Well, school begins today and there is change in the air. I think everyone in our home is experiencing some kind of change right now.
Robby begins first grade. This is a grade with a number!! He is very concerned that there are letter grades this year as well. Overall, he is excited but still a little aprehensive of the possible differences from his much beloved Kindergarten class. He really loved his teacher last year. As we dropped off school supplies, he was anxious to meet his new teacher, but really wanted to go say hi to his old one. I know he is going to do great.
Robby is also starting his first competitive sport, soccer. I've always wanted to be a "soccer" mom. Yay, now I am one. They supposedly don't keep score at his age, but who are we kidding. Those parents are keeping track of every goal.
Melanie is going to take another year before beginning Kindergarten. As a child who has a summer birthday and didn't go to school until I was 6, I understand the many advantages to waiting. I can look back now and see that the extra time allowed me to be a little bit more mature and an above average student when it really mattered most... Jr. High and High school. I hope my daughter experiences the same advantages that I did. She does get to start a new preschool program at a new "school", though. She is very excited. Somewhere she heard the term Pre-kindergarten and has self labeled her class "pre-Kin". It's very cute.
I, too, anticipate some changes this fall. I will begin a new work schedule since I work primarily with at-risk teens and their families, I have to wait till they are out of school to meet with them. I will also be developing a school program for at-risk kids for the rural schools in our area. In time I may be able to work exclusively during the school day at the local schools. But, until then I anticipate a pretty hectic schedule.
I have also added a couple of new "hobbies" if you will. I have played around with running for a couple of years now, but had never gotten hooked. I hadn't experienced that "runner's high" or the addiction that Others,ahem, HETH have illuded to. But, this last spring I began to take it more seriously and now I'm signed up to run a half-marathon. That's 13.1 miles, people. I think I must be on something. I'm not athletic and have never liked running, but somehow the bug has bit. I'm battling through some foot problems, but I've started to treat it appropriately and already feel better.
I've also taken up knitting . Yes, the old lady craft with pointy sticks and balls of yarn. I don't think I will share with you my first project, a washcloth, because it is hideous. It has double knit stitches and dropped stitches and all kinds of bumps and bulges. I'm hoping the recipient of this labor of love will appreciate each knit and purl I put into it, though. There is a lady in our community collecting washcloths to send to orphan children in Somalia with a bar of soap and literature on daily hygiene. I can just picture it now..."My washcloth isn't as nice as yours"...hopefully orphans aren't picky.
With my crazy schedule, Bill is going to end up with a couple of bedtimes a week and running Robs to his soccer practice, so he may get a little "Mr. Mom" syndrome this fall until my schedule gets more settled.
It seems like with each new school year, we as parents experience change as well. I'm looking forward to this fall and all tha tit holds for us.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Ten things that bring me JOY
This is a list I've been working on through out this summer.
1. Beautiful flowers. Gladiolas to be exact.
2. S'Mores.
3. Late Summer nights filled with friends and laughter.
4. The POOL.
5. Freshly done Kitchen.
6. Summer Camp.
7. The loving arms of my husband.
8. Sweet kisses and "I love you"'s from my little ones.
9. Brand new school supplies.
10. School starting this week!!!!
1. Beautiful flowers. Gladiolas to be exact.
2. S'Mores.
3. Late Summer nights filled with friends and laughter.
4. The POOL.
5. Freshly done Kitchen.
6. Summer Camp.
7. The loving arms of my husband.
8. Sweet kisses and "I love you"'s from my little ones.
9. Brand new school supplies.
10. School starting this week!!!!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Here's What I was Thinking
A couple of weeks ago, I posed a very simple question: "What was I thinking?"
Well, here's what I was thinking. I have been thinking about redecorating my kitchen since we moved in 4 years ago this month. In fact, I was so set on redecorating the out-dated, somewhat tacky, just a little too Amish (nothing against the Amish, I love their cinnamon bread)for my taste kitchen...that I ripped down the icky, falling off the wall basket border within weeks of moving in. Thinking this would motivate me to take care of it right away, I continued to slowly peel away pieces of the Amish quilt patterned wall paper over the next couple of years. Instead of motivating me, each new layer of wall revealed simply frustrated me even more. Pretty soon the cabinet doors were even falling off their hinges right before my very eyes...literally. Thankfully, I have a handy dad who can fix almost anything. He willingly repaired the doors for me. But again, instead of motivating me, they sat in the garage, "fixed", for about a year.
I knew the general direction that I wanted to go right from the beginning, but finding the time to do it is ridiculous. I knew I wanted to put up paintable wallpaper, so that I could change the color as I wished. I actually purchased the wallpaper over a year and a half ago. With the repairs needed on the cabinet doors I knew they would need painting. This was a more difficult decision for me. Do I paint over the cream with something else light, just to freshen them up or do I go for something bold, a big change. Well, here are some fun pictures of my new "Coffee Kitchen" as Robby calls it.
I found this great border that incorporated all the colors I had already chosen to complete my "Coffee Kitchen". It is only on one wall, so it isn't too overpowering.
I decided to go with black for the cabinets. It is a "hot" color right now, yet still neutral enough if we decide to sell the house anytime soon.
Here is a close up of the quick thinking trim I came up with. I had an odd sized gap between the cabinets and the soffet above them. In some places it was very small, an eigth of an inch and in others much larger, like a half an inch. I wasn't sure what to do with this space so I hot glued a cotton-poly rope trim normally used in fabrics into that space. It seems to be working just fine and I think it looks great.
So, that is what I was thinking dumping the contents of my kitchen onto my dining room floor. It was a very long week with several late nights, but I am very happy with the results.
Well, here's what I was thinking. I have been thinking about redecorating my kitchen since we moved in 4 years ago this month. In fact, I was so set on redecorating the out-dated, somewhat tacky, just a little too Amish (nothing against the Amish, I love their cinnamon bread)for my taste kitchen...that I ripped down the icky, falling off the wall basket border within weeks of moving in. Thinking this would motivate me to take care of it right away, I continued to slowly peel away pieces of the Amish quilt patterned wall paper over the next couple of years. Instead of motivating me, each new layer of wall revealed simply frustrated me even more. Pretty soon the cabinet doors were even falling off their hinges right before my very eyes...literally. Thankfully, I have a handy dad who can fix almost anything. He willingly repaired the doors for me. But again, instead of motivating me, they sat in the garage, "fixed", for about a year.
I knew the general direction that I wanted to go right from the beginning, but finding the time to do it is ridiculous. I knew I wanted to put up paintable wallpaper, so that I could change the color as I wished. I actually purchased the wallpaper over a year and a half ago. With the repairs needed on the cabinet doors I knew they would need painting. This was a more difficult decision for me. Do I paint over the cream with something else light, just to freshen them up or do I go for something bold, a big change. Well, here are some fun pictures of my new "Coffee Kitchen" as Robby calls it.
I found this great border that incorporated all the colors I had already chosen to complete my "Coffee Kitchen". It is only on one wall, so it isn't too overpowering.
I decided to go with black for the cabinets. It is a "hot" color right now, yet still neutral enough if we decide to sell the house anytime soon.
Here is a close up of the quick thinking trim I came up with. I had an odd sized gap between the cabinets and the soffet above them. In some places it was very small, an eigth of an inch and in others much larger, like a half an inch. I wasn't sure what to do with this space so I hot glued a cotton-poly rope trim normally used in fabrics into that space. It seems to be working just fine and I think it looks great.
