The Month of LOVE

It's almost FEBRUARY!!  It's that traditional month of LOVE LOVE LOVE ...
In the past, Valentine's Day has been somewhat overlooked by me.  My husband and I aren't big on mooshy-gooshy, expensive gifts, and he, in particular, thinks that giving in to commercialism because it is "expected" isn't near as meaningful as giving a token at some other day when it isn't expected.  Thankfully, I tend to agree, and I don't have high hopes for chocolates and roses and jewelry on Valentine's Day.   We occasionally exchange a card or do something small for each other - and I do usually try to make the day special for my children. 

The most meaningful Valentine's Day for me personally was back in 2003.  A few days before my husband deployed to Iraq, we re-newed our wedding vows with an Army chaplain and a group of couples who also had a spouse deploying for the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom I.  We had just celebrated 10 years in December, so it seems especially appopriate.  Dan left for his pre-deployment training on February 20, 2003 - and he came home from Iraq on February 10, 2004.  He missed every holiday and birthday and anniversary with us for that whole year EXCEPT Valentine's Day! 

As I count down to Valentine's Day in 2011, I was inspired by The Excellent Wife book (pgs. 100-105) to do a mini study about LOVE - true love - biblical love.  Conveniently, in I Corinthians 13, there is a list of things that "love is..." - and they can be divided into 14 items!  February 1-14 = 14 Days of Valentine's.

Now, I'm a sucker for a good count-down!  I think I started counting down to college graduation sometime during my Sophomore year!  Once Dan and I got engaged in September of 1992, I made a count-down/to-do list chart where I could mark off each day and task until the BIG DAY of our wedding in December.  Something about the organization and routine-ness of a countdown just thrills my simple mind!  :)

On my blog - Lord willing - in the next 14 days, I will be counting down to Valentine's Day!  See you on February 1st for "LOVE IS PATIENT". 

Miriam: The Other One

Because my husband typed his chapel message for last Friday on MY computer - and because I edited it for him and thought it was one of his best messages yet, I am going to share his message with YOU!  Now, I'm not sure what my husband would think if he knew I was using him as my "guest blogger" today, but I'd hope he'd take it that I admired and respected what he had to say. 

It's a little long (as you'd expect from a chapel message that has to fill a class period) - but I was pretty impressed as he researched & wrote this in the throes of his recent illness! 
PS  If you don't have time, I won't be offended if you skip this post ;)  In fact, I probably won't even know!!  :)

MIRIAM - A Biography:

The last time I spoke in chapel we looked at the 23rd Psalm where David, the future king of Israel, wrote about God’s provision and protection. Many theologians believe that David was probably still a young man when he wrote that Psalm, but whether or not he was, he wasn’t just writing about his own experiences. Every young devout Israelite knew the books of Moses (the first five books of the Bible). Especially important was how God had provided for His people, taken them out of slavery in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and brought them into the Promised Land. Central to that passage is Jehovah - as it should be and always is in the Bible. Beyond that there is one very important family of two brothers and one sister.

Moses: The one God chose to stand before Pharaoh and lead His people right up to the Promised Land; Aaron: His main assistant from the beginning and the one God chose to be the first High Priest.
Miriam: The leader of the women and a leader in worshipping God. This family had so many positive characteristics, but each one also had a major flaw and each of them faced consequences.

Moses was called the most meek (humble) man by God and was one of the ones chosen to be on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus when Jesus revealed some of His Glory to His three closest disciples. Yet he had an anger issue that caused him to kill the Egyptian, strike the rock, and eventually not be allowed to lead the people into the Promised Land. Aaron was the one who didn’t argue with God about going before Pharaoh, who stuck by Moses through thick and thin, who served as the High Priest and didn’t grow bitter against God when God killed his two oldest sons when they acted in disobedience. Yet he tried to hard to please others and was a peacemaker TOO much as he made the golden calf for the people when he thought Moses might not be coming back, and he sided with Miriam in going against Moses when she took the lead.

We could have a great biography chapel service about either of those two men and deal with the problems of anger or compromise, but instead I want to look at Miriam. Many of the traits that made Miriam a great leader and assistant also were the traits that caused her to sin. The Bible tells us both the good and the bad, and that is also what I want to share with you this morning.

 I. Miriam and the Baby in the Nile (Exodus 2:1-8)


A. We don’t know how old Miriam was at this point, but we know she was fairly young. As a slave girl, she would have been counted on to do work if she would have been older. Also, the Pharoah’s daughter would have reacted differently if she were a full grown woman. She could have been just about any of the students in this room’s age and possibly even younger. That points to some terrific traits.


1. She did what her mother asked and watched her baby brother


2. When the princess came, she must have been afraid, for the princess could have had her beaten or even killed. Staying by her brother took courage.


3. She thought quickly and suggested her own mother be the baby’s nurse.


B. It is interesting that she didn’t seem to hesitate in something that I might have bungled as an adult. She was sure that she was doing right and did it. She wasn’t afraid to approach authority or do what she thought was right. She was a strong personality.


II. The leader in praise (Exodus 15: 20-22)


A. The background is that Moses has just led the children over the Red Sea, but Moses tells the people who really did it… Jehovah. All glory and praise belonged to God and rightfully so. Miriam leads in the ensuing worship. Notice the flow of action. Miriam takes a timbrel in her hand. Moses doesn’t appear to have told her to; he doesn’t have to. She knows what needs to be done, and she does it. Then is says the women followed her. They didn’t have to be told to follow her… they seem to have done it because she was the leader. From the text we see that it was the right thing to do. God should be praised, and I am sure that He was pleased that the women praised Him.


