I'm okay with that...

I'm finally jumping in and just starting this blog. So often I think I have to have things all pretty and perfect before I start something and you know what happens, I wind up not ever starting because quite frankly I don't have time any more to make things all pretty and perfect from the get go. So I will just start recording what I want to remember and as I have time I'll add a banner and spice up this blog little by little.

Today I woke up to discover a really large coyote right outside my window in my backyard. He was prowling, looking for food. Having three young children and a sweet little cocker spaniel who already was attacked by a coyote in our front yard, this makes me nervous. He saw me and hopped up our hill and I hope right out of our yard. But I wondered does he smell our kids and our dog and will he be back looking for food again. Hopefully the many squirrels that make a home in our yard will suffice and he'll move along.

It was kind of eery how much he circled and sniffed and sauntered up the hill as though he owned the terrain. My bible study right now by Beth Moore is about Daniel and just last night her video was about Daniel being in the Lion's den. The coyote reminded me of the lions who were ravenously hungry, but the angels kept their mouths shut. Daniel was a faithful servant who gave praise to God in all things. God protected him while he was in the lion's den. I know I'm definitely summarizing the whole story here. If you're interested in reading more, the story is in Daniel 6.

I also thought about how the devil is right outside our doors prowling, looking for a way in. ("Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8). On her video in the Daniel series last night, I got chills when Beth Moore talked about how God's armor as written in Ephesians 6:11-17 is mostly defensive, meaning we're protecting ourselves from attack. But the only armor that we have that is offensive, that can really strike a blow against the evil one prowling to get into our lives is the Word of God. It is so convicting to have scripture deep in your heart and mind to call on in times of need because when the emergencies hit in our lives, it's really too late to start trying to memorize. Interesting how seeing a coyote in my backyard made me think of all these things, but my mind works in symbolic ways.

Onto the latest little treasures with my kids. We went away this weekend to my parent's house and then drove from there to Julian to go apple picking this weekend. It is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but the timing never worked out. It was a lot of fun. Today both the girls have coughs so Ava stayed home from school and Audrey and I didn't go to mommy and me together. Instead we made sugar free, dairy free, wheat free banana bread. Ironically it's me who is bothered by these things, but it doesn't hurt to make healthy treats for them. We used agave syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond flour and the many bananas that got too ripe while we were away.

After helping mix the bread, watch the bread bake and clean up, the girls decided to make a little meal of their own. Ava announced, "I'm having ice cream for breakfast." I said, "Hmmm..that's not very healthy" to which she replied, "Yea, I know, but I'm ok with that." She's ok with that. It made me smile and is the reason I decided to sit down and finally start this blog today.

I hope you enjoy the things your kids are 'ok with' today too.