One Thousand Gifts # 1-11

1. Healthy children
2. Safety, protection
3. Eager, praying children
4. Soothing music filling the home
5. Cozy house on a chilly day
6. Answered prayers
7. Rosy cheeks
8. Hard working husband
9. November calendar filling up 
10. Sweet brothers love for their itty bitty sissy
11. Bright autumn colors on trees

Saying good-bye to a difficult month of October.  
It was exhausting with many things begging to be paid, bought or "coming up".  It was a difficult month emotionally with the bb bullet hitting our window twice, because of the what-ifs that filled our minds.  It was a tough month with lots of attitudes, disobedience and privileges taken away from little boys.  The more people in our family- the more chaotic and stress-filled our home has become.
Today I am saying good-bye to all that and hello to the excitement and activities for the month of November.   
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and I'm anxious to celebrate this most precious time with my children.  I pray that I have learned to lean on Him during the good and bad days and never lose sight of what I was created for.  

November 2011 Menu- Week 1

I decided that I would challenge myself to making a month long menu and {hopefully} stick with it.  It will definitely be a challenge since we're adding lots of new recipes into our menu plan!  


Week 1- October 31st thru November 6th, 2011


Monday night- Spaghetti and garlic bread 
Tuesday night- Garlic fried rice w/ egg rolls
Wednesday night- Zucchini, black bean and chicken rice skillet and bread
Thursday night- Leftovers
Friday night- Homemade pizza, salad and cheese toast 
Saturday night- TriTip & zucchini skewers with mashed potatoes 
Sunday night- Chili and corn bread


Lunches this week:  Mac and cheese, sandwiches and potato soup
Breakfasts this week: Cinnamon and raisin biscuits, smoothies, waffles
Snacks this week:  Yogurt with granola, apples with pb or caramel, homemade granola bars

Again...

Well, the incident happened.  Again.  We called the cops.  Again.  This time the cop actually took the situation seriously and once looking around our yard, he realized he knew the family at the house.  His wife works with the woman that owns the home.  He decided to go talk with her, assuring us that the Mama is a tough cookie.  We got a phone call a few minutes after the cop left.  He told us that the family did have a bb gun and that its locked up, upstairs and only one of her sons were home.  Hmmmmm..... not buying that one.  The cop continued....that they can't do anything.  We have to install surveillance equipment in order to catch them and then press charges and then the department would issue a warrant for the kid(s) arrest.  The problem is is that that there are a bunch of trees and bushes lining the edge of their property, in their backyard, and from what we can figure, that is where the kids are hiding.  Thankfully, the second bb hit our broken window.  The window for the door will be replaced this week.  A fun $300!  If this happens (Again) next week, to our new window.........  I have no words.

I'm angry.  I'm ticked.  I'm upset.  I'm stressed.  I'm scared for my children's safety.  I'm trying to pray for the family but all I want to do is go hurt them!  (Sorry.... I said it....)  I'm having a hard time with all this.  Sunday afternoon, some people were outside in their backyard hanging out.  I thought, what a shame.  They can hang out in their backyard, all peaceful, on a gorgeous day.  But us?  We're frightened to let our kids play outside.  We didn't purchase the house and not want to use the backyard.  I don't want to invite friends over to play outside.  I don't want do build our playground for the kids anymore.  All I want is for the shootings to stop.  I won't press charges.  I won't bug them ever again.  Just tell me that it'll never happen again and we'll eat the cost for the door.

Not having a great day, week...frankly.... this whole year has been one stress after another and I'm pretty fried.  Some days I think, maybe I'm making a mistake by keeping my kids at home.  The past week I've done just the bare minimum around the house, with school....  If I didn't have kiddos this past week, I think I would have cuddled up in a ball in the bed and not leave.  I don't know what I would be like today if it weren't for my hubbie.  He urged me to leave the house on Saturday.  I went shopping, had breakfast out and just enjoyed being alone.  3 hours of no kiddos.  No seatbelts unbuckling x 4.  No noises but what I wanted to be around.  I took my time.  I looked.  I just sat in the car and read my Bible.  I came home happy and chipper!

