Impossible

Helllooooooo! :)
As you have probably gathered, life has been very busy lately.

Very busy.

I have had so many things that I wanted to blog about, but absolutely no time to sit down and type it out.

How is it possible now - now that I have a few moments to sit down and type - how is it possible for me to not be able to think of one interesting thing to blog about?

Not one.
None.
Zero.
Total lack of anything.

I got nothin'.

So, there.

:)

Comfort Food

The weather this fall has been glorious.
Today, however, was a bit dreary....perfect weather for some comfort food.

Today's comfort food: Corn Chowder and Butter Biscuits

This recipe is soooooooo easy and sooooooooo yummy...

Corn Chowder

5-8 potoatoes, peeled and cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups water
1 stick of butter (I am sure you could do without the butter, but I add it because butter comforts my soul.)
3 cans creamed corn
Seasonings to taste (I add pepper, oregano, garlic salt, or whatever strikes my fancy for the day.)

Toss it all in the crockpot and cook on HIGH for about 5-6 hours. (after that time I turn the crockpot to warm, and the longer the soup sits on warm, the thicker it will get)

Butter Biscuits
3 cups flour
4 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 T. sugar
3/4 tsp. cream of tartar
3/4 c. butter (again, my soul is comforted)
1 egg, beaten
1 c. milk

Combine flour, baking powder, sugar and cream of tartar. Cut in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk and egg - stirring quickly and briefly. Roll out and cut OR place in a greased pie plate. Cook 12-15 minutes at 450 degrees.

Let me know if you try these recipes....my kids LOVE them!

Oops....

I appear to have fallen off the edge of the earth.....and left my poor blog behind. Oops.

Where have I been? What have I been doing?
(you mean besides the usual laundry to infinity, meals, dishes and all those wonderful and horrible mommy chores? :))

Well, I think that I have mentioned that we bought our house at an auction about 18 months ago.

Our house was in sad, Sad, SAD shape....did I mention it was sad? :) So, before we moved in my amazing husband (with the help of a few others) got our main living level completely done.

BUT - the lower level was, you guessed it, still pretty sad.

As time and money allowed, we have little-by-little been working on finishing the lower level. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and MY FAMILY COMING TO SEE ME (YIPEEEE.....YES, I AM SHOUTING!!!!!!!!!!!!), we needed to HURRY and get the guest bedroom in the lower level finished.

All of that to say - what have we been doing? (and I use the term 'we' quite loosely....'we' means that my amazing man has been doing 99.9% of the work.) We have put up drywall, mudded and sanded walls. We have painted (after spraying texture) those walls. We have put down ceramic tile in the hallway from the family room (that is already finished) to the garage. We have installed laminate flooring in the spare bedroom.

WHEW! No wonder I am tired. 'We' have been busy. :)
(I will try to get some before and after pictures put up soon.)

So, that is what I have been up to.

How 'bout you? :)

A list

1. After 2 days of horrific wind, things have stopped blowing around.

2. I thought I saw a snowflake today....I am hoping someone around me just had dandruff.

3. I just saw a Blue Jay out my kitchen window....JESUS LOVES ME.

4. My husband is out today chopping wood for one of our church widows. I am thankful for a husband/pastor who not only preaches with love but serves with love.

5. I want to go shopping and buy something. It is a good thing that the nearest mall is over 60 miles away.

6. "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven:....." Matthew 16:19. I read that today. AWESOME.

7. Today is October 28 and the Christmas decorations at our local Wal-Mart have been up for weeks. WHAT?!??!

8. It IS too soon to decorate for Christmas, but it is NEVER too soon to start on your Christmas list!

9. Everywhere I look there are pregnant women.

10. Perhaps there is something in the water?

11. I am switching to bottled water.

12. While making this list a horrible odor reaches my nose.

13. I notice this odor just after my 23 month old daughter runs by....she is wearing "Buzz Lightyear" costume and an Anakin Skywalker mask.

14. I suspect that the smell is coming from neither Buzz nor Anakin.

15. I suspect that I will be the one to rid the house of that smell.

16. First I will light a candle.

Christmas

I know - it is ONLY October...

BUT...

I am starting to think CHRISTMAS!!!

We start our Christmas shopping the day after Christmas...make sense? :) We like to plan ahead, AND we like to save money by purchasing things on sale...plus, the more money we can save in buying for others, the more money I can spend on clothes and shoes for me. HA. I'm giving like that.

So, what is on YOUR Christmas list this year??

Cinnamon Rolls

I love to cook. I love to eat.
Because of these two aforementioned loves, I have also learned to love to exercise...but that is a different topic.

I made cinnamon rolls on Saturday. OH.MY!!!
THESE ROLLS
They are divine.
Divine.
You must try them - and the sooner, the better.
And now, because I ate too many of these divine things, I must get back to my exercise.

Under Construction

I am attempting to change a few things about my blog today, and since I am pretty clueless about things like this, it could take awhile. :) If the page looks like a mess, well...it is, but I am working on it! :)

Apple Pie, Pneumonia, and other random thoughts.

Apple Pie.

Can you make a totally delish apple pie? I cannot.

