When Friends Become Friends

 I've known Angel (the lady on the left) for over 8 years or so - she lives in Tennesee and is friends with my parents (and goes to their church).  I've known Robyn (the lady in the middle) for about 2 years now - she goes to my church but is also my "neighbor" as she lives in my subdivision.  AND NOW:  Angel and Robyn are friends too!

 And Angel's kids and Robyn's kids and my kids (Andrew not pictured) are friends!  (That's my mom on the left.)

Angel's family is going to one of the 'stan countries in Central Asia
(the 7 'stan countries are: 
•Afghanistan


•Kazakhstan

•Kyrgyzstan

•Pakistan

•Tajikistan

•Turkmenistan

•Uzbekistan)
 as missionaries.  They presented their ministry and burden to our church this week during our annual Missions Conference.  Our pastor invited them to come - and they offered to bring my mom with them!  Since my house is not big enough to house a family of 6, my friend Robyn offered to keep Angel's family at her house as she has a large finished basement.  Everyone got along so well - but that is the beauty of the body of Christ.  

In fact, Robyn's husband and Angel's husband had a mutual friend unbeknownst to them until they got to talking ... it's a small world, this Christian world, particularly among our denomination and its seminaries and Bible colleges. 

Missionaries inspire me ... and Angel's family is very special and exceptional among them, I think!  They have truly stepped out by faith - beyond any sacrifice I've ever dreamed of making - to serve God completely, sold out, 100%.  When they decided to go to the mission field, Angel's husband quit his job - by faith - to raise his support and share his burden with churches who would partner with him.  He literally saw miracles as people in his church bought him a van to use (only stipulation that he return it when he leaves the USA) and another offered to pay his mortgage to free him up to travel.  All his needs have been met - pretty much by God's own Hand.  If I didn't know this family so well, I am not sure I'd believe it.  God still works miracles ... I think sometimes our self-sufficiency keeps us from experiencing them! 

Of course, it isn't everyone's calling to live completely on faith - to go to far away countries - or to have to give up one's life completely to God's service ... but I think the privileged few who do it get to experience a faith and God's provision deeper than anything we average American Christians ever will know.  I know God has some very special things planned for this dear family - and I will be praying for them and supporting them from my comfortable home here in Central Missouri where my own calling is because God knows what I can handle.  I love that my children have been exposed to and challenged by this family - and I hope they will come away with the realization that GOD IS REAL, He is at work TODAY, and He can do amazing things when we trust Him. 

Checking In ... and some SALSA

The Hausfrau lives ... however, things are SUPER BUSY here this week!!  First of all, MY MOM IS HERE!!!!  :)  OMA is in the 'Haus!  ;)  (that's how we German folks say it! LOL).  It's almost 1 a.m. - and I really shouldn't be writing a blog post because I get a little giddy after midnight!  :-()

Secondly, our church is having its annual REVIVAL - MISSIONS CONFERENCE, and we are in meetings each night this week.  We are hearing from people going to Brazil, South Sudan (that's a fairly new country!!), and Kzakistan (?) along with a few other encouraging speakers.

Thirdly, Miriam-yummy was a little under the weather with fever up to 102+ degrees from Sunday until last night.  We think it is just teething (she's cutting eye teeth) plus maybe a little infection or bug.  Praise the Lord she is feeling much better today!!! 

And a quick HEALTHY HAUS update since my sweet new friend Rochelle is checking up and in on me (thanks, girl!):

While I am not following my fairly strict body-make-over diet this week - it is VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE with dinner being served at church each night, I can say this for myself:  having lost 4 lbs (almost) last week, I am VERY VERY conscious of what I am eating this week!!  Smaller (or enough) portion sizes, leaning towards protein with "good carbs" (oatmeal is my friend), and limited desserts though I will admit I have had some fresh apple cake my mom baked AND a piece of banana bread I made so far this week.  :)~  I am also trying to continue my water drinking quest, which continues to be a struggle...

But in the end, I am encouraged that this week I am displaying SOME self-control in eating "normal".  I won't be losing any weight - that's for sure - but I am consciously making BETTER choices to what I put in my mouth.

