Good Story

Too Good NOT to Pass On.....

"Fellow members of the congregation where we attend were told that their unborn grandchild had no brain. The parents were urged to abort. They were assured there was no brain, and this child would die once born anyway.They decided that since their doctors' best advice ended with the same heartbreaking scenario no matter what they chose- they were going to be the parents of a dead child- they would prefer to at least have the chance to hold her gently before she left them rather than dismember her, and they continued the pregnancy.Their baby was born on Sunday. She has a clean bill of health, including a full neurological exam and battery of tests which revealed a healthy, normal baby."

God is good!

ht: Kim C.

Cool Puzzle

Last Cool Gift Idea


Okay...last gift to share with you.....I promise! ;-) This was yet another awesome Christmas present we received from my mom. I'm sure it's not new to most of you, but it was to me. I'd never seen this before......not that I didn't think it could be done......just hadn't seen it before.

My mom gathered tons of family pics and made them into a collage using a particular computer program.....probably photo shop or something. I'm sure this wasn't easy; lots of scanning, looking, finding, placing, sorting, and any other "ing" you can think of! Then she uploaded them to this company, and the result? This super cool, memory-filled puzzle. Isn't this the best? How fun is this idea? Mom took years of memories and put them into a fun, family activity! We had a great time talking and reminiscing about all the photos as we put the puzzle together. Do you see me as a little girl? In my red and blue summer outfit? Wasn't I cute? (Say "yes"!)

Once again, Mom, thank you SO much for putting so much time and effort into this gift.....we LOVE it and will treasure it for years to come!

Now, go and make your own family puzzle and send it to someone you love! (You can click on the image for a larger view.)

Special Gift

Another Great Gift

The photo above is another special gift I received this past Christmas that I'd like to share because I think it also makes for a wonderful gift idea. It is a photo of all 16 grandchildren, plus a photo of each family (just the kids) represented. My mom is the one who put all the work into this, but I couldn't help but think what a great gift this would have been for HER.....the grandmother of all these precious kids.

Several months in advance, my mom sent each child a special T-shirt with the number/order in which they were born. Each shirt reads, "I'm # (?) gift to my Grandma and Grandpa. Romans 8:16. Then, our assignment was to take a picture of each kid wearing their shirt, and email it to Mom. It was quite a chore getting all of us to do this in a timely manner, but lo and behold, we got it done, and this was the result.

What makes this so special is that we all live in different states and don't get to watch all the nieces and nephews grow up, so this gift is truly a treasure.

Mom.....you're amazing and I thank you for blessing US with such a meaningful gift. We love and miss you!

Stay tuned for one more awesome gift idea......another from my sweet mom!

My Babies

My Favorite Gift



This past Christmas I was blessed with several VERY special gifts. Most of them were family related, which always make for special gifts. But my favorite was what you see above. My very sweet older two girls, Cheyenne and Celeste, went to great lengths to accomplish this one.

The girls knew I didn't have any recent photos of all the kids......and prior to this.....they had seen that some friends did something similar for their parents. SO......they enlisted the help of several of their friends to make these photos extra special. First, they let Dad in on the surprise by asking him to take me out on a date. While we were out, CJ and Bethany came over to do hair and makeup. Then, Bethany took all the photos......individuals, group shots, everything! They said wind was a problem that day, but the pics turned out beautifully! Then, Chey asked her friend Amy to order all the photos so that I would have NO WAY of knowing what they were up to. Needless to say.....as I opened each individual framed picture.....I was overwhelmed and amazed. They had even framed an ultrasound picture for our baby coming in June. I couldn't believe they did all of this without me knowing a thing. I think the most incredible aspect was that none of the younger ones spilled the beans about the surprise, though the girls said there were a few close calls.

Knowing the girls went to such lengths made this mom feel so loved. My children are such blessings......their thoughtfulness and sweet spirits never cease to amaze me! Thank you girls, for the love and effort you put into this gift. And thank you CJ, Beth, and Amy for your friendship and willingness to help my girls. You're the BEST!

