I'll Have 6 Cherries and Oatmeal

This is what Sam said he wanted for breakfast this morning.

Yesterday and today I've been overwhelmed with how amazing my husband is and how wonderful my kids are. A friend of mine told me once about a sermon she heard (this was years ago and I still remember). The point of the sermon was, God always loves us...but He likes us too. He enjoys us not just endures us.

This describes how I feel about my family. I WANT to spend time with them. Don't get me wrong, I completely LOVE my time to myself too. I guess I'd say I think my family ROCKS!

Thanks God for the blessings of family.

Back to Monday

I've gotten out of the routine of blogging! How sad is that?

I never got to commemorate Sis' b-d this past Monday. I'm going to post some picture of pictures.

Esther was born after 36 hours of labor, pushing for 2.5 hours and a 2nd degree episiotomy(sp?).

My dear friend Anna attended Ben and I. She held my right leg up the WHOLE time I was pushing and told me later that while I was pushing, the anaesthesiologist came barging into our room looking for his lost keys. (I don't remember this) And she quotes me as saying, after Es was laid on my chest, I could so do this again tomorrow. (I don't remember this either!)

Sis organizes her brothers into various games and activities. She's my one and only girl.....and the more girly, the more better! There's a part in one of my favorite movies when a bimbo (no other way to describe) who has a liberal amount of lipstick on says she needs to go to the ladies room to apply more. This describes Es......just not the bimbo part! She can be quite the queen of drama, but her sense of humor takes the bite from most of the drama. She's also quite sarcastic.....hum.....probably got that from Ben. Her favorite dinner is fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. I love that she loves to read her Bible to her brothers before bed. I love to hear her singing a worship song with all that's in her. There is nothing more humbling than a child that will remind the parent of God's or house rules! Yet she does so with graciousness and joy (at times:).

She is true to her name......God's bright star, His glory shining. Love you Sister Susie!

Crashing But Not Burning

Our computer crashed last Saturday, hence, the lack of response to e-mail and blogging. It amazing how much I rely on my pc!
So this post will be short.....

*Our oldest changed her age Monday. She's 8 now......or maybe she'd 16? No she just acts 16 sometimes!
*I ran 4 miles in 46 minutes this morning. Funny thing is that I didn't feel like I was exerting myself, just playing a mental game.
*As Ben and I were getting to bed last night Joey was upset about a dream. Ben went to console him and found that he was SUPER hot and sweaty, so Ben stripped his comforter down (which was up to his chin) and in so doing found that Joe was still wearing his Church shoes! He LOVES his new church loafers and didn't want to take them off!

Hope to be up and running soon!

What a Wonderful World

I've had the privilege to live, cry, go on road trips, move 5 times, laugh, sing, have and raise 4 kids and dance with the same man for the past 11 years.

He loves, hears, understands, sees and completes me as no other could.

I've watched him work hard to provide and also work hard to become a better: Husband, Father, Man and Pastor. It has been a joy to witness him interact and grow with his kids at all the different stages of their ever changing lives.

I know he's not perfect, but he's perfect for US!

You are more than I ever dreamed possible and I am privileged to be called Your Mrs. So......here's to the best Dad I know, my husband, the father of our kids, my Lion Hearted and Knight in Shining Armor. Ben, I love you.

If God Never Did Anything More

I heard a Pastor (maybe a Reverend?) by the name of Jack Hayford tell the following story. This is not an exact quote, 'cause I can't remember perfectly :)

There was a man, who wasn't prolific in practicing thankfulness and was trapped in a bank vault. It was closing time, he knew no one would be checking the vault. He knew he'd die if he didn't get some help. He decided to scream and yell for help. He also prayed "God help me! I know there's not enough oxygen to survive the night. Get me out of here!" (Now don't get the wrong idea...Pastor Hayford wasn't saying that asking God for help is wrong)

Same situation but switch the unthankful man out for a thankful one.

