Hi

I'm back. What a week we had. With all the Thanksgiving preparations being shifted to our house since my parents are out of town still and my Grandpa's passing away, it turned out to be a whirlwind of a week for us. Most of my dishes, glasses, platters, and cookware is packed so I had to make do big time. Such is life. Still, we enjoyed a great time with family, (my sister-1 down from me) and Fiona)

(my baby sister and her family)

(Fiona gives this look because she knows it makes all of us laugh and right after she makes this face she smiles or laughs. She knows what a ham she is. We call this look "the scowl" and she's got it down perfect.)

(my brother and his girlfriend, Nicole)

(my brother trying out Daddy's cajon)

(see my boy's new glasses...he picked them out himself)

were blessed with more food than we could eat, and enjoyed just being together. We reflected on the things we are thankful for, devoted one person in our family to prayer each day,

made some Thanksgiving decorations as we threw together our tableware, did lots of puzzles (we LOVE puzzles), played a game that we all stunk at and laughed our heads off, trimmed the tree,

(I caught my kids making silly faces in the reflection of a Christmas ornament.)listened to lots of Christmas music, set out the nativity, set up our advent tree, hung the stockings, and talked a lot about how we'll cherish these last holidays in our home.

Guitar History

Murph Guitars

Goodbye Grandpa

I'm still on a blogging break but wanted to record here that we got the call at about 5pm this evening, right before we had our Thanksgiving feast that Grandpa is gone. It's hard to absorb the fact that he is gone. We love you Grandpa and will miss you so much.

I shared the news with my siblings who were all here at our home for Thanksgiving dinner. Our eyes filled up with tears and Emilee started crying. Losing someone you love is just plain old hard. 

My dad sent me these pictures of my Goody Grandpa. They are very special pictures to have. My Goody Grandpa also had his own business making electric guitars. Here he is with one of his 12 string Murph guitars. Grandpa was very kind and very generous. He smiled so much and when I think of him I picture him with his smile.

Giving Thanks for:

G- God who never leaves us or forgets about us
I- incredible friends
V- voices in my home always singing praises
I- important lessons learned
N- neighbors who bless me
G- godly husband who is hard working, loving, and simply incredible in my eyes
T- two cherished children that bring pure joy to my heart
H- hope in Christ, for salvation and a future
A- anchor, simply the Word of God
N- needs met, provision in the desert
K- kinfolk, family love
S- sustained by God's grace alone during difficult times

Giving Thanks

I'm taking a blogging fast for a week. I need to be spending some extra time in prayer over some things and so I thought it would be good to remove the distraction of blogging. I'd also like to focus on my family more through Thanksgiving week. I'll return next Monday (Nov. 30th).

If you need to contact me, it might be best to just call instead of email during this week. I can't guarantee that my computer will even get turned on every day this week.

We hope you all have a wonderful week of giving Thanks!

I Chronicles 16:34

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Stories For Our Kids- My Goody Grandpa

with Jon and Em in 2007

As I type this Goody Grandpa is resting comfortably at my Aunt Noreen's house until the Lord takes him. My dad had a good talk with him the other day concerning the gospel and he responded well. Praising God for that. My parents are there helping care for him until he is gone. I got to talk on the phone to my Goody Grandpa yesterday to say "goodbye"...wow, that was hard.

Grandpa teaching Jon how to play penny-on-the-card

Here is the story of why we called him Goody Grandpa. He owned a catering truck business (among other entrepreneurial businesses -that must be where I get my entrepreneurial blood from). You know, the big shiny metal catering trucks that you see in LA where the sides of them fold up to display tons of snacks and a window into a whole kitchen where they cook up your food to order out on the streets during lunch hour. My dad worked on the catering trucks from the time he was a teen boy. When us grandkids came along, and we would go to Grandpa's house, all his trucks would be parked in his driveway and he'd quickly take us back out to the driveway and open up the sides of his trucks. There were rows and rows of chips, cookies, Twinkies and the like all stuck to the side of the truck on traveling wracks. When he opened that big side wall on his trucks it was like you could here circus music playing with all the bright colored packages of food starring at you. Then we'd get to pick whatever we wanted. Anything. "Take your pick" he would say. We'd all stand there wide-eyed for a moment scanning all the choices as fast as our little eyeballs could. This was the ritual that I remember growing up for years and years. Grandpa and all his goodies on his trucks that he would let us pick from every time we visited. That's why we call him Goody Grandpa. Most people don't get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when they see a big shiny metal catering truck driving down the road in the San Fernando Valley (CA), but I do. I think of my Goody Grandpa every time and I can picture exactly what is behind those big folding side panels.

picture taken 4.26.2007

Goody Grandpa, I love you and I'm glad I got to tell you one last time yesterday. You were such a fun Grandpa to have. Being with you always meant smiles and fun.

