Do you ever wonder if somethings that don't seem to have a purpose actually do happen for a reason? For example it is currently 2:14 a.m. I am awake because Aaron and I stayed up until 12:30 watching a movie. However, at 1:00 a.m. our fire alarm started going off. We checked the whole house and there is no fire. We plugged in our carbon monoxide detector and it's fine. Chances are the current fire alarm has just gone coo coo, I mean it is old. Then you always have the "what if" thoughts and you don't feel safe. So Aaron is currently at Wal-Mart buying a new smoke detector. On the way to Wal-Mart he was pulled over. He didn't realize that he was in a construction zone and that the speed limit had changed to 45. He explained what he was doing to the cop and graciously the cop just gave him a ticket for "not wearing a seat belt". (Aaron was wearing a seat belt but a $10 ticket is much better than a $100 ticket)
So if it is just that the old smoke detector has lost it, and everything is fine, what was the purpose in this morning's events? Are they just some random things that happened or is there more to it than that? Is there some lesson we were supposed to have learned? Will we ever know?
Sorry if this blog sounds pointless, this is what you get from me at 2 a.m.
If the new fire alarm also sounds then we will be calling the fire dept. Hopefully all will be quiet in the Lowrey house and we can get some sleep.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Just to be clear.
Ok I know that my last 2 posts seem to contradict each other. The first being about how the retailers push Christmas to soon, then my next post is Elf Yourself. Well, the Elf thing was just to funny to resist. Sorry.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Christmas time is.....here?
I get a little irritated with retailers, and the commercialism that has become Christmas. I also get irritated with over zealous Christians who think they have to get mad at anyone that says "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". (See April's blog it's really good). Let's start with the former.
There are 2 count them 2 local radio stations that started playing non-stop Christmas music the day after Halloween! Wal-Mart also started playing Christmas music over their loudspeakers the same day. Retailers often start putting out decorations for people to buy even before Oct 31st. Why? It's all a conspiracy to make more money. By the time Christmas actually gets here people are no longer excited and filled with holiday cheer. They are sick of hearing "Jingle Bells" and they are tired of fighting the crowds and they get frustrated because they are running out of time and "Oh no! We forgot to get something for the Johnsons!" For heaven's sake whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Do we even remember this holiday? I believe that Thanksgiving gets overlooked more and more every year. All I'm saying is the retailers often ruin it for those of us that really love this time of year. I find myself trying to find the balance between ignoring the retailer's "buy more" push and enjoying winter and the holidays the way they are meant to be enjoyed.
I won't go into the latter issue, other than to say that some Christians are ridiculous for making a huge deal out of "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". My main reason behind this: So many of our "Christmas" traditions come from pagan holiday rituals. Do a web search on it, you'll be surprised.
Let the holidays just be a time of celebrating. Yes, if you are a Christian by all means celebrate the fact that God sent his Son to this earth for the redemption of our sins....we do. Celebrate the special time with family and friends. Just don't go ballistic either way.
There are 2 count them 2 local radio stations that started playing non-stop Christmas music the day after Halloween! Wal-Mart also started playing Christmas music over their loudspeakers the same day. Retailers often start putting out decorations for people to buy even before Oct 31st. Why? It's all a conspiracy to make more money. By the time Christmas actually gets here people are no longer excited and filled with holiday cheer. They are sick of hearing "Jingle Bells" and they are tired of fighting the crowds and they get frustrated because they are running out of time and "Oh no! We forgot to get something for the Johnsons!" For heaven's sake whatever happened to Thanksgiving? Do we even remember this holiday? I believe that Thanksgiving gets overlooked more and more every year. All I'm saying is the retailers often ruin it for those of us that really love this time of year. I find myself trying to find the balance between ignoring the retailer's "buy more" push and enjoying winter and the holidays the way they are meant to be enjoyed.
I won't go into the latter issue, other than to say that some Christians are ridiculous for making a huge deal out of "happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". My main reason behind this: So many of our "Christmas" traditions come from pagan holiday rituals. Do a web search on it, you'll be surprised.
Let the holidays just be a time of celebrating. Yes, if you are a Christian by all means celebrate the fact that God sent his Son to this earth for the redemption of our sins....we do. Celebrate the special time with family and friends. Just don't go ballistic either way.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Ephraim
I said in an earlier blog that I would post new pictures of Ephraim, so I thought I should be true to my word. Here's to you Ephraim, my cute little mo-hawk boy!
Technology, Too much of a good thing?
