Favorite (F)oto Friday

I don't know why I continue to get such a kick out of Adam's (or anybody's) sleeping positions, but here I am sharing another one!

Conversations with Adam

Rebecca: Who do you want to marry when you grow up?
Adam: (thinking) Eh...Mom.
Rebecca: Why do you want to marry mom?
Adam: 'Cuz she's my favorite girl person.
Rebecca: But mom's already married to dad. Now what are you going to do?
Adam: Well....I guess I'll just have to marry you.

Remembering & Hoping

Yesterday I planted purple tulips and yellow daffodils. Except for a few weeds missing, the flower bed looks no different today than it did yesterday. It's full of bare-looking bark chips and fallen leaves but I know that it now holds the hope of beautiful spring flowers. The bulbs I planted will die but they do not die in vain for they will bring about beauty and I will once again see God's hand at work in His world.

Yesterday was my due date. Except for a few more lines on my face, I don't look much different than I did last year. I wear the same clothes that I wore last year and my hair looks pretty much the same but I hold in my heart a renewed hope of an eternity with my Savior. For I have died and my life is hidden with Christ in God and when Christ, who IS my life, is revealed, then I will be revealed with Him in glory. (Col. 3:3-4). When I die to myself, I do not die in vain for it will bring about Christ's perfection in me and I will once again see God's hand at work in me.


Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 12:24-26

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Menu Plan Monday - October 21, 2007

Sunday- Tuna Patties & Fried Potatoes
Monday- Porcupine Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes (F)
Tuesday- Chicken Salad & Breadsticks
Wednesday- Chicken Enchiladas (F)
Thursday- Beef Stroganoff & Noodles (make double batch)
Friday- Grilled Hamburgers
Saturday- Leftover Buffet

F = It's premade and in the freezer.

See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

♪ Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs ♪

UNDER HIS WINGS

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain

Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Refrain

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Refrain

Words: Will­iam O. Cush­ing, 1896.
Music: Ira D. Sank­ey
Listen to a MIDI version of the music



"Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” Psalm 17:8

Seven-Year-Old Sings National Anthem

This is amazing! Hat tip to Rocks In My Dryer for the link to this video.



Yes, it bugs me, too, that no one is placing their hand over their heart whilst he sings. But other than that, wow!

(I'm staring at the word too in the sentence above and can't figure out if the commas are correct or not. Now too is looking very strange to me. Ahhhhhh! Help!)

Menu Plan Monday - October 14, 2007

Sunday- Soft Tacos
Monday- Crock-pot Chili (F)
Tuesday- Meatloaf (F) & Baked Potatoes
Wednesday- Grilled Pork Steaks, Zucchini, Applesauce
Thursday- Fried Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Chicken & Rice Soup (F) & French Rolls

F = It's premade and in the freezer.

See what's on other menus at Organizing Junkie, the host of MPM.

MIRLing in Idaho

I've MIRLed! I think it was KimC at Life In A Shoe that coined that term*. She defined it very well anyway even if she didn't make it up! I've finally Met In Real Life Roberta from Debtor2Mercy. We've been talking for a while about getting together, since we totally live close enough to do that, and today we finally did it. We met at a restaurant for lunch after church and had a great time. Her husband and oldest child were gone hunting and so were Jim and our three older kids. I just had Abby and she had her three younger ones. Her youngest is one day older than Abby so it was fun to compare notes. It's impossible to have the amount of conversation over lunch that we've had brewing in us, I think, so we left the restaurant to continue our conversation at my house. BUT, when we got there we discovered my family had returned. So she only stayed long enough to meet everybody and take a tour of my backyard and then she left. We'll have to get together again soon. It was great fellowship and great fun. Thanks Roberta (& kids)!!

Anybody you wish you could MIRL?
__________________________________
*Okay, I researched the word (MIRL) and it was Shannon from Rocks in my Dryer that requested a verb for 'Meeting In Real Life'. Valerie from Many Mundane Moments that came up with MIRL and KimC that expanded the definition on Rocks in my Dryer! Aren't you glad you kept reading this post so you could get this fascinating etymology?! :-)

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

WHERE THE ROSES NEVER FADE

I am going to a city,
Where the streets with gold are laid;
Where the tree of life is blooming,
And the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Here they bloom but for a season,
Soon their beauty is decayed;
I am going to a city,
Where the roses never fade.

In this world we have our troubles,
Satan snares we must evade;
We'll be free from all temptations,
Where the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Loved ones gone to be with Jesus,
In their robes of white arrayed;
Now are waiting for my coming,
Where the roses never fade.

CHORUS

Lyrics: Janie West Metzgar, 1929
Music: Robert Metzgar


Listen to the Cathedrals sing it.