Of course, a hour later.... the bb was shot at our door again.  So frustrating.  I'm not being for rational right now.  Such a shame.

Ya know.  There are a LOT worse things in the world than someone shooting bb's into your backyard and hitting your french doors.  I understand that.  BUT when you feel like a prisoner in your home and can't let your kids run free in the backyard for free of someone's eye being shot, it just sucks!  (Excuse the french!)  But it does.

Thanking the Lord for safety again.  The kids were in the house, finishing up lunch.  Thanking the Lord that it happened and hit the broken window...and not anything else.  Begging the Lord for safety, quick resolution for this and ......  peace.

Last Saturday

Last Saturday, Hubbie spent the afternoon outside.  Since we moved in, we've been slowly tackling the very large "to-do" list.  When we purchased the house, we knew we had quite a lot of work to do, but its been slow going.  Life just gets hectic and with everyone need's, it takes a lot for Hubbie to have time to do anything around here.  That afternoon, he was scrubbing the wood around the house in preparation for another coat of paint.  The kids were having a great time outside.  It was such a beautiful day- sunny, breezy and pleasant.  Hubbie had just sent the kids back inside because he was going to begin to use some bleach.  The kids decided to sit at the table and color.  I was at the computer desk in the kitchen and a few seconds after Hubbie shut the door, our window in the french doors popped and began to crack.  It was unreal.  We had no clue what had happened.  I instantly assumed it was some type of temperature change or the glass had already been compromised and something knocked it and it broke.  Then, Hubbie felt the whiz of "another one" beside him and he heard "it" hit the side of the house.  We knew it was SOMEONE and not something.  A neighbor had hit our window and our house with a bb gun pellet.  We immediately called the cops.  That did absolutely NOTHING.  The cop even said that if the neighbor had "weapons" she didn't want to go over there alone.  I am still horrified at that statement.  And this is after the cop sat at the end of the street trying to figure out where our house was.  Again, HORRIFIED at this.  What if we were REALLY IN DANGER?!  Geez!  Anyway, Hubbie hollered out HEY! when the second "bullet" whizzed by him.  We haven't seen anyone out in the backyard since.  We did file a report and the cops labeled it as "vandalism".  Since Saturday, we've been wrestling with helplessness, fear, worry, frustration, anger.... the kids have too.  We can't use the backdoor because it'll take a week for the new glass to be ordered and installed, so we are having to busy ourselves at area parks and lots of walks.  The kids are scared and want to move.  They don't want to play out back.  I'm scared that our "carefree" ways of sending the kids out to play for hours is gone.  I'm scared about "what could have happened"  I'm nervous because when its usually so nice, I leave the back door open ALL DAY LONG and sit baby girl by the door to listen to her brothers playing outside.  We do school on the deck- in front of the door that got hit.

This has definitely been a difficult week.  I've been filled with many emotions.  I've been paralyzed with fear at moments and completely broken and angry that it happened.  I knew I should thank Jesus for protecting our family.  It could have been SO MUCH worse....but I was having such a hard time for thanking Jesus.  I'm ashamed, but its the truth.  When I heard my children start to make comments such as "I'm scared"  or "I don't want to live here"  or "Why would someone want to kill me?" I knew I couldn't do this alone.  I've been praying for protection.  I've been praying for peace.  I've been praying for the neighbors that hit us.  I've been praying for the Lord to use His mighty power to resolve this issue QUICKLY.  I've even been praying that the people would move.  LOL  When the window gets fixed, I won't have the excuse to not allow the kids outside and thats when the testing will really begin.  I realize that my actions and thoughts are silly, but the sin of {fear} is definitely an issue of mine....and this struck deep deep down inside of me.

Please pray with me for the Lord to resolve this issue quickly.

The last few days have rocked my world.  Its sad, really, how it takes something to happen and make me feel helpless- reminds me to fall to my knees and look to Him.  If life is going great, I tend to not pray as fervently as I do when I'm scared and shaken.  I am reminded that I need to be completely dependent on Him.  