B. The interesting thing to note though is that the Bible never speaks of Miriam asking anyone or even God what to do. The text doesn’t say, “and Miriam prayed and the Lord revealed to her…” or anything like that. We can’t say she didn’t pray either, but you don’t get the feeling that she ever hesitated when she thought that she was right. We can be that way to. How often do we pray? Like Miriam, do we think we already know the answer and don’t want to waste the time asking? Moses was known as a humble man because he was always asking and petitioning God. We see it again and again. Aaron was always following Moses and doing what Moses said God wanted them to do, but Miriam seems to go right ahead. I have never found a mention of Moses telling Miriam what to do. Of course what big sister wants to listen to her little brother? Therein lies the potential for trouble… her blind spot. You see, God had put her little brother in charge. Aaron knew it up until the time that she got him into trouble too.

 III. The crisis and fall of pride (Numbers 12:1-15)


A. In the first two verses we see a lot. Miriam and Aaron challenge Moses and his authority.


1. Miriam has her name listed first. This is not an accident. She is the leader here, and Aaron is again the follower. She must have pointed out about what she thought that Moses was doing wrong. She didn’t approach Moses in secret about it - at least not at this point. She didn’t ask God about it. She (and Aaron) spoke against Moses in a public way. Not only that, but she also questioned him as the one God was speaking through. The first was a challenge to Moses… the second was a challenge to God.


2. I find her lack of compassion and tact interesting. Her attack seems more to put Moses in his place and elevate herself. Of course, she uses an avenue that she thinks is backed up by tradition and commandment. It is also the one biggest weak point among some of the people, no doubt. “Did you hear? His wife is not even an Israelite. He thinks he is so great but I wouldn’t do that.” This fact wasn’t brought up in love by his sister and brother. It could have been a power move. It could have been done out of disgust by Miriam. It could be that she was following the pattern that she had used before and was working of her own heart and mind - but whatever the case, she hadn’t talked to God about it first. Now God will turn the situation back on her to teach her and all the people a lesson.


B. (vs. 6-9) God speaks. Moses has been faithful in all. Moses talks to God. Moses is the leader God chose. Miriam is the leader of the rebellion but not what God chose. She has elevated herself, and now the Lord punishes her alone. She is struck with the dreaded disease leprosy. That means separation from family, the temple, life.


C. Redemption and pardon do come. Moses pleads for it. Aaron does. God does agree to remove the leprosy, but there is still a price to be paid. She is to be put out of the camp for seven days. ALL of Israel will know why. You might think that her punishment was no big thing, but it was. Miriam was to be humbled in a public and strong way. We don’t hear more from Miriam after this point, but the lesson should be real to all of us. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and HE will lift you up”.

 Miriam was a great woman of God. The name Mary in the New Testament is taken from it. Miriam was used by God, but even now, she is humbled as we read her story. Ester, Ruth, and many other women are exalted most at the end of their stories, but not Miriam. She deceived herself, and for that brief period, she went against God. She who had been faithful to her duties, she who had led in the worship after the Red Sea, she whom God had put into such an important position lost sight that it was all about God and His Glory and sought some glory of her own. God won’t allow someone to steal His Glory. Young people, do right, worship God, lead others in His service, but while you do, don’t become the great judge who takes matters in their own hands without consulting God. Great men like King David, Peter, and Abraham have done that with just as great a time of humiliation and trouble.

 Many of you have taken a life verse or verses. As a college student I chose mine. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understandings. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”

In SICKNESS and in Health ...

It has been easy for me to be a good wife this week as my husband has been so sick, sicker than he has been in probably 10-12 years!!  He even took the day off work on Monday (after going in for staff meeting and to organize his lesson plans so others could substitute for him).  I think that was his the first real sick day he has taken since he had strep throat a few years ago.

So, his week started out with a horrible stomach flu.  Andrew and I had a touch of it, but Dan got hit the hardest.  As the week progressed, our kids took turns being home with fevers, coughs, and body aches.  I even took Anna to the doctor, but it was confirmed that she just had a virus (the one that has been rampantly going around!). 

By Thursday, Dan was feeling achy again, and by Friday, he had a fever too.  He went on to work as he was already scheduled to speak in our school's chapel and many other staff members had to be out or needed something from him.  I was surprised he came home about an hour early, which meant he really is feeling bad. 

Today (Saturday), we have quarantined our family.  We missed Anna's Upward basketball game this morning and are just resting.  Dan has been sleeping a lot - and I'm forcing him to take medicine (he is one of those who will not take medicine because he has some theory that you get immune to it??!).  I say why suffer needlessly if you can take something to give you some relief!  :)

At least the kids seem to be getting over their colds/fevers.  And most thankfully, since Miriam's 3 day fever a while back, she has been spared of any more illness.  Her sleeping patterns however are WAY OFF again :(  She's almost worse than before - waking at 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. and SCREAMING LIKE A BANSHEE INDIAN.  I've been too tired to deal with - and with Anna being sick too, I haven't wanted to keep everyone awake by trying to let Miriam "cry it out". 

It is obvious to me that I haven't had much time outside my home this week because I am rambling & blogging A LOT more.  It's almost as if I *need* someone to "talk to" or somewhere to process my pent-up thoughts that I haven't been able to share with anyone outside my family!  Dan's too sick to talk right now - but maybe, just maybe, we'll (I'll) be able to make it to church tomorrow!  For now, I'm off to fill my husband's glass of ice water - and check if he needs anything ...

Hopefully we will soon again have a HEALTHY HAUS!!
PS  My water drinking??  Not so good ... I'm getting hooked on decaf iced tea with lemon though!  At least I'm hydrating.  I'll work on the water thing again next week!! 

I Don't Home-School ... BUT

I just might be attending this Conference for Christian Home Educators Fellowship (of Missouri) in St. Charles, MO.

I'm praying about an opportunity that was presented to me today ... and IF I accept/am accepted, I will share more.  For now, PLEASE pray with me if I am supposed take a short term "job" that was offered to me.

