~ A New Treasure ~

I want to shout it from the rooftops, call everyone I know...I am expecting!!
God has honored me by blessing me with another child. I feel so full, so utterly happy!
"What?!" Some may say. You already have 5 children, isn't that enough? Why add to your burden? Why make your life more difficult or tiring?

Children are a gift, a blessing!! I've been given something special, something to not take lightly. Praises should be on my lips each morning, prayers of thankfulness each evening. What an Awesome God I serve!
Society has demeaned the having of children, abortion is at its worst, the rampant use of birth control in the churches, every child is looked at as something of an inconvenience or a life drainer, a burden at worst.
Mothering is considered a chore, a substitute for a "real job."
Even among Christian mothers there is a common notion that what we do is laborious, arduous work. Its the norm that nights out with the girls, or a day out on your own is a necessity or a even requirement. I deserve it, or I need it!
Really?...doesn't God supply all our needs, aren't we asked "to do nothing out of selfish ambition."
I'm not saying that we should never go out, or that we should never have time alone. There just needs to be a thought process adjustment.
The time out is not the reward, the children are the reward! Each day that we serve and care for our family is a priveldge!
We can pat ourselves on the back for choosing the sacrificial job of staying home with our children to raise them ourselves and some of us even homeschooling them. But if we are not truly embracing where we are, if we are always looking for distractions or relief, then we are doing ourselves and our children a great disservice.

We as a family just watched "An Arctic Tale" recently. We loved it.
Something I found interesting was that in the walrus herds babies are rarer then some creatures and so are very important to the whole group. The entire herd treats this baby as a treasure, she or he is valued highly.
We should all look at each child or each potential child as a God-given treasure to value.
Please watch this short video, it brought me to tears with gratefulness for the 5 soon to be 6 treasures I have been entrusted with.
(turn off music in my sidebar)

~ For Grandma ~

Warning* cute pictures of my kids ahead...well, at least I think so. This post is for the grandmas and them alone.

~ Let them make Forts ~

With my very best Marie Antoinette impression of "Let them eat cake"
I say... "Let them make Forts"... although I'm not wearing one of those cumbersome corsets that make your waist look 12 inches round, gee on second thought do you know where I can get one of those?


When you come into your living room and find it like this, you might instinctively react with a desire to shoot yourself. After that feeling passes though you might actually feel a nostalgic joy in the creation. I'm sure you can remember how much fun it was to create these monstrosities, ahem, I mean masterpieces.


The pure excitement of a hidden hideaway in your very own living room. A place to scurry away toys, books and treasures. You maybe giggled and told secrets with your siblings, pretended you were a spy or something else very secretive.


This might be an annoyance to us mothers at times considering every blanket in the house has been utilized along with every clean towel and pillow because well "momma there has to be beds." Not to mention every toy imaginable has now joined the underground hideaway as well.
But should we really sweat this?

Does it really matter if its going look like a bomb went off in here in about 1 hour when King Kong a.k.a the toddler gets tired of just merely hiding in the fort and decides destroying it would be far more interesting.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't.
When my boys were very young I decided I never wanted to be an uptight mom who never allowed her house to get messy, who found it more important to have everything look perfect then it was to just let her kids play.
At times I can find myself reverting to that and it never feels good. My children aren't as joyful, or creative because they are always worried about making a mess.

I read an article once a few years ago in a mothering magazine that I love. The mother was discussing the importance of being a friend to our children. Hanging out with your children, spending play time with your children.
In Titus 2 we are told to love our children. It seems insane that we need to be told that when most mothers would die for their children. But the Greek word for "Love" in this verse is philoteknos~meaning to be a friend to your children.

She went on to say that many mothers are more of a friend to their homes than they are to their children...ouch that hurt. I underlined that sentence right there and then and decided that would not be me.
Yes, we must keep house, but if you notice in Titus 2 that that is further down the list from being a friend to our children, God always puts things in order of importance.

So mommas..."Let them make forts," and don't forget the cookies for your hungry little stowaways.

~ Worth More ~

I' m feeling frumpy...I'm feeling unattractive.
Maybe it's the fact that my "big" jeans are feeling a little tight or that commercial I saw with the absolute perfect body that had the most perfect face to go along with it or it could even be that fourth cookie that I polished off last evening.
Ahhhh, the truth will set us free, but I'm not feeling too free. So maybe I need a good dose of Gods word and a little run on the treadmill to feel better.
Cracking open my Bible involves no sweat, no tears and well, no laundry so I pick that today.

