Merry Christmas Everyone!

To be happy or not to be happy

So Elliot is pretty much potty-trained. He'll only go in his pants when we've been out in the car too long without letting him go, or if Eric and I are fighting - which is great incentive to not fight! (Not that we fight a lot, but you know what I mean.) So here we are all proud of our son, happy we aren't buying diapers as much, and pretty amazed at the whole thing. This is a good thing, right? Well in the last three days during either a nap or bed time, he's pulled off his pants (good to know he can do that now!) and figured out how to take off his diaper (which he still wears when he sleeps) and pees on his bed or OUT his bed onto the floor! OMG! It's really frustrating! It's weird through because he keeps telling us what he did and is really kinda sad that it's happened. So we think he is trying to be really good and NOT go potty in his pants like we've told him. We think he's taking off his pants but there is no potty around, so he just goes there.... but it's not in his pants, so it's okay right? How do I explain this to a 22 month old? Good grief! Just in case anyone else has gone through this, we'd love some input! :)

Gymboree Deals

Just wanted all the parents to know that all the jeans, cords, and winter vests are on sale at Gymboree right now for $9.99. Plus all the knit winter accessories (hats, gloves/mittens, scarves) are all $5.99. This sale will only last through this Wednesday. Then, starting Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) the new sale will be all of our fleece pants and jackets for $9.99 along with all of our pj's for $7.99! I'm not sure if the winter accessories will continue through the holiday. But, if you shop from Friday through Sunday after the holiday, your entire purchase will be an additional 20% off. Just thought I'd let all you bargain shoppers out there know!

If you've never heard of Gymboree, they are great! (And not just because I work there!) All of their items are pre-washed and pre-shrunk. Any embroidery or buttons you find on the clothing are all hand down to ensure a good stitch. And all the colors are color-safe! Gymboree is known for their top quality. You'll always hear about Gymboree clothing being passed down from child to child and from family to family because it lasts!

We've also partnered with St. Jude this year and are taking donations for the hospital. $.85 of every dollar you donate goes straight to the kids, the other $.15 is strictly for admin. (There's, not ours.) Did you know it costs over $1,200,000 a DAY to run St. Judes? Crazy! But what they do is amazing and I'm so glad I work for a place that supports such a great cause. So if you are looking to make a donation this year, you can come in and make it through us! Add it to your purchase or just donate if you don't find anything you want to buy. The receipt works of all your tax needs.

Regardless of if you buy anything, or donate anything, I'd love for you to stop by the store and say hey! Being the financial provider for the family is a big shift from the full-time mommie job I had! I'd love the support! Thanks gang! Hope to see you all at Gymboree!

Casa Ramos - yum!

Eric and I were able to eat out the other night. It was great. Elliot in tow, we ordered a plate for each of us. Eric had three different kinds of tacos, though he said the mahi mahi was the best. I had the biggest taquitto I'd ever seen (it was fantastic), and Elliot had a plate full of chicken nuggets, french fries, mozzarella sticks and a quesadillia (less that $5!). When we were all stuffed, I got a box for my plate and chose some of Elliot's food that I'd want him to eat later: the chicken and quesadilla. Elliot, seeing what I was doing, must have noticed I was ignoring his french fries because he grabed his plate and the box, pulled them closer to him, and picked just the french fries from the plate and put them in the box too. He matter-of-fact looked at me when he was done and said: "fies" as if to say, "mom, do you really think I'd let you leave the fries?" Eric and I cracked up. It was a great family dinner!

I wanna be like Zeke

Have you ever read through the Gospels and realized how many times the disciples were "amazed" or "in awe" when they listened to Jesus, or when they watched Jesus, or when they interacted with Jesus? I've often thought how stupid that is. I mean, come on! You're with God! He can do ANYTHING! How many times do you have to see a miracle before you can just know that God rocks and expect that God will rock? Good grief guys - what is it going to take to get it through your heads?

Well, this morning I realized that the disciples actually had it right-on and that I'd allowed myself to become jaded to His specific, but all-encompassing magnificence. Each time the disciples saw God in action, they were filled with a humility that put life into perspective where as I just give God a high-five for being cool. The disciples, with each awe-struck moment, spiritually got on their knees and recognized the worship that Jesus deserved where as I rarely see the awe in moments at all anymore. How lame am I?

I want to change the way I approach God. I adore the intimate friendship I have with him but I can't forget that I am with God! He can do ANYTHING! And that every time I get to witness him at work, it is AWESOME! He ROCKS! He can turn the colors of the leaves to purple!

