Coffee at the Cabin

Beautiful weather we're having...

2010-04-15T13:40:00.003-05:00

The days are sailing by, and I think it is partly due to the strong winds that we've been inundated with for the past week or so. However, the past two have been amazingly calm and, dare I say it, PERFECT! If I could have these types of days 364 of the year (with one day of snow thrown in for good measure) I'd be happy. :)

We've been working on putting some items into our small garden beds - the earliest I have EVER done that. So far, I have lettuce, radishes, carrots, onions, and shallots planted. I'm heading into town this afternoon to get one more lettuce packet, peas, and beets. Broccoli will be added in about a month. That will complete our lower garden beds, and we'll have to switch to the upper bed (the large one) in a couple of weeks. That one will hold beans, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, and multiple tomato varieties. I am all for eating fresh, local, unprocessed, and healthy, so whatever we can do to help us in that area is worth the work. That sentence is such a loaded one - with so many blogging opportunities...just wish I had unlimited time to share my thoughts.

As it is, I'm off to town for a library visit, nursery trip, park stop, and a church meeting. It's too nice to be inside and typing so here is a bit of spring (courtesy of California) to close this out.

Take care!

Just checking in...

2010-04-09T11:41:00.003-05:00

It's Friday and I'm thankful that the week is winding down. It has been a week that hit us all hard - JT got a touch of the flu Monday afternoon, which always puts everyone on high alert. Funny how everyone starts washing their hands and taking their vitamins diligently once an illness hits the house. So far, (knock on wood), no one has shared the experience, although the occasional queasy stomach sends a rampant fear through the individual. I'm fighting a cold that came on yesterday, so hopefully that will be short-lived as well.

Presentations, meetings, and overall work for the clinic and other areas demanded a higher percentage of our time this week. Add that to taxes, a lease signing for the other half of Brad's building (thank you, Lord!), baking for the bake auction at church, and the normal schoolwork, and you have one filled-up week. JT promptly decided this week we were "too busy", so our response to that was to let him know that baseball practice starts Saturday.

I'm anxious to add gardening in to the schedule as well - but it is a bit early. We've had a streak of nice weather, and the temptation to get the lettuce and peas out is deepening. I'm going to try and wait another week or two and then push my luck and see what happens. I'm loving the low 60's though, and hope the ticks and gnats stay away for awhile to make this season even more enjoyable.

TJ is riding a bike with ease and super happy to have that independence. It took her about 4 days to get it mastered and she promptly stated that riding her bike is as much fun as swimming. She wants to conquer the big hill down from our house all by herself, but I have clipped her wings a bit and let her know she can go on our cul-de-sac road by herself, but the remainder of the neighborhood needs to have a supervisor at this point. While she is quite comfortable with motoring around on her own, she hasn't had much experience with meeting up with cars, so want to make sure she's an expert at that - and the HILL - before I give her much more freedom.

JT starts baseball this Saturday...we moved him up a division so know he will be challenged but more appropriately placed this year. Should be a fun time, but we have committed to a more active and intense program due to his intense love and skill in the sport. It will be fun to see how much he grows and improves over the course of the summer.

JD will start gun training next week and is soooo excited about finally getting that done. He had given him a bb gun for his birthday, and he was finally able to get it out a few weeks ago to test it now that the weather improved. He was accurate from the get-go, surprising us with how calm he can keep his movements in different positions in order to get an accurate shot. This kid lives and breathes army, so I guess it shouldn't surprise us that anything with a weapon is taken very seriously, and accuracy is a direction reflection on his abilities (in his mind.) He's been trying to earn money hand over fist, and this week managed to find a niche of making "clothes" for his sister's stuffed animals out of old socks. He then charges her for them and she's happy to pay. He even made a punch pass so she can get a discount after ten purchases.

I'm seeking some calm today, and since it is windy on the front porch, I am guessing I won't be sitting out there to fulfill that dream. So, instead, I'm looking through our California pictures and reminiscing on some peaceful memories. Here is one of my favorite sunset pictures I want to share (and there are a lot!) Hope you all have a great day and great weekend!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed!!!

From Matthew 28
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

May this amazing gift that is incomprehensible to us be living and working in each one of you today, and always.

Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop

2010-04-02T12:36:00.002-05:00

Join HERSHEY’S Better Basket Blog Hop to support HERSHEY’S $7,000 donation for the Children’s Miracle Network

Hershey’s is donating $10 to the Children's Miracle Network for every blog participating in their BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP, up to $5000.00. Hurry The HERSHEY’S Better Basket Blog ends at 12 PM EST on April 4th, 2010!

Better Basket Blog Hop started as a charity blog meme, bloggers were able to raise $10 by writing a blog post of donating a virtual Easter Basket. HERSHEY’S promised to donate $10 per each post written for the Children’s Miracle Network, up to $5,000. Within the first week, over 200 bloggers participated, and soon it was 400 bloggers, and HERSHEY’S was so impressed by the kindness and caring of the hundreds of bloggers participating that they decided to donate $7,000 in honor of all the caring bloggers who are part of spreading the word of paying it forward this Easter season.

My good friend Leigh passed this opportunity on to me and I'm passing this on to YOU and my good friends below:

Missy at Grasp the Love

Joyce at Mom's Musings

Tiffany at Hillside Hollow
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN JOIN

* Participate to HERSHEY’S Better Basket Blog Hop of giving away virtual Easter Baskets by creating a blog post with specific rules described here.
* HERSHEY’S will donate $7,000 for CMN
* You can give as many virtual Easter baskets as you want.
* The HERSHEY’S Better Basket Blog Hop will officially begin at 12 AM EST on March 18th and end at 12 PM EST on April 4th, 2010. Blog posts submitted to us before or after that time period will not be counted for.
* The blog post link has to be submitted to us for your participation to be counted.
* In addition copy and paste the following text in your blog post:

HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES

* Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.
* Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want.
* Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.
* Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them a Basket.
* Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop, and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.
* This started as a meme of Hershey donating $10 per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog
* Hop to Children’s Miracle Network up to $5,000 – but after so many bloggers participating, Hershey decided to donate a total of $7,000 honoring the kindness of blogger community.
* Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the donation.

Happy Easter!

Remembering dad during Holy Week...

2010-03-29T13:08:00.002-05:00

***Originally posted April 2, 2009. Reposting this week as these memories are always on my mind during Holy Week, no matter when it occurs.***

April 2nd is a special day for me. It is a day that is permanently ingrained in my memory bank. This day resounds with triumph and victory and great rejoicing. April 2nd, 1980, is the day my father died. Yes, you heard me right. It is a day filled with joy and excitement. You see, my father was a Christian. In fact, he had dedicated his life to ministry and he was a pastor until his dying breath. So, April 2nd was the best day of his life, because he finally attained his earthly goal - meeting his Lord Jesus Christ. What a celebration there had to be in heaven that day!

I was twelve years old when my father died. I have never had a great memory of things in the past, but I do have a few "snapshots" of moments that I always can picture in my mind.

The day my parents told me dad had a brain tumor.
The day we learned that it had returned three years later.
Sitting at lunch with Aunt Ruth's black mascara streaming down her cheeks as the prognosis became apparant.
Being woke up in the middle of the night to head to Grandma's house so dad could go to Mayo Clinic.
Being home alone with dad when he started to choke.
Snuggling with him in his chair when he was home.

But, these are the ones that really made an impact:

Dad had gone blind, but if you placed an open bible in his hands, he would "read" it by reciting verses from memory - long, lengthy passages. He knew and had memorized his bible! He truly thought he was reading, and found great comfort and joy in doing so. Within those words were the truths of hope and everlasting life. All he needed was within his grasp.

Dad had lost all ability to speak toward the end of his illness. One night, we gathered around him to pray together before bed as we usually did. (He was able to be cared for at home). That night, miraculously, he said the Lord's Prayer with us and raised his hands and gave the blessing. What a gift that was for that was the night he died. We had been blessed with one last memory, and what a powerful one it was.

Our God is a good and gracious God. You see, dad was once asked, if he could pick and choose when he was going to die, what would he pick? He always said that he would like to die during Holy Week, so he could celebrate Easter in heaven.

My dad died the Tuesday of Holy Week, and his Celebration of Life was the day before Easter. What a celebration of Easter he had that year! God is amazing, and rewards those faithful to him. He gives us the desires of our heart, and draws us to him. I just can't imagine the joy on my dad's face to greet Jesus for the first time, be healed of all his pain, and know that we would all be reunited again, as fellow believers in Christ.

So, this is a special day for me as well. This day causes me to reflect on my memories of my father, but, more importantly, it challenges me to have a faith that is firmly rooted in God's word, in God's promises, and in God's faithfulness. My father was a witness to me, even in his death. However, this day would have an entirely different feel, and be one of intense despair and sadness, if we had not all been granted the GIFT of eternal life with Christ Jesus, due to his death and resurrection. The lifelong plan of salvation has been fulfilled through Jesus. As the song In Christ Alone reflects:

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Will you join me today in rejoicing in this great and awesome gift that we have received? If you have not embraced this free gift of salvation, do it now. Ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins, and come into your heart. Now is the time - This Easter season, grasp the joy and peace you can only find in Him.

Another week...

2010-03-26T15:12:00.003-05:00

We made it to the end of another week. Not a major accomplishment as it is going to come one way or another...but, if you look back at how many things transpired over the past 5 days, I am always amazed. School completed, laundry in check, meals created, bible read, work, presentations, computer time, well, you get the picture.

My husband and I have had the wonderful privilege of teaching Living by the Book for our adult Sunday School class since last September. It has been such a journey of growth, discovery, inspiration, and now, application. We are in the part of the study in which we are working on ways to apply the biblical truths in our lives. This part is the most exciting, and certainly, the most challenging. Dare I say, it is also frightening. We know the Lord has some changes on the horizon for us - we are trying to be open to them, despite where they may lead. Will they be life changing? I have no idea...we are simply trying to spend time "listening" to his direction and being obedient.

One of the people in our class had a wonderful insight this past week. She asked if we had been persecuted this past week for our faith. While that may seem like a weird question, the application part of it is that if we were not, it may be because we have not stepped out of our comfort zone and shared the Lord as we are instructed to do. In the same breath, we should look at whether we have grown in our Christian walk over the past week, month, and years. Are you further along today than yesterday? Great thoughts to ponder...which is what I often do. My problem is taking it beyond pondering to put into action. I pray for strength and courage to do so.

My kids are growing up so fast. TJ has all but mastered her bike riding, so with a bit more practice, she'll be riding like her brothers. Problem is, this mom is in no shape to be running after her as she learns!

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend, so I'm off to put some things into place to be able to relax and unwind a bit. I pray that Palm Sunday will be one of reflection and anticipation of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

I'm backkkkkk....

2010-03-22T13:31:00.005-05:00

Well, sort of. I make no promises. ;) I can't believe I haven't posted since January. Life has flown by. I literally have no time in my day to blog, but would love to carve some back in, if possible. I miss writing, miss the conversations, miss the creative outlet.

I could bore you to tears with what has been going on, but it basically can be summarized in one word - life. Life is going on...and I'm trying to stay on the ride! Late December and early January hit me hard with the realization that I needed to really change some things with how we were schooling. I felt like my oldest child wasn't really doing the work up to his potential, so the freedom I had given him was reigned in a bit, which essentially means that I need to have my hand in his subjects more than I had. My second child, who is also doing 6th grade work, is keeping up pretty well, but I want it to still be fun for him. Vocab and advanced Earth Science make him work, which is good because everything comes easy for him. So, we're working on study skills and slowing down a bit with vocab (I don't even know some of these words, and I fancy myself a bit of a wordsmith!). Finally, Miss TJ is plugging away at a first and second grade combination, so there is plenty of hands on time for her. So, what I am trying to say is that my hands-on teacher time has increased dramatically since Christmas due to some schooling changes, so my daytime hours are completely filled with school. While I still love teaching my kiddos, I feel more time invested than ever before, and it is oozing into other areas, leaving little room for extras. :)

Anyway, I have so much to write, but I make no promises as to when I will do so. I admire my fellow blogging friends who are able to get something down each day. I'd love to do the same, but we'll just take it one day at a time.

To close for today, in honor of my niece, I am posting a few pictures of her...She reminds me here and there how long it has been since I've posted something - so, surprise, Martha! You are a beautiful girl, inside and out. You are so special to me! Thanks for your patience!

Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T08:43:00.004-06:00

We've survived Christmas, New Year's, broken furnaces, and a major snowstorm, and I want to tell you all about it! But, first, I have to get through some important "to-do's" on my list - mainly payroll and a couple of presentations. Then, I can share all the fun "goings-on" that we experienced the past few weeks. I'll be back soon (I hope!)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T13:43:00.003-06:00

To all my blogging friends - I pray you all have a very Merry Christmas, filled with love, laughter, family, and friends. May the joy of Jesus live in your heart, not only through this holiday season, but throughout the entire year. We will be celebrating with the kids tonight, and, weather permitting, with Brad's family tomorrow evening. We will get together with my family next weekend.

Blessings to all of you this holiday season!

Praying for Andrew...

2009-12-16T14:55:00.005-06:00

I've had this button on my sidebar for a couple of months and have tried very hard to keep this family in my prayers. Andrew joined the Lord yesterday and lost a courageous fight against cancer. But his victory is in Jesus.

His life has touched me profoundly as I have a soon to be 12 year-old. Days are short, my friends. Love on your family as much as you can.

In Him,

Sarah

A tribute to our dog, Baxter...

2009-12-07T13:26:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, our beloved dog, Baxter, passed away. He had been failing slowly over the past months, but took a big turn on Saturday and before we could stop the downhill slide, he died Sunday afternoon. Thankfully, he was in our house, in a nice warm environment, and we don't feel he suffered too much. He was a beloved fixture for the past 11 years, and I already miss him more than I thought I would. I told my sister that it is the "familiar" and "routine" things that I miss...him scratching on the door to come in the house, his happy greeting when we drive up the driveway, even his howling when he wants to make his presence known. Most of all, it is sad to see your kids grieving the loss of a friend. While they are handling it well, they question if they gave him enough love and attention over the years - a great lesson for us all that time is fleeing and we need to love our loved ones in the here and now.

We are still figuring out how we will lay him to rest, but today we are looking at old pictures and reminiscing on our fun times together.

Thank you, Baxter, for the eleven years of joy and fun you brought into our lives!

Time is fleeting...

2009-12-01T08:54:00.006-06:00

I just can't believe how time is flying by. In less than three weeks, TJ will be Gladys Herdman in six performances of The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever. In four weeks, it will be Christmas. In six weeks, it will be JD's birthday. In ten weeks, we will be going on vacation. From my experience, those ten weeks are going to FLY by. My goodness, it takes my breath away just thinking about it! It's going to be hairy! (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

Kind of like this past week! Here's a summary:
-Enjoyed time and work with my mom, who came out for Thanksgiving
-Hosted 14 people from Brad's family for Thanksgiving dinner - yummy!
-Played, ate, and relished the company of my sister and her family from Friday until Sunday
-Eased my sore muscles after flag football with my mean old nieces and nephew
-Took two walks as the weather was gorgeous
-Put up the tree, decorated outside and in
-Watched the Vikings win
-Thought about Christmas shopping
-Contemplated Christmas lists

Seems like more, but that is the nutshell. Now, we are in the push to Christmas. I don't want it to be a push. I want it to be a gentle stroll with lots to look at, enjoy, and ponder along the way. It's going to be a challenge with all that we have going on, but I'm bound and determined to not let Christmas pass us by. We're still going to have school, but I'm going to significantly limit my computer time. As much as I like to blog and write to have an outlet, I will PLAN on having it be intermittent over the next few weeks. That way, if I plan to be intermittent, I won't have an expectation to get 'er done, kwim?

So, I'll be hopping back on here now and again, so don't completely forget about me. :) In the meantime, I pray you can focus on the true meaning of Christmas and take time to enjoy the season.

Until next time...

(Oh, and I didn't forget about my promised Proverbs 31 follow up...thanks to all of you who responded! I will definitely be posting my thoughts someday soon)

Have you read Proverbs 31?

2009-11-20T14:24:00.003-06:00

In our Living by the Book session today, I was to read and digest Proverbs 31: 10-31. Have you read this? Have you pondered how this section of scripture fits into your life as a woman? Do you think it is still relevant, or that, since it is Old Testament, it is no longer meaningful to our day and age? I'm interested to know what perspectives are out there. I know what I think, but I'll reserve my post on that for a bit. I am posting it here for your convenience to review:

10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

With that, for today, I am thankful for my life, that I can wear many hats, even if they are all not on straight. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunites of the day. Each and every one.

Attitude of Gratitude

2009-11-18T11:44:00.002-06:00

Life has been more than expected the past week or so, and I am trying to process and survive. Priorities have been reassessed, and my blog or getting on the computer is not necessarily at the top of the list, which is good. But, I want to continue my thankfulness posts, even if they are sporadic for the remainder of the month. So, today...

Sunshine has filled my soul this week - God has created a beautiful world, and too often I am caught up in my day to day life that I fail to enjoy and relish the gifts around me. What a different sight it would be if my front window looked upon gray and gloomy colors and shapes. God has created variety in all things.

26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

Happy Homemaker - November 16, 2009

2009-11-16T11:29:00.004-06:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Cool, but sunny. I'll take it.

One of my simple pleasures:
Reading a good book. Without interruptions. :)

On my bedside table:
Just finished my last Kristin Billerbeck novel. Loved the carefree reading.

On my TV:
Too many DWTS to catch up. Looking forward to Top Chef finishing up...

On the menu for tonight:
Not sure. Need to find something quick and easy.

On my To Do List:
Trying to get my room clean today. That's it...just that.

New Recipe I tried last week:
I tried these lazy chili rellenos from Pioneer Woman..they were pretty good...but a bit watery...don't think I drained our chilies enough.

In the craft basket:
Still buttons. Still.

Looking forward to:
Getting some issues resolved
Coffee later today at Caribou

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Always go to bed with your dishes done. It helps the perspective in the morning.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Too many to pick just one

Favorite photo from last week:My birthday girl

Lesson learned the past few days:
If you don't deal with it, it just festers and grows

On my Prayer List:
My pastor
My church leaders
My spouse and kiddos
Our military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Love chapter 12 in Hebrews which speaks to discipline. So encouraging for us as parents - and as Christians.
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]

7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Today...

2009-11-15T17:37:00.002-06:00

Today, I rest in the Lord. I have been blessed beyond measure as I am able to wrap myself in God's Word. We attend a church where the bible truth is spoken without apology. I am transfixed and transformed in the Lord. I have been convicted to study my bible with an indepth eye, looking both at the details along with the big picture. May I never stray from your Word, Oh Lord, and may I continue to seek you out throughout all my days. Guide me as we raise our children, that they may know the truth of you.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Our precious daughter

2009-11-14T14:06:00.010-06:00

Well, today's entry is about the easiest one to write...It's TJ's birthday, and I am eternally grateful for the blessing of having her in our family. This little pumpkin came into the world almost 4 weeks early at a tiny little 4lbs 15 ozs. She has grown and changed and evolved to a beautiful girl of seven, and we love her even more today that we did when we saw her for the first time. TJ, your exciting sense of adventure, love of candy, creative mind, and kind heart draw people to you each and every day. You take on the world and are ready for anything, but you are sensitive to know that you always want to do your best. You love Jesus and talk to him as your best friend. Never lose that love, dear one, and trust him with everything you have. He gave you life, and he loves you even more than we possibly can. May he bless and keep you now and forevermore. We love you!

