Life has been so busy that I haven't even had a chance to read everyone elses blogs, much else write on my own. So let's see what has happened in the last two months?

THE MOVE - My new definition of crazy is attempting to move a week and a half before Christmas in the snow with two little kids. Oh, and deciding that you want to surprise your family about it therefore not telling them. Sounds great, but then you have no help moving. It is all worth it now though. I love the new house!

Walking- Amelia has been walking since Thanksgiving and driving me insane! She is into everything that she should not be into! Why don't I remember this stage with Gabe? She is really cute though. She is so tiny and bow legged and always smiling with those dimples; It is impossible to be mad at her.

The Shack - I know Cheri said she read this but I don't know if anyone else has. It's very interesting. There were times I had to put it down just so I can take a minute to comprehend what they were trying to say. I wish there were scripture in it as well, but I understand why the author didn't use it. It has made me think more about the things I usually do though. Even when I am praying now I think more about who I am praying to and why I always say, "In Jesus Name" at the end of every prayer. It's more like a habit than actually meaning anything. I don't know, I'm curious to hear other's thoughts on it.

Financial Peace University - Eric and I are starting this Dave Ramsey class offered at our church starting at the end of the month. I'm excited but also a little scared. I know it will probably force me to make some changes that I don't want to but that I need to. The good news is that we talked to Eric's sister about it, and she is going to come with us. We are praying that this could be a door to get her to come to church with us more often. We'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Well, I think that is about it. I've gotta get in the shower and start our day. Love ya all and I miss you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Ours was nice. My mom got out of prison a little over a month, ago and I still haven't seen her yet. I invited her and my brother, but they didn't have the transportation to get here. So, we went and spent it with Eric's family. It was pretty low key. For the first time this year, I went out on Friday morning to go Christmas shopping. I wasn't too hard core though. I just met a friend at 7. There wasn't anything I was really dying to get, so I didn't see the point of getting up too early. We walked into KOHLS, walked to the back, still couldn't find the end of the line to check out, so we left. I've never seen a line that long at a store. You would think it was Disneyland! So, we went to Fred Meyer. I got a couple good deals. Then we went to the Christian bookstore and I got a VeggieTales DVD for $5. That was what I was most excited about. Gabe is constantly singing the VeggieTales song even though we don't even own one movie. He borrowed some for our trip to California and they would play them sometimes in the nursery during my bible study. I can't wait. He is going to freak! 

I have to share how good God is. A week or so ago I found that a bill that I had paid, I paid a little too early so my second payment went on last months as if I just made an extra payment. I didn't think it would be a problem and I called the company to just let them know that I intended for it to be on Novembers statement not October. Well, they said they couldn't change it, and they wouldn't let me not make a payment for November. So, my saving and planning ahead so that I would have Christmas money, ended up costing me an extra $92. I was upset, but I went to work and cooled down and just decided that it was o.k. We had the kids presents already and we still had a little bit of money to get everyone else's. I came home and told Eric that it was o.k. and we just wouldn't get eachother anything this year. We would just do stockings for eachother. Christmas isn't about gifts anyway. He told me to stop and that I was limiting God. There was still plenty of time before Christmas. The next day he started going through his receipts. He tends to buy things for the camp with our money and then just gets reimbursed. Well, he decided to turn in all his mileage while he was at it. Well, guess how much in mileage he had? $90. Here's another one. This time of year is really tough for the camp. They had some bills that they needed to pay which was in the thousands of dollars. Someone had made a donation earlier but it wasn't quite enough to pay everything off. He was totally stressing because the company that the camp gets it's food from was about to cancel on them. On Tuesday or Wednesday, I don't know, a guy just walks into the office and wanted to give a donation. Eric didn't know who he was and we never get people that just walk into the front door. It's usually people who live around the state and have a long history with the camp and send us something in the mail. Isn't God good. Also, our church just had a 4 week fasting and praying time. Our goal was for at least 50 people saved during the 4 weeks. Well, I'm going to be honest. The last few days I wasn't sure if we did it. I didn't know the number but I was just going by the few that I knew about during the services we attended.  I even had the thought about how everyone was going to handle it if we didn't get the fifty. Well, I found out this morning that there were 54 first time salvations. I started to cry. God, help my unbelief. Why do I ever doubt Him? I just wanted to share how good He is. Love ya all!

