Praise You In This Storm

In light of yesterday's massacre at Virginia Tech, I think it's a good time to point out the new music video that I have posted on my left sidebar. I've been noticing several great songs lately by Casting Crowns. Here's the one that God has placed in my path in the last week or so:

Praise You In This Storm
-from the album Lifesong

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am (emphasis mine)
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth

Chorus

Remember to listen to the song. It's on the left sidebar.

Breakfast Menu Plan

Since I participate in Menu Plan Monday's hosted by Organizing Junkie, I thought I'd also share my breakfast menu plan.

I have the same menu planned for each week. It's such a time saver to have breakfast always already decided. I love auto-pilot!!

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Monday- Bagels & Fruit
Tuesday- Cold Cereal
Wednesday- Waffles or Pancakes
Thursday- Eggs & Toast (sometimes bacon or sausage too)
Friday- Hot Cereal

Sometimes the menu gets varied because I forgot to get a package of bagels out of the freezer or forgot to put some needed item on my shopping list. Sometimes the days get mixed up because I wake up and start making eggs only to be told by my kids that it's Wednesday and they were really looking forward to waffles. Oops! For the most part, however, it works out really nicely and everyone here is pretty happy with it.

Menu Plan Monday - April 16, 2007

Continuing on with cleaning out the freezer and pantry...

Monday- Tostadas, Chips & Salsa
Tuesday- BBQ Pork Ribs, Corn, Salad
Wednesday- Chicken Parmigiana, French Bread, Salad
Thursday- Porcupine Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans
Friday- Pizza

Be sure to check out my Breakfast Menu Plan too.

See other menu plans at Org Junkie.

A lifetime ago

It's been nineteen years ago today that I got the news that there had been a terrible accident that morning and my friend was dead. Killed by a drunk driver. I was nineteen and it's been nineteen years - it feels like yesterday and it feels like forever ago. But I'll never forget. I'll never forget your smile, I'll never forget your very infectious laugh, and I'll never forget that you left us much too soon.


John Cole Harris
November 13, 1965 - April 12, 1988

Until we meet again...

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UPDATED to add article.

(Click on photo to actually be able to read it.)

This too shall pass

Last Friday afternoon (4/6) I passed something that I thought might finally be the end of the miscarriage. It was SO different than the other "stuff" that I had been seeing that I decided to demand that a pathology test be run to identify it. Since it was Friday afternoon, it wasn't processed until Monday and I didn't hear any results until today. I was right!

The doctor had told me the previous Friday (3/30) that the pregnancy had passed and that I only had a couple of days left to finish up. By Friday April 6, I was feeling so miserable that I called the doctor back and asked to be seen. She said that everything sounded normal and didn't think I needed to come in. She did, however, prescribe antibiotics prophylactically. Jim picked up the medicine on his way home from work. Before he got home, though, I had passed that "something" that I wanted identified. Almost immediately the severe symptoms abated. That marked difference really made me want to have the pathology test run. After quite the run-around from the medical community I got my wish and today I have the results. It was the pregnancy that I passed 11 DAYS after my ordeal began!

I'm very glad to have that information. I think it will help me in the future to trust my instincts. I knew something was still wrong and the doctors just don't know everything! My doctor did say that apparently she was wrong the week before when she said the baby was out. This is why I never blindly trust what a doctor tells me. She also congratulated me on doing this "all on my own and avoiding a D&C". Not sure what I think about that!

I'm still crampy and bleeding a little but I am definitely on the road to recovery. I'm taking the antibiotics and I feel SO much better.

Thank you all for your kind comments, emails, thoughts, and prayers. God is faithful.

WFMW - Rinsing Toddler Hair

When Adam was little I printed off an 8X10 photo of him and taped it to the ceiling above the tub. Whenever I needed to rinse his hair I told him to look at the baby. It worked like a charm!

Works for me!! For more tips visit Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.

Menu Plan Monday - April 9, 2007

This week it's clean out the freezer and pantry week!!

Monday: Taco Salad, Chips & Salsa
Tuesday: Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo w/Penne Pasta, French Bread
Wednesday: Roast Venison & Carrots, Potatoes & Gravy
Thursday: BBQ Chicken, Corn, Salad
Friday: Chili & Cornbread

Check out other menu plans at Organizing Junkie.

Favorite (F)oto Friday: Grandpa

My Grandpa, Kenneth Fox.

Still Going

I have to say that I feel perfectly lousy. This business of miscarrying "naturally" is the pits. I'm living on Advil and Vicoden. I'm still in favor of avoiding having a D&C but it sure does take longer this way. I'm not convinced that things are really okay so (thanks to the prodding of my mom) I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow and insist that I be seen to rule out the possibility of an infection. I called my doctor today (yesterday, really, because it's after midnight now...) and recited my list of symptoms. She assured me that all of it was within the realm of normal but I'm just not feeling "right". You know what I mean? I don't have any experience with this but I'm going with my intuition. My list of symptoms, if you're interested, follows. If you not interested, I don't blame you. Just move right along and listen to some nice music on my sidebar. It really is more pleasant!!

**Warning-- Gross details ahead!

For the past three days:
1.) low back pain, dull and achy
2.) severe, horrendous headache (add to that, significant visual disturbances tonight for about 20-30 minutes)
3.) continued bleeding (that reeks. sorry if I'm being too gross !)
4.) sharp, sharp pain in my lower abdomen and right under my sternum that gets worse as the day progresses

I've had no fever but I also had a post-partum infection for 3 months (back in 1996) without a fever so I don't think that's a good indicator to me. I'm perfectly willing to wait this out several more days if that's what it takes and I'm also perfectly willing to go in and have a D&C if that's what is necessary. I just need to figure out what the "right" thing is so I can go do it. I'm going to tell them that I need a blood test or something to see if I need antibiotics or to try to figure out what's going on.

