A Bit More Than A Journal

Tea Anyone?

2012-01-14T01:27:00.000-06:00

This post is long overdue.

In August, we had the privilege of spending a week with Debbie and her family. There were a few outings, but most days were spent leisurely around the house. We talked, we swam, we cooked, we ate. It was exactly the relaxing and refreshing time my family needed.

Debbie is just as she appears on her blog. Except more so. Because she cannot be contained by the words she types or the pictures she posts. She is deeper, sweeter, and well, more than I expected. The faith and peace that exude from her blog is amplified in her home. Simple words spoken have given me strength and wisdom and a closeness to God in the tumultuous months that followed. Words that might not mean anything to anyone else have flitted through my brain and helped me to land back in my Father's arms. Moments sitting with tea cups in hand or gathered around the table enjoying the company even more than the food. I can't really write here the things that we did, but I can tell you that I count it a privilege to know Debbie and her family; that in meeting her, I met a friend and for that I thank God.

And in those quiet moments since that I need a reminder of that peaceful visit, I curl up in my chair with a cup of tea, close my eyes, breathe deeply and I can almost imagine I am there. We miss you guys!

Calendar

2012-01-11T18:23:00.002-06:00

I bought a calendar yesterday. I haven't had to buy one in years but this year none of the businesses I frequent offered one to patrons, so I bought one. This was inside it:

When the time was right,

the sea parted,

the walls fell down,

the lions went hungry,

the sun stood still,

the star appeared,

the waves were calmed,

the stone was rolled away,

the LORD ascended...

And when the time is right,

the King of Kings will return.

God is never early and He's never late -

He's always right on time and His plans for you are good.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

JEREMIAH 29:11

What a timely reminder as we start this new year.

Balloon Fun

2011-06-22T14:39:00.000-05:00

What do you do when EVERYONE (including FigNewTon) is tired of FigNewTon being too sick to play? Apparently, take a balloon war to her!

Impromptu Picnic

2011-06-18T16:21:00.003-05:00

We have had a long day. It started at the doctor for FigNewTon. Then we went to a car care clinic to get two new tires and my transmission fluid changed. By then we were hungry so we picked up some tuna from the store and had an impromptu picnic. This was our view. The wind was blowing just right and felt really good after being in the hot car.

We were recalling lines from movies about fish. Funny things. Finding Nemo "I'm having fish tonight!" and "Fish are friends, not food." Lilo and Stitch. It was refreshing. Then we headed toward home, stopping at the pharmacy on the way. By the time we left the pharmacy I felt a bit like Lilo in the clip, overwhelmed and overreacting.

What Could It Be?

2011-06-14T18:39:00.004-05:00

Jumping Bean ran up the stairs.

Breathless.

"Tricia, Tricia, you have to come see!"

What could it be?

Prince Charming?

Maybe.

I don't know.

The girls would scarcely touch it.

Much less kiss the thing!

Meet Minnie Mouse

2011-06-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

Minnie Mouse is 3 and loves to spend time at our house or playing outside with my girls.

I asked her what flavor pop-tart she wanted for snack: Strawberry, Cherry or Grape.

She responded, "Pink!"

Paparazzi

2011-06-12T10:23:00.005-05:00

Jumping Bean took quite a few pictures on Friday when we were decorating for the party and a few after the guests arrived. She had fun, stayed occupied, and is proud of her photos. When I told her that she did a good job taking pictures she asked, "Did you post them?" So here they are.

Let's Party

2011-06-11T10:21:00.003-05:00

Butterfly had fun at her birthday party last night.

PS - I backdated a few posts. One on Butterfly's birthday and one about our celebrations and one yesterday about the cake.

Piece of Cake

2011-06-10T22:00:00.000-05:00

Butterfly is experimenting with the idea of becoming a cake decorator. Here are photos of her first cake and the decorating process.

I Should Post

2011-06-06T12:12:00.001-05:00

I keep thinking that and then it doesn't get done.

I have a 16 year old now and her birthday passed without a bit of fanfare on my blog. Granted, there was quite a bit of fanfare in life. We went camping. She is planning a party. Still planning simply because her sister got sick and that has consumed every ounce of daily life. I think she's getting better. But how do I talk about a child getting better in a forum like this when I didn't mention in the first place that she was sick? Most of life has been just daily stuff. And the emotional funk that has consumed me for most of the last year. I would like to say it's getting better but I really don't know. How do I post something like that in such a public forum? Life is a lot of appointments. Sometimes very purposefully breathing in and breathing out. Cleaning, sifting, sorting, downsizing almost as if I am preparing to move but in reality I think I am just finding a rhythm to life that requires less stuff. Stuff is tiresome. Stuff requires something from me and if I have learned anything from this year of being so sick it is that I need to be choosy what I give my energy to. Sometimes that is hard. Sometimes I want to spend energy someplace but I am all spent. Sometimes I know that something is no longer going to be given my energy now that energy is such a limited commodity but I don't quite know how to let go. So then I sit in limbo and it saps energy from me while I do nothing, like having a printer plugged in but not turned on.

This is random and I am shocked at myself that I am actually going to hit publish, but it will ease the thought in my head that I should post. For today random words will have to be enough.

Blessings.

Celebrations

2011-05-30T09:45:00.000-05:00

Butterfly wanted strawberry crepes for breakfast.

Then she wanted to spend the rest of the day camping at the lakes.

For dinner she wanted swordfish.

And of course there were cupcakes and presents.

Then we had s'mores. Yum!

Birthday Girl

2011-05-26T09:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Butterfly!

Storage Closet

2011-05-21T08:27:00.001-05:00

Butterfly wants to go camping for her upcoming 16th birthday.

That shouldn't be a problem...

Except...

All of the camping stuff was in here...

So, we spent all day yesterday emptying the closet...

Sorting things into piles...

There were things to find homes for upstairs...

Things to sell...

Things to give away...

Things to throw away...

And things to sift through...

And we ended up with this...

