new home

my new home on the web is

http://www.ateachingheart.com/

 I hope to see you there!

Some days........ this marriage isn't what I signed up for!!!

Have you ever caught yourself saying that.........???

............................be honest.

don't try to lie.......  i can see it in your eyes!!!!  YOU HAVE SAID IT!

it's ok... i will let you in on a little secret..........

i've said it too....  more times than my pride will allow me to admit.

When we marry, we have a vision..... of the wedding and how life after will be........  picturesque and orderly

and before you know it that wonderful serene vision has morphed into something much more like this ! ACK!

photo courtesy of Flikr

OH!  have I had days like that!

The key to a great marriage is remembering WHO it should be focused on.....  and that is Christ. 

Lorrie Flem has put together the perfect bundle of wisdom and encouragement for you.  It is just what you need to get you through those crazy marriage moments that were certainly not on the disclosure form you signed at the alter.................  oh?  you didn't get one of those either?.... haha.

The To Have and To Hold Marriage bundle is a wonderful tool to have in your back pocket to help you keep your marriage a priority

Here is a peek ............

My personal favorite was the booklet the 31 ways to pray for your husband.  It was wonderful.  I prayed through that list for my husband and I can't tell you how God worked in MY heart and in my marriage, just through those prayers.

If you would like to have access to these great articles and encouraging stories, they are available from http://www.eternalencouragement.com/ .  Valued at over $100.00 if purchased individually, they can be instantly downloaded for only $39.97.  If you would like hard copies shipped to you the cost is only $49.97.

******
As a member of the Gabby Moms, I was given the To Have and To Hold bundle, free of charge for the purpose of this review. No other compensation has been given.  All of the above opinions are my own.

Miscellany Monday 5.16.11

 

{one}

when your blog is down..... it is like running out of coffee beans on a monday morning.

waiting for posts to be restored..... is like trying to guess when the puppies are going to arrive....

{two}

nearly every seed i started this year... has sprouted. 

i assure you, this is not normal.



{three}

my daughter is preparing to attend college as a high school junior.  while i would like to say that i am prepared for that adventure.....

truth be told, i can't get the picture of her holding her daddy's hand in her chubby little finger out of my mind.

remind me again how she got so big so fast?

{four}

speaking of getting older.  i now have a 17year old.  he really was just 5 a week ago.  i swear it.

happy birthday son.  i am glad God gave you to me.

{five}

yesterday's sermon was about walking/living in the spirit.  for the first time i heard the fruit of the spirit described as a package deal.  you know, like a package of fruit snacks.  lots of little pieces in one package.

i always thought of them as something to obtain, and behave like.....i guess like a sort of code...

the concept that they are already there because the spirit dwells in me... is new... fresh.... and exciting

{six}

i really can't wait to eat veggies from the garden.

confessions of a tupperware killer

we just ate our last pickle.

i know you really wanted that information didn't you....

don't lie.

i knew you were in suspense.... hanging on the edge of your seat, waiting for this announcement.....


with the last pickle gone....  it was delicious by the way.......  now i get to think about what to put in the jar formerly known as pickle.


Past uses have featured....  coffee beans, black beans, rice, oatmeal.....

Now, what shall i use this jar for??? is a question that is pleasantly swimming around in my head.

i have turned to the use of glass jars, because really...... 

i am a tupperware killer.

i melt it, stain it.... and forget what it is in it, because i can't see inside the stuff.  i throw it out for fear of breathing whatever science fair project is germinating in there....

Switching to glass has been a meal saver around here.  Leftovers actually get eaten....  people can see what it is !! how novel an idea !!

Ever since my friend introduced me to these FABULOUS little lid things that Ball sells.....  the murdered tupperware isn't getting replaced....  we nearly use glass completely now for storing things. i reasoned, i have all these canning jars just SITTING in the garage, i should USE them !!

now the crackers, cranberries, almonds and walnuts sit pretty and neat on the shelves....  it is delightful.

and really.......... i am kinda glad i have killed all the tupperware.

....just 5....

{one.}  spinning.......

so many thoughts are spinning through my head from church yesterday.

do you ever just feel like there was so much good stuff shared that you can't even begin  to process it all?

i am so thankful to the Lord for his grace and showing me the areas of my life that need to be surrendered to him, there is lots of uckey (yes that is a technical term) stuff i need to work on.

