I have alot of help with my job!

Chevy "watches" over little M while he naps. Actually...the dog is looking for a warm, cozy spot on this nippy fall day!

The girls love to talk to little M and read to him when they get off school. Alisa was so excited yesterday, because she got "to milk him"...she meant feed him his bottle! "And he didn't cry for me!"

Teddy is full of help...until it comes to throwing diapers away...he won't touch them! He told me he thought little M "would like a hot dog for lunch cause he just drinks...maybe he wants to eat!" As to how much M drinks...Teddy's take was "two gallons" try ounces, son! He just knew that he had several bottles! Teddy unbuckled the bouncy seat yesterday, "because little M said he wanted to get out"! Question: Is too much help a bad thing?! Yikes!

Are you praying for our country?

Uncle Paul and Aunt Gail sent an email regarding the video clip at the right. Please watch it and let your heart be stirred to pray for God's leading in our country...but more importantly...in the hearts of our countrymen!

Thought: Is it always important to "be right"?

Or is it more important to have the right spirit?! We have come to the conclusion over the past few days that if you have the right spirit...a teachable one..."being right" won't matter so much and God will allow the right circumstances to allow you the opportunity to share what is right! We have a choice to be right...period. We have a choice to do right or do nothing. And we have a choice to be right, do right, and make a difference! Never really thought through this whole idea before...to this extent...but our children are watching us to see how we handle the things that come up in our lives! We don't want to be wishy-washy...but we do want to make a difference...compassionately! Jesus did! And He wasn't wishy-washy when He taught us what was and is and always will be right...I just need to go to His Word!

Words and Verse for cards...

These are what I have in my possession right now. I also have access to borrowing from friends and family...so if you are looking for something in particular...just ask! If you click on the picture, you should be able to see the image a little clearer. I have the necessary stamp to make the sale of my cards on the "up and up" with one of the companies that require it.

The other man in my life...

is copying his Daddy every chance he gets! This suit now fits him and he was so excited to wear it to church on Sunday. (The suit was once worn by Uncle James and that makes it "cool". ) After Teddy and his Daddy got "all slicked up", Teddy came in and told me to "smell my face, Mom" MMMM...Sunday these two men in my life smelled wonderful...makes you want to hug and hold on a little while longer!

My little buddy

Our first full day together and he is doing great! I can type with him in my arms...only because he is asleep and there is a key called backspace!!! Pray for him Mommy...it wasn't easy for her today!

Honest...I didn't do anything to the kazoos...but thank the Lord they can't find them!

Grandma's Kisses

Grandparent's Day at school

Thank you to our grandparents that were able to sneak away from work to come. Grampy, we recorded a couple of the songs for you!

Ya gotta get this game...if your kids are old enough...

We bought our own deck today...we have played up at the lakehouse...but wanted a new game for home. (Mommy and Daddy have had enough Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish, etc.). Daddy brought home pizza and Mommy made cookies and we had some fun...fun...fun...family fun!

First thing we noticed...they have changed the cards...no reading words! Hmmm...
And the cards are a little smaller...they skimp on games too now, not just chips and cereal!

Teddy and his Daddy were not playing fair! When Ted dealt, Teddy begged, "Give me the skipper card, so I can get Mom!" They even traded a couple cards so Teddy could "get me" but when he was told it was reversed...he took his card back because he didn't want to get his Dad!

The girls were excited to get the "naughty cards"! "I'm rich!" shouted Ashlynn, "I have two naughty cards!" The girls even got into the cheating mode...giving each other a card "to get Dad with" and Alisa stacked three yellows up to lay at once! When you ask them "who taught you that?" they don't say Mom did!

We laughed alot...especially when Teddy got upset that he got skipped. He warned us, "If you lay that down and skip me, I won't play." "You are right son...you won't play that round...get back here...you were skipped. That is part of the game...now lay that card down and get Mommy!" "I'm sewious...I'm not playing anymore...and next time I won't come back to the table." Ahhhh, between laughing till we cried and instructing him to finish the game...we realized it is important to keep encouraging good sportsmanship. Now to work on "the rules of the game"!

A favorite book...and trying to understand!

