Who's Flying Your Plane?

This weekend we were fortunate to be able visit with friends we haven't seen in a while which allowed us to attend our old church. I can't even begin to describe the feeling of walking in the doors there, I love that church and all those in it.

During Sunday School we were directed to a part in our book with a picture of an airplane and the question "Who's flying the airplane?". It was to make you think about who's in control of your life, you or God. It struck me as funny because just two days ago my husband and I had watched Airplane '77. I was immediately taken aback by the similarities between that movie and the thought the Sunday School book was trying to convey.

In the movie, the co-pilot drugs everyone, including the pilot. The co-pilot then hi-jacks the plane, alters the course and in the process of trying to do what he wanted he crashes the plane and they end up on the bottom of the ocean. When the pilot wakes up he is the one who is eventually able to get the passengers rescued while the co-pilot finds himself dead.

This movie is actually a great picture of what happens in our lives without God. When we kick Him out of our cockpit and decide to go off His plan for our lives for our own selfish reasons we will almost assuredly crash. Unfortunately we are not always the only ones who crash. Sometimes a lot of other people are hurt as we pursure our own agendas. But once we let Him back in control, He is able to rescue us from ourselves and the situation.

Without God, we are all dead. But once we have decided to let him be our pilot, then we have to follow His plan. Anything else is just a crash waiting to happen. God knows what the plan is. He can see it from beginning to end, airport to airport. He doesn't need a co-pilot. It's better to just go take a seat in First-Class and enjoy the peace of knowing that He is in control.

What's For Dinner

Tacos. A staple in our house since we all love Mexican. Last night I decided to try something new to liven up our meal. I based it on a recipe we tried a couple of years ago for BBQ Beef Cups which called for biscuits filled with flavored beef. We ended up throwing away that dinner (and the recipe) and ordered a pizza that night! A few days ago, my husband and I were talking about that recipe and it got me thinking about trying it with tacos, remembering I had a recipe for making tortillas. The kids loved getting to help make the tortillas and dinner was delicious!! So here what was for dinner last night:

Taco Cups, Fiesta Rice, and Refried Beans

Tortillas:

3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 cup water

3 Tbsp vegatable oil

Mix it all together into a dough. Pull off pieces and roll into a ball in your hand then press flat. I used a cupcake pan upside down to form the tortilla cups. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 mins or so until firm.

I filled some with and some without refried beans, taco meat then topped them with cheese and sour cream. you could fill them with whatever you want but they are small so keep that in mind. Serve with Fiesta rice (1 cup salsa, 1 cup water, 2 cups rice) and it makes fun and yummy dinner! 

We ALL loved them and I hope you will too! Enjoy!



What's For Dinner Tonight

I love Kraft Food's recipes. You can go and find all sorts of yummy family recipes there. Last night's dinner of Easy Italian Pasta Bake came from there. Tonight's dinner, however, came from their magazine Food and Family. On the menu was Sweet and Sour Meatballs. This is a super fast meal because it utilizes fully cooked frozen meatballs and frozen peppers. Of course, make your own meatballs or use fresh veggies, which is what I did tonight.

What you need to make this yummy, fast and easy meal:

12 oz. frozen fully cooked meatballs (3/4 of 16 oz pkg)
     I usually just use the whole thing and add a little to the rest of the ingredients.
1- 16 oz. package frozen stir-fry vegatables (sliced green, red, and yellow peppers and white onions)
1/4 cup apricot jam      I use apricot preserves because I can't find jam
1/4 cup catalina dressing
2 Tbsp soy sauce

You can also add 1/2 tsp each of ginger and garlic powder to the sauce while it's cooking to, as the recipe says, " jazz it up".


Mix it all together and let it cook on medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until it's all heated through, and don't forget to stir it occasionally.

I serve it over white rice, though you could certainly serve it with pasta if you wish, and usually a baby spinach salad on the side.

Simple, Fast, Delicious. What more could you ask for?? Enjoy!

What's For Dinner?

The other day my friend said I should start a blog series about dinner. I don't know about that, but I did feel that tonight's dinner warranted a blog post.

When I asked my daughter what she wanted to eat tonight she playfully said "Apple sandwiches!" and I said to myself "Why not?" Now I'm sure we are not the first people to make apple sandwiches, but I liked ours so good and since she came up with what to put on it, we decided to call these "Audi's Apple Sandwiches".

So here's what we ate tonight

Audi's Apple Sandwiches and vanilla yogurt topped with frozen blueberries.

And just in case you want to make this simple and yummy sandwich, I thought I'd leave you with the "recipe", if you can call it that. First, start two pieces of bread in the toaster and while it is toasting very thinly slice some apples.

Next, add creamy peanut butter to the two pieces of toast. Arrange the apple slices on the toast and top with cinnamon and sugar. That's it!

ENJOY!