Favorite (Foto) Friday

What I harvested from my neglected garden:
Click on picture to enlarge. I apologize that it's so dark!
A garden forgotten by me since we started back to school but remembered by the Lord, the Giver of all good things.

The grapes you see are only a token amount of what is in my back yard. I have a lot of grape jelly to make! The parsley I will dry and put away to use this fall and winter. The tomatoes and onions are about to become spaghetti sauce. The pumpkins are headed for the front step to decorate for fall. The green pepper will end up on my pizza. The carrot will be eaten as soon as I finish this post. The potatoes will make a nice dinner for Abby and I. (Everyone else is up in the mountains deer hunting.)

So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Cor. 3:7

October Winds

It's October and I'm lovin' it. I love it that winter is just around the corner. I love it that we are back to schooling. I love it that the weather is cooler and it's time for flannel sheets. I ♥ my bed any ol' time but I really love it in the fall and winter seasons. I unearthed my sheets and my down comforter and so they would smell all fresh and lovely, I washed the sheets and hung them on the line. I hung the comforter on the line to air out too. I sure appreciate that I have a covered patio because that allowed me to put my clothesline there and I line dry laundry rain or shine. I didn't used to avail myself of my clothesline in the fall but I am doing it this year. In fact whenever the wind is a blowin' I feel like I'm squandering an opportunity if I don't have some laundry out there. Anywho, my cozy flannel sheets are on my bed, my down comforter is tucked into my denim duvet cover, October winds are blowing, and winter's on it's way. Life is good.

WFMW - Fingers in Doors

Elise's cool tip today reminded me of something I do that might be helpful to others too. I take a partly folded hand towel and drape it over the top of any door that I don't want my tiny ones to be able to close. This can accomplish several things.

1.) They can't close the door and then sit down in front of it thereby preventing me from getting in when they're crying because they're trapped.

2.) Since they can't close the door all the way it's harder to get their fingers pinched in the knob side of the door. Now if I could just figure out how to protect their fingers from the hinge side. (THAT was a fun ER visit!)

3.) It's also handy on those warm, breezy nights when you have the windows open and the wind is sucking the door open and then pushing it back and it's a little loud and startling and it's even freaking out your 11-year-old daughter! With the towel over the door, the latch doesn't hit against the strike plate (is that one word or two?) and sleep isn't rudely interrupted. Not by that anyway.

It's worked for me for many years.

See what working for the rest of the crowd over at Rocks In My Dryer.

Casting Crowns Concert

I went to the Casting Crowns concert in Boise tonight with my daughter, Rebecca. Oh.My.Goodness. I don't know if I'll ever be able to put into words how great it was. All I can say right now is we serve a big, big God and I am so blessed to be called His child. I've never been to a concert where the seven members of the group sit at the front of the stage and spend 20 minutes taking turns praying for the audience. Each member focused on a particular thing. I can't remember all seven but one prayed for young men and the decisions that they are making that will affect who they become and the kind of fathers and leaders they will become. One prayed for encouragement for those in ministry. One prayed for marriages and for wives to learn what it means to really submit to their husbands and that husbands would just love their wives the way Christ loves the church. One prayed for the members of the audience who don't yet have a relationship with Jesus. One prayed for the fatherless, and one prayed for mothers, for mothers in the trenches of raising childen, for the heartache of losing a child, and for the ones desiring to become mothers. It was a good thing we got napkins at the concession stand earlier because I was a teary mess. The mention of the heartache of losing a child especially touched me because I'm very much aware of the fact that my former due date was two weeks from yesterday. (It's strange to think that I'd be delivering a baby very soon if I hadn't miscarried. It's been so many months ago now it seems crazy to think that I was supposed to be having a baby this month. Perhaps that's a different post.... back to the concert.)

Ack. I feel like I have Niagra Falls trying to fit through a 1" pipe! Apparently I can say more than I first intimated! :-) There's so much to talk about.

Rebecca liked the opening group, Leeland, better than Casting Crowns but she did like CC. She commented that the main singer looked like he was too young to be touring the United States. (When Leeland began playing/singing I thought "Oh my goodness. I'm old. What have I done and why am I here?" I'm too old for this. I enjoyed CC much better and Leeland really was okay. Their music is a bit wild but carried a good message nonetheless.) She didn't like the video plugs for WorldVision. Seeing the plight of children in third-world countries is really upsetting to her and causes her several sleepless nights. (I didn't realize we would be seeing that. I still would have taken her had I known.) When CC sang their last song and the lights were extinguished and we were standing and applauding, I leaned over to Rebecca and said, "They are clapping to bring them out again. They will come out and sing one more song." "How, do YOU know?" she asked. I said, "This isn't my first concert!" It was funny! I got to go to a concert again for the first time. She thought it was just silly and they should have stayed out there and sung the song without leaving first. At one point they let the drummer rip. Rebecca liked it but thought it dragged on too long. Really, it was impressive. He was quite skilled and in a strange way it was neat to see/hear. I reminded her of how she feels when she gets to run, really fast. Run as hard as she possibly can without having to stop until she wants to. It's a good feeling to do someting you love and that you are good at and to do it to the utmost. I said I think it feels like that to him. She nodded. She understood that feeling. The really cool thing was he did that and he gave it to to Lord. I saw that happen. It was beautiful... and it was really, really loud drums. Go figure.