Pray for wisdom. And patience.

4/6/07 - 9:41 am - Updated to say that my doctor called me back this morning and she is prescribing some antibiotics. I hope this does the trick...

Three Things Thursday

Three places I have lived:

1.) I was born in Coos Bay, Oregon but I was raised in the beautiful Willamette Valley. I miss it very much and I would love to move back there if God wills it!

2.) When I was 19 years old I moved to Boise, Idaho to attend Boise Bible College. I haven't ventured far from the Boise area since college except for about 3 months when...

3.) I moved to Northport, New York at the age of 21 to be a nanny. I despised the job. I guess it was the situation I really despised. I was also extremely homesick. I only lasted 3 months then I returned to Idaho!

Thanks, Shelia, for the location theme this month!

Remembering

I just read a beautiful post yesterday written by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer who was remembering her own miscarriage 11 years ago. It was pretty timely for me to read that post while I'm dealing with my own miscarriage right now. Here's an excerpt:

I remember the early days of my very first pregnancy, blissfully cloud-walking at the thought of becoming a mother. I remember the sound of my parents' voices when they heard the news that I was expecting their first grandchild....

...I remember the crushing weight that collapsed onto my chest in that ultrasound room at 10 weeks--not only had the baby died, but the baby had died 5 weeks earlier and my body simply didn't "get it"....

Read the rest here.

Menu Plan Monday - April 2, 2007

Monday: Sloppy Joes, green beans, salad
Tuesday: Grilled Pork Steaks, grilled zucchini, steamed baby reds
Wednesday: Spaghetti, french bread, salad
Thursday: Baked Chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy
Friday: Tostadas, chips & salsa

See this week's menus at Organizing Junkie.

I Am From...

I first saw an "I Am From" essay on A Path Made Straight. I followed her link and used (sorta) the template she suggested. I LOVE how she ended her essay and I used incredible self-control to NOT use her ending!

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I Am From

I am from banana-seat bicycles, Pop Shoppe soda, creamed honey on toast, and blue & green shag carpeting.

I am from a home with solar panels; drapes sticking to the frozen condensation on the sliding glass door; old, mysterious, non-functioning heating vents; and an attic with an old lifejacket and a huge boot hanging from the rafters.

I am from slender home-grown carrots with a "little dirt that never hurt", bluebells, dogwood trees, and blackberry vines creeping through the fence.

I am from Cones and Hoyts, Macdonalds and Foxes, Christmases of treasure hunts instead of stockings, word games, late night returns from holidays up north, and people talking very fast. Non-stop.

I am from "Sweet dreams" and "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite. If they do, take a shoe, and beat them 'til they're black and blue", and gift songs before bed.

I am from Wednesday night services, singspirations, Bible drills, and revival meetings. I am from evangelism filmstrips in homes I visited with my dad, the "bee"attitudes, and all-church retreats.

I am from the Pacific Northwest, the coast, the Willamette Valley. I am from broccoli/cauliflower/tofu casserole, clam chowder, and pecan pie.

I am from an uncle who, as a boy, built a chair in the basement that was too big to move out of the room; from two aunts adopted from Korea; from a grandfather who was a World War II glider man with the 101st Airborne Division; and a great-great-grandfather who was a missionary to China

I am from Mossyrock, Milton, and Minneapolis. I am from Oregon, South Dakota, and Alaska. I am from America, China, and Brazil. I am from people who love each other, people who value each other, and people who enjoy each other.

I am from home.

Rambling Update

Well, I had a second ultrasound today and it looks like that I will get to avoid having a D&C. I'm very happy about that because I really didn't want to have one unless it was very necessary. My doctor said that it looks like I have a couple days to go before I am totally finished miscarrying. I was a little concerned because it seemed like things had "stalled" and I was worrying that if I didn't finish on my own that I would have to go in for surgery. However, my doctor said it's looking good and she doesn't foresee any problems. Whew!

I'm tired, I'm on pain meds, and I'm feeling a little floaty-headed from the Vicoden but other than that I'm pretty okay. I made dinner, I recorded and put away the curriculum that arrived in the mail a couple of days ago, and I folded a couple of loads of laundry. The kids and I are watching The Muppet Movie (Jim fell asleep, poor guy he's been working hard these last few days trying to be mom and dad!). I'm taking a quick break from the movie to write this post. I just put Abby to bed after nursing her. Which, by the way, really makes the cramping more intense but I'm sure is actually helping the process along in a very good way!

I think the Vicoden is making me ramble on here. I know it's making it hard to type!! All of a sudden my mind just went blank so I guess I better get back to the Muppet Movie! :-)

Oh. I just remembered what I was planning to say. On the way to the doctor's office this afternoon, the radio was playing Let My Lifesong Sing. After that song they played My Savior, My God. It was so cool! I love both of those songs and I've posted about both of them and I have videos of both of them in my sidebar. Isn't it fun to see God in the little details!?!?

Sad news...

Well, I'm feeling well enough at the moment to get online and post a little update. I'm sorry to be sharing sad news but I am in the midst of a miscarriage. The miscarriage began in earnest Wednesday (yesterday) afternoon and it continues still. I've never been though this before so I'm uncertain about how long to let things go naturally before I consent to a D&C. We're kind of winging it at this point but I am getting some good advice from friends who have been there.