Greeting Cards

2011-05-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

Do you remember a month ago when I posted about the girls' fine arts festival? Well, since then the girls have been hard at work practicing for nationals and trying to find ways to finance the trip. Printing the book they wrote and illustrated was too expensive to make any money from trying to sell it, but they finished making the greeting cards that they are going to sell. I made a copy of all four cards for the top of an order form.

The cards are blank inside. They are selling them in packs of 12 for $5, plus shipping. What do you think?

Parking Brake

2011-04-29T08:20:00.001-05:00

I am a bit stressed.

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I am stressed, I do little things that can have disastrous results.

Like locking the keys in the car...

Or leaving my purse at the mall...

Losing my credit card in a pile of paperwork...

Or not pulling the parking brake on the car.

So yesterday...

After I had taken Butterfly for an MRI and to another doctor's appointment...

After she had cleaned the church by herself while allowing me time to hang out and talk to a friend...

After the check engine light had come on in the car again...

Nearing the end of a very long day in the middle of a very long week...

We stopped at CVS because she has decided she wants to wear make-up, more specifically purple mascara, and I couldn't find it anywhere else.

I parked right in front of the door and we went in to find her mascara.

After paying for it and walking outside, Butterfly says, "WHERE'S OUR CAR?!?"

I look around and keep saying, "Is this the only door?" to no one.

So, I walk back inside and ask the question to everyone within hearing distance.

And when they confirm that this is in fact the only door I say, "My car is missing."

This is greeted with a chorus of "What?!?" from around the room.

So I repeat it again.

The manager is called to the front and goes to the back to review the tapes.

The cashier hands me the phone after dialing 911.

I report my car as missing, not believing that anyone would choose to steal my car when there are others in the parking lot.

I am in utter shock.

So, as I am on the phone with the police describing the car a guy asks, "You mean the white one in the ditch over there?"

Yep.

That was my car.

I had forgotten to pull the parking brake and the wind had pushed it backwards until it began going down a hill and into a ditch.

It is the grace of God that no people were injured and no property was damaged.

CVS is on a very busy street and it was 5:00 pm.

The car rolled down into the ditch and up the other side only as far as the street before rolling back and settling in the ditch.

It is the grace of God that the ditch was dry enough that my car did not get stuck. It took very little effort for me to maneuver it out of the ditch.

I bet I don't forget to pull the parking brake anytime soon.

Confessions

2011-04-28T20:23:00.002-05:00

Autumn linked to another blogger doing a list of confessions. Here are mine:

I am tired of being tired all the time. I am tired of being sick. I am ready for all of this to be over. Like that's ever going to happen.
I would rather do nothing than do any other thing.
I live for the moments my girls are away from the house.
I ate chocolate and drank a Pepsi today. If you don't know me well, this won't seem like a big deal. If you do, you know that this could have disastrous physical consequences for me. Let's just say the stress relief that came from that action is worth the consequences. Remind me of that if I begin complaining about those consequences.
Goodwill is my favorite place to shop.
I am fanatical about cleaning my bathroom and kitchen.
I would love to live off-grid.
I am secretly glad that we live in an apartment that doesn't allow pets. Yes, I know all the benefits that children get from having pets but they are expensive and time consuming. I am too selfish to give that much time to an animal.
Sometimes I wear maternity jeans simply because they are comfortable.
Sometimes I forget to pull the parking brake on my car. Like today. And today... well... maybe that should be a post of its' own...

Where I Am At

2011-04-07T23:18:00.005-05:00

I used to create a "wordle" of my blog every week. I used it as a gauge; a way to see if my focus was where it should be. On a whim, I decided to make one today.

I think I am doing OK. I may not be blogging much, but when I am, the focus is apparently where it needs to be. :)

Fine Arts Festival

2011-03-30T13:44:00.005-05:00

Our state fine arts festival was this past weekend. Fine arts festival is something Assembly of God church does every year to encourage teens to discover their talents and become better at using them to glorify God and minister within the church. My girls entered quite a few categories: worship dance troupe (together), ASL solo (FigNewTon), vocal solo (both individually), children's literature (together), digital photography (both individually), t-shirt design (FigNewTon), and visual art 2-D (Butterfly). They did quite well; even earning invitation to nationals for their dance and ASL.

To earn money so that they can go to nationals this summer, they are planning to sell copies of their book and have some cards printed using the photos they submitted to the festival. Of course, the cards wouldn't have the words printed at the bottom of the page like these photos do.

Monet's in the Making... Maybe

2011-03-17T19:01:00.001-05:00

I think of a subject to post about...

2011-03-11T21:07:00.002-06:00

I begin to type it out...

I get distracted by the demands of life....

I come back to the computer....

I can no longer follow my original train of thought....

I think of a subject to post about...

Because of this cycle, nothing ever makes it from the ideas in my head to a published post. I am still here. I just can't seem to think clearly enough for long enough to get words on a page.

In the meantime, you can check out some of the things my girls have been doing, if you like.

But God...

2011-02-20T22:16:00.002-06:00

I think sometimes when God does a miracle, it slips in quietly and goes unnoticed...

I haven't had any nephritis symptoms since the first of the year. I don't know if the kidney disease is completely gone or just less severe, I wouldn't know unless they ran more tests, but I do know that I typically would have blown up like the Pillsbury dough boy by now. But God...

Also, my foot hasn't swelled or given me any pain since about that time. In early Jan, I quit wearing the medicine patch and I have had no symptoms. In Oct, the doctor told me to expect to need the patch for the rest of my life; that my foot would never completely heal. He wasn't counting on God doing a miracle. To be honest, neither was I. It seemed like a little nuisance to deal with and I hadn't even asked Him to heal my foot in over a year. But God...

Sometimes, I don't notice when something doesn't go wrong, when I am not sick. Especially when life has been as full of stress as it has been lately. But God...

These reminders make it easier to hold on to faith for the prayers that haven't been answered yet. Since He has done these things, it helps me to believe that He will answer the prayers that constantly pour from my heart; it helps me to not doubt that He will also heal Butterfly's brain and her heart, that He will continue to heal the wounds in my heart, that He will complete all He has started and do all He has promised.