The day's about done...

2009-11-12T19:21:00.003-06:00

I am finally getting to my computer while supper is cooking and my children are sitting in front of the tv. :) Can I be thankful for that??? Actually, they are watching a kids movie and I feel fine about them tuning out for a bit. TJ has been busy with play practice, and she is a bit keyed up about it, so some down time is good for her. They are blocking multiple scenes right now so she is trying to take it all in and keep up with where they are in the script. It has been nice being able to attend with her and help out. I applaud the directors for keeping these kids on task and getting as much done as they can. Wow.

The week has flown by so fast that TJ's bday has snuck up on us, despite the fact that she has been doing the countdown since the beginning of November. It is Saturday, and, had I been prepared, it would have been the perfect day for a party. But, as it goes, we are most likely just going to have a few of her friends over, let them play, and then eat some cake. Real exciting. But, playing will be fine with her, and if we end at a local pizza joint with some games, she'll probably be pretty excited about the day. But, somewhere between now and Saturday, I have to shop... egads.

I've been thinking about my thankfulness post all day, and that is also part of the reason why I haven't taken the time to sit down and write. I have been feeling kind of chippy today, and haven't felt much like giving thanks for anything. Then, I felt guilty for not wanting to change my attitude, which then made me mad that I had to feel guilty, and so on and so forth. Bottom line, I was fighting my pride and ego, and feeling like I just didn't want to have to do something I didn't want to do. Talk about being a stubborn child - child of the King, that is. It goes back to a day or two ago when I was feeling hurt about something, and I just wanted to hold on and harbor those feelings. Heck, I think it is safe to say that I am still gripping them in my hand, because letting them go "sounds" to me like I am saying I wasn't "right" in the situation. I want to stomp my feet and yell that I was justified to feel like I did (do) and that I am entitled to hold a grudge.

Guess the feelings are still a bit fresh.

I suppose that's where the rubber hits the road, so to speak. Do I do as I should, or do as my human nature begs me to do? Do I release it all, and give it over to God? Do I harbor my foolish pride and keep feeling wronged? Well, I know the answer, but sometimes knowing and doing are two different ends of the spectrum. I need to let it go, suck it up, and move forward. And, doggone it, that probably means I have to apologize as well - for my down in the dumps, poor me attitude. Ugh. That's not fun. Interesting how, when something doesn't go your way, there's a reactionary response, isn't there? As a result, I'm just as "guilty" as the offending party. So, I guess I have to ponder this awhile and look to what I need to do to repent and change. Sounds like I have my thankfulness post for today:

I am thankful that my God loves me, despite my shortcomings, my failures, my sinfulness. Thank the Lord that he does not judge me on my attitude, or lack of consideration for others. I am grateful that he is a God of second (and third, and fourth...) chances.

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T09:13:00.004-06:00

We have school today, much to the chagrin of my children. I told them that there is no better way to honor the veterans than to study them in our real life history class today. :) They don't need a day off to realize how important these people are in our history, and in present day America. But, they do need to be taught the importance of looking at the past to help guide us in the future. The past does not need to be rewritten to make it "look better" or to erase mistakes. We don't need to dwell on the past and wring our hands at the problems we have faced. No, instead, the past helps us see how far we've come, how we need to continue to change, and how we are not perfect. Only through our living God can we be made whole and perfect - in Him. That is our future.

I am thankful today for all the veterans. I am thankful for those who have gone before, without thought for the life they may lose, but only for the freedom in which they believe. I pray for all those who willingly sacrificed their hopes and dreams in order to bring hope to others. I am thankful for the families that have parted from their loved ones as they travel to fight the good fight. Thank you for putting others first. You are an example to us all!

I read this today with your selflessness in mind...
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever."[a]
10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor. 9:6-11

Thankful thoughts...

2009-11-10T09:00:00.003-06:00

This morning, my husband needs me to run an errand for him across town. So, I'm heading out, all three kids in tow. The beauty of this morning is that we have our backpacks all filled up with school subjects so we can stop at a coffee shop and get some work done. Making memories while helping them learn!

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to school my kids at home. I realize this choice is not for everyone, but it is the choice for us. We are blessed to have a curriculum which provides a solid and comprehensive education, and I have such gratitude for my husband for working so hard to allow me the chance to teach my kids in our home environment (or, at the coffee shop, like this morning!).

11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:11-14

Thankful thoughts....

2009-11-09T10:22:00.003-06:00

Today, since it is Monday, I am thankful for coffee. Now, that may sound petty and small, but coffee represents so much more than a warm drink to me. It is comfort, it is tradition, it is a ritual, it is my daily life. You see, I am blessed to be able to fill my coffee cup, and my counter, at my own coffeepot, any time of the day, whenever I please. That is because I am blessed to be home, with my family. I am wrapped in the cocoon of my home, nestled within the joy of my family. This is a gift that I constantly take for granted, so I try to think of it often - as often as I fill my coffee cup.
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Want to join along? Post a daily thankfulness post from now until the end of November to share with others the blessings that God has poured upon you!

Happy Homemaker - November 9, 2009

2009-11-09T09:59:00.007-06:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Gorgeous weather - love Indian Summer...not as warm today, but at this point, we'll take any day without snow we can get.

One of my simple pleasures:
Reading, uninterrupted, with a cup of coffee in hand. Have I said that already? Probably. Oh, well.

On my bedside table:
Anything and everything Kristin Billerback. She makes me laugh with the way she writes. It is just fun writing. No brainer reading. Also on my bedside, Living by the Book. Love that bible study.

On my TV:
I think we're going to ditch all the recorded DWTS. Otherwise it's the same ol' same ol'...Top Chef date with my dh on Wednesday. I look forward to that all week.

On the menu for tonight:
I don't know. I plan to get to the store while JD is working on the set for TJ's play.

On my To Do List:
Laundry - tons of it! Oh, my. Colder temps make so much more laundry due to the jeans and sweatshirts!

New Recipe I tried last week:
I always plan to write them down, then never do! I made TOH's Seafood Enchiladas

In the craft basket:
Buttons, still

Looking forward to:
TJ's bday at the end of the week - need to get planning on what we're going to do to celebrate

Homemaking Tip for this week:
You know, I just got nothin' on this today. All I see is dust right now, which is clouding my tip knowledge

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Tiffany tipped me off to this great post about yelling...

Favorite photo from last week:
It's not from last week, but one I haven't posted yet...my boys at Grandma's. They love all her books.

Lesson learned the past few days:
Everyone needs a friend. It's just harder to be one to some people than others.

On my Prayer List:
My pastor
The military and their families
My spouse and my kids

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:Sometimes, an attitude of gratitude is not natural - at least for me. But, by focusing on it each and every day, and looking for God's blessings daily in my life, I see his glory and outpouring more clearly, and appreciate it even more!

Thankful thoughts...

2009-11-08T12:37:00.004-06:00

Special thanks to Mom of One for the great button link! She is onboard with the daily attitude of gratitude and made a wonderful button to link it all together. Won't you join us in the daily affirmation of all the things we are thankful for? Please make sure to let me know so I can read about your blessings as well!

Today, I am thankful for the freedom to worship my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I was able to get up this morning, pray in the comfort of my own home, drive to our church, and openly and freely sing and praise my God. We did not have to be secretive about our meeting place, quiet about our praises, but instead, we could shout it to the rooftops that we are saved by God's grace and through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus. I take for granted this right that we have here in the United States of America, and I am truly blessed to be able to say I am free -

1 It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
Psalm 92:1-2

God's blessings to each of you today!

Indian Summer

2009-11-07T11:26:00.002-06:00

It is a gorgeous day! Wow - I love it when the temps creep up and surprise us with extra days of warmth. It does bring out the boxelder and beetle bugs, but that is a small price to pay for the beautiful sunshine and warmth that is streaming into my house. We may just get the Christmas lights up in temps above freezing!

I've already whittled away part of the day, but enjoyed some time just relaxin' with my hubby. Which brings me to my gratitude post of the day:

I am humbly and blessedly aware of the amazingness of God in his selection for my mate. I am truly, truly blessed to have been led to Brad as my husband. God's divine hand has been apparent throughout our life. From high school to present day, this man has grown to love me more and more despite my insecurities, my failures, and my inadequacies. He has done this through deepening his relationship with Christ, and he is such a godly man and an example to me. God has shown me unconditional love, and my husband has worked hard to do the same. He is my soul mate, my confidant, my best friend. May I take the time to thank God for him EACH and EVERY day!!!
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Have a great day!

An attitude of gratitude

2009-11-06T17:23:00.003-06:00

My friend, Karen, is trying to blog each day about something she is thankful for. I love that challenge as we gear up for the Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas season. So, from now until the end of November, I am going to post something each day that I am thankful for...and, if I am truly inspired, I plan to attach a bible verse along with it to keep my focus where it should be. Won't you join me this month in listing daily your countless blessings? It can be a simple two line post, or attached at the end to an unrelated posting. Just take the time from now until November 30th to share the thoughts on your heart. If I knew how, I'd design a cute little bloggie button to post, but, instead, just let me know you are up for the challenge so I can check in with you and see your blessings!

An attitude of gratitude - November 6th, 2009
Today, I am thankful for my children. God has given me three wonderful blessings who now, amazingly, sit at the ages of 11, 9, and almost 7. Many times over I wonder at the thought that I am not only a mom, but have been for almost 12 years. The time has flown quickly, and it seems like only yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with my first. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showering the blessing of children upon my husband and me. May we never take our responsibilities lightly, but raise them as you would instruct us to do. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

God's blessings to each of you this month!

Friday musings and recipe

2009-11-06T09:03:00.005-06:00

I can't believe it is Friday already. The week has flown by, as they usually do. Today, we are supposed to be having temperatures in the mid 60's, so we have our Indian Summer groove on. We're hopefully going to complete our schooling by noon, and head out for an afternoon of fun at the park. However, if my sleepyheads don't get out of bed, there won't be much time for anything!

I am excited for the weekend - it sounds like it is going to be nice, and hopefully we can get the Christmas lights up on the house. Last year, we did it in frigid temps, so maybe we can be a bit more proactive this year! Don't worry, there's no chance they will be turned on until after Thanksgiving.

JT made Brad and I breakfast in bed this week. We were technically awake, doing our bible study in the warmth of our blankets. JT came up with a tray of scrambled eggs, two washed apples, a knife, and toast. Such a sweetheart and love how he has uch a caring heart. (I also love how they think they are surprising us, despite the clanging of pots in the kitchen! :)) As I write this now, I am hearing him unload the dishwasher, unprompted. I am so proud and honored to be his mom!

Since I love fall, I wanted to share with you a great, easy recipe for my favorite bread. I love any and all breads, and have found such joy in baking all of our bread from scratch over the past months. Here is a fall favorite of ours!

Pumpkin Gingerbread

3 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2/3 cup water
1 (16oz) can pumpkin
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp.
allspice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 ½ cups
flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 (5 x 9 inch) loaf pans, or 6 (5 ¾
x 3 ¼ inch) loaf pans. In large mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs. Beat
until smooth. Add water and beat until well blended. Beat in pumpkin and spices.
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Add dry
ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until all ingredients are
incorporated. Divide batter between 2 large or 5 small prepared pans. Bake until
toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour for large pans, or 45
minutes for small pans.
Yield: 2 large or 6 small gingerbreads

**Make it fast and furious tips…Skip combining the dry ingredients
separate – put directly in with the pumpkin mixture.

* Can, most likely,
do ½ cup applesauce and ½ cup oil with same results
* If using whole wheat
flour, reduce to 3 ¼ cups flour

And, finally, you know my fascination with sunsets...here is one from last Saturday. Have a great day!

Happy Homemaker - November 2, 2009

2009-11-02T13:23:00.004-06:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Beautiful...we're finally getting our fall season...I was afraid we had jumped to winter to stay!

One of my simple pleasures:
Sneaking my kids' Halloween candy. Just kidding. Reading in bed with my electric blanket. That's my pleasure.

On my bedside table:
A bunch of Kristin Billerback books. A bunch. I've got a whole passel of them and have to figure out which one to read when, in what order. I'm in the mindless reading phase right now.

Except that I have the ultimate contrast to the mindless reading also on my bedside table...Living by the Book. A long overdue promised post about that coming soon.

On my TV:
DWTS, Top Chef, Survivor - that's all we watch, well, except for Viking football...Go Vikes!

On the menu for tonight:
Just like last week, I am thinking we need to grill due to the weather. Did I say GORGEOUS???

On my To Do List:
Baking bars and cookies for church on Wednesday
Menu planning
Volunteer meeting tonight for TJ's play

New Recipe I tried last week:
Tried two new breads with good success - paired them both with chili yesterday.
http://zestycook.com/homemade-bubbly-beer-bread/
http://zestycook.com/quick-and-easy-whole-wheat-bread/

In the craft basket:
Nada, nothing...well, buttons to put on a coat, mending, hemming, hmmm. I guess I do have stuff in the craft basket

Looking forward to:
Is it too early to look forward to our vacation in January? We're heading to California! Yeah! We've got car and airline tickets booked, along with our second week of accomodations. Still need to finalize the first week.

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Make sure your towels get all the way dry or they will smell sour. Yep, they are on their second trip through the washer as we speak.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
None - but lots of good reads out there - can't pick a favorite!

Favorite photo from last week:
Need to download some more so I'm sure you'll see some new ones soon

Lesson learned the past few days:

I can't believe how much work it is to get our house clean before company comes over. I never think it is that bad until I think of someone coming ;)
If I don't get my bible study done first thing in the morning, the chances of it getting done significantly decrease
Having Halloween candy in the house greatly increases the odds of me getting fat

On my Prayer List:
My family
My pastor as he shepherds the flock
Our country
Our military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3: 16-19

Have a great week!

It's raining again...

2009-10-29T09:24:00.008-05:00

This is NOT how our days have looked recently!

It's one of those days - again. The one where I don't want to teach my kids, but I just want to curl up with a cup of coffee, in my bed, and read the day away. While this may be a good idea, and one which homeschoolers can afford to take periodically, I have the dreaded GUILT hanging over my head that I can't take an entire day just to read. Maybe I could give my kids the time, but, in my head, that would only free me up to work on some projects, clean, or do other things that need to be done. Good heavens. It's difficult to relax around here without the guilt train speeding in at full steam.

Couple of items to share:

TJ got a part in The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever and will be playing Gladys Hermdan. We're starting to work on memorizing her lines. There will be six performances the week before Christmas, so the schedule around here will jack up in intensity, particularly after Thanksgiving. I will be a parent volunteer, doing some backstage supervision and possibly some costume sewing.

We got our airline tickets (thanks for the Southwest tip, Amy!) booked for our trip to San Diego area in January and early February. Now we just have to finalize our car rental and our first week of accommodations. We're going to be ready to leave the frozen tundra at that time, and it will be here lickety split.

I think we will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner, so it's already time to start planning our menu for that. We will be making many traditional items, but hope to make everything from scratch as that is the path we have been following the past 6 months. I hope to post on that journey soon.

Our bible study, Living by the Book, has really prompted me to take a look at scripture in a more indepth way. I am really enjoying going through different parts of scripture, and dissecting and learning more than I ever have. I have found, that when I am able to do it first thing in the morning, I really do ponder it in my heart and ruminate over it for the whole day. It has been a fun challenge and a great time of learning for both Brad and I. Our early mornings are inconsistent due to other commitments, but we're working on doing it together in the AM as much as we can.
We've been working on improving the different Fruit of the Spirit around here - We have some room for improvement, but for the most part, it has been fun to recognize and "catch" the kids in acts of kindness, love, etc. However, it hasn't stopped the personality clashes between the youngest and the oldest. My, how those two are the same in temperament. It is amazing how stubborn they both are and how easily they can fly off the handle at each other. We need to continue to foster kindness and respect for each other - not an easy task, but if we don't nip this now...

One last thing - I haven't tried this Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe yet, but goodness knows I will be soon! Wanted to share it with you as well.

Well, there obviously haven't been any huge insights in this post, and I do need to get my children motivated for school. I promise to post something of interest sometime soon! :)

Happy Homemaker - October 26, 2009

2009-10-26T09:55:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Beautiful. Crisp, cool, sunny morning. Should be getting up to 50+ degrees and it is sunny - first time in a LONG time!

One of my simple pleasures:
Reading blogs with a cup of coffee and not feeling guilty or getting interrupted. (Rarely happens, but that makes it even more of a pleasure!)

On my bedside table:
Living By the Book bible study
Kristin Billerbeck - Ashley Stockingdale series

On my TV:
Lots of DWTS that I believe we will delete as we are so far behind
We'll watch Top Chef and Survivor this week

On the menu for tonight:
Still planning, but I am thinking we should grill as it should be up to 54 degrees

On my To Do List:
Menu planning
Cleaning off my desk
Finish going through TJ's clothes
Organize pantry cupboard and kitchen

New Recipe I tried last week:
Whenever I use them, I should write them down, b/c I tried a couple this week - I'll have to get back to you!

In the craft basket:
Ugh. Nothing right now...

Looking forward to:
Seeing how TJ's play practice goes - She got the part of Gladys Hermdon in The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever at our local theatre...they have 6 performances before Christmas so the schedule will be intense. She starts practice today!

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Play games with your children to make cleaning fun. We used a job jar this week with a reward at the end, when the jobs were finished.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Too many to choose from this week.

Favorite photo from last week:We were sorting through some clothes this week and came across some leather pants and a jacket that had been given to TJ. Funny how the persona changes as soon as she put them on...

Lesson learned the past few days:
These middle school years are a roller coaster of emotions - changing multiple times within the hour at times. Patience as parents is so important right now!

On my Prayer List:
My family
My pastor
Friends who have lost loved ones
The military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
We studied one of my favorites this week again, from Romans 5... 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Have a great week!

The post when I more or less get off on a huge tangent...