Apparently this baby's purpose was not to live in this world. His/her short presence in my life certainly came and blessed me during a difficult time in my life and perhaps that was the baby's purpose all along. Maybe I'll never really get to see God's plan and purpose in this situation but it is enough for me to know that God DOES have a plan and a purpose and I have every hope in that. I see His hand all the time even from my limited vantage point.

I have to refer to a really great song that I posted about recently. Here's the first stanza of that song:

I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!

Isn't that such a great thing? He is my Saviour. His grace is sufficient. He is in control. He has a plan. He knows where He wants me to be and He knows how to get me there. All I have to do is trust Him. He'll take care of the rest. That's awesome!

A word of advice

Whether or not you need to hear this, I'm going to say it.

When you are pregnant with baby #5 and you are drinking a lot of water and you have a little bit of cold that causes you to sneeze every once in a while, it's really not a good idea (even though you may be sick of going) to put off going to the bathroom. I'm just saying...

Menu Plan Monday

I've decided to join in with Menu Plan Monday's hosted by I'm An Organizing Junkie.




Monday: Sub Sandwiches & Melon
Tuesday: Crock-Pot Chili & Cornbread
Wednesday: Baked Potato Bar & Chili
Thursday: Porcupine Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes
Friday: Homemade Pizza

Go to I'm An Organizing Junkie to see more menus posted!

Marie Callendar's Famous Golden Cornbread

I can't remember where I found this copycat recipe but it was online somewhere...

1-1/4 cup flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1-1/4 cup milk
1 egg

Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Cream together the sugar and shortening. Add milk and egg. Mix. Gradually add in the dry ingredients. Pour batter into a greased 8x8-inch pan. Bake at 400* for 25-30 minutes or until top is turning golden brown. Let cool slightly before slicing.

Honey Butter:
Whip 1/2 c. softened butter and 1/3 c. honey together until smooth and fluffy.

Porcupine Meatballs - easy

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 cup instant rice
small onion, chopped
1 egg
1 tsp. granulated garlic
salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Form into 1-inch balls. Place in a casserole or baking dish. Cover with sauce.

Sauce:

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 packet gravy mix (mushroom, onion, or brown)
1-1/2 cups water

Mix and pour over meatballs. Cover dish and bake at 350* for 45 minutes. Remove cover and bake 15 minutes more.

Serves about 4.

NOTE: I usually have these meatballs pre-made and in the freezer (I freeze them on a cookie sheet and transfer them to a zip bag). I dump the frozen meatballs into a baking dish, add the sauce and cook as usual. I may add about 10 minutes to the cooking time.

Favorite (F)oto Friday: Adam

My Visual DNA

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Three Things Thursday

More on the March food theme...

Strangest things I've ever eaten:

1.) Squid soup (in Taiwan, I didn't like it)

2.) Raw beef paté (in Belgium, I didn't know what I was eating. Ew!)

3.) Sushi Lover's Pizza (Hong Kong Pizza Hut) Okay, I didn't eat it, but it was on the menu!

OB Appointment #1 & Nausea

I don't want to tempt fate, but since I don't really believe in that sort of thing I'll just go ahead. For all of my former pregnancies I have been super sick to severely sick. This pregnancy (so far) not so much. I get to feeling a bit queasy sometimes when I haven't have enough food recently or when I haven't had enough protein, but it's been SO manageable! At this point last pregnancy I was having debilitating sickness. I couldn't get out of bed and I was miserable and depressed. Of course, instead of being thankful, I find myself looking the gift horse in the mouth and worrying that everything isn't okay! Silly, I know! Maybe my really sick time is still coming and maybe, just maybe, I'll escape it this time. That would be so wonderful. The only bad thing about avoiding the sickness is that I'm missing out on the initial weight loss that I usually experience. That sure comes in handy toward the end of the pregnancy. Maybe I concentrate too much on those numbers.

My first ob. appt. was:

March 8, 2007 - 1:10 pm - Julie Stevens, CNRP
7 weeks, 4 days

Weight: XXX (Ha! I'm not telling this time either!)
Blood Pressure: 104/78
Baby's Heartrate: 162
Bloodtest: No results yet except that my thyroid levels are "within normal limits". I'm praying that there will be no anti-C antigen detected in my bloodwork this time. The anti-c antigen problem is hard to describe and I haven't been able to find a simple explanation online. Basically it's similar to an Rh factor problem. Last time it was detected and made my doctor want to check my blood at EVERY VISIT (which I just love). It never ended up being a problem but it was just something she wanted to keep an eye on. Eventually it was no longer detectable in my blood and enough time passed that she wasn't worried anymore. If anti-c DOES become a problem it means that the mother's body recognizes the baby as a foreign object and attacks it! Freaky! Anyway, I'm praying that it doesn't even come up this time.

WARNING - Possible TMI (too much information) ahead:

I had an ultrasound to date the pregnancy. We really couldn't determine a due date based on my cycle because I've only had 2 semi-regular cycles since Abby was born. One at the end of November and one at the beginning of January. (Breastfeeding is awesome!) So for lack of that kind of information I got to have an ultrasound and see the little blur they say is the baby. :-)

The next appointment was to be in 4 weeks but I made it 5 weeks. Because I'm obstinate.

You've got questions? I've got answers.

Well fine. Nobody wants to play and guess. Waa, Waa, Waa! J I'll tell you the reason I recently heard the phrase Advanced Maternal Age...