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)

"Our culture has attempted to discard the beauty and uniqueness of biblical womanhood and create an emotionally androgynous power-woman whose worth is measured only by the degree of her ambition, the shape of her body, and her money-making potential."
(a quote by Stacy Mcdonald in 'Passionate Housewives')

Okay, I feel better, and I don't smell one bit.

Virtuous~ moral excellence, righteousness, noble, right-minded.
These are things that I fall short in but on a daily basis I still pursue.
The perfect body, the academic performance, the status that the world measures beauty by are of no interest to me. Our God says a virtuous woman is worth far above rubies...well then, thats worth pursuing.

~ Love Letter from your Heavenly Father ~

Enjoy hearing from your Heavenly Father today whether you already know Him or not.
He wants to know you...you can start by hearing what he has to say today.
(Turn off music in my sidebar)

~I'm Cold ~

You know your house is cold when....

1. Your second love in bed is your hot water bottle.
2. Your butter is still rock hard at room temperature.
3. When others are undressing for bed, you are adding layers.
4. The kids sleep in their clothes to avoid any exposure of skin to frigid air while changing.
5. Someone drops by and thinks they have caught you on your way out 'cause you are wearing your coat...you're not going anywhere.
6. Your fantasy purchase is currently an electric blanket.
7. Your husbands come on line is "Honey, it will warm you up" and it works every time.
8. Your fridge broke 2 months ago, but you don't need it, counters are working just fine.
9. You find yourself asking your husband bizarre questions at night while getting ready for bed like ~ " Sweetie, did you remember to put the fish in the microwave?" ~true story.
10. You've become so acclimatized to arctic temperatures that when you are visiting someone else's home you wish you had brought your shorts.
11. 4 children are crammed into one set of bunk-beds and love it.
12. And last but not least this is what a cozy night on the couch in your living-room looks like...
    

~ Chip Off the Old Block ~

I'm sure there are some who feel we are far too strict with our children, that our expectations are too high.
I would have to agree that our expectations for our children's behavior and most importantly their character IS high.
However, is that wrong?
We keep that bar high in hopes that our children will seek excellence. I can't help but think of Jesus Christ whose life was one of excellence, perfection in every aspect.
Have we not been asked to emulate his behavior? To live lives striving after that example.

My children are not perfect. They are sinful human beings not unlike their parents. Hearing a sarcastic comment out of the mouth of my 12 year old shames me and forces me to examine my own heart attitudes. The irresponsible behavior and forgetfulness of our 9 year old humbles my husband when he acknowledges his own struggle with this.

Raising children is the most refining task we could ever accomplish in this life. We can't help but deal with our own imperfections and personal inadequacies when discipling our children. To disciple is to train, to model, to lead by example.
Wow! Daunting isn't it?! To be faced with our own struggles daily as we seek to train these children into responsible, compassionate, selfless adults is in its self a most overwhelming feat.

Thankfully, we are not alone in this! Only when we are willing to admit our shortcomings and faults are we able to receive the help from above that HE is only too willing to give. Where we are weak, HE is strong!
How grateful I am with a Heavenly father who is always ready to forgive and love unconditionally.
How could I extend anything less to my children?

~ A Mother's Love ~

"There is no human love like a mother's love. There is no human tenderness like a mother's tenderness...In all ages everywhere, the true children of a true mother 'rise up and call her blessed'; for they realize, sooner or later that God gives no richer blessing to man than is found in a mother's love."
Henry Clay Trumbull~Hints on Child Training

~ We Have Ice ~

Well, what do we have here....could it be true?

It seems strange that it is cold enough outside to freeze water yet there is NO snow!


Ahhhh, we have a triumphant "Yes!" It is indeed ready!


Now get back inside you crazy child...its cold enough out here to freeze your lips together!
Wait! On second thought maybe you should stay outside just a little longer, really... you'll be okay.
I know you don't have your coat on, but well, coats are for girls, sissy folk, not manly young men like yourself!