2009-10-22T19:51:00.012-05:00

I know, I know...deep in the heart of harvest season, I complain about how there is so little time, how I can't get it all done, how there's buckets of beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and beets all waiting for attention in my hot garage. I've run out of jars, I've switched over to freezing, the freezer bags are gone, I've got to run to the dreaded Stuffmart, I need to buy more jars, where's the lids, it's about time I bought myself a doggone funnel...yada, yada, yada.???
But, thanks for listening to me moan and groan - I do it every year, and then a couple of months later, when it has silently been declared (in my own mind) the official "we're late enough in the fall to feel justified to pop the much anticipated seal of our blessed canning jar" day, the chorus belts out their resounding rendition of the "Hallelujah Chorus" as I pull the can opener out of the drawer and hover for a moment over the Bell (or is it Mason this time?) label. Is it too soon? Am I tapping into the reserves earlier than I should? Will we run short if I start opening the jars aimlessly now rather than tomorrow, or next week? Is this truly the time and the place? Have I run out of fresh options from the garage? Are the sweet potatoes and squash not fitting for tonight's meal

As I obsess over this heart wrenching decision, my husband comes up behind me, grabs the can opener and pops it open himself. Well, not really, because he can't figure the Pampered Chef thing out, so he ruminates for a bit on a real can opener, never stopping once to think that this is only the type of lid that has to be popped off, not actually cut open. But, I digress.

Whhoooootttt. Ahhh, the lovely sound of a sealed jar being released from the inner sanctum. Who can resists the alter ego of the "ping" you hear as your reflect back to a hotter time of restlessly standing at attention, waiting for your precious little babies to seal themselves off from the outside world? Like a new mother, the release of the seal brings you full circle to the realization that you, yes you, preserved these fruits of your labor, in love (yes, that was love in August and September - however warped it looked at the time!), for your precious family. Like the labor process, you have forgotten the pain of planting, weeding, feeding, nurturing, harvesting, washing, peeling, prepping, heating, and sterilizing these precious commodities...the energy, crabbiness, and pruney fingers were all worth every ounce of effort as you stare into the jar of joy. And, now, you are going to create a masterpiece, based around this special little veggie...you don't need corn! (Good, because you don't have any right now...) Beans, yes, beans are rising to the top of the ingredient list tonight as you create (wait for it...) Shepherd's pie! Nothing will feature your canned beans better than a down home, comforting casserole such as this! And, wait, what did you say? You're opening another??? Yes, pickles. The perfect side dish, and, once again, you swell with pride as you remember how coddled those little seedlings were in the beginning, only to grow to a size that were too big to handle in any other setting but a sliced pickle. A tear forms as you reminisce on how quickly they grow. How quickly.
You open. You taste. You pucker. You spit. HOLY COW! Did we over do the vinegar just a tad? Wowza! These are some sour pickles. Are they all going to be like this? Relief washes over you as you realize you did them in two batches with a different recipe for each. Jars are going to quickly become available for the pantry cupboard at this rate. (A whole different post awaits about that!) There won't be lingering over the opening process going forward - if future jars are this sour, your compost pile will quickly be transformed. The disappoint rages, and you question your technique, your skill, but realize your success and canning don't always go hand in hand...the taste can only be as good as the recipe you used, and you were worried about this one from the get go. Oh, joy is fleeting, and you thank the Lord that you were blessed with the foresight to make refrigerator pickles, even if most of them are housed in the fridge at your husband's work, because fridge pickles use fridge space, of which yours is a precious commodity. Your confidence, however, is compromised, and you will now question on a yearly basis the desire and efforts to pickle cucumbers in a fashion which will be pleasing to self and others.

But, I digress. I must get supper on the table, and time is slipping by as I sit and ponder the wonders of the food preservation process. Canning may be slipping by the way as an art form, but I, for one, will continue to do my part in preserving the past...and preserving - for the future.
Until next time, when I may choose to exercise my vision of freezing foods for fun, not foolishly, but with fresh fervor...

Happy eating!

Equal time

2009-10-21T11:18:00.007-05:00

I figured since I posted some good girly girl pictures of my daughter lately - seriously, how much more girly can you get than being dressed in a wedding dress? - it was time to share a little bit about the boys. The boys have been enduring cold temperatures, WELL out of the normal range for fall around here, to play flag football through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both boys have previously been involved in the tackle football program, but this year we made the switch to flag for a number of reasons. The tackle program was quite intense for practice and game schedule, which was doubly intensive due to having boys in two separate age groups. Plus, we wanted to give them a chance to experience a variety of positions rather than be locked into one. Finally, the devotions and comradarie with other Christian athletes naturally drew us in, so we jumped in and made the switch.

It's been an interesting season, and fraught with rain and snow delays and changes. Overall, I think both boys have enjoyed the process, and they will finish their season this coming Sunday afternoon with make up games and awards. In anticipation, I thought I would post a few pics of the action...

We're off to church activities and a great speaker...my father-in-law! Hope you all have a great rest of the day!

Happy Homemaker - October 19, 2009

2009-10-19T08:57:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Cool and crisp morning...it's been much colder than normal here but today should be perfect - in the low 60's.

One of my simple pleasures:
Dark chocolate - GOOD dark chocolate...AND taking the time to enjoy it

On my bedside table:
What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck = funny!

On my TV:
Way behind on Dancing with the Stars so we will most likely delete
We have only been able to keep up with Survivor and Top Chef - that's all we've been watching

On the menu for tonight:
Football games tonight so I have to figure out something quick and easy - suppose I'll put some soup in the crockpot

On my To Do List:
So much on this list - Brad was a tremendous help this weekend even though he wasn't feeling good. I have had back spasms for three days and they are finally better today. So, the grandiose ideas for the nice weekend kind of went down the drain. Need to prioritize and get some things done today, but still take it easy

New Recipe I tried last week:
I tried a polenta lasagna last night from a magazine - okay, but not enough to make again
Also made the pioneer woman's red potatoes
Homemade fajita mix

In the craft basket:
Buttons to sew on some pants

Looking forward to:
Get together for women at church tomorrow night
Also, looking forward to having my back be at 100% - pain is so mind consuming

Homemaking Tip for this week:
I discovered that my dishwasher, which is next to my sink, kicks off a lot of heat during the drying cycle - enough heat that it may affect the flavor of my extra items that I store under the sink - olive oil in particular. I had never thought of how warm it would get under there, so now I have to find a new spot for those items!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I didn't get as many read this week as I usually do

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
Middle school years are rocked with changes in mood and behavior. Many times, you just have to sit and listen and wait for the rant to end.

On my Prayer List:
My family
My pastor
The military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Brad and I are facilitating a very powerful class this year called Living by the Book. It shows how to really get into God's Word and study it. The bible is really coming alive. I was particularly moved this week by Isaiah 55 as it speaks to joy and hope beyond our current every day circumstances. God has a plan for us, and whether it is involving joy, or pain, he is faithful and true.

Have a great day!

A blast to the future...

2009-10-16T10:59:00.003-05:00

When we were at my mom's this past weekend, my daughter came up from the basement all decked out in this beautiful wedding dress:

I about had a fit, thinking she had rummaged through my mom's heirloom items to pull out this dress. But, my mom, in true giving fashion, stated that she had pulled it out for the kids to wear as dress up since it wasn't doing anybody any good being stored in a bag in the back of a closet.

I was pondering that today, as I think about the things I don't use - saving them for a special occasion, or for a later date. How many candles do I have that are mere decoration, but have scents that would warm the house if I just lit them? Why do special dishes get stored away to use but once or twice a year? Is my family not special enough to periodically pull them out and make a memory just for the fun of it?

I like my mom's attitude. She brought such joy to my daughter and all her other granddaughters as well. Sharing such a special piece of her past, and seeing the joy of her grandkids as they "ooo" and "aahhh" over such a beautiful dress...what a blessing.

It seems I do this with God's love as well. I store it internally, keeping it to myself, pondering and thinking about how I can share it with others, but never quite taking that step out of my comfort zone. Thoughts of "there will be a better time", "I'm not quite ready", or "I might be rejected" all take center stage. I can justify it quite easily...I have hopes of people just seeing the joy radiating from me and then THEY'LL ask ME about what makes me tick...rather than me taking the first step.

I like my comfort zone. I like the boundaries that I have set up - the comfortableness of this lackadaisical attitude. But, that's not what I've been called to do. God didn't accept me into his kingdom only to have me take up space and sit idly by. He commissioned me to get my bum in gear and reach out to others. He's challenging me today to do that.

And every day.

I want to make my baby steps into giant leaps. I pray he gives me springs on my shoes.

These are the days...

2009-10-14T21:26:00.006-05:00

And they sure fly by...

We had a whirlwind trip to Minneapolis last weekend, filled with family and fun. We experienced snow...
Sweeping views of downtown Minneapolis...
And a silly game called Hammerschlagen...
Yes, this is a silly little German game which involves hitting a nail into a piece of wood - with the wrong edge of the hammer. It ends up being quite humorous, and we were entertained for multiple rounds.

Upon our return back to the frozen ground we call home, we scrambled to get back into the swing of things in our 48 degree house. We did turn the heat on once we got home (doggone it) and are living life high on the hog at 65 degrees throughout the day. :) We're hoping for temps to head back into the 50's this weekend so I can get out and take a few kid photos on the rare chance that I find colored leaves still on the trees as opposed to the ground.

As always, life continues to fly by and we have to make a choice to sit back and enjoy it. I pray I can share with you all soon some of the many things floating around in my mind. Until then, have a great day!

Heading out...

2009-10-09T14:39:00.003-05:00

We're taking a real quick break and heading up to see my family in Minneapolis this weekend...we're going to leave tonight after Brad gets done at the office, and then venture back early Monday morning. I'm looking forward to it, despite the fact that it will fly by.

Prepping to go has involved getting all the plants in, pulling the last of the pepper plants, and getting as many of the apples processed as I could since it is going to be below freezing most of the weekend with a chance of snow on two different days! I don't remember it ever snowing earlier than the end of October, so we are definitely not prepared for it to happen!

So, in the meantime, while I am gone, I leave you with these fall images. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Oh, baby, it's cold outside...

2009-10-07T09:58:00.010-05:00

A beautiful morning today, but it is only 42 degrees as I stand on my front porch and take this picture... The leaves are really starting to turn, but colder weather is coming so I am sure the color will be short lived. We're well below our normal temps, yet we still hold out hope that the temperatures will rebound and give us a few warm days yet in October. This guy, however, thinks his fur is not offering ample protection from the elements, so proceeds to block the entrance until someone (mainly me) lets him in the house.Little does he know, because we have yet to turn the heat on in this 60 degree ice chest, as flipping the thermostat to heat tends to admit defeat and a passive acceptance that the season of cold is here to stay. So, instead, we make accomodations. For instance, we broke down and put our heating blanket on our bed this week, by far the earliest introduction of this element compared to past seasons. It beckoned my middle child this morning, complete with Literature book, math book, and writing instruments.
My oldest also made the most of a warm, sunny spot on the floor, and, well, I'd show you a picture of it, but in the process of trying to upload it to my computer, my camera drivers crashed, and after working with Dell and locking up my entire computer, I now have a new part on its way along with a handy dandy service technician sometime in the next 48 hours. :) Archie, from Dell, was most helpful and I am soooooo thankful for warranties. I didn't tell him that maybe the parts in my computer froze up (literally) but did have to give him my cell phone number as an alternative way to reach me as I think our cordless phone batteries are being drained faster due to the temperature. :)

So, anyway, I'm way off schedule after my little computer escapade...Time to back up the photos because even a new computer can crash! Gotta go find my gloves, though, as my coffee has gotten cold and is no longer keeping my fingers warm - HA!

And, for the record, lest you think we are abusing our children by not turning on the heat, they are currently running around in shorts and claiming they are too hot in the basement. Oh, to have the metabolism of a child.

Happy Homemaker - October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T08:36:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Rainy and cool...seems to be a trend for the past few Mondays

One of my simple pleasures:
My heated/electric blanket...a necessity in our house! I haven't put it on the bed yet, but am thinking seriously about adding it this week!

On my bedside table:
In the Still of the Night
Food Matters
Living by the Book
Taste of Home magazine

On my TV:
We missed Survivor last week and for some reason our DVR didn't record it
Dancing with the Stars
It's a busy week with meetings each night so not sure if we are going to get time to watch them this week or not

On the menu for tonight:
Since it's raining, football is questionable at this point - that always screws up our evening meal plan. I've been heavy on the soup the past few days so need to get a bit more creative this week - AND, I really need to get to the store!

On my To Do List:
Grocery shopping and co-op...I am totally out of wheat, milk, yeast, and eggs!
Finish applesauce after I get more jars
Meetings this week

New Recipe I tried last week:
Tried two different apple crisp recipes from our church cookbook - they were both yummy!

In the craft basket:
I have buttons to sew on some clothes and some gardening tasks to complete

Looking forward to:
Continuing to see the leaves change and hopefully they can stay on the trees a bit longer so we can enjoy them

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Man, I seem to have nothing this morning of any relevance to share! :) How about this one? If you have the space, keep all of the cleaning supplies for a bathroom in the bathroom. Make a list for your kids to complete - a step by step process, and teach them how to clean the bathroom and take ownership. Plus, if all the supplies are right in the bathroom already, you can do a quick clean up as necessary.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Bella Mella continues to amaze me as she journeys with her son who has cancer. This post is quite the witness to how the bible applies to our everyday situations.

Favorite photo from last week: I've got two (equal time for all the kiddos. :))

Lesson learned the past few days:
Life needs to be revamped and reorganized - well, actually rePRIORITIZED often, as it is very easy to get off track with what is important.

On my Prayer List:
My pastor
My spouse
My kids
My extended family
The military and all who sacrifice for our country
Andrew (see button link on my right column)

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
We've started teaching an indepth bible study called Living by the Book. Well, we are not teaching it per se, but facilitating it. I am excited about digging into the word on a deeper level, and searching for the deeper meaning. I have been a Christian all my life which sometimes can be a detriment to biblical study. Verses that are familiar get glossed over time and again, so I need to take the time to stop and inwardly digest...the word ruminating (I love that word...) came up time and again in our class yesterday. I look forward to sharing more of my journey as we become more immersed in the class.

Have a blessed week!

Oh me, Oh my, how the time does fly...

2009-10-02T13:28:00.005-05:00

It seems like this is a general theme of my blog posts as of late. It's crazy, though, when I look and see that it is Friday already and I haven't posted since Monday. I love to write down my thoughts, but I am finding it harder and harder to carve out the time to do so!

This week, our receptionist was sick, so I am the back up! We were able to juggle Brad's schedule for two days so he could be home half days with the kiddos. We filled in with Grandpa and Grandma the first day, and then I took calls from home for part of the second while he was at the office, then we switched. He was able to come home and teach while I was at the office with the other doc...Thankfully, it appears that his receptionist will make it through the day today and then have two add't days to get back up to 100%. She suffers with chronic migraines, so works through the pain much of the time. We know she is really hurting when she has to call in sick.

The weather has been cold and rainy this week, so it just begs for reading and soup! Today, we all sat on the couch and read Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle for awhile - it's fun to see the boys still wanting to sit and listen when I read to TJ. If I would have had the heating blanket on my bed, I think we would have crawled in there to read! I am fighting the temptation to spend the afternoon in my bed as I have 2 bushels of apples to put up. We went to a local orchard last Sunday and took advantage of their windfalls...I got 2 bushels for $14 total. They only spray before the blossoms come out, so they are about as close to organic and pesticide free as you can get. They are so yummy, so the applesauce should be good. I just have to clear my counters off in order to make them messy again!

So, while I may not get to sleep or read the afternoon away, I will be able to get some baking and sauce done. My kiddos have entertained themselves with building a carnival in our basement, so I am being called to the fish pond and the mini golf course. I hear I get tokens to cash in for some really cool prizes...one prize is 3 jobs of choice by a child! Sweet! I hope I get enough tokens to trade in for that one!!

Have a great day...Take the time to thank the Lord for the blessings in your life. While they are too numerous to count, pick five and praise him for those!

Happy Homemaker - September 28, 2009

2009-09-28T13:47:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Beautiful - sunny and cool. Upper 50's today.

One of my simple pleasures:
The "heel" of the bread shortly after I remove it from the oven.
I use this recipe and seem to bake this yummy bread every Monday.

On my bedside table:
Same Kind of Different as Me - excellent book! I can't remember who recommended it to me, but thanks!!

On my TV:
Well, we're already behind on Dancing with the Stars so probably will just click delete and start fresh tonight. Additionally, we watch Top Chef on Wednesday evenings as a date with my spouse, and Survivor has restarted...I'm not a big fan of the people on it this time so far...and I hate all the conflict.

On the menu for tonight:
Finally have tonight's meal in process - Ground beef stroganoff in the crock pot for when we get home from football.

On my To Do List:
Just finished schooling the boys with a bit to finish with TJ yet. However, we have frost coming this evening so we're going to head up and clean off the remainder of the garden. Hoping to keep the peppers going though so will cover them this eve.

New Recipe I tried last week:
Thanks to Leigh for this yummy one! Crock pot Cheesy Shredded Pork Tacos...

In the craft basket:
Can beans, start putting away all the garden stuff...

Looking forward to:
Hmmm. A little getaway maybe in two weeks?

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Your kids can do windows... :)

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Karen always seems to hit the nail on the head, and I particularly enjoyed this post...

Favorite photo from last week:Signs that we're getting towards the end of the growing season...harvesting some BIG sweet potatoes (well, just one)

Lesson learned the past few days:
Prayer and trust can keep the demons away...Satan knows where your weaknesses are so stay on the offensive and ward him off at the pass.

On my Prayer List:
My pastor, that he may stay strong and healthy while he shepherds the flock
My marriage, that I can be a godly wife
My kids, that they will grow to love the Lord each and every day
Brad and I, that we can minister to those around us of God's love and faithfulness

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
This struck me yesterday during my pastor's sermon...(Well, lots of things struck me, but this one in particular)..."As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him." I Samuel 17:48 Goliath sauntered with such confidence and pride, while David RAN to meet him - he didn't cower, he didn't fear, he didn't hesitate, he RAN. David was a hero...we need to be heroes in our own life, each and every day, running to the possibilities that God has placed in front of us!

Have a great week!

The life of our dog...

2009-09-26T16:18:00.010-05:00

Our dog, Baxter, is bit over 70 years old in dog years. He has lived the outdoor life, chasing wildlife, scaring up pheasants, bringing home carcasses...all the special tasks that make him the top alpha in his book.

But, lately, within the past year or so, his thoughts and actions have turned to one other mission...getting in the house.

It all starts with the longing...

This dog has one goal in mind...

And, he's not going to let you forget what his goal is, because when there is a puppy look...

He won't settle for anything less...

Than the joy and knowledge of knowing...

That today's mission has been accomplished...

At least for the time being...

A few moments...

2009-09-24T15:19:00.003-05:00

I have decided, that if you ever want to know where your kids are, just go to the bathroom. In this house, 9 out of 10 times I go to the bathroom, within mere seconds a child will knock on the door with a comment, question, or deep need of something DIRELY important (in their mind at least). However, right now, all children are out of the house, and I have a few moments to ponder, reflect, and just sit. But, instead, I have been trying to quick empty the dishwasher, load it back up again, clean the counter, chang into something besides my most comfortable yoga pants, so I can head down to visit quick with Brad's aunt, who is visiting at my in-laws down the street. Two of my three children have walked down already, and the third is out with daddy for a bit of a date.