You should check out the speakers & vendors that will be there:

If you like Vision Forum, DOUG PHILLIPS will be there!

(DISCLAIMER:  I don't agree with ALL of Vision Forum's material/Reformed Theology - but I can agree with their statement of faith.  They are an EXCELLENT, pure source of biblical material and information!!)

I've heard a lot about Voddie Baucham - and he'll be there as well.

If you home-school, or even if you don't, it would be AWESOME to go!!  There will be vendors who are all about HISTORY - and a speaker who is a lawyer who practices Constitutional Law - and so much more!!

If you live in or near St. Louis or even REMOTELY CLOSE and you care about Christian education and a Christian world view, you should CHECK IT OUT!!

It's Just Money

If you know me personally or have read my blog for any amount of time, you know my story:  Army officer's spouse turned ministry wife.  While we know without a shadow of a doubt we made the RIGHT CHOICE to leave the military (it was almost painfully clear that it was time to go), I can't say the transition has been as gloriously wonderful as I imagined it would be.  Five, six years later, I'm still reeling and adjusting.  Sometimes, honestly, like the Israelites, I want to "go back to Egypt".  

However, I will also say that the lessons I have learned and the "refining fire" I've been through in these last few years of ministry have been such a blessing.  Not that they have been easy or pain-free - in fact, it's been HARD and PAINFUL - but God, the Master Potter, has sculpted and scraped and mashed and kneaded my life to conform me into a better Christian than I'd ever become had I stayed in a comfortable life as an Army wife.  I think every area of my life has been touched, forced to change, and needed to be surrendered.  I still have a lot of work to do - and I'm thankful that God is revealing so much sin and dross to me (even though I don't like realizing how truly selfish and sinful I really am!). 

One huge area of struggle for me has been our finances.  Dan grew up "poor," and he doesn't really resent it; he was one of six children who survived on powdered milk and peanut butter crackers.  In my childhood, my family went through periods of having less due to my  dad's volatile job situation, but I don't think I really ever lacked for much - thanks in part to my grandparents - like Dan did.  Therefore, even though I didn't have everything I wanted, I also never really learned to "do without."  As an Army wife, though I thought I was a "bargain hunter," it was more of a hobby than a NECESSITY like it is now! 

Since March of 2010, after having our third child and giving up my job (though I work a little from home), we realized we needed to live on a STRICT budget in order to keep ourselves out of debt as well.  We have been trying to live by a cash-only budget (the "envelope system"), and while that sounds simple enough, for me, it is a HUGE deal.  I do not like to budget, and I resent having limits on my finances sometimes - but I know it is the RIGHT THING TO DO - and so I struggle onward.  AND God has BLESSED us sooooooooo much!!!  Our income, of course, covers our bills - but there isn't much left over for wants and extras.  HOWEVER, many times, when I "wanted" something, GOD PROVIDED through means I never imagined!  I have shared many of those stories - especially concerning things for our baby (like crib bumpers and exersaucers).  I'm still praying about a few things I think I "need" though it really is just wants - and I am anxious to see if God will (because I know He CAN) provide those too.

I often felt bad sharing on my blog about my financial struggles - and successes - for several reasons.  First of all, finances are a very PERSONAL thing - and I didn't want to give away too much about how much or little we make/spend (my husband is VERY private about these things, so I want to respect him too).  And then, I feel like those we work with don't go through this, so why do I?  However, I shared sometimes anyway (and honestly, there is SO MUCH I don't/can't share) because it was a testimony of God's work in my life (which I feel is something to praise Him for!) ... but I still felt a little alone about all this.  You'd think by now I'd be able to be a big girl and not act like a spoiled brat when it comes to finances.  It's just that I have so much to learn ... I'm NOT a naturally frugal, do-it-yourself-er woman who can build and sew and cook up nutritious food from scratch.  I really am more of a real-housewife-wanna-be who would prefer to pay someone else to be my tailor, handyman, cook, and maid.  :)

So, those are my confessions for the day!  And I wanted to share an article I read this morning.  Written by a pastor's daughter, now pastor's wife, this article is from today's (in)courage:  NO POOR TALK.   SO MANY of her observations are what I've experienced and seen these last few years.  Apparently, I am not alone.

Start Complaining!!

No, I'm not advocating complaining, griping, and whining! 

But I had a wonderful experience thanks to my COMPLAINT yesterday.

Recently, our middle-of-no-where town got a Panera Break Company (and this post is completely unsolicited by them).  I love Panera Bread ... it is as close to a European cafe' that I have gotten here in Missouri.  I love the atmosphere; I love the food; I love the bakery!! 

Yesterday, I ordered our lunch from there "to go" (I am SO thankful for several gift cards generously given to us at Christmas by school families & friends).  Anna had a doctor appointment to get to (30 miles away), and because she had a bad cold, she wanted soup.  I didn't have any at home - and no time to throw together something home-made, so we stopped by Panera on our way out of town.  My "Pick 2" meal order should have included a sandwich, soup, AND a side of chips/baguette/apple (I asked for chips).  We got our sandwich; we got our soup (broccoli cheddar, which btw, Miriam CAN NOT get enough of - we can't shovel it into her fast enough for her liking!!) ... but no chips.  Not even an apple or a baguette.  So disappointing. 

Normally, I let things like this go ... it's a simple mistake.  No big deal.  HOWEVER, I'm not sure if it the fact that I'm now 40 years old and NOT GONNA TAKE IT any more ... or it was just the spur of the moment idea - but I looked at my receipt and attempted to call the store from my cell phone.  After 6 rings, no one answered.  :(

At the bottom of the receipt was a phone number for a survey.  So, since I had 30 miles to drive with nothing to do, I called (although I guess I shouldn't advocate being on the phone while driving??!??!?!).  Anyway, there was a question that said, "Was your order filled adequately?"  and I pressed the option for NO.  They then gave me the option to speak/explain why.  And I tried as nicely as possible to tell my sad story.

