Ending 2009 and Looking to 2010

Each year I usually make the typical New Years Resolutions. I want to eat healthier, feed my family healthier and exercise more. This usually comes after a month of being on a diet of sugar. I'm not sure I put too many things in my mouth this past month didn't have sugar in it. If it didn't, it was probably some sort of meat or covered in grease. Sounds appetizing, doesn't it? This year is no different than every other year. I hope to be more faithful in my exercising and I also hope to start running again this year. Maybe a couple 5k's?

But as Christians we always need to be examining ourselves and when we start a new year I think it is a great time to reflect on the past year and look to the coming year. This past year I made a great commitment to being more faithful in my daily devotions. I did a pretty good job. I also stepped out of my comfort zone probably more than I usually do.

As I look to the coming year, I desire more from my walk with God.

I desire to know Him more deeply.

to love Him more fully.

to serve Him with more devotion.

to know His word, to write it on my heart.

to talk to Him not only in prayer times a couple times a day, but all day long.

to give God ALL of me not just part of me. Not just my leftovers.

to sing praises to Him like no one else is listening, just an offering of praise to Him!

As a wife and a mother - I desire to be a better spouse. To love and serve my husband. To be selfless. To be an encourager. To enjoy my children. Be faithful in teaching them. Take time to enjoy them more.

As I look at this list, I know I will fail over and over again. But even as I know this I still press on, knowing that I have been purchased by the blood of Christ and that has not changed from 2009 to 2010.

What about you? Have you examined your life? What are your resolutions for 2010?

O God, You are my God;

 Early will I seek You;

 My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 63:1-4

Christmas Fun

My house is clean, I had some friends over this morning and the kids are tired out and actually taking a nap which rarely happens anymore. The dishwasher is running, so is the wash machine. Gotta love modern conveniences! Since these machines are doing my work, I thought I'd share a few photos from Christmas with you.

Christmas Eve we went to church and then came home, had a nice dinner and a quiet evening at home. The kids decorated a gingerbread house and got to open 1 present.

I got a great deal on Webkinz but I'm not so sure this was a great idea. To go on the website they really need to read. My kids don't ,so I have been busy taking care of four pets.

Christmas Day we opened the rest of the presents. Brad opened his Garmin GPS Navigator. Real Surprise! If you didn't read the story about this you can go here. The boys got the drum set that they really wanted and the girls got the Princess Polly Pockets that they kept asking for.

Yes, the drums have been moved downstairs!

We spent the afternoon at my Dad's house with my 2 sisters and their families and my Grandma. It seemed a little quiet without my brother and his family there.

Shocking Message

Sunday night my husband and I put the kids to bed and sat down and watched this message given by Paul Washer that was recommended to us by a friend. I'm going to warn you, it's long. Almost an hour long. So don't try to sit down real quick and watch it while you have kids asking you questions and running around you.

It is definitely worth it and I hope that you all take the time to watch it. I'm sure many of you will have extra time this week due to the holiday. If this doesn't change your life and bring you to your knees in repentance then............................. you fill in the blank.

A Day In the Life of a Bargain Shopper

Dear Husband,

Thank you for not working the day after Christmas so that I could aimlessly walk around stores looking for a good bargain.

Love,
Your Wife who loves a bargain

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Dear Kohls,

Thank you for starting off my shopping adventure with some nice slippers for a nice price so that my husband doesn't have to feel left out anymore because he is the only one who didn't get new slippers for Christmas.

Sincerely,
A lady with cold floors in her house

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Dear Target,

50% off is not clearance! 50% off is a sale price. I can get these prices before Christmas, therefore I will not be buying any of your items and storing them for a year.

Signed,
Extreme Bargain Shopper

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Dear Target Shoppers,

Why are you all going nuts and filling your carts full with all of these Christmas "bargains". $2 for a roll of wrapping paper is not cheap. Do I need to give you all a lesson in Clearance shopping?

Signed,
Extreme Bargain Shopper

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Dear Lady at Target,

When someone has a shopping cart the size of Texas, do you think you could be patient enough to let her maneuver her cart or are you in that big of a hurry.

Sincerely,
The lady with the big cart

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Dear Mom,

I wish I could tell you how sorry I am for being so annoying when I was a kid and we went shopping. Don't worry my kids are making up for it. I'm not sure how many times I heard today, "my feet hurt", "I'm tired", "I want to go home".