But, here I sit. Here I am, in between jobs...tasks that need to be completed - not even really in between, because the dishwasher sits open, in a state of transition - just emptied, ready for loading. But, the computer beckoned, and off I went to see what it had in store for me. I watched a little video, clicked "like" to a couple of items, starred a recipe to use in the future, and got an update from Bella Mella regarding her son, Andrew. Which prompts me to stop, right now, and pray, for a few moments. He's young, and battling cancer. It just hits me right in the stomach. Probably because I have been imagining it being my oldest, and I wonder if I would be a witness to my Lord and Savior through it all. Would I be able to comfort my son through the agony of treatment? Would my son feel the comfort of Jesus? Would others see Jesus through me?

I'm taking some moments to reflect on that, and pray.

Oh, and I'm also going to thank the Lord for the health he has given to us. What little things befall us each and every day that cause my mood to swing, or give me a "poor me" attitude. They are nothing in the grand scheme of things. We are blessed. I know it. I just don't always show it.

I'm going to reflect on that as well.

It's the best use of my time in these few moments I have, right now.

Won't you take a few moments to do the same?

Cutie pie

2009-09-22T09:11:00.005-05:00

Proud donor of the TFTF Foundation (Teeth for Tooth Fairies)...

...and our little tomboy!

Happy Homemaker - Sept 21, 2009

2009-09-21T09:38:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Rainy and cooler - perfect for a blanket and a book

One of my simple pleasures:
Um, see first question... a blanket and a book :)

On my bedside table:
Food Matters by Mark Bittman (from the library, but I'm going to buy my own copy)

On my TV:
On the DVR - Survivor (if they reran it Sat night like they said) and DWTS starts tonight. Top Chef on Wednesday - it's fall tv watching time!

On the menu for tonight:
If the football game gets rained out, we'll have Tator tot hotdish; otherwise sandwiches on the go

On my To Do List:
Office organization
Work catch-up
Laundry today - LOTS of it

New Recipe I tried last week:
YUM! Amish brown bread from Evening Shade Morning Latte; Veggie Frittata from Food Matters

In the craft basket:
Still gardening...

Looking forward to:
Well, is it too early to look forward to Friday?

Homemaking Tip for this week:
I've said it before and I'll say it again...Put a piece of saran wrap down on a plate before putting raw meat on it to grill. After placing on grill, remove wrap and plate is clean for when you remove it from the grill

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I'm leaving this one blank this week because I can't find the post I was looking for - and, I branched off of someone's blog to a new one and now can't find that one either!!

Favorite photo from last week:Our first dig found this sweet potato! Half of it fed our family last night for supper!

Lesson learned the past few days:
Involve your children in what you are doing - put margin in your day to make sure you have the time to teach and assist

On my Prayer List:
All of our new bible study leaders at our church
Our pastor
My family

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Psalm 119 has been on our minds and hearts this week, particularly v 18: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of they law."

Have a wonderful week!

MY way versus the RIGHT way

2009-09-18T09:21:00.003-05:00

Ever have one of those "A-ha" moments? One of those light bulb moments where it all just comes together and you see what everyone else sees, despite years and years of thinking you were perfect? Well, maybe not perfect. But, let's admit, I know that my way has been the right way all this time. Hasn't it?

Last night, some dear friends of mine from church came over for a time of prayer. All our husbands are deacons at our church, so we try to have purposeful prayer time to cover them with God's guidance and peace as they make decisions affecting the flock. While we spend time in prayer, we also make sure we have plenty of time for chatting, laughing, sharing, and, of course, eating! So, as I was getting everything ready last night, my two children eagerly wanted to get in on the action (one was at football practice in case you think I have one child who didn't care to share his talents...) As usual, I was under a strict time frame as I hadn't built in any margin for additional help from my kiddos, so, begrudgingly, I found some jobs for them.

Job #1:
"JD, can you open these nuts and put them in this bowl?"

"No, I don't want them mixed with chocolate chips. Just in the bowl would be fine."

"No, I don't think we want to add peanut butter or butterscotch chips either. Just the nuts. That's all I want in the bowl."

"Actually, I don't particularly care for the design and seeing how high it can go in the bowl. They won't be able to scoop the nuts out with a spoon if you don't take some out."

"Yep, just put them on the table."

"No, we don't need to have a design on the table. Anywhere is fine."

"No, the decorations are fine. Simple is sometimes best."

"No, I don't think the tooth fairy will bring you a throwing knife."

"That is fine, right there. Yes, right there. On the end. Yes, there."

Job #2:
"You know how we cut the grapes apart into manageable sections? Here's the platter for them - green on one side, red on the other."

"No, you don't need to alternate every other one. Just one color per side is fine."

"Yes, I realize we can make that side extra tall, but I am thinking it would look better if it were a bit more even."

Job #3:
"You want to use the apple cutter? That's fine - I'd love for you to do that. Here's a plate. Use three of the red and three of the green."

"No, you can't slam it down on the cutting board like that...that will bruise the apples."

"That is going to bruise the apples if you keep hitting it against the cutting board. I know it is hard. I can help if you want."

"I'll help you if you need it."

"Give me that thing."

"Yes, you can alternate the colors if you want. That would be pretty. But first you have to dip them in lemon juice so they don't turn brown."

"A 2.3 on the acid scale, huh? I didn't know that."

"Yes, it does hurt if you have a hang nail."

"Run it under cold water. That should help."

"Give me that. I'll do it. You put them on the plate."

"No, we'll put the caramel in the bowl on the side."

"No, you don't need to alternate with bananas. Just the apples would be fine."

"Yes, you do make a wonderful banana and apple plate, but tonight I just want the apples."

Job #4:
"Go ahead and put the candy corn in this dish."

"Yes, you may have a few after you finish so that you don't spread your germs."

"Actually, don't put them into those holes on the side of the dish. Those are for decorations."

"Well, I'd prefer you just put them in the bowl."

"Alright, leave them that way. I am sure the ladies will love it, just like you said."

Job #5:
"The pecans should go around the outside of the cake in a circle, and then make an inner circle that alternates with the outside."

"No, I don't want a B on the cake for our last name."

"No, I don't think we need a gun on the cake made out of nuts."

"No, chocolate chips aren't necessary."

"No, I don't particularly care for candy corn on the cake."

"Just the nuts would be fine."

"Yes, it looks perfect, honey. Thanks for your help."

Outside they both went to be happy greeters and help our guests find their way into the house. Cheerfully they welcomed each of them, and made me proud to be their mom.

I learned, through this (somewhat painful at the time) process, that my ideas aren't always right, aren't always the best, and there is more than one way to decorate a carrot cake. What is important is having kids by your side who want to contribute and make a difference...may I never forget to build a margin into my day to share the joys of working together!

Happy Homemaker - Sept 14, 2009

2009-09-13T21:45:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!
The weather in my neck of the woods:
Going to be warm today - seems like we have had more of summer in September than we did the entire month of August.

One of my simple pleasures:
A guilt free nap on a Sunday afternoon - haven't had one (the nap) in eons, so am hoping when the weather turns colder I can put one into the schedule - (how sad is that - to have to schedule a nap???)

On my bedside table:
Food Matters - Mark Bittman
A Cousin's Prayer - Wanda Brunstetter

On my TV:
Top Chef every Wednesday night (my weekly date with my dh for the late night showing)
Survivor starts this week (although, it looks like a lot of eye candy)

On the menu for tonight:
Football games tonight so food on the fly - sandwiches and soup

On my To Do List:
Can/freeze all the tomatoes in my garage that I picked on Tuesday

New Recipe I tried last week:
Granola
Pioneer Woman's Steak with Blue Cheese

In the craft basket:
I have some buttons to sew on and some animals to repair due to to much lovin'

Looking forward to:
The boys playing flag football tonight
Getting the tomatoes canned

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Glass jars make great containers for reusable items from the health foods store...nuts, lentils, wheat berries - can see how low you are at a glance.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I love the outlook of Bella-Mella...her son was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor over the past week, and what a witness they have been so far. And, they show how everything is in God's timing. Read back through the past posts, and experience their story - Andrew is fighting the good fight. Won't you join me in praying for them as well?

Favorite photo from last week:Our view from the kayak

Lesson learned the past few days:
Satan wants you to think one thing, when indeed an issue may be stemming from something entirely different. He may want you to not see the obvious, because you may focus then on something even more detrimental or something that will further HIS work and deceit. Always be on guard and in prayer.

On my Prayer List:
My church and pastor
My spouse and many things weighing on his mind
My family, that we may bring up our children to be lights in a dark world
Andrew
The families of the 9/11 tragedies

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Psalm 91 was of particular comfort this week as the 9/11 tragedies were being remembered. It is comforting to know that we have a God that is never changing, and always by our side. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress: my God, in whom I trust." verse 1-2

Have a great week!

Our "Staycation"

2009-09-11T12:35:00.005-05:00

Two weeks ago, we set up camp in our "East 40" (although it is certainly not 40 acres, but it sounds cool) and had ourselves a little staycation. Brad mowed a section out of our long grass, which eventually will be our orchard someday. In the meantime, it makes a perfect site for a couple of tents, a campfire, some lawn chairs, and family fun.

Whittling...
Breakfast for supper - nothing wrong with that!

The campsite...

Watching the day end...

The day was waning, the moon arisin', and the world was settling down for the night. Unfortunately for me, no air mattress in my tent means mom sleeps inside tonight! Being married to a chiropractor is awesome, but I don't like to provide him any extra work if I can avoid it! While I love to camp, I do have my requirements, and an air mattress on the lumpy, bumpy ground is a must. Lo and behold, our big air mattress doesn't fit inside our tent door when it is already blown up, and we didn't have enough cord to run electric to the tent, so, I headed in to our house (and my nice warm bed) while everyone else roughed it outside. It got down to 42 degrees that night as well, so all of them snuggling together in one tent was a great idea! I wouldn't have fit anyway with that sleeping plan!

The next morning, the campers awoke to a gorgeous day, complete with fog over the foothills and the sun peaking through. What a glorious scene to behold prior to heading to church!

Amazingly enough, that was the first time we had our tents out this summer, and hopefully we'll be able to get them out a time or two again yet this fall. All I know, is whether we take a big vacation, or stay at home, when families are together, memories are made!

The joys of summer

2009-09-09T13:53:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago, we made a large purchase. It had been a planned purchase, one we had been saving for, but nevertheless, it was pretty big around here. A certain someone had a birthday, and had been wanting one of these for a long, long time. And, what good is one, if you have to go it alone? Thus, the reason for two!
You should always kayak with a buddy. All the kids are able to use the smaller one, so anyone can join daddy for a relaxing ride on the lake -

Or, perhaps a ride down the river would be in order... All I know is that summer will be drifting by faster than ever now!

Weekend re-cap

2009-09-08T08:30:00.006-05:00

It's back to school this morning, but not before I spend a few minutes sharing how wonderful our weekend was! The weekend was absolutely beautiful, and had a full moon to boot! We spent part of Saturday celebrating our nephew's birthday with a picnic and a trip to the zoo. The rest of the day was a combination of front porch time, reading, cooking, and being together as a family.

Sunday was such an exciting day - we ventured out to Lifelight. Lifelight is the largest free Christian music festival in the United States. Three days worth of people brought well over 300,000 people from my understanding. We ventured out to the venue (a field) on Sunday afternoon to listen to Decemberadio, Andrew Palau, Lincoln Brewster, and the Newsboys. What an exciting and uplifting time this was! To be immersed in God's message of truth and life, sitting and standing and praising God amongst thousands of other Christians...words fail to express the emotion. From my understanding, many unbelievers attend as well, and I think they would be hard pressed to walk away without feeling the Spirit!

Honestly, though, what touched my heart more than anything was seeing TJ, JT, and JD worshipping their Lord and Savior with hands raised up, singing along with all the Newsboys songs that they knew - glorifying God and praising him. My prayer for them is to have this faith ALL through their life! Andrew Palau spoke of being wayward for 27 years - it doesn't matter if you have a pastor as a father, or are raised in the most biblical of homes. Children with the best parenting in the world still stray from the path they were raised in. But, Andrew's parents did the only things they could - they loved him, prayed for him unceasingly, and continued to speak the word of truth to him. Eventually, (27 years later!) Andrew recommitted his life to the Lord. It gives hope to me as a parent, but I think it is also important for my kids to hear of these things that pull them away from what they believe - alcohol, drugs, pornography, and much more can lure them away from God. Standing firm through the trials and temptations is extremely difficult, but ultimately rewarding. I pray they came away from Lifelight with that message!

Andrew Palau:

Main stage:
Sunset:
Rockin' out with Lincoln Brewster:

May God continue to bless and keep our families safe in his fold, now and forevemore!

Pray for Andrew

2009-09-05T21:54:00.003-05:00

Through another blog site, I linked into a family who just received horrific news regarding their son, Andrew. I have read through most of the blog, and find my heart just reaching out to this family as they walk through the valley. Please join me as I lift prayers up for this family - he's about the same age as my oldest, and it makes me realize even more how life is a gift given from God, and we should live every day to the fullest -and, more importantly, to his glory!

Please join me then, today, and going forward, in praying for Andrew.

And, hug your kids a bit extra today.

Rainy days

2009-09-03T09:01:00.004-05:00

Rainy days are such a call to curl up with a good book, a blanket, and a cup of coffee. Well, at least in my mind. The cloud cover is heavy and oppressing this morning, so saturated that they must release the overwhelming amount of moisture nestled within. The drops meet the ground, first as a gentle pitter-patter, but soon increasing the crescendo to an all out escape, bathing the earth and washing it clean, while nourishing all that it touches.

So it is with God's love as well. Sometimes it is but a gentle whisper on the breeze, seeking us out, calling us to come near, and be with him. Other times the storms of life rage and we call out to Jesus to envelop us in his peace, comfort, and care. He's always there, he's always with us. Whether it be tears shed for a deceased fish, or comfort of the loss of a loved one, he's there. Whether it be for calm for today's test, or embarking on a new and exciting journey, he's there. Whether we ask for it or not, he's there. Nothing is more constant. Nothing is sweeter. Nothing nourishes better. God's love is HERE, and he wants you to take it.

For through life's trials and temptations, through the days ups and downs, through the good and the bad, through the ominous days of life, our God reigns, and does so with love and mercy. What an amazing gift he has given us - the ability to never, ever be alone. To never have to do something on our own. To never feel lost and not have a way out. Those days are gone - gone! The death on the cross crossed over that chasm that previously separated us from God, and drew us together. We are washed clean, with the blood of the Lamb, and nourished by it as well.

Time to curl up with my coffee, a blanket, and a good book...the GOOD book. God is calling me. Is he calling you today?

Happy Homemaker - August 31, 2009

2009-08-30T22:36:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
What a gorgeous morning - started out below 50 degrees, heading towards 75 degrees. Feels like fall!

One of my simple pleasures:
Warm slippers on a cool morning
Sleeping with the window open
Quiet, peaceful evenings

On my bedside table:
The Secret, Beverly Lewis
The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor, Amy Hollingsworth

On my TV:
Top Chef on Wednesdays - right now it is the only thing we watch...although I haven't been too pumped about it the past few weeks

On the menu for tonight:
Want to try something new, so need to search the recipe books a bit...really want sushi but don't have a bamboo mat yet...imagine, I can't find one in this town!

On my To Do List:
Pick beans
Stay on top of laundry this week
Clean one room a day this week, particularly the kitchen (a girl can dream, can't she?)

New Recipe I tried last week:
Pickle relish(Just look away when you're adding all the sugar!!)
Oatmeal wheat bread (Yum!)I actually made it from scratch and appreciate how it doubles as a work out for my triceps when I knead the dough!

In the craft basket:
Beans, beans, more beans...they keep a comin'
Tomatoes - not as many, but they are keeping me busy as well

Looking forward to:
Lifelight this upcoming weekend...Lincoln Brewster and Newsboys are topping my list

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Um, make sure the blender cap is on securely before starting...

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
My friend Missy had a great post this past week that I feel compelled to share with all of you...don't WAIT - read it now...

Favorite photo from last week:Camping in our backyard...

Lesson learned the past few days:
I have built in knee jerk reactions to many triggers...I need to learn to retrain them and think first, then act in love

On my Prayer List:
Those torn apart within their own church due to recent decisions
Our pastor, who commits to preaching the Truth
Our children, as they grow up in this crazy world, that God will be their all in all

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
But He said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the world of God and observe it." Luke 11:28

Have a great day!

Howdy!!!

2009-08-26T22:25:00.006-05:00

Raise your hand if you are sick and tired of me telling you all how busy I am...Yeah, I see you all raising them and waving them frantically. I feel like I've been ranting and raving about the shortage of time in a day, and I'm doggone tired of complaining. I'm picking myself up by my boot straps and knockin' it off. Eeyore, step aside...I'm turning into Winnie the Pooh.

Well, not really. And, most likely, I'll keep complaining. But, not today. I'm just stopping in to say hello, and hopefully, if all goes well, barring unforeseen circumstances, I will soon be back to my regular blogging schedule. :) Not that there is one, but more often than once or twice a week is my goal.

You see, I love to write - I really do. I love to share my random thoughts and struggles. Because, I am real - a real wife, mother, woman, friend, sister, daughter, aunt, Christian, teacher, and bonafide nut case sometimes. :) But, I know there are many of you out there who can relate, and I am blessed to have found such wonderful "friends" through the internet...I'm looking forward to sharing more with you and growing together.

We started school this past Monday, which is a whole post in itself. But, I am going to reserve judgement for a week, and by then I will be sure to have a whole gamut of things to say. So far, all is well, and the attitude in the household has been positive - even from ME! :) We're still finding our wings in our current grade levels and know we are getting some of the kinks out. But, I am confident this will be a great year for all of us.

I put up 14 quarts of quartered tomatoes this afternoon and hope to get to the Roma ones tomorrow. Thinking about freezing them as I ran out of quart jars - that hasn't happened to me in years! I'm too cheap to go buy new, so I may scrounge around with my mom and sis and see if they have any to send my way...see if I can limp through for a bit until then. ;) Seriously, freezing is an option so I need to research it a bit more. Now that I have my handy dandy food saver, I am more apt to put something in the freezer knowing that the freezer burn won't be an issue.

Well, I've had a full day and still have a couple of things left to check off. I hope to see you all soon and make the rounds again to visit you as well. Bonnie, again, THANK YOU for your info on Google reader...life has not been the same since.

A couple of pictures to leave you with tonight...

Camo - the color of fun

Little TJ on the Prairie

There are no words...

Have a great day!

Happy Homemaker -August 24, 2009

2009-08-23T21:57:00.006-05:00

Thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
The weather has been so GORGEOUS this summer...today is going to hit 86 degrees but will cool down later in the day with some thunderstorms.

One of my simple pleasures:
The first, juicy tomato straight from the garden with a little salt. YUMMY!

On my bedside table:
Eating Well magazine
My bible
Three new books from the library, yet to be started
An empty Advil PM canister

On my TV:
Top Chef started a new season so that is all that we have on - we watch it LATE on Wednesday nights - 11pm date for me my hubby.