This man rose every morning saying "Thanks God for the oxygen you've allow me to breathe and for choosing to wake me up this morning." Now his prayer (in the reverse vault situation) was different. "God you've been so good to me. You've blessed me so much, I can't ask for anything more. You've already done so much for me. Thank you Lord for the last breath I breathe."

Now, everyone has problems with bad attitudes or wrong choices (my kids could tell a few stories about my bad attitudes, sad to say), but this story encourages me. I try to wake up and say thanks to God, because if God truly never did anything more for me, He's already done enough. He is the Author of my days and the fact that He thinks I should stick around a few more days is a blessing to me. And if He chooses to take me home, I can thank Him in person!

God help us to use these precious, few days of our life to honor You.

Psalm 139:16,18 "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." "When I awake I am still with you."

Stopping This Mother's Heart

Since Zach and Joe were 6 months old, they have loved playing in water. The larger the amount, the more fun! I remember the first time we went to a pool, my little babies would flail to try and get away form me and be on their own in the water. It scared me!
Over the years, their love and lack of fear for water has been a concern to me.
My in-laws came to visit this past week-end and stayed in a hotel with a pool. Needless to say, we visited the pool twice. By the end of the second visit, Zach had become Freak Boy in the water! He insisted on not wearing the water floaties, and performing 'tricks' for us. He learned to: swim underwater (he opens his eyes and can travel about a foot and a half); jump in, from the side, unassisted and uncaught; do a flip from the side into the water. (his head looked to be about three inches from the edge....ahhhh!).
Watching him tormented me! My mother-in-law and I were not in the pool but watching from the sidelines and Ben was in with the kids. Zach would stay under longer than we could handle and we'd end up yelling at Ben to pull him to air. Right after we'd yell, Zach would pop up like nothing was out of the ordinary and wipe his eyes.
Honestly, just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes! I was so scared several times the memory is frightening to me.
Any advice to help keep me calm?
The picts were taken last year at our Aunt's pool.

Good to Know

I had a Dr. appointment yesterday afternoon. Reason being: I was having strange symptoms; Very sensitive gag reflex, nauseous (to the point of vomiting once), head aches, feeling cold most of the time and lack of weight loss (even though I was going to extremes). He grilled me with questions for about 35 min. took my blood pressure and pulse, then went to his office to research my symptoms further. Basically I was drinking too much water (didn't know one could!) , not eating enough protein and not getting enough sleep. All the former and the fact that I went to extremes with my diet stressed out my adrenal gland(s) (the over drinking of water flush out the gland so much that they couldn't retain salt which is required to help regulate blood pressure, hence the fact that I had low blood pressure). I learned that the adrenal glands regulate blood pressure (blood pressure obviously effects the whole body) and an overall sense of well being (euphoria). I think the chemical adrenalin comes from the adrenal gland???? I should have asked him!
He said I was in good health and that I shouldn't worry about loosing the 10lb's I think I need to and just LIVE healthy. And about 45 min. after taking the prescribed vitamin, I started feeling warm......I'd say that's successful!

Berries and Mileage

We went strawberry picking yesterday. Pictured is me and the kids (of course), my Mom and my best friend Stephanie and her TWO month old daughter, Ella.

Just getting there was a miracle! I planned to pick up Steph on the way to the field. Thinking no problem......right? Steph mentioned that her hubby had the rear facing car seat base in the car he was using and didn't think she could go. I quickly assured her that there was no problem! "We can still strap the seat in without the base" I heard myself say......or.....could we? Not on your life! We got to her house and there wasn't a way to get it strapped in. Then I read the caution sticker on the side of the seat(after first trying for several minutes to get poor Ella secure) that it CANNOT be used without the base......Ahhhhh! We called almost everyone we knew that had a small infant to see if we could borrow their seat but came up empty. Then I remembered Kari! My cousin came to our rescue! She's due with their third mid August. Thanks Kari!

