a day in the life.....

new home

2011-05-31T09:04:00.001-07:00

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!!!

2011-05-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

{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

2011-05-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

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....

2011-05-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

{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.

2011-04-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

{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.......

2011-04-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

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?

2011-04-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

{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?

2011-04-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

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~

2011-03-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

{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?

2011-03-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

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.....

2011-03-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-15T00:16:00.000-07:00

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 ~

2011-03-12T23:01:00.000-08:00

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....)

Gratituesday

2011-03-01T23:39:00.000-08:00

I am a slow learner.

I learn lessons by crashing cars, breaking bones, and the beating of my head against a wall.

One life lesson that I keep bashing my head against, is forgiveness.

I'll be honest, I thought I had this one licked. I knew how to do this one. I have lived through a divorce and all the particular pains that were associated with it, and I have forgiven.

Got it covered. Lesson learned..... time to move on.... Right?

Wrong.

Here I am, years later.... visiting the same lesson. Only now it seems harder. circumstances are not the same.... but in thinking I have learned the lesson... I have resented and resisted the trials that have been placed in my life to help me more fully understand the meaning of forgiveness.

This time the lesson isn't so much in learning how to say "I forgive you." The lesson is standing READY to forgive.

I am learning how to live out Luke 6:27-36
But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. (Do What???) Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Pray? Really? Do you know what they did to me?) If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you. Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? ( Yes, yes I do.....) Even the sinners do that! (oh...) And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. ( I have lots of work to do. It is hard to be kind to people who are mean to me.) You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

I am grateful that God is compassionate.

Grateful for his compassion shown to me as I wrestle with learning how to be ready to forgive someone, who has hurt me, even if they never acknowledge that hurt.

Slowly I am learning how to say, "Father, forgive them, for they know what what they do..." (Luke 23:34)

Gratituesday: On Wednesday

2011-02-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

A day late... but I am not a dollar short...and that's good right?

I am most thankful that I have my oven back. Three weeks ago the control board on it popped, spit sparks at me and made me scream... Everyone came running.... 'cuz well, mom doesn't scream often.

Hubby spent a few hours checking everything and fixed it so I could at least use the cook top. The new control board arrived on Monday.... and by the end of the night, it was all fixed.

I am so very thankful for a husband that knows how to fix things.... the part was way cheaper than a whole new unit.

Now I must go make scones........

Words that Soothe the Soul

2011-02-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

Most of the month of February has been melancholy for me.

My inner homemaker/Betty Crocker says why bother.... will I ever figure out this mom thing?..... isn't parenting supposed to be a joy? Then why does it feel like such a chore?

There have been trials in my marriage,

problems to solve during the day that seem to multiply like dust bunnies do.....

I have been tired, overwhelmed, and some days I have just really wanted a quiet place to crawl in.... and just bask in the quiet.

While I was smack in the midst of wallowing in my own private desire for solitude and peace.... I got an email from Mrs. Lori Flem.

You know what she said?

She said...."Marriage isn't supposed to make you happy. It's supposed to make you married." She said, it was MY job to make my marriage happy and satisfying. I was reminded that I am to love him in spite of our differences and that avoiding a conflict doesn't resolve it.

I needed that. Oh how I needed that. You see, sometimes the hurts that happen behind the scenes, you can't share with even your closest girlfriend. But you can share them with God. He listens. He knows. He will send you newsletters like Encouraging Moments, right to your inbox, to speak to your soul.

Maybe you are a mom like me, who sometimes is overwhelmed with the triple crown...

Let's be honest... there really probably isn't a maybe about it... It happens to us all, we all get tired and overwhelmed.

As your blog friend, I encourage you to go sign up for Lori's Encouraging Moments.
Go to http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/ , and enter your email address on the right hand side of the page.

Maybe this next Thursday, God will use Lori to whisper in your ear... and remind you, just how much He loves you.

****Disclaimer****
I am reviewing Encouraging Moments as an official member of The Gabby Moms blogging program for Eternal Encouragement magazine. I did not receive compensation for this post and all opinions are solely my own.”

Feburary 14.....

2011-02-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

I sort of have a love- hate relationship with this day.

I love my husband... but Hate the crowds of people that go out on this day.
I love to do special things for the ones I love.... but honestly Hallmark, you can't really express all my emotions for me.

I think the reason I don't like it, is the commercialism. All the poor people sucked into overpriced floral arrangements, tacky cards, and hideous, chalk like tasting, heart candies.

I think the other reason I may not like it.... is that it is all about feelings. Warm fuzzy, hot and bothered, cute and cheesy....feelings. Not one thing that a person can buy, will ever represent real, honest, nitty gritty LOVE. The choice kind, not the feeling kind.

Feelings are why people say they fall OUT of love.
Feelings cause people to stand up for their RIGHTS in a relationship... and demand things from another person.
Feelings fade.

Choice love says... I love you when even when you have hurt me. Choice love doesn't run, even when every fiber of your being wants to. Choice love is respectful and kind, when all you want to do is scream and yell. It says, I am on your side, no matter what the circumstance. Choice love is rooted in commitment that transcends feelings. It forgives. You don't find it in box of candy, or written on a card.

You will find it in the little moments of love that are hidden throughout the year. The soft holding of his hand in mine. The touch of calloused, hard working fingers as they brush the hair from my eyes. Soft shared smiles over the heads of our children. Gentle deep breaths from the space next to me in the darkness. His arm around my shoulders as we sit in church. The way the kids roll their eyes when they see us hug and kiss.

Choice love is the growing old with you sort of love. The kind that you see when 90 year old people are all hunched over and shuffling hand in hand to their doctor appointments. The kind you find on wide, sun bleached porches with creaky swings and rocking chairs. It is steady and true. It is the kind of love I pray for, for me and for you.....

down and out

2011-02-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

There are just times when I have nothing to say.

I am sure my mom doesn't believe that... but it is true. Some days I just got nothing.

That is how it has been for awhile. I sit at the computer and the white posting screen for this blog just mocks me in its emptiness. So, hopefully you can forgive me and my silence.... I've been contemplative and introspective.... not chatty and light.

I feel myself coming around again... I am sure things will be back to normal soon.

Buses and Balloons

2011-01-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

After eating our burritos and peppabroni peetzah, we headed over to meet our tour bus. We had purchased passes to help with the cost of several of our destinations, and this tour bus ride through Manhattan was part of the package.... Never mind that we had been up and walking all day... it was scheduled into the day to give us a chance to see a few things, and SIT while doing it. SIT being the desired position.... really I was starting to forget what sitting was.
We get to the bus about 3 minutes before it leaves,( huff...puff..huff puff...) and we climb the stairs up to the plexiglass covered upper deck of the bus. ( AHHHHH sweet sitting!!) Our tour guide was absolutely great.... If I could have sat right next to him the whole time I would have, but he was up and walking around the bus explaining all the things we were looking at in the fading light. I highly recommend this tour, just in the day time, I think we would have enjoyed it more if we could have seen more.

I learned that the neighborhood SoHo is named as such because it is South of Houston Street( properly pronounced HOW-stun street.... if you call it the name of that city in Texas... everyone will look at you like you have lost your head.) There is also a neighborhood called NoHo.... you guessed it... North of Houston ( did you read it right?? ) The whole neighborhood acronym thing apparently started taking off, other neighborhoods were jealous of how cool SoHo sounded so they began to make up their own....There is TriBeCa, or the Triangle Below Canal... see, and you just thought it was a film festival.
As you get off the Brooklyn Bridge there is a neighborhood called DUMBO... no I am not even kidding. Down Under Manhattan Bridge Over crossing.... yeah... others were similarly comical.

We were told about how TriBeCa, and SoHo were both famous for their wrought iron architecture, something that was impressive in the dark, and would have been breath taking in the daylight. The street that NYU is on doesn't like sound systems, so we had to strain to hear our guide, I am sure there were things to learn there, that I couldn't hear over the sound of the cars.

We learned that Bellvue Hospital was a great place to go if you get stabbed...( not kidding... this is among some of the amazing trivia we were supplied with ) apparently they are good for more than padded rooms and hug me coats. We also found out about a HUGE apartment complex that was built for Veterans returning from WWII, we thought that was kinda neat.

Just as we finished the boys who with full tummy's, and more than five minutes of sitting, had fallen asleep, it was time to get off the bus, and back onto the Subway to head up to Central Park and see the Balloons that were all blown up and ready for the parade in the morning.

We got off the Subway and started to follow the throng. We found out that we had to go around, and follow a different throng, which led us to a police man who said go over there and stand in that line.

"That line" was 3 blocks long, across a street and up a block more..... We were like... " Wha?" Thinking that he was kidding that 'that line' really had to be shorter, we walked a full block up past the end of the line, we were told by another police man that we indeed have to go back a block and wait.
This was supposed to be one of those things that is something only locals do. Only locals, my eye.

Somewhere in the course of waiting patiently to see over sized tarps, that were blown up with helium, I found a store... for I was DESPERATE for a cup of Kawhfee. I learned from this experience, and that of other similar corner store adventures in the city, that you do not order a coffee with cream. They look at you like you have spoken Greek.... Instead, the proper way to purchase and order one's beverage is to say "Can I get a Kawhfee?" Then they will ask you if you want, " Milk and Shoogah wit dat?" Followed with a sort of New York cursory head nod. And you are to reply with an equally respectful and cursory head nod and in my case " yeah, jus milk". I will note here that they looked at me like I was insane for not ordering it with Shoogah. Apparently the absence of Shoogah means you are really not a native New Yorker either.
Then next notable thing that happens EVERY TIME you go to one of these little markets... they put your Kawhfee, into a paper bag, with napkins. As if you are going to save it till you get home to drink it. Maybe I live in a state with too many Drive-Thru's and the need for a paper bag to hold my Kawhfee, that I am perfectly capable of holding in my hand, is lost on me.... but I really found it humorous that they gave me a bag....

Back to the line. It had only moved an 8th of a block... I hadn't missed much.

While we waited, moved a foot, and waited, moved a foot, and waited some more. We people watched. There was seriously NO lack of action to keep us entertained. We noticed that there were different levels of police personnel. Some were volunteers, some were big wheels, all of them were very nice, if you don't count the one that chewed out the volunteer guys for letting a cabby inch into the crosswalk. That guy looked a little grumpy and in need of some of my Kawhfee. We were voyeurs into apartments with walls of windows, where people were sipping wine and watching us. There were people out selling glow necklaces, people who were cursing the fact they lived near there and had to put up with all the foot traffic. Even with all the people, and all the waiting, the general mood was festive, and light. It was easy to strike up a conversation with people find out where they were from, and why they were crazy enough to be standing in this line too.

This is just the line AFTER we crossed the street.... I don't think I ever saw so many people in one spot in my entire life!

If you were short, it was hard to see. The crush of people that kept you hemmed in, made it so all you could see were butts. Hunter got a little help from big sis and brother who traded off carrying him the whole walk through the balloons

quick pause after we were done to pose with the NYPD.

and we are finally headed back to the hotel, 18 hours after leaving it this morning..... to rest for about 3 hours, so we can get up and get on with day three......... and the whole reason we came .........
THE PARADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marriage Moment

2011-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but my marriage is this song.....

Take a listen, tell me what you think.

Jeremiah gets his wish

2011-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Every. Single. Time, you asked Jeremiah what he wanted to do in New York.... for MONTHS before we got there, his answer was always...

"Det a swice of peppabroni peetzah, and a dwink."

So, after being such a trooper, getting up at 4:30 am, riding subways, ferries and climbing around islands... we took a small ride to Times Square for dinner.

He dot his peppabroni, and ate it ALL!

A List of Little Things

2011-01-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

Today, just a list. A list of some of the many things I am thankful for:

The sound of the alarm clock going off, it means my husband has a job, and is able to provide for his family.

The sound of his groan, cover flip, shuffle, exhale, scratch, scratch, and return shuffle back to bed for another 5 min.... It says his wife is more inviting than the office.

The pitter patter, or sort of a thump shuffle of Jeremiahs feet, as he travels from his own room to ours at an inhuman hour of the morning.

The silent stare of a sleepy child, 2 centimeters from your face, patiently waiting for you to crack an eyelid and ask them "What..?"

Quiet whispers, spoken to a soft kitty, that is somehow much more tolerant of a 3 year old at 6 am.

Those little icy toes, as they search for a warm spot in the small of your back.

A husband who braves the cold of the house before me, to turn on the heater, make coffee, bring it to me in bed...... and best of all, to pray with me and start our day.

I'm linking up to Heavenly Homemakers.

Have I got a Treasure for YOU!

2011-01-24T23:54:00.000-08:00

I am so excited!

I have barely been able to contain myself from talking about this book before it was time!
I have been wandering around my house with hundreds of blog post ideas rattling around in my head... so frustrated that I couldn't just sit down and tell you all about the wonderful book I have been reading. I have learned so much, it has been really hard not to share with you as I was learning....

This is my first official post as a Gabby Mom. (This is the spot where my mom, when she read this, is going to roll her eyes and say..."They got that right!")

The Gabby Moms, are a review team made up of moms just like me, sponsored by Eternal Encouragement (formerly TEACH Magazine ). Our goal is to share with you, products that teach, challenge, and inspire you to be a better wife and mother, and make the keeping of your home a priority. Take the time to stop by http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/ and discover the treasures it contains.

Isn't it purddy? This nugget of wonderment arrived for me just after Christmas. It brightly declared "Merry Christmas" handwritten on the outside of the package and when I opened it.... there was this book tied with a ADORABLE bow! The pretty and friendly packaging had me ready to pour a cup of tea and settle down in the recliner for an hour or ten.

Do not be deceived by the pretty cover, it isn't a book for the faint of heart. Prepare to spend an afternoon hunting for the secret video cameras they have hidden in your kitchen. You know, the ones that told them exactly the things to write, that would speak straight to your heart. This book contains 101 pages of laughter, tears, conviction, inspiration, and endless encouragement. Every single article I read, led me to examine my own heart before God, in the areas of homemaking, motherhood, parenting, and to be honest with myself about the condition of my marriage.

True Treasures is a compilation of over 10 years of wisdom, previously published in TEACH Magazine and presented by Lorrie Flem, Editor of :

The book is divided into 6 chapters that provide much food for thought.....

