Two months

Gonna jump right into the last 2 months.

Disney, round 2, with my parents and our close friends and their kiddos was a success!  My mom flew for the first time - and liked it!  Told dad he may not be able to keep her home now.  Down to FL in 1.5 hr.  Su-WEET!    MK twice, AK once, HS once, and then date day at Epcot w/ the farmer dude.  Pool time.  Adjoining room w/ parents.  I could be colonial - my love for all of us being under the same roof is desperate and peaceful when we are.  Zip back to KY ... bam!  Halloween.  Trunk or Treat at country church next door for prek kiddo and the dadster.  Party time for the nephew and big girl.  Fall.  Crunchy leaves.  Lots of discussion from the kids about the color- fun time w/ a prek kid especially- soaking up all the colors and learning new words like "crimson" or "scarlet."  Acknowledging 'vivid' colors (another new word) peeked it's precious head again as we crested a knoll and he gasped ... "momma, look at God's beautiful sunset...it's bright pink and purple."  I pause, search for the beauty as he sees the beauty.  I don't see it quite the same, with that prek wonder and awe, BUT I pause and I force my way into it.  It was gorg.  Once I realize he has it, I stop pushing it.  Reminder:  don't ever stop pushing the colors.  Then it's all just a blur.  For real. 

Thanksgiving was spent with family.  So much love.  Cousins.  Kids.  Playing.  Chasing.  Laughter.  A round table.  Wives.  Mommas.  Food.  Homemade food.  Food made just for that day.  How blessed are we.  Dad and two of his brothers chatted on the couch.  The little boys squeezed in between them.  How blessed is that.  A heritage.  Tilted chins.  Breathless, rosy cheeked boys gleaning already...as they look up and listen then run in circles but always watch, listen.  This was the first year in nearly 10 that the children were all old enough to scatter and play while the adults circled in for conversation.   No hushing or rushing.  At 8 pm, our youngest fell asleep in the mv on the way home (nonna and poppa's).

Teaching full-time.  One month to the day.  And I'm wide-eyed but in a sleep disorder kinda way.  Granted, I was whipped as a sahm too.  And actually, this teaching full-time gig is definitely easier than being home full-time BUT I do miss being home more.  I miss my life revolving around meals, cleaning, working out, volunteering, playing, and crafts.  I'm conflicted and I'll figure it out in due time.  One step of faith at a time.  Tonight, I'm just focusing on getting tomorrow under my belt.  I take this job one day at a time.  Yes it is that challenging.  Middle school.  Because I can't share specifics, and I'm way too blunt to beat around the bush delicately, I'll stop right here.

December has been stacked with more teaching, prek party, beautiful snow days, sledding, LOTS of movies and cookies, egg nog, homemade fudge, snack foods, some caloric regret, lack of exercise, and 15 lbs of weight gain (ok, that started before December :/)  Oh!  And my mom was here for 5 days.  Have I ever mentioned how much of a blessing she is in our lives?  She is solid and stable and I pray I will one day be like her!!!  She fixed hot cocoa for us when we were outside 4wheeling and sledding.  She did laundry, helped organize Grace's room (that doesn't remotely explain the reno that took place in her room and closet), cooked for us a couple nights, and played school w/ the kids a lot.  The kids pretended to be a teacher and classroom doggy.  Guess who was which, haha.  Mom was a student.  (Entertaining to hear, esp while sipping hot tea and looking out on 4" of powdery snow)...  After the snow days, the fam and I (including nephew) volunteered for a couple hours at a church Christmas event.  It was fun and afterward, we all ate din together, hubby's sis and her fam, us and ours.  It was nice and there was lots of joking - a few about working out.  I think my days of couch potato butt...yep...they're coming to a screeching halt. I miss my biker days.  (insert: yard sale bicycle with trailer behind it days).  I also miss my size 6 days. 

Looking forward to celebrating Jesus.  I really think my babies get it this year.  We didn't have to kill santa either.  Still not wild about the big red guy.  Less wild about the exorbitant gifting.  Not a scrooge though.  Just overwhelmed.  Hub is a great gifter, so he kind of carries us through the whims of the season, if you will.  I've shopped little to none.  Have mixed feelings about that.  Anyway, I better go.  6am comes early.  Merry Christmas.  Best of 14.

Peace and Gratitude

A breakthrough is occurring!  The repeating theme in my life lately is...PEACE is not achieved through perfection.  PEACE is a state of mind.  I'm a slow learner but I have a husband who loves me and whose bear hugs speak more than words.  He is glad I'm getting there, too.  I know it isn't easy for him.  So now, as I type, the house is upside down and the kids are locked in on a cartoon.  I type and I let go.  Let go and let God.  I reach my hand out, uncoil my fist, and let go.  Freedom.

This time of the year, farming typically slows down.  Typically.  Due to various farm obstacles, including a blowup with a railroad company (they accidentally  sprayed our cash crop) and a broken combine that has been pushed 15 years past its prime.  Then there is the menial, daily farm challenges like tire blow-outs at just the wrong time and too much rain over this crop, etc.  My hubby relates to my daughter through the brokenness, though.  "I put a combine back together today just like YOU put your lego set together."  She beams.  I stand amazed at how naturally they communicate.  He throws ibuprofen back and grills dinner for us.  We're all tired.  This is month 7 of the 70 hour weeks.  I long for December, January, and February.  We tuck in and it just feels different in heart and home then.  I'm so thankful for such a strong man - whose absence is missed as soon as he walks out each morning.  The kids want their daddy all day while he's gone.  He's the more laid-back of the two of us.  In my inner circling around what PEACE is, I've eased up a lot on routines.  Daddy has had to enforce more, which has pushed his patience a wee bit (and I smile but not mockingly).  I am so very blessed to have that kind of man, who works when he rests too, though.  I pray for continued balance for our family, and have finally zeroed in on a major issue that has caused us to lose some peace and piece of mind.  As I reach upward and the sun blinds me with warmth and purity, I see all that for which I'm grateful.  It's impossible to gain peace without seeing all the blessings poured over me.

Grateful for... 

I'm grateful for true friends and family.  I'm grateful for those who take the time and make the time.  I'm grateful for antibiotics.  Little boy had a bad case of strep.  I'm grateful for a mom and dad who give wise advice.  I'm grateful for being a stay at home mom the last 7 years.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  I'm grateful for having a teaching certificate.  My calling is there, too.  I'm grateful for a truly funny little boy who is going through a Peter Pan phase that is downright precious.  I'm grateful for a daughter who reads chapter books, and who buckled her baby doll in a stroller this morning for a morning walk.  I'm grateful for my mother-in-law.  I'm thankful for bright orange pumpkins and bumpy gooseneck gourds.  I'm thankful for crimson leaves.  I'm thankful for swing sets and our energetic black dog.  (Can't think of one without the other- she nearly terrorizes the kids each time they go out to swing!  ha)  I'm thankful for learning toys.  They make this teacher-mom so happy.  I'm thankful for DVR because the commercials are not fit for kids these days.  I'm thankful for having a washing machine and dryer.  They were needed a lot when little guy had strep.  I'm thankful for the ability to see Old Glory flying from the kids' playhouse this morning.  The wind whips her gently.  I'm thankful that despite all my shortcomings, God is still working on me to show me what peace is and what it isn't. 

So True!

I hope I never forget!

I have office work to complete at home today and the length of my post is proof...but do (please do) take a few minutes to indulge in this post.  By the way, don't let the Coco Chanel title dissuade you (It nearly dissuaded me).  I may never own Coco Chanel but I harbor an inner love of luxury.  For further clarification, when I say luxury, I DON'T mean wealth!  Here's to you!

