Review Opportunity (Mothers of Small Children)

I am soon going to be reviewing Kidlok products here ... and the folks I am working with (a new company, just starting out) asked if I knew any more mommy bloggers who would like to help spread the word about these products by trying some of them out.

#1 Daddy - used for double door refrigerators, inside/outside door security with a handle lever on the inside, wrapping electrical cords and some cabinet knob and handle configurations. Price: $2.00 per piece + shipping & handling #2 Mommy - used for smaller double door refrigerator handles, inside/outside door security with a knob inside, cabinet knob and handle security. Price: $2.00 per piece + shipping & handling #3 Brother - used for cabinets with knobs that have a post and some cabinets with handles. Price: $1.00 per piece + shipping & handling #4 Sister - used for cabinets with knobs without post. Price: $1.00 per piece + shipping & handling #5 Baby - used for cabinets with knobs and entertainment centers with reduced space between knobs. Price: $1.00 per piece + shipping & handling

Interested?

Leave me your name & an email address (or blog address) so the company can contact you!

Conny

Hodge Podge Wednesday

Because I am desperately looking for aNyThInG to distract me from having to start WORKING today, I am going to try this - looks like fun:




Wednesday, August 31, 2011
1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or are we just more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?
I married an Army officer in 1992 ... In 1993 he was slated to deploy to Somalia.  I watched him gather his newly issued gear in desert camo, go through getting all kinds of shots (malaria, etc) as a preventative, and lived without him as he trained in arid eastern Washington State (Yakima) for the mission.  These were the days of "Black Hawk Down" and such ... However, on my birthday the end of November, President Clinton announced that he was pulling all US troops out of Somalia - and all of my husband's preparations halted. Later when we were stationed in Germany in the late 1990s, we watched troops rotate in and out of Bosnia.  I've always been very aware that the world is a "dangerous place".
After September 11, 2001, my husband did go to Iraq to work in a Combat Support Hospital (C*S*H) from February 2003 until February 2004.  Yes, this year changed our lives drastically ... but I will also say for the better because we realized during that year what the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS in life were! 


2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?
I'm sure I thought they were too strict at the time ... but really, I had a lot of freedom.  I mean, I had curfews and rules, but we didn't have much money so I wasn't going much of anywhere anyway (except for school and church activities or with friends) - but my parents let me get my drivers license at age 16 - and my grandparents bought me (albeit an old and UGLY) car, so I was driving all over pretty soon.  I will say I was expected to ACT right and responsibility - and that is what I feared most:  getting in trouble for my behavior!   I knew my parents had HIGH expectations of me in that area, and I didn't want to let them down (they also had plenty of "spies" who watched each other's kids and told on them!!). 

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.

I am very guilt- and obligation-driven.  There are plenty of things I don't feel like doing - but I do them because I am SUPPOSED TO (and of course, I am usually happy that I got up the gumption to do them after it is over) ... but for the most part, if I have to go to a school or church function, I'm always relieved when I *finally* get back home where I am most secure and happy!!  :)   I'm a TRUE HOME BODY INTROVERT!! 

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?

I am definitely TOO COMPLICATED.  I blame hormones! :)

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?

I balk at stadium/carnival food prices, so I don't eat much of it - but I do like kettle corn (somehow I feel like I get more for my money!) and funnel cakes because I feel like you can share one and both get enough.

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which do you think would be the scariest?

We live in kind of a "Tornado Alley" along the Missouri I-44 Corridor (120 miles east of Joplin).  I can think of 2 incidences when a tornado touched down in our area, doing damage.

Hurricanes:  Floyd - Sept 1999 - we were stationed in Newport News, VA ... We saw the devatation afterwards; many houses were flooded/damaged.  Our apartment's ceiling leaked as water flooded in through the upstairs neighbor's fire place and soaked into our ceiling.  Thankfully, that was as bad as it got for us.  Ironically, we lived on a "hurricane evacuation route," and it flooded so badly that my husband had to take a "long cut" to get home after work (he was "Mission Essential Personnel" at an Army hospital, so he had to be there during the storm). 

Earthquake:  while stationed in Washington State in the early 1990s ... but I never  actually felt it though it was definitely a significant one according to reports.

I think the tornadoes are the most scary - somehow they seem the least predictable as to where they'll finally touch down.  Hurricanes can be foretold and people can evacuate.  Earthquakes are probably scary - but unless buildings are crashing down and the earth is swallowing people up, it's just shaky ground.  ??!

 7. Labor day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores. If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?
I'm not sure I had chores like on a formal chore chart, but I was always one who liked my room "just so".  I helped with the yard too - mainly because I liked it; sometimes, my dad would ask us to help him w/ chores outside.  I think I got a random allowance, but I can't remember that either - must not have been significant. 

My kids do have routine chores they know we expect them to do ... I too give them random allowances ... usually I just tell them if they like sleeping in their bed or eating dinner at our house, THAT is their "pay"!  :)  I do understand my 10 and 13 year olds don't have much of an opportunity to earn money to buy the extra things they would like to have, so I do give them a few dollars occasionally, when I can & when I remember. 