.... and this is the part I have been DYING to tell you about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jewels that make the Heart Sparkle, focuses on you and your attitude, distractions, and worries as a mom, homemaker, and helper to your husband. Are you letting God mold and shape you? Do you create a peaceful home? I don't know about you, but my home......... um.... peaceful would NOT be a word that I would use to describe it!.... It is more like one nano second from implosion! The twelve articles in this section were convicting and inspiring. Never once did I feel like I was being preached to by the authors. They were transparent, honest and real, sharing from their own personal experiences. Everything I read spoke straight to my heart, and inspired me to make my home my priority.

Marriages of Solid Gold, speaks to that relationship with that guy........ um.... you know, the one you are married to... what do they call those again.... oh yeah, a husband! You know, the one that you expect to be a grown up and just realize that you have kids to take care of, a house to clean, meals to cook.... can't he just grow up and deal with it? Oh, you have had thought that too? Glad I am not alone..... This section addresses those very conversations we have with ourselves. It encouraged me to make my husband and his preferences a priority. There are practical ideas on how to implement a heart attitude of submission. These articles were a good swift bop on the head!

Parenting Pearls: Practical and Priceless, addresses the heart with which we view our children. It even addresses the days that you would like to place them in a box and mail them to Siberia. These humorous and poignant offerings, gently remind us of what a treasure our children are. It is full of encouragement to shepherd your children; to lead, and be purposeful, to positively discipline, not rashly, and reactively hand down punishment. Don't forget to hang the Bible Verses to Pray for your Children, somewhere on your bathroom mirror.... or consider having them tattooed to the inside of your eyelids... I don't know... but for sure, READ THEM. They are good stuff!

Homemaking that Dazzles Like Diamonds: Can I just be real with you for a moment? I can? Good. I am a lousy housekeeper. There. I said it. Now you know my ugly little secret. I hope we can still be friends..... If you are like me and this is an area you struggle with, this is the section of the book you may want to start with. Camp here. Listen to the soft, kind, gentle words offered by the authors. I am thinking of making this part daily reading in my devotion time. This is an area that God has gently been pressing upon me to make some changes. If your house suffers from pile-itis like mine does or if your kids have to spend 15 minutes looking for a matching pair of socks in the sock basket like mine do; this section is for you.

Homeschooling Nuggets of Wisdom: I realize not everyone 'schools' their children at home. If you are one of those who send your children to school outside the home, please do not think that you should skip this section, or that maybe this book isn't for you. It still contains valuable encouragement for you. No matter the physical location of your children for the bulk of a day, as a mommy, your job still involves teaching them. You still oversee homework, projects, reading lessons, and they just grow up so fast! This section has practical tips on avoiding burn out, how to make learning fun, and taking things one day (sometimes one moment) at a time.

Godly Living that Glitters, speaks to Godly principles that we should be implementing in our lives every day. How are you doing with Forgiveness and Contentment? ....Yeah, I'm not doing so well either. How about your daily conversations with God? Do you chat with Him during the day, and not just when you are tucking the kids into bed? Does your life radiate Serenity? (choke, cough, gag ) How are you doing with Anger, or Worry? If any of my aforementioned questions made you cringe ( like they did me as I typed them...) encouragement awaits you in this section. I have re-read this section several times, ..... very slowly....., because I am thick headed......it is starting to sink in.

True Treasures is available for $19.97 through HomemakingWithTEACH.com. It is one of many books offered in Lorri's Library, that are full of practical inspiration for moms. It would make a wonderful gift, for just about any mom you may know that is breathing and/or can get 50 things done before she even gets a shower. Hey, Valentines Day is coming..... maybe the hubster could get you this instead of some flowers.....

BUT WAIT!!!!!!!!!

Because we are friends.... and I am nice like that, I have a coupon for you!

Until May 31, 2011 you may use the code: GabbyMom at check-out, and receive $4 off your copy of True Treasures. (one coupon per customer and per order)

****Disclaimer: aka: the legal mumbo jumbo****
For the purpose of this review, I received a copy of True Treasures, free of charge, from TEACH Magazine. It came as the first monthly mission for The Gabby Moms review team. Absolutely everything that I gushed about in the above review, is my honest opinion. Nobody slipped anything into my kool-aid. I promise.

Battery Park

2011-01-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

In front of us is an imposing sky line.

Jody and Hunter sit on the life vest box near the bridge, and marvel at how big it is. I don't know what they talked about, or even if they talked at all..... but it was really cool for me to turn and see a dad's arm around his son just taking in the view.

To the rear of the boat Jeremiah sat on the railing, and we watched the setting sun and an ever shrinking Lady Liberty.

We left the ferry and harbor behind and began to head back to the South Ferry Subway Station, we walked through Battery Park. I always thought Battery Park a frightening place. I had heard stories of it being a place where there were lots of killings, and homeless people. Maybe I just watch to many true crime shows, and they mess with my head. Regardless, walking through the park shattered any preconceived notions I may have had. It was a pleasure to walk through.

The park gained its name because this southern tip of Manhattan used to house Dutch, British and finally American artillery batteries. They were responsible for guarding the settlements behind them from any infiltration into New York Harbor. With this rich military history, it is not surprising that this park is home to two different memorials to fallen war heroes. Above is the Universal Soldier. He is there to commemorate the Korean war, the 22 flags at his base, honor the allied countries that were involved.

Here is the eagle that stands at the helm of the East Coast Memorial. He looks out to the Atlantic and over the 4,069 names, that are inscribed on eight, 19 foot high granite walls. Each one of those names, belonged to a son, husband or father that died in the western coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean during WWII.

Standing there, looking out into the harbor, past the names of those men. It is impossible to not be moved by the totality of their sacrifice for the country in which we live.

Almost to the ferry building, we ran into this little gem. We started cracking up! The day before Thanksgiving and you find a turkey running loose in New York City? It was too good to be true! We warned her to run. It was dangerous to be out so near Thanksgiving....

Despite the heavy caution from both Jody, Tayler and me, that turkeys are mean little buggers, and equipped with some serious talons.... and that they will turn and chase you and fly at your head.... my nephew Brandyn, had to chase it. Then Auntie Maymee got in on the action....

I was doing some research for the post and came across a small link on Zelda, the turkey in Battery Park. I guess I should update Wikipedia and let them know she is still alive and well as of November 2010.

No, I am still not done with day two...
Next up, Jeremiah gets his wish & Buses and Balloons.
Then I will be done with day two.
I hope......

Cranberry Coconut Cookies

2011-01-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

There are days that I just crave junk food.

Really, there are days when a package of Oreo's, well... they must just be eaten.

A week or so ago, I was in a whole package of Oreo's sort of mood. It wasn't that it had to be chocolate, or anything, I just wanted something sweet. So I was standing there opening and closing the cupboards. Walking away when I didn't find anything already prepared.... and then repeating the process again 5 minutes later.... I was trolling the kitchen. Not pretty.

In desperation, I started flipping through cookbooks, and hoping that a recipe would just jump out at me, fully prepared of course...

I came across a recipe for Oatmeal Cookies that I was suddenly inspired to fiddle with, and Cranberry Coconut cookies were born.

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups quick rolled oats
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 cup dried cranberries

Cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Add vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Add soda and salt. Add flour in stages, mixing as you go. Add oats, one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. Add coconut and cranberries, until just combined.

drop by spoonfuls onto a well greased cookie sheet ( if you use stoneware, you do NOT need to grease it ) Cook at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.
Makes about 7 dozen.

Ellis Island ~ Julie's Photos

2011-01-21T19:38:00.000-08:00

Mercy...( read that with a Steel Magnolias drawl )

I knew I was behind on the NYC posts, but really?

I had no earthly idea I was still on day TWO! yeesh.

My last post was of Tayler's view of Ellis Island... today I will show you the point and shoot version... cuz that is the camera I had ...

You can't look at the floors, walls and doors, without asking yourself, who was here before me? Did they come alone, or bring their family? What were their hopes and dreams.....

It is very hard for me to put the time spent on Ellis Island into words. I do wish we spent a whole day there. I have a feeling that this national treasure is overshadowed by her harbor mate the Lady Liberty. There is so much to see, and explore. I feel like we really didn't even nick the surface of what Ellis Island had to offer.

The history here, still breathes...
It walks and talks.
We are the descendants of those who came.

If I am blessed enough to return to New York, I will spend more time here, wandering the halls, listening to the whispers of time. Imagining what it would be like to come to this very place, after a journey across the sea.

If you are really quiet, you can still hear the buzz of hope, that those who crossed the ocean had, just to be in a land where absolutely anything is possible.

*******
I really may never finish with Day Two of the trip. As I was going through the pictures there are at least a few more posts to devote to this day. It was probably our longest and most eventful day.

too much to do!

2011-01-21T10:13:00.000-08:00

Some days, there is so much randomness floating around in my head, I feel like I can't get going and get things done without some sort of data dump.... I get paralysed by all that needs to be completed.

I have pictures, partial blog post topics, recipes, birthdays, Children's Church lessons to write, Ladies Fellowship Devotion to think up, pictures, chores, play dates, packages to mail, paperwork to complete, appointments to make, pictures......and all of it just swirling in my head.

Well I feel better just having listed them all off here....

Now I better get going and get some of them DONE!

Gratituesday~ Storms

2011-01-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

In the ebb and flow of life there are many times I have felt as though I was adrift in a rubber life raft in the middle of an angry churning sea. There is an uneasiness as you crest a wave.... only to be hurled down the other side.... praying constantly for the weather to clear, and calmness to reign once more. You start to feel like your little life raft might not make it...

The last few years have been this way.... crisis, calm, crisis calm... through illness, death, upheaval, hurt.... the emotions come in hard and fast..... and threaten to overtake me.

I am grateful for all these upsets, and change.... because they have drawn me in closer to my Lord. I am learning that the waves aren't what I am supposed to be focusing on. I need to keep my eye on the lighthouse.... the steady beam that is safety and consistence.

Now, it is calm, and I am thankful for the calm.... But I am learning, learning to be thankful for the storms too.

I'm linking up to HeavenlyHomemakers.

I Know!! I know.... I know....sigh....

2011-01-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

I KNOW!!!..........

really you don't have to remind me!

honest.

I know I have to finish posting about our New York trip..... I haven't even gotten to the best part!

THE PARADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bear with me.... if you had 2500 photos to choose from, you would get distracted too.

I hope to post the remainder of the trip this week!

I hope....

maybe....

I know..... I know...... I KNOW!!!!

One Liners.....

2011-01-15T17:06:00.000-08:00

I am using Our Daily Bread as a devotional this year...I enjoy it for several reasons. One; there is a 'read the Bible in a year' plan in the front.... and I am doing my best to keep up with that... Two; there are some humdinger one liners at the bottom of the pages... Three; Reading the Scripture, and the way the journal is set up, I remember and am able to apply what I just read throughout the day.

I will share a few, see if they hit you square between the eyes as they have me.

~ God speaks to those who take time to listen, and He listens to those who take time to pray.

~ Our greatest strength is often shown in our ability to stand still and trust God.

~ Christ was broken for is to comfort the broken among us.

~ At the heart of all conflict is a selfish heart.

~ A passion for Jesus should become a passion for telling others about Jesus.

~ "God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our sinfulness, holds us in our brokenness." -Scotty Smith.

Just wondering.....

2011-01-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

Do you ever see people in the store, and wonder why they buy what they buy?

Maybe I am weird, or addicted to people watching... I dunno, but sometimes, I can't help myself. I start to imagine these entire scenarios of people I have only just seen. It usually happens when I see them more than once in the store...

Today, I saw a lady in the bread isle.... I was waiting for Evan to come back from the potty with Jeremiah who had announced just 10 minutes before, loud enough for a deaf person in the next county to have heard, that HE HAD TO GO POOPS! (sigh....) So.. as I was standing in the bread isle waiting for their return, I had extra time to people watch. Actually, I was really wanting buy the generic version of a hostess ho-ho.... and this lady walked in front of the box that I was staring at, and broke me out of the reverie of my internal argument.... ( you want it... under no circumstances should you TOUCH the box.... you want it...... NO! )

That is the real reason she caught my attention.

She grabbed the banana muffins.... and she was skinny. Two more reasons I noticed her.

I got tired of waiting for the boys... so I wandered back up the isle so that I for sure wouldn't miss them when they were done.
I was tired, and wanted to get OUT of the store....

That's when she walked by .... again.....

She had acquired 3 frozen pizzas, a bag of bagels ( blueberry ) and a BIG ole' bottle of White Zin......

I have been wondering ever since what she was going to do with three pizzas, bagels, muffins and wine....
Here is what I came up with.....

1. It was an eternally long week at work. She is headed home to lock herself in for the weekend, drown her work troubles with some good carb consumption....watch a few movies, drink a few glasses of wine.... and just chill.

2. Her teen daughter is having a sleep over... Pizzas are for the girls, and muffins and bagels are for their breakfast in the morning..... Wine is for mommy...... so she may endure all the giggling, and sappy teen chick flicks....

By now, you either think I am completely insane.... or you want to play along....
What do you think she was going to do with her odd assortment of groceries???