So, that is what I was thinking dumping the contents of my kitchen onto my dining room floor. It was a very long week with several late nights, but I am very happy with the results.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tom Came to my House Yesterday
Tom came to my house yesterday. He is a hard working young man. He and his girlfriend have recently restored a 125ish years old home. His favorite part is the giant claw-foot bathtub that is big enough for two...(TMI, Tom...definitely more than I wanted to know about you, dear.) Tom is a profuse sweater. No, he doesn't HAVE a big sweater; he sweats a lot. A LOT! But, if you have met my husband you know that doesn't bother me, too much. Something else you must know. I LOVE TOM. I'm not in love with him and I will never see him ever again, but I love him.
Why, you may ask, would I love a man that I have only met just once and will never see again. Because, he brought me two boxes that look like this...
Inside those two boxes were these...
I have never been so excited to do laundry!!! And, that is why I love Tom. He brought me my big beautiful new front-load, energy efficient washer and dryer.
This is really a wonderful God thing. My Uncle has worked for the Maytag corporation for probably over 30 years. My Grandfather worked for Maytag before him for many many more years than that. Maytag was recently bought out by Whirlpool. God directed my Uncle and some friends of his to start a private Research and Development Company. This allowed them to get a contract with Whirlpool and continue doing the same kind of work with all the same people.
Anyway, with all the changes at Maytag, the company opened up their employee discount to family of employees. I am a family. Yay!!! The other wonderful thing is just how perfect God's timing is. Our washer and dryer were fairly old and although they still work, I don't think they did as good a job as they could have. Drying times seemed to be getting longer and longer. And, mysterious little holes have occasionally appeared in my clothes. It was time for something new and this opened up at just the right time.
We were able to get this Maytag Neptune for such a good price. It doesn't look super fancy. There is no viewing window. (The kids were a little disappointed in that.) But, my Uncle and my parents have the same washer and dryer and they say you can fit 18 full size bath towels or 3 sets of queen size sheets or 12 adult size pairs of jeans. I have also been told by him and a salesman that I can put dirty, grass stained clothes right in the washer without even pretreating and they will come clean. No pretreating, how will I ever restrain myself from dowsing each grassy, muddy, or PB&J spill with Oxiclean. OOOOHHH I can't wait to give it a try. As soon as my new BFF, Tom, left I gave the laundry lady a quick call. I knew that she would appreciate my joy over a new washer and dryer. Anyway, I'm just a little excited. As I sit here and type my sweet little girl has informed me that she wet the bed early this morning and I will need to wash the sheets today. YAY!!! Wet sheets. I can't wait.
P.S. Big shout out to my hubby, Shawn, Paul, Zach and Cody for removing my old washer and dryer at 10:00 the night before. Thanks for getting rid of those old beasts. My feelings for you are almost as deep as they are for Tom.
Why, you may ask, would I love a man that I have only met just once and will never see again. Because, he brought me two boxes that look like this...
Inside those two boxes were these...
I have never been so excited to do laundry!!! And, that is why I love Tom. He brought me my big beautiful new front-load, energy efficient washer and dryer.
This is really a wonderful God thing. My Uncle has worked for the Maytag corporation for probably over 30 years. My Grandfather worked for Maytag before him for many many more years than that. Maytag was recently bought out by Whirlpool. God directed my Uncle and some friends of his to start a private Research and Development Company. This allowed them to get a contract with Whirlpool and continue doing the same kind of work with all the same people.
Anyway, with all the changes at Maytag, the company opened up their employee discount to family of employees. I am a family. Yay!!! The other wonderful thing is just how perfect God's timing is. Our washer and dryer were fairly old and although they still work, I don't think they did as good a job as they could have. Drying times seemed to be getting longer and longer. And, mysterious little holes have occasionally appeared in my clothes. It was time for something new and this opened up at just the right time.
We were able to get this Maytag Neptune for such a good price. It doesn't look super fancy. There is no viewing window. (The kids were a little disappointed in that.) But, my Uncle and my parents have the same washer and dryer and they say you can fit 18 full size bath towels or 3 sets of queen size sheets or 12 adult size pairs of jeans. I have also been told by him and a salesman that I can put dirty, grass stained clothes right in the washer without even pretreating and they will come clean. No pretreating, how will I ever restrain myself from dowsing each grassy, muddy, or PB&J spill with Oxiclean. OOOOHHH I can't wait to give it a try. As soon as my new BFF, Tom, left I gave the laundry lady a quick call. I knew that she would appreciate my joy over a new washer and dryer. Anyway, I'm just a little excited. As I sit here and type my sweet little girl has informed me that she wet the bed early this morning and I will need to wash the sheets today. YAY!!! Wet sheets. I can't wait.
P.S. Big shout out to my hubby, Shawn, Paul, Zach and Cody for removing my old washer and dryer at 10:00 the night before. Thanks for getting rid of those old beasts. My feelings for you are almost as deep as they are for Tom.
Monday, July 16, 2007
WHAT WAS I THINKING??
I'm clearly loosing my mind. Only a crazy woman would empty the contents of her kitchen cabinets onto the dining room floor, right?!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Hide and Go Seek
Just this morning, I was busying myself about the house; washing dishes, sorting laundry, making the grocery list. Every few minutes, my 6 year old, Robby, would come by and ask me to play or beg for his cousins to come over. Of course, my reply was "After my work gets done, I'll have time to play."
At some point during the morning, Rob comes bounding into the kitchen, exclaiming "Mom, someone wrote something on the chalkboard downstairs, you have to come and read it." He sounded a little concerned, "Mom, I didn't write and I don't know who did." This needed some investigation.
My summer child care is a high school girl who frequently writes and draws things on the chalkboard. I've never seen anything inappropriate, but this was curious to me. As I headed for the basement, Robby scooted the other way. HMMM, that was a little wierd. As I approached the chalkboard I could see my son's 6 year old scrawl and knew the little rascal had gotten me. This is what it said:
I began to chuckle and knew that my very clever son was hid(e)ing somewhere in the "hoas" and I must go find him. I went upstairs and loudly threw open the bathroom door. "Are you in here?" No.
Then the bathroom closet, "I'm coming for you." No.
Next the shower curtain, "You must be in the bathtub!" No.
Finally, I came to the bedroom closet. As I threw open the door, he startled, then I jumped. And, we fell on the floor laughing. We laughed and talked for a few minutes. Then I went back to my work and he went off to play.
Ya, know the little stinker didn't play again with me the rest of the morning.
Maybe, I should stop and play a little more often. I might get more work done.
At some point during the morning, Rob comes bounding into the kitchen, exclaiming "Mom, someone wrote something on the chalkboard downstairs, you have to come and read it." He sounded a little concerned, "Mom, I didn't write and I don't know who did." This needed some investigation.
My summer child care is a high school girl who frequently writes and draws things on the chalkboard. I've never seen anything inappropriate, but this was curious to me. As I headed for the basement, Robby scooted the other way. HMMM, that was a little wierd. As I approached the chalkboard I could see my son's 6 year old scrawl and knew the little rascal had gotten me. This is what it said:
"I am Hideing someware in the hoas"
I began to chuckle and knew that my very clever son was hid(e)ing somewhere in the "hoas" and I must go find him. I went upstairs and loudly threw open the bathroom door. "Are you in here?" No.
Then the bathroom closet, "I'm coming for you." No.
