A Time to Give Thanks

Today, Selena and I were talking about Thanksgiving, and I had her make a thank you card for all of the things that she was thankful to God for. I wasn't surprised that the first thing she was thankful for was her "stistor, Shana."

Well, I am so very thankful for this,

and this,

and this,

and this.

And oh my, how can I forget the little fingerprints on my glass doors? I was noticing them today, indicative of little fingers playing"drum." Yes, I am thankful for fun times.

We noticed last week, that our house was very cold. Upon further inspection, we realized that our furnace had stopped working. I'm thankful that it was under warranty. I'm thankful that it is fixed, and we are toasty warm again.

I'm thankful for little things. Hugs, candles, tall mugs of steaming coffee. Thick books and the time to read them. Laughter. Blankets. Fuzzy Sweaters.

And I am thankful for family and friends near and far. My aunt went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, and she is now experiencing unspeakable joy. I'm thankful that we can rejoice for her.

And on that note, I'll take my leave. Because there is nothing that I could be more thankful for than the love of Christ - unchanging, merciful, free. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We've been absent ...

News from our little household has been slim lately, hasn't it? I do miss blogging here regularly, but will stop in as I can.

God has continued to fill our home with the laughter of our little ones. Selena is progressing in her quest for learning to read, slowly but surely. She can read simple (three letter) words, and is learning to sound out. We studied apples in September, pumpkins in October, and we are studying turkeys this month. She helped make apple pie and pumpkin muffins too! Shana joins us as we read and color, her little hands busy trying to take Lena's papers or knock over her carefully planned building blocks. It is a good learning experience for both of them! Lena is mama's helper, and is growing so quickly. I am so thankful for my intuitive girl who has inherited mommy's talkative nature!

Shana has very little to say, but her eyes tell us everything. She is simply sweet with her impromptu kisses and hugs. She is very purposeful in her play -- stacking plates and cups, pretending to fold laundry, and clapping and singing. Her favorite word is "Neenaa." She is always at my feet when I am cooking or cleaning, watching and imitating.

I am reminded every day of the blessings God has given me:

I simply love being a mom. Especially to these two girls who drink in every word I say, imitate my every move, and teach me where I've sinned without even knowing it.

How wonderful to be able to live, love and share common goals with my very best friend in the whole world. Watching my husband with my girls has increased my love and respect for him. He takes the time to listen and to teach.

What am I working on? My organization!! It seems I do this every year, because my tendency is to be extremely organized for a short period of time, and then fall into old habits. I need to develop a system for my coupons. Right now they are in a basket next to my bed, and this isn't working as well. I also need to go through our entire file system and put old paperwork in banker boxes.

How are all of you? How are you enjoying fall? It hasn't been very cold this fall, so it doesn't seem quite right that Thanksgiving is just around the corner!

Check my sidebar for Speakable Gifts' Christmas list. My mom and I are hoping that everyone who buys presents at Christmas time, will consider at least one spiritual or at least character building gift this year!

Family

"O God beyond all praising,

we worship you today

and sing the love amazing

that songs cannot repay;

for we can only wonder

at every gift you send,

at blessings without number

and mercies without end:

we lift our hearts before you

and wait upon your word,

we honor and adore you,

our great and mighty Lord."'

from O God Beyond All Praising

A Little of This and a Little of That

Thanksgiving was full of lovely smells and tastes. We visited Mr. S's side of the family. Much time was spent in the kitchen talking, cooking and tasting. So enjoyable ...

tired after all the festivities

We've been "Christmasfying" our house, and having fun in the process. We got a "real" tree for the first time, which was fun for Lena. We made it a fun process, and stopped at Smokin' Lil's afterward to bring home some yummy Southern BBQ.

I wanted to let her help me trim the tree, but abandoned that idea after about ten minutes of too much fun! While she was upstairs snuggly wuggly in her chair watching Little Bear, I snuck into the girls room and put up their little tree. Ah - it does resemble Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, but it is special nonetheless. We weren't disappointed at Lena's reaction when she saw her special surprise. After kissing the tree and running around her room in delight, she pulled at Shana's sleeper, saying "Look baby Shae Shae, its for you!!"

