I'm back
-
I'm back but I'm not here. Huh? I know, doesn't make much sense. I'm back
but I'm over here.
What's Cooking is now Real Food Healthy Living! Come see me ov...
12.31.2009
Christmas Morning Manger
December 31st Photo
(on Christmas morning our baby Jesus doll was found in the manger that sat empty all month under our tree. This is the first thing our kids look for on Christmas morning.)
(on Christmas morning our baby Jesus doll was found in the manger that sat empty all month under our tree. This is the first thing our kids look for on Christmas morning.)
Ornament for our Dad
December 30th Photo
(the kids gave this ornament to their Daddy this Christmas to commemorate his leading them in family devotions)
(the kids gave this ornament to their Daddy this Christmas to commemorate his leading them in family devotions)
12.30.2009
sitting in the opposite chair
I've been reading Job lately and as I started reading, there was a section of verses that stood out to me where Job's friend Eliphaz begins his response to Job's lament.
As I read it I pictured myself in the other seat of the counseling session instead of being the counselor, on the other side of the Bible study group instead of being the teacher, in the audience at women's retreat instead of the speaker.....on the other side of the phone call for encouragement... at the moment, I am the hurting caller.
I've been a pastor's wife for 11 years and it has been a life of giving to others and supporting others. My role has been encouraging others, counseling others, teaching others, and admonishing others. I've spent endless hours preparing and leading Bible study groups, writing a speech for women's retreat, and counseling women on my sofa. I've told the hurting to "just hang in there". I've encouraged the hopeless that hope still exists and that I'd hold onto their hope for them until they could hope again. I've convinced the bitter that bitterness has to be let go of. I've told the crying that it WILL get better. I've told the scared and the weary to just keep trusting God.
And now I find myself struggling at times to have patience. It's easy to think that if we go through really tough trials that we'll be brave and victorious through it never batting an eye at discourgement....but reality is that it's hard. It's hard to keep our heads high. Hard to keep having patience. Hard to keep picking yourself up by the bootstraps to press on. Is my hope challenged? No. Has my faith been weakened? No. I've been shown how weak my faith can be and it's been strengthened. The truths of everything I've known in my past to be true are still true. Tested and true.
But I did feel admonished by this section of Job....because our sinful minds are not capable of keeping even quick fleeting thoughts of doubt away. It's my turn now and I have to have patience. I have to stay strong and not be dismayed. I have to let my fear of a powerful and mighty God be my confidence. I will let the integrity of my ways be my hope.
The day after I read this passage, my sister called me and said "hey, I've been reading Job lately and I read this one section that made me think of you!" She began to read it to me over the phone. This is exactly the section she read and as I listened to her voice, my heart smiled.
"Behold, you have admonished many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; It touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?" Job 4:3-6
As I read it I pictured myself in the other seat of the counseling session instead of being the counselor, on the other side of the Bible study group instead of being the teacher, in the audience at women's retreat instead of the speaker.....on the other side of the phone call for encouragement... at the moment, I am the hurting caller.
I've been a pastor's wife for 11 years and it has been a life of giving to others and supporting others. My role has been encouraging others, counseling others, teaching others, and admonishing others. I've spent endless hours preparing and leading Bible study groups, writing a speech for women's retreat, and counseling women on my sofa. I've told the hurting to "just hang in there". I've encouraged the hopeless that hope still exists and that I'd hold onto their hope for them until they could hope again. I've convinced the bitter that bitterness has to be let go of. I've told the crying that it WILL get better. I've told the scared and the weary to just keep trusting God.
And now I find myself struggling at times to have patience. It's easy to think that if we go through really tough trials that we'll be brave and victorious through it never batting an eye at discourgement....but reality is that it's hard. It's hard to keep our heads high. Hard to keep having patience. Hard to keep picking yourself up by the bootstraps to press on. Is my hope challenged? No. Has my faith been weakened? No. I've been shown how weak my faith can be and it's been strengthened. The truths of everything I've known in my past to be true are still true. Tested and true.
But I did feel admonished by this section of Job....because our sinful minds are not capable of keeping even quick fleeting thoughts of doubt away. It's my turn now and I have to have patience. I have to stay strong and not be dismayed. I have to let my fear of a powerful and mighty God be my confidence. I will let the integrity of my ways be my hope.
The day after I read this passage, my sister called me and said "hey, I've been reading Job lately and I read this one section that made me think of you!" She began to read it to me over the phone. This is exactly the section she read and as I listened to her voice, my heart smiled.
"Behold, you have admonished many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have helped the tottering to stand, And you have strengthened feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; It touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?" Job 4:3-6
Lazy? Or just a ......
I often appeal to my children's desires to grow up to be a responsible man and woman when I'm training them about life responsibilities. Emilee was getting one of these such lectures from Mom one day concerning laziness in light of some recent lazy issues Emilee was having.