8. Insert your own random thought here
I am such a night owl ... I wish it were more socially acceptable to be one!  I hate that I feel guilty when I don't really get started on my days until late morning - when it seems EVERYONE ELSE is already half way through their chores and to-do list!  However, I do keep working until later into the evening/night than them, I think!!  ;)  Thankfully, I stay home (and work from home) so NO ONE really needs to know my non-typical schedule.  :)  I love that aspect of my life!!  I've even got my baby to go to bed later but to SLEEP IN !!  :) 

Thankfully, my husband is a morning person, and he takes care of getting our older 2 kids to school (and we do a lot of prep the night before).  They are - usually - always glad to see me though when I crawl out of bed to say good-bye to them before they leave the house at some ungodly, pre-dawn hour !!  :) 

The one regret I do have is that my husband usually crashes early in the evening when I'm at my peek of wanting to do things and talk ... and I'm a zombie early in the morning when he's ready to go somewhere or talk.  We have to find other times to re-connect - usually on weekends - and during the school year, our time together is so limited anyway.  Oh, and traveling together isn't always easy either because he wants to leave at the earliest hour possible, preferably before the sun is up ... and I'm still staggering around, packing last-minute things, drinking my coffee, and grumbling until much later!  :)

Daybook 8/29/2011

FOR TODAY


Outside my window...
A glorious 71 degrees! 

I am thinking...
about several people & families who are hurting and have serious needs right now:
~baby Lilah (who I've asked prayer for in the last few weeks) is facing some plastic surgery on Tuesday to close up her back (she has spina bifida).
~Dan's dad may be facing open heart surgery (valve replacement) - medical tests tomorrow will determine what & when ...
~another marriage of someone we love seems to be headed for divorce :(
~a pregnant teen we know
~another teen who is in boarding school as a "last-ditch effort"
(P.S.  for fun, I looked up the origin of the phrase "last-ditch effort" and it is a militry term that means the last defense effort)

I am thankful...
for God's plan for my life, revealed one step at a time, not years in advance as I'd prefer it to be!

In the kitchen...
my first attempts at menu planning ... making a list of my family's favorite (simple) week day meals (what are yours?)

I am wearing...
a dress I got at Goodwill ... empire waisted, made of tshirt material - almost as comfy as a nightgown!

I am creating...
order in my home - slowly but surely.  Last week I cleaned out our utility room and the pantry shelves.  Upcoming:  the master bedroom closet - but I need hubby's help on this.  Last time I did this I threw out his 1988 Olympics (from Korea) tshirt and he wasn't happy. 

I am going...
to take my husband for a doctor appointment today - he's been having some gastrointestinal issues - nothing serious but he's probably at that age where one needs to get a colonoscopy and such ...

I am wondering...
what God is up to!  I don't always understand things happening to and around me ... but I don't have to.  He's in control, and He knows what is best. 

I am reading...
Psalms (still puttering through my Bible at my own pace - love the Psalms especially in this season of my life)

I am hoping...
to get organized SOME DAY SOON ... to feel like I'm back in control over the clutter, the budget, my health, etc.

I am looking forward to...
The Labor Day Holiday weekend - hoping I can talk my husband into doing something FUN that does not involve going to the same places we always go (in other words, his parents' house!)

I am hearing...
Miriam rambling to herself as plays here in the living room and lecturing our cats "No, kitty.  No, ma'am!"   Bossy little thing!

Around the house...
stacks of paperwork that need to be conquered:  mostly payroll stuff and accounts payable for the school/church intersparced with mail, magazines, coupons, and things I want to sort/organize.

I am pondering...
how to tackle all I want to do ... financially and physically.  I would LOVE to redecorate my 1988 bathroom by painting the cabinet and walls - but I've never attempted anything like this!  I also would LOVE to replace our toilets as they are both horribly inefficient and leaky and gross and old - I've researched it and I think Dan and I could do it if we can scrape up the money for new ones. 

One of my favorite things...
hearing Miriam sing, watching her "color", following her thinking processes as she lines up her toys or imitates me (with the phone or by pointing the remote at the tv or throwing away things in the trash)

A few plans for the rest of the week:
might check out the baby music class my kids' piano teacher offers at the library tomorrow
Wednesday is church - the last week before we start directing the Patch the Pirate Club children's program again for the rest of the school year
Thursday I am working at school in the lunch room and later at the office.  Miriam LOVES to be around the school kids and some have joked that she should just enroll in the K-4 program since she knows her ABCs and can count to 10.  :)

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
1st day of school 2011:

Linking up with Simple Woman's Book

A Nigh-Perfect Weekend!

So, the school year is now underway!

Relaxing weekends won't always be happening as obligations set in; however, THIS weekend was the kind of weekend that I love - love - love and need - need - need.

I love going at my own pace - and I need to re-connect with my family when they spend so much of their days away from me.  Miriam & I are doing just fine so far while everyone else is at school - but we are certainly much happier when our family is complete. 

 

Our lives aren't really that exciting - we are just an ordinary family (although we have talked about this & think we are probably NOT your average American family by any means!!), trying our best to raise our children, do what is right, and spend as much time as possible together.

