I am so sad to say goodbye to September. It has been a gorgeous month. This time of year makes me feel alive and I am so thankful for it. I feel blessed to be living in the Midwest again during Autumn. Mom and Terry have some amazing apple trees which really did produce well. Terry is an expert when it comes to taking care of fruit trees and with his special pruning they are exceedingly abundant. We also picked a bunch of raspberries and froze some. I made a huge cobbler with them and Jesse made a delicious sorbet. Jesse dug a ton of potatoes today at some friends of ours. He made scalloped potatoes for dinner which were delish!!! I am so thankful for a husband who cooks!
turned 12 on September 27th. She enjoyed several parties (one earlier in the month with daddy--who turned 42 on September 12th) and one the day before her birthday at Grandma's. We also took her out to Subway (her favorite restaurant) on her actual day and went to Walmart to shop with her birthday money. She only bought a wallet to hold her money:) She is saving up the rest to put towards a nintendo ds at Christmas time. Alicia is my computer girl and will spend all her time on there if I don't limit her. She is very creative, artistic and is just a happy person most all of the time. Julia made her the cute bubble gum machine cake.
Here is an article I recently submitted to our Woman's Newsletter at church:
“Mom, guess what?”I prayed that this would go all the way to China!”These were Katie’s words on Sunday as she showed me a paper airplane that she had decorated.It was covere d with an 8-year old’s words of evangelism in small wavy print and surrounded by colorful pictures of crosses, birds, kittens and little girls waving.“I’m going to send this into the air and pray that it reaches someone who doesn’t know God…maybe even to China!” she repeated.
Later, it struck me…she didn’t have any reservations or hesitations about the paper airplane flying all the way to China.She had faith that if God willed, He would send it to China.I thought of Philippians 4:13..”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”How often we limit ourselves by forgetting to call on the Lord and attempting to do for ourselves.Jesus gives us the strength, not only for our daily activities, but for wonderful and amazing things that we would never dream of accomplishing without Him.
Warren Berkley says in his Expository Files “ To get the impact of this (v erse), stop and think about what you could not do without Him”.We are nothing without Him, yet often we try and go it alone.We then wonder why we fail or our accomplishments seem hollow and empty.
How we limit the Almighty God!When we take the time to study the petal of a flower or the delicate wings of a dragonfly, we are astonished.When we view a majestic mountain peak or the thundering ocean waves we can really understand Jeremiah 32:27 which says “I am the Lord, the God of the whole human race.Is anything too hard for me?”
So many times have I gotten up and faced the day without asking Him for help.As I wrestle and struggle forward, each minute seems like an eternity.Fear and anxiety are my companions when I attempt to live without God’s help.With God I can move forward in His will with peace and contentment.I can tell my neighbors and people I meet about God and am not surprised when wondrous and miraculous things occur….maybe even a small paper airplane crossing the mighty sea!
one must take the challenges that life throws at us (large or small) and keep moving forward. Today I was up very early. DH gets up at 5am to go to work and I don't usually get up that early, however, today I was up shortly after and could not go back to sleep. I got up and did chores to prepare for church. Laundry, dishes, ironing, puppy and bunny chores, etc. I made my birthday girl a hot breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and hot cocoa with marshmallows. Got the kids up about 7:30 and began the mad rush of dressing and eating before church. Colton took off for work and we went out to get in the suburban which was DEAD! Yikes! I have the permanent Sunday School nursery position and have to get there. Luckily we live very close. I hooked up the battery charger and off we walked...we made it in plenty of time and it was a gorgeous morning for a walk!
with the news. I have always loved watching what is going on in the world, following the Middle East and Israel in particular. The world continues to do nothing about Iran and Israel will probably be forced to act soon...especially with the discovery of the new nuclear facilities. Here is a good article on Fox News about this issue.
We had a nice day at Grandma's. Went over there about 11 and played, ate lunch (delicious pot roast and potatoes) and had a yummy homemade sour cream chocolate cake for Alicia's 12th birthday which is tomorrow. Alicia received some birthday money and a soft blanket with pillows from Grandma. We had to leave about 3 to get Julia to a party and Carlina & Alicia to babysit. Katie stayed with Grandma for the night.