I talked about taking care of the things God has given us, cleaning up after ourselves, and then went on to appeal to her desire to be a wife and mom some day. I described a mother who works hard to keep her house clean, to train her children, to make healthy meals for her family, who welcomes her husband home to a house that is orderly and well taken care of with children that are presentable and a warm meal on the table. Emilee nods knowingly that I'm always encouraging her to build these character qualities into her life now.
I then described the woman who doesn't care for her home, who doesn't clean it, who doesn't train her children, who is selfish and does what she wants to do all day and when her husband gets home the house is a mess, there is no where to sit down to rest from his hard working day, he is hungry and there is no warm meal prepared for him, the children are messy and bickering (well, sometimes they are bickering in the above scenario as well, LOL). As I describe this woman, turmoil is clearly expressed on Emilee's face and she stares intently at me with her big eyes, hanging on every word I say with agony on her brow. Then I ask her.....
"What would you call this woman?"
In pure disgust she yells, "A RAT!"
I burst out laughing! I was looking for the word "lazy" but okay...some may say a rat. Oh my it took quite some time to get my laughter under control. She looked at me puzzled at my reaction.
I talked about taking care of the things God has given us, cleaning up after ourselves, and then went on to appeal to her desire to be a wife and mom some day. I described a mother who works hard to keep her house clean, to train her children, to make healthy meals for her family, who welcomes her husband home to a house that is orderly and well taken care of with children that are presentable and a warm meal on the table. Emilee nods knowingly that I'm always encouraging her to build these character qualities into her life now.
I then described the woman who doesn't care for her home, who doesn't clean it, who doesn't train her children, who is selfish and does what she wants to do all day and when her husband gets home the house is a mess, there is no where to sit down to rest from his hard working day, he is hungry and there is no warm meal prepared for him, the children are messy and bickering (well, sometimes they are bickering in the above scenario as well, LOL). As I describe this woman, turmoil is clearly expressed on Emilee's face and she stares intently at me with her big eyes, hanging on every word I say with agony on her brow. Then I ask her.....
"What would you call this woman?"
In pure disgust she yells, "A RAT!"
I burst out laughing! I was looking for the word "lazy" but okay...some may say a rat. Oh my it took quite some time to get my laughter under control. She looked at me puzzled at my reaction.
BEEP
Emilee- "Mom, want to hear a funny joke with a bad word in it?"
Mom - "It has a bad word in it?!?!?!" (trying to figure out where she's heard a joke with a bad word in it!)
Emilee- "Ya, but don't worry, I won't say the bad word, I'll just say "BEEP" for the bad word. "
and that's supposed to make me feel better?
She told the joke and it was actually something minor she had heard...it wasn't really a joke, it was a conversation...and the "bad" word was "stupid" but don't worry, she didn't say it, she faithfully said "BEEP" every time the word stupid came up.
Mom - "It has a bad word in it?!?!?!" (trying to figure out where she's heard a joke with a bad word in it!)
Emilee- "Ya, but don't worry, I won't say the bad word, I'll just say "BEEP" for the bad word. "
and that's supposed to make me feel better?
She told the joke and it was actually something minor she had heard...it wasn't really a joke, it was a conversation...and the "bad" word was "stupid" but don't worry, she didn't say it, she faithfully said "BEEP" every time the word stupid came up.
12.29.2009
12.28.2009
12.27.2009
thank you just doesn't seem enough
My mom dreamt the other night that I made a big huge banner and hung it across my garage that said
No, I'm not going to make a huge banner and hang it on my house but consider this post as my banner. Thank you to everyone who blessed our struggling family this year with your generosity. Thank you to those who gave us little gifts stuffed in cards, gifts left on our doorstep to be opened Christmas morning, the rose left on our porch, the envelope of money left on our doorstep, the gift cards that came in the mail, the grocery cards that were put into Christmas cards. All of it! Thank you to the ones that remain anonymous...whoever you are, thank you. You are angels, doing the work of God, blessing our family. Thank you to the family that came and sang Christmas Carols on our porch. Thank you to the clients that blessed us with a turkey. Thank you to the neighbor that has brought bags of groceries over. Thank you to the old friend that stopped by with gift cards. Thank you to the family members that felt compelled to send us money. Thank you to our neighbors who blessed us with grocery cards, restaurant cards, and gifts for us and the children. Thank you to the strangers we've never met and thank you to the old friends and new friends, and the family members near and far. Thank you again to the ones that we've sent thank you cards to, and thank you to the ones who have ding-dong-ditched us and we have no clue who you are.
We are overwhelmed with your love. Humbled by your generosity. Amazed at the outpouring of love. Strengthened by your prayers and our faith deepened by a God who takes care of us. You have given out of love and generosity, not because you had to, not because you know in great detail our situation, not because you know every detail about our financial hardship, not because you've judged us and we measured up...but because you are awesome and you clearly love us. We love you back! We hope we can do the same for all of you some day if you need us to.