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Monday was probably the hardest day.  Hubbie went back to work.  I felt like we were being watched.  Attacked.  I was anxious.  My mind went crazy with "what ifs" and satan was in control of my mind and heart.  My beautiful sister in law sent me this: 

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."               Phil 4:6-7

And I was flooded with emotions as I read this.  I felt like I was in a battle.  I would read it, try to recite it to myself and pray that verse and a verse that I've read and heard a 1000x -I would forget it.  I was completely taken over by anxious thoughts.  I finally wrote the verse down so I could look at it.  I felt like the Lord had used Jana and sent me that verse.  I began to pray that verse aloud.  I began to talk about it with my children.  We read it over and over again as if Jesus was in the room and we were commanding satan to leave.  

Once I was able to get over the initial shock, I was able to sit and think about all that I had to be thankful for, I was overwhelmed with emotions of thankfulness for safety, provisions and answered prayers.  This week I've been completely surrounded by needs of others.  It seems like everyday someone is mentioning someone that is definitely in need or that has it "worse" off than me.  Again, seeing that He is indeed good even when I don't understand why things happen.    I think I sometimes have false securities- my husband has a job, live in a good part of town, car is in good condition, food on the table, health, etc. so I begin to quite depending on Him.  

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!  How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; And in simple faith to plunge me ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease; Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end.

Weekly Menu Plan- Week of October 24th, 2011

Sunday evening- Leftover chili with chips

Monday evening-  Leftover stew with biscuits

Tuesday evening- Debbie's Casserole with biscuits

Wednesday evening-  Breakfast (eggs, bacon and biscuits)

Thursday evening-  Shepherds pie with biscuits

Friday evening-  Homemade pizza with cheese garlic bread and salad

Saturday evening- Leftover shepherds pie


Can't believe October is almost over!  My kids are SO excited that Halloween is next week!  Hubbie and I were bad tonight and opened the Halloween candy and stole a few pieces!  Yum!!  Since its the end of the month I'm trying to be creative and use what we have in our pantry/freezer (which is a lot of frozen beef in our freezer).  I did pick up some chicken at Publix since our local farm chicken's are dwindling down to maybe one that we're saving for chicken and dumplings.  Maybe I'll add a chicken stir fry with some rice instead of one of the beef meals!  (That sounds yummy!)We'll see what the week brings!  Breakfasts this week will be pumpkin muffins, cereal and perhaps some cinnamon rolls or baked oatmeal next weekend.  Lunches will be sandwiches, mummy dogs, Annie's mac and cheese and perhaps some homemade pizza (since our family can never have TOO many pizza meals!)

*Please be in prayer for our family.  Something super scary happened on Saturday.  Most of the people that read the blog also follow me on FB and I really don't feel like re-living it or telling anyone about it right now, but I'm just paralyzed with fear and anxiousness and worry.  Trying to give it to God and be thankful that no one was hurt but I'm scared to death its going to happen again.  Please just say a prayer that the situation would be resolved quickly and that God would remove all fear, anxiousness and worry from our hearts.  Thank you.  

Annual Apple Picking Trip- Sept 2011

Long time ago (1992), my family moved to Georgia and we joined a homeschool group.  I don't remember doing too much with them or any of us kids clicking with the other kiddos.  It was kind of an odd group and I don't think we stayed in the group long.  Actually the only thing I remember doing with the group was going with them to Hendersonville, North Carolina.  That was our first time apple picking at Sky Top Orchard (and I think we went to visit Carl Sandburg's home?).  Ever since, we've made it an annual family trip  and have been going every year to pick apples, sightsee and visit downtown Hendersonville.  We've been so many times, I've lost track of how many years we've actually gone.  I know there have been a few that I haven't gone and of course, we can't always coordinate our whole family to go.  This year was one of those years.... my youngest brother and his wife had to make their trip in August and my oldest brother and his family haven't been able to go since 2002, when I was pregnant with Bubbie.  Its never quite the same without my oldest brother running the hills and my youngest brother trying to do tricks with the apple picking wagons (which you aren't suppose to ride in!).  My parents and our family were able to coordinate our schedules and we went on a beautiful weekend in September.  The weather was perfect-  cool, breezy and sunny!  We've gone many-a-years when its been WARM! and its just not as nice when you're sweating!  The orchard has grown SO much since 1992 when we first went.  Its always funny to meet people that have gone to Sky Top for years like we have!

