9.29.2008

Stuff Moms Like

If you haven't noticed, I added a couple of new links to my "Blogs I Love" section. One of them is entitled "Stuff Christians Like". If you have never read it, I highly recommend that you do. You will not be sorry. :) This guy writes HILARIOUS little segments on things that you find Christians doing commonly. He seems to be a solid believer himself and, therefore, it's all in good fun. I promise that, if you are a Christian, you will read some and find yourself saying "guilty" through the tears of laughter that will be rolling down your face.

Anyway, his blog is a spinoff of the NY Times column "Stuff White People Like", (which, incidentally, I don't find as humorous). But, all of things "Stuff" blogs had me thinking....

The other night, as I sat watching people movin and groovin at a 40th anniversary party, I was reflecting on the mom dance. That's right. You know you've seen it. Maybe it's your own mother, maybe it's a family friend, maybe it's just some lady...but she's out there...she's doing the step-touch and snapping away, while her kids sit mortified in the back of the room. This stirred in me, an idea. How about a blog entitled "Stuff Moms Like"? Don't you think I could write one and come up with thousands of amazingly hilarious posts?? Tell me what you think/ideas of what you would write about. You never know, maybe I'll get a book deal. ;)

9.24.2008

Sleep Eating

This is probably one of my favorite Roman videos ever...falling asleep while eating french fries at an Applebee's. :)

Much to my dismay, I have had trouble uploading the Elmo video...because it's really long. I got a shorter one uploaded to Facebook, so you can check there, and I'll keep trying to get one up here.

For now, enjoy the sleep eating!

9.19.2008

Theology on Tap

Last night our girls' Bible study took a break from our regular routine, and attended Theology on Tap. It is a young adult ministry (post high school up to age 40) that meets at a local restaurant for dinner, drinks, and fellowship. Last night Bishop Pates, the new Bishop of the Des Moines diocese, was the speaker. It was really great to hear his thoughts on what we can do to expand young adult ministry in Iowa!

I think Theology on Tap is a fantastic program! It's a really laid back, casual environment where you can get to know a lot of really amazing fellow believers! I am excited to go back soon! We should start a TOT program in Ames....anyone feeling ambitious?? :)

9.15.2008

Quote of the Day

I heard this on the Christian radio station the other day:

"I want to be faithful in everything, even if no one sees but Him".

I can't stop thinking about it. I think this is so applicable to everyone (especially myself as a stay at home mom), but we all have the opportunity to slack off in some way during our day. Whether it's not putting in 100% effort at work (which I was CONSTANTLY guilty of when I worked in an office!), not taking the time to stop and talk to someone who needs a little help, or choosing to let Roman play by himself most of the day while I go about my "important" tasks around the home.

The point is, I tend to be so focused on what's convenient for me...on what I want to do today...on what "needs" to get done, that sometimes I lose sight of what really needs to be a priority. Spending time with God. Playing with my son. Making our home a haven for my husband.

Sometimes we feel like not putting forth the energy to do things because "no one will notice". Your boss probably isn't going to see how many times a day you check your e-mail (and once again, I have no room to talk about that!), Joe probably won't notice if I sweep the floor or not, and Roman certainly isn't going to "tell on me" if I don't drop everything and read to him. But I will know...and more importantly... God knows.

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly
as though you were doing it for the Lord
and not merely for people

9.14.2008

Fish Flush

The Pometto fish meet their maker...


As many of you know, Joe, Mary, Tony, and I have all been working hard on Tony and Suellen's house...cleaning it and getting it ready to be put on the market. We are praying that it sells quickly so they can buy a new house in South Carolina!!

Anyway, this video captures one of the days... that turned into an evening... that turned into an all night cleaning affair. I will say that we have all had some excellent bonding time over the house.

The fish really did need to go...(this is still a delicate topic for Tony, as he is still in mourning over his floating finned friends) and we made the best of it...Mary has so generously used her amazing video editing skills to create this lovely tribute to the Pometto family fish.

Enjoy!


9.10.2008

Tickle Me Elmo...or Don't.

Joe's amazing Uncle Dan and Aunt Tonya have been so generous to us since we found out we were pregnant with Roman. They have sent us diapers, toys, a stroller, clothes, books, and the list goes on and on. I mean, they always just really outdo themselves. We are so grateful for all they have done to help us out - especially while Joe was still finishing school.

SO, that being said, it was months ago when we received the coveted Tickle Me Elmo doll in the mail. I decided that, since Roman was so small at the time, we would wait until a "rainy day" to bring it out. Well, Monday was the day. We really didn't have any plans. We weren't going to be going anywhere, and it was, in fact, raining. So, no afternoon walk, either.