Next the shower curtain, "You must be in the bathtub!" No.
Finally, I came to the bedroom closet. As I threw open the door, he startled, then I jumped. And, we fell on the floor laughing. We laughed and talked for a few minutes. Then I went back to my work and he went off to play.
Ya, know the little stinker didn't play again with me the rest of the morning.
Maybe, I should stop and play a little more often. I might get more work done.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
Well, it's a Monday again. The next two weeks look to be very busy, if I am to accomplish all that I would like to. So, I better be organized. I always know one of the easiest ways to be organized is to have all my meals ready for the week. I am going to try a few things in the crockpot that I normally do in the oven and see if they work out. Any thing to not have to turn on the oven and make it boiling lava hot in my house right now will be great with me. With the A/C a little on the fritz and not working to its full potential I don't want to add any extra heat if at all possible.
Monday: Raspberry Chicken(normally in the oven, but today in the crockpot)steamed veggies and creamy rice (both in the microwave).
Tuesday: Java-Q Ribs (again, in the crockpot), salad and "baked" potatoes (in the microwave)
Wednesday: At the church's youth cafe, its quick, cheap and I don't have to turn a thing on in the kitchen.
Thursday: Chicken Parisienne (Yay for the crockpot), white rice, and peas
Friday: Dad can grill some meat and we'll pick up some fresh sweet corn from the stand on the side of the road!!! (Yay for sweet corn season)
For you locals, the best sweet corn stand is in the parking lot of the Old Wal-Mart. They really are a local place and a really nice family to support.
Saturday: Leftovers, (They should be pretty good)
Have a great week!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Happy Birthday, Little Lady
Well, I really am a horrible mother. I am posting my daughter's birthday wishes 6 days late. In my defense, we had family here all weekend and then the fourth of July hit and today is her little girl's birthday party. So, sweetie pie, please forgive me for being late.
To my sweet Melanie:
A little lady you are. You are tender and caring and sweet. I loved watching you open your presents with your brother smooshed right by your side. And, with each gift you would light up in delight and exclaim to him, "Look Robby, look what we got." I love that he is your best friend and playmate right now in life. I hope this always lasts.
I love that you love to sing. Music fills our home all the time with your sweet little voice. At the moment, you happen to be in love with your own vibrado and it cracks me up every time. You hold out notes as long as you can putting as much spin on it as you can. And, it is usually a note or a word that has no reason for vibrado, but I love it.
I love that you really like yourself. You know that you are pretty (which is pretty dangerous), but you have no reason to be self conscious or concerned about petty things. You are proud of the work you do when you clean your room or create a picture or sing a song. You have a confidence that draws others to you. I hope this always lasts.
I love your sweet prayers at dinner or bedtime when you pray for mommy and daddy and Robby and Nana and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Nicole and Uncle Steve and cousins Emily, Megan, Macy and Makenzie and the other kids and all the... you get the idea. You genuinely care for others and want to see them know Jesus like you do. I hope this always lasts.
I love YOU. My precious sweet 5 year old. I really can't believe it has been that long since I held your tiny little body in my arms and cried tears of joy that God had given me the chance to have another child. And, he had given me a girl. He had given me you.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
June
Well, it's hard to believe today is the last day of June. I had to get at least one post in for the month. So here I sit at 11:00 pm typing away.
It has been an incredible month with so much going on. So here's a recap.
On June 1st, my incredible dad turned 60. The family got together to celebrate with only a few of us missing. It was wonderful to honor him and the legacy he has created. I hope he has 60 more years. (ya never know. Life expectancy continues to increase all the time, right?!)
The church had its awesome VBS. My kids were still singing last year's VBS music when I got the cd for this year's music. Of course, we have every word and action memorized and I expect to be listening to this music in May of 2008. God is good and allowed us to minister to somewhere around 165 children over the week. It really was awesome.
My sweet cousin, Seth was married to a wonderful woman. My sister and I were able to travel the 2 hours to the wedding. I even got to sing in the wedding. It was lots of fun. In high school, Seth was in a severe car accident that many wondered if he would survive. But, God has preserved his life for a great purpose. He is a great guy with a great wife and two incredible step kids. I am so excited for all that his future holds.
Bill and I celebrated 9 years of marriage during this month. It landed during VBS week and a busy week at work for me, but we were still able to celebrate. Martina McBride had a concert in our area and we were able to get tickets. She is an incredible singer who gave us a great show. Diamond Rio was her opening act and they were awesome, too. Ten years ago, the summer we were engaged, we listened to Diamond Rio a ton, so it was fun to see them in concert and sing all their old songs. Before the concert we were able to go to this incredible New Orleans style restaurant and have lots of yummy food. It was a really fun night to celebrate my awesome hubby.
So in case you didn't notice I had a great, incredible and awesome June with great, incredible, and awesome people.
P.S. I think I need a new thesaurus of adjectives.
It has been an incredible month with so much going on. So here's a recap.
On June 1st, my incredible dad turned 60. The family got together to celebrate with only a few of us missing. It was wonderful to honor him and the legacy he has created. I hope he has 60 more years. (ya never know. Life expectancy continues to increase all the time, right?!)
The church had its awesome VBS. My kids were still singing last year's VBS music when I got the cd for this year's music. Of course, we have every word and action memorized and I expect to be listening to this music in May of 2008. God is good and allowed us to minister to somewhere around 165 children over the week. It really was awesome.
My sweet cousin, Seth was married to a wonderful woman. My sister and I were able to travel the 2 hours to the wedding. I even got to sing in the wedding. It was lots of fun. In high school, Seth was in a severe car accident that many wondered if he would survive. But, God has preserved his life for a great purpose. He is a great guy with a great wife and two incredible step kids. I am so excited for all that his future holds.
Bill and I celebrated 9 years of marriage during this month. It landed during VBS week and a busy week at work for me, but we were still able to celebrate. Martina McBride had a concert in our area and we were able to get tickets. She is an incredible singer who gave us a great show. Diamond Rio was her opening act and they were awesome, too. Ten years ago, the summer we were engaged, we listened to Diamond Rio a ton, so it was fun to see them in concert and sing all their old songs. Before the concert we were able to go to this incredible New Orleans style restaurant and have lots of yummy food. It was a really fun night to celebrate my awesome hubby.
So in case you didn't notice I had a great, incredible and awesome June with great, incredible, and awesome people.
P.S. I think I need a new thesaurus of adjectives.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Win a Year's Supply of the Best Bandages Ever
5 Minutes for Mom is having yet another wonderful contest. This time for the BEST bandages EVER!!! They are a little pricier than the others but the money you save in not having to replace a bandage every hour is worth it. We love the character "tatoo" bandages. And, when they say waterproof they mean KIDPROOF! These things stay on through the bath, the pool, the slip 'n'slide - Everything. They are great.
The prize is 45 boxes. That is what they are calling a 1 year supply. Depending on your famiy it could be just 2 months, but still worth it.
Just visit 5 minutes for mom to win
The prize is 45 boxes. That is what they are calling a 1 year supply. Depending on your famiy it could be just 2 months, but still worth it.
Just visit 5 minutes for mom to win
Monday, May 21, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
Hi Gals/Strangers. I feel like I haven't had a minute to blog the last two weeks. If my kids haven't been on the computer, my husband has been (virus on his laptop). And, if I have been on the computer, I have been typing up session notes and reports like a mad woman and I have had no desire to sit at my computer any longer.