Fast forward to this morning at 10 a.m.:  I got a phone call from the manage of our local Panera store, apologizing for the lack of chips in my recent order AND offering me compensation of a FREE MEAL!  :)  I was secretly hoping that would happen, but I told the manager (Don, if you're local; he's SUPER nice!!) that I'd have settled for a bag of their kettle-y chips. 

Well, since my SON woke up with a 102.8 degree fever this morning, he asked for SOUP for lunch ... the really only thing that sounded good to him ... and since I haven't had a chance to buy or make soup since my trip to the doctor yesterday, it was off to Panera for a FREE LUNCH (who says there is no such thing!?).  :)  Miriam was THRILLED to get more broccoli cheddar soup - and I was thrilled to not have to pay.  Don happened to be at the register when we came in and I explained my situation to the order-taker ... he apologized again and later came by our table to ask if we'd gotten EVERYTHING.  He probably doesn't want any more COMPLAINTS out of me!!

PS  I can make broccoli cheese soup from scratch too ... the recipe is here.

On the Move!

GOING ...

 GOING ...

 Gone.

Miriam has never really crawled, but she sure gets around!

Our theory is that she has NEVER EVER EVER liked being on her belly; and therefore, she has avoided the crawling position all together.

That doesn't mean she can't get around in a sitting up position!

Our pediatrician said she's seen this form of baby movement occasionally, but it is rare.

Dan's mom says her parents told her she kind of drug herself instead of crawling; and ironically, my mom recalls her parents telling her the same.  The phenomenon must have skipped a generation.

To us, Miriam looks a little like a paraplegic (and please forgive my comparison because I really don't mean to be flippant;  I just don't know how else to explain it!).

She moves by propelling herself with her right arm & left leg.

Lately Miriam has been standing on her own ... and has even taken a few steps.

It won't be long until she is walking!!

Countdown to Valentine's - Gettin' Tuit

The challenge goes on this week at Courtney's blog:


Week 2 - Finding Creative Ways to Praise Your Husband.
Courtney shares 10 creative ideas how to attempt to do this.  It's really all quite simple, but I'll be honest, it's not really something I'm good at or mainly just not something I remember to do.  I'm also not the Great Mom who packs love notes in my children's lunches every school day either - in fact, I'm usually not even the one who packs their lunches (which is ONE THING I am grateful to my husband for doing every morning at the crack of dawn when he gets up!!). 

I guess I could make the excuse that it is just not my "love language," which I've already previously determined is probably FOOD ... ;)  Although when I think back - waaaaaaaaaaay back -, my husband used to write me a letter from work almost EVERY DAY and while he was stationed in Iraq, we wrote letters AND emails on a daily basis.  It was easy back then to remember to do this.  Then we started working TOGETHER in a ministry - and somehow the close proximity brought a take-you-granted-ness to our marriage.  Now I stay home again and see my husband way less than ever, it seems; but we have fallen into a "been married a longggggggg time" complacency.

I know some couples who are tethered to their cell phones and seemingly call non-stop to narrate their lives to each other all through the day, but that's not our style either (and we only have ONE cell phone to share between the 2 of us - whoever is on the road gets the phone which is exacerbated with the fact that we really don't like talking on the phone in general).  I like to write, but my husband doesn't have a personal email account at work either, so it's not like I can send him personal messages via the office.

So, there it is my list of excuses ... I could write 10 of them!!  It's not even that I don't want to communicate or think about my husband, and I'm not sure if it is the fact that our 2 older kids are growing up and so busy - and we're all just so busy with church, school, sports, piano lessons, etc ... HOW DID WE GET HERE??!   We never intended to become a "child centered" family - but between the children and our church and its school, there is no time left.  That, and we are old now and when there is time, we need to sleep! 

So, obviously, I need to do some serious thinking how to make time for my husband, let alone praise him.  :-/  I do think sometimes simple things mean a lot ... and while I can't take time right now to think of and list 10 things to do to praise my husband this week, I think my own personal challenge is just this:

FIND 10 OPPORTUNITIES to praise my husband and DO IT!!!!!!!  I know what to do (write a note, give a token gift, say a kind word, etc), I just need to make time to get "a round tuit."   Oh, look!  There's one right now:

Why I Love CSN Stores

With over 200 stores, CSN Stores offer such a variety - you can find anything from a wooden swing set (get ready for SPRING!!) to a space heater (which is something practical I've been looking at for this winter).



Before Thanksgiving, I was given the opportunity to hold a give-away from CSN Stores ... To be honest, I was a little jealous that someone else would get the prize instead of me - I think CSN Stores are as fascinating as amazon.com or a trip to Walmart!   I was however very pleased that Mrs. D won my give-away ... and pleasantly surprised at how many people seemed interested in the give-away.  I guess that speaks volumes for CSN Stores! 

WELL, today the kind folks at CSN Stores have offered to let me do a review on ANY PRODUCT I choose (value $45).  I have been browsing frantically ever since!!  I want new kitchen curtains, so that is an option ... but there are so many fun, frivolous things I like there too (I even saw an Iowa Hawkeye watch my husband would like!!) ... and TOYS and things for the baby or the kids. 
Well, I'll continue browsing ... and I'll be back to share all about the product(s) I picked!  I'm so grateful to be a

Daybook - 1/24-25/2011

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... cold ... 25 degrees.  SNOW?  Flurries, maybe.

I am thinking... that I am blessed.  All my NEEDS are provided.

I am thankful for... my health.  After watching every family member and myself succomb to some form of virus in the last week, I am thankful we are ALL well!!
From the kitchen... I am thinking SOUP ... something soothing to slowly bring the troubled tummies of my family members back into the land of eating! 