First, I should say that I don't really even care for apple pie. (please don't start sending hate mail.) I don't. Really, I don't care for most pies. Again, don't hate me --- my doctor assures me that YES, my brain is functioning. :) Anyway, back to the apple pie.

I don't care for it. My hunky-husband does. I would go as far as to say that he LOVES apple pie. Not mine, though...well, he hasn't had much of a chance to love mine, because I don't make one that often because remember, I don't like it, and really, I don't think my apple pies are good. (and lest you think I can't cook PERIOD...I really love to cook and I do love to bake, and most things I make are truly to die for. HA! How is that for modesty?? :))

All of that nonsense to say - HELP! Do you have a really terrific apple pie recipe? I would be forever grateful as would my hunky husband.

Pneumonia

Our 8 year old son has it. Poor baby...um....I mean, poor young man! :) He isn't terribly miserable, but he sure isn't feeling like himself. When my boy doesn't want to go outside and play football, baseball, basketball, or any other 'ball' - YOU KNOW HE IS SICK!! Praying that this antibiotic really works quickly!

Other thoughts

~My precious girl is 5 years old today. She is my stubborn sweetie. If you look up strong-willed in the dictionary, my girls' picture is there. While it is very difficult at times rearing such a strong-willed child, I can't help but wonder how God will choose to use her. I know that with her determination she can do great things for Jesus' sake.

~I have an addiction. I am confessing. Perhaps I need RU? I am addicted to "Words with Friends" on my iPod. It is true. I need help.

~**~Happy Saturday~*~*

Thoughts

I have been to a ladies conference, a pastor's conference and have heard some REALLY amazing sermons from my husband lately. I have been trying to 'digest' all that I have heard...to really take it to heart and allow it to change me.
Here are some random things that I have learned and have been thinking about...

~Every problem in life is a heart problem.

~"Make it your goal to understand why your husband is right." (OUCH!!)

~Most stubbornness comes from fear and past hurts.

~Insecurity is trusting and having confidence in things that can be taken away or moved.

~I should find my security in Who carries me.....God creates my value.

~God wants me to be persistent.

~God will give me more than I can handle....it is never more than HE can handle.

I am praying about these things....I want my life to be changed. I don't want to be one of those people who goes to conferences and hears good preaching every week but leaves the same. I want to be different. My hearts longing is to be useful to Jesus...to allow HIM to change me.

Busy-ness

My heart is full....and so is my laundry basket, so I can't stay here long. :) In the past month I have been away from home almost 2 days each week. This is a rarity for me...with small children and many responsibilities, I don't go away often. This month has been different....crazy different...good different.

Early in the month I was in Michigan for 2 days for my grandfather's funeral. He was 91. He loved the Lord and was a great man, a hard worker and a lifetime farmer. I went alone on this fast trip - my wonderful husband stayed home with the kids so I could drive the 20+ hours in 2 days much easier. I was able to make part of the trip with my sister, and we had a great time laughing together.

This past weekend I went to a Ladies Conference in Oshkosh, WI. It was wonderful....both the speakers and the fellowship with the ladies from my church were such a blessing. (PLUS, we were able to spend an afternoon shopping at an outlet mall!!!!!!!!!!)

This week I was able to go with my husband to a preaching conference in Washington, IA. It was such a nice time and the host church was so gracious to all visiting pastors.

So - that is the month of September....I have so much to think about from all the speaking/sermons I have heard.....I will be pondering all of it as I try to catch up on my laundry. :)

(Did I mention that I have a dead mouse somewhere in my house, too??? I can smell him, but cannot see him....and I don't want to!! :)

Today

I have several new posts that I have been *meaning* to get finished and get posted, but today.....well, today is different.

September 11.

9/11

However you say it - it is different. I woke up remembering....I have thought about it many times during the day....September 11, 2001.

When we moved here to Wisconsin in 2000 we never connected to cable, and here in our 'remote' part of the country (HA!), you cannot get ANY channels without cable. Here we are - almost 11 years later, and still no TV channels. All that to say, there have been several times in the last 10 years that I have wished that we had TV. September 11, 2001 was one of those times....and every September 11 since then.

9 years ago I was teaching Kindergarten. We had just learned we were expecting our first baby just 3 or 4 days before. I was teaching that morning when the phone calls started coming in...parents checking on their kids and making us at the school aware of what was going on. I remember turning on the radio and listening for any clue of what was going on...no one really knew.

I am so thankful for the President that we had during that horrible time. I am so very thankful for the military who daily put their life on the line so that I can do normal things FREELY....like open my Bible, drive to Wal-Mart and bake cookies. I am thankful that the Lord has given me AMERICA for my home.

I hope ====== no, I pray that we always remember.

VBS 2010

Our Vacation Bible School was held the 16-20th of August. It is hard to know where to start in telling you about this amazing week. NO church does VBS like Bible Baptist Church in Prairie du Chien, WI. No one. This is the most fantastic, exhausting week. We love it. We canvass our town for weeks leading up to VBS. We put ads in the paper....we use the radio station....we put posters up everywhere we go. God blesses VBS. Parents come to church because of VBS. We meet 100's of new kids each year because of VBS....