Are you still reading all of this? Sorry that I'm so chatty... it was a great mountain-top experience and I want to remember what I'm thinking and feeling right now.

The thing I loved most was the meatiness of the lyrics. Casting Crowns doesn't spend much time on feel-good songs. Here are some examples of ones that particularly challenged me:

And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth - Voice of Truth
*****

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus - Love Them Like Jesus
*****

Jesus, I'm trying so hard to stop trying so hard
Just let You be who You are
Lord, who You are in me - The Altar and the Door
*****

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive - All Because of Jesus
*****

What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captives free
And not let Satan have one more

What if the church for heaven's sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took and stand upon God's promise
And stormed hell's rusty gates

What if His people prayed
And those who bare His name
Would humbly seek His face
And turn from their own way... What If His People Prayed

Want a taste of our evening? The following videos will do that for you.

The Altar and The Door Tour Preview (2 1/2 minutes)


The Altar and the Door Sneak Preview - with Mark Hall (almost 6 minutes but SOOO good! If you only watch one of these videos, watch this one.)


I'll stop now. It's 2 am. I think I'm finally winding down... Typing sure is getting difficult. :-) Tickets to this concert were a great gift from my husband. I am blessed, I am encouraged, I am challenged, I am convicted, I am refreshed, I am humbled, I am grateful.

I am tired. G'night.

Menu Plan Monday - October 7, 2007

Sunday- Chicken Pot Pies
Monday- Spaghetti, Salad & French Bread
Tuesday- Grilled Hamburgers & Corn-on-the-Cob
Wednesday- Chicken & Rice Bake, Salad
Thursday- Deer Steaks, Mashed Potatoes
Friday- Leftovers
Saturday- Pancakes

Check out the other menus for the week at Organizing Junkie.

By the way, I really liked the copycat recipe for Olive Garden's Alfredo Sauce that I mentioned and used last week. I doubled the amount of cream cheese and added about an extra 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. It turned out very well and we enjoyed it a lot. I'm so happy to find a great alfredo sauce recipe. YUMMY!

Adam-isms

Tonight while I was gone at a church function, Jim was home with the kids. He heard Abby screaming and hollering in the living room. When he went in there to see what was happening he saw Adam lying on his back on the couch with Abby lying on her back on top of him. Adam had his arms and legs wrapped around her, restraining her. Jim asked what in the world was going on and Adam replied, "Abby was doing bad stuff and I am taking her sin away."

Apparently Abby didn't want her sin taken away. Sometimes it's hard to let go of our sin, isn't it?!

There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Prov. 16:25

(Near as Jim could reconstruct, Abby's sin was standing up on the arm of the couch and turning the light off and on. Thanks, Adam, for keeping her from hurtling to the ground!)

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

THERE IS A FOUNTAIN

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.
Lies silent in the grave, lies silent in the grave;
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave.

Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, unworthy though I be,
For me a blood bought free reward, a golden harp for me!
’Tis strung and tuned for endless years, and formed by power divine,
To sound in God the Father’s ears no other name but Thine.

Words: Will­iam Cow­per, in Con­yer’s Col­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns, 1772.
Music: Cleans­ing Fount­ain, 19th Cen­tu­ry Amer­i­can camp meet­ing tune

Source: CyberHymnal.org
"This is one of the first hymns Cow­per wrote af­ter his first at­tack of tem­po­ra­ry mad­ness." You can read more of the history at CyberHymnal by clicking on the link above.

Favorite (F)oto Friday: My Girls

Three Things Thursday

1. Just so you know, I threw it out!

2. Remember, it's October 4th! (wink, wink!)

3. My husband bought me tickets to a Casting Crowns concert. The tickets were tucked into a chocolate bar. Rather they were tucked into the wrapper. Isn't he great!?!

Works for YOU Wednesday

This week is supposed to be backward week for the Works For Me crowd at Rocks In My Dryer. Shannon said that:

Instead of giving a tip, you'll ask for one, on a very specific subject. You'll be inviting all the WFMW readers to weigh in with their clever solutions to your most stubborn problems.

So here's my situation:

Where To Sleep?

