I have to admit, there is some sort of weird thrill about typing to uh, no one. I will be welcoming guests again soon but for a day or two, I think I shall post away sans readers.
Today, M graciously corrected my Calvary vs. Cavalry faux paux. Whoops.
She noted that calling my church posts "Call out the Calvary" would not be um, quite right. What was I thinking? Evidently, I was not. You know. Horses... Jesus. I just wasn't thinking!
I don't know, fun play on words? Ok, too irreverent.
Anyway, Tonight at church was wonderful and we saw that our sufferings in Greek was defined as a contest, a competition as in the Roman arena.
But we fight the fight against the already defeated enemy! So that is one fight we can take on in confidence! Suffering is OK because the victory is won.
WOOHOO!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
So far, so Fantastic!
Still in Vero. Can't wait to get back though! I don't know WHY the blog sits idle whilst I'm here...I don't really LIKE to blog unless I have something to blog about.
Yesterday ended up not too good with a fender bender in the Walmart parking lot! But today is a new day and the week that I'm headed back to my lovely town!! WOOHOO! I'll head back on Thursday morning so I can make church on Thursday night...SO excited about "second" church. Kinda like "second breakfast" and who's not excited about that? Lol
Of course we still have the problem of the kids but I think Thursday will just have to be for me or for J if he's there.
I don't want to miss a session or you can get behind but thankfully there is wonderful TECHNOLOGY where CD's reign and MP3's unite! (see? Stuff CAN be good!)
S accidentally downloaded three sermons on her IPod and then LOVED listening to them before bed. Coincidence? I think not. I love how we are getting a deeper view into WHO Paul was! It is the first time I feel I've had a proper view of him. All this time I thought I didn't like his personality when now I think I would have liked him...a LOT! Lol Passion Plus! Not that it is about what "I like" anyway, (please don't make me qualify) but is is rather nice to finally be able to more fully UNDERSTAND and so appreciate someone who for all intents and purposes wrote the latter portion of the Bible!
Anyway, it has not been nor will continue to be an EASY transition, but things worth it never are and I pray we will find our way as I pray you all will find yours.
So far, so FANTASTIC!
Special shout out to Fearless who has agreed to regularly grab me a CD if I'm not there.
Yesterday ended up not too good with a fender bender in the Walmart parking lot! But today is a new day and the week that I'm headed back to my lovely town!! WOOHOO! I'll head back on Thursday morning so I can make church on Thursday night...SO excited about "second" church. Kinda like "second breakfast" and who's not excited about that? Lol
Of course we still have the problem of the kids but I think Thursday will just have to be for me or for J if he's there.
I don't want to miss a session or you can get behind but thankfully there is wonderful TECHNOLOGY where CD's reign and MP3's unite! (see? Stuff CAN be good!)
S accidentally downloaded three sermons on her IPod and then LOVED listening to them before bed. Coincidence? I think not. I love how we are getting a deeper view into WHO Paul was! It is the first time I feel I've had a proper view of him. All this time I thought I didn't like his personality when now I think I would have liked him...a LOT! Lol Passion Plus! Not that it is about what "I like" anyway, (please don't make me qualify) but is is rather nice to finally be able to more fully UNDERSTAND and so appreciate someone who for all intents and purposes wrote the latter portion of the Bible!
Anyway, it has not been nor will continue to be an EASY transition, but things worth it never are and I pray we will find our way as I pray you all will find yours.
So far, so FANTASTIC!
Special shout out to Fearless who has agreed to regularly grab me a CD if I'm not there.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Food for thought...
Well, here's some fodder for thought. (Wait, don't you CHEW fodder? I mean not YOU but the universal cow you?) Wait, that's cud. Hold on a sec...
Ok, online dictionary says:
fod·der n.
1. Feed for livestock, especially coarsely chopped hay or straw.
2. Raw material, as for artistic creation.
3. A consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usually abundant supply: romantic novels intended as fodder for the pulp fiction market.
Hmph. My blog posts most likely resemble number three most times...(the "inferior" and "abundant" part, not the "in demand" part)
so here's some more uh, food for thought....that sounds pretty good.
Ok! Ok! I'm getting to it!
The controlling woman...Ha HA!! Worth the wait was it?
I have dealt with my whole life (ok, you know what I mean, the last 15 years) with the unmistakable position of being an extrovert married to an introvert and attending the Southern Baptist Church. For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that I get the unenviable position of being misconstrued. And often. It is most likely always my own fault. But not because I am in control of the home but because I'm what you might call a..hmm, well- a power communicator. I love to talk it out. But find few in my circles who want to do that. And certainly not with the WIFE. Lol
I once read that a quality of one with my personality type is that I loved to argue and that if I couldn't find someone to argue with, I'd argue with myself.
Flattering eh? But true I'm afraid. Well, debate is what I like to do, NOT argue.
So, inevitably I end up trying to communicate too much and thereby become misunderstood. Belonging to the Southern Baptist Church doesn't help this much. Believing WHOLEHEARTEDLY with the patriarchal vision and truth of God's Word mandating that the husband be head of the home, the church looks down upon not strong women, but controlling ones. And not looks down upon the women per se, if they are a true example of church, but rather looks down upon that sin and lovingly brings correction.
I do find myself in some sort of quandary from time to time because I can speak! It would be less noticed if my dh was as extroverted as I am.
So perhaps this is another tool that the Lord will use to keep an already extroverted gal from becoming TOO extroverted and thereby slipping down that slippery slope of sin...or perhaps I will simply be misunderstood for life. There could be worse things.
My marriage is one of equality with our roles clearly defined. J PUTS his foot down if needs be and I straighten right up. But mostly we work together, in submission to each other; He the Pres, I, the Vice and he is one great boss let me tell you. We are a privately owned marriage by the Great I AM.
My one great weakness is that I DON'T want to be misunderstood which stems from the great sin of pride, I'm afraid. Sometimes being able to speak doesn't mean one SHOULD speak. I'm still working on that too.
But I am blessed and grateful that I know the difference and can take correction. I was just telling a dear friend that I ENJOY being disciplined. (no off color comments Crys! Lol) But really I do. The rod of correction in my life, accountability, rebuke, are welcomed here. It feels like I'm being, well, parented! Of course, that's because I AM being parented by the greatest parent of all. And the loving arms of discipline, as I tell my children, are a safe place to be!
So I confess and repent of my shortcomings and still stand strong in my conviction that I don't have to hide my personality. I've struggled with that for years and am finally getting comfortable in my own skin. I don't have to kneel on pencils in worry that I am overstepping my bounds. I simply must submit to the authority of God's Word, and live my life as an outpouring of my spirit.
I saw a bumper sticker today that said: "My religion is loving kindness."
A little new agey for me, but I can take some good from it. Too much Law and ye get legalism, too much freedom and ye get sin!
We must strike the perfect balance between Freedom in Christ and the Law.
That place is called heaven and until then, I strive to reach it.
Shalom ya'll.
Ok, online dictionary says:
fod·der n.
1. Feed for livestock, especially coarsely chopped hay or straw.
2. Raw material, as for artistic creation.
3. A consumable, often inferior item or resource that is in demand and usually abundant supply: romantic novels intended as fodder for the pulp fiction market.
Hmph. My blog posts most likely resemble number three most times...(the "inferior" and "abundant" part, not the "in demand" part)
so here's some more uh, food for thought....that sounds pretty good.
Ok! Ok! I'm getting to it!
The controlling woman...Ha HA!! Worth the wait was it?
