Saturday, November 29, 2008

Thanks & Giving

A Thankful heart
is a
Giving heart!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

A book with my Name on it!

Yeah! I just read a book with my name on the cover!
Well... sorta.... my LAST name is on the front cuz
it's a historical novel about one of the pilgrim girls
named MARY CHILTON!


Of course it's fictional, but based on historically
researched facts.

Every year during the Thanksgiving season I'm
blown away at the sacrifice of the pilgrims;
the strength of body, mind & spirit.
They risked it all to live in a land where they could
live & worship God freely. Truly amazing!
(and we still hold out hope that we're related to
Mr. & Mrs. James Chilton and their daughter, Mary!)

I'm so thankful to live in this country!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

I Need Glasses, too

Our sweet little two year old boy got glasses yesterday.

He's adorable. He's being a good sport about it.
I'm sad and just want to kiss his little face continually.

But, one of his little eyes persists in doing it's own thing.
So, the glasses are a welcome answer to prayer.

Doing "our own thing" isn't always a good thing, is it?

Sometimes Jesus must gently make us aware that He's
going one direction and we're trying to go another...
-and it's not getting us anywhere
-and it actually hurts (Chasey says, "It huts")

Sometimes I need spiritual glasses...
a realigning of my heart & focus so that it's looking
in the same direction as the heart of God.

sigh.
It's not easy.

If only my spiritual correction could look as cute as a
little blond boy in his new "gasses." (as he says it)

Friday, November 14, 2008

THANKFUL for the Kitchen Table

Our kitchen table is FAR more than the place we sit to eat a meal.
On my 40th B-day, my family gave me a cool Ikea table...
and I'm so THANKFUL for it!
(It's long & narrow and makes our small kitchen much
more efficient. The picture isn't the exact table, but it's close.)

It serves a zillion purposes.... here's a few!
(in no particular order)

-plan menus & grocery shopping list each week
-grade homeschool papers & record grades
-Zoe's homeschool desk
-cutting table for sewing projects
-sewing table that hold the sewing machine
-painting easel for pudding artists
-craft table for all sorts of crafts & projects that make huge messes
-game table
-food prep station since cabinet space is limited
-computer desk
-playdough station
-crayon creation station
-puzzle place
-bill paying desk
-weekly organizing desk
-homemade mini pizza production line
-letter writing desk (yes, I still do a few of those)
-gift wrapping counter
-Memory Verse review center
-Conversation circle (well, it's a rectangle, actually)
-Serving Counter when large groups come over
-Quilting Corner for pinning & sewing large projects

-Oh...yeah... we eat 3 meals a day at this table, too!

I'm THANKFUL for my cool, black long & skinny TABLE!

What other things do you use your kitchen table for?




Currently
God Rocks! Living Stones
By God Rocks!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

When they're sick...

Recently a Mommy with an adorable little one-year-old
baby girl expressed to me what we as parents all experience
at some point: the sadness of a sick child!

These simple reminders came to mind.
Perhaps they'll encourage you... EVEN if you DON'T have kids.
Basically love, patience and lotsa cuddling can solve alot of
problems in a lot of areas of life... not just kids!
(Well, the "cuddling" part might not be as versatile as the others.)

Keep these in mind:
- You didn't do anything to bring on or prolong the sickness.
The fact that you're so concerned shows that you're a
wonderful parent.

-Although it's so hard to see them just lying around,
take advantage of those precious times when all they want you
to do it hold them, cuddle them and snuggle
(even if it's all night long in a recliner).
It's the best comfort we can give them.

- You know your baby/child best, so follow your instincts.
Our doctor in Youngstown (Dr. Anne Stover) was so good
about reminding me that no one knows baby like mama does.
Trust yourself. God gave her to you and He's instilled in you
that special "radar" to know when something isn't right.

- During times of sickness, I don't worry about housework or
even ministry demands, baby comes first.
Ironically, it's been during these times when I just dropped off the
face of the earth for a week or so to care for my children that
the girls/ladies in our ministry will comment that they're so
encouraged to see me prioritize and live out my highest calling -
being a wife & mom!

Simple thoughts, yes.
But instead of always trying to "give someone the right answer",
maybe that person- child or adult- in our path today just needs
love, attention and compassion!


(We don't have these DVDs listed below, we just watch'um on TV...
love the music and how it gives music education. Hmm, maybe I
should have the big girls watch it, too!)

Currently Watching
Little Einsteins: Fall 2008 DVD 3 Pack
By Little Einsteins

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

I voted

Wow... my husband and our oldest daughter just
blogged similar thoughts...
neither of them knew about the other's.
  • They are SO GOOD.


    Why are you still reading this...


    click on their names!


    Read THEIR blogs!!!!

    Currently Reading