{two.} cowboys.....

yesterday on the way home from church i saw a cowboy.

not so weird in and of itself.

but......

 the cowboy had a big ten gallon hat, a nice vest, and a bolero tie....

only problem was,  he was driving a Scion. 

and that.... is what i can't get out of my head....

it is like showing up to the rodeo with a miniature pony....

bad form.

{three.} dates....

i need a date with my husband.

badly.

life has been busy.

i miss talking with him about the random things.

i need one so badly i am not sure that just a few hours will cut it

maybe i need a weekend

{four.} puppies....

the puppies are growing well, they are fat little balls of fur.

their eyes started opening today, personalities should begin to emerge soon

they will be two weeks old on wednesday.

{five.} fat.....

i am fat.  there is no use hiding it, or pretending that i am skinny. 

the first step to recovering is admission....

right?

it is time that i stop letting the P90X box mock me from the foot of the bed where it has been collecting dust for over a year.

i need to be a little more Nike....

and

just do it.

~julie

Link up with lowercase letters.

love, me.

Dear Friend,

It was good that you called.  Hearing your voice, made me keenly aware of its absence for these many years, and aware of  how shameful of a friend I have become to you.

It was good to hear of jobs and kids and life........ all that happens when time slips by.

I wish I lived closer.  In the days since our talk I have thought of you so much.  I wish we could share couch time, our jean clad legs and bare feet curled up under us as we talked and talked the hours away.  Pouring encouraging wisdom into each new subject, with an ease that only a lifetime of knowing someone can produce.

Both of our lives have been on a bumpy path....

There has been lots of laughter and joy.......  hurt and pain...... and then the search to regain the joy.  I am very aware of an emptiness, an ache that lurks in your soul.  The one way down in there that you don't let people see, or even really want to think about.  It is the one that confronts you when the nights are long and quiet, and life is just overwhelming enough to bring it to the surface involuntarily.

I know all about this ache.... because I have had it.  Some days I still live with this ache.  Some days it envelops me and it's grip is so tight, I think I might die from the weight of it.  When we talked, you said how perfect my life sounded, how I seemed to be doing everything right.....  Those words haunt me. 

My life is not perfect.

At all.

I fail so much more than I succeed.

When we were young we made a promise to each other......besides the one that we would always be friends.... we promised that we would pray for each other, and that we would love each other as sisters in Christ..... 

I stand before you to ask your forgiveness.  I failed you in that promise.  My own life, my own selfish life, got in the way......  and I beg your forgiveness.

I resolve to return to that promise that we made to each other long ago.  I resolve to make it a reality to pray for you, and love you, to rebuild what time has torn down.  I want to share the burden of the emptiness that you are feeling, and let you know how I made it through.

If you'll let me......
I'm here.........

Love,
me

Miscellany Monday 4.25.11 ~ dryers and derriere's

{one}

So there I was head first into the dryer scraping off the 2 inch wide swath of calcified bubble gum off the drum....... and if my head was "in there".... you know my derrière was all "out there" for everyone to see....

My husband walks up to the laundry room door and starts talking....

It sounds like *wa, wahwah, wha, what, wah*

I  rearrange my knees, reposition my torso in such a manner so that I can extricate my head, and not crumple the dryer door.........lean out so that my left ear is able to hear him and exasperatedly say... WHAT!??

He just stopped by to inform me that the spot price for Silver has gone up 14 dollars.  It is now $46 an ounce.

Seriously?  I had to extricate myself out of the dryer, and end my quest to de-throne the gum.....

................for THAT??????????????

ugh.

{two}

I really do love my husband. 

and yes he knew he was going to be blog material.

{three}

Had a surprise phone call from a dear friend last night.

It has been far too long since our last chat......

God willing, there will be more frequent communication.

I miss her.

{four}

little boys with freckle kissed noses that come up in the middle of the day for big hugs

because they are "jus wuvvin ya mom"

are simply gifts from God.

{five}

its raining today.

fire in the fireplace........ check

big mug 'o coffee.....  check

slippers....... check

reading out loud to the kids day........ check.

 ~  julie

Epic mom fail.......

So, yesterday........  I did something I have never done before....

We had an appointment for Evan to see the Optometrist at Sears.

No biggie, normal mom stuff

They called Thursday to confirm.  I ask which part of the building they are in.  She says go to the merchandise pick up door. Its by the salon.... go in and there we are.