There are a few other gifts I received that were special to me, but would also serve as great gift ideas for anyone. Coming soon......so stay tuned! ;-)

Mama'a Leaving

Mama's Leavin'

Just for the weekend that is. I'm heading to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the WholeHearted Mother Conference. There's much to do before leaving on a trip, even if it's just the weekend. Besides packing for myself and the baby, there are a number if things I do for my family so that things will run more smoothly while I'm gone. My husband will be taking care of five of the kids while I'm away. I'll be taking the baby, of course, but also my 16 yr old daughter, who will be one of the group sitters. Between my very capable husband and my 13 yr old daughter, taking care of five kids won't be too difficult. Nonetheless, I feel better about leaving when I know I've made things as easy as possible for the ones left behind, especially when four of the five are young and require "all hands (and eyes) on deck". So, these are the things I've done in preparation for leaving.

Meals: Both my husband and 13 yr old daughter are wonderful cooks, but again, I want them to be able to focus on the little ones instead of preparing meals all weekend. So, I made three special dinners and put them in the freezer. All they have to do is remember to take them out to thaw and throw them in the oven. I bought bagged salads and breads to easily complete the meals. Lunches are simple too, one of which will be a picnic. Greg is the breakfast man, so he'll make things like oatmeal and pancakes. But there's also plenty of cereal as a back-up. The Friday morning they drop me off, they'll be making a doughnut run for breakfast. Meals will be no-brainers this weekend with little work involved.

Laundry: We usually do 1-2 loads a day. But since I will be gone, I don't want them to have to worry about keeping up with laundry, the girls and I have finished all of the laundry. Everything is put away and ready to go.

Itinerary: Don't laugh at this one! Every time I go out of town, I write out an itinerary for Greg and the kids. We talk about the things they'd like to do and I put it all together for them. It's filled with fun activities and outings. This weekend, they'll be going bowling, picnicing in the park, seeing a movie, going out for ice cream, and having an in-house sleepover complete with a movie and popcorn. They can't WAIT for me to leave. And that's the way I like it! They'll have so much fun, they'll hardly miss me. Knowing that their weekend will be just as special helps me to fully enjoy mine, even IF my husband makes fun of my "schedule" (lovingly, of course). He does appreciate it.....he just giggles whenever I mention an "itinerary". ;-)

So, all that's left to do is pack for myself and the baby. I'm looking forward to a wonderful weekend of fellowship, refreshment, and fun! And doing these few things before I leave ensures that my family is well taken care of and everyone will have a great time! ;-)

Valentine's Day

Be My Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day from our home to yours!

Cheese Grating, Large Family Style

This is a 5 lb. block of cheese cut length wise in half. It's so nice having a wide-mouth tube feeder and cheese grater attachment on our food processor. It takes us all of 10 seconds to grate 5 lbs. of cheese.

After you grate your cheese, store in an air tight container so it's ready to use!

Nice!

Blog Fog

I'm In A Blog Fog

What is that exactly? Well, you know.......you think of something to post, but once you sit down to compose the post, what you thought was a full brain of great thoughts are now but a mere fog! Can you hear my virtual scream??? Yes, my lack of new posts is mainly due to a very foggy (and pregnant) brain. Ohhhh, how I love to blame my plight on pregnancy. It's really my only excuse, you know!

Throughout my day, ideas will fly into my brain and I think, "Cool! I'll blog about this!" But by the time I HAVE the time to sit down and actually blog about it, not only does it not seem as exciting anymore, but I can't even write well enough to MAKE it exciting. Or important. Or funny. You get the picture.

So for now, I may have to rely on old pictures or other people's posts just to keep this blog alive until the dense fog lifts. So, until then......

Ya see? I can't even think of a closing line!

I couldn't have said it better myself........thanks Jess!

Questions to Consider

Have you ever wondered...

*what life would have been like during your growing up years if 1/5th of the population hadn't been aborted?

*if one of those aborted people would have been your best friend? A co-worker? A pastor in the church down the road? A plumber in your community? The Mayor? A special-ed teacher?

*if our economy would be stronger now with 20% more people contributing ideas, work, taxes, and energy, had they not been aborted?

*how the average Nazi lived with the knowledge that millions were dying in their midst, and then stopped to realize that we're no different?

*if we might end up like the aborted nations of Russia and almost every European nation, with dwindling populations and the death of our culture and nation around the corner?

What would happen if every Christian...

*committed to love and serve pregnant women and their children, no matter the circumstance?

