First of all, for those of you interested in little Ally, you can check out her mom's post on the whole process for their family. It's tender and honestly written. Check it out here. She's doing great by the way and is well on the road to recovery!
Now for the second to last post in this series...this post came from a little over a year ago. And in light of all that we are inundated with in regards to our "rights" as women, it was great to re-read and remember.
A Book, A Blogpost and a Late Night
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-Cinnamon Rolls
This recipe is by far one of my favorites. It is my go-to recipe for every birthday and many holidays. These cinnamon rolls can seriously take a beating and still turn out great every time. They're not made to rise overnight in the fridge but they do just fine anyway making it easy to turn out incredible cinnamon rolls first thing in the morning. Try them for a special occasion or simply for a fun Saturday morning.
A Must-Try: Cinnamon Rolls
A Must-Try: Cinnamon Rolls
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-A Little Glimpse
It is beautiful here today...75 degrees, everyone is in shorts and running around. Today was the monthly church potluck and now we're going to a Superbowl Party. Does it really get much better than that?
God is so good to us. He gives us such blessings, like unexpected nice weather in February and an abundance of yummy cookies at church. This post is about one of those times that I remember God giving me just a little look at one of my kids "getting it"-having an epiphany moment. As a mom, these moments get us through, keep us marching on through the madness, and sustain our hearts when we feel like we can't muster up another ounce of patience. I hope you're encouraged. And I hope you're enjoying your Sunday.
A Little Glimpse
God is so good to us. He gives us such blessings, like unexpected nice weather in February and an abundance of yummy cookies at church. This post is about one of those times that I remember God giving me just a little look at one of my kids "getting it"-having an epiphany moment. As a mom, these moments get us through, keep us marching on through the madness, and sustain our hearts when we feel like we can't muster up another ounce of patience. I hope you're encouraged. And I hope you're enjoying your Sunday.
A Little Glimpse
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-Looking for Perfection
The following is a fun read on a Saturday night. I'm sure you're all prepping your super bowl menu for tomorrow. It's going to be one heck of a game!!
We're getting for the Super Bowl tomorrow too. Since our beloved Niners didn't even get close, we've had to choose a side. I asked the husband where this family stood and he responded immediately with, "The Packers!"
So that my friends is what we will be chanting tomorrow along with the whole state of Wisconsin... "Go Packers!!"
Looking for Perfection and Not Finding It!
We're getting for the Super Bowl tomorrow too. Since our beloved Niners didn't even get close, we've had to choose a side. I asked the husband where this family stood and he responded immediately with, "The Packers!"
So that my friends is what we will be chanting tomorrow along with the whole state of Wisconsin... "Go Packers!!"
Looking for Perfection and Not Finding It!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-Day 5
This post has always been one of my favorites. I'm not really sure why. Maybe it has to do with the fact that when I wrote it, I was just at the beginning of being a carpool mom. Now, I'm in full-fledge (is that a word?) carpooling mode and so remembering back to two years ago when it all started brings back fond memories. Maybe it reminds me too that my kids are growing up way too fast. Cliche but true. Anyhow, whatever it is, this post just reminds me why I love being a mom and all of the chaos and hilarity that comes with the job. It also gives a much deserved plug to my champ of a car-the Honda Pilot. We've never written a bigger check in our lives but that car has been worth every single cent we spent on it. And we're oh so grateful for it!!
Have a great weekend and enjoy!!
Carpool
Last year my oldest son, Isaac, started preschool two days a week. Our church is starting a classical Christian School and we have wanted to be a part of it. Since we live soooo far away from just about everything, some of my friends, who are also neighbors, and I decided to carpool so that we weren't driving all the time and dragging the little ones all around the county. First of all, you must understand that I am a homebody. I do not like to be out all that much. It's just simpler being home and I like it that way. So last year, when I thought about having to get my son to school and the hour round trip it'd be both ways, I felt defeated before I even started. I also was 37 weeks pregnant with Joshua at the start of school as well, so when I say I felt defeated, I really felt defeated. The thought of carpooling was the ONLY way I felt like I could handle the year and the drive so I jumped on board pretty quickly. I didn't want to live a frantic life and so carpooling seemed like a good solution. What I didn't anticipate was the absolute hilarity, joy and fun I would have driving all of those boys to school.