 

We live a simple life - somewhat out of necessity but any more, just out of a desire to avoid the drama, stress, and busyness of modern "conveniences" and entertainment.  Tonight someone mentioned the VMAs ... and I thought to myself why would this person be interested in the Virginia Military Academy - then I realized it actually meant Video Music Awards.  Sorry, America, I just don't care!

 

Sometimes, I'll admit, I'd love to have something modern like a huge front-loading washer up on a pedestal with a matching dryer that leaves clothes wrinkle-free or a phone that could do about anything or even a GPS - and most of all, I covet a nice minivan!  One where seats fold down and things are stashed easily, and I could take along someone outside just my own family ... but we've made choices in life that these things are just absolutely impossible to attain - and thus, I choose to remain content to be home, happy with what I do have, and try hard to just ignore what all there is "out there" that might lure me into wanting more stuff and experiences.

 

All that said, this is what a perfect weekend looks like to me NOW ...

which is totally opposite of what weekends looked like to me just 5-10 years ago!

 

The family that shops together, drops together!  Or something like that ...

Actually, it was Erma Bombeck that said, "The family that camps together gets cramps together."

Or you could use the spiritual application that states:  "The family that prays together, stays together."

In all cases, the family takes part in something together - and the end result affects each member the same as well.

 

 

Well, for the most part, our family grocery shops together.  It is largely due to the fact that (1) my husband LOVES to grocery shop for some bizarre reason, and (2) he thinks he finds bargains better than I do!  And thus, over the last few years, we have developed a little once to twice monthly routine of going to a near-by town that has a grocery surplus store, a Big Lots, and an Aldi's... oh, and we usually hit up their Goodwill too!  That is the only way we manage to stay remotely within our grocery budget which happens to be a ridiculous $300 a month!  Since starting the "envelope system" that is the amount we determine we could "afford" though I'll be honest and say that often we can't stick to that amount and end up "borrowing" from other envelopes or our slush fund.  

Please, don't tell Dave Ramsey!

This Saturday we also set out to buy some shoes for our girls because their feet seem to get bigger each day?!!   My Anna was given a slew of cute size 7-7 1/2 shoes this past Spring - most in great condition, barely worn - and I thought we were set for her life!!  Or at least the next school year - but alas, we had to purchase SIZE NINE (9) shoes for her on Saturday - and I already shared how I gave her MY old tennis shoes to wear on the first day of school because she had already grown out of a pair of brand new tennis shoes someone else had given her over the summer.

Thankfully, Payless Shoes was offering BOGO 1/2 Off - so Miriam ended up getting some CUTE fall shoes as well.  She also scored a pair of Sketchers tennis shoes (and I wouldn't care about the brand name except that they hold up 100 times better than cheap Walmart shoes) on a 50% off Clearance sale at another shoe store!

 

After all that shopping, we all came home and took a nap (well, except Andrew, I think, he is a boy abounding in ENERGY!).  Anna had spent the night with a friend and was EXHAUSTED.  I took a 3 hour nap - and Miriam took a 4 hour nap <--- which I paid for later because Miriam ended up being awake until after midnight!

After our nap - and a simple dinner - the boys threw the baseball around while we girls just took in the warm summer evening.  Our neighbor's goats had gotten out of their pen (our neighbor is from Nigeria - and he keeps goats for their milk and for an occasional "goat roast" for all his African family and friends) ... Miriam had fun watching them as they ate the grass in our backyard ... guess they think "the grass is always greener" as much as we humans do!

Sundays aren't really a day of rest if you are in the ministry ... my husband goes in to church early to make sure things are set up and cleaned up and to touch base with our pastor in case something came up over the weekend that he needed to know or deal with ...

and my kids go with him - which isn't a great sacrifice as there are donuts and orange juice available for the early comers!!    I'd rather have a few moments of quiet myself and so I opt out of the treats.

Oh, if only I felt like the put-together church member like the lovely lady above.  I feel more like the harried, tired Hausfrau that I am.  After working for Doorposts this summer, I was convicted that I don't really make an effort to make SUNDAY a special day - God's day - a Sabbath.  To do this, one should really prepare the night before ... and sometimes I do, especially when I plan to attend our church's weekly potluck for lunch.  Unfortunately, on Saturday night I did end up with a severe migraine in the evening - and I didn't prepare ANYTHING except some really strong narcotic-like medication for my brain.  I don't like arriving at church feeling discombobulated - it makes me cranky - and that isn't a good way to spend God's Day with God's people.  I can't say I was directly cranky today, but I will admit I tried to avoid the chatty people as much as possible.

I did gain a few reminders and poignant thoughts from the lessons and sermons ... and for that I am thankful!  In Sunday School, we are working through SURRENDER: The Heart God Controls by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I haven't bought it yet - but I think I should ... SURRENDER seems to be a re-occurring theme in my life!  I haven't done it enough or very well ...

Tonight we just had some down time ... the boys went to buy ice cream - and brought me back chocolate chip mint - my FAVORITE!!! :)~  And I won't bore you with any more details of our very simple, very boring life ... but I am thankful for the quiet days ... as my husband often says, "These are the best days."   Our children are still at home - we have enough - we have our health - we have God.

