Hearts Being Ready

I hope this post makes sense and I do a good job at completing my thoughts.  It isn't meant to criticize, pick on or judge anyone or their path to adoption, etc.  This post hasn't been brought on by any one person or family or incident.  Its not at ALL about those who haven't been able to have biological children.  Totally not trying to open a can of worms.  Its just something I've had in my head and on my heart for at least a year... and my feelings on adoption have been the same since I was 15 yrs old.  Please take this as a page out of my journal..... writing down of thoughts, challenging myself and Hubbie to be willing and ready to hear His calling on our lives.  






While I don't want to wish away my children's lives or these precious moments, my heart is still sad for the fact that we are beginning to get rid of baby items that will no longer be needed in our home.  


We have given all of Millie's itty bitty baby clothes away.  Even the boy's itty bitty baby clothes, up to 18 mos, have been given away, donated or sold.  We need the space.  We can't keep it all.  And why do we need to?  My tubes have been tied.  There is no chance for more children coming from us.  


Millie will be five months on Monday.  FIVE  Can you believe it?  I know I say it every month.  It seriously makes me want to cry.  Knowing that the itty bitty baby-do-nothing-but-sleep-and-cry-and-eat-stage is over.  She is rolling, talking, trying to sit up while laying down, cooing, moving, busy! busy!  And she's just going to keep growing {Lord willing} and achieving all those early milestones.  


Hubbie jokes that Millie will be a big sister.  This made me second guess our decision for getting my tubes tied.  There wasn't a choice really.  It could mean some serious complications if I even thought about NOT having them tied.  Then I remember that Hubbie's heart is where mine is at.  Saddened by the fact that we are done.  Knowing what a blessing to have four has been. 


The stress of having four children has been enormous.  I don't think its necessarily four kids.  Its four kids, these ages, with their quirks and personalities...... things going on.  Its just a lot.  Two babies- in diapers.  One nursing exclusively.  One not being able to talk, learning what he shouldn't and should do, testing the limits constantly.  Two learning.  Four to activities, appointments, etc..  Then you have life and house and stresses and struggles.  Its been a busy year.  


Adoption is what "all the cool" people are doing.  Its so "NOW".  Ten years ago, it wasn't.  Now everyone you know, knows a handful of people who have done it or are going to do it.  I typically don't like to "do" what everyone else is doing it, just because everyone else IS doing it.  Pinterest...I resisted for quite a while.  Facebook....I resisted for quite a while.  Movies, shows, trends, etc.... If its getting "all the rave reviews"....I'd rather sit back and let the fascination with it die down and THEN I'll see/do it.  I want to form my own opinions on things and not get caught up in the hubbub of what everyone is talking about.  Silly?  Perhaps......  But I feel like adoption is one of those "get on the bandwagon things".  Someone says something.  You attend a function.  You hear someone else talk about it.  And all of the sudden, people say "God is calling me to adopt".  I don't think God is necessarily calling everyone TO DO IT.  Now, hear me out....  I do believe that God wants us to minister and serve and be WILLING to adopt, take in/help those less fortunate than ourselves.... but I don't think that means, we MUST adopt and bring a child into our family.  Perhaps being called to adopt means { for my family } that we sponsor one two three four five six children through Compassion Int'l.  Maybe it means helping friends that ARE adopting.  Maybe it means adopting a child that you wouldn't necessarily WANT to adopt... a child with health issues... a child with a really bad upbringing.  Adopting locally.  Another gender than you were originally hoping/looking for.  Or, what about being a foster parent?  Who would want to love on a child and then he/she be ripped from their arms to go back to {perhaps} an iffy situation?!  I believe that God wants our HEARTS to be available for anything that He wants for us to do.  He wants us to be clay in His hands.  He wants us WILLING to be used for His purposes and His glory.  Its scary... being available and open to God's leading.  


My heart was softened and became aware of what adoption can be like when a family from church began to bring in foster children.  I will never EVER forget that morning that several adults in the church started to get phone calls and scurry around the church trying to find out if anyone had a crib and other baby items.  A foster child had been placed.  For the rest of my time at that church, the family ministered and cared for many children in the foster care system.  Some of the cases, that I knew about, were really sad.  They would break your heart.  I still remember the children's names, faces, what they had been through.....but God used one family {family of FIVE} to make an impact on children's lives.  On families lives.  Who knows what their love and sacrifice and being obedient to God's calling did for those children......  Ever since I saw the love and sacrifice that the couple had for children, I always said I wanted to adopt.  I was goo-goo-gaa-gaa over this precious little one that lived with this family for quite a while.  I actually got to take care of him one weekend.  Don't remember how old I was.  But he was a cutie.  Someone else in the church, actually, ended up adopting him, years later.  He was PRECIOUS.  And I wanted a baby JUST like him!  