I'm nine weeks pregnant with baby #5! He/She is due to arrive October 21, 2007. We are very excited. I must say when I told my mother, she used my first AND middle names! I'm not sure what to think about that. J Using the middle name usually means someone is in trouble... K

Time keeps marching on

UPDATED to say: I'm making this a sticky post that will stay at the top until someone makes a guess. (Someone who doesn't already know the answer that is!)
*****************************************

Anybody want to guess why I've recently heard the phrase "Advanced Maternal Age" in reference to myself??

As For Me, I say PHOOEY! to AMA.

Girl Scout Cookies

'Tis the season...

My favorite, of course, is THIN MINTS. Oh yeah.

Meet the cookies

Which is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?
	Thin Mints
	Do-Si-Dos® or Peanut Butter Sandwich
	Trefoils or Shortbread
	Tagalongs® or Peanut Butter Patties
	Samoas® or Caramel deLites
	All Abouts
	Thanks-A-Lot
	Cafe Cookies
	Little Brownies
	Lemonades
View Results

Small things DO come in big packages

Thanks to KimC at Life In A Shoe I just got a great deal on copier paper. I don't know if it's still available but just in case, here are the details from her blog post:

I just bought 5,000 sheets of bright white copier paper for $16.37, delivered to my doorstep. Don't ask where I'll keep it. I guess I'll have to share just to find space for it. If you want some, you'd better hurry. Deals like this tend to go out of stock quickly. HT to Spoofee.com** for the deal.

1. Click here to go to Office Depot.
2. Search and Add 345603 ( Price : $5.59 ) - Buy 10 of these
3. Search and Add 429266 ( Price : $0.29 ) - Buy 1 of these
4. Coupon Price : -$31.00 Code : 73649244
5. Coupon Price : -$10 off $25 Code : 44141777
Final Price : $15.19 Shipped (plus tax)

Hurry!

**The link to the actual deal isn't on their main page anymore but you can still see it HERE.

NOW. Here's what I wanted to say about this great deal. It's wonderful. UPS just delivered the paper and the paper clips to my door. You have to order a small package of paper clips to make the order total the minimum amount. So, this afternoon there are two boxes on my porch.

The 5,000 sheets of paper I ordered! Cool!



And here?



Under all the bags of air....



Why, the paper clips, of course!



Silly, eh?

Three Things Thursday

I haven't remembered to participate in a while but since this month is a food theme, I'm back!

Foods I Hate Dislike a Great Deal~

1.) Beets. Ugh!

2.) I've already read Shelia's and I can't get this one out of my mind so I am copying it: Corned Beef and Cabbage. This may be the worst stuff I've ever tasted.

I really like food. I'm having trouble coming up with a third one. I'll probably think of a bunch after I publish this post!

3.) Ahh... Swiss Cheese. Can't stand it.

We've got the power

• a ruler


• two batteries


• wire


• a lightbulb


• and LOTS of tape

What do those make?

If you're my daughter Rebecca, those items make a flashlight!

Cool, eh?

WFMW - Measuring Honey & Molasses

In keeping with the kitchen edition this week, here's my quickie little Works-For-Me-Wednesday tip. When a recipe I'm using calls for honey or molasses, I spray a little food release in the measuring spoon or measuring cup before I pour in the sticky stuff. When I pour it back out of the cup it comes out so quickly and easily it usually comes out it one big glob. No more waste and no more "slow as molasses in January" for me. It's quick, it's simple, and it Works For Me. Check out other tips at Rocks in My Dryer.

My other kitchen-related WFMW tips:
Precooking Hamburger
Cleaning out the Fridge

Going, Going, Gone!

Is it just me or do you find this irritating too? In the past six months or so several of the products I use regularly have disappeared! "They" change the formula and voila! the product I use is gone. This has happened with

• Abby's shampoo (Baby Magic the new stuff doesn't smell the same)
• my lipstick (Original Cover Girl Lipslicks - I did get some on eBay but they won't last forever)
• my deodorant (Dove - Powder - Original Solid)
• Stretchable plastic wrap (Sam's Choice, they changed the packaging, I hate the new one)
• Saran QuickCovers (they don't make 'em any more)
• Irish Spring (A blue one that I can't remember the name of. Maybe Mountain something)
• my razors came up missing today (Gillette for Women - Custom Plus Pivot) maybe Wal-Mart just stopped stocking those because I see they are available at Amazon.com

and also today???

MY SHAMPOO IS GONE!! Aussie Mega. It's gone. I guess, from looking online, it's called Aussie Cleanse & Mend now but it doesn't smell the same! This is rocking my world. Okay. I realize that in the grand scheme of things, or even in the small scheme of things this really isn't that important. But I'm still irritated. Can you tell?? :-)

Any products that you are missing?

You're never to young to start helping

Abby doing laundry.

On diapers and justification

I just read a great post over at The Greenhouse. Here's an excerpt from the whole article:

It's funny how some people talk about diaper changing as though it involved swallowing slimy grubs. It really doesn't bother me in the least. I've always found it to be a fun time to bond with my babies, talking to them, tickling them, kissing on their feet (until they learn to walk). It's satisfying to tend to someone else's most basic needs. Babies' helplessness is one of the things that makes them most endearing at times. What could be more of an act of service than taking a small stinky person who can't make themselves clean and offering them a fresh start in a nurturing way? After all, Christ does that for us daily...