*gave sacrificially of their time and money to support crisis pregnancy clinics and stand as a silent protester and potential counselor for those women walking into baby killing centers?

*publicly loved and welcomed even "the least of these" (those deemed less desirable because of handicaps, learning difficulties, or family situation)?

Everyone knows it's a baby. Just like the Germans who could smell the smoke near the killing centers in WWII, the murder of our brothers and sisters is unthinkable and yet undeniable.

As I type this, my ten-month old son is grizzling as he falls asleep... and I can't help but weep as I think of those babies who will never exercise their lungs with a good healthy cry. Those who have their skin seared by salt solution, administered by a doctor who swore to protect life. Those who have their limbs ripped from their tender bodies in the one place they ought to be completely safe and protected. Those who could have grown up to be your friends, or mine... those who could have grown up.

As I type this, I think of my friends who have had abortions... and I hurt for them. I don't want to increase their pain, but even more, I want to stop other women from ever feeling the pain of having had an abortion, if it is at all within my power.

As I type this, I want to cry out, "Oh, Christian women, be a light in your community! Find ways to ACT on behalf of the unborn among us!"

And merciful Father, give each of us a burning passion to see your glory reflected in each and every individual created by Your wise and sovereign hand. Give us a desire to love the unborn and their mothers with the love that You have... love that bears all things, is kind, shares the truth, and never fails. Help us to rejoice over life, in every shape and form!

Oh, that we would view each birth and new life with the joy that John Powell describes as he for the first time witnessed a baby being delivered:

It was as if my mind were saying, 'Cannot compute! Cannot compute!" What I was witnessing was too big, too beautiful, too sacred to fit easily into my mind...

God had waited from all eternity for that moment of birth. And now, He would show His little boy the adoring face of the mother that had carried him so lovingly. He would show that little boy the magnificent stars He had strung in the sky. He would introduce him to the music of lullabies and the softness of his mother's arms, the gentleness of his father's hands. The "I" of God had been saying to the "Thou" of that small baby: "With an everlasting love I have loved you. This is why with lovingkindness I created you" (from the prophecy of Jeremiah, 31:3).

Cannot compute. Cannot compute. The miracle of life.

HT: Jennifer

The BEST Day of His Life

Today, our seven year old son, Seth, gets to go to the Monster Truck Jam. It's his friend Zach's birthday, so a whole group of boys are going. Not only are they going to the Jam, but they're going to have a tail gate party in the parking lot, then they're going to the pit party where they'll see the trucks and drivers up close! Oh man, every boy's dream, right? I've kept it a secret for several days, and finally let the cat out of the bag yesterday afternoon. So, last night when Seth came to say goodnight, this was our conversation:

Seth: "I think tomorrow will be the BEST day of my life!"
Me: "Well, I'm excited for you.....now get to bed because you'll have a late night tomorrow."
Seth: "Will I get to stay up until midnight?"
Me: "Probably not midnight, but pretty late!"

Seth: With a HUGE grin on his face, he heads upstairs. I wonder if he slept at all!

So, this morning he's up at the crack of dawn. He's all ready to go even though he's not being picked up until 2:00pm. He's completely dressed, with shoes, jacket, AND a backpack.

Seth: "See? I'm all ready!"
Me: "I see that. Good job. I'm not sure you'll need a back pack, though."

Seth: "Well......I have my binoculars in it so I can see everything really well."
Me: "Oh, good thinking. Okay, you can take the back pack."

So now it's breakfast time. Greg's making pancakes when Seth declares, "I'm not really hungry so I'll just have one."
Me: "Just one? You'll still be hungry!"

Seth: "I'm saving room for cake!"

The boy's been cracking us up all morning! He is going to have a great time! Thank you, Steph, for making this possibly the BEST day of Seth's life! ;-)

She's One Today!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Genevieve. It's hard to believe she's been apart of our lives for one full year. She has blessed us beyond measure!

Two months.......


Three and a half months.........

Five months.......

Eight months........

Nine months.........

Eleven months.......

Almost there.......to one year........

Happy Birthday baby girl. We love you more than words can express!

Later today, I'll be taking her one year picture. I'll try to get it posted. If you want to read about her exciting entrance into the world, click here and here.