This little parable talks about the farmer planting the pumpkin seeds, caring for them, watching them grow, and then harvesting his crop. He picks the pumpkin and cleans off the outside, scoops out the "yucky stuff" inside, gives the simple pumpkin a new look, and puts a candle inside to shine in the dark. Our Heavenly Father does the same work in our life...we are to be lights in the world...cleaned up...looking different...an example of the work that the Holy Spirit does in our lives when we surrender to Him.
We do not "celebrate halloween" and we are feeling "the pressure" from around us as the kids talk about "their friends going trick-or-treating" and "why don't we"? We are seeing how our indifference to "the things of this world" affects us...our thinking, our attitudes, and then our actions. What is it doing to our children!? It is up to us as parents to train up our children...according to God's Word and not according to what everyone else is doing. I read in God's Word that we are "in the world, but not of it..." So...how far do we take that? Do we apply God's Word to "all that pertains to life and godliness" or just to the glaring good or bad parts of this world?
Ted and I have chosen to distant ourselves from this sad "holiday". As parents, we never want our children to "miss out" on anything or "feel isolated" from their friends...but that is exactly what we are being faced with these days. Really...when it comes to halloween...what is the reason we feel the need to participate? What is the big deal? If you google halloween, you can find out exactly what it is...from the world's perspective! So...are we to swallow the world's perspective and let that dictate to us what we allow our children to do? I also read in God's Word that "we are not to be conformed to the world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind". To just ignore this...or...just go with the flow...we will be teaching our children something...the greater concern to us...is what we will be teaching them!
The reasons given... "we just do it for the candy" or "a chance to dress up and do something as a family" and "it is a perfect opportunity for outreach"...seem pretty pathetic...Why not do those things in July or March? Wouldn't it be safer to just go buy a bag of candy at the store? Why on October 31? "Does "Come out from among them and be ye separate" mean just what it says?" Does it really matter? I contend that it does...and that is why there is such a battle...satan is at work...and sadly, he is gaining a foothold in our sympathies and tolerances for the things of this world.

When morning gilds the skies...my heart awaking cries...

"May Jesus Christ be praised!"

"My comfort still is this: May Jesus Christ be praised!"

S0 many things are tumbling around these days that bring fear and panic to the human heart...but really...what do I have to fear since I am one of His children?

"Thru all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!"

He knows the past, present, and future! So I choose to trust Him...come what may...There is joy in the morning...especially when I look out and view this! He created us to serve Him and bring glory to Himself. He knows what He is doing! And I choose to praise Him!

What is she doing now?

NO...we are not having another baby...however, we both have had some scary dreams about it. I am getting to enjoy having a little one around again...meet my new little friend, M! His mommy is going back to work on Monday and is going to miss M terribly. He is 8 weeks old tomorrow and I am going to take care of him every day that his mommy goes to work.

He is the sweetest little guy and smells so good! He likes to be rocked and cuddled...and I have all kinds of time to do that for him...because my children are in school! God gave me a "job" that I can do that works well for our family and schedule, and is a blessing to a new mommy and daddy!

Teddy asked me today, "Mom, why don't you go to a shop to work like everyone else?" I told him that Daddy worked it out that Mommy could stay home to take care of him and his sisters, to pick him up from school, and to help M's mommy! After they jumped out of the van, I thought back to the choices we made when we first got married...older vehicles, cozy little house, controlled spending, frugal choices, God's blessing and provision, hard work...just some of the reasons why I have the privilege to stay home. I know it is not always feasible for other mommies and my heart goes out to them. I neededed that little question to be a gentle reminder to me...I am blessed and I am thankful...and I am so excited to be able to help a friend!

It is getting colder...

and it is time to make some spiced tea mix to have on hand and stock up on hot chocolate!
and it is time to pull out the winter coats, mitten, jeans, and long sleeves.
and soon it will be time to rake up the leaves that are blowing off the trees today. The last two mornings have required extra time to let the van warm up for our school run!

Life Lessons...from a husband's perspective

1. Never pick up girls from school when you have to go into a store!
2. Never look into little girls' dark eyes when they ask you for a snack!
3. Don't allow yourself to be over-generous in the treat they pick out!
4. It is good for a Mommy to get out and be with other ladies!
5. I am a wonderful short order cook!
6. I love my family!
7. Always be willing to play games with your children...let the Mommy do the homework!
8. Never allow a child to eat an entire KING SIZE candybar after 5:00p.m!
9. It is good for a Mommy to leave for an evening and she doesn't need to know all the details...unless I am the one to tell her!
10. Don't do #1, 2, and 3 again...just pick up what I need before I pick children up...and hide MY candybar in my pocket till they are in bed!
11. Grocery shopping with three kids can't be all that easy nor fun!