A Greeting

2011-01-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

Did you know? I thank God every time I think of you, always in every prayer of mine, you are included, our friendship is precious to me. We are more than friends, we are sisters, and I know that God has great things in store for your life, until the day we are called home to heaven. I know also you pray for me and my relationship with Christ. May we always encourage each other to speak the Truth.
The time we spend together is never enough.... I can't wait until we are together in heaven!
As I was thinking of you this morning, and talking to God about you, my prayer was for your love of God to grow.... that you would hunger and thirst for knowledge and discernment that only He can give. I prayed that the choices you make today, would be proved excellent, sincere, and without offense. Oh how I hope you are filled with the evidence that Christ lives in you. May you bring glory and praise to God.
~paraphrased julie style, from Philippians 1:3-11~

~~~ how is that for a greeting? What would you think if a friend were to greet you this way?
Hopefully you would be encouraged.

So, from me to you.... Good Morning... Greetings. I pray for you, all who read this blog. May today be a day that you bring glory and praise to God.

White as Snow

2011-01-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

This morning I awoke to a crisp white wonderland.

As I sipped my coffee, I enjoyed the freshness that was covering the ground.
My driveway was light and fluffy white.
The dying yellow grass in the yard was covered with a soft sheet of white.
The trees were dusted with snow, as if the powdered sugar fairy flew over them in the night.
Stark gray branches on leafless trees, are softened by the contrast of bright white snow, resting in the gnarled twigs.

I was reminded of the hymn Whiter than Snow. How, by Christ's blood, we are washed, and made whiter than snow. I am still human. I still sin. The gift of atonement covers me with Christ's righteousness, and when I am looked upon by God.... He sees me clean, spotless, like a dusting of beautiful snow.

My yard is still full of sticks, the ground is bare and dusty. The grass is still yellow, and dormant. The trees still don't have leaves, they are stark and gray. Yet, I don't see those things. I see only the covering of snow, and it is beautiful.

"Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

We got these erasers for Christmas.

Nuff' said.....LOL

I'm linking up with Wordless Wednesday @ Our Homeschool Reviews

Top Ten Encouraging Truths for 2011

2011-01-11T22:07:00.000-08:00

Every month our Ladies Fellowship at church puts out a newsletter. On the front cover this month was a wonderful reminder. I thought I would share it with you. It is easy, in the midst of everyday problems, and happenings in life to forget Who is in control. We start to try to take care of everything on our own. These truths help us to keep our focus on WHO is in control, and Who we should turn to with our problems.

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessing upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

~list from Farryl Armstrong.

...." the Word of the Lord endures forever. " 1 Peter 1:25

Gratituesday: Coffeetalk

2011-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

Last Week I talked about how thankful I was that my husband could fix my truck and make the heater work. I should have followed up that Tuesday post with one called Warm Wednesday... because the very next day, after a few coughs and gurgles, the heater started blowing some seriously hot air. It is wonderful!

On Saturday, I went over to a friends house. I don't do that often, I usually am the entertainer, not the entertainee. But earlier that week she mentioned something about stopping by for coffee, and when the boys were all away at men's breakfast on Saturday, I thought it the perfect opportunity to visit.
I rolled in about 8:30, and I left after 1:00. I could have moved in. We sat and drank coffee, and just chatted, about stuff, and about nothing.....girl talk. Her family members drifted in and out of the house, some came over for the afternoon. It was a great time getting to know them.

Thanks friend, for the invitation. Let's do it again soon!

Tayler's view of Ellis Island ~ a Photo Essay

2010-12-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

As we left Liberty Island, Jeremiah was freezing cold. So I bundled him up into his moby wrap so I could wear him, and not hold up the forward momentum of our group.

He took all of about 30 seconds to fall soundly asleep.

We got to Ellis Island, and he was still pretty crashed and when he woke up... he was crabby and starving.
So... I handed over the Nikon ( or as the kids like to call it, the sixth child.) to Tayler and let her explore and shoot pictures....

What follows is an anthology of Ellis Island through the very keen eye of a 15 year old.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-12-29T12:31:00.000-08:00

In New York, at the Ground Zero Memorial, they have a display of things that were found in the rubble or left by people in memoriam of their loved ones....
This was in the display.

'nuff said......

I love mail!

2010-12-28T23:23:00.000-08:00

I love mail.

I love it when it isn't a bill.

I adore a card with a hand written address.

Packages make me giddy.

Today I got a package... It is my first review for TEACH Magazine. It's a book, and it is so purdy! it came wrapped up in a bow. I like bows.

I can't wait to read it all... ( so far I have read two pages.... it is amazing.... it speaks to my soul!)

I can't wait to tell you all about it! ( look for the review around the middle of January )

Don't forget to stop by http://www.homemakingwithteach.com/ and see what encouragement you can find to help you today!

The Lovely Lady

2010-12-28T16:36:00.000-08:00

After nearly freezing to death outside the Times Square studio of Good Morning America, descending into the warmth of the Subway was as comforting and welcoming as a hug.

We made our way over to Battery Park to catch the ferry that would take us to the lovely green lady. I do not remember Castle Clinton at all from my first visit to New York when I was 18, so seeing it this time was a fresh new experience. I really am a history nerd, and being able to touch something that was built in 1812 to keep out the British, well it is just stinkin' cool! I get all lost in my thoughts, wondering what the walls would say if they could talk. What if I were able to see images, like videos in my head, of what the building has seen over it's nearly 200 years of existence, by just touching the stones..... yeah, old stuff geeks me out.

We took over 200 pictures just leading up to, on, and around Liberty Island. (Don't worry, I won't post them all.) I am very glad to have these little SD cards in cameras now.... I shudder to think of how many rolls of film I would have needed.

We spent at least an hour taking pictures at the base of the statue, and facing the NY skyline. Our kids were even asked by this group of Japanese tourists to pose in a picture with them. They told us they were so cute and funny running around that they just wanted to take their picture.

We tried to go in the statue, and that was when we realized there was a difference in the tickets. We knew there were specific tickets needed to get in the crown, but there are also specific ones even to get into the Pedestal. So make sure you buy the right tickets when you go!

We wandered around, gawked at the OCC Liberty bike that is encased in glass, and hit the gift shop. Soon we were loaded up on the ferry again, and off to Ellis Island.

I wonder what it was like to be an emigrant and see her for the first time.......

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

So......
as I was trying to dig out the avalanche of clothing from the little boys room.... I came across a pair of Hunter's pants that Jeremiah the gum maven left his mark on. There was this big black blob stuck to the knee of one of the new hole free pants.

I walked to the kitchen and tried ice.... didn't work so good.

Then I was trying to just pick at it... and I got to thinking how I wished this was silly putty because I could use Rubbing Alcohol and it would just dissolve....

And then I thought, well what do I have to lose by just trying the alcohol... so I used a q-tip and put some on... it didn't dissolve. I was getting a little depressed. I soaked it again..... and headed back to the bathroom to pick at it some more.... it lifted RIGHT OFF!... it released the sticky from the denim...

Yippie... pants saved from doom!

Happy Birthday Michele

2010-12-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

This year is the milestone birthday year for a bunch of us at church.... The first one to fall was Kristen, then Joan, then me, and now, today we have our dear Michele.... At least when we hit the big 4-0 it wasn't alone... we had some friends to drag with us. :)

I treasure my friendship with Michele. She is wonderful woman with a servant's heart. A jewel in Christ's crown, bringing Him glory by her service.

In our house she goes by many names.... and her names help describe what she means to each of us.

Evan, and especially Tayler, call her Mrs. Woodsy. She and her husband Cliff serve in the youth group at church. They care for, listen to, and pray for these kids that are learning who they are in Christ, and how to live out a life for Him every day. She is there fixing food for youth events, spending hours cutting little teeny tiny letters out on her Cricut, to decorate the youth room. Waiting for the last kids to get picked up.... Always ready with a smile and a hug.

Hunter, he calls her Mrs Woods. Always with a nonchalant head nod. You see, she is Brandon's mom, and Brandon is nice to Hunter and picks him to be on his airsoft team. So he nods to communicate his respect to a mom who has such a cool kid.

Jeremiah, he calls her Missuths Woodths. He always asks her where her dad is. ( he is confused between Husband and dad sometimes...) He knows her as a great hugger, story reader, and happy face in the Nursery. She serves there, hugging and loving on other people's babies so they can be in service.

To me, she is a friend. A quiet cheerleader in my corner. I know she prays for me, and those prayers have meant the world to me when you think sometimes you are all alone. We have laughed together at ladies retreats, we have cried together over hurts, and we have rejoiced together as we have seen God change lives.

So, Happy Birthday friend. I hope God allows us to celebrate many more together.

Let it Snow!

2010-12-20T09:15:00.000-08:00

For those of you that live where it snows, nights like this are a little less amazing. But, for those who do not, I thought maybe some pictures would be cool.

Last night we got a couple of inches, and the most amazing thing was the sky. It was 11pm and it was so bright outside. After marveling at the fact you could see the red in the neighbors barn, I walked back in to the house to get the camera and snap some pictures.

The first picture is when the flash inadvertently went off... but it made for a spooky looking picture. The others were with no flash, just capturing the ambient light in the sky.

Isn't God's creation amazing?

Good Morning!!!..............America.

2010-12-18T00:12:00.000-08:00

Here we are, day two, or is it three? it's day two... yes. day two.
What day is it? Wednesday... I think...
Where am I?... oh yeah, hotel.... that means New York.

Yeah that is what 4 am feels like when you are operating on about 4 hours of sleep....

We did it tho.... we were down stairs by 5:00 am....
....ok. I lie......

more like 5:15am... but with all the kids that were in our room... 5:15 is still impressive. We speed walked to the subway station. Once there, we tap our feet nervously, waiting, willing, praying the train to Times Square gets here quickly.
It arrives...
We get on, ride, and off in two stops. Speed walk/ sprint, to the GMA studio. When we arrive we are efficiently ushered around the corner to one of 2 lines to wait in, by a young woman who does this every day, and who you can tell, has the perfect amount of tact and yet the uncanny ability to detect the slightest amount of B.S. I got the impression from just looking at her, there isn't much she hasn't already heard.... and probably seen. We all dutifully went to wait where she instructed us to wait. Other, more foolish people, attempted to schmooze her, ....it was to no avail.

Any sleepiness that was amongst us was quickly washed away by our heart pumping rush to get there on time, and the fiercely cold wind that was blowing down the Avenues. No coffee needed that morning. It wouldn't have helped much to have it to drink either, it would have been a Popsicle in about 5 minutes.

We were close to the door. There was a red carpet. There were large TV lights mounted outside, manned by very cold cameramen in full winter gear. The paparazzi were beginning to arrive, looking disheveled, as if they had just rolled out of bed. Everyone huddled waiting in groups... The police stood with other cops. The producers, grips, and GMA security, all milled around the door. The paparazzi over at the edge of the sidewalk, almost as if they didn't want to be contaminated by the tourists. In our group, the tourist group, there were girls from Louisville, y'all; cheerleaders that would be walking in the parade the next day. There were members of the Spinnerettes, the baton twirlers, and a whole host of regular dressed folks, who like us were completely insane to have gotten out of bed so early.

This day was apparently a big deal day at GMA. It was the morning the winning stars from Dancing with the Stars were coming to the show to do their 'thing'. I don't watch the show.... either one really, the one I am waiting in the freezing cold pre-dawn hours for, OR the one that everyone was so whooped up about. I was just trying to stay to the middle of the pack and keep warm.
Soon they started to let people in. They were setting up for the shot where the stars were going to ride up to the studio in a double decker bus ( insane much? it was soooo cold!) and walk into the studio to get all TV-i-fied. Our line started moving.... we were inching in closer to the BIG BLACK DOOR!.... Really, I didn't care if we got on TV.... at this point, I am just hoping we can get inside for a little while to thaw out.

Closer we move....

Closer........

They start letting our family in.... And wouldn't it just be our luck, they pull the cord to stop the people between Big Daddy and myself. No self respecting wife is going to leave her husband and head riding 3 year old son out in the cold.... so I looked at the imposing man who was doing his best to impersonate a secret service person....(blue tooth earpiece, so he can communicate with the mother ship, black leather trench coat, gloves...you know, frightening glare) " Ummmm, can my husband come too?" He looked at me quizzically, as if I dared speak to him and question his authority. He said, " Which one is your husband..." I found this funny, because the only other persons behind me were a gaggle of women and Jody with a kid on his head. I pointed him out and the trench coat clad man let him through. We were IN!

Oh the sweetness of it.......... OH THE BLISS!!!!!!!!

Warmth!!!!!!!!!!!!
sweet amazing warmth!!!!!!!!!!!

You must admit, we didn't look half bad for it being 6 am... This guy in the last picture is someone from the show, I have no idea what he does regularly, but on this Wednesday, we was in charge of pop bangs. It was his job to set off the big poppers that shot out streamers all over the uber famous people we were waiting for. He let Brandyn, my nephew, and Hunter set one off when the famous people went by. I would tell you who they were, if I had seen them. It was a sea of screaming people, streamers and confetti... poppers, and these little bitty heads that ran by for the safety of the elevator and that was it. Our inside time was over. We were ushered out to the freezing cold Avenue.... to wait to see if we would be allowed back in to the warm inner sanctum.

We waited.... and waited.... another hour. The young lady who so tactfully orchestrates the entrance to the inner sanctum.... came by with pictures of the GMA news anchors, in an attempt to soften the blow of standing outside for nearly 3 hours in the cold. I would have been happier with a Starbucks coffee card.

From here, we paused inside the Starbucks in Times Square, to re-thaw out, and get that coffee and drink it where it was WARM! The staff inside took pity on our frozen-ness and turned on another heater inside to help us warm up.... After finishing up about half the cup of coffee... we are off again on our next adventure for the day.

The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

My Daily Bread

2010-12-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am so super excited! At the beginning of December, I got this journal from my Secret Sister at church. I am really looking forward to January 1st so that I can start it!.... Maybe I should just start now, cuz it is getting really hard to wait.....

Really Really hard..............

NYC Day 1 ( The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular )

2010-12-14T23:34:00.000-08:00

As the kids were putting up the Christmas decorations this year, they stumbled upon some old photos. One in particular made me smile, because this is what I see in my mind every time I think of my Auntie Rene.

Really, I think that she should consider having her name legally changed, from Irene, to The Giver. She loves to share all of who she is and what she has with others. Fortunately for me, I was born into her family, and that gives me a wee bit of extra privilege. Without her, not one minute of this trip would have taken place. I can't say thank you enough.

One of the things that was on my Auntie Rene's must do list while we were in New York, was the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. I will freely admit that when this item was mentioned, I had a real hard time getting excited about watching a bunch of ladies stand in a line and kick their legs in the air. Then, when I heard how much it cost.... I nearly fainted, and thought that it was awful expensive seating for a 2 hour nap. Dear Auntie Rene really wanted to go, and set her elves to work to find the tickets.