Love,
Your Daughter

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Dear Lowes and JoAnns,

I have nothing to say to you. You were a disappointment.

Sincerely,
Frustrated Shopper

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Dear TJMaxx,

I refuse to stand in your long line for 2 rolls of wrapping paper and some hooks. I put my items back. Don't worry, I still love you and will be back again.

Signed,
A Loyal Shopper

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Dear Alex and Amanda,

Sorry for dragging you in a million stores. I saw those cute stockings at Target with the letters on but they didn't have an I for Isaac. I became determined to find stockings. You did whine a lot but it was somewhat justified.

Love,
Your determined Mom

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Dear Menards,

Your Dutch sale was a dissapointment to this Dutch girl.

Signed,
Cheap Dutchwoman

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Dear Girl sitting smack dab next to your boyfriend in the pick-up truck in Walgreens parking lot,

The only thing I have to say to you is, "Really????"

Sincerely,
The woman in the mini-van that has been married for over 9 years

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Dear Walgreens,

You have been so good to me with bargains the last couple years I am not sure why I chose to leave you until last. Thank you for being the only place with lots of cheap wrapping paper.

Signed,
A relieved bargain shopper

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Dear Dollar Store,

Since I did not have much luck shopping today, I think you will be seeing me next year for the rest of my Christmas wrapping needs.

Sincerely,
A lover of all things that are only $1

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Dear house,

Why did you not clean yourself up while I was gone? Now I have to make the kids do it!

Signed,
The lady who is trying to ignore the after Christmas mess

The Gift

For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Today I will be celebrating with my family, the Word became flesh. What a blessing to know that our Father loved us so much that He sent His son to this earth.

The older I get, the more I take time to reflect on this and am TRULY thankful for this great gift. Without this gift we would have no reason to celebrate today. This day would be empty.

I pray that all of you would have a blessed Christmas day and take the time today in the midst of food, family, and presents to celebrate Christ's birth. May you all join with the angels in praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Luke 2:14

Little Helpers

Brad was home from work today so he painted our newly drywalled garage. He had some help!

He is training them young and looking forward to all the help they will give him in the future.

While they were painting, me and the girls went to the grocery store. I wish I had my camera with so I could show you my little helpers as they pushed those little miniture carts through the store.

Verse of the Week

I will be taking a break from posting a verse of the week until after the new year. Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing the verses that I have memorized up until this point.

In January I will be back and am going to attempt to memorize a chunk of scripture. If one of your resolutions for the new year is to memorize more scripture, I hope you'll come back in a few weeks and join me for the challenge.

All I Want for Christmas

My kids have been singing "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!" This bring so many memories back of my mom singing this to my sister when she had issues with having no two front for a very long time. Which is a whole other story. Everyone in our house actually has their 2 front teeth, so I wished for different things.

All I want for Christmas is these 2 things:

1. Stools for around my island in my kitchen
2. Photoshop

I opted for the stools as being my #1 choice and I have already received this early Christmas present. Thanks to my husband!

MckMama  is giving away Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 and over at The Grammie Diaries you can win Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. I enter a lot of giveaways on blogs but I don't think I have ever wanted to win so badly! I am telling you all because if I tell you I can get an extra entry to win! I know, it's purely selfish! If you'd like to go over there and enter, be my guest. If you win feel free to give it to me. I will gladly accept your generous gift!

Gratitude 252-271

God's protection over our family as we drive on the roads

health

vicks to help with coughs

deliveries on the doorstep

Christmas cards in the mail

an early Christmas present - stools for the island

Handel's Messiah - what a joy to hear the gospel put to music.

online shopping

chocolate covered pretzels decorated by little hands

the smell of pork tacos cooking in the crock pot

being able to sit in my heated home and look out the window at the snow

poinsettias

stockings hung by the fireplace

decorating Christmas cookies

Eating them - even better!

red and green frosting from Aldi

a little nap

Christmas tree with lights shining bright and ornaments hung

red berries and fake evergreen branches brightening up my house

celebrating 60 years with my Dad

Verse of the Week

This weeks verse is also a verse that has been to put music in the Handel's Messiah. As I have mentioned in the past, I'm not very good at memorization so music definitely helps me. I'm hoping it helps me this because when I wrote it out on my index card it took up the whole card!

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astry; We have turned everyone to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:4-6

Once again, if you are memorizing scripture with me I'd love to hear from you and hear how it is going.

My Favorite Pictures of Christmas Past

The First Christmas. Pre-Isaac. So Cute!