Oh never mind all that, I was just kidding... if those adorable lips froze together than I wouldn't get to see that sweet smile of yours and your mama loves that sweet smile of yours.
Besides, what would the neighbors think!

~ Build your Homes ~

In the morning when I come down to our kitchen and find a peanut butter smeared knife stuck to the island and toast crumbs strewn about as well as jars of peanut butter and honey left out and opened, I feel secure and content.
Is it just that I enjoy cleaning up messes first thing in the morning or that I take delight in scraping sticky peanut butter & honey off of counter tops? No, not particularly.

Its what was ALSO left behind on that gooey island that makes my heart feel warm and secure and brings a contented smile to my face.
As I carefully close and pick up his bible I reflect on how very blessed I am.
This wonderful, albeit messy husband of mine, has once again started his day with God.
While he was feeding that tummy of his he remembered that which was so much more important…feeding his mind, heart and soul with Gods word.

Why does this make me feel secure?
I know that every decision that he makes that day will be held up to the scrutiny of Gods word and filtered through the lens of the Holy spirit.
His priorities will be in order, thoughts of his family will be on the forefront of his mind, and Jesus has already been invited to walk with him that day.
I love knowing that my husbands thoughts and actions are being guided and directed by our Heavenly Father. I love that he is open to growing, stretching and moving forward in his walk with God.
I am secure.

What happens when I notice that Bible not out, when I find it on the shelf in the family room getting a little dusty? Well, first thing I do is pray.
If my husband isn’t reading each day it means something is out of whack. He’s working too much, or thinking too much or stressed too much, or just plain too tired!
I bring those concerns to God and ask him to bless my hubby. Then I vow to do what ever I can to alleviate those issues that I think might be affecting him.

Should I nag, worry, or even worse …chastise?
This is our opportunity as wives to be helpmeets to our husbands. This is where we step in and gently encourage them to get back on track. We want them to know how very much we appreciate their spiritual leadership, and how much we respect them.
They are not one of our children to scold and reprimand. They do not deserve to be made to feel inadequate in their role as headship of their homes. Your husband will flourish under your encouragement and belief in him.
Unfortunately, I didn’t always know this.

Sometimes we have to really fail at something to come out stronger and learn so much. At times in the past I would try to convince and persuade my husband to take on the leadership of his family, all the while holding all control tightly in my fist along with any dignity he had!
Informing him of this or that responsibility, reminding him of this or that thing he should be doing or accomplishing. And of course it was never right how he was going about doing any particular thing, he should of course listen to me, an authority on such things.

No wonder our husbands can give up and refuse to take on the role God has designed for them. There's the key ladies, designed for HIM!

If we just step down and let them be, if we just close our mouths and pray, if we just build up instead of tear down, God can be heard.
HIS whisper to our men will be heard, no longer competing with the loud chaos that is us.

Some wives will say "My husband just never gets around to leading the family in devotions" Do you nag him? Do you tell him when he should do it and make him feel bad when he doesn't?
Maybe back off and try encouraging him with one of the kids making a request for him to just read a few verses out loud after dinner or read a small section from a devotional book. Do not step in and take over with what he should do or not do.
Just smile at that hubby of yours and thank him. When going to bed that night, tell him how very much you appreciated him reading and affirm him.
Don't bother to tell him what he should have done or what you would rather him do next time.
Just be content with what has begun and let God complete the work in him.

Some women take the approach of thinking they are more spiritual than their husbands or just believe they know how to do the whole dang thing better than him. They find themselves correcting him, (oops that was me) directing him, (that was me too) and when they really didn't think it was good enough they just take over!
(alas, me as well)
We are not called to pick up the slack, we are to enable!! That means to make possible!
Not to be impossible!

Dig into the scriptures ladies and then take what you find to your husbands and ask their opinions. Ask them questions and pick their brains for their thoughts, instead of being little "Miss. no- it- all." Keep quiet and humble, sincerely seeking the advice and input of your hubby.
What a blessing this will be to him to know that you value and regard his thoughts and point of view. Nothing like a good old deep question to get your husband digging around in the scriptures to come up with an answer for you. One that is received without any unnecessary feedback from you.
Unless of course that feedback entails showering his face with kisses and telling him how very much you respect him and what he means to his family!

