Proud of the men and women who serve our country...

Teddy was so excited to see his Uncle walk through the door to visit the classrooms for Veteran's Day! Teddy didn't feel good yesterday...but we persevered and went to school anyway since there was no fever! I had heard the possibility of some Navy men making a visit from Grandma...he is home today after coughing all night long...but Teddy's expression shows it was worth being there!

Contemplating their days...

A friend told me that Alisa reminds her of a little grey squirrel...

a fluffy little guy that bounds all around the yard chattering as he goes. When I saw this little guy perched on my chair, I laughed and ran for the camera. Alisa is our little chatterbox with the big, brown eyes that don't miss much. She is particularly excited today, because last night she found out that she has a part in the Christmas program. She informed me at 7:45 a.m. that we need to start practicing right now! I told her she could read through her lines herself...a look of horror till she noticed only some were highlighted in yellow..."Oh, I can do that!" I told her I would help her after breakfast! How appropriate that she would get the part that calls for a little girl always wanting a peanut butter sandwich!

Family Night Times Four

A big thank you to our friends for hosting a rowdy group last night! It was a blessing to eat, laugh, pray, and play together! We have some friends who know how to have fun...it may be dangerous...but fun! The children all played so well together and gave the adults a chance to be adults with minimal interruptions! We taught Ted how to play PIT...a perfect way to yell without being in the wrong! We also played SPOONS and I will never sit next to my husband during that game again. To our friends, we apologize for any damage that may come to the forefront as you continue to use your chairs, table, and spoons! We will attempt to make it up to you with more yummy treats at our next gathering...and offer our house as a peace offering! The best dessert idea yet...no serving required...no size constraints...no one counting portions...just sweet, chewy, crunchy delight! Adults only: Pretzel rods dipped in carmel rolled in pecans and dunked in chocolate(...no wonder we got a little rowdy...sugar rush!) Kid friendly: White and Milk Chocolate dipped pretzel rods with mini-M&ms or mini-chocolate chips or toffee bits. (As you can see...there weren't many left!)

Inspect What You Expect...

"The more reasonable we are in our expectations, the fewer disappointments we will have in life." A. Nielen
Where do I draw the line? Are my expectations too high? Look at them...they are children who enjoy every little part of their day...yet, I get so aggravated when I go to inspect what they have been asked to do...and it is not done to their best abilities! So I ask...am I expecting something of them that is unfair and unreasonable? They can do a great job picking up their rooms, keeping their closet clean, making their beds, and general help around the house and yard! Yet...it isn't always done that way! We are trying to teach them to do their best...because that is what God expects...and God doesn't put an age limit on that! (Ouch!) So what do I do with the verse found in James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Each of us has a personal responsibility and accountability...and I believe that is based on each individual's understanding of right and wrong. God doesn't give us an excuse to use..."well, they are just children..." It is my (our) job to teach them..."Train up a child in the way he should go..." I take that to mean "in every way that he will go"!
All that to say...I am not a perfect Mother and I often react because my expectation was not met...and I didn't stop to inspect during the process and before we moved on to a new activity. We are still in the training process and I need to be reminded of that...and last night I was reminded to act...not react! I just thought maybe someone else would be relieved to know that it is ok not to be perfect and to admit when you are not, because it is then that you can make the changes necessary "to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord!"
"We're not home yet, children, keep your eyes on the Savior. Just a little while to labor..."

How long is it since you've heard thunder?

Little M doesn't seem the least bit phased by it! It is nap time here!

Lazy dog woofing at the falling leaves.

It is a good day to stay inside and watch the temperature fall...along with the leaves! We raked a pile to the curb yesterday...but half the tree let its leaves fall during the night and you can't even see the kid's hard work/play! Teddy said the "sucker leaf-truck" better hurry up and get the leaves! It is going to be a soggy and possibly snowy(?) pile by the weekend! Grabbing a cup of coffee and settling down with a book...upright(I can't read upside down anymore like Alisa!)...till it is time to feed my little buddy.

Sometimes the things of this life leave us feeling topsy-turvy!