 

Conny

Word of the Day: OLDER

Last week the word was NEW ... today the word is OLDER.  The writing challenge from 5 Minute Friday is to:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

HERE GOES:  OLDER

I turned 40 last November.  Inside my head, I feel like I'm still "young" ... but the mirror tells me I need to keep my appointments with my hair stylist to cover my grays and keep using my Mary Kay age-defying products!

One thing I love about being 40 is that when I feel like I'm still not where I want to be in my life, I can look back and see that I have come VERY far - especially in my relationships.

The first relationship that has grown significantly since I met Him over 30 years ago is my relationship with God!  While I immediately trusted Jesus just about the first time I heard what He had done for me on the Cross and I accepted His offer of eternal life, it took me a long time to understand His character - and in fact, it has only been in the last 5-10 years that I'm finally seeing WHO HE IS - and learning more about Him almost daily.  My perspective of God was based on my own misunderstanding of what preachers were telling me and trying to reconcile that with my own life experiences.  I always knew God was good ... but I never really understood His PERSONAL love and interest in me when there were millions of people He needed to attend to.  Why would He care about the details of my life that in the light of eternity really didn't matter too much ... and yet, He has shown me HE DOES CARE ABOUT ME beyond just saving me!!  I think sometimes I focus too much on how hard things are in life and in this world that I forget to look for God's Hand working because He sees so far beyond what I see.  He is working all things together for good - and HIS glory. 

My relationship with my husband has grown so much deeper as we get OLDER.  I love that we have a comfortable, easy going relationship that is secure.  We both continue to try to work on understanding each other's needs - and in fact, maybe even more so after spending a lot of time self-focused the first few years we were married.  As we approach being married 19 years by the end of this year, I'm thankful for this man I will grow OLD with ... the best IS yet to be ...

I've settled into my parenting as I've gotten OLDER too.  Even though we were "older" when we had our first 2 children (we were married almost 6 years and had struggled with infertility before we had our 1st child), I think I was all about being THE PERFECT parent ... schedules and baby advice books and second guessing myself on everything I did for my babies.  Having had a baby as an "older" mom 20 months ago, I'm a totally different parent now!  I'm mellow, relaxed, enjoying each moment, not sweating the small stuff, letting go of my expectations, and just going with the flow!  Of course, my fondest wish is that all 3 of my children will grow up to serve God - not out of duty or obligation - but from the heart.  God knows my motives in child rearing - and I'm thankful He can work despite my futile efforts to parent which sometimes goes awry and I fail to be the example I want to be.  And yet, being OLDER, I have seen He is faithful ... and I trust He will continue to be. 

It Has Begun

 After a minor morning crisis, our 2 big kids (and my husband) were off for the 1st day of school.  Anna almost had to go shoeless - ha - not really - but the tennis shoes we had been planning for her to wear suddenly DID NOT FIT!  They were too tight, and we were afraid her feet would hurt all day.  SO, I looked in my closet and found a pair of 5 year old tennis shoes of mine that she could wear ... which made me realize how seldom I really wear tennis shoes as they were in almost-new condition!  The other shocking thing to note was that MY shoes almost fit my daughter perfectly!!  :-O

 My husband is ready to get into his teaching routine - he'll be teaching both Anna's (6th grade) and Andrew's (8th grade) History this year as well as Andrew's Junior High Bible and then high school Physical Science. 

While I've been bemoaning the fact that school is starting back already (actually after having an additional week off this summer due to scheduling changes), I had a good "think" this morning about things.  You know what I mean?  Just trying to get a clear perspective on what is good and true and best ... meditating on what is right.  I have to talk myself down occasionally because I tend to be a tad bit negative sometimes. 

So, school starting isn't a bad thing ... even if it means that our so-called carefree days of summer are over, even if it means my kids are growing up, even if it means I lose my 2 favorite helpers for 7+ hours a day.  Time for me to get with the program and get into the new routine!  SCHOOL has BEGUN!  Yeahhh!!  ;)

Bummer.

Tomorrow (OK, it's after midnight - so today - Thursday) is the first day of school for my older 2 children.  Andrew will be starting 8th grade, and Anna will be going into 6th grade.  It truly does seem like they were off to kindergarten just yesterday, and yet so much has changed and happened since then.  I spent many years working in our church and school's office, and then - SURPRISE - I had a baby 20 months ago, and I got to go back home!  For me, the ultimate home body, this has been the biggest blessing ever.  I appreciate my simple, stay-at-home life so much more now - even though sometimes it seems like we get so busy that I am NOT at home as much as I'd like.  I love the flexibility I have right now - I still work a few hours a week for our church and sometimes the school (mostly accounting, but a few other tasks like ordering textbooks); but I generally get to choose when I want to go in to work or drop things off - and the rest I can do from home, in the evenings and late at night when I am at my most productive.  :)  