Her elves were amazing. They found Orchestra seating, about 40 rows back from the stage....ok. I admit it. I was starting to get excited.

After leaving Coney Island, we rode back into Manhattan and up to Rockefeller Center. Did you know they have a Starbucks and a Dunkin Donuts under ground there? Me either!... I thought that was sort of cool.

.......any....way.....

We came out of the building to see the hugest tree on the planet.... They were stringing the lights on it to be lit the following week. We scurried past quickly and across the street to Radio City Music Hall, where we were very efficiently shooed inside before the show started. Nine out of Eleven people decided they immediately needed to see what the bathrooms looked like.... so we headed down to find them. We made it too our seats just as the show was starting.

See, I told you we had amazing seats. The best part of the show was the finale. It was a living Nativity scene. It was a wonderful ending to see the real meaning of Christmas portrayed so beautifully.

Lastly, we capped off the day with losing Hunter in the crowd. He was almost out the door before he realized the people he was following was not his family. The staff helped us locate him, and all was well. He only had two nightmares.

Here is a family photo before we lost him.

Now, get some rest.... you have to be up in 4 in the morning! We are going to try to get inside Good Morning America!

NYC Day 1 ( well half of it anyway...)

2010-12-14T09:29:00.000-08:00

When I left you, we had just landed at JFK International Airport....

It was a bright and early 5:40 am EST. I don't think I fell asleep until we were somewhere over Chicago, so this 5:40 am that is really 2:40 am PST, lets just say it was WAY to early ....

We gathered and headed out to meet our luggage, and then wait.... and wait.... and wait...for the shuttle vans to come. Eventually we found them, or they found us... because we were standing still. Our drive in to the city was pretty quick, considering it was rush hour, and the klunk that happened every time our van shifted into or out of first gear....

We arrived at our hotel, descended upon it might be a better description. The lobby was about the size of my kitchen and half of my living room.... and in walks a sleep deprived hoard of 13 people with 26 bags, looking to make it all fit onto one of those hotel carts.... We were taking things in and out of bags... making sure we had what we would need for the day. The Bell-man needs an award or something, he just smiled, and joked with us all. He was incredibly patient with us.

We were starving, so from there we moved on to the breakfast of champions.... Mc Donald's.
The only thing that made up for the food.... was the view....

Would anyone care for a little Empire State Building with their coffee? It made up for the lousy McMuffin's.

Our next mission, was to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Good plan actually, since my legs were still in knots from the plane. We walked down to the nearest subway station, and ventured in.... If we were going to lose people on this trip, the subway would be the spot. We had decided to get a 7 day pass so we would only have to get tickets once.... So we descended on the ticket machines.... ALL of them.... and then our cards weren't working.... so we were standing there longer.... and there were all these people impatiently staring at us as we hogged all the ticket machines and all they wanted to do was get to work on time.... I felt like such a bad subway rider. Incapable of even getting a ticket! After about 20 minutes, we all had our tickets, and we went in to wait for the train. It was then we realized Auntie Maymee ( tour guide Barbie) had been so busy helping us, that she didn't buy her own ticket. The 12 of us on the other side of the iron bars watched nervously as our leader bought her ticket, hoping she wouldn't realize she could now escape and be free...
I think I heard 12 sighs of relief when we saw her come through the turnstile.... we were not abandoned!!

I loved the architecture of the Bridge, even the tiles in the subway, harken to an era of craftsmanship when things were built to last.

From the Bridge we could see the Statue of Liberty. Walking on History, looking at History, I couldn't help but wonder these symbols meant to the people who came to our country long ago. What thoughts of opportunity swirled through their heads as they walked across a bridge into Manhattan? What did that symbol of Liberty mean to them as they sailed into that harbor? In more recent history, I was walking, the very path, taken by thousands of people as they escaped Manhattan. Covered in ash, blood, and tears, they crossed that bridge to the safety of their homes to ponder the enormity of what had just happened.
The emotions that were evoked as I walked that Bridge with my loved ones, were many.

Our next stop, was Coney Island. Why? Because when your last name is Coney, you just gotta go there!
We lost our first family members trying to get there. Big Daddy, my Mom and Hunter, weren't quite quick enough getting on the train, and the doors closed leaving them on the platform.... we figured they would catch up to us eventually, and they did.
Lunch was a Nathan's hot dog. It was pretty tasty, but I think I like a Casper's dog better.

Even though the Boardwalk is closed for the season... and looked like it had been closed for longer than that, we still had to go there! How can you be at the Atlantic Ocean and not touch it!

After the beach we were off to see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular........and that my friends is a post all its own!

Pictures on the Farm

2010-12-13T22:54:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Chera asked me to take some family photos for her....

Are these not the cutest kids in the universe?

I Survived!

2010-12-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

We made it out alive! We made it through our crazy vacation and managed not to lose anyone, or any luggage..... well, almost, but those are stories you will have to wait for.....

If you remember back a few weeks ago we were just beginning our trip to New York to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

At the time, you may remember me mentioning the fact that my aunt was delusional..... I still stand by that statement, but I will add that she has an amazing little elf named Amy, and a taller one named Brent, that helped to make her delusion a reality.

I hope I can begin to describe to you how this trip went.

It started on Monday night, we had made it through the security check point in the airport, and with the recent "junk touching" incidents that had been on the news.... I was ever grateful that we were spared being pulled aside for any type of search by the TSA.

Sorry, I got sidetracked.

So we are there sitting at the gate waiting for our flight, the boys are hooked up to their electronic brain draining devices.... and Tour Guide Barbie ( also affectionately known as Auntie Maymee ) plops a 5 page itinerary, and google calendar of events in my lap. It was beginning to look at lot less like a vacation, and more like a Navy Seal insertion and extrication mission. I had the sinking feeling that sleep was going to be a very small component of this vacation.

We board our transport vessel and realize that Jeremiah is supposed to be sitting in the middle of row 19 surrounded by two people who I am sure were very kind, but were none the less, strangers. Hunter was in the middle of row 22, and thought that sitting by himself was fabulous. I am not so sure the guy he fell asleep and drooled on thought the same thing.... I was in the middle of row 24, and Jody was with the two oldest in a complete row. Jeremiah and I switched seats with them, so that he could be with mommy and daddy and kick us in his sleep. He was absolutely thrilled with the take off... and thought all the lights on the ground were so cool. He fell asleep about 20 minutes into the flight, and woke up as we were taxiing to the gate in JFK. When we woke him up to tell him we were in New Yort. He sleepily replied " Dat wuz an awesum wide."

Oh Jeremiah... if you only knew... 'da wide', is just getting started.

Gabby mom....

2010-12-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Now, if you are my mother... you will read the title for this post and think, "Yes, that girl is certainly gabby!"

Ever since I could breathe, I was talking. I talked so much on a family vacation when I was two, our horseback riding guide actually asked my mom if I EVER SHUT UP??!! She laughed and told him, "No."
I used to stand in our yard, we lived on a corner, and sing and talk to the people as they came home from work....
Nope, I am never low on words.....

So, naturally, it is a great fit for me to be chosen as a 'Gabby Mom' for TEACH Magazine. TEACH Magazine is dedicated to encouraging and challenging moms to be women of God. To love and help their husbands, teach and train their children, and not be so busy that home is their last priority.

I am looking forward to the articles, MP3's, Books, and whatever comes my way to review. Hopefully over the next year, we will be encouraged together by Biblical Truths.

.............One more thing.......... I can't let this go...... They have a motto for a Gabby Mom.... We Gab, We Giggle, and We Glitter. ...........Ok... I was with you till the Glitter part. That just congers up images of pink tutu's, sequence and tiaras..... That is definitely NOT me. I am more of a forge through, haul firewood, dig in the garden kind of gal......
It's ok though, I do have one piece of glitter.... it resides squarely on the third finger of my left hand!

I hear they may be looking for a few more Gabby Moms for the 2011 year. If you are interested in joining me on this adventure, send out an email to: MacKenzie Monroe, Head Mama at headmama@teachmagazine.com

....... Now where did I leave my magic wand???..........

begin crazy vacation 2

2010-11-20T22:48:00.000-08:00

It seems as though the last few months have been full of travel upon travel...currently we are on the road headed to California to catch a plane to the Big Apple....

All our adventures began in July with Mexico City. The big kids spent some time in Tennessee... then as a family we were off to the Oregon Coast.... Now we are already part of the way into the adventure that will be NYC.

My wonderful, adorable, amazing, and mildly delusional aunt, thought that it would be a grand idea to go to NYC.... this was about oh,... 2006... we were supposed to go in 2007.... we are a few years off the schedule, but the adventure should still be something utterly amazing.

Day one's schedule, will begin after arriving in NY at 6 am after a Red Eye flight. I would love to give you a play by play of the day, but I just checked the calendar again and it is different from the last time I looked at it.... the one constant is the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular that afternoon.. Somewhere in there might be a trip to Coney Island... and a Nathan's hot dog.

Also scheduled into this trip is the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Wall Street, World Trade Center Memorial, Museum of Natural History, Some other Museum I can't remember as I type this, a starlight cruise of the skyline, an appearance on Good Morning America, watching them blow up the parade balloons in Central Park, Ice Skating in Central Park.... oh and the whole real reason we are going..... The Macy's Day Parade....

I am not really sure why we got a hotel room, I am not sure we are ever going to have time to sleep with all things that we have planned to do.

It is going to be one of those trips of a lifetime....whirlwind, for sure. The camera battery is charged.... and we are ready to roll.

Casts and Countdowns

2010-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Well today was back to the Doctor day for Hunter. We were up early and off to the Hospital to pick up his x-ray, and then over to the Orthopedic Office for the "real" cast. We actually saw the Physicians Assistant, and he was really nice. He explained to Hunter that his bone bent like if you were to bend a straw too far, and kink it. He recommended a cast for at least 4 weeks. He also cut us a break and changed up his treatment plan for us since we don't have insurance. He said that normally they come in every 2 weeks and x-ray and then re-cast... and that each of those visits is another $150. So he said lets stretch this one cast for longer and save some money. I was very grateful for that. We haven't gotten the emergency room bill yet, but just today.... I had a $150 co-pay that will be applied to a $278 bill. At the rate this is going, this kid's arm should be bionic by the time we are through :). Now... the task is going to be keeping a very active 8 year old clean.... so that he doesn't get leaf bits, and dirt clods down his cast.... I am not so sure I will be all that successful........... sigh....

Now we will move on to the countdown portion of the post.....
8 MORE DAYS TILL NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we will fly out in exactly 8 days!
The kids are getting excited.... I am doing my best to ignore all the weather we are having up here, and choosing to do my level best to not freak out about driving to CA with all the snow I know will be on the road.

My mantra over the next few days will be.... I will not panic..... I will not panic.... I will not panic....

ok... well because I am talking about it... I had to go and check the road cams. Maybe we should leave now. LOL
Everything is very clear.
Ok shouldn't have gone and looked at the weather forecast....
I will not panic, I will not panic, I will not panic.................

An Encouragement for Wives

2010-11-13T23:11:00.000-08:00

Last week I was given the privilege to share the devotion at a wedding shower for a new bride in our church. I didn't start out thinking that it was a privilege. I will be honest and say that I wasn't super excited about the fact that no one else signed up for the task, and as one of the shower coordinators, the devotion fell to me by default. However, God had different plans, and my selfish desire NOT to give the devotion was not among His plans. I think He wanted me to share some of the things I have been learning in my own married life over this last year. I thought maybe you, my blog friends, could use the encouragement too.

So here it goes:

I really don't feel particularly qualified to offer a wedding shower devotion, only having been married for 8 years, I'm sure there is more wisdom in this room on marriage than I will ever have, so humbly I will share with you the things that God has been teaching me in the last year.

I will start with, 1 Corinthians 16:14: It says "Let all you do, be done with love."
A few months back when I read these words from Corinthians, I told God that was nice in theory, but really rather impossible in practice. I mean really? God? You just don't know what was going on in my life right now! I have to love him???

In the quiet of that day, as I thought about this verse from a VERY petulant perspective, giving God all the reasons why this verse did not apply to me, or the way I was supposed to treat my husband, God replied, "Yes Julie, even him.... especially now. I am working in his life. You choosing to love him helps me work in his life."

I got a twinkle in my eye, almost gleeful in my next thought......Oh yeah, I said to God.... you are going to to the heaping hot coals on his head thing... right? 'Cuz that would sure make me feel a little better. God said, "no... (with a small chuckle) funny..., but no."

I had to ask God's forgiveness for my hardhearted-ness, for my unwillingness to do as His word commands me. I resolved to love my husband, regardless of the choices that he was going to making.

Here is a news flash for you, there will be days, when your wonderful groom will disappoint you. When he will not meet an expectation that you have of him. It may be the way he loads the toilet paper dispenser, or squeezes the toothpaste. It could be the way he reacts when things happen that are unexpected. It could be the way he fails to be your knight in shining armor some day when maybe you didn't communicate the need for him to be Sir Galahad.

Whatever the situation...

God is clear.
Your job is to do all you do, in love.
My advice to you is to write 1 Corinthians 16:14 on the walls of your heart, and always choose to show love to your husband.

Another important verse to know is Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good and necessary for edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

mmm hmmm that is a little gem I like to call the, shut your mouth Julie! , verse. :)

As wives, we are the closest person to our husbands. We see ALL that is good in them, that is why we chose to marry them.... and honey... we see all that is bad.

Your job as a wife is to choose edifying words to speak to your husband. Yes, that means when he has left his dirty clothes on the floor for the 10th year, his shoes under the kitchen table or under the foot part of the recliner so it won't close. When he walks by that dish, his dish, for the 50th time... the one that you left for him to wash to teach him a lesson!.... When he does that annoying thing he always does.... that just makes you NUTS.... Yes, that is when you must watch what you say.

You are to choose loving and kind words to address him. Our position, so close to these men, whom are created in the image of God, gives us plenty of fuel for a war of words. ( Hint: Flaming fiery tongues do not impart grace!)

Don't do it.
Stop... in the midst of your mental rant.
pray.... oh God, forgive me for the anger in heart.
and choose kind words to express what needs to be said.

You can't really be in Ephesians, one of the great books in the Bible about communication without touching on Ephesians 4:31 and 32 : "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

There is so much to unpack here in these two verses. I suggest that you read them often. They really are the key to how we are to behave in all situations. The word I would like to camp out on for a moment is bitterness. I think that it is in the beginning of the verse on purpose. It is the predecessor to all the other words in verse 31.