On the menu for tonight:
Time to do the weekly planning - tonight is chicken on the grill with fresh veggies

On my To Do List:
We're starting school today and my list is still pretty long - top couple of things are to continue to get things organized for school (I hate starting when I'm not completely ready) and canning tomatoes will probably hit this week as well

New Recipe I tried last week:
I tried a couple of new ones - but BLT's and gazpacho hit the spot this week!

In the craft basket:
Still gardening

Looking forward to:
Lifelight concert Labor Day weekend - Newsboys!

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Canning jars with lids make great (and pretty!) holders for things such as herbs.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
You know, once again, so many good posts this week that I am not going to pick a favorite

Favorite photo from last week:Might not have been last week, but close...poor kid doesn't have a tee to practice from, so he made his own!

Lesson learned the past few days:
It's never all going to get done, so pick and choose, and then live!

On my Prayer List:
Our pastor and family
Our church
Our family for a good school year

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I used this recently, but am thinking about this for our theme verse this year in school...Romans 5:3-5 "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

Have a great day!

The fridge is too small!!!

2009-08-21T17:41:00.002-05:00

I have an ongoing issue this summer with all the produce coming in...well, it's an issue every summer, but for some reason, it is particularly exasperating this year. My fridge is too small to hold everything!

I have discovered, since we made an extra conscious effort to eat healthy, that my fridge is rapidly decreasing in size. I am constantly rotating to get something out of the back, move it to the front, to find that I need the thingamabob in the back again. Ugh. With the usual big bag of beans, cucumbers, refrigerator pickles, beet pickles, milk, juice, and what-not, the leftover space is minimal. Then, I bring home spinach, watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, and pineapple from the store- what to do? I already keep apples and bananas on the counter, so my fridge space is in a constant state of rotation. Good thing I used to work in a grocery store so I know how to "face" my shelves. I seriously just want to do an "about-face" every time I open the door.

What a dilemma...but, a blessing in disguise. I'm thankful that we have refrigerator full of food, and jobs to provide the money to purchase it.

I guess the dilemma isn't so problematic after all.

Happy Birthday!

2009-08-20T09:01:00.005-05:00

Today is the love of my life's birthday. I am married to a such a special guy - one who loves the Lord and is continually working to become the man that God wants him to be. He loves his children more than life itself - and me, too! Today is going to be a crazy one for him, but we're planning on meeting him for lunch to celebrate. One way or another, this will be a special day, and we are so blessed to call him daddy and spouse!

Happy Birthday, honey. I love you!

Happy Homemaker - August 17, 2009

2009-08-17T10:11:00.007-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Beautiful morning - for August, this is going to be a cool day with temps in the low 80's.

One of my simple pleasures:
Reading blog posts of my friends - and not feeling guilty about taking the time to do it AND writing blog posts and being okay with the time it takes to do so!

On my bedside table:
Water glass
Various books

On my TV:
Haven't had a chance to watch much this summer - but looking forward to Top Chef

On the menu for tonight:
Veggies from the garden - always a staple this time of year
Need to find a protein in the freezer! :)

On my To Do List:
Too long and extensive to list

New Recipe I tried last week:
YUM - I tried this Peach Crisp from Pioneer Woman

In the craft basket:
Still canning and freezing veggies...tomatoes are just starting

Looking forward to:
Getting my school room cleaned before school starts

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Read a tip this week about making breadcrumbs by putting bread into the microwave for three minutes - DON'T DO IT! Burned the bread and my house STILL smells like smoke!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Love reading blogs, but this week I did it in a big hurry

Favorite photo from last week:
A taste of summer

Lesson learned the past few days:
Think first - speak second. Enough said.

On my Prayer List:
Our pastor and family
Our military leaders
My children

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Working on keeping my eyes upon Jesus - Love the trust Peter has in Jesus as he walks across the water, but how quickly we fail when we take our eyes off the source of our light, comfort, and peace...Matthew 14:22-31.

Have a great Monday!

Whirlwind weekend

2009-08-13T11:51:00.020-05:00

I'm back from our huge whirlwind weekend up in Minneapolis - we spent a lovely time with my family from Saturday through Tuesday and made the most of our time together. We had a few items on our agenda, but it was a bit of a challenge to schedule all the different ideas we had to truly make it feel like a vacation. Here is the play by play so you can feel like you were a part of our adventure!

We left Saturday morning from our little log cabin, arriving at my mom's around noon for lunch. One of our goals this weekend was to get her a new TV and get her cable set up on the main level of her home. Of course, nothing goes quite as smoothly as intended, and for some reason the DVR refused to load the channels. According to the cable company, it was due to tornadoes in the area, so we would have to wait until the power interruptions were over. Evidence of the weather:See the sinister face in the clouds?

The kids were all happy because some of their cousins were able to come and stay at Grandma's...we were setting them up to be together the whole time we were up there, so they were excited about all the cousin playmates. Sunday started out with church with Grandma, and then we headed out to my sister's place. We hit Como Zoo which has, not only animals but also some beautiful flowers
Since we were at Como with most of St. Paul, we opted to head over to the mini golf course and break away from the crowds.
Some of us opted for a walk, where we were able to take a three generation picture before heading over to the restored carousel to let Miss TJ have a little spin on her favorite pony Then, we headed down to Grand Avenue to the place with the BEST ice cream! YUM! We finished the day with a BBQ at my sister's and enjoyed some patio time on a beautiful evening.

The next morning, Brad was off to play in a golf tournament fundraiser, so my sis and I were able to catch some coffee at Bread and Chocolate on Grand Avenue. Things have changed so much since my college days up there - it was fun to reminisce and see how far we've come. From there, we were able to go to Trader Joe's (YEAH!) down the street and get some much needed and long awaited supplies. We have NOTHING like that where I live, so I had to stock up (hoard) and know I will be giving a shopping list to my sis for the next time we are together!

Later that night, we moved on to meeting up with my brother and family for a night on their boat. They have a boat on Lake Minnetonka, so the adults gathered (thanks to my niece and nephew who stepped up and watched all the kids!!!) and went out for a cruise before stopping off for supper at Lord Fletchers. Minus the rain shower that Joel had to drive in, it turned out to be a beautiful night to be on the lake. It was so fun to just hang and enjoy the company of my family

- thanks to Joel and Kelly for the memorable (and exhausting for some!)evening!

Tuesday morning dawned bright and early as Brad and I were able to head to nearby Hazeltine Golf course to take in a practice round for the US Open...the course is beautiful!
We got to see some of our favorite golfers, except for Phil Mickelson who wasn't out on the course yet while we were there. Recognize this guy?

The afternoon was spent at the beach with the kiddos, and Tuesday night Brad headed off to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes/PGA tour dessert event...it featured Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson, Kenny Perry, and J. Rollins all gave their testimonies and shared their faith with the attendees. Brad said it was very affirming and made him want to join the tour all the more! :)

Exhausted, we left Minnepolis around 10:30pm and got home at 2:30 am. Somehow, we managed to stay awake on the drive home and Brad was off to work the next morning as scheduled. Now, we are getting back into the groove again, doing laundry, picking veggies from the garden, and assuming the daily grind. But, we are thankful to have shared a wonderful weekend with family who went out of their way to adapt to our crazy ideas and schedules, and put up with us day in and day out. Their extra efforts did not go unnoticed and we were so blessed to share the time with them.

Family. Nothing like it in the world. God has blessed us tremendously.

Ahhh, friends....

2009-08-07T23:40:00.002-05:00

No time to post tonight as we get ready to head up to Minneapolis for a quick trip to see my mom and family. Life has been spinning out of control, but hopefully some perspective can be gained while we are away. I miss blogging, but know that something has to give these days while life carries on...I hope to get a chance to update you this weekend on the many things going on -

Until then, please know I am reading your blogs as I am able - (THANK GOODNESS for Google Reader) and know that I will get into a regular posting pattern very soon.

Take care - until next time!

Life as I know it

2009-07-31T12:23:00.002-05:00

I'm staring at the computer and find I have sat here for a total of a few hours already this morning. After I took my dh to work, dropped off a car at the shop, stopped at Walmart for a beta fish they didn't have, promptly forgot the saline solution I meant to buy when I was there, I've perused multiple sites on the computer, searched for a kayak, checked into airline prices to San Diego, entered VBS registrations, monitored facebook, google reader, and three email accounts, set up payment with a past due patient account so they could avoid collections, walked up to the garden and picked some cucumbers, picked one almost red tomato (yea!), walked by the mess in my kitchen and living room, stared at the cupboards wondering what to fix for lunch, washed a zucchini to later make into bread, got out the playdough, and now I am back at the computer, feeling compelled to write something on my blog.

And, technically, I guess I did - write something that is.

Note how, really, nothing of any value is listed in that first paragraph. Where's the spiel on my relationship with the Lord and how I was building that up today? Where is the part about what I learned in my daily bible reading? Where is my challenge to others to dig deeper, search more, learn more, and do something of heavenly value vs earthly? To me, it's obviously missing.

I've come to the realization that I am a hopelessly selfish person. I've realized it over and over, but I hate when it comes crashing down on me yet again. The thing is, by the power of ME, I can not change it. I try, thinking I've got the world all under control, all the ins and outs of managing my life, but truly, I can't do one bit of difference in my life if I don't keep vested in the power of the Spirit. I am living proof of that fact. Today, I feel like I have a stinky slime of selfishness poured all over me - I lash out at my dh when he is not meeting my needs. I get short with my children when they don't do what I want them to do. I don't think of the feelings of others because it may mean I have to sacrifice something in the process. I hate the feeling, but sometimes I just wallow in it, digging deeper and getting more immersed in my "poor me" attitude.

It's directly related to my walk - if I neglect the Word, my time with the Lord, I easily slip further and further into myself and what "I" need. I become more important than others. All my good intentions go by the wayside and I can justify my behavior as being triggered by someone else. But, you know what? It's me. It's me. It's me. I'm the one at fault and the one who needs a heart change. A change from within, so that the outer view is a reflection of my clean and changed heart.

I need to get back in shape - spiritual shape. Summer is a time filled with SO many things - all can be good, but they also can be a distraction from the one and only thing that matters. My personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank the Lord for grace and mercy, which is new every morning.

I still have a list a mile long, but all this is for naught if I am not doing it with a joyful, thankful heart. May God continually do a good work in my heart - and yours.

Blessings to each of you today!

A lot of this, and a bit of that

2009-07-28T11:32:00.014-05:00

Beginning last Thursday, we started a streak of daily fun. Well, every day is fun, but this was a different type of fun - it was planned, detailed, executed in a non-spontaneous way, fun. :) JT's birthday started the daily onslaught of excitement, and each day brought new adventure.

We started with this, on a beautiful day, one of the few warm enough to actually get in the water. (Words I never thought I would speak in the middle of summer in South Dakota!)

The next morning, we got up early to travel a couple of hours to meet Grandma, Aunt Rebecca, and some cousins - Micah, Martha, Emma, Cade, and Max. We did some of this:

Now, Saturday, I had to get a bunch of these picked: But, when I finished, we didn't do anything with them but stick them in the fridge, because we had to get ready for hosting this down at our neighborhood cabana:
>

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful, and, once again, we were off! This time it was to participate in this:

So amazing - God has given these pilots such talent and I am so proud to be an American!

Needless to say, after doing all of those fun excursions, reality had to hit, and it did - the garden doesn't stop growing, so besides the beans that had to be done from last Saturday, we got these too: That meant the kids had to do more of this:
Which, ultimately, turns into this:

But, in the end, we truly had fun doing all of that!

Monday morning prayer request

2009-07-27T09:51:00.002-05:00

I had good intentions of doing Happy Homemaker Monday today, but have found myself feeling the urge to instead spend time in prayer. It's amazing how you can be so pulled in to a story and another family's trials through the blogging world. I have been following Stellan for quite awhile now, and, unfortunately, he's crashing fast. They've called in family and are searching for options. Please join me today in praying over Stellan and his family. The time is now!

Praying today...

JT's birthday

2009-07-23T08:17:00.004-05:00

It's a special day for my second oldest...he turns nine today! We are going to celebrate with him today and then drive to meet his cousins tomorrow for an extended birthday party lunch.

JT, you are kind, considerate and wise beyond your years. You care deeply for others and always put others first. Jesus is first and foremost in your heart, and it is reflected in you on a daily basis. You are the first to forgive those who have hurt you, quick to help, and respectful. Dad and I thank the Lord for you each and every day, and we know he has great plans for you. Always keep looking to him for your guidance and comfort.

We love you tremendously, and hope you have a wonderful year!

Happy Homemaker - July 20, 2009

2009-07-20T11:22:00.008-05:00

Thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Cloudy, cool, with a lot of dampness in the air. It has been one of the most beautiful weeks of summer so far, but I will be happy to see a bit of rain

One of my simple pleasures:
Reading all the blog posts from my friends

On my bedside table:
Dust

On my TV:
Nada

On the menu for tonight:
Fresh veggies - beans, summer squash, beets, pea pods - probably a stir fry of sorts

On my To Do List:
Oh, the list is long and the time short:
VBS registration
VBS adult seminar promotion
JT's birthday this week - planning and executing!
Cleaning
Fertilizing the garden
Picking, weeding...

New Recipe I tried last week:
I made oodles of cookies as it was cooler and wanted to get some in the freezer for the hot days of summer - I tried a new peanut butter cookie recipe, but I thought they were kind of dry

In the craft basket:
Any and all things garden

Looking forward to:
VBS being over

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Keep vegetables longer by not washing until you need them

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Didn't have much chance to read any this week

Favorite photo from last week:My professional "bean stemmers"

Lesson learned the past few days:
There is never enough time in the day... :)
And, a good night's sleep always helps for a new perspective

On my Prayer List:
My husband and family
My pastor and family
Our military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Psalm 19 - God's beauty is evident in everything - we just need to take the time to look around and notice it!

Have a great day - hope to find more time to blog soon!

Back to the real world...

2009-07-15T08:06:00.004-05:00

My brother and family just left after spending three days with us on their way home from the Black Hills. We played some games, hung out, and the boys were able to get out and golf once as well. He helped me pick beans (yea!) and we just enjoyed the fellowship. The kids had a wonderful time with their cousins, and my daughter was near tears this morning as she realized her one year younger play mate would be leaving after being virtually inseparable for the past few days.

Now, it's back to reality...work to be done, phone calls to make, garden to be picked -all the things that quickly go by the wayside when more fun activities are at hand. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood as well, so I hope to spend a bit of time with my bible on the front porch.

Praising God on this glorious day!

And the reason for my lack of blogging is...

2009-07-10T14:02:00.003-05:00

Upper garden done for the day - now on to the lower one. Then canning, and freezing, and pickling. :)

Aren't the purple beans beautiful? I guess they turn green when cooked.

Well, now we're all caught up. This is what I have been doing, am doing, and will be doing for the rest of the summer. God is good and is blessing our garden tremendously!

But, don't worry - I love it all. Plus, I'm married to a good chiropractor!

Sunset Point Resort

2009-07-07T10:46:00.017-05:00

Well, as usual, I should be doing numerous other things rather than spending time on the computer, but I wanted to share a few pictures and highlights of our wonderful week of family bonding time. A little history - when I was young, my family would head up north to Cohasset, MN. Cohasset is a little town outside of Grand Rapids, MN, and home to Sunset Point Resort on Bass Lake. Every summer, my dad would take a week off from pastoring our church, and we would rent a rustic cabin to get away from it all. We would pray the one phone at the resort would not ring, calling with some emergency to send us all back home. While that did happen a few times, I relished the time that my dad could get away and we could all enjoy a family vacation.

My dad passed away when I was twelve, so some years were spent regrouping - moving, my mom starting a new job, switching schools, etc. But, sporadically through the years, my family would continue to head up to the resort. I seemed to never be able to go due to work obligations or something. But, three years ago, we surprised my mom by all meeting up there for her 60th birthday. We've decided to go back now, year after year, to continue to the tradition. It is such a great opportunity to bring all of our families together - we hang out, drink A LOT of coffee, read books, play games, swim, you name it. We mostly enjoy just being together and bonding.

This year was unique because it was COLD! These are rustic cabins - no tv, no internet access, just the bare essentials which call you to simpler times. Our nights got down to the high 40's, and the first half of the week had highs in the mid 50's. Who would have thought that we would need to have the heat on in the cabins for the first few nights at the beginning of July??? But, we all made the best of it - it didn't rain, so the kids were still out from morning 'til night. They played army, tetherball, tag, capture the flag, eenie einey over, kick the can, built sand castles, baseball, played on swings, read, talked, ate, played inside games, tried to go swimming, froze, and started all over again the next day. They relished the time together and milked it for all it was worth. As adults, we drank coffee, ate, sat, read, played pinnochle, bananagrams, Wizard, 5 crowns, Blokus, talked, ate some more, laughed, and snuggled under blankets. On Thursday and Friday the kids were finally able to get into the COLD water, but enjoyed it despite their blue lips. Being together was all that mattered.

It's only Tuesday, but it feels like we were gone eons ago. Thank goodness for pictures which keep the memories alive - here are a few of my favorites...

Sunday morning church around the campfire - or, actually, a pile of sticks...

Army time...

Girl time...

Wildlife time...

Water and beach time...

And, finally, what would Sunset Point Resort be without sunset pictures?

I am so blessed - to be able to take a vacation, to be with a family who loves the Lord, to be immersed in God's creation each and every day, to experience the beauty of a soaring bald eagle along with the melancholy song of the common loon, and to be surrounded by the love of family. Praise the Lord for all that he has done for me- now, and forevermore!

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-05T16:49:00.002-05:00

Hi! We're home after a wonderful week of family bonding! I have so much to write about and share, but digging out from the mountain of laundry is going to have to take precedence. I can't wait to stop by and visit all of you and see what I have missed over the course of the week...but all things take time. Soon, friends, soon!

I'll be back and can't wait to jot down some of my favorite memories. For now, I'm off to nurse my major caffeine withdrawal headache (Wow! The coffee we consumed this past week!!) and finish emptying the bottomless pit of a minivan!

Talk to you soon!

Off to the lake...

2009-06-26T22:58:00.002-05:00

It was a whirlwind day, just as most are before you leave for vacation. Well, at least in my house anyway. It is 10:58pm and I'm off to go pack MY clothes, finally. I think everything else is in order. We are pushing back our 5:00am departure time due to the weather forecast being rain and wind. :( Oh well, we will still find plenty of games to play and enjoy lots of fellowship anyway. My entire family will be there, complete with cousins to play pioneer with, adults to play pinnochle and Shanghai Rummy, and food for everyone to munch. I'm sure I'll have lots to share when we get home, but in the meantime, here's a few pics from years past to show you.

Have a great week!

Just checking in...