I will never forget this Christmas when my mom and I took the kids to Picture People. The kids would not stop crying! When we left, we were sure I would not be buying any of the pictures. When we came back, I laughed so hard when I saw this photo that I had to buy it. This was the first and last time I took all 4 for a professional picture at Christmas time. I still have the large photo hanging in my hallway.

This is my personal favorite. I still keep it posted on my fridge.

Preparing for Christmas

Black Friday. A day when millions of Americans wake up early or maybe don't even wake up because they never go to bed, to find the best deals on all kinds of gifts for Christmas. This year my husband had to work so I opted out of doing this but decided to get up a little early to go to Walgreens and CVS to get some of their freebies and a few good deals on toys. I thought they opened at 6am, so I set my alarm for 5:45.

If you don't know me very well, I don't like mornings. I especially don't like mornings when it's cold. I also firmly believe that if the clock doesn't have a 6 in the beginning, this is an ungodly hour and you need to be in bed. 5:59 NO, 6:00 YES. So to get up before 6 is big for me.

Of course when I got to Walgreens......CLOSED! Same with CVS. They didn't open until 7. I decided to head over to Target since I had time to kill. While I was sitting at a stoplight looking at all the filled parking lots Moody was on the radio. The man was talking about the commercialism of Christmas. As I sat there, I thought, how many of us would get up this early to go to church or spend time in God's word or to pray. If I'm honest, I know I wouldn't.

My point is, how much time do we spend shopping for presents, wrapping presents, baking goodies, cooking elaborate meals, decorating the house, addressing the Christmas cards, and the list goes on and on. We have joined the world in the commercialism of Christmas.

As my kids get older I see them excited to look through the toy catalogs, pick out what they want, ask over and over what they are getting and when they get to open presents. Will I ever stop this from happening? Probably not. My kids are sinners just like me and I haven't been able to cure my coveting and my selfishness. But what I can do is point them to what Christmas is really about.

I'm not talking about just telling them occasionally when they start getting greedy or bringing them to church Christmas day or listening to Christmas carols. It's about truly preparing our hearts.

To be honest, it's not just doing this for them. It's also doing it for me and my husband. It's so easy for me to get so busy with all this other stuff that I forget to take time to prepare for Jesus birth. I need to take time myself to reflect, to slow down.

A few weeks ago at my MOPS group a couple came and spoke about an advent book that they had published. I ended up purchasing one and I absolutely love it! It has 25 days with 25 doors to open. Behind each door is a Bible verse and all together they tell the story of Christ's birth. It has really been a blessing to spend a little time together as a family each night reflecting on this. Each night we read the previous nights verses and then open a new door. This has really helped the kids remember the story. We sing a few Christmas carols and pray as a family. We often pray for the families that we have received cards from in the mail that day. Just know, if you send us a card our family will be praying for your family. The kids really enjoy doing this and look forward to it every night.

I would love to hear how your family prepares for Christmas.

Verse of the Week

It's Monday night and I am just getting to posting the verse of the week. I wasn't home too much yesterday and my Mondays always seem to be busy. This weeks verse is an easy one. If you have ever heard a performance of the Messiah (which I did yesterday) then you will know this verse. So I hope you will all join me this week. Just jot this verse down on an index card, set it where you will see it often and when you pass by it, just sing this verse to yourself or belt it out and remember why we celebrate Christmas!

For Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon  His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

While Mommy is away, the kids will.......

make cookies.

make a mess.

both.

Brad loves Christmas cookies. You know the kind. The ones you have to roll, cut, bake, and then decorate. I will be honest, I loathe making these cookies. I love to bake, but these cookies make such a mess and take so long to make. My loving husband knows I don't like to make these so he often joins in. Usually, I get the honors of baking them and then he decorates with the kids.

I was gone one night so he decided to tackle baking them with the kids. They didn't turn out so good, so I think we will go back to my baking and his decorating. I'm grateful he tried to tackle it though. When I got home there was hardly a trace of this mess. He had it all cleaned up!

Brad also handed me the camera and said, "I took a few pictures in case you wanted to put them on your blog." What a sweet guy!

And where was I, you ask? Off playing Bunco for my first time ever! Guess who won first place?

You guessed it, ME!!!!

A Christmas Story

I have to warn you this is a long story and it is really cute and funny when told in person, so I am hoping a can convey all that on here. Also, I may ramble, but any of you who know me are probably used to that anyway.