Britt 

Just catching up

There has been a lot going on, so I haven't gotten a chance to write. Let's see, I'm not sure where to start. I'll just start with the kids. Both were sick and got their first ear infections. Gabe hates the doctor so that was quite the experience. Then at Amelia's check up last week I got the lecture again about the flu shot. It's so hard. The doctor tells you that the flu is the number 1 cause of death in babies, so that makes me scared. But I always figured that if they start to get sick, I'll just take them in and get medicine. Well, he tells me that since it's a virus, antibiotics won't treat it. Then I tell him that I heard there was mercury in it and he says that there isn't mercury in the shots they give to babies Amelia's age. I didn't think to ask that at what age is there mercury? I never got the flu shot with Gabe, but he has a really good immune system. Also, Amelia puts EVERYTHING in her mouth, which scares me. Let's face it, I'm not one of those moms that is constantly sanitizing my kids' hands. If she does get the flu, I'll feel so stupid taking her in now. I'm also around a lot of sickness with all the kids at my work. Last year we all got the flu at the same time and it was awful. I don't think I can handle two babies throwing up all over me. I don't know what to do. I've been praying but still feel torn about it. 

A lot has been going on at Eric's work as well. They have laid off some people. One of which is our good friend Becky. We miss her so much. Gabe LOVED Becky and she always babysat for us. She was the one we called when I went into labor so she could come stay with Gabe. On the other hand, with all the reorganizing Eric was given a sort of promotion. It's not more money but just a title that fits more of what he has actually been doing. He is now the Director of Operations. We are also moving to another house here. This one is larger with a yard. It is also not in the middle of camp for everyone to see us. It will be nice because Eric can actually come home without staring at work. We've been living in a cave with the curtains drawn, so he doesn't have to worry every time he looks outside. I'm excited about that but not looking forward to another move. At least we have a PO Box now so we don't have to change our address again. Well, it's bath time. I'll write some more another day. Everyone have a good Thanksgiving. Love ya,

Britt

Bob and the Bumblebee

I know I am late, but we've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post pics of the kids on Halloween. We went to our church's carnival with my friend Amy from work. Eric had to work unfortunately. We weren't there long because it gets so crowded but it was fun. 

Pics. as promised

Yes, I know it's not 1992.

So, Friday night I got a perm. Which is the reason for the title of my blog. I'm just so sick of my hair and how it looks the same no matter what I do. I want something different so I just got a body wave. When she first took the rollers out, I was a little scared because it was so curly. But then, within an hour and a half there were parts that were already going straight. So, it's not what you think when you think perm. It is just a little wavy. I should have known it wouldn't hold. My mom tried once when I was probably in about the 4th grade and that didn't hold at all. That was barely curly when we took it out of the rollers. I figured that was because it was my mom and it was a home perm. But, it still didn't work. My hair is just too heavy. It did give me what I was looking for which is something not too drastic but just a little more body. 

Besides that, all is good here. Eric is adjusting to his new boss. He likes that the new director will just make decisions and not have to hold meetings and take forever to make a decision. I took the kids with my sister and mother in law to a pumpkin farm this weekend. They loved it. Gabe picked out a cute little pumpkin to take home. He likes the little ones so he can carry them around. He tried to pick up the ones that were half his size. He was so cute. Once I download the photos I'll show some. I am really enjoying my Bible study and getting a lot out of it. I don't want it to end. The kids like going to the nursery and a couple of times, I have taken them to McDonalds afterward for lunch. It's a little crazy handling the two of them by myself but Gabe loves playing there and I like not worrying about cooking lunch. Love ya all and I'll post some pics. soon.

A new use for a breastpump

I don't know if any body else knows what I am talking about but when I was in the hospital after having Gabe, the lactation consultant made her rounds. I had been given a good hospital grade pump and the consultant gave me all the parts I needed for it. In the kit, there is a hand pump also. I never used it though because I had the other one. I did keep all the parts together though in the bag with the pump. Well, one day Gabe comes up stairs with the hand pump. Apparently, it is a really cool toy for a two year old. He kept telling us it was used to make popcorn, which we never did get. Anyway, one time or another he heard us say that it was a pump. Then one day last week, Eric went to the shop to pump up the tire on our small green car which I drive to work. He took Gabe with him, which was super exciting for him. He talked all about how they pumped up my tire. I guess while I was at work he took the breastpump to all his toy cars and pumped up the tires. Yesterday was the funniest though because Eric was washing my car and when he pulled it up I told him the tire was looking low. Gabe ran inside, grabbed the breastpump and ran outside to the tire to "pump it up". So cute! 

With all the heaviness lately in the news, I hope this will make some smile.