Heather, Hannah, Aunt Tammy, Uncle John

So, five hours later, I'm back at a computer to fill you all in on the chaos of this last week. For us, Bleger Chaos is not just a blog address, it's a way of life! So, to continue the story...

- One Week ago Thursday -
We woke up, got the girls & us ready, and got everyone out the door on time! Shock! It was a great day... then I got the phone call! Jo called to tell me that, when Madi woke up from her nap, her eyes were really goopy and crusty. She cleaned them off, and they didn't seem to bother her, so I let her stay until I was done with work. I picked she and Violet up, drove home, and we got ready for our home group. Madi's eyes continued to goop until she went to bed.

- One Week ago Friday -
When we went into the girls' room to get them up, Madi could not open her eyes. The goop had dried and crusted over, effectively sealing them. There was also a layer of fresh goop on top of the crusty (sorry if this is gross, and just how is this possible?). We got her eyes open with a warm washcloth, then decided that a trip to the doctor was in order. Jerome took Katrina to school, after washing her hands repeatedly. I took Violet to Jo's house then took Madi to the doctor.
THEY FINALLY GOT TO SEE MADI'S SPECIAL TALENT AT THE PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE! When the nurse tried to take her temperature in her ear, she held her breath until she passed out. Then, when Dr. Z tried to look in her ears for an infection, she did it again! The only thing he could say was, "Wow, she's got some will." No kidding, Einstein! Tell me something I don't know! We did confirm that it was pink eye, got her some eye drops at the pharmacy, then I took her to Grandma B's house so I could go to work. While at Grandma & Pepe's, Madi let Pepe wipe her eyes without screaming or fussing. Must be nice!
When we got home, Jerome & I got the adventure of tackling her to put the drops in. Jerome held her hands by her side while I held her head between my legs & put the drops in. That was fun. We've discovered it's much easier to put them in after she's passed out. Sad, but true!

- Saturday-
Every year our church participates in Operation Christmas Child, which sends boxes of presents to orphans around the world. Our church has had personal experience with meeting orphans who hold on to those little boxes of broken toys like they are priceless art. So, antibacterial soap in hand, we took all of them to the evil box (Wal-mart) to torture them in the toy aisle by buying toys for other children. Actually, they did really well. Katrina was excited to pick out toys for kids who didn't have a mommy & daddy, and Violet just loves the attention that invariably comes from being in public. I don't think Madi could actually see out her eyes, so she didn't realize where we were, and thus, no fights over toys. This eyes-glued-shut thing has an upside!

We took the girls home for lunch and naps, then Jerome had to go in for a floor shift. For those of you who don't know, he gets to sit at the front desk, help answer phones, and gets any leads that might come in during that time. Saturday, it was very boring.

Once, he got home, we packed everyone up again (Madi was officially noncontagious by this point) to go into town for Pastor Linn's 50th birthday. She had a square-dance, and we had so much fun! I think the last time I square-danced was in 3rd grade. I enjoyed it a lot more this time. We had a lot of fun, but had to leave early because the girls got tired and I had tweaked my back changing the oil in my car that afternoon.

Since Jerome is now falling asleep on the couch WHILE watching ESPN news (I know, I'm shocked too), I had better finish this post another day. If I don't post before, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Are you serious? Am I really the first one this week? NO WAY! I'm never the first one... Wow! Am I missing something? It is Thursday, right? All I can say is that I am both shocked & honored to be the first this week. So, here we go!

This week, I am thankful for:

1. My new friends Ben & Lisa. They are always so encouraging & just plain fun to be around!

2. taking the time to clean the fish/frog tank at work last night. The frogs look so much less disgusting when they are not swimming in their own feces!

3. getting to eat lunch at Katrina's school today. I sometimes feel like I have missed so much, having to work this year while Katrina is at kindergarden. I am grateful for this little opportunity to see her during the day.

