MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Noticed that I have not posted in a while. Life happens...daily.

I am excited for the upcoming celebration of Jesus' birth! We are starting a new Christmas gift tradition this year. In the past we gave the kids whatever they wanted. This also included all the relatives, too.

Then two years ago (or more) we limited the gifts 'from Santa' to 3 gifts. Just like Jesus. He only received 3 gifts from each of the kings. Then we changed it to only 3 gifts from mom and dad. The gift giving was getting out of hand and mostly the focus of Christmas.

We as a family has been growing in our faith and in our knowledge of the bible. We attend church weekly. I read from the bible daily. The kids love going to Awanas! Recently, Anna and I have been attending a bible study twice a month. God has truly been working within our family. We, too, have been listening to God's plan. What does Christmas mean? Where should the emphasis be made?

I read an article in The Old Schoolhouse about gifts at Christmas time. What they did was that each gift would represent each gift from the 3 kings.

The 'GOLD' gift would be something extra special that the child wanted.

The 'FRANKINCENSE' would represent a Godly gift. For example, a worship cd or a bible. Anything that can encourage you and bring you closer to God. Anna thought a bible cover would fit.

The 'MYRRH' would be something that you put on your body. Like a coat, socks, hat, etc.

This is our new tradition that we added this year as a family. It isn't just about the gifts but why we are giving/receiving the gifts. To look beyond the wrapping papers and bows....and to look up to our heavenly Father.

I wish your family a wonderful Christmas and that you learn something new within your family!! Treasures right in front of... a gift from our Heavenly Father!!!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with a wonderful family. Thank you for your Son. Merry Christmas.

Amen!

SEW MAMA SEW CONTEST

Sew Mama Sew is having a 'serger' giveaway and would like to be considered THE winner!! So, here goes my plea:

i would love, love a serger. I have taught myself how to sew, use a pattern and still learning my ‘regular’ sewing machine. WOW, the things you can do on a serger! Just to be able to do nice edging is enough for me!!! Right now I am in the ‘dog room’ (I share my sewing stuff with the dogs; 3 kids; and I homeschool. My time is limited and I know I really can get some projects done with a serger! Think of me ’slaving away’ with the dogs at my feet and my kids spying me through the windows (they are not allowed in the sewing room 8)…my little space) slowly sewing away…. That serger really can make difference!!!! Maybe, my husband will take me seriously and find a new place for me to sew!!!! Thanks for taking my story into consideration. Good luck making your decisions. Blessings, Lisa

PS - Don't be afraid of the gun that my husband is holding! The dog is scarier! The kids are cute!!!

Memories...

We finally made it to Door County! I must say that we are extremely blessed to have a great baby that travels well. He did not complain once!! I was able to do some crocheting, chat with my husband and learn about the placebo effect. Karl downloaded some NPR radio shows for me and the kids (wahoo). Yes, there is a little sarcasm.

It was neat to drive into Door County. we haven't been back for 7 years! We really like it here. It brought back a lot of great memories and some sad ones. My first time here was when Karl and I got married. He brought me here for our honeymoon...we went camping! I am not the camping type (I can handle it now). Back then, not so much. We did go to a resort afterwards!!!!

When I was pregnant with Joshua; we brought my brother's kids and Anna for a little camping and swimming. Anna was mentioning all that she remembered. Good memories. We did have to cut our vacation short because Karl's uncle passed away. Then a month later, my brother died. Then I delivered Joshua. It was a crazy summer that year.

Today, we are making new memories!! Eric is sleeping, Karl and the kids are at the pool and I have a few minutes of quiet.

Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow

Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is only a vision. But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day, for it is life, the very life of life. The Sanskrit

Do you believe in MIRACLES?

I DO! We don't always hear about miracles, but I do believe that they happen everyday. Sometimes, we don't even see them happening in our own backyards. I have recently been invited to a benefit for an 8 month old little girl, Meagan. Her family lives one town over from me. This is in my own backyard a miracle happened. Please read the following article about this adorable little baby girl who was born against all odds. MEAGAN Get the tissues out...I was crying by the end of the article.

I was so touched by her/their story that I was strongly led to do something. But what? By using God's gift of creating! I have chosen to help by making an apron and baby quilt to help with their fundraising. If you feel led to donate please contact me or drop it off at my house (or let me know that you will be coming by).

