Vacation time

We're on vacation...on the lake in Texas with in-laws. Good to get away. Kids are having a ball. Here are a couple of pictures, catching crappie.
Will be back to posting regularly hopefully next week :)

Funky Vintage-Inspired Handbags

While in St Louis last weekend, I met some of the dearest ladies. They were consultants for Juxtaposie handbags. Now, I had never heard of Juxtaposie, but quickly learned that it means "a bouquet of unexpected combinations of colors, shapes and ideas". Started in 2002, by two sister-in-laws, Juxtaposie was created as an avenue for women to achieve their goals and give aid to those with no such opportunities.

Also known as Purse of Hope, Juxtaposie exists not only to offer women a great career opportunity selling quality, fashionable, product line but also to rescue and restore children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. Their main product line is hand-beaded handles. Incorporated into each handle, are several hand-rendered beads created by Northern Ugandan refugees that were forced to flee their homes due to a 21 year civil war.

I am not selling these bags...I don't even own one. (yet!) I am just spreading the word about a corporation who is dedicated to caring about people. Whose mission is to change the world, one handbag at a time.

a Homeschool Blog

For those of you readers who are interested in homeschooling, I have started a seperate blog for our homeschool. I know, I know, where do I find the time, right?! Actually I think it will make things easier for me by seperating them. This blog was feeling to cluttered to me.

I will still obviously post about my kids & stuff we do, but will be able to be more indepth with school stuff on the other blog.

So, feel free to check it out: http://www.youngchristianacademy.blogspot.com/

A poem sent to me...

TOGETHERNESS

Death is nothing at all ---I have only slipped away into the next room. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be the household word it always was. Let it be spoken without effort. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was: there is absolutely unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of your sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.

Nothing is past: nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as before---only better, infinitely happier and forever we will be one together with Christ.

Author Unknown

This was sent to me, a few days after my father passed. It has ministered comfort and healing. Such overwhelming loss...feelings of depression, confusion, in spite of the peace, knowing he is with his Lord.

I like knowing its ok, to continue with my life, as though my Daddy is still close by. To think about him, talk about him, even forget and want to call him on the phone.

I miss my Dad. I'm sad that my children are so little and might not remember much about him someday. I can't wait to see him again!

Apple Dumplings

Apple Dumplings

2 granny smith apples

2 cans crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

cinnamon

1-12 oz can Mountain Dew

Peel & core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a buttered 9 X 13 pan. Melt butter, then add sugar, barely stirring. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples; making sure to cover each dumpling evenly. Pour mountain dew oaround the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon. And bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 45 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on top.

My big helper. She gets so excited about learning to cook. Loves to spend time with me in the kitchen. The other day, she asked if she could get their toy dishes/food out to play with. She said she wanted to "teach Logan how to cook". To which he comes running "I wanna cook too! I wana cook too!"

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Oct 6th 2008

Outside my window. . .its already dark outside. A sure reminder of the fall season, as well as the smell of woodsmoke wafting in from a house down the road.

I am thinking. . .about the chocolate cake sitting on the kitchen counter.

From the learning room. . .Ashleigh is learning her vowels & vowel sounds. We have discovered that Logan has picked up his numbers...probably from big sister. He can count to 10!

I am thankful for. . .dear friends. Through this season of overwhelming grief, my family has had so many friends who have comforted us, encouraged us, blessed us.

From the kitchen. . .matzo ball soup from a sweet jewish couple, who wanted to make me some jewish comfort food.

I am wearing. . .sweats, t shirt.

I am creating. . .some autumn decorations and centerpieces.

I am going. . .to help Ashleigh make a pumpkin pie this week. We visited a pumpkin farm yesterday afternoon where she picked out a huge pumpkin.

I am reading. . ."Nurture" by Lisa Bevere. I saw her speak on this at the conference this past weekend. About making heart-connections. Nurture (verb): 1. To give tender care and protection. 2. To encourage to grow, develop, thrive, and be successful.This beautifully describes what God's daughters so desperately need. In this heartfelt work, Lisa explains how women of all ages must awaken and restore their capacity to give and receive nurture.

I am hoping. . .

I am hearing. . .Dancing with the Stars...and my children wrestling in the living room floor.

Around the house. . .fall cleaning - clearing out kitchen cabinets, re-lining shelves.

One of my favorite things. . .raking leaves. Hearing them crunch under my feet. Smelling that musty, earthy, autumn-ness :)

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .baking with Ashleigh; MOPS; homeschool co-op class;

Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .the view from my hotel window while at the Joyce Meyers Conference this past weekend -- the St Louis Arch

Monday's Simple Woman's Daybook

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ Sept 29th 2008

Outside my window. . .warm, clouding up to rain. Ashleigh is playing softball with a little neighbor girl.

I am thinking. . .about my Dad. He's part of every passing thought. Everywhere I turn something else reminds me of him. I wonder what he is doing right now...with Jesus!

From the learning room. . .its hard for me to focus on anything right now, so easing back into school...life. Did some phonics bookwork, a little memorization with Ashleigh. Logan learned about music, sang some songs; and had some "nature study" chasing a grasshopper around the backyard.

I am thankful for. . .my amazing family. Mom, two brothers and two sisters, in-laws, how close we are.

From the kitchen. . .trying a new recipe for dinner tonight. Chicken Penne in Smoky Chili Cream Sauce. Found it in a magazine, while waiting for my new great-niece to be born Sat evening.

I am wearing. . .blue capris, blue t shirt, wet hair...

I am creating. . .word clouds on Wordle. I just discovered it this morning. Thanks to Brin over at My Messy Thrilling Life. You type in a bunch of words...random words or a quote, etc...and wordle creates a word cloud, that you can print or do anything you want with. You get to choose the font and colors...was too much fun. I want to make a collection of words for each child to hang in their room. Would be cool used for scrapbooking too.

I am going. . .to try and get back into writing on my blog. This past 10 days it has been simply too hard.

I am reading. . .To Love, Honor and Vacuum by Sheila Wray-Gregoire; The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight; alot of emails that I am behind in.

I am hoping. . .to figure out how to keep an "almost" two yr old from climbing up on the kitchen counters.

I am hearing. . .air conditioner running. Logan talking to his toys.

Around the house. . .a big mess from a busy week. Laundry that needs folded.

One of my favorite things. . .Millstone Pumpkin Spice Coffeebeans

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .catching up on cleaning & laundry; packing for 3 days in St Louis at a ladies conference; shopping and meal planning for Fred & kids while I gone.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .my new great-niece, Jada.

To read more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman to find the list of participants in this week’s The Simple Woman’s Daybook. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

My husband rocks...

It was one week ago today, about 7am, that we got the call from IL that my father was on his way to the hospital after suffering a massive heart attack. Before I was even off the phone with my sister-in-law, my husband was on his phone to his boss - letting him know he wouldn't be in for work, that we were rushing up to see my Dad. After we were both off the phone, I suggested we could maybe wait until Dad had seen a dr and we had an update. Fred said no, we were going no matter what. I began to pack. 20 minutes later, we got the update. Dad had gone on...to his long home.

The rushed trip to IL. Mom, brothers, sisters. Planning my father's funeral. Shaking so many hands and getting so many hugs from well-wishers. Crying so many tears. Sorting through Dad's things. This week as been the longest and hardest of my entire life. I feel like I am going through the motions in a thick fog.

This entire week, Fred has been strong for me. I know that Jesus will help me through this and that Fred will be by my side through it all.

In Memory...

My Dad

September 11th 1934 -- September 19th, 2008