 Anyway, back to school:  for whatever reasons, just being honest, I am NOT looking forward to school starting.  Somehow this day has just kind of snuck up on me - and I wasn't ready.  I still had things I wanted to do - I feel like we really didn't get a true vacation or restful, peaceful family time this summer (that being our own choice as during our "week off" we had a 3 day working vacation at a home school conference and then went on an ill-fated trip to a wedding in Oklahoma where not only did we have to buy 4 new tires for our car - but later had to abandon it there for 3 weeks for a transmission rebuild!) - and I just am sad in general to let my big kids go back to school when they were such a help and so much entertainment for me (and Miriam) at home!   So, tonight I'm having myself a little pit party ... and then I'll get over it, adjust my attitude, and move on.  "Adapt and Overcome", as my husband likes to recall a saying from his Army days!  :)

Andrew & Anna - however - are TOTALLY excited.  This school is practically home to them as their dad and I have worked there for over 7 years now ... and they have grown up here.  The school supplies have been labeled with their names and are already waiting for them in their lockers - the uniforms are laid out, ready to wear - and in the morning, all they need is their lunch boxes.  While my kids occasionally question why they can't be homeschooled - and no doubt after several mornings of 6 a.m. wake-up calls, it will come up again - they are totally at ease at school; they know their teachers & many of their classmates.  This school has been a huge part of their lives ... and I'm sure they can't imagine it any other way.  I'm thankful for that as I know what it is to move and be "the new kid" at a new school ... but then again, those experiences had their purpose in my life, too.  Everything that touches our lives has a reason.  There is a reason we are here at this school today ... and I'm sure in a few days I will realize that it was good and necessary for this school year to start up again - I will get back into the familiar, busy routine ... but for tonight, just for a few minutes, I'm going to be sad that SUMMER VACATION IS OVER.

Conny

Do Everything for God's Glory!

LIFE:  God's gift to me --- what I do with it is my gift to Him ...

We are to be good stewards of all of God's gifts to us, and we are told to take care of our "temples":

1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's".

 Often drunkeness and other such excesses are preached about in churches, but at least in my experience, gluttony is often overlooked as an excess that is sinful:

Proverbs 23:19-21 says "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags".

Drunkeness, gluttony, and laziness are all warned against in the above verses- and no doubt are all associated to the resulting poverty that comes with a lazy, overindulgent life style.  While I personally don't see myself as a total glutton, I do feel like my inability or unwillingness to sometimes eat what is right (and drink what is right as well - my beverage of choice may not include alcohol but I've been warned enough of the ill effects of my beloved diet coke!) is a sin.  :( 

Does God really care about what we eat/drink?  Well, the Bible does say:

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  I Corinthians 10:31

While the context of the above verse has to do with eating or not eating food sacrificed to idols, the principle might be the same as we can apply today and every day:  WHATEVER we do, we need to be mindful of bringing glory to GOD! 

After my recent wake-up call with a second episode with very high triglyceride levels, I have recently determined to be healthier than ever ... which for me right now means drinking water, eating less processed foods, and being much more aware of what I am putting into my body. 

How's that going?!  Well, right now - after a great start trying to follow a certain diet plan - I am currently a little stagnant.  I don't really think I've had a set-back ... but I am stuck.  I had lost 4 lbs and now I've gained 1-2 lbs back, depending on the day ... and after a crazy few weeks of activities, my older 2 kids being gone (ie me NOT cooking), lots of appointments, and some day and overnight trips away, I am hopeful that with the beginning of our school year this upcoming week and with a new routine settling in that I'll be once again ON TRACK to losing some weight & controling my health. 

My friend's husband was recently diagnosed with high triglycerides as well ... and instead of putting him on the medication I was given (which I have not taken one pill of!!), he was told by his doctor to take FISH OIL supplements.  Because of this recommendation, I've done some internet research on FISH OIL (and Omega-3) and so far I haven't found one negative thing about this supplement. 

Therefore, I am now adding to my daily routine, not just 2 pre-natal vitamins (recommended by my doctor to build my iron levels as I was also severely anemic), but also FISH OIL tablets.  I will get my triglyceride levels tested again in October, and if my levels are not improved at that time, I will consider taking the prescription medication - but until then, I'm going to just continue to work on getting healthier in general.  I have much inspiration to do so; as my doctor told me:  high triglycerides come with the risk of heart attack and stroke - and if I want to see my children grow up, I need to get this under control NOW. 

Thank you for following and encouraging me in my journey to better health ... I wish I had learned (and taken seriously) these principles a long time ago - but as I was talking to my 10 year old today, the sooner we learn to take care of our bodies and to do what is right in general, the easier we will have it later.  I sometimes joke that I want to just die fat & happy ... but I'm rethinking this, and I think I will prefer to die healthy and happy ... at the oldest age possible!  :)  

Conny  

Fall Fashions

Miriam will be 20 months old on Monday ... she's inching closer and closer to age 2!  The "terrific" two's!  With my older two children, I found the three's were way more challenging than the two's - with Miriam, we'll just have to see.  I can't wait ... and yet ...

I don't want my baby to grow up too fast.

One advantage of my baby girl growing is NEW CLOTHES!!  Since I'm no fashionista myself, I enjoy dressing up my girls (well, letting Anna dress herself up; she coordinates outfits so much better than I ever could).