The Best Valentine's Day Ever

2011-02-14T23:15:00.003-06:00

My little girls are growing up. It won't be long before they catch the attention of some young man. I have often wondered if I am doing enough to teach them to guard their hearts and to protect them from being swept off their feet by the wrong type of boy.

Today, I had a thought that I should begin pampering them on Valentine's Day. But... I didn't have that thought until late afternoon so I thought it might be a good plan for next year.

Then FigNewTon and I went to run some errands. We headed to the Goodwill and while I was there, I saw a Beanie Baby for 99c and a key chain for 59c. Each one was perfect for one of my girls, so I threw them in the basket.

Then we headed to the grocery store and I decided to buy FigNewTon some chocolate kisses. I had to be a bit more creative for Butterfly since she is recovering from a tonsillectomy, so I bought the frozen treats that have been her favorite this past week.

On our way home, we stopped at BK. Butterfly had been begging me to go to BK even though she can't eat the food simply because she wanted the toys currently in the kids meals.

Simple things that really took very little effort. I spent less than $10. Yet, on the way home, FigNewTon said, "This was the best Valentine's Day ever!"

Peek A Boo

2011-01-22T17:27:00.014-06:00

I know I have been absent for a while and the truth is I will probably be missing for a few more weeks. When I started recovering from my surgery, I expected to continue getting better. I expected recovery to be slow but steady. As much as I would like it to be, that is apparently not the plan.

When the surgeon released me from all restrictions, I was also recovering from pneumonia. I felt good, if not tired, for about a week before the next something went wrong. I am not quite sure what that will end up being diagnosed as; all I am acquainted with so far are the symptoms.

That said I barely have the energy to make it through an outline of my day with nothing left over to spend perusing the blogs I love or writing from my heart here. I will be back. I don't know how long it will take me to fully recover, but I know I will be back. I promise.

For now, I will leave you with the songs that play ALL. DAY. EVERY. DAY. at my house right now. They will be playing nonstop for approximately the next eight weeks. These are the songs that my girls are singing, signing, dancing or otherwise using for their upcoming fine arts competition. Enjoy.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T00:25:00.000-06:00

We spent days creating noise makers, confetti balloons and party hats.

All for this moment

Happy New Year, everyone!

Sunshine!

2010-12-31T11:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a rare day. The sun was shining AND it was warm enough to play outside for a bit!

Playing With Dolls

2010-12-30T09:36:00.003-06:00

Yesterday, the little girls spent the day with us again. We love it when they come over! It gives the big girls the chance to play with toys that they seldom pull out as well as giving me the opportunity to teach a bit. I never realized FigNewTon didn't know how to swaddle a baby. Butterfly has known most of her life and I never realized FigNewTon hadn't picked up on it. It is so fun to watch them play and learn!

Abundantly Blessed

2010-12-29T23:13:00.001-06:00

On Christmas Eve, the girls worked hard all day to clean the house and organize their personal space. At the start of the day, I wrote down all of the jobs that needed to be completed and put them in a jar. As each girl finished a task, she would pick another slip of paper. I had put a few fun things in the jar like play a game with me or take 15 minutes time for yourself. The girls were much less resistant to the unpopular jobs and excited to choose something from the jar, especially after they knew there were prizes included. The reward for having accumulated the most strips of paper was to choose the first evening activity. FigNewTon chose opening gifts from other people. That's what we all wanted to do.

Both girls volunteer at the library throughout the year. They received scarves and gloves from their favorite librarian. I didn't realize until just now that I didn't get a good picture of Butterfly.

Then they each got to open a box from Autumn. Check out the boxes.

Inside were quilts that Autumn had made. Butterfly has described hers as "perfect" and "it fits me." You can get a better look at the quilt here.

FigNewTon's quilt is also a perfect fit. She is a bit less expressive, but goes into her room just to look at it throughout the day and is the first one to grab her quilt whenever we sit down to read or watch TV. Autumn shows much better pictures of the quilt here.

Pictures of me and my gifts are harder to come by since I am always on the wrong side of the camera.

Autumn sent my gift to me early, so that I would have it while I was recovering. You cannot imagine how hard it was to not reveal the secret about the girls' quilts after receiving mine. I cannot count how many times I stopped myself from comparing pieces of my quilt to theirs. I am so glad the cat is finally out of the bag!

Days before Christmas, we were surprised with boxes at our door from Debbie. I opened them to find gifts inside and peeked at the invoice just enough to know who they were from. Now that they are open, I can tell you that Fluxx is our new favorite game! The package also included Mexican Train Dominoes which we haven't had the chance to play yet. FigNewTon is especially excited about that one.

Then Natalie stopped by and brought us all gifts. I am quite excited about the devotional book she gave me. I don't usually like devotionals and yet I can hardly wait till Saturday so that I can begin reading this one! She also gave me a wall plaque that looks beautiful hanging in my room. On it is the verse that is the cry of my heart right now and yet I hadn't told anyone.

Yesterday, my friend Julie took me shopping for a bed. I have never had a new bed before. My twin bed was in horrid condition. The box spring was busted so I was sleeping on my mattress on the floor. I could feel the springs inside and knew it wouldn't be long until one of them pushed through the fabric. Now I have a full size box spring and mattress! I had a gift card to Wal-Mart so I was able to go out today and pick up sheets and a mattress cover for the bed. I need to get a bed skirt, too; but they didn't have any that I liked in stock so that will have to wait.

There have also been monetary gifts this past month. Each one came with instructions from the giver. The first was to buy gifts. For that I am thankful. It relieves so much pressure when I know I can give the girls some gifts from me. They are always so blessed, but it blesses me to be able to purchase things for them. Then there was the Wal-Mart card to buy things for the house and that allowed me to pick up things we have been needing for a while like a new shower curtain and a mixer as well as the freedom to choose a larger bed because I knew I could buy sheets. Then a little more money arrived Christmas Eve designated for whatever we need after the holidays.

God always provides for our needs, often more extravagantly than I could imagine. This year we were truly and abundantly blessed.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:18:00.001-06:00

May your celebrations be filled with love and peace! Blessings to you, my friends!