2009-06-24T14:24:00.004-05:00

The week is flying and I feel like I am doing the same. The check off list is getting longer instead of shorter, but that's par for the course prior to vacation. We decided this AM to take TJ into the doctor after yet another night of being woke up with severe stomach cramps. She wouldn't let us touch her tummy, and were a little concerned about a hot appendix due to the vomiting (although that had not happened since Monday night.) All is well, and there is no obstruction or infection. So, we will ride it out, and pray it continues to subside.

We've had rain every day and hot temps so the garden is multiplying and growing quickly after a slow star. God is truly blessing us with a great growing season. I took these pictures ten days ago:

And, here they are today:

It's hard to tell, but we have purple, yellow, and green beans, beets, potatoes, sweet potatoes, banana, yellow, red, purple, and green peppers, snap peas, yellow squash, pickling cucumbers, regular cucumbers, roma, early girl, better boy tomatoes, and 4 types of heirloom tomatoes. My herb garden has lettuce, spinach, basil x 2 kinds, oregano, cilantro, peppermint, and chives. Stevia is in a container pot and I am anxious to experiment with that soon. Hopefully, we'll be in full swing of preserving once we get back from the lake!

Well, enough of my avoidance - I need to get back to the tasks at hand. Hope you all have a great day, and I'll leave you with these two little lovebirds. :)

Happy Homemaker - June 22, 2009

2009-06-22T14:10:00.007-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Hot, hot, hot. We were wishing for summer and we got it! Upper 80's today with high humidity. No breeze so it is warm. We've had a lot of rain to counter the heat thus far so that is a blessing.

One of my simple pleasures:
My ceiling fan in my bedroom. I love the stir of the breeze as I am ready to sleep, and it keeps the room tolerable throughout the night as we are on the 2nd floor.

On my bedside table:
I've been holding off on any new novels until vacation, at which time I plan to read the next 3 in the Neta Jackson prayer series. Right now I have my "Eating Well" magazine, and continuing with Animal, Vegetable, Mineral.

On my TV:
I actually sat down and watched the last 20 minutes of the US Open this morning. I so wanted Phil Mickelson to win - bummer!

On the menu for tonight:
Grilled turkey tenderloins, asparagus, blueberries and strawberries with yogurt
Tomorrow is split pea soup with ham even though it is HOT

On my To Do List:
Right now I have 29 things on my incomplete "to do" list - I didn't want to move to a second sheet of paper until I got a few things off this list! This list is the MUST DO things before we leave to go to the lake on Saturday.

New Recipe I tried last week:
Baked potato soup (so yummy!)
Crepes (rolled with fresh fruit/rhubarb sauce) I made them with whole wheat flour and they were really good that way as well!

In the craft basket:
Still gardening and working on our godchild's memorial box - photo to come once it is completed

Looking forward to:
The lake, the lake, the lake - need I say more? (Well, I will, but that will be another post!)

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Buy a pound of sausage in a roll and make your own patties. You can stretch it so much further, and have less of something unhealthy, but still get a taste of it...use turkey sausage to further reduce fat.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I have two this week. Bonnie speaks to keeping your eyes focused where they should be - UP...
And Karen speaks to the joys of summer, reflecting back to our childhood.

Favorite photo from last week:Brad got up early one day this week and found this pleasant surprise - a small window of opportunity to view a rainbow that actually was visible between storms.

Lesson learned the past few days:
Fathers are so special and an anchor in the family. I am blessed that the mate God chose for me is a wonderful Christian man, and a godly leader and father to our children.

On my Prayer List:
Friends from our church who lost their 8 month old yesterday to a heart condition.
Our pastor
Our military
My TJ, recovering from the flu
Our family, that we may all stay healthy

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
From yesterday's sermon. "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

I pray you all have a blessed day!

Life's simple pleasures...

2009-06-19T12:34:00.007-05:00

My blogger friend, Karen, at Over the Backyard Fence, inspired me to think about life's little pleasures. She challenged her readers to pick six things that are not vital to your life, but make it so much sweeter and special. Here are my six, in no particular order:

1. Coffee - it is my built in security blanket. I must have a cup in my hand, or on my desk, or anyplace where I am working. When I go to the office and work for my husband, he pays me in at least one cup of coffee from the local Starbucks or Caribou or Dunn Brothers or Scooters or whatever else can meet my needs. First thing in the morning, it would be black and strong and 1/2 caff. Later on in the day, it may be a cinnamon Dulcie (sp?)latte, skinny, no whip, 1/2 caff. Whatever the java, I enjoy a good cup. The smell, the taste, the feel of a mug in my hand - all contribute to a better day. If I can sip it on the porch first thing in the morning, even better. It's always 1/2 caff though - I save the fully leaded for those rare occasions where I need a real pick me up. ;)(Note stray coffee bean on counter)

2. The front porch - (preferably with #1). I love to sit in solitude on our front porch...It's fairly decent sized, surrounded by some plants and birdfeeders. If no one in the neighborhood is mowing, it speaks to peace and relaxation. It helps me focus in on my day by sitting with my bible in the morning, and it helps me connect with my husband when we can close out the day together on the love seat...usually with two cats and a dog nearby. Front porch sitting is highly underrated, and the mere thought of time spent on the porch relaxes my brain.

3. Scented candles - I would love if you could walk into my home and instantly be met with the homey scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice. While my house doesn't smell like that on a day in and day out basis, I love to tickle the olfactory lobe whenever possible. When my candles burn, it exudes warmth and homeyness, and seems to bring out the homemaker in me even more. The stronger the smell, the better, at least in my book.

4. Bubble baths - although I only take them in winter, my bubble bath is a way of warming myself to the inner core. It is my reward at the end of a day when I have been clothed in massive layers, socks, slippers, flannel, and whatever else I can to keep our house temp low and my body temp high. At the end of the day, I can sit in my super hot bath water, with a great book (see #5), and relax the day away.

5. A good read - nothing, nothing, nothing can top a good book, especially if I have #1, #3, #4, and #6 along with it in the winter, or #1, #2, #3, and #6 in the summer! (Notice a trend here of my favorite things?) I love fiction, non fiction, anything but science fiction and fantasy. I can get lost in a book, sometimes so much that I can't sleep because the characters dance in my head and come to life. Sometimes I read until late in the night because I can't put my book down. What a gift to be able to story tell with that type of intensity and ability. Books are a treasure, and life would not be the same without them.

6. Quiet and solitude - this little pleasure may seem strange, but with three kids, and all of them "talkers", I have found that when I do have peace and quiet, I rejuvenate and get energized. My husband will come home and turn on the radio, while I can work the entire afternoon in silence. It speaks peace to me, and gives me a break from the constant influx of activity and stimulation that seems to flow at an extremely high level around here. While it may not happen often, I relish the time it comes and envelopes me in its presence.

Life's simple pleasures - I can do without, but life seems to be just a little bit (or a lot!) better with these few things. As I type, I realize I have so many more than six. How blessed I am to have more to choose from! How about you? What would you pick as your six simple treasures? Let me know if you post them on your blog, so I can make sure and visit you!

Until then, enjoy, and have a wonderful day!

Road trips then and now...

2009-06-18T18:50:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning, two of my children and my niece hopped into the car to meet up with my sister in order to safely hand back her precious daughter. I have found that I love to go on a short road trip for a number of reasons. Here in the upper Midwest, if you are going to drive for two hours, you are going to conquer a fair amount of miles. At 70 to 75mph on the interstate, you can get a pretty good distance away from home. Sometimes the landscape changes, but inevitably, you are going to have a trip which will showcase God's beauty and time to reflect on the marvels of his creation.

Traveling with my kids often times provides me a lot of thinking and "zoning out" time. On the way to meet my sis, all of the kiddos were involved with reading joke books and picking out their favorites. Every once in awhile, they would share with me one of their favorites, but all in all, they giggled and laughed to themselves. On the way home, both of them zonked and I had a blissfully quiet trip, complete with talk radio so I could get educated on what is going on in the outside world. Needless to say, I relished the time, and treasured every second.

This particular road trip started me thinking about how different and how much we have changed in a generation. These are some generalizations I noticed that show the differences compared to when I traveled as a youngster...

1. I could stop at any given drive through along the way to purchase a coffee - it would have been brought in a thermos from home in the past
2. Rest stops are for bathroom breaks now - but we used to bring a cooler and have lunch at a picnic table
3. We have air conditioning - need I make the comparison?
4. My kids were safely buckled in seat belts and car seats - my sister and I would lie across the back window or on the floor to get comfortable
5. Each child has their own seat - no rubbing across potentially scratchy legs and complaints of "you're touching me" are greatly reduced
6. Although I don't have one, if my kids asked if we were there yet, I could probably check my GPS or direction finder...
7. Cruise control
8. Bathrooms are plentiful as are gas stations - from point A to point B, I had a tremendous selection right along the interstate
9. My cell phone was ready and available - not only for emergencies, but just to pass the time away. Heck, my sis and I were able to determine a meeting site in the town rather than plan ahead just by calling each other on the road
10. Books and songs and license plate games have been replaced by movies, ipods, and handheld games (however, disclaimer - we still do the books, songs, and games..)

There was one thing that does remain the same - road construction. :) But, if I plan ahead and can determine a different route in a touch of a button.

The other thing that is the same is the joy of having a family to travel with and how we still enjoy being together. Whether a short trip, or a long marathon, time spent together makes you stronger, more patient, and understanding. While I may not always learn these lessons at the time, I do look back on travel time with my kids as precious memory building opportunities, and character testing as well. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Homemaker - June 15, 2009

2009-06-15T09:43:00.001-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Rainy, cool morning. We've had sun so infrequently over the past few weeks, and much cooler temps - the plants in the garden are way behind schedule.

One of my simple pleasures:
Walking out to the herb garden and clipping something to add to supper. Last night, I clipped some chives to add to our grilled potatoes and carrots.

On my bedside table:
I'm saving the next three books in the Neta Jackson series (#5-#7) until I get up to the lake in two weeks. I plan on spending a lot of time reading up there. I did just finish Tracie Peterson's A Love to Last Forever.

On my TV:
Nothing much - summer seems to be a time away from the computer...although we do want to watch Top Chef Masters on Wednesday nights

On the menu for tonight:
We cooked a ham on the grill last night, so will have leftovers for the next few days. I have to cook up the ham bone and make some split pea soup. For tonight, I may do some scalloped potatoes or omelets.

On my To Do List:
Put away rugs/blankets washed over the weekend
Clean TJ's room
Work on office
Brad rented out the other half of our building, so we have all the painting to get done before June 27th

New Recipe I tried last week:
I tried this Cream Cheese Carrot Muffins recipe from Taste of Home that is also posted on Sandra's blog...I made some modifications to it just to tweak it for our family...
I doubled the recipe so how they look may not be exactly right...I had to guess at how much I needed for the base vs on top of the cream cheese. I sliced and cooked large carrots (not baby ones) and then pureed them with my magic bullet. They were a bit chunky so I mashed a bit more with a fork. I did two cups per batch. I used all whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose, and used only 3/4 cup of cane sugar. Next time, I will most likely make with 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/4 cup sugar. I typically substitute applesauce for sugar when possible, but didn't have any thawed. I used olive oil instead of canola. I also used the entire single batch of filling for the double batch of muffins - make sense? I wanted to cut back on that aspect of it, and it seemed to be plenty of cream cheese. I also didn't use quite as much sugar in the filling and I added more cinnamon as well b/c it seemed to not be quite enough. The muffins are probably more heavy due to the whole wheat, but I wanted to be able to use them for a breakfast muffin, and I still like them this way (we typically use whole wheat across the board whenever possible, so the texture isn't a biggie for us. Yummy!

In the craft basket:
Again, just continuing with my gardening
Putting together a Father's Day photo album for daddy

Looking forward to:
Date with my daughter tomorrow
The lake in two weeks
Playing golf with Brad on Thursday
Coffee/lunch with a friend in the next week

Homemaking Tip for this week:
When baking bread, if your recipe calls for an oil and also something sticky, add the oil first and the molasses/honey will come out of the measuring cup very easily

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I had a few favorites this week, so am having a hard time choosing. I have so many blogging friends that I enjoy reading, that I am not going to be able to pick a stand out favorite this week. I made the mistake of traveling to a few other links through blogs this week, finding more that I wanted to come back to, and promptly didn't add them to my list - so now I can't remember who they were! UGH.

Favorite photo from last week:

Lesson learned the past few days:
Children tend to miss their parents the most at night and when they are overtired. Plan ahead and make sure they get enough sleep, and offer the opportunity to sleep closer to you, or wherever they feel more safe.

On my Prayer List:
Our pastor
My oldest son, that he would continue to seek God in his life
Our military

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"But the wisdom that comes froms heaven is first of all pure; then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:17-18

The joy of surprise...

2009-06-12T18:38:00.006-05:00

Today, we pulled off a bit of a surprise for my kiddos. My 8 year old niece was able to hitch a ride with my sister's friend, and arrive without warning, totally astonishing my children. The rendezvous took place at a local restaurant, with said niece walking in, with her hood pulled up over her head. She stopped at our table, and asked, "Is this seat taken?" Unfortunately, I had forgotten to bring my camera, or I would have had some great facial expressions of wonder, turned to joy, and surprise. My 8 year old lovingly calls her his twin, and they are inseparable when together, and count the days until they will be reunited when they are painfully torn apart. These two kiddos were meant to be 2 to 3 weeks apart in age, but an early birth by me, and a late one by my sis, caused them to be 6 weeks apart, and, as a result, in separate school years. But, it doesn't matter one iota for this pair, and I'm sure I will have many pictures from the week. But, in the meantime, here's a few from the past to share.

Now, it's 9:30pm and Aslan, Queen Lucy, Queen Susan, King Peter, and King Edmund all need to head into the house and get ready for bed! Oh, that's right - Aslan (our golden retriever) must stay out for the night.

I'm sure there will be more adventures tomorrow!

The post that writes itself...

2009-06-10T18:13:00.009-05:00

As I was thinking on what to post today, I spent a little time perusing through some blogging posts. I was reading this one from the Pioneer Woman, with a child peering over my shoulder. In a moment, my oldest was gone. What followed didn't really surprise me, but it sure was fun to follow...

Gathering the branches...Cutting...Cutting...More cutting...
Taking a well deserved break...
Prepping the frame...Finished product...Time to play...

What a fun afternoon - ah, the joys of summer.

Happy Homemaker - June 8, 2009

2009-06-08T09:24:00.005-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

On my bedside table:
In a Heartbeat by Sally Johns (good book!)
Lies Women Believe (last week of study, then I should really start over with it again!)
My bible

On my TV:
It's been off most of the summer so far except for Minnesota Twins games

On the menu for tonight:
Away baseball game so have to think of something we can do on the fly when we get home around 8-8:30...hmmm. I'm thinking crock pot to the rescue...

On my To Do List:
Weed the gardens
Complete registrations for football and 2nd season baseball
Menu and grocery planning

New Recipe I tried last week:
Blueberry pancakes

In the craft basket:
Still gardening - searching to make sure I am taking care of my herbs correctly

Looking forward to:
Going up to the lake in a few weeks, although the water is going to be COLD
Eating lettuce from the garden in a week or so if the sun breaks through

Homemaking Tip for this week:
I got nuthin'...nada...zip for ya this week! (Except that you can rinse out your dishwashing detergent bottle to get a couple of more washings - especially important when you are OUT of soap!)

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
This one hit me right between the eyes and maybe it will impact you the same way -

Favorite photo from last week:A very proud 11 year old mowing for the first time (note the thumbs up sign)

Lesson learned the past few days:
No matter how much you want to think you are in control, you are not. No matter how much you try to be in control, you will fail. You can fight it, or you can go along with it. Life will go much smoother if you roll with the changes.

On my Prayer List:
All our military families (this short video clip brought this to the forefront again this week)
Our pastor who shepherds the flock
My husband and children
Hurting families

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Our pastor preached on Matthew 28:18-20. What a challenge it is to go, with his authority, and make disciples. It is a command, not a suggestion. We are to observe this for our lifetime, not in certain situations, or when it is convenient, or when we feel so inclined, but always. What an awesome responsibility he has given to all of us.

Have a blessed week in the Lord!

Saturday musings

2009-06-06T10:25:00.005-05:00

Another week has gone by, and as usual, I am lamenting the fact. I can't believe summer is off and running, and I feel like it is slipping away fast. Eeyore has come out to play, so I need to send him back to the wood, and put on my happy face and look for the joy in what WAS accomplished despite a busy week. I'm anxious to get our summer schedule down on paper and see some fun in the midst of all the commitments! We leave for a week at the lake in three weeks, and by then, summer will be half over. Crazy!

I've been lax about posting pictures lately, so wanted to add a few today. It was a big week as my oldest got to try his hand at mowing for the first time. JD and daddy went down to cut the tree belt of the development that we live in, and played dueling lawn motors. JD thought it was pretty cool, and is thinking he's ready for a summertime job. We are going to possibly let him push mow the clinic now that we finally replaced our push mower that got STOLEN last summer out from the front of the office. We got a self propelled, so he may be able to assist in this process. He's excited about the money, but we'll see how long that lasts when it finally reaches 90+ degrees and there is mowing to be done.

Here's a couple of my girl and her "bestest daddy ever" -

Finally, I've been all over the beautiful sunsets we've had this week - seems like there has just been one after another, each unique and amazing. What a wonderful God we serve who has created heaven and the earth. Stop and view his handiwork and never doubt the existence of an awesome God!

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Back in the swing of things...

2009-06-04T08:18:00.004-05:00

It's been a whirlwind few days and I feel only now like I am beginning to catch my breath. I've missed posting, and have only been able to visit my blogging friends here and there, so I am a bit out of touch. But, life is good, and looking better each and every day. God is teaching me and helping me to grow, to look at life as a gift, and to praise him in every circumstance. I am a tough student, so I am thankful he is a patient teacher.

We had to switch up some things in our schedule this week due to Brad's secretary being out sick. She suffers from chronic headaches, and a few times a year has some that bring her to her knees. She ended up needing IV's with additional medicine to break the painful cycle she was in. What a reliable employee she is, though, as she works despite her pain because she lives with it on a daily basis. She has only missed work a few times, and it is typically because the pain has become so intense that she can't move without searing pain. Please pray for her as this is something she has suffered with for years, and relief comes only temporarily for her. She lives for her good days, because they are few and far between.

So, with her being out Monday and Tuesday, we did some switching around so I could end up working in her place. I am the ony back up plan, so we make it work, one way or another. The only big issue we had was that the kids started swimming lessons this week, so we had to get them from point A to point B in the middle of the morning, and then figure out what to have them do the rest of the day. Surprisingly, meals were also an issue as I have typically been cooking from scratch, we have little to no processed foods around, and I had been planning on baking break on Monday as well as grocery shopping, so the selection was quite limited around here for food! But, praise the Lord, between Brad's schedule having some wiggle room, and some flexibility on his part, we were able to make Monday and Tuesday work! We both had meetings on Monday and Tuesday night as well, so now we are regrouping as a family for the remainder of the week, and praising the Lord that Londa is back at work and holding her own.