Bitterness..... is the seed that leads to the destruction of marriages. Bitterness by definition is what happens when a hurt, goes unresolved.

Bitterness left unchecked, in your relationship with your husband, will silently, and with precision, cut the two of you apart. It will cause you to feel misunderstood, and that he is ignoring you. It will cause you to see him as unreasonable, because he really should just listen to YOU, your way is usually right, HE should know that by now! It is the thing that causes you to have those metal arguments with him.... where you always win, and you always have the quick answer and the perfect cutting remark that will put him perfectly in his place. It will take away all the power that God designed for you both, in the union of marriage.

it is sneaky.

it is stealthy.

it will come upon you in the night, and grow... quietly for years.

Please, I implore you, do not let bitterness take root. It will breed resentment, wrath, anger, gossip, all manner of un-respectful talk about your husband, the man whom you married, who regardless of his human faults, was created in God's image.
Pick a time,each week, to evaluate your heart before God. Seek His light to show you any weeds of bitterness. Let Him pick them. Go to your husband and seek forgiveness, if you need to.

Your biggest weapon in the garden of your heart to fight the weeds of bitterness, is prayer. Pray FOR your husband. Praying for him will melt the hardness of your heart. I am not talking about the prayers where you roll your eyes and mentally ask the Lord, " PLEASE! CHANGE HIM!!". I mean for you to pray for his relationship with the Lord. Ask the Lord to draw your husband close to Him. Pray for God to show you how to be a helper to your husband. Pray for the spiritual battles your husband faces every day at work. If you don't know what to pray for, ask your husband.

Our husbands aren't perfect, neither are we.
We must remember that no matter what happens, or how much our husband loves us, GOD loves us so much more. He is who we need to take our cares to first. We were created to glorify GOD, and when we love and honor our husbands, we do just that.

The Broken Arm

2010-11-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official. Three out of four children will be intimately acquainted with fiberglass. Hunter broke his arm, adding him to the list of children who have been folded, spindled and broken. This will be cast 5 for us as a family, and we will not count all the needed re-casts from a certain child who repeatedly SWAM in his cast...

He decided that he wanted to see if he could fly like a superhero, and was rudely reminded that the Law of Gravity is still in full effect.

While he was wreathing in pain, he described it as if a 5 ft long needle was stabbing into his flesh. He also told me at least twice that he needed to die, the pain was too much to bear. Poor thing. He was seriously in pain, and it was quite hard not to laugh at him and his theatrical expressions of pain.

When the pain medicine and ice kicked in we were able to make it to the ER without screaming....
and he proceeded to charm the Australian Triage Nurse with his depiction of the harrowing event. He told her about how his dad and one of his co-workers were Veterans. She told us how they call Nov. 11, Armistice Day in Australia, and how there it isn't a national holiday. He made great friends with the radiologist technician, and had him explaining what all the machines were in the room. His nurse was a bit crabby, but the nurse who came to give him the temporary cast, he had her telling stories about her dad and his broken leg.... Hunter can make a friend with anyone... give him 3 minutes.
When we finally made it to the ER room, he had me explain what absolutely everything was on the walls.... He learned about all the equipment that was in there.... I am glad he didn't ask me to go through all the drawers and explain all those instruments.

Now we wait till Monday to get the real cast.... He can't wait....
Mom sure can....

Veterans Day

2010-11-12T14:37:00.000-08:00

There is a time one must praise corporations for doing the right thing.

Today, I am giving a big shout out to Applebee's.

The last few years they have given out millions of free meals to Veterans on November 11.

Yesterday being the 11th, Big Daddy and I decided to go out to Applebee's on a date.

It helps that he eats for free, makes the date cost less :)

Last night we got there after 7 pm to eat.... the place was packed. There were decorations and balloons outside in red, white and blue. All the servers wore red, white and blue. The place was crawling with managers, I think they were all there... and of course there were Veterans. There were some WWII Vets, Korean War Vets, Vietnam Vets, Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom.... The list goes on.... you name the war, action, or conflict, there was someone there to represent it. As we sat down, a guy at the table behind us, loudly asked, " Are you a Seabee?"

Jody's head whipped around. He said, "Yeah."

and so began our meeting with this Army Engineer, who had worked with Seabees in a Special Operation in Belize. He told us all about how the Seabees were better at building stuff than his Army Corps of Engineer guys. We found out that he was in for 12 year active duty, and then went Reserve until retirement at 20 years. He told us about his brother's Warrant Officer commissioning before he retired. Story upon story spilled forth from him, with an urgency, as if he were afraid that no one would remember these important things, if he didn't share them NOW!

Jody listened to him with an air of respect. Between these two men who had never met before, there was an unspoken bond. There was the understanding of the horror of what happens in combat. Between them both was the ache of the things unshared, the way a quiet night, is never really quiet anymore. I got the sense from this man that he just wanted to be heard, that he just wanted to share some stories with someone that had been there. I got the feeling as I listened to them share the names of places they had been, that every Veteran desires the same thing, to be heard, to be acknowledged, appreciated.

As our new friend left, I was able to look around the room and see who was there.

There was a older man sitting alone at the bar. He was dressed in his Dress Green Uniform (Army). He had 2 stripes. It was just him and his beer. The instant our eyes connected, I smiled at him. The smile he returned was soft, slow, and sad. I ached for him to be sitting there alone. Five minutes later he was gone..... I bet he just wanted someone to remember with him.

Soon there was a flash of a camera that caught my eye. It was the bartender taking a picture for someone. He handed the camera back to a young man who was sitting with his grandfather. In stark contrast to the lonely Captain, there was a familial ease. The younger was listening to stories from times gone by, learning about life from the wisdom of a life lived where death has been faced and overcome.

As I watched the people come and go through the time we were there, I couldn't help but begin to wonder what each of their personal stories were. Who were they before battle? How did it change them? As I walk beside my husband, I notice that when someone thanks him for his service, a sad sort of smile crosses his face. It is as if the thank you, triggers a memory, one that is too sad to share. I have seen the same look from other Veterans when I have thanked them. I think the next time I thank one, I will ask them to tell me a story, to share with me a memory. My willingness to listen, might be the difference for one lonely soldier, who feels that no one understands.

Thank you again to Applebee's and your willingness to honor the men and women who serve our country. Thank you for providing a place for them to come, and see others like themselves, who have served and survived.

To all my Soldiers

2010-11-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

When you are a soldier, you give up your privacy. You choose to sleep on a cot, with a sleeping bag. You leave your wife, or your family and your nice warm bed behind. Your shower is a diaper wipe.

You face danger. Someone, that someone else loved dearly and deeply was driving this vehicle. His life forever altered by a click and a boom.

These hunks of twisted metal, sit on the side of the road, as new soldiers arrive and drive by. Forever a reminder to be watchful, to stay alert, and to say a silent prayer that this doesn't happen to the rig you are riding in.

Thank you. To the man that drove that day, and to your crew that was with you. I know you must have been frightened when the explosion went off. I know those images will never leave your mind. They will wake you in the night, they will cause you to look over your shoulder when you get back home..... This moment in time forever changed you all. Thank you for your willingness to serve even if it meant your life.

Being a soldier is a camaraderie that I may never understand. These men that serve together will never forget the names of those they served with. There is honor among them that transcends race or religion. They had to trust completely, wholly, that the man beside them would work as hard to save their life, as they were willing to work for him.

Every soldier, is someones son, brother, husband, father, friend. They are names. Flesh and blood. They are more than what we hear on the news. They are not just a Sea bee, Marine, or a service member of the Navy, Army or Air Force. They all have hopes and dreams. They all want to stay alive and come home.

Today is Veterans Day.

A day that we as a country pause, and remember and thank those who serve, and have served.

What do we do with every other day that contains the same freedoms?

Do we stop to honor those who serve?

Honor them everyday. They didn't just fight for you on one day out of the year. They fight for weeks, months, years.... placing their lives on hold, their dreams on the back burner, to assure a level of freedom for many people all over the world, not just here in the U.S.

In my book that makes everyone of them a person of uncommon character.

I know I will forget some names here, but I want to say thank you to those who have served:

Thanks to:

Earl, Veronica, Ali, Jim, Jim, Eric, Ed, My dear Husband Jody, Corn, Bryan, Brian, Zorgo, Bill, Dave, Dad, Clark, Matt, Ken, and the many more I have forgotten the names of.

Add the names of the people you would like to thank to the comments.

Another "Lost" Update

2010-11-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Please continue to pray for the young girls that have been coming to our Tuesday night children's program at church. They have not attended for the last two weeks. I am going to mail them a card in a few days to let them know how much we miss them. Please pray that they will come back.

If you would like to be introduced to the girls read here.

Their last update is here.

There is a praise though, and I don't want to close this post without sharing it with you. There were two new boys there this week. They live close to our dear friends the Antos' and they were very excited to come back next week. Please pray for them as they walk through the membership guide, and for Mr. Antos as he shares the Gospel with them.

Jeremiah prays

2010-11-05T00:20:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah is 3. Up until the last week or so his prayers have been: "Dear Dod, pweeze hewlp me to obey da fwirst time, Amen." This was his prayer for dinner, lunch, before bed, when asking for forgiveness.... you name it. If he was asked to pray, this was part if not ALL of his prayer.

The bedtime routine in our house belongs to Daddy. Not because I can't, or won't, but because he does it so much better than I do. He enjoys participating in this portion of their day, and it shows. He helps them with their teeth. He makes sure they are wearing their favorite pajamas. He makes sure they have their favorite bed time friend with them. He pulls up the covers, tucks them in like burritos, and then he prays with them. This is the time that he uses to instruct them, and guide them in their conversations with God. He reminds them to be thankful. He tells them that they should praise God in their prayers. He tells them that they can talk to God any time they want.

As the layers and months of gentle instruction have begun to sink in and register in Jeremiah's super cute little brain. His prayers have begun to morph. First, he added " A-man" to the end of his prayers. I guess he figures he is talking to one person not many, so 'men' was changed. It was sort of cute, so we let it slide....

Now he is moving past his singular phase, and his prayers are reflecting a heart that is genuinely desiring to communicate with his Savior.
Last night Jody said he prayed , "Dear Ward ( he has changed to calling Jesus, Lord.) Pweeze, hewlp us to obey, pweeze hewlp us not to sin, and pweeze hewlp us to not mate you sad or mad. And pweeze hewlp Daddy not to do to wort anymor."

Tonight was: " Dear Ward, (large sigh) pweeze hewlp wift us up to hevan. Pweeze help wift up Daddy, Id, Taywer, Hunter, Mommy and Shewwee up to hevan. Fank you Ward. A-man."

I look forward to hearing more of his prayers of the heart.

Happy Birthday Lisa!

2010-11-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

13 or so years ago.... a very beautiful woman came into my life.

The hot, sexy one with the cigar is my dear Lisa. Now, I will admit, that the way in which we met, was not ideal. I will never forget the first time I saw this picture. I felt like I had been hit by a ton of bricks. "She is so beautiful", I thought. I knew anything I tried to do from that moment on was a lost cause.

As God would have it, soon I was able to fly out and meet Lisa, this person who had changed the course of my life forever. The first time we met was in a group of people that all knew our "story". I was there first, and had my back to the door, talking with some people. I knew the instant that she walked in the door. A blind person would have known, the room was suddenly, eerily silent. I think half of the people expected there to be a fight or something. In the minutes that followed, the introductions, the hugs of hello, the glad to finally meet you in persons.... was the beginning of a steadily growing friendship, that has blossomed from those first fearful moments in Memphis.

I hope that our friendship is a lesson in forgiveness. I hope that people look at our relationship and see how Christians are supposed to act even when everyone else in the world says you have permission, even the right, to act differently.

Lisa, you are an amazing woman. I learn from you all the time. Your strength in the midst of your challenges, is inspirational. This year has been tough. Last Birthday you got a present you would have gladly white elephant-ed to anyone else in the world, and yet you face it, and all that it brings with grace.

On your birthday, I want you to know that I am here for you. I will continue to pray for you. I will continue to share the wisdom of the Scriptures with you. I will promise to hug on you when the days are hard and you just have nothing left. I promise to cry with you, and bring lots of tissue. I hope to be a person that you can just be real with, and say " I am tired, I hurt.... I need help", and know that there will be help, no matter the time of day, or reason.

I am glad God brought you into my life.

I love you.

Have a Wonderful Birthday.

Happy Birthday Dad

2010-10-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Dad.
I miss you.

Today is your first birthday in Heaven. A year ago today you met Jesus. Does it feel like you just arrived, or like you have never lived anywhere else? I wish I could ask you what it was like there. I wish I could hear your voice describe to me the streets of gold. Have you talked with Moses, or hung out with Paul? I bet there is no end to the amazing things you are doing. I am homesick to be there with you today, Dad.

Things down here are good. The kids are growing up so fast. Your little Hunter-man is growing wiser by the day. He says he wants to be a missionary when he grows up. What do you think about that?

Next week we will be in Oregon. I think I will have a cup of chowder at the pizza place and remember the years of fun and laughter.

Love you.....
Joolie Woolie

Whale lice

2010-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

I was asked what Whale lice were... or rather a Whale louse... because that would be one...

They are little critters that live on whales. Now, the person that asked me what they were is a fellow homeschool mom, and I am confidant that she already has looked up what they are.... but for the rest of you who may not have looked it up........ and were too chicken to ask what in the world it was, here it is...

whale louse is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cyamidae. They are related to the better-known skeleton shrimp, most species of which are found in shallower waters. Whale lice are external parasites, found in skin lesions, genital folds, nostrils and eyes of marine mammals of the order Cetacea. These include not only whales but also dolphins and porpoises.

SO..... there is your more than you needed to know definition........

Here is what they look like. ( yes this is an acutal family photo :) )

It is the little critter on the left. When you have boys, that also happen to like bugs, these things are like the rolly-pollies of the sea during the times the whales migrate between their fishing grounds and their mating grounds....

Any-hoo.... that's what they are. Don't you feel smarter now?

Peace and Quiet

2010-10-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

Not sure how this came to be..... but I got the tall end of the stick today. My husband kicked me out of the house with a newly outfitted, yet ancient laptop..... to find out if the wireless worked somewhere other than our house :) While he watches the kids and works on fixing the truck.

So here I sit.... listening to music in Starbucks.... with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, welcoming fall.