New Day Dawning

 

 

 

I went for a short run this morning and when I pulled in the driveway, this is what I saw.  All I have been thinking of since is this song that we hear at the beach.  "There's a New Day Dawning"  We attend church service at the beach down on the gulf when we're there.  Years lapse and they sing the same song when we return.  "There's a New Day Dawning"  This past year, it rained and rained during the service.  The kids' service was held in the back of a small trailer on wheels.  We ducked as we stepped in to talk to the preacher's wife.  She was cleaning up from the service (I'll admit we sat in the van for most of the service and really couldn't hear much of anything). We met her years ago when G was 3.  She told G as we stepped in out of the wetness, "You're special.  God is going to do great things with your life."  I laughed as I talked to her about our first experience at the beach service.  G threw a terrible tantrum, screamed "I WANNA THEE JETHUTH" (I wanna see Jesus) as we tore her away from the service and forced her into the car.  Before we got that far though, G flipped a rubber band and it hit said pastor's wife right square in the eye.  It hurt.  I could tell.  She acted kind of aggravated.  When I told her of our memory of the service...she didn't say she did or did NOT recall it...she just said what I mentioned above..."God is going to do great things with your life."  I wonder if she realized this before or after the rubber band episode.  No matter.  She spoke the truth.  This momma knows it!  

Falling

Fall runs at us with open arms.  It's warm once we embrace, but cold at first as it blows by us, through us, over us, around us.  It's beautifully colorful.  The leaves crack, crunch, split apart beneath our feet.  Alarm clocks ring, schools bells ding, church bells sing.  Children rush, teachers hush, parents push.  Bright white papers fill up line by line by line.  Brains fill up hour by hour.  New concepts are taught, many in the books, but most, after the book closes.  And we pray.  We pray.  We see prayers answered.  We wrestle with, grapple with, laugh with, hug on each other.  People scurry and hurry.  We try to grab them but they're a mist.  People linger longer.  We pause for them but maybe not long enough.  We plan and plan a span of time.  We think we can.  Fall pulls us in, offers us warm light to warm our hearts.  We bask in the faint glow, we wrap up in it.  And we fall.  We fall for it.  All of it.  And it's a whirlwind.  And we love it.  And it's a lullaby.  And dusky peaceful quietness falls as we fall to our knees.

Faith

Grace accepted Jesus!  She is getting baptized Sunday.  When the pastor asked her what she knew about Jesus, she said, "Well...I know a lot.  He never lies."  She said something else but I can't remember what exactly!  She also answered him that yes, Jesus died to wash away our sins.  She studied the pastor's face as he asked her questions (I was sitting beside him and I could see her face).  When she paused to answer, he began to prompt her a bit.  I knew she didn't know which part to share :) because I know my girl.  For a second, I think he wasn't sure if she understood (I've seen this before when other adults have asked her a deep question ...she thinks long and hard because she is a deep thinker!)...then as they talked, he quickly saw she was more than ready.  She actually began talking to me about becoming a Christian WELL over a year ago, and at Upward Cheerleading one night, during a devotional, she gave her little heart to our savior!  I waited until now to let her move forward (not that I held her back; I just waited until she came back to me).  The following Sunday (8/26), she went up front in front of the congregation.  Dr. J asked her to step up the steps so everyone could see her.  He went on to recount how she said she knew a lot about Jesus and how he came to visit us one time and we made Grace go to bed while he was visiting and he felt so sorry for her.  HAHA!!!  Mean ole' mommy and daddy.  I am so proud of our girl.  She is growing into a beautiful person!  I know God heard my prayers as I knelt at the altar last Sunday; I see them being answered now at the tender age she is.  She said several times...today is one of the best days of my life.  She was so genuinely joyful.  Something that only Christ can do lit her up.  Faith like a child!

Happy to say...

Happy to say I have no pictures yet again, no wise or witty words to type either.  We have, however, had a summer full to the brim with life, love, family near and far, friends, church, carnival rides, lake and pool time, fish fry dinner, park w/ cousins, park w/ poppa, park w/ nonna, grilled yumminess, movies (Monsters U most recently), card games (nieces, poppa Grace, and I got hooked on Spoons recently), bingo (sight word bingo ;) teacher-momma), dinners out w/ friends, and the best part of all...two vbs's which means more time in the Lord's House...one of my fave things about summer!!!  I have seen more extended family and friends who live away than I have in years!  Even my cousin from GA ended up coming over for a quick overnight stay while I was at my parents!  Sometimes things work out best when they're impromptu!  My goal was to be off the computer more this summer and I've succeeded here.  Now FB is next to go!  I'm embarking on a weight loss journey yet again, and Lord knows, that will take all my mental capacity bc in the south, food=happiness and food=all anyone talks about (myself included).  Over 2 years I've gained 15 lbs by eating everything I wanted, basically!  YUCK!  I'm so over obsessing about food in general, and even moreso, hearing it being obsessed over!  So here's to a good balance.  Again. :)  Signing off and soon, off fb.  Have a few pics to develop first though.  Have a great summer.  The rest of the summer, we plan to attend a fireworks show (tonight actually), go to the drive-in, and I will be in the office a lot to prepare for a big August event!  Grace will start her lemonade stand this Wednesday at the market, too, and that's come to be something she LOVES about summertime!  I know this is choppy and all- sorry!  Happy summers all around.

Summer

This is where my true followers come out.  You know, my 2-3 family members/friends who care more about how I'm doing in my life than 'what' I'm doing!  I have no camera and the iPhone is dead.  Here goes...little girl finished her 1st year of public schooling.  I cried very briefly and sailed on through the last day.  It helped that I was at the school doing odds and ends for PTA the last 2 weeks.  Even still, it seems unreal how fast day 1 and day 180 met each other.  What a year it was- a good one but an intense one.  No matter how many times I say it was better than my wildest hopes and prayers...and we had an amazing teacher who loved, prayed for, laughed with, cried with, constantly encouraged and pushed and cheered...it doesn't change the fact that it was tiring at the end of the day, week, month, year.  I'm a little overwhelmed right now - just thinkin' of ... how many years will we be on a school schedule now?  I liked it but I didn't like it.  I'm conflicted, folks!  For this and obvious reasons, I pray:  Dear Lord, I earnestly ask that summer move at a snail's pace.  That would give me time to get level about things.  As if to make the transition complete, our girl lost her first tooth on her first day of summer break.  And oh!  Did I mention little big boy is about to have a bday?  Tomorrow is his prek party and soon after, we're inviting 4 little boys and having us a good time bouncing and eating pizza.  Small = good.  He deserves such a happy day.  He has been a champ about going with me to my pt job and to volunteer at school this year.  It is most certainly his turn!  I'm teaching his VBS class this year to even the score.  He may get more of momma than he wants but here I come, buddy!  I caught a turtle yesterday and he was mesmerized.  I've been watching him with one of our baby kittens (yes, we have more) and my fave visual is seeing him pedal on his bike with the cutest kitten under his right arm.  He gave in ("ohhh, okayyyy") and let his sister choose the "one" we plan to keep.  It wasn't the one he favored, but he was a sport about it.  As much as I've sneezed in my life over cats, one would surmise my husband is trying to torture me the last couple months.  I've bottle-fed kittens more times lately than I ever planned to.