Today is the last day of swimming lessons for the week, and two of my three are overjoyed. My youngest, TJ, has proven to be quite the little fish, and has moved up in her levels to be ahead of one of her brothers, and in the same level as the other. The resentment was about to rear its ugly head when this happened, but both boys showed surprising restraint, and TJ prayed for both of them last night, asking Jesus to help them like swimming lessons as much as her, and to help JT to move up a level today. I pray it will be a good day and a good lesson for all of them. One week almost down, one more to go.

So, I'm off to get them up and ready for the day - getting a good breakfast in their tummies but not too much so they don't sink like a rock. :) I have so much more to say, but we'll save it for later. I have plants begging to be watered, so to the outside I go!

Have a blessed day, everyone!

Happy Homemaker - June 1, 2009

2009-06-01T22:25:00.006-05:00

Thanks to Sandra for hosting!

On my bedside table:
Take One by Karen Kingsbury
Bible
Lies Women Believe
Need to get Book 5 of Neta Jackson's series!

On my TV:
Nothing, nada, zippo

On the menu for tonight:
Well, let's see - it is tonight, 10:30PM CST to be exact, and my kids ate pizza and cheeseballs for supper. How's that? UGH. I had a meeting tonight after working all day, unexpectedly, and one of our last patients bought Brad a pizza to take home. How cool is that?

I did feed the ladies at my house fruit, bars, pound cake with strawberry/rhubarb sauce, nuts, and fruit dip. That was supper for me. Yum.

On my To Do List:
Survive this week - actually it's not that bad, but when I throw work into the mix and not know how many days I need to do it, it throws a wrench in things. Especially when we have to get the kids to and from swimming lessons in the middle of the morning.

New Recipe I tried last week:
I'll have to post on this another time

In the craft basket:
Gardening

Looking forward to:
Kids progressing in swimming lessons
Bible study on Tuesday

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Little tasks done by the kiddos can go a long way - daily wiping of the sink in the bathroom keeps it from getting out of control

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Oh, man. I had a favorite this week, but my brain is fried. I think I will have to do a redo on this post and highlight something in a few days.

Favorite photo from last week:
Sorry, skipping this as well as I haven't had a chance to upload any new ones.

Lesson learned the past few days:
All too often, I let circumstances dictate my mood. It's way too easy to have this happen and I need to stop!

On my Prayer List:
My husband's receptionist, that she can be cured of her headaches
Praise for a new baby to church friends, and comfort for the birth mom that had the courage to put her up for adoption

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
(See lesson learned...)
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalm 30:5
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with teh glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18
"Therefor we do not lose heart...For our light and momentary troubles are achivieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I hope to visit all of you on Tuesday - God bless you.

Up and at 'em...

2009-05-29T07:56:00.004-05:00

It's almost 8 AM, and for once in my life, I have accomplished more before 8:00 then I usually do by, say, 10:00. :) Summer just begs me to roll my lazy bum out of bed and get a jump start on the day. We've been doing it fairly well the past month, simply because circumstances have dictated it to be so. Like spraying the weeds around the edge of the garden before the inevitable SD wind kicks in for the day. Or, watering the plants in the morning before the inevitable sun blisters the heck out of the special little seedlings. Or, wanting to enjoy a brief moment of glory out in God's creation before those inevitable little pesky gnats show up for the day to buzz around your ears and drive you insane. You know, those things. They'll get you out of bed in the morning.

As you can see, sometimes life just necessitates an early start. When there is a task at hand, and I can see that it needs to be done right away in order to make the day run smoothly, it's much easier for me to throw off the covers and hit the ground walking (certainly not running), albeit slowly, particularly before the coffee kicks in. (And, easier is a stretch, because I am NOT a morning person, not one single bone. The desire is there, but it is often squelched by the night person who is certainly the dominant one in this relationship.)

So, please tell me, why is it that God's Word doesn't haul me out of bed the same way? The criteria remain the same - certainly, if it is done right away it DOES help my day run smoothly. If I don't get into the Word right away in the morning, the whole day is often times gone before I even stop to catch my breath, let alone spend time with my maker. (And I don't mean COFFEEmaker - I always seem to find time for him.)

I reflected on this whole concept this morning as this has been a continual struggle for me. I am busy. Super busy. Not the running around "I have to be in town and go a lot of places" type of busy, but more of a "there's always one more thing to do on my to do list" type. It's never going to all get done, but each day is going to be packed chock full of whatever is the latest and hottest burning fire, followed in a nice and neat pecking order of "other important must be accomplished tasks". I know this and don't see it changing in the near future, but yet I continue to put on the back burner the one thing that can give me the most peace and the most power.

It's time for a change. It's time for a commitment. I know God doesn't care how I come to him, but just that I do. It may be at the end of my day, throughout my day, or in spite of my day, but coming to him is necessary, vital, and essential to living and breathing. A relationship cannot develop or grow without a commitment by both parties to be there for each other, and I'm letting God down. Sporadic time with my Savior is no longer acceptable.

That's my resolution and declaration, written right here in black and white. I will start each and every day with my Father. It may be through a brief prayer, an indepth bible reading, a bible study with friends or my husband, or listening to praise music. But, today is a new day, and each and every one will start with Him. I don't think he'll care how I do it, but will just rejoice that I do. It's the least I can do, especially when I think of what he did for me.

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the anme of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Psalm 113: 1-3

Rainy day update and lots of rambling...

2009-05-28T10:10:00.007-05:00

Hi everyone!

Well, the rainy day has come and gone and we are heading back to 80+ degrees today. My list? Well, I did get SOME of the items off but, of course, the list was a bit more ambitious than I was. ;)

Here is the original list...
Laundry
Clean basement
Reorganize school room
Children complete character sketch essay
Registrations for camps
VBS flier
VBS sign ups
Practice skit with children for Sunday's service
Bake
Plan and cook evening meal
Visit Grandpa in nursing home

And, here is what I have left...
Reorganize school room
Children complete character sketch essay (1 got done, 1 still in progress)
Registrations for camps
VBS flier
Visit Grandpa in nursing home

So, it is a bit improved, but I also was able to weed the garden at the end of the day, and managed to sit on the front porch for a bit, so all in all, it was a successful rainy day. :)

Today, I am filling out our calendar and looking to see how we can fit some schoolwork in between all the activities. :) I not only want to finish up everything from this year, but want to get a jump start on next as well. This allows us the ultimate flexibility to travel in the fall and spring if we want to, and helps when I have to work at Brad's office occasionally.

Summer school is going to be casual though, and here is what I hope to accomplish: (I'm obviously into making lists right now! I seem to be so much better at making them, though, than accomplishing what's on them...)

Complete last two science units
Spelling (new list each week)
Cooking camp
Household management camp
Daily reading
Art 2x/week
Restart piano lessons
Daily math practice (pre-algebra prep...nailing down the basics!)

So, hopefully I can get this organized into a plan of attack very soon, and we can get down to the business at hand. We will take weeks off here and there (for my sanity as well as my kiddos) so I anticipate it to be a fun summer.

Yesterday, my oldest was figuring out that he will never be able to buy everything he wants to play with in his childhood years, so he is feeling the desperation of this situation. His amount of cash accrual is not equaling his desire for cash outflow. So, he is shamelessly seeking gainful employment. So, yesterday he made a sign that he put on his front and back, advertising "Happy Housecleaning. Fast and efishint." (His spelling, not mine. ;)) JT hired him to clean his room, so he was able to make a fast $1 there as his room is probably the cleanest one in the house. However, much to his chagrin, his mother did not have any duties for him, stating that his allowance was providing adequate compensation for the jobs she needed him to do. He proceeded to lament the fact that allowances are only paid once a week, and he needed to make some money on a daily basis. He then decided to write a business letter (we learned how to do that in composition last week - good to see the school work going to good use!) to his father, outlining a business proposal in which he would be responsible for push mowing the clinic lawn.

Dear Mr. B,

I have hear that you need a mower for your work; I may be able to help. For jest $50, this will cover gas, oil changes, and transportation.

$11 for gas, $3 set aside for oil change, $1 for transportation each way, equals $15. That would be reduced from the cost for your expenses. I am vary excited for this job. I hope you will agree.

Sincerely,

JDB

Problem is, we are not sure he's tall enough to even push the mower, so there may be a slight kink in his plans.

I guess I better get the stuff out and have him wash the windows at least and earn an extra buck or two - gotta give the kid a bone when he works so hard to play the part, don't you?

So, if you need a good hired hand, I have a child desperately seeking employment. Sounds like he'll do almost anything. And, if you can request a business letter, that would make the teacher happy, too.

Have a great day - of to make a list, and hopefully check something off it, too!

Rainy, drizzly day

2009-05-27T10:46:00.003-05:00

It's already almost 11am and not much has been accomplished today. Seems like I wait for the rainy days to come by and then when they do, I whittle away the time drinking coffee and contemplating my "to do" list.

Days like today, though, do let you sit back and rearrange the priorities a bit. While bright, warm days necessitate garden time, mowing, and outside work, days like today allow me time to get the laundry caught up, find the floors that somehow get cluttered even though we are outside more often, and spend some time doing desk work. I just love rainy days.

While I am already behind the eight ball in the time element, I still have big plans. So, today, here is my list:

Laundry
Clean basement
Reorganize school room
Children complete character sketch essay
Registrations for camps
VBS flier
VBS sign ups
Practice skit with children for Sunday's service
Bake
Plan and cook evening meal
Visit Grandpa in nursing home

Off to start the process...we'll see how far I get! :)

Have a blessed day in the Lord!

Happy Homemaker Monday - May 25, 2009

2009-05-25T11:52:00.009-05:00

Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to Sandra for hosting!

On my bedside table:
Lies Women Believe - three more weeks left on this study, and then I should start over!
Eating Well magazine
Taste of Home magazine
Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Real - Book 3, Neta Jackson

On my TV:
Nothing! I love summer because there are no new shows to have on our DVR, so we aren't missing anything - and we aren't wasting our time watching TV!

On the menu for tonight:
Grilling - of some way, shape or form. I am thinking shrimp at this point...

On my To Do List:
Enter insurance checks
Wash bed sheets
Weed the garden (continually!)
Plan VBS skit for this Sunday
VBS information for kick off on Sunday
Read
Relax
Rest
(Oh, just kidding about those three)

New Recipe I tried last week:
I was on a roll - I think I tried 4 new ones, but this vanilla pudding from scratch was my favorite. Uh, hello, who knew homemade vanilla pudding was about as easy as pulling it from a box...

In the craft basket:
Still, all gardening, all the time ;)
Swimsuit cover up (cutting off an old knit dress)

Looking forward to:
Getting many more of our outside jobs done today so we can sit on the porch more and relax!

Homemaking Tip for this week:
When making a plate of hamburgers, pork chops, or meat to put on the grill, line it with plastic wrap first. Then, when they are ready, remove the plastic wrap, and your serving tray is clean and ready.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Just from this morning! Hot off the presses - visit Evening Shade, Morning Latte for a wonderful tribute!

Favorite photo from last week:A beautiful sunset off our front porch...

Lesson learned the past few days:
You don't always need to be in charge. Learn to go with the flow, even when it is against your nature. Stop, take a deep breath, and consider if the change of plans may actually be better than the original plan!

On my Prayer List:
All military families, now and from the past
Praise for the freedoms we have
Thankfulness for those willing to serve
Family
Our pastor, for continued strength in leading the flock

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
From our church service last week..."When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat upon it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other- so that his hands remained steady till sunset." Exodus 17:12 While we may think we can do it on our own, we need others to keep us on the straight and narrow. The fellowship of believers can be a great asset in strengthening and uplifting us when we are down, and, in turn, we can assist others and uphold them with God's help. Whether near or far, prayer can be the most powerful of tools and weapons to defend against the Evil Foe.

Do I shelter my children?

2009-05-21T09:29:00.005-05:00

What a difference a day makes. From mid 90's and high winds the past two days, to 55 degrees and overcast today, the change is significant. You can't help but notice the difference the minute you crawl out of your blankets that you certainly didn't need when you went to bed in an 81 degree house! (We knew we just had to make it to today to cool the house down -one less day using the AC!)

As I was driving home from dropping the car off for service this morning, I was thinking about the weather changes over the past few weeks. For some reason, it made me stop and think about our parenting style, our values, our decisions we have made in regards to homeschooling our children, and I realized (for the umpteenth time)how amazing God is. He doesn't fluctuate, he doesn't change, he is ever faithful, ever loving, everlasting. He is the constant when everything around us is revolving. And this, my friends, is what you can cling to as you guide and parent your children.

May seem like a stretch - how does this all fit together? Well, this week we continued in our bible study Lies Women Believe, and we focused on the chapter regarding lies women believe about children. One lie that struck me was that "Children need to get exposed to the 'real world' so that they can learn to function in it." This is a statement I hear fairly frequently due to the fact that we have chosen to homeschool our kiddos. We have a plethora of reasons why we have gone down this path, and, admittedly, limiting exposure to the world outside our walls is one of these reasons. We don't hole them up and not let them out of the door, but we feel quite strongly that we are seeking to strengthen their awareness of God's plan for their lives, building up their defenses for fighting off the Enemy, and preparing them to be a light in a dark world. But, we do get the questionable looks, the doubting thoughts, and the inevitable question of when are we going to send them to REAL school?

God has a plan for our children, and our job as parents is to seek it out and pray over how we can best guide them in their formative years. That is why it is so amazing that God is never changing. When the world spins out of control, he is IN control. When jobs are lost, mistakes are made, tragedies occur, HE is comforting. When friends go by the wayside, HE stays by my side. These are the joys of Jesus that I want to teach and instill in my kids. I don't think I want to throw my children out in the world without helping them truly know this foundation on which to stand. We, as a couple, are seeking to "raise not just "good" children, but children who enthusaistically embrace the Truth, children who love righteousness and hate evil, children who will be used by God to change this world." (Lies Women Believe, p. 173)

It is one thing to have a knowledge of good and evil - we see it in classic movies today and most children can pick it out without difficulty. But, this knowledge needs to be taken a step further to then have our children know to flee from evil - to resist, to step away, to thwart, to reject it. Not simply because it is evil or wrong, or mom and dad said they should, or they know someone would tattle on them...We need to help them see the need to reject evil based on the truth of God's Word. We want them to love the Lord their God with their entire being - and we are up against Satan here! He is fighting us tooth and nail to put doubts in our kids' minds, to tempt them, to tell them it's "okay" to put themself first. What a strong opponent we face. So, we are trying to combat him with everything we have, and our main defense is protection in Christ Jesus. Now is the time to help them cultivate that personal relationship with him, so our kids can experience firsthand the joy of knowing their Savior as friend.

Children know and see and do what they are exposed to in these formative years. The pressure from peers is immense. We are countering that by encouraging them to choose friends that will lift them up and support them, rather than cut them down. We, as parents, have to continually look to what we are exposing them to through our choices in movies, music, and television. Parenting isn't part time - it is a full time, real time, all the time role that is a GIFT from God. We cannot misuse this responsibility and must evaluate constantly what we are modeling to our children on a day to day basis. If we are not in the Word, they will not see the value. If we veg in front of the tv for hours on end, they will see the tv as an important taker of time. What do you model to your children?

So, again, are our kids sheltered? Perhaps. Do they have limits on the computer, tv time, and other outside influences? Yes, to a degree. Do we think that they are not being exposed to peer pressure, evil, and wrong doing? Absolutely not. We know they are being exposed every single day. But, we are trying to arm them, and provide the weapons for battle. Because, only by preparing them with a foundation that cannot be shaken, and helping them see how our God is ever faithful, only through this can our children resist being conformers, but, instead, become transformers through Him!

Today, help your children be "wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil" (Romans 16:19). Then, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

May God grant you the courage and wisdom today to shelter your children in the shadow of the Almighty.

Mother's Day gifts...

2009-05-19T16:30:00.008-05:00

I wanted to share with you my special Mother's Day gifts that I received a couple of weeks ago...

From my son, JD...On his own, at age 11, he remembered that I needed a necklace that I could wear with black clothing. So, he called up my niece who makes jewelry, and put in his order. He sent her some of his hard earned allowance, and received this lovely creation to give to me. What is extra special on this is the way he thought through something well before the time he needed it, and initiated and followed through with his intention all by himself, without any assistance from dad! He really is growing up and showing that he is able to think of others!

From my middle child, JT. A special card with a well written poem, along with a child being held by the hand of Jesus. He handed me the card with the poem, which was a kick off to a full house scavenger hunt that he had created, with the prize of the sculpture at the end. While the sculpture may have been borrowed from another room in the house, the intention was amazing, and the poem was personally created by his loving heart. The poem (unedited)reads:

Mother, Mother you teach me well.
Mother, Mother your really swell.
Mother, Mother I love you.
Mother, Mother so do you.
Mother, Mother you take care of me.
You taught me the difference between a bee and a tree.
Mother, Mother your the best,
I'm trying hard not to be a pest.
Mother, Mother your important to me.
Mother, Mother why can't you see?
Mother, Mother your beautiful.
Your hair is softer than freshly brushed wool.
Mother, Mother you help pick up,
You did it whne Baxter was a wee pup.
Mother, Mother you pick up thumbtacks
So after I'm done please look on the back.
Mother, Mother this is my gift from me to you,
Just please say that you love me too.

Miss TJ pulled out a sweet little Strawberry Shortcake that she wrapped up especially for me from her favorite toy collection. Not to be left out, she found a special little box to wrap it in, and waited excitedly for me to open her gift. Oh, the joy to give a special present and know the recipient will cherish it always.

Last, but not least, my dh worked long and hard at creating some new garden boxes for me to finally get my herb garden next to the house, along with a salad garden and a mismatched treasure of heirloom tomatoes. We have a fairly decent size garden up away from the house, but these little boxes serve double duty as erosion control as well as produce "producers"! So here is the before... And the after... The plants are in, and the flowers for the borders added today. Now, we just have to add some decorative grasses in front of each, and we'll be set for this year. We were going to do just one, but my dh got going and decided that it looked better with three, and, of course, I agree.

Any time I have more room for fresh produce, why would I complain? (Oh, but I will, just as soon as those weeds start invading!) It was a wonderful day and I am so thankful and blessed to be wife and mommy to this family!

Happy Homemaker - May 18, 2009

2009-05-18T10:01:00.006-05:00

Special thanks to Sandra for hosting!

On my bedside table:
Lies Women Believe
The Yada Yada Prayer Group (thanks, Angie!)
Eating Well magazine

On my TV:
We've been gone, so on our DVR we have all of Survivor since last Thursday to watch (don't tell us what happened!!)

On the menu for tonight:
Beautiful night, so hoping to grill some chicken breasts and veggies

On my To Do List:
Laundry
Unpack from the weekend
Purchase and plant flowers
Water garden
Send statements
Plan summer calendar
Menu for the week
Prepare for bible study for tomorrow

New Recipe I tried last week:
Nothing new last week as we were just trying to keep our heads above water
This week, though, I plan on trying some new bread recipes

In the craft basket:
Any and all things gardening

Looking forward to:
Having a less busy week and enjoying the weather now that the majority of the garden is planted

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Don't leave a pot holder in the oven by accident or you'll be trying to figure out where that melted plastic smell is coming from for a long time...(Thanks, sis!) :)

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Bonnie hits it on the head so many times, and I found this one to touch my heart.