Fun With Kool-Aid Dough

So since there is only two days left until vacation, I have been trying to get the house cleaned up.(Because who wants to come home to a dirty house?) Well, everyone knows when you have kidsit's incredibly difficult to keep them from destroying a freshly cleaned house. So, this afternoon I decided to dig into my "Things I want to make" folder and pulled out a recipe from Beckie at Infarrantly Creative, gathered the kiddos, and got to making. The kids enjoyed getting to help and couldn't wait to play with it once it was cooled. Unfortunately, I realized I had used 1/2 Tablespoon too much oil so it was super sticky! Extra flour and it was ready for use.

They have been playing with it now for over an hour! It's so wonderful to see the creations they come up with. They have made pizza, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, had sick snakes, baby worms, and balls galore!

 

 

          Chicken and her girl



 



 

      The General and his Optimus Prime

 

El Segundo working on his creation



We had some other fun things show up as well, including a snowman and a herd flock pod group of turtles!










Chicken's Snowman and Turtle

The General's Turtle

El Segundo's Turtle

Overall, I'd say this was a success! The kids had a blast and my house stayed clean for more than ten minutes. ;)

Ready2Read

One of my Goals for 2011 is to teach Chicken to read. Now she can do it, but it is v-e-r-y slow going as she has to sound out almost every word. I came across this FREE Ready2Read program that I'm going to try. Chicken doesn't take instruction from me very well so I am hoping that making it fun will help. I will keep you posted on how it is going.

Today's Thankful Thought

You know, as part of my Goals I was supposed to make sure I was thankful for something everyday yet somehow, like a few other of my Goals, I have not been doing it. So today, I'm going to make sure I do. Today I am thankful for Good Friends.

When I say Good Friends, I mean real friends. You know the kind, the one that you can call at 10 o'clock at night to ask for prayer for your seizing child, or the one that is there for you when no one else is. They've seen you at your best, your worst and everything in between and yet they still call you a friend. Those are few and far between and I am thankful to be blessed with such Good Friends.

So  it has been a good while since writing. I have been in a bit of a funk lately and have not really felt inspired to write. Although I can't pinpoint one specific reason, I think it is a culmunation of a few things.

The biggest has to be reenacting. I have been busily preparing for my first event (which has come and gone), and I know the overwhelming amount of stuff to get ready weighed on me. More than feeling overwhelmed though, I am, for lack of a better word, depressed about my situation. Let me explain. When my husband and I were dating and first married, we talked about getting into reenating because we both liked the Civil War and he had actually gotten to march at Gettysburg for his birthday one year. I was excited because I had wanted to do it for a long time and finding a man who had the same interest as me was awesome! I couldn't wait to get started! However, as with all things in life, nothing went according to plan and we didn't end up getting into it. I would bring it up from time to time, but it would always get pushed off to the side and we would go on with life. Last year, I really felt like God was telling me to get into and so I researched on-line and found the Illiana Civil War Historical Society. I talked with my husband about it and he was reluctant, but when I told him he could shoot the cannon, he agreed. I was ECSTATIC! I went to the meeting, paid my dues and we were in. I instantly started looking up things for us to buy/make and I even bought him a belt and buckle on ebay. We went to meet a nice family with kids our age who would be able to help us and sit in on their unit meeting. It was so cool and I was shaking with excitement.

A few days later, the bottom fell out. All of a sudden my husband didn't want to do it anymore. Plain and simple, he just didn't want to do it. I was so disappointed and kind of in shock. He told me I could still do it, but I wasn't sure I wanted to without him. Afterall, we had always talked about doing it and here was our chance and now he didn't want to. I thought it over and decided that I was going to do what I felt God was leading me to do, so we forged ahead without him.  Everytime I would say something about it or buy something for the hobby he would obviously become irritated, so it became a taboo subject, at least from my perspective.

I was, and am still confused as to why God would have me doing something that would cause friction between me and my husband. And I know this is what I'm supposed to do because I am constantly checking with Him to make sure and everytime I do another door opens. What I don't undertand, too, is why of all the things my husband had to grow out of did it have to be reenacting? Why couldn't it have been like his army men, or Legos, or even firecrackers?! Why did it have to be one of the things we enjoyed together?

Because of my feeling down about all of that I have been slacking in the housemaker department, which makes me feel even more down. You see, I am one of those people that eats because she's depressed and is then depressed because she's eating. Well as you can imagine things start piling up quickly in a family of five. Dishes, laundry, overall clutter. I have to admit that I at least wash the laundry, but the clean stuff piles up. And I do clean, don't get me wrong. It's just that for a while I was on top of it, being a good wife and mother keeping my kids happy, my house cleaned and my husband satisfied. But I have slowly begun to fall away from all of that which makes me sad. However, I can't seem to get the motivation to get back into it which bums me out. I'm sure you can see where this is going. It's a cycle and I hate it.