Pics of Kids

Watchful Waiting.....

I believe this was the night we were having our church Reformation celebration. The kids were eagerly awaiting our church family's arrival. They all just happened to be in age/height order. I thought it was so cute, so had to run and get the camera.


Okay.....this one was planned, of course. This is Christmas Eve. They each get to open one gift, always jammies. So, here's what the kids look like from the front! ;-) Genevieve (almost 1), Ethan (2), Chloe (4), Sophia (6), Seth (7), Celeste (13), and Cheyenne (16).


Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.......

Our Babies

From our home to yours......have a blessed New Year!

Family Readings

Family Readings

Something I really cherish about our family is the time we spend reading aloud together. We try to choose books that will appeal to all ages, but this is not always easy, as two year olds just aren't interested sometimes. But we certainly try! We've read anything from "adventure" such as God's Smuggler, to "family growth" books such as Family Driven Faith, to even simple things like Character Building stories.

Currently, we are reading our yearly Advent book, Tabitha's Travels. This is the third book of a series. The first two are Jotham's Journey and Bartholomew's Passage. This happens to be our sixth year of reading these Advent books and we just love them. Sometimes we'll pile on the couch for our reading and other times we'll sit around the table sipping hot cocoa. But tonight was a beauty! Our neighbor had given us a bag of Hubba Bubba suckers, so we decided to save them especially for reading time. We sat around the table and let the kids go to town on their suckers. It was the most peacefully quiet reading yet!!!

Once we have finished our Advent book, we'll begin our new book, 10 P's in a Pod. I'm really excited about this one because I've heard and read many great reviews.......we can't wait!

If your family already reads together often, then you know how special it is (most of the time...lol)! If not, I would encourage you to pick a great book and start reading to the family! You'll love it and your children will too!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

There are some things that are worth the time and effort to save money, and there are other things that are worth the money to save time. Make sense?

Well, making our own laundry detergent has proven to be one of our best money savers over the last two to three years. And we only have to invest about 15-20 minutes of our time every three to four months.

Not bad, eh?

Not only is this a great way to save money, but this detergent is also safe for HE washers, because of the low suds ingredients.

I'll give the recipe in a small batch so that you can try it without wasting too much if you don't like it!

But you'll like! You WILL!!

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent

1 Fels Naptha Laundry Bar (or Zote)  I buy this at Walmart in the laundry aisle.

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda...it must say Super Washing Soda.....it's usually located right next to the Borax but not all stores carry this....you may have to shop around. If you live in Texas, HEB carries it.)

If you just bought one bar and one box each of these, it will cost you only about $5 and depending on family size will last three to six months. Although, you'll need about three bars of Fels Naptha or Zote to go through your entire boxes of powders.

Directions

Grate bar. If you have a food processor with a cheese grater attachment, use it! Before we had this, we had to grate the bar by hand on a box grater.

In a processor or blender, combine 1 cup of grated bar, 1/2 cup Borax, and 1/2 cup of Washing Soda. Process or blend until you get a fine powder consistency. It's best to do this in small batches to get a fine powder. Repeat this until you run out of your grated bar. If you've bought several bars....well, keep on goin'! Store in an air tight container.

Use

For small to medium loads, use 1 tablespoon. Seriously! This is why it lasts so long!

For large or heavily soiled loads, use 2 tablespoons. It's that simple! Then, fabric soften as desired!

A side note: I've heard people say that they didn't like the ZOTE because it has a waxy texture, whereas the Fels Naptha has a flaky texture.  I personally don't have a problem with Zote. My clothes get clean and they smell good.  However, since my Walmart now sells Fels Naptha, I buy that.

My little girls love that ZOTE is pink! ;-)  Try both and see what you like best. Let me know what you think!

*Update:  We still make our detergent most of the time, but occasionally, we buy the big bucket from Sams, which is also economical. 

Christmas Quote

Joys of the Incarnation

"Most sensible people say that adults cannot be expected to appreciate Christmas as much as children appreciate it. But I am not sure that even sensible people are always right; and this has been my principle reason for deciding to be silly -- a decision that is now irrevocable. It may be because I am silly, but I rather think that, relatively to the rest of the year, I enjoy Christmas more than I did when I was a child. My faith demands that such be the case. The more mature I become the more I need to embrace the joys of the incarnation. The more mature I become, the more I need to be but a child".