*Ted's account of their time together last night made my heart smile...ok, giggle...chuckle heartily...not really a guffaw...but maybe...if I could have seen the whole play-out of the sugar rush (from the vantage point of a fly on the wall)...maybe side-splitting laughter...
I am so thankful for Ted's help with last night...he came home early to be a help and take the pressure off me! He is a wonderful husband and father...and I love him!*
**Edit** Next time you see Ted, ask him if he still believes that fruit is not dessert! Also, as we were talking today, I found out the reason for the KING SIZE bars...and I quote, "It was a better deal! Do you see how little the regular size bars are?"

A reminder that a boy lives here...and you will find anything, anywhere, anytime!

Thank you to the eye doctor for a super ball that looks like an eyeball...when you are "half-looking" at where you are going in the basement it can cause a mild start to the heart! After all, I have had a snake down here before and spiders are ever present...ya just never know!

Coming Down After A Stamping Extravaganza!

Now what lady doesn't like to do any of these? And our ladies make the bestest snacks!
Where to go and how to get there! Teddy helped me with set up and remembering my arrows!
Decisions! Without this creative, crafting genius as my side-kick (encourager, holder-uppper, idea inspirer, etc.) this could have been a flop! Thank you to my cherry friend! (For the record...I think she made a card in under 2 minutes on her lap while laughing merrily!)
I apologize...I have no pictures of the beautiful cards that the ladies made...next year I will try to get some! At least I remembered to snap some pics this year!

Calling All Tooth Fairies...idea for Moms in distress...

...this got me out of a little jam, and so, I post it here for my dear friend, Alicia. A little trick I have found when questioned about being the tooth fairy (or are tooth fairies fake)...I don't lie...I have Daddy put the quarters in the glass (so I didn't do it!) and all the tooth fairies I know...are real! And technically...I did not write this note...the computer printed it out!
It just takes a little creativity to get their imaginations going...unless, of course, you are Alisa...who is insistant that tooth fairies are the parents...to which I answer...fairies have wings and I don't have wings and can't fly...and certainly...your Daddy's name should never be used in a sentence with the word fairy!

This is for you cousin!

Do we have the same genes or what? I, however, didn't have all the necessary pieces for faces on my pumpkins...sprinkles worked...only because I did it all! And notice my candy corn dish...from Salvation Army ($.49) and there are only a handful of corns left...and it hasn't been the children!
These are good too! Chocolate dipped pretzel rods with fall sprinkles! Yep, we're packing it on for the winter...just like the little squirrels who are blessed enough to make it across the street...it is hard to run when your cheeks are stuffed...and as I read over that phrase...take it however you want! HA Ha Ha whimper

Our Little Pumpkins Are Growing Up!

School pictures came home yesterday and I love each one! Ashlynn looks so grown up...yes, a little Kari...I see it!
Alisa looks a little hesitant here...trust me...not usually a trait of hers. I love that you can see the one front tooth still holding its own.
Ted got a kick out of Teddy's expression..."I am doing this because Mom paid the lady and Daddy will get me if I don't!" What is it with the male gender and pictures? At least he is learning to put on a pleasant face and get it over with on the first try!

A Road Trip With Me, Myself, and I!

It had to be done. It was time. Really, truly...I had to go up to the lakehouse to bring back supplies that won't weather well in subzero temperatures!
Don't worry...I came back! But oh, it was a nice drive today! A time to think, pray, and sing along with the cd...only when no one was passing by me, of course...I have seen many people do many gross things while they "are alone" driving in their vehicles...and I wasn't going to have anyone look at me with disdain! Is it weird to snap pictures when you are driving? A disdainful look for THAT?! I wasn't in their way! I wasn't a safety hazard nor bio-hazard!
Oh well...the trees, clouds, and cornfields didn't care...and there was beauty in the passage of autumn today...I was thankful! I think the next few days will be the peak color "up north" of us. Goodbye to the lake for the winter...be still...be calm...enjoy the quietness of the season!
And it was nice to come home...light the candles...and enjoy the cozy, little place where all is well!
Every now and again, a little road trip is nice blessing!

"Teddy, please let Chevy outside."

"This is not even funny...it is still dark outside...and it is morning time!" At 6:50 a.m., I had to agree with him!

A funny conversation makes Mommy think...again.