First of all, I have the perfect carpool car--a Honda Pilot. Thank God for that car because really, it's His provision that we even have it. But anyway, it seats 8 comfortably and has shoulder straps for every seat. These are things to consider since all of the boys are small and car seats, booster seats and the like are all part of the equation. So in my Pilot, at least once a week, I was transporting five boys all under the age of five. And boy has it been a ride....literally. This makes for very good material. Take today for instance. We listen to a cd of kids' music that is a compilation of hymns. I want our children to know hymns because the theology in them is so rock solid so, we listen to them in the car and sing them at home too. Anyhow, right in the middle of Crown Him with Many Crowns, all of the boys were belting out "Brownie" instead of "Crown Him!" My oldest is very studious and particular and he had been corrected by his Dad earlier in the week and so he proceeded to try and correct everyone in the car about the wording, including his little brother. However, since the car is loud and large, nobody could hear him and his meticulous corrections were falling on deaf ears. Brownie it was!
Another habit we have gotten into is telling stories on the way to school, which means I'm the principal storyteller. This started last year because many times I had to nurse Joshua in the car and keep all of them contained at the same time. I pondered how to pull this off not just decently, but well since a loud car of little boys could easily take me over if they tried, so I had to have a plan. They all love trains so I started telling stories about Thomas the Train. Most of the stories had morals to them like obeying parents, being kind, loving God, sharing and being humble. Poor James (the train) he most often was the proud train. But the stories seemed to work beautifully. And of course, I got to remind them again that they needed to listen to their parents in a sly, sneaky kind of way. Ha! Anyhow, Joshua got fed, they were all happy in their seats and then I was able to send them off to school without any major catastrophes.
It never ceases to amaze me how I am able to pile all of them into the car and make it all the way home in one piece. But it works every time. And then I wonder to myself, where did the time go? How am I a carpool mom already? I swear I still feel 18 at times wearing cute skirts and adorning my hair with ribbons to get that handsome guy's attention in English class at Cal Poly. That's how I really snagged my husband you know. He asks me sometimes what happened to the skirts and ribbons. And then he laughs and says that they got replaced by an apron and bobby pins, and that he'd take me the way I am now any day. Phew...good thing. I'm not really a skirt type girl (I wish I was but I'm just not) so, that brief period of dressing up was really, well brief and strategic. But seriously, time has flown and continues to fly. And I better cherish it. Even though it's a bit insane, carpool reminds me that I better soak up all of the chattering voices, the laughs and stories floating through my car as the miles fly by. The next time I turn around to notice, they'll be grown, and I'll be wishing I could go back to Thomas the Train, nursing my baby in the front seat and hearing about their day at school. Someday they won't want to talk about it much. They'll have few words...which just means that they'll have turned into little men and that I will have grown even older. So I'll take the craziness, brownie and all. What a blessing it is!!
Have a great weekend and enjoy!!
Carpool
Last year my oldest son, Isaac, started preschool two days a week. Our church is starting a classical Christian School and we have wanted to be a part of it. Since we live soooo far away from just about everything, some of my friends, who are also neighbors, and I decided to carpool so that we weren't driving all the time and dragging the little ones all around the county. First of all, you must understand that I am a homebody. I do not like to be out all that much. It's just simpler being home and I like it that way. So last year, when I thought about having to get my son to school and the hour round trip it'd be both ways, I felt defeated before I even started. I also was 37 weeks pregnant with Joshua at the start of school as well, so when I say I felt defeated, I really felt defeated. The thought of carpooling was the ONLY way I felt like I could handle the year and the drive so I jumped on board pretty quickly. I didn't want to live a frantic life and so carpooling seemed like a good solution. What I didn't anticipate was the absolute hilarity, joy and fun I would have driving all of those boys to school.