From Theopedia
Justification: "Justification is the work of God where the righteousness of Jesus is reckoned to the sinner so the sinner is declared by God as being righteous under the Law (Rom. 4:3; 5:1,9; Gal. 2:16; 3:11)." -CARM

"Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight." - Wayne Grudem

"It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." -Romans 4:24-25

To quote my dad: "God's deal is that He treated Jesus, who was innocent, as if He were guilty, so that He can offer to treat us, who are guilty, as if we were innocent. It's a pretty good deal, and we ought to take it."

Thirty-eight...sigh...

I've been taking a blogging break for a few days and I'll be continuing it for a few more since I'm in Oregon visiting my family for my birthday! This is birthday season around here with my birthday today (the 19th), my brother's on the 22nd, and my dad's on the 23rd. My mom's is two weeks later on March 9th. Quite a flurry of activity! I'm having a good time. See you when I get back.

The omnipotence of our God

Last night I watched a Chonda Pierce video. She read a great scripture from The Message Bible. I looked it up in mine version and started reading. Great stuff there in Jeremiah! I'm sharing the Scripture as she read it and also a couple others that stuck out to me last night.

"The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be."....God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!
Jeremiah 17:9,10,14 (The Message)

"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)

"Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it, the LORD is His name, 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NASB)

Overheard

At the store last night:

College-age guy with a cartload of dorm-stocking stuff: "I need to get a toilet brush wand thingy."

His Mom: "Goodness, just get a glove and a sponge."

College-age guy: "I don't know, Mom, that kinda creeps me out."

Glimpsing eternity on the way to the store

On the way to the store today I heard a couple of songs back to back on the radio. They are both great songs and really ministered to me today. The first one was In Christ Alone by Michael English. I think he wrote it as well. I found it on YouTube today sung by someone else, Brian Littrell. It sounds pretty good so I'm including it in this post.

The second song was You Raise Me Up by Selah. Music written by Rolf Løvland, lyrics by Brendan Graham. This is SUCH a beautiful song and I've been enjoying ever since it hit the Christian radio station. I found a YouTube video with Selah singing it so I'm including it too.

Click on the triangle in the bottom left corner of the video screen to play. Don't click on the triangle in the center, it will take you right to YouTube.

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I've been blessed beyond measure
And by His strength alone I overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes
Like diamonds in my hands
But those trophies could not equal
To the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory let it be said of me
My source of strength, my source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone will I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
Only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
Now I seek no greater honor
Than just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses
To the glory of the Lord

YOU RAISE ME UP
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Be blessed.

Teething at 3 am

I'm very tired today. Monday night, Abby was up from about 1:30 am to 4 am maybe longer, I can't remember anymore. Last night was a little better but I'm still waaay short on sleep. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. She was still screaming after I nursed her. Hungry for solid food? Here's cheese cubes and pears. She ate it. Still crying. Gas? Here's gas drops. Still crying. How about Tylenol? Here it is. She finally went back to sleep around 4 am or so. I don't really know what worked since I did so many different things. Perhaps it was just sheer exhaustion! Yesterday I determined that she is probably getting a new tooth. She has a big lump on the top gum behind the other teeth she has, so.... it's just so hard when babies can't tell you what's wrong. I hate the guessing game. So last night we kept her dosed up on Tylenol and the night went much better. I'm still tired tho'. It's hard to be patient with my kids when I'm this tired. I know it's a choice though, so please pray that I'll be making good ones today!

Who Is The REAL Me?

Who is the real me? Is it the person who woke up while it was still dark to eat breakfast, pack a lunch and get ready for school? The person who sometimes hated 'babysitting' her siblings and took it out on them? The person who had no particular dreams for her life and wasn't really worried about it? The one who outwardly obeyed or the one who inwardly rebelled? The one who loved school or the one who hated it? The one who loves the ocean or the one who loves to play the piano? The one who enjoyed drama at school or the one who caused no end of frustrations to her teachers.

Who is the real me? Is it the person who cries or the person who laughs? The person who loved Bible college or the person who loves research? Is it the person who loved to goof off with other Bible college freshmen or the one who delighted in aceing a test? Is it the one who fell in love the first time, or the one who fell in love the second time? Is it the one who loves to stay home and read or the one who loves to travel? The one who doubts her own judgement or the one who is confident?

Who is the real me? Is it the one who just wants someone else to take care of it all or the one who rolls up her sleeves to help someone else? Is it the one who likes to have woken up early or the one who likes to sleep in? Is it the one who wants to be married and share a life together or the one who would rather just have it her own way and not have to compromise? Is it the person who didn't have the responsibility of children or the one who does? The one who worked earning an income or the one working to raise godly children?

Who is the real me? Am I the 'me' I was before something happened or am I the 'me' since it happened? Is the real me ever suppressed or is it just in a continual state of growth and change?

Here's what I think. I think it's ALL me. At whatever point I find myself in life, THAT is me. I also think that it probably doesn't actually matter much who the real me is, in a sense, because whoever I am needs to die and become whoever it is that God desires for me to be. Why would I ever want to return to a former 'me'? Ideally, that old 'me' is dying a little more each day and the newer 'me' is an improvement. In the end, it's not about me at all. It's about Jesus and who He intends for me to be. Like John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col.3:1-3

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:7-14

More on Birthdays

Previously I wrote a little about birthday without pressure. I wished that I had the time and energy to write more about it but I didn't. Today, I found on The Common Room, a post with great links regarding this very subject. Go check it out and follow the links!

