The Phone Call

Judson said that Lorrie was pestering him to death to call me because she needed to talk to me.  She kept saying that she wanted to make sure everything was taken care of.  Finally she said call this number and low and behold it was the right number.  Judson called me and Lorrie got on the phone and she sounded like her old self.  She was clear as day and not groggy.  I couldn't believe it.  I told her, "Wow, Lorrie you sound good!"  She said, "I feel good!"  She was confused thinking I was suppose to pick up Livvy the next day, but I didn't care, because it was the old Lorrie back!  It was amazing.  It was like God was giving me a gift to hear her voice again.  Praise the Lord!

What a Glorious Day!

I took the girls over to see Lorrie today.  Livvy wanted to see them and play and it would give me a chance to visit with Lorrie.  It turned out to be an impromptu cookout including John, Matt and Hope, and Casey and then the rest of us.  It was GREAT!!!  Lorrie was doing GREAT!! I couldn't believe my eyes.  She was talking good, got up on her own, fussed at Livvy, ate dinner at the table (she ate steak and hadn't had much of anything all day), and then wanted to go outside and watch the girls playing and riding their bikes.  Once again, God showed me to be faithful and that he had a plan.  My girls were excited to see that Lulu was doing better and that God was making her better, when we thought that she was near the end.  I just love surprises like that and I thank God for allowing me to be able to be there for the impromptu cookout.  What a GLORIOUS Day!

Persuation

I came home to find Mallory's journal on my pillow.  I am thinking awwww, she missed me tonight and wants to tell me.  ( I was out to dinner with a high school friend and didn't get to put her to bed)  Well anyway, I am bragging to John before I read it that Mallory has left me something that she wrote and that I was conditioning her heart when I punish her. When John punishes, it is in the moment and it is to stop the action, where my approach is to wait until she calms down and then talk about how her actions made me feel.  Anyway, I said to John, see..., she wants to tell me something because I worked on her heart.  John then proceeds to read her entry and it said, "Dear Mom, Can I wear shorts and a short sleeve shirt tomorrow?  Remember... Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and so are you .  You are the best mom I ever had!!! Love, Mallory".  (Previously I had taken away the privilege of picking out her clothes because she had a melt down about what she was going to wear.)  So... is my approach working or John's as for discipline?  That Mallory..., she is going to make a great lawyer one day, or either a great wife!! She can surely persuade.

Hallelujah

What an awesome service this morning at Westminster Pres.  It was on the Penticost.  Then the singing began.  I am so moved by music.  It was a song I sang growing up as a child that always brings back great memories.  "Great is thy Faithfulness"  Then we sang "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley, it could have been adapted by someone else, but didn't get the name of the artist.  Anyway, it was AWESOME.  The congregation was awesome to see and watch.  That's when the tears started pouring.  It was like all my sorrow started pouring out and laying it before the Lord!  Then I looked down at Mallory and she was REALLY getting into it!  She had her forhead scrunched up, her head tilted back, and her mouth very exaggerated, singing Hallelujah, Hallelujah!  It made me laugh and cry all at the same time.  I am tearing up now remembering it.  I really feel blessed!!!  Hallelujah!!!

Why do you always milk a cow from the right side?

Tonight Mallory and I were reading a Little House on the Prarie book.  We were reading a chapter called Milking Time.  While reading, Laura was milking a cow from the left side and Ma told her not to do that because the cow would kick her.  Ma said, "Always milk a cow from it's right side".  I looked to Mallory and I asked, " I wonder why you have to milk a cow from the right side?"  Mallory looked at me with the most serious look on her face and said, "OHHH... That's must be because one side is plain milk and the other side is chocolate milk!!"  Well hello, that does sound like a good reason, but of course it isn't.  Do you know why?  We never found out, but we laughed and laughed about it.  She can be so funny sometimes.

Valentine's Dinner

We celebrated Valentine's Day at our house today!  I was in the kitchen all day preparing a special meal for all of us (4 of us) to eat.  Did you get that... ALL DAY!!  I don't know how people cook like that all the time.  I made Libby's mashed potatoes (with cream cheese, sour cream, etc...) and her recipe for Beef Brisket.  I made Lulu's broccoli casserole.  Then for something sweet, I made Kelly Partlow's Strawberry Pretzel Delight.  It was all sooo yummy!!  I got out my fine china and crystal and set it on the dinning room table.  We never eat in the dinning room unless it is something special.  I had gormet desserts that my mom had someone make for us in the center of the table along with a candle.  We really had a special meal.  Everyone was very complimentary. 
My favorite gift I gave John and the girls were their own journals.  In the journal, I wrote that it was meant for us to write notes to each other about anything and everything that was one their minds.  They don't have to write everyday or every week, just when they have something to say.  Then once they have written something, they are to put it on my pillow and that lets me know they wrote something to me.  I will then write them back.   I bought these a week ago, because I thought that sometimes you can write something better than you can say it.  I also expect that I will grow to cherrish and look back on the many entries for the years to come.