First of all, I have the perfect carpool car--a Honda Pilot. Thank God for that car because really, it's His provision that we even have it. But anyway, it seats 8 comfortably and has shoulder straps for every seat. These are things to consider since all of the boys are small and car seats, booster seats and the like are all part of the equation. So in my Pilot, at least once a week, I was transporting five boys all under the age of five. And boy has it been a ride....literally. This makes for very good material. Take today for instance. We listen to a cd of kids' music that is a compilation of hymns. I want our children to know hymns because the theology in them is so rock solid so, we listen to them in the car and sing them at home too. Anyhow, right in the middle of Crown Him with Many Crowns, all of the boys were belting out "Brownie" instead of "Crown Him!" My oldest is very studious and particular and he had been corrected by his Dad earlier in the week and so he proceeded to try and correct everyone in the car about the wording, including his little brother. However, since the car is loud and large, nobody could hear him and his meticulous corrections were falling on deaf ears. Brownie it was!
Another habit we have gotten into is telling stories on the way to school, which means I'm the principal storyteller. This started last year because many times I had to nurse Joshua in the car and keep all of them contained at the same time. I pondered how to pull this off not just decently, but well since a loud car of little boys could easily take me over if they tried, so I had to have a plan. They all love trains so I started telling stories about Thomas the Train. Most of the stories had morals to them like obeying parents, being kind, loving God, sharing and being humble. Poor James (the train) he most often was the proud train. But the stories seemed to work beautifully. And of course, I got to remind them again that they needed to listen to their parents in a sly, sneaky kind of way. Ha! Anyhow, Joshua got fed, they were all happy in their seats and then I was able to send them off to school without any major catastrophes.
It never ceases to amaze me how I am able to pile all of them into the car and make it all the way home in one piece. But it works every time. And then I wonder to myself, where did the time go? How am I a carpool mom already? I swear I still feel 18 at times wearing cute skirts and adorning my hair with ribbons to get that handsome guy's attention in English class at Cal Poly. That's how I really snagged my husband you know. He asks me sometimes what happened to the skirts and ribbons. And then he laughs and says that they got replaced by an apron and bobby pins, and that he'd take me the way I am now any day. Phew...good thing. I'm not really a skirt type girl (I wish I was but I'm just not) so, that brief period of dressing up was really, well brief and strategic. But seriously, time has flown and continues to fly. And I better cherish it. Even though it's a bit insane, carpool reminds me that I better soak up all of the chattering voices, the laughs and stories floating through my car as the miles fly by. The next time I turn around to notice, they'll be grown, and I'll be wishing I could go back to Thomas the Train, nursing my baby in the front seat and hearing about their day at school. Someday they won't want to talk about it much. They'll have few words...which just means that they'll have turned into little men and that I will have grown even older. So I'll take the craziness, brownie and all. What a blessing it is!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-Day 4
Today's post is actually a series of posts on doing a weekly Sabbath Dinner in your home. I got a lot of positive feedback on these when I first posted them almost a year ago now so I thought I'd put them back up. Since there's five basic articles on the subject, I'm just going to link to them. This tradition has become dear to our family. That's why I love to share it. Enjoy!
Sabbath Living-Part 1
Getting Started-Part 2
How to Make Challah Bread-Part 3
The Why Behind our Liturgy-Part 4
Children and the Sabbath-No Fairy Tale Here-Part 5
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Top Ten Blogposts-Day 3
Today's blogpost is really nothing too special. Yet, I feel as though it is somehow. Because, you see, I became a wife first and sometimes it's too easy for me to forget that amidst the immediate needs of my little brood, I have a responsibility to the man of the house. Immediate needs or not, that's the way it has to be. And even when I am juggling what seems to be the seven wonders of the world, I still do truly want to be a blessing to the man I married. I don't know, something about loving him a TON and respecting him even more than that. Somedays it's harder to accomplish than others.