I have a three-bedroom house. One room is for my husband and me; one room for my boys, ages 3.75 and 9; and the last room is for my girls, ages 21 months and 11 years. We've had the baby nap in our room during the day because I'm not using it then and my 11 yog can have her room available to her at that time. The problem is nights. The baby will still wake up at night and fuss. Sometimes scream and cry. If I let her cry it out she's usually asleep again within 10 or so minutes. My 11 yog can't sleep through that and doesn't want to be sharing a room with the baby. She also wants more light to sleep by than the baby can handle. Once my babies are about 4/5 months I don't share my room with them anymore because I hear every little intake of breath (that doesn't bother my older daughter) and I'm just ready to have my bedroom back. For a long time my two older kids, Rebecca and Micah shared the top bunk in the boys' room and Adam (3) slept on the bottom bunk but Micah finally got tired of Rebecca being in there and wanted his space back. The two older kids spent the summer sleeping on the hide-a-bed in the living room but that is over now too. So now Rebecca is back in her own room trying to share the space with Abby. I wish I had space for my babies to have a room of their own, but I just don't.

Am I being selfish for not wanting to have the baby in MY room anymore? Am I asking too much of my older daughter to expect her to share a room with her 21-month-old sister? Is there a solution that I haven't come up with yet? HELP!

See what the other questions this week are at Rocks In My Dryer!

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 30, 20007

Sunday- Soft Tacos, Chips & Salsa

Monday- Baked Ham, Au Gratin Potatoes, Salad

Tuesday- Chicken Stir Fry, Pork Fried Rice

Wednesday- Broccoli Chicken Alfredo, French Bread (I'm trying this Olive Garden copycat recipe this week.)

Thursday- Roast Venison, Mashed Potatoes

Friday- Homemade Pizza

Saturday-Parents Go Out!

Check out the other menus for the week at Organizing Junkie.

Psalms & Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The DeputyHeadmistress at The Common Room has a post every Sunday called Sunday Hymn Post. I've enjoyed it very much especially since I really miss singing hymns regularly at church. A good old hymn is hard to come by. So I've decided to copy her idea and post a hymn here each Sunday. Since I like many different types of church songs I may post something other than a hymn here sometimes too. Whatever strikes my fancy or whatever song God is using to minister to me. That's why I'm calling it Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, a phrase I borrowed from Ephesians 5:19: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

Refrain

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Refrain

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

Refrain

Words: Dan­i­el W. Whit­tle, in Gos­pel Hymns No. 4, 1883.
Music: James Mc­Gran­a­han

Source: CyberHymnal.org

Cousins Camp 2007

My daughter, Rebecca, has posted her Cousins' Camp report on her blog, Just Horsin' Around. Give her a thrill and go read and comment.

peanut butter, paws, & predicaments

Updated*

Okay, Internet, I've got a question for you.

First I have to tell you that I've been doing a pretty good job of transforming my life into a frugal lifestyle. Okay...I've made a few positive changes. Not a major transformation, yet. But it's happening. It's mostly in my head but a frugal lifestyle IS mostly about attitude and how you view life. To quote the DeputyHeadmistress in her latest article on the new Frugal Hacks website,

"the most important frugal tool you have is the way you think about things. All the frugal buys in the world won’t help us live within our means until we change the way we think about what we need and what we want."

So, to get to the point, I bought a new jar of peanut butter. We had used it once. It was left on the table after breakfast (we gotta have peanut butter on our pancakes!), and the @#^!%$& cute, loveable cat got to it.

Here's the question: What would you do? Go ahead and vote. I've already made my decision. I'll tell you what I did later.




*For some reason when I posted this voting thingie, a strange color bar appeared at the top and bottom of my blog. I don't like that color! It doesn't belong but I can only make it disappear when I remove this post. Strange! I guess it will just have to stay there until this post is archived unless someone out there can tell me how I can fix it....

Favorite (F)oto Friday

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 23, 2007

Sunday- Go Out
Monday- Sub Sandwiches, Fruit
Tuesday- Chicken Salad, French bread
Wednesday- Baked Potato Bar
Thursday- Swiss Steak & Rice, Salad (from the freezer - I made a double batch a few weeks ago)
Friday- Grilled Hamburgers
Saturday- Leftover Buffet

Be sure to check out the other menus this week at Organizing Junkie.
You can also check out my handy, standard breakfast menu.

Menu Plan Monday - Sept. 16, 2007

Wow! I haven't posted a menu plan in months. Really, I have been using menus I just haven't gotten around to posting them. But I'm back now.

Sunday- Spaghetti
Monday- Grilled Pork Steaks & Zucchini, Applesauce, Salad
Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas (make double batch)
Wednesday- Grilled Salmon, Steamed Baby Reds, Salad
Thursday- Beef Stroganoff (from the freezer - I made a double batch a few weeks ago)
Friday- Homemade Pizza
Saturday- Deer Steaks, Mashed Potatoes, Pan Gravy, Salad

Be sure to check out the other menus this week at Organizing Junkie.