I believe, deep down, that our family is complete.  I don't think I can handle any more kiddos.  My patience has been MAXED.  Our home hits the all-time-high stress level at times as well.  I do pray, though, that if the Lord wants our family to grow, through adoption or to be foster parents, that He would provide and lead us to that calling.  Or even for our hearts to be willing and softened by a calling to give more to those who need it and minster to those around us. 


We must be willing and ready to answer His calling.  Very scary to ask the Lord what that could mean.  No matter the costs.  We were put on the earth to serve.  To love.  To show God's love.   


What does that mean for me?  My family?  How am I doing at the great commission?   Loving?  Serving?  Not so hot.  At times Majority of the time I become self centered.  Involved in what is going on in my house.  My problems.  My worries.  My plans.  I do know that when I get out of my comfort zone and serve others, I become aware of what God can enable me to do.  Perhaps doing things that I really dislike.  And hate doing.  Yet I know I've obeyed.  I know God can use a simple act of obedience and love to share Christs love with others.


We are in a difficult season.  This season of little ones, schedules, feedings, nap times, schooling, busyness...its a difficult one.  We have plans for our family.  We want the center our lives and the purpose of our lives to be about Him.... but, how much free time do we really have?  I think this might be a season of quietness for me.  Being still.  This won't always be our season to be ministered TO instead of ministering..... maybe when He brings  you to a season of quietness.... of learning and growing.... perhaps He's molding and shaping.....


Someone I know posted this on Facebook yesterday.  Good and very powerful.  Go here to read-   http://bhglobalblog.org/2011/11/27/the-gospel-and-adoption/


I love what is said at the end.... " But adoption is not easy, and children are indeed needy. It’s important to realize, then, that we adopt not because we are rescuers. No, we adopt because we are the rescued. And in this way, the gospel uniquely portrays, compels, and ultimately sustains adoption."

"I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! "                                             Matthew 25:40

We feel challenged and our hearts softened to the needs of so many.  What do we do?  Lord, will you provide?  How much to give?  

During this season of Advent, we need to show our children the love of Christ to those that don't have a warm home, food in their fridge, toys to play with or perhaps, a Mommy and Daddy to read stories with.....  

Help our family add some ministering opportunities to our Advent Calendar this month.  Any ideas?  

This Is It

I passed a school this morning, that was filling up with cars, as parents dropped their children off for the day.  As I waited to be able to pass, I didn't dream of dropping my child off.  I didn't wish I were heading home to three little ones instead of four children.

I realized that God had answered my prayer and given me  the answers.  This is it.  Homeschooling is where we are suppose to be right now.

Days are extremely long.  Very little quiet.  Most days are without a break {very much like a lot of mothers}.  I know that this is where the Lord has called our family to be right now.  It doesn't make the days easier, but it does give me an inner peace....knowing that this is where our family is suppose to be this year.  This time in our life.  This season.

The season that we're in is different from a lot of people around us.  Our daily life might look a tad bit different. We won't always be right here.  Things do change.  God calls us and leads us in new paths.  We wait to see where he leads.

I am grateful for the realization that even though its hard, this is it.

Multitudes on Monday #54- 68

# 54  Thanksgiving holiday 

#55  Warm home on a dreary day 

#56  Quiet schooling time, alone with Bubbie

#57  Storytime with eager boys

#58  Advent season.  Filled with anticipation, excitement, hope and thanksgiving.

#59  Planning our month of advent activities- ways of serving, giving and spending time together

#60  photographs 

#61  My family's love, support, encouragement for me and my family 

#62  Health

#63  Protection

#64  Learning and growing in Him

#65  Prayer

#66  COKE  

#67  Fulfilling my dreams

#68  My Redeemer's love for me 

Schooling: Thanksgiving Around These Parts

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  I really don't know why.  I think it has something to do with loving Fall, going to Papa and Granny's farm, visiting with family in TN, fires, yummy food....memories.

Once a friend asked, if I loved Fall and Thanksgiving so much, why I didn't decorate for it.  I really never have.  I have a few decorations that I've bought along the years at Big Lots, after season sales at Target or Goodwill.  I have several wreaths around the outside of the house.  I really need to find a few more items since I do love this time so much.