I had the privilege of teaching the 11-13 year old girls class. I love this age. We had a great class and I didn't have one problem with any of them. On Monday night we started out with 28 girls. Praise the Lord. I told the girls, though, that I wanted to pack out our room....I wanted it to be so full that I couldn't even move. God answered that prayer, and on Wednesday night there were 40 girls. I couldn't move. The girls were packed so tightly...and we loved every minute of it.




God is so good.

Wednesday we had 248 in attendance. On Friday night each year we have a 'carnival'....our gym is full of booths with games and prizes while outside we have a bounce house, a zip line, 4 wheeler rides and FOOD, FOOD, FOOD....all of this can be purchased with the Vacation Bible School money that they kids earned throughout the week. Every carnival we have sooooooooooo many parents come. It is impossible to count how many people were there on Friday, but they couldn't fit into our auditorium. PRAISE THE LORD.

God is good.

I am thankful for VBS. I am thankful for the exhaustion it brings. I am thankful for the visitors and new families that we meet each year. I am thankful for the 70 professions of faith that were made during the week.

GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!

Dinner....or maybe lunch??

The busy-ness of last week's Vacation Bible School has started to subside, and this week we will be back to our abnormal 'normal' schedule. I am glad! My house needs a good scrubbing and laundry needs to be done....so much got put on the back burner for VBS. I will tell all about our amazing week, but I wanted to share a story with you.

God loves me.

He does.

He loves me best of all. :) I know I have said it before, but I truly believe it!!!

Last Saturday my husband and I went on a date. We had been given a gift card and also babysitting time for my husband's birthday. We arrived at the restaurant at about 4:00 p.m.. When we were seated we were given the dinner menu. We looked at it, and although everything sounded wonderful, one entree was more that our entire gift card. Not a problem, really, but like any other couple in the ministry, or any other couple PERIOD we like to try and be economical. So, we were looking and trying to figure out if we should share an entree and or exactly what we should do.

The greeter who had showed us to our seats came out several minutes later and said, "The cook has just informed me that our dinner menu will not be available for at least another hour. We do apologize for the inconvenience, but you will have to order from the lunch menu."

SEE???? Jesus loves me BEST!!!!!!!!! We each ordered what we wanted and had $.43 cents left on our gift card when we left.

"I LOVE YOU, DEBBIE!" I heard Jesus say. And I happily replied, "I see you Jesus....and I love you, too!!!!!!!!!!"

Do I really believe?

We had a funeral at our church today. A funeral for a man who was only 61 years old. He was diagnosed with leukemia and within a week he had passed away. A sudden loss, to be sure. This man leaves behind 4 daughters - all in their early 20's, and a 7 week old grandson. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

As I talked to the family, both at the hospital and at the funeral, one daughter in particular was especially struggling. This man had trusted Christ as his Saviour, as had his wife and 4 daughters - Praise the Lord. As I talked with this young lady I reminded her of Heaven....and while it seems so far away right now, the time she and her dad will have there will make this temporary world look like a grain of sand on the seashore. While she knew these things to be true, her heart truly was not comforted....she found no comfort in Heaven. My heart broke for her.

As I laid in bed last night I began praying for this family, and for this young lady in particular. As I prayed I thought, "She would not be nearly as brokenhearted if she truly believed in Heaven.....if she truly thought that Heaven is real."

I am not doubting her salvation for one moment, but I think that she has lost the realness of Heaven. How could the promise of Heaven NOT be a comfort.....streets of gold, no sickness, no crying, no bills, no struggles, no separation, no cancer, no foreclosure, no night.....JESUS!!!! What a comfort it is for ME when I think of all these things.

For a moment last night I think, to my shame, I began to think a bit too highly of myself...."I truly believe in Heaven....I truly think it's real!!"

The Lord very quickly brought me back to myself when He brought this thought to my mind, "What about Hell? Do you truly believe in Hell? Do you truly believe it is real?"

OF COURSE I do!!!! Hell is real.

"If you truly believe that Hell is real, why doesn't that belief change the way you live? Why aren't you telling more people about Jesus so they can escape Hell? If you TRULY believe that there is a Hell - why isn't that belief affecting your behavior?"

I laid there stunned. I SAY that I believe in a literal Hell. I SAY that I believe that those who do not accept Christ will go there. I SAY these things.....but do I really believe?

Do I really believe?

My actions do NOT back up what I say I believe. I do not take EVERY opportunity to tell others about Jesus. I do not always notice the lost souls around me. I am not always conscious of the fact that HELL IS REAL and I must tell everyone of Jesus. I am going to change that...with the Lord's help, I am going to change that.

Yes, I believe in a literal Heaven with its untold wonders....joy forevermore.
Yes, I believe in a literal Hell where those who reject Christ will spend eternity....eternal torment.

My life, by God's grace, will prove that I truly do believe.

I really do believe.

Needy, oh so needy!

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:
thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."
Psalm 40:17

I know that I need - I MUST HAVE - Jesus every day, but there are days, like today, when I am reminded over and over and over......that I need Him....I need Him so badly. I canNOT do life without Him.