Because there is always time for tea....well, most of the time.

We've not had much time lately for fellowship with friends so recently we've been trying to make up for lost time and squeeze in some fellowship into our busy schedule. We have a few more to catch up on that haven't worked out schedule wise lately (you know who you all are) but one day this past week we got to spend some time over a very lovely afternoon tea that we were invited to. I'm glad that our long awaited tea worked out for all those involved. We were hosted by the loveliest of ladies and gentlemen and treated to very fine foods. It was precious to sit and talk and catch up. Thank you friends for having us.

these two have been friends since they were tiny toddlers

And my adorable neice and my sister was there too. I've never known a baby to smile and laugh so much. Here she is wearing one of Emilee's dresses.

I didn't get a picture of our lovely hostess who was running around serving us and I didn't get a picture of myself, as usual. Such is life is it not. The boys put up with our girly tea having ways because they've learned that if they do, they benefit from some wonderful treats. They do bring a different dimension to the table though....a little louder, less mannered, much more silly, and well, they are still fun to have around. =0)

Happy Birthday!

A BIG Happy Birthday to Grandpa A. today! We love you, appreciate you, and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

xoxoxoxo

Science project - making flubber

keeping perspective

Get Up and Walk by Bethany Dillon

I have got no one to blame
Except if that someone’s me
I washed my hands, but just the same
My eyes confess for me
I come in filthy rags
You know I’m guilty
I wake up almost every night
Saying Your name
What I would give to walk in the light
But what I hide has made me lame
My face down on the ground
I wait to hear the healing sound
You break through my deafness
Swing open the curtain
And I find the courage to get up and walk
I forget my weakness
For You’ve answered my loneliness
And through the mud on my eyes
I can see my Hope has come
You’ll have to show me where to go
It’s been so long since I’ve used my feet
I got up today a cripple
And now I’m dancing
So let the power of Your move
Not stop with what I can see
I couldn’t walk
I couldn’t sing
I couldn’t love until You found me

on our minds and around our house

Praying for my grandfather ("Goody Grandpa" is what we always call him) as he will most likely leave this earth this week. Praying that he will finally put his trust in Christ and that he won't be in pain.

Had a fun two weekends visiting with Grandpa and Grandma A. and got all the Chirstmas shopping done with Grandma.

Watching Aunt Annie make her cute aprons for the boutique she is selling at in December. Looking forward to her etsy shop listing these cute aprons.

Praying for Uncle Elias and Aunt Katie to get good jobs.

Waiting for God to show us where He wants us to be.

Pressing on with school work.

Still hoping to get some new regular clients for the house cleaning business.

Reading Do Hard Things.

Listening to Christmas music.

Studying 2 Corinthians.

Jon and Em are learning new Christmas songs on the piano.

growth

'God never places us in any position in which we can not grow. We may fancy that He does. We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing; but when we are not sending any branches upward, we may be sending roots downward. Perhaps in the time of our humiliation, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress.'

Elizabeth Prentiss

Fiona getting rides and kisses from Emilee

fun with hair

this "carousel ponytail" is a little tricky. The front braid is a crown braid and then the braid continues and is braided into the ponytail as a crown french braid which secures it to the ponytail and causes it to wrap around the hair. This was at the end of the day so it's not as neat and tidy as it was in the beginning. But after a day of church and playing outside, I thought it held up pretty well. It's such a fun design. Don't mind our homely looking ribbon....we are running low on ribbons.

the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Enjoyed the afternoon with my sister, got to bathe my niece, made a double batch of granola, listening to my current favorite Christmas album- I love his voice for Christmas songs- while making 92 of these while I'm waiting for the snow storm to roll in tonight and excited to go tonight to listen to my husband lead worship at church. God is so good. It's the little moments that make me smile. All seems at peace. All seems right. How can that be? Only God can make peace out of chaos.