Fire Engine

2010-12-23T09:22:00.002-06:00

FigNewTon went through a stage that lasted from the time she was four until she was six and a half that she wanted to be a fire fighter. Being a fire fighter consumed her every conversation and thought. The year she was six, she entered a competition to disguise a turkey to keep it safe on Thanksgiving and she dressed it up as a fire fighter. She had a fire fighter doll, a fire fighter coat and many other things. Her obsession started when she went along on a Daisy field trip with her sister. She told the fire fighters that day that she wanted to be a fire fighter and they laughed at her and told her girls couldn't be fire fighters. She set her mind on doing exactly what they had told her she could not do. If you look closely, the ladder on this side of the picture is broken. She played with it and had it set on her dresser for the longest time; sometimes even carrying it around with her. This ornament reminds me of all that and more.

Handcrafted Favorites

2010-12-22T08:52:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite parts of decorating for any holiday is the excuse it gives me to display things the girls have made throughout their childhoods.

FigNewTon painted this when she was three.

Both girls made one of these in 2006. Butterfly was 11, FigNewTon 10.

This is one of my most cherished possessions. Butterfly gave it to me the year she was four. In case you cannot read what is written, it says the box "is filled with love and hugs and kisses and tickles. But it doesn't really have anything in it." She was so unsure of herself, giving me an "empty" box for a gift. I told her it was the best present in the world.

Butterfly made this the year she was four.

Again, Butterfly made this when she was four.

Nothing else looks quite right on top of my tree.

FigNewTon made this when she was seven.

She has always loved the way it reflects the light from the tree.

Butterfly made this when she was five.

She said it was a light for the tree.

Both girls made these last year.

In case you can't tell, this is Santa Claus.
Butterfly made this when she was seven.

FigNewTon made this for school last year. She was reading The Family Under the Bridge and one of the assignments in her literature book was to make a Christmas display for a store window.

FigNewTon made this when she was six.

It is a Rapunzel snowman.

Angels

2010-12-21T01:16:00.001-06:00

Angels are not my thing. Angel figures have always bothered me because the way angels are represented in modern culture is not at all scripturally correct. In the Bible, angels are almost always very powerful creatures that elicit a response of fear. Their first admonition to the humans they come into contact with is often, "Do not be afraid." They are also typically given male names in scripture. So, for this reason, angel figurines are not my thing. They are, however, FigNewTon's. She loves them. So we have a lot of them. There are only three in her collection that I really like. This first one she made from pasta and paint when she was seven. It always makes me smile.

This second one, she made when she was five. She was so proud. She cut out three angel shapes by herself and glued them together and then painted on them a bit. I actually had to photograph the least deocrative side because the other two sides have her name on them.

This third one, FigNewTon made from a kit when she was eleven.

Here are the rest. Some are nice simply because they are so very old. We picked them up at thrift shops, so they have no significant meaning in that way, but they are special just because they are handmade and old.

Gingerbread Houses

2010-12-20T00:53:00.000-06:00

On Friday, the girls made gingerbread houses. It sounded like they were having tons of fun in the kitchen. The younger girls had the name of their school on their t-shirts and I didn't notice until after I took most of the pictures.

Nativity Scenes

2010-12-19T10:39:00.000-06:00

This one is tiny enough that I can hold it in my hand. I think that is part of what has always fascinated me about it, because each piece shows intricate workmanship. The figures glow in the dark. I can remember begging Grandma to let me sleep in the living room so that I could look at this after the lights went out. Unless we had company that was sleeping in my room, she would only let me sleep in the living room three times each Christmas; the day the decorations went up, Christmas night, and the day the decorations went down. The last time we visited Grandma, she sent this home with me. So for the last several Christmas seasons, it has sat on the dresser in my room.

The girls went shopping with a friend early one January and insisted that I wanted this nativity set. The friend indulged them and bought it. Just because of the love my girls showed for me, how they wanted to spend money on a gift for me, this nativity is priceless.

This was one of my first Christmas decorations. The second year we lived in NE, a friend gave this to me as a Christmas gift. It is a snow globe and a music box.

This one usually hangs on my front door. It was also a gift from a friend.

It's not the greatest picture, I know. The lighting is bad. Oh well. FigNewTon made this the year she was five. It is Baby Jesus laying in a manger. They took a baby food jar lid, glued straw in it and a ribbon around it, wrapped a piece of muslin around a small wooden clothespin and glued that on. Such a simple craft, really; but what a powerful lesson to teach those little ones about the birth of a Savior. What a powerful reminder, years later, still hanging on my tree.

Again, not the greatest picture. Have you ever tried to get a picture of an ornament? Butterfly wrote a letter to Santa when she was six; "An ordament about Jesus birth" was top of her list.

Twister Fun

2010-12-18T09:06:00.000-06:00

Parties, Princesses, and Polly Pocket

2010-12-17T09:12:00.000-06:00

I lay on the couch yesterday, per doctor's orders, and listened to the girls play pretend. They were going to the grandest parties and being princesses all the while dressing dolls. I love listening to children imagining the world as they want it to be.

Introducing...

2010-12-16T09:03:00.000-06:00

Jumping Bean...

and Little Lady.

Girls never get too old to play dress up!

Last Year's Ornament

2010-12-15T10:48:00.001-06:00

One for each girl. Can you guess whose is whose?

Figure Skating

2010-12-14T17:25:00.001-06:00

Most of you know that FigNewTon loves to figure skate. These are all her ornaments, but still ones that make me smile. :)

I bought this one early January 2008 at a gas station between my Grandma's house and home. I got it for pennies because although you cannot tell, it is broken. She was missing the bow on her head and I made one from beads that I glued on and she was supposed to have a mirror glued under her foot. Try as I might, I couldn't get anything that I glued there to stick. This ornament is one of my favorites anyway simply because it was perfect for FigNewTon.

I bought this one for FigNewTon as a gift last year.