Who will join me on August 6th?? Please let me know because we need to PRE-ORDER our tickets. One of my dear friends is selling tickets. (She is coming by on Tuesday, July 27)

Benefit for Baby Meagan
Friday, August 6 at 6:00pm
Old Towne Pub & Eatery

Dinner and Silent Auction Fundraiser to benefit baby Meagan to help with her ongoing medical expenses. Tickets are $25.00 each. Dinner will be available from 6 - 8 pm, with auctions and raffles until 11 pm.

If you cannot join me or donate at this time; you can join me and many others in prayer. The power of prayer is a miracle in itself!

Psalm 77:14
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Hebrews 2:4
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

This is my 100th post!!

I PROMISE...

PROMISE TO MY CHILDREN: I will stalk you, freak out on you, lecture you, drive you crazy, be your worst nightmare, embarrass you in front of your friends, hunt you down like a bloodhound until the day you understand why I do it. Then I will know that you are a responsible adult. All ...because...I LOVE YOU...you will never find someone that loves you more than your Mommy (and Daddy)♥.

I totally agree. Nothing is better than what I/we have right now. Or what we will be going through...

Beignets...

First, let me tell you how my second half of teaching went. It went well. I talked so much that my throat hurts this morning. I am so exhausted. But, I am ready for another day with the ladies. This conference is called Federally Employed Women National Training Program. Phew, say that ten times.

Last night I met other trainers from the program. We went out to dinner together and had fun. I had rice and beans...yum. In our group We had 3 other women and I met Bob and Roger(his name is not Roger, it,s jerry) earlier in the days. Really fun group. The ladies went back to Their room after dinner to practice their presentations. Bob and Jerry ( chaperoned) me...just kidding. We went tO Cafe Du Monde for the famous beignets. They were so yummy. I am going back tonight to try to bring some home for the kids and hubby.

I needed to tell you more about those yummy beignets. When I ordered them, they cam 3 in a bag. They were nice and warm and covered in powdered sugar. The guys that I was with told me that I had to have one right away. They were warm, crunchy, and oh so, so good!!!

I am meeting the same group at tonight for a trolley ride through the garden district. I will take pictures. I hope they are up for a fancy dinner. this is my last night and I would like to eat something fancy. My shuttle picks me up at 4 am on thursday morning. Got to make the most of it!

Gotta go!

New orleans

I am here in New Orleans at a Natiional Training Program for women. I arrived late Monday night, checked in and went for a walk to find dinner. Got lost and found some very colorful people on the streets. I did find a quiet Turkish restaurant. I ordered falafel and tabbalah. I took a picture of it (you will have to wait till I get home to see them). It was very good! Treated myself to bread pudding for dessert.

This morningI taught my first Photoshop class! I was kind of nervous since I wasn't sure what to expect. Well, I was over prepared (thank goodness). It turned out to be a beginners class. Lots of Hans on training/teaching. Only covered 3sections of the book. There are 7 sections. I taught 3hours this morning and going back to teach 3 more hours.

Tomorrow I will be teaching Indesign.

Until later.

Going to try to eat at Cafe Dumonde tomorrow night!

joshua moment...

It is Monday morning at around 6:15. I get up, take a shower and head to the kitchen to make my coffee. I hear the TV is playing and wonder who was up. It was Joshua and he had the camera in his hand.

Joshua: "Mama (he calls me that and I love how he says it), I took a video."

Mom: "A video?"

Joshua: "A took a video of me kissing Anna" He plays the video for me.

This what I saw: a cute little boy's face whispering, "I am going to give Anna a kiss". he goes into the kitchen to get the camera (the hallway is dark) and proceeds to Anna's room. you see this little light shine around her bed...then you see Anna's face lit up by the flashlight...then you hear this little sound of a smooch on her cheek. You don't see him kiss her but you can hear the sound. Too, cute!

He truly loves his big sister. I think this was the only way for him to show his affection because she won't let him get close to her. I hope she grows out of that and lets him in.

Something to cherish today as I get ready to leave my family for New Orleans.

miscellaneous photos...

here some photos for your viewing pleasure...

Eric has 5 teeth and working on number 6.

Photos of Audrey and Lydia before they left for Africa...

My 8 month old...

Having a baby at 43 does crazy things to your body. We're are still trying to figure what 'that' is. In the mean time, this is what Eric has been up to...