I kinda want to go back home.... but Big Daddy told me to stay out for awhile. You see last night we had 4 boys over for an airsoft war, and video game blowout awake over. I would call it a sleep over... but I don't think anyone slept. I went to bed around 1 a.m. and they were still up and at it.... There are many moments that I am ever so grateful that my bedroom is upstairs and at the other end of the house....

I am starting to get excited about our upcoming vacations. At the end of the week we will be heading to the Oregon Coast. Few places refresh us as a family like this place does. Cool, salty air, laden with the smell of pine trees and campfires. Walks on the beaches, hunting for shells and whale lice. The quiet lapping of the waves on the dock as we wait for our crab pots to fill with dinner.... yes, it is the good life.

Our next big trip will be to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A few years back my aunt decided that she wanted to take us as a family to go see the parade. "As a family" is a total of 13 people. The woman is stark raving out of her mind!..... Needless to say, the tickets are purchased, the hotel is booked, people are starting to shout out their must see locations.... all we have left to do is get to California to get on the plane. The Lord is going to need to help us, this is going to be one whirl-wind trip. We fly out on a red-eye, and they want to hit the tarmac running when we arrive at 5 in the morning. I have a feeling that my children are going to do little but sleep the entire 12 hour drive home from California when we get back..... they are going to be wiped OUT!

I think by the time we are done with Christmas.... we are all going to collapse.

I will be sure to let you know how it all goes.... that is, if I make it out alive.

Brothers

2010-10-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

The other day Hunter was going to get to go and shoot his bow and arrow at the neighbors house.... and Jeremiah was feeling a little left out of the whole shooting thing... So big brother Evan decided to help him shoot something fun at home....

Q and A for the day.

2010-10-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

There has been an 'answer some questions, ask some new ones and tag some blogs to answer' Meme going around amongst the homeschool crew bloggers.... These were questions that my Homeschool Crew Mini Crew Leader ( say that ten times fast ).... was asked, instead of tagging individual blogs, she challenged her readers to just answer all these questions and let her know in her comments ... you can check out her answers at Life at Oak Grove.
So here we go.......

These first set of questions came from Heidi at Reviews & Reflections

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? If so, how close to being finished are you? I’d like to know your Christmas shopping personality.
Um..... no. Well wait, I got one thing for my mom. I haven't started. I don't think I will get much purchased for Christmas this year. We will be doing a lot of traveling with family in the months prior to Christmas, and that is just going to have to be it....
Is there a particular field trip destination that you and your kids could (and do) visit over and over again?
When we lived in California we went to the Jelly Belly Factory often. We were also close to S.F. and Half Moon Bay and would go exploring tide pools.

What is your favorite season, and why?
Fall. There is something about the return of crisp cool mornings, leaves changing color, a fire in the fireplace that just makes me happy.

Are you content with your home? If not, what would you like to change (assuming money is not an issue)?
I am content with my home. I love where it is in town. I love the street, my neighbors.... the yard. Even though I am content, we could stand some updating in a few places, and if money were not an issue, I would knock out the wall between the kitchen and the living room and get a new kitchen floor.

Do you have a dream vacation destination?
hmmm ....several actually. I would like to go on a cruise to Alaska. I would like to find a wonderful tropical beach location to visit, and rent an apartment and live like a local. I love the coast... so any beach works for me. Disney World with an unlimited budget.....

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If so, why is it your favorite?
I think my all time favorite is Psalm 91:4.. And He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. I love the mental picture here. A mighty eagle with little chicks under its wings.... How safe, how warm, how tender that is.
Do you decorate your house for the seasons? If so, do you have a specific treasured ornament or decoration?
In the fall out comes leafy, orange brown and green table cloths. Pumpkins for the porch... they stay till we are through Thanksgiving. Christmas stuff goes up soon after Turkey day.... BUT... If I know I am traveling for the holidays, I usually leave the tree down, and just put stuff up around the house.

What one thing would you change about yourself if you were able?
I would lose some weight.....
This set of questions are from Michelle at A Life Better Than I Deserve wants me to answer these questions:

What type of gifts do you prefer to give? Do you prefer home-made, gift certificates, store-bought, etc?
I am a homemade gift girl. I like to give jams and jellies, home-made toffee from a deep secret family recipe. I love to wrap them up with pretty ribbon, and a hand made card.
What type of gifts do you prefer to receive?
I am a bad gift receiver. I feel bad when someone goes and spends their money on me.... I would rather just get a nicely written card or something.
Do you stock a gift closet, or box, and purchase gifts throughout the year?
I used to, but not so much anymore now that money is a bit tighter.
What is your favorite type of music? Do you have one?
We pretty much only listen to Christian Radio.... Music, talk... whatever... Maybe I would have to say Casting Crowns is a particular favorite of mine....
Do you like chick-flicks, or not?
yes and no. I used to like them, now I don't usually like the way the relationships are portrayed, so I don't watch them. Really we have started to watch fewer and fewer movies. If they are not in line with what we believe, we do our best to avoid them. If we can't watch them with all our kids... it doesn't get watched.
Do you have a hobby? Do you make time for it regularly?
lots... some more regular than others :)
I make cards. I love to write, and bake. Cooking is lots of fun too. I garden, can, and make jams and jellies. I knit and enjoy needle point ( but I have not done that in a long time)
What is your favorite thing about where you live? Every place has its pros and cons. What are the “pros” about where you live?
I like the pace of life here. In CA we lived in the SF Bay Area... there was TONS of traffic, and everything is busy busy busy.... Now, in Eastern Washington, we have horses and llamas at the end of the street, there are hobby farms, and horse trailers driving through town. It is still a city, walmart and the mall are only 5 minutes from my house, and we have 3 high schools in my town alone.... but the slower pace still prevails.

What is your favorite kids cartoon movie?
Disney's Robin Hood. That chicken cracks me UP!

If you choose to answer these questions on your own blog, come back and let me know you did, so I can get to know YOU better!

Thoughts on the big 4-0

2010-10-14T12:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it has arrived. The day I knew would be here all year.... It's my happy birfday. So far, it is just like every other day.... just one year older. I still woke up to the husband bringing in a cup of coffee, made with extra beans, because today was Thursday, and my birthday so... well.... he figured I could use the extra beans. This morning I had a toddler next to me too... again, pretty normal...

There have been some differences in the day....... everyone said Happy Birthday to me when they woke up, except Jeremiah.... He just wanted ice cream for breakfast, and threw a fit when I said no.... but that is normal. There were Happy Birthday posts on my facebook wall.... that doesn't happen every day. I am sure though that it is going to pretty normal around here, I am still going to have to decide what to make for dinner.

This birthday has me in a bit of a nostalgic mood.... wistfully looking back to birthday milestones of years past.

There was my sweet sixteen. We turned the garage into a malt shoppe.... dressed up in poodle skirts, ate burgers, and listened to Elvis. It was the day I received my first flowers. Dad wanted to be the first guy to ever buy his girls flowers.... so he did that for each of us on our sweet sixteens. I still remember who was there.... Dale Rawlinson, Roger Korsten, Amy Larmor, Stacey Miller, Rodney Bogue, Jeff Miller, Ray McGonigle, Beth and Marshall Smith, Chris and Joel Croll... Kelly Gabel, Renee Bogue and Stacy Bowman... worked on a little dance number, Mrs Bowman made them poodle skirts. It was very cool. Amy..... Where is that picture of everyone on the lawn? Can you send it so I can post it?

Then there was 18....
There is no photographic evidence of this birthday. We were at Disneyland as a family. I remember we were ready to walk out the door of the hotel, and mom gave me my present. It was a gold rope bracelet. After I opened it, she announced that birthday was over!.... and it was time to go to Disneyland. (I must say that mom denies making this statement to this day.... but as an adult, I can totally see her saying it to be funny....) According to my friend Stacey Miller, this was deemed an absolutely horrid thing to be told on my birthday, even if it was spent in Disneyland. She then organized a surprise party at her house with our friends. We played pictionary with a HUGE tablet in the front living room....I can see in my mind her mom leaning on the counter in the kitchen talking to us all as we came in for refills, I can hear her dad calling me "Julie-Bird", and I think he dug out some old family videos and pictures with me in them to make sure I was good and embarrassed. .......good times, real good times.

21......
This one sort of fades in the memory... I think it was around the time my then fiance broke up with me. I probably had a quiet dinner and cake at mom and dad's.

30......
this one is blurry too... I am sure it was celebrated at The Fish Market, with the whole family, and with the all time classic: Chocolate Peppermint Cake.

39....
The last birthday with dad. I will say it was hard to be in a festive mood. We did cake, mostly because it was a distraction from what was really going on. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when the day was over, and he was still alive.

40........
you have read the happenings so far. If something exciting happens... I reserve the right to edit this post and update you all. (update 10/15... We ended up having a family dinner at IHOP.... not so terribly thrilling of a location, but kids meals are free, and I am always up for saving money. My hubby got me an ice cream cake that said "Just cresting the Hill" ... he is so cute. There were a few gifts: chocolate, candles, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.... my family knows me well. )

The other thing this birthday has me doing is thinking about my own mortality. Odd you may say, to think of death on the day you celebrate your life, but my own life, and the lives of people close to me have been touched with death lately.... and many of those who have passed have not been that old. When people that are only 11 or 20 years older than you are dying.... you begin to ask yourself questions about the legacy YOU are leaving. You begin to ask yourself if you are really making good use of the time you have today, in this hour, because you are not guaranteed anything more. I wonder if I am doing all God created me to do.....

Ok... enough of this introspective talk. It is time to go and make a cake.... Chocolate Peppermint , of course.... and decide what I am going to make for dinner, and maybe take the kids to the park.

Hunter: On Licenses

2010-10-08T02:06:00.000-07:00

While we were driving around yesterday, Hunter began review with me some thing he had learned from a delivery driver at his daddy's work. This man was gracious enough to let an extremely inquisitive young boy pelt him with a zillion questions......

Now a month later...... a few parts of the information from the interview have been changed....

The setting is in the blue buhvervan.... I am driving in the rain, and concentrating way more on the road than the prattle that is coming out of Hunter in the back seat....Evan is with us, and frankly I think he was trying to impress his brother with his new found knowledge.

.... he says " did you know that semi truck drivers need a special license? "

I nod....He keeps going, because he really didn't want an answer.... he knows I am half ignoring him...so is his brother.

" Everyone else has a regular license. They have a special one. If they don't have this special one, they could get arrested, or even thrown in jail." .... I don't have the heart to tell him those are the same thing. He sounds so grave and desperate when he adds "jail" to the end of a sentence for emphasis. I like the fact that he thinks it is horrible....

He keeps going.... I think now he is liking the sound of his own voice....
.
" The special license is called an OCD license........"

I lost it. I was unable to listen further. Both Evan and I cracked up.
The mental picture was too much to bear.

I just had visions in my head of semi truck drivers walking around their trucks adjusting the lug nuts so they were all in line.... straightening and re-straightening their pencils before the test..... tapping the steering wheel three times before starting the truck.....

oh man... funny stuff.....

An update on "Lost...."

2010-10-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

Well tonight was Master Clubs.... and I thought I would take some time to let you know what happened.

As we headed into game time, my three girls from last week were not there. My heart was feeling a little sad. I was talking with God about it, and He was reminding me that He does things in His own time. So I set that little dissapointed part of my heart aside, and just got about the normal game time stuff.

Five minutes later, I looked to my right, and there she was. My little tough cookie came back! I nearly cried; I was so happy to see her.
She was without the other two. Could it be that she came alone? Could it be that she initiated getting someone to bring her?

'Cuz I am nosey, I asked, "Are the other two coming?" She answered, " Yeah I think they are, I came by myself today. I had someone bring me. It was a bit squishy in their car last week."

It is a good thing I was already sitting down. Otherwise I think I might have fallen over. I was shocked, and amazed that she had arranged to come on her own. .... a "PRAISE GOD!" fired off inside my head.

As I walked upstairs to our class time, I realized I was surprised again. I was surprised that God had answered our prayers. I guess I need to get over that.... I asked Him for forgiveness for my oh so little faith.

I don't know if I can describe the difference in her this week, but I will try. Every ounce of her that was hard, dark and angry was gone.

This week she was more joyful, engaged, and smiling. Eyeliner was only on half of the eye today, she wasn't working so hard at trying to hide behind her hair. Not once did I hear how stupid it was to be here. Not once did she say she would never be back. She was excited to get to work in her booklet today. She had questions.

Her first question was about eternal life. The booklet asks, "Do you understand that eternal life in heaven is a free gift from God that cannot be earned? It can only be received by faith."
She told me she didn't understand how it could not be earned. So we went over how faith isn't working for your salvation. I explained that faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone to save you from the penalty of sin. I asked her if that helped, if she understood that no amount of studying, no amount of being nice, no amount of doing good things was going to get her into heaven. She said sort of, she said that faith must be like some sort of miracle..... she said she was going to need a miracle.

The next portion of the booklet asks about making a choice. It lists three choices.
1. I trusted Christ as my Savior when I was _______ years old.
2. I would like to trust Christ as my Savior, ask Him to forgive my sin, and spend eternity in Heaven with Him.
3. I am not ready to make that decision right now.

She turned to me and said, " What if I am between 2 and 3? What if I am not ready to do number 2, but I don't want to say no like number 3."
I told her, " Then write down on the paper that you are in the middle. I don't want you to pick one and not have it be a truthful answer."

At least we know right where she is. She isn't ready, but she seem curious.

We moved on to some memory verses. One that she worked on this week was: " ....for one is your Master, even Christ." Matthew 23:10. My prayer for her this week is that this verse will stick to her like glue. That she will find herself thinking about the words Christ and Master. That she will be faced with wondering who her master is.

Another praise: One of the girls, the one that seemed to have been to chruch before and had mentioned to be that she had already been baptized. She was at church on Sunday. She came with her mom, sister and grandmother. One look at mom, and you can see she has life experiences beyond her years. I would venture to guess that her life has not been an easy one. She looks like I felt, when I started going back to church.

Scared.

Afraid of what these church people think about her, and what would we say if we really knew everything.

Please pray with me that I might be able to reach out to her. I don't know how, but God does. Pray that I will be ready when the time comes.

Continue to pray for the two other students ( that we know of ) that have not made a decision for Christ. Please pray that God will work in us as leaders, preparing us through this week for the work He wants us to complete.

I don't know..........

2010-10-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

This morning, my dear husband brought me coffee in bed.

It is Monday, so he added extra beans to the grinder. I love him.