I hope that some of the anonymous people that have given to us are reading this post so that they know how grateful we are. It's hard not being able to express our gratitude so this is probably our best chance at reaching all of you.
We have not gone without groceries. We are still able to pay our basic bills.
Thank you.
This was clearly the BEST Christmas ever! I don't think I've cried so many "happy tears" in my life. Just when I think our hearts can't possibly swell up with more love, I'm left astonished again at yet another act of love and generosity.
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
No, I'm not going to make a huge banner and hang it on my house but consider this post as my banner. Thank you to everyone who blessed our struggling family this year with your generosity. Thank you to those who gave us little gifts stuffed in cards, gifts left on our doorstep to be opened Christmas morning, the rose left on our porch, the envelope of money left on our doorstep, the gift cards that came in the mail, the grocery cards that were put into Christmas cards. All of it! Thank you to the ones that remain anonymous...whoever you are, thank you. You are angels, doing the work of God, blessing our family. Thank you to the family that came and sang Christmas Carols on our porch. Thank you to the clients that blessed us with a turkey. Thank you to the neighbor that has brought bags of groceries over. Thank you to the old friend that stopped by with gift cards. Thank you to the family members that felt compelled to send us money. Thank you to our neighbors who blessed us with grocery cards, restaurant cards, and gifts for us and the children. Thank you to the strangers we've never met and thank you to the old friends and new friends, and the family members near and far. Thank you again to the ones that we've sent thank you cards to, and thank you to the ones who have ding-dong-ditched us and we have no clue who you are.
We are overwhelmed with your love. Humbled by your generosity. Amazed at the outpouring of love. Strengthened by your prayers and our faith deepened by a God who takes care of us. You have given out of love and generosity, not because you had to, not because you know in great detail our situation, not because you know every detail about our financial hardship, not because you've judged us and we measured up...but because you are awesome and you clearly love us. We love you back! We hope we can do the same for all of you some day if you need us to.
I hope that some of the anonymous people that have given to us are reading this post so that they know how grateful we are. It's hard not being able to express our gratitude so this is probably our best chance at reaching all of you.
We have not gone without groceries. We are still able to pay our basic bills.
Thank you.
This was clearly the BEST Christmas ever! I don't think I've cried so many "happy tears" in my life. Just when I think our hearts can't possibly swell up with more love, I'm left astonished again at yet another act of love and generosity.
12.25.2009
birthday cake (pumpkin pie)
December 24th Photo(no that's not an Indian head-dress I'm wearing, it's actually feathers on the wall behind me from a turkey my dad shot)
shiney red guitar
December 23rd Photo(A good looking guy I know leading the worship band. This group loves to rock out and we love rockin out with them.)
Nightgown Reminisce
December 21st Photo(left to right: Aunt Annie, Aunt Katie, Momma, Uncle Thomas
Growing up, our mom made us nightgowns several times at Christmas)
Growing up, our mom made us nightgowns several times at Christmas)
Little House on the Prairie Nightgown
December 20th Photo(homemade nightgowns made by Gram for Em and her My Twin doll)
Wii Wish You a Merry Christmas
Wii are having a wonderful Christmas morning. Wii are so blessed by all the gifts others have given us. Wii have been playing with all the neat toys and games. Wii are especially spoiled by our grandparents. They love us so much and Wii love them back so much. Emilee has been playing her new guitar and Jon is loving his new electric drum set, both from Grandpa and Gram. They are both trying to get the hang of their new roller blades from Grandpa Dave and Grandma Marie. Granpa and Granma A. are teaching us how to bowl, jet ski, & play baseball and Wii are really fast learners. Wii can't believe how many gifts were under our tree this year! THANK YOU family and friends.
Wii love Christmas and Wii thank everyone that blessed us this Christmas with gifts.
Wii love Christmas and Wii thank everyone that blessed us this Christmas with gifts.
12.24.2009
Hello 35
I'm back. The computer has been healed thanks to husband having a day off to work on it for me. It could use a little more memory but hey, so could I. All in good time right. Oh, and I see that blogger is telling me that I'm almost out of space on this account so I'm guessing that means I'll have to start yet another account. Sigh. I should have asked for a wordpress blog for my birthday, huh?
So, I woke up to my children bringing me birthday cards and singing Happy Birthday to me. Delightful. My husband's card is always found on my pillow on the morning of my birthday which I love because the morning is about the only unbusy part of my birthday. All morning long I get to cherish his written words that always bring tears to my eyes. He really is gifted at picking out cards. Maybe it's the artistic side of him, but he has a great way with words. He writes me the most meaningful letters.
