Thanksgiving

My family is extended literally from one end of the country to the other, my mom and step dad are in California, my father and step mom, three brothers, a sister-in-law, two nieces, and two nephews are in Texas; a sister-in-law and nephew are in Utah; my sister, brother-in-law and two nieces are in Pennsylvania, and another brother in Florida. Then I have numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins spread from California to Vermont to Florida and everywhere in between. My husband's family is primarily located in Kentucky and Alabama. So it is hard to have all of my loved ones together today. I miss them but I also enjoy being in my own home too. I love cooking at my own pace and just enjoying time with the kids and family. Yet I do miss the extended family being together too. One reason I long for Heaven is to be able to be with them. I pray that we all make it there.

Our day wasn't with out funny events...I looked up and noticed the oven was turned off. Not sure how or when it was turned off. So our 5 ish dinner time turned into a 7ish dinner time. We decided to be rebels and eat dessert first. It was fun and different. I think we may just do it again. I think we ate far less food this way. We have lots of leftovers and will nibble on them throughout the weekend.

We had DVR'd the Thanksgiving parade early in the day so that we could all watch it together. So after dinner was done we all curled up on the couch in the living room and watched the parade together. It was fun and nice to watch it together and even better to fast forward through the commercials. LOL.

I am thankful to have a home and a family to love and be safe from the outside elements. It is a place to come when I am sad and happy and just need to be me.

the peace

Something is calming about listening to little girls playing house with their stuffed animals. ~A teaching her little doggie to say prayers.

It is so precious and cute ~A "dear Jesus, thank you for mommy and daddy, thank you for today. Amen." "now baby it's time for bed. go to sleep"

Busy week busy day

This has been an extremely crazy busy week but in the midst of it all I was able to escape for a date night with my honey.

His favorite holiday group is Trans Siberian Orchestra. Last week I realized that they were coming to the area. So without his knowledge purchased tickets to the concert in Providence, RI. We have seen them in concert when I was pregnant with the girls. I am proud of myself I managed to not spill the beans to him. He had an idea just because he knows the time of year but that's ok with me. We had a great night kids free listening to Christmas music and talking on the drive back and forth.

Today I am making a vegan carrot cake, gluten patties, and steamed carrots oh and a pumpkin crunch all to take to potluck at church tomorrow. I have to go to Christian Book Distributors to pick up a will call order and also take my friend to her daughter's cardiologist appointment. And I have to sew on patches on the girls Little Lambs uniforms.

Tomorrow Nique is getting baptized as well as another friend's mom. Then we have potluck lunch. Then we have an Adventurer (kinda like Cub Scouts and Awanas combined) field trip to the nursing home to hand out cards.

Sunday we have a Women's Ministry afternoon tea with the pastor's wife. They just got here in September. So all in all it is a very busy weekend.

Off to get started on the cooking. I have 3 hours before Nique gets off work and I have to pick her up from work.

motto for today

Use what you have...don't sweat the small stuff... and bloom where you're planted! It's good enough and so are you.

Like so many people I get caught up in the have nots what does everyone else have that I don't? Well today while reading another blog The above hit me like a ton of bricks. I know I have heard and read it a thousand times before. I need to print it and put it on my mirror. I can bloom where I am planted.

Community outreach

Tonight I went to my monthly twin club meeting. This meeting is all about giving back to our community. As mom's of twins a lot of our members either spent time in the NICU or know someone who has. So we made fleece tie blankets to be given to patients in NICU. Several women got together prior to tonight's meeting to cut prep the fleece (cut into smaller sizes and fringe it). Tonight we tied 94 blankets. We also collected food for the food bank of the church where we meet and had a raffle of some pretty awesome door prizes. To be able to enter the raffle, one could donate food or buy tickets. Money raised will help club members in need during the holiday season. I am honored to be a part of this club. It is definitely a club that gives back. They gave to the New Orleans and Gulfcoast clubs after Katrina and Rita.

