Katie the Maid

I love my daughter's creativity! She comes up with ideas that entertain her brother and his friends! Sometimes, however, she regrets her great ideas. Today was one of those days. But she is such a trooper. She goes ahead and finishes what she starts and makes good on her promises!

Today Eli's best buddy Levi is over to play. They were getting bored since it's too cold to play outside. Katie made up the game of you be the messy kids and I clean up and be the maid. So, she let them mess up her room while she cleaned Eli's and then they messed up Eli's while she cleaned up hers. This was fun until the 3rd or 4th time. But she did it one more time then she told them the maid is gone home for the night!

Now she has them playing hide and go seek. Although I'm not sure she's seeking those lost boys! GREAT THINKING THIS TIME KATIE!!!

No Self Confidence Here

Yesterday Eli got a haircut. He told the lady he wanted it to be short and look good like daddy's. Then he sat quietly while she cut. She kept commenting on how well behaved he was. He looked up and said "well, I am a good boy!" After the haircut he looked in the mirror and said "I look handsome". I guess he is fully self confident. No need to build his self esteem!

Christmas Letter 2009

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas. It has been an interesting year in the Riggan household. Each family member has had points of seeing God clearly. Let us explain:

Rick: After being an employee of the Siemens’ Corporation for 14 years the company decided to downsize significantly. Rick was laid off in July this year. Rick sent out dozens and dozens of resumes and began networking on several websites and seeking the Lord diligently. Finally, in October, after several interviews, he was hired at Platronics in Santa Cruz, California (www.plantronics.com). It is a good company that has been in existence since the 1960’s when Neil Armstrong wore a Platronics headset on the moon! The Lord taught Rick many things during this waiting period; probably the most important one is God is the Mighty God!

Mendy: This year has been a challenge for me physically as well as maternally. My fibromyalgia has been getting worse. As a result, I have had to slow down and reevaluate what is most important; being a wife and mother! So, I have stepped down from many activities and chosen to be home more. I have also had two urgent care visits (one with each child) that have stretched my faith. God has made Himself known to me in these difficult times; He is my Prince of Peace!

Katie (8): Last spring Katie was playing at the park with a friend and fell off the monkey bars. I took her straight to the urgent care knowing she’d be coming out of there with a cast. And sure enough she broke her elbow and got a blue cast. This was one week before Easter. So she wore a blue and white dress to match her blue cast on Easter Sunday! We have also decided to home school Katie this year. She is in second grade and doing great. We have always said we would take each year as it comes. She, however, has decided she wants to home school until she goes to college! We’ll see. This year, I’d say, the Lord is teaching Katie that He is her Wonderful Counselor!

Eli (3): Eli is always full of energy and surprises. He is quite the comedian. This year his big excitement was nearly cutting his finger off. He didn’t get all the way through the finger so we were able to save it! He had finger surgery and is now doing great. We’re hoping his nail is back by Christmas! Eli has learned that God is the Eternal Father!

We do hope this little update finds you well and at peace with God.

God Bless,

The Riggan Family

Clean...

Some days as a mom and housewife I feel like all I do is clean...laundry, dishes, floors, baby bums, etc. Today was no exception. Dishes were piled, laundry was flowing onto the floor. I thought, "man, does the cleaning up ever stop...every time I clean this there's another mess" Then I had a thought. Does the Lord ever get tired of cleaning me? I mean, He sent His one and only Son to clean me and I seen to get myself all messed up again. Does He ever think "good grief Mendy, when are you going to get your act together and stay clean?" No, I don't think so. God loves all the time without hesitation. He willingly cleans me every time I make a mess. Oh, if I could only be like Him and love my family, mess and all!

Merry Christmas Bell!

Christ Bell - someone went to a lot of trouble to make this ! THE BELL I KNOW WHO I AM I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 ) I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 ) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 ) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 ) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 ) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10) I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) I belong to God Do you know Who you are?

Things I never Thought I'd Say Part 2

My son is only 3 and a half and I have so many things I never thought I'd say. What will the next 15 years be like?

"Yes. It's a nice pocket, but we probably shouldn't put your batman in there. The pants wont fit over it." (when he discovered the open flap in his underwear).

"Seriously, stop licking the dog. You'll get hair all over your tongue"

"Close your mouth when you kiss people. Open kisses are NOT OK"

"You're Not Fair!!!"

OK. I know I've written a lot today. And I wasn't going to add this, but Rick said it was blog worthy. (He also said we must remember it for future girlfriend stories! Maybe blogging will help.)
Today Eli came in the room and had no pants or underwear. He asked for a soda. I turned around and saw his nakedness. I said, "no you may not have a soda until your pants are on. Go get some pants on now." He said, "Katie got to have one." I said "Katie has pants on. Go get some pants and I'll help you get them on." He threw himself on the floor crying "That's not fair! That's not fair! I want a soda! You're not fair, mama!" He was then sent to his room and told he couldn't come out without pants on. He cried how unfair I was until he fell asleep about 5 minutes later! Guess he was tired! But he did get some pants on before coming out to dinner. No pants no service is my rule! And it's totally fair!