As I sat on my deck today reading and praying I just closed my eyes and begged God for His wisdom - His help. I reminded Him of what He already knows so well - I am a needy creature. I am helpless without Him. I am a mess. I NEED JESUS. With tears in my eyes I asked Him for His help and for His wisdom. I know He will help and I know that He will give wisdom...I am so thankful for that, but then I realized how frustrated God must get with me. He is ever willing and WANTING to help, but so many times I wait until I am at the breaking point before I really, REALLY reach out to Him.

Why do I do that?

Am I so forgetful that I just forget to ask?
Am I so busy that I don't take time to ask?
Am I so full of pride that I think that I can just struggle through alone?


It is probably a sad mixture of all those things - and others. How pathetic I am.....but how loved I am......Jesus takes ME: a forgetful, too-busy, prideful person and He LOVES me. HE LOVES ME. He knows I am needy, YET - THE LORD THINKETH ON ME!!! (I might just have to AMEN myself right there!!! :))
The Lord thinketh on needy 'ole me!

I am needy - YOU are needy, yet the Lord thinketh on me...He thinketh on YOU!!

Praise the Lord!!!!

Family Devotions

Each night we have a family Bible time together. Audrey is usually in bed by this time - a 20 month old has a hard time sitting still. :)

On Saturday night my husband was telling the kids a Bible story, as he always does. The story that night was about Lot, his family and the destruction of Sodom. Now our 8 year old listens carefully. He pays attention and really thinks about what is being said.

Our 4 year old lives in another world. She lives in a world filled with imaginary friends, imaginary trips....a world in which she doesn't have to take a nap or eat broccoli. She is hilarious, but more often than not, she is in this pretend world during devotions.

After the Bible story my husband will ask a few questions - just to make sure that they were listening...even a little.

He asked our son a question - his answer was right, of course.
He asked our daughter, "What happened to Lot's wife when she turned back? What did she turn into?"

Her answer:
"A pillow."

"No, not a pillow...a PILLAR. A pillar of what?"


Her answer:
"Of sauce."

So, obviously, Lot's wife was turned into a 'pillow of sauce'.

That is right, folks.....the Dolls are rewriting the Bible, one family devotion at a time. :)

Catching Up....

Last week my parents came for a visit. They live in Michigan, and while that isn't 'the other side of the world', it is just far enough that visits don't come as often as any of us would prefer.



I am blessed with amazing parents. They are on staff at a church in Michigan and they are such hard workers.

My dad was called to preach when I was young, and when I was in 6th grade we moved to Northwest Indiana for my dad to attend Bible College. He worked and provided for his family while in college AND got all A's!!!! I remember times when all we had to eat were potatoes, but my dad never complained. I don't know that I have EVER heard him complain....and I KNOW there have been many, MANY times when he wanted to - and probably would have been 'justified' in doing so, but he didn't. I am so thankful for my dad!

I always tell my mom that she is a loon! HA....and I mean that in the nicest way....really. My mom is a crazy woman with an amazing energy and zest. She NEVER stops....nothing stops her - not even when she had cancer almost 3 years ago. She is hilarious and will do ANYTHING.

I am blessed.

I am so thankful for the time my kids have to be around their grandparents....learning from them and loving them.

Sooooo much!!!

I know that you have been on the edge of your seat waiting for me to have a new entry in my blog! :) I do have so much to write about.....my parents came for a visit, my husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary, and we had a great tour group sing at our church, to name a few things....

So, I will post about these things....I will.....

But, first....

Laundry.

I will be right back.

(If you don't hear from me in 24 hours please call for help.... :))

My Father Planned it ALL!!

Isn't a comfort to know that even when the circumstances of life are not exactly (or at ALL!) what you would choose....our Father planned it all?!?!?

The past 2 days at our house have been an 'adventure', to say the least. On Monday morning I walked into our lower level bathroom/laundry room only to find water EVERYWHERE.

This is not good.

I dug out our dehumidifiers, mopped and mopped, and mopped.......and then called my husband. He, of course, was not happy to hear about this, knowing that plumbing problems most of the time are NOT inexpensive problems. My husband came home, made a few phone calls, and began to dig.....and dig......and dig......to find the "thing" he was looking for.

(I would try to explain it to you, but it deals with plumbing, with the septic system and with gross-ness in general. :))

Several men from our church came over bringing with them their strong backs and shovels. After several hours of digging, they found the 'thing' they were looking for, and were able to find what they thought was the problem. A plumber came this morning and was able to fix 'it'. I can now do laundry and we can again flush the toilet!!!! :)

Obviously, this 'little' issue was not a part of our plan. We didn't choose for this to happen, and given the choice, we would have chosen a lot of OTHER things instead of this, but MY FATHER PLANNED IT ALL!!!

After the men had finished digging last night, and my husband had cleaned up, we went to my in-laws house for dinner. They had graciously delayed the family grill- out until we got there....that, and my father-in-law and both brother-in-laws were at our house digging! :) While we were eating I began to think of really how BLESSED were are.....yes, this problem will cause a few financial issues, but we are BLESSED. We were sitting around a table full of food surrounded by family that we love, and amazingly enough, love us, too. I thought of my friend, Amy, who recently lost her father-in-law....I thought of how I am sure that she would gladly trade places with me - sewer issues and all - so that she could sit around the table and eat dinner with her father-in-law again.