I am wearing... comfy, warm clothes

I am creating... a mess.  Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.  I'm cleaning out my desk area. 

I am going... no where.  I hope.  I really feel like staying HOME today and maybe even for the rest of the week! 

I am reading... old magazines.  Still in the Book of Job in my Bible reading.

I am hoping... to weed out old magazines, cut out recipes and ideas, and recycle what's left.

I am hearing... SILENCE.  BLISSFUL SILENCE.

Around the house... areas that need to be re-organized and cleaned up and out. 

One of my favorite things... watching Miriam get all proud of herself as she is attempting to stand alone ... and maybe even take a few steps!?!!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  be a complete home-body though I have some work to do with and for the church. 

Here are pictures for thought I am sharing...

Miriam - from a photo shoot a friend did of her in August (M was 8 months old)

There are more daybooks to look at over at Peggy's blog.

A Healthy Haus: Exercise

I hate to exercise ... I hate to sweat ... I don't like gyms or gym equipment ... I certainly don't like to jog let alone run. 
I cringe when I think of the $200 I spent to join a gym (that offered child care) a few years ago - and I went 3 times!  I took one class there - and HATED it ... HATED HATED HATED it.

I tried a personal trainer a few years ago too, though she worked with me and a few other ladies at once.  I signed up for 6 weeks with 2 classes per week.  It was awful.  After some classes, I felt like I was going to throw up, or I was so shaky I didn't know if I could drive home.  I'd go home and lie on the floor and be totally useless for about an hour afterwards. 

I hate exercise. 

That said - I have found for myself that I can get some exercise by walking ... and I do like to walk - though I probably walk too slowly to really be getting the fullest benefit.

The only other exercise I actually LOVED and stuck with was CURVES!!!!!   I loved CURVES.  It's a woman's only gym, yes ... but you are done in 30 minutes.  You don't really sweat too much ... and you don't leave feeling like you've been through boot camp.

If I could afford it and had regular child care, I'd go back in a heartbeat!!  It's the only exercise program I ever stuck with for about a year or more - and where I actually saw (slow but steady) results.  It did help that I went with a group of friends, and we'd watch each other's kids while the others exercised.  It was a great set-up!  :)

I do recommend Curves - someday I want to go back!!  This week you can try Curves (if you have one near you) for FREE!!!  There is even one near ME, and I live in the middle of NO WHERE.

A Healthy? Haus

Oh the irony ... I create this pretty healthy picture for my blog ... and my family is taken down with illness one by one!  Granted the picture isn't about the HEALTH of being well - but about the HEALTH of a lifestyle of eating right ...

Last Saturday, Miriam went down with a fever that lasted about 3 days total. 
Once she got almost well, Anna had a 2 day stomachache ... and only went to school one day last week (one day was a holiday, one day was a snow day). 
This Sunday I was struck with horrible nausea as I was trying to get ready for church ... so I stayed in bed while my family went on to services.
That afternoon my husband got sicker than he has been in many, many years ... very, very sick.  :(
Andrew complained of a stomachache too ... and he stayed home from school today. 

Ok, now that we've all been through some form of illness or other, I am hopeful we will soon again be a HEALTHY HAUS!!!  Tomorrow I plan to Lysol everything and scrub the bathroom, and Clorox-wipe the phones and lightswitches. 
Is it SPRING YET so I can open the windows wide and chase out the germs!!?? 

Doorposts

I'm passing along a deal I found on one of the blogs I read ... I get no compensation for this except for the happiness I receive if anyone can benefit from this offer!! 

Have you heard of Doorposts? 

A friend of mine told me about these good Christian people a long time ago - back when I had to request a catalog IN THE MAIL of their products ... but now, of course, everything is ON LINE. 

I got a great chore chart for my kids many years ago - which we still sort of use from Doorposts ... and if I ever get some extra money, I'd love to have this book for my daughter.  In fact, this is the book that my friend showed me & recommended I get a long time ago --- and I just never did.  

RIGHT NOW (and not sure how long the deal lasts), you can get $10 off any $10 or more order from Doorposts!   The book I really want (above) is $48 :(  so $38 isn't really that feasible for me right now as a "just because" book ... HOWEVER, I did get another book I've heard so many good things about - AAAAANNNDDDD it fits right into my current MARRIAGE/Valentine theme that I'm thinking about these days:

This book sells for $14 - but of course, I got it for $4 ... plus media mail shipping of about $4 = $8!!! for an EXCELLENT book! 
I love what the one reviewer on the website says - although it too SCARES ME TO DEATH:
"I am totally convinced that many Christian women aren't ready for this book. This book makes a Christian wife take her eyes completely off of her husband's shortcomings and allow God to deal with her."

In marriage and life, it is so easy to say that you are MAD about something or to be MAD at someone (ie your spouse, parent or any other authority figure) ... but to forget them & deal DIRECTLY with GOD is a little more sobering.  I shared a little about my past "dark days" and though I can't really explain or share much about it, the one thing that helped me the most in the end was realizing that I wasn't so much mad at my husband as I was angry with GOD ... because IF I believed God directs all things and is all- powerful/wise/knowing (which I do believe!) then EVERYTHING that happens to me is HIS doing whether by His perfect will or by His permissive will if I made a bad choice.  Facing GOD was hard to do - but you know what?  He can take it.  He knows all about it anyway.   I finally had to tell Him that I was mad and that I didn't like where He had directed me and that I was struggling ... and finally that I submitted to His will - no matter what, like it or not.  I'm a pretty independent person and submitting to anyone, let alone to Someone whose ways I didn't always like or understand was HARD ... and still is hard.  Sometimes I wish I had been born with a gentler, more submissive, easier-going, more trusting personality where I could view things with a more child-like faith than with doubt and skepticism... Funny thing though - once I submitted, I found I was much less angry and everything was a little easier (though still far from perfect!).  It's a journey!