Simple enough........

So yesterday, when it was appointment time we arrive a little early... and we are right outside the merchandise pick up door.  We see some people going in.... and even though it is early we go and tell them we are there for Evan, and his 10 am appt.

They say ok.  Take the insurance cards.... and call him back in a bit to the Optometrist.

While he is in with the Doc. ..... my phone rings

It is Tayler from home... She says Sears is on the house phone calling and wondering where we are..

I incredulously say into the phone.... We are RIGHT HERE!  Evan is already in with the Dr!  are they nuts?

She quietly tells me.... "Mom? are you sure?" 

" Yes I am sure, don't you think I know where I am?"

"Well they say your not there......"

All of the sudden.... it was like the scales peeled off my eyes.....

I was in JC Penny's Optical department..............oops...

***epic mom fail ***

In my defense.... i went in the merchandise pick up door.... and it WAS by the salon.........sigh...

Portable Encouragement for Moms

Hello.........

I would like to introduce you to...........

This little gem has literally lived with me for the last month and a half.  I keep it in my purse....  it is just the perfect size.  My daughter and I read it while we were at the Emergency Room waiting for her to have her knee x-rayed...  (don't worry, nothing was broken!)

It has been to church, ball games, doctor visits, the optometrist office.... I have read it while the boys played at the park and inside McDonald's....  It is the most traveled magazine I have ever read.

It wasn't just the size that made it compelling............

The content kept calling to me........  to read, and re-read........ absorb........ and be refreshed.

These last few weeks have been N-U-T-S
............and in the few, slightly stolen, quiet moments I have had..........  Eternal Encouragement Magazine is what I have grabbed.

I have remained focused by reading articles like, " Four Principles of NOT Wasting Time"

I was encouraged to cultivate a "Lady in Waiting", and nurture the relationship with my daughter.

Housework has gone smoother since reading " See a Mess and Work a Lot Less".

The Article "Picket Fence Pondering" by Amy M. O'Quinn gently spoke to my heart during this time that is so busy... she said, "How many of us are guilty of letting what's important in life slip by because we are so focused on things that don't matter or ones we have no control over."   What a great reminder to check my priorities and make sure I am busy for the RIGHT reasons.

If you would like a copy of your very own ............  head on over to http://www.eternalencouragement.com/ and subscribe.  Each printed issue is $12.97.  Yearly subscriptions start at $25.97 ( which is a really great deal!)

*** as a member of the Gabby Moms Blogging program, I received a free copy of Eternal Encouragement Magazine, for the purpose of this review.  No other compensation has been received... all opinions are my own ***

Got Eggs?

We have friends with a farm...........

The Happy Lil Homestead has some chickens that make some tasty eggs.

Thanks to these great little layers, I have roughly 7 1/2 dozen eggs in my fridge right now, and that means I am looking for tasty new ways to eat eggs.  Let's face it, one can only eat so many fried or scrambled eggs.

At first I thought frittata.  ( Eggs baked in a large skillet in the oven )
Good idea, but the pan isn't really big enough to feed a family of 6 and I am looking to use more than 4 eggs in a meal.

Then there is the ever present quiche.....baked eggs in a crust.....   I am married to a kill it and grill it kind of guy.....  If I told him we were having quiche for dinner..... he might,  well........  lets just say there would be much scoffing and laughter.

That was my mission....figure out how to bake some eggs up.... use at least 18 in the dish, make the meal meat-eating-man friendly...........and keep the teenager from trolling the cupboards again in 30 minutes.


Here is what I whipped up.... 


Set the oven to 400 and leave it to pre-heat.

Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13 glass pan.  Grease it good now, you don't want the eggs to stick!

Fry up a pound or so of your favorite sausage.  Set that aside to cool for a bit.

Crack up a bazillion eggs (18 -20) into a big mixing bowl.

Give your 8 year old the whisk and tell him to get at it.  Remind him not to spill.

As he is taking out all his wiggles on the eggs....

grate up about a cup of cheddar cheese.

throw it in the bowl with the eggs...tell him to keep mixing...

pour in about a cup of milk into the bowl....  yup... have him keep mixing

( at this point you really could add other things your family likes... mushrooms, cilantro, onions, spinach, some hash browns.... whatever sounds good )


the eggs should be good and mixed about the time the 8 year old tells you that his arm is going to fall off if he has to keep whisking....