I don't know WHY God allows the things He does....from small things like our sewer issue, to big things like loosing a most dearly loved one unexpectedly, but THIS I DO KNOW.....

My Father Planned it All.

......and I can trust Him.

Saturday night

Tonight I am packing my Sunday School bag.
Laying out church clothes for the kids.
Bathing said kids....they spent the day on the river and they are extra sandy and dirty tonight.
Preparing food for our church picnic tomorrow.
.....and packing extra kleenex in my purse.
I am prepared to do MUCH crying tomorrow. I always do on the 4th of July. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for our country and for those who have fought, and are fighting for our freedom.
I will cry when we sing "God Bless America".
I will cry when we sing - and I really think about the words of "My Country Tis of Thee".
I will cry when I think of how good God has been in allowing me to be born in America.

God Bless America.....God shed His grace on Thee.
Have a wonderful 4th of July.

Thanksgiving

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." Psalm 95:2

Have you ever just walked around your home and started to give thanks for the things the Lord has blessed you with? Things that we certainly don't need and things that we certainly don't deserve, but extra things that the Lord has given you simply because He loves to give good things to His children? I am doing that today....

I am thankful for the beautiful flower baskets that hang from my deck.
I am thankful for the house the Lord has given us.
I am thankful for my Swiffer Vac....silly to be thankful for that? I think not! It is amazing! :)
I am thankful for the beautiful hardwood floors in my home.
I am thankful for an indoor restroom.
I am thankful for coffee. (Our little one was up at 6:15 this morning....I needed it!! :))
I am thankful for the laptop I am now typing on.
I am thankful for the health of my children.
I am thankful for the huge yard we have.
I am thankful for my dishwasher.
I am thankful for my washer/dryer.
I am thankful for my refrigerator....my full refrigerator.
I am thankful for the toys my kids have....soooooooo many toys! :)
I am thankful for silly 'ole Facebook that keeps me in touch with so many dear people.
I am thankful for my bed....beautiful and oh, so soft.
I am thankful for my kitchen cupboards...I love them!!! They were made just for me.
I am thankful for my vehicle.
I am thankful for my makeup. (and you should be thankful that I USE said makeup! :))
I am thankful for my clothes.
I am thankful for the American Flag that hangs from my porch.
I am thankful for the freedom we have in America.
I am thankful for my husband....almost 12 years of marriage and he still loves me! :)

......I could write all day and then some about things for which I am thankful. I am blessed. I am spoiled.

I am thankful. What are some of the 1000's of things you are thankful for today?

Friends

What a great weekend! Not only was church GREAT, and the preaching AMAZING, we were also able to spend some time with great friends.

We have known Dave and Donna Crews since college. (I am not going to admit how many years ago that was! :)) Dave and my husband were roommates their Freshman year, and Donna and I spent a summer together touring in a college singing group. Dave and Donna have been missionaries in Canada for the last 10 years. They started a great church in a very difficult area....British Columbia. They returned to the US for a furlough time and to get some additional needed support. While they have been back the Lord changed their direction....doors were closed to return to Canada, and doors have been opened for them to start a church in Florida. We are so excited for them.

They presented their ministry in our church last night. What a blessing to see them and also to see their heart for the Lord has not changed....only grown.

What a blessing it was to see our children playing together. It was so fun to talk about memories made in college. We laughed a lot. :)

It was also great to see that none of us have aged. Not one bit. :)

Distracted

I have been a negligent blogger.....again.

So much has happened in the last month, and so many times I would sit down to write about it only to be distracted.

Distracted by, oh, I don't know....say, the chicken pox....a toddler getting FOUR eye teeth all at once WHILE having the chicken pox....you know, little things like that! :) Not to mention the 'normal' day-to-day things like laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, playing with and enjoying our kids, spending time with and encouraging my husband.....'BIG' things like that.

Before you know it, months have just flown by.

I, like you, am a busy person. I, like you, enjoy my schedule and my routine. I, like you, dislike being unorganized. And I, hopefully unlike you, often forget PEOPLE in the midst of all of my organization. Distraction, to be honest, annoys me. (I know, I AM working on that!!) I like to do what needs to be done....do what is on my list....do what I have planned for the day....WITHOUT distraction.

I am trying, sometimes, successfully to SLOW DOWN....to not be annoyed with distraction - ESPECIALLY when that distraction comes in the form of the loved ones in my life. My children are only little ONCE....they will only desire me to hold them and rock them and read to them for SUCH a short time. I MUST put down my list....put MY plans on hold (as much as possible, of course!) and HAPPILY be distracted. :)

A cute pic

A cute picture of our cute kids taken while we were on vacation.....this was taken BEFORE the 'pox' took over and left the kids looking scabby and scary! :)

Sunday

The last month has just flown by....I am sure that is the case for everyone. Between end of the school year activities, the actual end of the school year, graduations, open houses.....the list goes on. I love this time of year. :)

We just got home from a week away on vacation. It was sooooooooooooo nice to get away.....no phone, no Internet - nothin'! Amazing....I CAN live without a computer...who knew?!?!? :)

I am home from church today with my girls - they both have chicken pox. Fun. (note the sarcasm! :)) I AM glad that they got them at a young age, but I am not enjoying the actual 'pox'....it is hard to convince an 18 month-old not to itch.