This is one of my favorites. It is a music box. We picked it up at Goodwill and it was a gift to FigNewTon last year, but I don't even remember if it was from me or Butterfly.

Part of why it makes me smile has nothing to do with FigNewTon or figure skating. One Christmas when I was 11, a teacher bought me a stationery set that had mice on it. This makes me think of that and remember that no matter how bad things were, God was looking out for me and always placed someone in my life to care.

The Reason We Celebrate

2010-12-13T18:37:00.003-06:00

Butterfly made this ornament when she was eight. Looking at it helps to center me and bring my focus back to the reason that we celebrate the season. On each side is a different name for God: Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father and Mighty God. In the midst of the business and chaos that often consumes the Christmas season, this ornament helps me to see Christ more clearly.

Christmas Crafts

2010-12-12T21:09:00.000-06:00

This afternoon, we dug into our Christmas craft box and created these...

Deck The Walls

2010-12-11T17:24:00.000-06:00

The Christmas the girls were 2 & 1, we had just moved to a new city in a new state and we knew no one. We also had very little money and no Christmas decorations. I was at Target picking up some things we needed and decided to buy some pretty paper and ribbon. I took it home and wrapped the ~~ugly~~ pictures on the wall in my furnished apartment. It was a simple and cheap way to decorate that first year. Since then, most years at least some of my pictures get wrapped. This year we just wrapped the maps that take up one wall in the school/living room.

Over the next several weeks, I am going to make a few posts about some of my favorite ornaments and what makes them special. I hope you enjoy reading about the memories as I much as I enjoy recording them here. :)

Deck The Halls

2010-12-08T18:52:00.002-06:00

The Christmas tree and decorations went up in stages this year. The responsibility fell completely on the girls and they did a wonderful job. It took them one day to put up the tree,

another to string the lights

and one more to decorate it,

but at least they had fun in the process!

They put out a few of my favorite Nativity scenes.

The stockings are hung.

My usual piggy bank collection has been replaced with Christmas themed ones.

The girls hung lights in the living room window

as well as in their bedroom.

Butterfly set out a few of her favorite pieces.

So did FigNewTon.

They even put out most of my snowman collection. This makes me smile every time I look at it.

All my Christmas cards have been sent out and a few have begun trickling in.

We are ready to enjoy the Christmas season. I hope you are too!

What's Up Doc?

2010-12-01T22:31:00.011-06:00

Well, as you know I am recovering from an extended illness and surgery. Thankfully, I am recovering well. Another few months and I should be back to normal. Yes, I said another few months. As in approximately March 1...

Until then, I will probably still be sporadic about my posting. Some changes are coming to my blog, too. For starters, I am not going to do my weekly posts any more.

Music on Monday never really took off. I do, however, plan to add music to my blog again soon. I haven't decided if it will play automatically, but I know I will add it when I feel up to making a new music list.

Thankful Thursday served its' purpose by developing within me an attitude of thankfulness. I now have another place that I consistently make a thankful list on Thursdays. I have also decided that at the first of the year, I will begin My 365, where I list something that I am thankful for at the end of every blog post. If I don't post every day, I will just list multiple things the next time I post and it will also be a growing list in my sidebar.

I enjoyed doing Snapshot Saturday for quite some time. In the end, though, it became a burden. I know that is mostly because I was so sick; but partially it was because I have so few pictures stored on this computer and/or on CD's so it became difficult to always post something new.

All of these changes will necessitate a new design on my blog. I am not very good at writing html code, so that will take some time. I would also like a new header, but haven't figured out how to do that yet.

These last two weeks, I have been busy just being with the girls and taking it easy; letting us all readjust to life with them at home. I will be forever grateful to Autumn for her help this past month. The girls are constantly telling me stories about things they did while they were in OH and we are typing them out on their blogs as they do. Butterfly has recorded more stories so far, but FigNewTon is beginning to get in on the act as well.

We have also been recording GS accomplishments on their Girl Scout Log. I can only sit for a little while at a time so when we are finished with that and school, I seldom have the energy left to blog or read what you have written.

I had hoped to make some special Christmas posts this year like I did last year but have decided to take a cue from my friend Debbie and relieve that pressure from myself allowing time to just enjoy the moment, rest and heal.

Butterfly is doing well. She is still progressing, albeit slowly. Any progress at this point is a miracle since the doctors said last September that she would never get better. I expect that if the progress continues at a steady rate, she will be completely better by this time next year.

Aside from an insane amount of appointments (11 this week), that is about all that we have been up to. Blessing to you all.

Fabulous Feast

2010-11-25T16:00:00.002-06:00

My two beautiful daughters cooked this fabulous feast with only minor help from me. FigNewTon was responsible for making the turkey, dressing and the gravy. Butterfly made the crescent rolls. They both worked together on everything else.

My turkey has never looked or tasted quite as good as this one!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

The Girls Are Home

2010-11-24T14:29:00.003-06:00

All is right in my world.

Snapshot Saturday

2010-11-20T12:53:00.001-06:00

July 13, 2009

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-18T17:37:00.003-06:00

I forgot it was Thursday until late in the day... better late than never, I guess. What am I thankful for today? I am thankful that I am healing. I am thankful for the sunshine streaming through my window. I am thankful for friends, near and far. I am thankful for water. What are you thankful for today?

Music On Monday

2010-11-15T09:05:00.000-06:00

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Snapshot Saturday

2010-11-13T09:36:00.002-06:00

I know. I know. I usually only post one picture on Snapshot Saturday, not a series of pictures from one event, but I couldn't choose a picture of just one of my girls and remembering this event made me smile.

We were camping, early June 2009.

We had so much fun!

FigNewTon was so grossed out when the turtle wet on her pants!

It's Snowing

2010-11-12T22:16:00.000-06:00

Big, white, fluffy flakes covering the ground in a soft blanket of white.

Usually the first snow of the year fills me with a sense of wonder and amazement. Usually, I get giddy with excitement and am reminded that God makes all things new, that He is in the business of giving a fresh start. Usually it reminds me that my sins are forgiven and that today is a new day, filled with hope.