Then my husband took me out to breakfast just the two of us. Precious and cherished....I think that's only the 3rd time we've been on a date in the last 7 months. Priceless, yes. We ran a few last minute errands, ran off to a Christmas Eve Service, and then headed to my parents for our traditional German dinner (that my mom always makes so well, YUM) and birthday gifts. My family that was able to attend dinner went around the table and each prayed for me and thanked God for me. That was really sweet and I'll always remember that. My family and friends have all said such nice things about me today. Why don't I see me as good as they see me?
So, it was a busy day but a good one. I received so many wonderful birthday phone calls and a shocking amount of facebook birthday wishes.
Here's one of my first baby pictures. Pre-ultra-sound of course. Isn't my mom beautiful and my dad so handsome? My mom was due with me the first few days of December but her doctor thought I'd be born before Thanksgiving. He was a great doctor but a little off on this one.
I haven't handled getting older past 29 very well at all. When I was turning 30 I about had a melt down. My friends (who were all older than me) thought my melt down was hilarious and thought it would be funny to throw me a funeral surprise party. They are crazy that way. It did make me laugh though and helped me get through the frustration of getting older. I realized tonight that I get this from my dad. He hates getting older too. We are a lot alike and that's for sure one thing we have in common. I'll never forget that funeral at 30. And now I can't even believe I'm 35. Excuse me while I have my own self-focused moment here and stomp my foot.
When I was 7 years old I thought it was the best age to be and the best part of life and so I wanted to stay 7 for the rest of my life. I'm glad that I didn't get my wish because I would have missed out on so many wonderful things....especially the man I'm one flesh with and adore, and my two sweet kids that I can't stop hugging and kissing...poor things are always being smothered by their mama. But I do wish I could freeze time now. I know I will look back at these child raising years as the best years....so I wish I could stop time. In a lot of ways I dread the silence that will come to our home once they are grown and gone even though I can barely wait for it to be just the two of us again, free to go places and have fun together more. See, I want it all. I want it both ways. I have to remind myself though that if I freeze time now (like I wished I could when I was 7 yrs. old) that I'd be missing out on future wonderful stages of life. Right? Ya, I keep telling myself that. I hope I get to be a grandma some day. I know that will be fun. I do look forward to growing old with my husband. Just not the growing old part so much.
It makes me want to slow down and focus on the important things, enjoy each moment, soak up the quality time, and ignore the not-so-important things that plague me. Life is incredibly short. Birthdays remind me of that. My life is but a moment.....just trying to savor that moment.
And so I start another year. Hello 35.
So, I woke up to my children bringing me birthday cards and singing Happy Birthday to me. Delightful. My husband's card is always found on my pillow on the morning of my birthday which I love because the morning is about the only unbusy part of my birthday. All morning long I get to cherish his written words that always bring tears to my eyes. He really is gifted at picking out cards. Maybe it's the artistic side of him, but he has a great way with words. He writes me the most meaningful letters.
Then my husband took me out to breakfast just the two of us. Precious and cherished....I think that's only the 3rd time we've been on a date in the last 7 months. Priceless, yes. We ran a few last minute errands, ran off to a Christmas Eve Service, and then headed to my parents for our traditional German dinner (that my mom always makes so well, YUM) and birthday gifts. My family that was able to attend dinner went around the table and each prayed for me and thanked God for me. That was really sweet and I'll always remember that. My family and friends have all said such nice things about me today. Why don't I see me as good as they see me?
So, it was a busy day but a good one. I received so many wonderful birthday phone calls and a shocking amount of facebook birthday wishes.
Here's one of my first baby pictures. Pre-ultra-sound of course. Isn't my mom beautiful and my dad so handsome? My mom was due with me the first few days of December but her doctor thought I'd be born before Thanksgiving. He was a great doctor but a little off on this one.
I haven't handled getting older past 29 very well at all. When I was turning 30 I about had a melt down. My friends (who were all older than me) thought my melt down was hilarious and thought it would be funny to throw me a funeral surprise party. They are crazy that way. It did make me laugh though and helped me get through the frustration of getting older. I realized tonight that I get this from my dad. He hates getting older too. We are a lot alike and that's for sure one thing we have in common. I'll never forget that funeral at 30. And now I can't even believe I'm 35. Excuse me while I have my own self-focused moment here and stomp my foot.
When I was 7 years old I thought it was the best age to be and the best part of life and so I wanted to stay 7 for the rest of my life. I'm glad that I didn't get my wish because I would have missed out on so many wonderful things....especially the man I'm one flesh with and adore, and my two sweet kids that I can't stop hugging and kissing...poor things are always being smothered by their mama. But I do wish I could freeze time now. I know I will look back at these child raising years as the best years....so I wish I could stop time. In a lot of ways I dread the silence that will come to our home once they are grown and gone even though I can barely wait for it to be just the two of us again, free to go places and have fun together more. See, I want it all. I want it both ways. I have to remind myself though that if I freeze time now (like I wished I could when I was 7 yrs. old) that I'd be missing out on future wonderful stages of life. Right? Ya, I keep telling myself that. I hope I get to be a grandma some day. I know that will be fun. I do look forward to growing old with my husband. Just not the growing old part so much.