So - off I go to be nurse-mommy! :)

Have a blessed Sunday!

My amazing husband

My husband is amazing.

I feel sad for every other woman in the world because they can't be married to him. I GOT HIM! :)

He is truly wonderful...for millions of reasons.

Today as I was sweeping and cleaning I started thinking about my house. We bought our house over a year ago at a tax auction. (the former owner didn't pay his taxes for YEARS and owed millions to the IRS.) There is a long, weird story behind our house, but suffice it to say that our house is well-known in this area.

"Oh, YOU bought that house!!" is a reaction we get a LOT! :)

Our house had been empty for almost 5 years when we bought it. Needless to say it needed a lot of work. My husband knew how much I loved this house and the room for the kids to run that it has. He has willingly worked and worked and WORKED to make this house my dream house.

Before and after pictures:

Our house is still a work in progress...the basement spare bedroom and an office is still being worked on. Little things here and there like window treatments and closet doors :).....but this house is my DREAM house.

I am so thankful for a husband who works hard for the Lord and works so very hard to please me.

My girls....

I am blessed with adorable children.

Today we will focus on the amazing cuteness of our girls.
(the focus will be on our son very soon as he celebrates his *SOB* 8th birthday in just a few days. *SOB*)


**Brownie Making** (I think maybe she had a taste test! :))





While we were working on the brownies, it got very quiet....



I am blessed....



There are days - more than I would like to admit - when I am tired and I long for TWO MINUTES all to myself. There are days when I consider changing my name from "Mommy" to something the kids cannot pronounce, like "Svetlana", so that they cannot yell to me every 2.34 seconds.

There are many days like that.

And then -

I look at a picture like this -



and all is well. I want my name to be "Mommy" forever....and ever.

I am blessed.

Monday Musings

Today I am reflecting on a few amazing Sundays......2 weeks ago we had "Old Fashioned Sunday" at church. We had a special speaker, decorated the church and foyer in old fashioned things, had lunch (a hog roast! :)) right after the service, and then an afternoon service instead of our usual evening service. (I'm pretty sure that the previous sentence isn't grammatically correct, but it IS Monday, so I am going to let it slide! :)) We had a married couple saved in the morning service! The church was so full! Praise the Lord. It was an exhausting, WONDERFUL day. I love my church!


Yesterday we had "Open House Sunday" with a strong emphasis on inviting visitors. It started with one of our adult Sunday School classes hosting a pancake breakfast before Sunday School......peach pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, blueberry pancakes.... YUM! :) In our foyer we had tables set up with information about some of the ministries of our church. We had many, many visitors and it was such a blessing to see our church welcome each one. I have never seen our auditorium as full as it was yesterday. So exciting.

Jesus is coming soon. There is so much to be done and so many people to reach in the short time we have left.

I hope your weekend was blessed. Pray for your pastor today!!

Feeling Overwhelmed?

I have a devotional book that I enjoy reading from, "Streams in the Desert". I wanted to share with you a small part of today's entry:

This way of thine - this, it may be, a crooked, mysterious, tangled way - this way of trial and tears. "He knoweth it". The furnace seven times heated, He lighted it. There is an almighty Guide knowing and directing our footsteps, whether it be to the bitter Marah pool, or to the joy and refreshment of Elim.

That way, dark to the Egyptians, has its pillar of cloud and fire for His own Israel. The furnace is hot; but not only can we trust the hand that kindles it, but we have the assurance that the fires are lighted not to consume, but to refine, and that when the refining process is completed (no sooner - no later) He brings His people forth as gold.

When they think Him least near, He is often the nearest. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knowest my path....."

Isn't God so good to us? He knows exactly what we are going through today....and He is with us every step of the way!

Bad News

I have some bad news.

I do.

I have been putting off posting this for the simple fact that I don't want to make anyone reading this feel badly.

Okay - here it goes....

Jesus loves me the best. I am His favorite.

Ahhhhhhhhhh.....it is out. I feel so much better now. :)

I am sorry if I hurt any of you, but the truth must be spoken. Jesus loves me. He loves me the best. Do you know how I know this to be true? Let me just share 2 of the many, MANY proofs that Jesus loves DEBBIE the best... :)


Proof #1:
A few weeks ago, on my usual Thursday grocery day, I loaded the girls into the van, grabbed my bags and my Aldi quarter (:)) and off I went. After getting halfway to the store I realized that I had forgotten my coupon for the baby wipes that I needed. UGHHHHHHHHHHHH. Well, I was too far from home to turn around so I continued on - but I was frustrated with myself. After our Aldi stop we proceeded to Wal-Mart. For some reason that day I decided to get the baby wipes in the front of the store - at the health and beauty section - instead of in the baby section at the back of the store. As I walked out of the health and beauty area a man walked up to me. I had never seen this man before in my life. (and we live in a small-ish town, so you know almost everyone!)

