A Proud Moment for Mama

I just want everyone to know that my little girl went to school today wearing her new winter boots. I actually bought them before the first snow, and they were the most girly-girl pink winter boots you could ever imagine. If you remember reading this post, you'll know it was a very proud moment indeed to see her walking down the street this morning for the school bus.

Oh Baby Girl, the pain you'll never have to endure!

Happy Monday All! : )

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Babies in Bathrobes

All clean after a bath!

Reminds me of another baby six years ago: (Guess I have a thing for babies in bathrobes) : )

(Karissa 2002)

Do you notice the family resemblance like I do?

These pictures don't show the resemblance as much as some of the others I have, but I don't have very many baby pictures of my girls saved to this computer. I'll have to find some and scan them in because I really do think all three of them look a lot alike.

"Hey, Mom! Quit telling people I look like a girl!"

Sorry, buddy.

Just being a mom.

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Trying Not to be a Sore Loser

I don't like to lose. I'm kind of a sore loser. : )

Last night, the "other guy" won the election, and I went to bed with a heavy heart full of dread and anxiety over the direction our country is headed.

But it has been really interesting how I'm viewing this differently in the light of morning. I thought President Bush and John McCain were extremely gracious as they acknowledged our new president elect. No one can discount the history in the making as we see our first black president. If you remove all of the policies I disagree with, this fact is a wonderful thing and too long in coming.

I still do not like Senator Obama's policies and values. I'm broken hearted about the abortion issue and the ground that will be lost in protecting babies. I am afraid of the rights and freedoms we are about to lose and the tax burden we are going to have to carry. But, and this is a HUGE BUT, many people I know and love are happy about Senator Obama's victory.

I'm amazed at how divided our country has become. Blue vs. Red has made its way into families and friendships. Each side is wondering how the other side could be so blind. It reminds me of these pictures I used to use when I was teaching about the Civil War to fifth graders:

What do you see?

Do you see a white vase or two faces looking at one another? Is it a beautiful young girl or an old hag? Are today's election results a good thing or a bad thing?

The elections are over and they didn't turn out how I wanted them to turn out. I have to get over it. God is still sovereign and in control. His purposes and plans will come about regardless of who we elect as president. He expects me to be like Jesus no matter what or no matter how difficult.

I was inspired by this blog post from Lysa TerKeurst. You should go read all of it, but this was my favorite part:

Now is the time to be representatives of truth to all those around us. May we Christians be seen not as those who continue to strain against the unity of our country, but as followers of Jesus, those who help create it.

She's a wise lady. : )

God bless America!

Love,

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What Do You Do With TEN POUNDS of Candy?

Step One: Dump out all of your loot


Step Two: Sort into piles of like candy


mmmmm....hungry yet?


I am!! Notice the "Faithfully Fit" book in the background. And you wonder why I need a fitness blog!?



Step Three: Bag like candy together. This makes it easier to find the REALLY GOOD STUFF!




Last Step: Enjoy the fruit of your labor. (a.k.a. Make a pig of yourself)

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Hallelujah! He Did It!!!!!

I am so excited this morning- Prince Charming slept through the night!

He woke up at 4:45, but wasn't crying, just fussing. I "convinced" him to fall back asleep by 5:30, and he ended up sleeping in until 7:30. He didn't even wake up starving to death. He patiently waited for me to get his sisters out the door for the school bus. I think I'm in shock. I really was beginning to think he would be waking up to eat forever, and I would never feel normal again. I feel so good this morning!

I didn't get to fully take advantage of it though because my girls were confused by Daylight Savings Time and woke up at 5:30 wanting to get ready for school, about 1 minute after their brother fell back to sleep. But I haven't had six hours straight of sleep like that since August, so I'm THANKFUL!!! He's been waking up every three hours since he was born, so I can't imagine how good nine hours would feel. : )

Here's hoping for great sleep tonight!

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More Fun With Apples

The girls and I had so much fun this morning. They got it into their heads that they wanted to make homemade applesauce. I blew them off at first and then I thought, "Why not?"

So I got online and found a recipe on Cooks.com
It was so easy!

4 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
3/4 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar (or white)
A few shakes of cinnamon
Put cut-up apples, sugar, cinnamon, and water into a 2-quart saucepan. Cover and cook at medium heat (simmering) for 15-20 minutes. Let apples cool, then mash them with a fork. 4 servings

Actually, here's one more MOST IMPORTANT ingredient:


And instead of a fork, we used my hand blender. It made a more familiar consistency.