But now I'm back. I have a post already in the hopper for ya, too.
This week's menu is pretty simple and a lot of using up what is already in the cupboards and freezer. Plus, it's graduation time!! This is always a treat. Where we live the graduate's family has a big open house for family and friends to come and celebrate their child's achievement. This means lots of food!! Everyone serves up great stuff like sandwhiches and hors d'ourves (that means appetizers) desserts and more desserts. Some days we have one or two but others we have 7 or 8. This Saturday is a 7 or 8 kinda day. So I don't have to cook all weekend. It is great!!!
Here's our menu:
Monday: Quiche, muffins and fruit
Tuesday: One pot dinner, cornbread and salad
Wednesday: Waffles and sausage
Thursday: Grilled chicken, veggies and rice
Friday: OPEN HOUSES!
Saturday: OPEN HOUSES!
Sunday: Something in the crockpot, yet to be decided.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The Bean Forever Remembers
Just this last week, my husband was in Starbucks and picked up a clearance mug. The mug is black and says "Starbucks" and we really don't need another one. The mug is not what caught my attention, though. It was the box. It is a simple brown cardboard made from recycled material. There are green letters on it that say:
"The bean forever remembers its birthplace: the terraced hillsides, the equatorial rains, the lilac-blue shade of the jacaranda. The bean eternally harbors the nurturing touch of the farmer deep within. The bean gives back blessing each warm cup with the mysteriously inviting flavor of its coffee-land origin."
I love coffee and I enjoy trying new roasts and blends from distant lands. If you are really careful about how you drink it you can actually taste the differences in the different coffees. Coffee beans grown in Kenya have a bright, almost fruity flavor. Coffee connoisseurs will tell you to drink it with fruity desserts or fresh berries. I thoroughly enjoyed the bag of beans we received from Hannah.
The rare Kona coffee grown on the Big Island in Hawaii is a highly prized bean with a light body and a sweet caramelly aroma to it. Again, this was an amazing cup of coffee. It is very expensive and rarely can you find 100% Kona. It is usually blended with Latin American beans of Asian beans to balance it out. We did have some on our trip to Hawaii and brought some home with us. MMMMM it was so good. I had a hard time using the last of those precious beans.
But, it wasn't so much the statement about the bean that grabbed me but the truth that can be found within it.
I have been meditating on John 15:1-17 lately and I immediately thought of these verses when I saw this little box. The coffee bean is sometimes referred to as the "fruit" of the coffee plant (it's actually the seed). The fruit of the coffee remembers where it has been rooted. These verses talk about how to bear good fruit we must remain in, or be rooted in, Christ and His words.
I loved this phrase; "The bean eternally harbors the nurturing touch of the farmer deep within." Do I harbor the nurturing touch of my gardener? (Jn 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener). Or, do I cringe and push away His pruning in my life? (Jn 15:2...every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.) I am trying to embrace His pruning in my life right now, knowing that it will produce good fruit. (Jn 15:5...If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.) I hope that my fruit gives back a blessing to those around me and to the Father. And, that it is with a mysterious inviting flavor of the land I am rooted in.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
Getting organized, even in just one area, helps make life so much easier. I often find that if I am making progress in one area it will spill over into other areas as well. So, I am sticking to planning my menu for the week and hoping it will spill over a little. :)
Monday:Lasagna (made by my hubby at the men's ministry activity where they "taught" the men to cook an entire meal for their wives. He is a really good cook, so this was just for fun for him.)
Tuesday: Baked chicken, steamed veggies and mashed potatos
Wednesday: Leftovers for the kids (Bill and I will be out of town for a Dr. appointment)
Thursday: Steak on the grill, salad and baked potatos.
Friday: Taco and a movie night
Saturday: chicken packets and broccoli salad
Sunday: chicken tortilla soup in the crock pot.
P.S. If you didn't get to read the end of my series "Blessed to be an April Fool", I finished it with one last post late last night. Read it below.
Blessed to be an April Fool - Part Four
I fully believe God had a very intentional purpose in allowing me to experience a traumatic delivery such as this. I know my husband and I learned so much from this. It is hard to describe the thoughts and feelings after you or your spouse almost dies. Even today, six years later, I have an appreciation for life, knowing how quickly it can and will pass away. I don't always operate in that, but it does change my perspective on things when I slow down and think of all that God has blessed me with.
Many people were used by God on my behalf that very scary night. When Bill crashed our friends' dinner party, they gathered around him to pray. We were still unsure if I was going to need a C-section, so they were praying that things would turn around for me. One of the women in this group "saw" something as they prayed. She has told me that while they were praying all she could see was red. In her heart she knew it was blood, but couldn't explain it. Then suddenly there was a bright light and everything turned white. She didn't understand it at the time, but stayed up late into the night praying for me.
I have a twin sister who, at the time, lived in Oregon, a two hour time difference from where we live. She was a children's Pastor so Saturday nights were early to bed for her. She knew that I was in the delivery room and assumed I had not had the baby since she had not heard from any family. She has recounted waking abruptly at about 1:30 a.m. her time (3:30 our time), and feeling an urgency to pray. She had asked our mom to call her as soon as the baby had been born, no matter what time of the night. Since she still had not heard anything, she did the only thing she knew to do: pray. She says she prayed diligently, not even sure of what she was praying for. Two hours later, she says, she felt a peace wash over her and fell right back to sleep. It was 3:30 her time, 5:30 our time. That was the time they took me into surgery. Our parents called her later that morning when they knew she would be awake to tell her what had happened. She knows that God woke her to intercede on my behalf.
I have had others tell me that they were unable to go to sleep that night, or woke early in the morning with an urgency to pray for me. I know God had a plan all along, but I believe I needed those prayers. And, those that prayed for me needed to see the result of their prayers.
I believe that God used this situation to touch people's lives. Even today, I am quickly recognized by all the nurses that were there that night. I'm sure that many of them stopped to think about their lives during that experience.
There is one person in particular, though, that I believe was the main reason for this "near death" experience. My awesome, Christian Doctor, Traci is married to a great man named Roger. Roger is also a doctor and at that time was not a believer. Well, at least not in God. He was a believer in medical science. He could find an answer to almost anything with enough research. Some women in our church had begun to pray for Dr. Roger in our own prayer times. I believe God knew he would need a dramatic wake up call. He was a great guy, but really believed that God and religion were just there to make us "feel better".
After Robby had been born, Dr. Traci was exhausted and scared. Dr. Roger came to check on me either later that day or early next in her place. Apparently, she had been having dreams of me every time she tried to close her eyes and sleep. Roger spent a lot of time in medical journals and on the internet to try to "explain" what had happened to me. I think he thought it would make Traci feel better to know it wasn't her fault (which it was not.) The problem with that was he could never really explain it. He had some good theories but no concrete evidence as to what exactly happened, why it happened or why I was still alive. He discovered that another woman just 3 months before had died of similiar circumstances in childbirth. Traci, Bill and I, as well as so many others in our church, continued to stand on God's goodness and faithfulness. The what, why and how didn't really matter. Only the Who.
Within the next few months, Dr. Roger began to slip into the sound booth a few minutes late for services and leave a few minutes early so no one would see him. God continued to work on his heart and Roger gave his life to the Lord. Today, he still sits in the back of the church but that is so he can slip out if he gets paged and so we don't have to hear him sing. :)
If Doctor Roger was the only reason I experienced that it was well worth it. I know that he has touched so many others for the Lord in ways I never could through his private practice.