I have dealt with my whole life (ok, you know what I mean, the last 15 years) with the unmistakable position of being an extrovert married to an introvert and attending the Southern Baptist Church. For those of you who don't know what that means, it means that I get the unenviable position of being misconstrued. And often. It is most likely always my own fault. But not because I am in control of the home but because I'm what you might call a..hmm, well- a power communicator. I love to talk it out. But find few in my circles who want to do that. And certainly not with the WIFE. Lol
I once read that a quality of one with my personality type is that I loved to argue and that if I couldn't find someone to argue with, I'd argue with myself.
Flattering eh? But true I'm afraid. Well, debate is what I like to do, NOT argue.
So, inevitably I end up trying to communicate too much and thereby become misunderstood. Belonging to the Southern Baptist Church doesn't help this much. Believing WHOLEHEARTEDLY with the patriarchal vision and truth of God's Word mandating that the husband be head of the home, the church looks down upon not strong women, but controlling ones. And not looks down upon the women per se, if they are a true example of church, but rather looks down upon that sin and lovingly brings correction.
I do find myself in some sort of quandary from time to time because I can speak! It would be less noticed if my dh was as extroverted as I am.
So perhaps this is another tool that the Lord will use to keep an already extroverted gal from becoming TOO extroverted and thereby slipping down that slippery slope of sin...or perhaps I will simply be misunderstood for life. There could be worse things.
My marriage is one of equality with our roles clearly defined. J PUTS his foot down if needs be and I straighten right up. But mostly we work together, in submission to each other; He the Pres, I, the Vice and he is one great boss let me tell you. We are a privately owned marriage by the Great I AM.
My one great weakness is that I DON'T want to be misunderstood which stems from the great sin of pride, I'm afraid. Sometimes being able to speak doesn't mean one SHOULD speak. I'm still working on that too.
But I am blessed and grateful that I know the difference and can take correction. I was just telling a dear friend that I ENJOY being disciplined. (no off color comments Crys! Lol) But really I do. The rod of correction in my life, accountability, rebuke, are welcomed here. It feels like I'm being, well, parented! Of course, that's because I AM being parented by the greatest parent of all. And the loving arms of discipline, as I tell my children, are a safe place to be!
So I confess and repent of my shortcomings and still stand strong in my conviction that I don't have to hide my personality. I've struggled with that for years and am finally getting comfortable in my own skin. I don't have to kneel on pencils in worry that I am overstepping my bounds. I simply must submit to the authority of God's Word, and live my life as an outpouring of my spirit.
I saw a bumper sticker today that said: "My religion is loving kindness."
A little new agey for me, but I can take some good from it. Too much Law and ye get legalism, too much freedom and ye get sin!
We must strike the perfect balance between Freedom in Christ and the Law.
That place is called heaven and until then, I strive to reach it.
Shalom ya'll.
Who needs Wii-not me!
I just finished watching commercials for the Wii game, Tivo and Vonage. Then there was the "Juke" (cool name, but I do not need an MP3 player in my cell phone)
I probably do NOT need Netflix, caller ID or my cell, really. Though I do like them.
There just has to come a point where you say, do I really NEED all this STUFF????
Being in Vero with my Mom and watching her shop for all this STUFF just reinforces my belief that stuff does not matter.
People buy stuff- then store stuff, they need stuff- then sell stuff, they eat stuff then...well, you know.
Enough stuff! I have little desire for stuff anymore. I already have a digital camcorder I can't run so I use my digital camera that I can barely run. I don't know how to store a number on my cell or access my cell's voicemail from another phone. And no, the clock on my VCR years ago and my DVD player now, is still not set.
Perhaps it is single young people with high paying jobs or over extended credit that need this stuff. Perhaps the lonliness of late night work, no family unity, waiting to marry and have kids until later in life all result in the need for "stuff".
I am often tired. Frustrated. Impatient. Or on even on the verge of tears but I wouldn't trade it for all the stuff in the world.
I'm not saying I wouldn't accept a large flat screened TV to watch Blue Planet on though... ok, SOME stuff is pretty darned good!
I probably do NOT need Netflix, caller ID or my cell, really. Though I do like them.
There just has to come a point where you say, do I really NEED all this STUFF????
Being in Vero with my Mom and watching her shop for all this STUFF just reinforces my belief that stuff does not matter.
People buy stuff- then store stuff, they need stuff- then sell stuff, they eat stuff then...well, you know.
Enough stuff! I have little desire for stuff anymore. I already have a digital camcorder I can't run so I use my digital camera that I can barely run. I don't know how to store a number on my cell or access my cell's voicemail from another phone. And no, the clock on my VCR years ago and my DVD player now, is still not set.
Perhaps it is single young people with high paying jobs or over extended credit that need this stuff. Perhaps the lonliness of late night work, no family unity, waiting to marry and have kids until later in life all result in the need for "stuff".
I am often tired. Frustrated. Impatient. Or on even on the verge of tears but I wouldn't trade it for all the stuff in the world.
I'm not saying I wouldn't accept a large flat screened TV to watch Blue Planet on though... ok, SOME stuff is pretty darned good!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dinner when off without a hitch. Strange having it a day early but good. Tomorrow we're off to Vero. Maybe I'll see you at WalMart Chewi!I am thankful for ALL of my friends near and far. Especially for Golden Triangle Homeschoolers Group! Love you guys! Have a great day tomorrow!
Shofar sho good...hahahahhahahahahahah
The gang went to the Holy Land Experience yesterday and had a great time. They said it looked better than ever. Nothing too much had changed so far since TBN took it over. The Roman guards talked to R and L and had everyone cracking up. They asked if R was married and said they had a job as a guard when they were ten. When Jeff told them L liked to cook chocolate chip pancakes, they acted confused about chocolate chips and said they liked rat and flamingo and were looking for a good cook and was she interested. Grandpa Howard said it was magnificent and moving. I am SO glad he got to go. They are very involved with their Catholic church back home. S and K stayed home with me and as you can see, L missed Grandpa H plenty. :0) We're having Thanksgiving today as he goes home tomorrow so turkey is in the oven. Gonna go snuggle with J for a bit. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
You had WHAT?
Last night the wonderful SMOKE MAN came to fix our computer. (Or should I say he came BACK to fix it after an initial am try) Ok, so the computer problem is no longer my problem but the dinner I served him was. Lol
Since he was here late he joined us for dinner. Now, I am not sure what dinner is for you all the night before Thanksgiving, but for us it is "Clean out the fridge" dinner. So I made all the veggies I had left over from not pureeing, brown rice and bread. Yes...that is what I served this poor man. Cauliflower soup with too much salt so I added Sun dried tomatoes. WHY you ask? OF COURSE so it could be even MORE salty. Sauteed zucchini and squash over brown rice. Sliced bread. Mmm mm MM MM mmm! THEN of course, to top it off, I didn't even have any decent SUGAR in the house (thanks M) to pacify the poor man so I had to give him sherbet which, yes, is good under most circumstances but THIS wasn't one of them.
Fearless told me once that you know you are really good friends when your families all have dinner together, not just the women. Done.
Ok, I promise chicken enchiladas next time so WHEN can I redeem myself???? Lol
Before you all give me the Mary/Martha story, I already know! It is just funny that THIS was the dinner I served to a complete stranger when normally I would have served something else. I am reading a book on once a month cooking and it is all about hospitality not fancy food. Evidently I hooked right up to her idea last night!! Sorry Smokeman!
Since he was here late he joined us for dinner. Now, I am not sure what dinner is for you all the night before Thanksgiving, but for us it is "Clean out the fridge" dinner. So I made all the veggies I had left over from not pureeing, brown rice and bread. Yes...that is what I served this poor man. Cauliflower soup with too much salt so I added Sun dried tomatoes. WHY you ask? OF COURSE so it could be even MORE salty. Sauteed zucchini and squash over brown rice. Sliced bread. Mmm mm MM MM mmm! THEN of course, to top it off, I didn't even have any decent SUGAR in the house (thanks M) to pacify the poor man so I had to give him sherbet which, yes, is good under most circumstances but THIS wasn't one of them.