In my heart I find a need

My Savior, My God

The lyrics of this song are so powerful to me. I've heard this song for quite a while now on the radio and at church but my heart never really took in the words until just a couple of weeks ago. When I started researching this song in order to write about it I was surprised to discover that it is a 134-year-old hymn written by Dorothy Greenwell! What a testament to the longevity of a well-written song with powerful words.

I was going to emphasize certain lines that were especially meaningful to me but as a professor in Bible college told us, "You can't highlight everything in the book/Bible/whatever because that would be like highlighting nothing." So I guess I'll have to pick what impacted me the most. It would have to be the very first sentence.

It's such a freeing thing to realize in my heart that I truly do not have to understand what God has planned. It's enough to know that Jesus is my Savior and that He is working tirelessly for my well-being. How can I not trust that kind of overpowering love? Why would I worry about temporal details in the light of such sacrifice and sovereignty? This song is such a great reminder of God's ultimate control and how I can rest in that. I need lots of reminding!

You can see this song performed by Aaron Shust by clicking on the video in my left sidebar.

Aaron Shust's version:

I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior

I take Him at his word and deed
Christ died to save me this I read
And in my heart I find a need
For Him to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, my God He is
My God is always gonna be

Yes, living, dying; let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior

That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior

My Savior loves, my Savior lives
My Savior's always there for me
My God He was, My God He is
My God is always gonna be

Grumbling and Humbling

Today I had a less than stellar day. I felt worn-out, crabby, and generally not very nice. The kids, mainly the 3-year-old, seemed extra whiny and needy as they usually do when I'm not feeling up to par. I pretty much spent the day waiting for it to be over so I could go to sleep. Not a very uplifting kind of day. Not a day, looking back on it now, where I gave it to the Lord and CHOSE to serve Him and offer it as my spiritual act of worship. Boy, I hate it when I realize something like that AFTER the fact, when it's too late to do it. The day is over and it feels wasted! Anyway, what I wanted to say, what I sat down to write is... After a day like today it's truly humbling to watch something like the video below. I have it so easy. And yet I still grumble and complain. *sigh*

I put the video right here in my blog but if it doesn't work or if I find it takes too long to load I may remove it. Here's an external link for the video.

Three Things Thursday

It's been so long since I played, but I couldn't resist the book theme. So here I am again.

Books I could read over and over:

1.) The Time Quartet by Madeline L'Engle

• A Wrinkle in Time
• A Wind in the Door
• A Swiftly Tilting Planet
• Many Waters (this one MAY be my favorite, I can't decide!)

2.) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

3.) Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (weird, I know!)

Baby in a box

Just some silly fun with Abby:

Adam on the computer

Here are some pictures of Adam playing on the computer and singing along with the songs. He never fails to charm me!

Bear with me, it's long

3/1/07 - UPDATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST
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C.S. Lewis is brilliant. Our Sunday school class is reading through and discussing his book Mere Christianity. I am enjoying it immensely. It's been much too long since my brain has been engaged and challenged in this way. Yesterday we read Book III Chapter 8: The Great Sin. Here's a bit of it (all emphasis is mine):

I now come to that part of Christian morals where they differ most sharply from all other morals. There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.

The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility...

Boy, I dislike it in others! Even more, I dislike finding it practically galloping* in my life.

...According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.

Does this seem to you exaggerated? If so, think it over. I pointed out a moment ago that the more pride one had, the more one disliked pride in others. In fact, if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, 'How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronise me, or show off?' The point is that each person's pride is in competition with every one else's pride...

"The complete anti-God state of mind." Let me repeat that. ANTI-GOD state of mind. I really want no part of that.

... Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest...

Doesn't it sound just so empty to think that way? Richer, cleverer, better-looking? I need to re-train my brain so that it really sinks in that NONE OF IT MATTERS!

...In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that - and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison - you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you...

It's so easy to look down on others and think I'm so...(fill in the blank), and forget to look up and realize that I'm a speck on the face of the earth and that I'm not really all that I think I am!

...Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good - above all, that we are better than someone else - I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil. The real test of being in the presence of God is, that you either forget about yourself altogether or see yourself as a small, dirty object. It is better to forget about yourself altogether.

Say that five times. "It is better to forget about yourself altogether." Wow!

...Before leaving this subject I must guard against some possible misunderstandings:
(3) We must not think Pride is something God forbids because He is offended at it, or that Humility is something He demands as due to His own dignity - as if God Himself was proud. He is not in the least worried about His dignity. The point is, He wants you to know Him: wants to give you Himself. And He and you are two things of such a kind that if you really get into any kind of touch with Him you will, in fact, be humble - delightedly humble, feeling the infinite relief of having for once got rid of all the silly nonsense about your own dignity which has made you restless and unhappy all your life. He is trying to make you humble in order to make this moment possible: trying to take off a lot of silly, ugly, fancy-dress in which we have all got ourselves up and are strutting about like the little idiots we are. I wish I had got a bit further with humility myself: if I had, I could probably tell you more about the relief, the comfort, of taking the fancy-dress off - getting rid of the false self, with all its 'Look at me' and 'Aren't I a good boy?' and all its posing and posturing. To get even near it, even for a moment, is like a drink of cold water to a man in a desert...

"He is not in the least worried about His dignity." He came to earth as a man, as a being he created in order that He might have a relationship with us. What a gift!

...If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.

Ouch!