As you can see, we ate it ALL up! It was delicioso!!! But don't take my word for it:



My only complaint is that this recipe didn't make enough. We all only got about 3 tablespoons each. (They were small apples) I think I'll triple the recipe next time (I wouldn't double or triple the sugar though, it was plenty for even more apples). Or even better, I think I'm going to make up a big batch next year and can them for the winter. (Wish I knew how..hint hint Mom? Recycling Man?) It sure made our house smell good again! Now if the cleaning fairy would just show up and clean up around here, it would be a perfect Norman Rockwell scene.

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Halloween Was So Much Fun! Did I Just Say That?

What to do about Halloween has been a question plaguing our marriage from the start, and I dread it every year. My husband says he gears up for "Becky's Annual Cry" over the issue, and I didn't disappoint him again this year. : )

Before we were married, Pat let me know he had strong convictions about not celebrating Halloween. For me, Halloween was one of the things I was looking forward to the most with having kids. My own childhood memories were full of fun, carving pumpkins with Dad, running through the leaves with my cousins, and planning our costumes months in advance. It was innocent, harmless fun and made for great memories. But he saw a darker side to the holiday and did not want his kids growing up participating in it. We never could see eye to eye on the issue, but decided we'd figure it out after we were married.

We've been "figuring it out" for the past nine years. Pat has always been so respectful of my feelings on the issue and has made as many compromises as he can while staying true to his convictions. I've really struggled with how to deal with it now that our kids are older and in school. I didn't want to be that weird family, and I didn't want my kids to have to suffer at all. (Thus the annual cry) Plus I was jealous of friends and their fun with their kids.

But over the years I've also begun to really admire Pat for his desire to remain separate from things that are not honoring to God and the depth in which he feels accountable for his own family. He has never, ever been judgmental about other Christians who participate and has taught the girls to not judge either. It has been an issue I have to surrender to God every year, and He keeps being so faithful in making the day not something to dread, but a day honoring to Him and full of memory-making fun. My girls are just going to have different memories than I had.

So, here's what we did....

We talked to the teachers in September and let them know we didn't celebrate Halloween and would they please provide alternative activities for the girls whenever an activity involved ghosts, witches, or something spooky. Then on the day, Amy stayed home from Kindergarten and went out on a date with her daddy. From first grade on, our school doesn't allow costumes and they call the parties harvest parties, so Karissa went to school.

After school, we started to get ready for a community fun night at the church where the girls do their AWANA. (Pat doesn't mind us "co-opting the holiday. This shouldn't surprise you if you know him, hee hee).

They decorated paper grocery bags with harvest pictures. It was the sweetest activity and will be a memory I treasure. They were chatting away with each other about what harvest is and Karissa was so proud of a picture she found that had the Bible verse, "Give thanks to the Lord," on it. Then while they colored they broke out into song, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise"

We dressed them and their baby brother up like farmers ready to gather the harvest. Amy was so excited to carry a watering can and we were off. They really look forward to this party every year. When we drove up, Karissa said in her most dramatic voice, "The day I've been waiting for!" They had an absolute blast at the party. The church fed us hotdogs, we got to hang out with our good friends, Rob and Erin, and their cutie Madeline, and the girls ran from one activity to another.

Many people there were dressed up in Halloween costumes and I couldn't help but observe how pure and innocent my little, happy farmers looked next to the three-year-old "dead brides" and other traditional Halloweeners. I loved that. They were so excited to show their AWANA leader the Bible verse on Karissa's bag, and they just glowed with happiness. It did my heart good and I realized, "My girls are not being deprived of ANYTHING."

And in case you are worried about my poor deprived kids, check this out!

We went home and weighed their candy bags. I kid you not, Karissa's bag weighed 6 1/2 POUNDS! And it was the good stuff- Snickers, Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, you name it. No deprivation here. : ) I think they are going to donate some of it to be sent to our troops overseas. Listening to them get so excited about sharing their candy did my heart good, too.

We got our jammies on, snuggled up on the couch, and watched "Ariel's Beginning" until bedtime. I tucked all my kiddos in and lay on my bed full of contentment. I thanked my husband for staying true to his heart, and I meant it. Learning to give in to this and to submit to his leadership in it, has been a long challenge, but the reward has been great.

I'm sorry this post is so long. It might just be for me. I needed to document this day so I can read it next October when I start to stress and worry about Halloween. Maybe I can even forgo the annual cry. But then again, that would be breaking with TRADITION! : )

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