Thanks to Zeke for being amazed with each side of a leaf that is bigger than your face. You rock too.

Church tonight was fantastic!

For a few years now I've waged war against porn. It hasn't been a personal struggle, but I've had people who are beyond close to me be torn apart from this addiction and the affects its had on them. Because of their experiences and struggle, I'd developed a very aggressive and abrupt outlook of porn. Tonight I was introduced to God's compassion over those who struggle. I'd never understood that porn isn't just the fruit of the world's culture, but it is a purposeful ploy of Satan's to pull people from God. That low self-esteems and poor body-images are a part of Satan's plan and not just the result of too many Seventeen magazines when I was younger. Also, I'd never been allowed (or tried, I guess) to understand what drives a person to porn - or back to it! Amazing how God's best laid plans can be crumbled when we allow ourselves to forget His Truth and dwell on fiction or a world of fantasy.

I'd like to publicly thank my husband for standing up for me and my self image. Tonight I realized I was wearing my favorite pair of jeans again. I didn't know they were my favorite until tonight. About a month ago I was complaining to a friend about how I didn't like my body because jeans never fit right especially these ones. Eric was apparently listening and told me later how he loved these jeans on me. And that did it for me. Just because Eric said he liked them, my esteem was raised and I moved closer to focusing on Truth rather than lies. I'd moved the jeans from my "laundry pants", to my favorite pair of pants without a conscious thought. So thank you to Eric, my wonderful husband, for reminding me that I am beautiful instead of letting me be consumed with my fake standards.

Everyone, please pray over tonight's message and it's effects. Tonight I felt so much power and love and freedom circulating throughout the church, it was overwhelming. My biggest prayer at the end of the night was that God's strength would follow people home and not be forgotten in the parking lot. That when people find themselves in their pattern of porn, longing for their spouse to be different or thinking they aren't skinny enough - they would call on God to remind them of His Truth and His Ways! I pray that confession, matched with compassion, would erupt in the homes of our members tonight and that encouragement and accountability would follow. Please, regardless of your personal relationship with pornography, pray for those who were convicted tonight and for their family members. Pray this elephant would be demolished!!!

Praying for our president

Whether you voted for Obama or not, you need to pray for him.
Here are 10 ways I plan to intercede for him regularly:

1. Pray for Obama's protection. We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. Let's pray that racist hatred is not allowed to spread. Let's cancel every assassin's bullet in the name of Jesus. May civility triumph over bigotry.


2. Cover his wife and daughters in prayer. It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray for Obama's wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also a husband and a father.


3. Pray that Obama will govern with God's wisdom. God rewarded Solomon because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life or vengeance on his enemies (see 1 Kings 3:11-12). Pray that Obama will order his priorities like that. Despite Solomon's tragic character flaws, his legacy was wisdom. We can ask God to give our president the same grace.


4. Ask God to keep our president humble. Many great American leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this pitfall is humility. May God deliver President Obama from the curse of pride.


5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Godly leaders cannot do their job alone. Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the wrong people. Pray that Obama will not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political cronyism but on godly character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into his inner circle.


6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Even some Christians will be tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that God will grant forgiveness and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive dialogue.


7. Pray that Obama will adopt pro-life convictions. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in office. In the 1800s some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it. In the 1950s some who opposed racial integration later became champions of it. Even though Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions abortion, God could soften and change his heart.


8. Bind all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States, and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Our only hope lies in prayer to the God who is able to expose and outwit the schemes of the wicked. This is truly a time for spiritual warfare, and intercessors must not come off the wall in this hour! Pray that no foreign government, terrorist organization or demonic principality will use Obama as a tool. We must stand strong against the spirit of antichrist that promotes dictatorship, persecution of Christians and hostility toward Israel.


9. Pray that Obama's door will remain open to the church. The loudest voices of secular culture—from Bill Maher in Hollywood to atheists in academia—would be happy if religion were removed from public life. Pray that Obama, who claims to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome Christian leaders into his company and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know Christ but deny His power) will not have his ear.


10. Pray that our nation will enjoy God's peace and blessing during the Obama administration. The apostle Paul instructed early believers to pray for all in authority "so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Tim. 2:2, NASB). God's will is for America to experience peace and prosperity so that we can continue to export the gospel to the nations. This must happen whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. As we cry out for God's mercy on our wayward nation, pray that He will allow us to be a light to the world as we finance global missions, feed and heal the world's poor and share Christ's love at home and abroad.