This year I decided to get something for Brad that he would like as opposed to something he won't like but needs. Like clothes, socks, you know the sorts of gifts. I decided to get him a Garmin. As luck would have it, he told that's what he wanted about 2 weeks after I decided to get that for him. A few weeks ago Target had one on sale so I hauled all the kids to Target and we bought it for him.

Some of you may see where this story is going as soon as you saw I took the kids with me.

One night I was gone (don't even remember where) but apparently Isaac told Brad that we got him a map. Thankfully Brad didn't hear him and when he tried to get it out of him, all the kids were very good and didn't tell him. I thought I was in the clear.

Last Monday night, Brad comes home from watching some football at a friends house and tells me that Best Buy is having a sale on Garmins if I wanted to return the one I got him and get him the one from Best Buy. He knows this because his friends roomate works at Best Buy. Needless to say I was not very happy that he knew and I also wasn't happy that he told me right before I was to go to sleep. I couldn't believe he found out!

It turns out that my dear little Alex decided to give Daddy a hint as to what his Christmas present was. You guessed it............she told him it was a map! Since Brad knows I wouldn't get him a road atlas or a globe he figured out what it was. That's why I married him, all those brains! He's so smart!

The next day I checked out Best Buy online and there was a nicer one for $10 cheaper and free shipping. So we loaded up the kids again to head off to Target to return the first one. I didn't even tell the kids why were going, just headed into the store.

When they saw I was returning it one of them asked, "Why are we returning Daddy's present?"

Looking at Alex, I replied, "Because someone told him what he was getting."

Alex giggled, smiled and with a guilty look said, "It wasn't me."

The clerk and 2 ladies behind us in line burst into laughter.

Kids then ask,"Are we getting him something else?"

I reply, "Not while you are with me."

Again, women behind me are thoroughly amused by all of this.

So we came home and the kids informed Brad that his present has been returned.

As I said, I ordered a new one online. Now all I had to do was make sure that when the box came I found it.

Hmmmmm, do you see where this is going?

Monday afternoon Brad came home from work early and I headed into work since I had a few things to do. When I got home I noticed a box in the middle of the living room with a Best Buy receipt hanging out of it and the box was empty. I immediately took it and asked Brad why he would open it and where is the gift?

He told me how the events unfolded. He was on the phone and Joshua saw the box on the front porch brought it in the house and opened it. He took the gift out of the box, saw what it was and immediately went to hide it so his dad wouldn't it see it.

So I went to Joshua and asked him where it was. He was so excited and it was so cute, he was so proud of himself because he intercepted the gift before Brad could see it and he quickly went and hid it under the bed. The look on his face was just priceless. The girls let me know that they did not spill the beans and that they told Dad he was getting a horse.

Well, once again Brad knows what he is getting but the kids are sure that he doesn't. So now Brad can open his gift Christmas Day and act all surprised.

Hope you all followed me on that one. Now I just wonder what the kids will surprise me with since Brad texted me about 10 times while he was shopping with the kids to find out what sizes to get?????

Verse of the Week

This is a pretty well known verse, but a good one that should be written on our hearts. Money is a big thing we worry about, but what about all the little ones that consume us. I am a planner and so when I see my calendar full of things coming up and food I need to make, presents that need to be bought, I get a little big anxious about it all. Sometimes we forget that our worry is sin. If you have a problem with worrying I suggest to you that you might want to memorize this verse.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Attention All Christmas Shoppers

Just wanted to share with everyone still looking for that unique gift or maybe you would like some new Christmas decorations. My aunt started her own blog showcasing all her very unique creations.

She takes old wool sweaters and recycles them into stockings, ornaments, pins, sweaters, wreaths, mittens, and scarves. I'm sure I've forgotten something! There will never be two alike of what she makes. Everything is so cute too. There are a few people on my Christmas list getting some of her items. This picture is actually stockings that she has attached pins too. Aren't they cute?

So check out her blog at woolrevival.blogspot.com. If you live far away, I'm sure she would be willing to ship it to you.

Thanksgiving Turkeys and Pumpkin Cake

This week for Preschool the kids made this Turkey craft. I had the fun job of cutting everything out the night before but the kids did all the glueing. We then wrote down on the feathers what they were thankful for. They were thankful for God, Jesus, Mom and Dad, Grandpas and Grandma, clothes, food, the earth, eyes to see, and trees.