We had a brunch at our house last weekend, and my sis-in-law gifted me with a couple of recipes from her never ending supply of cookbooks and magazines. I wanted to share this recipe with you ...

Upside-Down Banana-Walnut French Toast Recipe 1 hour 15 min prep

An ooey-gooey do-ahead (1-24 hours) egg bake that will knock your socks off.

SERVES 10

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

1/4 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3 medium bananas, sliced

1 loaf sliced unfrosted firm cinnamon-swirl bread

6 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Spray bottom and sides of a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray or grease with shortening. In a large bowl, stir together first four (4) ingredients then gently stir in the bananas. Spoon this mixture into the baking dish.

2. Reserving heels of bread for another use (feed the birds, they love cinnamon bread) arrange 2 layers of bread on banana mixture, tearing bread to fit if needed.

3. In a medium-size bowl, beat eggs, milk and vanilla until well mixed. Pour over bread. Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

4. Heat oven to 325°. Uncover casserole and bake 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve portions upside-down, spooning sauce from bottom of dish over each serving.

We're still spending a lot of time at home. Shana has gotten sick twice already, and she is only 8 weeks old. It has been really cold too. We are finding plenty to do at home. Lately it has been a never ending round of tea parties. Lena, basket over her arm, cooks many delicacies that Shana and I are obligated to try.

happy Shae Shae

Shana is growing quickly and I have learned to cherish these times. I don't know when Lena grew so fast. I must have blinked -- so I'm keeping my eyes open this time!


Hope your home is full of love and warmth and wonderful memories this week ...

Well, as Pooh would say, "It's a rather blustery day..."

After a day of wiping noses, kissing little faces, folding laundry, changing diapers, reading books, and rocking little ones, I had to go out to do some grocery shopping. I must admit that I was looking forward to "getting out," after two weeks of being mainly housebound. We've all been sick and it has been so cold.

It was nice to have some free time. But as I pulled into the driveway, I saw the lights burning in our little home and I wanted to be inside with my three special ones. I am so thankful that they are mine:

My ever-smiling, land surveying loving, best friend of a husband who is a wonderful father on top of it all.

My curly headed, mommy blow on my already cold soup because its too hot, cuddlebug of a oldest daughter who is turning out to be a great helper and big sister.

My round cheeked, wonderfully laid back, baby daughter, who has a firm grasp on all of our hearts.

All three - gifts from God to me.

This holiday weekend we are traveling to be with family and hopefully decorating for Christmas! Have a wonderful thanksgiving all!

Ten Thankful Things on Tuesday

I'm sitting here in a comfy patio chair, while the wind plays with my ponytail. Selena is next to me in her sandbox, pretending to cook. She's quietly singing and talking to herself. A bee is traveling from flower to flower as I watch and smile. The birds are singing, and the sun is just ... perfect.

So yes, I am feeling thankful.

10. I'm thankful that we went grocery shopping today and that two very kind ladies went out of their way to help me when they saw me struggling with a very full and heavy shopping cart. It reminds me to always be willing to help.

9. I'm thankful that in this time of skyrocketing prices on food and other necessities, that our freezer and refrigerator are full. I never want to take this for granted. So many suffer.

8. I'm thankful for my hard working husband, who always comes home with a smile. I need to work on curbing my selfishness when he has to work late or far away. I am so thankful that he loves me unconditionally and doesn't complain when I ask him every night to rub my feet and back.

7. I'm thankful for my precious Selena, who is such a joy to us. She's becoming such a help to me. When I pull out the vacuum cleaner, she runs to pick up everything that is on the floor and places it on the couch until I'm finished! I'm thankful for baby "sisser," who wakes me up at night with her love taps.

6. I'm thankful for family. My family is so important to me, and they bring me joy. Just last week, my sister spent three days with us, and it was so nice. We miss her!

5. I'm thankful for the support of friends.

4. I'm thankful for yummy candles, delicious coffee creamer, and rich pasta sauce. Oh, and don't forget snuggly blankets, fat books, and our hymns of the faith. Oh - and strawberry frosted doughnuts (I have been promised this treat tonight)

3. I'm thankful that we have been getting closer to our neighbors lately. I hope we can be a witness to them!

2. I'm thankful that our garage door opener broke. Because we had to have a service call, we realized that our opener did not have any safety features, and have replaced it with one that does!

