!)
On a side note, I've started on medication for my seizures. I started Wednesday, today is Saturday. I had no ill effects until yesterday afternoon when I started getting dizzy. I woke up this morning still dizzy which is extremely unfortunate because I have a lot of homework to do and it's very hard to read that little print in my text when all the words are swimming together... I only have one week left and I'm not ashamed to say that I CANNOT WAIT!!! Lowell thinks I need to take a quarter off both because of how hard I've been working and also because of the introduction of the medicine. He doesn't think it's smart to be commited to a full load when I don't know how these meds will affect me. I don't like to admit that I may be taking on too much, but I think he may be right. We are also considering the option of me working. However with our current schedule, the kids would have to be in day care for two hours a day: from 3:30 to 5:30. If the child care was $5/hour per child, that would be $30 a day. I don't think I'll make more than minimum wage right now so... I'd only be making $34 a day. I don't know if that would be worth it for an eight hour day... I'd work from 4 to midnight, so I'd make $4 an hour and be tired the next day... So, that's still a work in progress.
Jillian is still very bossy and is exerting her power very frequently. Interestingly enough, Nathan has decided that he has some power to throw around too so we've begun to see a battle of wills between them. Chloe just kind of watches them and sides with whoever she thinks will be the winner in the current battle. It usually ends with Jillian screaming and Nathan crying... That has been... an interesting study in human behavior. And a pain in the peaches!! I'm ready for this battle to be over. I'm afraid, however that it will be a permenant fixture in our home as they grow. I'm working on teaching them to work together and be sure that they are using love as their filter. Unfortunately, I think I take two steps forward and three steps back because I often find myself so frustrated at their warring that I end up yelling at them both! I think the solution lies in being aware enough of what's going on that I can cut them off before the fight begins. So much of parenting is just being observant and focusing your attention on the kids. That means that there is a lot of time involved... I need to let some things go that I'm currently spending my time and attention on and focus it on the kids... Easier said than done, but we're working on it. :)

Priorities

Going to the doctor is always a struggle for me. There are a lot of reasons why but there's one issue in particular I think I can change. I don't really know much about the lives of my family members so I definitely don't know about their medical histories. So when I am asked about my family history of illness, I have no idea. I have decided to take an interesting approach... I went online and found some medical history forms and printed them out. I'm going to send them to my family and hopefully, without offending them, get a whole picture of my family tree. I'd really like to take the time to interview my family members... I'd like to know about their parents, their childhoods, just their lives... I don't feel very connected with my extended family. And my horrible memory doesn't help the matter any. That's partially why I'd like to interview them and get things written down. I also think it's important for us to share our stories with the next generations... When my great grandmas die, their stories will be lost. And my memory of the stories they've told me isn't reliable enough to count on. I hope they will be able to understand and appreciate my motives instead of being offended or feel like I'm invading their privacy. Wouldn't you like to know more about your family and their lives?
Circumstances in my life recently have lead me to begin to focus on things that are important. I think God is really trying to teach me what life is all about. I heard on the radio today, "Make peace with God and peace with yourself, because in the end, that's all there is." I'd add family to that. I believe that I have been put on earth not to have a beautiful house, car or body but to show the beauty of a life lived for Christ and a life that gives Him glory. Also, to help members of my family to experience the fullness of joy by letting Christ live in them. My prayer is that I can continue to keep my eyes on what is important and to not be led astray by the lure of soceity. That is my prayer for you too. :)

I'm not nuts!

Well, this morning didn't start out very well - I locked myself out of my car and had to pay $50 to get the tow company to open my door! Can you believe it? $50?!?!??! Someone is getting rich! And I had a slim-jim kit in my trunk! (Because I'm supposed to be the mechanic's wife who is helping other people, right!?!?) Anyway, now I went to Walmart and got a magnetic hide-a-key.. Won't have that problem again! :) But, back to my news, I went to the neurologist today, and he said that my seizures are definitely not all in my head - they're not psychological. I'm actually sick. And he's ordered me an EEG and an MRI and I'm going to be on medication. (for the rest of my life!!) That may not sound like good news to some people, but when you've been told for almost 8 years that you're so crazy that you're making yourself pass out and that if you'd just get your act together, you'd get better.. And you've struggled to "get your act together" with no positive results... It feels wonderful to know that I'm actually sick. :) My doctor hasn't identified exactly what kind of epilepsy that I have, the eeg and the mri will do that, but for now, it's just such a relief to know that I'm not nuts!!! Praise Jesus! :) I feel like a burden has been lifted and I can finally breathe.... I'm not thrilled about being on medication - let me say that - and I absolutely can't get prego on this medicine because it can be very bad for a baby but I didn't want to get pregnant again anyway! And now I will start to feel better!!!! :) The only really common side effects of this drug are headache, naseau (Does anyone really know how to spell that word??) and lack of appetite. Ok, I'm thrilled about the lack of appetite and I can still take Advil, so, I'm good. Anyone who knows about my pregnancy with Nathan knows that I can handle nausea! :) So, praise Jesus for epilepsy! :) And for getting everything together so that I could finally go to the doctors. "All I have to offer is this fragile breath, but with each one I'll praise you!"