Thankful Thursday

Pausing to smell the roses and Praise our Creator for all my blessings

The smell of fresh coffee in the morning

The smile of a child who runs up and says I love you mommy

Being able to share my story with a complete stranger and giving them hope that their pregnancy will be ok.

The carpet of leaves that have fallen from the trees

A book that has sat on my shelf for a few years that is now speaking right to my heart.

God's timing isn't my timing

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

various ramblings ~ Kids doctors appointments and my devotions

The cold virus has hit our house...It is a cold and not the flu. There has not been fevers or body aches just coughing, sniffles, nasal congestion. It has been lingering for nearly two weeks. With three adults and seven children in one house that's to be expected. The two that give us the biggest fears are Anneliese and Nique's daughter, Savannah. They both can get pretty bad. Today for the first time in over a year I had to break down and give Anneliese a breathing treatment. We took her to the doctor, no signs of bacterial infections in nose, throat, no ear infection, lungs sounded clear but O2 sats were around 97. So we are doing breathing treatments for a few days to clear the passages. This is hard for me but I KNOW she needs it. It is a love hate relationship with me and steroids. I hate them but I love that we have the ability to have them and that they can make her better.

Caleb and Leo had dental appointments today. I am thankful for insurance and that doctors contract with them. I dislike the doctors that require 20% of billable charge payment when I know that the insurance will pay then the doctors office will have to pay me back.

In my devotions. I had an AH AH moment. I am valuable and don't have to prove myself to anyone. Why is it always so hard for me to believe? Why do I always feel I have to be in competition with someone else? Why do I let someone else determine my value? These have been questions I have always struggled with... I never felt good enough someone was ALWAYS better than me at home at school at work even at church but not while I may still struggle and will have good days and bad days Together God and I work on it. Why am I valuable? God makes me valuable Isn't that awesome!!! As a godly woman I am free of having to prove myself and can be strong but don't have to use my strength to control. THANK YOU for my ah ah moment. God is so GOOD. Emile Barnes and Keep it Simple. I am reading 2 and 3 days at a time. Journaling pages taking notes. Slowly God is working on my heart to let go and give to HIM. It doesn't matter what anyone else is doing in their house with their kids, it only matters to me, my husband and God what we are doing with our kids.

The other I am reading Who Got Peanut Butter on My Daily Planner? by Cindy Dagnan Cindy Dagnan is giving a heart felt look on where are my priorities as a stay at home mom and do my priorities reflect that. 15 minutes at a time life will come under control...The perfectionist in me has to NOT GIVE up or take over. I tend to crash and burn. God is in control not me. That is so freeing.

To the man who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness. Ecclesiates 2:26

My prayer is that I please God in all I do.

Slow progress

God is so faithful to me

This week, I took a HUGE step back from the computer time on frivolous things. God is really pushing me this year on my home and time with HIM. This week has had A LOT more time with in prayer and quiet alone time.

UPDATE ~ Missing Persons This is REAL

THANK YOU for the prayers I received this from my friend. She says Thank you all for all the concern, blog post, prayers.

Just wanted you all to know that I know where Andrew is now. BIG SIGH OF RELIEF. I have heard from his girlfriend/fiance', however I havent heard from him. She says he is alive well happy and working his behind off with several jobs. I also have alot more information about him than Ive had for months. Ive called the Police Dept and the missing persons report has been canceled.

God is good all the time and ALWAYS answers prayers.

kids near Grist Mill

Keeping it simple

This week I started the Keep it Simple for busy Women by Emile Barnes. The first verse in the first devotional was Acts 23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." I want to be able to say this every night. To know that I have done what I have done to with all good conscious.

A little afternoon fun

Despite feeling under the weather, we got out of the house yesterday afternoon. We needed the fresh air. We went to Wayside Inn Grist Mill
Wayside Inn Grist Mill