Fearless told me once that you know you are really good friends when your families all have dinner together, not just the women. Done.
Ok, I promise chicken enchiladas next time so WHEN can I redeem myself???? Lol
Before you all give me the Mary/Martha story, I already know! It is just funny that THIS was the dinner I served to a complete stranger when normally I would have served something else. I am reading a book on once a month cooking and it is all about hospitality not fancy food. Evidently I hooked right up to her idea last night!! Sorry Smokeman!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Today's Happenings
Well Grandpa H and J took S and L on a hike down some deep ravine while R and I get to stay home. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff put up more bookshelves in the dining room so I am taking down the three stations for the girls that we currently used for their school stuff and incorporating to the new shelves...I hope.
I am still convinced that we need to convert our books to a real library system but haven't worked out every kink yet.
That is one project I will NOT start until I'm sure how I want it.
We had a late breakfast of sausage, eggs, fruit, hashbrowns and blueberry scones.
Yes. I said scones, gotta problem with that?
Actually, the scones got made so I could take some to my neighbor as an "I'm sorry" and "thank you" for helping me look for Kate in a hysterical frenzy yesterday afternoon.
J and S took her to the store and I didn't know. We searched the house, the grounds and the lake. Finally I had to take J's truck to the store all the while PRAYING when I saw them she would be in their arms. She was.
I had a break down right there in the middle of Save-A-Lot. I almost couldn't stand. What a mess. But, she is ok and I am ok and we are all OK. Lol
So our late breakfast equals a skipped lunch and an early dinner at LAMPU!!!!!! Woohoo!
You Vero-ites don't know what Lampu is but it is a regular fave around here.
Japanese style steak house with incredibly cheesy showmanship, relatively good food and CHEAP prices. (5 bucks for lunch)
I get a break from cooking (evidently so I could do some re-organizing!)
Good thing I like this Keeper at Home stuff! ;)
Jeff put up more bookshelves in the dining room so I am taking down the three stations for the girls that we currently used for their school stuff and incorporating to the new shelves...I hope.
I am still convinced that we need to convert our books to a real library system but haven't worked out every kink yet.
That is one project I will NOT start until I'm sure how I want it.
We had a late breakfast of sausage, eggs, fruit, hashbrowns and blueberry scones.
Yes. I said scones, gotta problem with that?
Actually, the scones got made so I could take some to my neighbor as an "I'm sorry" and "thank you" for helping me look for Kate in a hysterical frenzy yesterday afternoon.
J and S took her to the store and I didn't know. We searched the house, the grounds and the lake. Finally I had to take J's truck to the store all the while PRAYING when I saw them she would be in their arms. She was.
I had a break down right there in the middle of Save-A-Lot. I almost couldn't stand. What a mess. But, she is ok and I am ok and we are all OK. Lol
So our late breakfast equals a skipped lunch and an early dinner at LAMPU!!!!!! Woohoo!
You Vero-ites don't know what Lampu is but it is a regular fave around here.
Japanese style steak house with incredibly cheesy showmanship, relatively good food and CHEAP prices. (5 bucks for lunch)
I get a break from cooking (evidently so I could do some re-organizing!)
Good thing I like this Keeper at Home stuff! ;)
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Corn AMAZEing!
What a day! If anyone could have fun at a corn maze, evidently these people can! They did it all and J thought it HILARIOUS when he called me up and said, "Thank goodness you answered, we're lost in the maze and we raised the flag but no one will come, you have to call them!"I totally believed him.
Check out the great pics and the "corn" snake they saw! Lol
We actually have not been able to find out what kind of snake it was but WOW.
We finished the day off with a DELICIOUS pot of pumpkin turkey chili and garlic cheese biscuits.
Grandpa Howard's here!
California gave up Grandpa Howard for a week! EVERYONE loves Grandpa Howard. He is always ready with a book or a game. Kate amazingly took a shine to him right off. Not like her as you all know. She jumped right up on him like she knew he belonged to her. He played croquet with the girls while drinking a glass of Paisano. He can play chess for hours and hike 50 miles in a day. He is almost 90. We spoil him like mad. Every moment a gift.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Christmas Cards and Fellowship
S went to the Titus 2 Tuesday last night, (Friday, Lol)
She had a GREAT time. I mean really. Not only are these cards beautiful, but we got another affirmation of how we are raising the kids. We slowly send her out, to a well chosen activity without US. We send her with trusted people while still being exposed to an unknown. She transitions to an adult life slowly from our home into the outside realm while still under our watchful eye. We don't send her into a group of 14 year olds who individually are fine but en masse are dangerous. She is turning out beautifully by the grace of God. She had a wonderful time and I can glimpse the future with her as an adult woman one day my equal yet always my daughter. She is old enough to start standing on her own without us in the right situations. It is not the world's view that sheperding your child's heart is a good thing, but to us, it is pretty obvious stuff!
Signing off soon...
Well, I'm up and about to start a very busy week and a half. Not sure how much I'll be blogging but I put my share in the last few days so I'm good. Where you ALL have been, I have no clue. Get blogging people. It's what's going to keep me sane. Lol
I am making a new salsa recipe today:
Chile de Arbol Salsa
1/2 pound Italian Roma Tomatoes (I'm just using what I have here)
2/4 pound tomatillos (first time using these and am excited)
1 cup arbol chiles (or to taste, these chiles are HOT and I bet can be substituted)
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves only roughly chopped
1 med white onion
4 garlic cloves
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Preheat Broiler. Place tomatoes and tomatillos on a baking sheet. Broil, turning occasionally until charred all over, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook until onions are soft, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Puree and then strain. Serve and room temp or chilled. Can keep for a week or so or be frozen.
I've done NO pureeing and am currently going to use all my veggies for recipes over the next few days. I promise to try them soon though...I just can't see myself pureeing and freezing everything now and then going out and re-buying everything for meals for the next few days since I have company coming.
My hubby and FIL are coming today. We are going to do the Holy Land Experience which should be interesting since TBN took it over and the corn maze. We will just miss light up Mount Dora (yay, too busy) but now that I can somewhat consider myself actually living here, I found out (thanks HSC) that the real fun is the Christmas walk so I look forward to that.
Going to Vero on Wednesday to have Thanksgiving with my Dad (we're comin' Dad!) and am looking forward to that.
Hope everyone's Thanksgiving will be gentle, peaceful, loving, sweet, God centered and um, filling?
I am making a new salsa recipe today:
Chile de Arbol Salsa
1/2 pound Italian Roma Tomatoes (I'm just using what I have here)
2/4 pound tomatillos (first time using these and am excited)
1 cup arbol chiles (or to taste, these chiles are HOT and I bet can be substituted)
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves only roughly chopped
1 med white onion
4 garlic cloves
2 cups water
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Preheat Broiler. Place tomatoes and tomatillos on a baking sheet. Broil, turning occasionally until charred all over, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and cook until onions are soft, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Puree and then strain. Serve and room temp or chilled. Can keep for a week or so or be frozen.
I've done NO pureeing and am currently going to use all my veggies for recipes over the next few days. I promise to try them soon though...I just can't see myself pureeing and freezing everything now and then going out and re-buying everything for meals for the next few days since I have company coming.
My hubby and FIL are coming today. We are going to do the Holy Land Experience which should be interesting since TBN took it over and the corn maze. We will just miss light up Mount Dora (yay, too busy) but now that I can somewhat consider myself actually living here, I found out (thanks HSC) that the real fun is the Christmas walk so I look forward to that.