One of my favorite things to eat on Thanksgiving or in the fall in general is pumpkin desserts. Any kind really- pies, cakes, rolls, breads. If it's got pumpkin in it, I will eat it. If it is topped with Cool Whip that is even better. I thought I would share one of my favorite pumpkin recipes. It's a pumpkin cake topped with cream cheese frosting. I love it because it makes a 9x13 and an 8x8. Which means I can usually make it to bring somewhere and have some leftover for us. It's also easy to freeze and I love to make it into cupcakes too. I actually made it Saturday when we were having guests over. I made the 8x8 for the guests and made 24 cupcakes, froze them, and hauled them out to take to a family gathering today. They were gone quickly! Kids and adults love them!

Here's the recipe:

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

1 c. vegetable oil

1 (15oz) can pumpkin

Mix the above ingredients and sift in the following:

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

Place in greased 9x13 and a greased 8x8 pan. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 25 minutes. (If you make cupcakes bake for less time. I think mine took about 15 min.)

Cream Cheese Frosting: (I suggest making a double batch)

1- 3oz. pkg cream cheese

3 T. Butter

Beat until smooth and then add 2 c. powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Eat and enjoy!

Hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving!

Tears and Tacos

This little girl does not like tacos or rice. I told her she did not have to eat them but then she wasn't getting a cookie for a snack. It took her about an hour and twenty minutes and some tears were shed (not sure if you can see the big tear rolling down her cheek) but she finished her food. I'm sure her oreo cookie tasted especially good that night.

Thankfulness

In this week of Thanksgiving, it's easy to be thankful for the good things God gives us. The sunshine, the warm weather, my children when they are good, food, clothes. What about the things that we grumble and complain about. I Thessalonians 5:18 says "in everything give thanks" and Ephesians 5:20 says "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father". For everything and always! Wow, that's a lot. So when I grumble and complain I am telling God I'm not thankful for these things.

This week I am trying to be thankful for the good and the not so good. Which is not always so easy.

233~ cluttered kitchen counters

234~ toys all over the floor

235~ a dirty stove

236~ stains on my carpet

237~ a table covered with crumbs that everytime I clean it just seems to get covered with crumbs again

238~ dishes to wash

239~ bills to pay

240~ beds to make

241~ piles of dirty laundry and piles of clean laundry to fold

242~ fingerprints on the windows

243~ an unclean heart in need of a washing by my Savior

and some of the good:

244~ little artists

245~ tire swings

246~ beautiful fall days

247~ geese flying high in the sky

248~ crescent rolls wrapped around lil hot dogs

249~ nerf footballs

250~ work for my husband

251~ a healthy new nephew

May you all enjoy a blessed week of Thanksgiving for the good and the not so good!

Verse of the Week

This Thursday is Thanksgiving. As Christians we should be thankful every day of the year, but this week we will take a day to spend with family, eat food and take some special time to be thankful to our God.

That is why I thought it would be fitting to memorize a verse that speaks about being thankful. There are so many great verses about being thankful but I have chosen the following verse.

"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever!" Psalm 106:1

I've Changed

If you are really excited about this post when you saw the title, I'm sorry to disappoint. It's really not a big deal. In the past people have commented to me that they've had a hard time commenting on some of my posts. Since I love comments I've decided to make it easy for everyone by allowing anonymous comments. This means that you don't have to be signed in to leave a comment anymore.

All I ask is that if you are leaving an anonymous comment, please sign your name at the bottom so that it is no longer anonymous and I know who you are. Since I am doing it this way, I will be moderating the comments before they get posted onto the blog.

Thanks to all of those who have been commenting, I love reading them all and hope this new system works out better and that it will encourage more comments.

The Difference Between Boys and Girls

My MOPS is collecting boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I decided that I was going to take the girls one night to pick out items for a girl box and the boys another night to fill up a boy box.

Last Friday night I took the girls for our little night out of shopping and then to McDonalds for some ice cream sundaes. The girls were so cute. They had on their matching coats and walked through the store holding the little basket together and putting their items in it. I would kind of guide them through the store and tell them what we should get but then let them pick out the specific item. For instance, toothbrushes, a doll, coloring book, etc. Sometimes they would disagree which one but would eventually decide together on one item. They were very excited to find things for this little girl that they do not know.

We then went to McDonalds and sat in a booth together while Amanda and I ate sundaes and Alex wanted Chocolate chip cookies. The girls slowly ate their food and talked about things they like and they giggled. It was a very fun night with my little ladies.