It makes me want to slow down and focus on the important things, enjoy each moment, soak up the quality time, and ignore the not-so-important things that plague me. Life is incredibly short. Birthdays remind me of that. My life is but a moment.....just trying to savor that moment.
And so I start another year. Hello 35.
12.21.2009
Christmas Blogging Break
I'm taking an abrupt break. Life issues have overwhelmed me and my computer isn't working so great...and my computer guy doesn't have time to fix it. I'll be working the next few days as well so I don't really have time anyway. I will try to get caught up here later. My email isn't working so well either so if you need to reach me you best call.
Oh and there won't be a family Christmas picture either. That didn't go so well.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our King.
Oh and there won't be a family Christmas picture either. That didn't go so well.
May you all have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our King.
12.18.2009
Curlformers
We've been enjoying these curlformers lately. Curling Emilee's very straight hair is no easy task. Any time I curl her hair with a curling iron it won't curl. Aside from sleeping with curlers we haven't been able to get day time curling to hold. Now with these we are able to.
They actually are soft enough to sleep in and Emilee gets even better curls when she sleeps in them. But it's nice that she doesn't have to sleep in them to get curls. Here she is after I've taken a few out. 
Here she is after a long day and still got curls.
I did put them in my own hair and was surprised how well it worked on my hair as well.Wanna see how it works?
Here are my tips for curlformers:
-They are ONLY available at Sally Beauty Supply.
-If you have really long hair like Emilee, it works best to start about half way down the piece of hair and slide the curler towards the scalp while pull the hair out the other end. Otherwise the hair gets jammed inside the curler and it's too hard to pull out.
-For Emilee's length of hair we have the extra long and wide curlformers.
-It doesn't work with dry hair.
-Use gel.
-If doing day time curling just evenly dampen hair with a spray bottle. Then put gel in.
-The hair has to completely dry. Using a hair blow dryer helps but be sure to leave them in for a couple of hours. Emilee keeps them in while she does her school work in the morning.
-Use small pieces of hair. If you use too big of pieces it takes longer for the hair to dry.
-Alternate the colors because they curl the opposite directions of each other giving you a mix of directional curls.
-You can use curlformers for perming as well.
12.17.2009
Noise
I'm so blessed. My life is so rich. I love the noise of my home and it brings a smile to my face. There is almost constant music in our home. In the midst of children being raised and the clatter that comes with that, there is also a constant; that constant is music. I don't know how other homes survive without music. If it's not the stereo playing, it's my children playing piano, singing at the tops of their lungs in their awkward juvenile voices, or banging on make-shift drum sets out of their toys.
But if it's not my children banging and clashing their music, it's my husband giving up an offering of worship on the piano or his guitar. Either way his voice comforts my soul and draws me into worship whether my heart was already there or not. After the kids go to bed and their musical noise has finally rested for the evening, my husband picks up where they leave off and his calm and musically correct notes soothe my chaotic mind. They are such the contrast and yet I love them both; the raw talent that lacks direction and the well trained musician who's gifts are as deep as his DNA.
No wonder my heart is often singing a melody the rare times I'm by myself....it's grown a custom to the sounds of my home. I wouldn't know how to get through a day without the noise.
But if it's not my children banging and clashing their music, it's my husband giving up an offering of worship on the piano or his guitar. Either way his voice comforts my soul and draws me into worship whether my heart was already there or not. After the kids go to bed and their musical noise has finally rested for the evening, my husband picks up where they leave off and his calm and musically correct notes soothe my chaotic mind. They are such the contrast and yet I love them both; the raw talent that lacks direction and the well trained musician who's gifts are as deep as his DNA.
No wonder my heart is often singing a melody the rare times I'm by myself....it's grown a custom to the sounds of my home. I wouldn't know how to get through a day without the noise.
organic english toffee from scratch
December 17th Photo(we are doing only stocking stuffers with our families this year and this is going in their stockings from us)
12.16.2009
12.15.2009
Aprons
Are you looking for a last minute gift? My sister makes these adorable aprons. She sells them on etsy but etsy only lets her list what she has in stock literally. At the moment, she has aprons that we don't have photographed but that use the same material as the pictures I'm posting here. The fabrics are just in different orders.If you want to order from her, you can do so through her etsy shop by selecting "Request Custom Item" on the right OR you can just email her what you want off my blog. In fact, if you see one you like here you can even click on the picture and then save it so she knows what fabrics you want it made out of. You can also let her know what style. She is also always getting in new fabrics so if you have a color theme or print that you like you can let her know and she can email you some pictures of what she has to work with. The aprons run between $20-$30 depending on what you are looking for.
