Merry Christmas!

I know I won't blog until next year, so I wanted to wish anyone who actually reads this a joyful Christmas holiday!

Jen

P.S. Sorry I'm not a better blogger. I plead "4 children under 6!!"

Getting Up to Go Potty

So, my youngest daughter, Lissa, recently expressed a serious desire to go to bed without a pullup. We had a sucessful test run and jumped into wearing panties at night. She has had accidents here and there and so we started including the issue in our nightly prayers, saying something about God helping her to wake up to go. One morning a couple of weeks ago we were talking about how she had wet the bed the night before.

I asked her seriously, "Lissa, why did you pee pee in your bed?"

She replied, just as seriously, "God didn't wake me up, Mom."

Laughing a little I said, "He didn't, huh?"

"No," she said, "He was sleeping!"

I was too tickled to be upset about my now bigger pile of laundry for the day and just hugged her! What a cutie!

For those who are curious about my NEW and FABULOUS family photo...

Isn't it great?? We were so excited to capture this one-of-a-kind photo of our family of six. Last time we tried this we were rushed out of the studio and made to feel bothersome to the photographer. Not to mention we left with NO family photo worth buying! Big time bummer!!

But I'm happy to recommend Portrait Innovations. What a great setup! Check it out sometime. And yes, thanks to my good friend Susan for the suggestion!

Here's a couple others from our sitting. These are raw, unedited digital images, so pardon the edges!

I'm Trying to Be More Back!

I can't say much as it is late and I am tired, as usual! But here are a couple of pics of my newest cutie. He's growing like a weed and delights all of us with his smiles. Enjoy!

Sleep Deprived in Grand Prairie

I'm a horrible blogger. I never shoulda started this thing! Now it's something else to feel guilty about not completing or maintaining properly. Just kidding! I actually enjoy knowing someone out there cares enough to read about my boring life.

So I haven't had a lot of continuous night time sleep lately. Our newest addition, Luke, is the culprit. He's so darn cute, though, I can't possibly be mad at him. No matter what time he wakes me up...which these days is about 4am.

Anyway, just like with my other kids, my body has adapted to it. And now I actually stay up after he goes to bed at night. Besides, if I didn't have this private time to myself I really might go nuts!

So keep coming back to visit me. I'm determined to keep you "posted"!

Hasta,
Jen

By His Spirit

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

I wanted to tell you that my second son, Luke Jonathan, was born two weeks ago tomorrow on May 29th. And although it was a wonderful birth, it was a LONG labor! Twenty-three hours it took this one to come.

Okay, so this is the point in the story when those listening (especially women) usually say, "I don't know how you do it! You are braver (or stronger) than me!" I guess I should clarify: I have had all my children naturally, independent of any pain relievers of any kind. People are amazed. I'm writing this entry to help explain how this is possible for me.

Before my second child was born at home I felt compelled to print and frame this quote from Psalm 18:

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."

I hung it right above my nightstand. I read it occasionally at first, more as the years have gone by. More and more with this pregnancy and impending birth.

God is so faithful! As I labored long and hard with this last (yes, last!) child I felt the presence of God so richly. He enabled me to endure to the end. I, in and of myself, am certainly NOT capable of natural childbirth. But He in me...well, I believe anything is possible!

I can't fully describe the gratitude and awe I have for God. It is awesome to walk through a major event in your life, whatever it may be, totally depending on Him. Because, I'll tell you what friend, He'll NEVER let you down.

"May the God of peace equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21

Waiting

I'm not good at waiting. Are you? I just thought I was a patient person until now. I'm 9 3/4 months pregnant and counting. I can't believe how long it seems to be taking for my fourth child to make his or her entrance! What's the dill, pickle?

My patience is tested all the time. And I thought, like I said before, that I was doing pretty well learning patience. But this is ridiculous! I know I'm ranting, but I just can't help it! So few people actually read this blog that it doesn't bother me (much) to show my true colors.

I even saw this movie once called "Waiting". (Can't say I recommend it though. If I remember right it's kinda raunchy...but really funny.) Anyway, the movie was about all the different people that worked at this restaurant and all the different things or events they were waiting on in life. In the end they all learn that living in the moment is what life is all about. I do this all time. Do you? Focusing so much on the "next step" in life, forgetting the potential of today.