I am not advocating halloween in any way shape or form...but when you buy a Mary Engelbreit calendar...October inevitably will have the normal scenes in her cute, artsy style...so this hangs in my kitchen. Alisa and Ashlynn were having a conversation about dressing up...first as princesses...then Alisa said she would like a black hat like a witch. Ashlynn said she would like a green face like a witch. Our only exposure of what they would look like is from The Wizard of Oz...or is it?
"Clean up your room, pick up all that junk off your floor, make your bed, brush your teeth, be nice to your sister, feed the dog, where are your shoes...I'll get you my pretty!"
I am just thankful they didn't tell me I needed a hat or that I had a green face...once again I observed the fact that the how of what I do/say is as important as the what I do/say! Ted notices when the switch is flipped...and the kids do too! Last night was one of those times when I let the behavior of the children trip my trigger...face it...we all have those times! I wonder if that is why they had that conversation?
So here is to a day of not sounding like that hat fit! With the Lord's help!!!

I don't have to do this alone!

I am listening to one of the new cds we purchased on Saturday...what a blessing Godly music is to the Christian's heart! This particular song is sung by Gerald Wolfe with Greater Vision. Yes! Another heart song!

"Sometimes it seems God's a million miles away, Too busy for a creature such as I!
And then I think of how He sees each sparrow fall, I call on Him and find that He is nigh!"

"The eyes of Jesus are upon each footstep that I take.
His ears are always open when I pray.
His hands are always there to help me lift my heavy load.
His heart is broken every time I stray."

So often I forget to ask for His help in the everyday tasks of life (because I'm too busy) ...and I break my Father's heart as He watches me get upset, worry, stress out, and all the other undesirable things I tend to do. I believe He calls that sin! Do I really believe that God has given me the answers in His Word? Do I agree with His Word when He calls those actions sin? Do I put all I know to practice in my daily life or is it just for when times get tough or for other people (you know it is easier to see other's sins!) Even though I have been His child for many years, every day is a struggle to choose to do what glorifies Him and not my own flesh! When will I learn and practice...It is easier to do things with Him...He has offered His eyes, ears, hands, heart...and the Holy Spirit living inside me!

Struck by the thought: I can give them to God or He can take them!

In my quiet time this morning, I found myself humming a song and then realized what I was humming. It is a song I have heard my Uncle Paul sing and Dad has sung it too. The words struck me today...and the "them" can refer to whatever I am holding on to too tightly! The last few days have brought my mind and heart to thoughts of Heaven and the reminder that I will stand before my Lord one day. What will He say to me? More importantly, what will I say to Him when I give an account for my life here on earth?
Treasures
Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highways, grieving,
In my rags and poverty.
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to Me!"

So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.

And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God COULD not pour His riches
Into hands already full!

Lord, help me not to hold too tightly to those things, people, circumstances, decisions...that already belong to You! Help me to surrender to Your will and plan for me each day! Thank You for being sovereign and in control of each treasure you have blessed me with today!

Spur of the Moment Decision...

to take the kids to see our favorite male trio...Greater Vision...who were in the area with the Mike Speck trio.
Father, mother, and daughter trio who started the evening with songs about Heaven...I sat and just cried...knowing that Heaven is sweeter all the time!
Alisa was excited to hear "those men we listen too all the time...we actually get to see them alive?" She let her Daddy know that she was ready for the other people to get done singing so she could see "those men"!
Greater Vision ministered in song and testimony while Stan Whittmire played with them. We were blessed by some of the new songs on their new cd Not Alone. There are times in our life when we just need to let good music minister to our hearts, and tonight was one of those times for me! Heart songs...because "out of the abundance of our hearts"...come the words, attitudes, and actions that we use each and every day to serve the Lord...or serve ourselves!

Just passing through...

and we got to meet up with Uncle Gerry and Aunt Connie! They have a "lakehouse on wheels"!
A yummy lunch at Machine Shed...conversation and tic tac toe!
Time flies when you are having fun...or trying to catch up after a year! Thank you for sharing part of your trip with us, Uncle and Auntie!

Taking Time...

Daddy took off a couple hours early to just spend time with his family...and we enjoyed each moment of the beautiful afternoon!

Hey, Teddy, is your mama a llama? HUH?! We need to go check that book out from the library!
Fresh cider donuts and a cider slushie...mmm!
Mom, that is how they make it...really...they just squish up the apples!