I must admit that my biggest "fall away" has been from reading my Bible. I know that doing that will help to lift my spirits and get me back into the swing of things. And I have been trying. But have you ever been in a place where you feel like God just isn't talking to you right now? That's where I am. Prayer has been high on my list and I try, but I can't even seem to focus enough to do that!  I know that Satan won't win this, and I will come out on top. It's just a long climb. But with the Lord showing me the way, holding my hand on the tough spots, and pushing me when I can't go any farther I know I'll make it.


***This has been edited to say that  I did not write this to make my husband look like the bad guy. I wrote it because I am in a funk and writing makes me feel better. In fact, I cried when writing this post because of my saddness of not being with him. My husband is a wonderful and supportive man and I thank God every day for him. Without him I would be lost.***

Thoughts of being a "Good Wife"

Wow, has it really been almost a month since I sat down to capture some of my thoughts??? It's easy how life gets away from us like that, isn't it?

Well over the last month a lot has rolled around in this head of mine, some good, some not so good and still others that really just kinda rolled on through and waved as they passed. The one that has been in the forefront of my mind as of late (besides reenacting) is my role as wife and mother. I know that in my Goals for 2011, numbers 1 & 2 are concerning this very subject and I have made a substantial effort to being better in both areas. I have been trying several different ideas on how to keep up with the housework and off Facebook and out of the sewing station a bit more. I'm still tweaking the system, but it's getting there. However, over this past month I have really been striving to do more. I continuously think of June Cleaver and how I wish I could be her. It's really hard to explain the drive behind my emotions and thoughts on the whole subject so just go with me. I was doing a little research on housewives of the 1950's and came across this blog post. It lists an excerpt from another woman's blog who was talking of an article written in 1955 about how to be a "good housewife". As I read through the list I began to feel empowered. True, there were some things on the list I didn't quite agree with, such as this one

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first -remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

but I realize, unlike a few of the commentors on the post, that the idea behind the entire list is love. I love and respect my husband and want to do all that I can to show him that. I really feel drawn to the idea of being more domestic and desire very much to learn the trade. However, as with most things, I am having a hard time staying on track. There are days (like today) where I set out with good intentions then find that I have spent the entire day (not really but it feels like it) sitting and reading through the Sewing Academy forums. But I guess that's what it's like when you are trying to change you ways of thinking and behaving as well as attitude.

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I were talking about how some groups of faith wear skirts and dresses. I personally don't agree with the practice, but that's another topic for another day. Anyway, during our conversation I stopped and asked him what he thought. He said that women should dress up when they go out with their husbands. I questioned him a bit more and he got frustrated and said that I put him on the spot and "[didn't] know" I tried to tell him that I wasn't trying to trap him, as I think that's what he thought, rather I was just trying to figure out what he wanted so that I could please him in one more area. Now I know that sounds a bit absurd to most people, especially in today's feminist world, but it's how I feel. I want to meet the expectations of my husband, just as every wife does, but I want to make sure that I am meeting as many as possible. If he thinks that I need a dress/skirt with hair and makeup when we go grocery shopping, then that's what I want to do for him, because I love him. Now I'm not saying that every time we go I am going to be able to pull that off, but if that's what he desires, then that's what I want to do.

See, these are the kinds of things that I have been struggling with lately. And I say struggling not because I don't want to do them, but because I want to and just haven't figured out how yet. I'm sure in time and with God's help, I will get it all down. Good thing we've got lots more years of being married for me to figure it all out!! :)

Sickness and Sweetness

This was a rough week for my husband. He had step throat and when he gets it, it knocks him down flat which meant that I had to add Nurse to my list of duties for the day. Not that I minded at all, I love getting to tend to my husband when he's sick. I don't really know why, but I enjoy it. He spent from Sunday morning when he got home from work until Tuesday late morning in bed sleeping. Monday the only reason he left bed was to go to the doctor and then later in the evening he came out for about 30 mins or so, but then went right back to bed. I think he lost ten pounds and I was saying "Hey make me sick, I want to lose ten pounds!" Thankfully he is all better now and due to his schedule, only had to miss two days of work then had three more to fully recover.

Also this week, I got to go to the ladies meeting at church. I really do like going to those. I am not much of a social person and I have social anxiety in the worse way most of the time, but I am finding myself more and more able to attend events like this one and not feel so nervous. Anyway, my "team" was supposed to bring a dessert for the evening's meeting and I, having little in the way of available funds, went for something cheap. This is what I ended up with

And I shall call them "indoor s'mores"

They were really yummy, but oh so rich!  I think the next time I do them, I will only dip them half way so there is not so much chocolate. They were super easy to make too which is good for me since a baker I am not!

And instead of a thankful thought today, in light of the natural disaster in Japan, I will say a prayer for those affected.

Lord, please be with those who have been affected by this earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. I pray that those who have died knew you and are with you now. I ask that you be with those who are still missing, and bring comfort to the families of the dead and missing.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Thankful Thought

Today, amid all the articles and videos that I have been bombarded with recently, I am thankful for 

MY COUNTRY.

