Priceless Smiles in the Middle of Storms

So very stinkin’ cool that the words “God’s Got Your Back” ministered to so many of you…..Isn’t He just soooooooo amazing?? Yippee Jesus!!

After several days of serious stuff….thought we all could use some sweet smiles from the treasures I love most…..the only treasures I can take to eternity with me…..Yippee Jesus!!

In a less than 48 hours here’s some stuff that happened around our house….

Elijah emptied the salt container on all the glasses in the glasses drawer….like really, where do 2 year olds come up with these ideas??

About the same time, I heard Elizabeth singing behind me as I worked at the kitchen sink (sorry, no picture of it)….and glanced to see her scrubbing the cupboard behind me. Then it kind of clicked….what exactly was she scrubbing our brand new cupboards with? Let me just glance around and check….
Of course! A wet toilet bowl brush!! ARGGHHH I was sooooo grossed out. Ugh. I just find toilet bowl brushes disgusting….let alone scrubbing my brand new kitchen cupboards. Can anyone spell Y-U-M??

Speaking of toilet bowls and all delectable things like that…the girls toilet seat had already broken (I know, I know, what a piece of junk). Anyway, Dw went to the store and bought a really nice, solid one….and within 24 hours Elizabeth painted it (and inside the bowl) with silver glitter nailpolish. She said she wanted it to look pretty. I guess she has become our designated decorator, huh? Need a decorator at your home to come make your toilet (inside and out) look gorgeous??

A few hours later Elizabeth came down from upstairs. She and Isaiah had discovered Emma’s “bronzer” and he had made her look so beautiful…..ears and hair especially done up…. and of course on her new shirt that she had been wearing a few hours…


Then the kids were playing dress-up….note: Elizabeth’s face in the background…..and yeah, you can bet Elijah will be paying me big money to take this picture off the archives of the blog someday when he gets old, right?

Then I was wondering where Isaiah and Elizabeth had (again! – they are such little buddies – pretty sweet!) disappeared to. I went to look. I heard them whispering in the pantry. “Whatcha doing?” “Ummm, nothing.” “Really?” “Yup.” As I stared at them I prayed, “God give me wisdom, I can totally tell they are up to something.” “Let me smell your breath.” Busted!!

They had downed lots of chocolate and hidden the wrappers under a little stand in the 1/2 bath.

And these two little sisters? Becoming sweet buddies….they like dressing alike and I love that!! They are about the same size….so is Isaiah….so it feels like I have triplets -unbelievable!

My boatload of treasures!! Forever grateful for each of them! He makes the barren woman to be at home;the joyful mother of children!!

43 thoughts on “Priceless Smiles in the Middle of Storms

  1. Elizabeth may be on to something with that bronzer in her hair– pretty cool I gotta say. And the nail polish on th toilet? Awesomely beautiful. um not so great about the toilet brush in the kitchen cabinets… lolol ewwww. Sweet pics of all sweet littles!! Thanks for sharing some smiles in the middle of trials! love you!

  2. oh my word…you just brought joy and laughter to my day after finding out my niece had part of her brain protruding into her spinal canal and has to have surgery…your pics were needed!

    I love reading about this stuff…it prepares me for what we will be facing in the near future, bronzers on hair/face, toilet scrubbed cabinets, salt in odd places and so much more…love it and can't wait to experience this with our first child and with how many children God entrusts us with!

  3. I love how God formed your family…so beautiful and colorful (that bronzer really did it…lol). Thank you for making me smile tonight! I LOVE LOVE LOVE how quickly you get that camera. I am learning from you oh Jedi Master…lol. Thank you again!!!!

  4. those sweet babies just knew you needed something to smile about!

    My hands seem so full with me 3, goodness Linny – not sure how you do it!!! WONDER WOMAN YOU ARE!

  5. A day late on the God has your back, and He certainly does….We face some tough stuff here in NC and when I read your Got your back, I started to cry because I needed that reminder myself…
    Thanks for your faithfulness, Linny…Great inspiration for the rest of us who read your wonderful stuff….
    Lovingly,
    Sandy

  6. Oh Linny. I have been praying for you. How the Lord ministered to you has really ministered to me. Good is good all the time…All the time, God is good.

    Thank you for sharing your struggles and how you grow and learn in each one. Thank you for sharing the 'mom moment' of what the kiddos get into. What a fun house…all the good and all the rough!

    I'm glad someone suggested your blog…I look forward to all your family's adventures and I enjoy praying for such a woman after God's heart. :0)

  7. AWWW, those little sweet faces!!!! How is it that little ones never run out of things to get into. It just comes to them so effortlessly. Must be a gift from God. I love the chocolate sneaking, at that point I probably would have joined them.
    Lots of smiles on Jubilee. Is she feeling at home? She looks like she's always been with you.

  8. And I thought I was the only one to have those days. 🙂 Thanks for giving me a reality check and reminding me the messes aren't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Being thankful for each child is!

  9. Oh My! The funniest thing is that when I saw the picture of Elijah, I was wondering who the adorable little girl was?! Oops. He's really beautiful, I mean handsome.

  10. Linny,
    This is sooo wild! God Bless the children. Gotta love them and all their itty bitty antics to pieces. This is such fun. Wish I could be near to join in the joy and redecorating.
    Hugs,
    Barbara Lyman 🙂
    Marysville, WA

  11. LOL! God love 'em!! And so do we! I love the salt on the glasses–makes perfect sense! And the bronzer–oh, I laughed out loud. (sorry, but I really did) Sometimes we just have to laugh, don't we?!