But I am thankful God is sovereign and He knows the plans He has for us! I was struck by the fact...late last night/very early this morning...He already knew the outcome..."For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13:1
To quote Teddy last night, "When we hear that John McCain won, we can say "Woohoo!" Well, this morning, Ted said we wouldn't be doing any "Woohoos" and we agreed we were going to have to talk to the kids! They were very disappointed to say the least, but we had the opportunity to talk about God is in control and He allowed this for a purpose! And no matter what...we still have to treat the office and those put there with kindness and respect! "But didn't Papa, Gramma, and Grammy and Grampy vote for...we voted for John McCain at school and he got 82 votes and Barak Obama only got 6 votes..."
They have no comprehension of how many people were involved in the voting process (and we didn't squash their enthusiasm with the fact that their vote doesn't count yet).
We sat last night and watched the numbers come in, then watched the electoral votes sky rocket, and listened to the speeches by both men. I watched the responses of the audiences and wondered if they had ever considered all the facts around each candidate's record and reputation...Theodore Roosevelt stated many years ago:
"The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life."
"Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Thomas Jeffereson stated this over a century ago...and I find myself wondering...how long God will let us continue on this path of selfishness...refusing to submit to the authority of God's Word.

Only 51 days till Christmas...

I went to Walmart yesterday and all of a sudden found myself humming along with the music...it was Christmas music! We presented our theme for our cookie exchange last night at our monthly ladies meeting...Winter Wonderland. Of course, it is no fun to just give the information...it is more fun to show and put a spark to the imagination! Can you tell what the picture is? Snowflakes in the window...Taste of Home gave the idea of using the little Christmas tree shaped pretzels dipped in the almond bark...but they weren't on the shelves yet...so the little twists had to do. We have a little rivalry going with some of us...we shall see how over the top it goes this year! One of our categories is More Creative Than Kari...so I had to live up to the expectation! That is alot of pressure...ha, ha...my best ideas hit me late at night before I go to sleep or in the shower. I just hope I can remember long enough to grab a pencil!

What is grosser than gross?

A bagless vacuum that shows exactly what it can suck out of your carpets...that you thought you kept fairly clean! I have gone through three vacuums since we have been married...I don't do well with shoestrings, bathrobe ties, carpet fringe, various toys, and etc. So... yesterday...Cinderella got a new appliance to catch up on a week (or was it two...yikes!) of no vacuuming...uh, trying to vacuum the whole house with the hose attachment didn't work well! Cinderella tried...'cause that part still worked and Cinderella has a hard time throwing things away that...well...It is out for the garbage man now! So Cinderella waltzed through the house yesterday...then got grossed out! But the carpets are cleaner...and she will vacuum again today...and maybe every day till the bagless part comes up empty!

I've done my part...have you?

Remember to Vote tomorrow!

"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight!"

Theodore Roosevelt

Take time to read and meditate on Romans 13 today...

As a Christian...it comes down to a whole lot more than just pulling our weight! We are to "cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Voting according to our pocketbooks is not being a light nor is it being loving to others! If you visit the different sites, stations, news articles, you see the candidates voting records and stances...do they line up with Romans 13:9-10? I think we have forgotten the basics...the Ten Commandments! Our children are understanding this better than most adults..."why don't they do what God says?"

No life of leisure here...

It dawned on me this morning why things went a little stressful yesterday...it was another week of change for us! Duh...I added a little buddy to our schedule and that was a big change for me. I was turning into a lady of leisure, ya know, with all the kids in school! Um...can I say it is more work now that I have to buckle a baby in a seat and install seat and not just grab my purse and go! How soon a mother forgets what her life once was! We managed the week in fine fashion...till yesterday when the kids were out of school for conferences...we had issues before 8 a.m.! Thank the Lord for a beautiful day that could be spent outside...of course, I had to almost physically push them out at first...but we sat on the front stoop and enjoyed the warm weather and watched Teddy ride through the pile of leaves, Alisa draw on the sidewalk, and Ashlynn play with barbies in the leaf pile. They all took turns raking...after the initial fight and name calling(yes, that happens!), Ashlynn took time to pick up all the leaves when they were done and put them in the recycling bin...she did a very thorough job! As I sat and watched her(her style was like mine), while holding little M, I was thankful that the kids are growing strong and healthy. God has blessed us with good health. There are some children who can't enjoy the opportunity to rake and play, and yes, even fight with their siblings. I watched each one of them and saw alot of "hard work that has been put into them" by many people...as we take care of the children God has given us. Holding a little baby in my arms again and watching what he will become, I thought of the election on Tuesday and prayed that Christians will get up off their apathetic chair and vote...because children's lives are at risk! Our freedom's are at stake! God's blessing on our country will be affected by our disobedience. A life of leisure is not part of God's plan...we have an important job to do! And sometimes those important jobs in our lives can be a little stressful. The changes in schedule can throw us off course. We get tired and unnerved. And it is in those times that I need to remember to be thankful and take my job seriously...because we are making a difference...even if it is one baby step at a time! My babies aren't babies anymore...and they have a job to do for God too!