"You have kids. I bet you can use these coupons!" He handed me a stack of coupons and walked away while I tried to get out a surprised 'thank you'.

I started to walk away and then I looked in my hand. The coupon on the top of the stack was for BABY WIPES!!!!!!!!!!

It might as well been on the speaker system at Wal-Mart, because I heard Jesus yell, "I LOVE YOU, DEBBIE!!!!!!!" and in my amazement I said, "I see you, Jesus. I love you, too!!"


Proof #2: (this one involves shopping again, but I assure you, I really do more than shop and eat. :))

The day before Easter I had to go to Wal-Mart because I had forgotten to get potatoes earlier in the week. We were having company on Monday and I HAD to have potatoes. I went to get them and WAL-MART WAS OUT OF POTATOES! How does that happen? Well, it happened. I was busy, a bit frazzled and now I was going to have to stop at another store for these potatoes that I SHOULD have bought on Thursday. I was getting ready check out with a purchase that my husband needed, and as I walked into the checkout lane I looked to my right. There, sitting on the water bottle display was ONE BAG OF POTATOES!!!!!!!!! Again, I heard, "I LOVE YOU, DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and again, I replied, "I see you Jesus, and I love you, too!"

So - there you have it. Two of many proofs that I am Jesus' favorite.

Jesus loves you so much. I pray you feel like His favorite, too!

Notice ME!

Thursday is grocery day here in the Doll house. Perhaps I am odd, but I do enjoy going to get groceries. I enjoy the planning of meals for the week, making a list and crossing things off the list. I am a list maker. A chronic list maker.

As we travelled the aisles of Aldi today we kept passing a mom pushing a little boy in her cart. He kept saying, "Hello people!" to everyone that passed. If that 'people' didn't look at him, he would say it louder, and LOUDER, until they would acknowledge his happy little greeting. In the last aisle we passed again. He again greeted me, "Hello people!". His mom, obviously frustrated, said, "Would you just stop it! Not everyone wants to say hello to you!!" I have been hurried like this mom apparently was, but I stopped and looked at the little boy and said, "Hello there! How are you? Are you helping your mom shop today?" His only reply was the most gigantic smile.

He just wanted to be noticed.

Aren't we all like that?

We may not say it out loud, but we feel it. We want someone - ANYONE - to notice how hard we are working. We want to be noticed for our doing right. We want to be noticed for our new dress. We want to be noticed. Wrong or right, it is human nature. A need to feel appreciated and loved.

But.....

Isn't it also our nature to ignore those who are crying out to be noticed the most? We react with "OH BROTHER....they are so needy!!" or "What a high maintenance person! Won't they just leave me alone! Who cares what they do!" Again, we may not verbalize these thoughts, but the thoughts are there.

Today when I said a few kind words to the little boy it didn't cost me anything. It wasn't difficult. It didn't cause me stress or make me late and it certainly wasn't anything special.

But......

It made the little boy happy. He was noticed, and that was really all he needed.

Today, as you go about your tasks it will be so easy to get caught up in your 'to do list'. (preaching to me, right there!) It is so easy to ignore, or simply not notice, the many people around us who long to be noticed and appreciated. Won't you say a kind word today? Notice what others are doing around you - And then TELL them that you noticed.

I promise you will be blessed!

Molars......

So, Audrey is getting her molars. Can you hear the excitement in my voice??? :) Her upper molars came in without much fuss, but these lower molars.....my oh my.....if they don't come in soon I may just go in with a spoon and DIG them out.

On a happier note, after carrying around a 20 pound little person 18.95 hours every day my arms should be made of steel very soon! :)

While I am whining about Audrey's whining I will say that as she fusses and wants to be held all.the.time. I am reminded to be so very thankful that THIS is the biggest of her 'health issues'. I have a healthy baby. (or is 16 months old a toddler? :)) She will not want me to cuddle her always and I need to take advantage of, and even appreciate, the opportunity to be her mommy. To comfort and to cheer. To kiss and to cherish.







And I do. (besides that, who can resist that adorable dirty face??? :))

Kids

Last week when my husband was away I took the opportunity to make a few meals that I like, but he doesn't. On Tuesday night I made my dear friend Heather's Sweet and Sour Chicken. It was soooooooooo good. Divine, actually. :) After dinner I asked our son (age 7) if he liked it.

"YES!!!! I wish there was more!" (Ahhhh, a boy after my own heart!)

I asked our daughter (age 4) if she liked it.

"NO! It was disgusting!"

Now perhaps I shouldn't have laughed. But I did. She had sat at the table, ate a bit and hadn't said a word about how it tasted, so I guess I can be glad that she was polite at that time, at least.

And really, I did ask! :)

I'm all alone......

My husband is gone this week. I am reminded AGAIN of how much I need him and how much I depend on him. I am also reminded of how my schedule is based on HIS schedule, and when he is gone, my schedule is gone. Ugh. Don't like that. I am really trying to stay on a modified schedule this week - and as soon as I get going on it my husband will be home. :) I am so glad. I know my husband will be home on Friday, but during this week while he is gone I am spending more time in prayer for the widows that I know. Those dear ladies whose husbands are gone from this life. Can I encourage you to do the same??