This year, on Pinterest, I saw an idea of grabbing some tree branches and decorating them with paper leaves, that have what you are thankful for written on them.  Peanut and I gathered acorns and branches and I bought a {expensive antique } jar to display my centerpiece.  So, beginning of November, we began our activity.  We tried every evening to write down what we were thankful for and tie our leaves to the tree.  We didn't do so hot with this activity.  I think next year I will cut out 6 leaves for everyday AHEAD of time, get a hole ready and cut the string as well.  Some evenings were just TOO crazy to do this.  BUT we did have our prayer time every evening as a family.  We talked about what we were thankful for for each day.  Hubbie and I really enjoyed talking with the kids about what they were thankful for and perhaps something that they wanted to talk to the Lord about.  Some nights we had silly answers, followed by hysterical laughter.  Other nights we had some good "thankfuls" and honest and deep concerns.

Spending the entire month, and focusing on our family being thankful has been good.  It has taught me to put thought it to it... to look for ways to be grateful, even when our days have been filled with arguments, fighting, yelling, screaming, messes and chaos.  We've always come together, at the end of the day, and reminded each other of what we have to be grateful for.  Starting in November, I also started my "1000 Gifts" list, that I am posting every Monday.

When I began to plan for our Thanksgiving school activities I realized a few weeks ago that I had NO books.  Last year I had requested quite a few to borrow from the library.  The sad thing about our library system is that we have NOTHING that I ever want.  Thankfully, we are able to request an inner-library loan, to borrow a book from any library in Georgia, BUT it can sometimes take anywhere from one day to a month, to get the request item.  It makes it VERY difficult to do schooling because you never know how to plan.  So, I decided to look for my favorite Thanksgiving books online and see about purchasing a few.  I had hoped to get a few used.  Sadly, I could only find new books priced higher than I wished to pay or might as well have been new.  I thought I would take a gander at our 2nd and Charles store.  Sadly, they don't have a great system so that you can find books there.  I had to go through EVERY BOOK in three sections of the store to see if I could find the Thanksgiving titles I wanted.  I found three.  Only one of them that I really wanted.  When I got home, I found one children's Thanksgiving book that we already had.  My list is quite large, so maybe over the next year, I can gather the other ones that I am wanting.

We read our Thanksgiving books.  We colored a few pages and wrote what we were thankful for.  Bubbie had a thanksgiving word find and a story/crossword puzzle {he did excellent on it, btw}.  Then we decided to make a our own Mayflower and a thankful turkey!

Our field trip co-op had a Thanksgiving party a few weeks ago, that a gal and I were in charge of.  I was able to get another Mom to help with the craft and she helped us make the cutest Thankful Trees with leaves cut out.  They were the CUTEST thing!  We enjoyed playing outdoors, catching up with friends from the group and playing!  Oh, and don't forget the food!  Everyone made delicious Thanksgiving sides!  We were so thankful for Hubbie to already have the day off {Veterans Day} so that he could join us!


One more quick thing to mention, we found two websites to let Bubbie {and Peanut} explore through and learn.  One was Plimouth Plantation's Exploring the First Thanksgiving which was filled with lots of good tidbits.  The other was Scholastic's The First Thanksgiving  .  Both websites, I thought, had excellent points and many different ways for the kids to learn.  One thing I heard, during an interview, I didn't necessarily agree with.  Many non Christians are going to try to dismiss the early settler's religion and their beliefs. We also google-mapped "Plimouth Plantation" and did other searches online for pictures of the settlement.  I was so thankful to remember most of our trip to Massachusetts and Plimouth Plantation as a kid.  I was able to tell Bubbie about what I could remember.

I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching and learning and remembering this Thanksgiving with our kids.  I pray that as we make decisions and choose learning activities and lessons to teach to our children, that we can always remind them that God is the Author of history.  We want Christ to be the center of our household and learning.  We are so grateful for the blessing and freedom to be able to keep our children at home, to teach them and watch them learn.  Its definitely not an easy or {many-a-days} fun, but the good days outweigh the bad ones.  I am not ready to give up this opportunity to spend so many hours with my kiddos.  No matter how exhausting or frustrating and how few the breaks away from them are, its so worth it when I have the privilege to teach and watch them grow and learn!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!  

It Is Finished

Last Sunday evening, after hours of prepping, planning, talking, worrying, thinking, purchasing, building, cutting, hammering, digging of holes, etc., my handsome and very handy man finished the fence.

At times, the fence building and purchasing got to be overwhelming.  God is good.  And I am so proud of my husband.  His hard work and his handi-man skills were tested.  I am so blessed to have a handsome AND handy husband.