And here's a healthy, fresh SALSA recipe for you that I am loving this week!!!!!!!  (the only downfall to it is the TORTILLA CHIPS you eat with it although my kids say you can eat this with a spoon by itself!).

BLACK BEAN SALSA
1 can black beans, drained (<-- don't say ewwww, like I did - they are actually VERY good and full of fiber!)
1 can shoepeg corn, drained (<-- regular kernel corn probably wouldn't be the same?)
3-4 tomatoes, diced
1 (or 1/2) red onion, diced
1 (or less or none) green bell pepper, diced
1 jalepeno, seeded & diced (optional - I actually used a few slices of jarred ones)
the juice of one lime (or I use RealLime)
garlic powder (about 1 tsp)
salt to taste (about 1 tsp)
1 Tbsp oil

Mix it all together ... and ENJOY!!!! 

A Kitty Tale

 Two little kitties sitting in a basket, having fun ... along came Miriam ...
and then were was one.

Miriam wants to know:

Read any good books lately?

Miriam is 19 months old today!

(and yes, I realize her clothes don't match in the above pics - this happens to be the onesie & pj pants combo she wore to bed last night)

She is such a verbal child and repeats about anything ... Lately she's been pointing her finger at our cats and saying, "Don't. do. that."  Guess everyone wants someone to boss around?! 

She certainly communicates well.  If she wants you to pick her up, she'll reach her little arms up to you and say, "Hug!  Hug!"

She's got lots of other words and phrases she uses - but most of the time, she is singing.  She can almost sing the lyrics of several songs in full.

Otherwise, Miriam is finally growing a little though she is still mostly in the 25% percentile on the growth charts.  Some of her 18 month size clothes are slightly snug.  She's still in size 4 diapers though I am stockpiling size 5 when I get deals or coupons.

Miriam was really happy to see her daddy and big sister come home from camp today!

Tomorrow her Oma is coming from Tennessee!!  She will be staying all week.

Happy Weekend!

Determined.

It is amazing how well these first 5 days of my new healthier life style have gone (what is even more amazing is 2 things:  I haven't been hungry AND I haven't craved anything!!)

... now the key will be to keep going.  It is easy when I have the time to think about what I'm going to eat and to cook, but I know the craziness of the school year will begin again eventually.  Maybe by then, this will be such an ingrained habit that I will easily maintain my momentum instead of succumbing to fast food or processed foods - and baked goods and chocolate to make me feel better when I am stressed out!  :-O

I'm also not cooking for my entire family this week as 2 of mine are at church camp ... this will present another challenge - but I want my ENTIRE FAMILY to eat healthier!!

Right now because I do need to lose a few pounds, I am eating A LOT of grilled chicken and baked fish as well as tuna, salads, veggies, some fruit, limited carbs (only small portions of potato and rice and oatmeal), and limited sugar & salt. 

I do miss the dairy as I love cheese - and yogurt - and ice cream ... but as the 6-Week-Body-Make-Over says:  milk is what makes baby calves FAT, so guess what it does to you?!!  Which confuses me because the dairy industry's claim is that milk/dairy actually accelerates weight loss?!  Anyone know the real deal?  Got milk ... or not!

The HausMAN

While my husband and oldest daughter are at camp this week, I've enjoyed spending some "quality time" with my son, Andrew.

Andrew and I are a lot alike.  We get frustrated easily because we have high expectations and like things "just so" - except Andrew is already learning from his dad to let things go and to not have outbursts when things don't go as expected.  I'm still working on those traits!  :)  Andrew also likes things to be neat and organized; like me as a kid, he cleans and re-arranges his room often.  He is also a GREAT big brother and has helped me SO MUCH with Miriam this week.   Andrew likes to help his mom out and senses when I need a few moments alone or am starting to stress out.  He is a very kind young man, and I attribute a lot of that to his dad's influence ... While I can't quite fathom having a TEENAGER soon (Andrew turns 13 in 2 months!), I am looking forward to seeing what the Lord as in store for our boy.  :) 

 

On Monday Andrew and I determined to clean our house thoroughly!  I putter around and try to organize and clean - but with Miriam being SO BUSY these days, I really needed the help.