I've been neglecting my blog lately. Jesse has been on his "8 days off" and we have been keeping very occupied. We had a wonderful day today. Had a picnic lunch at our favorite park and then did some driving around enjoying the countryside. Jesse and I love to just drive about and look at things and the kids seem to enjoy it, as well. Jake had a magnificent time running around in the park and then hanging his head out the window feeling the breeze. It is the most perfect time of the year(weather wise), as far as I'm concerned.
We stumbled upon a vineyard and were given an impromptu tour. Only the Catawba grapes were yet to be harvested...they looked fake hanging on the vine. We saw the beautiful bottles with custom labels, giant vats where the wine ferments and various other things they use to make the wine.
Had a wonderful Friday night and Saturday morning attending our church's annual Woman's Retreat. It was held at a church member's house out in the country. We had a dinner, wonderful speaker (we sat around a campfire in the perfect September evening) and cheesecake dessert. Carlina, Julia and Anna came along with me. The older girls were invited to help out. They ended up staying up all night talking!
On another note, Carlina got a job working at the local restaurant. She will be busing tables until she is old enough to waitress (16). I am so excited for her! Now I have 2 working teens, so hard to believe.
September has been perfect...the trees are starting to change, days are warm and evenings are cool.
. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration? Diapers (and a giant pizza...shhhh, I picked 2)
2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate? fancy cell phones
3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about? see picture
4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car? Anything by Journey.
5. A really great salad must have this ingredient: Any fruit.
6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences): Don't compare yourself to other bloggers...do it for you!
7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you? Jennifer and no.
8. What in your life are you waiting for? Each day!
9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from? Box of books from Usborne!!!
10. Today--what song represents you? ?????
11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself? Writers block is my friend.
12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today? It was clean and in my closet.
It is insidious, lurking, wedging itself in odd places, popping out uncontrollably and violently. I want to be humble because I am humble...lowly, unrighteous except for Jesus. There is nothing great about me except for Him. Help me God to serve others and not look down on anyone. Do I take pride in my house (most often messy)? My kids( rebellious sinners, as I am)? Homeschooling(imperfect!!!)? Help me to take pride in only You.
Her books always make me feel introspective...slightly sad...reminiscent and wishing I could really write. I think of time, loss, family, God, life.....her writing is a gift to me, a gift from God. I really can't imagine life without a good book and they are few and far between. I guess that is why I read the classics over and over. I don't like excessive violence, graphic sex, adult themes. I read lots of children's literature, but I am so thrilled when I find a novel that I can savor...
Mix 2 packages of instant vanilla pudding with 1 2/3 cups of milk. Stir for 1 minute. Add 6 oz of frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed). Stir. Add a regular sized carton of cool whip. Stir. Put into a graham cracker crust. Chill. Garnish with lemons and dollops of cool whip. YUM!!!!!
That is what I pull every Wednesday night for the AWANA workers in our church. This year looks to be very busy with 2 3-year olds, 2 18- months olds, 1 year old Anna and 7 months old twins. Jesse helped me tonight with food duty. He was popping blueberries, grape pieces and crackers into little mouths faster than a gun slinger in Tombstone, not to mention holding juice boxes while little slurpers sip and spill. I love that man!
and I'm still up. Typing on this blog. Listening to "Little Rascals" on T.V. Wishing I was snoring away in bed.
Today was busy...school in the morning and then up to the orthodontist in the afternoon so Carlina could have her braces taken off. She got molds made for retainers and then back in 2 hours to get the retainers on. She is in lots of pain because the retainers are so tight. Tomorrow she will go to the dentist for bridges and a front cap and then back to the ortho on Fri. We start the whole process anew when Julia goes in for her first appointment in October. I have many long years of sitting in orthodontist offices ahead of me.
I am a sahm of 9, a devoted follower of Jesus,wife to Jesse (24 years) who homeschools, loves to read, take walks, grow flowers and study the Bible and current events.