Alas, my flowers grew beautifully this spring.  I have no pictures to show, but I wish I did.  Currently I have ballerina roses (probably 50-75 blooms) out back and gorgeous knockout roses (5 bushes) as well.  They are such vivid (a new word I'm teaching little guy) colors:  a bright fuschia, and a pink that's nearly a sedative.  That's to say it's a nice, smooth, calming color.  I'm partial to the ballerina roses - the bush looks like an heirloom and kind of like it was growing wild here for a hundred years.  It's not quite as neat as my knockouts and I like the reminder that true beauty is often a mess.  My irises - I bragged on them last post - are gone now.  I was happy for their timing as they welcomed mom and dad during their stay recently.  They were covered with more blooms than any year before.  I thought of gran each time a new bloom opened and enjoyed talking with dad about gran's irises in her yard on Hickory Nut Hill.  I'm a southerner to the bone when it comes to greeting company, family, traditions, and flowers.  While mom and dad were here, dad picked some irises from the other side of the farm for mom and me.  They were bi-colored mauve and burgundy.  We put them in a vase on the table and oohed and aahed over them.  It's the simple things that can sometimes mean the most.  Again- no photos.  My camera broke and between paying private school prek tuition and ordering some new stuff for the kids' playset etc, the camera is gonna have to wait.  Funny how I've enjoyed the break from being behind the lens.  Sometimes talking about and taking pics of life flat out wears me out.

I'm anticipating the arrival of my moon flower (my FAVORITE, I know I've mentioned it!) and my day lilies.  For the first time in about 9 years, I don't have hanging baskets smothering my porch.  I have a citronella plant by the side door and it's become my new favorite repellant.  Go get one if you're not a bug spray lover, fam.  It works.  The smell is pungent- which is why it works!  Forget those candles and sprays...buy a plant to do the trick.  As for the front porch though...I guess I'll deck it out w/ flowers for my guests coming this weekend, but I foresee pots not hanging baskets.  The kids can easily help water those, and I like to put the kids to work when I can.  Nothing else is blooming out front at all, except for the small efforts on my tulip tree.  I am so glad my mother-in-law has greenhouses.  She's almost sold out, but she will have enough left to fill a couple of pots for my front porch steps.  Speaking of, I better go plant my sunflower seeds, or I should probably wait on the kiddos to wake from their naps.  A shower maybe...yeah.  Or maybe not.  We may work in the bees tonight.  I need to buy some scent-free soaps.  Little big boy is up now (he does not like to be called little) so this laptop is getting shut off.  The phone is dead and has been since yesterday.  I'll be honest...I hope to steer clear of most all distractions this summer in hopes that we'll be refreshed in August.

Maaaaay

When I verbally say the month we're finally in, I can't help but say it as I exhale...because this past winter turned into spring then back into winter 2-3 times before spring finally STUCK here.  But now it's Maaaaay and in the south, that means, no freakish turning of the temps now.  (Right?!)  Also, praise God, we got through the spring season with only 1 or 2 major storms.  Equally noteworthy is the fact that I slept through both of them, and woke up in the wee hours to find texts from friends checking on me because  a) they know that, historically, I freak in storms and b) the threats were for my specific little community.  It meant a lot to me that friends checked on me!  It means they love me!  hehe  

After those April showers came my flowers...first my tulips and now my irises!  I can smell them from my side porch and the scent lifts my mood instantly.  You can't tell in the picture but the bloom is huge.  It's bigger than my hand.  I think it's a mutant.  haha No really, it did mutate.  I had planted purple irises and white irises side by side.  They mixed and now they're not only a very pale lavender color, but they're also bigger.  They make me so happy!  The added perk to their blooming now is the fact that I have company coming to visit tomorrow and they will be welcomed by them too.  Yay for Southern hospitality in the way of a God-sent flower.

Maaaaaay

What She Said....

I came across a couple articles I really liked recently.  One is too in-depth to mention now, but maybe later I'll go there.  The other is more concise, but in-depth in truth, and I would like to share it now, partly so I don't lose it.  A few days ago, I blogged about television and how my husband and I boycotted a show.  I said, "Does this seem extreme?  Good."  I shirked off thoughts of others judging my radicalism and threw on the armour of God.  The fear of judgements pinged off me, thankfully and not suprisingly, once I had it on.  Then today I read this, and among many things it said, I really wrapped my mind around this....read it all if you can but know that the third gray block echoes my heart.  Yes, yes, what she said....

Finally and Flowers

Little boy and I played outside for hours this morning!  Now, I know it isn't technically the first time we have done so since spring arrived, but in this part of the world, spring temps are here one day, and the next it's cold and dreary.  It seems like our seasons go...winter, spring, winter, spring, winter, spring, summer, fall, repeat.  My hubby can attest to that.  He's been up in the middle of the night this winter-spring, turning irrigation on the strawberries to keep them from freezing.  Frost after March 1st is tough on farmers who grow strawberries.  I'm getting off track.  So, today after little boy slept in, we headed outside with some sidewalk chalk and a ball.  The sun came out, and we darted in and out of the shade as we played ball, raced each other, etc.  My daughter never wanted to race as much as my boy.  I guess the competitive spirit is engrained, or at least in my two.  I even got the kitties out and let them play in the grass.  Little things are not doing so swell, I'm afraid.  One has trouble walking and the other can only go maybe 7 steps without his back right leg failing him.  I'm beginning to wonder if we are in for a trip to see the aunt-vet, if you know what I mean.  We have been bottle-feeding them now for 10 days.  I hope they make it but it seems maybe they're not doing as well today as previous days.

After playing outside, we grabbed lunch and sat in rocking chairs across from one another on the front porch.  Days like this, I wouldn't trade our humble abode for any place in the world.  BBQ chicken, pineapple slices, mandarin oranges for the boy, and bbq chicken and potato salad for me.  We use a great recipe from www.kyproud.com (spicy red potato salad).  It is really good, so if you're looking for a summer side dish recipe, you might want to take a gander.   

After lunch, we came in and read a bible story and 2 books.  NJ likes to read a lot which is always a good thing!  Afterward, I rocked him and we sang and talked quietly.  I can't believe he'll be 4 soon!  I've said it many times, and I'll say it again.  I savor my time with him and am thankful every day that I've been able to be home (primarily) with both kids.  Last year had its tough spots because I felt like I was either at work or preparing to go to work.  It's crazy how a little 2 day a week job can consume a mom.  It's because of my OCD tendencies.  Add to that the fact that little boy was adjusting to being on a prek schedule!  We are so happy that summer break is almost here, however, the truth is, we will be just as busy, if not moreso.  We HOP around this farm in the summer...veggies to be picked daily and the hubby's family gets 'em started early ;)  Plus, if we want to see daddy much, we have to catch him at a market or in the field (literally).  I am so thankful for a hardworking man, even though being  a farm wife has been hard for me at times!  I'm sure I'll be posting pics of my flowers and the strawberries soon!!!  They are my farmer's favorite fruit/veggie because they grow throughout the cold months and their arrival kicks off summer!  As for flowers, gran's irises are budding but have a weird rotten spot near the roots which has caused some of the blades to die.  The rotten spots are wet and mushy.  I really hope they don't have something that kills them off; I dug them up from gran's front yard years ago.  I have plants of hers all over here...ivy (yes I love it), irises, and tulips (although bought at Lowe's).  Speaking of transplanting the irises reminds me, the daylilies Shawn and I transplanted are growing tall and green!  The rose bushes look ok, good really, but I never know what they will do until they have done it.  I'm new at growing roses.  Hubby finished landscaping around the knockouts and it looks great...hope they bloom!  My camera is still broken but my iPhone camera is now working again so be on the lookout for flower pics eventually!