Slowly add in the cooled sausage... a bit of salt and pepper, and you guessed it.....  tell him he is on the home stretch.... just a little more mixing
..........just when you have decided his arm might really fall off....
Pour the mixture into the pre-greased pan.

Bake at 400 for about 35 minutes.... ( when I bake eggs like this I use some steam to help.  I place my broiler pan with a cup or so of water in it... on the rack right below my pan of eggs...  this keeps my eggs from drying out when they are cooking.... nobody likes dusty, dried out eggs ! )

See, like this......

after 35 minutes, top dinner with more grated cheese....
Why?...
......... because you can.
and melted cheese is really yummy..... now put it back in the oven for another 5 minutes or so....

Take it out, cut into squares and eat .... careful not to burn the roof of your mouth.... because that really hurts.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

( P.S.  I guess it is still technically a frittata.... just in a family friendly sized pan.)

Miscellany Monday 4.4.11

{one}

I realized last night, that we didn't have a single place to drive today. (if you could hear the Angel chorus going off in my head.... this post would be much more effective...)   For the first time in 3 weeks, I didn't have to rush out of the house on a Monday to deposit one at softball, one at piano, one at driving class, back to get the one and piano..... and back to drivers ed.....  I get dizzy driving on Mondays. 

{two}

little boys love mud.

They will dance and show off how cool they are.....

They think is it soooooo much fun.....

until the wind kicks up...

and they get cold......

and mommy says they have to rinse off.

with the ice cold water from the hose.

.......it wasn't pretty.

'nuff said.

{three}

I am ready for successive days of sunshine, and dirty fingers from gardening.

very ready.

 

How do I get them to help?

Saturday morning dawns....
I am tired...

my limbs feel like lead.

I really really wanna stay in bed.

But alas.........  there are commitments to keep....so I will drag myself into the shower and pray that hubby will make the coffee.....  (He did.  He loves me.)

Now I sit here in front of my computer screen taking inventory over this past week.

I am struck by the thought that I haven't spent hardly any time IN.... really IN the Word.  Shame on me.  I need to work on really purposing a time to spend reading God's Word.

Sometimes I feel like I get absolutely nothing accomplished....  my house is a disaster.... ask Chera if you don't believe me, she was just here last night....  it looks like a tornado ripped through the kitchen.

Spring seems to be a difficult time management part of the year for me.  The weather warms up and the activities that all the kids have go from a trickle to a torrent.  I am not home during my normal dinner prep time, and we eat later.... dishes don't seem to get done... laundry piles up because we are gone and busy....  clutter piles accumulate because we move in and out of the house, and just dump things when we come in.  It really makes me crazy.

We talk about cleaning. We schedule cleaning.... yet I still have this chaos swirling through the house.  I am not sure how to  actually execute the cleaning....
I mean, I know how to clean, and I am the only one who does (aside from Tayler in the hall bath) ....  it is the kids I want to assist in the execution......I remind, I schedule, I make calendars, I remind, I try to extend grace and not flip out and scream and run through the house throwing things at the people they belong to... and on some days..... that is really what I would like to do!!!  .... I remind some more......

Yet the initiative doesn't seem to be there.  They are content to walk around the suit coat they left on the chair for a week.  They are fine to step over the sippy cup.....

Can you tell I am at my whit's end?

Anybody got some thoughts?  Maybe If I tell them I can't drive them to their activities, because I have to clean the house.....  That might start to get their attention..........

Let me know what you think might work.....I'm desperate.

My Journey With Jesus

What is your Testimony?
I used to really abhor that question....

Growing up in church, coming to a saving knowledge of Christ when you are 7....  I used to think....  Really?  what sort of "testimony" does a person saved at 7 have?

When testimonies were given  it seemed as though everyone with a "good" one had been an alcoholic, drug addict, was homeless, and jobless until they met Jesus.  All well and good, but it makes "I became a Christian at 7" for a sum total of a testimony, look pretty paltry.

Thinking that no one really ever wanted to hear my one sentence testimony...  I kept silent on the subject whenever it came up.

I am not sure when it happened really, I can't put a finger on a time or a place, but God impressed upon me that I indeed have a story to tell.  He showed me the places where he had been working in my life, how He held me as I walked through life.  How he used certain circumstances in my life to correct me and turn my life around......

