Praying

On our way home tonight from youth there was an Amber Alert for a 6yr old boy. Courtnie told me she prayed for him right after the alert. It makes my heart so happy that she knows and trusts God to hear her prayers and that she calls on Him immediately when a need arises.

Belts and a Blessing

Yesterday, I took Courtnie shopping for a new belt.  She knew exactly the belt she wanted and to my surprise it that dang belt cost $30.  My reaction may not have been the most sincere, but no way was I going to spend $30 for a belt that she hides with a hoodie.  I just couldn't do it!  I simply could not bring myself to pay that much.

So we went in and out of every store in that mall looking for a belt suitable for school.   After about 1.5 hrs of belt shopping, I started justifying the $30 for the belt, after all, it was cute.  It definitely beat the belts with the marijuana plants, the skulls, or the dog collar chained belts.  And trying to find a solid colored black or brown belt was nearing impossible.

And then it happened... we found a belt we BOTH LIKED!  It was only $15 and super cute.  And the best part was when we were checking out a lady frantically stopped and gave me a coupon for $10 off any purchase.  Thank you dear Lord!  That was neat to see my children SEE a blessing like that.

I want Courtnie to know that it wasn't that I just didn't want to spend $30 for a belt.  Times are tough and money is tight and $30 is quite a bit of money for a belt.  I can barely put gas in my car without having a coronary because gas prices keep rising and trying to feed this household under an acceptable budget is becoming impossible to say the least.

Thank you Courtnie for not pouting and accepting my decision to not purchase a belt for that cost.  I am proud of the both of us for our composure, patience, and willingness to persevere in the belt shopping.  If we hadn't done all of these things, we would have missed out on one of God's blessings.  Sweet girl, we had the opportunity to SEE someone bless us.  What a reward!

I Wonder....

I wonder....

I wonder if my children will know how much I love them?  Or if they will remember me as just a stressed out, loud and mouthy, dictator?

I wonder if they will ever see the sacrifice their parents made on their behalf?  Or if they will just think we were strict and uncaring to their current desires?

I wonder if my children will get along when they are older?  Or if they will be so bitter with one another, holding resentment and and unwilling to forgive, that they go separate ways and never speak to each other again?

I wonder if my children will ever realize that rules were not set to make their life miserable but to teach them right from wrong and how to be a strong leader and Christian in life?

I wonder....

Mom wins!

Me to child: "You know how I feel about that but if you want to keep running your mouth we can see how that'll work out for you." Thursday can only get better!

Cheerleader Dad

Comic relief one night.  Man, the family had so much fun and such a good laugh.  My belly was on FIRE we laughed so hard!

Homeschool Day 1

Day 1 of homeschool - Coach Gautreaux claps hands to wake up sleeping 9th grader barking orders to get up and get ready for PE. This is gonna be a BLAST!

Allergic Reaction

Cameron woke up Saturday with one of his lymph nodes about the size of the golf ball bulging out of his neck. He couldn't talk, turn his head, or move. It appeared to be an allergic reaction but he hasn't yet had anything to eat or drink and he wasn't itching and didn't have a rash anywhere. Another part of me wondered if it wasn't a terrible case of strep. So Jason and I took him to the ER totally prepared to stay awhile with the flu epidemic. But we were the only ones there and were taken right back. They weren't too convinced it was an allergic reaction but treated him for it anyway with Benadryl, Pepcid, and Prednisone. Within in minutes we literally watched the swelling decrease to nothing, he was moving and talking, and felt so much better. We have no idea what it was but are prepared with our epipen in car it happens again.

This is how Jason occupied his time in the ER. It kept Cameron and I entertained for sure :)  In case the volume is hard to tell, he is teaching us how to protect ourselves from hospital intruders.



and another....

