Love & Respect Devo

The Love & Respect Experience Devotional by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

This is a very nice leather looking devotional book with 52 entries on based on the Love & Respect train of thought. It begins each one with a short bit of scripture, a couple of pages of discussion, then a prayer, action and discussion questions in an appendix. The book boasts that it is “A Husband Friendly Devotion that Wives Truly Love.” There are several introductions and appendixes that go more in depth about Love & Respect (which no, are not the only things important in marriage but it is a good thing to be aware of and focus on). It is also very grace-filled. It is suggested you can do the book with your spouse or alone (and don’t pressure your spouse to join and there is no commandment that Thou Shall Read the Bible and Pray Together Every Day).

Some thoughts: my husband liked the thought (from the intro) that guys like devotionals that help them with God not touchy feely stuff to manipulate them to do better in their marriage, but then he says a lot (not all) of it goes on to do just that. Also while one should be reading scripture outside of a devotional book, if someone is not, this book is pretty short on bulk scripture.

This book can either be something nice on your shelf or I believe something that can truly make a marriage much better. But it is up to each person to see if they want to spend the time to actually praying, doing the action and discussing with their spouse and allowing God to transform them. (I got this book free in return for this review from Thomas Nelson's Publishing's Book Sneeze)

When God Created....

I love it when the free books for bloggers (I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review) have children's books, however I am rather disappointed with When God Created My Toes by Dandi Daley Mackall, illustrated by David Hohn. Of course the concept that God made us and loves us is great but the book is lacking. First of all, yes it rhymes, but it also treats things (God's creation, our bodies and families) that could inspire awe with silliness and I am all for silliness but here it just rings hollow (example-Did he hold his nose when God created my toes? Young children who this book is aimed at don't get that yet). The art is nice but too busy with the lined paper and inserted child's drawing (though Lydia-5 did love the large last page of child's art). I am fine with depictions of dressing up, getting dirty outside, hugging the cat, but do we really need to see the child destroy the living room with paint (my girls didn't listen to the words on that page, they were too busy gasping at the huge no no) and a kind but too rough hug which results in coffee everywhere? And Caleb brought up a theological issue with: Did I love him from the start when God created my heart? We won't stop reading it to the girls but I suggest you look elsewhere for a book on this topic.

Scary Day!

On Halloween morning, we loaded up in Mary's car and took a trip to a pumpkin patch! It started out chilly.
Donn's Grass is where Lydia's class took their pumpkin field trip last year and we had never been. We arrive and there are a bunch of pumpkins in the parking lot. We get out and a lady tells us-go on in. So we go into this large room that is full of super spooky decorations including a blood fountain! The huge pumpkin was tame enough to pose in front of but the little ones were staring at the scary stuff on the ceiling-I felt horrible for voluntarily bringing my children and friends into this place! But the kids were pretty cool, we also saw rabbits and then decided to go to a park.
Awesome park for picnic, climbing, peeing the grass (Gloria is a champ now!) and nature hikes. Glad the outing ended on a good note!

Family Fest

Our church does a Fall Festival every year, for the past few years it has been on Halloween so we haven't been able to attend but this year it was on Sunday. My mom & dad came for the fun!
The green tongued fairy-the girls went around to the different preschool booths and did an activity and got a piece of candy (which I think was their favorite part)
My favorite booth-decorating cookies :)
The jumpy, others were making a hat, face painting (Lydia got a rainbow and Gloria a butterfly), fishing for goodies, treasure hunt in sand, there was also a cake walk-I won a bunch of hard inedible cookies!
The gang waiting for the last jumpy. We then played a bit on a high wall and by the pond before leaving for Mighty Fine Burger for dinner. Lydia stared at the tv and Gloria ate french fries.
Friend princesses-Meredith

Trick or Treat!

Halloween trick or treating is always fun in our neighborhood. My mom came but my dad had to work. We stopped by our neighbors and continued down the street to Heather's and back; Caleb stayed home to hand out candy, we set up in the driveway. The girls were great at saying Trick or Treat, Thank You!

Kirinda with her mom and dog Magenta

it got dark and crowded but we kept trucking!

we ended the day with the dogs in the back of Caleb's truck and deep discussions about what is the best candy! by our backyard grown jacko lanterns

Capital of Texas Zoo

We enjoyed the awesome fall weather by using a groupon and going to the zoo (Austin doesn't really have a zoo, this is a private thing on the way to Bastrop but the girls enjoy it) There was a horse just roaming around that the girls loved petting.
Zebras were a favorite
Petting the FAT pigs.
There is a bird cage you can enter and this one LOVED Caleb, we all held it some but it always flew back to his shoulder and groomed his beard!
Gloria gave it a try on her shoulder but it would nip at your ear or fingers
We also had a picnic, watched the white tiger walking around, smiled at the camel, saw tons of peacocks, fed goats, oohed at the porcupine's quills, tried to get the sleeping bear out of his cage and more.

Ballerinas!

Gloria stretching
Lydia's group sashaying..
Lydia and Gloria are now taking dance class, thanks to Nana & Grandpa! Our neighbor's girls are at the same school. The girls LOVE their dance clothes and did such a great job their first class; the rest of the kids started in Sept and many had to have their moms or older sis with them but since my girls came in late they were calm and independent. They are both the oldest in their classes (fall birthdays) but both enjoyed it and did everything the teacher said.