Today, he gave me the biggest cup. I needed it........

And then he said a few small words.... words that struck a wee bit of terror into my heart....

He said, "Your happy birthday is coming....." I continued to sip my extra strong coffee, pretending that I didn't hear him.

He boldly forged ahead, " What do you want for your birthday?" I kept sipping.... and ignoring.

When I finally decided not to leave the poor guy hanging.... because really I know that he is asking, and trying to be thoughtful.... He blurted out, " Soon you are going to be old.... like me." We laughed.

I went back to sipping........ and ignoring.

I again decided it wasn't nice or polite to stay quiet.... even though the coffee tasted amazing.

I told him, I don't know........ I don't know what I want for my birthday. I really hadn't thought about it. Truth be told, I would rather it didn't happen. Can't we just skip this one?

I don't think he is going to let me off the hook.
I am going to have to come up with something.

Anybody got any ideas?

The best bike ever

2010-09-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I have seen this bike.

The first time I saw it, it was parked out in front of Walmart. Yesterday, it was at the Library. I couldn't help myself.

I had to have a picture.

I absolutely LOVE this guys ingenuity. He has taken a board and extended this thing to make it one of a kind custom. My first favorite thing is his creative use of box tape. It makes me smile! He has a flashlight taped to the handle bars... so he is night riding compliant.

From this angle, you can see his cup holder. It is smooth. He has taped a clear plastic cup to the goose neck, in it rides a Starbucks Venti cup. The man has taste. I also enjoy the plastic purple cup... it appears to be a neat dash stash spot for him. It is a new addition since my last sighting.

Honestly, I can't wait to see who rides it. Maybe one of these days I will get to meet him. I hope I have my big camera with me. I really want a photo op with this guy.....I need to know the story behind this bike.

are you looking?

2010-09-30T09:42:00.001-07:00

Lost............

2010-09-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

I sit here this morning, heavy hearted. The events of last night have been drawing me into much prayer with the Lord. I bring this burden, that I have shared and will continue to cry out to God about, to YOU my fellow prayer warriors.

Let me explain.........

On Tuesday evenings, my local church holds a program called Master Clubs. It is a wonderful program that teaches and trains young people in important biblical principles, as well as helping them understand their ability to serve the Lord, and impact those around them. I help in the older group, the 4th -6th grades. Typically, we have a small group, maybe 6 or 7 kids. Typically, they are the children that are a part of our church family, many, if not all have made a decision for Christ already. We have been praying that God would bring new children to Master Clubs. We want other children to hear the hope of the Gospel.

Last night we had 4 new children. Three girls, and a boy. One was invited by a child that was already attending, the other three, the girls....just... came.

I think as leaders we were a little surprised to see new faces.
I don't know why we were so surprised that God answered our prayer.....
But we were.

As we moved through the evening I was privileged to begin to walk them through what we call the Membership Booklet. It is an introduction to Master Clubs and there are some verses in there for them to memorize. The biggest and most important part of that booklet is the presentation of the Gospel. I was nervous. I have never really presented the Gospel before.

Crazy I know, a Christian for 32 years... and never presented the Gospel to another human being.
Tragic really.

I knew these girls needed to hear it. I have been praying to God for boldness to share Him with others. I figured he got tired of waiting for me to open my mouth in public, so He just dropped these girls in my lap. I desired to be obedient and let Him do the talking to their hearts, so I fired off a "Ok, Lord... here we go... Help me out" prayer, and dove right in.

The first section of the booklet asks some questions of the kids. It gets them thinking, and they help us assess where the child is in their understanding of sin, and their relationship to the Lord. The questions are:
What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you think will happen when this life is over? Do you think you have ever sinned? Where do you think your soul will spend eternity? I think there was one more question, but I can't remember it right now..... As the girls filled out their questions, I was just listening, there to help if they didn't understand a question. One girl mentioned to her friend she had never been to church before...
Ever.
No Pressure Julie.... none at all. (gulp)

Another girl, she had brought the other two, seemed to have been in church a few times, maybe she was from another church in town. She said she was a Christian, she wrote that she was going to heaven.
The girl who had never been to church, she wrote that she didn't know where she would spend eternity. (ok.. I make a mental note about that.... and gulp a few more times... "Ok Lord," I say in my head..." gonna really need your help here tonight...You remember I have never done this right?")
The third girl, she is the one who tugs at my heart. She sat infront of me, with her pretty pink Bible. Angry at the world. She had on enough eyeliner to feel like she was hiding in plain sight. She is in the 6th grade. She wrote on her paper that she has committed so many sins.... she is beyond saving. She wrote, that because of those sins, she will go to Hell. She is convinced of it. She has no hope.

I can barely write now what I saw on her page. My heart breaks for her. Tears stream down my face. The pain of her life, the ache in her soul.... ah.... it overtakes me, I weep for her, I plead to my heavenly Father, to never let her go..... to hold her close. I pray for her to let Him in.

So there I sit, in front of three girls, two of which I know need to hear how much Jesus loved them. No pressure. (gulp)... I fire off another prayer, "Lord, may your Word be heard."

As we walk through our condition as humans, our condition as sinners before a Holy God, and how because of our sin, the Bible says we deserve death.
She tells me she now doesn't like the Bible anymore because it says she will die.
I ask her to wait.... there is hope in my story.
She tells me that being here is dumb. Asks what time we are finished with the night, she tells me she is never coming back.

She is a tough cookie.
It's ok. She can be a tough cookie. God is in the room. He is working. He is in control.

We move on to the part where Christ died. He is the substitute, He paid the wages for my sin. He died so that I can live. I look straight at my tough cookie. I softly say, " So that you can live...." She just stared at me..................

So suddenly the time to share with them was over. We need to move to our "council time" and hear a devotion presented by one of our leaders. I said to God, " Wait! I wasn't done, I didn't get through it all." He quietly replied, " She has heard what she needs for today."
"Ok, Lord..... ok." ....sigh

Have you ever seen spiritual warfare? I mean really seen it? Have you seen someone interested in the Truth they are hearing, only to suddenly wall off their heart, and you can see it written all over their face? This little, precious gift of God, was in the midst of a fight.... and she didn't even know it. I would watch her soften, and be engaged in the devotion..... and in the next second be angry and tell me how stupid it was to be here, and how she was never coming back. All I could do was smile and pray. I prayed so hard I was nearly crying. Thinking of her now, makes me cry.

I don't know all of the details of her life. She shared bits and pieces of her pain, though the night. Just enough to let us know how badly she needs a Savior, and how broken and bruised she has been by life. (By the 6th grade!!) .....How desperate she is for HOPE.

The Bible tells me that it is my job to tell.
God will do the rest.

Pray with me, will you? Pray that these three girls return so they can hear more about Jesus who died and rose again for them.
Pray for this little broken child. She needs the Lord so desperately.
Pray for me, that I will continue to be obedient, and tell.
She is just a taste, a glimpse, that was brought right to a chair across the table from me, of a whole world out there that is broken, bruised, hurting...... and in need of healing.

All we need to do is tell.

*** if you do not know Jesus as your Savior. If you do not have HOPE in eternal life. Please message me. I would love to share my Hope, my reason for living with you.****

No more Birfdays

2010-09-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah was frustrated with life this morning.... All his frustration was evident after a quiet argument with his older brother..... he comes running in the house and yells............

"MOM!!!!!!!! HUNTER'S NOT WEDDING ME TURN 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

poor guy.

He'll have to stay 3 (fwee) forevah.....

I could live with that.

I am linking up to Tiny Talk @ Not before 7:00 head on over and share the funny things that your tiny people say........

Yogurt, Sweet Yogurt

2010-09-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here real quick is the recipe for yogurt I was talking about on Facebook. You make it in your crock pot, and it is super duper easy. I will add pictures the next time I make it...

1/2 gallon ( 2 quarts ) of milk. ( don't use ultra pasteurized. just plain pasteurized is fine)
1/2 cup of plain yogurt ( I used a 6oz cup of Greek yogurt)

If you want to thicken it even more than it will be after you strain it... then you might want to add 1/4 cup of nonfat dry powdered milk, or 1 pkg of non flavored gelatin.
So you put your milk in the crock pot, heat it on low for 2 1/2 hours. unplug and leave covered for 1/2 hour more.
After the 1/2 hour, scoop out about 2 cups of milk and mix it with your plain yogurt. ( here is were you would add the 1/4 cup of powdered milk or the gelatin if you choose to use those thickeners). Add that mixture to the milk in the crock pot, whisk it through, replace the cover, cover the crock pot with towels to keep it extra warm, and go to bed.
When you wake up. You will have yogurt. Thin yogurt.
To get a thicker consistency, line a colander with paper towels or some coffee filters. Pour the yogurt into the lined colander. Let set for 2 hours or so,(IN THE FRIDGE) and it will be like what you get in the store.
Even longer, and you will have a more Greek yogurt or a sour cream like texture.

For pictures, and any other tips or tricks that I am missing off the top of my head... check out
Faithful Provisions to she her pictures and flavoring ideas.
ENJOY!

On Mothers and McDonalds

2010-09-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

I sat in Mc Donalds for hours today, not because I particularly adore Mc Donalds ( or Mick- up Donalds if you are Jeremiah), but because it was raining and I have two very wiggly boys who desperately needed to run and climb on something beside each other and my furniture. Hanging at Micky D's was purely a choice based on my personal desire to remain sane and at the same time, let both boys live until dinner. I like to people watch,(it helps pass the time...), so anyone sitting near me is fair game.

Today, one of the first things I noticed as I was people watching, was the two types of moms that were joining me in their escape from the rain.

Type one: She is petite and always dressed matchy matchy.... you know the kind.... the one where her cleaning the house clothes even are cute, and clean. Her kids are also color coordinated, bow coordinated, sock and shoe coordinated, I have even seen the car seat and pacifier coordinated ( reallY???). It seems to me that life for these moms is contained in their adorable polka dotted (and matching) hand and diaper bags. Everything super cute and tidy.

And then.......there is the rest of us, which for the record there were more of ( this causes me to wonder if the first type of mom is more of a genetic hiccup or something)

I digress........

The rest of us were wearing sweater or sweat shirts. Something no self respecting type one mom would ever even OWN let alone walk out of the house wearing. A few of us even had on a baseball hat to cover a wickedly bad hair day. I also found it interesting that all of the rest of us were wearing some variation of flip flop. Despite the rain. It was as if we were all not quite ready to give up on summer. The likely reality of it was that we ran around all morning barefoot doing chores, and the flip flops were the first matching set of shoes we found before we ran out of the door.

In the ebb and flow of the hours I was there, there was always one or more of these two types of mom in the playland. Type one mom's were always looking a little up tight, and the rest of us were tuning out all the screaming the kids were doing..... not to mention the screaming that type one was doing to her kids to get them to quit screaming. (go figure....)

So yeah... that is what I do when I am sitting alone, letting the boys run wild in Mc Donalds. Sort out the types of moms..... weird, I know.... but hey, someones got to do it.

OH>>>>>> if you are a type one mom.... I don't mean to sound like I am picking on you. I am not. I don't even know you. But some of your girl friends were having a bad day up at my Mc Donalds......

Random Dozen~ #1

2010-09-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

This looks like fun.... Linda lists the questions, you answer and link to her original blog post.

If you want to link up head over to 2nd Cup of Coffee and join in the fun!

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?

My Husband has service medals from several different military operations. He also won a contest that was for military families, we got the outside of our house decorated for Christmas, Dinner and a Limo ride.... oh, and our picture and an article about him in the paper..... does that count?

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?
My Husband, He just finished his contract with the SeaBees.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.
Stories of military families, or stories of what happens to a service member.... I am a complete sucker for those and need tissue regularly when I hear or read them.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality?
I am numero uno in the birth order. Yes I do believe placement affects personality. I can spot a middle child at a 100 yards......

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.
Love of the Lord, and Hospitality. My Grandparents ALWAYS had someone over for dinner. They had missionaries, new Christians, bible studies....whoever.... but lots of people. They always were open about their faith and shared it with people over a good meal. My Grandma studied the Bible like no one I have ever seen. There were literally VOLUMES of binders from her studies of the Scriptures.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?
Pants. They just tend to be more comfortable to chase children in.

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?
Depends on the night. Some nights 2 or three times, but that depends who screams my name in terror in the middle of the night, or how many times the cat brushes against my face to let me know she is either hungry, thirsty, or has to go out to go pee. Last night. I was blessed. No cat, no screams.... mommy got to sleep right on through.
To get back to sleep.... I usually get in bed and close my eyes. It doesn't take much.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.
Right now I would have to say "squirrel" from UP! ...... we use this often on the children when they lose track in their conversation or jump topics mid-sentence.

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?
All of them? Can I pick that answer? NO?.... ok...... Apple, pumpkin, whatever.... I love them all!

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to?
Baking. I love to Bake in the Fall. Love the way the house smells when good things are being made in the oven.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.
My husband made me coffee and brought it to me in bed. He put extra beans in the grinder..... cuz it was Monday....

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?
The first in-law-to-be that I met was my husband's sister. During this first visit.... she barged in on me in the bathroom and snapped a photo of me... ahem.... sitting there...ahem... and did indeed take the developed picture HOME and showed it to her MOTHER!... ack! Also that same trip, they had a food fight, not just any ole food fight.... but a cake-up-the-nose-and-ground-into-the-hair-ice-cream-in-your-ear-while-I-hold-you-in-a-head-lock, kind of food fight....... I did not come from a home that allowed such shenanigans..... I did not know what to think about these people....

overheard last night

2010-09-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

I know these things have to happen in your house too...
they just have to...

I can't be the only one.....

Overheard last night as I was preparing dinner.............

(flush, panicked footsteps.... the ripping open of the bathroom door in a frenzy...)
"DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my poop clogged the toilet!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(hurried, purposeful footsteps of my husband to the bathroom.... sounds of plunger being called into service)
(nervously.... as the water level approaches critical mass.) " ooohhhhh nooooo.... towels! TOWELS!"

(calmly from the father to the son...) " Hunter, if I needed towels I would have asked you to get them."
(calmly from son to father....) "oh."

(in a tone of voice expressing awe at a job well done..) " wow, it didn't overflow. That's a dependable plunger..."

( joyful skipping down the hallway by son, glad that a crisis he nearly caused has been averted.)

(large sigh from the bathroom...) " Hunter!..... come get your car, your marble, and your trophies out of the bathroom...."