Going to Vero on Wednesday to have Thanksgiving with my Dad (we're comin' Dad!) and am looking forward to that.
Hope everyone's Thanksgiving will be gentle, peaceful, loving, sweet, God centered and um, filling?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Home school stalker, I mean tracker...
I also downloaded a free version of Homeschooltracker to TRY YET AGAIN to log what I do. It is tedious at best but guess who LOVES it???? S! So she will "track" what we do daily and the good thing is I can print a report at the end of the year by subject or student and have a nice little package for my evaluator. M referred me to it which is confusing since it totally seems NOT her, though she does have the advanced version. But I am hoping that if S. continues to love it then we will successfully have logged what we do around this joint!
Kate-in-school
Funny...lately Kate is INSANE to do anything "schooly". We have engaged her WAY too much for any mother who cares AT ALL for her sanity. Now, deep down I know this is good. But by this afternoon I had the girls in the basement looking for old Blues Clues videos!
I DO love it though. The unpureed veggies on the counter proved to be the favorite of the day. She was obsessed with them. She came and got each one of us a thousand times and made us chase after her until she reached the "mantle of veggies". We would say each one over and over and let her handle them. She was crazy for them and could say onion and broccoli pretty well! She also loved the scooping of beans and did amazingly well for 16 months. She scooped away and I didn't care when she moved on to doing it with her hands. Made me think perhaps larger items like cotton balls or blocks being placed from one container to another would also be a good thing. 400 books later, and we are trying to get her to "down time". Doesn't she know how to "veg out" the old fashioned way? I think not!
Done for the day...
Well, it's currently 2:28 and anyone who knows me knows that this is my bewitching hour. The last half hour before the "I don't wannas" start up. The kids? Naaaah. They're still happily working. It's ME! I wind down (and eventually out) by this time and THIS is how far I've gotten on the pureeing. (see pic) The good news? I only got this far because I was doing school! The bad news? Chick-Fil-A for lunch and I'm currently chewing on Twizzlers that I purchased at Walgreen's this morning while also generously purchasing Alka-Seltzer for my Rachey's film canister bomb experiment that I brought home from the library in the form of a book called "You Gotta Try This!" Ok, so I've decided that I will GRACIOUSLY allow the blogging world (i.e. y-o-u) to see the "process" of getting to a healthier eating style. Perhaps it will show SOME of you (who ridiculously think my kids were BORN this well behaved) that all things are a process.
I tend to think I can do it all NOW. So: I throw out all food and buy the kind that has-to-be-prepared thinking (along with our first day of "real" school) I will ALSO puree nine kinds of veggies, freeze them and make three new recipes while simultaneously making turkey chili. And---that's how Chick-Fil-A came into the picture.
M can attest to my "dive right in" mentality. So, you will see my slow, painful process of ups and downs, starts and stops, successes and failures until we somehow just "seem" to have always eaten this healthy.
So as you see some failures you may feel the need to snicker, snoot and judge me...go ahead! But! In a year or two, all the new people I meet will say "Sure, it's easy when your kids were born that way AND it's easy to get them to eat healthy when they were raised on healthy food!" Hahahahaha but YOU will know and so must BELIEVE that what I say is true.
And you, all my old friends who know the truth of how I REALLY got there will sneak me some fries once in a while...(please)
SEE YA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kate with bag of posion..."I don't need this stuff!"
Well, henceforth the beginnings of our new healthier eating style. OUT with the sugar, IN with the avocado cupcakes.
Hmmm... you're right, that doesn't work, so I won't be emphasizing the description of every recipe. Though all the eeeewwwing did give us another good opportunity to talk about having a good attitude, trying new things, etc. Of course, that turned 'em around purdy quick and now they are all about "doing" whatever Mom's doing. Oatmeal and boiled eggs (just the whites) for breakfast. We forgot to use honey instead of the not-to-be-mentioned-lest-we-fall-into-a-poisoned-coma, splenda. (kids had REAL sugar) Ok, I just realized that the REAL sugar was still IN THE HOUSE. (Hear booming DJ, "IS THERE SOME SHUGA IN DA HOUSE!!!) Anyway, real sugar stays for when Mom has to make chocolate brownies at 2am when suffering from extreme sugar withdrawal. haahahahahahahahahahah
BTW- M, that's actual WATER in her cup! If she's thirsty, she'll learn to drink it! Woohoo! and yes, they are excited to try honey on their oats next time. And fresh fruit and nuts too! ;0)
"Get ridda this yucky stuff!"
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
411: The library has BOOKS!
Ok, I realize that this is not perhaps new information for most people, Lol.
But it seems new to me every time I go. You see, I'm somewhat of an anomaly.
I am a book addict but am surprised every time I go to the library. I don't know why. I mean, I actually do not know why I go in, start looking for something and suddenly I am in AWE. Books! Books everywhere! To my neighbor: Did you know the library has books? To the lady behind me in line: Have you seen what's at the library? To my husband: Honey, you will NEVER believe what I found!
So what's up with my library issue? I don't know, I didn't frequent the library as a youth and I think that as a book loving Mom, I always am at the library with or for the KIDS. But when J and I just go and I am at my leisure, my mind and thoughts can wander along with my selections. This was an untapped resource for me as a child due to upbringing....so now I find it as pleasurable as can be.
J and I like to take long rides for "alone" time. We also really enjoy it when we have to run to the library to split up and do a mad search for a pile of books I need. I think that is when I realize, HEY! These people have BOOKS!!!
I think that we will have to turn this into another "alone" time when we can go without kids and get lost amongst the books that WE like. Date time at the library. I like to know he is there thumbing through art books and cookbooks whilst I am stacking up pile upon pile of well, everything. Lol
Hey people, go over to the library on your own sometime...did you know they have BOOKS?
But it seems new to me every time I go. You see, I'm somewhat of an anomaly.
I am a book addict but am surprised every time I go to the library. I don't know why. I mean, I actually do not know why I go in, start looking for something and suddenly I am in AWE. Books! Books everywhere! To my neighbor: Did you know the library has books? To the lady behind me in line: Have you seen what's at the library? To my husband: Honey, you will NEVER believe what I found!
So what's up with my library issue? I don't know, I didn't frequent the library as a youth and I think that as a book loving Mom, I always am at the library with or for the KIDS. But when J and I just go and I am at my leisure, my mind and thoughts can wander along with my selections. This was an untapped resource for me as a child due to upbringing....so now I find it as pleasurable as can be.
J and I like to take long rides for "alone" time. We also really enjoy it when we have to run to the library to split up and do a mad search for a pile of books I need. I think that is when I realize, HEY! These people have BOOKS!!!
I think that we will have to turn this into another "alone" time when we can go without kids and get lost amongst the books that WE like. Date time at the library. I like to know he is there thumbing through art books and cookbooks whilst I am stacking up pile upon pile of well, everything. Lol
Hey people, go over to the library on your own sometime...did you know they have BOOKS?
Birthday Poetry for M
So what to get the divine Miss M on her birthday? She casually dropped the "b" word on the way out the door the night before letting me know it was the morrow. But even if she had given me advanced notice, there still would have been a dilemma. She is too important to ignore! But what to get-that-girl? I could never buy anything, that's just not her! I couldn't make anything, that's ridiculous. So it came to me! Poetry! I sent her little poems through the day(I started by sending her this little diddy and posting a poem on my blog for her to find)There aren't any words that can be spoken, no gifts that can be bought, unless I give you my Christmas quilt, which my friend, I'm sorry I am not.There are no suns or moons or stars- or lights that can express, the severity and violence of emotion that our friendship has impressed. So poetry is what today shall bring you- on this, your day of birth not long ago-I cannot promise Whitman, Frost or Dickinson, but first we'll start with Maya Angelou. The girls wrote one for her too. I was so impressed with them! They did a remarkable job COMPLETELY by themselves! With M's permission, here they are!
