Guest bedroom

Yeah! I have started redecorating the guest bedroom! I am excited about fixing up this room because it has been the place where all our junk has been dropped for the last year (since we moved in). I am thrilled to have taken control of this space and hope it will be a tranquil and comfortable room for our friends and family who come to visit! All the wallpaper is gone, the baseboards have been removed, primed, painted and put back on! I have sanded the closet doors and trim and plan to prime everything tomorrow! I think the return of this cold weather will help to keep me inside and working on getting it done. I will keep you updated on the progress and hope to post the before and after pics by this time next week!! Maybe?

Like a flood!!!

A year ago, my family moved. We left the city, church and people we love to start a new chapter in our lives. My husband was given the opportunity to be Vice President of Insurance Operations at First Star Insurance Agency (he says his title sounds a lot more important than it really is). Jon was sweet enough to offer to commute, but we knew that it would take away so much "family time." We bought a home in Chickasha and Jon started his job. Insurance is a wild and crazy beast! Jon has been working long hours trying to build his client list. First Star insurance is a subsidiary of First National Bank, so Jon also travels to all the FNB locations (Tuttle, Minco, Newcastle, Blanchard, Cyril and soon a location in Mustang). This is great because he has a large pool of people to draw from that are already comfortable with the FNB establishment. It also keeps him very scattered.
Jon and I have been sending out leads to these towns; mailers that give homeowners a quote depending on the estimated value of their home. A few weeks ago, I began saying a short one liner prayer for each mailer I sealed (this is what I call a "flair prayer"). For instance, "God, let Mr. and Mr. Smith be open to considering changing insurance," or "Let this be the perfect time for Mr. and Mrs. Jones to receive this quote and want to call Jon." Doing this made me realize that Jon's business is something I should be praying about every day. I started putting these thoughts in my prayer journal and petitioning God about it. My words were..."Like a flood, God, let the phone ring, let Jon have the right price and help him to close the deal." Jon knew nothing about my prayers.
A few days later, Jon called me one afternoon and said, "Whit! The calls are just POURING in!" His words gave me chills! I started laughing! I explained to him about what I had committed to do. A few days later, he left a message that said "Your prayer has been answered, it is starting to flood." Praise God! Oh my goodness, the blessings we might miss when we don't let God in on "it"...whatever "it" might be!!! He loves to prove Himself faithful!

A craft with Daddy

Jon, Price and I woke up and went to the Boy Scouts Pancake Breakfast this morning. We enjoyed blueberry pancakes and orange juice! Yum! We made a quick early morning run to Wal-Mart and then headed home to make a craft. I picked up a small wooden bird house yesterday for Price to paint and he and Jon were ready to tackle that project. I got the paint and brushes ready and headed upstairs for a quick shower. Jon and Price painted and here is the final result. When it is completely dry, we plan to hang it from one of the trees in the backyard. Price is proud of his work and keeps saying "the birds are going to love this!"

The games boys play

Often times when Price uses the potty, I hear "Yes!" or "Oh man!" or "Go! Go get it!" or "Hurry!" from behind the bathroom door (it is usually a combination of a few of these, also accompanied by sound effects ). I dismissed it for awhile, but today my curiosity got the best of me. I asked Price what all the chatter was about in the bathroom and he told me that when he goes pee pee he plays a game. Even more curious at this point, I asked what kind of game he was playing. He said that "the first pee pee makes bubbles in the water and the second pee pee chases the bubbles and makes them explode!" Slightly confused, I asked to monitor this game next time he "played." A couple of hours later he reminded me of my request and announced he was going to use the potty. I watched quietly from a distance. He explained the game to me. Turns out the "first pee pee" is the when the stream actually hits the "pond" and makes "bad guys." The "second pee pee" is the remainder of the flow "crashing" the "bad guys" and making them "explode." I felt surprised; surprised that even going to the restroom was an adventure! And if you know Price, you know how much he gets inside his imagination to play! I also felt extremely unfamiliar with all his boyness! We have a lot of girls in our family. (My Nana is one of six girls, my mom one of three girls and I have mostly girl cousins)! My only response was to laugh and remind Price to wipe up his drips, put the seat down, and wash his hands!

Applying Philippians 4:13

What a beautiful day! Price and I have enjoyed it very much! We made a trip to the park this afternoon and played. I don't mean he played and I interacted from the sidelines; WE PLAYED!! He did the small monkey bars and I did the big ones. We made at least 20 trips down the winding dark slide, the tire swing, the swaying bridges, the fireman poles, the balance beams, the regular swings and the rock wall!!!
There was one piece of climbing equipment that Price was not wanting to play on. He encouraged me to go first, so I did. I climbed to the top and looked down at him. He said "I am just not sure I can do that Mama." I told him he was strong and if he would try, I bet he would succeed. I could see him thinking about it for a moment. He quietly and carefully started to climb. I may have looked away for a moment because in about 2 seconds his feet were back on the ground. I made my way down, and kneeled in front of him. I said "You don't have to do it if you don't want to Pricer, but I know that Philippians 4:13 says that you can do all things...(I paused knowing he would finish the verse) and he did..."through Christ who makes me strong." "Do you want to give it another shot?" I asked. "Okay!" And sure enough Price made it to the top! Not only that, but he decided today was the day to tackle all those pieces of equipment that used to cause him pause!! We did it all, and rejoiced over every single one! I was so proud of him! Proud not only because he tried and was successful, but mostly because I noticed a strength of faith, believing that he could! On the way home, we talked more about all the things that seem hard to do, but with God's help we can accomplish them. What a blessing to see scripture working in and shaping our sweet boy!

Breakfast in MY bed...?

Price woke up at 6:15 this morning (about 45 minutes before usual and 30 minutes before I normally get up). He said his tummy was grumbly and he wanted some cheerios. I directed him to his daddy who was already awake and sipping coffee downstairs. He was reluctant to let Jon fix his cereal. He said "you make it the best, mama," which made me smile. I was sleepy, and even though I was flattered, I still encouraged him to ask his daddy. He walked downstairs and I heard his sweet voice asking Jon for cheerios. I thought I had at least bought myself a few more minutes of shut eye. Next thing I know, Jon returned with a small bowl and Price is toting his lap tray. I said "what are you doing, buddy?" "I want to eat in YOUR bed" he said. "I don't think that is a good idea, Pricer." I was picturing spilled milk and soggy cheerios on my sheets. "Please, Mama?" "Why do you want to eat up here in my bed?" I asked. Price pulled his eyebrows together, and cocked his head to the side acting offended that I would even ask such a question. "Because I love you!!" he replied genuinely. Needless to say, that was all it took to convince me to let him pow wow with his breakfast in my bed. Jon grabbed his iphone and took this pic!

Its all fun and games until....

This morning Jon was helping me make the bed. He tossed me the pillows from the floor to put on my side of the bed, except he pegged me in the head. We both laughed and I felt a wave of playful aggression rise up in me! I grabbed the pillow to whack him back but he saw it coming and grabbed one too! I got a good hit in and he got me back! An important footnote to this story is to know how COMPETITIVE Jon is. I knew I had really opened a can of worms! We exchanged blows again! I was laughing and decided it was time to retreat, so I took off running around the end of the bed and stubbed my toe on the footboard! Now I was laughing, crying and hopping around on one foot! Jon of course came to check on me but I didn't feel quite safe until he put his "weapon" down (being wounded to Jon only means you will be a little easier to conquer)! I still have had chuckles about it even though the second toe on my right foot is still red and throbbing!