Thursday, December 28, 2006

Got to buckle down....


And get some things done around here....my goals for today are to get started pulling down all the Christmas decorations....I love having them up...but I am tired of having to be on my toes with the baby....he wants to grab everything . Also need to get lots of laundry going and if it is warm enough I'll hang some outside...then I need to get the kids going on some projects and start packing everyone up for a weekend visit with Eric's parents....so lots to do and I'm making this short....

Talk more later.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

This is the day....

to make candies and goodies for Christmas.....I have lots of supplies and lots of willing hands to help out so I'm hoping this day will be very productive!!!

List of things to make today:

peppermint bark
dipped pretzels
hot chocolate mixes
coffee mixes
chocolate oatmeal cookies
sugar cookies
cheese crisps
and perhaps some other last minute entries

so I'm off to wake everyone for a fun filled day!!!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Our lives as a song.....

I've been thinking of my dad a lot lately....I guess with the Christmas Season in full swing and with my new little one (J) knowing he will never have memories of my dad .....he just has been on my mind so much the last few days.....


Dad died 5 years ago this past April. He had battled a rare type of cancer, Multiple Myeloma, and had become a shell of the man I knew growing up. His last few weeks were especially hard and painful, so much so that the doctors had to keep him VERY heavily sedated. He had known deep inside, I think, that he would not live much longer and I had several talks with him before this happened and he asked me to say my goodbyes early so that when the time would come for God to call him home I could praise God for the life my father had lived and for allowing me the time with him that I had had.....the early morning that dad died I did just that.....after I grieved for his loss.....I praised God for his wonderful mercies. During dad's funeral all that I could do was to silently praise HIM more. My dad had lived his life for God and the best part was I knew he was now singing for Christ eternally.


Memories......


My dad.......first and foremost is that he was a wonderful man of God. He loved the Lord with all his heart....his life was a living testimony to all to see how Christians can live in the world (and not be of the world). He was a simple man...not a lot of education, but had a wisdom that needed no book learning...... a life wisdom. He grew up very poor....the son of a preacher and had 10 brothers and sisters......as one of only 3 brothers he help to take care of the families needs with his father took ill. Leaving school at an early age he worked to help support his large family so that his sisters and younger brother could finish school. Never once did he look back.....something needed to be done and he could do it .....so he just did. That was the kind of man he was ........doing what needed to be done.


Secondly, he loved my mother intensely......oh, they had their quarrels like any couple and he may have not remembered every birthday but his love for her overflowed ......my fondest memories are of the two of them passing each other in the kitchen and him reaching up in passing to grab her and kiss her ....often if he knew that I was watching he would look at me and wink....something in that touched me so deeply....he was not afraid of showing his love for her in front of us children....the fact we grew up amongst such love in a world were husbands and wives often separate over trivial things was a blessing. I never once worried that my parents would divorce .....the love between them was such a strong bond that even in times of anger, stress, hardships , you know ....things that can wreck havoc on a marriage I was secure in the knowledge that they would always stand by one another to the end.


Thinking back on his life I know dad gave to everyone in his life.....he worked so hard to provide for us...no we were not rich in a worldly sense but the richness of his life still overflows in me today....his love for his fellow man was evident in his dealings whether in business or on a personal basis.....he gave of himself over one hundred percent in all he did.....his work ethic and habits often left him working alone because he pushed himself and his crew .....not harshly but with high expectations and often the men working for him found him “too dedicated” to the job being done as one man put it. His dedication to us, his family, often left him working long into the night to provide for us....I can remember many a morning seeing him sitting at the table drinking coffee and eating breakfast having come in only to shower, eat and return to work never sleeping ..... I remember mother fixing his dinner and taking it to him on a job site (dad was a construction contractor) to spend time with him while he ate.... Dad gave what he could to those in need (often we were in just as bad a situation as those he gave to) and I've heard him get up in the middle of the night to help someone (not just friends) in need. But this was just dad....always giving and always helping his fellow man.


Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow....

Dad's life was a song for Christ. And now I pray daily that my own lifesong will sing each day a living testimony to the love I have for the ONE that set me free. I want to be a blessing to my family, to someone in need, to the stranger I may never meet......I want people to say at the end of my days that my life was a song of praise to God. .......What a legacy to leave my own children....a desire for their lives to sing to Christ and show the world His wonderful grace through their daily living.


Living for God in a song.....


I heard this song after my cousin died within four years of my dad with a similar cancer....he was 20 years old and had been married for 2 & ½ months.....his wife had this song played during the visitation.....


Lifesong

by Casting Crowns


Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You

Our lives are our own special melody in God's ears.....I want mine to be found pleasing.


Tuesday, December 19, 2006

God is so good!

We have been richly blessed this Christmas season.....our new congregation has just enveloped us with love and some took it upon themselves to help provide presents for the children...and to send us lots of groceries!!!

Eric's first unemployment check arrived today, just in time to pay a couple of bills that needed to be paid pronto! and we are all finally all better and no longer sick.

After getting the wonderful surprise from our church family today we called in our excitement to tell Eric's mom...(tried mine too ....she was unable to get the phone...I 'll call tomorrow) and she had good news of her own so Eric called today our Super Tuesday!!!