Welcome Home

My home cleaning business is called Welcome Home. For Thanksgiving and Christmas I'm offering a holiday special for a discount on one time full house cleanings. The holidays can be busy and stressful especially if you are hosting a meal or festivities in your home, which makes keeping a clean house extra challenging but needed.  I'm offering a $20 discount for a one time full house cleaning for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. If you live in my area (sorry I can't fly to out of area homes) please contact me for a free quote. References/testimonies on request. I'm trustworthy to have in your home and I'm thorough.

Let me welcome YOU home to your own beautifully cleaned home this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. 

A full house cleaning includes:
All beds made.
Master sheets washed and put back on.
All bathrooms cleaned (tubs, showers, toilets, counters, sinks, mirrors, etc.).
Kitchen cleaned (stove top, microwave, counters, sink, cabinets, fridge wiped down, etc.).
Dusting of entire house.
Straightening of every room.
Cobwebs.
All baseboards dusted.
All rugs and carpets vacuumed (including stairs).
All flooring mopped (including bathrooms).
Hardwood floors (I use a special microfiber mop and my own recipe solution).
Laundry room wiped down (including washer and dryer).
Backdoor glass cleaned.
and more.


Extra add-ons for an additional fee:
Furniture polishing/oiling
Cabinet polishing/oiling in kitchen and/or bathrooms
Oven cleaning
Dishwasher cleaning
Inside washer and dryer cleaning
I'll cook a roast chicken dinner with carrots and potatoes for you (just leave your crock-pot out for me) additional $25
Something you don't see here, just ask.

FAQ:
-yes, I bring all my own products and tools so that you don't have to worry about supplying me with cleaners.
-yes, I even bring my own awesome vacuum.
-yes, I take all my trash (including YOUR bathroom trash) home with me.
-yes, I do homes with pets but please have your pet locked up while I'm working.
-yes, I work alone and while no one is home so that I'm not in your way and you aren't in mine.
-no, I don't do the inside of china hutches. I wouldn't recover from breaking something valuable of yours.
-a full house cleaning takes between 4-5 hours depending on the size of the house.
-full house cleaning quotes range from $80-$125 depending on the square footage of your home and number of bathrooms.

After quote is given a $20 discount will be given if you mention my holiday full house cleaning. Feel free to pass this on to friends and family in our area and post where you think those who are interested might see it. Times and dates are first come first serve.

Not for you but for someone else?
Yes, I sell gift cards for one time house cleanings.

Comment on this post with your email address and I will contact you.

joy

Happiness is a symptom of circumstances but joy is a product of perspective.

Snuggle time

The cousins hanging out watching movies in Grandpa and Gram's bed. Jon is squinting from the camera flash. Fiona is always happiest right next to Emilee. You should here them laugh together. They have so much fun together.

Talking with your kids....

I found this somewhere and thought it was good...even if we don't phrase the questions the same way.

• How are your devotions?
  
• What is God teaching you?
  
• In your own words, what is the gospel?
  
• Is there a specific sin you're aware of that you need my help defeating?
  
• Are you more aware of my encouragement or my criticism?
  
• What's daddy/mommy most passionate about?
  
• Do I act the same at church as I do when I'm at home?
  
• Are you aware of my love for you?
  
• Is there any way I've sinned against you that I've not repented of?
  
• Do you have any observations for me?
  
• How am I doing as a dad/mom?
  
• How have Sunday's sermons impacted you?
  
• Does my relationship with mom make you excited to be married?
  
• (On top of these things, with older kids, always inquire about their relationship with their friends and making sure God and His gospel are the center of those relationships. And I look for every opportunity to praise their mother and increase their appreciation and love for her.)

changing myself

In parenting I often find myself trying to hurry and change myself to be the example that I want to be for my kids while I still have a lot of influence over them before it's too late and they are grown and gone. If only changing myself was easier. Thankfully God is helping me but it sure seems slow and my kids growing up seems so fast.

ouch!

