Pee Issues

Recently I had gone downstairs to scoop the litter boxes for the cats, when I found what looked to be a crazy amount of pee covering the whole top of one of the boxes.  After a phone call to Keith and the boys it was quickly confessed, Caden peed in the littler box. 

Cleaning litter boxes isn't exactly fun, let along when it is your kid's pee in there!




I was hole alone with the girls one night and Elinore asked me why she has to sit down to pee.  She said, daddy doesn't, and she can just pee like Daddy does.

WHOA!  Sit down girl! 

2 Kings

I was able to use my lunch break today to finish reading 2 Kings.  I struggled to stay focused through the book, but found my stride about half way through and enjoyed it.

• Ahaziah fell and was injured, he sent his messengers to ask Baal if he will recover
• Elijah intercepted the messenger and asked why he sought Ball of Ekron, was their no God of Israel?
• Ahaziah knew it was Elijah and sent captain and men to him
• Elijah showed he was a man of God and God burned 1 up, then the next; the 4rd captain begged for respect of his life
• Ahaziah died, Lord said through Elijah for his disbelief and gods of Ekron
• Joram became King
• The time came for Elijah to be taken to heave, he and Elisha traveled place to place - Elisha was very loyal
• Elijah parted the Jordan with his coat and asked Elisha what he needed before it was time
• He wanted spirit - double share - he said if Elisha saw him leave Earth it would be granted to him; otherwise there would be nothing
• Chariots of fire came and took Elijah away, Elisha tore his clothes to show his sorrow
• Elisha now had the spirit of Elijah and parted the Jordan with the coat as Elijah did
• Elisha, with a bowl of sale and God, purified the water of the city so it could be drank and good for crops again
• Boys made fun of Elisha - he put a curse on them with the Lord and 2 mama bears came out and tore 42 boys to pieces
• Joram became King of Israel, he was sinful
• Moab was against Israel, so Joram asked Jehoshaphat of Judah to join him in war
• They ran out of water on the way to Moab and sought Elisha, he didn't want to acknowledge Joram and was only there because of Jehoshaphat
• Elisha asked for someone to play the harp, that brought the Lord's power and he advised them to dig holes and water would come, but no wind or rain
• Moab came to fight and saw the water looked like blood so they thought they had victory - they were defeated then
• A widow seeks Elisha's help in paying her husband's debt to save her sons - she sells oil in jars she collected from neighbors to pay the debt
• An important Shunammite woman always invited Elisha into eat when he came through and she made a room for him
• Elisha asked how he could help her, but nothing
• His servant mentioned she had no son and her husband was old - Elisha said she'd have a son in 1 years time and she did!
• When the boy had grown he went with his father to harvest and returned to his mother after complaints about his head
• The boy passed and the Shunammite woman went for Elisha - the Lord kept this news from Elisha so he didn't know by they went and healed him
• There was a food shortage in Gilgal; stew was made with poison so it wasn't edible; Elisha put some flour in and then it was fine
• A man brought Elisha food - he gave to the people to eat and there was leftovers (there wasn't enough bread originally to feed so many!)
• Naman led the Aram Army, but had a skin disease
• When Aram attacked Israel they took a young servant girl - she told Naman to go see the prophet from Samaria
• Naman sought approval from the King to do so, but the King of Israel tore his clothes
• Then Elisha said, let Naman come to me
• Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naman to go bathe in the Jordan 7 times - Naman went away angry, but his servants convinced him
• Naman bathed 7x and was cured
• Naman offered Elisha gifts that were refused, but Elisha's servant Gehazi went after Naman for the gifts
• Elisha knew this, Gehazi lied, then the disease became him and his family's
• Prophets and Elisha went to the Jordan to build a new place
• A man's ax head fell in the Jordan as he was chopping a tree and he had borrowed the axe
• Elisha threw a stick in the water and the ax head floated so the man could pick it up
• Aramean's and Israel were fighting and Israel always knew where they were and they were angry
• They learned Elisha always knew their plans and went after him
• Elisha prayed they'd be blinded, they were, he led them to Samaria and the Kind of Israel had a feast for them; Arameans didn't come to Israel land again then
• There was a food shortage in Israel
• A woman cried in distress to the king that she'd ate her son
• The King went after Elisha, but he was prepared
• Men outside the city went to the Aramean camp and found they had left in fear
• They told Israel and they were able to able to go seize items from the camp
• The woman whose son Elisha brought back to life was sent her away for the time without food; when she returned after 7 years she asks for her land back from the king - Ghazi explains life after dealth Elisha did and her land is returned to her with profits
• Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, is ill - Elisha says he will recover, but Hazael will be king and do terrible things - Hazael kills Ben-Hadad
• Other king came into reign - Jehoram and he was bad
• Elisha send a profit to pour oil on Jehu's head to make him king of Israel then the prophet runs away
• Jehu plans and kills Joram and Ahaziah (Kings)
• Jehu then went after and killed Jezebel, she was pushed out a window and trampled by horses