I just joined the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program. It's a wonderful program in which each family is assigned a trained person to help give suggestions, tips, and ideas so that you can help your child learn while they play. The lady that was assigned to us is really nice, I will refer to her as D. D made the point that most of the ladies in PAT do not care for the "Leapfrog" or "video game" type toys. They like to see kids play with mostly non-electronic toys because they help foster imagination, reasoning, problem solving skills and they make the child more active.
I have to say that I completely agree. Our world today is so gadget oriented that most teens and adults for that matter, are spending a lot of their time on computers, video games, texting, or in front of the TV. We have become so "entertain me" focused that we are starting to pass that mind set on to our smaller children. We set them down with a "Leapfrog" to help them learn to read, or we give them an "educational" video game that is age appropriate. What happened to using your imagination and pretending with dolls or GI Joes?
Please don't misunderstand me. I think that some of the "Leapfrog" products are great, and yes I do let my child watch a couple shows on TV. I am saying that their needs to be moderation. When my children get a little older, I don't want them spending all their time in front of the TV, computer or video game. I want them to have some limited time with those things, and I want them so be able to go outside and play, or read a book, or build something with Lagos. When they are teenagers I want them to be able to have the self control to say to themselves, "I've watched enough TV for today, I really want to go play some b-ball." The point is, they are only going to have that if Aaron and I as parents model and teach them that. A lot of it comes down to self control, and managing our time wisely.
"The choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation." Martin Tupper
I have to say that I completely agree. Our world today is so gadget oriented that most teens and adults for that matter, are spending a lot of their time on computers, video games, texting, or in front of the TV. We have become so "entertain me" focused that we are starting to pass that mind set on to our smaller children. We set them down with a "Leapfrog" to help them learn to read, or we give them an "educational" video game that is age appropriate. What happened to using your imagination and pretending with dolls or GI Joes?
Please don't misunderstand me. I think that some of the "Leapfrog" products are great, and yes I do let my child watch a couple shows on TV. I am saying that their needs to be moderation. When my children get a little older, I don't want them spending all their time in front of the TV, computer or video game. I want them to have some limited time with those things, and I want them so be able to go outside and play, or read a book, or build something with Lagos. When they are teenagers I want them to be able to have the self control to say to themselves, "I've watched enough TV for today, I really want to go play some b-ball." The point is, they are only going to have that if Aaron and I as parents model and teach them that. A lot of it comes down to self control, and managing our time wisely.
"The choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation." Martin Tupper
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
friends
Some of you know that toddlers can be challenging sometimes. Last week Truitt decided to hit the "terrible twos" hard and fast. He started throwing all out, throw himself on the floor, thrashing, and screaming tantrums. This is SO unlike my precious little boy that I have known for almost 17 months. So on Sunday at church when I had been through 4 days in a row of non-stop fit throwing, a wonderful friend came up to me and said, "Why don't you let me take the boys for you tomorrow so that you can have some alone time." I took her up on her offer. At first I thought that I would get some errands done. Again she advised me, "I think you should drop them off, go to Starbucks, and just sit and read. But if you need to get something done then I will insist that I take the boys Tuesday too so that you can have some down time."
Monday I did run an errand, Tuesday Aaron ended up having the day off b/c of rain so we had a date.
My point in all of this is to say how wonderful it is to have family and friends close by with whom you can share the joys and struggles of life. My heart goes out to people that don't have anyone near them that can know and understand what they might be going through, and offer a word of encouragement or advice or in some cases much needed time to reconnect with a spouce.
So the moral of the story is.....have friends and be a friend.
P.S. Truitt has been much better today.....let's hope it lasts a while. :)
Monday I did run an errand, Tuesday Aaron ended up having the day off b/c of rain so we had a date.
My point in all of this is to say how wonderful it is to have family and friends close by with whom you can share the joys and struggles of life. My heart goes out to people that don't have anyone near them that can know and understand what they might be going through, and offer a word of encouragement or advice or in some cases much needed time to reconnect with a spouce.
So the moral of the story is.....have friends and be a friend.
P.S. Truitt has been much better today.....let's hope it lasts a while. :)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
new photos
Here are some new photos of the boys
Here is Ephraim at one month (even though he will be 2 months soon) sorry about that. I'll get a 2 month picture up when we hit that mile stone. His fo-hawk is even more awesome now! His hair sticks straight up and he even has natural tips. His hair was dark blond and it's starting to grow in lighter, so the bottom now is light blond and the top is dark.