She makes two styles for ladies. One is ruffles and one is a pocket pattern. They are one size fits all. 
You can order matching dish gloves to go with them for an additional charge. She uses really cute fabrics including some vintage prints.You can request fabric samples from what she has and she can email them to you.
She makes aprons for little girls in two sizes: regular and small. The small ones are perfect for toddlers (age 2-3) and the regular size is good for 4 and up. They are modeled on my 8 year old daughter who is fairly tall for her age.
My daughter is terribly thin so these look like they are tied really tight but they really aren't. She's just very thin and there is still plenty of length on the ties in the back of them. She also modeled some of the toddler ones which are a little small for her.
She is also selling the patterns which she doesn't have up on her etsy shop yet but if you'd rather just sew your own, you can buy the pattern from her. Just email her and ask about purchasing a pattern.
Included in her collection are matching mother-daughter aprons.
She also makes server aprons for those that wait tables for a living.
Amelia Jane
Emilee said this out of the blue yesterday - "I think I'm going to name my daughter Amelia Jane."
She had no idea that her great-great-grandmother's name is Amelia nor did she know that Emilee is a form of Amelia. She also doesn't know that Jane Austen is one of my favorite people. =0) I would love to have a granddaughter named Amelia Jane. We'll see if it really happens.
She had no idea that her great-great-grandmother's name is Amelia nor did she know that Emilee is a form of Amelia. She also doesn't know that Jane Austen is one of my favorite people. =0) I would love to have a granddaughter named Amelia Jane. We'll see if it really happens.
12.14.2009
on our minds and around our house
addicted to this game called Toss Up
enjoying lots of snow
reading lots of Christmas stories
listening to Glory In The Highest
watching the first season of Little House on the Prairie
grateful that Jon's orthodontist appointment went well today
impressed with Emilee's cursive writing
blessed to have two kids that are hard workers and responsible
excited for Grandma Marie's early Christmas present...too precious
spending some quality time in some good conversation with our children
happy that the gifts are wrapped and ready to go
reading the book of Job from the Bible
still studying 2 Corinthians
enjoying lots of snow
reading lots of Christmas stories
listening to Glory In The Highest
watching the first season of Little House on the Prairie
grateful that Jon's orthodontist appointment went well today
impressed with Emilee's cursive writing
blessed to have two kids that are hard workers and responsible
excited for Grandma Marie's early Christmas present...too precious
spending some quality time in some good conversation with our children
happy that the gifts are wrapped and ready to go
reading the book of Job from the Bible
still studying 2 Corinthians
Puzzles
December 14th Photo(It's puzzle season and we love puzzles. This is about the 5th one we've done since Thanksgiving and we have more waiting to be done.)
12.13.2009
a bit more snow
we've had a lot of snow over the last 24 hours....which has meant more and more shoveling. It's so beautiful though it's worth all the work.
12.12.2009
if I wrote a Christmas letter.....
If I wrote a Christmas letter to sum up our year (but I didn't) it would say:
God is good.
God is very good.
God is good when we're happy.
God is good when we're sad.
God is good when we're trusting.
God is good when we doubt.
God is good when we're scared.
God is good when we worry.
God is good when we have plenty.
God is good when we have need.
God is good when we go without.
God is good when He gives to us.
God is good when He takes away.
God is good when we have to move.
God is good when leaving our home is sad.
God is good when He provides a place to go.
God is good when He gives us peace.
God is good when others bless us.
God is good when others judge us.
God is good when others talk poorly about us.
God is good when others hurt us.
God is good when others support us.
God is good when He provides faithful friends.
God is good when He gives us families that love us.
God is good when things seem unfair.
God is good when we are stressed.
God is good when we have no work.
God is good when we have a little work.
God is good when we have too much work.
God is good when He gives us wisdom.
God is good when we try to make right choices.
God is good when we fail.
God is good when we are unsure of the future.
God is good when He gives us convictions.
God is good when we fear.
God is good when He provides for our little ones.
God is good when our faith feels weak.
God is good when He holds us in His hands.
God is good when He gives us His strength.
God is good when we struggle.
God is good when we sin.
God is good when we suffer consequences.
God is good when He helps us forgive.
God is good when we strive our hardest.
God is good when we are humbled.
God is good when we do hard work.
God is good when we try to do our best.
God is good when we have no unemployment.
God is good when He IS our unemployment.
God is good when He prepares Heaven for us.
God is good when He comforts us.
God is good when we have to sacrifice.
God is good when He teaches us new truths.
God is good when He grows us spiritually.
God is good when we cry.
God is good when we hurt.
God is good when we hope.
God is good because He has always had a plan.
God is good because He follows His plan and not ours.
God is good because His plan works.
God is good when He rescues us from ourselves.