Blessed is the woman who is meek and humble in spirit.
Proverbs 14:1 ~ A wise woman builds her home, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

~ I Take No Responsibility ~

I came downstairs to find my son watching a hockey game like this....

After I stopped laughing hysterically, I ran and grabbed my camera. He sheepishly looked at me and informed me that he was very serious about the game.
Well, alrighty then!

Honestly, I have no idea where this comes from-Tradesman nor I are big sports fans. We haven't watched sports while the boys were growing up nor have we paid much attention to it at all. Our boys however, have really gotten into hockey on their own the last few years. Now as for the strange behavior of being fully decked out in all of the memorabilia given to him by various family members including the floor rug which is draped across my chair...well I can only blame that on my bizarre genes.
Tradesman's folks are normal, simple folk really. My family on the other hand are...well a little kooky to say the least.

Everyone meet my sister, geez she's gonna kill me when she sees this...I love you little sis...

Thankfully, the gene pool was merciful to me and somehow all this weirdness escaped me, Phew!
Okay, maybe not, but I'm not going to admit it- you can't make me...I won't!

~ He's all you Need ~

This is powerful! Some may have already seen it, but I never tire of watching it!

He's all we need! He will take us in whatever condition we are in, broken, lost, damaged, He will restore!
If you've never seen it before, please watch to the end... you won't regret it.
I've included the words to the song playing during the skit in case you would like to read them following the video.
(Turn off music in my sidebar)




Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose...you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

~ A Bible Study Lockdown ~

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where being polite and proper were the only reason you didn't do something outrageously embarrassing?

I found myself strangely uncomfortable and unnervingly quiet the other night. We had attended what we thought was to be a nice small group Bible study. We had joined the Sunday before under the pretense that this would be a good way to make some connections in the church and also the write up of the actual book caught our interest.

Unbeknown to us, we had signed up for 13 weeks of Bible bootcamp!!
As the pastor outlined the purpose of the study and in great detail described the amount of homework involved...I found myself involuntarily twitching!
I glanced over at Tradesman who was watching the pastor with rapt attention. He looked over at me rather triumphantly as if to say...this is what I've been looking for, something with some real meat!
Well, ahem...whats wrong with just a little appetizer? I'm not really feeling all that hungry anyway, honest.

With 5 children, 2 in ballet, 2 in hockey and skating, homeschooling to do, and a worship choreography to prepare for and teach in our homeschool support group shortly-I feel my plate is full. My mind was running a million miles an hour. I was contemplating exit strategy's, scoping out the area wondering who might get in my way and weighing out if I could take them down.

Just then the pastor mentions the reasons he decided to teach the classes himself and keep the amount of people to a certain number. One was quality control and the second being policing the group. Only those who had signed up would be allowed to attend because they were the ones that had committed to doing the work. I was in lockdown. It was his way of separating the wishy-washy "maybes" from the determined "doers!!"

Ah, "excuse me, I really am a wishy-washy maybe and somehow I got put on the determined doer list and really I have noooo idea how that happened" is all that kept running through my brain. I had to use every bit of restraint to keep from blurting it out.
Just staying put on that couch beside my sweet Tradesman who was obliviously unaware of my inner turmoil, was taking every ounce of self-control I had!

The pastor started to outline some of the work involved. There were 5 days of lessons to be completed before the following week. Each lesson was anywheres from 3 to 6 pages long. This was no regular size book either. This was a big old book the size of a binder! I knew if he continued, I would end up on the floor sucking my thumb in the fetal position. Now that would be embarrassing!

Finishing off my very last cell of sanity was the contract. We were all handed a page with which we were to sign our very deep and serious commitment to the course and all that it entailed.
Eagerly, Tradesman signed and handed me the pen with great anticipation. I reluctantly took it with a plastered on smile and scratched out my name painfully.
I felt as if I had signed over my first-born child. The only thing that I could find comfort in was the knowledge of coffee and brownies awaiting us in the kitchen.
I planned on locking myself in the bathroom with about 4 of them.

As we finished praying, him for the group and I for a loophole, a ray of hope was introduced.
The pastor discussed the importance of keeping a journal during the entire length of the study.
Now that is something that I can do. I love keeping a journal. I have kept a journal of prayer off and on for years.
The homework I will endure, but the journal I will embrace!