This was taken from J. Lee Grady: editor of Charisma.

Heroes?

Anyone else a Heroes fan? Anyone else watch this season with a "what the..." look on their face the whole time? I used to be excited to watch and love every minute of it. Now, just thinking about watching it makes me tired. With every show there is another twist that leaves you guessing. A good factor I suppose, but not only am I guessing about what will happen next, I'm trying to figure out how the new plot fits with the old plot or if it even matters because the future changed due to the new plot. Good grief.

Just some quick updates: Eric has a blue mohawk and the Rays are scraping by in the World Series. My mom is convinced it's because she dyed his hair the wrong shade of blue. Elliot is up and down with potty training. One day he is dry, the next day we don't have enough underware to keep up with his accidents - or lazies as we've been calling them. I start at Gymboree on 11/10. I was called last week and promoted to the management team - gotta love a promotion before the work even starts! Here's to living up to their expectations and earning benefits.

*Cheers*

Baby Expo - Please come!

I am participating in a Baby Expo November 15th. The expo is focused on home based businesses, so it will be rather small - but you will find all your favorite business there to do all your holiday (and personal) shopping at once. Or, if you've been looking to make some extra cash, but don't know which home based business to pick, we will all be there for you to compare and choose! It is completely free and held at a church in Chico. So make a day of it and drive down to Chico and visit the mall, Toys R Us, and the Expo. If you are interested in any of the Baby Splendor products, I'll be offering many of them at a discount that day only, and offering $20 off the starter kit (which is only $99 anyway) that day as well if you want to join my team. So please come support me and, of course, have a fun day out!

Directions to the expo here

This FREE event will be fun for the whole family. Bring a few friends and:

• Explore the many vendor booths from all your favorite Home Based businesses.
• Start your holiday shopping early, and get it done all in one place.
• Sign up to host a party and earn free or discounted products from your favorite businesses.
• View all the opportunities for starting your own home based business to earn extra cash!
• Enter to win raffle prizes from our vendor sponsors.

Just a moment for excitement... my birthday present this year was tickets to the Russian Ballet Nutcracker performing here in Redding. Not only is it a super fun childhood memory, but Eric is going with me! Eric! That's love baby.

Smarter than he looks

So I know that I've been posting about potty training a lot, but that is pretty much my world right now... Today, Elliot connected that everytime he goes potty in the toilet, he gets a treat. So today, we had two incidents of Elliot going potty just long enough for the sensors on the toilet to recognize he'd gone and play his reward music, and him getting a treat. Then he's sit back down and go a bit more for more treats, and then again and again and again... I figure as long as he's connecting that is where he is supposed to go, I'll give him the treats. And according to Eric, it's pretty hard for a boy to stop going once he's started, so I figure it a whole other skill he's learning! :) It's just so funny to watch him run back and forth from the bathroom to the kitchen over and over again.

Also, he's started to show some signs of being like me. (It's about time since he looks nothing like me!) When we are eating, if he spills anything on the table, he wants a napkin so he can clean it up. Then he cleans his hands and gives the napkin back. And yesterday I got the vacuum at and he got so excited, squeeling and clapping that I was going to vacuum. He stood next to me and pushed the vacuum around for a bit. I love it! If he has anything of mine, I'd love for it to be my cleaning! Yahoo!

Financial Peace University

I'd like to give a shout-out to Dave Ramsey. Because of his class we are going through, Eric and I don't have to move in with my parents this month! Can I get a "Woop! Woop!"?

Eric and I are beyond tight with money and probably living outside our means, but we're not sure what else we can turn off or sell to make ends meet. I've always been the "nerd" as Dave would say it. I love spread sheets, walking into Office Depot makes me very excited, and I've even read a book and highlighted the points I liked with a pen and a ruler to make sure all the lines were straight. (The ruler thing was before I had a child or a spouse - thank God He didn't create us to be alone!) All this to say, budgeting wasn't a new concept for me... but budgeting when I'm not the only one with a debit card is hard! I kept making a budget, showing it Eric, he'd smile, say: "good job", and then want to eat at In 'n Out after our grocery shopping. :)

Financial Peace University has taught us together so we can be on the same page, using the same language, and heading in the same direction for the same goal. This weekend Eric and I had planned on approaching my parents about living with them. Today, in preparation, we did some of Dave's homework and sat down to map out all the money we needed to spend this month before it was spent. And, ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to say that (for the month of October) you can still find us on Bechelli Ln. (Crosses off "Painful converstaion with parents" from To-Do list.) Does anyone else have an uncontrollable smile on their face right now?