Today I dug out the next rubbermaid tub I have of hand-me-downs and Goodwill/clearance clothes I've been collecting the last year.  When I'm buying these things or being given them, I always think they are just SOOOOOOOO BIG - and then suddenly, here we are - they FIT!

This post is mainly for my memory sake - but I thought I'd share some of my FAVORITE things I came across today:

THIS SWEATER (below)!!!!  It's from Target (clearanced not once but twice - woo hoo - I bought it last Spring) ...

LOVE IT; in fact, I'd love to have this sweater in MY SIZE.

 This cute green and pink dress (with matching bloomers) is also Target clearance.  It is size 24 months, so I'm hopeful Miriam will be able to wear it before it gets too cold.

 I hit up the Walmart clearance as well and got this sundress from there:

 These 2 little Carter's dresses have a magic barb attached to the shoulder which means they are from our local Goodwill ... $1 each.  Can't beat that ... and cute as well:

 The little onesie below is also from Goodwill ... It cracked me up:  "A good daddy is hard to find (but the couch is a good place to start looking)" ... hee hee!!! 

 "Smile if you think I'm cute": 

 And yet another fun tshirt - "Forever Daddy's Girl":

There were a lot more clothes than I remembered.  I always just stuff whatever pieces of clothes I pick up on our Goodwill trips or clearance finds into my rubbermaid container and kind of forget about them ... so I was pleasantly surprised that there are plenty of clothes to get us through the fall and into the winter - way more than I could ever take pictures of!

It seems a little crazy to wrap my head around, but now I'm working on filling up my 3T and beyond container.  I know it isn't just my excellent bargain hunting that gets my kids clothed ... I really have no method to my madness and just grab whatever is inexpensive, cute, or needed ... but GOD provides - what we need ... and sometimes really cute sweaters too!  :) 

Trying Something NEW

Several of my blog friends are participating in the above 5 MINUTE FRIDAY assignment - and as a person who LOVES words, I really want to join in on the fun!

Here's what I'm going to do:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back there and invite others to join in.

Today's word is NEW:

As my almost-20-month old would say:  "Ready ... Go!":

Next week, Thursday, my two oldest kids will be going back to school - a NEW school year:  NEW school supplies, NEW teachers, NEW friends, NEW class mates ...

I always like a fresh start - like a Monday to start a diet or the end of a season to get out the next new season's clothes or the first day of a new month to start on a cleaning-out project ... birthdays mark a NEW year of life .. Things like that. 

NEW also sometimes means change ... Now, that I'm not always so kosher with ... If the change was MY idea, OK ... but if the change is being force on me, it takes me a while.  Sometimes I already establish in my mind that I WILL NOT LIKE IT ... and then I remember what I am always and forever telling my children:  just do it (whatever task you're not liking) joyfully because you HAVE TO DO IT ANYWAY, so you may as well not waste your time being miserable.  Was it Alice in Wonderland who told that smoking catepillar (??? help me, I can't remember the reference!!!) that she gives herself such very good advice but very seldom follows it ...

So, next week things will be NEW and DIFFERENT.  For my older kids, it will mean 6th grade and 8th grade ... for my baby it will mean being home without siblings ... and for me, it will mean adapting to the NEW schedule, the NEW school year, and all the changes that will bring.  And I will like it.  :)



Conny

Prayer Requests:

For those of you who said you'd pray for the couple from our church's baby, Lilah, who was born on Monday, here's an update.
(If you missed it, you can read about this precious baby here.)

Lilah was born with spina bifida - and from what I understand either has 3 or 4 missing or exposed vertebrae.  She has already undergone one surgery very shortly after her birth and has recovered fairly well, although has had some issues with her breathing (the breathing tube was removed but then had to be replaced after she underwent some distress).  She will be facing a second surgical procedure on Friday to put a shunt in her brain to help reduce the fluid on her brain.  This will likely be something she may have for the rest of her life from what I understand.  We are thankful she doesn't have severe hydrocephalus ("water on the brain"). 

At this point, her prognosis is so unpredictable.  I've heard she had some movement in one leg - but also that she apparently had no feeling in her feet when she was prodded with a pin at birth?!  So much could change and happen yet - but one thing we know FOR SURE is that our Great Physician God is in complete control of her present and her future. 

And while you are saying a prayer for Lilah, would you also pray for Ethan, a twin who is facing a bone marrow transplant (?) ... I babysat Ethan's mom (!!) and her brother when I was 16 and 17 years old!  Ethan's mom Sara is the daughter of one of my high school teachers. 

I don't take my healthy children for granted ... and I know God does not favor me any more than He does these 2 families ... He just has different plans for each of us, different trials and growth He wants us to experience.  As mothers (parents) and Christians, we can share the burdens of others and have the privilege of bringing others to our Father's Throne of Grace. 

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  (Hebrews 4:16)

Visiting the Past

150 years ago - August 10,1861 - the Battle of Wilson's Creek was fought near what is now Republic/Springfield, Missouri. 

This battle was called the "Bull Run of the West" - the first Union General died here -

it was a significant battle, and yet, few have heard of it, it seems

(me included until I moved about 80 miles away!).