1. I am thankful that nothing, NOTHING, can separate me from Christ's love.

Thanking God for fathers, all that they do, and all that they mean to us.

Some news ...

We found out today that another princess is joining our family. I was completely wrong because I thought it was a boy! Mr. S thought it was a girl, and Lena insisted that she was having a "sisser."

Seeing our new little one on the screen made everything more real somehow. I came home and told Lena that her new baby was going to be a sister. She was at our house with Pop Pop, Nanna and Auntie Nee.

She looked at me and said "I apple?"

After she was happily munching on her apple, she was interested to see the picture of her new baby sister. She even gave it a kiss.

I just wanted to update those of you who hadn't heard. Have a blessed weekend!

Guilt and Some Common Pitfalls

I can't count how many times as a wife and mom that I've felt guilty about one thing or another. This pregnancy has been no exception to my guilt trip habit.

Here are a couple of pitfalls I tend to dive into:

1. Instead of taking one day at a time, and realizing that I am truly doing the best I can, I let myself worry about the things I am not doing.

Did Selena get enough outside time today?

There's dust on my windowsill.

I only got through one load of wash and not three today.

I haven't baked in 10 days.

I haven't blogged in a week. Okay - more then a week.


2. The Wallowing World of Martyrdom

I am allowed to take Tylenol, but I am just going to suffer through this headache to show what an Amazon woman I am.

My hip is about to fall off, and my leg is numb, but I am going to play on the hard floor with my daughter because I am a wonderful mom who puts my kid first.

I am really tired today, but I am going to make the most complex recipe I have to show my husband how much I love him.

These pitfalls cause me to lose my joy. They also prevent me from giving glory to God with my lips, the expression on my face, and my heart. The little mini-me who follows me around the house is sure to pick up on these things.

On days like this one, I have debilitating sciatica. Today, I can barely feel my left leg! I am trying from the start of the day, to its finish - to make all my thoughts and actions captive to Him. As I literally and figurately limp through this day, I will try not to trip and fall into these pits ...

Because I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Because I am to rejoice in the Lord always.

Because I am made in His image.

Because my chief end is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.

I am going to smile through this day!

Happiness

I currently look like the stick figure in this graphic, by the way. Yes - a little scary!

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God. Psalm 147:1

I know I haven't been on in a while. Lena has had an ear infection, and now I am sick. But I just feel so thankful this morning. The wind is whipping through the trees and the rain is coming down. I am happily cuddled in my house able to nurse my sore throat and throbbing head. I'm thankful for this.

I am thankful for my rice bag. One of my favorite things at the end of the day is to crawl into bed, r-e-a-c-h with my toes, and feel the wonderful warmth of my rice bag under the covers. My sister made me a rice bag a few years ago, and just recently, my mom made me new ones because my old one was so worn out. Thank you so much, mom.

I'm thankful that my daughter loves books. This has been one of the most fulfilling things for me as a parent so far. I love reading to her and watching her thumb through book after book. It just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling!

Lena has just started coming up from the nursery to sit with us in church. She stays the first half hour, and then goes back to nursery. We are taking it slowly. I think I get a gray hair every time I hear her little voice talking out of turn during a prayer or Scripture reading, but she is definitely learning to be quiet. I love hearing her sing the hymns with us. She loves to sing, and seems in awe as all of her beloved church members sing in unison. It is truly special.

And just think, friends, every morning when we wake up - his mercies are new. Great is His Faithfulness.

I must go as my fever is causing the words to dance in front of my eyes. Have a happy day, my friends.

Little comforter

We have been struggling with sickness in our family. Mr. S and Lena have been under the weather for about two weeks now. Consequently, we have been staying indoors.


My dearest daughter and I are quite stir-crazy - and it is making both of us irritable.


Fighting with weariness yesterday, I slumped against the couch and closed my eyes for a moment. I was on the floor playing peg board with Selena. We were stacking the pegs, and I had two in my closed fist.


