Here in the South the prediction of snow means a run on the grocery store and no school. Seriously, there is no snow so long as a lone snow man is still standing. It was a real adjustment for us moving here from Colorado, but almost seven years later, we are local. We have huddled down, slowed down, and started our snowed in tradition of eating constantly.
Jason is the play outside with the kids man, I'm the stay inside and cook kind. We are a perfect fit. I play enough to make a memory, and quietly return to the warmth of the house. Oh, how I once spent hours in the snow. Now, I'm on baby duty and perfectly content with the task of loving my chubby cheeked wonder. Story has a bit of a cold, so she won't be put in the snow for a photo opportunity any time soon.
Snow brings out my inner red neck. That and the fourth of July. We are currently eating snack food, watching too much bad television and dressing...well, I won't even tell you how we are dressed. Jason wants to make fancy muffins, and all I want is chips and beer.
I did get into a cleaning frenzy that I wish would have lasted longer. But I became distracted with making snow ice cream. On that front, I was way too ambitious and don't know what to do with all the excess.
Ella would stay in the snow forever, Harp is too girlie for the cold, and Lake just plain wears out. They are loving childhood, and I am loving watching them! I'm stocked with hot chocolate and I'm in charge of drying the wet clothes so they will be ready for the next adventure. Pictures to come.....maybe.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Merry Christmas
Where oh where have I been. Well life with a house full of kids is such joy, such chaos, such a blast...I just don't see the time to write in it. By the time my day is done, I'm brain tired. I like to save my extra energy for my guy. Watching Julie and Julia last night I remembered just how much I do love to write. I have missed coming here to write, if only for a record of events for myself.
Having a sweet baby girl is such a joy. Story is a chunky, joyful, happy baby. She is, to me, a reminder of all my babies. Smiles and ears like Ella, in a hurry like Lake, and all girl like Harper. Really, who knows if she's our last, but she feels like it. I'm fully enjoying her, but I can say I enjoyed each of my babies. They all came just when the Lord knew we were ready.
I'm not much for the hustle and bustle of the season. I have done most of my shopping at Big Lots, and have one more Target stop. My kids don't make requests, they never really have. One year Ella asked for a burp cloth for her baby doll. They did go through an American Girl Doll phase that was a bit costly, but grandparents chipped in. We've just always had fun....regardless of the glut of stuff.
Jason has only one more semester left of seminary. We are pretty sure what our plans are, but nothing is final. I'm so very proud of my guy. Love, love, love him.
Well, who knows if I'll be back.... I hope so.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Where am I?
Golly friends. I'm tired. I can't focus, and I'm doing all I can to keep up. Currently, I'm two months from baby number 4. We spent the weekend moving bedrooms, which has left me with four closets to clean out. Ugh, but I'm also thrilled to have the house in order.
The cleaning makes me feel like my mind is making space for this child. I'm so excited to meet him or her. The kids are eager to find out if we are having a boy or a girl, and we can't imagine another child to enrich our lives as these three have. We are rich beyond belief.
I hope to touch base here more. I'm making time to sit these days. To rest, enjoy the kids, and must I say it....forget the laundry. It's not going anywhere. Our clothes may start walking for themselves, but we'll have enjoyed our time together.
Hope you are well, I'm sure many of you have stopped visiting. Forgive my absence. My plate is full, but it is full of great things. Be well friends. And, please offer any fun baby names...we are still floundering on this one. I'm afraid if we have a boy we may name him grandpa. Jason says, "Hey we both liked our grandpa, why not?"
The cleaning makes me feel like my mind is making space for this child. I'm so excited to meet him or her. The kids are eager to find out if we are having a boy or a girl, and we can't imagine another child to enrich our lives as these three have. We are rich beyond belief.
I hope to touch base here more. I'm making time to sit these days. To rest, enjoy the kids, and must I say it....forget the laundry. It's not going anywhere. Our clothes may start walking for themselves, but we'll have enjoyed our time together.
Hope you are well, I'm sure many of you have stopped visiting. Forgive my absence. My plate is full, but it is full of great things. Be well friends. And, please offer any fun baby names...we are still floundering on this one. I'm afraid if we have a boy we may name him grandpa. Jason says, "Hey we both liked our grandpa, why not?"
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Toddler Training
A life with small children has many different seasons: fun, tiresome, encouraging, overwhelming, and frustrating. Life in general comes at us in different seasons. We have seasons of great passion, deep love, grief, angst, and turmoil. No two days in the life of a believer are the same. One thing is constant, the present, constant love of our Father. I find my understanding of that unchangeable love is wavering, even as He is not. Our understanding certainly is.