But today, it just makes me sad. I don't know if this is because my girls are not here to share the excitement. I do miss them. Or if it is because I have not been able to enjoy these last fall days before the winter sets in, cooped up in the house recouperating just like I will be cooped up in the house when it is too cold to be outside. I don't know why and do not plan to spend any energy figuring it out. But today, it makes me sad.

Tomorrow is a new day. Filled with wonder and amazement, giddy with excitement because He makes all things new. My sins are forgiven and because of that I can be filled with hope. These things are true regardless of what I feel.

It's snowing. Big, white fluffy flakes covering the ground in a soft blanket of white.

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-11T09:38:00.000-06:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful to be home and healing.
I am thankful for the friends that have helped me along the way.
I am thankful that the weather is a bit cooler today. (I know, I know, that goes against what most people are feeling, but since I can't get outside, cooler weather means a cooler house.)
I am thankful for flowers.
I am thankful for cards received.
I am thankful for the time to rest and recover.
I am thankful that I am beginning to feel better.
I am thankful that my girls are well cared for where they are.
I am thankful for Internet and telephone so that I can still connect with them.

What are you thankful for today?

I Won!

2010-11-10T08:03:00.000-06:00

OK.

If you want the details of this post,

you are going to have to scroll down a bit.

Unless you are one of my kids.

In that case:

DO NOT READ THIS POST!

Because it will spoil a New Year's surprise.

And I KNOW you two lovely ladies would not like to know ahead of time exactly what gift you are getting from me.

So....

This is your last warning...

OK. Do you think that is enough buffer space?

Can I go ahead and tell the rest of you what I won and subsequently ordered with my winnings?

Well...

Tiffany over at Three Ring Circus graciously hosted a contest a few weeks ago, right before I went in for surgery. Waiting in my inbox when I got home was notification that I had won! Isn't that wonderful? I won a voucher for Mooo.com.au. They have lots of really cool stuff that they will personalize for you. So, without any more delay this is what I ordered:

If you have never stopped by Tiffany's blog, you should. She is a mom of eight. That qualifies her for mother of the day award every time she gets all the kids going where they need to go. But she is also an amazing person. She has a way with words that lets you see into her heart. And she is a great photographer. Too bad she lives on the other side of the earth. Otherwise, she is the type of person I would like to be there for, showing up to everyday life events, and being there for each other when things go wrong. And I could see her doing the same for me. Thanks, Tiffany!

Well Wishes

2010-11-09T08:29:00.000-06:00

I have recieved many well wishes in the last week. Visits. Emails. Phone calls. Comments left here. All forms of instant communication. Each one was appreciated and each one helped me to remember that I am loved and people are praying for me.

But yesterday, I recieved not one but two cards in the mail; each special in its own way. I recieved a card sent from France, thank you elizabethd. Well wishes sent from across the ocean definitely made me smile. And I recieved a hand made card from my precious FigNewTon. Thank you, baby girl. I wish I had a camera so I could show you just how pretty the two cards are.

The odd thing is that they were postmarked on the same day. That's right. It takes the same amount of time for mail to reach NE from OH as it does from France. Go figure.

Music On Monday

2010-11-08T09:28:00.002-06:00

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

On The Mend

2010-11-07T08:49:00.000-06:00

Surgery was last Monday. I will spare you the ugly details. It is enough to know that I am slowly beginning to recover. Mostly, I rest. Sometimes, I listen to music, but usually I just listen to the silence. My mind is still too muddled to be able to write thank you cards, read, sift through papers, journal, or even watch tv. But I am getting better. If I had to guess, I think I will be back to my usual blogging schedule near the end of the month. Only time will tell, really. Until then, take care...

Snapshot Saturday

2010-10-30T11:13:00.000-05:00

October 31, 2009

For pictures of this year's costumes, check here and here.

Missing My Girls

2010-10-29T00:40:00.016-05:00

Just so you know, there won't be pictures on this blog for a month, except Snapshot Saturday. The camera is in OH with my girls. If you want to know what they are up to, you can visit them at their blogs. I can't promise how faithful they will be to blog, but they will probably post more than I have been lately. Well, except for this week.

Autumn will probably be blogging about them some, too. So, stop by their blogs and check out what is going on in their lives. Leave a comment to let them know you were there. I will spend this month doing what I am supposed to be doing: getting well... and missing my girls.

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-28T10:53:00.000-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that my girls made it to OH safely yesterday.
I am thankful for the opportunity to rest as much as I need to in these next few days.
I am thankful that the girls rearranged our living room/ school room with only supervision from me before they left.
I am even more thankful than usual for the telephone and internet so that I can keep in touch with my girls and feel connected to their lives.
I am thankful for really good doctors.
I am thankful for my pastor and his family.
I am thankful for friends.

What are you thankful for today?

Do You Really Believe In Prayer?

2010-10-27T00:04:00.001-05:00

A tale is told about a small town that had historically been “dry,” but then a local businessman decided to build a tavern. A group of Christians from a local church were concerned and planned an all-night prayer meeting to ask God to intervene.

It just so happened that shortly thereafter lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground. The owner of the bar sued the church, claiming that the prayers of the congregation were responsible, but the church hired a lawyer to argue in court that they were not responsible.

The presiding judge, after his initial review of the case, stated that “No matter how this case comes out, one thing is clear. The tavern owner believes in prayer and the Christians do not.”

- J. K. Johnston, Why Christians Sin, p. 129

My pastor used this as an illustration to his sermon on Sunday. Sometimes, I think I am more like the unbelieving Christians than the believing tavern owner. What about you?

Ready or Not

2010-10-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

The GIRLS are ready.

Excited even.

Looking forward to a month with people they love.

I am sure their dreams are filled with plans of adventures they hope to have.

Their bags are packed and waiting by the door.

I, however, am not ready.

I miss them already.

Another Perfect Song

2010-10-25T07:15:00.022-05:00

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

A Very Late Posting Of Snapshot Saturday

2010-10-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

August 2, 2010

We had just arrived in Detroit and signed in at her convention.

The skyline in the background is Windsor, ON.