Truitt got his first haircut yesterday! We got a before, during and after shot. He got to "drive" a BMW and watch Elmo while he got his haircut! He looks so cute.....Watch out girls, he's a heart breaker.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
teach the younger
Some moms in our church are getting together once a week, and discussing this book called Feminine Appeal. So far I really like it and I'm gleaning a lot of wisdom from it. It's based on the scripture in Titus 2:3-5 which says,
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
In the first chapter of the book the author talks about how important it is for older women to teach the younger women how to be godly wives and mothers. She makes the point that as a culture we require certification, training and degrees for "vocations of lesser importance" but our culture will hand over marriage and motherhood without blinking an eye.
This is so true! I have believed for a long time that being a godly wife and mother is a very high calling, and a lot of work. How can anyone expect to be a natural at it unless they are taught? You don't send someone that has never even boiled water into a kitchen and expect them to make creme brulee.
She also says that when Paul wrote this, she feels he was not picturing seminars, Bible studies, or books. Although those things are beneficial, she feels that he was talking about the older women teaching the everyday things. Here is an awesome quote from the book:
"It would help younger women to know there are a few listening ears when they don't know what to do with an uncommunicative husband, a 25 pound turkey, or a two-year-old's tantrum... He [Paul] meant the simple things, the everyday example, the willingness to take time from one's own concerns to pray with the anxious mother, to walk with her the way of the cross-with its tremendous demands of patience, selflessness, loving kindness-and to show her, in the ordinariness of Monday through Saturday, how to keep a quiet heart."
I earnestly pray that the women and men of the church would start to get this concept. There are some people that get it, but I see so many young women that have no one to turn to when life's questions arise.
If you have some free time, read the book.
Feminine Appeal Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother
by Carolyn Mahaney
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
In the first chapter of the book the author talks about how important it is for older women to teach the younger women how to be godly wives and mothers. She makes the point that as a culture we require certification, training and degrees for "vocations of lesser importance" but our culture will hand over marriage and motherhood without blinking an eye.
This is so true! I have believed for a long time that being a godly wife and mother is a very high calling, and a lot of work. How can anyone expect to be a natural at it unless they are taught? You don't send someone that has never even boiled water into a kitchen and expect them to make creme brulee.
She also says that when Paul wrote this, she feels he was not picturing seminars, Bible studies, or books. Although those things are beneficial, she feels that he was talking about the older women teaching the everyday things. Here is an awesome quote from the book:
"It would help younger women to know there are a few listening ears when they don't know what to do with an uncommunicative husband, a 25 pound turkey, or a two-year-old's tantrum... He [Paul] meant the simple things, the everyday example, the willingness to take time from one's own concerns to pray with the anxious mother, to walk with her the way of the cross-with its tremendous demands of patience, selflessness, loving kindness-and to show her, in the ordinariness of Monday through Saturday, how to keep a quiet heart."
I earnestly pray that the women and men of the church would start to get this concept. There are some people that get it, but I see so many young women that have no one to turn to when life's questions arise.
If you have some free time, read the book.
Feminine Appeal Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother
by Carolyn Mahaney
Monday, September 22, 2008
Kid advice
The last few days it seems there has been a lot of talk about babies. We have 4 pregnant women in our church right now. Two of them are due the end of Oct. (We had a baby shower for one of those women yesterday, which I'll get to later.) The other 2 are pretty newly pregnant. Amy has three boys already, I think she might be hoping for a girl this time. The other couple I am extremely excited about their pregnancy because they had to go through some fertility treatments to achieve this pregnancy, and they have been trying for a while.
At the shower yesterday, two experienced moms gave the new mother to be little words of advice for mothering. One of the things they both said was, "Enjoy every minute and every age because it goes by SO fast." I heard that a lot when I was first pregnant with Truitt, and I took the advice kind of threw out the part about it going by fast. Well, I soon came to realize that it really does go by fast. Before I knew it Truitt was 6 months old and we found out we were pregnant again. Then I blinked and Ephraim was already here. Now he is already 6 weeks old! It's crazy how quickly (especially in the first year of life) how much children change, learn, and grow. Ephraim is just learning to hold up his head, while Truitt (only 15 months older) is running, climbing, learning animal noises and can say several words.
The other very wise word of advice was "Everything is a stage." Meaning when the kid is leaking though his daiper every night, or can't seem to figure out how to drink from a sippy cup and is upset about it, or in my case won't listen when you tell him to come here. It's a stage. It will pass, and as we have already stated it goes by fast. It may not seem fast while walking through it, but it passes quickly.
So words of wisdom for those of you who are planning on having kids, or an encouragement to those that already do, decide now that you will cherish every moment of every age and remind yourself of that commitment often (it helps when you are in one of those frustrating stages).