• Jehu kills Ahab and Ahaziah's family and all who helped him
• Jehu gathered all worshippers of Baal for a "great sacrifice" then killed them all
• Jehu still sinned, Israel began shrinking
• After 28 years reign, Jehu died and Jehoahaz is king
• Jehoram's daughter took a son of Ahaziah (Joash) and hi him for years to avoid murder with his nurse
• There were duties assigned to protect son in the alace
• Joash becomes king at 7 years old
• Athalah (Ahaziah's mother) was angry and guarded until she left the temple, then she was killed
• Joash followed God but some people still worshipped other because the places weren't removed
• The priests weren't repairing the temple so Joash required all money, taxes and gifts be given to its repair
• Joash takes all the holy things and gold to Aram to keep them away from attacking Jerusalem
• Joash was killed by officers and his son, Amaziah took reign
• Jehoahaz is king of Israel - he was bad and they were taken by Aram
• God gave them a man to rescue them - he did - they still sinned
• Jehoash is king of Israel - he was bad
• Jehoash went to Elisha before he did
• Elisha said he would defeat Aram only 3x because he stopped following directions too soon
• Elisha died
• Men were burying someone when Moabites came to steal and they threw the body into Elisha's grave - then the body touched Elisha's bone and was alive and on his feet!
• Jehoash took back cities from Aram
• Amaziah, king of Judah, did was the Lord said was right
• Amaziah killed those who killed the king and won many battles, but became arrogant and was defeated by Israel
• Judah turned against Amaziah and he ran way, but they killed him
• Uzziah became king of Judah and was good, but didn't remove others alters
• Jeroboan, king of Israel, saves them
• Uzziah had skin disease and his son Jotham led the palace
• Zechariah, King of Israel was bad and killed by Shallum who became king
• Shallum ruled 6 months before being killed by Menahem, who became king and was sinful
• Menahem taxed the people to pay Assyria off
• Pekahiah is King of Israel until killed by Pekah, who becomes king
• Pekah ruled and was sinful and was defeated by Assyria
• Hoshea killed Pekah and became King
• Jotham was a good king of Judah
• Ahaz becomes king of Judah and is bad like Israel - Sought Assyrian help from Aram
• Uriah the priest builds and alter
• Ahaz changed things because of Assyrian king
• Hoshea is king of Israel and is bad but not as bad
• Israelites are punished and removed from God's presence - Asyrian reigns
• Judah is also punished and removed from his presence
• Assyria's king replaced the Israelites in Samaria with others - they became Samaritans, but they didn't know the law of the land
• A priest was sent back to teach the Samaritans to honor God
• Hezekiah is king of Judah - he was good and removed other places of worship
• Assyira takes Israel and Judah - Assyria turns the people's trust from Hezekiah
• Hezekiah grieves and prays - God answers his prayers and saves them
• Hezekiah is ill, but God sends message he will be healed
• Message comes that things will be taken away to Babylon
• Manasseh becomes king, he was bad
• Manasseh rebuilt alters to other gods his father had destroyed
• The Lord will bring MUCH trouble to Jerusalem and Judah
• Amon is King, he was bad, his officers killed him
• The people in the land killed those who plotted to kill Amon
• Josiah is king of Judah at 8 years old and was good
• He gave the money given for the work on the temple
• The book of teaching is found in the temple and taken to the king, Josiah
• Josiah was upset in learning of God's anger toward their disobedience
• The prophetess came back from the Lord with the message that because Josiah humbled himself he will die in peace so that he doesn't have to see the trouble God will bring to Judah
• The king read the agreement o the people and they all promised to obey
• Josiah destroys all alters, items and places erected for worship of other gods - burned, beat to dust, broke and burnt with human bones on it to destroy it all
• Josiah celebrated the Passover with renewed belief
• Josiah was killed in battle to fight Neco, king of Egypt
• Johoahaz, Josiah's son, is king now and he did what was wrong
• Jehoahaz ruled 3 months before Egypt captured him and made Josiah's son Eliakim king
• Neco, king of Egypt changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim
• Jehoiakim taxed the people to pay Egypt
• Nehbuchadnezzar of Babylon attached Judah
• Jehoiakim was Nebuchadnezzar's servant 3 years before he broke away from his rule
• Jehoiach, son of Jehoiakim, is king for 3 months and did wrong things
• Babylon prevailed over Judah as the Lord had said
• Nebuchadnezzar took prisoners and things from the temple and removed them to Babylong away from God
• Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah is made king, but name is changed to Zedekiah
• Zedekiah did what was wrong and the Lord threw Judah from his presence
• Nebuchadnezzer attacked Jerusalem when Zedekiah turned against Babylong and attached the city for 2 years until the hunger in Jerusalem was unbearable
• People ran away, but Babylon prevailed and took all the things of the temple and the people as  captives, except for the poorest - they were left to tent the vineyards and fields
• Leaders of Jerusalem were captured and killed
• Gedaliah is appointed governor of the people left in Judah  he told the arm captains they will be well if they serve the king in Babylon
• The army captains then came and killed Gedaliah and those with him and ran away to Egypt in fear of the Babylonians
• Evil-Merodach becomes king of Babylon and releases Johoiachin and he eats at the kings table and gets and allowance