Proverbs 16:3,21&22
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it....
I often notice, as mothers, when we get into a particularly difficult season with one of our children, we are quick to share the struggle our child is having with other mothers. We tell of our frustrations with the behaviours and we often vent of our struggles dealing with a particularly hard season. Most often the responses I hear to these struggling mothers is, "oh honey, I can top that," or, "oh, it's normal, just give it time."
As women who depend on the Lord, I see in scripture that our responses to one another should be much more directed to the heart of our fellow mom. "So friend, did how did your heart react to that behavior?" Or, "How did your heart deal with the heart of your child?" Even more simply, "How can I help you think and pray through this tough season with your child?"
Titus 2
....teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
TEACH....TRAIN, not, "Oh I've so been there"...
Not preach, hound, judge, hurt. Train, teach....that the word of God may not be reviled. Do we use scripture as a weapon. Or do our children see the good works in us (even when frustrated) and then long themselves to be self-controlled and pure?
It is hard to be the one in a group that says, "before we fault our children, how about we take some time to look at our own hardened, possibly angry hearts." Not easy to do, but it could be the thing that brings us out of our slump with our little ones.
So how is your heart today? Have you given yourself even a moment to examine it before disciplining your child. Take the time, you will not regret it. If needed, go to your child and apologize for ways you have used your hard heart to punish your child.
Proverbs 16:3,21&22
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it....
I often notice, as mothers, when we get into a particularly difficult season with one of our children, we are quick to share the struggle our child is having with other mothers. We tell of our frustrations with the behaviours and we often vent of our struggles dealing with a particularly hard season. Most often the responses I hear to these struggling mothers is, "oh honey, I can top that," or, "oh, it's normal, just give it time."
As women who depend on the Lord, I see in scripture that our responses to one another should be much more directed to the heart of our fellow mom. "So friend, did how did your heart react to that behavior?" Or, "How did your heart deal with the heart of your child?" Even more simply, "How can I help you think and pray through this tough season with your child?"
Titus 2
....teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
TEACH....TRAIN, not, "Oh I've so been there"...
Not preach, hound, judge, hurt. Train, teach....that the word of God may not be reviled. Do we use scripture as a weapon. Or do our children see the good works in us (even when frustrated) and then long themselves to be self-controlled and pure?
It is hard to be the one in a group that says, "before we fault our children, how about we take some time to look at our own hardened, possibly angry hearts." Not easy to do, but it could be the thing that brings us out of our slump with our little ones.
So how is your heart today? Have you given yourself even a moment to examine it before disciplining your child. Take the time, you will not regret it. If needed, go to your child and apologize for ways you have used your hard heart to punish your child.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Managing Money
This is the area we have much room for growth. The question is, are we seeking to grow? I believe we are. Last week I mentioned how Jason and I are writing everything down. We have been very careful to put everything down. It has been eye opening. If you have never done this, I would highly suggest it. Just for one week, we found so many places we spent money but never took notice of it.
For instance, we usually put somewhere between eight to ten dollars every Wednesday for dinner at church. We are getting to where our eaters are bigger and we actually need to increase this number. It's an amount we are happy to spend; we love dinner with our church family on Wednesday. It was just never listed in our budget. So we found forty dollars we spend that we hadn't put in our budget.
I was right last week. The quick trips to the store really do add up for us. I'm going to have to work on this.
For this week, saving money will come from sticking around the house. We have been so so busy lately I don't think it will be much of a sacrifice to do this. We have more than enough to have a family come over to our house for dinner and games if we choose. But a weekend without running around will be so helpful to our budget.
This week I also have the job of figuring out our taxes. It's not too difficult, but always an education for me. Jason has also reworked the number of dependents he claims. We hadn't done that since the birth of Harper. It was time.
Slow and steady wins the race. We are getting there. Our goals for the year. Actually, for before Jason graduates from seminary the May after this one.
Be completely debt free except for our rental home
No car payments
Increase our emergency fund
Retirement started
College started
Increase our giving
After this month, I think I will have a clearer picture of when that will happen. I will be grateful to be out of graduate school debt free. I know we can do it. It will just take some sacrifice on our parts.
For instance, we usually put somewhere between eight to ten dollars every Wednesday for dinner at church. We are getting to where our eaters are bigger and we actually need to increase this number. It's an amount we are happy to spend; we love dinner with our church family on Wednesday. It was just never listed in our budget. So we found forty dollars we spend that we hadn't put in our budget.
