4 of 52

 
  ********************52 Weeks*****************
    52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. We are always the ones behind the camera, this is YOUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family. We are glad you are joining this challenge. More importantly your family will really enjoy having you in the picture. Thanks for playing along! Oh, you can just jump in now with 1 of 52, you're not getting off that easy! Now go take a picture!  
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It really is Thanksgiviing!! When else could I actually get a picture of my WHOLE family? It's unbelievable and rare, that's for sure, but I am SO thankful for my wonderful husband, precious daughters and the rest of my amazing family!! Thank you GOD!!!

 

 

What a week....

It's been over a week since I wrote on here, I've been busy HOLDING IVY all week. She's been sick, not really sure what was going on, but we were in the ER on Monday evening due to a super high fever, and didn't make it home til 1 am on Tuesday... talk about setting off the week!! it was CRAZY!! I haven't gone to the ER in a LONG time, and forgot how there are people who use that as their regular doctors office. As for me, I certainly hope I'll never have to go back...

So Miss Priss's fever finally went away about mid day Thursday. I felt guilty for taking her to church on Wednesday night, but she was on antibiotics, so if it was bacterial, it was no longer contagious, and if it was viral, everyone's gonna get it anyway. I never think like that, but I convinced myself it was okay then. Hopefully none of the other kids are sick now...

Last weekend, we had a big family birthday cookout for my little brother and sister, and both my sisters in law. They all had birthdays in February and the first week of March, and usually we all go out to dinner together, but with all the BABIES, it's much tougher to enjoy a meal with ten adults, four kids and three toddlers/babies. It gets a little wild out in public. So instead we all went to Mom & Dad's for grilled chicken and mashed potatoes, salad and birthday cake. It was great :)
It was the first time we'd all gotten together since Thanksgiving. I love family time!!

I don't feel like I accomplished anything this week, I guess because Miss Priss really and truly was in my arms almost all day everyday. It's tough to get things done with sick lil' ones.

I did notice this though... even when we are soooo busy, or preoccupied with other things, God is still able to use us. I found myself in a situation this week that would have required quite an adjustment, and after some prayer and Bible time, I realized it was what God would have me to do. Fortunately for others involved, the circumstances changes, and I'm so happy that God is working in such awesome ways!! I would go into more detail, but it's just not for me to say :)

Either way, I am amazed at the Hand of God... sometimes I think we get to a place where we're so comfortable in our relationship with Him that we sort of back off that true pursuit. It's like we get into a routine, and while that may not be a bad thing, if we aren't expecting God to move, it's sort of like saying, God I'm doing my part here, and I'm just fine with how things are going. I'll keep doing this, and You keep doing that. Instead, maybe we should be begging Him for new opportunities to serve Him, no matter the cost or sacrifice. Sure, there will be times of calm, but we can't be so set in our ways that we miss out on a chance to really let God do His thing thru us. Along the same line, we shouldn't be looking for drama around every corner, because He does provide us with periods of rest, and sometimes, those silent places is where God shines the most.

Getting things done...

Today I woke up at my newly appointed wake up time after going to bed at my newly appointed bedtime last night. I moved my quiet time with God from night to morning (except maybe I'll still do night in addition) since the girls weren't up yet. Then I tackled my kitchen. YAY!! I really feel like I accomplished a lot today. I cleaned off the island in my kitchen, and my hutch, cleaned all the surfaces (which is a typical thing anyway), and piled all of the clutter into one container to sort thru. The FlyLady would be so proud of me :).

Then, I started cooking after the girls got up. First, I made my first ever cornbread in an iron skillet (just like my mama), but I'm kind of afraid to eat it because I think the cornmeal may have been old... no matter, I actually did it!! I must say, I am NOT a cook or baker, it's just not a natural thing for me, but most of what I make is good, so that's something. I had to take a little detour in my kitchen day to go to the doctor (for antibiotics, yucky sinuses), then on to the GROCERY STORE (I finally made it!!). When I got home, Miss Priss went down for a nap, Lady M started on her (delayed) school lesson, and I got busy making 2 HUGE pots of vegetable beef soup, and brownies from SCRATCH for Lady M's valentines party tomorrow!! I need to praise God now so that I don't get too big headed and proud :) I can do nothing good on my own, so He must have been really taking over my hands. The soup is nothing new, I've made it several times before, but the brownies were a first. In fact, they turned out so well, I have another batch in the oven right now as I type this.