The Monstrous Regiment of Women

Thank you KimC for the heads up on the following video:

I'm thankful for men like Colin Gunn who are willing to fight the culture war.

I can't wait to see the movie.....the official site for The Monsterous Regiment movie is here.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This post: It's coming ..... are you ready? was written by KimC @ Life in a Shoe.

More on Overpopulation

Or should that be moron overpopulation? Sorry.

My sister sent me an article that is a startling contrast to my last post. She doen't agree with it, by the way, she just sent it because of the contrast. Here's an excerpt:

Global Swarming
Is it time for Americans to start cutting our baby emissions?

By Daniel Engber Posted Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, at 4:49 PM ET

Oh, if we all just disappeared. According to The World Without Us, Alan Weisman's strangely comforting vision of human annihilation, the Earth would be a lot better off. In his doomsday scenario, freshwater floods would course through the New York subway system, ailanthus roots would heave up sidewalks, and a parade of coyotes, bears, and deer would eventually trot across the George Washington Bridge and repopulate Manhattan. Nature lovers can take solace in the idea that the planet will thrive once we've finally destroyed ourselves with global warming. But Weisman takes the fantasy one step further: Let's not wait for climate change, he says. Let's start depopulating right now. (Read the rest...)

In the third paragraph of the above article is a link to another article that I think is worth reading. It's not for the faint-hearted, easily angered, or for children. Read a little:

Cases of Forced Abortions Surface in China
by Louisa Lim ~ Morning Edition, April 23, 2007

During the past week, dozens of women in southwest China have been forced to have abortions even as late as nine months into the pregnancy, according to evidence uncovered by NPR.
China's strict family planning laws permit urban married couples to have only one child each, but in some of the recent cases — in Guangxi Province — women say they were forced to abort what would have been their first child because they were unmarried. The forced abortions are all the more shocking because family planning laws have generally been relaxed in China, with many families having two children. (Read a little more...)

This is just wrong, folks. And terribly sad. We'd be foolish to think it can't happen in the U.S.

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)

Who am I to tell God to stop giving me gifts? How do I know when my quiver is full? I believe God is the best judge of that. He knows me, He knows His plans for me. He knows where He wants me to be and He knows how to get me there. How can I think that I would do a better job of directing my life that my Maker would? My only task is to submit to His will and let Him form me in to the person He wants me to be. C.S. Lewis states it very well,

Christ says `Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.' (from Mere Christianity [chapter 30])

It's as simple and as difficult as that. I don't think overpopulation is our problem. I think SIN is our problem. Only God has the solution for that and it's offered as a free gift to us. We'd be foolish to squander that gift.

******************************
Updated to add link:
China to crack down on rich flouting one-child rule

Overpopulation?

I've never believed it. Apparently the governor of a central Russian province doesn't believe it either!

Skip work, make babies, says Russian governor
By James Kilner Wed Sep 12, 6:02 AM ET

The governor of a central Russian province urged couples to skip work on Wednesday and m@ke love instead to help boost Russia's low birth-rate.
And if a woman gives birth in exactly nine months time -- on Russia's national day on June 12 -- she will qualify for a prize, perhaps even winning a new home.
"It's normally something for the home -- a fridge or a television set," Yelena Yakovleva at the Ulyanovsk regional administration press office, said.
"It doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy."
Newly-weds Karina and Anton Bukhanovsky walked hand in hand down the main street of the regional capital of Ulyanovsk. They live in St Petersburg but travelled to Ulyanovsk to soak up the atmosphere on Wednesday.
"I used to live here," said Karina, aged 19.
"We plan to come back on the same day next year and try for a baby and the prize nine months later," she said.
Anton, aged 21, kissed her gently on the cheek and they strolled off arm in arm.
Regional governor Sergei Morozov told employers to contribute to a Kremlin campaign to boost the birth rate by giving couples Wednesday off to have s&x.
Russia wants to reverse a trend in which the population is shrinking by about 700,000 people a year as births fail to outpace a high death rate boosted by AIDS, alcoholism and suicide.
This is the third year Ulyanovsk region, famous as the birthplace of Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin, has dedicated a day to encouraging couples to produce more babies.
Prizes will extend equally to unwed women who produce children on the right day, though the biggest prizes will go to married couples.
On Russia Day this year, a family won a jeep after their fourth baby was born on the holiday.
Next year, the top prizes will include an apartment, Morozov told Reuters. "We need more people," he said.
This year a record 78 babies were born on June 12 at the main hospital in the regional capital of Ulyanovsk, beating the 2006 total of 26, said chief doctor Andrei Malykh.
"The scheme is working. People want the prizes," he said.
A mass wedding and special lessons for children at school on how to deal with having a brother or sister are also planned in Ulyanovsk city, which is about 900 km (560 miles) from Moscow.
At the town's central post office, a sign urges locals to write love letters for free to anywhere in Russia, with postage pre-paid.
This week First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a possible successor to President Vladimir Putin, said he wanted to stabilise the population at about 142 million by 2015 and boost it back to 145 million by 2025.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070912/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_
russia_sex;_ylt=AlixwWWvxDK4iO7gaXxomnwuQE4F

I don't really know what to say about this but I wanted to share it. I'd like a new house or a new fridge, but we didn't get this Wednesday off. We should start a program like this here in the states. July 4th is a good national holiday for us to aim for, eh? So how about Thursday, October 4th? National Trying To Conceive Day. Whaddya think?