ANYWAY ... enough about ME today ... check out all the wonderful family resources at Doorposts!  There are several things for $10 or less that you could potentially score some great helps for FREE (or the cost of shipping anyway!). 

HELP!!?!!

I really want a 3 column blog page ... I can't figure out how to change formats.  I'd love to have more room for information, others' blog buttons, etc ...

CAN ANYONE HELP ME!!!!?????!!!!????!!! 

Signed:
Sad Blogger

The Future is Bright

I'm trying to remember to brag on my husband these days ... he's a good guy!   :)

This morning he took all 3 kids to Anna's basketball game and will go by the library and grocery store afterward.  I will reward him by making the Pioneer Woman's Sour Cream Enchiladas (though I'm adding shredded chicken) for lunch! 

So, I'm home alone, taking a moment to gather my courage to face all the tasks I need to tackle while Miriam isn't underfoot.  Like clean the bathrooms ... I can't wait!  Ha! 

Back to the marriage theme, I wanted to share a little marriage advice someone very recently gave me that changed my whole perspective:

So, in the past, Dan and I have had our share of troubles (mainly propagated by my own selfishness - but also aggravated by his inability/unwillingness to understand where I was coming from).  In the last 3 years or so, we've really worked on communicating and getting past the dark time I went through (which in turn WE went through), and I keep saying that my goal in life is to now MAKE IT UP TO HIM.  I had this need to be an EXTRA super nice wife and to be especially good in order to make up for the wasted years of our marriage that I neglected him and us in general.

As I shared my story with a friend recently, she said something rather profound.  She said something like this:
"Has your husband ever said he expected you to 'make up for the lost years'?  Does he think you OWE him?  What makes you feel like you have to do extra duty now to make up for the past?  Is Jesus like that?  Does he expect us to work harder to cover all our sins of long ago?  Or does Jesus just forgive - and forget?  Has your husband said he forgave you?  Did you forgive him?  Ok, then, what are you making up for?? START NEW today instead of continually dredging up the old over and over." 

Does that make sense?!  It was kind of a "light bulb moment" for me ... If my husband loves me unconditionally (and he does!) - as Jesus loves the church (Ephesians 5:25) - then WHY do I think I have to grovel and make up for everything wrong I've done or said in my past.  We've forgiven each other - and we're moving ON together.  We're NOT looking back - and me remembering all those ugly times that I failed means I am looking in the wrong direction.  Today is what matters and the future ahead of us!  It's like our relationship with God too - He doesn't want us to stay in our past - but to keep on learning & working for Him now.  The Bible speaks a lot about leaving our past and striving for our future: 

Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (achieved): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new...

AND one of my absolute favorites:
Lamentations 3:22-23
[It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Random Thoughts on a Snow Day

We woke up to an inch or two of snow this morning (at 4:45 a.m. which is when my school administrator husband is obligated to get up to check the weather & school closing status).  Since he is from Iowa, he scoffed when he saw that the public schools had already closed their doors for the day; however, he had to conform and call off our school as well.  Not that he minds a snow day; believe me, he enjoys the break as much as the kids do!!  :) 

We fall into this snow-day routine that is left over from my days as the school secretary.  I call the radio stations on the cell phone to let them know our school is closed, and then I contact the tv stations (you have to have a SPECIAL CODE to authorize the notification ... which somehow makes me feel very powerful!!  hee hee!!).  He calls from our home phone and wakes up the teachers and staff to tell them to go back to bed ...

Today I was looking forward to crawling back into my warm bed after the obligatory notifications were done ... and I did ... and about 10 minutes later Miriam woke up.  *sigh*  I fed her and then Dan said he'd take her for me.  So I snuggled back in ... and the phone rang (church member calling to ask if we'd canceled school).  *sigh*  But I was just about to drift off again ... and Miriam found her way to my bedroom door and sat in front of it crying (Dan likens her to a cat who HATES closed doors).  I pull her into bed with me ... and the phone rings ... again (above said church member has called us back by mistake).  *sigh*  Dan takes Miriam back.  She fusses and chants, "Mom-mom-mom ... Ma-ma!  Ma-ma!  Ma-ma!" and who can resist that so I get up.   Happy Snow Day.  So much for sleeping in. 

Since the Chinese President is here in the U.S. visiting the Obama's, I could recommend the above for his Chinese torture tactics (do they still do Chinese torture?!!?!!): 
let someone drift to just the edge of sleep --- and shrilly wake them up to the sound of a baby crying or a phone ringing.  Repeat.  Five times.  That should adequately put them on or over the edge.  See, I'm willing to spill my guts already. 

So, I've been drinking coffee and reading blogs - and I found an article at Blissfully Domestic that is JUST WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!!  

Also, I got a comment on my water-drinking issue that explains my water problem so adequately - from a fellow non-water-liker:  " it just sits on my stomach and i just feel it swishing around in there."
YES, me too!!!!!!!!  Especially if I drink it first thing in the morning - I just feel like it's going to come back up because it sure doesn't seem to be going down.

My other confession about water is this:  I don't take medication with water.  Somehow the taste of the pill (tylenol, whatever) comes through the water - and then it sits in my stomach, and I can almost envision the pill swimming around in the stagnant water.  It makes me sicker to take a pill with water than to not take a pill at all.  Pill + coke goes down nice & easy ... Don't tell my doctor I said that.  ;)

Well, Miriam is down for an early morning nap (BIG SURPRISE!!!!!) and maybe I will follow her example.  My coffee cup is empty now - and maybe I can enjoy some extra snow day rest after all. 