4. salsa. I know it seems silly, but I REALLY LOVE salsa. A lot. Is there a 12-step program for that? Would I even want to go if there was one?

5. kisses and "I love you"s from Madison. They don't come as often as I would like, but when they do, they are precious.

6. my down comforter. I love snuggling under a giant blankie.

7. my SonicCare toothbrush. How spoiled am I, that I don't even have to think when I'm brushing my teeth?

8. all the little comforts that can so easily be seen as necessities. Sometimes it shocks me, how spoiled we really are here.

9. that we have 1 week until Thanksgiving! I am so excited to see all my family, I can't hardly stand it!

10. that we have 1 week and 2 days until we can decorate for Christmas! I am really excited for Christmas this year. I love all the parties, decorations, focused attention on Jesus's birth, EVERYTHING!

11. our grandparents. I realize that many people my age no longer have living grandparents, and between Jerome & I we have 4. What a living treasure!

12. my craft projects. Even though it seems like I never have the time I want to spend on them, I love losing myself for a little while in just being creative.

13. my co-workers, Natalie & Kim. They are so much fun to work with, it feels like I'm hanging out with friends all day!

14. the silly bird clock my mom has in the office. No, I'm not really "thankful" for this clock that annoys me every hour, every day, but the Bible does say "in everything give thanks", so...

15. microwaves. They make my life so much easier!

Have a thankful Thursday!

I would just like to offer a prayer for a dear friend today, Ashley Beech. She is having surgery at the Children's Hospital today in Denver. Her mom, Kim, has posted details on her blog, http://beachfamily4.blogspot.com/. Ashley is such a dear young lady, so loving to our family. She is amazing!


Papa,
Protect Miss Ashley. Please cover that hospital with your angelic host today. As she is prepped for surgery, I pray that she feels your tangible presence with her in the room. Give her peace and hopefullness today. Guide the surgeon's hands, and keep watch over all the equipment and people involved in this surgery. Keep Kim, David, and Chris sane today, as they wait for news. Holy Spirit, I pray you comfort & ease the burdens on all of their minds. Ashley is a dear daughter, sister, and friend, and I KNOW this will become another miracle story to add to her testimony. Let this procedure be a witness to everyone she comes into contact with in that hospital. May your glory be evident! You are amazing! You have a divine appointment for Ashley & Kim in Denver! You never intend pain & suffering, but you can and do turn all things for your purpose. Let your power, presence, and might be thick in Denver today! Amen

Please take a few minutes to pray for this amazing young lady today. She gives so much of herself to so many children. Thanks, friends!

tiff

Jerome & I had so much fun reading our friend Jill's blog, "Is this normal?", questioning the sanity of her household & children. We, in watching our children this weekend, realized that our girls do quite a few odd things. Things we think are perfectly normal, but in other households might seem odd. So, in the spirit of creating future embarrassment for my children, here are all the "normal" occurances in our house.



It is normal...



- to see a child swinging from the kitchen counter like a monkey (Madison).

- to have all the magazines, pens, coasters, remotes, etc removed from the coffee table onto the floor repeatedly (Violet).

- to have multiple conversations regarding bowel movements in one day (all of them).

- to hear, "Poo-poo come out!" from the bathroom (Katrina).

- to have a child adore bathtime with all passion, then scream like a banshee when it is time to actually wash (Madison).

- to put a plastic book into the doll cradle, then kiss it goodnight and cover it with a blankie (Madison).

- to have someone get so mad that they hold their breath until they pass out (Madison). Many times, we have no idea why.

- to have regular invasions of the personal bubble that dramatically offend (Madison invading Katrina, Violet invading Madison, etc).

- to prefer to see the world from the upside-down view (Violet).

- for a two-year-old to be able to recognize & name professional sports teams (obviously Madi, but thanks to Daddy).

- to insist upon the "stripey" fork for dinner (Katrina).

- to get your head stuck in your shirt, daily (ALL OF THEM, again THANKS TO DADDY).