Or that all we do today is prep for tomorrow. It doesn't have to be perfect. I do this with my kids all the time. I'll think to myself, "I wish I did this or that more with my kids." If I would just do it 10 or 15 minutes a day think of how much time that would add up to in a year. (Okay, if you are anything like me you had to stop reading and calculate it real fast. That would be 84 hours a year devoted to something you think is important, but next to impossible to accomplish, if you just spend 15 minutes a day doing it.)

Okay, not really sure how I got on that tangent. I guess all I'm saying is "Carpe Diem" and "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Hey, I think that's in the bible somewhere...

Hasta,
Jennifer

Not AMAZING, but COOL nonetheless!

Although nothing AMAZING happened on my recent overnight with a friend (other than not having to jump out bed to meet every demand of hungry children at 7AM!!), I was able to complete 23 cards in the span of about 5 hours. And I had a great time just enjoying what I love while listening to awesome music on a new little electronic gadget, my Ipod Shuffle.

Here are a few of my creations - simple design, fast and easy to accomplish, a great outcome with little effort. And once I do one I can just reproduce in a different color scheme. Of course, I have my "old standbys" that rescue me all the time - like the baby card design. This is a Jennifer classic. Scoring two vertical lines from top to bottom gives the card depth. The colored image can be coordinated to whatever the occasion, the eyelets are a nice, simple embellishment, and the ease of completion makes it fun to create.

I LOVE matchbook cards - the design is so cute! The stamp set I used here is called a "builder" set because you use several different stamps to build a scene. I'm not a very flowery girl, and I really hesitated before buying this set from Stampin Up, but I have used the heck out of it. Definitely a worthy purchase. (Makes up a little for all those unworthy stamp purchases I've made over the years!) And the paper is glossy - LOVE IT! Makes the colors really pop. And you don't need embellishments on this card. The ink transfer is so fabulous with glossy paper.

You can see the same thing on the butterfly card. The purples and pinks just pop out. This card took like 2 minutes to make. Two stamped images - bam, bam - you're done!

Are you beginning to see the pattern here? My stamping used to be so much more about the creative process. I would spend 2 hours (or more!) meticulously piecing together the perfect work of art (which, btw, I send to that one person who doesn't even notice it's handmade and casually tosses it in the garbage, CRINGE), but since having children it's really become - "What can I do really fast that will look really good?" Sometimes I succeed, sometimes not, but Hallmark hasn't gotten any money from my wallet in years. And that's all that matters...hehe.

THE WORLD’S SHORTEST FAIRY TALE

Once upon a time a guy asked a girl, "Will you marry me?" The girl said, "NO". She lived happily ever after and went shopping, drank martinis with her girlfriends, always had a clean house, never had to cook, had a closet full of shoes and purses, stayed skinny and was never farted on!
The End

Missie's Memorial

Missie Swiney was born March 23, 1998. She was one of three girls in a litter of seven border collie puppies born in Arlington, Texas. She was chosen very carefully and lovingly by Clint & Jennifer Swiney of Grand Prairie, Texas to be a companion and mate to their ruggedly handsome boy dog, Sly Swiney, of Circle J Ranch in Commerce, Texas. She was a happy, playful puppy full of energy and kisses. She loved swimming, camping, eating leftovers, licking faces, chasing balls and laser beams, digging, barking, running, jumping, going for rides and walks, and cuddling on the couch. Missie's life was unexpectedly cut short on April 9, 2007. She is survived by a litter of puppies she bore including Titus Garrett of Arlington and Trinity Gaines of DeSoto. She will always be remembered as the wonderful dog she was and will remain in our hearts forever.

Are there any good uses for vaseline? (um, nevermind!)

A few days ago my ds, Liam, found some petroleum jelly (vaseline) and decided to put it in his hair (along with some baby lotion and aloe vera gel). I washed it right away, but it didn't help at all. An hour later and he was still greasy. I read online that cornstarch might help. So here he is, in all his glory, with cornstarch on his head, very pleased with himself...until Mom scrubs him, once again, with shampoo. Boys!!

Creative Ventures

Just so you know, I hope to showcase the creative side of me on this blog. Not surprisingly, I'm not feeling very creative today. Maybe it's the rain...

This weekend though, I'm going away overnight with a friend. One of our planned activities is to make cards. Since I'll be having a baby soon, this time will come in handy for thank you cards. I'll let you know if something amazing happens.

Okay, Monica, I did it already!

My first official post begins with this statement to my dear friend, "Stop bugging me!"

Hehe...just kidding! Not really.

Totally kidding, Monica. But you know I'm really not, right?

To those of you reading this, you have more free time than me and I am jealous.