Accountability: The Healthy Hausfrau

Ok, just going to be REAL here ... I'm not doing so well!!!
My first challenge was this:  drink water. 
My first rebuttal is this:  I hate water. 
My first rebuke to that is:  GOD made water.  Shame on me!!!  :-O

So, what's the big deal about getting a BIG OL' glass of water??  I have a fridge that dispenses filtered water with my choice of crushed or cubed ice.  I love ice.  HOWEVER, I love diet coke, tea, coffee, and just about anything else more. 

In my quest to make excuses for myself, I will say I have focused on hydrating myself more these last few days.  I've moved into the unsweetened tea realm.  At least I feel like my kidneys are not being dried out.  Plus I'm still nursing MiMi, and that means my body needs water!  Since it's been going so well though, I tend to justify that I just don't NEED water ... (paradox if I ever wrote one!).

SO, what's a rebellious girl like me supposed to do:  well, I'd have to say THE RIGHT THING!!  So, I'm off to find a nice container/glass/jug (good suggestion in the comments that I need to find a pretty something-or-other just for me and my water!) and fill it with water (and ice and just a tad of lemon).  Hoping to do better the rest of the week ...

Am I the only one who struggles with this??  I'm just NOT THIRSTY!   I forget to drink anything sometimes.   I have heard that sometimes hunger is really THIRST in a mask - and believe me, I *am* hungry ... often ... too often.  Maybe I need to start re-interpreting my body signs??!! 

Be My Valentine!

Did you know it was only 25 days until Valentine's Day? ...

Personally, I haven't given it a second thought - BUT I guess I should!! :)

My friend Bobbie Jo has directed me to the above meme from this blog:

I have often thought of doing MORE about challenging myself to do MORE for the probably most neglected member of my family, my husband!

As I've often said:  I got one of the GOOD GUYS!!!  <3

I even created my own meme (below) to write some posts about remembering to work on your marriage - but then some of the things I need to work on are pretty personal - or I feel inadequate to share because it's not like I'm some genius marriage counselor!

In the busy-ness of every day life, I feel like I don't see my husband very much - or we are going different directions with the kids or other activities - or we are involved in a mutual activity at church BUT that isn't exactly the time to lay a big kiss on him and say,

"HEY!  I love you!!!  You look so handsome today ... "

We just aren't that big on PDA or all the mushy gooshy in public.  Sadly, these days, we just don't have make much time for it in private.

After 18 years of marriage and 3 children and time-and-energy-sucking jobs, we are TIRED (and old).

And so, a challenge to reconnect sounds like just what I need.

I DON'T WANT TO FEEL old and tired - I don't want to neglect the most important (to me) person on this planet.  I am seeing too many marriages around me falling apart or falling into neglect.  I WANT TO WORK ON MAKING MINE BETTER AND BETTER!!!  I realize that takes some effort.

A quote hangs framed in our bedroom, "Grow old with me ... the best is yet to be ... "

(Browning)

That's my hope for my marriage and life with Dan.

The challenge for this week is this:

Week 1 starts TODAY! Look for ways to praise your husband verbally. Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on facebook, tweet it - get praise out anyway you can!

Try to mention something noteworthy he has done - in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine's Day arrives!

(if you want a devotional to go along with this Nancy Leigh Demoss has an amazing Marriage Pdf here)

Today I have to mention that my husband is one of the kindest people I know.  He truly "doesn't have a mean bone in his body" ... He is kind to everyone.  He takes a lot from people (and from me).

He handles criticism with a grain of salt - and in his position (as the "administrator" and a teacher at a Christian school), he gets criticized .. believe me, people have even criticized him (perhaps not meaning to) to ME (which turns me into wifey-bear).  :)

People's opinions don't really phase him though - because he knows what he is doing he is doing for the Lord.  If people agree or don't agree, it doesn't really matter.  There are about 10,000 opinions out there about how our Christian school should be run - and many are good ideas - but in the end, if the pastor is happy and the children are learning and the staff is not on the verge of mutiny, we've had a good day.

He handles crises (? plural of crisis) so well too.  I think having been a soldier and having been to Iraq (working in a Combat Support Hospital or C*S*H) have given him perspective.  Many a day, someone will come to him in a lather about some GREAT injustice or GIGANTIC problem or HORRIFIC situation, and Dan reacts calmly.  In his mind, if no one has died, no one has lost an eye or a limb, then it can be handled - calmly and kindly as possible.

Many people seem to want swift judgment and harsh punishment (and that includes me occasionally!!) - but my husband is the epitome of MERCY.

Our pastor says it often:  if you want God (and others) to be merciful to you, you MUST be merciful yourself.  I know I want mercy (I NEED a lot of mercy) - and my husband has given me more than my fair share of merciful forgiveness and love and kindness.

See, once I got going, I could have gone on writing all day!!

Now I just need to go tell HIM how I feel!!  :)

Check out what others are saying about their husbands during this challenge --

and even if you don't participate in this challenge formally, make sure to say some NICE THINGS to your husband and about your husband every day!!

Daybook - 1/18/2011

I liked Peggy's version of The Simple Woman's Daybook last week, so here I am again.
I like that I can condense my ramblings (like yesterday's) into nice, concise categories!  :)

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it was gray and cold - we might get some snow in the days ahead?!

I am thinking... about all I need to get done.  As always.

I am thankful for... my kids' health.  Miriam had a fever since Saturday evening - but after waking up warm today and her last dose of Infant Tylenol at 5 a.m., she seems fine now...
Good thing because Anna came home w/ a tummyache - ALTHOUGH she wanted chicken noodle soup for lunch & chicken nuggets for dinner (with BBQ sauce!).  I'm thankful that she apparently DOES NOT have the stomach flu that has been wiping out families around here!! 

