Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Well, she is not a baby girl any more, but she is MY baby girl. To celebrate we decided she needed to have a birthday breakfast. So, early this morning we woke her up to treat her to breakfast. Did I mention she is NOT a morning person? LOL!


We were all up and dressed and ready to go. So, we didn't want to wait for her to get dressed. So we took her in her pajamas and had her get in the car where her brothers and sisters were waiting for her.

She really wasn't up to pictures as we sang Happy Birthday to her. I just couldn't figure it out! LOL


She was really tired. Mornings are really not her thing even if it is her birthday!

We finally reached our destination. What better place to have breakfast?!?!


After breakfast her brothers and sisters needed to do some shopping. J, however, needed something besides pajamas to wear. So, Dad took the others "shopping" while I helped J find some new clothes. Doesn't she look cute in her new jeans and shirt!

There is more to celebrate later tonight but for now, Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Big Girls Don't Whine

Today for the first time in a long time I was just grumpy. I had to fight my irritability at every turn. Sometimes I succeeded, others I did not. I have been tired all day and, well, just plain grumpy. When all the kids were in bed and Phillip off to work I decided to catch up on some work on the computer and this just jumped out at me. It is a list of what it means to be a "Big Girl" as opposed to a "Little Girl" from the book titled Big Girls Don't Whine . Today I fought to be a "Big Girl". I hate to confess this about myself but it is true. I was aware of my grumpiness which led to selfishness and fought it all day. For the most part, I succeeded. As I read this I laughed and sighed. I showed qualities of both a Little Girl and a Big Girl today. I think we all know those who struggle with being the "Little Girl" most of the time. If you recognize this to be you, don't despair. There is also a list of what it means to be a Big Girl. Read it and be glad! But, I thought I would pass this along as food for thought for those days that we have to battle our own selfishness, those days that our "Little Girl" battles to come out. I think I will keep this list handy in case "one of those days" creeps up again.

From the book titled, Big Girls Don’t Whine. Here are a few excepts from the book.

The Big Girl knows that her capacity to think is her greatest asset. Mature thinking produces mature living, and of course childish thinking produces childish living. You have only to stop and observe how the children you know think, and you will see the problem.

A Big Girl is consistent in the way she responds. You don’t have to wonder what she will do or say. You don’t have to worry on pins and needles about what kind of mood she will be in. You know what you can count on where a Big Girl is concerned.

That characteristic sets the Big Girl apart from a Little Girl. Unlike the Big Girl, the Little Girl is inconsistent in her responses to life and people. Moodiness, self-absorption, and fragile emotions characterize the Little Girl. As a consequence, one really can’t know what to expect from her-except the unexpected.

Children (little girls) don’t think things through to their natural conclusion. They see only what is immediate.

They don’t think about how their actions will affect others.

They are unable to see more than one side to any situation.

They take things personally. “She hurt my feelings.”

They really like it best when “it’s all about me.”

They are better manipulators than negotiators. They learn early how to manipulate and whom to manipulate.

They like fairy tales where good guys always win, bad guys always lose, and everyone lives happily ever after.

They tire easily and allow fatigue to affect their general attitude and demeanor.

They do not know what is best for them, although they may protest loudly when they fail to get what they want.

Here are some ways to challenge your thinking as a Big Girl in process.

Big girls think things through to their natural conclusion. They see not only the present but the future as well.

Big girls think about how their actions will affect others.

Big girls can see more than one side to any situation.

Big girls don’t take things personally.

Big girls understand that life is never “all about me.”

Big girls are good, fair, and reasonable negotiators.

Big girls may like fairy tales, but they like true stories, too, and are well aware of the difference.

Big girls may tire, but they don’t allow their fatigue to control their general attitude and demeanor.

Big girls know what is best for them and are disciplined enough to go after it.

Big Girls overlook transgressions. They don’t spend a lot of time on the little stuff. They cut each other a lot of slack. Big Girls take the high road.