The fence building took two weekends of every spare moment Hubbie had.  He worked late into the dark hours.  The boys were big helpers- bringing nails, fencing, etc.

We have also purchased several tall, quick growing trees at a huge discount {thanks to Nana}.  We've got them lining our deck, in front of our {new} and expensive window.  Its nice to not be able to see them.

All this is great and fine, but we're still praying for several things to happen....  1) the child(ren) who were shooting bb's into our window would feel convicted and either confess or not do it again  2) for the child(ren) who were shooting bb's into our window would become sick and unable to play outside  3) for the owner of the property to get a wonderful job FAR FAR AWAY and have to move....enabling a nice, lovely, young couple to purchase the home, fix it up and NOT own bb guns!  4) for the child(ren) to lose the bb gun/bullets and not have the ability to shoot anything our way

Like I've said, I'm slightly irrational when it comes to my children and their safety.  I really don't care WHAT happens as long as the bb bullets never come flying through our yard again.

I've learned a lot about myself and about God during the last few months.  I also realized that I always thought and wanted to teach my children to trust and respect police men, etc.  That they would also come to protect and serve the community.  While that isn't always necessarily NOT the case, sadly, during this process, we learned that that won't always be the case.  We need to continue to put our trust in God and believe that He is in control of this situation.  God wasn't surprised or shaken to the core because of this situation.  He had (has) it under control.  All I can do it to trust Him.  

Click!

Our life has been so crazy that we just haven't made time for family pictures.  I have been wanting family pictures since Spring.  When I think we can make time for them, something comes up.  Hubbie assures me that this is LIFE and the season that we are in.  The more I believe the truth in that statement, the calmer I am.  But, alas, we still haven't had any.

So, on Saturday as we were leaving the house to run errands, I dressed our family in coordinating colors and clicked a few around the house and yard.  It works for me.  All I want is something to replace the family pictures in frames that we had taken last Fall.  Millie has been with us for almost five months {sniff sniff....sigh} and I need to be adding some pictures of her around the house!

My kiddos are so blessed to have a wonderful father. 

How many more months until this two year old figures out that this isn't the FIRST time we've gone through this?!

Oh gee willikers!  Someone save me!  

Aren't we a "happy" bunch!?  

Our family of six....still hard to believe and unreal to say.  What a blessed year we have had!

Multitude Monday #44 - #53

#44 lazy mornings spent with family

#45 our family focusing the month on being thankful

#46 anticipation of visiting with family

#47 homemade bread baking

#47 our backyard; new fence

#48 carefree boys playing outside 

#49 yummy peppermint mocha coffee

#50 squealing, happy baby 

#51 early Christmas presents 

#52 several weekends of accident and mishap free

#53 fidge and cabinets full

Weekly Menu- Thru the End of the Month

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Psalm 136:1

Since I had a rather LARGE shopping list {thanks to all the fantastic deals at Publix this week} I decided to just go ahead and finish off the month's shopping.  Hopefully we'll be good til next Wednesday!

Its really hard to believe December is just a little over a week away.  How did it happen so fast?!  This year has really flown by.  I'm sure the move and the baby had something to do with that.

We have a fun week planned.  Thankful for no activities, other than a dentist appointment for me and planning to spend time with family!  My grandparents are coming to town this week and he is going to build us a chicken coop.  One step closer to have chickens in our backyard and fresh eggs!

Here is what we'll be eating thru the rest of November.  I'm not with it enough {any more} to put it in order.  Some of these meals will be lunches and/or dinners since Hubbie will have some time off this week.


Meat Loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans and biscuits

Beef and Barley soup {never got to last week} and homemade bread

Breakfast -  Waffles and bacon

 BBQ {mom fix}, cole slaw, beans and corn bread

PW's Turkey Tetrazzini

Roast, rice with gravy and broccoli

Thanksgiving Dinner

Tacos with fixins' and chips

PW's Bow Tie Lasagna with homemade bread

Hope everyone has a blessed, safe and happy Thanksgiving!

You Do What You Gotta....

Around the beginning of September, my dearest husband started 

drooling and dreaming of a most precious item....

What was it you might ask?  

A new Zelda game.  

Yes, my husband is the best.  He does dishes, bathes kiddos, does laundry, errands, reads stories, sweeps the kitchen every night for his anal-retentive wife and tries his hardest to provide and protect.  

Such a servant's heart, I do think.  

The least I could do was to fulfill his wish for a new video game, right?  

Well, I heard how much it was.  $70.  EEK!  You know what I can do with $70?  And a video game?  Another one?  We had issues with video games when we were first married, so I always have a hard time having MORE video games in our house and we {Hubbie and myself} restrict the kiddos video/computer gaming quite a bit.  So, we went back and forth.  