When I think of her, I see her helping me through my complicated quilt blocks lovingly the whole way through,
When I think of her, I see her in her full garden, her garden gloves on and picking away at her herbs.
When I think of her, I see every stroke of her paintbrush; carefully smearing colorful paint on a blank canvas.
When she is done, I stare at her work with amazement and wondering eyes.
When I think of her, I think of a teacher, sewer, artist, gardener, quilter, soap maker and friend that lasts a life time.
And that's what I think when I think of her.
Hunger
By R. C.
Michelle and my Mom like to sew,
But one thing us kids really know,
by four O' clock
my Mom should re-stock
on apples and crackers, you know?
When I Think of Her
by S. C.
When I think of her, I see her sweet face, bright smile and hair pulled into a loose braid on the side.When I think of her, I see her helping me through my complicated quilt blocks lovingly the whole way through,
When I think of her, I see her in her full garden, her garden gloves on and picking away at her herbs.
When I think of her, I see every stroke of her paintbrush; carefully smearing colorful paint on a blank canvas.
When she is done, I stare at her work with amazement and wondering eyes.
When I think of her, I think of a teacher, sewer, artist, gardener, quilter, soap maker and friend that lasts a life time.
And that's what I think when I think of her.
Me and Michelle's Kids
by L. C.
Hailey is funny, she swings on the rope and hums a silly tune.
Eli is like an ape, he loves to climb trees and I do too.
They go to her and climb on her lap for comfort.
Funny side note: Fearless said, "Are you going to write me a poem on my birthday?" No , says I. You don't want poetry. That's not you. Let me ask you, would you rather have a poem or me take you out to lunch? Her response? Lunch would be nice. Ah, diversity!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Deception Reception
Well, normally I would NEVER buy something so commercial. But I was intrigued by this one. Now, let me say that all my kids LOVE veggies. So "hiding" them is not an issue. But I DO like the idea of putting them in other every day dishes to add servings per day. Let me say, the ideas are wonderful. The recipes look and sound delish. And I will be trying them and posting about them as I go. The ideas is to puree veggies 1x/wk and then freeze them. Then you have them to add to different dishes. Evidently the veggies are not even discernible. We are really wanting to get to a healthier eating style here. We probably eat more healthy items than the average family but we also probably eat more junky food too! Tomorrow is clean out day. OUT goes the candy, sugar cereal and cookies.How about some french toast with pumpkin, carrot or butternut squash?
Scrambled eggs with cauliflower? Blueberry lemon muffins with yellow squash? Chicken nuggets with spinach, sweet potato or beet? Tofu nuggets with spinach or broc? Mac-n-cheese with b. squash or cauli?
OR how about some brownies with carrot and spinach? Chocolate pudding with avocado? Gingerbread spice cake with broc and carrot? Blueberry oatmeal bars with spinach?
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES with avocado and cauli? And that's just to name a few..
Now I can just hear the responses now but IF they are really good, can you imagine how many more veggie servings we can get into those kids. Even my kids who like veggies can get even more. Along with flax seed and some good omega 3's. Now, don't knock it til' I let you know how it goes!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Something someone recently taught me...
Adversities are our allies! If we know that Romans 8:28 is true: (And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.), then we know that even our troubles are actually WORKING for us. Clearing the path to further the gospel and to bring God glory.
I saw this so clearly through my miscarriage. First, God comforted me in my pain with scripture. Then He used those same scriptures to comfort others. He brought some people to the Word who hadn't been there in awhile. He comforted another woman in Ohio who also had a mc who read my blog and yet another who I sent the scriptures to who is going through a great family tragedy.
So through my adversity, He cleared the path and the gospel was furthered by it.
This came from the scripture in Philippians 1:12 that states : Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Paul is talking about how his adversity had actually cleared the path for the gospel.
It is easy to remember that God's plan is to prosper us and He is sovereign. It is amazing to think that the very trials we go through are working for our favor and His; readying the path, clearing it, to make way for more Truth to prevail.
Kinda takes the focus off you even in the midst of your trial and places it where your focus should always be...on Him.
If you can remember this in any trial and see how you may be used to further the gospel, even tragedy can be seen as another victory for Christ.
I saw this so clearly through my miscarriage. First, God comforted me in my pain with scripture. Then He used those same scriptures to comfort others. He brought some people to the Word who hadn't been there in awhile. He comforted another woman in Ohio who also had a mc who read my blog and yet another who I sent the scriptures to who is going through a great family tragedy.
So through my adversity, He cleared the path and the gospel was furthered by it.
This came from the scripture in Philippians 1:12 that states : Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Paul is talking about how his adversity had actually cleared the path for the gospel.
It is easy to remember that God's plan is to prosper us and He is sovereign. It is amazing to think that the very trials we go through are working for our favor and His; readying the path, clearing it, to make way for more Truth to prevail.
Kinda takes the focus off you even in the midst of your trial and places it where your focus should always be...on Him.
If you can remember this in any trial and see how you may be used to further the gospel, even tragedy can be seen as another victory for Christ.
Scripture Verse for the Day
Do not neglect the gift of God within you…” 1 Timothy 4:14.
I work on this with the kids a lot. I teach them that their gift is for others not just themselves. To squelch it or to keep it to themselves is well, sinful!
I myself have always had trouble seeing what my gifts are. I still have trouble. But I know that if I stay inside of His will and listen to His voice and most of all, OBEY; then my gifts, whatever they be, will be used.
Have a great day people. Jeff's home! Woohoo!
I work on this with the kids a lot. I teach them that their gift is for others not just themselves. To squelch it or to keep it to themselves is well, sinful!
I myself have always had trouble seeing what my gifts are. I still have trouble. But I know that if I stay inside of His will and listen to His voice and most of all, OBEY; then my gifts, whatever they be, will be used.
Have a great day people. Jeff's home! Woohoo!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
To one Phenomenal woman, on her birthday...I love you!
Phenomenal Woman ...by Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,They think I'm telling lies.
I say, It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.
I say, It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Men themselves have wondered What they see in me.
They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery.
When I try to show them They say they still can't see.
I say, It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.
I say, It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,They think I'm telling lies.
I say, It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees.
I say, It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Men themselves have wondered What they see in me.
They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery.
When I try to show them They say they still can't see.
I say, It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.
I say, It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.
Friday, November 9, 2007
How funny is Aunt Crystal?
Can I just say I LOVE my SIL Crystal. I'll try not to "gush" because she would hate that but I tell you, she is more fun to talk to then a stand up. She also has a heart of gold and cares about me as well as talk about herself! WHY she hasn't started a blog, I'll never know.
This morning we were talking on the phone and she was excited about the Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate. She said, "I was just at Starbucks getting my Chai for 4.43 and I felt guilty...
so I finished it and got another one."
Now, that's Aunt Crystal.
Her take on all things religious is hilarious as well. And I don't think she'll mind me saying (though I am confident she'd correct me if I were wrong) that I KNOW she believes in God. She just doesn't believe in a lot of "churchy" type things. And really, who can blame her. Sad but true.
While commenting on one of my so called "religious posts" Crystal said...