I was right last week. The quick trips to the store really do add up for us. I'm going to have to work on this.
For this week, saving money will come from sticking around the house. We have been so so busy lately I don't think it will be much of a sacrifice to do this. We have more than enough to have a family come over to our house for dinner and games if we choose. But a weekend without running around will be so helpful to our budget.
This week I also have the job of figuring out our taxes. It's not too difficult, but always an education for me. Jason has also reworked the number of dependents he claims. We hadn't done that since the birth of Harper. It was time.
Slow and steady wins the race. We are getting there. Our goals for the year. Actually, for before Jason graduates from seminary the May after this one.
Be completely debt free except for our rental home
No car payments
Increase our emergency fund
Retirement started
College started
Increase our giving
After this month, I think I will have a clearer picture of when that will happen. I will be grateful to be out of graduate school debt free. I know we can do it. It will just take some sacrifice on our parts.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Portrait of a Saint
Some faiths have the idea of a saint confused. As per scripture, a saint is someone who trusts in Christ for their salvation, follows Him in their days, and desires to be more like Jesus. It has nothing to do with perfection. Mostly, it's submission and an understanding of our own need for Christ in their daily lives.
So if you are asking, yes, I do consider myself a saint. Sounds prideful right? Not at all. It truly only comes from my own knowledge of what scripture says about those who believe in Christ. It has nothing to do with the "work" I do for church, others, or my family, it is only by the work of Christ on the cross that I can call myself such a word.
Trust me, it's not something I tell people often. But it's not something I'm embarrassed of either. He saved me, He accomplished it, He works in my heart, He has done every bit of the work. Nothing in me made me worthy, made me better; of myself, I'm dead in my sin. Only with Christ am I made alive to righteousness. That out of the way, portrait of my favorite living saint.......can you even begin to guess?
Not too difficult, it's Jason. The husband I never deserved, but by God's abundant grace was led to in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The gifts I see in Jason are endless, but I want to focus on the things of Jason's faith that have deepened mine.
Jason has a gentleness that is rarely seen in men. To me, it makes him the strongest man I know. He doesn't need to raise his voice, use his muscle, or control to make his point. His soft heart has done much to change the hard places in my heart.
That leads me to his patience. He certainly can get ruffled and frustrated, but after being married to Jason for over ten years, I will tell you it is rare. Where I am often the one to point out flaws, character misjudgements, and mistakes; Jason is patient to let the Holy Spirit be the one to do the changing in the hearts of those around him.
Many come to Jason with their burdens because they know he will tell them the truth tempered with a lot of love and truth of scripture. He has been called into some very difficult situations, and the grace the Lord has given him has humbled me immensely. He takes his studies seriously because he knows they will be used to the benefit of others he comes in contact with in his ministry. Not for the pride of being smart, but for the deepening of his own faith to encourage others he comes in contact with daily.
I'm not trying to say my husband is perfect, but he listens and is willing to be changed by the Lord. He knew from a young age that he would spend his life in service to the Lord. He fought that call at different moments of his life, but he never would forsake the Lord. I have seen hearts changed and deepened by knowing Jason. I see it everyday in my own home. I love the father my children are blessed with to show them the unconditional love of Christ. I don't think I will ever come to the end of what the Lord has to teach me through the life of my husband.
Many nights Jason and I end our day in bed reading our books side by side. If I turn out the lights before him I often tell him I love him. Then I go on to tell him how much I really like him. He is my very best friend and I really like the man that he is. I like his humor, I like his intelligence, I like how he treats those around him, I like his kind heart, and I love Jesus who thought to make a man like him.
So if you are asking, yes, I do consider myself a saint. Sounds prideful right? Not at all. It truly only comes from my own knowledge of what scripture says about those who believe in Christ. It has nothing to do with the "work" I do for church, others, or my family, it is only by the work of Christ on the cross that I can call myself such a word.
Trust me, it's not something I tell people often. But it's not something I'm embarrassed of either. He saved me, He accomplished it, He works in my heart, He has done every bit of the work. Nothing in me made me worthy, made me better; of myself, I'm dead in my sin. Only with Christ am I made alive to righteousness. That out of the way, portrait of my favorite living saint.......can you even begin to guess?
Not too difficult, it's Jason. The husband I never deserved, but by God's abundant grace was led to in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. The gifts I see in Jason are endless, but I want to focus on the things of Jason's faith that have deepened mine.