When people hear that my son's birthday is April 1st, I often hear "Oh, an April Fool's baby." My response is usually "Oh, no, he's not the April fool. I am." Time and time again, I think of what a fool I was to believe that I had any ounce of control in that situation. It was all God. He is good and faithful, and thankfully, knows a whole lot more about what is going on than I do. He was in control the whole time. When the delivery room was full of nurses and doctors unsure of what to do, He was in control. When I was in the worst pain I had ever experienced and could feel my life slipping away, He was in control. When my husband had to go home to an empty apartment, He was in control. When my doctor told her husband about her harrowing delivery, He was in control. Thank you God that you use the "foolish things of this earth to confound the wise"(1 Cor.1:27). I am so Blessed to be a Fool.
Many people were used by God on my behalf that very scary night. When Bill crashed our friends' dinner party, they gathered around him to pray. We were still unsure if I was going to need a C-section, so they were praying that things would turn around for me. One of the women in this group "saw" something as they prayed. She has told me that while they were praying all she could see was red. In her heart she knew it was blood, but couldn't explain it. Then suddenly there was a bright light and everything turned white. She didn't understand it at the time, but stayed up late into the night praying for me.
I have a twin sister who, at the time, lived in Oregon, a two hour time difference from where we live. She was a children's Pastor so Saturday nights were early to bed for her. She knew that I was in the delivery room and assumed I had not had the baby since she had not heard from any family. She has recounted waking abruptly at about 1:30 a.m. her time (3:30 our time), and feeling an urgency to pray. She had asked our mom to call her as soon as the baby had been born, no matter what time of the night. Since she still had not heard anything, she did the only thing she knew to do: pray. She says she prayed diligently, not even sure of what she was praying for. Two hours later, she says, she felt a peace wash over her and fell right back to sleep. It was 3:30 her time, 5:30 our time. That was the time they took me into surgery. Our parents called her later that morning when they knew she would be awake to tell her what had happened. She knows that God woke her to intercede on my behalf.
I have had others tell me that they were unable to go to sleep that night, or woke early in the morning with an urgency to pray for me. I know God had a plan all along, but I believe I needed those prayers. And, those that prayed for me needed to see the result of their prayers.
I believe that God used this situation to touch people's lives. Even today, I am quickly recognized by all the nurses that were there that night. I'm sure that many of them stopped to think about their lives during that experience.
There is one person in particular, though, that I believe was the main reason for this "near death" experience. My awesome, Christian Doctor, Traci is married to a great man named Roger. Roger is also a doctor and at that time was not a believer. Well, at least not in God. He was a believer in medical science. He could find an answer to almost anything with enough research. Some women in our church had begun to pray for Dr. Roger in our own prayer times. I believe God knew he would need a dramatic wake up call. He was a great guy, but really believed that God and religion were just there to make us "feel better".
After Robby had been born, Dr. Traci was exhausted and scared. Dr. Roger came to check on me either later that day or early next in her place. Apparently, she had been having dreams of me every time she tried to close her eyes and sleep. Roger spent a lot of time in medical journals and on the internet to try to "explain" what had happened to me. I think he thought it would make Traci feel better to know it wasn't her fault (which it was not.) The problem with that was he could never really explain it. He had some good theories but no concrete evidence as to what exactly happened, why it happened or why I was still alive. He discovered that another woman just 3 months before had died of similiar circumstances in childbirth. Traci, Bill and I, as well as so many others in our church, continued to stand on God's goodness and faithfulness. The what, why and how didn't really matter. Only the Who.
Within the next few months, Dr. Roger began to slip into the sound booth a few minutes late for services and leave a few minutes early so no one would see him. God continued to work on his heart and Roger gave his life to the Lord. Today, he still sits in the back of the church but that is so he can slip out if he gets paged and so we don't have to hear him sing. :)
If Doctor Roger was the only reason I experienced that it was well worth it. I know that he has touched so many others for the Lord in ways I never could through his private practice.
When people hear that my son's birthday is April 1st, I often hear "Oh, an April Fool's baby." My response is usually "Oh, no, he's not the April fool. I am." Time and time again, I think of what a fool I was to believe that I had any ounce of control in that situation. It was all God. He is good and faithful, and thankfully, knows a whole lot more about what is going on than I do. He was in control the whole time. When the delivery room was full of nurses and doctors unsure of what to do, He was in control. When I was in the worst pain I had ever experienced and could feel my life slipping away, He was in control. When my husband had to go home to an empty apartment, He was in control. When my doctor told her husband about her harrowing delivery, He was in control. Thank you God that you use the "foolish things of this earth to confound the wise"(1 Cor.1:27). I am so Blessed to be a Fool.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Blessed to be an April Fool - Part Three
Coming "to" after general anesthesia is a strange experience. It is a lot like the movies when you see from the first person perspective. Blinking, bright lights, voices that sound muffled and incoherent. I'm not exactly sure what time it was Sunday morning, but I was already in my room when I woke up. My whole family was there and the first thing I said was, "Bring me my baby." They placed Robby in my arms. I remember feeling groggy and bloated and puffy, but at peace knowing that whatever had just happened it was all ok. I had my husband and now my baby.
I had an IV in one hand, another in my arm and a unit of blood was dripping slowly into the other arm. Nurses kept coming in checking my vitals. Shortly after waking, a man with long red stringy hair pulled back in a pony tail, with cheap "diamond" earrings and the faint smell of cigarette smoke on his scrubs came bounding into the room. It was my angel! Actually, it was Kevin from the lab, he drew a small amount of blood to test my hemoglobin. "Well, honey," he said in a gentle voice, "you sure gave us a scare last night. We sure are glad you're here." I think that was the first moment I really realized how close it had been.
Bill had begun to call our friends and tell them the good news. During one call I heard him tell a friend, "No, the doctor says she'll be able to have another baby some day."
"What?!!?" I said. That was when I learned that they had not done a hysterectomy after all. After hearing each of the doctors and nurses and my family tell me their perspectives, I put this together.
The surgeon had taken me into surgery planning to do a hysterectomy. Once I was out, she assesed the situation and it reminded her of the cows on the farm. After birthing a calf, the cow's uterus would turn inside out from exhaustion and come out of it's body. She suspected that I might have been experiencing the same thing, except mine stayed inside my body. She described to me how she took her fist, put into my body and felt the uterus pop into place like a balloon. Immediately it began to contract as it should, and she had to quickly pull her hand out. The nurses described how almost instantly my cheeks turned a little pink.
The doctors put their heads together and deduced that I may have been in labor all week and just not responded to it. Eventually, my body became so tired it just opened up and let the baby be born, but with horrible consequences. They felt that no permanent damage had been done and I would be able to have other children.
During this ordeal I received 8 units of blood, including the one later that morning. A normal healthy woman has about 6 or 7 units of blood and possibly 8 when she is pregnant. It is possible that every drop of blood in my body was replaced. I was extremely bloated from all the extra fluids they gave me in my IV's.
I was also extremely tired. That first day is pretty blurry. Our Senior Pastor at that time, had come to the hospital during the night to be with Bill. And, since it was a Sunday, he announced to the church that our son had been born, but carefully explained that there had been complications and no one should visit us in the hospital. I think Bill received many phone calls but, otherwise, we were able to be alone with our new baby.
As I have been writing this, Bill has mentioned that as dramatic as this experience sounds in print it was even more so to live. I have some theories as to why God brought us through this experience, but I also know I will not fully understand till I see Him in Heaven.