FigNewTon was quite excited to be that close to Canada.

I got a parking ticket that we had to spend a day contesting later in the week. Who would have guessed that a sign that said No Standing meant No Parking?!? Thankfully, they understood my misunderstanding the sign and waived the fee. I remember thinking that day, "If only we hadn't stopped for a photo op." But realistically if we hadn't stopped for a photo op I would have parked there later in the week and still received a ticket.

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-21T18:12:00.002-05:00

It is the end of a VERY LONG Thursday and though I am thankful for quite a few things, I don't have much energy left, so this is going to be a very simple list....

Today I am thankful for warm fall days and time to spend with my girls. I am thankful for good reports and doctor appointments. I am thankful for accommodating airlines. I am sure my list would be longer if I felt better, but this is all I can think of.

What are you thankful for today?

This Song...

2010-10-18T20:41:00.001-05:00

says it perfectly.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Snapshot Saturday

2010-10-16T09:47:00.001-05:00

July 31, 2010

At the hotel, outside pool, on our way to OH.

I know they are not both looking at the camera, but getting them both to stay still long enough to be in the same photo was a feat in itself. I thought it was too chilly to swim, they obviously did not and they had been so good in the car that I really felt they needed a reward.

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-14T10:17:00.002-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that October is almost over, that surgery is scheduled and there is an end in sight to me being so sick.
I am thankful for sunshine and warm fall days.
I am thankful for friends. Like Autumn who made me a beautiful quilt and is going to take care of my girls while I recover. Like Liz who is taking me to the hospital and cleans the church for me regularly right now even though it is more than she should be doing. Like Natalie who is planning to bring me home from the hospital. And all the friends at church and co-op and far away who have let me know they care and are praying for me.
I am thankful for God, for my salvation, for the peace that comes from knowing Him even in the midst of all this chaos in my life.

What are you thankful for today?

The Most Amazing Gift

2010-10-13T07:58:00.006-05:00

The MOST AMAZING gift I have ever received is knowing my sins are forgiven and I will spend eternity in heaven because of Jesus sacrifice. This post, however, is about the most amazing touchable gift I have ever received.

That's right. My friend Autumn made me this amazing quilt. I don't think I have ever owned anything so beautiful.

My favorite square is the angel pictured above. The really neat thing is that it is in the center of the top row. There were also beautiful butterflies. I love the details.

But this...

...this made me cry. I cannot imagine my life without Autumn. When they moved away several years ago, I thought I was losing a friend. Truth be told, I think we are closer now than ever. I can't go over to her house on a whim, but we can still be there for each other when it matters. Thank you, Autumn!

Snapshot Saturday

2010-10-09T13:30:00.002-05:00

October 31, 2008

We were at a festival at Butterfly's school.

My grandmother made the dress for me when I was a teenager.

Thankful Thursday

2010-10-07T19:01:00.000-05:00

What am I thankful for today? I don't know. This list is going to take more effort today than usual. It's not that I am not thankful, there are many things that I am thankful for if I think about it. Usually the list comes a bit more easily, though, as thankfulness had become a way of life for me. And it's not that I have had an unusually difficult day or week, really there have been some very good things that have happened. I don't know what I am thankful for simply because my emotions are a roller coaster right now and my mind seems to be a bit of a black hole where information goes in but cannot find its way back out. So... what am I thankful for today?

my girls, friends, doctors, scheduled surgery, medicine, groceries, my car, the telephone, sunshine, science experiments, blankets, hot tea, honey, God, church, good reports, hope

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-10-02T16:06:00.001-05:00

July 2010

At Capital Building in Lincoln

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-30T17:27:00.003-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

spellcheck and computers, Internet and telephones, doctors and pain medicine, comfy clothes and comfy chairs, easy dinners and favorite cups, my children and my friends, faith and prayer, art classes and movie nights, friends and hope

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-09-25T23:03:00.001-05:00

July 2010

At the zoo

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-23T14:07:00.001-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that I am doing better than last week.

I am thankful for friends who encourage me, help me in tangible ways, sometimes scold me, pray for me, and in many ways help me to become a better person.

I am thankful for the Internet and the people it has brought into my life.

I am thankful for my girls.

I am thankful for fall. I think it is my favorite time of year.

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-09-18T11:42:00.001-05:00

August 2005

Not So Thankful Thursday

2010-09-16T10:59:00.006-05:00

What am I thankful for today? I don't know. I am thankful for the basics, like life and family and home and such. I am thankful for people that are in my life. Liz who is cleaning the church for me again this week. Autumn who is on standby to take my kids when I need her. I am thankful for God and faith and all that He brings to my life; peace, hope, etc.

I am also frustrated. I desperately want to feel better, to think thoughts coherent enough to be able to put them here. I want to be able to concentrate on reading a book and understand what I have read. I want to go to church with more regularity than I have been able to lately and I want the strength to serve others again. I want to have fun with my girls and be able to visit friends who are in the hospital. I want to run. Right now going up the stairs depletes more energy than running a mile and a half did before I got sick. I want to live life again.

Snapshot Saturday

2010-09-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

June 2009

Isn't she beautiful?

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-09T09:21:00.004-05:00

I am thankful that 14 years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who is rapidly becoming a lovely young lady.

I am thankful that she is alive and healthy to celebrate this day.

I am thankful for all the miracles that God did in and on her behalf that allows her to be here today.

Happy Birthday, FigNewTon!

Snapshot Saturday

2010-09-04T22:57:00.002-05:00

August 4, 2010

Photo taken at the Detroit Zoo. The zoo is a must see if you are ever in the Detroit area. It is small enough to see it all in an afternoon, but definitely worth the trip.

Thankful Thursday

2010-09-02T15:58:00.002-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

cooler weather, sunshine, garden vegetables,
friends, my children,
time, organization,
easy dinners, leftovers,
craft projects, school starting,
telephone, computer, television, music, electricity,
peace, patience, grace, love,
God's presence in the midst of it all

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-08-28T13:05:00.001-05:00

We stopped at Lake Erie on the drive from Detroit to OH. We were both impressed with the vastness of the lake.