Have a great day!

Spring.....glorious spring!

Does anyone else have spring fever?????
I have it.
I have it really bad. :)
Winter seemed especially long this year....it wasn't, it just seemed that way.
AND this year we are in our new (to us) home. We moved in last August so I didn't do any yard work or plant anything - we were too busy getting the inside livable for humans. :) Soooooo.....this year I am planning to plant a few things and just be outside!!! (The Lord blessed us with 22 acres!!!) I am not really a gardener - it is not something that I really love to do - but I am going to plant a garden this year. For economic reasons alone it makes sense! So - bring on the spring!!!! (although now that we live in the country that also means bring on the MUD.....the kids will love it! :))

Happy 'spring is coming'!!!

And you thought YOUR day was bad.....

We had several nights of special meetings at church this week. Tonight the speaker spoke on trials.....before which he told this story......(a story that the preacher says is really true!!)


A certain man owned a Harley that he loved. He loved it so much that in the winter months he brought it into his front porch. One day he was working on this Harley. He was fixing and oiling and doing all sorts of manly things to this machine. As he worked he soaked the parts he was fixing in a bucket of gasoline. After he repaired the bike he decided to start it up and see how it was working....yes, still in the porch. He sat on the bike and started it up. Somehow, his hand slipped and he grabbed the throttle and off the bike went.....right through the glass patio doors. His wife heard the commotion, saw the accident and called 911. The paramedics arrived and took him to the ER where his cuts were bandaged and he was sent home.

After arriving home he went straight to bed to rest. His wife, meanwhile, began the clean-up process. She swept away the glass and dumped the bucket of gasoline into the toliet. Soon after this, the husband went into the bathroom. He sat on the toliet and lit a cigarette. (SEE....YOU SHOULD NEVER SMOKE!!!!) When he was done he tossed the cigarette into the toiet. You guessed it....WHOOSH....blew the bathroom door and windows right out. 911 was called AGAIN and the same paramedics arrived. He was diagnosed with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his back side. He was put on a gurney and readied to be taken to the hospital. The wife told the paramedics exactly what had happened. After hearing the story they began to laugh....and laugh.....and laugh..... In fact, they laughed so hard that they dropped the gurney and the man broke his collarbone.

And you thought YOU were having a bad day!!! :)

True Love

Tonight I saw a picture of love. True love.

True love isn't the Hollywood glitz and glamour and plastic 'surgery-ed' couple on the red carpet.

True love isn't deciding to live together before marriage just to make sure 'we're compatible'.

True love isn't staying married until the first sign of trouble and then running away as fast and as far as your latest credit card will take you.

True love isn't Mary Kay or Lancome or Arbonne or even Cover Girl.

True love isn't that fluttery feeling you get when you see your spouse.

True love isn't romantic dinners over candle light.

True love isn't exotic vacations to tropical places.


True love is what I saw tonight.


True love is a wife of 62 years. Wrinkled and tired....and beautiful. True love is this wife sitting by the bedside of her sick husband and not leaving for days and days. True love is this wife taking the hand of her dying husband and telling him it is okay to go to Jesus. True love is this wife looking at me, just minutes after her husband went to Heaven, and saying "He is all I ever wanted."

THAT is true love. Love that only Jesus can give. Love that is real.

Monday

I was nominated by my friend Amy. Ahhhhhhhhhhh. How sweet. The problem is now I am supposed to list seven - SEVEN- interesting things about me. SEVEN!!!!!!!!! And on a MONDAY morning, no less. Okay...we'll give it a shot.

1. I am still madly in love with my husband after almost 15 years of dating and marriage.

2. I adore my kids. Yes, I would like to lock them in a soundproof room at times, but I adore them. They bring out the best and worst in me.

3. I love my church. I love the people in our church. I love to watch them allow God to change them and mold them. I love seeing God work in our church. I love it that SOMEONE TOOK MY SEAT......ME.....the PASTOR'S WIFE......someone took my seat because the church was so full. I LOVE THAT! :)

4. I love to read. Sadly, I neglect life and my family when I am in the midst of a good book.

5. I love to crochet. I can't just SIT and watch anything - I get bored - so I crochet, and I really enjoy it.

6. I really like to exercise....really, I do. Don't judge me.

7. I really REALLY love chocolate....and cheesecake....and CHOCOLATE cheesecake....and pasta......and chocolate.....and cappuccino......and Chinese food.....and Thai food.....and Italian food....and CHOCOLATE.....and Mexican food..... It is a good thing that I really like to exercise! :)

I get to nominate 7 bloggers, but I will have to come back for that. My youngest child (14 months) is running through the house with the toilet brush. :)

My Valentine

My Valentine and I will celebrate 12 years of marriage this summer. We dated almost 3 years before we were married. That is a long time.....especially for someone as extremely young as I!! :) We had our first date at the beginning of the 2nd week of my Freshman year in college. I knew he was something special from the first time we met. I am so thankful for my husband - my sweetheart. He is not perfect (very, very close, though!!), but he is PERFECT for me......perfect. He balances me out, and you know what? I do the same for him. It is obvious that the Lord matched us. I am so thankful. I was created for this man. I am blessed.