And then he told me to talk about it.........  ugh. The dreaded public speaking portion of the program.... I said ...  ugh... right?

Striving to be obedient, and inwardly cringing the ENTIRE time... I signed up to give my testimony at a ladies fellowship breakfast later in the year........

I feel it is important to share it here, with you all, my bloggy friends....  I am by no means perfect, but I am forgiven (many times repeatedly... because I am such a slow learner and all) 

So here it is...

My journey with Jesus........

I was forgiven of my sins as a child.
I remember it well.
I was 7.
It was in my aunt’s kitchen in Pomona, California.
I knew that Jesus had died on the cross for my sins, and risen again so I might have eternal life. I believed that, asked for His forgiveness, and was saved.

I spent my childhood learning about the Lord and doing "church things".  I sang in choirs, attended Pioneer Girls, Youth Group, Missions Trips.......  all the things you are "supposed" to do when you go to church. 

As I entered high school, I left the shelter of a private christan school, and there were many things in public high school to tempt me.
I wanted to be cool and fit in.
It seemed like every person who went to church with me, and went to my high school, drank, smoked, dabbled in drugs, and those who didn’t..... were total nerds.

I lacked personal conviction....
my roots did not run deep.....

You see, in all my church attendance, I had never cultivated a relationship with Christ.
We we were more like acquaintances.
Someone I would say hi to twice a week.... kinda like those friends you only hung out with because your parents were friends with their parents....and you had to be nice....

I began to live a double life.  At school, I smoked, dabbled in drugs, as well as a multitude of other things I am not proud of and I enjoyed it all..... 
then on Wednesday nights and Sundays I was a “good church girl”.


The double life became a single life soon after graduation. I was no longer compelled to attend church, and as I moved out on my own, my life of sin became more appealing. I was just living like everyone else was.. I still loved Jesus...
At least that was what I told myself.
I knew Him........
I just didn’t want to go to church or be considered different. Jesus and me weren't seen hanging out too often...........

God hadn't given up on me though.
Even when I ignored Him.........Even though I had been down right RUDE.

Gently, tenderly, the Lord allowed many consequences to enter into my life.
I became pregnant. This was pretty devastating. Even though I wasn't living the life I should have been...I knew how bad it would look to people who had heard me say I was a Christian....
We got married.... There was unfaithfulness. 
After two children, I walked through the pain of a divorce.

All the while He was gently reminding me He was there, He would carry my burden, I only needed to surrender it to Him and just follow.

I started back to church, so sure that everyone could see my scarlet letters...
S for single mom.........
D for  divorce ........
F for failing to do it on my own.

Walking back into church hurt and broken, where EVERYONE knew me from childhood, was hard.
It was humbling....and it was right where God knew I needed to be.
I needed to be at the end of myself.
I surrendered.
I asked him to forgive me for all the ways I had fallen short, where I had pierced his side, both actively and unintentionally.

This was when I began my walk with the Lord.
He led.
I followed.

He was patient with me (and still is)  as I would get distracted and return to some of my sins.

He is always there.....
ready to forgive....
My walk with Him has changed me. It has challenged me to look more like Him and less like the world around me.

Things still happen....  I still have to walk through problems, many of which would be considered by even Christian friends as "wrong, horrible, or devastating". 
 
The difference is, I am not alone. 
 
I can face these things because I know that God is in control.  I can rest in the fact that He will work things out according to His perfect will.... even if the situation is filled with pain for me.
 
I know that God is there to hear me, and comfort me when I cry out to him from the bottom of my soul. 
 
My faith in Him, is my hope, without that hope, I would be lost.

Wordless Wednesday: The Truck

This truck has called to me for weeks....  one day the afternoon sun was perfectly setting and I could ignore the quiet beckoning of this piece of history no longer. 

Don't you just want to know the stories this old tow truck could tell?  ... I do....

Parade Day ~part two~

I may finish the Story of New York City 2010 sometime before the end of 2011.  maybe.

I left you with a sister who was a wee bit ticked.  ( I am trying to be kind here...) I didn't see it.... I heard it...  We were leaving our wonderful location..... and something behind me crashed.  LOUDLY.  That's how I knew she wasn't happy. at all.