At the shower yesterday, two experienced moms gave the new mother to be little words of advice for mothering. One of the things they both said was, "Enjoy every minute and every age because it goes by SO fast." I heard that a lot when I was first pregnant with Truitt, and I took the advice kind of threw out the part about it going by fast. Well, I soon came to realize that it really does go by fast. Before I knew it Truitt was 6 months old and we found out we were pregnant again. Then I blinked and Ephraim was already here. Now he is already 6 weeks old! It's crazy how quickly (especially in the first year of life) how much children change, learn, and grow. Ephraim is just learning to hold up his head, while Truitt (only 15 months older) is running, climbing, learning animal noises and can say several words.
The other very wise word of advice was "Everything is a stage." Meaning when the kid is leaking though his daiper every night, or can't seem to figure out how to drink from a sippy cup and is upset about it, or in my case won't listen when you tell him to come here. It's a stage. It will pass, and as we have already stated it goes by fast. It may not seem fast while walking through it, but it passes quickly.
So words of wisdom for those of you who are planning on having kids, or an encouragement to those that already do, decide now that you will cherish every moment of every age and remind yourself of that commitment often (it helps when you are in one of those frustrating stages).
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Welcome!
Welcome to the Lowrey family's blog. I decided to start this blog for 2 reasons.
Reason 1: I like to blog. I like to share what's going on in our lives for friends and family (especially those who are out of state) to read. I also like writing out silly and random thoughts and feelings.
Reason 2: I got tired of people saying "Xanga is great you should set up an account" then by the time I get everything set up, everyone has moved on to MySpace. Then when I get on to MySpace, everyone moves on to Face Book. Well I've had enough! I'm not moving to Face Book! I looked at it and I don't like the way it's set up. Just a personal opinion.
There you have it.
Just a little info about our family:
Aaron: A wonderful husband and father. Loves music, learning, and philosaphy. Currently working as a new construction plumber and going to school to become and engeneer.
Carrie: The one who will do most of the writing on this blog, wife and mother. Loves laughing, great coffee, and good books. Currently working part time at Starbucks, and will soon be certified to be a Black Apron Barista.
Truitt: Energetic 16 month old. Loves to run, read and play with blocks. Currently working on his animal noises and climbing skills.
Ephraim: Sleepy 5 1/2 week old. Loves to eat, sleep, and look around. Currently working on trying to bring his hands to his mouth so he can suck on them, and sleeping though the night, and holding his head up.
On top of everything else we are also trying to fix up our house because we are trying to sell it. I know what your thinking...."You're trying to sell a house in this market?" Well yes. Our goal is to sell the house and move in to a cheeper place to save money while Aaron completes school. As we speek Aaron is painting the outside of the house. I'm so excited, because it will make it look so much nicer. I love the colors we are painting. The main part of the house will be a light gray. The trim will be an off white, and the other items (ie; the front door, garage door and shutters) will be a nice shade of blue. I'll post a pic when it's all done.
Well, that's the 411 on our little family. Hope you enjoy reading our blog!
Reason 1: I like to blog. I like to share what's going on in our lives for friends and family (especially those who are out of state) to read. I also like writing out silly and random thoughts and feelings.
Reason 2: I got tired of people saying "Xanga is great you should set up an account" then by the time I get everything set up, everyone has moved on to MySpace. Then when I get on to MySpace, everyone moves on to Face Book. Well I've had enough! I'm not moving to Face Book! I looked at it and I don't like the way it's set up. Just a personal opinion.
There you have it.
Just a little info about our family:
Aaron: A wonderful husband and father. Loves music, learning, and philosaphy. Currently working as a new construction plumber and going to school to become and engeneer.
Carrie: The one who will do most of the writing on this blog, wife and mother. Loves laughing, great coffee, and good books. Currently working part time at Starbucks, and will soon be certified to be a Black Apron Barista.
Truitt: Energetic 16 month old. Loves to run, read and play with blocks. Currently working on his animal noises and climbing skills.
Ephraim: Sleepy 5 1/2 week old. Loves to eat, sleep, and look around. Currently working on trying to bring his hands to his mouth so he can suck on them, and sleeping though the night, and holding his head up.
On top of everything else we are also trying to fix up our house because we are trying to sell it. I know what your thinking...."You're trying to sell a house in this market?" Well yes. Our goal is to sell the house and move in to a cheeper place to save money while Aaron completes school. As we speek Aaron is painting the outside of the house. I'm so excited, because it will make it look so much nicer. I love the colors we are painting. The main part of the house will be a light gray. The trim will be an off white, and the other items (ie; the front door, garage door and shutters) will be a nice shade of blue. I'll post a pic when it's all done.
Well, that's the 411 on our little family. Hope you enjoy reading our blog!
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