I noticed that she stopped playing, and through my partly closed eyes I saw her peering at me with concern. She gently opened my hand, pulling on my fingers one by one. She took a peg from my hand and held it right in front of my eyes.


"Okay Momma!" she said, "Awwww Momma."


She briefly laid her head against mine - no matter that she injured my nose in the process - and then looked at me closely.


"Mommy is all better!" I said with a big smile, pulling her close for a hug.

She seemed quite pleased with herself, and I do thank God for my little comforter!

May God continue to build that nurturing spirit in her.
.

DaDoo Dod!

Lena has two books entitled "Thank you, God!" Now that she is at the ripe age of 15 months, (where did the time go?) she is able to ask for her books by title.

I would like to offer my own thanks to God for all of His tender mercies to our family.

I thank you Lord, for a happy daughter who bounced back from a trying experience ...

And I pray that she will learn to love you.

I thank you for a husband who works hard, even to the point of overdoing it and getting sick. I thank you for his job Lord, for we can't take these things for granted...

...And I pray that he will be a bright light for you.

I thank you for our home ...
... and I pray that we will use it for your glory.

I thank you for your Word, and for other great books ...
... and I pray that we will guard our eyes and our hearts.

I thank you that my daughter has two sets of Christian grandparents ...
... and I pray that you would bless them for all they have done for us.

I thank you Lord, for adoption, for without it, where would I or my sister be?
... And I pray for those loving people who are willing to open their homes to a needy child.

I thank you for a church that teaches your Word ...
... and I pray that we will be able to be a blessing to your saints.

Thank you Lord for a full freezer and refrigerator and a stove to make wonderful meals ...
... and may we always share what we have.

I thank you Lord for our dear friends ...
... may these bonds become stronger.

These are just a few things that the Lord has blessed us with lately. As we enter the weekend, especially with the holiday rush in full swing, may we remember to stop and be thankful. Without Him, we would be nothing and would have nothing. Have a wonderful weekend!

Update on Selena

all snuggly wuggly the day after her MRI

I just talked to the surgeon, and she said that Selena appears to have a venous malformation, which is an abnormal collection of veins. She was born with it, and will always have it. It doesn't appear to be compressing any nerves or interfering with anything else, so we will just watch it and make sure it doesn't become symptomatic.

The only downside to it not being a hemangioma is that it will not disappear. She will always have a slight asymmetry to her shoulders. But we are so thankful that she won't need surgery!!

I would run and give her a big hug, but she is napping :-)

Home At Last

allposters.com

A very tired little girl is sleeping peacefully in her crib right now. She has had a very long day.


We are back from the MRI which turned into an MRI/MRA/MRV. We were at the hospital from 7:50am to 12:30pm. Selena was really hungry, and pretty scared and we felt so horrible for not feeding her when she kept pitifully asking for her "doddle." Everyone at the hospital was so kind, and made a not pleasant experience as good as it could have been.


I had two painful moments, one when I kissed my sweetie to sleep while her Daddy rubbed her back. I was able to rock her after she received the sedation medicine. It just bothered me to see her getting limp and helpless.


The second moment was after she had recieved her contrast medicine through the IV, and I saw the doctor and the nurse viewing her images. At that moment fear just gripped me, and I started worrying about the results.

Mr.S was able to talk to the radiologist, who showed him the images, and told him that from what she could see, everything looked good. It didn't look like the hemangioma was involved with her deltoid muscle at all. We have to wait for her final diagnosis, but that was an encouragement.

The funny thing is that Lena was so loopy when she got home. She couldn't walk and she kept singing loudly. She slept most of the afternoon.

We are so glad to be home!

Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. Oh I love it!

I am thankful for so many things, but here are a few ...

I am thankful that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. What a promise!

I am thankful that I love my husband more each day.

I am thankful for my precious girl - not a baby anymore.

I am thankful that He has given us everything we need, and even many things that we want.

I am thankful that He didn't give us some of the things we wanted, because it wasn't best!

I am thankful that we have harmony and loads of laughter in our home.

I am thankful for family, and for friends.