I've always tucked my kids into bed and then gone back in to kiss them again and make sure their covers are still on them before I go to bed. But tonight I must have timed it just right for Jon having a dream. I kissed him and he decked me right in the nose. He was swinging left and right and I had to calm him down. My glasses are bent and my nose is throbbing. I'm hoping I don't get a black eye. Tradition and love have it's risks!

the sunrise out our back window.....it's like this every morning this time of year

Suffering and Trials

SUFFERING

God uses suffering to:
- reveal our character
- to humble us
- to draw us to Himself

TRIALS

God uses trials to:
- show us the strength of our faith
- humble us
- wean us from earthly things
- call us to a heavenly hope
- reveal what we really love
- teach us to value God and His blessings (grace)
- enable us to help others in trials
- develop greater strength for usefulness

edible diamonds

Jon admiring a pomegranate seed before eating it, "it's so beautiful, it's the world's only edible diamond!"

feeling a bit better

Thank you for all the prayers. Emilee seems to have kicked the fever despite there being a hold up with the pharmacy for her antibiotics. She has improved so much that I think her body has finally won the battle and she won't be needing the antibiotics...I'll go pick up the prescription when it's in today though just so that I can have it on hand incase she takes a turn for the worse. Daddy's fever has passed and he's slowly improving. So, with that, today is "mamma get the house back under control day". There is some major laundry and disinfecting going on around here. It will be so good to get back into a routine and get school underway again.

dreaded sickness

We tried to avoid it as long as possible but it has crept into our home. I had this bad feeling my kids were going to get sick awhile back when they had been out and about quite a bit and we were around people who were hacking their lungs up at church and stores. Sure enough, my kids came down with it last week. Swine flu is everywhere here and I was hoping that if we did get it we could fight it off quickly. Jon was over it in a matter of days thankfully but true to form, Emilee is still suffering and getting worse. I have felt like I'm fighting it off constantly with just slight symptoms. I give natural remedies credit for that. Then Daddy started burning up with a fever this afternoon. Hopefully this is the only sickness we'll get this year. If you have a moment, pray for our family to recover quickly.

Thank you.

comments

a couple of you have said that you're having trouble posting comments on my blog. I have no idea why this is. I've tested it for myself and had no trouble but I know how pesky blogger can be some times so I'm sorry and wish I could do something to fix it. I've checked my settings out and they are all set correctly. Hopefully the bug will work itself out.

30 day giving challenge

I'm taking this 30 day giving challenge. I wanted to challenge myself to give this month even though that has been the farthest thing from my mind lately. I'm so blessed and have so much to give that I felt like I really needed to do this, for me. I know it will help me keep a Kingdom perspective instead of a self-focused perspecitve as I'm tempted to do right now. I may not be able to give financially to others but there are so many other ways that I can give. Here's a little info about the challenge.

Spend 30 days with a journal in your hand. Try it for the next 30 days and see if I’m not lying. Take a journal and just jot down everything you give. Every time you find yourself being generous, write it down. Every time you feel prompted by God to give something you never would, or why would I buy THAT many cookies… from the Girl Scouts. I don’t know why, God just gave you the prompting to do something special for somebody! Write it down.

And then write down on the other side every time something comes back to you. Every time the cycle gets completed. Do it for 30 days, and you’ll never be the same again. You’ll never look at giving the same way again.

Jesus invites you in on the “Kingdom Dynamic”. You don’t have to be afraid to give in the Kingdom! I would imagine the anxiety about money- trying to keep it- is a real anxiety. You’ll start to be just utterly amazed at the freedom that comes to you from money… when you start being generous.

"Just remember to write it down. Not in a boastful, look-how-generous-I-am kind of way. But to keep yourself accountable and be transformed." read the rest of Day one's inspiring post.

You can take the challenge too if you want to.

worship

what an awesome morning of worship....love this song that my husband sang for worship this morning. Having our families with us was a blessing as well.

Jesus, Thank You
The mystery of the cross I cannot comprehend
The agonies of Calvary
You the perfect Holy One, crushed Your Son
Who drank the bitter cup reserved for me

Your blood has washed away my sin
Jesus, thank You
The Father’s wrath completely satisfied
Jesus, thank You
Once Your enemy, now seated at Your table
Jesus, thank You

By Your perfect sacrifice I’ve been brought near
Your enemy You’ve made Your friend
Pouring out the riches of Your glorious grace
Your mercy and Your kindness know no end

Lover of my soul
I want to live for You