No, you shouldn't. Ok...maybe you can.  No, I don't need it.  

So, then one day, he said, pre-ordering ends on *this* date and after that, the prices goes WAY up.  EEK! My little frugal pocket book didn't like that... I went on an Amazon search to see what this GAME was all about.  I saw that I could get an Amazon credit card and get the price down to $29.97.  

Do what?!  

I ordered it for my darling husband as a surprise.  I planned to get it, hide it and surprise him with it on Christmas morning.  

Two days later, he reminded me again.  The pre-ordering was ending in a few days.  And he asked, "Are you OK with me ordering it?"  

EEK!  What do I do?!  We definitely don't need TWO!  

UGH!  I had to tell him and ruin the surprise!  

But I had one very happy husband!  

Now, the game bundle is released today and in a week I will be hearing stories of Zelda conquering.  

That is, after the dishes and sweeping and child caring is done for the day!  ;o)  

*I do not endorse the use of credit cards.  I did sign up for the Amazon credit card to get the gift card that brought my purchase price down.  We use credit cards very cautiously and only if we have set aside the money in order to pay the item off immediately.  To know why we are so cautious with credit cards, read our story here http://www.hyperactivelu.com/p/living-like-no-one-else.html.  

Multitude Mondays #27 - #43

"And I wonder.....how many moments of my life have my eyes been wide open 
but I've been rushing, racing, sleeping right through?"    


-Ann Voskamp

#27  Encouragement from other Mamas

#28 The joy from helping others

#29 Abundant provisions

#30 Growing, healthy children

#31 New books to be dove into

#32 A sister in law that becomes a sister that was always wanted

#33 Servant-like husband

#34 Childhood memories

#35 A promise of eternal -FOREVER- life 

#36 Talents. Desires. Ability. 

#37 Scripture that brings peace

#38 Growing up in a loving, supportive and God-filled home

#39 Richest & most abundant blessings of warm homes, full bellies & comforts 

#40 Hubbie willing to learn, work hard and accomplish tasks without complaint

#41 Sweet little boy's prayers at the end of the day- filled with thanksgiving

#42 Emotions that bubble up inside of me each time I read Scripture that pricks my heart

"Fear not for I have REDEEMED you.  I have summoned you by name.  You are mine.  Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you."

Isaiah 43 :1b and 4 

#43 God's voice whispers to me of assurance and grace-   I am accepted. I am loved.  I am Redeemed.  I am wanted by HIM.  

~ Weekly Menu Plan ~ November 13 thru 20th

Roast in the crockpot with rice and gravy, green beans and biscuits

Beef and Barley soup {with leftover roast} and homemade bread

Turkey & Wild Rice Soup and homemade bread

Out {after bball practice}

Tacos with steak and peppers and chips with salsa

French Toast Bites with homemade apple sauce and bacon


No particular order for these meals for the week.  I have no inspiration and am only planning meals because I bought ingredients for these meals and we gotta eat!   I'm so thankful for Pinterest since a lot of these recipes were found on it {or on the internet}.

We have another busy week and am anxiously awaiting our break next week from ALL activities and Thanksgiving fun!

Hubbie finished the fence {pics and post coming this week} and I am anticipating lots of free time spent outside running free and not being as fearful of flying bb bullets.  God is good.

Have a great week!

Co-Op: September thru November

Co-op is winding down for the year.  One more morning and we'll be on break until February!  While, at times, stressful and a juggling act, its been a good experience.  Some days I wonder why I bother involving us in things that take so much out of me, but when I see joy on my big kiddos faces, I know we are where we need to be.

Bubbie has enjoyed his classes thoroughly.  At the end of co-op, he chatters all the way from his classroom until we get home.  He has so many exciting stories to tell me from his morning.  I sometimes have to tell him to "Hang on!" so that I can listen to him without him having to share attention.  I don't know if anything has challenged him necessarily, but I think the experience has been good.  I do need to follow up with his teachers to see how well he did in the classes.  The other day on the way home from co-op, he mentioned a story he told one of his teachers in Science.  The story had NOTHING to do with the topic for the day or about Science, so I was curious.  I asked, "Where y'all talking about this or did you just decide to tell  your teacher?" Of course, I knew the answer.  He had just decided to tell her.  I hope he didn't interrupt her.