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-26T08:55:00.002-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

A week without doctor appointments!
Prayer and emotional support from friends
Our homeschool co-op
Enough money in the bank to cover our needs
An easy fix for the car
The comfort found in reading the Bible
Fans, air conditioning, and cooler temperatures
Tomatoes and other garden fresh veggies
The library - a place for the girls to volunteer, a place to find books to supplement our curriculum, a place of friendship, a necessary distraction to the stress of life right now

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Sunday?!?

2010-08-22T18:47:00.002-05:00

August 6, 2010

Detroit, MI

Last day of National Fine Arts Festival

2010-08-19T17:00:00.003-05:00

Navigating another wing
of another hospital

Meeting another doctor
for another set of tests

Becoming all too familiar
with the unfamiliarity of it all

Answering questions that I
never expected to be asked

And hoping that this
does not become familiar as well

The Long Answer...

2010-08-19T16:59:00.002-05:00

The summer started with us going first to OH and from there to GA. TatorTot came home with us for the summer and then went home mid-July. When she first got here, I focused on settling in to a routine with the four of us and then just enjoying her while she was here. Before she left, it became a struggle for me to get through a day because I was so very tired. After she left, it got increasingly more difficult and my days were filled with doctor appointments to figure out why. In the middle of that, Butterfly went to OH again while FigNewTon and I went to her National FAF competition in Detroit. We know a lot of what is not wrong with me and not a lot of what is. So for now, I wait and pray, go to doctors and hope to be healed. I am not sure if that is a good explanation. I miss interacting with all of you. I miss reading your blogs and I miss the back and forth of commenting, but the reality is that I don't know when I will be back. I am feeling a little better, but not good yet. I know there will be more doctors and more tests for at least another month. I also know that God knows the beginning from the end, that His love never fails, and that He will see me through this.

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-19T10:39:00.004-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

sunshine and air conditioning, friends and framily, my girls, doctors and medicine, movies and music, prayer

I am sure there is more, but I don't feel well and it was a struggle to come up with this list. I have been meaning to make a post explaining my absence for over a week now, but it never seems to get done. The short answer is that I am sick. The long answer will have to wait.

Snapshot Saturday

2010-08-14T17:31:00.000-05:00

July 13, 2010

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-12T18:50:00.003-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that we had a safe trip and are now home. I am thankful that FigNewTon had the opportunity to go to National FAF. I am thankful for Autumn and all she did to make the trip work for us, including opening her home to us and keeping Butterfly while FigNewTon and I were in Detroit. I am thankful for peace that comes from God in the midst of chaotic circumstances. I am thankful for doctors and medicine. I am thankful for my car. I am thankful for friends.

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-08-07T00:00:00.003-05:00

July 24, 2010

That's what I call muddy! We were visiting a friend and the girls took a break from the project of the day to go explore the creek. They came back looking like this. To clean up, they ran through the sprinkler!

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-05T00:00:00.001-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that God is who He says He is. I am thankful that His word is true and can be relied on. I am thankful for His grace and protection. I am thankful for His peace and provision. I am thankful that He sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins and that He drew me to Him when I needed Him most. I am thankful that He never leaves me. I am thankful for the people that knowing Him has brought into my life. I am thankful that He gives joy in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Today I am in Detroit with my youngest daughter. There was so much going on when I left that I was not sure what my thankful list would look like for the week. Then I realized that certain things I am thankful for never change and yet those are seldom written here. This list was written almost a week ago, but these are the things I am thankful for that never change, no matter the circumstances. What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-07-31T00:00:00.001-05:00

FigNewTon

July 13, 2010

We were enjoying a day at the zoo.

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-29T08:33:00.003-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for my children and they joy they bring to my life. I am thankful that they help me when I need it. I am thankful that Butterfly is improving and that I will begin teaching her on a 9th grade level in a few weeks. I am thankful for sleep, something I am needing a lot of these days. I am thankful for doctors and medicine. I am thankful for my church. I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for my car, my home, and all the things that make life easier. I am thankful for God and that He is in my life. I am thankful for the truth of the scriptures and the way He keeps His promises.

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday - A Day Late

2010-07-25T20:21:00.001-05:00

February 2010

The girls were making play-doh creatures like the ones pictured last week.

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-22T08:22:00.003-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for doctors and medicine, friends and telephones, a car. I am thankful for things that distract my 13yo like volunteering at the library, ice skating, journaling, reading, sign language, and playing games. I am thankful for the characteristics my 15yo is showing like compassion and understanding. I am thankful that they are better cooks than me. I am thankful for many more things, but I am tired so I will quit for now.

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-07-17T08:55:00.003-05:00

Some of Butterfly's creations from this past school year.

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-15T08:32:00.003-05:00

What am I thankful for today?
doctors, medicine, rest, friends, family, air conditioning, fans, water, food, zoo, fun activities, telephone, email, communication, prayer, peace, compassion, grace
What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-07-10T09:10:00.001-05:00

June 02, 2010

As an explaination, the girls had just dumped water on an unsuspecting person who was tubing donw the river below. :)

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-08T07:28:00.002-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

sunshine
telephones
friends
doctors
food
home
children
freedom
library
crafts
history
zoo
church

What are you thankful for today?

Snapshot Saturday

2010-07-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

March 2010

FigNewTon singing at FAF

Thankful Thursday

2010-07-01T08:09:00.002-05:00

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for sunshine.
I am thankful for my girls.
I am thankful for doctors of all kinds; pediatricians, chiropractors, optometrists, and dentists to name those whose services we have utilized this week.
I am thankful for the zoo and our zoo pass.
I am thankful for air conditioning.
I am thankful that it is a new month.
I am thankful for my camera and my car.

What are you thankful for today?

And The Winner Is....

2010-06-30T08:49:00.002-05:00

... B. Meandering.

Thank you all for entering.

She said in her comment that it sounds like a book lovers dream. She's right. And it is really easy to sign up. All you have to do is follow this link and you could be on your way to getting free books to review, too!