"Steph, first let me say that I love you dearly and you have become my dearest friend and my closest confidant. Took long enough, huh? Second, I have "issues" with this one since my response to "religious" strangers knocking on my door (you can spot 'em a mile away) is either slamming the door in their faces or hiding in the broom closet until they give up and go away. Some would say that I AM one of those sweet fruits of the world with a rotten core. My children? ANGELS! Denial? Never heard of it."
And when I didn't respond...
"Ummmm....... I was trying to pick a fight with you. No comment. No moral to the story that I can pass off as my own? No gentle guidance slapped upside my head? What's up with that?"
Crystal is truly Sine Sera, without wax. She lives her life in the open, flaws and all , not trying to cover up and "look good"and that my friends, is how her true beauty shines through.
Love you Crys!!! Keep on the road woman!
This morning we were talking on the phone and she was excited about the Pumpkin Spice Coffee Mate. She said, "I was just at Starbucks getting my Chai for 4.43 and I felt guilty...
so I finished it and got another one."
Now, that's Aunt Crystal.
Her take on all things religious is hilarious as well. And I don't think she'll mind me saying (though I am confident she'd correct me if I were wrong) that I KNOW she believes in God. She just doesn't believe in a lot of "churchy" type things. And really, who can blame her. Sad but true.
While commenting on one of my so called "religious posts" Crystal said...
"Steph, first let me say that I love you dearly and you have become my dearest friend and my closest confidant. Took long enough, huh? Second, I have "issues" with this one since my response to "religious" strangers knocking on my door (you can spot 'em a mile away) is either slamming the door in their faces or hiding in the broom closet until they give up and go away. Some would say that I AM one of those sweet fruits of the world with a rotten core. My children? ANGELS! Denial? Never heard of it."
And when I didn't respond...
"Ummmm....... I was trying to pick a fight with you. No comment. No moral to the story that I can pass off as my own? No gentle guidance slapped upside my head? What's up with that?"
Crystal is truly Sine Sera, without wax. She lives her life in the open, flaws and all , not trying to cover up and "look good"and that my friends, is how her true beauty shines through.
Love you Crys!!! Keep on the road woman!
Great Great Coffee Mate
For those of you who want to save $5.75 from our friendly Starbucks and still get a great cup of pumpkin spice coffee, try Coffee Mate's new Pumpkin Spice flave. Delish! (sip, sip)
note: that's Jeff's little turkey that he made the other day while he was supposed to be helping Lauren with HERS. He has insisted it come out each year. I think he's proud of it. I think he's cute. I guess even Dad's just wanna have fu-un.
Fresh or Frozen?
In the midst of beginning to meal plan I am in a dilemma.
Not an earth shattering one mind you, but a frozen food one.
I have never liked using frozen veggies. I like fresh. The kids like fresh.
And then one day a week or two ago, I used them in a veggie soup, and they were delicious!
So of course I tried some frozen green beans as a side while we were in Vero. Plates came back...empty! Except for a nice little pile of green beans on each little plate.
But we throw so many fresh veggies away that go bad that I am liking the idea of frozen ones immensely. Are they THAT bad? Are they THAT inferior in nutrition? Evidently, they are THAT bad in taste, comparatively speaking. Lol
So Fresh or Frozen is the question that plagues my mind this morning.
See? I can think of things other than family integration, disciplining children and predestination!
Not an earth shattering one mind you, but a frozen food one.
I have never liked using frozen veggies. I like fresh. The kids like fresh.
And then one day a week or two ago, I used them in a veggie soup, and they were delicious!
So of course I tried some frozen green beans as a side while we were in Vero. Plates came back...empty! Except for a nice little pile of green beans on each little plate.
But we throw so many fresh veggies away that go bad that I am liking the idea of frozen ones immensely. Are they THAT bad? Are they THAT inferior in nutrition? Evidently, they are THAT bad in taste, comparatively speaking. Lol
So Fresh or Frozen is the question that plagues my mind this morning.
See? I can think of things other than family integration, disciplining children and predestination!
Home away from Home
Not quite sure where I live physically these days but spiritually, I have no question!
It has been great to be with my honey-face more and I miss him terribly already!
What a trip though. My Mom, who may be arguably the most unhealthy shopper I know decided to take us shopping. She is super busy right now and so had little time for us. So she took us shopping on the day she could squeeze in a few hours.
She has always been that way. It is a way she shows love. I try to get her to just come over and SIT DOWN and let the kids show her their pictures, toys and dances but she can't seem to do it. She has to be ON THE GO. Poor thing. She doesn't know what she's missing!
But we always have fun and we ended up with a new living room set for Vero: Sofa, love seat, chaise lounge (my first one, very cool! I can totally see the girls dressed in their long flowy dresses draped dramatically on the thing) and a neat trunk-like ottoman.
Also a computer desk and Little L got the most gorgeous hand painted vanity and screen. (for Christmas, shhh!)
Then there are the movies which she always insists on making a special trip to Sam's for. I guess that's where all the movies come from. I think she thinks since we don't do Harry Potter that she has to buy EVERY MOVIE that I EVER WILL ALLOW. Lol
So here we go:
Ratatouille (totally cute, they actually got me to watch most of this one)
Meet the Robinson's (haven't watched it yet, but kids swear I'll love it. It supposedly has a moral, lol)
Wizard of Ha's (Veggie Tales)
Seasons 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Little House. (how many episodes can one watch in a row??) Hey did you know Albert actually DIES in one of these??? How did I miss that one? I was SO mad at the kids when they told me this. Lol
The entire Blue Planet series, 10 disks! Anyone who saw any of these specials on Discovery knows how cool this is. If I had a big screen, I'd do a once a month showing for the group. Can't wait to see these!!!
Sicko (one for Mom, Michael Moore's latest doc on Insurance companies)
Can't remember what else...
Tired yet? I am thinking I should put a stop to it. I mean you can look at it like a blessing or a curse you know? If I KNOW that her shopping is unhealthy (yes, she does have the money, but it is still unhealthy) then I should not allow it. But if it is the WAY she feels good and can't yet see the blessing of time then what am I to do? FURTHER offend her by saying No, don't take us shopping? It is the only exposure the kids have to a situation where pretty much anything goes. They like it. Lol
BUT---she still thinks I hold them back too much. ("I don't want the kids scared to say they like something Stephanie") Uhh, Mom? Have you seen the basket? It's full.
I finally had to put a stop to the day after Thanksgiving shopping with her. She was OUT OF CONTROL. She is supportive of my new lesser Christmases. (three gifts) but she still has a "way" of sneaking in multiple items.
What's a Mom to do??? At the moment? Be thankful.
It has been great to be with my honey-face more and I miss him terribly already!
What a trip though. My Mom, who may be arguably the most unhealthy shopper I know decided to take us shopping. She is super busy right now and so had little time for us. So she took us shopping on the day she could squeeze in a few hours.
She has always been that way. It is a way she shows love. I try to get her to just come over and SIT DOWN and let the kids show her their pictures, toys and dances but she can't seem to do it. She has to be ON THE GO. Poor thing. She doesn't know what she's missing!
But we always have fun and we ended up with a new living room set for Vero: Sofa, love seat, chaise lounge (my first one, very cool! I can totally see the girls dressed in their long flowy dresses draped dramatically on the thing) and a neat trunk-like ottoman.
Also a computer desk and Little L got the most gorgeous hand painted vanity and screen. (for Christmas, shhh!)