Don't take me wrong, the pursuit of knowledge and most importantly greater intimacy with my Heavenly Father is something that I am passionate about. Going back to school however, is something I have no desire for.
I have given my word though, actually I signed my neighbors name...kidding.
So I will persevere!
I will keep you all posted in the weeks to come.

~ Sleeping Beautys ~

My husband and I feel like we are really entering a new stage in life. Our eldest child has now reached the age of where we can leave him fully responsible for an evening while Tradesman and I are out on the town. At a buck an hour, he is darn cheap too!
All of our younger children are quite capable of taking care of themselves and our 2 year old looks at our eldest son as a smaller version of us. The two of them are quite close and so we have the confidence and security of knowing that we are leaving him in responsible, nurturing, loving hands.
I must admit, it is a taste of freedom that we are relishing.

When we came home from Bible study one night, this is the sight that awaited us....

Is there anything more precious than watching your children sleep?....yes watching two of your children curled up together sleeping!
Seeing our eldest child snuggling in our bed with our youngest child was such a tender sweet moment for us.

So take heart mothers who still only have little ones at home...Your day is coming!

~ A Homeschool Family ~

For those of you that know our family, You know that we homeschool. Some of you think we are strange already I'm sure, but after you watch this you might even be a little scared!!! :)
For those of you that do homeschool as well, I'm sure you will get a kick out of this!
My kids think it is hilarious!
*Turn music off in my sidebar*

Homeschool Video (click here)

Here are the words if you are interested:

(To the tune of "The Addams Family")

Some people say we're goofy
Mysterious and spooky
Our neighbors think we're kooky
A homeschool family!

We drive a white conversion
We learn about the Persians
Our six year-old's a surgeon
A homeschool family!

We learn about creation
And classic education
We're sponsoring a Haitian
A homeschool family!

(deep Frankenstein-

type voice): Meek....unique....geek

The parents are the tutors
We build our own computers
We never go to Hooters
A homeschool family!

Have recess in the foyer
and then we read Tom Sawyer
Our nine year-old's a lawyer
A homeschool family!

We never leave our dwelling
Our children are excelling
They're champions at spelling
A homeschool fam--i--ly!

~ Daddy Comes Home ~

When tradesman came in the door last night like so many nights,
he was tackled. No not by me silly! By his children.
All 5 of them came running at him, jumping on him with shouts
of excitement, and crys of daddy!
In the summer when this happens and he is just half way across
our lawn I often wonder what the neighbors must think. “Has he been
away on a long trip?” they must wonder to themselves. But
honestly,this is the greeting my dear husband receives every evening.
He is our favorite person. When we hear the familiar sound of his van
riding up the laneway, when we see him step in the door with that
grin on his face, we are all happy. This is the event we have looked
forward to all day...his return to us.

Not only is this a joyous time for us but what a blessing this is
to my husband.
After a long day working hard, he is greeted with a loving family
that not only has missed him, but is truly grateful for him.
As I wriggle through the pile of arms and legs to find a spot
to plant a kiss on this darling man of mine, I hear a familiar
phrase. It's one that I never tire of hearing.
“I love my family.”
A simple phrase really but important no less. It reminds me
why I do what I do everyday.

Our job isn’t meaningless or trivial ladies. We diligently train not only
the behavior of our children each day but most importantly their
character. What we selflessly pour into them each and every day
comes back to us tenfold.

My husband looks forward to coming home. Its not a burden or
something to be dreaded. I’ve created a peaceful home. One where
he can come home and feel relaxed, refreshed and truly appreciated.
There is no fighting or quarreling between the siblings, there is no
whining, or demanding of this or that.
There is simply gratefulness for this provider of ours.
My husband feels appreciated and cherished by his children.

The “witching hour,” it has been so tactfully called, is non-existent
in our home. During the time when dinner is being prepared and we
welcome home daddy, we are at peace.

The choices we make as mothers each day have a profound effect on all aspects of our life. Selflessly dying to our own wants and desires in order to meet the needs of our wee ones, and resisting the urge to be lazy about training is hard. It sometimes seems like thankless work.

But each evening that my husband makes it home for dinner is a reminder to me of what an honorable job I have.
What I do each day results in blessing my husband! His children honor and adore him.
No wonder he looks forward to coming home everyday!

Psalms 127:3-5 ~ Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth ~
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not be ashamed.

