Jul. 17, 2008
a-b-c, all about me!
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I got this one from Javamama also.
A - Attached or Single: very attached B - Best Friend(s): Paul, Karen, Cheryl C - Cake or Pie: pie or cheesecake D - Day of Choice: Saturday E - Essential Item: toothbrush F - Favorite Color(s): blue G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy worms H - Hometown: now - Lolo, MT growing up - Carterville, IL I - Indulgence(s): vanilla coffee J - January or July: July - hands down K - Kids: 4 boys! M - Marriage Date: May 21 N - Number of Siblings: 1 older brother, 1 older sister(which I just met a few years ago), 3 older step brothers O - Oranges or Apples: Apples P- Phobias or Fears: I really don't like feeling trapped in close spaces Q - Quote: "I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!" - Princess Bride R- Ring size: 5 S - Season: Fall T- Tag 3 Friends: You're it! U - Unknown fact about me: I enjoy a good mystery story V - Very favorite stores: Dairy Queen, The book exchange, W - Worst Habit: yelling at my kids X - X-ray or Ultrasound: I have had Ultrasounds, CAT Scans, and other tests but never just an X-Ray Y - Your Favorite Food(s): Steak, Fajitas, Smoothies, Stawberries Z - Zoo or Museum:Zoo |
Jul. 8, 2008
Pictures!
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I have added pictures from our trip here. Because I can only put 6 pictures per day our vacation picture start on June 1 and go through July 7th. I am editing this because I added a password to get into the pictures. If you are interested in seeing them e-mail me and I will let you have the password. |
Jul. 7, 2008
Just One Word
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I got this from javamama. Use only one word to answer each question. 1. Where is your cell phone? uncertain 2. Your significant other? awesome 3. Your hair? up 4. Your mother? Illinois 5. Your father? Oklahoma 6. Your favorite thing? God 7. Your dream last night?lacking 8. Your favorite drink? smoothie 9. Your dream/goal? debt-free 10. The room you’re in?quiet 11. Your church? friendly 12. Your fear? spiders 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? content 14. Where were you last night? bed 15. What you’re not? hungry 16. Muffins? Blueberry 17. One of your wish list items? bathroom#2 18. Where you grew up? Illinois 19. The last thing you did? play 20. What are you wearing? capris 21. Your TV? none 22. Your pets? someday 23. Your computer? laptop 24. Your life? gift 25. Your mood? hoping 26. Missing someone? family 27. Your car? van 28. Something you’re not wearing? shoes 29. Favorite store? DQ 30. Your summer? great 31. Like(love) someone? deeply 32. Your favorite color? blue 33. Last time you laughed? today 34. Last time you cried? yesterday 35. Who will repost this? someone? Definitely harder than it looks. Feel free to try. |
Jul. 7, 2008
There is no place like home!
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We had a fabulous trip back to Illinois! The boys got to meet there cousins and had a fantastic time playing together. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my sister and her family more. It was a superb visit. My grandmother ended up in the hospital so instead of having dinner together Karla and I went for a visit in the hospital. Later in the trip I took the boys to see her and we had a great visit. It is hard to think that this may be the last time I get to see her. We enjoyed the St. Louis zoo and hope to post pictures when I get a chance. We had fun at my parents house in S. Illinois and did all kinds of fun stuff from going to the pool to having a picnic and a hike out at Giant City State Park. The weather was great the whole time that we were out. It was great to see people and reconnect. The visit went by so fast that I can not believe that it is over. The boys did great traveling - not that any of us are ready to hop back in to the van. Today we got the van all cleaned out and vacuumed and washed! The boys are enjoying playing with their toys and being home. It was great to go but good to be home again. |
Jun. 16, 2008
A Benjamin safety harness!
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This is my latest purchase for my trip. And I got it for free with a gift certificate that I won to Target! Eddie-Bauer-Harness-Buddy We have had issues with Benjamin running away. I hate taking him out in public because I can not trust him to stay with me. We have tried all kinds of discipline but he just doesn't get it. He is very excited and loves the dog on it. Way cool! I am sure this will be great for the hotels and zoo and other public places that we visit on our trip! Little things that make life easier are great! |
Jun. 14, 2008
Checking things off!