 We started in the living room, and Andrew helped me move all the furniture aside, take apart the couches for a good cleaning, and take down window treatments for washing.  Andrew even dusted his dad's bookcases, which is a huge job in and of itself!

We had some fun along the way, building a fort out of couch cushions:

And burying Andrew inside of it!

With all of Dan's bookcases in our living room, we really don't have a lot of options for furniture placement, but we did move things around slightly.   We made a little "reading nook" with the rocking chair I got when I was pregnant with Andrew (12+ years ago!).

Miriam approves, I think!

The next day, we tackled the dining room.

(ASIDE:  I'm not liking that leafy-ivy thing coming down the side of my china hutch, are you?!   I'm thinking it's gotta go!)

Next was the kitchen - complete with wiping down appliances and taking the stove apart to scrub it:

 And then we cleaned the refridgerator and freezer:

It hasn't been all work and no play though ... We have managed to go out for dinner one night, and today after Andrew's school physical we plan to head to Springfield for some fun in the BIG CITY.  :) 

Tomorrow Dan & Anna return!!  I've missed them SO MUCH this week but am SO thankful for this week with Andrew ... and Miriam. 

A Little Healthier Every Day

Really it is just the end of day 2 of my new lifestyle change ... and it seems in the past I have usually been good for a week or two - or even three - before I fall off the proverbial diet wagon!   But this time, I don't want to lose my balance - I want to stick with this and not take my health for granted.

So far, this thing is pretty easy.  Eating every 2-3 hours sure helps.  And I get a sweet fruit treat at night too ... The water is going down ok with a little lemon & stevia in it.

For dinner tonight I tried tilapia for the first time in my life.   I got some frozen tilapia filets at Aldi's for what I thought was a reasonable price.  I put some Old Bay seafood seasoning (lemon & pepper) on the filet and just a little melted butter over them (no, butter is NOT really on my eating plan for now - but life is sure happier with a little butter in it).

Baked at 400 degrees for 8-12 minutes (I went for 12 - I have no idea what tilapia is supposed to be like when cooked properly).  It was EASY & YUMMY!!

Dan & Anna are at camp this week (pray for them - it is HOT HOT HOT out there!!!), so Andrew had some tilapia with me, and he said he would have liked 2 filets instead of just one!  :)

We had rice (I get 1/2 cup), salad, and green beans.  Miriam preferred just the green beans and some rice (with herb brown gravy on it).

It can be EASY to make healthy meals ... and they can sure taste good too.  <-- I wrote this sentence for me to refer to when I start losing my motivation in a little while (just in case)!  :)

I've been getting some pictures via facebook of my people at camp ... My Anna is quite sun-burned :(  But I got to talk to Dan on the phone today, and he said she was still having a great time.   He is enduring ... but it is worth it to be there with the kids from our church!  :) 

Conny

WINNER!!

The winner of the TWIN SISTERS PRODUCTIONS $10 gift certificate is ...

Drum roll, please .....

the only person who left TWO comments (that must have turned the odds in her favor?!) ....

And I'm tickled she won ...

CONGRATULATIONS to .....

My friend from

(though she does NOT cheer for the Hawkeyes!!) ...

Melanie - you won!!

I'll get with you later about how to redeem your gift certificate!

Conny

So, It's Monday Again ...

In Germany, the week begins on MONDAY on the calendar ... As a Christian, I guess I prefer the whole idea of Sunday being "the first day of the week," but Monday is a good day to start new routines.  And so on this Monday, I begin my (BIG GULP) new life style in earnest.  I've been gearing down on sweets & junk over the weekend (though I'll admit I had some last splurges!!) already while also doing a 10 day "Herbal Cleanse" to get ready for starting over, feeling better, and getting healthy!! 

It wasn't anything drastic or harsh ... My friend recommended it to me as she is doing this new "diet" with me, and this has been a very gentle (to put it discreetly!) way to do the following:

The AdvoCare Herbal Cleanse system can help rid your body of toxins and waste with its unique blend of herbal ingredients.* Using a systematic approach, this 10-day system guides you day by day through the steps for thorough internal cleansing and improved digestion.* Herbal Cleanse supports the body's metabolic systems and general health during the detoxification process by helping keep energy levels up, aiding in removing impurities, and supporting the immune system.* Some people who use Herbal Cleanse for the first time experience an encouraging reduction in pounds and/or inches when they pair the system with the recommended diet and exercise.