Time does fly fast and I think this 3rd child is doing everything so much faster (actually, I think he right there with Anna). That cutie pie started crawling at 7 months doing the army crawl. He still doing the army crawl and puts himself in a sitting position. When did he start doing that?? Its so cute to see him do things for the first time. Can you believe he crawls to a chair, (you should really see this) pulls himself up to a standing position! Yes, he pulling himself to standing position and letting go! BUT WAIT sometimes he will just stand there AND oops most of the time you hear a thunk, then silence, then a wailing scream. Poor baby, he doesn't let go anymore. He started cruising. I am not ready for an 8 mo. old to be cruising. Kids, you gotta love them.

He is talking more. His hair is growing and looks like he will be a blondie (like his dad and brother). I just lowered his crib yesterday.

Oh, you gotta see how Eric's face lights up when he sees Karl. This is the only baby that WANTS to be with daddy at all times! If he sees Karl, Karl MUST hold him. I love it. The way Eric's face lights up, too cute. He LOVES his daddy. Eric loves Anna and Joshua, too.

It has been great to see God's gift (Eric) change our family life, again. God is amazing. HE just knows, sometimes I'd like to know. But, I do know that it isn't for us to know God's plan but, to trust in HIM and follow HIM. I say this because lots has happened between now and Eric's birth. We haven't questioned or asked 'why'. We do wonder what we are suppose to do. I feel we have been in the waiting/patience part of life. Especially with my health issues. We continue to pray for guidance and we continue to be patient.

We are happy and blessed in so many ways! Thank you Lord Jesus!!

Did you know...

Karl just sent me this link from CNN. We believe it is worth paying the extra cost for certain organic products. We have been having so many health issues since Joshua has been born that truly, we don't know what is going on. Is it the food? Is it the environment? Is it the packaging? What is it? That is the big question!!

I have been reading WIN THE WAR WITHIN by Dr. Floyd Chilton and its an eye opener. My health issues as a lot to do with inflammatory and autoimmune. Food has a lot to do with that. I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus. You don't want lupus! BUT, I have it and have to learn to live with it.

So, here is a list of the good and bad fruits and veggies. To go organic or not to???? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

The Clean 15

1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Sweet peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi fruit
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet potatoes
15. Sweet onions

The Dirty Dozen

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Domestic blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet bell peppers
8. Spinach, kale and collard greens
9. Cherries
10. Potatoes
11. Imported grapes
12. Lettuce

TODAY...

Ok, like Becky, I wanted to blog something important (with photos) updates of family and kids. So, I am just going to do a quick blog and just share what happened today. I do plan on catching everyone up on the past 8 months of craziness.

Right now, Karl and the kids went for a bike ride. Some of you know that we found a deer tick on Joshua last week and we haven't heard the end of it. I must share what he did today. He went outside this morning to pick up a shirt that he left out last night. I saw him swatting at the air. Hmmmm. He comes in (looking distraught).... I noticed that his mouth is full of saliva and I ask what happened...he started to cry...

JOSHUA: "I have parasites in my mouth. I cannot swallow. I bird pooped by me and parasites flew in my mouth."

MOM: "There are no parasites in your mouth. Go rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth. KARL!"

Poor Joshua. He has been non-stop about him being the 'host' and the tick being the 'parasite'...homeschooling may have given him too much information. The questions he was asking over the weekend...

JOSHUA: "Mom, I touched bird poop. Mom, is there parasites in bird poop. Mom, I was swinging and my hand touched bird poop. Mom, I saw a bird poo. Mom, what if something got in my mouth. Mom, my throat hurts. Mom, something might be stuck in my throat. Mom. Mom. Mom."

I had to finally tell him, "Enough with the parasite! You are fine. You will be ok."

December updates (with captions!)

Anna & Joshua decorating the tree for me

Joshua hunting with daddy and 'the boys', aka 'men'

Showing off a pheasant

Joshua & Anna showing off their dance routine.

They were really cute!

Purse I made for my friend, Becky

I also made a mail sack for Sara

Anna cut and sewed these stockings from recycled old jeans!

She really did an awesome job!!

I made these for Jack and Eva for Christmas.

Their own lunches made from felt.

These are aprons made from recycled dishtowels.

Relaxing time with daddy.

Eric's first Christmas.

Sorry honey, we had to do it!

Like his reindeer?

Cousins: Big Anna and big Eric with little Anna and little Eric.

Family photo

My mom, Tata.

Cousin Wolfie (annual cousin fest) with all of his grills for yummy ribs!

Most of all the girl cousins.