Shine On Father

What a beautiful, sunny day.  We enjoyed the sunshine and the warm temps - we were blessed enough to have a friend over to join in on the fun.  We flew kites, played a long time on the swing set, bottle fed our two baby kitties (Hank and Bobby), ran around the yard, and more!

Sun affects my disposition!  YAY SUNNINESS:)

I also have had two big blessings yesterday evening and one today!  Yesterday evening- hubby was able to stop work in time for chapel service.  We enjoyed 30 minutes of us time (running errands) after dropping big and little (our terms of endearment for our kiddos), then we slipped in the back of chapel and sat down.  The sermon was on point and about our church and how the church needs to meet needs of those in the community!  My hubby and I have been bothered lately about how "me" focused we have become about church and how we are a small picture of a greater truth within the church body (or people in general).  What will "we" get out of church?  What does the church have going on that "we" would like to do or that "we" think will benefit the kids?  Is the time at a time that inconveniences us or will "we" be put out because of the timing of this or that?  Do "we" agree with everything, and on, and on.  We see that our church represents a teeny tiny percentage of the population in our little town...making the doors too narrow for newcomers to feel welcome!  And that is NOT what any of us want!  Hubby stayed after and talked to the pastor about this and other related things...a door of oppourtunity that opened and we didn't even plan for it.  Our hearts are ready.  Our hands are ready.  We hope and pray for a change!  Starting with US!  (& now I'm nervous at what this may mean but really, church is a place to learn and grow and love and SERVE not get and take and be served!)

And today...after my post about satan being tricky and appealing so that he gains more ground "under the radar"...my hubby cut off several of our TV channels.  The blessing though?  He hadn't even read my post and he didn't know how burdened I've been lately about tv!  That, my friends, is God at work, convicting hubby and wife, who are trying to stay true to The Lord in a world that says, "NAH!  It's all ok."  Thankful for God's devotion to us - I'm seeing rays of sun as I type.  They streak across my keyboard and fall across my hands.  Thank you Father for shining on.  You're worth every worldly sacrifice!

Psalm 84:10 "Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere."

Numbers 6:25 "May the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you."  Or another translation...."May the Lord smile upon you...."

*emphasis mine

Truth

Update on puzzle...It wasn't that day, but the next day, the boy and I did that puzzle (twice)!  My iPhone has been cooky and wouldn't take pics that day though, so you'll just have to take my word!  :)  The puzzle was a 24 piece puzzle of Mater and Lightning McQueen.  I don't even know if he has seen that movie (maybe?) but he likes the characters so much nonetheless.  I'm not big on tv and here is one reason why...just yesterday we were watching Cupcake Wars (my daughter is going to be a baker, I'm pretty sure), and someone on there kept taking God's name in vain, which we teach the kids is clearly wrong.  My littlest asked why the lady kept saying "God".  (Deut 5:11 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God....)  Suffice it to say, that's the first Cupcake Wars episode we've seen in at least 6 months, and probably the last.  Seem extreme?  Good!  Every time I try to be moderate with tv, I learn it really isn't possible!  Thank goodness Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry still air!!!  Please tell me there is a wholesome baking show on tv though!?  My daughter doesn't really care to watch tv, but turn on Cake Boss, and she is a student at culinary school.  She has been making cakes since she was 2 years old (out of legos then).  Back to my point:  TV is so beyond-infuriating to me!  There's the language issue...not to mention the horrible sexual "crap" on tv!  I mean...really?  I don't want my two young kids tainted at this age (or ever).  It is highly inappropriate and it is not usually obnoxious.  Whether you're liberal, conservative, whatever...if you are a human being, take heed.  Personally, my very favorite show is a horrible conglomoration of sin disquised by comedy so after a year or more of viewing, I'm DONE with it!  The devil is not always ugly and scary, people.  If so, we would all run away!  But no, satan wants us to be lured to him, not scared away from him.  He wears sheep's clothing!  On a sidenote, God started convicting my hubby about the same show too, so now our once-fave-show is no more.  We don't need trash dumped on us when we're trying to relax and cuddle together!!!  The devil is such a sneaky 'trash thrower'....

The Devil in Sheep's Clothing
"If the devil comes to my door with his horns visible,
I will never let him in; but if he comes with his hat on
as a respectable gentleman, he is at once admitted.
The metaphor may be very strange, but it is quite true--
many a man has taken in an evil thing, because it has been
varnished and glossed over, and not apparently an evil; and he
has thought in his heart, there is not much harm in it; so he has
let in the little thing, and it has been like the breaking forth
of water- the first drop has brought after it a torrent.
The beginning has been but the beginning of a fearful end."

--Spurgeon

And then a scripture that comes to me a lot because my mom quoted it to me when I was going through a tough time a few years ago...

Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 
1 Peter 5:8

de·vour

/diˈvou(ə)r/

Verb Eat (food or prey) hungrily or quickly. (of fire, disease, or other forces) Consume (someone or something) destructively.

Synonyms swallow - gobble - consume - eat up - engulf - gorge Lions prowl QUIETLY. They are smooth and by all standards, kings in the animal world.  They aren't vicious and destructive until the point of attack.  Do NOT be fooled.  The connection between a lion and a sheep is insane!!!  Satan (who is actually more like a lion!) looks like a sheep!  All of us need to wake UP before we get eaten alive, quite literally.  Our shepherd is Jesus.  He will protect us, comfort us, save us!  Don't be mislead by one who looks like the rest!  Be set apart and different! "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 Choose LIFE friends.  Don't look down a path and be so blinded that you willingly choose to be devoured (see definition again).  We have a choice set before us!  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deuteromy 30:19 I'm so burdened lately, and the issues don't fall under any political ties.  So much so that I should have prefaced this post with warnings like, "Intense"  & "Brutally honest" & "Passionate Post"....  These issues fall under matters of the heart.  Jesus is GOOD.  He loves.  He chastises because He loves.  He blesses and GIVES because HE LOVES!  He gives.... You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.  Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.  This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:9-12 He is The Truth.  He welcomes all into His arms, yet we are so haughty and ignorant, even and often especially when we are versed by the world.  We talk and text and post and update... and for what? Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:14 We say if we don't accept sin then we judge that sin but that is contrary to the word!!!  For example, I can say Doritos aren't junk food all day long, but they are!  THEY ARE TASTY, DELICIOUS, CRUNCHY, yet JUNKY!  I can KNOW they are tasty yet junky in one.  I can know sin is enticing yet junky at once too.  Jesus ate dinner with the prostitutes and the tax collectors and it didn't change the fact that their sin was slimy, nor did it change HIS LOVE for them.  He loved them before, during, now....just.like.He.loves.us.always. Scales, fall off eyes, start with mine.  Father, give me your full armor because I need it badly!  And thank you for loving sinful, weak ME. Eph 6:10-17 (NIV) ...Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. I'm claiming a standing victory.  Pray for me.  And for you.  We're all in this together.  I know this post has lost heat by now, and I'm pittering and sputtering out as I type but God knows what work needs to be done now, inside me, and outside me.  It is time to stop typing and start doing.  What a horrible spiritual battle that has already ensued.  But it is going to be better than okay because I know how it ends!

   

Waves

I wish I knew how to add music to my blog!  Cue the sound of waves crashing on the sand.