Perspective

Sometimes I wonder... There are so many things I don't understand... And most of them have to do with me! :) Why do I do some of the things I do? Why do I react in anger when I know that I'll regret it? Why do I munch on totally unhealthy things knowing that I'm going to hate the number on the scale tomorrow? Why do I hesitate from telling people how I feel? Why do I shrink from being honest and transparent - in other words why do I allow what other people think to dominate my actions? And, I guess, ultimately, why do I spend so much time thinking about myself?? If I could just quit worrying about myself and spend that energy taking care of other people, not only would I feel better but I'd also be making a difference. Now... to get started....

Haircuts and humility

Chloe's best friend Samantha has short hair and Chloe has been bugging me to cut her hair. Finally we talked it over with Daddy and decided that we'd go for it. Now she has a cute little bob and I have to admit, I really like it. :) It got scary though... Jillian wanted me to cut her hair too. She has beautiful curls but the top of her hair is a train wreck. It's short and messy and impossible. So, Lowell convinced me to go for it. I am petrified that her curls will go away, but she wanted it done and so - snip. Off they came... And now we'll see if they return as it grows. I'll keep you posted. :)
The kids and I went yard sale-ing yesterday. The kids had a good time but they got tired of being in and out of the car all day. We were discussing how Mom asks them to stay close and not talk to strangers and then at the next yard sale, of course, Nathan ran off to see something interesting. "Why do you keep refusing to do what I ask you to? I'm trying to keep you safe Honey!" As soon as the words were out of my mouth, the Holy Spirit spoke. "Rani, why don't you listen when I tell you to do something. Or to not do something. Don't you think I'm only seeking the best for you? And don't I know what is best for My children, even more than you do?"
Isn't is wonderful having a God who loves us enough to be personally involved in our lives and who doesn't give up on us or get angry at us when we disobey? More than that, He keeps reaching out. Keeps reminding us that He still loves us. "My grace is sufficient..." "My burden is easy and My yoke is light." We're so lucky.

New to the Blogging scene!

Well.. This is my foray into the blogging world and I'm excited! :) I'm hoping this will be a way for me to share all the fun things that happen in our world without calling my friends every couple of days and talking their ears off! :) I always feel like I have so much to say, and no one to say it to. This way I can send my thoughts out into cyberspace and feel like they're being heard by someone. :) So, welcome to my life! This is us.... Lowell is working at Bear Valley, our local ski resort. He loves the weather and isn't even sick of the snow yet but things are slowing down because of the coming warm months. He isn't a seasonal employee, but we just aren't making enough money. Especially because I'm not working right now. Well, not working at a job I get financially renumerated for! :) I work very hard at being the mom of three very active kids. Nathan is almost 6 and loving Kindergarten. Chloe is almost 5 and she adores preschool. Jillian just turned 3 and is so anxious to be into the realm of her schoolgoing "friends". That's what she calls her siblings, her friends. :)

Nathan is doing very well in school. He's so smart! He loves his teacher and his friends. And believe it or not, he loves homework! He likes the opportunity to show us what he's working on, and how much he's learned. I work in his classroom on Wednesdays. Thankfully, that's one of the days Lowell has off, and so I am able to stay for the whole day. I teach the math workshop (they've just started learning addition and subtraction) and then it's time for recess. Then I take the class to music and then we have social studies and lunch. It's such a blessing to be able to be part of the classroom with him.

In the beginning of the year, Chloe's best friend was Chyna. Chyna is deaf. And Chloe just adored her! She would talk to her like she could hear and they were inseperable. By Christmas, Chloe had learned quite a bit of sign language too. And then after Christmas break, we learned that Chyna was going to get choclear implants and would be moving to Oregon to go to a special school for the deaf. I was a little apprehensive because Chloe is pretty quiet.. She definitely isn't the leader of the group and so I wasn't sure who she would find to be friends with at this late stage in the year. Surprisingly enough, she found a new friend right away. Samantha is the most quiet, shy girl in the class and apparently, she adores Chloe. And so now, they are the best of friends. Chloe's teacher commented on how interesting it is that Chloe, being quiet, would gravitate to another quiet child because it doesn't ususally work that way. I'm thrilled nevertheless. I love that her heart leads her to reach out to those kids that have a little bit of a difficult time finding friends. Such a sweet girl!! :)

Jillian is spunky. And that's putting it mildly! She is outspoken and very strong willed. She will stomp her feet in anger, cross her arms and scowl at me when she's told to do something she doesn't want to. And yet somehow, she remains adorable through it all. I don't know how she manages! :) She has a firm grip on shapes, she knows how to count to 10 + and knows her ABCs. I've noticed that I haven't been as diligent with teaching her. I don't know if I'm just burnt out or if I'm counting on her learning from her siblings... I LOVE her voice. She's so stinkin cute! :) Even mischevious, she's wonderful! We are SSOOOOOOOO blessed!