Anyway, anger management issues aside, we all head out to walk around an insanely large Trump Tower hotel.... and try to figure out a spot to land where we might actually get to SEE this parade.  Those without a 3 year old in tow... took off up the street, and around corners, at a speed that barely let us see which way they turned.  Eventually we found them, and a place to stand.


About this time. Jeremiah decided it was time for a nap.  Who could blame the kid, he had been up since 4:30am............ So I hooked him into his Moby Wrap (seriously the absolute best baby gift to give EVER !) and proceeded to stand post till the parade started.

We were right behind a family who had clearly been there since we had found our first spot.  Their claim had been staked by teens in snow pants and woolen mittens.  Their plot marked by a bright blue tarp, and scattered with lawn chairs to ease the feet during what would be a 4 hour wait.  The mom saw me hooking Jeremiah in... and offered a chair for me to sit on.  With about 2 1/2 hours to wait till the start of the Parade...  I was very grateful for the kindness of this stranger.

I think really this is where the lesson of the day lies.  We had a plan..... and it was changed, suddenly and forcefully, thanks to a cranky NYPD officer with a screamin Jersey accent.  Now we found ourselves at the mercy and kindness of some people we were standing behind.  God wanted us to see he had a better place for us to be on this morning.

Since I was sitting in her chair, this woman and I started talking.  Turns out she has been going to the parade for as long as she can remember.  Her parents have attended the parade every year, snow or shine, for 50 years.  Her children have been every year since they were born.  Mom and Dad , as she referred to them would be coming along shortly, they come into the city later these days, and send the young kids to wait in the cold.  Every year they find a spot near 64th and Central Park West....  when they unfurled the tarp this year.... it had confetti in it from years past.... She had driven down from Boston with her two kids (they were who we initially met when we stopped behind their tarp) just to do the parade.  Eventually Mom and Dad... or Grandpa and Grandma depending on who you were listening to, made it to the tarp about 8 am.  Grandpa was a hoot~n~a~half.  He was a pharmacist.  Retired. Former Army.  Married his sweetheart and was sent by uncle Sam to a honeymoon in Germany, he said.  He told me that since he came back he and his wife haven't missed a parade.  He said, the parade is all about the kids.  He told us to shove the kids up to the guard rail, he wanted to make sure they saw everything and could touch the clowns.  He told me that this was the best corner to be on to see the parade.... 

I have to agree.... he was right it was the best corner to be on.  People doing pyramids on the street....

There were strangers with $100 bills that accosted cotton candy vendors squeezing through the crowds and paid for cotton candy for all the little kids within throwing distance. 

There were people standing on walls

When the parade started, this part of the crowd knew how to do a parade.
There was chanting..... there was "the wave"....  they made the sanitation workers walking in the parade smile and wave with a chant of  " SCOOP THAT POOP !!  SCOOP THAT POOP !!"

If a band walked by with no song playing..... they would yell...  " PLAY A SONG !!"

If a performer came by on stilts....  they would chant...  " Man on Stilts... Man on Stilts"  until the person would come over right in front of us and dance.

Those balloons the parade is famous for.....

Those were not exempt either.....  They would ask the Kermit handlers to "SHAKE THAT LEG"

Or the little balloons they would ask them to do tricks....  all with the power of a half a blocks worth of bodies chanting in unison....

The best was the cop...... on his cell phone.
He was in the middle of the parade, riding his horse, and holding his phone to his ear.... chattin it up.
Our little sarcastic section of crowd couldn't let an opportunity to tease a cop pass by...

They started chanting....  "HANDS FREE, HANDS FREE !! "

 I am not so sure the "offender" heard us...  but is friends sure did.  They thought it was hilarious!

They even razzed the celebrity's... here they are chanting " Good Eats... Good Eats" to Alton Brown

And then......... for all the waiting........

it was over.......





And we will only have the memory of a really fun parade to last us a life time.

remember, it is only 11 am now..........  there is still more day left and New York to see....

So now we are off to Central Park to go ice skating ...........

Miscellany Monday

{one}   Meet new friends.

Always and ever in search of new bloggy friends....  I will endeavor to embark upon meeting a few.  That means I actually have to do more than hop around and stalk other peoples blogs.......  I have to WRITE something on my OWN.....  novel concept I know..... 

{two}  The cup really makes a difference.

I love this coffee cup.  The back side has a little green Starbucks sign, and a little yellow taxi cab.  It is my souvenir from our trip to New York City.  It is big, holds the perfectly large amount of coffee.  It makes Monday mornings happy.