Other chapters cover: How a Big Girl speaks, Wisdom for Big Girl Wives, Savvy for Big Girl Moms, Freedom for Big Girl friends, Courage for Big Girls facing conflict, Stability for Big Girls in Crisis and Leaving a Godly legacy.

In reality I think it comes down to living by the Spirit or living in the flesh.

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
Galatians:16-18

Easter Morning

Early Easter morning we made Resurrection Rolls. http://blessingsforlife.com/recipes/holidays/resurrectionrolls.htm
These are rolls that tell the story of the burial and resurrection of Christ. You can read more about them at the above link. Basically using cresent rolls, marshmallows, butter, sugar and cinnamon you can celebrate the empty tomb that shows Christ conquering death. The marshmallow (white=purity) represents Christ's body that is annointed with oils (butter) and spices (sugar and cinnamon) in preparation for burial. The cresent roll represents the burial shroud which we surround the marshmallow with completely. We then put them in the oven (the tomb) and pretend it has been 3 days. Here we are EARLY in the morning preparing our rolls.

While waiting "for 3 days" (as the rolls cooked), Phillip read "Peter's First Easter" to the kids.
It was a good thing he read it to them because it makes me cry everytime I read it. The way the author portrays the love Christ had for Peter after Peter denied him is overwhelming. I think it even choked up Phillip a bit. I highly recommend this book.

After removing the rolls (shrouds) from the oven (tomb) we cut the open to see that they were empty. Christ (the marshmallow0 was no longer there. He had risen!
Here R is looking inside to see it is empty.

After breakfast we prepared a few side dishes for our luncheon after worship and headed off. It was the first time in 3 weeks I was able to attend worship and what a wonderful day to be able to return.
After the luncheon we had our egg hunt. While waiting for the hunt to start the boys posed for a picture. It's a little hard to look like tough guys with easter baskets! LOL
AND THEY'RE OFF!


Our egg hunt each year is for our JAM (Jesus and Me) kids. This is from 2yo to 5th graders. This year is C's last year to participate. He is growing up but it is bittersweet.


Next year I will only have one young enough for egg hunting and our JAM ministry. R has a few more years of being a little boy.














Here they are showing off their stash. C, we found out, was not hunting eggs for just himself. His best friend is a year older and no longer able to hunt eggs so C volunteered to get some for him! LOL


Shortly after the egg hunt I needed to go home. But, we did make one short stop for a family picture. It was cold and windy but everyone cooperated and there were smiles all around.

All in all it was a fun, meaningful day. As we enjoyed family and friends we tried not to let it all overtake the reason for the day. Our celebration is of Christ and him crucified for our sins. Our celebration is the empty tomb and Christ overcoming death. Our celebration is that He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Resurrection Celebration AKA Easter

Recently I read that Halloween is the most profitable holiday next to Christmas with no other holidays even coming close. Why is this? More and more I see little ones dressed in the costumes of nightmares or little girls dressed very seductively or terrifying slasher movies. It is interesting what a culture chooses to value and what is chooses to ignore.
Tomorrow is the day set aside to remember the Resurrection of our Lord. The day that took all of mankind, who was separated from God by sin, and gave them a way to be reunited to Him. A miracle occurred. Death was conquered. A path was made to God. Hope was restored to a lost world. There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There should be no greater celebration than this day. The day that
"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".
There is no greater love than a man should lay down his life for another. Do you know this love? It can be yours. Our hope does not come from a crucified Savior but from an empty tomb.

Death is conquered. Sin is forgiven. Hope is restored if you believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our joy comes because He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Celebrate with me!

Traditions

Growing up we would always dye boiled eggs for hunting on Easter. These days we don't hunt boiled eggs. But, we still love dying them.
R carfully considers the colors he is going to use.

C being, well, C!

Egg dying is serious business and takes some discussion.

A is my very meticulous one. Can you see how careful she is?

The finished product!