From the kitchen... I made an easy & favorite crockpot dinner yesterday:  ham, cabbage, and potatoes.  Add a little water.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  We butter & salt the cabbage; I make some gravy - and my family LOVES this meal.

I am wearing... comfy clothes.  Been home all day w/ "sick" kids. 

I am going... to work tonight for my church - I do their accounting, & it is time to pay some bills!

I am reading... an Agatha Christie book as well as the book of Job in the Bible. 

I am hoping... this week will be uneventful.  Dare I??!

I am hearing... my almost-13 month old puttering around saying, "Mama!  Mama! Da-da!"

Around the house... working on organizing my desk so I can get back to my Medical Transcription course which I need to finish (so I can work more from home!).

One of my favorite things... my Oma's featherbed on MY bed now!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
organize things for our church's kids' club on Wednesday night
home basketball game for my son on Friday
Upward basketball game for my daughter on Saturday
OH - and I think I have a hair appointment on Friday?!!!  Just a trim, but it always makes me feel better :)

A picture to share:  Oma's featherbed paired with flannel sheets ... no wonder I can't get out of bed in the mornings!  :)

There are more Daybooks on Peggy's website.
 

Pray.

I've had kind of a weird, discombobulated weekend ... I don't mean it's been all bad - but it somehow hasn't been all that good all the time either. 

I can't even remember Friday night.  I think Andrew came home from his first ever overnight basketball tournament that neither Dan nor I had gone along to.   Although I totally trusted his coaches, knew he was with kids from his Christian school, and was told over and over by him how excited he was, I still had just a tinge of anxiety sending my 12 year old off on the school vans with boys seemingly way bigger than him!   (that's not really true because not all the boys are bigger - but it sounds more dramatic that way!) 

Friday he calls me to update me on Thursday's events.  He starts with, "Mom, I had a migraine last night."  Cue Momma guilt:  I should have been there; I should have sent medicine; I should have driven the 120 miles & nursed my boy back to health!!!!  However, he assured me that he was fine; one of the coaches gave him some medicine ... Cue more Momma guilt - that was MY JOB - I'm supposed to give him medicine!!!  HOWEVER, I'm learning that other people CAN take care of my children; I can trust them.  It's OK ... Apparently, I have some control issues.  ;)

Turns out he had a migraine during a game - the coach didn't know & put him in - he tried to play through the pain & nausea - but ended up almost crying.  Thankfully the ref saw his distress & got him out of the game.  Can you say:  CUE MOMMA GUILT.  I should have been there.  But I wasn't.  But like I said, that's ok.  

Still not sure how I'm going to let my children grow up and go away to college without me ... thankfully I have a few more years to work on my momma guilt and control issues!!  :)

Saturday was kind of a crazy busy day ... and yet, my heart was very much with my pastor's family.  As I mentioned, our pastor's wife's parents both passed away within about a week of each other.  The double funeral was Saturday in a town a few hours' drive away.  We were not able to attend, but my thoughts were with them all day.  I can't imagine losing both parents at the same time- and in her case, it was somewhat unexpectedly though they were both very ill at the end of their lives.  The one WONDERFUL thing that came out of it all was that her father accepted Christ into his heart the night before he passed away after years of watching his wife and daughters live out a Christian life before him and not participating. 

So, Anna had an Upward basketball game ... and then I went shopping with a friend for the afternoon and evening.  The fellowship of other Christian women is something that is so encouraging - and this particular friend is a just a little older and a whole lot wiser than me.   She gave me such practical insights on life and marriage and children with a godly attitude.  We laughed, we shopped, we ate yummy Italian food.  It was good to get away!   HOWEVER, I came home to a very hot, very sick Miriam.  :(

Miriam has been out of sorts for days - not taking good naps, having kind of funky diaper issues, teething, etc.  Dan said her fever came on kind of suddenly Saturday evening - and she was HOT ... I tried her underarm temp but could only get it to 100 degrees before she yanked it out.  The next morning the reading was 100.4.  I think you add 1 degree to an underarm reading, but I do know my baby was hot & miserable :(  So, it's been a regime of Tylenol and Motrin for her - and even this morning she is yet slightly warm to the touch off the meds. 

So, I think part of my problem is there was no church for me on Sunday.  I stayed home with the baby - though I did have nursery duty in the afternoon and went in to take care of that while Dan watched the baby.  Afterwards, I had to take Anna to a birthday party/sleepover - and ended up coordinating a neighborhood scavenger hunt type game for the girls, which took me about 2 hours!   I did manage to score a piece of the yummy ice cream birthday cake, so it was all worth it.  :) 

I spent the evening watching DVDs of Wild, Wild West with my boys and watching Miriam - on meds - destroy the house piece by piece.  She has learned to shake her finger and say "no, no, no" for some reason.  They say your children are your greatest imitators ... so true, so true. 

TODAY I know what I need - I need to reconnect with the one person I've neglected this entire weekend ... MY HUSBAND!!!  I feel like I haven't really talked to him intelligently since sometime last week!  Discussing the antics of the Wild Wild West characters does not constitute deep, soul-connecting conversation - however amusing.  We've been busy tag-teaming Miriam when her fever flares - and I just feel disconnected.  Even now, I need to shut up & go check on Dan who is holding Miriam while she finished out her morning nap.  I'm thankful we have a day off today for the M.L.K. Holiday!!

OH - the reason I titled this post PRAY is that there is truly so much to PRAY for and about.  And not just in my little world and your little world ... The internet makes me aware of so many hurting people all around us!  Imagine a 38 year old mother with 2 sweet girls who suddenly suffers a stroke and is in a deep, medically induced coma from which no one is sure she will wake up.  She is the friend of an author whose blog and books I've been reading for a few years now.  You can read updates at The Simple Wife.  It hits harder because I was 38 not so long ago ... NO ONE is guaranteed tomorrow - each day is a gift.  PRAY.