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Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Who Has Her Heart?
Little Boy: " When we get married..."
Little Girl: "I don't know if we are getting married" she quickly interrupts.
Boy: " But don't you want to get married?"
Girl: " Yes, but I don't know if it will be you."
Boy: " I will ask my daddy and he will say it is fine."
Girl: "Yeah but I am still little and you might not be my husband."
Boy: "I will still want to get married to you."
Girl: "But God might want me to marry someone else and not you."
Boy: " Don't you want to marry me?"
Girl smiles awkwardly, " I don't know yet."
Mommy, who is overhearing this conversation, jumps in, " Let's not talk about marriage. God has someone, Lord-willing, for her to marry and she needs to keep her heart for him only and not for anyone else. Until God brings this man in her life she needs not to think of other boys."
Boy: "But we want to marry one day."
Mommy: "Well, we don't need to talk about marriage now. You are both young and don't need to think of these things yet."
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This conversation was between one of my girls and another little boy. Being the daddy and mommy we are, we don't want our children to give their hearts to lots of different people. A mistake we both made and see the danger in it. Some may see this conversation as innocent talk by two young kids, but we see it as possible danger in the future. If you let them talk this way as children, then they will think it is ok as 14 and 15 year old young adults to talk this way possibly to many of the other gender.
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Later the the young girl and I have one of our special talks. During this time, I bring up the situation that had occurred earlier that week. I ask her how it made her feel. She said, "uncomfortable." I explain to her again why daddy and mommy don't want her to give her heart to anyone except...
She jumps in quickly and says, " My heart is for my daddy only, and God."
I was going to say her future husband, but when she said her "Daddy" this just blessed my heart.
It shows me the good job AJ is doing in raising her. I already knew he did well , but this was just an extra blessing to hear.
It started about a year ago when he took her out on a date. She was in a fancy dress, he dressed up in a suit. He brought her a red rose. They went out to dinner. They had a conversation about how he loved her a lot and wanted the best for her. He explained the details in why it is dangerous to give your heart to anyone besides her husband. He asked if she would give him her heart until the day comes when she meets and marries her husband, Lord-willing. She responded with "Yes."
As we parent and teach our children, we never really know how much they actually take in.
This is a time when it is obvious she listened, understood, and has submitted herself to her daddy.
Thank you AJ, for the good job you are doing with our daughters, capturing their hearts so they won't freely give it out to the world. For being a daddy they can willingly submit to. Just the fact that they want to submit to you in this area says they TRUST in you.
To my girl, I am proud of you and pray your heart will stay dedicated to your daddy until he puts your hand into another young mans hand on the day of your wedding.
Little Girl: "I don't know if we are getting married" she quickly interrupts.
Boy: " But don't you want to get married?"
Girl: " Yes, but I don't know if it will be you."
Boy: " I will ask my daddy and he will say it is fine."
Girl: "Yeah but I am still little and you might not be my husband."
Boy: "I will still want to get married to you."
Girl: "But God might want me to marry someone else and not you."
Boy: " Don't you want to marry me?"
Girl smiles awkwardly, " I don't know yet."
Mommy, who is overhearing this conversation, jumps in, " Let's not talk about marriage. God has someone, Lord-willing, for her to marry and she needs to keep her heart for him only and not for anyone else. Until God brings this man in her life she needs not to think of other boys."
Boy: "But we want to marry one day."
Mommy: "Well, we don't need to talk about marriage now. You are both young and don't need to think of these things yet."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This conversation was between one of my girls and another little boy. Being the daddy and mommy we are, we don't want our children to give their hearts to lots of different people. A mistake we both made and see the danger in it. Some may see this conversation as innocent talk by two young kids, but we see it as possible danger in the future. If you let them talk this way as children, then they will think it is ok as 14 and 15 year old young adults to talk this way possibly to many of the other gender.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later the the young girl and I have one of our special talks. During this time, I bring up the situation that had occurred earlier that week. I ask her how it made her feel. She said, "uncomfortable." I explain to her again why daddy and mommy don't want her to give her heart to anyone except...