This year we stayed in a hotel while my parents stayed in a cabin.  The hotel was new and very nice!  We "splurged".  The kids were able to have the living room and Hubbie, baby and I were able to watch t.v., shower and eat without disturbing them.  

We went up to NC in the afternoon and had hoped to get to Carl Sandburg's home before they closed.  This was Millie's first car trip and can I just say that I'm glad it was only a 3 hr drive!  About half way up to NC, we had to stop and do potty breaks and get Hubbie a cup of coffee.  We ended up being stopped for a hour while feeding and changing sweet one.  :o)  We got up to Carl Sandburg's home and enjoyed our nice walk around the grounds.  We explored, saw the goats and took pictures.  

Then we headed to town to eat at (the kid's favorite) Hot Dog World!  I'm not a HUGE fan of it, but the kids love it!  Nana and Pops' surprised us on their way to an art class( my parent's other "home" is Flat Rock!) and the kids were tickled!  After dinner, we stopped for gas, coffee and some desserts from Starbucks.  Our next day was going to be a long one and an early wake up call, so we got everyone down to sleep at our normal bed times and we slept good!

The next morning we woke up, ate breakfast, got ready and headed to the orchard to pick!  On our way a young gal hit the back of our car.  Believe me when I say, God was so good and protected us during our travels.  There were so many "close calls" during our trip.  The girl behind us was stopped and then took her foot off the break and bumped into us.  Thankfully, we never saw any damage and the kids were fine!  GOD WAS GOOD!  The next hour was spent fighting the young girl for her insurance information, then waiting on the cops and then finding out the cops that were called were the WRONG cops, so we had to wait for other ones!  All this time, my parents were at the orchard waiting for us!  ARGH!  We were going to be on time and it was so cool and pretty that morning!  I was so bummed!  The kids were annoyed that we were sitting in the parking lot and Hubbie was TICKED! that the girl was being so stubborn.  The girl was SO upset that we would even ask for her insurance information but I was not about to leave NC and something be wrong with us or the car.  FINALLY, everything was resolved with the cops and we all went on our way.  The rest of the day was spent at the orchard.  We picked apples, ate yummy apple donuts, played, took pictures and enjoyed the view.  The orchard is on top of a mountain and the view is just gorgeous!   You can't go to the mountains and deny God's existence.  The colors and beauty of His creation is just so evident.  I love it!  And ever since we've been home, I keep wanting to go BACK.  It was just so beautiful and peaceful.  We ended up eating a picnic lunch at the orchard and heading back home.  We took the "long scenic" route home and it was a wonderful end to the trip.

The big boys did a great job on our trip and were wonderful on the car ride.  We've learned that Baby Girl does NOT like "long car trips", wind or being COLD!!  I was reminded on this trip why I don't like trips with babies!!  Just not easy at ALL!  But we made lots of good memories and I am so thankful that prayers were answered for a healthy and safe trip!

We also came home with two huge bags of apples!  We've been enjoying them with our lunches or as snacks with peanut butter.  I've made a few apple pies, apple sauce and Hubbie tried an apple bar recipe from Southern Living that was DELICIOUS!

We had barely gotten in the car for the ride back home and the kids already began to plan for next year's trip!  Peanut is anxious to pet his friend's- the goats- and Bubbie really wants to go back to Hot Dog World and try Yogurt World.  :o)

LIFE and thoughts

You know how you'll be reading a blog and someone will say "too busy to blog because I'm living life"?  Yeah, I don't really like people saying that, because to me, its not necessarily true...Its like everything, we make a choice what to do with our time.  You make the decision to shower, watch that T.V. program, read that article in a magazine, take a walk, decorate, sew, clean your bathroom, read a book to your children, talk on the phone with a friend/family member, etc.  Everyday we make a choice what to do with our time.  Some people  have more "free" time than others, but we're all accountable to the Lord for what we do with our time..... so, having said all that, I've been in a blogging slump.  Yes, busy as well, but not TOO busy to blog.  Usually, when I have a blogging slump, I try to take a break and not think about doing it at all, but you know, I rarely ever just NOT want to blog.  I like it too much.  I love having something that you can go back and look at- years, months later.  The kids love looking at the pictures that I post.  Bubbie can read what I write and laughs at the silly things that I've recorded.  Its just something that I make time for..... but lately, I decide to do something else instead of spending the time to blog and I get annoyed with how long it takes to download pics, etc.....