Part Four will include some amazing stories of how God used others on my behalf in this situation and what I believe is one of the reasons that this happened.
I had an IV in one hand, another in my arm and a unit of blood was dripping slowly into the other arm. Nurses kept coming in checking my vitals. Shortly after waking, a man with long red stringy hair pulled back in a pony tail, with cheap "diamond" earrings and the faint smell of cigarette smoke on his scrubs came bounding into the room. It was my angel! Actually, it was Kevin from the lab, he drew a small amount of blood to test my hemoglobin. "Well, honey," he said in a gentle voice, "you sure gave us a scare last night. We sure are glad you're here." I think that was the first moment I really realized how close it had been.
Bill had begun to call our friends and tell them the good news. During one call I heard him tell a friend, "No, the doctor says she'll be able to have another baby some day."
"What?!!?" I said. That was when I learned that they had not done a hysterectomy after all. After hearing each of the doctors and nurses and my family tell me their perspectives, I put this together.
The surgeon had taken me into surgery planning to do a hysterectomy. Once I was out, she assesed the situation and it reminded her of the cows on the farm. After birthing a calf, the cow's uterus would turn inside out from exhaustion and come out of it's body. She suspected that I might have been experiencing the same thing, except mine stayed inside my body. She described to me how she took her fist, put into my body and felt the uterus pop into place like a balloon. Immediately it began to contract as it should, and she had to quickly pull her hand out. The nurses described how almost instantly my cheeks turned a little pink.
The doctors put their heads together and deduced that I may have been in labor all week and just not responded to it. Eventually, my body became so tired it just opened up and let the baby be born, but with horrible consequences. They felt that no permanent damage had been done and I would be able to have other children.
During this ordeal I received 8 units of blood, including the one later that morning. A normal healthy woman has about 6 or 7 units of blood and possibly 8 when she is pregnant. It is possible that every drop of blood in my body was replaced. I was extremely bloated from all the extra fluids they gave me in my IV's.
I was also extremely tired. That first day is pretty blurry. Our Senior Pastor at that time, had come to the hospital during the night to be with Bill. And, since it was a Sunday, he announced to the church that our son had been born, but carefully explained that there had been complications and no one should visit us in the hospital. I think Bill received many phone calls but, otherwise, we were able to be alone with our new baby.
As I have been writing this, Bill has mentioned that as dramatic as this experience sounds in print it was even more so to live. I have some theories as to why God brought us through this experience, but I also know I will not fully understand till I see Him in Heaven.
Part Four will include some amazing stories of how God used others on my behalf in this situation and what I believe is one of the reasons that this happened.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Blessed to be an April Fool - Part One
Two days ago it was April 1st, a popular day in our house for obvious reasons. It was also a Sunday and we had a very special service. A young woman from our church shared the beautiful story of how God saved her life during a near fatal car accident that included a 40 foot drop from an overpass. It was beautiful to see how God had shown her through this experience that He has a great and mighty plan for her life. She feels as though she has been given a second chance at life. Her life has been forever changed.
As I sat and watched her story and as she shared a beautiful song, I tried hard not to let those around me see me breakdown. The flood of emotions filled my thoughts of my own life changing event 6 years ago. I have talked about it a few times, but haven't ever written it down. I was encouraged early on to write it down so I would always remember.
Of course, I remember being pregnant. I had been working as the lunch lady at a local elementary school. The kids had marvelled at my growing belly and I was feeling heavier and heavier. (I didn't know you could gain 65 lbs, but I did.) The last week of March was Spring Break and I had decided not to return after that since my due date was April 7th.
Now, God and I had been having lots of conversations regarding this baby. Early on I had told Him that I wanted a boy and I wanted him to come in March. I had also prayed for a "slippery baby", but you'll see how well that worked for me. I thought God and I had made quite a good deal with one another.
It was Sunday March 25th and I woke early to pains in my belly. It would get tight and I could hardly breathe, but it was bearable. This had to be it! I readied myself for church in the only thing I could still wear - big hand-me-down overalls. Not exactly a picture of the glowing expectant mommy to be, but it was comfy. I tried to play it cool and not get too excited. My doctor attended our church, so she and I sat towards the back and kept time on my bulletin. Less than 5 minutes apart. She told me to go to the hospital after church. After arriving at the hospital, the contractions began to slow down. She met us there about 1:00 and by 3:00 they sent me home. I was so disappointed but I knew it wouldn't be too long. That day I walked the mall and took a tablespoon of cod liver oil (DON'T DO IT!!!) just to try to get things going again. Of course it didn't work. In fact, it did the opposite; I was plugged up for days, 'nough said.
Everyday the following week I continued to have contractions and made contact with my doctor in some way. Monday- phone call. Tuesday-regular visit, dialated to 1, 50% efaced. Wednesday- phone call. Thursday- water broke!?! Ooops, false alarm just sweaty from the rising spring temps and my weight. Finally on Friday, March 30th, I gave up. I knew it wasn't going to happen even though I spent much of my time this last week pausing and bending over to catch my breath from the contractions I was having every 5 to 10 minutes. I decided to treat myself to a pedicure at a nearby beauty college. Of course, I didn't tell them until I arrived that I was 9 months pregnant. At first they refused to touch me saying I would go into labor if they did. I assured them that it was dr. approved and if they didn't I would burst into tears and sob uncontrollably until they did. They did! That was the best pedicure ever!!
In our tired desperation, we called Heth and her hubby, Nate, and asked if we could come over for dinner. I think we needed some reassurance that this baby wouldn't be in there forever. After some delicious spicy Mexican food, we stumbled home about 12:00. At 2:30 a.m., I woke to the worst pains I had experienced yet. I tried sleeping on the couch, but by 6:00 a.m. I couldn't stand it anymore. It was time to go to the hospital.
And, the rest of the story will come later this week.
As I sat and watched her story and as she shared a beautiful song, I tried hard not to let those around me see me breakdown. The flood of emotions filled my thoughts of my own life changing event 6 years ago. I have talked about it a few times, but haven't ever written it down. I was encouraged early on to write it down so I would always remember.
Of course, I remember being pregnant. I had been working as the lunch lady at a local elementary school. The kids had marvelled at my growing belly and I was feeling heavier and heavier. (I didn't know you could gain 65 lbs, but I did.) The last week of March was Spring Break and I had decided not to return after that since my due date was April 7th.
Now, God and I had been having lots of conversations regarding this baby. Early on I had told Him that I wanted a boy and I wanted him to come in March. I had also prayed for a "slippery baby", but you'll see how well that worked for me. I thought God and I had made quite a good deal with one another.
It was Sunday March 25th and I woke early to pains in my belly. It would get tight and I could hardly breathe, but it was bearable. This had to be it! I readied myself for church in the only thing I could still wear - big hand-me-down overalls. Not exactly a picture of the glowing expectant mommy to be, but it was comfy. I tried to play it cool and not get too excited. My doctor attended our church, so she and I sat towards the back and kept time on my bulletin. Less than 5 minutes apart. She told me to go to the hospital after church. After arriving at the hospital, the contractions began to slow down. She met us there about 1:00 and by 3:00 they sent me home. I was so disappointed but I knew it wouldn't be too long. That day I walked the mall and took a tablespoon of cod liver oil (DON'T DO IT!!!) just to try to get things going again. Of course it didn't work. In fact, it did the opposite; I was plugged up for days, 'nough said.