She jumps in quickly and says, " My heart is for my daddy only, and God."
I was going to say her future husband, but when she said her "Daddy" this just blessed my heart.
It shows me the good job AJ is doing in raising her. I already knew he did well , but this was just an extra blessing to hear.
It started about a year ago when he took her out on a date. She was in a fancy dress, he dressed up in a suit. He brought her a red rose. They went out to dinner. They had a conversation about how he loved her a lot and wanted the best for her. He explained the details in why it is dangerous to give your heart to anyone besides her husband. He asked if she would give him her heart until the day comes when she meets and marries her husband, Lord-willing. She responded with "Yes."
As we parent and teach our children, we never really know how much they actually take in.
This is a time when it is obvious she listened, understood, and has submitted herself to her daddy.
Thank you AJ, for the good job you are doing with our daughters, capturing their hearts so they won't freely give it out to the world. For being a daddy they can willingly submit to. Just the fact that they want to submit to you in this area says they TRUST in you.
To my girl, I am proud of you and pray your heart will stay dedicated to your daddy until he puts your hand into another young mans hand on the day of your wedding.
Recipe for Apple Butter
Someone asked for the recipe pf the Apple Butter I made int the previous post, so here it is.
It is so simple that even a young one could make it!
Apple Butter:
Ingredients:
-2 large jars of unsweetened applesauce
-1 1/2 cups of sugar
-4 tablespoons of cinnamon
-1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Mix all ingredients in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 12 hrs. ( stir occasionally...I did this once an hour)
Then cook on low for 4 hrs.
Voila! Your done!
Simple yet oh so good! And your husband will walk in the house pleased with the nice aroma he has come home to from a busy day of work.
Enjoy! :)
It is so simple that even a young one could make it!
Apple Butter:
Ingredients:
-2 large jars of unsweetened applesauce
-1 1/2 cups of sugar
-4 tablespoons of cinnamon
-1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Mix all ingredients in the crockpot.
Cook on high for 12 hrs. ( stir occasionally...I did this once an hour)
Then cook on low for 4 hrs.
Voila! Your done!
Simple yet oh so good! And your husband will walk in the house pleased with the nice aroma he has come home to from a busy day of work.
Enjoy! :)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Cooking With the Kids
A week ago last Friday morning, the kids and I made homemade apple butter. It was my first attempt at making it, but it seemed really easy...and it was.
Kaylyn read to us ( with my help) the steps on how to make it. This was good for her since she struggles with reading.
Katie Faith cheerfully added sugar to our recipe. "E" is watching with intense eyes wondering how he can sneak a few spoonfuls without me noticing:
Kaylyn adding cinnamon:
The sweet aroma of the house while it was cooking had all of our mouths watering anticipating the finished product...which took 16 hrs. of cooking into the wee hours of night( good and simple project to do if you are studying Patience!).
Though I don't have a picture of it, "E" was our self-imposed "Taste Tester" of every ingredient...some A LOT more than the others! :)
That night, we made homemade biscuits to go with our apple butter.
Yes...Elijah got to help out! And he also takes after his big brother "E" by sampling the ingredients...in this case, it happened to be globs and globs of butter! :
Cutting out the biscuits:
Kaylyn has the job of putting them in the oven:
And taking them out:
Elijah wanting to help with getting things in and out of the oven:
One of our pans of the finished product:
Saturday morning while taking our first taste of our homemade biscuits with our Apple Butter:
Everyone looks happy in these pictures, but reality was the biscuits turned out bad. To much salt was added! No one finished their biscuit and we opted to feed them to our pet rats.
Apple butter turned out good though! We are enjoying it on our toast for a snack or breakfast!
It was fun to spend time cooking together...even if it did take us 1 1/2 hrs. to make the biscuits when the preparation said it should take 15 minutes! :)
First, we gathered all of our ingredients.
Kaylyn read to us ( with my help) the steps on how to make it. This was good for her since she struggles with reading.