Life has been hectic since home-schooling activities have started.  I have a love-hate relationship with our schedule.  I love that we're doing new things, meeting people and making memories.  I hate that we are gone almost every morning of the week which is really coming in the way of consistency with our schooling.  I took off last week because I just couldn't get organized and pumped about schooling.  I think I'm drained as a mother and a teacher.  This week has been the same......so in one way, I love that we have the ability to just not do school and regroup, but in another way I hate that we're not staying on top of things.... the longer we aren't in the books, the more time we're losing the ground we've covered.  I'm definitely not worried about our attendance or not finishing our books.  We're way ahead and I know we'll have PLENTY of cold, rainy and yucky winter days to catch back up.  But anyway, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving.  We'll be finished with a few of our activities until February and we'll still have a few more things that won't be finished until December.  I'm thinking schooling consistency will become a bit easier and Millie won't be eating as frequently then either(I'm assuming!!).

We are in a season of a lot of training- more than normal it feels.  A couple of the boys are having heart issues.  Its draining to constantly be on top of them- training, talking, encouraging, disciplining.  I'm so tired of this season.  I feel like I'm going a bit crazy, because one second, I'm extremely happy and proud of my children for their behavior and the next moment, all heck breaks loose and I'm just falling on my face praying that the Lord would end this QUICKLY.  I know that the boys behavior is a result of heart issues and if allowed to control, the result is sinning.  I pray the Lord would give Hubbie and myself wisdom in the words we use and knowing how to help our boys realize whats going on as so that we can nip this quickly.

My boys have been obsessed with Despicable Me.  The past month we've rotated between Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me.  They love reciting the movie and copying dance moves from the movies.  They crack us up.  These movies are usually our go-tos during rainy days!

Millie is 15 weeks old.  She is such a joy.  It still feels surreal to have her here.  Wonder when I'll finally stop being so googly-eyed?!  Its just such a dream.  She loves to smile and laughs so sweet and girly when we tickle her.  She doesn't want to be held like a baby.  She MUST sit straight up and wants to watch what is going on.  She still hasn't rolled over and doesn't show any desire to do so.  The boys were so eager to roll and move around... not her.  She had gotten in a wonderful schedule before we went to the mountains and ever since we got home, its been horrible.  No consistency.  I think we messed her up.  ARGH  Her poor little head is covered in cradle cap (crap).  Such a bummer.  But guess what, with boys, you have nothing to cover it up, but with girls.... you have BOWS!!!

I've been trying to organize the kids winter clothes which is so hard because we have four children, each with limited storage space and the good 'ole Georgia weather can't decide whether it needs to be Fall or Summer!  What do I keep out?  What do I wash?  Where do I put it all once its washed, but not needed?  Do we have coats, sweaters, pants, shoes, socks for four kiddos?  Oh and once I get done with the kids {which might take a month at the rate I'm going} I gotta get Hubbie back in the attic for our clothing.

Somewhere between nursing, housework, chores, laundry, schooling, errands, cooking and schooling activities- I need to find time to sew Millie's Halloween dress and find pieces for Peanut's costume.  Peanut has changed his mind 3x.  I'm hoping he's finally settled on a character!