  12. Oh dear sweet friend…I pray for you! You and I are in similar positions…it is unbelievable what "they" get into isn't it. And yes, just this day I read that verse (joyful mother of children…) …
    we are blessed through it all, the gifts the LORD has given us is unmeasured…
    love you sweet sister!
    Shonni

  13. Thank you! I needed to laugh through the tears today. I lost our 5th baby a month ago today. But I treasure the four God blessed me with!! And be thankful it was chocolate!! I came home the other day to kiss my youngest (one year old) to find her breath smelled of ummm poop!!! I was the only one horrified! I don't even want to know! I love the toilet it is pretty! Still praying for Tyler ALL the time!
    Sheri

  14. Treasures, indeed! Although I have to be honest, and say I am thankful that ShaoXi never got into much! 🙂 I never had to worry really…guess God knew what I could handle…and obviously He felt you were MUCH more patient than I am! 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Linny…hug 'em for me!

    Love…Nancy in CT

  15. I had a similar day… don't you love it! My 4 yo drew on the wall and covered it with a picture she taped over it… then little pieces of TP over little spots she had marked. 🙁 Glad I'm not the only one that needs eyes in the back of my head.
    I love the bronzer in her hair… that cracked me up!

  16. Heehee. This was great. Loved the chocolate part–are they their Momma's babies or what?? The toilet bowl brush on the cabinets, though…ummmm, yeeccccchhhhhh!! On the bright side, maybe you can do a little redirecting and get a special helper to help you with BATHROOM cleaning out of the deal? She's already expressed a desire to have the bathroom look spiffy, LOL! Silver sparkles–I love it!

    I was praying last night for your former landlord, that he would open his heart and listen to how God would have him handle the situation and that things would be settled fairly and without animosity or court messiness. As for WHY the current storm? I can only guess that Satan is ROYALLY P.O.'d that sweet Jubilee made it home to you. That, and he's already futilely trying to prevent whatever's (or whomever? hmm?) next for your family! I followed a linky trail to a new-to-me blog and then started reading it from the very beginning, and this post stuck out to me for you. Satan IS wasting his time on you and WILL be defeated! Amen!

    http://blessingsfromethiopia.blogspot.com/2007/05/did-i-say-bring-it-on.html

    Big ((((((()))))))s and continued prayers,
    Sarah

  17. Oh, Linny, I just love that God's got your back and your treasures have got you on your knees. (Sometimes praying and sometimes cleaning.) I just cracked up seeing Elizabeth with bronzer because God had already dusted her with perfect. And what fun to see Jubilee so happy at home after many months of praying her home.

    The stomach bug hit our family yesterday so we're home from church. We're about to listen to some of Dw's sermons. I can't wait to hear them!

    Keeping you in our prayers,
    Kathie

  18. I have to laugh because this is things my children would do. Christmas Eve my littlest one got into food coloring (that was still in the box wrapped up ) and colored hiself and the carpet, said hes the hulk. At some point we have to laugh. He turns 3 today he is from GT and his dad and I feel so grateful we get to be his mom & dad.

  19. As much as the tears streamed down my cheeks when I read your previous post, my heart smiles at these precious smiles.

    Can anyone understand the love we have, the joy we experience, when we are given the opportunity to love on those who might otherwise have been unnocticed?

    God is good!!!!!

  20. This has got to be the best post I've read today. What fun to see what your kids have been up to. Love the drawers with salt…that cracked me up. What a blessing to have a home filled with children. Hugs

  21. Oh my Oh my!! Know the feeling. I have only one almost 4 yar old but she is still into anything she can get her hands on.All that exploring she did not get to do. My house is long not completely child proof so I can't take my eyes off her for a second. I worry about her getting into something harmful!! She already ruined my last set of contact lenses trying to put them in her eyes "like Mama does".

  22. Oh You gotta love the little ones.. Never a dull moment.. never a lack of fun.. they are too cute! Quick update (and prayer request) They have decided that surgery is necessary for my Dads back. It is scheduled for 7:30 Tuesday morning. The amazing thing about this is they will be clearing out alot of that cancerous bone in his spine and putting in a prosthesis.. they say he will be on his feet in 24 hours! This seems to change alot of things in regard to his prognosis regarding his cancer.. so we are just amazed at this point.. Prayers appreciated as he has to be cleared by his cardiologist tomorrow in order to have this surgery..and prayers for him to make it through these 6 hours safely. God has his BACK! Can I borrow your Yippee Jesus about now>?! 🙂

  23. I LOVE all those precious faces with the BIG smiles!!!! Yes, it's awesome to know these little angels will be with us in heaven one day!

    Still praying for you!

    Hugs and love,
    Amy

  24. Linny,
    6:05 pst Sunday and just read your twitter… praying for dear Sarah… if there's any direct thing I can do, Marysville is about 40 miles north of Seattle, WA… please do not hesitate to let me know…
    Love,
    Barbara Lyman 🙂

  25. Oh, and I thought sweet Elizabeth had gotten a HAIRCUT by another little sibling :-)) I like the powdery stuff much better than that!
    I'm so sorry you're going through even more heartache and really "tuff stuff", and I'm praying for peace in the midst of this new storm!
    Barb

  26. Lin,

    Thank you SO much for the giggles…and yes, I think I would like my toilet seat decorated…a little glitter makes everything nicer…but…I do NOT want my cupboards cleaned with a toilet brush…YUCK…so I will hide that when you come…
    The Elijah and my little prince can dress up to their hearts delight…something about a younger boy with an older girl maybe….
    C~

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