~ A Sacred Burden ~

"The process of shaping the child...shapes also the mother herself. Reverence for her sacred burden calls her to all that is pure and good, that she may teach primarily by her own humble, daily example."

Elizabeth Elliot (The shaping of a Christian Family)

~ An Ice Rink Evolves ~

This past weekend we embarked upon putting together an ice rink. I say "we" because I'm all about the honesty folks! The task of documenting this feat with a camera is no less important.
I tell you....no less important!
Besides, it was cold and muddy out there you know. I'm a girly-girl and tend to balk at the idea of manual labor in not so pleasant conditions. Plus, I just painted my fingernails.



Here's Tradesman measuring....I just love it when he does that.

Here he is wielding a hammer....I love it when he wields a hammer.


My oldest child wasn't about to be left out of all the action...

Apparently, his brother felt like watching was a better option...

His sister on the other hand shares my DNA and felt like the whole thing was a little boring and decided to provide her own entertainment...

Blowing kisses to her adoring audience...

The baby of the family was hard at work...

We'll give her points for at least holding a hammer...

A little tuckered out there buddy...

All that stargazing, and lounging must be exhausting...

Alas, he redeems himself.

I on the other hand, retreated to my warm kitchen and made myself a nice hot cup of cocoa.
I had very important, much more labor intensive things to do...really I did.
Pictures don't load onto the computer by themselves you know! They need highly skilled, driven, non-lazy people like myself to handle that.
That's just what you were thinking weren't you?

~Back to the Basics~

As a homeschooling mom I have the honor of teaching my children many things.
My biggest priority is obviously to pass on my love for God and a passion for his word.
In this very scary, disturbed world children need some kind of backbone, an absolute to measure every experience and choice up against. There has to be some kind of foundation built on in which they are able to find strength and solidarity in an ever changing world.
The views on how to live your life all around them are wishy-washy and some outright dangerous. If it feels good "Do it", if you want it "Get it!"
No wonder there are so many pregnant young girls, and strung- out teens.
I worry about this "Me" mentality. How are these children who are growing up with parents indulging almost every whim and desire going to respond when they hit the real world? Parents who are so afraid of squelching their children's creativity and spirit that they actually inhibit the child's growth of character and resilience.
Will they have what it takes to work hard for something? Will they be able to stand up against any opposition?
I have seen adults having full blown temper tantrums, I myself have been guilty of it. The world is full of adults who give up easily, believe everything is owed them, constantly live in a state of denial, their mantra is "Life's not fair!"

Well of course life's not fair! Who ever promised it was going to be!
It's only when we teach our children to look outside of their own circumstances and look to the many needs of others can they have any chance of growing into a responsible asset to society.

Thats why I love the Bible.
There are countless examples we can point our children to. Men, women who persevered, gave unselfishly, overcame obstacles, and lived a life of excellence. Some fell and they fell hard but they got back up thanks to an ever Gracious ever Forgiving Heavenly Father.
When we are training our children each day we need to keep in mind the future and the desired outcome. Our good intentions can actually cripple our children if we are looking to society for answers.
We need to get back to the basics...
Gods Holy Word.

~ Silly Girls ~

Are there really any words necessary?

~ A New Day ~

Do you wake each morning with a spring in your step? No? How 'bout after coffee?
If you answer yes to that, I admire you.
I'm guilty at times, of dwelling on the unimportant stuff. It then seeps negativity into each and every other thing I do that day.

Really what could we possibly have to be negative about?
Did we sleep last night in a warm cozy bed uninhabited by bugs? Did we wake up to see beautiful healthy children whose bellys we have the ability to fill with the resources we have available to us?
When you looked around were you surrounded by things that make your day to day life and chores easier? Were there reminders of precious memories and beauty that caught your eye as you went about your morning?

How incredible that this is the life you and I have!! We were chosen for such a time and place as this!
With all that women endure around the world, do you ever just stop and think "Why me?"
"Why have I been given so much?"
What ever sufferings or grievances we may have- can they really ever compare to the devastation and turmoil that families coexist with in so many other places in the world?

Self-pity is such a sneaky thing. Without even realizing it we can find ourselves caught in its sticky web. From there the more we fret the more we worry the more we dwell, we are tossing ourselves around just getting further pulled down and tangled up. Our joy is consumed and we are left as nothing but an empty shell of what we could be.