I've been doing a ton of research the past month about different items that I would like to buy.  First one is coconut oil.  It sounds like its an awesome, natural healing and cooking tool.  Of course, it has a bad rap, saying it causes heart issues, etc. but its amazing the health properties this stuff has.  Expensive?  Yes, but the more I see what it can be used for, I'm so psyched about it.  Also, sucanant, oh my gracious, have you ever read about white sugar?  I mean, I knew sugar wasn't the greatest for you, etc. but not until I started reading about how they process it.  Oh my gosh!  They take all the nutrition OUT of sugar and soak it numerous times until its colorless......  AND then for brown sugar, they add molasses BACK in?  Craziness!  What started my research on sugar was Truvia... trying to see what exactly this plant was, health benefits, etc. and I came across sucanant which was actually the sugar our ancestors used.  I really hate how everything that is affordable in our grocery stores is junk.  Its all processed or changed in some way.  I don't understand why food can't just be left alone and available naturally.  UGH!  We buy organic butter and real yogurt, non-homogenized, local milk, eggs that came out of chickens earlier that day and beef and chicken that live in a local farm and not treated with antibiotics and are allowed to eat what God intended them to.  I struggle with how much we can afford and where we draw the line.  The longer we stay in this house, the more my heart aches for land and room to have animals and be able to depend on the land more than the grocery store.

We are actually talking about getting some chickens and a dog.... I posted on Facebook the other day that we're seriously talking about it because four kids isn't enough to handle.  I'm insane.  Hubbie wants to have a cow one day as well.... I read an article about guineas being wonderful for getting rid of ticks and fleas.  Wouldn't that be fun to have those running around out back?!  LOL  We won't have a yard, but a poop field!  Not good!

I'm desperately trying to find a way for us to survive in a small home.  God is teaching about being content.  And its hard.  Especially while you're trying to teach your children about it at the same time.  God has a sense of humor, huh?  We have to get really creative and I'm just not sure I'm creative enough for it to work.  We're debating about bunk beds, built ins, switching rooms around, getting rid of more furniture...what can we live without, what do we need?  Our plan is to stay in this house for at least a year and a half and either rent it out as an investment property or sell it and find a forever home, so I hate to make any dramatic changes, but at the same time, we want this to be home.  It really hasn't started to feel LIKE home yet.  For some reason, its taking me a while.  Maybe because I wasn't star struck with it.  It wasn't an emotional buy. We knew it was a place that served a purpose and that it would be a stepping stone.  While it serves a reminder of how good the Lord is and what He can do when you allow Him to work, I am anxious to move on and not have to struggle with spacing issues and conflicts of what to keep and what needs to go.  But, like I said, the Lord works in mysterious ways and while one of our children struggles with materialism and the heart issue of greed, He is also working on me and my "i-wants" and reminding me that He is sufficient for ME.

We finally, after a year of attending the church, made a commitment to "join".  We have been tithing to the church since starting to go regularly, but because of the move and the baby, we haven't really gotten involved.  Hubbie is trying out for the worship team and I have committed to the "Muffin Ministry".  I have to make 6 dozen muffins one Sunday morning a month!  Holy Moly!  I didn't know it was QUITE that many when I signed up, but its something that I can do and doesn't need childcare or involve me looking after children.  We are also starting to talk about joining a small group.  We loved our small group at our last church.  The people were so precious to us and definitely made the church a home for us.  Having to go through that awkward stage I think has me a bit hesitant again.... kinda like having a baby- you know the work, but you know the outcome, so you do it again?  I know getting involved will be well worth it, but having to feel awkward and getting to know everyone and being concerned if you'll fit in with this group or not.....  just has me a bit anxious.  Why can't it be like it was when you grew up- you wake up, go to Sunday School, go to church and do extras as they come along?!  :o)  Plus, some have childcare, some do not... having to deal with being gone later than we like in the evenings, Millie being extra fussy at nights and already having such a packed schedule this Fall.....  just really depending on God to lead us to which group and when we go.

What I do know, even though I've been rambling my thoughts and worries and concerns.....God is good.  He can overcome any "issues" we face and struggle with.  He is almighty and everlasting.  He is the same- yesterday, today and forever.  My God is the author of History and we were created for a purpose- to glorify Him.  Our verse for memory work this week is "Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me"  I love the Keith Green song that continues "Cast me not away from they presence O Lord.  Take not the Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation"  So powerful.  No matter what our day to day struggles are, I pray the Lord would capture my children's hearts and this be a prayer for their lives.  Everything else doesn't matter if my children don't love the Lord.