Here is a picture of "E" adding his ingredient:
Katie Faith cheerfully added sugar to our recipe. "E" is watching with intense eyes wondering how he can sneak a few spoonfuls without me noticing:
Kaylyn adding cinnamon:
The kids taking turns stirring after everything was in:
The sweet aroma of the house while it was cooking had all of our mouths watering anticipating the finished product...which took 16 hrs. of cooking into the wee hours of night( good and simple project to do if you are studying Patience!).
Though I don't have a picture of it, "E" was our self-imposed "Taste Tester" of every ingredient...some A LOT more than the others! :)
That night, we made homemade biscuits to go with our apple butter.
Here are some pictures of us making them:
Yes...Elijah got to help out! And he also takes after his big brother "E" by sampling the ingredients...in this case, it happened to be globs and globs of butter! :
Cutting out the biscuits:
Kaylyn has the job of putting them in the oven:
And taking them out:
Elijah wanting to help with getting things in and out of the oven:
One of our pans of the finished product:
Saturday morning while taking our first taste of our homemade biscuits with our Apple Butter:
Everyone looks happy in these pictures, but reality was the biscuits turned out bad. To much salt was added! No one finished their biscuit and we opted to feed them to our pet rats.
Apple butter turned out good though! We are enjoying it on our toast for a snack or breakfast!
It was fun to spend time cooking together...even if it did take us 1 1/2 hrs. to make the biscuits when the preparation said it should take 15 minutes! :)
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Big Date!
I went to the dr. this week and we set a date to take the baby:
MARCH 4, 2009
Can't wait to meet our "Little Bambina or Bambino" in just over a month!
We have finally narrowed down our girls names to just two. Boy name: not even close. We better get to "a think'n".
Much to do in these last few weeks: organize, clean, pick names, love on kids, wash baby clothes, get baby things down, date with AJ (since it will be awhile because I will have a nursing baby with me) and much rest before the need to get up every two hours!
Can't wait to meet you my "Little One"!
MARCH 4, 2009
Can't wait to meet our "Little Bambina or Bambino" in just over a month!
We have finally narrowed down our girls names to just two. Boy name: not even close. We better get to "a think'n".
Much to do in these last few weeks: organize, clean, pick names, love on kids, wash baby clothes, get baby things down, date with AJ (since it will be awhile because I will have a nursing baby with me) and much rest before the need to get up every two hours!
Can't wait to meet you my "Little One"!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I Did NOT Dress Well Today!
What do you have on today? If you are like me, and at home with the kids, I will quickly pull my hair back, throw on clothes, even if they don't look the best together, and viola! I am ready for the day. After all, it is just me and the kids...and the pets. BUT when I go out to church or on a date with my husband, I will make sure I am more presentable. I will comb my hair, make sure I at least match, make sure I am wrinkle free, and once in a while put on a little makeup.
Why do I do this? Dress less for the house and more for the "outside world"? Is it because I want to present myself in a better way? I don't want others to look down on me?
As I began to ponder about this I thought of myself spiritually.
Do I cloth myself in righteousness? Or sin?
I often fail in righteousness. Take this morning for example:
I wake up at 3:00 am and only doze from then on until the kids get up. I tried to pray but I found myself getting side tracked with other thoughts or falling asleep for 10- 15 minutes at a time. When 7:00 rolled around I could tell in my heart I was not being cheerful and was beginning to have a bad attitude. I prayed to my Lord to help me be cheerful and not to take it out on the children.
I arise with the children...everything going smoothly. We had to leave at 8:30 to be at a co-op we joined. By 8:30, the kids were fed, dressed, teeth brushed, and ready to go. I was surprised because they did not get up until 7:50am. So I send them off to the van to buckle up while I made my 4th trip to the bathroom since I got up ( My "Little Bambina""Bambino" was enjoying sitting on my bladder). Next thing I hear is a shriek scream and then my Katie Faith comes in screaming.
"What is wrong, Katie Faith" I ask. She proceeded to tell me how one of her siblings hit her. Remember...all are SUPPOSED to be buckled up, and if this was the case...no one could hit their sibling!