In conclusion, I'd like to tell the world four things:
A. First of all, no matter how tight things get, you should always tithe. God is more than faithful. I'm constantly surprised by people who don't know this in their heart and in their actions.
B. Second, if you'd like to have a similar uncontrollable smile, we meet at my place and you are welcome to join. Contact me for more information.
C. Third, I have to confess that, at times, I've thought Dave Ramsey was a bit full of himself. But today I saw his methods work and realized he has a right to be proud. I formally appologize.
D. And finally, Pop Secret Home Style popcorn is by far, the best microwave popcorn ever and the perfect late-night blogging companion.

Potties and Prizes

Elliot has been potty training. Which will be great in the long run. Right now it is very casual and laid back. Or at least it was.... Yesterday Elliot told me he needed to go, so we rushed into the bathroom and took his shorts and diaper off and placed him on the potty and waited. And waited and waited and waited. While waiting he learned that if he sucks his stomach in while leaning back, he can, er, change where he is, ah, "pointing". Doing my best to navigate the world of boyhood, I try to get him to sit up and such so he is "pointing" back into the toilet. Yeah right, now it's a game. So he leans back, sucks in his tummy, and pees on the floor. Crap! So I push his "pointer" back where it needs to be, only to scare the pee back up inside. Great. So I clean up the floor, figure we've got some more waiting to do because I know he had to go more, but I scared it away. Well I don't know about you, but keeping a toddler on a potty chair isn't the easiest thing to do, especially if he thinks he's done his job! So after he's told me he's "ahl dun" about 10 times, I let him get up. Now I'm faced with a decision. He gets to flush the toilet after we dump his potty chair contents in it and then he gets two jelly beans when he goes potty. Well he went potty alright, but on the floor! So since there is nothing to dump, I decide to not let him flush the toilet or give him jelly beans b/c he didn't actually go in the chair - he went on the floor - and he did it on purpose! Half feeling guiltly and half feeling like a consistant parent, I take him to his changing table where he promtly pees all over me. Classic. I guess I will wait for his to say "ahl dun" 15 times next time. :)

Living in the moment

I've often heard the benefits of living in the moment, but I'm not sure living NOW is all that. We watched Amazing Race last night and saw a surge of emotions. One couple started out loving and ended up yelling at each other, other couple did their best to be supportive ("honey, I love you, but if you don't hurry up..."), and others were just all over the board. I thought about that this morning as Elliot and I started our day together. We get up and I'm thrilled to start a new day with him, knowing that Eric is working and I'm not going anywhere, so it's just me and Elliot ALL DAY! Yeah! We start breakfast and he eats really good with his spoon, except the part when I was refilling his juice cup and didn't realize he was spooning milk from his bowl into his hair. Kinda frustrating but kinda cute. We move on. Getting him dressed was a bit of a struggle as he's quickly learning his ability to not do what I ask him to. This is very frustrating and getting him dressed takes twice as long, and by the time we are done, I don't really want to go for a walk anymore. So just before 9am I've felt joy, love, frustration, and more. If I had lived in the moment, then the times of frustration could have been a lot worse - right? But since I allow (yeah, like I do it on purpose) my day to mix and emotions to overlap, the frustrations were always preceded or proceeded with happier thoughts.

Perhaps I'm looking at the whole "now" thing wrong. But either way, I'm sure glad I have loving thoughts before and after anger, or Elliot might end up like this kid:

A long time coming

I created this blogs years ago and have only today decided to actually start blogging. Eric and I have started attending The Stirring, and they have a whole community of bloggers. So in efforts to connect myself more, I'm going to give it a go.....

Today we danced. Today was the first day that Elliot went potty in his toilet - twice even! After getting him to calm down and sit there for a while, we sang "Twinkle twinkle little star" to distract him from the task at hand. Around "like a diamond" he stopped paying attention to my funny little song and realize he was peeing! I'm sure the music coming from his potty chair helped draw his attention back to the point of this whole charade as well. When he was done and we'd cleaned everything up, he picked two jelly beans and we danced in celebration of his success. It was great.

I've now decided that the next time I succeed at a new task, I'm going to recruit those who are near to join with me in a dance of celebration. I think it is only fitting.