So, you ask. "What do you do with all those boiled eggs?" Well, they will become deviled eggs for our luncheon tomorrow. We cannot let them go to waste and we had to dye eggs!
Why do we not hunt boiled eggs anymore? Well, because of salmonella and other dangers. Funny we never got sick eating these hunted boiled eggs when we were kids. So instead of boiled eggs what do we do? Well, load them up with sugar of course! LOL!


Where was Mom during all of this? Well, Dad, this one's for you!
Praying everyone enjoys the celebration of our Lord's Resurrection tomorrow!

Weekend Adventures

What is so interesting and so funny?



Well, who would have guessed that power washing tables and chairs was a spectator sport? LOL


Phillip was washing tables for our luncheon after our Easter Service on Sunday. My kids are easily amused. But they did not stay spectators for long. Well, at least R didn't.



It is a wonder he didn't come in soaking wet.
Just another exciting weekend at home!

The First Day of Spring

"If spring came but once a century instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous change. " -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Today is the first day of Spring. I have always seen Spring as the miraculous change noted above. Spring brings newness of life to the earth.
My husband says I am a plant. In the winter months I wither. I want to curl up and not move. Anytime the sun breaks through and shines through the windows I am drawn to it. I can be sagging along but walk through a ray of sunshine and be drawn to it like a flower. When spring comes I come alive. I have far more energy and joy just radiates from me. So, I celebrate this first day of Spring even if it is from my bedroom as I recover.
But Spring means more to me than just a superficial newness of life. It is my life's blood as it reminds me of the new life that Christ brought to us all. In Roman's 1:20
it states...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

The seasons speak the Good News of God. It shows the death of so many things in the winter but then in the dawning of Spring it reminds us of how death is overcome. Death is not the end it is simply the step before the newness of life. It is when our true life begins.
So many things come alive in Spring. So many long for spring to come. In Christ we can have the eternal Spring that brings life to all who call on His name as Lord and Savior. So, let us open our eyes to the invisible qualities of God that can be seen in this new season. It is the sun that brings newness of life back to plants. It is the Son that brings newness of life back to me.

Below are a few more spring quotes that I received in my email this morning. I thought I would share them with you.

"Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world."-- Virgil A. Kraft

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."-- Anne Bradstreet
How true this quote is. It is in our struggles and trials that we are able to see the blessings and prosperity that we truly have.

St. Patricks, Chiropractors and Schooling

Today started out well enough. We got up, had breakfast and did some schooling. It felt good to get back to school and the kids were eager to start. It went downhill from there. It was a rough day of trying to get back in the swing of things but we did accomplish some and I am sure tomorrow will be better.
I realized yesterday that some of the pain I am feeling still is not surgical. I am having back pain. As I guard my stomach muscles I seem to be straining my back muscles. Thankfully I have a great Chiropractor and he was able to work on my back withouth causing more pain to my tummy. My back feels better and I am more mobile. Unfortunately, being more mobile encouraged me to be a bit more active. Now I am exhausted. The physical healing is coming along just fine but I can't seem to get my energy level back like I would like. Of course, I do have a wise, loving hubby who keeps reminding me that it has only been 2 weeks since surgery and that I am recovering just as well as I have in the past from surgery. He keeps telling me I just don't remember. Personally, I think I try to forget! LOL
Lastly I realized that St. Patrick's Day is only 6 days away from Easter this year. That seems very strange to me as we discussed Palm Sunday and the cleansing of the Temple leading up to the Resurrection. I struggled with the thought of making green cookies while cutting out palm leaves. Easter is really early this year. I am sure I will adjust.

Watching Movies

Sunday night is quite often movie night for our family. Unfortunately our projector was acting up so we all convened to our bedroom to watch the movie. We have a king-sized bed so this is usually not a problem. However, to protect me from injury as I recover from surgery Phillip told the kids they could only lay on the bed if they laid on his side and left me protected. When I got up to get a drink this is what I saw when I returned.