Well, the baby needs me once more.....be back at a later time!

Sunday, December 17, 2006





So I'm getting my pantry stocked.....I got 2 Angel Food boxes this weekend and now I'm looking forward to stocking up the shelves with lots of canned goods. I feel so much better and able to take on the problems the world throws at us if I know I can feed the family.....I feel so secure in the knowledge of a full pantry.


OH, I wanted to add the link to Angel Food.....

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Eric has decided to NOT start his own business for the time being.... so he is dusting off the resume and getting it updated to start sending it out....I'm praying hard now that he will find what he needs to soon! He just felt that with all the things going on at the present time it would be better to get all under more control (i.e. the finances and debt department) before he ventures out into the world of business owner.

Last night we had Eric's family's Christmas party....love the togetherness his family has always shared....and we were told that his baby sis is gonna have a new baby next August! (Right around our Anniversary) So, little ( J) is not gonna be the youngest grandbaby in the family for much longer....(I can't say the smallest cause he is as big as his cousin that is a couple of months older) ......They were not expecting this at all but are joyous just the same!

Well, got to go get ready for evening services.....be back soon!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

In honor of Opposites Attract Day.....

Isn't it funny how opposites attract.....take me and my hubby....he is the quiet type...me I'm loud (very loud....although he says there is hope for me) .....so how does this great mystery of opposites attracting work out....I mean even physically ...he's very tall and I'm very short....go figure. So, I've been thinking on this for the morning......while doing something constructive like laundry......and I've come to the conclusion that God made us so that we search out the parts of us that are missing....and when we find the *one* that fills those voids in ourselves then we have found that someone God made just for us! I mean how often do our mates compliment us in ways we don't even realize....each giving strength and support in the others weaknesses....God's plan is so complex and yet so simple....He wants us to learn from one another......growing in love....learning communication and sacrifice .....and increasing in our faith.

Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

God's Blessings.....

So it looks like the kids may have some Christmas presents after all....my mom called and said she had gotten them some stuff and tonight one of the ladies from church requested a wish list from my kids....God provides all our needs!!!

And we are going on a church trip in Feb. to Gatlinburg....the church elders wanted us to go so they are helping us pay the way....we have been so blessed by our new church family.....I am so glad we were led to attend here and the people have help and supported us so much over the last few months!!!

Well, I must make it short and sweet tonight ....the baby is calling..........

Monday, December 11, 2006

Sleepless Night.....

Can't sleep.....ughh, and I don't have much I want to think about....just thought I'd tell the world I was having trouble going to sleep and maybe , just maybe I could cause myself to become tired....sounds goofy I know but hey, at this point in time I am willing to try just about anything....I just cannot shut my brain down....its like I'm on some caffeine high and I don't drink caffeine....

Well, J is needing to nurse...gotta go.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Laundry .........the never ending chore.

Laundry is really never ending....even if you get all caught up...you still have on the clothes you are wearing and that will have to be washed. For us, with a family of 6 I try and stay on top of it.....but we all know life happens and gets in the way of the best intentions. I do have some things I do here to try to help me keep up with it.....and some ideas that I am getting ready to start to help me with the laundry load.......first we use the same towel for at least 2 days...we each have a hook to hang our towels on to let it dry and reuse it for the next day.....we also wear at least our blue jeans more than just once....we hang those up and wear a second time.....and of course any outfit you wear for only a couple of hours had better be hung up to wear again unless you have a stain on it.....but that only cuts down little....with 4 kids I still do lots and lots of laundry. I've learned that it is just one of those chores that will never get done and work on it daily. Good thing I don't mind doing it.......

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Enjoying God's Blessings.....

What a wonderful day. God is so good! Over the last couple of days my most wonderful husband, Eric, and I have had the best heart to hearts! I feel so blessed by this man. Yes, we are still wondering what to do about employment and this Christmas will be mostly a time memories and few gifts but still I can only say GOD is Good!

Everyone is feeling much better over the last couple of day...only little J is still got a stuffy nose and I am keeping a close watch on him.

And we have our first tooth!!! Yes, J has a tooth just breaking the gums and it is sharp! I'm having to really watch and take care when nursing now because he wants to bite!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Sorry for not posting for a few days...

but it has been really ..... well not hectic...but time consuming would be a better way to describe it. Everyone is sick in some form....colds, stuffy noses and sinus problems...I even woke this morning with an ear ache (not bad). I know I really should not have took the kids out to see the parade last night but with no money I wanted to have some holiday memories this year to help make it easier of the kids to understand. So we loaded up with some friends and went and drank homemade hot chocolate and stood in the cold evening air for 2 hours or so....it was great fun but now we are paying the price in sick kids. (D, I hope yours are not sick!) Eric and J did not go last night because they both were already stuffy and sniffly (is that even a word) so they just camped out around here while we were gone.

Today since we are homebound with sickness I plan on finishing up the decorations inside the house....I do need to run to the dollar store to get some cold medicine but that will only be a couple of minutes out.....then tomorrow while (if the kids are well enough) the kids are off to school I can get up the few things for the outside this year up.

Got to go...the baby is needing some attention......