Lily and Levi got violin lessons on Friday afternoon. It was Levi's first, and he was beside himself with excitement! Lily is doing really well with her lessons, although she has a hard time just playing on one string at a time. :)
Jacob taught some private lessons Friday afternoon. Whenever Asher hears the violins start playing, he speed crawls to the door and peeks under. It's so funny! Last week he started banging on the door, so I've had to move him back to the living room to play.
Asher managed to find the newspaper, which kept him occupied for awhile.
We got a quick supper at 5 Guys and then ran to Target to let the kids pick out something from the dollar section. We aren't paying them to do their chores - because there are just some things you do because you live here and you're part of the family. But we are paying them a little to do extra jobs. They are learning about giving money to the Lord and saving some and having some to spend.
Lily chose to get CandyLand band-aids. She used all 10 of them within 10 minutes...on one doll. :)
This cheesy boy has got to get a haircut. My word! his hair is out of control!
The most amazing thing happened to me on Saturday. Now, for those of you reading, this is not to get sympathy or make you feel bad for my family. I've rarely talked about our financial struggles on here for those reasons, and the fact that God always provides, but I have to share this, because I saw God answer a specific prayer and I never want to forget it.
It was raining on Saturday afternoon, so as soon as Jacob got home from rehearsal, I headed to the grocery store by myself. I prayed on my way there that God would provide for me to get everything we needed on my list - I wasn't praying for someone to give me money, but that there would be unexpected sales, that I would find manager's specials, and that I would use our money wisely.
{I know it may seem silly to some to pray over a little thing like this, but God cares even about the sparrows, and I know He cares for even our smallest needs. Side note: My Dad planted the church where I grew up and still go. He worked a secular job on top of being a pastor so he could provide for our family. I remember going shopping every week and my mom praying that God would stretch the money to cover the needs.}
This was my facebook status later in the day:
My heart is overwhelmed by the faithfulness of God! Today as I was getting ready to check out at the grocery store, a group of high-school age guys came up to me and said they had some money left over after getting what they needed and they wanted to give it to me to help pay for my groceries. All I could do was blubber out "thank you" through many tears.
Never underestimate the power of prayer even in "small" things.
Saturday night while I was putting the boys to bed, Lily said she needed to go potty. She got a little chair so she could turn on the light, then all was quiet and I assumed she was doing her business. After I put Asher in bed I went to check on her and this is how I found her. She "did her eyebrows." LOL What I didn't find out until I was doing her hair Sunday morning was that she had also cut her hair with my little scissors! Thankfully it's not in a really noticeable place! She is a mess!
Levi insisted on wearing a tie to church because Uncle Joseph does. He didn't care that I didn't really go with his outfit. ha!
Playing at Grammie's house after Sunday dinner.
I made homemade pizza rolls for a fellowship after church Sunday night. They were soo good!
Sweetie just after waking up from her nap.
Here's another story about Lily - she had trouble settling down for her nap so she got out of her bed (which she's not supposed to do and she normally doesn't) and closed her door (which I didn't hear because I was in the kitchen) and had a big time playing with her baby dolls. She eventually fell asleep on the floor which is where I found her when she woke up. Like I said, she's a mess!
Reading a bedtime story with Daddy.