(Laugh from mom in the kitchen.) Really? I don't even want to know why all that was in there with him.

nope...
not at all.

The River Road

2010-09-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

The road along the river, is made up of concrete slabs, long ago separated by the shifting land beneath them. They are close enough to drive on, but far enough apart for weeds to grow in there when the weather conditions are right....

As you drive along, it provides this peaceful, clip-clop, clip-clop sound that is reminiscent of a horse clopping along. A drive along this stretch of road is guaranteed to put any mildly sleepy child, into a nice deep slumber. This happens often to dear Jeremiah, and it did again today. I was thinking as I drove along, how our lives are like that. They have a general destination, and as we drive along, the sound of our own clopping lulls us to sleep....

This thought was prompted by an interaction Hunter had with a family in the park. I was sitting over in the grass, watching the kids play on the structure, and a woman walks up to me. She is about my age, and her kids do the stair steps down from about 9 to 4. Hunter had been playing with them for the last 45 minutes or so.... So she walks up and asks me if the little boy who had just been sitting with me was my son. I replied yes he was, and shame on me the first thought in my head was... OH NO.... now what did he do???

She started out with saying that he was SOO Smart! I think I looked at her as if to say, my kid? And then I was thinking about boasting about how we homeschool. I didn't say anything out loud, except, "thank you."

She explained how he was talking to her dad, the subject started out as being about a construction tool they have at the play ground and how good this man's granddaughter was operating the toy. The grandpa explained how this girl's daddy used excavators all day at work, so that was why she knew how to play with them so well....

And here comes the part that humbles me.

Humbles me to my very core.

It puts me to shame... but even though it reveals in me something I lack, I hope, I pray, I will beg God, all the rest of my days.... for Hunter to never loose this....

Hunter: "Um, yeah, so what do you do?"

Grandpa: " I am a farmer."

Hunter: "Really? So, where do you go to church?"

Grandpa: ( both the woman who told me and later the Grandpa himself came and told me how that question took him aback) "Well," pause.... "We go to a church that believes in Jesus."

Hunter: " Oh yeah? Well, He is my Personal Savior"

Grandpa: "How old are you?"

Hunter: "8." " I go to Grace Baptist Church, it is on the corner of 10th and Union. You should come sometime."

The woman told me how her dad kept talking to Hunter, and how completely impressed he was with this little boy who knew Jesus was his Savior. I was speechless. Her words were not what I expected to hear. I was sure she was going to tell me that some sort of scuffle or argument had happened. I did not expect to hear that my son had been telling others about Jesus and where they could go to learn more about Him.

I managed to squeak out that it wasn't all me.... I can't take all the credit.

She looked at me, and said.... " Oh I know, it's that." She pointed to my Bible that was on the blanket near me. "It's in there... that's what does it."

She walked away, to go be with her folks and her kids.... and I just watched her go. I was stunned. God-smacked would be one way to describe it. I was so proud of him, and so ashamed of myself. As I relive the moment, I am awash with fresh tears, the monitor is swimming... "oh GOD! Create in me that innocence and love for you!"

I so want that childlike desire to share my faith, with ease, without fear. Without being one of those people who is lulled to sleep by everyday life, that I sleep right through opportunities like the one my son just saw.

A bit later the Grandpa came up himself, and told me he was here from Ohio, visiting. He said, never in his life had he met a kid who was 8 that could talk like that about Jesus. He wanted to let me know he thought I was doing a great job of teaching and training my kid.... again, all I could squeak was "thank you." He gave me that nod. The one that is done by older and much wiser men. The one they give to women who look like they are about to up and cry on them... The one that says " I understand. No words needed."

I don't share this as a yea Hunter... or a yea me. It isn't. It is a yea GOD. Our relationship with Him is personal. His Spirit lives with in us. Sadly, many people are like me, and Jeremiah on the concrete road by the river.... "clip-clop, clip-clop...." and we miss it. His Spirit is alive and well in Hunter..... and today, the Holy Spirit whispered, and gave Hunter the power to speak, with a knowledge beyond his years.

I hope and pray Hunter always listens.

The little things

2010-09-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

It is the millions of little things that make up a day. Little moments in time, that are laughed at or cried over, and weave themselves into the fabric of our memories, constructing who we are, or who we will become.

Here is a snapshot into my day yesterday, all these little moments.... at made 24 hours.

I went to do my hair. I am allowed to do that at least once a week. Really I am. the rest of time, I am lucky if it gets WASHED.
When I was done I went to look for the boys. They had escaped into the backyard, again. Not really a bad thing, except that Jeremiah was clad in only his Nemo underwear, and he was digging a hole in the yard, in full view of the neighbors, and anyone who drove by. One day, a social worker is going to show up and talk to me about his "nakedness", I just know it.
~~~~~~~~~~
After herding the boys through the house, and to the shower... because we can NOT go to the dentist with a hair full of dirt. I really will get the social worker visit then....
We find a cricket in the bathroom. The conversation went a little like this:
Jeremiah: "Wookit mommy!... wat's dat?"
Mommy: "It is a cricket Jeremiah." said with a calmness that carefully concealed the full body shiver that I was having from looking at the little black creature.
Hunter: "oh cool! a baby cricket!"
Mommy: " yes, a baby cricket." I then take the corner of the bathmat nearest the cricket. Place it over the helpless, nasty bug that dared invade my bathroom.... and pressed down.
"crunch..."
Jeremiah: "awwah... no more twikit."
Mommy: " Yes, Jeremiah, no more twicket. Now get in the shower."
~~~~~~~~~~
We make it to the dentist. Yes, On-Time. Despite the unfortunate cricket incident.
Hunter had his tooth taken out.
Fairly routine, except he came out with attitude. A big one.
We discuss it.
Then proceed to have about 4 more complete meltdowns.
In the last of the meltdowns and discussions, He prayed. He was tearfully, sitting in the middle of Mc Donalds, praying his heart out to the Lord, asking Him for forgiveness. Asking Him for help to not be so upset. It nearly made me cry at his honest conversation with God. It was a privilege to watch, and be a part of.
~~~~~~~~~~
I found a $5 bill in the freezer. I was tempted to keep it. I figured someone finally wanted to pay me for all the cooking I do around here.
~~~~~~~~~~
I found a piece of gum, squished onto a shelf in the refrigerator. Just as I was reaching to chip it off, and throw it away, Jeremiah comes in and swoops under my arm and in front of me in the fridge. He grabs the gum ( dum, if he says it. ) and puts it in his mouth. Before I can screech the NOOOO!!!!!!!! he pops it back out and sticks it to the shelf again.
Now I am curious.... I don't say anything, I just cock my head and look at him like " What was that about?"
He looks up and tells me, "I whill weave it here to det fweezed."
"Fweezed?", I ask.
"Yeah, fweezed. Mom tan I have anoder ban-illa?" ( this is code for vanilla yogurt)
"Yes you can. And don't put your dum in the fridge, k?"
"Otay mom."
He's weird. What can I say. I guess he figured that we keep things fresh in the fridge, it would keep is gum fresh too....
~~~~~~~~~
" MOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!! Jeremiah turned the movie to Spanish!"
"wha?"
"He turned it to SPANISH!"
I get up and walk into the living room to see what in the WORLD he is talking about....
I will have to admit, there was something absolutely hysterical about hearing the vultures in Jungle Book say "ey Chistoso.... " It made me laugh.
I looked at Jeremiah and asked him what remote he used to change the language. He just stared at me. He was going to be no help at all.
Checked the TV first... nope still English
Checked the PS2.... nope still English.... Checked that one three different times actually, because I didn't think you could change the language anywhere else.
Asked Jeremiah again. What did you do?
............. still the stare.....this time with a shrug thrown in....... still no help.
Checked the TV again. Twice. Nope.
Checked the PS2 for a 4th 5th and 6th time. Nope.
Accidentally turned the movie off. Menu came up. Movie was still in Spanish.
In a moment of brilliance, and nearly 15 minutes since someone yelled MOOOOOMMMMM! I realized he somehow changed it in the menu of the movie.
Fixed it.
Crisis averted.
~~~~~~~~~~

It isn't boring here.
At all.
Ever.

Happy Birthday Tayler

2010-09-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

15 years ago.... and 15 months after your older brother came....I was hoping you would be a boy.

Gross. I know. How dare I think I wanted another boy!

I can explain.........

It was purely a clothes issue.
I had all these great clothes for your brother.
I didn't want to have to buy anything new.
You being a girl.... a real live GIRL was quite a surprise!

It went a little like this......

September 14th came, I was supposed to have a doctor appointment. I was really excited to have this appointment... because I was very DONE being pregnant. I missed the doctor appointment. It wasn't very fun.....

September 15th. I have a new doctor appointment. I am excited. I go, they do all the Dr. stuff. I sit up after the appointment and have a contraction.... My mind is alternating between, Yippie!... OUCH!... I settle on yippie... I can wait to meet the new boy in the family.

Pretty much the whole day.... I have these Ouches... but nothing that says you are going to be here soon.
I decided to go to bed.... and rest, while I had the chance.

You woke me up at 3 in the morning.

You were very ready to appear. OUCH!

I will save us all a lot of time.... and skip to the end.....

You arrived just before 8 am...... and you were a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a what? I said to the Dr. She repeated " A GIRL!"

I set my head back on the pillow and thought. Great, what do you do with those?.......

Now, 15 years later, I understand why God did it. He knew I would need a daughter. He knew I would need someone calm around here, someone who thought like I do.... Someone that would help me keep my sanity.

Tayler, it has been a privilege to watch you grow. There is a strength about you that is beyond your years. I often forget your given age, because you act much older. Your character, is a bright reflection of your love for the Lord. Your desire to place Him first in your life, shows a spiritual maturity many adults never achieve.

My prayer for you on your birthday, is that your fire, your zeal, your zest to serve, never leaves, never goes dim. I pray that you will always seek to serve your God with all your soul, with all your heart, and with all your mind. He is leading you to the Mission Field. I see it clearly, and that means you will need to pack me in your suitcase, as you travel the world. But more than that, it means God has great things in store for you, the more you learn to trust in Him. I can't wait to see what it is!!!

Love you kid..... ~mah.

Photo day

2010-09-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Some of my all time favorites:

These pictures were taken by my daughter. They are subject to copyright.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2010-09-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

This post was originally titled: Emergency! I need dinner!

As I was throwing this recipe into the crock pot for dinner, I decided I needed to share it with you all. Why? well, read on!

How many times have you looked at the clock around lunch time, and said " I forgot to take out the chicken! " or " I have 3000 things to do between now and dinner and no time to fit cooking in there!

Relax.
I've got ya covered.

It is simple, it is fast. It doesn't require pre-thawing a thing. If you keep three things in your pantry, you can always pull this amazing dish out of your hat.... still run all your errands and have dinner on the table before 6pm.

You will need the following:
Crock Pot
Frozen Chicken Breasts or Tenderloins
1 package of Onion Soup Mix
1 8oz bottle of Catalina Dressing
1 cup Apricot Jam

Directions:
grease or spray the inside of the crock pot.... this is a sticky dish and it will help you clean up!

place chicken in pot. Yes, frozen chicken. Ignore your Crock Pot directions and do as I tell you. ( For my family of 6 we would use say 10 tenderloin pieces or at least a whole breast per person)

Mix the other three ingredients together. Pour over chicken.
Cook on Low for 5 hours or until Chicken is done ( yes maybe before 5 hours it is done... depends on how much chicken you use, size of crock pot.... stuff like that) If the sauce looks to thick just add a bit of water while it is cooking...

Typically I serve this dish with Brown Rice and a green salad. There are many a great rice out there that can be nuked and set on the table fast. If you need that check into Trader Joe's Brown Rice. It is in their freezer section and great to have on hand when you don't have 20-40 minutes to cook rice.

Reasons 1 thru 5

2010-09-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

I do not take any responsibility for this idea at all....

I am in fact blatantly stealing the idea from another facebook friend, who stole it from someone else.... so I guess in the land of public domain.... all's fair in the reusing of ideas...

My friend started posting to her facebook status... all the reasons that she loves her husband. I have started doing it with Big Daddy, by leaving him notes,hidden in his lunch box or car, even texting him reasons through out the day... I figure their might be some wives out there who need some ideas on how to show their husband's how much they love and appreciate them.... All those little things we did when we were courting tend to get lost in the shuffle of school, work, homework, church meetings, sick kids, soccer practice, cooking dinner, and laundry.... I assure you, that a little time invested in actually TELLING your husband, the ways he has positively impacted your day.... will REVOLUTIONIZE your marriage. Don't do it, if you expect anything in return.... do it just because you love him, and want him to know.

So here we go... I am going to post the first 5 Reasons I have already given to my husband.... and who knows, I might post more in the future....

Reason #1:
You caught my vision for some storage under the microwave. You went to the store, and bought the curtain for it all by yourself.... then set to work fixing an old worn out dowel, and hanging it under the shelf.... It was a sweet token of you wanting to make something special for me. You earn bonus points because: it matched the kitchen!

Reason #2:
You have the courage to work through issues for God's glory. Even messy, not fun at all issues.....Your desire to do things God's way, makes you my hero, and my point man. I will gladly follow you anywhere.

Reason #3:
You make me coffee in the morning.... and you tiptoe into the room with it in the morning. It is a very cute sight to see......This shows me your tender, loving kindness.

Reason #4:
You fix my truck. You will stay up late the night before a trip, just to make sure there is oil and fluid in all the right places. I see your unselfishness in gestures like these. You want me to be safe, above wanting to sleep. Thank you for your servant hearted model.

Reason #5:
You take good care of me when I am sick. You let me rest, and watch the boys. You check in on me while I am sleeping. You wash the dishes so there isn't a pile for me when I feel better....You fix me meals and bring them to me in bed. You put Carmex on my dry cracked lips and make sure I drink plenty of water....

Now.... take this idea.... steal it.... tweak it, change it.... but above all USE it.... and see what great things you can thank your Husband for!

Kids say the darnest things!

2010-09-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

Today, we were at the library.... and everything was going great.....

until.........

Jeremiah opened his mouth.

So we are walking out of the library, and there is a gentleman sitting on a bench.

And Jeremiah says... " He's so bid, mom....."

I jerk his hand and give him the LOOK. The one that with combined with the hand jerk, means.... "SHUT UP! I can't believe you just said that!!"

He missed my subtle clue.... he kept talking.... and not only talking, he added straining and contorting ones body to see the very large man on the bench, so that there is absolutely no doubt in this man's mind that this little kid is talking about him and only him.

Now Jeremiah says, as he is being drug speedily from the scene by his mother..... " heez, sooo , fat."

I wanted to die. Right there on the spot. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole, and take my brutally honest, overtly frank, and extremely LOUD child with me.

That didn't happen.... so I said to Jeremiah, loudly, because I didn't want the poor guy who had just heard a kid say that about him.... to think that this child's mother was encouraging such rude or unloving remarks.... I said " He is the way God made him. God thinks he is beautiful just the way he is, and He loves him just like He loves you."

He pondered that fact for a minute.....
Long enough for us to get half way across the parking lot, and out of ear shot....
He looks behind him again, and replied...." but mom.... heez sooo fat."
Sigh.......................
I can see this is going to have to be one of those things that takes a while to sink in....
Next time, I will just take duct tape with me to the library......