God is good when He came down to earth to die for our sins.
God is good even though we are not.
God is good at Christmas.
God is good always.
God is good.
God is very good.
God is good.
God is very good.
God is good when we're happy.
God is good when we're sad.
God is good when we're trusting.
God is good when we doubt.
God is good when we're scared.
God is good when we worry.
God is good when we have plenty.
God is good when we have need.
God is good when we go without.
God is good when He gives to us.
God is good when He takes away.
God is good when we have to move.
God is good when leaving our home is sad.
God is good when He provides a place to go.
God is good when He gives us peace.
God is good when others bless us.
God is good when others judge us.
God is good when others talk poorly about us.
God is good when others hurt us.
God is good when others support us.
God is good when He provides faithful friends.
God is good when He gives us families that love us.
God is good when things seem unfair.
God is good when we are stressed.
God is good when we have no work.
God is good when we have a little work.
God is good when we have too much work.
God is good when He gives us wisdom.
God is good when we try to make right choices.
God is good when we fail.
God is good when we are unsure of the future.
God is good when He gives us convictions.
God is good when we fear.
God is good when He provides for our little ones.
God is good when our faith feels weak.
God is good when He holds us in His hands.
God is good when He gives us His strength.
God is good when we struggle.
God is good when we sin.
God is good when we suffer consequences.
God is good when He helps us forgive.
God is good when we strive our hardest.
God is good when we are humbled.
God is good when we do hard work.
God is good when we try to do our best.
God is good when we have no unemployment.
God is good when He IS our unemployment.
God is good when He prepares Heaven for us.
God is good when He comforts us.
God is good when we have to sacrifice.
God is good when He teaches us new truths.
God is good when He grows us spiritually.
God is good when we cry.
God is good when we hurt.
God is good when we hope.
God is good because He has always had a plan.
God is good because He follows His plan and not ours.
God is good because His plan works.
God is good when He rescues us from ourselves.
God is good when He came down to earth to die for our sins.
God is good even though we are not.
God is good at Christmas.
God is good always.
God is good.
God is very good.
20% off LPJ
If you didn't win my giveaway you can get an LPJ for 20% off from now till the end of December using this code: christmas20
when you check out.
Anyone is welcome to use this code and share it!
Remember LPJs are downloadable for your convenience!
Merry Christmas!
when you check out.
Anyone is welcome to use this code and share it!
Remember LPJs are downloadable for your convenience!
Merry Christmas!
working together
December 12th Photo
(Em always does the walkway. Jon thought stripes would be a cool design this time.)
Wear the Pants
A friend posted this on her blog and I was just as intrigued by it as she was. I couldn't agree more. What a cool ad!
Wear the Pants!
Wear the Pants!
12.11.2009
What's Hanukkah?
Jon - "Mom, my calendar says that it's almost Hanukkah!"
Mom - "Yes, but we don't celebrate Hanukkah."
Jon - "We don't?"
Mom - "Nope." and then I went on to explain that everything he's studied about the Israelites (the Jews) in the Bible has to do with them waiting for a Messiah and everything that God took them through to lead them to the day that a Savior would come to save them and then the day finally came and Jesus was born in Bethlehem and they didn't believe that He WAS the Savior.
Jon had a look of shock on his face.
I continued....so Jesus grew up and He performed miracles to show the people that He was the Savior. We talked about all the miracles...walking on water, raising people from the dead, raising Himself from the dead.....
and then Jon said "and they still didn't believe that He WAS the Savior?"
Mom - "No son, they did not."
Jon choked back tears.
Mom - "So, they crucified Him."
Jon - "You mean the JEWS killed the Son of God!!!!!!!!!!" there was horror in his voice.
Mom - "Yes, sweetie, I'm sorry."
Jon - "I did not know this." still choking back tears.
Mom - "They don't celebrate Jesus' birthday (Christmas) and instead have their own holiday called Hannukah."
Jon - "So that's what Hannukah is. None of them believe in Jesus?"
Mom - "Actually, that's the good news, there are many people born into Jewish families who do hear the truth about Jesus being the Savior and they DO believe in Him! In fact, there are even groups of them and some call themselves Jews for Jesus! Isn't that exciting!?!"
Jon - "yes, but it's still a sad story and it's sad that they don't all know that He is the Savior."
(History is very sad sometimes but we are thankful that our lives are not bound by history. Despite our family heritages/religions by birth, we are free to trust in and follow Jesus. Praise God that Jesus came to save us all, the Jew and the Gentile! Heaven will be the true melting pot!)
Mom - "Yes, but we don't celebrate Hanukkah."
Jon - "We don't?"
Mom - "Nope." and then I went on to explain that everything he's studied about the Israelites (the Jews) in the Bible has to do with them waiting for a Messiah and everything that God took them through to lead them to the day that a Savior would come to save them and then the day finally came and Jesus was born in Bethlehem and they didn't believe that He WAS the Savior.