I become angry and tell the sibling to get out of the van NOW and go to my room. I followed in anger letting the child know of my unhappiness. I discipline the child and send them back to the van while fussing at the behavior this child has displayed. I finally use the bathroom and then off we go. It was not a happy drive to our co-op. I told the children "NO TALKING!" and I begin to lecture all I do for them, even while I am sick, and how they disobey, disrespect, don't do this and that. I begin thinking about how I will need to pull my self together before we get to co-op. As I am being very unkind to my children my Lord is convicting me of my sinfulness and hypocrisy. I get very quiet the closer we approach our destination. I comb my hair, pull it back in a nice ponytail, and pull into the parking lot. I sit. And sit.
The tears begin to swell up in my eyes. I just sinned against my kids. And more importantly God. I repent and tell my kids how wrong I was for my harsh and angry words and ask them to forgive me. I look at the child who I disciplined earlier and ask for forgiveness with the tears now rolling down my once red cheeks full of anger to my now ashamed white cheeks. The child says "Yes" and tears go in their eyes.
We get out of the van, walk in the building like nothing happened. No one would have known the event that just took place. We said our hellos and sat for the meeting to begin shortly. The kids get in their groups excited to be with others, like, once again, nothing happened.
I helped with my group but my thoughts kept going to the earlier events of my anger. I had put my kids through so much and then walked in like nothing happened. How was it affecting them? Are they thinking of it at all? Will they later as they lay in bed at night?
I put on my best attitude for these other people but for my kids...they got the worse. Why? Why did I do this? Because I am comfortable around them so I don't care as much knowing they will forgive me? If others would have seen this side they would have probably whispered to one another, "What a terrible mom!" and have nothing to do with me.
I was dressed so messy spiritually! Do you ever feel like this? How do you act at home verses in public with others? Are you messier at home?
Angry,sad, discontent? Moody, snappy, unsatisfied? Easily frusterated, careless with words?
or are you...
Joyful, happy, patient? Longsuffering, kind, gentle? Always peaceful inspite of the circumstance?
I know I fail, I did today. I am SO thankful I have a forgiving Father in heaven, husband and kids. People who will love me inspite of my ugly sin.
Tonight I will be taking some extra time to examine myself. I plan on finding and writing down some scripture on index cards to help me when tempted to sin in certain areas. I will keep them close by so I can pull them out at any time to read when needed.
I trust my God will help me cloth myself in righteousness as I persevere to do so. I want to "throw away" all my ugly "clothes" and honor God, my husband and children. I want to be beautiful in their sight and not an wrinkled, smelly, hair pulled back with pieces sticking out, unmatched child, wife, and mommy.
It will happen, not by my strength, but by God's, because I know He will continue to work and sanctify me. It may be a slow progress but slowly, day by day, I will be more and more of a "better dresser"!
Why do I do this? Dress less for the house and more for the "outside world"? Is it because I want to present myself in a better way? I don't want others to look down on me?
As I began to ponder about this I thought of myself spiritually.
Do I cloth myself in righteousness? Or sin?
I often fail in righteousness. Take this morning for example:
I wake up at 3:00 am and only doze from then on until the kids get up. I tried to pray but I found myself getting side tracked with other thoughts or falling asleep for 10- 15 minutes at a time. When 7:00 rolled around I could tell in my heart I was not being cheerful and was beginning to have a bad attitude. I prayed to my Lord to help me be cheerful and not to take it out on the children.
I arise with the children...everything going smoothly. We had to leave at 8:30 to be at a co-op we joined. By 8:30, the kids were fed, dressed, teeth brushed, and ready to go. I was surprised because they did not get up until 7:50am. So I send them off to the van to buckle up while I made my 4th trip to the bathroom since I got up ( My "Little Bambina""Bambino" was enjoying sitting on my bladder). Next thing I hear is a shriek scream and then my Katie Faith comes in screaming.
"What is wrong, Katie Faith" I ask. She proceeded to tell me how one of her siblings hit her. Remember...all are SUPPOSED to be buckled up, and if this was the case...no one could hit their sibling!
