It was a rough weekend. Brooke got sick (again!) on Thursday. Friday morning, she woke up shaking, crying, with a fever of 102. So we took her to the doctor... again. I thought it was a relapse of the ear infection she had a week ago. Turns out, her ears looked fine but her throat was red and blistered. It was a virus, so no antibiotics. Lasted 3 days; yesterday she was much better and, for the first time, didn't require any ibuprofen to keep her comfortable. Now, today, I woke up sick. Ick! This morning, I was just lying around, willing it to be "naptime" for Brooke so that I could nap. Finally, I took 2 tylenol and went out shopping (the ultimate cure for all ails). I am definitely nesting! Poor Matt. Everything I want; I buy. This is not like me. I'm usually very frugal (which is why I've lived in this house 2 years w/o really decorating anything). But now, it's like I can't help myself. If I'm not out shopping, I'm online shopping. Fortunately, we got a good tax return that Matt is letting me use to decorate. But he still cringes at some of the things I decide to buy ("yes, Matt, the pink flowered piggy bank IS really necessary to complete Brooke's room!")

Sometimes, I tend to go overboard on things. I mean, what is it that made me decide that I needed to decorate the whole house NOW? I haven't really worried about it, other than to buy occasional pieces of furniture when they went on sale, for 2 years. I think Satan can really use my tendency of going overboard to draw me away from Jesus. Yes, I admit, sometimes I choose to search amazon over spending time with God. I've been debating recently, on "how far is too far"... nothing wrong with decorating, but is this really how God wants me to spend all my time/money?  We donate a lot of our income (Matt is extremely generous with his finances), but we could give more. Do I really need those monkey wall hangings for Chloe's room? Don't those tornado survivors in Alabama or the starving kids on the front of World Vision's envelopes need it more? (Side note: World Vision gives a good guilt trip on every piece of mail they send.)  This is where my mind has been the last few days. So maybe I need a shopping fast. Just to refocus and reflect on the fact that I'm spending GOD'S money (it's ultimately all His anyway), and I will be held responsible for how I use that money.

Incidentally, Matt told me recently, he wants to reread the Dave Ramsey book Total Money Makeover. I told him that's fine; just give me about a week's notice beforehand, so I can finish shopping first. :)

Matt is so crazy busy at work recently. Sometimes, I hate his job! But I want to be encouraging; I want him to find a place of peace at home after a very LONG day at work. And I'm so thankful that he's making enough money so that I can stay home. So many husbands pressure their wives into working because they "need" that extra income (and in some cases, that's true!) But I'm so fortunate I have a husband that encourages me to stay home and is willing to work a job that is not his "dream," so that I can live out mine. How unselfish is that!? I guess I've just been hit this week but how fortunate I am to be married to him. He took Friday off to help me with Brooke (I was so exhausted I could hardly function), and he spent much of the weekend doing chores around the house to make my life easier. He didn't get to mowing the lawn though, so please look away if you drive by my house this week. I told him, it's okay for now. He'll know if he's let it get too long, when he sees ME out mowing!

Okay, I think I'm off to take a nap now. Laundry can wait...