Then on Tuesday it was the boys turn. My sister had her baby on Monday, so her son was over. Which means I took 3 boys shopping, not just 2. We started down the isles and of course it was all about what toys they wanted. The swords, the shields, the helmets. They were trying it all on. Whenever we would put one item in the basket they all thought that was someone elses toy and now they needed to pick one out too. No one wanted to hold the basket, so I did. Isaac did want to hold the wrapping paper roll at first so he could swing it around like a sword. Finally after explaining a million times that we were not there to pick out a toy for them but for another little boy that lived far away and this was probably going to be his only present and after answering a million times, no you may not get that! We finally headed to the register to pay.

Then the debate in going to McDonalds was that no one wanted ice cream, they all wanted chocolate chip cookies. I had a hard time going to McDonalds to buy cookies when I just made some the day before but realizing that it was about spending time with them and not the cookies, we went to McDonalds anyway. I got the hot fudge sundae to balance the calories I had burned off earlier by working out. The boys could not sit still, they didn't want to talk to me and the most intelligent thing said was, "Mom, I have to toot."

I think you get my point. Girls and boys, completely different!

The kids also all decorated Christmas cards for the children they are sending their boxes too.

Also, on a different note, when I took the boys shopping the lady standing behind me in line asked me if all 3 boys were mine. I actually got to answer no, in a tone like "that would be nuts to have 3 kids that close in age that were all mine!" Little did she know!

I'm Exercising Again

For you older readers (not old as in age, old as in have been reading my blog since the beginning) you may remember my post way back in May about how I had started doing the 30 Day Shred. And at the end of that post I told you would update you on how it was going. Now it is November and I never updated you. (Not that anyone noticed)

That is because it didn't last very long. I was doing good for about 3 weeks and then................I fell off the bandwagon. I was faithfully getting up early every morning and exercising in the basement. Then one night we had a storm and our sump pump went out and we had 2 inches of water on the ground. I was not up for laying in that water to do my crunches.

I also had a garage sale that week, making for a busy week. After the water I decided that I was pitching all the furniture and carpet in the basement. Our DVD player in the living room was not hooked up right to the TV so there was no sound. So, you see my dilemma. I had no way of exercising. I was forced to stop!

About a month later my brother-in-law who knows all about electronics stopped over. I put him to work right away because I couldn't wait to start Shredding again! He fixed it and I was out of excuses.

Then four months later I decided I better get going on that exercising thing again. After all, it's fall. That means I start cooking which makes me start eating more. The holidays are coming. These are all reasons to work off a few calories so that I can eat some extra calories and not have to buy all new clothes. Not that I don't want new clothes, I just don't want new clothes in a bigger size.

So, the point to my story is that I have started doing the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels again. I've been going strong for 3 weeks now (remember last time it ended after 3 weeks, not this time).

Here's hoping the living the room floods.

Just kidding.

My kids love to join me watch me. You'll usually find them lined up on the couch. Isaac will often ask me to move so he can see. Ummm, Isaac, that's not really the point.

I must say, if you are like me and you absolutely hate to exercise, this might actually be the video for you. I don't find any of the exercises to difficult. You get cardio, strength and abs. It's a great workout for the whole body. Although I know that my abs will never look like Jillian Michael's abs, I like to pretend that if I do enough crunches they might. A girl can dream, right? After all, I don't think Jillian ever gave birth to triplets.

And if you are looking for pictures of me exercising. You won't find them here. This is a pictureless post!

UPDATE: After I wrote this I decided to try Level 2. This is not fun or easy. I wanted to die and had a hard time lifting my arms after I was done with this workout. I think I got more cardio in this workout than I did when I ran a 5k. I also got on the scale and I think I have actually gained weight. Not really the motivation I was looking for.

Gratitude

217~ watching Alex pitch a baseball to Joshua

218~ watching all the kids join in a game of baseball together

219~ technology which allows me to be a SAHM and a WAHM

220~ $3 car wash and free vacuuming. cheap and much easier than doing it myself.

221~ a beautiful day working in the yard

222~ toys organized

223~ pictures colored

224~ a hardworking husband

225~ a night of shopping with my girls and enjoying some ice cream

226~ Reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe to my girls and their desire for me to keep reading them more.