Jon had a look of shock on his face.
I continued....so Jesus grew up and He performed miracles to show the people that He was the Savior. We talked about all the miracles...walking on water, raising people from the dead, raising Himself from the dead.....
and then Jon said "and they still didn't believe that He WAS the Savior?"
Mom - "No son, they did not."
Jon choked back tears.
Mom - "So, they crucified Him."
Jon - "You mean the JEWS killed the Son of God!!!!!!!!!!" there was horror in his voice.
Mom - "Yes, sweetie, I'm sorry."
Jon - "I did not know this." still choking back tears.
Mom - "They don't celebrate Jesus' birthday (Christmas) and instead have their own holiday called Hannukah."
Jon - "So that's what Hannukah is. None of them believe in Jesus?"
Mom - "Actually, that's the good news, there are many people born into Jewish families who do hear the truth about Jesus being the Savior and they DO believe in Him! In fact, there are even groups of them and some call themselves Jews for Jesus! Isn't that exciting!?!"
Jon - "yes, but it's still a sad story and it's sad that they don't all know that He is the Savior."
(History is very sad sometimes but we are thankful that our lives are not bound by history. Despite our family heritages/religions by birth, we are free to trust in and follow Jesus. Praise God that Jesus came to save us all, the Jew and the Gentile! Heaven will be the true melting pot!)
Congratulations
Here I go embarrassing a friend of ours by posting about him on our blog. I won't mention his name because he knows WHO he is. CONGRATULATIONS! B & L on your engagement! Good things come to those who wait! We couldn't be happier for you! Woohoo!
we've got winners!
It's Friday and it's time to announce winners of my giveaway! Woohoo! Giving away free stuff is so thrilling. I love it! So, I used random.org to generate 3 numbers from the 19 entries and here are our winners. Oh but wait. Before I tell you I want to tell those of you who did NOT win that if you come back tomorrow I'll be posting a code you can use to get a discount on a downloadable LPJ if you'd like one still. I'd post it today but my web-guy is at work. So, come back tomorrow and I'll have a code posted for 10% off LPJ orders (not just for yourself, feel free to share the code) good from tomorrow through Jan. 1st!
Okay, back to our winners! In this order:
#9 Robin
#1 Angel
#17 MellieB
So, girls, here's the deal. You can get your free LPJ one of two ways. Download version or CD version. Let me know which way you'd like to get it. If you want it via download, I'll email you a code that will let you download one for free. If you want a CD mailed to you, then you need to email me which translation you want (KJV or NASB) and which version (family version, empty nester, singles, etc.).
you can email me your choice at legacyprayerjournals@cableone.net
If the winners do not email me to claim their prize by tomorrow (Saturday, December 11th) a new winner will be chosen from among the list to take their prize.
THANK YOU all for playing in my giveaway!
12.10.2009
so cold
Yesterday was a high of 17. High. That means that for most of the day it was about 10 degrees out. As I'm typing this it's 1 degree. Yesterday morning it was 0 degrees. I really won't be happy if we go into the negatives. It hasn't been this cold I don't think the whole time we've lived here (9 years). I think it's only gotten down to the low 20s for the high during the day. If this is global warming then I'm all for it because I don't think I can stand it much colder than this. People might start referring to the Northwest as the North Pole soon.
It's not such a big deal when I get to stay home all day but when it's a day that I have to get in the car and go somewhere, not so fun. Like yesterday and today I can't avoid being out in it. Burrrrrr.
It's not such a big deal when I get to stay home all day but when it's a day that I have to get in the car and go somewhere, not so fun. Like yesterday and today I can't avoid being out in it. Burrrrrr.
12.08.2009
they said it would be a warm winter
December 8th Photo
(4 degrees isn't what I would describe as warm but okay. We usually don't even get snow before Christmas.)
12.07.2009
a Christmas giveaway
It's Christmas and I'm in a giving mood. From now till December 11th, I'm doing a giveaway of 3 free Legacy Prayer Journals. All ya have to do is comment on this post to be entered. No hoops to jump through, no twittering, no facebook, no subscribing, no going and looking through merchandise, no telling me your favorite things, just plain old leave me a comment. Already have one? Feel free to enter to win one to give away as a gift.
Be sure to check back and see if you won on Saturday, December 12th. If the winners (chosen randomly through a random number selector) do not respond a new winner will be selected on Sunday, December 13th.
What are LPJs? They are templates for prayer that can be used for family worship or personal prayer time. You can print them, staple them together and write in your prayer request or you can scrapbook them with pictures of the people you are praying for. They come with lists of Scriptures by category and a place to add worship songs, your favorite verses, quotes, and other fun things to remember. Don't miss out on creating a legacy of prayer for your family.
Worship This Christmas.
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