Now I know that seems a bit odd considering all that this country is going through at the moment. But you know what? Now matter what is happening, I still believe that the United States is the greatest country in the world! We may have our problems, but hands down there is no other place I would rather live. I am so thankful to God that he put me in this country. I can't imagine living where I have to worry day in and day out about bullets and bombs and my family's safety, or if we have enough food, or where we can get clean water, or if someone is going to come in the middle of the night and take my children away and force them to join some military group. I can lay down at night and know that we are safe. That if we run out of food we can drive down the road to a store and buy more. That if I turn on the faucet, and have paid my water bill, that clean, potable water is going to come out of the spout.

There are seemingly so many people nowadays that want only to complain about our great country, about it's leaders and it's policies and the like. And there are those who would poop on the flag (yes it really has happend) or say they aren't American's or that Obama isn't their president, but I have news for all of them and those like them. If they live in this country, they ARE Amercians, Obama IS their president, and that flag is THEIR flag, and if they don't like it then they can leave the country!! I know that sounds harsh, but it's the way I feel.

Far too many people have bled and died for that beautiful flag, and although I'm not brave enough to do it, I am thankful to all that have. It represents a place where you can be what you want to be, say what you want to say, and if you feel so inclined, protest at a fallen soldier's funeral. I just wish that people who speak against the country and it's fallen heros would remember that this country gives them that right. If they were to speak or act that way in some countries, they would be dead before their video hit YouTube. 

Somehow this Thankful Thought turned into a bit of a soapbox rant about people who are against our country and I appologize. I just want to say thank you to God for giving me such a wonderful place to call home. I truly am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

The Great Wait and See

I have been a slacker. I guess more than that I just have not really felt inspired. That, however, is no excuse for ignoring at least my Thankful Thoughts posts. But alas, I have and now I am trying to get back on the train. In my absence I have created another blog to exhibit my "creations". Check it out here if you want. Now, onto the post...

Have you ever felt like something was about to happen but you just didn't know what it was? I get that way from time to time and find myself in that place yet again. It's like a stirring in my soul, an anticipation of what God is preparing to do in my life. I find it really hard to explain. I'm sure if you've ever felt it then you know exactly what I'm talking about. It's that near-the-top-of-the-hill-but-can't-quite-see-what's-up-there kind of excitement that just gets your hands shaking and your mind racing. I guess that explains it, yeah. Anyway, that's where I am. I have had this feeling for about a week now, and I wish I knew what it was for or even who it is for. You see, I don't know if the event that is about to happen is going to be for my life, our life (mine and the hubby's) or if I/we are going to do something to change someone else's life. I just know that God is working and I need to be ready when His plan is revealed to me.

And that, friends, is where I get bummed. Not bummed because God is working in my life, but because I don't know what He's doing. I am so excited about the prospect of what is to come, but find myself in a slump because I have to wait. I am not the most patient person in the world and I strongly dislike being left out of the loop. Now I know that the Lord has absolutely every right to keep me out of the loop, but dang it! It's not fair!

The hubby and I talked just the other day about what I was feeling and he said that he, too, had been having a feeling that something was in the works. He thought it was because we were going to be building a shed but once it was finished he was still feeling that way. So at least I'm not the only one who thinks something is about to happen.

So what could it be about? I don't know, but here are some of my guesses:

• a cheaper house to rent
• some sort of missionary thing
• writing a letter to the Westboro "Baptist Church"
• me starting an Etsy shop and selling things I make elsewhere, too

I have a feeling though, that it might be the last one. I don't say that to gloat, but I really think that's it. I personally don't think the things I make people would want to buy. But I have been in prayer about it recently due to some remarks I have heard. One night while I was reading in Proverbs I came across a verse that basically said that hard work is rewarded but "mere talk leads to poverty." Notice how I remembered that part? That's because I always get these grand ideas to make different things and try to sell them but then I never follow through on it because I have such low self-esteem and confidence and think that no one would buy my stuff. It's not as good as some of the stuff out there and most of it is so easy that anyone could do it. My hubs constantly tries to build me up and encourages me to go for it, but all I do is talk about it. And guess what?? I'm poor! Go figure! :-)

I could be completely wrong and the Lord could have something completely different in store for me. I just need to continue praying about it and wait and see what happens. Darn that wait and see part...

Thankful Thoughts Catch Up

I admit that I forgot a few days, but I was thankful for things last week, even if I didn't write them out. Here are some pictures with short notes about each one. No in-depth-ness here today! :)

 I am thankful for a hot dog octopus resting comfortably in a sea of shells and cheese. It reminded me that even the daily things like dinner can be fun.