Yesterday I was home with my boy like I am most days of the week.  He asked me to watch him put a puzzle together.  I stood at the sink, hands dipped in sudsy water, and told him, "let me just wash this first..."  Minutes later, the puzzle pieces lay scattered on the hardwood floor, but he was off in his room, playing alone quietly.  Why do I do that?  Why do I not run to him when he says, "Will you play with me?"  Why do I choose washing dishes?  I wish I had the answer.  As I washed, I regretted it, but that pot just had to be scrubbed, rinsed, and dried....  I walked across the carpet to the couch.  It still seems new, but it's been here 2 years, kind of like my boy not being a baby anymore.  He's right at 4 now.  I sat down on the couch and listened to him, playing just down the hall.  Minutes passed and still I listened.  I thought about how I should go join him.  I should run to him.  The imaginative play, taking place, is part of his growing up process, and he's growing so fast.  Yet I sat and continued to listen.  Probably 10 minutes passed, maybe more.  The puzzle pieces stayed on the floor, he stayed in his room, and I sat, listening.

I have no idea why but it made me think of the ocean, particularly waves.  How they come from way far out with a force and a jarring coolness on my skin.  Then they are pulled back out, the sound becomes a lull, until again, they crash and foam.  And it goes on ... perpetually.  And I move a distance from them, watching the inevitable crashes, not taking my eyes off of them.  They're so captivating and make me so curious and calm at once.  They're intense and loud.  I brace myself when they slap up onto my legs, knees, body.  I look around and see as much of the ocean as my eyes can see and find myself looking farther out to sea, beyond the loud crashes and consistent lulls.  And I love, love, love it.  I can't wait for the next wave to come.  That's why I'm here, to enjoy this rush, this feeling, the beauty, and the grit, too.  It's overwhelming and exhilarating.  It's not containable.

Parenting is like that.  The kids, like waves.  The moments that I can't take my eyes off of, yet sometimes I don't make myself become involved in.  And I pray that I focus out at my "ocean" more often because the big picture is actually very simple.

God has a plan.  It involves my family (husband, kids).  It is everchanging and it changes fast.

I can't capture a wave, just like I can't capture my little ones' zeal and energy today.  So, I want to do more than sit quietly and listen, because unlike the ocean's perpetual crashing and pulling back, my little family does not stay in the same place.  Just yesterday, my kids were babies.  Just yesterday.  Today, we will do that puzzle.  Picture later.

Goals 2013

The goal is growth, not perfection.  This is my new favorite saying.  Hopefully I'll live it.  That would be life-changing for me because I have this horrible awful problem called perfectionism.  In my attempts at doing most things, I fall so short of my own standards that I land miserably.  By "most things" I literally mean "most" things:  cleaning windows, posting here, crafting w/ the kids or friends, exercising, cooking.  The truth is, there are few things at which I'm "great" despite my efforts, and that's the funny part!  I am a messy mess...BUT...I am learning to dust off my hands in life, and try again.  I am a slow learner because this process started about 3 years ago. 

Scripture I'm digging as I grow....

Psalm 51:1-17  Please read the whole chapter although it may not speak to you like it did to me because I've been awfuly vile lately.  There are a few verses that I can't get my eyes off of...
10-12.

I'll share them here:

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me

Verse 10 has been a life verse of mine for probably 20 years!!!!  YIKES!  MANY MANY decisions I've made have been after I examined my heart (my motives)...facebook posts, blog posts, texts come to my mind most recently. 

The other verses were basically handed to me Sunday at church.  I have become dependent on circumstances, others, even my own definition of success, truth be told.  And when they (or I) fail me, or don't meet up to what I had hoped or planned, I quickly lose the willingness to stay the good course....  I want to learn to be steadfast despite whatever.  I want to be joyful because it's who Christ created me to be.  I'm claiming these things.  Claim them with me. 

On another note, my kiddos are doing well.  School is winding down and they are ready for summer.  They've been spending lots of time outdoors on their dune racers, scaling the climbing wall on their swing set, swinging, and getting more comfortable with our never-tame wire-hair doggy.  They enjoyed spring break with grandparents and cousins.  They are getting old enough to help me in the kitchen, which is enjoyed by all but especially me, because I seem to spend a lot of time there!  I went to a Wildtree tasting and freezer meal workshop recently and added to my list of freezer meals.  We are trying Asian lettuce wraps tonight!  I don't get all into organic but Wildtree products are pretty yummy!  And who knows?  Maybe we will eat outside!  The kids LOVE to do that!

I am thankful for spring!  My tulips, in gran's honor, are about to bloom.  I hope the irises come up strong and tall like they usually do.  Last year, I had some problems with them.  They competed with my moonlight flowers my uncle gave me, and they won out, but for some reason, they didn't come up as much (as many).  That reminds me- need to see Uncle Ben about getting more moonlight flowers.  If you haven't ever seen them, they are gorgeous and bloom full and beautiful at night.  We planted them by our door so each night we could enjoy them!  I'm so excited for my ballerina rose bush, knockout roses, and my tiger lilies to grace us with their presence, too.  As I do every year, I'll be in the dirt planting annuals in about 3 weeks!  I'm thinking about taking my planter boxes on my front porch down and using all hanging baskets this year.  Things have gotten grown up around here in the 10 years we've lived here, and I definitely have some yardwork in my near future.  The tulips and roses need my attention for starters...they are just kind of "there" with weeds coming up around them.  Oh well!  That kind of reminds me of me and the perfectionism issue!  I'm trying to come up a flower but choked out by weeds!

I better go get my kiddos.  Relaxation music is playing in the background.  I could rock and type all...day....

Running

Well it's been almost a month and in that time, I have conquered running.  I now run 13 miles without breaking a sweat.  April Fool's Day!  Obviously!  This is me when I run....Literally about a quarter mile in...I'm like a turtle trudging through peanut butter. In reality, I run 1 mile, walk two, and that is accomplishment for me!  Go me.  Slow but steady.  I no longer care as much about time as I do about getting a workout in.   

On the otherhand, I have gotten pretty decent at running the kids to school, back home, to church, back home, to the grocery, back home, and at times, to eat Mexican, back home (we don't have many restaurant options!)  My freezer cooking has paid off big- we eat at home most of the time now- except maybe once a week.  Everybody loves some chips and salsa right!? 

 

I am down 6 lbs now, unless I gained it all yesterday.  We hosted my husband's family for Easter and had a lot of great food.  After we ate, it was a "rock on the front porch kinda day".  My sis in law, mother in law, brother in law, and I visited and laughed as we watched the others in the yard/field.  The kids and their cousin and their granddad flew kites.  The older cousin zipped around them on a 4 wheeler.  I wish I had a picture of my hubby flying a kite while sitting on the back of the 4 wheeler.  That kite needed wind and country boys know how to make it happen!  It was a funny sight to see.  I would like to share pictures of the decorations from yesterday- I did a carrot theme and I thought it turned out cute.  I'm not creative so the ideas were some I got from pinterest the day before...it was all pretty simple and no fuss.  I don't have any pics on my phone and this isn't pinterest, so, moving on!

 

Easter was wonderful.  I helped teach kindergarten Sunday School and did resurrection eggs w/ the 7 kiddos there. 

 

So thankful for a very dear friend who gave me a set she bought on sale last year (said friend better never move, period, many of my closies have, and she may one day, and I say no now!).  I can't say enough about these- sharing them w/ my own babes, I almost cried.  When my hubby shared them w/ our babes again, he almost cried.  Go get some and be touched!  Hobby Lobby prob has them for $2-$3 right now!  If you have never heard of them (I hadn't until last year), each egg holds a piece of the story of Easter...the first egg holds a little donkey because Jesus rode into the city on a donkey.  One egg holds a miniature cross because Jesus carried the cross and was nailed on the cross, the last egg...EMPTY!  Because He AROSE!  The tomb?  Empty.  Our hearts?  Full.  1 Corinthians 15:4 "That he was buried, that he raised again on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures."  Jesus foretold this before it even happened, people.  Study it!  Amazing confirmation.  Promises, kept.  Life, eternal.  But at a huge price of pain, physical and emotional.  Thank you, Lord.   