Now that is love. We have often considered getting a smaller bed but everytime we do we remember that we have 4 kids who love snuggling up with us. And it is times like this that we are grateful to have the king-sized bed. Do they make anything bigger than a king-size??? LOL!

Boredom breeds Creativity

With Mom being down and no school the kids have had to find ways to occupy themselves. As we are a no TV family their creativity comes out. Dominos have been their latest tools for creativity.
Here R shows off his lastest creation.

C has now created his "Tower of Babel 2" You can see version 1 in earlier posts. He is taking a K'Nex class in co-op. On the last day of co-op they are allowed to create whatever they want. He has decided it will be the "Tower of Babel 3". Here is his 2nd version of the tower.


They then moved on to domino tracks, setting up dominos so they will knock each other down. Here is C's creation. Notice how he considered the different heights that needed to be considered so the chain would not be broken.

Here is an architectual design. Notice the stairs and the supports for the wall.

We will be doing some school tomorrow, slowly getting back into the swing of things. I will try to get pictures of the T of B 3 when he makes it. I will be sure so allow free time in the afternoons for more creativity!

Spring Day

It is beautiful outside and the kids decided to go enjoy the sunshine. The boys dug their bikes out of the garage and pumped up the tires.
Here is C showing me his new trick!

The boys love racing and they take it very seriously. Look at those faces.


J took both of our dogs and brushed them and gussied them up with bandanas. Here she and the neighbor kids are being walked by, ah-hem, I mean walking the dogs. LOL!

Makes a Mother Proud

Yesterday I slept most of the day. My children were being very quiet for me. Phillip grabbed the camera and came back with this picture. Don't they look so studious. It makes a mama proud.

As a homeschool mom we all want to show off our kids being such exceptional students. It was good to see. But, since I am a truthful individual I guess you should know the rest of the story. What you are actually witnessing is "screen time" efforts. For every minute they read they are able to get a certain amount of computer, gameboy, game cube etc. time. This really has improved my 2nd graders reading.
Alas, it is an illusion, but one I am willing to exploit! LOL

Emergency Surgery

Last weekend, shortly after our GeTOGether ended I ended up in some pretty severe pain. Phillip took me to the ER and within a few short hours I was in surgery. They had to remove a few inches of my small intestine and sew it back together. A week later I am finally home. I made it home Saturday night. It was a long, rough week, but I am recovering nicely.
This is my 20th surgery. So, needless to say the thought of another surgery was not pleasant to me. Not that it would be to anyone. LOL! However, I did want to share the faithfulness of our Lord through this ordeal.
I don't remember most of the week. I think Wed. was the first I began to be awake more than I was asleep. I had a lot of time to pray and cry out to God. God has proved His faithfulness to me over and over throughout the years so there was no fear or worry there. However as Christians we sometimes wonder what God is doing. Whatever it was, I know it was for my good and the good of His kingsom.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

One thing I do know is that the whole past week and the surgery was no surprise to God. He knew what was coming and in knowing that I began to look for His hand before the surgery. Sure enough, He had already given me what I needed and prepared me for what was to come.

A little background. The Sat. before I ended up in surgery I spoke at our Ladie's Retreat. I spoke on how when we lose our focus on Jesus the storms in life around us become so much bigger than they are. I spoke about how God calls our struggles on this earth "light and momentary". Now, I truly believe this with all of my heart. I believe that our struggles on this earth are light and momentary when compared to what God has planned for us.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Cor 4:17

I know from experience and the lessons God teaches us in His word that when we keep our focus on Jesus the storms of this life seem so much smaller. It is like focusing on a dot on a wall. When you are doing this you do not see the things on the periphery around you very well. But, when you turn away from the dot toward the things around you, you see them so much more clearly. It depends on where your focus is. If your focus is on Jesus and His promises then the storms around you are hard to see. You can't really tell if the are raging or not. But if you turn your eyes off Jesus and turn them toward the storm then the winds and the waves become huge and frightening.