I think it's late and I should get to bed. I'm starting to get punchy.

WFMW - Line Drying Towels

Do you line dry towels and find them rather stiff and abrasive? Well, I learned a trick from my mom. Throw them in the dryer for about 10 minutes on the no-heat setting, THEN hang them on the line. Ten minutes is enough to fluff them up and remove the wrinkles from the spin cycle and you still get the sweet smell of line drying and you've still reduced your energy usage.

Check out what works for others at the Works For Me Wednesday home: Rocks In My Dryer.

*************************************************
My previous WFMW posts:
Brand Loyalty
Breakfast Menu
Rinsing Toddler Hair
Measuring Honey & Molasses
Precooking Hamburger
Holey Jeans, Batman?!
Cleaning out the fridge
Trimming Baby Nails

WFMW - Brand Loyalty

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer has asked that: "Everybody post about what brands (any products) you cannot do without."

Here's my list:

• Jif peanut butter
• Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Toothpaste
• Arm & Hammer laundry detergent
• Arm & Hammer dryer sheets
• Crayola crayons
• Clorox bleach & Clorox 2
• Plain or Honey Nut Cheerios (other generic cereals are okay but NOT Cheerioes!)
• Premium Saltines
• Van Camp's Pork 'n Beans
• Gorton's Fishsticks
• Scott's toilet paper
• Band-Aid's
• Dove bar soap
• Q-tips

There might be a few others but I can't think of them now. The cool thing is I just got a BUNCH of coupons for the name brand things that I like. I spent a total of $6.18 on ebay for a huge amount of coupons (from three different sellers). I'm so excited for payday because then I get to use them and see exactly how much I'll save! Check back later and I'll record my savings. The trick with coupons is to ONLY buy the coupons for things you already buy anyway. Otherwise it turns into more spending instead of more saving. I've been bitten by the coupon bug!

Anyway, back to WFMW... What's on your list?

***********
Updated to add: After reading a few other brand loyalty lists I had to hurry back here and add NETFLIX!! Yes, of course! Goodness, it's even in my sidebar. I can't believe I forgot that one. Netflix is so great. I can't tell you how I DON'T miss going into the video rental store and having to avert my eyes from the evil that abounds there.

Homeschooling - Ages 3 and under

What do we study when I am teaching a one-year-old and a three-year-old?

Why, fluid dynamics, of course!

And what do you do once you have filled the bucket? Pretend you are Georgie Russell from Davy Crockett - King of the Wild Frontier!

Safe

Welcome Home!

Damaged shuttle Endeavour lands safely

Psalm 23 - Surely??

Hat tip to KimC @ Life In A Shoe.

Psalm 39:7-12

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Thy presence?

If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

Even there Thy hand will lead me,
And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,

And the light around me will be night,"

Even the darkness is not dark to Thee,
And the night is as bright as the day.

Darkness and light are alike to Thee.

My little hacker

What Abby can accomplish with a step stool, a knife, and an unsupervised moment:

Here she is engaged in a much safer activity:

A reminder to myself

Message to Laodicea (or to Cindee)

14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

15 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.

16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (emphasis mine)

18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (emphasis mine)

22 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Revelation 3:14-22 NASB

Happy 12th Anniversary

What I Love About You:

I love that you seem to be able to do just about anything
I love that you can’t sleep if I’m driving
I love that you think our kids are "stinkin’ cute"
I love that you take out the trash
I love that I can hide things from you in the refrigerator
I love that you like bread and gravy
I love that your car has a rattling sound coming from the trunk and you don’t care
I love that you can fall asleep in .05 seconds
I love that you don’t shave every day
I love your laugh
I love that you prefer Pepsi to Coke
I love how you smell fresh from the shower
I love how you get a kick out of our kids’ antics
I love that you don’t wear suits
I love the look on your face when I bring you a chocolate shake
I love that you put chips in your tuna sandwich
I love how people getting injured on AFV makes you crack up
I love that you can’t find the show you recorded on the video tape
I love that you like kittens
I love that you leave the cupboard doors open
I love that you like milk with your cookies
I love your physical strength
I love your bad grammar
I love that you sometimes fall asleep with your fingertips tucked under your waistband
I love that I’ve seen Abby do that too
I love that you listen to country music
I love that sometimes you laugh so hard I start to worry
I love that your face screws up when you take cough syrup or something lemony
I love that you like Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles
I love that you won’t admit how bad they are for you
I love your delighted laugh when the kids are particularly cute
I love the sympathetic twitches you make when watching someone fight or dance on TV
I love that you MUST wear shoes
I love the face you make when the diaper is really bad
I love that you take your daughter to lunch
I love that you love me

To Jim ~ From Cindee ~

Have you slipped?