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I keep getting things checked off my list. It seems like time is flying. We have finished school. We have completed VBS - it was a good week. I have done the jr.high girls day hike and picnic- I hope to have pictures posted soon. Tomorrow is Father's Day - thank God for Dads! And then I can focus on getting ready for our big trip! The boys and I are headed back to Illinois to visit family and friends! We are leaving next Saturday. A few months ago I had a lady from church ask if I would want to do the trip with her. We are taking her teenage son to camp in N. Dakota and then driving on. She has family in Indiana. So Paul will be here working and the boys and I are headed off on a grand adventure in our van! I am looking forward to the trip. I haven't been to Carterville since the summer after Matthew was born in 2002. I am praying that the boys will do well with being in the van for such a long time. I am sure that I haven't been back without Paul since we have been married. I am excited to have the opportunity to go back, especially since there would be no way that we could afford to do the trip on our own. I am tickled that everything worked out for us to go! Way Cool! I am not looking forward to all the work that goes into planning and getting ready but one by one things will get checked off my list of things to do. I would enjoy hearing ideas of things that would help the boys pass the time in the car. Here is my ideas so far: we have books on tape from the library, and real books too; I have a book of how to tie different types of knots and some rope, so maybe they could learn some useful things on the trip; and I bought a rubik's cube at the dollar store. The boys are 3, 6, 8, and 10! Your ideas would be appreciated. |
Jun. 12, 2008
Verses that encourage me
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"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" - James 4:8 "I have loved you with an everlasting love." - Jer. 31:3 "I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." - Joshua 1:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding." - Prov. 3:5 "As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." - Psalm 42:1-2 "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." - Matt. 11:28 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalm 46:1 I am precious in His sight. - Isaiah 43:4 He loves me more than life itself 1 John 3:16 He sees me with eyes of acceptance Romans 15:7 He values me with all His heart Matthew 10:31 Through Him, I am forgiven Neh. 9:17 "The Lord you God has chosen you...to be His people, His treasured possession." - Deut. 7:6 "I have loved you with an everlasting love." - Jer. 31:3 "O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me." - Psalm 139:1 "He hath made us accepted in the beloved" - Eph. 1:6 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." - Phil. 1:6 "See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God." - 1 John 3:1 "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb... I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalm 139:13-14 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you." - Jer. 1:5 "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!" Isaiah 43:1 |
Jun. 10, 2008
New Experiences
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We are busy this week with vacation bible school! I am a crew leader for 1-3 graders and Paul is in charge of games, so it is a full week. Today was unique because it was snowing off and on all day! We are currently under a snow advisory! Did anyone else notice that it is June? Aahhh, life is full of new experiences. I am sure that I have never been involved in a VBS in such cold weather. Many of the VBS games are water-type games so Paul has been doing adapting and coming up with other ideas. Michael is suppose to be done with baseball but his team keeps winning and advancing in the final tournament. If they when tonight, there is one more game. Either Thursday or Friday night (I think). I voted to stay home with the other boys since the weather is yucky and and they have been to bed late and up early and are getting a bit grumpy, especially the three year old. Hopefully I can get them to bed early tonight! Another first in our lives is that we now own a rifle. We are hoping that will continue to keep our freezer stocked for many years to come! Speaking of stocking the freezer, I have only watered our garden once since getting it planted in the mud three weeks ago! We keep getting hail along with the rain and I am hoping that I have a good harvest by the end of the season. I am still learning to adapt to life in Montana. |
Jun. 5, 2008
Still here
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Cool and rainy here in Montana. High of 62 for today low in the 40s. Currently 50 degrees out. Eighth grade graduation is tonight in Lolo. We have a few students moving on so we are looking forward to celebrating with them tonight! Saturday is H.S. graduations, which are held at the U of M. It has been a busy week and we have been on the go, so I am spending today at home and going to give my kids some unstructured mommy time and hopefully catch up on some housework too. Things that I am pondering... What does it mean to "do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God"? Why do I still get anxious and worry and not have full confidence in God? How do I love well, even if people don't reciprocate? What does God want to teach me in the midst of current life situations? |
May. 29, 2008
Worshiping with other saints!
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Last night I was able to get away by myself and attend a worship service in town. Without little ones in tow it was great to enter into worship and worship with distraction. I am blessed to be able to do that occasionally and am always refreshed when I do. There is something incredible renewing about spending time worshiping our creator. I know that it is something that I need on a regular basis. We serve an awesome God who deserves my praise and worship. |
May. 28, 2008
The fellowship of the saints.
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Have you ever been really blessed by someone? I have - numerous times in my life. On Memorial Day, we had Tony and Cindy and their kids over. Tony is a fellow youth pastor in the area. Tony and Paul have connected on a number of occasions and this was the second time for us to have their family over. I was truly blessed by the fellowship that we had with this couple. We had dinner and played games. We connected on a deep level and spent time in prayer for each other. I walked away from our time with them feeling truly blessed to have interacted with a brother and sister in Christ. It was an encouragement to us and I pray that it was to Tony and Cindy as well. |
May. 21, 2008
Yikes!