I become angry and tell the sibling to get out of the van NOW and go to my room. I followed in anger letting the child know of my unhappiness. I discipline the child and send them back to the van while fussing at the behavior this child has displayed. I finally use the bathroom and then off we go. It was not a happy drive to our co-op. I told the children "NO TALKING!" and I begin to lecture all I do for them, even while I am sick, and how they disobey, disrespect, don't do this and that. I begin thinking about how I will need to pull my self together before we get to co-op. As I am being very unkind to my children my Lord is convicting me of my sinfulness and hypocrisy. I get very quiet the closer we approach our destination. I comb my hair, pull it back in a nice ponytail, and pull into the parking lot. I sit. And sit.
The tears begin to swell up in my eyes. I just sinned against my kids. And more importantly God. I repent and tell my kids how wrong I was for my harsh and angry words and ask them to forgive me. I look at the child who I disciplined earlier and ask for forgiveness with the tears now rolling down my once red cheeks full of anger to my now ashamed white cheeks. The child says "Yes" and tears go in their eyes.
We get out of the van, walk in the building like nothing happened. No one would have known the event that just took place. We said our hellos and sat for the meeting to begin shortly. The kids get in their groups excited to be with others, like, once again, nothing happened.
I helped with my group but my thoughts kept going to the earlier events of my anger. I had put my kids through so much and then walked in like nothing happened. How was it affecting them? Are they thinking of it at all? Will they later as they lay in bed at night?
I put on my best attitude for these other people but for my kids...they got the worse. Why? Why did I do this? Because I am comfortable around them so I don't care as much knowing they will forgive me? If others would have seen this side they would have probably whispered to one another, "What a terrible mom!" and have nothing to do with me.
I was dressed so messy spiritually! Do you ever feel like this? How do you act at home verses in public with others? Are you messier at home?
Angry,sad, discontent? Moody, snappy, unsatisfied? Easily frusterated, careless with words?
or are you...
Joyful, happy, patient? Longsuffering, kind, gentle? Always peaceful inspite of the circumstance?
I know I fail, I did today. I am SO thankful I have a forgiving Father in heaven, husband and kids. People who will love me inspite of my ugly sin.
Tonight I will be taking some extra time to examine myself. I plan on finding and writing down some scripture on index cards to help me when tempted to sin in certain areas. I will keep them close by so I can pull them out at any time to read when needed.
I trust my God will help me cloth myself in righteousness as I persevere to do so. I want to "throw away" all my ugly "clothes" and honor God, my husband and children. I want to be beautiful in their sight and not an wrinkled, smelly, hair pulled back with pieces sticking out, unmatched child, wife, and mommy.
It will happen, not by my strength, but by God's, because I know He will continue to work and sanctify me. It may be a slow progress but slowly, day by day, I will be more and more of a "better dresser"!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
News on the baby's heart
When I was 11 weeks pregnant, my OB dr. told me the concern of my unborn child having something wrong with him or her. For more on this, please see "Perfect" on 8/22/08. Four weeks later, after another ultrasound, it was confirmed that the baby in my womb has markers of Down's Syndrome. Though it is not definite to know unless I have an amnio AJ and I opted not to have one done to due to the risk of miscarriage. At my 20 week U/S it still looked as if the baby has Down's Syndrome. Dr. Moore wanted me to see a heart specialist to see if there are any heart defects.
Today I went. It is amazing what they can look at in the womb! The dr. said only 50 percent of Down's babies have a heart defect. Mine does not. AJ and I are thankful to our Lord for this good news and give HIM the glory and praise!
I have about 6-7 weeks left (I'll find out on Monday) before I give birth and get to meet our newest "Little One". We are excited to know the gender and see our Little Blessing.
May God continue to watch over our child and more importantly, whisper His words into his/her heart!
Today I went. It is amazing what they can look at in the womb! The dr. said only 50 percent of Down's babies have a heart defect. Mine does not. AJ and I are thankful to our Lord for this good news and give HIM the glory and praise!
I have about 6-7 weeks left (I'll find out on Monday) before I give birth and get to meet our newest "Little One". We are excited to know the gender and see our Little Blessing.
May God continue to watch over our child and more importantly, whisper His words into his/her heart!
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