Everyday the following week I continued to have contractions and made contact with my doctor in some way. Monday- phone call. Tuesday-regular visit, dialated to 1, 50% efaced. Wednesday- phone call. Thursday- water broke!?! Ooops, false alarm just sweaty from the rising spring temps and my weight. Finally on Friday, March 30th, I gave up. I knew it wasn't going to happen even though I spent much of my time this last week pausing and bending over to catch my breath from the contractions I was having every 5 to 10 minutes. I decided to treat myself to a pedicure at a nearby beauty college. Of course, I didn't tell them until I arrived that I was 9 months pregnant. At first they refused to touch me saying I would go into labor if they did. I assured them that it was dr. approved and if they didn't I would burst into tears and sob uncontrollably until they did. They did! That was the best pedicure ever!!
In our tired desperation, we called Heth and her hubby, Nate, and asked if we could come over for dinner. I think we needed some reassurance that this baby wouldn't be in there forever. After some delicious spicy Mexican food, we stumbled home about 12:00. At 2:30 a.m., I woke to the worst pains I had experienced yet. I tried sleeping on the couch, but by 6:00 a.m. I couldn't stand it anymore. It was time to go to the hospital.
And, the rest of the story will come later this week.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
This week's menu is nothing too exciting, but my family will be spending precious time together. So, does the food really matter? Well, here it is.
Monday: Tomato-basil penne pasta, salad and bread
Tuesday: Crock-pot Pork Roast, potatos and veggies
Wednesday:Grilled cheese and soup
Thursday: Bratwurst, potato salad and baked beans
Friday: Chicken packets, soup or salad
Saturday: Mexican (taco) night and Birthday Cake!! Tonight we are celebrating Robby's 6th birthday with Nana, Papa, Uncle Steve, Aunt Nicole and cousins, Emily and Megan.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Happy Birthday, Little Man
Happy Birthday, Little Man
Happy Birthday to my little man. You are 6 now and growing up so quickly. You have changed so much over this last year. You started Kindergarten and are loving it. You are so smart. Your intelligence is unbelievable. You have a unique ability to understand such difficult ideas.
You have a great ear for music, already. I enjoy listening to your songs on the piano and am amazed when I hear you sound out a new one. I know one day you will be over your "shyness" and share your music with others.
I love that you want to be a pastor, just like your daddy, when you grow up. You patiently wait each day for him to come home and you are so understanding of his crazy schedule. I love that you give your dad such great ideas for his next "sermon series".
I can see already that God has a great plan for your life. I am looking forward to all that this next year holds for you.
But, please, don't grow up too fast.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Forgive my wandering eyes
I have been having a little personal problem for quite some time now. I have asked the Lord to turn my heart and keep my eyes from wandering. I have pleaded with Him over and over to forgive me and teach me to be content with what I have. When I first got him, it was love at first sight. But after 7 years with the same vacuum, it just isn't cuttin' the mustard anymore.
I have been eyeing one of these babies for about two years now and I think if one can sinfully desire a vacuum cleaner, I'm just about there. And, now, I have an opportunity to WIN one. I just don't know if I could handle actually owning a Dyson. The sleak lines, the smooth handle, the no-clog suction. I think I might faint. Well, if you, too would like to win a Dyson, hop on over to 5minutesformom . Sign in on their Mr. Linky and you will be entered into the drawing.
But, don't get your hopes up too much, 'cuz I'm gonna win. Thank you, very much.
I have been eyeing one of these babies for about two years now and I think if one can sinfully desire a vacuum cleaner, I'm just about there. And, now, I have an opportunity to WIN one. I just don't know if I could handle actually owning a Dyson. The sleak lines, the smooth handle, the no-clog suction. I think I might faint. Well, if you, too would like to win a Dyson, hop on over to 5minutesformom . Sign in on their Mr. Linky and you will be entered into the drawing.
But, don't get your hopes up too much, 'cuz I'm gonna win. Thank you, very much.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
After an amazing weekend with my "sistas" and the Lord, it is back to the daily grind. I am refreshed and renewed (and a little tired from too much partyin') and excited to see what this week holds for me and my family.
This week's meals will be simple and easy. I have to work late tonight, so the kids will be fed by the babysitter and Bill and I will eat together later. The rest of the week looks like it will be a normal week.
Monday:Macaroni and cheese and hot dogs, carrot sticks for the kids; Jambalaya and sausage for mom and dad
Tuesday: Salmon and Roasted veggies
Wednesday: Eggs, toast and fruit
Thursday: Penne pasta, tomato cream sauce and veggies
Friday:Leftovers for the kids (mom and dad are helping with the Club 56 lock-in)
Saturday: Mexican and a movie night - tacos
Monday, March 19, 2007
Menu Plan Monday
I have always been one to plan meal ideas before going to the grocery store, otherwise, I end up spending a ton of money, buying a bunch of stuff and still not having anything for a real meal. In the past I have done freezer meals and rotating menus, but lately I have been a little out of sync. We have been so busy lately, adjusting to a new schedule. And, I have not been very well prepared for my evening meals. Even with small children, meal time is our time to connect as a family. Each person gets a chance to "tell about their day". We really cherish that time. I would love to have more time for just sitting and talking. So, I have been inspired by Chris to get more organized and be better prepared for our family meals. This is our week's menu.
Monday: Chicken packets and broccoli cheese soup
Tuesday: Crockpot Meatballs, mashed potatos and green beans
Wednesday: waffles and sausage and fruit
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday(Mexican and a Movie night): This night is usually some kind of Mexican food, most often tacos, and we watch a movietogether. So Bill and the kids are having tacos.
Saturday: Chuck E Cheese
Sunday: Grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup
I hope you too will spend time with your family at the dinner table this week.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
So much for the new and improved
So much for the new and improved, huh? I can't believe it has been a whole month since my last post. Sorry to those of you who faithfully check to see if I have blogged. So here is a little tidbit for you.
The storms just about drove me crazy. The kids really did quite well, though. There was some fighting but for the most part they got along very well. This may have been the first time I actually thanked God for what seemed to me like an "almost immaculate conception" of my daughter just six months after delivering my son. Being so close in age and not being the same gender has helped my kids to be good little friends. In our attempts to stay busy and not get bored, we did several crafts, baked and watched lots of movies. It really wasn't too bad. But, I'm glad it's over.
I have been so busy with my new job and I love it!!! With my previous job, I worked with individuals with a chronic long term mental illness. In a sense, they were "lifers". We hoped to help them improve their lives over the long haul, but always expected some level of services to be provided. My new job, on the other hand, is much more short term. There is an urgency and an intensity to my work. I am responsible for helping my clients to reach real and measureable goals within a short amount of time. Those that contract me to do the work, expect to see results. This probably sounds dumb, but I just kind of realized this just the other day. I had relationships with clients for over two years in my previous job. I took lots of time to develop this relationship. Now, I have to get in there and get it done. The client will have to work hard in a very short amount of time. I know I am really going to like it and feel as though I am actually accompishing something with people who really need my help.
So, here are few things to glimpse into my life.
P.S. I wil try to post more often. Sometimes I am not sure what to post about. Thanks for being patient with me :)
The storms just about drove me crazy. The kids really did quite well, though. There was some fighting but for the most part they got along very well. This may have been the first time I actually thanked God for what seemed to me like an "almost immaculate conception" of my daughter just six months after delivering my son. Being so close in age and not being the same gender has helped my kids to be good little friends. In our attempts to stay busy and not get bored, we did several crafts, baked and watched lots of movies. It really wasn't too bad. But, I'm glad it's over.