Oregon berries are the BEST! I found out (from an OPB show) that OR strawberries are more popular that any other state's. We process and sell ours more than any other. Apparently I've become a strawberry expert :)

Oh and one last thing......I ran THREE miles this morning! It took 34 min. but I went slower so I didn't burn out nearly as fast. At the table this morning I just commented that I was moving slow this morning (my patootie hurts!) and Joey said "I bet I know why. 'Cause you worked so hard exercising!" Then he kissed me. Ahhhh, livin' the dream!

Pushing

I've started my first quilt! Essy needed a new comforter and her b-d is coming up, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

I started about a month ago, and I'm not even half done. It's WAY more time consuming than I was prepared for. In order to complete Es's quilt, I would have to push myself and neglect the kids and the house for the next 13 days. And until about a half hour ago, I was going to do just that. Then I was reminded of a fact......

This past week-end Ben and I attended a retreat (locally). The focus was to understand who we are in Christ and who our enemy would want us to believe we are. It was probably the best Biblical teaching I've ever heard (and now applied:).

Anyway, at this retreat, I learned that I tend to push myself faster than God wants me to go. When I do this, I actually 'miss the mark', so to speak. I end up not getting the results I expected. I get so focused on persevering and completion that I miss the journey. I learned that God is a God, not just of arrival and completion, but also joy in traveling.....

I, as I was pushing to sew oogles and oogles, wasn't enjoying myself at all. I just wanted to make it to the birthday deadline. So much so that this morning I started to snap at the kids, telling them the reason was because I just needed to get done with this project.

Now that's a great memory for my dear Daughter! I so don't want her to remember Mama working so hard for her, that I made everyone else CRAZY and hurt every one's feeling in the process. I don't want her heart to drop every time she looks at the thing remembering the stress and hurt. I want it to remind her of joy!

So, I will miss the deadline in order to enjoy the journey. Because I am a woman who values traveling light!

The pictures above are some of what I've accomplished so far (I have completed 50 such pieces). Hey, can anyone advise me how to alternate the pictures from one side to the other? The set up looks so boxy......

Happy June Day!

Today is June first, but I think the only thing that is remembered at our house, today, is that it's only 17 day's until Esther's birthday. (She's been counting down from 48 or so day's 'till B-D. Hum, I wonder if she's excited?). She'll be 8 this year. I heard someone say that time flies. I'm here to testify......IT DOES!

Here's a little peek at what's been going on around here:
*1* I ran again for the first time in 6 days and met my 2.5 goal again. It was easier not to look at the display. Thanks Heather! Next time I run I'll go for not as intense but longer time and thus more miles.
*2* Okay, I need to clarify about Lucy. She didn't die.....we gave her away! Sorry for the terrible communication!
*3* We got two guinea pigs to 'replace' Lucy. The reason being, the kids would still have a live, lovable thing, yet they wouldn't be as much work. The problem is.......our guinea's (Fluffy and Samson-both are males;) are soooooo messy! They spread their bedding all over the bathroom. Not sure if I mentioned but I love my house to be continually clean. Hummmm, sounds like a contrast to me!
*4* And lastly, we might be moving soon.......ahhhhhhh! For several years Ben and I have desired to have 5+ acre's in the close-in-but-still-country area. We also desire to be debt free so.....to do that we have a bunch of options and decisions to make in the next few weeks.
Here are some of our options:
*Sell and move out of currant house into a rental
*Sell but still live in and rent currant house
*Don't sell currant house and live here longer than we expected (like move in 2009).
*But then we wonder if we wait that long the market will just continue to get more and more desirable (and more expensive:), but then on the flip side we wonder if the market will come down and waiting would be better???????
We totally want what God wants first, but secondly we want to make decisions that will enable us to be debt free.........aren't those two reasons synonymous?
I'm going to thank you in advance for praying for us because I know you will! Have a great week-end!