(source:  advocare.com)

And today I follow a very simple eating plan for my body type (my friend and I are loosely following the 6 Week Body Makeover diet concepts), which I really like because you just eat "normal" foods.

For example, for breakfast I had oatmeal (w/ no sugar) and apples in it.  I also had 2 scrambled egg whites.   It wasn't bad - and it filled me up.

Then 2 1/2 hours later, I had a snack of 2 oz chicken breast and 1/2 cup potato (yes, a REAL, white, normal potato though you supposedly get better results if you eat yams or sweet potatoes, which I happen to loathe). 

Lunch is more protein and some veggies ... another snack ... dinner ... and another snack of berries or 1/2 a grapefruit.  [I'm thinking BERRIES!!!  :)  I love straw- and blue- and rasp-berries.]

Of course, I should be DRINKING WATER WATER WATER (which unfortunately sloshes around in my tummy like turbulent seas - but such is my lot in life! ha!).

As I figure out this diet over time, I can spice up my meals with herbs and spices and salsa or make smoothies out of my berries (with rice milk - this is - unfortunately - a no dairy diet) or add stevia to my coffee or make omelets ...

I hope, I pray, I wish that I will stick to this a while and re-program my body and my cravings - and lower my triglycerides.  I will confess I fill my prescription from the dr for that, but I haven't taken one pill yet.  I'm just a little scared of side effects and long-term effects.  :-/

Anyway, this is just a kind of "journal" for me of my process - I realize it isn't too interesting of reading ... but if you've come this far, I will say, thank you for all the encouraging comments & helpful tips I have already received.  I hope to soon be known as THE HEALTHY HAUSFRAU!  :)

Conny

Last Chance for $10 Giveaway for FREE Music/Resources

I am giving away a $10 gift code/certificate to TWIN SISTERS PRODUCTIONS online store.  Not only do they have children's music, they have a wide variety of other resources to include

HOME SCHOOL MATERIAL

and CLASSICAL MUSIC

and so much more!!

Enter to win by clicking on this link to my original post.

A winner will be chosen tomorrow (Monday, July 18, 2011)

Have a wonderful Sunday!!

Conny

Grandma's Buick

Our 1996 Buick LeSabre is finally HOME after spending almost 3 weeks on hiatus in Tulsa, Oklahoma ... (the above pic is NOT our car ... ours is dinghy white ... I really don't like white cars at all - very impractical!!!, and ours is missing door trim on one side where Grandma ran into her garage trying to get the car in there.   In her defense, her garage was very narrow ... and I did the same thing with my Grandpa's 1976 Chevy when I was about 19 years old ... he had a narrow garage door opening as well.  I also backed into our garage door support with our 1996 Ford Windstar once when I was about 36 years old - but never mind ....)

So, anyway, Thursday, we packed the girls into my vehicle and hit the road (Andrew has been at camp this week).  Back to Tulsa - again.  Not exactly my idea of a good time ... but I got 4 hours of one-on-one with my husband!  While the girls watched DVDs, read, dozed, and played dolls in the back seat, Dan and I got to spend some time talking - much needed time talking.  Since my car has the car seat, I got 4 hours of MORE quality time with my by-then totally exhausted children on the way home too ... that time wasn't really needed as much as it was necessary.  ;) 

My saddest observation of our whole day though was this:  we drove for over 8 hours - went approximately 500 miles - and we ended our day exactly in the same place that we started!!   You'd think the reward should have been ending up in a much more exciting destination than our very own driveway after all that. 

Of course, our real reward was getting our second car back - finally!!   And according to edmunds.com, what's not to like about that car:

Review:  1996 Buick LeSabre

The Le Sabre is the most popular full-size car sold in America today, and has been for three years running. It isn't hard to understand why. The award-winning Le Sabre has a reputation for trouble-free, comfortable motoring with accommodations for six-passengers, front-wheel drive and a torquey V6 engine pulling the whole package around town.