Its time to wake up! We need a fresh vision! We can embrace each day joyful and fully satisfied. (Prov.31:25)
"This is the day that the Lord has made we will rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm.118:24)

It's a new day and what a glorious day it will be!!

~The Mom Song ~

I needed a laugh today. Just in case you need one as well...I hope you enjoy!

(Make sure to turn music off in my sidebar)

~ A Target meltdown ~

Tradesman and I went across the border the other night to the local Target. We had a Christmas present to exchange and I was anticipating a great sale on all the holiday decorations.
I LOVE Christmas decorating but I'm far too cheap to buy anything at full price. Its been a tradition of Tradesman and I every year after Christmas to pick up stuff on clearance. Sure some of the stuff is sometimes damaged but when you have 5 children its bound to get damaged at some point or another anyway. We have managed to get some beautiful stuff over the course of our marriage.
As we approached the doors I tried to act calm, cool and collected, but I found myself sweating a little and maybe even breathing heavy. Tradesman being the very tuned in hubby that he is noticed and stated the obvious....I was excited!!
Once we were in the doors I located the first Target lady I could and asked her to point us in the direction of the clearance Christmas merchandise. Then I ran, ahem...walked very normally over to the aisle. I realized quickly after I arrived that she had been mistaken. Tradesman waved her over and I politely explained that I was looking for all the leftover Christmas de-cor-a-tions.
"Mame , this is all the leftover Christmas de-cor-a-tions."
"What?!" "What do you mean!" "This can't be all that's left!!!"
I fell into a blubbering pool of despair right there in front of the bazillion boxes of peppermint candy canes which by the way is proof that nobody actually likes the peppermint ones!
Embarrassed by my meltdown, tradesman looked at the Target lady who by now was making a beeline for another aisle.
He tried to reassure me that there was always next year, and we would come earlier then.
I was determined to find something so I picked myself up and looked to see if this deal shopping could be salvaged. Here's my big exciting purchase....


At 8 cents a piece I spent a total of 24 cents.
Its a grave disappointment to the many other great purchases over the years, but alas it is a deal nonetheless.
Apparently, real Target lovers I was told, are there at 7:00am the morning after Christmas.
Well that's just nutty!

By the way, if you are looking for me next Dec.26th, I'll be unavailable. I'll be the one lying in a sleeping bag outside of Target.

~ Crazy Momma ~

Well, I'm officially out of the running for the "Mother of the Year " awards, and its only 7 days into the new year!
Considering I was chasing my two boys around the kitchen like a raving lunatic with a hockey stick yesterday I might have a chance at the "Loony Bin" mom awards.
How did all this begin you might ask?
While the boys were having a short school break, I was doing laundry and changing the toddlers bum. I hear a loud crash from my family room and proceed to run to see what treasured decorative thing has been added to the list of things broken in my house!
It was a glass vase on the fireplace mantle, nothing expensive because well who owns expensive things when they have a houseful of boys?!
When I saw my two guilty boys holding hockey sticks yet again in my living room, I went ballistic!
I grabbed the hockey stick out of the younger boys hand and proceeded to chase my boys into the kitchen with it like a mad woman.
They were laughing at me. I'm not sure if it was the foaming at the mouth I was doing or the huge vein pooping out of my forehead that spurred them on.
Either way I was swinging and they were dodging! I obviously tired out quicker. The toddler thought it was a game probably because of the squeals of amusement out of his big brothers mouths.
Apparently I was the only one who was serious about the whole thing. After I calmed down I promptly dished out their discipline for playing hockey in the living room which had already been forbidden. I now am the proud, temporary owner of 2 beautiful hockey sticks and I have 2 very sparkly toilets.
Later on in the afternoon when I was cuddled up on the couch with them reading our history book , I humbly apologized for losing my temper. Being the very sweet boys that they are, they forgave me. My 9 yr. old looked at me and said "Momma remember those verses you told me the other day again from proverbs?" " Love covers over a multitude of sins, and a fool allows himself to get angry, but a wise person keeps themself under control."
Yes, ahem...I remember.
Good thing Jesus forgives mommas too.