Happy 8th Birthday, Colton

This day 8 years ago, I had just given birth to my youngest baby. My first contraction at 17 weeks, lots of bedrest, and so much support from family and friends, we carried him to 36 weeks. Born at 6lbs 3oz with red hair and refusing to follow the first rule of life... to breath. He is the same today as he was then - follows the beat to his own drum, says and does anything that comes to mind (good or bad), and makes his own rules. LOVE this kid!! Looking back at his pictures today has brought tears to my eyes. He was such a hard child to raise and still his sometimes, but his beautiful eyes and extravagant personality shine so much brighter than the trials. I can't wait to see the path God leads him on!

The Toy-Box that Talked

If my kids' toy-boxes talked, they'd surely request to not be a trashcan or dump.  They'd ask that the only thing they store for little Gautreaux children would be toys and nothing but toys.  The toy-box would request that things inappropriate not be hidden inside or shoved into crevices between toys.  They'd give this following list of things that are NOT acceptable for toy-box storage.

• the two missing wheels to your toy-box (check that picture above)
• socks without a match
• trash
• kids meal toys
• random wheels that don't seem to belong on any car owned by the child
• food or candy
• food or candy wrappers
• dress-up clothes, because those go in a special place for better protection
• loose limbs to Barbies or action figures
• loose heads to Barbies or action figures
• books
• broken sunglasses
• old cell phones
• shoes
• crayons
• toothbrushes
• panties and underwear
• game pieces
• schoolwork or craft projects
• Mom and Dad's keys
• anything liquid, especially nail polish
• tangled jewelry
• wadded up duct tape (this could be an entirely different blog topic)
• DVDs
• electronics, including iPods

The toy-box is something to be cleaned when your child is not around.  I read the above list to my children and they admitted to the above items.  They even justified some these items for very important needs!  I admit, the toy-box is one thing I will not miss when my last child outgrows his toys.

2012 Highlights

Sitting here watching football and enjoying the hubs' company.  I thought I'd try and recap 2012 and share some of our highlights of the year:

• Cameron turned 14 and started high school.  Courtnie turned 11 and started 6th grade.  And my baby Colton turned 7 and started 2nd grade.  
• Jason and I both converted to the iPhone.  It was long overdue!
• Cameron got braces.
• I started a blog to share the good news and truth of God's word - thejudgmentalchristian.com.
• Courtnie is dancing with a new dance team this year.  What an amazing blessing and change this has been.  She just dances, twirls, and flips everyday all day long again.  So proud of her accomplishments with her new team.
• Jason cut half his finger off this year.  This is his biggest highlight but that's fair since it did affect most of our year with its pain, healing, pain, doctor visits, pain, bills, pain, etc.  
• Jason and I went with dear friends for our first INDY races.  That was fun, very exhilarating!!
• I got my first (and last) tattoo!
• My mom moved in with us and what a blessing it has been!
• I began work with our youth.  I went on a mission trip over the summer with Cameron's age group and I was hooked.  I now teach 6th grade girls on Wednesday nights and LOVE them!  
• This is the year Colton has grown up a lot.  He has become SUPER witty and seems to understand more of the world around him.  He reminds me everyday that he is his father completely made over.
• Our family visited the State Fair of Texas this year.  We all really enjoyed ourselves!
• Cameron rededicated his life to Christ and was baptized again.
• My sister took her second trip to Africa and has joined God's full-time missionary team and spreading the love of Jesus Christ overseas.
• Courtnie and I had a girls day and saw the Rockettes this year.
• Colton started playing football this year and he loves it!  
• Our family experienced our first drive-in movie this year.  That was pretty cool.  I need to go back with my hubby :)
• We said goodbye to the Honda Odyssey and bought a Honda Accord.
• Courtnie did some modeling for Van Zandt studios in ealry March.
• Cameron and Colton kept us VERY busy this spring and fall with baseball.  I'm not sure there were too many days when someone wasn't at an official practice or game or just practicing at home for fun.
• Jason has yet to give up beer.
• And I have yet to give up Dr. Pepper.