Weekly Menu Plan- Week of October 16th

Sunday evening-  Out/ Moe's
Monday evening-  Veggie Soup with corn bread
Tuesday evening-  Leftover soup with corn bread and salad
Wednesday evening- Pancakes
Thursday evening- Eggs, bacon and biscuits
Friday evening- Pizza Pasta with garlic toast
Saturday evening- Spaghetti with salad and garlic toast

Weekly Menu Plan- October 9th, 2011

Sunday Lunch-  Middle Class beans(leftover from last weeks menu) and brown rice
Sunday Dinner-  Chicken and Wild Rice Soup w/ corn bread

Monday Lunch-  Daddy off- Happy Columbus Day- Leftover soup and bread
Monday Dinner-  Homemade pizza

Tuesday Lunch-  Ham Sandwiches, chips and apple slices w/ almond butter
Tuesday Dinner-  Beef stew w/ biscuits

Wednesday Lunch-  Leftover soup for Mom; Grilled cheese and halloween mix for the kids
Wednesday Dinner-  Leftover stew and biscuits

Thursday Lunch-  Mummy dogs, pretzels and carrot sticks
Thursday Dinner-  Pancakes, bacon and homemade apple sauce

Friday Lunch-   Daddy off- Field trip w/ co-op- Wraps, chips and apple slices w/ almond butter
Friday Dinner-  Granny's spaghetti, salad and garlic toast

Saturday Lunch-  Not sure-Lots of things going on that day- maybe sandwiches on our way out the door
Saturday Dinner-  Hamburgers on the grill, oven fries and baked beans

Hope everyone has a happy week!  

Hubbie is off Monday so that is always a special treat to have Daddy home.  Sadly, I cannot talk Bubbie into missing co-op on Monday!  He loves his lego class TOO much!  They are programming bats with computers, so I guess I can't blame him!  :o)  AND its suppose to rain all week, so maybe a cozy Monday at home is just what we need!  

Then Friday we have a co-op field trip!  The kids are super excited and Daddy is taking the day off to go with us!  Yay!  

Three Months of Pure Bliss

When I was young, I prayed to the Lord that I wouldn't have a little girl.  I fought with my Mom all the time.  I thought she hadn't a CLUE about how I felt and thought she was out to make me miserable.  It didn't take me very long, after becoming a Mommy myself, to realize that I had been terribly wrong and began to see myself becoming like my Mother.

Fast forward six years and pregnant with number four, having three beautiful and healthy sons, my heart longed for a little girl.  Up til then, I hadn't longed or prayed or really wanted one and I don't think I had ever prayed for anything so hard in my life.  My heart ached for a little girl and I asked the Lord to change my heart if it wasn't His desire for me to have my own.  In the middle of February, I heard the words "Its a girl" from the ultrasound tech and I have never been the same since.  My world since then has been turned upside with bows and smocked dresses and having dreams of tea parties, girlie giggles and dolls.  I long for the day that we can read about Laura Ingalls and Elsie Dinsmore.  I hope and pray for her to have a sweet, teachable spirit and I plead with my Heavenly Father to protect her from harm and to always keep her close to Him.

The last three months have been pure bliss but not without hardship.  Newborns are a constant reminder that your life is not your own.  Much like pregnancy, but a much louder way.  Sometimes when the house is quiet and the older kiddos are being obedient and resting, I hear a little baby sigh or whimper and I forget...she's here!  Sometimes I catch myself saying "sweet boy" to my precious and beautiful daughter and I have to remind myself, I have a little girl.  I never thought I'd have the amazing opportunity to have my very own little girl.  She doesn't make me a better mom or fulfill my life in a way that my boys never did, but she does make me want to be a better mom, for her {and her brothers} and she did get enroll me in the "I have a daughter" club which is still absolutely surreal.

Having boys is grand.  I still chuckle and shake my head at all their {poop, doo-doo, and ding ding} talk.  God prepared me for a life of little boys by having brothers, especially a little brother that was always stinky, dirty and loud.