Then there are the movies which she always insists on making a special trip to Sam's for. I guess that's where all the movies come from. I think she thinks since we don't do Harry Potter that she has to buy EVERY MOVIE that I EVER WILL ALLOW. Lol
So here we go:
Ratatouille (totally cute, they actually got me to watch most of this one)
Meet the Robinson's (haven't watched it yet, but kids swear I'll love it. It supposedly has a moral, lol)
Wizard of Ha's (Veggie Tales)
Seasons 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Little House. (how many episodes can one watch in a row??) Hey did you know Albert actually DIES in one of these??? How did I miss that one? I was SO mad at the kids when they told me this. Lol
The entire Blue Planet series, 10 disks! Anyone who saw any of these specials on Discovery knows how cool this is. If I had a big screen, I'd do a once a month showing for the group. Can't wait to see these!!!
Sicko (one for Mom, Michael Moore's latest doc on Insurance companies)
Can't remember what else...
Tired yet? I am thinking I should put a stop to it. I mean you can look at it like a blessing or a curse you know? If I KNOW that her shopping is unhealthy (yes, she does have the money, but it is still unhealthy) then I should not allow it. But if it is the WAY she feels good and can't yet see the blessing of time then what am I to do? FURTHER offend her by saying No, don't take us shopping? It is the only exposure the kids have to a situation where pretty much anything goes. They like it. Lol
BUT---she still thinks I hold them back too much. ("I don't want the kids scared to say they like something Stephanie") Uhh, Mom? Have you seen the basket? It's full.
I finally had to put a stop to the day after Thanksgiving shopping with her. She was OUT OF CONTROL. She is supportive of my new lesser Christmases. (three gifts) but she still has a "way" of sneaking in multiple items.
What's a Mom to do??? At the moment? Be thankful.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Keepers at Home Part 10: Training them up...
I got a tragic reminder yesterday of why we raise the kids the way we do. An old friend stopped by who has had some serious trouble with her daughter who is now 18. They are completely estranged for the time being and the daughter is out of the house. Her 12 year old son is pulling up the rear.
I know that she loves her daughter and tried to "do" all she could for her. But she treated her like a friend and allowed her to taste the fruit of the world not realizing the child would eventually want more and more of it.
It is dangerous to let your children taste the fruit of the world and not expect them to like it. When you let them taste such sweet fruit (oh, didn't you know worldly fruit is sweet?) they will develop a taste for it.
See, the problem lies in when we only let them the taste the sweet part. We love them so we would never let them get into the rotten, putrid, decaying middle now would we? No, of course not.
But blindly, we let them lick, lick, lick that sweet outer shell until when they are old enough, we cannot keep them from it and all of a sudden we find that they are licking closer and closer to what lies in wait inside. All panic ensues but at that point it is too late for our influence.
Now her daughter is tasting the fruit that is less sweet and less sweet. Soon she will be down to the really bad part and perhaps a road in her life that she could have never been on. But she has a taste for it now. The addiction to the world is already there. It is a wonder we ever escaped it at all. We all know how hard it is to fight it every day in every way.
WE my sisters and daughters, are responsible for how our children think, act and turn out! Let them taste too much of the "sweetness" of being outside the home and involved in worldly activities that are "fun" and they will develop a taste for it. It will be hard to reel them back in to being keepers at home when their tastes become harder to satisfy.
Sure, of course we are allowed to do outside activities, and in many cases, we even should, but we should always ask ourselves what eternal effect it is having on them. You'd better ask yourself and if you don't like the answer, don't ignore it.
Ask yourself; Is it glorifying to God? If it is NOT glorifying to God, WHY WHY WHY would we ever continue it?
One foot in the world and one in the church can bring one dangerously close to drowning. I envision one foot on a rock, stable and secure and the other on a balloon that is constantly being blown bigger. One may be a little uncomfortable sometimes but you will withstand the storm every time. The other is quite cushy but highly unstable. So bigger and bigger the balloon gets until you are so off balance you fall into the abyss of sin.
Be seriously and diligently careful about what you let your children do and know that one way or the other you ARE training them.
Train them to serve one Master or you are training them to try to serve two.
Your choice. Every day.
I know that she loves her daughter and tried to "do" all she could for her. But she treated her like a friend and allowed her to taste the fruit of the world not realizing the child would eventually want more and more of it.
It is dangerous to let your children taste the fruit of the world and not expect them to like it. When you let them taste such sweet fruit (oh, didn't you know worldly fruit is sweet?) they will develop a taste for it.
See, the problem lies in when we only let them the taste the sweet part. We love them so we would never let them get into the rotten, putrid, decaying middle now would we? No, of course not.
But blindly, we let them lick, lick, lick that sweet outer shell until when they are old enough, we cannot keep them from it and all of a sudden we find that they are licking closer and closer to what lies in wait inside. All panic ensues but at that point it is too late for our influence.
Now her daughter is tasting the fruit that is less sweet and less sweet. Soon she will be down to the really bad part and perhaps a road in her life that she could have never been on. But she has a taste for it now. The addiction to the world is already there. It is a wonder we ever escaped it at all. We all know how hard it is to fight it every day in every way.
WE my sisters and daughters, are responsible for how our children think, act and turn out! Let them taste too much of the "sweetness" of being outside the home and involved in worldly activities that are "fun" and they will develop a taste for it. It will be hard to reel them back in to being keepers at home when their tastes become harder to satisfy.
Sure, of course we are allowed to do outside activities, and in many cases, we even should, but we should always ask ourselves what eternal effect it is having on them. You'd better ask yourself and if you don't like the answer, don't ignore it.
Ask yourself; Is it glorifying to God? If it is NOT glorifying to God, WHY WHY WHY would we ever continue it?
One foot in the world and one in the church can bring one dangerously close to drowning. I envision one foot on a rock, stable and secure and the other on a balloon that is constantly being blown bigger. One may be a little uncomfortable sometimes but you will withstand the storm every time. The other is quite cushy but highly unstable. So bigger and bigger the balloon gets until you are so off balance you fall into the abyss of sin.
Be seriously and diligently careful about what you let your children do and know that one way or the other you ARE training them.
Train them to serve one Master or you are training them to try to serve two.
Your choice. Every day.
He is the Healer!
I received this daily devotional through the internet today and it spoke to me. He is healing my heart. I do not know if I will have another child, but He is healing me and making me stronger than before!! I already feel stronger. Pain and loss suffered through by faith results in strength.
Thank You Lord.
(Note: Warning: it's a little mega-church fluffy and I could take issue with some of it if I wanted to but I am just taking the gist of it and applying. I am reminded that though it might not be the best description of how God works, that His Word never returns void!)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Aren’t you glad that God is a healer! It doesn’t matter what is “broken” in your life today, God’s nature is to bring you complete healing. Do you need healing in your body? Your mind? Heart? Finances? Relationships? God is your healer. Notice what the Psalmist says in this verse: He binds up their wounds. In the natural, if you have a broken arm, it doesn’t just heal over night. The doctor makes a cast to hold it in place and protect it. He binds up your wound. In the spiritual realm, God does the same thing. He wraps Himself around your brokenness and protects the wounded area until it is strong enough to function properly again. The Bible also says that He is a restorer. That means that when He does a work of healing in our lives, He makes us better than we were before. If you’re going through the healing process today, know this: it may take longer than you planned, but God is binding up your wound. He is protecting you and healing you. He will bring you out better and stronger than you were before. He will take you to a place of complete healing so that you can live the life of victory He has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for being my healer. Thank You for restoring every area of my life. I give You everything that I am today. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Thank You Lord.
