Peace out facebook

Today starts the season of Lent on the church calendar. According to Wikipedia (yes, that's where I got my info from tonight), "The traditional purpose of Lent is the penitential preparation of the believer—through prayer, penance, repentance, almsgiving, and self-denial". Our church in NC had an Ash Wednesday service and I loved that. I will always remember Jason putting ashes on Gracie's forehead when she was just a small baby. It was such a neat way to experience the beginning of the season. In past years we have practiced "giving up" things and also "taking on" things. One year I gave up listening to the radio (this was pre kids and I actually listened to the radio) and spent my commute praying. That was a great experience. Another year I took on reading my Bible (more consistently)...this also was a great experience. For some time now I have wanted to get off of Facebook, but just not had the motivation to actually stop getting on there every day. Last night after seeing a couple of friends post about giving up Facebook for Lent I felt convicted about my time on there and decided that that's what I wanted to get out of my life for the next 40 days (maybe and hopefully longer). I don't feel like I spend a lot of time on there, but I am sure I spend more time than I realize. After I made the decision last night to get off of facebook I deleted the app off my phone and I'm very thankful that I did. One time today I tried to click where the app used to be, although it's now Skype, and just had to laugh at how I had tried to get on facebook without even thinking about it. I stopped and prayed for a minute and then went on. My plan is to pray more, read my Bible more and focus on my family and not all my facebook "friends". I read my Bible early this morning instead of checking facebook. What a wonderful way to start my day. I am thankful that God gives us convictions about areas in our lives that need change. I want to prepare my heart and mind for what God is doing and how I can be a part of His work.

What a Wicked week

Last week was my birthday week and we celebrated with great style and fun! On Valentine's Day we went to Chick-fil-A with my mom and Janelle and her boys (Preston was out of the country). We had a little bit of an adventure with a woman who overreacted about a situation in the play area. You can visit Jason's blog for his side of the story: erajason.wordpress.com. We ate a yummy dinner and my Mom made a delicious cake for me. Gracie loved putting all the candles on the cake...I didn't count to make sure she had the right amount, but it looked about right. One of the sweet workers at Chick-fil-A brought me a little free ice cream and the kids and I loved sharing that!

On Thursday night my Mom watched the kids while Jason and I went to dinner and then to see Wicked. It was wonderful! Neither of us had seen the show before and were only familiar with a few of the songs, but it was still so enjoyable. We've been singing the songs all week and Gracie loves the song "Popular". We finally used a gift card that Jason had gotten for his birthday to Flemings. It was delicious! They knew it was my birthday and they gave us a couple of special treats for being there. They gave me a box with four truffles and a $25 gift card to use next time we came. $25 won't buy much there, but I figured we could go for dessert one night. It was fun to get dressed up (for me) and spend the evening together. Thanks Jason for a wonderful birthday!

never again

I pray that I never again wait until 11 pm to make Gracie's school Valentine cards (on 2-13). I thought, "Oh, I'll just be cute and make those little picture cards with the sucker attached"...great idea and super cute, until it's 12:30 AM and the ink is running out. I have already switched to B&W but that was starting to fade also. Looks like I'll be sending Jason to his parents to print out the last four pictures before we pick up for carpool. Bad Momma of the month goes to the birthday girl =) I'll cut myself some slack this year, and pray to do better with other things.

One of the originals...flash makes the color look bad, but it really is cute.This was the last one that I printed...can't use it. Even though I had switched to B&W there is still a pink strip down the side. 

My new goal is to learn to use iPhoto. 

I knew it was coming...

I knew we would one day visit the Children's ER, but I didn't realize it would be so soon (kind of like Gracie getting lice last summer). James had his first (I pray it's the last) ER worthy "boo boo" yesterday at school. His little forehead split right open on a rocking chair. There was a lot of blood and big tears, but as soon as he saw me he stopped crying. One of the many benefits of working at the preschool where your children attend is that when there is an accident you are right there. I was so thankful I was there. James had his first experience with the Vestavia Paramedics and was a little overwhelmed by all the people, but he remained calm while they wrapped up his head. Jason met us at the school and then drove us to the ER. James was so very brave the whole time we were there, not crying one time. He got nine stitches total, three deep ones and six surface ones (I guess that's a good name for them). He actually fell asleep during the last few stitches and we were thankful for that. He didn't like having his face covered or being in the papoose board while they were stitching him up, but he just kind of wiggled around a bit before settling in (and then falling asleep). The sweet doctor told James that being wrapped on the papoose board would be like Buzz Lightyear getting in his astronaut suit and James seemed to buy into that a bit. Bill walked over from his office at UAB to hang out with us for a bit during our ER visit. James loved having his Granddaddy there with us.

James is doing (I think) remarkably well today. He acted himself after a nap yesterday and slept well last night. He did wake one time and was very chatty with me. He told me that his head was going to be healed and that he would be all better. I told him he was right and that God would heal his head. He went on to sleep and even slept in this morning. We stayed home from school today and he's stayed in his pj's. He got a new Star Wars toy for being so brave during everything yesterday and we went to the store to pick out some cool band aids for his head. I'm continuing to pray for a speedy recovery and no complications with his healing.

I took a lot of pictures yesterday to document the day for him to see one day when he's older. Gracie loved looking at the pictures when she got home from school. She couldn't believe he had been to the hospital and gotten stitches. She has been very sweet to him telling him that he'll feel better soon.

We were waiting for Jason to get to the school at this point. 

Waiting in the ER. They put this great numbing gel on his head to prep him for the stitches.

Hanging out in the room.

Just after stitches. Looks so much better closed up!

M&Ms make everything better!

Feeling great this morning.

Sporting his new "Cars" band aid.