january 3

it's raining cats and dogs.....all day.  and now it is 10:14 pm, and another thundershower is rolling through.  jake has just about shaken himself to the bone.  i gave him a good bath today and washed all his bedding, so he can snuggle to his heart's content now that pop pop has gotten out of the lazy boy and put him in his bed for the night.

fox did well last night.  he slept in risi's room.  it took him a while to finally drift off, but i went in this morning at 8:15, and he was up and at em.  for some reason he stays in the bed until i go in to get him.  i tell him he can come out of the room on his own when he wakes up, but he never does.  he said that risi's bed is noisy.  it's the old pineapple bed, an antique that we inherited when we moved into pat and james' trailer when we got married.  it creaks when you move around in it, but is is very comfortable and risi's room is the most peaceful one in the house.  as soon as fox got  up he said it was time for bible story, and began looking for the ornament with the candy.  so i had to put a little piece of candy into the ornament and we had a little bible story about the rich young ruler.  what a great way for him to listen to a bible story....and even have a short discussion.  eureka!

kee and i were going to nola to see the christmas lights at the roosevelt hotel and eat at adrian's restaurant.  i sat around all morning in indecision about what to do as i looked at the huge swath of yellow and red weather headed our way.  finally i called her and made the call to stay in.  sooooo glad we did.. this monsoon is still going strong.  not something to be out on the road in. we'll go another day when the weather is nice and we can walk around a little bit in the city.  it's nice to have a sister to do that with, since chuck will have none of it.

i worked in the house today, taking down christmas decorations, decluttering the master bedroom and re-arranging the living room.  everything looks so nice.  i pray to stay motivated to continue, because there is still LOTS to do.  i think chuck is pleased, and he helped me some.

risa spent a couple hours with us this afternoon, and we planned steph's baby shower menu.  she can't wait to get with samantha to plan the decorations.  that girl loves to decorate, and she is so enamored with sam's style.  it's gonna be a very cute and sweet time, and i pray that all goes well and everyone is blessed all around.  can't wait to meet our sweet lil a.j.!

i am thinking about how i will fast in the coming days.  i really need/want to draw nearer to God.  it's like my brain/soul? is filled with cobwebs and staleness.  i need a double shot of something supernatural, and my hunger for God to deepen.  i have been so busy juggling work and school and family and all of the emotional stress of the past couple months.  holiday celebrations are over, and it's time for the decluttering to commence....both within and without.  make me ready Lord, make me ready.