I noticed a trend with the good kings.  They are good, but they didn't remove the places of worship of the other gods, so other still made sacrifices there.  We need to remove distractions, false teachings and temptations.

I noticed that as king's come into power some times their other sons come into power too, and it is clarified in the Bible by referring to different mother's of those sons.  That would make that what we call half brothers, but they are not referred to that way, or even as brothers. 

Drawing = Tears

One day last month, Keith text me the following picture.  He said he drew a picture of Ellie.

A few moments later, he text me this picture.

She said the drawing was horrible and didn't look like her!

Mere Christianity

I finished this C.S. Lewis classic today. It was wonderful. I think all Christians should read it. It was so identifying for me and eye opening in some cases.

I wrote, underlined and circled my way through the book.

Pick it up, enjoy it. Chapter by chapter  they are good easy reads, but them together for the big picture!

Checkbook

Ruth was being very quiet for some time this evening.  I went to find her, and she had gotten into my purse and emptied it out.  Then she took the checkbook and a pen and started scribbling.  Apparently she though she should pay the bills for me.

Yesterday morning we were on our way to church at my mother-in-law's church.  She'd invited us for their fall festival.  We were early in the trip and surprisingly the car was pretty quiet.  Then Elinore asked "Daddy, does Santa go poop?"  And Keith and I were silent for a minute trying not to laugh. 

A few moments later and Keith said yes, Santa poops.

And then for awhile Keith and I just laughed!

1 Kings

This may be a record that I finished a whole book of the Bible in just over a month.  I did really enjoy this book, and I've been really trying to be in it more often.  Daily is the goal!