Peanut has done well in his preschool class.  The lady that is the teacher for it is a former MOPS mom that I was able to get to know while on the steering team.  She is a sweet Mama and we are blessed by her willingness to take on these little kiddos for three hours each co-op morning.  She has done an excellent job organizing crafts and stories to go along with the "theme" of the day.  Peanut loves his teacher and is so thankful she "never yells".  I was scheduled in the preschool room for a hour of my co-op morning, but sometimes Millie doesn't cooperate, so I miss out.  I really enjoy being in there and watching the kiddos learn and being able to spy on Peanut.  I've been impressed with all his skills- writing, cutting, coloring, listening, etc. and he seems to be very patient with the other kids and low key!  Never crazy!!!  He must save his best for his fav teacher!

Buggy!  Buggy!  Buggy!  My loving, yet defiant and always a "NO" guy.  Oh my goodness!  I often wonder why I decide to have my children 21 mos apart.  The "terrible twos" never hit before we have another!  So I am in the midst of a newborn AND terrible twos!  I have always said our 3's have been much worse, but not with Buggy-Boo!  You say "do you want some ice cream" He'll automatically say "No!"  He is loud.  Pouts.  Throws fits.  Only wants to do what his big brothers do.  Yet, in the blink of an eye, he can turn into Mr. Agreeable and be LOVING and obedient.  You just NEVER know.  His attitude lately makes me question all my almost 7 years of being a Mommy.  I feel like a new Mom 24/7 with him lately.  All "ideas" and "creative suggestions" and any kind of "been there, done that" has flown out the wind.  Nothing works with my little man.  So, having said all that, I spend my mornings in the nursery with Buggy and Millie.  Buggy doesn't really have anyone to play with.  The other kiddos in there are much younger.  There isn't much stimulation for him.  I have tried to take him to the playground with Peanut's class so that at least Buggy has time to get some sunshine and energy out.  He has enjoyed that a lot.

Millie is a typical baby!  Some days she is wonderful and sleeps.  Other days she eats the ENTIRE three hours of co-op and I feel like I'm stuck in the chair and no help to anyone!  I've tried keeping her in her seat, a stroller and a sling.  Nothing really changes her moods or appetite!  If she's hungry, sleepy- whatever- you had better fix the problem ASAP!

Co-op has had its stressful moments when trying to get there on time, getting the kids to two separate buildings all while trying to be helpful and sharing the work load, at the same time trying to care for the two smaller children.  I think that was probably the hardest part in the beginning.  Millie being so young and trying to meet her needs at the same time, wanting to be useful for the group.  Once I had talked to several other Mamas and realized that a lot of the mothers with itty bittys were in my same situation, I stopped worrying so much and began to focus on what caring for my little ones and when they were cooperative, lending a hand in the preschool class.

The best part about co-op, for me, is the interaction with other Mamas that have similar beliefs, ideas and way of living.  Most of the Moms have at least 3 kiddos and I would say over half of the group has older children, so there is a lot of encouragement for younger mothers that are barely hanging on a lot of days.  The women that I have met seem very focused on Godly centered lives.  Their speech is uplifting and encouraging. There is no bickering or talking about others.  Everything seems to be very centered on the good of all and seeking His will for our children's education.  I've been very blessed and encouraged and while we look forward to a nice long break, I know by the middle of January, we'll all be anxious for it to start again!

Multitude Monday # 12- 26

12.  A Hard working, passionate, loving and caring man- my husband 
13.  Beautiful Fall weather- leaves changing colors
3.  Silly boys that make us laugh until we cry
14.  Belly laughs from our most precious daughter
15.  Answered prayers
16.  Provisions
17.  Phone calls from grandfather
18.  Prayers of friends and family 
19.  New baby equipment 
20.  Health
21.  Busy calendar with lots of fun activities with friends 
22.  Scripture that provides hope 
23.  Sweet note of adoration from my mother 
24.  Advice from my father
25.  Encouragement of friends 
26.  Excitement over upcoming holidays and birthdays

God is GOOD! always!  

Menu Plan - Week of November 7th, 2011

Monday evening-  Lu- MNO; Boys and Hubbie- leftover chicken pot pie

Tuesday evening-  Chili and corn bread

Wednesday evening-  Leftovers

Thursday evening-  Zucchini, black bean and chicken rice skillet (leftover from last week) with corn bread

Friday evening-  Hot cheesy bean dip with chips and  fruit pizza

Saturday evening-  Sloppy joes with oven fries

Sunday evening-  Breakfast


Have you checked out Food on the Table?  Pretty spiffy!  And its free!  