227~ the sun

228~ cake with chocolate frosting

229~ green grass littered with fallen leaves

230~ dollar menus

231~ a constant pile of shoes by the back door

232~ that on Sunday morning my family can walk into church together, not all Christians have the freedom do to this and I'm thankful that we can

These are the things I am thankful for this past week. Hope you will take some time today to be thankful too for the things that our heavenly Father surrounds you with.

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord"

Psalm 92:1

Verse of the Week

This is now my 5th week of scripture memorization. If you're new here, this is my first post about scripture memorization, why I want to memorize scripture. Ann from A Holy Experience also had a great post this week about memorizing scripture.

If you have been memorizing with me or would like to join me, I'd love to know that you are doing this with. You can either comment on this post or send me an email at mjvis@att.net. If you are not joining me, I encourage you all to be doing some form of memorizing scripture. It will change your life. One way I already see a change is in my prayer life.

I would also love to hear your tips on how you memorize scripture. I write my verse out on an index card and just leave it on my kitchen island all week long. Since I am in and out of my kitchen all day long, every time I come into my kitchen I see it. I read over it and at least once a day I stop and spend a little more time memorizing it. By the end of the week I usually try to say it from heart a couple times each day.

This week I would like to add a new verse but I am also going to be reviewing the verses from the last 4 weeks. The verse I am adding this week is a verse that I actually memorized with my children last spring. It's a great verse because it applies to so much of our life. Our speech. I've found this so helpful in dealing with issues with my children but have found it even more helpful in my own life. I find myself thinking of this verse before I say things. Although I am far from perfect, I know that this verse has kept me from a lot of backbiting and gossiping. I hope it also helps you in thinking about what you say.

Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29


And the review verses from the last 4 weeks are:

You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created. Revelations 4:11


To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O My God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Psalm 25:1,2


Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. An everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. I Corinthians 9:24-26


Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11


I hope that you are all blessed by these verses this week and that you will have God's word hidden in your heart.

Making Lists and Checking Things Off

I haven't been posting much and I wish I could say it's because we are doing exciting things over here.

We're not.

The weather has been nice so the kids have been spending a lot of time playing outside. This is when I am thankful for having triplets + 1 close in age. They just run around keeping each other occupied.

What have I been up to? Besides my usual things I have been busy making lists. I am a habitual list maker. If it doesn't get on a list, it doesn't get done. I have a list for everything. I have a list on the fridge of things to do. I have a planner that I sometimes put lists on specific days of things I need to get accomplished that day. I have grocery lists, a list for shopping tomorrow, Christmas lists, a wish list of things we want/need around the house, lists of things I need to pick out for projects, my gratitude list. Sometimes my lists include making lists. The lists are endless!

Sorry, Beth for making fun of you for making lists when we were younger.

So, that is what I have been doing. Making lists and trying to get all the things on my list accomplished. I've organized toys, organized the storage room, baked, cleaned, cut down plants in the yard, mowed the lawn, taken kids to the library, grocery shopping, etc. Now thanks to this post I have a list of things accomplished!

I have a few more big things to accomplish and then you might just get something interesting to read. (Wait, have you ever gotten anything interesting to read from me?) My biggest thing is to order pictures. Haven't ordered any snapshots in over a year and I also have to order the pictures I took of the kids at the park. I've been putting these off for a while!

Verse of the Week

Join me this week in memorizing a verse from God's word.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

My Attempt at the Rainbow Cake

If you read MckMama's blog (and who doesn't) then chances are you have probably seen the Rainbow Cake made by her bloggy friend Amanda. It's beautiful, isn't it? I decided that I was going to try to make it but I put my own little spin on it to make it a little easier.

I'm guessing when she made it she put it in smaller round pans. I decided to use my 10 inch round pan and I only divided each cake mix in half. Which then gave me 4 layers instead of 6. My plan was to make it a fall cake and use colors that leaves are. I was going to end up with gold, brown, orange and red. Well, that's not exactly what happened.

As I mixed colors they were not ending up the way I wanted. Gold was easy because I had gold food coloring. I then got orange pretty easily but wanted it to be more of a burnt orange so I tried to put a little black in it and ended up messing it all up. My orange ended up being more of a really yucky dark green. My red was not getting as red as I wanted and then I ran out of red food coloring. I added yellow and tried to turn that orange. My last layer I figured I would then do yellow, but it was so bright that I started adding other colors and it ended up being a bright green.

My point to all that is, if you want to make this cake-----do not plan on mixing colors! Just buy the right color of food coloring to begin with! The plus side to this all is that the cream cheese icing is so out of this world delicious that it does not matter what your cake looks like, the icing will win everyone over!