 

After Sunday school, it was my Sunday to teach preschool worship, which I only do a couple times a year.  I enjoy it when I do, bc I get to work w/ my boy.  Both kids actually LOVE to have mommy as a teacher at church, and I am so happy about that!  My girl told me, "It makes me feel good when you teach me at church."  That's God!  :)  There were 15 kids in prek worship (including one
big helper, my girl, and she was truly a great helper!)  That is a lot of kids to contain but we did it!  We even did resurrection eggs w/ them too!  And we sang a lot of songs.  I wanted them to sit on the mat as long as I could hold them there.  Ha!

 

Late in the afternoon, the hubby and I drove to meet my folks so the kids could stay with them for a couple days.  I ate way too much for dinner last night- sugar, chips, dip, and felt downright icky afterward.  The couch was warm, the blanket soft, and I sat, starting at the treadmill, as I munched on junk food.  I got up this morning...regretting following my flesh...and jumped on the treadmill.  3 slow miles later, I feel a little better and am now...off to work.  I am thankful for parttime flexibility but I have been taking advantage of it the last couple months.  Time to get back in a routine! 

 

 

 

 

Healfy Food

Noah John asked for lentils for lunch yesterday.  Country boi is healthy boi.  I like lentils because, unlike pintos, they don't require soaking, and are ready to eat in 20 minutes!  Add onion, garlic, and voila!  This mom was pleased to feed spoonfulls of this to a cute blue-eyed preschooler!

No that is not my pic.  I don't garnish anything, haha. 

He also asked for a bowl of veggies for lunch on Wednesday...carrots, celely (as he says), and his "fravrorite":  broccoli.  He is like the rest of us if given the choice to eat junk 99% of the time, then sometimes he surprises me with saying, "I want something healfy to eat."  Ninety-nine percent of the time, he'll choose chips over veggies if he can, for example, so if you see him with his hand stuck in a cheeto bag, don't be shocked.  Then there was the time recently that my mom took him to Mickey D's and he said he didn't want anything, but wanted fruit at home.  Sure enough, she ordered nuggets for sis, and wheeled out of their with a happy boy in tow.  I want my kids to have a healthy relationship w/ food, so we attempt a fine balance.  That being said, I am making more of an effort to eat veggies, and I've found that I stay full longer, and crave chips less.  I have always eaten a fair-moderate amount of veggies, but those blasted snacks are so plentiful everywhere I turn, and I cave too many times.  I like crunchy foods, especially carbs, but cheerios and pretzels have provided my crunch/carb fix this week.  The big news is I have not had sweets in 6 days.  I attribute craving less to this feat.  I had gotten so addicted to sugar, it was bad.  I think clearer (if that's even a word) and my mood swings are less severe (just in 6 days).  I am on a quest to get weight off again, but at least I don't have as much to drop as I did when I started 3 years ago!  Putting this out here makes me vulnerable but not putting it out here didn't help either, so here goes!  Here's to feeling good and thinking clearly!  Next step, eventually, cut calories (which I cannot stand to do!!!).  One thing at a time and right now, cutting sugar is a huge praise. 

Snowy Start to Spring

Several days (3?) we have woken up with enough of a dusting of snow to get the "ahhh" effect from the kids.  I love to hear the wonder in their voices as they look across the farm and say, "Look Mommy!  It SNOWED!"  Luckily, the snow melted off most days by lunch, AND it didn't impede school (51 days til summer break, yay!).  Winter was my favorite season until about 2 years ago.  Just like that, it changed.  I prefer spring and summer now, but I'll take what God gives us and just like my kids, find continual beauty in snowy mornings!  I'm learning a lot from my kids.  They don't complain about the weather or if their shoes get wet or their noses cold.  They just keep on trucking and playing at the same good pace a kiddo should, whether it be in or outdoor.  We didn't do so well to not contract cabin fever a few times this winter though :/ but it's March now, and I'm not going to dwell on that anymore! 

Happy Spring, fam, snow or sunshine, and Happy Bday Dr. Seuss!  What a brilliant man...who provides HOURS AND HOURS of edutainment for my children.  From him, they have learned about rhyming words and a world full of imagination and possibility!  To celebrate, I went all out and read Cat in the Hat to the kids, which reminds me of yet one more reason I am so happy with my kiddos' schools.  They truly did go all out which makes it a-ok that mommy didn't/doesn't.  I figure when all else fails, READ to them!

 

 

 

 

John 14 blows me away

Did you know that John 14:23 says:

Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My father will love them, and we will come to them, and make our home with them."

How wonderful is THAT?  Beyond wonderful it is!  I need God to make a home in my home, because without Him, there is a lack of peace and my earthly haven is all but.   And not just that, there's an opposing force at work if God is not IN my home/making a home WITH US.  God has revealed this truth to me today, via my mom suggesting I read John 14.  It is a wonderful passage full of truth, hope, peace, favor, love, kindness, patience, gentless, and more truth.  Truth that seems too good to be true but it isn't.  Truth that when we obey Jesus' teaching, God will love us, and the Father/Son will COME TO US.  Oh dear Lord, I pray to be more obedient to Jesus' teaching.

God, dwell among us, dwell with us, in our home. 

I feel like a weight has been lifted.  I've been trying so hard and crashing in a pile of defeat.  It's not been enough to get the kids bathed, fed, and off to school.  It will never be enough.  It is not about the here and now ... it's about Christ leading us all home.  Where the streets are gold.  Not silver.  I pray fervently that I do not choose silver streets....ever ever ever again.  Yet if I do, I believe I will recognize the silver as a lesser good now.  Because, sometimes, see, I settle for silver.  Silver afterall, is cheaper, pretty, and easier to obtain.  But it isn't God's best for us!!!

God, dwell among us, dwell with us, in our home.

I urge my few faithful readers to pull out your bible (I like NIV and NLT) and read John 14.  I've had head and heart knowledge of the Lord for many years, but never once did I understand that the Father/Son will COME TO ME AND MAKE HIS HOME WITH ME.  Now that I know he lives here (or will when I obey), I see the space differently.  It feels different.  It feels pure and bright and new.  Join me in pouring over this verse and claiming it. 

Please take a few minutes and listen to this beautiful song that speaks my heart.  May I never be like Judas.  "The saddest thing I know of is when God's children turn away from the grace that they've been given,  just like Judas did that day.  There was forgiveness, but he chose silver over streets of gold.  But still, Jesus loved him, and would have saved his troubled soul.  All he had to do was ask, but that's what Judas didn't know."

What Judas Didn't Know

& this beautiful singer and her family have a website here.  I think she sounds a lot like Dolly, and this country girl in me likes some Dolly!

Love you all!  Happy listening!

Fort Sum'thin

The weather was so nice and sunny that we played outside for 3.5 hours yesterday, blew naps off, washed up, headed to church at 5, then afterward, the kids fell asleep by 8:30.  I rocked them both and sang silly songs to them, an obviously treasurable moment, as their legs seem lankier day by day.  They basically drape across me now instead of furrow into my lap.  Bittersweet!

 

 

Before the hubby and I retired to bed, we realized the heater wasn't working...so we layered the kids' beds with extra blankets, ours too, and went to sleep with one ear open.  The heater never kicked in overnight and when we woke it was 67-68, not bad at all, thank God!  I am really thankful for yesterday's day out in the sonshine, because today's is more like this....pickup, put up, repeat.