Never mind the part that says "trouble free" ... but then again, this vehicle IS after all, 15 years old!  In dog years, our LeSabre is actually about - what? - 105.  But considering it only has 85,000 miles on it (about 20,000 of those put on it in the last about 2 years we have owned it), I'm sure it is worth it.  But most of all this car represents my love for my husband because I truly don't have a lot of love for the car itself.  Dan is sentimental - and I honestly think that driving this car - to him - is like remembering his grandparents who originally bought the car brand new fifteen years ago ... If we had abandoned this car in Tulsa when the transmission went out, it would have been as if we'd have left Grandma in Tulsa.   And so - to use the credit card commercial analogy:

4 new tires = $XXX.00
additional motel costs = $XX.00
rental car = $XX.00
fuel for 3 trips to/from Tulsa = $XXX.00
toll road fees = $4,238.00  (just kidding - but they were pretty steep.  We definitely stimulated Oklahoma's economy - and should probably have a section of some toll road named after us!)
Having Grandma's Buick back in our driveway = PRICELESS. 

Conny

The Hausfrau MUST Make Changes!

I had my much anticipated doctor follow-up today ... and as I suspected my triglyeride levels are a wee bit high (ok, way high):  489 mg/dL

The National Cholesterol Education Program sets guidelines for triglyceride levels:

Normal triglycerides means there are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Borderline high triglycerides = 150 to 199 mg/dL.
High triglycerides = 200 to 499 mg/dL.

(source:  webmd)

My consolation is this:  a few years ago my triglyceride level was over 600 mg/dL, and I was able to bring that level down to normal again within a few months.  I've done it before, I can do it again!! 

The doctor says unfortunately I am probably just predisposed to having high triglycerides genetically.  Diet and exercise can help me lower my levels - but it is probably only about 30% of the solution.  The other 70% of the work needs to be done with medication - thankfully a medication I can take the lowest dose of for a few months and then wean myself off of when things get back to normal.  I will just need to have my levels monitored for the rest of my life. 

The good news is my cholesterol levels and blood pressure are GOOD!!  :) 

AND I now also have an excuse for being lazy:  I am anemic again (or have been for a long time now).  My hematocrit (or hemogoin) levels are well below normal.  The solution to that is easy:  start taking my prenatal vitamins again - and in fact, take double dose!   I could also eat a lot of liver ... but I think I'll pass.  :-)~

I just know I'm tired of feeling tired and blah.  It is time to get a hold of myself and GET HEALTHIER!!  My friend has partnered with me - and we (along with our husbands) are going to attempt a SIX WEEK BODY MAKE OVER ... I'm scared to even write that out on my blog because I am the BIGGEST organized diet FAILURE.  I have unsuccessfully tried Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Atkin's, and I think even Nutrisystem in the last 12+ years.  Restrictions and me don't get along.  I've only ever lost weight by eating moderately or by having a baby (and no, that isn't an option for me!!  I'm done).  Soooooooooooooooooo, I'm very cautiously sharing this fact - but I'm hopeful that I will succeed because it is no longer a matter of wanting to fit nicely into my clothes or "look good" ... it is a matter of life style changes and avoiding heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues.  If I lose some weight along the way, that would be GREAT ...but as my husband says, at our age, we no longer are trying to be attractive, we are just trying to NOT be repulsive.  ;) 

So ..................... tomorrow my friend and I are having our initial pow-wow where she will fill me in on THE PLAN (she's done this before) - and by the weekend, I should be on step one to a healthier me!  What I like about this "diet" is that I will be eating "normal" food for my body type (chicken, veggies, fruit).   I know I will struggle more with missing processed foods and sugar and with giving up Diet Coke.  :(   I was talking to my mom about it today, and she suggested that every time I drink water instead of Diet Coke I should put that money I saved on a can of soda into an envelope - and eventually, I can treat myself to something fun!  It's a great idea ... and sadly, it makes me think that I have reduced myself to something like a smoker giving up cigarettes - I really have an unhealthy addiction I need to break as well.  :(

I will be (hopefully) documenting my progress on my blog - and Lord willing, in a few months, I can read back over this post and see how far I've come!!