Anyway, even as I was speaking I knew some of the storms in life some of these women were walking through. I felt trite. Nothing was going on in my life right now. I was so worried how hard this must be for those in the midst of the storm to hear. But, I knew it was God's word and His promises but I did ask God, "Do I really believe this? Will I be able to call my next storm light and momentary when I am in the midst of it?"
Well, be careful what you ask for! LOL!
As I went through this last week I remembered asking God these questions. I then realized that Yes! I did believe what I was preaching and Yes! I did see this as light and momentary. Did I just smile and whistle through this trial. No. I cried, I hurt, I missed my family. I am human. But when it all came down, I trusted my God.
He was so faithful to get me through this time, but as I had learned on Sat. in a devotional, he not only got me through it but provided abundantly for me before it happened to prepare me and grow me in Him. He removed my small doubts about how I trusted Him and allowed me to experience Him and his provision once again.
He also had given me one more thing. At our ladie's retreat during praise and worship I heard a song I had not heard before. It said everything that I believed but was questioning. He reminded me of that song on Fri. morning while I was having my quiet time with him and I looked it up on God tube and listened. I cried through the whole song as it spoke every word I believe and how God has faithfully brought me to the peaceful place of trust through the many trials I have endured. So here, listen and praise God that His faithfulness endures forever.
I can thank Him for this trial and the suffering that not only I, but my family endured. I can call it light and momentary. Nothing that happens to me changes who I am in Christ. In this I rejoice. Rejoice with me.

Sunday Brunch 3-2-08

Early the next morning Dody, Kat, Becca and Corrine showed up to prepare for our brunch and praise and worship. Here is part of the spread. It looked fabulous. I didn’t do any of this. These women are amazing!


At 10am the rest of the gang arrived.

Time to eat!

Here Dody is pointing out the different fruits. We had Pineapple brought in from Hawaii and oranges straight from Florida. We also had a wonderful coffee blend from Hawaii that Mel was gracious to leave with me to enjoy later!

This was some of the most wonderfully sweet and juicy pineapple I have ever had! Don’t believe me? Ask Kat!

Here are just a few pictures of some of the ladies. There are so many others but can you see those smiles! What joy it was to have this time together.



This beautiful plant was sent to me a few days earlier and was presented to me to say thanks for offering my home. What these ladies don’t realize is that I needed no thanks at all. I was so blessed to have them in my home and would do it again in a heartbeat! But thank you for the beautiful plant. I will cherish it always.

After brunch we all settled down for a time to praise and worship our King, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the common bond that made all of this possible. Here we were able to have a small taste of Heaven.

Nothing more beautiful than a woman praising God

Praying together

Kat lead our devotional. What an awesome reminder of how our Lord provides for our every need. Not just enough, but abundantly!

After our devotional time we were able to surprise Dody with gifts we had been working on for sometime behind her back! There is no way we could thank her enough for blessing us as she has all these years but we tried!
Here she is receiving her new GPS so she will not get lost in her new role as a REAL-tor!

The "Bless Dody's Socks Off" Scrapbook is presented by Marsha. Thank you so much Marsha and Tami for all your hard work on this beautiful keepsake! Don't you just love the cover!

Finally her is the quilt that was lovingly put together by Laurie and Corrine. Doesn't God so beautifully gift each of us for different things! It was made with fabrics that were sent in by all the ladies. Each scrap signified something that represented them and their relationship with Dody.

After it was all said and done we decided we wanted a group picture. My husband graciously offered to take the picture. How do you get a good shot of 30 women all standing on your stairway????? Take lots of shots!!! Phillip did and here are a couple of the best ones!


With all those women in the house the boys decided they would find a quiet place to hideout. Here is where their dad found them and how they decided to occupy their time. LOL!