 

 

Nonetheless...the blessing of having a little boy...when your heater goes out in KY in late Feb and you have a preschooler at home, you have no choice but to make a super duper fort!  That's what we do anyway!  See that little chestnut hair peaking out?  He's the king of fort sum'thin.  It now looks like a gigantic stack of pillows for him to jump into over and over and over. 

Here's to spring arriving early and for mild weather, too!  And here's to turning over a new leaf for us all.  I did 15  freezer meals this weekend, and plan to do about that many more within the  next couple weeks.  It took me about 6 hours and the end result will save HOURS of time and calories.  I had to literally force myself to do it because I was not in a "plan ahead" kind of mood!  It had been nearly 2 mos since I had frozen meals.  When I did it then, nothing tasted freezer burnt (per my very picky husband) and I'm hoping for the same fresh taste with each meal this time too.  I LOVE having my afternoons free for playing with the kids.  It is so good for us, since little girl is now in big school. 

I prepped: 
1 veggie pizza toppings (mostly bc the carrots and broc were teetering on being bad).
1 meatloaf (gr chick)
2 jerk nacho toppings (peppers, rub, cilantro, lime)
2 philly cheesesteak
2 taco meat
2 spaghetti meat
2 chicken marbella (this is an amazing recipe, though a nontraditional combo of ingreds...see the recipe here I got the recipe years ago from a friend who has a Christian radio talk show!  I had it at her house and had to have the recipe.  It's now one of my favorite meals!   
1 chicken burger patties
1 tater tot casserole
1 bbq chicken w/ gr peppers (for pizza actually)

Still left to assemble,:

2 chicken divan
2 ritz chicken

The ritz chicken doesn't require hardly any prep so I'm thinking about waiting to assemble it day-of.

I did the math.  It cost me $2.52 per person for 19 meals.  I'm pretty happy w/ that!  I will have my southern meals on a dime :) like pinto beans and cornbread, and that will bring the month of March's cost per meal down even more.  This is the first time I've done the math, and I won't always, but I wanted a point of reference.  Since I've been a stay-at-home mom for 6 years, I like to shave pennies off when and where I can!

Okay, clock's a tickin', and I have laundry to fold, repaired (yay!) heater fans to pick up, and the funniest and most fun little boy to spend time with today!  I will leave you with one final thing, the best thing:  scripture.

I have recently memorized....

Isaiah 25:1
Oh Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you and praise your name.  In perfect faithfulness, you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (emphasis mine)

This verse is a real thirst quencher to my parched soul.  Everyone have a good Monday!  Tomorrow is a work day for me.  Luckily, both my kids are in schools that I am happy with, which makes it so much easier for all of us!  And since I cooked all those meals,  we can rebuild fort sum'thin for at least 15 afternoons in a row! 

Disney: Planning the vacation is not a vacation!!!

They say there are 2 types of people who go to DW...those who plan everything to the n'th degree and those who show up the day-of and go to guest services for quick advice on what to do when.  I believe I fall in the 2nd category!  We are planning a DW trip (long time off) w/ some friends and possibly my mom...and I'm almost dizzy from just looking at DW's trip planning site.  Just tell me when to go to Magic Kingdom, sign us up for a character breakfast at the castle and another w/boy characters, slide us into Bippity Boppity Boutique, the pirate fixer-upper place, tell us when to go to Animal Kingdom, and I'm good.  I think I developed a deeper crease in my 30-something forehead from trying to simplify the process!  Good thing I have a gift certificate for a facial.  Amanda, if you read this, I'm headed your way.  Please use the anti-Disney-planning-cream to the crease b'w my brows. Thank you!

Ah, but yes, Lord willing, it truly will be worth it though, to see this:

with the cutest farm kids this side of the Missisippi!  Or rather, to see them as they experience the magic.  Speaking of them, whew, somebody out there tell me what to do about sibling rivalry, specifically from 3pm-6pm when I'm trying to cook!  The sad thing is that time period is now the only time my two are together through the week (the last 1-2 hours before bed not included- for some reason they change and are so tender w/ each other from like 7 on!?).  This momma is stressed and turning to comfort food to numb it all!  I am in serious need of Jesus and real-deal intervention because this ain't gonna fly in this household!  No way, no how.

 

What to do...

*read The Word (alive and breathing...WHY oh WHY do I neglect it!?)

*freezer meals (so I can be w' the kids in the thro's from 3-6 instead of screaming from the kitchen w/ a frying pan in my hand..literally that was today's scenario as bacon for blt's popped and sizzled!  i mean, hello redneck central!)

*early bed times for all of us!  we were off to such a smooth start but round about dec...we snuggled in later and closer as the cold outside seemed less appealing.

*go less.  my hubby is on various committees and as a result, we travel more than i would plan at this point...i ENJOY these trips very much but for simplicity sake w/ 2 small ones, i would opt out (but for him!)  that being said, i've already planned an overnight trip for the kids and me to see my cousin and her 19 month old in 6 wx.  what can i say.  not a word if i'm smart!  oops, too late. but seriously, go less.  bw now and end of june, we have one excursion planned and it's a one-nighter.  i'll be surprised if i don't get homesick and head to the hills on an unplanned trip but for now, one trip is the plan so we can ...go...less.

*exercise...start again.  there is not much to do here besides eat - i compare it to when we were out west just a week ago - fast food restaurants were few and far between.  here they are everywhere.  and we like to eat!  we're southerners! 

*be positive, think positive

 

Happy Trails Y'all & Hope You Never Have to Plan a Disney Trip!  Just kidding!  But seriously, the hubby has taken over and this makes me HAPPY!  I can't afford too many facials afterall.

 

AgBc's if I may

Preparing to speak to 3 Ag classes and I am having speaker's block!  I think I may have the students do this fun and simple activity. So...if I may...I am going to plunk down some quick ideas to *hopefully* make speaker's block go AWAY!  I can normally talk to a wall yet right now, I'm STUCK!

Question: "What do you instantly think of when you hear the word FARMER?" 

ABC's of Agriculture

A-air...farms (hog specifically) may not always smell good but I like country air better than smoky/smoggy air!
B-breakfast...think country eggs, sausage from a nearby farm, bacon from a nearby farm, biscuits (hubby likes canned best), real butter (from Kroger ha)
C-country music...all things sung about farming and farm life make it sound gritty yet desirable at once (which makes me lol)
D-dogs...the hunting ones, the working ones, and my crazy chessie/wire hair Hallie dog!

 
E-eggs...from my backyard
F-farms...all across the nation...2% of the population farms and I'm PROUD to be a farm fam for this reason
G-grass...yep green grass...we grow it and sell it on this diversified ag op!

H-hens...don't want a rooster, thank you!  We have 7 of these babies right now.

I-inchworms...they aerate the soil, folks, and help our farms a lot more than they get credit for! 
J-juice...bc somewhere down the line fruit was picked from a farmer's field!  Even those big farms have a face!  I just met a guy face to face whose family farms 10,000 acres out west!  Awesome guy!  I'll never serve the kiddos another carrot w/o wondering if it came from that guy's land and hand!
K-kids..farms and kids go together, and I'm SO glad to raise mine on a farm, though I had to grow to love it and appreciate it!
L-land...whew, land is $PRICY$ here and I'm glad for the land we farm and the little bit we live on!
M-moo cows...went to a dairy recently and watched those mommas get milked, then their milk was dumped into a drain because they had been on antibx and it must test out of the milk before it gets pasteurized. 
N-North Dakota...the farmers in ND have it different than we do here - their land is owned by the gov't and they lease it from them.  Glad for all kinds of people who do their best with the land today (and shame on those who don't!) for food tomorrow!
O-operations...farm ops to be specific...all kinds too...traditional, organic, big, little.
P-pesticides. I know, I know.  Trust me, I know!
Q-quaker oats...on those mornings I indulgeforce them down my throat, I think of a farmer and a farm field somewhere that grew those babies.