Yes, I ran my dishwasher 4 times today... for real.

But I am so glad that my typically random self was able to get so many things done. I even washed all my kitchen rugs without forgetting to actually put the rugs in the running washing machine, AND I didn't forget I had things cooking and burn them... except maybe I didn't stir the soup enough and it was a little burned, but not so much it was ruined.

I am praying God will make tomorrow as FRUITFUL in my home as today has been. It's been great!!

moving on

So yesterday I had the "procedure" and everything went very smoothly. Thanks to those of you who were praying and sending your support via email or comments. Sometimes you don't realize how much people really do care because you get so wrapped up in the "busyness" of life, and you tend to lose touch with your friends and family. But those who really care are always there when you need them, and it's so awesome how God works through those people to show His Love.

Today is Halloween!! Lady M has been on a "school break" for 3 days now (we got ahead of the public school schedule, so I thought it'd be a good time to take a break). I'm hoping to start the festivities early today, instead of waiting around til tonight, but I've got to finish working on her costume. She wore it to the AWANA party at church on Wednesday, and apparently everyone (including the adults) decided to pull at all her "poodle puffs". She was already in a mood because of stressing over me and everything Thursday would hold for her, so she was in tears by the time we left because she thought her costume was destroyed. I assured her I would make sure no one could pull at the puffs and mess anything up by today. After all, the instructions for the costume said to use tons of rubber bands to hold the puffs in place, but I guess that's only if the costume isn't to be touched by curious hands, big or small. So I've poked my fingers about a billion times trying to secure the things with needle and thread. I'm SO not a sewer!! Next year we may just break down and buy a costume... I honestly don't think I've ever bought one! She's always just wanted to be something that I couldn't find a costume I liked well enough to buy. Last year she was Tinkerbell, but she got the costume as part of a birthday gift as "dress up" clothes. In kindergarten she was a black cat (just like I was in k-garten), so we bought ears and a tail, then just put her in a black leotard. SIMPLE!! It was adorable (at least I thought). And the three years before that, she was a princess, which she wanted to use her "dress up" clothes for anyway... So no, I've never actually bought her or Miss Priss a costume for Halloween. I guess that's a real budget saver.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween and if you take your kids out trick-or-treating, PLEASE be careful. I will never forget about the time as a kid when a neighbor of ours backed over her grandchild with her vehicle. If you're out driving, please GO SLOW and watch for the lil ones.... but most of all HAVE FUN! :)

Here's a few of Lady M's costumes over the years, and Miss Priss's first Halloween at the bottom... I'll post their costumes from this year soon...

my billionth attempt

Appropriately titled, because I've started blogs on several other sites before, and for whatever reason, either I stopped writing or they were deleted. I've decided not to give up yet (maybe I should take the hint!! )

Today I was mostly lazy. Lady M and I completed her school work before lunchtime, which is always GREAT! Sometimes she gets too stubborn or is having a bad day and the school day will drag ooooonnn and oooooon, but today was nice. I decided we needed to finish shopping for the ingredients for Lady M's halloween costume (she's gonna be a pink poodle), so we headed down to Hobby Lobby for the finishing touches. Then I went by my mom's house (who happens to be my best friend--- I know, it's strange!) so I could use her sewing machine to make a big floppy bow to attach to Miss Priss's costume. She's going to be an elephant, but the costume is a little unassuming, so I'm adding a bow to the top to make a little "girlier". It's funny that I care because I was SUCH a tomboy as a kid myself, but I want my girl to look like a GIRL!! Unless of course, she wants to dress up like a boy for Halloween, then I'm sure I'd go all out to create the exact opposite effect.

Anyway, I ended up coming home from my Mom's with my very own sewing machine. SO MUCH FUN!! I've always wanted one, but have been so very BAD at my sewing attempts I never thought it would be worth the investment. So today, Mom pulled out a sewing maching that belonged to my grandmother (from whom Lady M got her middle name- Viola), and told me I should take it home because it's just collecting dust at her house (she has her own machine and sewing cabinet). I am so happy--- I can get some fabric and make those little homemade shift dresses and jumpers my mom made that I hated so much and make my kids wear them !! Funny how your thinking changes shift when you're the "maker" and not the "wearer".

But that's about all for the day... Miss Priss just put in her pacifier, grabbed her snuggle bear and climbed on my lap, so it's about time to put the girls down and tackle the mess I didn't clean today.... ugh! Hopefully I'll be able to write again soon!