Read entire chapter

On the lighter side: Did you catch the movie allusion? What was the movie?
*********************************************************
3/1/07
*Updated to say: The movie I alluded to was Arsenic and Old Lace starring Cary Grant. It's a line my family quoted the most while I was growing up. Here it is:

Birthdays Without Pressure

BirthdaysWithoutPressure.org is a website dedicated to raising awareness of out-of-control birthday parties for kids. I'm amazed at how big of a problem this is and that we need a website to alert the nation. Where's our common sense? How is it that we don't know when enough is enough? Here's an excerpt from an article I read today:

Having decided on a ballerina theme for her daughter's sixth birthday party, Michelle West drove all over to find little dancers for the cake. Then she put 50 little beefeater guards around the edges. And she gave it beautiful white icing with peppermint trim.

And what happened? The kids wouldn't eat it.

It wasn't long afterward that she joined a group of St. Paul parents determined to end the birthday party arms race.

Birthdays Without Pressure is taking aim at the oneupsmanship that drives moms and dads to throw parties that will really, really impress the kids and the other parents, too."We feel there's a kind of cultural runaway going on right now around the birthday parties of kids," said William Doherty, a University of Minnesota professor of family social science who had a hand in organizing the group, launched publicly earlier this month.

Read the entire article here.

We started down this road ourselves a few years ago. We had a couple of parties for our kids that were (in our estimation) too extravagant. We took a look at what we were doing, realized that we didn't really want to set the precedent that we were starting to set, didn't like the stress we experienced, and didn't like the message we were sending to our children and to those that were invited. I have so much that I'm thinking about all of this but my time is so limited that I cannot go into all of it right now. Anyway, read the article. Be amazed. Evaluate your own practices. Change them if necessary.

Conversations with Adam

I totally stole the blog title from Shelia and her "Conversations with Samuel".

In the laundry room:

Adam: Mom is cleaning.

Jim: Yep, Mom is cleaning.

Adam: She's cleaning dishes?

Jim: Uh...nooo....she's cleaning laundry.

Adam: Mom are you cleaning laundry?

Me: Yes. I'm cleaning diapers.

Adam: You're cleaning diapers, and underwear?

Me: Yes, Adam, I'm cleaning diapers and underwear. Your underwear.

Adam (giggling): Mom's cleaning my underwear. (emphatically): Mom, thank-you for cleaning my underwear.

Me: You're welcome, Adam, happy to do it.

Aren't three-year-olds sweet?

If Mama gets sick...

...it doesn't all necessarily 'fall apart'.

I know it's been days since I've posted so I guess it's time for an update. About the time Adam was recovering from being sick, I got hit. Thursday night I was up throughout the nights paying my respects to the porcelain god. I spent Friday and Saturday in bed resting. Thankfully, my husband is able to take sick days off from work on behalf of family members. I don't know how I would have managed caring for four children as sick as I was. Jim stayed home, diapers were changed, schoolwork was accomplished, Sprite, water, and Advil were delivered to my room, kids were fed, and basic order was maintained in our home. He really is Superman!

Saturday evening as I was starting to feel much better, Rebecca got it. She spent Sunday and Monday sleeping in the living room. I missed her company and her helpfulness a great deal. So far Micah, Jim, and Abby have been spared this nasty stomach virus. Hopefully we are done with it now and they won't be getting it at all.

Yesterday we had a light, easing-back-into-school-day. The big kids and I played two games of Clue. The little kids took their naps easily. I made a big huge pot of homemade chicken noodle soup on the woodstove. Both of the big kids commented on what a nice day it was. They were right.

This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Hoodwinked! & Ginger Ale

Today I am dealing with the aftermath of a three-year-old who vomited a few times in the night and then woke up with diarrhea from his waist to his mid-thigh. Poor kid. While Adam was vomiting in the night he kept saying, "I want to feel better." He does seem to feel better today. He's lying low thanks to Hoodwinked! (I love that movie) and The Little Mermaid (is that movie really 18 years old!?) and he's kept down the little bit of food and ginger ale I allowed him. It's always hard for me when my child is hungry, asking for food, and I have to keep telling him no. So far so good. Well I've got laundry to rotate and a shower to take. (Yes, it's 2 pm and I haven't showered yet!)

Cheers!

A question for my 3 readers

I have a question for the three of you that read my blog:

Do you have any suggestions for alternate uses for pillow shams? I have, at last count, seven pillow shams. I don't use them for their intended purpose because it's just too much work to put a pillow sham on the pillow, take it off for sleeping and then put it back on in the morning. I have about 1000 other things to do that are more important than that. I also don't have space in my room or in my life to use them as decorative pillows. Pillows that I would keep in the sham and then just take off the bed for the night. My bedroom is WAAAY too small for extra pillows to be lying around the floor at night. I know I could just throw them away and be done with it, but it seems like a huge waste to do that. The shams ARE pretty and it's such a big chunk of fabric, I can't stand the thought of tossing them. Am I being too much of a pack rat? Should I throw them away already or is there a scathingly brilliant use for them? Please help.

I love good deals

I went to Macy's today to spend some Christmas money. I got a dress for Abby for NEXT Christmas, a shirt to go with a jumper Abby has right now, and a baby's-first-Christmas outfit for some Oregon friends whose baby will be six months old next Christmas. It was so fun. Below you can see what I bought and the great deal I got!!





Yes, I know. I didn't REALLY save $52.01 because I never would have purchased those items at those prices in the first place, but come on, it's still fun isn't it!?!?!? J

Yes, I know how it happens

My dad is always clipping comics from the paper and giving it to the person it made him think of. Here's the one of the latest that he's given to me. Enjoy!