I am thankful for my husband's big feet, even if his big size 16 clodhoppers do get in the way all the time! He'd look pretty funny with a smaller feet. Those big babies get mighty cold in the winter (BELIEVE ME!) but without them he wouldn't be able to do all that he does for us and for God.

I am thankful for imagination. Without it, my kiddos would not have been able to fix my sink, because you know it had "FOURTEEN WATERS!" and I really can't have that under there. :) God gives us all a fantastic imagination as children and only the lucky ones hold onto that and keep it into adulthood, although it may change slightly. If only more kids today would use their imgaination.

I am thankful for my organs. Without them I woud not be able to live. They make sure my blood is clean, my cells are fed, that other organs are working properly and that anything not used is discarded. It still amazes me that a ball of cells can change into a three layered tube, then into a fully functioning body and that those cells know which ones are going to be which organ and exactly where in the organ they belong and how that organ is to function. Proof that God does exist because no primordial ooze could figure that one out!

I am thankful for the Father/Daughter dance that Chicken got to attend with her dad. It was so wonderful to see her get so excited about "going on a date with Daddy". They both had a wonderful time and it is something they will both cherish all their days. A wonderful way to grow that Daddy/Daughter bond!

I am thankful for building a snowman with my kids before the snow melted. It was a humble snowman, but I didn't have gloves on and my hands were frozen, so I hurried. I had promised them all winter long we would build a snow man, and I am thankful that I was able to fulfill that promise before the snow was gone. They loved it and that's what matters!

There's not really a thankful thought behind this picture, I just thought it was cute! :-)

I hope you can find something to be thankful about today. You'll be suprised how much more you enjoy life when you stop and look around at all you have!

Time for some thought

You know, it has been a while since I wrote down my thankful thoughts, or for that matter any of my thoughts. So today, I think I shall give it a go. 

Somedays, you just have to wonder. What does it all mean? What does it mean to be who you are? What does it mean to follow or lead? What does it mean to be happy with your world both outside your home and inside? I don't claim to be some great philosopher or thinker of great thoughts and to be honest the odds of getting a great thought out of me is slim to none. But have you ever just stopped to think about life and what it all means?

In my quest to be a better wife and mother (see Goals one and two for the year) I have taken some time to stop and think about my life, where it was, where it is, and where it is going. I know that seems like an awful deep thing to think about, but at some point everyone needs to sit down and assess the situation as it were. I mean, afterall we only get one life so we better make sure that it is what we want it to be. So upon assessing my life at least in part, I have come to three conclusions:

•  God is in control of my life
•  Life can't get much better than this here on Earth
•  I have dreams yet to be fullfilled

Are these deep, philosophical conclusions? No, I already told you that wasn't my goal. These are just the basic summation of my look into me. I suppose you might want to know how I came to these conclusions. Even if you didn't I'm going to tell you anyway. Perhaps seeing how I looked at things will help you as you look in to your own life.

God is in control of my life.
When I looked at my past and all that brought me to where I am now, it's not hard to see the hand of God in my life. Not only with the introduction of my husband, but other circumstances as well. Aside from meeting Joshua, I can, without thinking, come up with two other examples of God in my life. One being when a $7000.00 hospital bill suddenly became $175.00 and then that money was sent back to us stamped "written off" and the other would be the way that my youngest son El Segundo came into this world. I know of others, and maybe someday I'll take the time to write more about them, but for now I'll just leave it with those two. They are, at least to me, two very strong indicators that I am not in control; although, sometimes I like to believe I am and that's when I get knocked down to my knees.

Life can't get much better than this here on Earth
I know, this one seems a bit strange, huh? Especially since a few posts ago I was complaining about not having enough money to go around. But I don't believe that money brings happiness. In fact, I think an excess of money brings more sorrow and pain that it does anything else. Just look at the majority of Hollywood!! The people with the most money are the ones constantly getting divorces and drug charges and all the other stuff you see on the newstands. However, having a husband who loves me, children who want to be like me, and a God who will never forsake me leaves me thinking that I've got it made! What more could a person really ask for that those three things? Some LDS witnesses once asked me if they could tell me how to be happy and I responded that I was pretty happy already. Then they asked me "Wouldn't you like to know how to be even happier?" to which I responded "I believe I'm about as happy as I'm going to get on Earth. My happiness waits for me in Heaven." They didn't know what to say! I hope it gave them something to think about though, and I hope it does you too.

I have dreams yet to be fulfilled
Who doesn't? I know that there is a chance that I may never get to do some of the things that I have dreamed about. But then I have already done things that I only dreamed about, like finding a wonderful man who loves me for me and having three of the most beautiful children in the world. What are my dreams yet to be fulfilled? I want to go to Ireland to watch the sheep grazing on the meadows, find the cure to some horrific disease, record a CD and swim the Great Barrier Reef among many. The dream I really wanted to come true before I died was to see the ocean, and unless God calls me home before then I will get to see it come June (but don't tell my kids, it's a suprise!).