I am thankful that God gives us things to enjoy like ...

my fluffy downy slippers, blueberry cobbler coffeemate - and oh - don't forget pralines and cream!

wonderful books to read under fluffy blankets

snuggly blanket sleepers for Lena that are perfect for cuddling

pumpkin pie

Pumpkin picking, Short Commutes, and Prayer

Once upon a time, a little girl named Selena Anne went pumpkin pickin'.

She found the perfect pumpkin, but the wheelbarrow was more interesting!

She was dubious about the whole pony riding thing, but she tried to make the best of it!

We've been having fun times during the weekends, even though we sorely miss Daddy. Some weekends we go to PopPop and Nanna's house and others they come here. They leave us a present in the form of Auntie Nee for a couple of nights, so we don't have to be alone! This past weekend we went to a pumpkin festival and took plenty of pictures so Daddy wouldn't have to miss out.

God gave us an unexpected blessing when Mr.S's boss asked him to handle some work that needed to be done in one of their offices -- a little over FOUR MILES from our house! Today we had our first taste of Daddy home for lunch and it was wonderful. He'll be there for a little while, so we have at the least a few weeks of this wonderful short commute.

Today little Lena went to the doctor for a weight check (she's petite like her Momma), and we discussed her upcoming visit to a specialist for the strawberry hemangioma she has on her shoulder. The doctor wants us to talk to a plastic surgeon about it, because it seems that there is a lot of vascular business going on there. He doesn't seem overly worried, but everytime a parent hears the word surgeon - it doesn't create the most pleasant feeling in the pit of one's stomach. Please pray that if it is God's will, that she won't need surgery, and that the whole thing will disappear on its own. We go to the surgeon in three weeks. Of course we know that even if she needs surgery, that God will lovingly guide us through the process.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Just an Update -- Sorry. its picture heavy!

Laughter of Lilacs

Rainbows of roses

Songs of the robins

Lily of the valley borders

Sunshine to warm the heart

Oh what joy this season does impart!

by Anne Morrow Lindberg

I'm back just to say hello. We are doing well here! God remains faithful and I have just been so thankful for His blessings. After the death of our friend and brother in Christ, I have just been delighting in the closeness of my husband and daughter. The memorial service we attended for him was so glorifying to God. Just the privilege of sitting at the table with my family has gladdened me lately, because they are here.

We celebrated my daddy's birthday, and had a wonderful two weeks of surprises for him. Close friends sent him sweet cards the whole week of his birthday. Family members wrote him notes about what he has meant to them over the years, and we all went out to eat together. The church family generously gifted him a vacation trip to Lancaster -- with my mom of course! They will be going in September for a few days, and we will have the pleasure of my sister staying with us, as well as my brother Frodo. Yes, he is a dog!

I think this arrangement will be fine with Lena!!

This Momma is busy, but happy. I don't usually like summer so much, but this one has been so enjoyable. Sometimes I still wish I could get more accomplished during the day, but I am quickly realizing that I need to cherish each moment. They are flying by!


I'm back, but may not be posting as frequently for a couple of weeks, as VBS looms large. Also, our church has a table at the local farm fair so we'll be doing that as well. I think about you all the time, my blogging friends. I hope you are all well.

Chipped Bathtubs ...

Nanna unknowingly took my post idea for this week, so I think I'll save my pork recipe for another time!

Yes, the pork turned out very well. I had to be creative, as my aforesaid knives weren't the type that I needed for this recipe. It was so delicious though. Our little dinner wasn't romantic with Miss S smearing sweet potatoes all over her high chair tray, and slinging stacking cups across the floor. However,since for us together = happy, it was a wonderful evening.

Wednesday was quite busy. I had a long list of things to do, and I was completely committed to crossing off every item! One of the items that I had to accomplish was the bathing of my dear but dirty daughter. I carried her, fully undressed, to the tub, with one arm. With the other arm, I jerked her little bathrobe off of the decorative hooks that we have hanging on the wall. Not only did the bathrobe come down, but the entire set of metal hooks. I sighed inwardly, but went about my duties until I noticed a little round chip on the edge of the tub. Yes, in my haste, I had chipped the bathtub. Ugh.