We finally had to say good-bye. It was a bittersweet time. The first night I “met” all these ladies it was really surreal. I was meeting strangers I had known for years. By the time we said good-bye I tearfully waved good-bye to dear friends. They were no longer familiar strangers, but sisters to me. Sisters made that way through the common bond of Christ.

The GeTOGether!!! 3/1/08

Earlier I blogged about an event that happened last weekend called a GeTOGether. This was a gathering of 30 women who have known each other for several years but have never met. “How is this?, you ask. It is all thanks to the internet. We all belong to a homeschool yahoo loop. We have shared over the years about our homeschooling trials and joys. But, we have also shared each others lives. We have prayed with each other and for each other. We have shared each others struggles and joys. We have welcomed new babies, cried at family losses, vented our frustrations, encouraged during difficult times, and laughed through the good times. So last Saturday night I got to meet some of my dearest friends for the first time. Here we all are......
FAMILIAR STANGERS

Notice how we realize who each other is. We all have name tags and as we read the tags we are finally able to put faces to the names we have known for so long.



Some of the ladies have become so dear to us as we shared trials together. Here I meet Marsha. Marsha who my family prayed for, for months. Marsha who I would weep for and encourage as she walked through one of life’s most difficult trials, losing a loved one. I called many of you to pray for her and her family and you faithfully prayed. Meeting her in person was more joy than a heart could bear and you see it spill over in our tears.


Here I get to meet our illustrious leader Dody, the woman who started it all when she gathered some friends together for mutual support through our homeschooling journey.

Dody is moving on to the next adventure God has planned for her so she has handed down the reigns to Mel.
Here I am meeting Mel!

We all went to eat and enjoyed getting to know each other better. (Or should I say, getting to know each others faces better! LOL)
After dinner we went back to the hotel where they were staying and just shared information and lots of laughter!



Lots of pictures were taken. But one picture we really wanted was a group picture of our moderating team. Our moderating team are those ladies who help Dody run the list on a rotating basis. Here we are in all our glory.
Guinever, Gilda, Cathy, Mel, Dody, Becca, Marsha and Laurie

After lots of laughs, sharing and pictures it was time for me to head home. After all, they would all be at my house in the morning!

Mrs. Baird’s Bakery 2-19-08

Today we traveled to Ft. Worth for a tour of Mrs. Baird’s Bakery with our Homeschool Co-op.

Trying to get everyone accounted for and carpooled took a little bit of effort.

So did getting directions to everyone and explaining how we would get there.


Here is A taking pictures for the Yearbook.

Here is another picture of A. I just liked this one!

When we got there we were excorted into a room for instructions. We also were “dressed” for the occasion. We had to put on hair nets and hard hats. The hard hats had ear phones attached ot them so we would be able to hear our tour guide once we were in the factory. The factory was too loud to hear her otherwise.
Aren’t we beautiful? I am sure we are making the designers in Paris jealous! LOL!

We were not allowed to take pictures inside the factory but it really was a fun field trip. It was really fun to see how they mass produced bread, hamburger buns etc. After the tour they took us back to our little room and fed us fresh baked bread with butter. They took an entire loaf and cut it in forths, buttered it and handed it to us. It was fabulous!

After we left the factory the moms went to a bread store right next to the factory. This is what the kids did.

All in all it was a great day. Fun field trip, fun with friends and a learning opportunity all at once!

After Valentine’s Day Surprises 2-17-08

Life has been so busy for us that we didn't do much for our Anniversary or for Valentine's Day. This will not do for Phillip. A few days after Valentine's Day he hit a 75%off sale and this is what I got!

He loves to make me laugh and smile and this definitely did the trick. The dog is on his knees and sings "Only You" while walking towards me on his knees. His lower lip even quivers as it sings! Unfortunately he brought me the chocolates too. They were great but I made sure to share with the kids as much as I could until they were gone! LOL

Here we are in a Valentine's Picture. Notice Taco. She didn't like the Valentine's Dog at all!