All in all I would have to say that life is wonderful. It may be chaotic at times, down on your luck at others, and outright unbearable still other times. But if I can just remember that God is in control of my life, then the rest doesn't seem so bad. As long as I keep on His path, it will all work out in the end. I encourage you to step back and take a look at your own life. Really make sure you're where you're supposed to be. And if not, then ask God where you're supposed to be and He'll help you get there.

A God-driven Love

So my husband was not pleased with my post yesterday. :) Apparently I didn't include enough of why I was thankful for him or our back story as SOMEONE that we know did in hers. I tried to tell him that it was becuase I was trying to hurry since he woke up, though he didn't believe me. Since he was less than satisfied (in a joking manner) and because I feel that our story has the power to encourage those who feel like God has forgotten them, here is our story.

It starts in community college.  I had already signed up for my classes for the first sememseter of my second year.  My mom was also attending that year. She asked if I would take a class with her, but I told her I was already signed up and didn't want to change classes. She was bummed, but accepted it.

My husband was also already signed up for classes. But then he decided that he didn't want to take the math class that he was enrolled in. I can't honestly remember why, I think it had something to do with the teacher.  When he went in to the guidance conselor to change classes, every new class he wanted to take was for whatever reason unavailable to him. So he was left with only one choice, the evening Pscyology 110.  And would you have guessed that that was the very class that my mom wanted me to take with her?!

Now here is the part in the story where you get the back story to the back story.  I always had it rough in school. Not too many friends and although for a while I was "dating" a guy in junior high, I don't really count that as a boyfriend. I was always looking for male attention, though not in a bad way, and I was happy just being noticed by my friend's boyfriends. I had all but given up on finding a man who would love me for me. My way wasn't working, so I thought I would try a different approach. I prayed. I prayed that God would send me someone who would love me like He did, who would hold me in his arms like He did, and who would never leave me, just like He wouldn't. I prayed this prayer every night, and would always feel His strong, loving arms holding me while I prayed.

One day I was laying in my bed, staring up at the ceiling fan and listening to music when all of a sudden God spoke to me, though at the time I didn't know that's what it was. He didn't speak in a loud booming voice, but in more of a feeling. I got the feeling that I was supposed to take the class with my mom. I didn't have a reason why, but I didn't need one. I didn't even argue with my feeling. The first chance I got, I went to school and changed from Political Science to Pscyology.  My mom was happy to have her daughter with her for her first college class and I was happy to not be in Poli Sci.

The first night of class, we walked in and sat at the back of the row closest to the door. She sat in front of me and I sat in front of the guy in the last seat. Class went on for a few weeks when one night I overheard the guy behind me having a conversation about animal abuse when I chimed in. I can't remember the whole conversation, but I remember him asking if I thought squishing maggots was animal cruelty and I, being the person that I am, whipped around and snapped "Yes, it is!" then turned back around. I'm pretty sure I continued in the conversation that night, and every night for the remainder of the semester. In fact, I don't know if I ever faced the front of the class again. It's a wonder that our teacher didn't separate us, though he did tell us to be quiet a time or two.

Now, my husband will tell you I'm "smoking something", but I knew I was going to marry him from about the first time I talked to him. He thinks I'm crazy, but it's just one of those things that I can't explain. Just like I can't explain why whenever I was with him I felt like I had known him all my life. For example, our class went to DQ one night after class and I, of course, sat across from him. Now keep in mind that we had only talked in class and never been on a date when we went to DQ. He had some fries that he was putting mustard on when I reached over and took one and bit into it without even thinking about what I was doing. It was such a natural thing that I didn't realize what I had done until I looked at him and he had this amazed look on his face. I offered him his fry back, but he didn't want it. It is here where I have to note that my husband does not share food easily. If I tried that now, I would most likely get a fork in my hand. I say that to prove just how comfortable I was with him, even as a stranger.

I know without a doubt that God brought us together. He's the one who blocked my husband's way and guided him into pscyology and He's the one who spoke to me in my room. Remember that prayer I used to pray? I know my husband is the answer to it because he holds me and wraps his strong, loving arms around me, just like God did and still does. 

I don't believe in reincarnation, but if there was such a thing I would say that we have been together many times before. I do believe in soulmates and I know...

...that's what we are.   

Falling behind

It seems that whenever my dear hubby is off work, I never get a chance to blog. Is it because I would rather spend time cuddled up on the couch with him than sit at the computer and type...uh, yeah! So I have to play catch up in the morning or wait until he isn't here. Well, since right now he is sleeping, I will type. :)

Yesterday, as everyone knows was Valentine's day. I, personally, don't care for the holiday and never have. It seems to me that if you love someone you should show them every day, not just on a day when the flower companies and the chocolate companies and the card companies all jack up their prices and say "Today's the day to by our stuff and saw 'I love you!'". But that's just me. Sure, I still bought a card and small gift for my man, but I didn't go crazy. In fact my card was only $0.50 and my gift was $1.00, but he still loved them. Anway, even though I am thankful every night for my husband, I would like to honor him and let him be my thankful thought for today. So here he is, the man of my dreams

His goofy face

"King of the Haybale"
.