• King David is old and they find a young woman to come care for him; Abishag (he doesn't not have sexual relations with her)
• David's some Adonijah tries to become King instead of Solomon without David knowing
• Bathsheba, David's wife/Solomon's mom, goes to David tot ell him what is going on at the prophet Nathan's direction
• David makes Solomon king; the celebration interrupts Adonijah's party and they are afraid and scatter
• Adonijah goes to the alter and pleads his life to Solomon, who agress as long as he is a man of honor
• David near death gave Solomon guidance to follow as king - reminded him of those who had done wrong and those that were kind
• Solomon takes control after David dies
• Many are killed for their wrongs as Solomon takes control
• Solomon is building a palace and temple, currently worship and sacrifice is given in many places
• Solomon asks God for an obedient heart and wisdom, God grants this request
• Two prostitutes living together have babies 3 days apart; one mother rolls onto her baby and kills him during the night; she switches the babies
• The women take the fight for the baby to the king who rules with wisdom
• He says to cut the baby in half for them, but the real mother steps up and stops it
• Solomon had officer in charge of things and responsible; he also had 12 governors, one for each district
• Each district provided king and his table with food for 1 month of the year
• There was peace in all the land, Israel & Judah
• People came to see Solomon's great wisdom
• Now that there was peace from David defeating all his enemies, Solomon fulfilled his wishes by preparing to build a temple for worship
• Solomon builds the temple in 7 years with stone and cedar and pine and olive wood; the most holy place covered in gold
• Solomon built a palace for himself in 13 years and for his wife, the daughter of an Egyptian King
• Huram came and built things of bronze to finish the temple
• Much of the work was done with carvings and stampings of winged creatures, lions, flowers and palm trees
• Solomon brought everything into the temple that David had set aside for it
• The Ark of the Agreement was brought in and God filled the place
• Solomon shares what has been done with his people
• Solomon prays that everyone will sin, then sorry-ness and prayer, then forgiveness
• Sacrifices offered
• The Lord appears to Solomon and reminds him to obey and his family will rule or destruction will come
• Solomon built many towns and anything he wanted
• Solomon used non-Israelites in their land as slaves
• The Queen of Sheba came to see the wisdom of Solomon and give gifts
• Solomon was very wealthy
• Solomon's 700 wives were foreigners who led him away from God to worship their gods
• Because Solomon didn't follow when his sone takes power it will be mostly taken from him
• Solomon had enemies
• Ahijah, a prophet, told Jeroboam, and officer of Solomon that he would rule 10 tribes of Israel
• Solomon's son would keep a tribe
• Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but he ran away
• Rehoboam succeeded Solomon on the throne
• The people went to Rehoboam and asked for a little easier work than under Solomon
• Wise advisors of Solomon suggested he give a kind answer and win their favor so they serve him
• Rehoboam rejected that advise and insisted they work much harder and he be much meaner
• The tribes left him and selected Jeroboam as their King
• Judah was still Rehoboam's to rule
• Rehoboam gathered men and wanted to fight for Israel's rule, but God stopped him with Shemaiah
• Jeroboam feared people leaving his rule since they still worshipped in Rehoboam's land, so he built two calves to worship instead and put them in 2 different cities; he made his own festival
• Jeroboam selected priest from all tribes, not just the Levi's
• A man of God went to Jeroboam to speak against his actions; they warned him, then those things happened because of his disbelief (alter broke, ashes fell, arm paralyzed)
• At prayer request his arm is healed (Jeroboam's) and he invited the prophet in to eat
• The prophet rejected at God's directions he'd received
• An old prophet went after him and lied to get him to come eat with him, then more death occurred because he didn't follow god's order
• On his way back a lion got him; they went after his body and he was curried there away from his family
• Jeroboam's son was ill, so he sent his wife to a prophet in disguise
• The prophet knew she was coming called her out of her disguise, told her that her son would die and that Israel will face great consequences for Jeroboam's evil
• Nadab (son) took Jeroboam's throne after death