So that poem I posted two days ago proved to be true yet again.
Humorously, I watched my two yr. old chasing my two girls through the kitchen with his mini-stick until he was promptly apprehended.
Um...er...not sure where he got that from...

~ My Tradesman ~

Some like a GQ man, some like a jock, others a musician, a businessman, or an engineer.
If you're like me though it's....a tradesman.
Just saying that word brings a smile to my lips and a blush to my face.
My husband is a tradesman.
When he gets home and plants a kiss on me, I still get belly sparks.
The salty taste of his lips, evidence of a hard days labor, the faint whiff of sawdust or carpet fibers still makes my head spin. I know it sounds crazy, but tis true.

We women are all different and so are the men in our lives. Yet, we all have some basic need to be adored. We want our husbands to find us lovely.
Yes, even when they come home and we haven't washed our hair in 4 days, there's spit up, or play dough on our shirt, our outfit leaves much to be desired and we are pretty sure their might even be marker on our face. We all have this daydream that he doesn't see all that, that really he just wants to look longingly into our eyes and tell us that we are all he could think about all day.
Come on, be honest, you know you've been there!

These hardworking men in our lives need our adoration as well. Take a trip down memory lane and remember what it was that made you fall in love with your husband.
Was it his strong silent presence, his funny stories, his laugh, his ability to fix everything, his charm, his tenderness, his friendship, his loyalty, charisma? Think back, remember when you couldn't get enough of him. Dwell on those attributes because they are still there and a very real part of that man of yours!
Now when he walks in the door next time, you be sure to march right over there and tell him how all you could think of today was him!
Make sure he knows what you love about him and then plant a big old kiss on those lips of his!
I promise you, you won't regret it!
There might even be some belly sparks!

~Child- rearing Truth ~

I'd rather see a sermon

than hear one any day,
I'd rather one would walk with me
than merely tell the way;

The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but examples always clear;

The best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it,
if you'll let me see it done,
I can watch your hands in action,
your tongue too fast may run;

The lectures you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;

I may not understand
the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.

Written by Edgar Guest

I love how this poem runs so true with our children. They will make daily decisions based on what they see each and every day. The longstanding quote "Do as I say not as I Do" is a pipedream really.

Our children will emulate us. We are what their little eyes are watching, their little minds are absorbing.
Change in our own lives should not just be a desire, it should be a requirement.
Our own selfishness, our own personal fears, our nagging struggles need and have to be dealt with!
By the grace of God we can change, we can be made new.

I love having my children home each day. It gives me no choice but to learn and to grow personally. It keeps me accountable. Having them by my side allows the opportunity for constant learning on their part as well.
What an honor it is to have a part in shaping these little lives.

~ Fowers with an ulterior motive ~

Aren't these pretty? My sweet hubby brought these home for me yesterday. I love flowers, and my husband knows this well. But there is something else my husband has learned from being married to this wifey of his for almost 14 years. When my husband brings me flowers I tend to clean up within a fifty foot radius the entire area in which the flowers have been placed. I mean really clean. Vacuum, dust, scrub you name it. Its like I can't enjoy the sheer ambiance of the flowers unless everything is perfect around them...coo coo I know!
This darling hubby of mine has been known to strategically place flowers in areas that have been... lets say neglected? Sneaky, isn't he?!
As I mentioned yesterday I have been trying to get motivated enough to clean up all the Christmas decorations. I had gotten as far as stripping the tree and stockpiling every other decoration in the living room. So low and behold, what do I find in my living-room yesterday? Subtle , isn't he?
Do I ever feel blessed to have a husband who is ever patient with his sometimes slobbish wife.

~ Christmas Cleanup ~

This really is a fabulous site to behold.
It means I finally got all my Christmas decorations packed away! It should have taken only an afternoon, but because I tend to be a bit of a spaz, and get bored easily- I dragged it out a couple of days.
I won't show you the 5 million pine needles on my carpet because we forgot to put one of those bag thingys under our Christmas tree this year.
It seems as if the tree decided to wait until my dear hubby was carting it or should I say bumping it against every piece of furniture imaginable to then shed its entire glorious greenery onto my livingroom.
By the time my husband triumphantly placed that tree outside, it was one very naked trunk.
But, I'm done, and besides who doesn't like the smell of spruce still coming from their vacuum in the middle of July?