Conny

Miriam Recommends: Twin Sisters Productions (Review/GiveAway)

Last week we got a FUN board/die-cut book (w/CD) from Twin Sisters Productions (thank you, Kelly!!) for review.  It came right on time for a road test as I had a doctor appointment in a nearby town, and we were in the car a lot that day - so all 3 of my children (ages 18 mo, 10 years, and 12 years) were able to listen to the CD. 

B-I-N-G-O is a sing along book - and the CD includes the title song and 19 other -mostly familiar - nursery rhymes/children's songs.  The book says it is recommended for ages 3+, but my 18 month old who LOVES books enjoyed paging through the easy-to-manipulate board-book pages.  My 10 year old daughter sang along with all the songs and was eager to learn the words to the songs she didn't know already.  Two of her favorites are "Frog Went A-Courtin' " and "There's a Hole in the Bucket" (which I'll admit drove me a little crazy !!! but in a fun way).  ;)  Even my 12 year old son hummed and sang along, although far less enthusiastically since he is afterall a PRETEEN, but even he couldn't resist the catchy songs. 

Twin Sisters Productions is the leader in children's educational music.  This is my second product review for them - and I have NOT been disappointed by the quality of their books and the music.  The children singing on the CD are very pleasant to listen to.  The illustration of the books is eye-catching.  The durability of the material has survived my destructo-18 month old! 

AND I am giving away a $10 gift certificate to be used at the TWIN SISTERS website!!!!  The B-I-N-G-O book that I reviewed is only $6.99 which I personally think is a great value.   There are SO MANY wonderful, educational products available (to include home school resources) - go check them out!!

TO ENTER my GIVE-AWAY, you can do one or more of the following (obviously, one entry per comment - 3 chances total per person):

1.  Go the Twin Sisters website, look around, then come back and leave me a comment about WHICH PRODUCT YOU LIKE BEST.

2.  "Like" Twin Sisters Productions on facebook - leave me a comment that you did so. 

3.  Leave me a comment and tell me the title of one of your all-time favorite children's songs, rhymes, or classic fairy tales. 

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY random.org ON MONDAY, July 18. 

I was given this book for review by Twin Sisters Productions at no cost to me ... the opinions are my own. 
I appreciate the opportunity!! 

And Now for Some GOOD NEWS

Today I redeemed my 30th $5 amazon gift card from swagbucks.com since I first joined in March of 2010.  That's $150 earned for just having the swagbucks toolbar & using it almost exclusively for internet searches.  Other ways I earn are doing the daily polls (1 sb per day), occasionally getting a swagbuck for just logging in, and sometimes finding swag codes (via the sb blog, my widget on facebook, and "liking" swag code alerts on facebook). 

I've been able to buy or contribute to buying my kids' presents or books, diapers, and several things I've wanted (a frying pan) on amazon.com with my swagbucks credit!! 

Swagbucks is truly, honestly the EASIEST thing ever to use, and IT WORKS.  I have bought into several ways to try to earn a few extra bucks (see my side bar:  Vision Forum affiliate, coupons.com link, Google Adsense) - and honestly, I haven't really earned a dime from any of them - and am seriously considering giving up on them (who needs them??!  Apparently, not my readers! ha!).  But swagbucks WORKS.

If you are interested in signing up for swagbucks and have any questions, feel free to ask me - or sign up and start earning!!  You won't get rich quick - but you could be earning $5-$15 in gift cards or other items per month like I do! 



Conny 

High Hopes

I love Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea, et al.  The dramatic red-headed girl has been a favorite of mine since FOREVER ... and I look forward to introducing her to my Anna (with an "a") because notwithstanding the hair color, the same impetuous, high spirit and well-intended disasters are shared by both girls.  I also love the resilience of both girls.  My Anna is an eternal optimist and doesn't let much bother her too deeply or too long.  I wish I had more of that in me. 

As for me, my own personality seems to dwell more in the gloomier realities of life that Anne of Green Gables fell into but didn't stay in long.  I love the quote when Anne has yet again found herself in an awful, self-inflicted predicament, and she laments to Marilla,

"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes."  Oh, how I relate sometimes ...

Another favorite scene of mine from the movie is when Marilla reprimands Anne for her high hopes and failed attempts - and tells her that those actions usually end in dashed dreams and a "THUD."  But Anne counters,

"I can't help flying up on the wings of anticipation. It's as glorious as soaring through a sunset... almost pays for the thud."