• Rehoboam ruled and his people didn't follow God
• Rehoboam and Jeroboam were at war all the time
• Rehoboam's son, Abijah, took the throne after his death; he was a sinful king
• Everything the kings did was recorded in the book of the history of the kings
• Asa (son) followed Abijah's rule
• Asa followed God and pushed evil out
• War continued with Israel
• Nadab (sinful) ruled Jeroboam's Israel, but was killed by Ahijah's son (Baasha) and Baasha (sinful) became king
• Elah (sinful) followed Baasha's reign
• Baasha killed all of Jeroboam's family
• Elah was killed by one of this officers, Zimri, and he took reign as king
• Zimri killed all of Baasha's family
• Omri the arm captain hear Zimri conspired against and killed Elah, so he captured the city and made himself king
• Zimri was angry and burned his palace with himself inside
• Israel was divided, some wanted Omri, other Tibni
• Tibni died, Omri's followers were stronger
• Omri was very bad, his son Ahab succeeded him on the throne
• Ahab was worse than the kings before him
• He married Jezebel, worshipped Baal
• He rebuilt Jericho during his reign and lost his older and youngest son to the cause
• Elijah the prophet stops the rain in the land
• The Lord commanded birds and a widow to care for Elijah
• The widow was poor (no rain) and couldn't feed him; Elijah told her to use what she had for them and her flour and oil jar wouldn't empty until rain returned - isn't God amazing! :)
• Widow's son became ill; Elijah took him and prayed over him and he was fine
• Elijah goes to King Ahab via Obadiah (God said rain will come)
• Obadiah was a Godly man who hid prophet in caves when Jezebel was killing them - Elijah escaped and wasn't found
• Obadiah was afraid to go to the king but continued
• Elijah told Ahab to gather Israel after he reminded Ahab he had caused trouble, not himself
• Elijah in front of the Israelites challenged them to follow God
• Elijah challenged the 400 prophets to Baal to sacrifice a bull but pray to light the fire and he alone would do the same
• Elijah even covered his alter with 12 jars of water
• God burnt the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and dried the water
• Israel worshipped God
• The worshipped Baal by cutting themselves to bleed
• Elijah captured the prophets of Baal, led them way and killed them
• Elijah tells Ahab to go eat and Eligah goes to Mt. Carmel - he sends his servant to go look toward the sea 7 times
• The 7th time he returns and says a cloud has formed over the water
• Elijah sends Ahab home, but runs ahead with God's power
• Jezebel hears of Elijah's doing and threatens his life, so he runs away with his servant
• Elijah leaves his servant in Judah and continues to the desert for a day before laying by a bush and asking to die; then he sleeps
• An angel wakes Elijah to eat the bread wnas water provided and drink twice before he returns to sleep
• Elijah walked 40 days to Mt. Sinai where he spoke with God
• God passed by Elijah after wind and earthquake and fire
• God told him to go anoint Hazael (Aram king), Jehu (Israel King), and Elisha (prophet)
• The Lord knew he had 7,000 people left in Israel who hadn't worshipped Baal
• Elijah found Elisha plowing with oxen and put his coat on Elisha; Elisha followed him but asked to say goodbye
• Elisha killed his oxen, cooked them and gave to the people to eat; he followed Elijah and became his helper
• Be-Hadad of Aram and Ahab of Israel go to war; God allows Israel to defeat the much larger Aram army in the mountains and they valley to prove he is Lord
• A prophet let an enemy soldier escape, he had to give his life in his place
• Ahab wanted Naboth's winery, but Naboth refused
• Jezebel didn't like Ahab sadness; he wasn't eating
• She took matters into her own hands and had Naboth accused of speaking against God and king and killed him by stoning
• Ahab went to take the vineyard then and Elijah warned him of harm coming for his choices
• Ahab showed remorse and delayed punishment for his family until his son became king at his death
• There was peace between Israel and Aram
• Jehoshaphat (Judah) and Ahab (Israel) went to war to get Ramoth in Gilead abck against the advice of prophet Micaiah
• All other prophets were tricked and said to go to war
• Abah died in battle
• Jehoshaphat is king of Judah and is good
• Ahaziah is king of Israel and is bad

As I read this book it was a challenge to keep the Kings straight, so I googled and found a neat chart I'm keeping in my Bible of the kings of Judah and Israel and their times and their prophets and if they were good and bad.  It's helpful!