The Next Michael Phelps

We just got a membership to the YMCA this week and are putting it to good use.  We've been wanting to get Will enrolled into swim lessons, but we weren't sure if he'd take to the water.  So yesterday we went on a trial run...Will's first time in a pool!  It helped that it was like 90 degrees in there and the water was pretty warm.  He LOVED it. He was a bit apprehensive at first, but after he realized that he was safe he got to splashing and kicking his legs.  He was even brave enough to put his face into the water.  :)  He floated on his back and kicked his legs...we were so proud.  The trial run was a success and next week he starts swim lessons!  click here to see a video of AquaBoy in action.

One Year Bible....with a twist

Genesis Chapter 1

I kind of suck at reading my bible. I don't mean to, and I wish I was better at it but every year I resolve to  make daily bible reading part of my routine...and then around February it slowly dwindles down to once a week...and then every once in a while.  Bad, bad Rutheah.

While I was reading book #2 in the Mark of the Lion series yesterday, I came across a character in the book who is a scribe and had the whole Old Testament memorized from writing it down so many times.  How awesome is that?  I was thinking that would be kind of sweet to do...and then I thought about it more and prayed about it.  And then for the rest of the day I couldn't stop smiling.  I'm going to write out the bible.

Those of you who are close to me know that I LOVE writing.  Not creative writing, I love the physical art that is writing.  I've always been kind of crazy about my handwriting and love doing artsy things with words and calligraphy.  This journey is something I am really looking forward to.  I know it will soak into my heart and mind much more this way.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought 17 composition notebooks.  I am committed now.  I am super duper excited about this.  I'll probably have to buy 100 more notebooks and I'm sure it will take me a couple of years to do, but I'm so excited not to just read God's word in it's entirety, I'm excited to read it, then comprehend it and then write it all out.

Last night I wrote out Genesis 1.  And it was delightful.  It touches me to see God's Holy Scriptures written by my own hand; it just seems to penetrate my heart more that way.  My daily goal is to either write for 1 hour or write out a chapter a day.  I know that will probably be difficult when I get to the longer chapters, but it seems fairly manageable. (With the exception of Psalm 119...that might take a week.)  :)

So there you go...I'm sure I'll blog about this journey much more.  Pray for me!

Frolicking Fun

Yesterday was like a heat wave...

so we went on a downtown walk adventure

and Will danced and frolicked about.

He even got his first sucker from one of the store owners.

    YUM!

2010.

It's a new year...time to wipe the slate clean and start dishing out some resolutions that hopefully turn into habits.  Here we go! (in no particular order...)

Will: (yes, I'm making resolutions for an 18m old.)
eat more veggies (I'll find a way to make him love them)
become POTTY TRAINED before baby girl is born
more scheduled bedtime
only one Veggie Tales show a day
learn colors, shapes and begin letters

Rutheah:
become more intentional throughout my day...less laziness and wasting time on the computer
memorize scripture like I used to...one passage a week
read bible DAILY and then journal
potty-train Will-i-am
become much more familiar with bible stories in the O.T. so I can recite them to the kiddos
more dates with Ry
put more value on becoming an even better mother and wife
before this baby comes: stay in shape.  after this baby comes: workout even more
get my piano back
listen to more Marc Driscoll sermons.  (you should too.... www.marshillchurch.org)

Ryan:
My resolutions seem to come in revolutions. They're the same things every year: Pray more. Read Scripture regularly. Journal regularly. Use my time wisely. And exercise. So, I think I need to be SMART about my resolution this year. (You know, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed.)
I will...
-Start and end every day with prayer.
-Memorize a passage from Scripture every week with Rutheah.
-Write in my journal twice a day (right after prayer time).
-Make a daily schedule and limit computer and t.v. time to two hours a day.
-Improve my PT test results. By April: 55 push-ups, 60 sit-ups, and 14 min. 2-mile. By October: 60 push-ups, 65 sit-ups, and 13.5 min. 2-mile.

Pray for us!

And Happy New Year!!