(Note: Warning: it's a little mega-church fluffy and I could take issue with some of it if I wanted to but I am just taking the gist of it and applying. I am reminded that though it might not be the best description of how God works, that His Word never returns void!)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Aren’t you glad that God is a healer! It doesn’t matter what is “broken” in your life today, God’s nature is to bring you complete healing. Do you need healing in your body? Your mind? Heart? Finances? Relationships? God is your healer. Notice what the Psalmist says in this verse: He binds up their wounds. In the natural, if you have a broken arm, it doesn’t just heal over night. The doctor makes a cast to hold it in place and protect it. He binds up your wound. In the spiritual realm, God does the same thing. He wraps Himself around your brokenness and protects the wounded area until it is strong enough to function properly again. The Bible also says that He is a restorer. That means that when He does a work of healing in our lives, He makes us better than we were before. If you’re going through the healing process today, know this: it may take longer than you planned, but God is binding up your wound. He is protecting you and healing you. He will bring you out better and stronger than you were before. He will take you to a place of complete healing so that you can live the life of victory He has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for being my healer. Thank You for restoring every area of my life. I give You everything that I am today. Use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Without Wax!
I was recently listening to a great sermon on tape that expressed the idea that the word sincere comes from the compounding of the words"Sine" and "Cera" meaning without wax.
In the time of the ancient Romans, devious dealers in marble and pottery would conceal defects in their products by filling the cracks and holes with wax.
Honest merchants, who did not doctor their products, proudly displayed their wares as being without wax; that is, they were sine cera.
He goes on to say, well, a lot actually, Lol, (hey, can I use that many commas?)
ANYWAY, one thing he says is that some people are like the cracked and broken pots with wax, trying to present a perfect picture until the spotlight hits them. Then the wax melts away and we have left but a scandal. Perfect image? Gone.
Broken vessels are only comfortable around broken vessels.
I find this to be true. I am a broken, cracked, tarnished, chipped vessel. I want to live an open, accessible life for all to see. Flaws too. Christians are flawed and to expect more than that, well, it just ain't gonna happen.
Christians should live open and genuine lives. Relaxed in the knowledge of who they are yet always reaching for the goal.
Without wax. Living vulnerably, admitting weakness. Live life in the open.
I am not advocating the idea of "if you can't hide it, paint it red", though I have been known to say that on an occasion or two, no- we should not proudly admit our sin and shortcomings with no follow up, but instead we should humbly confess and repent of them.
Otherwise we are fools.
So may we all be sine cera! Living our lives genuinely so that we may not appear perfect and therefore inaccessible to the lost. We live our lives without wax proving again and again that God loves us, cracks and all.
In the time of the ancient Romans, devious dealers in marble and pottery would conceal defects in their products by filling the cracks and holes with wax.
Honest merchants, who did not doctor their products, proudly displayed their wares as being without wax; that is, they were sine cera.
He goes on to say, well, a lot actually, Lol, (hey, can I use that many commas?)
ANYWAY, one thing he says is that some people are like the cracked and broken pots with wax, trying to present a perfect picture until the spotlight hits them. Then the wax melts away and we have left but a scandal. Perfect image? Gone.
Broken vessels are only comfortable around broken vessels.
I find this to be true. I am a broken, cracked, tarnished, chipped vessel. I want to live an open, accessible life for all to see. Flaws too. Christians are flawed and to expect more than that, well, it just ain't gonna happen.
Christians should live open and genuine lives. Relaxed in the knowledge of who they are yet always reaching for the goal.
Without wax. Living vulnerably, admitting weakness. Live life in the open.
I am not advocating the idea of "if you can't hide it, paint it red", though I have been known to say that on an occasion or two, no- we should not proudly admit our sin and shortcomings with no follow up, but instead we should humbly confess and repent of them.
Otherwise we are fools.
So may we all be sine cera! Living our lives genuinely so that we may not appear perfect and therefore inaccessible to the lost. We live our lives without wax proving again and again that God loves us, cracks and all.
Where to start?
How can I express what the last few days have been like? There are no words.
The only one I can come up with that fits is GLORIOUS!!!!
How ironic is that one of my favorite posts will be my mc post?
Why?
Lots of reasons. There are barely a few who most likely know the depth of wanting I had for this child. It is hard for me to even speak of.
But no, this time I did not receive a living breathing child but instead the living breathing Word of God.
I will forever look back at these scriptures and marvel again and again at how powerful the Word of God was to me at this time. I do not believe that you can ever know unless in the midst of extreme pain, you experience that power. I cannot express it. There is no way to try. I stood in the midst of surely just a glimpse of His Glory and was bowled over.
I was reminded that:
I will be able to comfort others with the same comfort I myself have received.
That His Word is comfort in my affliction and His Word gives me life.
That I am to wait in hope for the Lord, he's my strength and my shield!
That I, a hand maiden of God will again dance and be glad. My mourning has already been turned into gladness!
That God will enlighten my darkness and that I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall!
That His plans are to prosper me and not harm me, and He plans to give me hope and a future!
That I shall Hope in God; and yet shall I praise Him!
and of course, The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away.
Lastly, we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I wrote a friend in an email ..."that it struck me so. It really made me see in the midst of this pain that even THIS is not about ME but is about HIM!!! The bigger picture, you know? I am SO GLAD just to BE a Christian, flaws and all! I love that he can take someone's pain and make it glorify Him. It turned my thinking around to Him and what He could accomplish from this and away from me and an admittedly broken heart.
Amazing God we serve!
I have seen much good from this already. Thank you all for being willing servants of the Lord!
I am so grateful for the body of Christ!!! And this is my heartfelt prayer for each of you:
That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:9-11
I love you! AMEN
The only one I can come up with that fits is GLORIOUS!!!!
How ironic is that one of my favorite posts will be my mc post?
Why?
Lots of reasons. There are barely a few who most likely know the depth of wanting I had for this child. It is hard for me to even speak of.
But no, this time I did not receive a living breathing child but instead the living breathing Word of God.
I will forever look back at these scriptures and marvel again and again at how powerful the Word of God was to me at this time. I do not believe that you can ever know unless in the midst of extreme pain, you experience that power. I cannot express it. There is no way to try. I stood in the midst of surely just a glimpse of His Glory and was bowled over.
I was reminded that:
I will be able to comfort others with the same comfort I myself have received.
That His Word is comfort in my affliction and His Word gives me life.
That I am to wait in hope for the Lord, he's my strength and my shield!
That I, a hand maiden of God will again dance and be glad. My mourning has already been turned into gladness!
That God will enlighten my darkness and that I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall!
That His plans are to prosper me and not harm me, and He plans to give me hope and a future!
That I shall Hope in God; and yet shall I praise Him!
and of course, The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away.
Lastly, we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
I wrote a friend in an email ..."that it struck me so. It really made me see in the midst of this pain that even THIS is not about ME but is about HIM!!! The bigger picture, you know? I am SO GLAD just to BE a Christian, flaws and all! I love that he can take someone's pain and make it glorify Him. It turned my thinking around to Him and what He could accomplish from this and away from me and an admittedly broken heart.
Amazing God we serve!
I have seen much good from this already. Thank you all for being willing servants of the Lord!
I am so grateful for the body of Christ!!! And this is my heartfelt prayer for each of you:
That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Phil. 1:9-11
I love you! AMEN
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Renaissance Ladies
The girls had a good time at the Renaissance Faire...I didn't tell them until after so I didn't put a damper on their day. I was playing with the effects on some pics. They are so beautiful and such a tremendous blessing to me. They are sweet and fun and are turning out so wonderfully. I saw some bawdier stuff since we went today instead of yesterday's school day...MAN, some of that stuff is seriously um, well, racey! I heard this one duo singing songs that would make a sailor blush! But we did the falconry and the jousting and all the "good" stuff. As you can see they dressed the part. For anyone interested next year, we bought the dresses last year and this year at KMart for 50% off the day before Halloween. Perfect!
S begging me not to take her picture.
The other two always willing to play the part!
The Renn trio
With the King and Queen of Spain
Didn't I look pretty?
Renaissance fashion don't
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