"Look, a bat!"



Friends.Lovers.Soulmates

Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a wonderful husband and father to our children. I would be lost without him. Amen.

Yesterday's thankful thought

Last night was kinda crazy, so I didn't get to write down my thankful thought for the day, though I did take the time to stop and be thankful. And unfortunately, I don't yet have a picture of my thought, though I am trying to figure out a way to get one without anyone noticing. Yesterday, I was thankful for our new and un-announced yet still instituted

Family Reading Time.

Chicken's preschool is having a contest right now, more of an incentive program really. The children are supposed to bring a list of books read to school each day (she goes MWF) and whoever reads the most at the end of the month will get a prize. We had already been trying to read a book before bed and I would read during the day if the kid's asked so this contest didn't really cause us to read per se. What it has caused us to do is visit the library more frequently and to read more than just that one book.

I believe that what has prompted our family get together on the couch each evening is not the preschool challenge, but the challenge from church. I truly believe that my husband and I are taking the time to spend quality time with our children because of what we have been learning in church. I am so grateful that we have been having these sermons because they have really enriched and bettered our lives as we try and practiced what has been preached. Due to the fact that God's design for our lives has been brought to the forefront, we are -whether consiously or uncounsiously- making a point to fulfill our roles as we should be. 

I know I personally am making a very concious effort to spend more quality time with my kids. In today's message, the preacher quoted a study that found that fathers spend THIRTY-SEVEN SECONDS of engaged conversation with their two year olds!! How sad is that?!?!?! That is why I am glad that my husband and I are spending time reading to our children in the evening before bed. We all pile onto the couch (much like the Simpsons do), and get settled in with a book, or two, or three. We always laugh and point out the funny things in the story, talk about the story, and just enjoyed being together on the couch.

I know I've heard it a thousand times before, and have probably said it to myself just as many, but they are only little for a little while. There will come a day when they won't want to sit on the couch and read with us, so that is why (although everyday) yesterday I was thankful for our Family Reading Time.

Bitten

I love to craft. I can't draw, knit, crochet (well, a little) or do other fancy creative things, though there are a few things I attempt to do, like sewing. I can, however, paint a piece of wood and make it a lovely sign or I can can make a mean bunny out of Bendaroos. Lately, I have been bitten by the craft bug again. My most recent achievments? Well, there's a freezer paper stenciled "Nuke the Whales" shirt for my husband,

 A handsewn tooth pillow for Chicken (triangle-as requested by her),

 and a handsewn Bible cover for me, complete with an ICTHUS elastic closure.

(Hand sweing them would not have been my choice, but my machine is broken and frankly I can't afford to fix it at the moment.)

Currently I am in the mood to make more

diaper cakes (like these I've made in the past) and to try out my newly acquired skill of baby-sock bouquets. If only they weren't so expensive to make! I need justification and since my friends that are having babies haven't had them yet, I will just have to wait.  Unfortunately, the good Lord did NOT see fit to bless me with patience! But it's okay, I can still design in my head until the time comes that I can make them! :)

Bitterness turns to thankfulness

Yesterday, I failed.  I failed to remember to stop and be thankful for anything. In fact, I was probably more bitter than thankful.

My husband and I sat down to try and do a budget, which also failed. I had known for sometime that just to live we spent more than we made. But seeing it in black and white made it all the more real. The most frustrating thing is that we have cut everything, except of course our tithe and savings. We don't have dish or cable, we don't have newspaper or magazine subscriptions, we shop at Aldi and Goodwill, and the only reason we haven't dumped the internet is because I have to have it for my part-time job. We were trying to set up the budget according to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover but it just isn't happening. So as I said earlier, yesterday we were both bitter and frustrated and down right defeated.

As I went to sleep last night, I prayed over and over for God to make it all work. Our preacher said recently that he believes that one day when we get to Heaven, God will open a door to a room full of things He wanted to give us on Earth, but we never asked. So I was asking, and asking, and asking. Not to have an extreme overabundance, but to have enough to go around. So that I don't have to tell my kids that we can't becasue we don't have the money. To buy something on the shelf at the grocery store because we want it or it's better for us and not have to look at the price. Is that too much to ask for? I didn't think so, so that was my prayer as I drifted off to sleep

Today, I woke up still feeling bummed about the whole thing. But I also had a fresh pair of eyes to look at our situation. As I read my Bible this morning amid the chaos of Mega-Block towers and a lively game of Transformers, I realized that I had been looking at this all wrong. True, we still didn't have a whole lot of money, and the outlook as far as I could see was not too exciting, but there was something I had forgotten. At least we could pay our bills. They might occasionally be a few days late, and there might be nothing left afterward, but we were paying them. And we were able to pay them because God had blessed my husband with a job that allowed me to stay home with the children (saving us bukoos of money on daycare.)

