Clean your pack n play. ASAP

I've seen pins on pinterest about cleaning your pack n play and have wanted to do it for a long time, but ours is in constant use.  It's always up and Luke goes in it at least once or twice a day, usually with a sippy cup and snack.  We've brought it camping with us numerous times, and its almost 10 years old.  So definitely high time to clean it.  Thinking that I may not have too many nice days left until #6 arrives, I took the plunge this morning, and boy, it's a good thing I did!

After reading a few different instruction blogs, here's what I did:

First, I filled my tub with the hottest water I could. 
Next, I added a load's worth of Tide laundry detergent, a good scoop of Tide Oxiclean, and a generous splash of vinegar while the tub was filling so it would all dissolve evenly.  I put the mat part in the bottom of the tub and then put the collapsed pack n play on top.  I turned it after about an hour since I couldn't get it all to fit. 
The railings weren't getting as clean as I had hoped so I took some powdered Oxiclean on a washcloth and rubbed them down and now they look almost new.  I was AMAZED at how much dirt came out.
I was going to post a pic of the dirty water, but I'll let you use your imagination.  It was pretty nasty!  My pack n play looks so much better now.

Wedding Time

 

Aug 1, 2014 at Ang's wedding

Photo courtesy of BD Photography

Spurgeon on Christ's continual intercession for His people

I read this portion this morning and it reminded me of the popular picture that a lot of us have seen depicting the Pilgrim's Progress road with the two paths, one leading to destruction and one leading to glory.  The pitfalls are so clearly seen in the picture, yet while we are traveling the road, we have no idea the dangers that we come so close to falling into because Christ is continually at the right hand of God the Father, saving us from utter destruction.

"I have prayed for thee."
Luke 22:32

How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter--"Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but"--what? "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing. No, it is, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank him because he never held his peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, he does not say, "Satan hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to pray for you." No, but "I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made." O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence.

The Father's Love

I think I've posted this song before, but I heard it again today and am struck every time with these words:

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory.

I think some times that we forget the total depth of Christ's human nature and how He felt things just as we do, but can you imagine Christ crying out in the garden for the cup to pass from Him and the Father turned His face away?  The pain He must have felt!

 

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Last Trimester

You know you're in your last trimester when...

1.  Your almost 6 year old asks where we're going every time you get dressed.

2.  You're way to lazy to pick up anything off the floor.  That's what the 4 year old is for.

3.  Every time you attempt to pick up or restore some order to the home, your kids want to know who's coming over.

4.  You have approximately 2 outfits left in your closet that fit over your protruding belly.  And that's only if the baby is turned the right way.

5.  You catch your husband trying to measure the girth of your belly.  And not so subtly commenting on how large it is.

6.  All the well-intentioned older ladies at church think you're due any minute even though you have a good month to go.  And your grandma comments that this is the biggest you've ever been.  Thanks, Gram!  :-)

7.  You catch small children ducking as you swing by.

8.  You shoot daggers at the GVSU guys standing behind you in line watching you struggle to lift a case of water from the bottom of your cart.  Can't ya help a huge pregnant woman out??


But most of all:

9.  You are extremely thankful that you feel pretty good, that you can feel your baby moving every day, and that all this will be done in a month's time.  And a pretty spectacular gift awaits you at the end of the journey!

Spurgeon

If He could grow weary of me, He would have been tired of me long before now. If He had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, He would have turned from me long ago.

~Spurgeon, Evening Devotional, February 27