(click image to enlarge)

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

We are home from our eight days in Oregon. Actually we have been home for five days but I'm just now getting around to blogging. The house is still in disarray from our travel. I'm just now doing the first load of clothing laundry. I did some towels and sheets earlier this week but now the clothing HAS to be washed. We will start school again Monday. I was going to start yesterday (Thursday) but I decided against it.

I had a wonderful time in Oregon. I went out to dinner with my friend of 29 years and I didn't have to feed anyone but myself. That was nice! We went to Los Dos Amigos Hacienda and I had some VERY YUMMY chicken tortilla soup. Best I've ever had. And it's in Oregon- 480 miles from me. ARRRGH!

I got to spend (too little) time with my sister and her family. I got to spend time with my grandmas. I got to spend time with my brother and his family and see their new house. Cute place.

We celebrated Abby's first birthday there. She had her first cake which she tasted and then promptly dropped on the floor. We couldn't get her very interested in eating it. Good girl! She did blow out her own birthday candle, though. We were very impressed! I have a great video of it on my mom's camera. When I get it from here I'll share it here. For now, here are some birthday photos:

We went to a nice Christmas Eve service at my parents' church and my two older kids dressed up for a little live nativity scene as part of the program. I fell asleep nursing Abby in the cry room! I did see most of the program though.

We gave and received too many presents. Ate too much pie. Got too little sleep. Had a ball. Mostly. My dad has shingles and is pretty miserable. Poor guy! Hopefully he will be feeling MUCH better, very quickly!

Enjoy some of my miscellaneous Christmas photos:

It's time now for me to get back to work although I'd much prefer continuing to dink around on the computer!

Happy New Year!

Cat Nap

I didn't think that Adam would go to sleep if I let him have Scooter in bed with him, but apparently I was wrong!

Stream of Consciousness

I think I'm about ready to leave. The van is pretty much packed and barring troubles in the night, we plan to leave at o'dark-thirty in the morning. I'm so excited! I get to go "home" for Christmas this year. Last year I didn't get to go since I was having a Christmas (Eve) baby. I got to spend Christmas Eve and Day in the hospital. Strange experience. I still need to write Abby's birth story. I intended to do so by her first birthday but that is not going to happen. I just have too much going on and I haven't taken the time to sit down and do it. I'm feeling a little bit sad as her first birthday approaches. I have felt this way with every baby. Right now I can still say, "A year ago I was pregnant with Abby." A couple more days and I can't say that anymore. I don't know why I care about that but I do. I'm a marker of time. It's been a month since... It's been a year since... It's been a decade since... I just had a filling replaced that was over 20 years old. That made me feel a bit old. I had a filling that was 20+ years! Whoa. While I'm in Oregon this next week I get to go out to dinner with a friend that I've had since I was 8. She and I have been friends for 29 years. I'll wait while you do the math... I'm so blessed to have a life-long friend like her. I never knew when we were kids what a rare friendship we had. I also get to see another life-long friend of mine. My sister, Junelle. She has been a part of my life for 35 years. I never knew what a blessing she was either when I was a kid. I'm glad I grew up! I will also get to see my brother, his wife, and girls, June's husband and boys, two grandmas, and an aunt and uncle. I'm wishing my other sister, Jaymarie, and her family could be there but they have already traveled to Oregon twice from Wisconsin this year so they are having Chirstmas there this year. I'll get to eat my mom's corn chowder (Christmas eve tradition), pies, peanut butter fudge, and almond roca. I'll get to stay up late playing games, talking, and laughing with people I know and love who know me and love me. People who share traditions and a history with me. People with whom I can pick up where I left off. People that don't need a lot of explanation to know where I'm coming from. People that I know. My people. I'm looking forward to my time in Oregon, can you tell? I got online to post that I'm leaving town and will be very busy with family and so I don't expect I'll be blogging. I don't know where all that rambling came from. Maybe just my Christmas spirit bubbling up now that I'm done rushing to get ready.

Have a very Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone.

Feeling Creative?

Need a little something to do? I'm at the point where I have so much to do that the only thing I want to do is to play around and make snowflakes. Give it a try. It's quite fun and makes no mess!!

Ta-da!

You like the new blog design? I've been anxiously awaiting the delivery of my new template. Susie at Bluebird Blogs has been keeping very busy doing wonderful work around the blogosphere and I just had to wait my turn. Waaaaa! But here it is and I'm so excited. And in time for Christmas too! Thanks a bunch, Susie, for putting up with all of my demands requests, I really appreciate it.

What Kind of Reader Am I?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Literate Good Citizen You read to inform or entertain yourself, but you're not nerdy about it. You've read most major classics (in school) and you have a favorite genre or two.
Dedicated Reader
Book Snob
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

I found this quiz at The Common Room.

My baby bookworm

I love how she is sitting here.
I don't know why but it's just cute!

My turn's coming.....

My bloggy Christmas present (to myself) is almost here! :-)

Good Morning!

I made some Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins this morning. Grab a muffin and some hot chocolate and enjoy!



Recipe:

Old-Fashioned Blueberry Muffins

1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. orange juice

1-1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg slightly beaten
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. oil

1-1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

2 Tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven 400*. Combine oats and orange juice. Set aside. Combine the flour, soda, sugar, egg, baking powder, salt, and oil. Mix well. Add oats mixture. Mix well. Stir in blueberries. Pour (drop) into greased or paper-lined muffin tins. Top with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Bake 16-20 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 12. Enjoy!