- to get caught misbehaving, then just smile because you know you're just so cute (Violet).

- to be so loud that Mom & Dad have to hide in the shower, just to hear themselves think (all of them).

- to scream every time you try to put her upside down (Katrina).

- to HAVE to take a bath at Grandma & Papa's house every time we come over, because Two-Tongue the snake might cry if we don't (Katrina).

- to say, after watching Mommy & Grandpa kill & gut a deer, "That deer had to die."(Katrina)

- to hear "oh, I tooted" multiple times throughout the day (all of them, including Jerome).

- to have children laugh, cry, & sit up and talk to us in their sleep (Katrina & Madison).

- to have this many "normal" things happen on a regular basis!

I hope this post finds you well. Enjoy your family's weirdness today!

Wow, is it Thursday already? Where did the last week go? For that matter, where did the last month go? Thanks to all my bloggy buddies for the reminder! So, here we go!

I am thankful...

1. for Madison's sense of humor. It is so great to actually see her have a sense of humor, rather than the scowls & screams that have accompanied most of her life thus far. She is a little comedian, and she knows it!

2. for Katrina's love for people. She is so like Jerome in that neither one has met a stranger. She genuinely loves, especially the students at the Well. She has ministered, in her own little way, to so many of the students there. I tell her that, every day, she shows everyone how much God loves them.

3. for Violet's smile. She seems to always be in a good mood. It is so rare to hear her fuss, and when she does it is over so quickly. You can't help but smile & laugh when she gives you her huge, 2-toothed grin!

4. for finding my prayer journal. I lost it last week, & tore apart the church, the house, & the car looking for it. I was distraught - I felt like I lost my arm. Then, Sunday night, while I was getting everything out of the car so it could go into the shop on Monday, I found it! Right where I look every day! I don't know why I couldnt' see it before, but I am so glad to have it back!

5. for Jerome's strength & wisdom. Sunday night at church, a pastor gifted in the prophetic was there to minister & pray for people. I did not want to stay (bad mood & disbelief that God had a word for ME), but Jerome felt very strongly that God did have a word for me. Needless to say, I forced him to the car, then we proceeded to fight about it while pulling out of the parking lot. I finally told him that if he felt so strongly about it, then turn the car around, and I would submit to him, even if I didn't really like him at that moment. So, Jerome turned the car around. We went back, and he stood in line with me while I, internally, complained about it. Then, God gave me such an amazing word! I am so grateful that my dear, sweet husband heard the Voice and responded to it, and gently showed me that I don't always have to be so stubborn.

6. for God's gentle little reminders that he is there, with me. I have felt like I am on such a rollercoaster for so long, sometimes I doubt whether or not I truly hear God's voice. But, last night at the Well, Daddy painted such a vivid picture of one of our students for me, and I was able to share that picture with him. And that is exactly who that student needed at that time - Daddy.

7. for Emma, Katie, Ashley, & Brittany. They are such amazing young women. They have a spiritual wisdom that is far beyond their physical years. They continually pour into my daughters, and my daughters willingly respond to the open and heartfelt love. They are the type of teens I pray my daughters become. No, they are not perfect, but they are amazing!

8. for our date night tomorrow. It seems like I'm not the only one getting a date tomorrow, & I am so glad for everyone else as well!

Lest anyone doubt my sanity or faith, I would like to clarify yesterday's post. Yes, I DO believe that ALL Scripture is God-breathed. Yes, I do FIRMLY believe in the spiritual discipline of tithing. And, yes, I do believe that it is a discipline - it takes repetition & committment.



I wanted to open a dialogue, because I saw so much of myself in the man who debated me. It was so easy, at one point, to intellectualize everything. To believe that, if I was smart enough, I didn't need God. To believe that parts of the Bible didn't apply to me.