Jason has a gentleness that is rarely seen in men. To me, it makes him the strongest man I know. He doesn't need to raise his voice, use his muscle, or control to make his point. His soft heart has done much to change the hard places in my heart.
That leads me to his patience. He certainly can get ruffled and frustrated, but after being married to Jason for over ten years, I will tell you it is rare. Where I am often the one to point out flaws, character misjudgements, and mistakes; Jason is patient to let the Holy Spirit be the one to do the changing in the hearts of those around him.
Many come to Jason with their burdens because they know he will tell them the truth tempered with a lot of love and truth of scripture. He has been called into some very difficult situations, and the grace the Lord has given him has humbled me immensely. He takes his studies seriously because he knows they will be used to the benefit of others he comes in contact with in his ministry. Not for the pride of being smart, but for the deepening of his own faith to encourage others he comes in contact with daily.
I'm not trying to say my husband is perfect, but he listens and is willing to be changed by the Lord. He knew from a young age that he would spend his life in service to the Lord. He fought that call at different moments of his life, but he never would forsake the Lord. I have seen hearts changed and deepened by knowing Jason. I see it everyday in my own home. I love the father my children are blessed with to show them the unconditional love of Christ. I don't think I will ever come to the end of what the Lord has to teach me through the life of my husband.
Many nights Jason and I end our day in bed reading our books side by side. If I turn out the lights before him I often tell him I love him. Then I go on to tell him how much I really like him. He is my very best friend and I really like the man that he is. I like his humor, I like his intelligence, I like how he treats those around him, I like his kind heart, and I love Jesus who thought to make a man like him.
Thank you Jesus for seeing fit to put us together. How could I ever have turned the head of such a hunky, kind-hearted, godly man? May I ever be grateful! Does he sound too good to be true? That's what I think all the time! How did such a wretch like me get the attention of such a beautiful wretch like him?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Week in food
Every week when I'm making my list I do an inventory of the food we already have. I make sure that I have a daddy meal if Jason needs to help me out cooking, and I also take into account nights we are going to be entertaining. This week we are having some friends and their children coming in from Illinois (Juli and Joel Adams). I can't wait, but I need to be ready.
Here is the week in food at my house. Starting from yesterday.
Breakfast:
Oatmeal and fruit
Cereal and banana bread
Waffles
Pancakes (Ella's speciality)
Oatmeal/dried fruit and banana bread
Cereal and toast
Banana bread and yogurt
Cheesy eggs and toast
Lunch:
Lasagna
Black bean tacos
Leftovers
Picnic
Roast and potatoes
Burritos
Pb&j and fruit
Leftovers
Dinner:
Church meal
Shrimp fried rice
hot dogs and mac and cheese (date night for us)
Tomato dill soup and grilled cheese
Leftovers
Hummus and homemade pita
Potato soup, ham and cheese rolls, salad and PB cookies (bunco night)
Church
Snacks:
Fruit (oranges mostly)
Crackers and cheese spread
Cereal
Yogurt
With all of my meals, I slice up available fruit, open my apple sauce that we canned, or add a vegetable. I don't list them because it wouldn't be accurate. I struggle with the main dishes, but the sides come easy for me. Maybe this will help you think through what you are cooking. It really does help get things going. I save so much on our budget by writing it out before I go to the grocery.
Here is the week in food at my house. Starting from yesterday.
Breakfast:
Oatmeal and fruit
Cereal and banana bread
Waffles
Pancakes (Ella's speciality)
Oatmeal/dried fruit and banana bread
Cereal and toast
Banana bread and yogurt
Cheesy eggs and toast
Lunch:
Lasagna
Black bean tacos
Leftovers
Picnic
Roast and potatoes
Burritos
Pb&j and fruit
Leftovers
Dinner:
Church meal
Shrimp fried rice
hot dogs and mac and cheese (date night for us)
Tomato dill soup and grilled cheese
Leftovers
Hummus and homemade pita
Potato soup, ham and cheese rolls, salad and PB cookies (bunco night)
Church
Snacks:
Fruit (oranges mostly)
Crackers and cheese spread
Cereal
Yogurt
With all of my meals, I slice up available fruit, open my apple sauce that we canned, or add a vegetable. I don't list them because it wouldn't be accurate. I struggle with the main dishes, but the sides come easy for me. Maybe this will help you think through what you are cooking. It really does help get things going. I save so much on our budget by writing it out before I go to the grocery.
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