I wonder if it was as hot then as it was the day the 150th anniversary was celebrated last weekend - and that was even "cooler" temps than it had been the week prior!

Men, wearing wool coats - women wearing up to 7 layers of clothing (including their bloomers, underskirts, and hoop) - we caught a glimpse of what it was like at the reenactment of the battle on

Friday, August 12, 2011.

As the reenactors showed us what the battle was like, we watched, fascinated - and cheered just a little (can't tell you what side because we are somewhat a house divided as Dan is from Iowa & I'm from Tennessee!) ...

Miriam just liked seeing all the "horsey"s - and Anna enjoyed the fancy dresses until she decided it was just too hot - and Andrew, well, apparently, he was a little dehydrated and at the very end, he blacked out for a few seconds; and we needed to get him water and an ice pack, which I happened to have handy for keeping Miriam's milk cold.

Although he and Dan enjoyed "the battle" the most of all of us before that little incident.

 While I enjoyed the reenactment and the quaint little "shops" and mercantiles, my favorite part of the day was meeting Melanie and her family!!  Melanie and I have been bloggy friends for probably about 2+ years (?) now ... before Miriam was born anyway ... and we've found a lot in common:
she's a farmer's wife and I'm a city slicker forced to live far from civilization (ha!);
she home schools and I send my kids to Christian school;
she has 6 kids and I have 3;
she is a good from-scratch baker and cook and I'm just trying to figure
out the basics;
she cheers for the Cyclones and I cheer for the Hawkeyes for my husband's sake ...
but SERIOUSLY, because of THE LORD we really DO have a lot in common!!!  :) 

It was Melanie who told me about the reenactment as her husband found out about the anniversary of Wilson's Creek first ... and since my boys like history, we decided we'd like to come too!  It was great to meet Melanie and her family ... and she found out that I truly, really, honestly am NOT an axe-murderer ... ;)  

We wimped out of the battle in the early afternoon and hit a few of the (air conditioned) book and thrift stores in Springfield and Chick-Fil-A (of course!!) and then drove on to Dan's parents' house where we have left our 2 oldest kids for the week.  I miss them TERRIBLY - and can't wait to get them back on Friday or Saturday of this week just in time to start getting them ready for school to start on August 25. :(  I will miss them even more once they are gone EVERY SINGLE WEEK DAY coming up.   

Melanie's family had many more adventures at the actual battlefield, which was down the road from the reenactment, and while on their Miss-our-ah vacation, which you can read about as well.  Those PEACHES from Osceola look YUMMYYYYYY - I may just have to take another ROAD TRIP soon ...

Singin' in the Rain

 Today was a rainy summer day ... the temperatures hovered in the mid-to-high 60s! It was a refreshing relief after all those hot days past.  Unfortunately, we had to get out and do some things to get ready for the school year, but once we got home, Miriam decided she wanted to play in the rain.  I was happy to let her as it beats having to give her a bath - ha!!  :)

 Our house has a long front porch that runs the length of it, and I can put a baby gate in the entry and let Miriam have her own outdoor "play room".  She managed to get SOAKING WET but had a great time!  I enjoyed having the front door open and letting the house air out, giving the air conditioner a break. 

After playing such a long time, we got dried off, put on jammies, and took a cozy nap on the couch.  Now we're "hunkered down" for the evening ... waiting for Dan to get off work, missing the 2 older kids who are with their grandparents for the week, enjoying the evening of just being HOME.  

Jesus Loves the Little Children

If you are a mom ... or even just a person with a heart for children and people and God ... there surely is that place deep inside you that cries out when it knows a child or a baby is hurting - a voice that calls up to God to beg His mercy for the little ones who are sick or abused or lost. 

Since I've become a mother, I can no longer watch commercials for "Feed the Children" or look at too much material from St. Jude's Children's Hospital, for which our school does a fundraiser, alternating with the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.  I absolutely can not imagine what having a terminally ill child would be like, and while I know God doesn't give you grace until you need it sometimes, I still just have this fear or dread of cancers and disease and death.  While I know God's grace personally because God gave it to me during one of my darkest times when I miscarried our baby at 8 weeks gestation many years ago, I've been fortunate to have 3 healthy children, Miriam being the healthiest by far - and I don't take that for granted because I know it can change at any moment and I know I have done nothing to deserve 3 children who are overall whole and well. 

Today my heart has been heavy for 2 reasons ... one being a prayer request I want to share with all my friends who are Christians.  A couple from our church had their baby today - a baby girl who was born weighing 7 lbs (exactly what Miriam weighed at birth) and with good vital signs ... but who has spina bifida and who has already had a long surgery today and faces another one on Friday to have a stunt (?) placed in her brain to relieve the fluid that is in her precious, perfect head.  While I don't know this couple very closely, they are people I see pretty much every Sunday and Wednesday - I know their other 3 children from working in the nursery and our Wednesday night children's club.  I enjoy listening to them sing special music as their whole family is very gifted in this area. 

Please pray for baby Lilah ... and her parents, grandparents, and all those who love her and hope that she will grow up to be a healthy, happy child.  There are a myriad of ways her recovery could go - from having no complications to being developmentally or physically delayed.  God Himself only knows what the future holds ... but He knows best.