Thuds and disappointments are just part of life, I suppose ... which is why I remain firm in my stand that I am a realist.  My ever optimistic husband and I have a running joke about my skepticism - and while I honestly do trust God, I can't help but be somewhat of a practical person like Anne's Marilla - because God gives us the THUDs in life to help us trust Him more.  People like me apparently need a lot more THUDs than some because our faith must be too small. 

Today I received yet another thud that isn't nearly as funny or amusing as any of Anne of Green Gable's failed attempts at things working out.  It is a THUD never the less.  So, my husband's beloved Buick is stranded in Oklahoma with a dead transmission ... and has been since the end of June when we were there for a wedding.  I had contacted the mechanic last week, and at first he said he thought he'd have the transmission rebuilt by Tuesday of this week (tomorrow).  I kind of downplayed that since we didn't really know when we'd be able to drive back to Tulsa to pick the thing up, so I told him "no hurries." 

Over the weekend, I was talking to my neighbors about our vehicle troubles, and they mentioned they were driving to Texas on Tuesday, which would take them right past Tulsa - and they could just drop Dan off to pick up the car instead of us driving our other vehicle up there, wasting more time, gas, and toll road fees ... which seemed like the IDEAL situation!!  As my neighbors are wonderful Christian people, we both rejoiced that God seemed to be working things out for us ...

Until today, I called the mechanic and he said he'd slated the car to be done by Wednesday because I had told him "no hurries"  and there was NO WAY he'd get it done by tomorrow (Tuesday).  And so, there go the hopes dashed yet again.  Thud.  As a Christian, I have to say and trust that GOD is in the delays ... but as a human being, I am just frustrated.

Proverbs 13:12 says "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:"  Yeah, that about sums it up!   :-/  Of course, I can't forget part 2 of that verse that reminds me, "but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life."  No doubt these verses should be applied to deeper spiritual hopes and blessings fulfilled ... not to an old, dead Buick ... but it gives me a little comfort to know that at least the writer of this verse understood the disappointment of dashed hopes. 

I will hold on to my hope in the Lord - not in mechanics or seemingly happy coincidences - and dwell instead on Romans 12:12:

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer ...

Conny

Kids On the Go ...

 The kids and I hit the road this morning to take Miriam to her 18 month check-up.  Really - 18 months?!  It seems like just yesterday I was taking her to her 8 DAY OLD check-up!!!!   Anyway ... we packed up a few books (of course) and a new CD I was sent to review (more about that soon!!) - and off we went.

 So, I thought Miriam's appointment was at 11:15 a.m. - and we arrived at the pediatrician's office at 11:10.  EARLY for once ... but as per my usual bad luck or poor planning or whatever you want to call it, Miriam's appointment was actually at 11:00 a.m!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Per office policy, if you are 10 minutes late for your appointment, you have to re-schedule and as they had high-need twins coming in at 11:15, there was no room for mercy.  THANKFULLY, the doctor had an opening at 1:00 p.m.  Since we drove 35 miles to see her, we decided to just stay in that town & do some consignment shop browsing ... which was well worth it. 

So, we live in the middle-of-no-where, Missouri.  But at one consignment store, in the boys' section, we found athletic wear from not only THE BEST COLLEGE TEAM on the planet (Tennessee!!!) but also one from the second best (Iowa!) and from various other states - Wisconsin?  Arizona!!?  and Ohio State?!!?  Mabye it is because of the military base near by ... but it sure was interesting to see all these states represented (we only got the TN shirt, btw). 

I also found an umbrella stroller JUST LIKE I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR since FOREVER in the same store where I had my personal baby bedding blessing last fall (follow link to read that story)!  I need to go to that store more often!  

 Miriam had a good check-up aside from the shots and finger pricking.  It wasn't the shots she minded so much, but the cottonball/band-aid combination they put on her finger after her iron/anemia test prick, which made her SO mad ... she was FURIOUS, totally indignant - and she worked and worked until she got that band-aid OFF!  The nurse, afraid Miriam would bleed all over, put another band-aid (minus the offensive cotton ball) on her finger, which only infuriated Miriam that much more!   The nurse said, "well, she won't get that one off - just take it off in the car later.  The bleeding will have stopped by then."  HA. 
Just as soon as she said that, Miriam triumphantly pulled that band-aid right off as if there was no sticky left to it and threw it on the ground.  That's showing her (yikes!!). 