I have been so busy with my new job and I love it!!! With my previous job, I worked with individuals with a chronic long term mental illness. In a sense, they were "lifers". We hoped to help them improve their lives over the long haul, but always expected some level of services to be provided. My new job, on the other hand, is much more short term. There is an urgency and an intensity to my work. I am responsible for helping my clients to reach real and measureable goals within a short amount of time. Those that contract me to do the work, expect to see results. This probably sounds dumb, but I just kind of realized this just the other day. I had relationships with clients for over two years in my previous job. I took lots of time to develop this relationship. Now, I have to get in there and get it done. The client will have to work hard in a very short amount of time. I know I am really going to like it and feel as though I am actually accompishing something with people who really need my help.
So, here are few things to glimpse into my life.
P.S. I wil try to post more often. Sometimes I am not sure what to post about. Thanks for being patient with me :)
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Finished Bread - (Read the post below first)
Well Robby wanted in on the bread-making. So he got to do the "punch down" part. Then we all shaped the dough into 2 beautiful loaves. One plain wheat and one cinnamon sugar. The bread was still warm when we sat down and ate it with our cheesy-potato-veggie soup. A great winter's night supper.
Making Bread with my Little Honey
Today is a very cold, snowy and blustery day. My little Honey, Melanie, and I decided to make some homemade Honey Wheat Bread. It is very delicious and quite easy. She was my big helper. She scooped and stirred and even did a little kneading. Here is a photo of us in the middle of preparing the dough. It is on the warm oven, rising as we type. You can see a little bit of the dough in the corner of the photo. We'll let you know how it turned out. 
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
A Book Meme
Heth, the laundry lady, tagged me for this meme. It was her gentle way of encouraging me to return to blogging. Thanks!! So here's my book meme.
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences on your blog
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
"Even when formula is intorduced, I tell my mothers to put the baby on the breast anyway, because the sucking helps activate Mum's lactiferous sinuses, which a breast pump cannot do. Whereas Baby's suckling sends a message to your brain to produce milk, a mechanical pump only empties the alveoli, where the milk is stored. Hence, you give formula but you also continue pumping every two housr, to get your flow going."
This is from the book titled, "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer", by Tracy Hogg.
Tracy Hogg is a professional nurse and nanny from England. Although, this is not the best representation of her book, this book RULES!!!
I read this book when my oldest was just a couple weeks old. By the time he was 6 weeks old he was sleeping 6-8 hours a night and by 8 weeks he was sleeping 8-10 hours. I had a "Textbook" baby, according to Tracy. Her methods are so down to earth and easy to follow as a new mom. I attempted to use the methods with my daughter, but she was more of a "Touchy" or downright "Grumpy" baby. Once we discovered she was lactose intolerant and I stopped eating dairy products, she fell into the routine much more easily.
If you have just had a baby/going to have a baby or have a friend who has just had a baby/going to have a baby, you need this book!!! Even if you have had several children, this one is a great read. You can hear her talking to you in a cute british accent, as you read the book. It's great.
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following 3 sentences on your blog
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
"Even when formula is intorduced, I tell my mothers to put the baby on the breast anyway, because the sucking helps activate Mum's lactiferous sinuses, which a breast pump cannot do. Whereas Baby's suckling sends a message to your brain to produce milk, a mechanical pump only empties the alveoli, where the milk is stored. Hence, you give formula but you also continue pumping every two housr, to get your flow going."
This is from the book titled, "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer", by Tracy Hogg.
Tracy Hogg is a professional nurse and nanny from England. Although, this is not the best representation of her book, this book RULES!!!
I read this book when my oldest was just a couple weeks old. By the time he was 6 weeks old he was sleeping 6-8 hours a night and by 8 weeks he was sleeping 8-10 hours. I had a "Textbook" baby, according to Tracy. Her methods are so down to earth and easy to follow as a new mom. I attempted to use the methods with my daughter, but she was more of a "Touchy" or downright "Grumpy" baby. Once we discovered she was lactose intolerant and I stopped eating dairy products, she fell into the routine much more easily.
If you have just had a baby/going to have a baby or have a friend who has just had a baby/going to have a baby, you need this book!!! Even if you have had several children, this one is a great read. You can hear her talking to you in a cute british accent, as you read the book. It's great.
Monday, January 15, 2007
New Year, New Name, New Look
It is a new year and I have returned to the blogging world. I have been wanting to for a while, but have waited till I had a new look. Today my wonderful hubby and Heth and her hubby and I managed to change to a new template. Thanks mostly to my hubs, Bill.
With the new look, I decided to change the name as well. Bill suggested I use my middle name, Joy, as part of the new name. I have always liked my middle name and have used my full name since college. My twin sister's middle name is Dawn and for a brief time in Jr High School we were the "Dishwasher twins". So I have used my middle name often.
Because I like it, I strive my best to live up to my name and be a joyful person. I have never been one to fake my emotions, though. I know that sometimes I am a little too transparent and others can see my anger or frustration with life.
As Bill and I were talking about different ideas for my new name I was reminded of a discussion my small group had about a year ago in Ladies' Bible Study. We were discussing the tiny sentence in Nehemiah that gets a lot of attention: "the joy of the Lord is your strength". When times are difficult and we are feeling weak and unhappy, we as Christian women often try to muster up that "joy" to find strength to keep going. When we are truly seeking Christ and His joy it comes so much easier. One woman commented that life was just getting too hard and she couldn't find that joy or strength anymore. Another encouraged her to think of this verse a little differently and it has stuck with me ever since. What if it is God's joy, not our own, but God's joy in our obedience to serve Him that will give us strength? What a great revelation. In my moments of weakness I try to think of that perspective and even when I don't feel joyful I want to be a reflection of God's joy in me.
So, as I muse along with so many other Christian friends in the blogger world, I hope you will find me a reflection of joy.
Nehemiah 8:10b This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
With the new look, I decided to change the name as well. Bill suggested I use my middle name, Joy, as part of the new name. I have always liked my middle name and have used my full name since college. My twin sister's middle name is Dawn and for a brief time in Jr High School we were the "Dishwasher twins". So I have used my middle name often.
Because I like it, I strive my best to live up to my name and be a joyful person. I have never been one to fake my emotions, though. I know that sometimes I am a little too transparent and others can see my anger or frustration with life.
As Bill and I were talking about different ideas for my new name I was reminded of a discussion my small group had about a year ago in Ladies' Bible Study. We were discussing the tiny sentence in Nehemiah that gets a lot of attention: "the joy of the Lord is your strength". When times are difficult and we are feeling weak and unhappy, we as Christian women often try to muster up that "joy" to find strength to keep going. When we are truly seeking Christ and His joy it comes so much easier. One woman commented that life was just getting too hard and she couldn't find that joy or strength anymore. Another encouraged her to think of this verse a little differently and it has stuck with me ever since. What if it is God's joy, not our own, but God's joy in our obedience to serve Him that will give us strength? What a great revelation. In my moments of weakness I try to think of that perspective and even when I don't feel joyful I want to be a reflection of God's joy in me.
So, as I muse along with so many other Christian friends in the blogger world, I hope you will find me a reflection of joy.
Nehemiah 8:10b This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
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