R-rain...oh yes, rain, and the good Lord who gives it.
S-sunshine...same as above!
T-trucks...I am kind of in love with my husband's hot truck.  It's built Ford Tough.  It literally gives me flutters something crayyy.
U-USDA for regulations...even though at times they bite farmers and I may take flack for saying it!  They are there for good reason.
V-variety ... I'll take peaches and cream sweet corn variety please!

W-water...see letter R. 
X-meXico...our best workers come from there!
Y-youth...who are the up and coming farmers...let's teach them well!
Z-zones...so I know which flowers and bushes I can plant and when :)

A Reminder To Me

I attended a funeral of an older man a few weeks ago.  I noticed when the preacher described the great man he was, things he liked, and so on, he never once mentioned the older man's parents.  He shared many wonderful things about the man, but again, no mention of his mommy and daddy.  I sat there, listening, and pondered that..  I wondered about them.  I thought how they probably loved him, doted on him, kissed him, tousled his hair, cried tears of joy and pain over him and with him....  I thought deeply about it...I believe it caught me off-guard because, at this stage in my life, I don't think of my children separate from me.  But that day, it hit me.  Some day my kids will be without me and their life story will go on separate from me.  Some day, hopefully when they're gray, they will not be known as my babies anymore.  This realization made me almost sad - yet it was also a good reminder to not focus on the petty, unimportant things in life.

The important things in life right now:

My HUSBAND
Doing homework at the kitchen table while the dryer tumbles clothes
Watching little feet run to see another gorgeous flatland sunset before it dips beneath the horizon  (LOOK MOMMY!!!  God is such a good arrrrtist!  Looooook at the skyyy!  It's PERPLE!")
Reading "another chapter" in a big kid chapter book
FaceTime with family
Walking on the spiritual warpath, onward to church, forward to Sunday school, upward to stand and sing, then reverently listening, drinking in Real Water...all so someday the circle will be unbroken and everyone will be reunited in a glorious family reunion.


The unimportant things in life:

Anything that takes away from any of the above.

I know my ABC's

I got this from a friend and held onto the idea for such a time as this--when my creativity has stopped short but my mind continues to race.

Following my friend's recommendation, I am going to list things for which I am thankful, as quickly as they come to my mind.

A-Apples (the sweet ones like braeburn and fuji that the kids eat happily)
B-Babies
C-Coke (I have gotten hooked on coca-cola in less than 1 week --- I have never been a pop drinker!)
D-Diet
E-Eggs (we love our egg-laying chickens for those daily eggs we gather!)
F-Friends
G-Guns (under lock and key, for sure)
H-Hats (love my babies in hats and I like how they keep my little ears warm)
I-inch worms (I can't wait until spring so the kids and I can explore!)
J-juice
K-kites (spring on this farm is great...and one of the things we always do to kick it off is fly kites!)
L-lollipops (Noah John is addicted)
M-mothers (I miss my mom and can't wait until she can come visit again!)
N-noses
O-octopus
P-puzzles
Q-The Quick Queen of Quincy and her Quacking Quakaroo
R-roses (multi-colored ones are my fave)
S-sunshine
T-toes
U-umbrellas (spiderman and princess umbrellas specifically)
V-vases (for roses)
W-water
X-xylophones (the multicolored ones kids have...my two still play with the one they've had since babyhood)
Y-youth (I am thankful for our young and energetic babysitter who we are building a relationship with since our other sitter grew up and went to college!)
Z-zoos (I can't wait for spring...I keep saying this but I can't help it!)

Now I've said my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?  Go!

Not me, not her, but Him

Here goes my first attempt at linking to another post.  I feel so overwhelmed lately that my creativity is hampered, so I'm sharing another blog post I stumbled upon.  I have nothing, and in reality, as much as I like her post because I am a "list maker", without God, it will not be more than good intentions...so it's not me, not Ann Voskamp, it's God.  And if it doesn't help me, then I have tried by my own strength, and not relied on God.  I am just keeping it real this evening, and I'm saying I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.... Phil 4:13.

A different kind of to do list....

Digging Out

Ever feel like this?

I saw this picture and thought it pretty much sums up how I have felt the last 6 months!  On that note, let's get serious for a few minutes!

You ever feel like you're down in a pit?  I've just climbed out of one and I will admit:  I am standing but my knees are wobbly weak!  The worst part is, it's one I jumped into!  I have mud-caked-nails from clawing out of that place but NOW I STAND, and each minute I'm standing firmer than the last.  Ephesians 6:13 says it best... 

For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

This scripture reminds me of all the times in the past when Christ has taken me from defeat to victory.  Of all the times I've given up, lifted up my chin, and seen HIM.  My precious DELIVERER.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

I would like to suggest two books to anyone who is a pit-dweller.  Both are books I've read/studies I've been part of over the last 3 years and the truths in them have stuck with me. 

I have a copy of the last if anybody wants to borrow it (I'm happy to mail it)!  The first is a workbook - the study is DVD driven and is worth every minute of homework.  My church library has a copy so odds are, a church near you does too!  God doesn't want us to live in defeat so if you can relate, lift up your chin.  He's waiting to do what He does best:  deliver you, too.

 

 

Foody that goes to my booty

Crockpot Hot Fudge Cake

1 box of chocolate cake mix (I will try brownies next time!)
Make and bake according to pkg directions except sub apple sauce for oil (part for part)

*With chocolate cake, you do not notice the apple sauce at all.  I've tried to do this with yellow or white cake, and it wasn't as good though.  I guess the choc flavor is stronger.  Seriously, nobody could tell, and it was tested on 7 women who all seemed to be shameless chocoholics.

After the cake is baked, tear it apart into chunks.  For some reason, my cake was finished a few minutes earlier than the box said.  Maybe because I used apple sauce?  So watch your cake, peeps.  When it's all done and torn into yummy chocolatey cakey chunks, put it in the crock pot.  About an hour before you serve it, turn the crockpot on low.  Make homemade fudge sauce on the stove top and keep it warm.  When I fixed this recently, my mom was visiting and made the sauce for me without following a recipe.  Google or check out allrecipes.com.  You will drizzle the fudge sauce over the cake right before eating it, which is why I say make ahead and keep on low!  Yummo.  Sorry this is disjointed.  When I write about chocolate, I get kind of spastic.   Next:  add marshmallows to the cake in the crockpot maybe 30 minutes before serving...maybe an hour out.  IDK.  I made this up as I went.  Where I goofed:  I ended up putting the 'mallows in way too early then I added the fudge sauce (which was hot) to the crockpot.  It proceeded to melt the 'mallows totally, which made it not as pretty and gooey.  So I decided next time, this is how I'll do it...put 'mallows in crock 30-45 mins out so they get melty and gooey, and instead of adding sauce to the crock, pour it 'on' the dessert once it's been scooped out of the crock.  Minor details:  I used mini 'mallows whereas next time, I'll use the big ones maybe.  I'll also add choc chunks next time. Oh yes I will.  And I'll run in place while I'm making it.  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. 

There you go...you now have an easy peasy dessert, with very few ingreds!

The only other thing I would add is, if you can afford the good choc, go for it.  I don't normally either but I can dream!  Creamy choc as opposed to dry choc=worth it.  I'm thinking ghirardelli good.


Next up...Tortilla Soup that "point blank rocks."