We have an insanely busy week planned.  Most days are filled with something in the morning and evening!  If you know me well, you know that this drives me batty!  I hate rushing around... it causes chaos and makes the house a mess!  Hubbie has spent the entire weekend building a privacy fence, so to have an incredibly busy week planned after seeing him little during the weekend makes me long for a low key Saturday (which probably won't exist until the new year).  I hope I can keep the menu plan this week because when we are all going in different directions, I start to get lazy and wish I had planned for even simpler ( i.e. frozen pizzas ) meals.

Hope everyone has a good week!  Less than three weeks until Thanksgiving!  Super excited!  

Millie is Four Months

 On November 5th, our Millie turned four months!  The past month has been exciting!  We all have enjoyed watching Millie grow and change!

Millie has begun to roll over- front to back and back to front.  She tried to do it one evening and gave up.  A week later, she did it almost effortlessly and has been a pro ever since.

Millie has found her thumb!  {Hallelujah} As much as I wished upon a star that she would like a pacifier, I'm just as thankful that she has found SOMETHING to comfort her.  She is just the most dainty little creature.

 She is still our most "talkative" baby.  Not sure if all girls "talk" and coo this early, but she is so fun to talk with.  She loves to catch anyone's eyes and smile and make pretty faces at them.  She is just so social.  My boys have never been like this until much later.

She continues to be a hater of cold and I work very hard to make her comfortable!  She has several pairs of babylegs/leg warmers and tights and it is so fun to dress her up!

 Doesn't she sleep so wonderfully peaceful?!  

We celebrated the 1st Halloween with Millie being Little Bo Beep!  She was adorable with her sweet bonnet {handmade by her Great Granny} and enjoyed me holding her while her brothers walked door to door and got treats!  Big Bubba even held Millie's pumpkin basket and got some treats for her {Daddy really}.  I can't wait for Millie to get a big older and her to enjoy dressing up in all things girlie!

Millie is a great nurser.  She went for over a month sleeping through the night.  The last week, she's woken up a few times and had difficulty getting to sleep.  Must be a growth spurt, because she seems insatiable at times....and other times, she'll sleep for a very long stretch during the day and I wake her because I just KNOW she HAS to be starving!!  I have decided to delay the feeding of any type of cereals or juices.  There is a long story to go along with this, but to sum it up, I am enjoying feeding Miss Millie and she is throwing and thriving well on just nursing.  In another month or so, we can look at where we are and see how she is doing.  By six months, I think, we'll probably start introducing "whole" foods.

Millie is already wrapped around her Daddy's finger.  Hubbie is the only person who can rock her to sleep effortlessly.  I call him Baby Ambien.  He's been able to do it with all of our children.  If I couldn't get the kiddos to sleep and they didn't want to sleep, I'd hand them over to Daddy and he always worked his magic.  He has a "special" hold for Miss Millie and she is out within 5 minutes.

Our little one HAS to be sitting straight up.  She has outgrown her bouncer.  She does NOT want to be laying down or reclined.  I plan to set up her saucer soon.  Hopefully that'll keep her entertained through the winter until she starts to sit on her own and crawl!  Oh goodness!  Hard to believe that is the next "step".

Baby girl had her well baby check up and she weighed 13 lbs and 2 oz!  She is now 23 inches.  She is in 3-6 mo clothing.  Some of her 6 mo clothing fits, but not in the waist or the arms.  She has a long torso and average legs but short arms... oh and very petite shoulders.  Millie also made the jump unto size 2 diapers.

This past month she has started to bathe in the bathtub without any baby bath equipment.  I have seen friends put their Bumbo in the bathtub.  Anyone tried this?  Not sure I want my Bumbo all wet and having something else to dry, etc.

Millie hasn't been doing so hot in church on Sundays.  It been a struggle to have a good attitude about going to church on Sundays.  We rush and rush to get to church on time... which is usually 15 mins late.  We get in there and I am able to be apart of worship for a few minutes and before I know it, Millie begins to fidget, so I take her to the cry room and we nurse and rock for the rest of the service.  Sadly, the cry room doesn't have speakers so that I can hear the sermon, so I pray and play on my phone.  Sometimes I can catch a few words of the sermon, but mostly, I feel like I could have stayed at home, listened to worship music and gotten more out of the morning.  I know this is a season, but I'm not doing a Bible study this Fall, so I would really like to hear the sermons and be apart of the worship service.  I don't want my babies in nursery until they get to moving around and aren't able to be "controlled".  I think if I wasn't so fearful of her making noises in church, I would feed her in the auditorium, but she isn't always a quiet eater.  After the last church experience, I'm always so worried, we're upsetting someone or making too much noise or offending anyone by keeping her in there with us.  I'm ultra sensitive to all her noises.  Probably too much so.  I've tried the slings.  With Buggy and Peanut, they would settle down and drift off to sleep for a good part of the service.  Millie only drifts off as long as I'm moving, so once we sit down for the message, she is awake and aware of Mama's milk!