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I went in to see the eye doctor on Monday since I haven't been seeing as well as I think I should even though I was just in back in February for my annual checkup. Well sure enough, my Rx had changed and I am going to have to get new contacts. He gave me two different brands of contacts -one for the left eye and one for the right and said wear them for a week and come back and tell me which one you like best. Well, by the time I got home I could tell that I could see better out of the left contact and thought that maybe my Rx was not quite correct for my right eye. I only wore them a few hours on Monday night, then all day yesterday. My right eye was bugging me all day Tuesday and when I took them out last night my eye was hurting. Paul prayed for me and we went to bed and then at 3am I was up with my eye hurting and tearing up, and so I was up the rest of the night. So first thing this morning I call the eye dr. and of course this is the day that he doesn't get in to the office until after 10 on Wednesdays. So they get me in at 11am and come to find out I have had a reaction to the brand of contact in my right I. He gives me medicated drops and steroid drops to bring down the swelling. He gave me a series of four drops ten minutes apart, so my four kids got to hang out a good while at the eye doctors today. Any way I am home and my eye feels significantly better. I am to wear my glasses today and try the other brand in my right eye tomorrow. The good thing about being up so early this morning is that I was able to catch up on blogs and actually post a few myself. I am trusting that all will be better with this other brand. My vision is gift that I really value and would sure hate to lose. Today at the dr.'s I could not even make out the big E at the top of the chart without my glasses. I am thankful for the technology that exists today, even if it is not perfect. |
May. 21, 2008
Anniversary!
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Fourteen years ago today, I married the most incredible, godly man on the face of the earth! So today is our fourteenth wedding anniversary! Time sure flies when you're having Fun! |
May. 21, 2008
Quote of the Day!
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Actually this is from Monday as we were leaving to go to an appointment. Benjamin is climbing into the drivers seat of my van "Mom, I'll drive today. I'm a good driver." Me: "No, Ben. You have to have a drivers license to drive the van." Benjamin: "No, Mom. I'm a good driver. I don't need a license." Benjamin is three and he is already planning to take over the family vehicle. Oh my! |
May. 21, 2008
Enjoying being done with school!
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Since finishing up school, we have had some time to just play, ride bikes and make it to the park! Yesterday, I decided it was time to catch up with housework that needed done so I pulled out our white board and made a list of all that needed done in addition to normal chores. So yesterday we got a lot accomplished. Everything but one item got done! Michael single handedly cleaned out the van and vacuumed it! It is so cool to have boys big enough to accomplish jobs like that on their own. I even got flowers planted yesterday! Yea! Yesterday was another big day in our family! Matthew age 6 lost his first tooth! He is very excited about this. I need to remember to take a picture. We ended our day by having root beer floats! Other news in our world is that the rivers around here are flooding. It doesn't effect us since we live way up on a hill. It would take a Noah type flood for us to have issues. But our pastor lives down by Lolo Creek and he has been keeping a close eye on that and preparing for the worst. It rained a good part of last night and rain is predicted for the rest of the week but that is suppose to bring cooler weather, which will help with the snow melt. |
May. 12, 2008
Counting down the days!
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We will be done with school on Wednesday! Three more days counting today. We are all looking forward to being done. It is 42 degrees outside and overcast. So it is easy to stay focused on school work. But I am more than ready to be done. I need to get caught up on housework and get some long overdue spring cleaning done. And I need to get serious about getting some exercise. I am also working on creating transcripts for the kids just to have on hand for record keeping. We have been received quite a few graduation announcements so far from students graduating. Graduations begin this Sunday. So we will have a string of graduation parties to be attending. It is that time of the year. Spring is normally a really busy time of year for us and this year is no exception. |
Apr. 28, 2008
Cool Kitchen Tip
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My friend was watching one of those kitchen shows. They said that if you put a wooden spoon across the top of a pan of boiling noodles (or anything else) that it won't boil over. I have tried it out numerous times. It works fabulously. Try it out! You will be amazed. |
Apr. 28, 2008
Benjamin's New Do!
Benjamin decided it give himself a haircut! Mom was not so happy  . I am thankful that he is a little boy and in a month or so you won't be able to tell!You can click Here to see pictures. |
Apr. 4, 2008
God is at work!
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We are doing Christianity 101 type lessons with our Jr. High girls group which we call the Berean Club. We are wanting Jr. Highers to be in God's word and discover what God says is true just like the Bereans did in Acts. My small group was really good last night. I asked the girls if they had received the gift of Jesus and if they had, to tell me about that experience and then I asked them if they were walking in relationship with Jesus today and what that looked like. One of the girls said that she had said a prayer two different times but wasn't sure what I meant by walking in relationship with Jesus. Another young lady said No, but she wants to. I am going to be meeting with her this week. Another said she wasn't sure and she asked great questions. I can see God drawing these young ladies and some of them are spending time in God's word! ( When I asked them, in January , how many of them spent time reading their Bible, none of them including our home schooled, church kids said that they did.) Others shared there salvation experience. It was really good and I am excited to see God at work drawing these young ladies to himself. I have a pet peeve. Salvation is not saying a prayer. I have seen too many teens "Say a prayer" and tell me they are saved because they said a prayer at some age and yet never walk with God. I am not saying that a relationship with God can not start with a prayer but the prayer is not the end all. We do people an injustice by telling them if they say a prayer the will be fine instead of teaching them to be disciples of Jesus. May God continue to draw these young ladies to himself and in turn use them to be a light to their families. |
Mar. 31, 2008
March in Montana
March in Montana - In like a lion, out like a lion. We have quite the winter snow shower taking place outside right now. |