November

november is like waiting for the beginning…

the beginning of the holiday season, the first snowfall, turkey dinner, warm mittens, hot chocolate, family young and old, sharing new traditions with our children, remembering ones who can’t be with us, creating a home of love, warmth, and joy.


Happy Thanksgiving

Mondays Simple Woman's Daybook

A look into my simple life....and others at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook Blog

FOR TODAY...October 26th

Outside my window... its is gray and chilly once again. Saturday, a gorgeous sunny fall day, might have been our last chance to see the trees in all their glorious autumn splendor.

I am thinking...about how nice a long hot bubble bath or massage would be right now.

I am thankful for...the dear boy who is snuggling on my lap while I blog. I'm gthankful he isn't too big to cuddle with mommy...yet.

I am wearing...blue yoga pants and my red church tshirt. And actually got my hair in a ponytail today. Hair is getting long enough...thinking about a new short do.

I am remembering...how my Dad loved Marguerite Henry books. Our favorite was "Brighty of the Grand Canyon". He would read it aloud to us during the winter. This morning I taught my kids the silly braying donkey song that he taught us!

I am going...to have to sort and change out baby clothes again already. Keira is outgrowing many of her 0-3 months outfits. She is also smiling, cooing, and reaching for stuff now too though :) They grow so fast!

I am reading...AGAINST ALL ODDS by Irene Hannon. Its book 1 of the Heroes of Quantico series. I accidently read #2 first! Its a christian novel about an FBI Hostage Rescue Team.

I am hoping... for a mild winter....with lots of snow. But not to cold, and NO ice storms!

On my mind...how frustrating it is to teach children not to interrupt.

From the learning rooms...phonics, spelling, math, bible reading, penmanship. oh...and play-doh.

Noticing that...its getting chilly in the house. Need to turn the furnace on.

Pondering these words..."oh how He loves us". From a new David Crowder song. Love it.

From the kitchen...we're fixing greasy cheeseburgers and french fries tonight :)

Around the house...have moved some furniture around. Put some stuff in the storage shed, so that we can shampoo carpets before winter.

One of my favorite things...a rainy day with a good book and hot chocolate.

From my picture journal...our fall family picture. Taken saturday.

Family Heirlooms

"God is an amazing God- He blesses us in the most astonishing ways. He gave you the precious gift of parenthood. He knows whom you are dealing with and He loves your children far more than any parent can imagine, so take your concerns directly to the Lord!" Maggie Hogan

We spent the afternoon playing at the park. It was a gorgeous fall day. 72 degrees. The breeze was nice and cool, perfect for Ashleigh & Logan to fly their kite.

And just cool enough for Keira to wear the little sweater that her Grandma Barb made, with a little pink bonnet from her Great-Grandma Edie whom she never got to meet. They were originally Ashleigh's and have been passed down. Maybe some day they'll be an old family heirloom? ;)

I love this picture of her in them. She is such a little doll baby.

I am grateful that God knows my children better than I. He knows the issues I deal with and struggle through in parenting these unique little hearts and minds. I pray that He guides my words and hand in all that we do. So that someday, it won't just be little crocheted sweaters we're passing down...but character, values, and generational blessings.

Friend Makin Monday - 4th of July

This week's FFM is being hosted by Shawn at Seriously. Visit her blog for details and to join in the fun! Shawn has asked us several questions about our Fourth of July plans and traditions:

What are you doing this July 4th?...

We will be going to a bbq at some dear friends from our church. They live outside of town just a ways and have a nice big open yard...perfect for bbq-ing, volleyball and riding bicycles. Several other families go and we create memories..cookout, share favorite dishes, fellowship with friends old & new, the kids all play, and that evening the Dad's set off a fun display of fireworks.

What is your favorite dish to pass when attending a 4th of July party or summer barbecue?...

I love spicy baked beans, but my friend makes the absolute best, so I leave them to her! I like to make cupcakes for summer picnics.

Do you have any July 4th traditions?...

This will be the 4th year I think, that we have gone out to our friends place.

Share your favorite July 4th picture...

This is a picture of Ash & Logan taken just last 4th of July. I can hardly believe how little they were! A great reminder of how quickly a year passes. How many things change....

Holiday Traditions for Our Children

"There is no influence so powerful

as that of the mother."
~Sarah Josepha Hall, American Pioneer and Writer

There is no time like the fall to spend time building relationships with our children. To create family traditions and make memories that will last a lifetime.

What an opportunity we have to establish truths in our children!

Spending time together provides a great opportunity for me to sprinkle a little joy, faith, understanding, comfort, and praise on their dear little hearts. Someone once said that "children are like wet cement, whatever impressions you press on their heart will last forever."

God has given me two amazing little miracles! My job is to love them, guide them, protect them, encourage them, cheer for them, comfort them, and give them a sense of belonging so they will grow to be confident, compassionate and happy adults. We can accomplish this throughout the activities of the day, but a child's ears and heart seem to be a little more receptive to our message of love when we give them our undivided attention doing an activity that they enjoy. It's also an important time to listen with our own ears...about the things that are on their mind. It's amazing the things you can learn about your kids over a batch of cookie dough or a paper craft.

Yesterday, we made Turkey Hats. Very simple and easy to make. Family Fun turkey crafts has instructions for this craft as well as many others.

"We can change the world inside our own houses. Take the gift of this moment and make something beautiful of it. Few worthwhile experiences just happen; memories are made on purpose."

~Gloria Gaither

Some of my favorite holiday memories from when I was a child...is the little activities and crafts we made. Not the money spent on decorations or the holiday shows on tv.
Paper chains, posters, puppets, homemade ornaments. The stories my family read together during the fall & winter.

So even now, as a mother, that is what I want to instill in my children. The true meaning of Thanks-living...counting our blessings every day.

Simplicity.

I want my home to be the happiest place on earth for my family.....it's not so much about the "stuff" as it is about the feeling that I try to accomplish. Feelings of love, a sense of belonging, comfort and joy!

As mothers, we get to set the stage for a happy (or unhappy) home life. The things we do today will contribute to our family's memories tomorrow. This quote by Gina Pearson is so thought provoking.... "It's impossible to harvest something you don't plant." If we want to look forward to a bountiful harvest of joyful blessings and thankfulness, lets plant joy, goodness and a festive celebration-of-life in our homes

Our home is a precious heirloom
where our family dwells together.
The meals we prepare,
and the memories we share
decorate our hearts forever.


"Create a memory that you will still be talking about 5 or 10 years from now."~ John Maxwell

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!

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