{three}  Government Agencies are irritating.

I had to call one today to ask for an extension on a letter they gave me 3 days to answer.  They are closed.  They all have a day off as a  "debt reduction day" ...... huh? 

{four}  On Eating.

I think 8 year olds eat more than 16 year olds.  This last week Hunter ate a ton of food.  I expect it from Evan, he is a growing teen boy.... but Hunter?  On Saturday, he had dinner, then an additional bowl of soup, two heaping bowls of applesauce, an apple and a banana.....  and I had to stop him from getting a third bowl of applesauce.

At this rate, I am going to have to triple my grocery budget soon.

{five}  Young Marines.

Saturday we went to a Young Marines event.  Our friends daughter participated in Boot Camp, and was promoted from Recruit to Private.  She actually made PFC since she was an Honor Graduate.  Hunter wants to do this...........  real bad.  It really is something that is right up his alley.  Me?.........  selfishly all I can think about is that it is another thing on my plate to shuttle someone to.........ugh.  I am clearly going to need to pray about this one....

{six}  Bible Study.

Sundays we have been going through a study on " One Another".  We are learning what it means to love one another as Christ tells us to......  It is convicting and inspiring all in the same breath.

{seven}  Accountability.

A few weeks ago I attended a seminar.  The speaker stated that we should set some goals, find an accountability partner, and be honest with them on whether we were accomplishing those goals....

Out of the whole seminar....... there were two of us who wanted to have an accountability partner.

(everyone wave to Jen.....) 

She has a website with a book she wrote........  A Wedding Without Tears.......  Go and check it out.

{eight}  Blog Hops

Here are some other Monday blog hops that I will be looking to meet new friends on.....stop by one of them, and meet some new friends too !

{nine}  Buttons

I need to learn how to make blog buttons..........  sigh.....  something else to add to my to do list..... sigh...

Got your Shot?

This isn't a shot in the dark........

.............some days we all need a shot of help and encouragement.........

And lets be frank,  is there really anything so bad that a little peace and quiet and a shot of one of these can't fix?....

I didn't think so........

So go pour yourself a cup.......  I'll wait...

As the cream swirls blissfully in your cup, I want you to think about how important it is that we wives and mommies stay spiritually and emotionally nourished.  We can't teach our children what we don't know...

 Eternal Encouragement, has come up with Super Shots for you.  A monthly membership program that will deliver to you an encouraging and helpful
Quad Shot full of..... 
E-books, Audio Downloads, Video Clips...  for only $7.97

Some titles that are in the works are:

Words You Won't Have to Eat..... 
(um.. yeah, re-eaten words taste bitter)

Avoiding Parenting Pits.....
(what? your not a perfect parent either?)

Freedom From Homeschool Frizzle.....
(it happens! why do you think PS teachers take sick days?)

Kids that Clean.....
(really!  they will!)

So click on over to the brand new Eternal Encouragement website and contact them about this great new product Lorrie is offering.  If you contact them about it before April 1st. (there will be a special surprise for those that do !)


**I received this product ( a Super Shot of Kids that Clean) for honest review from Eternal Encouragement Magazine as a part of The Gabby Moms blogging program.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.** 

P.P.S.....  all this word play with the word "shot"  I now have that Bon Jovi song stuck in my head....." Shot through the heart...... and your to blame........"  oh how I digress!

Wordless Wednesday : Weather

A few Saturdays ago... we had a beautiful spring morning, warm and clear... followed by an early afternoon rain storm.... clearing in the evening and making for some amazing cloud shots

Wordless Wednesday

This is My dear sweet husband.  He was tolerating me as I was using him for photo shoot material.  What can I say?  I am a sucker for rugged lookin' men....  **schoolgirl sigh**

A Psalm 43 kind of day.....

My husband and I frequently communicate via chat during the day.  It is easy leave each other messages to read when the other has time.
Today he left me a chat that mentioned he was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day, and he asked me to read it when I had the time.  As I read it, I knew that not long ago, I was having a Psalm 43 sort of a day. (well ..month really, but no need to pour salt in the wound..)  I remembered that I did NOT cry out to God as I should have....  Instead I moped and stressed, and held my own private pity party.