When life pulls the rug out from under you, remember that the rug is not your foundation. Jesus is beneath the rug. He is your true and sure foundation!

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed."
Isaiah 28:16

Sometimes the day hits you like a ton of bricks!

Adam is sound asleep in this picture. Notice that he took some vital items to bed with him: a sword, binoculars, and a Clifford (The Big Red Dog) pillow. He's a funny boy!

Whew!

I took this picture last Thursday (7/5/07). The top number is the time (p.m.), the middle number is the temperature in my house (!), and the bottom number is the temperature outside. Officially the high was (only) 102*. But my thermometer is usually right within about 2 degrees. We've been hot! Also, we've had power outages on four of the last five days. Not all day or anything - just a portion of the day. Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and today. When the power went out again today, I knew it was going to happen. I knew about 3 minutes before it happened! We pulled into the driveway from swimming lessons and an Idaho Power truck pulled up behind me. The driver said that he had tried to knock on my door (we weren't home) and tell us that they were about to turn off the power. I raced into the house to turn off the computer but I didn't get it powered down in time. Idaho Power did it for me. Anyway, they were replacing the transformer that kept failing (yeah!) and were actually going to move it off the pole in our backyard to a more accessible spot on a main road. Maybe now I can set the clocks and Jim won't laugh at me. It's become a joke between us that I keep setting the clocks night after night. I don't know why I didn't just give up except that I HAVE to know the time especially in the middle of the night. I hate to wake up and not know what time it is. Anywhoooo, while the three power guys were working in our backyard, Rebecca asked to take them a plate of cookies that I had made yesterday. I thought it was really appropriate that the cookies she took them were chocolate no-bake cookies! Can't bake without electricity...at least I can't! I have a gas oven/range and I can light the range with a lighter so I can use it during a power outage. I can light my broiler too but not the main part of the oven.

So anyway...I'm rambling now. Time to get to bed. G'night!

More than I can handle

Have you ever heard anyone say that 'God will not give you more than you can handle'? Do you agree with that statement? I'm not so sure that I do. Where does that theology come from? I believe that it's based on 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states,

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

First of all, it seems to me that this scripture is talking about temptation. It's saying that there IS an escape for each and every temptation that we face. It's not talking about heavy burdens, sick children for days on end, losses, financial crises, cancer, death, or any of the myriad of troubles that we encounter in this very fallen world.

Secondly, whether it's God giving us burdens to bear or it's God allowing Satan to pile these things on us, I'm not quite sure. Maybe it's both. What I am sure of is that we do indeed have more than we can handle. Isn't it rather arrogant of us to think that we can adequately handle anything without God's help? We do have more than we can handle because it's only then, when we get to the end of ourselves and of our own resources, that we can really see our need for a Savior. It's then that our faith and trust in God's provision can be exercised.

So what should I think when I'm having troubles and I wonder how much more I can take?

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you He will not fail you or forsake you.
Deut. 31:6

or

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6

or

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Job 19:25

and of course, Psalm 18. It's my favorite Psalm, the whole thing, so it's hard to pick an excerpt. Here's a few:

...The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge...

...In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears...

...He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me...

...For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness. For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall...

...For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God, The God who girds me with strength...

...The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation...

Yes, I have way more than I can handle but it's not too much for my most awesome, holy Lord. the Author and Finisher of my faith.

Craving Chocolate

One of my readers, Kilikina, recently e-mailed me asking how I was doing since my miscarriage. After I responded to her I decided to post my response here also to update anyone else who reads my blog.

Thanks for checking up on me, I appreciate it. I guess I'm doing pretty okay. I get sad sometimes but then I remember that each and every one of my pregnancies has been in God's capable hands and this time it was no different even though the final outcome was different.

We weren't "trying" or hoping to get pregnant because we leave it up to God to decide the quantity and timing of the children He gives us. Having said that, now that I've lost this baby, I find myself hoping to get pregnant again. It's almost like someone surprising you with a big piece of chocolate cake and then taking it away before you had a chance to take a bite! Now I'm hungry for chocolate cake! I don't really know where I would put a fifth child, but I figure if God can make room for a baby inside my body(!) then He can make room in my home. Not a problem.