For many of you out there, the weather outside is frightful. Isn't there a HUGE blizzard striking the midwest right now? And somewhere down under, they're getting pummeled by record hurricanes. Anyhow, I think this will resonate with those of you experiencing nature at its best right now.
And for those of us in California, we can pretend to get it. Now I don't want to sound snooty but...it is a balmy 65 degrees here with a slight chill to the air...nevertheless, despite our current great winter weather, this whole idea still gives me a good knock in the noggin. Like it should. God's word has a way of doing that. Enjoy!
Constant Dripping
Autumn is settling in nicely around these parts and Winter will be hard on its heels. Since we don't get major differences in seasons here, I have other ways of being able to tell that the seasons are changing. One of them, unfortunately, is none other than the common cold. We've had a few come through the house already. I do love the cooler months but I don't particularly care for colds.
One of the reasons is this...the constant dripping. It seems to go on forever! The pesky dripping is about enough to drive me nuts on some days. Lately I feel like at least one of my boys is dripping which makes me feel like it has been going on for weeks now. This morning God gave me a little word picture (who says motherhood doesn't involve your brain?) that easily applied right to my daily life of endlessly wiping noses and I was reminded again and convicted.
Proverbs 19:13 "A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping."
Proverbs 27:15 "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day..."
Drip...drip...drip...drip...wipe...drip...drip...drip...are you annoyed yet? It never stops. No matter how much you wipe it up, it always comes back and keeps dripping. The maintenance, monotony and mucous create a literal muddled mess.
How often can my restless and quarrelsome spirit create an emotional and spiritual mess for my hubby? Do I really want to be like a snotty, nasty, dripping, stuffy nose to my husband? I've never thought about it like that before but for some reason today, that was the word picture in my head. No real incidence prompted the analogy...just lots of nose wiping. I guess it was time for me to be reminded yet again not to merely look out for my own interests.
No...I don't want to be that mess. I want to be this:
Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Lord, give me words. Let them be pleasant. Let them be sweet. Let them heal and soothe. Let them be like honey.
For many of you out there, the weather outside is frightful. Isn't there a HUGE blizzard striking the midwest right now? And somewhere down under, they're getting pummeled by record hurricanes. Anyhow, I think this will resonate with those of you experiencing nature at its best right now.
And for those of us in California, we can pretend to get it. Now I don't want to sound snooty but...it is a balmy 65 degrees here with a slight chill to the air...nevertheless, despite our current great winter weather, this whole idea still gives me a good knock in the noggin. Like it should. God's word has a way of doing that. Enjoy!
Constant Dripping
Autumn is settling in nicely around these parts and Winter will be hard on its heels. Since we don't get major differences in seasons here, I have other ways of being able to tell that the seasons are changing. One of them, unfortunately, is none other than the common cold. We've had a few come through the house already. I do love the cooler months but I don't particularly care for colds.
One of the reasons is this...the constant dripping. It seems to go on forever! The pesky dripping is about enough to drive me nuts on some days. Lately I feel like at least one of my boys is dripping which makes me feel like it has been going on for weeks now. This morning God gave me a little word picture (who says motherhood doesn't involve your brain?) that easily applied right to my daily life of endlessly wiping noses and I was reminded again and convicted.
Proverbs 19:13 "A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping."
Proverbs 27:15 "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day..."
Drip...drip...drip...drip...wipe...drip...drip...drip...are you annoyed yet? It never stops. No matter how much you wipe it up, it always comes back and keeps dripping. The maintenance, monotony and mucous create a literal muddled mess.
How often can my restless and quarrelsome spirit create an emotional and spiritual mess for my hubby? Do I really want to be like a snotty, nasty, dripping, stuffy nose to my husband? I've never thought about it like that before but for some reason today, that was the word picture in my head. No real incidence prompted the analogy...just lots of nose wiping. I guess it was time for me to be reminded yet again not to merely look out for my own interests.
No...I don't want to be that mess. I want to be this:
Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Lord, give me words. Let them be pleasant. Let them be sweet. Let them heal and soothe. Let them be like honey.
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