Crash and Burn

I had a computer crash, actually more of a burn.  It was a power surge that fried parts of my baby (Isabella), and she’s gone.

My new computer is still a “work-in-progress”.  She has no name, no uploaded pictures and nothing to “share” just yet.

So, there will be an onslaught of posts coming…soon.  I don’t promise when, because I still need to get things settled.  BUT there are many pictures and stories to share.

Bear with me, please.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Easter

For Easter Church this year, we went to the 7:45 am service with Aunt K and Uncle Batman (then had a breakfast/brunch at Wendy’s).  It was wonderful to see them and take communion together.  Then we headed home for a nap.

For Easter “Dinner” this year, Hubby and I took GO over to the Royal House.  Queen and King were grilling hamburgers and Queen made a BUNNY CAKE.

BUNNY CAKE!

GO enjoyed having “siblings” for an afternoon.

Surrogate Siblings

My favorite part is that she’s gotten very good at saying “cheese” when the camera is pointed at her.

CHEESE - while sitting in her chair, sort of...

She found the recycling bin fascinating.

Happy Easter!

Eating the GIANT slice of chocolate cake given to her by Queen.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Weight Gain! (Okay…at least it’s a POSITIVE Number!)

GO has been waking up the past two nights, crying about her right ear.  So I had her dressed and in the car, while calling our doctor and asking for a quick check of her ear.

Sure enough, she has a very small ear infection, the doctor prescribed both numbing drops and antibiotics – with a follow-up visit set for about two weeks from today.  Plus, he said as long as she is happy she can go to school tomorrow.

The best news is that she gained a little under 1/2 a pound!  She’s still not 20 pounds…she’s actually not 19.5 pounds.  But at this rate, she might get to turn around by July or August!  She is SO OVER facing backwards in the car!  (Though, I found a very interesting article about how in Sweden, children are kept rear facing until they are between 3 and 4 – and the death/severe-injury rate of very young children in car accidents is DRASTICALLY lower there, because of that fact.)

I’m off to cook dinner (chicken pot pie – without the pie), and prepare for a small Passover Seder tomorrow with the Caterpillars (Passover begins at Sundown tonight, for those of you keeping track).  My intention was to fast today, because that’s what firstborns do the day before Passover, but that’s been put on hold for 24 hours.  (Yesterday was emotionally draining – doing “The Diary of Anne Frank” twice, and I needed to eat at the end of the day.)

OH – AND Hubby lost another pound this week!  He’s doing incredible and I’m so very proud of him!

~Mummy Butterfly )i(

The Plan Was Written In God’s Handwriting

So, I have a close friend who has struggled with going/not going to Seminary.  He has decided that perhaps this summer he will begin taking one or two classes – just to see.

Through this, he has encouraged me to take a look at my own Seminary journey.

In 2007, Hubby and I decided that it was pretty impossible for both of us to work on our Graduate programs at the same time (plus raise two sons and both work full-time jobs).  Hubby’s MFA and CPA exams were more important for our family overall (we both agreed to that), so I left Luther Rice University – four classes shy of my Masters in Christian Studies.

Since then, I have had a longing in the back of my heart to return.  Four classes…so close, but it was expensive.  Then GO was born, and with her NICU stay and the medical issues.  Plus homeschooling two boys…  The right time never came to go back to finish my Masters.  Those four classes have been hanging over my head, giving me this since of failure.  I have occassionally talked about going back – and just this past week, I mentioned how much fun (yes, fun) I had studying the book of Jeremiah.

So this friend, he encouraged me to just call the school.  Get an idea of exactly how much it will cost to go back and finish.  Today, I did.  I went online and got the information and talked to a counselor.

When he (the counselor) started talking about how they had changed my degree program – my heart stopped.  I could only envision the extra classes I would now have to take, and how long it would take me.  For a moment, I questioned if it was even worth continuing, or was this the sign from God that I just needed to give up this dream.

Then the counselor continued…actually, as it turned out, my GPA and the classes I had already completed, when placed with the NEW Masters of Christian Studies degree program – instead of four classes, I need ONE!  ONE CLASS!  AND it’s offered online this summer!  I can be DONE by August!  AUGUST 2011!

God is so good!  He has held my hopes and dreams and desire to learn more about Him in the palm of His hand, and prepared me for this moment.  So many times you KNOW God is there, but it’s not as often that you can SEE His perfect plan unfold and His guidance and providence so clearly.  I am so excited!  Master’s Degree – here I come!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

The Black Dog

Winston Churchill called it “The Black Dog”, the one that followed him around and was always lurking at the edge of his sight – Abraham Lincoln spent much of his life with the Black Dog, and even King David is famous for his reaction to the Black Dog in his life.

Depression.  Major Depression.

Sometimes it’s not major depression, sometimes it’s more of a small black dog, but it’s teeth bare at any glimmer of a person’s happiness – as if it’s a bone the dog is trying to steal.

I have dealt with depression in my life, and even now, I have moments of frustration and sadness.  I’m lucky that overall, I can see the goodness of God, even in the low points.

I have a few close friends who are dealing with depression, for various reasons: chronic pain, family situations, school/work issues.  Today I felt as though God laid a bit of Scripture on my heart and I wanted to share it.  It is my hope that it brings comfort to someone at some time (and perhaps even to myself when I read this later).

The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none,

Their tongues fail for thirst.

I, the Lord, will hear them;

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

I will open rivers in desolate heights,

And fountains in the midst of their valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water.

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,

the myrtle and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the cypress and the pine and the box tree together,

That they may see and know,

And consider and understand together,

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

~Isaiah 41:17-20

 

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live;

And I will make an everlasting covenant with you –

The sure mercies of David.”