David, the author of this Psalm, is tempted to become discouraged and sad because of all the problems he was facing....  yet he didn't.  He called out to God and sought Him...  He went to the source of his joy.  He chose praise instead of self pity.

Oh my Saviour.......... that I may learn to do the same.
Thank you God that my Husband wants to praise you in the middle of a really hard day.

Psalm 43 ( New King James Version )
VINDICATE me, O God, And plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle.  Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.


Psalm 43 ( New Living Translation)
O God, take up my cause! Defend me against these ungodly people. Rescue me from these unjust liars.  For you are God, my only safe haven. Why have you tossed me aside? Why must I wander around in darkness, oppressed by my enemies?  Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!  Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

Happy Anniversary

In a few more days and nine years ago...........

I married my dear husband.

Never once did he promise me the moon, even though he still looks at me like I hung it.

This last year has been one of the most difficult we have faced......even so, we faced it together.

We are learning that our marriage is more than I love yous, and holding hands.  It is steadily learning each other and the investment of time.  It is a commitment to God that far outweighs the hurts that people can inflict on one another.  It is the act of choosing love and forgiveness above all else.

Thank you honey for all the ways you show me (and the kids) you love me (us): for loving God more than me, for fixing cars, changing light bulbs and killing all the spiders; for fixing skinned knees, and hugging away broken hearts; for carrying little bed bugs into their OWN bed, and for your special brand of tuckin' time; and for being quick to forgive.

Happy Anniversary Hon...

God loves you, and so do I.

Don't forget to share your gratituesday story at Heavenly Homemakers

Parade day!!! ~ part one ~

In case you haven't been keeping track.... We are now on day THREE of our New York City adventure.

Each night we have come back to the hotel, I was absolutely sure my feet were going to fall off and that they were going to be so swollen in the morning that I wasn't going to be able to stand on them.

Every morning, I would slide out of bed.... and be absolutely amazed that my feet were still attached, no longer swollen, and still working!

Day one was an 11 hour day, Day two was 18 hours, and now we are about to embark on Day three, which will turn out to be a 19 hour day.... ( yes, you may groan in sympathy...)

But I get ahead of myself....  I must start at the beginning.

Up at 4 am.....

Get kids up at 4:30....  we are receiving much resistance today...  they are past the point of caring that there is a parade.... they are exhausted, our sweet cajoling voices are lost on the poor things..

We pry them out of bed by 4:45 slide clothes over their heads and up their legs while they stand there, half comatose....
Prop them up in the elevator, and meet with tour guide barbie in the lobby.

The rush of frozen air as we walk outside is and instant eye opener, and they are awake and ready to go.
Mostly.
The pictures don't lie.
We were feeding them cookies for breakfast.
Anything to keep them awake.

We were in the Subway so early, the first train we saw was the garbage train!

Out of the Subway we emerge.  Tour Guide Barbie is in speed mode... which means those of us with little ones are just keeping her in sight, and trying to keep up...

The anticipation in the air is tangible..... we are gonna be "In the FRONT row".... at least that is our goal. because HONESTLY....3 days of starting the day before Dawn... better mean we are going to be in the front row.

We walk around Columbus Circle, and land a spot that is on the Circle, and slightly to the right of the entrance to Trump Hotel and Tower.  We are RIGHT ON THE CURB... the front row baby!

Amy lays out her hotel towel and lays down for a nap... Tour guide Ken (a.k.a. Brent) puts in his earphones and does the same....

 Angelo leans on his mom, and tries to sleep,

poor Jeremiah, bless his bundled up little heart.  He didn't even complain once.  He just held his little hand warmers and had a great time!

everyone else is just sort of milling around ....  looking at the clock that is above Columbus Circle that reads ... 5:40 AM !!%@#!! and wondering what in the WORLD are we possibly going to do in 39 degree weather until 9:00 am when this blessed parade starts. 

Always one to make the best of any situation, even one where hypothermia is a distinct possibility, Auntie Rene takes Jody, Tayler and Brandyn over to find a coffee shop, any coffee shop, that might be open at this inhumane hour, (thank goodness for Starbucks!)  while the rest of us waited and tried to keep the new arrivals out of our "territory"

Not long after they arrived back and distributed the coffee....  Our plan....The plan.... was over ruled...  And my sweet spirited little sister and fearless tour guide....  Wasn't happy.  At. All. 

(don't worry...  I won't leave you in suspense too long....)