Secondly, this weekend my father-in-law petitioned me to read the book that has been a recent sensation:

Honestly, though I've heard amazing things about this book, I was not going to read yet another "fad, Christian" book just because every preacher on TV was recommending it and the family had been on Oprah ... However, when my burly, somewhat grouchy father-in-law told me he had read the book TWICE and bought 2 copies of it, as well as sent a copy to a waitress he encountered who had fallen into a discussion with him about heaven, God, and was it all really real, I knew I had to read the book.  He gave me one of his copies -and today, I read the entire book in just a hour or two. 

This book starts out with the story of the little boy, who the story revolves around, being very, very ill ... and my stomach and heart churned as I followed along what all his parents had to do to care for him, wondering all along what if it were MY CHILD ... would God's grace be sufficient for me to go through something like this?  Me, who has a horrible, terrible case of emetophobia and whose blood pressure rises astronomically whenever I even see a sign for a hospital - who stood by helpless and clueless even just this weekend when my son temporarily blacked out from heat exhaustion?!  Of course, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT - when I'm weak, HE is strong ... but not even that was the point as I kept reading this boy's amazing story.  I am still processing what I read ... and if you've read the book, maybe you can share with me what you thought ... but I'm inclined to believe this boy's story is FOR REAL.  And even if it isn't, then at least the Gospel is being shared by this boy's preacher-father because it is very, very clearly given. 

And so, tonight, I will try to calm my heart and head and try to sleep ... after all, I do know without a shadow of a doubt that GOD IS REAL ... I know Him personally even though *I* have never seen Him - I'm learning each day to trust Him more - and I know He will be in total control as I relinquish my limited human understanding about the consequences of sin on this earth, the resulting suffering, and little, innocent children who have to go through horrible illnesses and disease.  My final prayer tonight will be for baby Lilah and then thankfulness for my own children - and God's goodness to BOTH of our families in very different circumstances. 

Conny

MiMi Speaks Again

When Miriam was a little baby, I had a silly little feature on my blog where I wrote blog posts in her voice, segments that I called "MiMi Speaks".

Now that Miss M is over 19 months old, she pretty much speaks for herself!  She is a very verbal child, and I am amazed at how much she is "talking" already.

For example, Miriam can say or sing the alphabet (almost); she can count to 10 (not always in order); and she knows the words to many songs such as Away in a Manger, All the Pretty Ponies (a lullaby), and Twinkle, Twinkle ... and her new favorite

EI-EI-O to name a few.

Her daddy has taught her to sing,

"I love you ... I love you ...

That's what Calvary says.

I love you ... I love you ...

I love you,

Written in red." 

It's an odd choice for a kids' song - but it has somehow come about after Miriam learned to say "I love you" coinciding with the song Dan was singing with the church choir.  It is precious to hear Miriam sing and say the words that she has no idea yet can completely change her life some day if she believes them.

Miriam occasionally comes up with phrases - most are a variation of the very first sentence she ever said, which was "No, no, stop it."

She has now added, "Don't do that."  and "No, no, baby." and most recently simply, "No way."  Apparently she enjoys bossing people around ...

She has also learned that most people - and some animals - have names.  The cats get a little confusing as we have Cinder, Ella, and Jack - and they are all black, though of various sizes and locations (Jack is only ever outside; C&E are supposed to stay inside).  Penny is the dog; that's easier.

She knows Ma-ma, Daddy, An-droo, Anna, and Mir-yum.  Apparently she likes the boys too and some of her favorites from church are Jon and Luke - and she has recently been requesting to see their pictures in the yearbooks we have at home.  Gonna have to watch this girl!! 

Foods is fun any more ... and Miriam can request juice (jew-is), milk, coo-kie, cwacker, ball (otherwise known as an orange), apple, banana, etc.  BUT recently we have been enjoying a variety of ICE CREAM to include ice cream sandwiches!  Though she can't say the word yet, she sure can say, "YUMMY!!!"

 And when she's all done eating her ice cream, she also knows exactly what I mean when I say, "Bath!"

Pretty.

 My 2 girls are the TOTAL opposites of me when it comes to bling, fashion, and putting together outfits and accessories.   I sometimes feel at a loss or like a failure becuase Anna so much would love to have a mom who could "do her hair" or help her find the perfect thing to wear ... but I have enough trouble figuring out what to wear myself that isn't too frumpy or outdated - all while fitting into my limited budget. 

However, Anna is coming into her own about figuring out her style and playing with her hair.  Thankfully, we have a WONDERFUL hair therapist who helps us there!!

Today Anna was helping her little sister with her personal style.  She accessorized her with a matching-to-shirt headband and a little pony tail. 

I was tickled that Miriam was so distracted by "brushy-brushy" (brushing her teeth) that she actually left her hair accessories in for a long time.  AND I'm thrilled - after 2 very bald babies to have a baby whose hair can actually be put into a pony tail at this age!  :) 

But pony tail, headband, matching accessories ... or none.  I think both my girls are BEAUTIFUL - inside & out!  :)