~ G.K. Chesterton

ht: Kristen S.

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


We've been very busy this morning finishing up the last of the cooking. My sweet girls did some of the baking last night......Chey baked her Deep Dish Apple Pie and Celeste made the cornbread for the dressing. Now, the rolls are rising and I'll get started on the dressing. We're not cooking the whole feast this year since we're celebrating with our good friends again, so our cooking load is light.....well.....if you consider making 80 homemade rolls a light load! ;-)

We're looking forward to giving our Lord many thanks and praise, and the sweet fellowship we'll enjoy with our friends. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Just Haven't Felt Like It

Just Haven't Felt Like..........

.......blogging lately. You know when you don't feel good, you don't feel like doing a whole lot. I haven't forgotten about my blog......in fact, I'm always thinking of things to post, but as you can see I'm a slacker.

I hesitate to say that I think I may be starting to feel better. I still feel icky most of the time, but it seems like I'm having more good moments. If my last seven pregnancies are any indication of when I will feel better, well, we're looking at another five to nine weeks. Let's just hope this one is different!

Don't give up on me......I'll be back soon!

Voting

Murphy's Law-Voting Lines

What happens when you take a dad, a pregnant sick mom with vomit bag in tow, seven children (five of them seven and under), lots of snacks and drinks to keep them quiet, strollers, diaper bags, and a boat load of patience all in preparation to stand in line for one to two hours?

NO LINE AT ALL!

Yep, that's right. If you ever want to ensure not having to wait in line, go overboard in your preparations and expect the worst! Obviously, we were overjoyed to find that there was no line at all. Perhaps it was the time we arrived or the number of early voters, but no matter the reason, it was a relief for this sick Mama!

Since the people working the tables were not busy, all eyes were on us as we entered the building with our progeny in tow. We got the kids all settled into a corner with snacks and Greg and I approached the tables. Forget about, "May I see your ID?" or "Can I have your name?" Nope! We were greeted with wide eyes, shifting quickly from us to the kids and back to us, and the ever famous question........drumroll please........"Are they ALL yours?" Yes!

So, we voted. The kids did a fabulous job of behaving for the whole five minutes they had to wait and we were out of there. Not so fast. On our way out, we were snagged by a reporter who was admittedly enamored with our family and just HAD to ask us some questions. We obliged! With a few giggles coming from behind us, we politely answered his simple questions. Wow, who'd have thought our voting day would have been so easy and somewhat exciting! ;-)

So now it's waiting............in a few short hours we will know who will be in office next year. May we all be in fervent prayer and may we all rest in God's Sovereignty and trust His outcome!

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

UPDATE: Greg just found the article from the reporter. It's called "Nine voters" Start a Rush (that's us)! Click here to read it! Too funny!

Pregnancy Update

Pregnancy Update

Well, I've hit the nine week mark now and if morning sickness is ANY indication of a healthy pregnancy, than I can assure you......this baby is HEALTHY!!!! This pregnancy has already been more difficult and challenging than the last one, but God has been faithful to get me through each day......even when each day feels twice as long!

My mind is all over the map. One moment I'm thanking God for this new blessing in our family and the next I'm wondering why we keep doing this! ;-) I can think of so many things I'd rather be going through than enduring nausea daily. I'd rather go through natural labor ten times IN A ROW that feel nauseated. I'd rather have a broken leg.......I'd rather have my wisdoms surgically removed again.......I'd rather go to the dentist......I think you get the point. Nausea is the worst part of pregnancy. It's not that I don't want to be pregnant........on the contrary......I love being pregnant.....just not the first four to five months. But as I'm reminded daily, when this is all over, I'll have received a blessing that makes hugging my garbage can all worth it!

Okay, enough complaining......now the good stuff! It's amazing to see God at work in our lives! Just when I think God has forsaken me and I'm doomed to a life of throwing up, He reminds me that He's right here beside me and that He cares for me. Whether it's a moment of feeling good, a meal brought by a friend, prayers, or a phone call from a fellow sicky, He reminds me of His love and His faithfulness.

So, I'll leave you with a sweet quote I stumbled upon:

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of Mother's Love.-- Maureen Hawkins