Next, after I had put Miss S down for a nap and was trying to rearrange our office, I sliced my finger on the edge of our filing cabinet. I stood in the bathroom running water over my finger as I looked at the chip on the side of the tub. Lovely.

Later, we picked up my husband's car from the mechanic, and instead of it costing $150, there were deeper issues in its health and we had to pay $480. Ouch.

Even later, as I was walking into the basement, I saw something BIG and BLACK on the carpet next to my laundry basket. It was MOVING. It was the king of spiders. We had killed another of these in our storage area 6 weeks before. But this was in the finished part of our basement... the place where we watch movies and curl on the sofa in front of the fireplace to drink coffee. I was so afraid (still am). This spider had muscles and bones .... really it did. Do you think the spider has relatives? I do. Just great.

When I climbed into bed on Wednesday, I realized that all day I hadn't said thank you. Lord, thank you. Thank you for health and a home. Thank you for a refrigerator full of food. Thank you for family and friends. Thank you for your word. Thank you for all of your blessings. Thank you for teaching me not to hurry. Thank you for laughter. Thank you for trials. Thank you for a car to drive. The list goes on and on.

I don't know how many of you have read the classic Pollyanna. She always played the glad game. I wonder how it would be to play the glad game for just one day ... for instance.

I'm glad that the metal shelf didn't fall on Selena.

I'm glad that I had a filing cabinet to cut my finger on.

I'm glad that the car was fixable.

I'm glad that the spider was there to kill other little pesties.

I'm glad that the spider wasn't a black widow.

I'm glad that in three months, we've only seen two of these scary beasts.

I'm glad that Mr.S was able to kill the spider. (Can you tell I need a little help being glad for the spider?)

Play the glad
game with me!

"Little things come daily, hourly within our reach, and they are not less calculated to set forward our growth in holiness than are the greater occasions which occur but rarely."

Jean - Nicolas Grou

Count it all joy!

I have this little framed piece in my bathroom. Its a little broken down, a trifle crookedly framed, but I keep it as a reminder to myself. I typed and framed this poem by Amy Carmichael when I was in highschool.

"IF I myself dominate myself,
if my thoughts revolve around myself,
if I am so occupied with myself
I rarely have a "heart at leisure from itself,"
THEN I know nothing of Calvary love.

IF I refuse to be a corn of wheat
that falls into the ground and dies
("is separated from all in which it lived before")
THEN I know nothing of Calvary love.

IF I ask to be delivered from trial
rather than for deliverance out of it,
to the praise of His glory;
IF I forget that the way of the Cross
leads to the Cross
and not to a bank of flowers;
IF I am surprised when the way is rough,
And think it strange,
though the word is,
THINK IT NOT STRANGE, COUNT IT ALL JOY,
THEN I know nothing of Calvary love. "

-Amy Carmichael-

Today Miss S and I are going to PopPop and Nanna's house! Mr. S is away at a surveying conference, and we truly miss him. We will definitely be talking a lot on the phone while he is away. I am looking forward to a gabfest with my parents and sister, and sharing the joy that is Miss S with them. We will be spending the night, and then tomorrow night, I'll be judging at a homeschool science fair. It is always a good chance to see old friends from my homeschooling days. Auntie Neesie will be in charge of watching Miss S while I am judging!

Just had to share a picture that Beka took a couple of Sundays ago.

Little Things ....

Do little things make you happy?

Seeing ...

snow blanketing the ground

an email or letter from a friend

a smile light up my daughter's face

a fresh page in a notebook ... just begging for words to be written on it


Touching ...

the softness of sheets after a long, tiring day

my husband's scratchy beard

gooey dough for bread or cookies


Tasting ...

the tartness of herbal tea or richness of a full bodied cup of coffee

a piece of white chocolate melting on your tongue


Smelling ...

the coffee pot brewing

fragrance from a bubble bath

a pumpkin spice candle burning

my husband's cologne on his shirts that I am laundering



Hearing ...

"I love you."

"I'm praying for you."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

A few things that may not be so little!
Having ...

A home of our own.

Rooms filled with laughter and love.

Peace in our hearts.

So many wonderful promises from our Savior.



What little things make your day?