Last week Millie started laughing hysterically when I did.  It was the most precious thing to see her grinning from ear to ear laughing!  She has done this one other time.  We were at Kindermusik and Millie decided she wanted to be held, so I had four children hanging off of me while trying to do the lesson.  Bubbie turned around while I was holding Millie in my lap and smiled at her and said "hello".... she busted out in the loudest and cutest baby laugh!  It was PRECIOUS!

We are so very thankful to have our Millie in our family!  She brings so much joy and girly fun into our family!  She is a constant reminder of answered prayers and a wish come true!  I snuggle her tight and kiss her head and try to soak up as much "baby time" as possible.  I try not to complain when she wakes up in the middle of the night or wishes to nurse AGAIN, because I know this season is short.  Before we know it the Holidays will be upon us and then she'll be doing the "next step" and then the "next" and before we know it, it'll be Spring and her 1st birthday will be around the corner.

Millie,  


You continue to be a dream come true.  The missing piece in our family puzzle.  We all are head over heels in love with you.  I say it every day-  you are the luckiest little girl to have so many people fussing and loving you.  Your personality is starting to show and I am anxious to watch you achieve, dream and live your life to the fullest!  


We love you,  


Mama 

Fortress and Strength

After a few days of running the events of the last two weeks in my head.  Dwelling on them.  Praying continuously.  Thinking.  Way too much thinking.  Could we have done anything differently?  How do we approach these people?  What can I do other than continue to call the cops?  Will we ever be able to play out back again?  Do we move?  Do we go door to door?  Do we build a fence?  Plant trees?  Sell?  Rent the house out?  What do I pray for now that its happened twice?  I stumbled upon this verse......

The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the godly run to Him and are safe.  Proverbs 18:10 

You know what.... I've been thinking I need a tower.  A big stone fence... one that will not be shaken by bb bullets.  One that will defend and protect.  We've also discussed a moat with little boy eating sharks outside of the fence and lots of other silly movie-type protection devices.....  

I feel like God was speaking to me and I am ever so thankful to have a little glimmer of His faithfulness in this situation when I feel so helpless and the situation feels hopeless. 

October 2011

We sure have enjoyed celebrating Fall as a family this year!  The weather has been gorgeous- sunny skies, crisp air and cool weather!  Just the way I LOVE it!  We've gone apple picking, to Carl Sandburg's home, decorated cupcakes, painted our pumpkins, made lots of homemade goodies with pumpkin and apples, a field trip to the dairy with a hayride, corn maize and a wonderful petting zoo and we ended the busy month of October by trick-or-treating!  

This year the kiddos changed their minds quite a bit about the characters that they wanted to be for such a fun night!

  Bubbie originally wanted to be McQueen, but while wandering Target's aisles, he saw Francisco's costume and he was sold!  I really hate store bought costumes... always look cheap, but he was so excited!  I gave in!  

Next was Peanut.  He was going to be Woody, but as Halloween got closer upon us, he changed his mind to Dr. Refario from Despicable Me.  Then he decided he didn't want to do that. Thankfully, I remembered a few dress up costumes in the top of the boy's closet and once I mentioned a fireman, he was sold!  Yay! for using things we already had! 

Then Buggy.!  Oh my!  My wonderfully defiant 2 yr old!  He was going to be Bob the Builder, but I found Peanut's frog costume from last year when we began to unpack all the winter clothing.  Once he saw that, he wanted to wear the costume, so I decided to not fight it!  

Now, for sweet Millie girl.  I have been planning and prepping for making her the sweetest little dress and bow.... but with all the window drama and life.... time just got away from me and I began to value sleep more than a Halloween costume!  Time really has a way of sneaking up on me lately and before I knew it, it was Sunday, before Halloween, and I had nothing for her!  I started to go through her closet and see what she had!  Ah ha! I remembered the sweetest little apricot smocked dress and bonnet that my Granny made for me.  Its just the most precious outfit!  I decided that she could be Little BO Peep, who lost her sheep!  (Too bad I hadn't thought about that sooner...Buggy could have been her sheep!)  Anyway, I dressed her up in tights and the sweetest little shoes!  She was precious and definitely stole the show!  

~ 2011 ~

The year of the Frog, the Race Car, 

the Fireman and Little Bo Peep