Of course, I see pregnant people EVERYWHERE (I notice pregnant people everywhere when I'm pregnant too), but it doesn't cause me much turmoil. I really trust God's hand in all things. Having four kids is great. Having more would be great too. He's the Potter, I'm the clay. I'll welcome whatever He gives me.

He hath made everything beautiful in His time... Ecc.3:11a

Two Peas in a Pod

Thanks for the post title, Dad.

Click on the picture to enlarge. I recommend it!

They're each 18 months old in these pictures.

Adam-isms

Adam (hollering): I NEED WI-I-I-PED!

Jim (entering the bathroom): So you did a poo?

Adam: Yeah. My guys needed to poo too. That's their potty.

Letting go

I just sent my bigs off to camp for a week. It's going to be strange without them here but I'm looking forward to some extra time with my littles.

Neither kid was nervous about going or being gone for a whole week. I'm gonna miss 'em.

I took a couple of pictures as they were getting ready to leave. Imagine that!! :-)

We're back in Idaho

And oh so busy. Here's a few pictures of what we did last night:

Meridian Dairy Days Parade

You can stop/restart the slide show here.

Bits and Pieces

I've been absent for a bit and I will continue to be for a little while. We're in Oregon visiting family. We've had a nice visit these past couple of days but I'm missing home and anxious to get back. I just wish we didn't have a nine-hour drive to endure before we're back home! Oh well, we always seem muddle through the drive.

I've kept up on reading the blogs I subscribe to (it's pretty easy on the weekend because the writing tapers off then anyway) but I haven't written much. We've had a birthday last week (Micah's) and there's another birthday this coming week (Rebecca's). Still to come this summer we have two church camps to prepare for, swimming lessons, VBS, and cousins' camp. I may not be blogging much even when I DO get back home. Oh well, I only blog when I 'need' to. It's a great outlet and sometimes I need it and sometimes I don't.

If you're looking for a thought-provoking blogpost, try reading God and Vending Machines over at The Common Room.

Have a great week.

Adam-isms

(Jim was helping Adam try on the new socks that I had just bought for him.)
Me: How do they fit?
Adam: Right fine.

------------------

Adam: (dressed in shorts and cowboy boots) How do I
look? Fancy enough?

------------------


Adam: (with a wad of something on his thumb) I seriously
found this in the play room. It's sticky tack! It's mine because I
found it.
Me: No, it's mine. But thank-you for finding it for
me.

-------------------

Adam: Mom, I need my hand washed.
Me: Why? What's on it?
Adam: Pee.
Me: How'd you get pee on it?
Adam: From the toilet.
Me: You put your hand in the toilet?
Adam: No.
Me: No?
Adam: No. It fell in.

------------------


Adam: (strutting around with a bungee cord) Your
baby's under arrest.
Me: Why?
Adam: Because I'm the policeman

-----------------


Adam: (after hooking the antique dictionary and its stand
with the bungee cord and bringing it crashing to the floor)
I did it on accident.
I did it on accident.
I did it on accident.
I did it on accident.

------------------


And all of that was since 5:30 pm tonight!

Pole wakes from 19-year coma

I thought this was a really great story. It kinds of reminds me of the movie, Late For Dinner. Love that movie. I should go watch it...

WARSAW (Reuters) - A 65-year-old railwayman who fell into a coma following an accident in communist Poland regained consciousness 19 years later to find democracy and a market economy , Polish media reported on Saturday.

Wheelchair-bound Jan Grzebski, whom doctors had given only two or three years to live following his 1988 accident, credited his caring wife Gertruda with his revival.

"It was Gertruda that saved me, and I'll never forget it," Grzebski told news channel TVN24.

"For 19 years Mrs Grzebska did the job of an experienced intensive care team, changing her comatose husband's position every hour to prevent bed-sore infections," Super Express reported Dr Boguslaw Poniatowski as saying.

"When I went into a coma there was only tea and vinegar in the shops, meat was rationed and huge petrol queues were everywhere," Grzebski told TVN24, describing his recollections of the communist system's economic collapse.

"Now I see people on the streets with cell phones and there are so many goods in the shops it makes my head spin."

Grzebski awoke to find his four children had all married and produced 11 grandchildren during his years in hospital.

He said he vaguely recalled the family gatherings he was taken to while in a coma and his wife and children trying to communicate with him.

Source: Yahoo News/Reuters

With the greatest of ease

♪♪...the daring young (girl) on the flying trapeze ♪♪



She hasn't fallen...yet!

Happy June 1st!

I took my kids out to breakfast this morning. All four of them by myself. It was great. They were very well-behaved and we had a very nice time. Here's a few pictures we took in the front yard after we got home. (Yeah, I know, it's mostly Abby but that's how it goes...)