Toothbrush Holder

Is there something you refuse to buy because you feel it is priced too high?

For me, it is a toothbrush holder. I realized while in Fred Meyer this afternoon, that since early this summer I have been looking for an inexpensive toothbrush holder. Nothing fancy. Just a simple bronze toothbrush holder.

However, I REFUSE to pay $10 or even the sale price of $7.99 for A TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER. A small device that keeps your toothbrushes in an upward - non-touching position. That's all it is!

$5 seems like a fair price for something that simple. I refuse to pay more. If I have to sub-consciously search every clearance rack of every store I visit for the rest of my life to find a $5 toothbrush holder, then I suppose that is what I will do!

{I also fully understand that as soon as John reads this post he will shake his head, laugh at me, remind me how much I pay for Starbucks each week, probably hand me $10, and tell me to go buy the stupid toothbrush holder.

I will take the cash, thank him, apologize for being so petty, and probably buy some coffee with it instead.} ;-)

Northview

October 24th was a big night for the Carruthers family. We officially joined as members at our new church, Northview Community!

Earlier this summer (through a long, prayerful process) we decided our family needed to find a new church home. John found Northview online and after a couple months of attending and getting involved, we decided to make it official!

I have jumped into their Thursday morning Woman's Bible study - studying the Tabernacle with Beth Moore's series (and I *adore* Beth Moore now!). I also got involved with MOPS that meets at the church every other week. John and I are going to a Sunday night "family" study and an adult Sunday school in the morning.

It has been a true growing process to find our first church as a couple. I've realized how legalistic I really was/am and we are having to search God's Word for ourselves to find the difference between principles that cannot be budged and methods that are flexible and preferential. I have been stretched in meeting a whole new group of people and have really gotten more of a global perspective of the Church as a whole.

All in all, this was a huge and very tough decision, especially for me, but God has really used this change to grow me and my relationship with Him, John, the boys, and others in the church and community.

James & Kenley

I {heart} this series of photos so I had to do a separate post.

A typical James & Kenley "conversation":

I just wish I had some sort of soundtrack I could put in the background. It would MAKE the slide show!

Wapito Point 10/1-2

The first weekend in October we spent at Wapito Point, Chelan with my parents, Brian, Keri, & Kenley. We had a really good time and took lots of pictures of the kiddos. James and Kenley play really well together and it's fun to watch their different personalities interacting!



I love this picture. I think they sat and played next to each other for a while... James driving anything with wheels and Kenley gently touching the animal book and turning the pages!


They both enjoyed the swings...


Until someone saw that they could easily fit the 2 kids in 1 swing!

Not so sure...

Yeah, this isn't going to work...

But let's try it anyway! (No children were hurt, in case you were wondering!)

Dilema

I admit. I have been procrastinating on starting back up blogging because I have A LOT of catch up to do! I read a friend's blog this morning and it was very encouraging. She said even though life is busy and exhausting, she looks forward to blogging a couple minutes each day and focusing on the positive, fun things that are going on with her girls amidst all the crazy (and sometimes cranky)! Thanks Stephanie! :)

So, with Christmas season coming to an end, blogging, working out, eating right, organizing, planning, studying, address book making, goal setting, encouraging, deep cleaning, meal making, decorating, clean-slating, and fresh-starting season begins! Whew!

I'm definitely going to give myself some time to catch up on the last 3 months because I really want this to be something I can look back on and read about how wonderfully crazy it has been... Hmm, I'm really not doing well with run-on sentences tonight! That said, I'm not going to fix them!

For now, this is our new little man. Handsome as ever!

Baby Dos Update

I had a Dr appointment and ultrasound on Thursday for Baby Dos and suddenly I am SO excited to meet this little man! He is already measuring as big as James when he was born (7.6) ...which explains alot about why my belly is about 4 weeks bigger than it was with James!

Last night I was looking at pictures of James Bug in the hospital thinking that this is pretty close to what inside baby looks like right now!


Many people know this has been a much more difficult pregnancy for me, both mentally and physically but I really feel like recently God has been showing me how undeserving I am to have these two little blessings and I can't help but be SO grateful to Him for His patience waiting for me to finally figure it out!

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.

Ps. 139:13-18

Sorry, More James Bug!

Jimbo has been having fun with his other toys too...

James' First Car

1st Birthday Party!

We had a little party for Monkey Boy with some family and friends the night of his birthday. (Weird throwing a party for YOUR OWN kid!) It was a ton of fun - he got a massive plethora of toys and clothes that we are so so thankful for! We love toys!