In today's economy, there are still so many people without jobs. We have a very good friend, in fact who is unemployed with a wife, a toddler, and another one on the way. Why is it that I would think that I have the right to complain about not having any moeny when we have money?! Through God we have food in our bellies (even if it isn't the healthiest), a roof over our head, and clothes on our backs.  We have our children who love us and we have each other. What more could we need?

So today, instead of being bitter, I'm going to be thankful. Today I am thankful for...

My husband's job. This is the powerplant where he works in Havana. It's the whole reason we moved to our new home, and why I have made new friends, and why my faith has been tested and proven. God has a plan and it is His plan that I desire to follow, whether penniless or prosperous.

Thankful thought for the day

Today's thankful thought is not a deep one. Maybe it's because it is simple, or maybe because I am just too tired after a full day to write too much. Either way, in keeping up with my Goals, here is today's thankful thought:

My house. Well, this one is not actually mine. But I live in a rental subdivision where all the houses look alike, so this is basically my house. I am thankful that God provided this house for us so that we can have a nice warm place to bed down on these frigid nights. I pray on cold nights like this for all those who don't have a warm bed to go to.  It breaks my heart to know that in a county as great as ours, there are still people who have to sleep on the streets, or in their cars, or in an abandoned building.

Thank you, God, for taking care of us. Please bless those less fortunate than me. Amen.

The simple things in life

Today, after we took Chicken to school, the boys and I went down to the river. When it's warm outside, they like to go down and throw sticks and rocks in the water (they are totally boys). But even if we don't get out, like today when it is only 6 degrees, they like to watch the birds. Seagulls, mainly. This time of year though, there are nesting American Bald Eagles.

When we got to the river there was already two of them majestically soaring over the water.  They would take turns swooping down towards the water then rise back up, wings and tails spread as if they were trying to take in all of the world that they possibly could. After a few minutes, one of them returned to the nest while the other one waited patiently on a chunk of ice lazily floating downriver.  This one was soon joined by two young eagles. They didn't yet have their signature white heads and tails, rather they were brown with white speckles on their undersides. They were actually cute, in and ugly sort of way.

The whole time we were watching the birds, eagles and seagulls alike, the boys were in the back talking about what the birds were doing, and imitating the sounds of birds. When it was time to go, El Segundo smiled and waved and sweetly chanted "bye-bye bawk" until they were out of site.

It may have only been five or ten minutes, but to them it was the coolest five or ten minutes because they got to watch the birds. If only we could all learn to find such joy in the simple things of life.

Today's thankful thought

Before I get into my thankful thought for today, I must say that my Goals for 2011 are really a challenge somedays. Thankfully, today is not one of those days. So far we have accomplised several of them today and I am feeling mighty fine about that! Now onto my thankful thought:

Yep, today it's my kids. Now I know that seems kinda of cliche, but it's true. I am especially thankful for their good health. My youngest niece has been in the hospital almost a week now and I am thankful that we have not had to deal with serious illness like that thus far. Don't get me wrong, we have had a few illnesses that required testing galore and even a short hospitalization, but over all they have been healthy.

As much as I hate that we even have to have children's hospitals, I am grateful they are there when you need them. We had our run in with one a couple of years ago when my baby girl had a bleeding problem. They took great care with her during her colonoscopy. She still talks about the "cherry flavored mask" that they used. (They used cherry extract to flavor the anesthesia mask so she wouldn't smell the gas.) But it saddened me to see all the other little kids that were there with much more serious problems.

So today, I say, "Thank you God" for my sweet angelic little devils. :)

Today's thankful thought

So as part of my Goals for 2011, I am trying to be thankful for one thing a day and really mean it. So today I am thankful for...

I know what you're thinking, "Hobby Lobby?? Really??" Yes, Hobby Lobby. Not only is it a great place to exercise your creative muscles, but it is also a great witness to the world. Have you ever noticed that the muzak that they play is Christian music? And how about the fact that they are closed on Sundays? It says right on the door they are closed on Sundays so that their employees can attend worship and spend time with their families. How great is that?!

Hobby Lobby's Statement of Purpose is:

In order to effectively serve our owners, employees, and customers the Board of Directors is committed to:

Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with Biblical principles.
Offering our customers an exceptional selection and value.
Serving our employees and their families by establishing a work environment and company policies that build character, strengthen individuals, and nurture families.
Providing a return on the owners' investment, sharing the Lord's blessings with our employees, and investing in our community.
We believe that it is by God's grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.

How many other stores, besides clearly Christian stores, do you know that have God as number one in their statement of purpose? So I say props to Hobby Lobby. Thanks for being a beacon of light in a world dominated by seven-day-a-week/24 hour stores commited to making the most money!!