~Isaiah 55:1-3

For in any moment, even in our deepest darkest depression – even when I am laying on the ground thirsty for the water of happiness, GOD WILL PROVIDE for me.  HE KNOWS SADNESS – He KNOWS my pain and sorrow and He KNOWS the grip that depression has, and the water is THERE for me.

I truly believe that I am put in the position of being depressed, in order that people may SEE MY GOD and KNOW HIM through my life.  I pray that you allow Him to be evident in yours no matter your circumstances.

As for my friends, I pray for them each and every day – but specifically at their “birthday times” (for example – Hubby’s birthday is July 17th, so I pray for him specifically at 7:17 am/pm each day).  I find it is an easy way to remember those important to me, daily.  Do you have a method of prayer that works for you?

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Remembering What I Love

Sometimes, when I’m sitting and doing what I enjoy, I catch a glimpse of someone staring at me like I’m crazy.

I’ve done it to other people, we all have.  We see the extreme gamers or the hardcore runners and think: “Man, they are NUTS!”

But I had the time of my life yesterday, reading an old (published in the 1950’s) book on Jeremiah.  I had over a page of notes taken, and was scribbling away when I was pulled away by the lure of York Peppermint Patties.  I could see in their eyes, their beady little eyes, the silliness with which they regarded me.

I think I giggled on my way out.  Is it crazy to want to spend what little free time I have studying a dusty old book?  Probably – but it sure does feed my soul.

Do what you love today – even if you only do it for 15 minutes.  🙂

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Fantasy Baseball

Off-Season Manning Team Logo (Recognize the Colours?) 😉

Finally, I was able to get into a league and draft (my first team was having a difficult time actual drafting – I think there is an error somewhere).  I am a fan of Fantasy Baseball, because it broadens my enjoyment of the season beyond just the Braves.  I’ve always loved baseball, but have usually been pretty tight on paying attention to my “home team”.

I receive Sports Illustrated in my inbox, and when I started playing Fantasy Baseball – I tried to load up on as many Braves as possible – ignoring most of the other players unless they were so BIG they made it into SI.

I’ve found that I actually enjoy the Braves MORE when I have players on my fantasy team from throughout the majors.  I’m better able to watch the game, because I’m becoming more familiar with the opposing players.

I quit Fantasy Baseball about 3 years ago – in order to help Hubby focus on his CPA exams and on work projects, but this year we’ve both decided to get back into it (not in the same league – perhaps next year).

I have the Off-Season Manning (OSM) team, and actually went into my autopick draft with a strategy.  I ended up drawing the 9th draft slot (out of 10 owners – not great), but after the draft I had the #3 ranked team!  I felt very validated, since I didn’t use someone else’s ideas, but tried to figure it out on my own.  If I had been lucky enough to get a higher draft pick, I might have come out in first or second place right out of the gate!

I’m waiting on waivers for two players (I did go in and pickup Chipper – yes, he’s a Brave – but how can you not LOVE him??)  Other than that – my lineup:

OSM Batters

OSM Pitchers/DL List

I love Fantasy Baseball…  Now, if I could just find an all-girl league to play in.

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

The Final Summit – A Review

The Final Summit

by Andy Andrews

I’ve reviewed a good number of books for Thomas Nelson Publishers, and this is not the first one that I’ve enjoyed so much that I had to pass it on.  It is, however, the first one that I felt the need to write in the margins of and highlight (as if it were one of my college textbooks).

This is a “sequel” to the first David Ponder book: The Traveler’s Gift (published in 2005).  If you haven’t had the privilege of reading that book, Mr. Andrews does an excellent job of filling the reader in.  Basically, David Ponder is a Traveler – a Time Traveler, and the Archangel Gabriel has a special task for Mr. Ponder to accomplish.  He must lead a group of other Travelers in solving the question of “What does Humanity need to do to save itself?”

It’s a fascinating read, with the perfect mix of fact (the true stories of the other travelers), fiction (Ponder’s life and thoughts), and Life Lessons (the most important parts of the book).  The reader comes away with not just the truth of what the world needs, but the motivation and answers to what most be done by the reader to help the world.

I will not give away the two word answer, but it’s not what I expected, even though the truth of the answer hit me like a ton of bricks.  I’ve already handed the book over to a dear friend who needs to hear this message at this moment.  After that, I believe Hubby Butterfly will enjoy it as much as I have.  Easily one of the most influential books I’ve read in a long time.

One of the pages - my notations are in bright blue!

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Uncle Train Comes for Dinner

Uncle Train came over for dinner tonight, and brought one of his favorite movies (“Twister”) for the boys to watch with him.

They enjoyed dinner AND the movie – it was a perfect family night.

Oh – except for the part where SOMEONE (who might be male and short) left a red sharpie marker where his sister Caterpillar could get to it.  And my rug is ruined.  And my dining room table.  And GO’s blue jeans.  And GO’s special “strawberry picking” shirt.  But you know, other than that – perfect family night.  (Look, it’s been 2 hours and I almost have my sense of humor about the situation back…)

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(

Stone Mountain Park – Spring Break Day 3

Today for Spring Break we met the Sheeps at Stone Mountain Park, along with the oldest VDO.  VDO1 is one of the best big sisters I know, and she was amazing as a surrogate big sister today.  (3 big kids – 3 little kids = very fun buddies for the day!)

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We had a wonderful time in the park, and even did a bit of (attempted) geocaching.  Picnic lunches and season passes made this an overall cheap day.  And it wasn’t TOO crowded.

Can’t wait to do it again, with the entire family (we missed Hubby and Uncle Firefighter).

~Mummy Butterfly  )i(