Favorite photo from last week:My daugher and nieces...special girls on Confirmation Sunday.

Lesson learned the past few days:
It is still possible to love my spouse more than I already do. God has truly blessed me with him!

On my Prayer List:
My cousin who is having surgery to determine if she has ovarian cancer
My niece who was confirmed yesterday - may she always walk with Christ
Brad's grandpa, who continues to decline
My pastor and staff
Our military personnel
Our country

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
For my niece's confirmation, she received an engraved bible from her parents. All the guests were invited to underline and write in comments regarding their favorite verses and prayers for her. What a special idea and one she will treasure forever. I was so surprised to see two of my favorites already underlined by my husband when I went to write my comments. One of them is Colossians 1:10, "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..." What a challenge this is, but one to keep in mind and at the forefront of everything we say and do. I pray this for myself, my children, and my entire family. May all of us embrace this goal and do all that is possible to live our lives in this way!

Fostering honor

2009-05-14T08:15:00.004-05:00

I was planning on wrapping up my parenting series today, but found that I had two topics of value to share. Rather than make one REALLY long post, I will separate them out and allow each their own individual spotlight! So, the series continues, and my rambling as well!

Today's topic has to do with caring for others. I have a son who has so much compassion for others. If someone needs something, he is the boy for the job. Compassion just comes naturally for him, whereas we are finding we need to work on developing it more in the other two. This used to bother me immensely, because I wanted my kids to always do the right thing immediately.

"Say you're sorry to your sister."
"How would you feel if someone did that to you? Now, go apologize!"
"I know it was an accident, but it is still the kind thing to say you're sorry."

Shouldn't these things be automatic? I'm realizing they're not, and our role as parents is to work on developing this area of the conscience so that we can teach our children to take initiative instead of relying on us to prompt their actions. If we do that, it will, once again, be more than behavior modification - it will be heart change.

Hebrews 13:18 is our guiding principle for compassion: "Pray with us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way." Did you see the term "honorably"? The definition of honor is to treat people as special, do more than what's expected, and have a good attitude. We need to look no further than the Gospels to see our prime example of honor - did not Jesus treat people with honor? He is the example to not only our children, but to us as well.

So, how do we raise awareness of honor in our children? We need to have a plan in place to help them become more aware of others, and thus, show a compassion for others as well. For example, speak to your children about what honor means. Tell them what it means to "Honor Your Father and Mother". Discuss the implications and how honoring is a command given by God. Have them start each day with an idea about how they can honor one another, and help them find specific examples in which to do so. For instance, instruct your child to set the table as they normally do. After it is completed, suggest they do something to honor others (do more than what's expected). Perhaps they fill the glasses with ice, or collect a pretty bouquet of flowers. Maybe they pull out the chair for a little one or their sister. Another idea comes in cleaning the living room. Everyone picks up and does their part. Time is up, and then you tell them all to "take an honor look." What does that mean? Again, honor is doing more than what's expected, and having a good attitude. It's fluffing the pillows, putting away a toy that is not your own, grabbing the Febreeze and spraying down the couches...that's honor. Teach your children to do honor activities and it will become part of them. One additional idea...give them extra money in their allowance, but the intention is to give it away. They are to honor someone or something with the extra. Enjoy the excitement as they think about what they could do - is it giving it to church, or perhaps pooling their money with that of their siblings to buy a toy for a shelter? What honorable action can they come up with?

We must teach our children that honoring others is a God directed activity, and they must lead their hearts to do so. They cannot do it alone, so we must have a plan in place to help guide them in this way. Take the time to examine yourself as well, as many times we do not honor others with our words and actions. Go above and beyond, and show your children how to do the same.

May God guide you in your endeavors and give you wisdom to raise your children to honor others.

Next time - dealing with rules...

I'm proud to say, I grew up with this drug...

2009-05-13T14:40:00.004-05:00

And, for the record, I am trying to feed my kids this drug every day as well.

(No, this isn't my parenting post for the day - but it sure fits!)

More later...

A post for the sake of posting...

2009-05-12T23:48:00.003-05:00

My dear hubby and I are sitting with our backs to each other in the office area and having some great quality time pounding on our computers. He's entering receipts into Quicken, and I just finished entering a bunch of checks into his business to sustain us for another couple of weeks. While it never seems quite convenient to take the time to do the task, I do have to thank and praise the Lord that his business continues to allow me to be home with these beautiful children and be a full time mommy! So, whether I feel like it or not, I need to take that to heart and keep it as a blessing, as opposed to a burden of time.

Now, once again, it's after midnight and I had great aspirations today to create a wonderful sonnet of words to entertain and delight you, but to no avail. It's been one of those days when you run from morning until night. I did have an enjoyable lunch with my family as we went to a local Mongolian BBQ called Hu Hot to celebrate a late Mother's Day. We had planned to eat out that day, but it didn't quite fall into place...and this was a perfect substitute and a wonderful break in the middle of our day.

I have so much I want to say, but lucky for you (teehee)I am tired and ready to head off to bed. I had planned to wrap up my last parenting post, and move on to some other great material that I am weeding through, but sleep is calling...No way do I want to miss that call! :) But, in the meantime, I am reposting my last three parenting posts in case you missed any of them. I will plan on sharing the final installment tomorrow sometime.

Parenting seminar, Part one
Tightening Your Action Point
Dealing with Wrongs

Until then, have a great day, and I am looking forward to visiting you all! Thanks for stopping by, and if you are new to my blog, I'll come see you soon!

Happy Homemaker Monday - May 11, 2009

2009-05-11T09:33:00.006-05:00

Thanks to Sandra for hosting!

On my bedside table:
My bible
Lies Women Believe (bible study)
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver
CBD catalog

On my TV:
Typical - still have Survivor and Dancing with the Stars on the DVR

On the menu for tonight:
Either meatloaf and sweet potatoes or leftovers

On my To Do List:
Finish planting the upper garden (tomatoes, peppers, sweet potatoes are left)
Plant lower three gardens (herbs, more tomatoes, spinach, lettuce)
Purchase and plant flowers
Enter insurance checks
Payroll
Billing
Shop for confirmation gifts
Shop for birthday gifts

New Recipe I tried last week:
Whole Wheat Bread

In the craft basket:
Still gardening at full speed

Looking forward to:
Our trip to Minneapolis this weekend for niece's confirmation
We are her godparents so are excited to see her profess her faith before God- she is such a wonderful girl with a loving heart

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Use a chalk line in your garden to make straight rows - it works GREAT!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
My friend, Amy, has been working through some tough decisions over the past few months. I love how her and her family have searched for God's direction and found it. While the best decision isn't always the easiest decision, God rewards those who are faithful to him. You can read more about her decision here. Being a mom is tough, but we are here to do what is best for our children - and I think Amy shows this in her family.

Favorite photo from last week (actually last month!):
Lesson learned the past few days:
Ruth is such an example of godliness and faithfulness. She was a woman of excellence and we should strive to be like her.

On my Prayer List:
MF's confirmation
Brad's grandpa - will most likely have surgery this week
Brad's mom for strength as she deals with all the uncertainties regarding Grandpa
Our family
Our country
Our servicemen

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." I Peter 3:3-4

Parenting - Dealing with Wrongs

2009-05-08T12:11:00.009-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all my wonderful blogging friends. May God grant you the wisdom to continue to parent your children through his grace and love.

In my two previous posts about the seminar we attended, I noted the importance of bringing the conscience to the forefront as well as tightening your action plan. I want to speak today to the aspect of dealing with wrongs. This is working on the emotion of guilt, and how to use correction appropriately in order to strengthen the conscience once again.

Proverbs 6:23 speaks to how God's commandments are our guiding principles and firm foundations to raise our children. "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life." Correction is how our children learn and grow. It takes courage and humility to admit you did wrong (this is true for adults as well!!) Again, by working with the conscience, we can help our children to feel good from the inside out. Help them see that Satan is crouching at the door, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. They are the warriors, ever on guard with the armor of God. They can be the heroes in their story by overcoming evil with good and using their training to conquer the nasty sin that wants to tempt and overtake them!

But, due to the fall of man, your child will, at times, fall to sin. But, each time they do, it is an opportunity to improve. Remember, when disciplining, work with the heart, rather than the actions, to overcome wrong.

1. Pull your child aside, get down on their level, and ask, "What did you do wrong?"
2. Then, ask, "Why was that wrong?"
3. "What are you going to do differently next time?" (Help them learn from their behavior)
4. Release them from their guilt (Psalm 51:10) "Okay, go ahead and try again." (Shows you have faith in them that they will do better, clears their conscience, and helps them have a fresh start.)

Perhaps you have a child that struggles with anger when they are wronged. Perhaps they lash out, or hit. Help your child to see that anger is good for identifying problems, but not for solving it. So, they have to have a plan! Discuss with them how they can handle their anger for good - have them suggest ideas that will help them the next time. Maybe it is counting to ten before responding or walking away (shows self-control). Maybe they can offer a toy prior to a sibling grabbing it (thinking of others). Perhaps they stay and work through it (patience). Make sure your child is aware of the "background" of why or how they should do something, so again, it's not about modifying the behavior, but about doing what God wants them to do, and doing it from the heart.

I have seen firsthand how well this works in the past few weeks. I have been trying to be acutely aware of bringing each conflict, disobedience, or lack of respect back to the "bottom line". I find myself no longer saying "good job" but "you really showed great self-control in that situation." Or, instead of "That's not the way we do things around here!" I have changed to, "You are not showing respect for me in your tone of voice." My best tip is to keep the fruits of the Spirit at the forefront of your mind, and, more than likely, you will be able to come up with an example of something lacking in almost every situation of discipline. I know this is working because my children are responding with "heart" talk once I ask them what they did wrong. I may have to probe a bit, and ask some leading questions, but instead of "I shouldn't have yelled at my sister" I am more apt to get "I should have been more patient with my sister." Who knew this would actually work??? :) Unfortunately, they're not perfect yet, and still providing me lots of practice. ;)

Three other key points that I want to make sure to convey. One is that we often, as parents, don't allow time in our day to discipline or correct our children. We are booked from end to end, and any kind of disruption in our day (read: conflicts!) cause our blood pressure to sky rocket and we cringe at the inconvenience of dealing with the problem. We don't have the luxury to NOT deal with these problems, becasue we are the parents. We are put on this earth, by God, to raise our children in the way they should go - to follow his paths and his leading. We cannot parent during commercials. We cannot parent when it is convenient. We must parent and discipline when needed, and often it is at the most inopportune moments. So, therefore, build cushion into your day, to be able to allow time to correct and work with your children. You will need, in step 3, time to work through a plan so your child can learn from their behavior and change it! Don't short change your time and don't short change the learning opportunities that present themselves.

Secondly, look at yourself and see if you, as a parent, have some heart issues you need to deal with as well. Do you struggle with patience? Maybe God has given one of your children a personality that challenges you in this area. Draw near to him to help you overcome this challenge. Do you act quickly out of anger? You are a role model to your children - have them see you remove yourself from the room, count to ten, pray for self-control, - let them see you have a plan and have them hold you accountable. Just because we are older, we are not always wiser. Nothing humbles you more than your children seeing where your faults are. Work on them, ask for forgiveness when needed, and learn from your slip ups. Your children will respect you all the more if you do.

Finally, we are a society in which there is little to no accountability. We must stop this trend in our own homes as quickly as possible. Instead of relieving your children of the pressures that exist in this world, put the pressure on them to do what's right. Challenge them, encourage them, and equip them. They can be strong, but they will be strongest if they stand in the Word. Help them to see this through your example. Let them know that they can be heroes in this world - ones who honor God, and honor others. Don't sugar coat it and tell them it will be easy, but it will be honorable, and God will reward them in the end. By struggling, and even suffering, we know this... "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us..." Romans 5:3-5. We are doing nothing but helping our children by guiding them to do what's right, and only through God's help can we know the way to do so.

Thank you, Lord, for being with us as we parent our children. Guide us and direct us in the ways you intend us to go.

Stay tuned - What to do about rules will be in a future post!

Famous Firsts

2009-05-06T22:36:00.004-05:00

My friend Jen did this and I thought it would be fun to take a quick walk down memory lane. If you decide to do the same, let me know so I can check out your firsts!

Famous Firsts

First job: Babysitting my twin cousins - I think I was only 11 at the time and babysat while my aunt would go out and milk cows

First real job: Cashier at Mackenthun's grocery store. I worked a ton as I had to buy my own clothes as well as lots of other items - money was tight! I think I started working there when I was 16?

First favorite politician: Ronald Reagan is the first politician I really remember

First car: A red Oldsmobile Cutlass that my sister and I shared when we were in college...I just can't remember what we drove before that!

First record/CD: Shawn Cassidy - Oh wait, he was my first poster. I think my first record that I owned was Air Supply. My sister joined a record club and I remember her getting a free record: KISS-Double Platinum! :)

First Sport played: Volleyball, in 7th grade. Played through high school, along with softball. Only played basketball a few years, although I loved the game.

First concert: I think MC Hammer was the first one I went to on my own and that wasn't until college! Before that, I remember mom taking us to The Vienna Boys Choir.

First foreign country visited: Canada (I'm counting that), when I was around 5, perhaps? I remember mountains, a bear in our camp, a tram ride, car breaking down, and me constantly saying something about "Jasper, Jerome" in reference to some state or national park we visited...

First favorite TV show: Little House on the Prairie, hands down. I remember passing up fishing with my dad to watch it one day. (Ouch)

First favorite actor: Leif Garett is the first one I remember along with David Cassidy.

First favorite actress: Well, where there is Leif there is Brooke Shields. I think I was also partial to Tommy from "Eight is Enough".

First boyfriend/girlfriend: I loved Darin D. in first grade. I actually somehow kissed him and remember someone saying they were going to tell on me - figured I would get into big trouble over that one. Felt guilty for weeks!

First encounter with a famous person: Waitressed at Ciatti's in Minneapolis and served Dan Gladden, and some other Minnesota Twins players.

First brush with death: Flipped a three wheeler in early high school and landed on my back, resulting in a compressed vertebrae. Scared the daylights out of me and caused some ongoing problems for awhile.

First house or condo owned: Lovely redwood sided trailer house - two bedroom, two bath. My first house with Brad. We drove by to look at it this past weekend only to find it GONE from the sight. A piece of our history is no more.

First film seen: Mary Poppins or Benji - can't remember which.

First favorite recording artist: Prince

First favorite radio station: ?

First book I remember reading: Loved reading as a child - would guess it would be any of the Little House books or Judy Blume books like Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret...

First meme you answered on your blog: The Simple Woman's Daybook

Take a walk down memory lane and let me know you did. I want to come and see your firsts!

Tightening your action point

2009-05-05T10:11:00.005-05:00

I promised a few days ago that I would talk more about some topics from our parenting seminar, and, boy, did the days get away from me. I have so many things to say, and nary a minute to type them it seems. Lately, I have been innundated (in a good way) with so much worthwhile information on so many fronts. From marriage, to parenting, to living a full life as a godly woman, to nutrition, to family, I have so many thoughts I want to share. I figure, heck, if it hits home with me, it will with someone else as well. And, if not, at least I can refer back to it sometime!

The parenting seminar we attended a few weeks ago spoke to a number of issues dealing with the conscience. If you want to read about that aspect, you can find it here. Today, I want to speak to the idea of "tightening your action point." This is the area in which we could use a lot of improvement - well, one of many. :) Say JD is downstairs and I call him up because we need to get ready to go to town. I know, in my mind, that he is probably going to need to change into a decent pair of pants, put on his shoes, gather up whatever he thinks he needs for the ride in the van, go to the bathroom, get a drink, and get his coat, all before we can head out the door. Five minutes later, I call him again, saying we are going to walk out the door in 5 minutes and I need him ready to go. Five minutes later (or thereabouts if I haven't gotten distracted with something in the meantime) I yell at the top of my lungs that he better get his butt up the steps and into the van before I take away some privilege because he is not listening to me. (Of course, you all know that this is strictly an illustration and something that would NEVER happen in our home...) So, why did he come? He came because there was something that triggered action on his part - most likely, my yelling at the top of my lungs. I had said the same thing three times, but he knew that I meant business when I yelled it.

This seminar spoke to this problem - why are our kids not obeying when we tell them something? Why do they not respond immediately? Most parents need to look at tightening this action point and meaning what they say. You can't tell your kids to go to bed, and not have a routine in which to do so. You can't parent during commercials. You can't demand a response and not carry through with discipline. BUT, your kids know what the action point is - you can, most likely, ask them about when they know to do what you say.

It all ties back to the conscience and helping your children develop the awareness of doing what is right, and caring about others. Anger isn't necessary to get a response, but firmness may be. Make sure you are using instructions versus suggestions. "JD, can you get your coat on?" vs "JD, you need to get your coat on and get in the van." The first indicates that there may be a choice in the matter while the second explains the instructions. Firmness indicates a line in the sand that will have consequences if they cross it...harshness is emotional and not always rational. Firmness ties the instruction to the conscience and speaks to being responsible, looking out for others, cooperation, and consequences. By voicing our instructions, and expecting results, we can step away from behavior modification and work on conscience building - which has long term results.

How do you implement this? First of all, it helps to be working specifically on the conscience with all your disciplining in your home. To keep the conscience at the forefront, you can speak to how it is affecting a relationship (you really showed patience while helping your sister...) If you are speaking from a biblical perspective as well, you can speak to how God requires children to obey their parents. This, obviously, won't matter much to a child who has a conscience which is not greatly developed, so you may have work to do to make the awareness more acute. Then, you may need to speak to your children about the change in your household. If you have previously given your child chance after chance to perform a duty, listen to an instruction, etc., tell them that you will now be expecting them to respond to you right away. You can give them warnings about something coming up if you so choose, "You have five minutes until your computer time is over. Plan accordingly." But, the important thing, is that you must follow through once you state the desired action.

"JD, I need you to put your shoes on to prepare yourself to leave. You are responsible for getting yourself ready and you need to start now. When you are ready, report back to me." (Don't need to give the time frame - that may trigger procrastination)

Steps to help the process:
1. Have the child do the job requested
2. Instruct the child to report back to you when finished
3. Check the child's work, providing feedback
4. Release from work to free their conscience ("Okay, you're free to go.")

Use eye contact, hand holding, and get down on their eye level to assure they are listening.

What if they don't do it? What if they refuse?

We'll talk about "dealing with wrongs" in an upcoming post!
Addendum: After re-reading this post, I feel I failed to mention something vitally important...Ask God for the wisdom to parent your children effectively. Don't try to do it on your own. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work within your child to bring his/her conscience to the surface and KEEP it there. It is only by God's love and his grace that ANY of this is possible. Pray, pray, pray!