 Other than the band-aids (and there are 2 on her upper leg from the immunizations that we aren't talking about ...), Miriam was a good patient.  Little Miss M is still an average size in the 25th-50th percentiles for weight AND height.  She weighs 23 lbs and 1 ounce.  She is 31 1/2 inches long now.  She fits perfectly into most 18 month size clothes. 
She's just her own little person.  Andrew & Anna were so much alike in that they were both always in the 90th percentiles, and they were both bald for forever (or very blond. so that they seemed bald).  They were both SO SLOW to get teeth too.  Miriam already has 12 teeth and strawberry-blondish hair (SO MANY people have commented, "it almost looks like Miriam has RED HAIR."); her eyes also tend to look green-ish.  A&A both have very, very BLUE eyes. 

Anna was my photographer today ... she took a self-portrait which I think represents her very well:  upside down.  She came into this world breech over ten years ago and has been somewhat  upside down ever since!  ;)  I wouldn't change her though - and love to laugh at with her every day. 

If You Give Miriam a Book ...

We are a "book family" ... I think we ALL love books - some of us more than others.  My husband's love for books goes beyond the norm ... I seriously think he is addicted to collecting.  As a child it was Spiderman comics and because so-called maturity made him store those away, he now seeks out BOOKS at every used book store and Goodwill or thrift store we come across - mostly he likes history books - some theology books - and a few other miscellaneous books that call to him

(but never fiction - the man does NOT read fiction). 

Fiction is more my department - I love historical fiction, some Christian fiction, and mystery/suspense fiction!

Andrew and Anna read a variety of books as well.  Andrew's recently read through a lot of Chuck Black's series:

and Anna has discovered Wanda Brunstetter's Rachel Yoder series.

Apparently Miriam has caught the book bug as well.  I love that she will grab a book, throw it in her play pen, and ask to be put in there with it (and several pairs of shoes because a girls gotta have shoes??!):

 Today she was very content to "read" to herself (because she IS a genius ...ha ha!) for a long time!  I loved peeking at her from a distance - didn't want to disturb this lovely sight:

I know it is quite normal really for a child - especially when she is surrounded by books - to be intrigued by them - to seek out the same ones over and over, but I just never cease to be amazed at what Miriam has already learned from her books.  She knows SO MANY animals and their sounds already ... and we will always associate certain things with certain ones.  For example, a lion and a bear go "ROAR!!!!" but one must also accompany the noise with a tickle to the tummy ... and speaking of tickle, any picture of feet means one must tickle them too and say, "tick-le-tick-le-tick-le-tick-le!"  Most animals make their normal sounds but some of the favorites right now are the turkey "gobble, gobble" - not to be confused with the Canadian geese that go "honk-honk".  Very recently Miriam got a book with birds in it - and particularly the humming bird caught her eye - it doesn't so much have a sound as one must flap one's hands at the wrist as fast as possible.  We must all be quite a sight when we all get to flapping our "wing-hands" like a spastic humming bird!  :) 

The other thing I need to try to get on video more often is Miriam SINGING.  She has already picked up so many tunes - some associated with the books we have like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" is to be sung with a book about Jesus' birth (because of the star over the manger) ... and speaking of that, we have a nice board book with "Away in a Manger" to which Miriam already knows many of the lyrics, her favorite being about the little Lord Jesus "no crying He makes!"  She knows the "itsy bitsy [spider]" and her nightly lullaby, "All the Pretty Little Ponies" (Kenny Loggins version, RETURN TO POOH CORNER which was also Andrew & Anna's lullaby CD).



Life is so much fun with an 18 month old in the house!  I want to remember these days as they are so precious ... and going by SO FAST!!  When the circumstances overwhelm me a little - thinking about my health or our car that is STILL broken down in another state - God reminds me subtly there is still so, so much in life to enjoy and be thankful for:  my family ... and of course, BOOKS!  ;)