Mary Grace

November 18, 2008

8:58 am

7pounds 10 ounces

20.5 inches long

1 Bushel of apples =

                             2 pies for the freezer

                             4 pints apple butter

                             1 small bag of dehydrated apple rings

                             1 tray fruit leather

                            1 apple cake

                            11 pints apple sauce

                            a crisper of eating apples

I am pleased.

Cool!

 I posted 15  times in one year.  I wonder if I will do better when baby arrives.

Yeah right. Hey I am trying.

I won't get a second page until 5 more posts.

"Christianity is not about building an absolutely secure little niche in the world where you can live with your perfect little wife and your perfect little children in your beautiful little house where you have no gays or minority groups anywhere near you. Christianity is about learning to love like Jesus loved and Jesus loved the poor and Jesus loved the broken."

Rich Mullins ~ October 21, 1955 – September 19, 1997

It seems to be a theme this summer. Hair cuts not planned by mom. I have heard many sad stories about the loss of hair. So, I will share pictures of my own experience as a mom. Forgive the photos, I had to scan them in.

This is my Julia the summer before she turned 3.

This is Julia 2 months AFTER the hair cut that her sister gave her. Hannah got a bit of a hair cut as well.

Do you see these pig tails. Hannah cut them off at the rubber bands. Julia's bangs had just grown out long enough to stay in her pigtails. Which explains why she had none.  

Oh, by the way the curls never came back. Much to my grief. I will share the story later.

This is my first picture post! Yeah me. I am learning, but this was tiring.

So, I have been wanting to put the song "Somewhere" on my blog. That would be appropriate, wouldn't it? Well, wouldn't you know the only song of Rich's that is not available, is "Somewhere" I will have DH look into it, I have to have it. That was the only song I was going to put up. Until I started listening to the ones that are available. Those of you who understand what his music does to those of us with broken hearts, longing to hear what he hears, will understand that it wasn't too difficult to chose a few alternatives. I could put a lot more up, however to me, it is important to have very few songs that are able to soak into my soul and my heart. That would be the reason why I only have 13 songs on my MP3 player. I know, freaky, huh? How do people ever "get into" the soul of the artist when they have 1300 songs on their MP3's. Maybe, only Rich's soul is able to be "got into".

Here is the chorus to another favorite on my playlist

If I stand

THE STUFF OF EARTH COMPETES FOR THE ALLEGIANCE
I OWE ONLY TO THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD THINGS

        
SO IF I STAND LET ME STAND ON THE PROMISE THAT YOU WILL PULL ME THROUGH
         
AND IF I CAN'T LET ME FALL ON THE GRACE THAT FIRST BROUGHT ME TO YOU
                 
IF I SING LET ME SING FOR THE JOY THAT HAS BORN IN ME THESE SONGS             
       
BUT IF I WEEP LET IT BE AS A MAN WHO IS LONGING FOR HIS HOME

I AM longing for my home. Until then, I miss you Rich.

Please pray for a  dear little boy, William, born just three months ago in Liberia, West Africa, who desperately needs to come home to his adoptive parents.  He was born with several disabilities, which he needs surgery to correct or improve.  The longer he remains in Africa, the more likely it will be that he'll become ill.  Please consider donating to William's adoption, and committing to praying for him and his parents.

There are so many babies and children in very similar situations and we should all do what we can.

There is a new  documentary that was released in January called "The Business of Being Born." It's produced by Ricki Lake and directed by Abby Epstein, who incidentally became pregnant during the filming of the documentary. I am so looking forward to seeing this movie and if the Lord blesses us with another little one, I am so going to stay home.

If you are interested, there is a movie trailer on the website.

Enjoy!

I have tried to post this a few times and for whatever reason it keeps vanishing before it posts.

So, in December we took our DS to Indy for an eye doctor appointment. Afterwords we went to lunch and then to the Art Museum.

As we pulled up, one of the DD asked if it was another hospital. Nope. Their dad told them it was the Art museum and cheers went up all around. The same DD said she had wished she had brought her sketch book. Of course I did. More cheers went up. Then dad told them that there was a Roman Art exhibit  from the Louvre. Now three children are shreiking with delight as we approach the door. Better let them get it out now.

After we went into the Roman Art display  all three pull out their sketch books and two plop down in front of a statue and they all proceed to sketch. I stood in the area reading the information as they kept their pencils busy. I really enjoyed all of the old sophisticated people walking by and moving their head in order to see better what these children were doing. It was amusing to see their shocked expressions.

Surely, children aren't interested in Roman Art and surely they can't keep quiet in a big person museum.

It was a good day and yes, we are doing something right.

How cool is this quote?

"Some would gather money Along the path of life, Some would gather roses, And rest from worldly strife; But, I would gather children From among the thorns of sin, I would seek a golden curl, And a freckled, toothless grin. For money cannot enter In that land of endless day, And roses that are gathered Soon will wilt along the way. But, Oh, the laughing children, As I cross the sunset sea, And the gates swing wide to heaven I can take them in with me. -" unknown

I just finished watching The Return of the Daughters. I cried.

I cried for what I did not have. For what I want my girls to embrace. For the hope I have that my journey, my struggle, my story will mean something to them and their daughters. As a first generation believer I have come across much conflict in my family about not going to college. I am a pleaser and I love to make people happy, it has been such a struggle for me to learn that I am not to please man, but God alone.

I have come full circle and I have returned as a Daughter of the King. I held these beliefs when I was first married. I was young and I soon fell to discontentment and without family support to hold me accountable, I was miserable. I wanted to be anywhere but a wife and a mother. I wallowed in my sinful attitude and made life miserable. I believed the lies.  Thankfully God never let go and He put in my heart the Truth once again. I only hope that it isn't too late for my girls to catch the vision of Truth and Goodness.

Kim at Life in a Shoe is hosting another Vision Forum contest. 

by them in the catalog.  Also make your list $250 or under.

Blog your list then go to Kim's blog and leave her a comment letting her know you've entered. 

Here's my list:

The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters, 42411, pg. 103

Raising Maidens of Virtue, 68538, pg. 82
So Much More, 57882, pg.5
Be Fruitful and Multiply, 84325 pg.31

Make Your own Doll Dress Kit, 31580 pg. 76

The Bible Lessons of John Quincy Adams for His Son, 17762, pg 32
Pouch of Ancient Coins, 98550 pg. 97

Beloved Bride:, 43253, pg 33

Elsie Dinsmore Audio Collection, 48610, pg. 79

How to evaluate a Suiter, 24253,pg 81

Hospitality, 58789,pg., 29

Have Fun!

Well, I have finally committed to this blog thing. I had been debating it for quite sometime and finally got tired of commenting as anonymous on all of your blogs. I am pretty blog illiterate so I am guessing that my 12ydd will be homeschooling me. 

Favorite verse~

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest"

Mark 6:31