I was reading in Galatians 5 online today. I specifically asked God to give me something for my heart that I could share. The answer did not actually come from the Scripture itself. It came from the commentary posted online regarding the chapter. To read the entire commentary, go to http://www.biblegateway.com/, look up Galatians 5, then click on "commentary". But, I have included here a specific portion that spoke to me.

So, this man, who is apparently very smart (PHD in Theology), decided to comment on my Thankful Thursday blog. He specifically referenced my use & belief in Malacai 3:10-12. I promptly deleted it, because it was too long, and why would I keep a comment from someone I don't even know on there? But, it got me thinking. How many people are like him? He claimed that this passage was THE most mis-quoted & mis-used passage in the Bible in regards to tithing & offerings. His basic premise is that tithing is an Old-Testament concept, completely irrelevant and inappropriate in light of the New Testament grace. And offerings were ususally, if not always, food & animals, not money. He claimed that the tithe & offering were no longer appropriate spiritual disciplines for Christians to follow. He also referenced encyclopedia articles, which I checked out, that refer to the tithe as a 6th century Roman Catholic initiative to tax the general population. It then spread to the secular government. Some churches, such as the Eastern Orthodox, have never accepted the tithe, while others require it of members.

While yes, I agree that "tithe" is mentioned far more in the Old rather than New Testament, there are numerous examples of both church leaders & lay people bringing both money & physical goods to the church for the benenit of both the church and the community. I happen to look at 2 Timothy 2:16. It says, "16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,..." Why would God write something, New or Old Testament, if it were not appropriate for use in the building of our faith?

Perhaps I am way off track. Maybe my faith is too simple. Maybe I am in error for taking God at his literal Word. And perhaps I am not. Maybe this country, and "Christianity" has become too intellectual. Perhaps we spend more time analyzing & criticizing, instead of obeying & loving. While God welcomes believers with a brain, I do believe that it is easy to "intellectualize" too much. I was guilty of it. I had to come to a place where I realized that I was not smarter than God. I had to take Him at His word. I would welcome your comments, as long as they are not too long-winded! And believe me, I am grateful for this very smart man's comment, because it means that people are reading my blog! And if I can challenge a few people to reexamine their beliefs, while sharing the joys & trials of our family, then PRAISE THE LORD!

I am so grateful that today is Thursday. My heart has been so heavy lately, that it is refreshing to make myself look around & realize all the amazing gifts & miracles in my life. So, without further ado, I will join the Thankful Thursday ranks!

I am thankful:

1. for sitting on the couch with the girls and reading books. I love to read, and I am so grateful that my girls are beginning to love it as well.

2. for my mom & mother-in-law. They have given, & continue to give, so much of themselves for their children & grandchildren. I can only hope & pray that someday I will be to my children & grandchildren what they are to our family.

3. for my Boiler Angels, Jo & Terry. Every time I hear the heater kick on, I am so grateful for their gift!

4. that we get to go to Phoenix for Thanksgiving this year. Even though my mom's family is really wacky, I love them & miss them terribly.

5. that Violet is healthy & growing. She actually climbed into the positive percentile for her weight! Yeah! She has spent so much of her life sick, it's refreshing to have her well for a while.

6. for clients that make my day fun! I just got off the phone with an older gentleman, who makes me smile & laugh every time I talk to him. He is a joyful reminder that your attitude greatly affects your day.

7. for the promises of God. I have been praying Malachi 3:10-12 for our family:

We have been "testing" God in this, and I believe that we are beginning to see the opening of the floodgates of heaven.

8. for getting to go on a date with Jerome tomorrow. He really is my best friend, but sometimes it is easy to forget to nurture that relationship like we should. I cherish our date nights because it is the only time where we are "just the two of us".

9. for my blogging buddies. For me, it is so much easier to share myself like this. I am grateful for a group of friends who understand me!

10. that I'm still here. Every day I'm still alive means another day to teach, learn, minister, be ministered to, love, laugh, & live.

Have a Thankful Thursday!

Can you say "ornery princess of the universe?"