Roman woke up from his nap about 3:00 and I decided that while he was finishing his snack I would unpack the toy from the box and wrapping. He watched me as I cut and pulled and set his new little friend free. I took Roman out of his high chair, and set him on the floor with the "happy" little monster. This was going to be fun, I thought. He will obviously find it hilarious. He loves his book about Elmo...surely, he will love the toy.

I press the button, Elmo starts laughing...I mean, laughing hysterically...he even bends over and slaps his knee, he's so cracked up. Meanwhile, Roman is shreiking in terror and running to clutch onto my pant legs. That's right. He hates it.

Well, he was tired...just woke up, so I thought, maybe when Joe gets home it won't be so scary. No luck there. After dinner Joe brought Elmo back out - laughing along with him thinking that would make Roman feel more secure...only to find that it scared him even more.

Joe and I put Roman to bed, watched a movie, and then were talking about the events of the day before we went to sleep. We decided that maybe if we put Elmo in the living room with the rest of Roman's toys and didn't make such a spectacle of him, he would feel more comfortable.

Wrong again.

Yesterday morning, Elmo was chillin with Murphy (Roman's favorite stuffed dog) in the living room, when Roman woke up. He entered the room, and immediately freaked out again. I mean freaked out. The whole rest of the morning was spent trying to console Roman as he wouldn't even let me put him down. He kept saying "sad!" "I sad". :( He cried because he was scared...I cried because I felt so bad, and we cuddled and read books for the rest of the morning. Elmo is now securly hidden in the coat closet...I am sure in a year it will probably be his favorite toy...I am also sure I will not have the courage to bring it out again any sooner than that. Even today there were a couple of times when he said "sad" and wanted to be held! The poor child! Hopefully we haven't ruined him for Sesame Street for life.

9.09.2008

Roman...on his favorite topic, Puppies (and definitely not on the ABCs)

I need to preface this video with just a couple of quick stories. Roman loves puppies. Just not in real life. ALL day long (I mean at least once an hour) he will randomly start talking about puppies. We have lengthy discussions about the puppies he knows (my mom's dog, Joe's parents' dog, my brother's dogs, the neighbor's dog, etc.) He will tell me all about them..that they are soft, that they say "woof", and that he sees puppies.

This video is a pretty good example of how fixated he can be on puppies.

The funny thing is, he really doesn't like dogs. :) He wants to look at Rocky (our neighbor's dog) out the window about 8 times a day, but when we got outside and Rocky is out there - IN HIS CAGE - Roman freaks out and will not let me put him down.

When we stayed at my brother and sister-in-law's house one night, they had the puppies in their kennel becuse Roman gets scared of them. One of them barked and Roman started crying, so I picked him up and was taking him into the kitchen to get a drink...we had to walk past the puppies, and through the sobs, he yells "Hi puppies!".

Roman went to Rockwell City with us this weekend so that Joe, Adam, Ryan and Tony could have band practice. We had the pleasure of staying on the Babbitt farm with Mike and Joyce - so fun! They have a dog named Harold. All weekend long, Roman would look out the window and say "Hi, Harold". "I see you Harold". "Come here, Harold", but wouldn't go anywhere near her outside (yes, I said her. That wasn't a typo). :) Finally, he did get up the courage to pet her on Saturday, and he has been talking about her ever since. Maybe he is getting over his fear?? :)

9.03.2008

The Gospel Truth

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=faf0159744aecaf5c732

Found this while I was looking through some random videos on Godtube.com (great website!) I don't know much about John Piper and what he teaches, but I thought this video was right on.

Autumn

Well, September has arrived...and it's already starting to feel like fall! My favorite season...and I am enjoying the cooler weather. Perfect for jeans and a sweatshirt in the evening. :) I feel cozier just talking about it.

The arrival of fall also means back to school and back to school-year-activities. Along with my small group of high school girls that I have been meeting with for the past few months, I will also be helping with GLORY (youth group - "The Glory of God is man fully alive." St. Irenaeus), another small group of girls with a community outreach mission, and a new group of Theology of the Body for teens! Should be a busy year, but I am super excited.

Growing up, my family went to church every Sunday, and it's not that I didn't learn at church and Sunday school, but youth group, retreats, church camp, etc. were the ways that I encountered Christ and really came to know him.

What a blessing to be a part of those things that ministered to me so much when I was in high school. Please pray for the teens that we will be working with, and please pray for the leaders like myself, that God would use us to touch hearts for the kingdom.

I am sure this finds you all busy and gearing up for all the activities of the season. Please let me know how I can be praying for you more specifically! God Bless!

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.