God graciously answered my prayer to have a daughter- to take joy in all things girly and to experience life in a new way, through a new set of eyes.  I become a mother, for the fourth time, three months ago.  My life will never be the same.  To me, Millie-girl, is the most beautiful little one in the world.  She is the luckiest little girl in the world... she has three doting brothers.  They bring blankets, toys and burp cloths.  They find her hairbows and insist they be put on.  They beg to hold and cuddle her.  They get tickled that she smiles at them.

Not only does our Millie-girl have three brothers, but she also has a father that lights up her face.  If she hears her daddy, she bats her long, dark eyelashes and stares him down until he turns his head and pays her some attention.  He, of course, does and talks with her about day.  Such precious moments are had when the older kiddos are in bed and the little one, her Daddy and I sit down on the couch and soak up this amazing little creature.  She smiles at her Daddy and the picture brings tears to my eyes.  It was a match made in Heaven.

Someone asked if I see Hubbie treating Millie differently than he did the boys.  I gotta say, Hubbie does not.  He is tender and loving to all his babies.  He rocks them.  He has the "baby magic" and is able to rock them to sleep easily.  He is calming.  Mama doesn't have the touch.  Daddy does.  I am anxious {but not TOO anxious} to see their relationship grow.  My relationship with my Daddy was{ is }special.  I am so grateful for my father's wisdom and guidance.  For his ability to calm the girlie drama goings on and was always there for a hug.  Sometimes I wondered if his job was to make me smile, because he usually always could....even through the tears and my DRAMA.  And the special father-daughter dates.  Memories.  And because of these memories, I am so thankful that my darling husband will be able to make his own memories with his own little girl.

Millie-girl is three months.  She has great neck support.  She follows people in the room.  Loves to smile and flirt with her eyes.  She nurses great.  She sleeps all night.  She loves to be rocked and enjoys swinging.  Her brother, Peanut, is always able to calm her down by talking to her.  He says "don't cry sweet girl" over and over again in the cutest little cartoon character voice and its just precious.  She is in 0-3, 3 mos and a few 3-6 mos clothing.  She is so long and reminds me of her brothers- long torso and long legs.  Her eyes are turning a bit- dark brown with a hint of green or a hazel-y color.  Kinda like her Mama.  She does not like to be cold.  She doesn't see her doc for another well baby visit for another month.  She enjoys all the sounds outside.  She will listen intently to the music from the birds and nature.  She spent the morning with Nana yesterday and did OK.  She is still quite attached to her Mama and isn't on a feeding schedule.  But, she did smile at her Nana before we left, even though she had cried a while for food, so obviously she wasn't too upset!  She met her Nana's Mama, Granny, just a few weeks ago and we were able to get a 4 generation picture.  {Sigh}  Precious memories of tea parties with Granny came flooding back and I wished to make time stand still and dreamed of my sweet Millie getting to do that with her great grandmothers.

Sweetest Millie girl.  We love you more than words could say.  Like your brothers, you are a dream come true, a prayer answered and a reminder of how much we don't deserve anything, but that our God is gracious and loving.  We pray for you daily and are so thankful that you are in our lives.  Keep growing, making us smile and our heart skip a beat.                                         Your Mama

Our Millie ~ 13 weeks old

Happy 13 weeks old to the happiest and prettiest baby, our Millie-girl!  

We love you!

{Come back tomorrow for her three month blog post!}

Weekly Menu Plan- October 2nd, 2011

Happy October!   

Georgia received a treat to welcome in the month of October.... cool weather and its fabulous!  Its actually COLD at times!  And its suppose to stay all week!  Yay!  Bring on sweaters, jeans, longalls for the little boys, tights/baby legs for sweet girl and best of all, soups and stews!  I hope it stays this way!

Here is what we'll be eating this week:

Sunday-  Southwest Batter Bake

Monday-  Leftovers;  Lu at MNO

Tuesday-  Middle Class Beans and Rice

Wednesday-  Upside Down Pizza and fruit (will post recipe later)

Thursday-  Chicken Pot Pie

Friday-  Homemade Pizza on Whole Wheat Wraps (will post recipe of wraps later)

Saturday- Chicken Spaghetti