Here is my finished product:

I also made a coffee cake for my family and thought I would be all fancy and bake it in a bundt pan instead of a 9x13. Bad idea! It didn't want to come out. Thankfully my family didn't make fun of me or say anything when this was served to them Sunday morning.

Of course, when I was in the other room I did overhear Brad ask one of the kids if they dropped it on the floor.

Also, if you do not follow MckMama's blog, you might want to check it out and keep her, her family and especially her son in your prayers. Her 1 yr. old son will be having heart surgery in Boston next week.

It's The Little Things in Life

Mondays seem to be such a busy day for me. My list after the weekend is a mile long and it's my one day to really get moving on it. That is why last week, even though I had my list all ready, it just never got typed into the computer. So the following list is from the last two weeks.

When I sit down at the end of the week and think about the things I'm thankful for it's a lot of times the big things that stand out. Although I'm thankful for all those big things, the little things in life are the best!

Here is 198 thru 216

apples to make applesauce, apple bread and apple pie filling to freeze

a night running around like a kid with my kids and them wanting to join them on every slide

a beautiful tree outside my window

watching the leaves on that tree fall to the earth

sunshine - rays of golden light that we haven't been seeing to much of lately

a new coffee pot

snuggling in bed with big warm covers

a week that wasn't too busy

braids

jumphouses and jumping in it with my daughter

lots of rain and no water in the basement

a haircut

cheerleaders as I exercise

laughing at the kids as they imitate my exercises

aching muscles

caramel bars

warm apple crisp with ice cream

BBQ pork sandwiches
(now you know why I was exercising)

Legos and watching the kids get creative with them

Verse of the Week

On Saturday I start thinking about what verse we should memorize for the next week. Although I have a list of verses I have jotted down over the last few months that I would like to memorize, I really want to choose a verse that I feel is the "right" verse for that week. I don't want to just randomly pick a verse. It seems that God has really just shown me each Sunday which verse to choose.

This morning in church there was a verse that was read that at first I thought was the verse I was going to pick for the week. But then when Pastor Steve preached on I Corinthians 9:24-27 about running the race to obtain the "imperishable crown" and even encouraged us to start running by memorizing the first 3 verses, I knew that these were the verses I needed to memorize this week. I really like to stick with 1 or 2 verses, because as I've told you before, I am just not very good at memorizing. So this is going to be a challenge for me this week and I hope you are up to joining me in this challenge. They are not too long, so I think we should all have no problem doing this!

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air." I Corinthians 9:24-26 NKJV

As They Grow

It's amazing how one day you have this life (or in my case lives) inside of you and before you even see them you are in love. Then one day you get to meet that child (or children) face to face and you love them even more. It's hard for me to believe that over 5 years later I am still falling more and more in love with my children.

I love to watch them grow. I love to hear the things they come up with, their conversations with each other, the expressions on their face when they are happy or excited or sad, and to listen to all their questions. Okay, maybe not ALL their questions. If you were a fly on our wall you will often hear, "No more questions, I can't take it anymore!" Or while we are driving in the car, "Can we just drive with no one talking." But there are times when I do love to listen to their questions. Especially when it's just me and 1 of my children and not all them asking questions at once.

I just wish I could bottle it all or some way share with you all on here their cute little voices. The funny expressions on their face. The way Alex loves to just creep over onto your lap and you don't even notice. All of a sudden there she is. Isaac hopping around the house on his big ball. (Best invention ever!) The cute way that Joshua pulls his mouth right after he tells you something that is very exciting to him. The serious look that Amanda gets on her face when she is telling you a story and the clicking of her mouth as she tells it.

I love to watch them grow. The older they become, the more complex their questions. Questions about God, questions about Satan. Their thought process is amazing! I love to just sit back and take in their "childlike faith." Although they are busy asking questions and trying to learn from me, I sit back and I learn from them. I love to listen to their prayers. Prayers of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of petitions. WOW! It's amazing to me how much 4 and 5 year olds understand.

Alex came to me a few days ago and said, "Mom," (all sentences with her either start with or end with the word Mom) "Does Satan try to trick people?"

Me "Yes he does."

Alex "What state does he live in?"

Me - Laugh and then try to explain to her how Satan works. I'm guessing she wanted to check if he lived in Indiana to know if he would be trying to trick her.

As much as I would love to just freeze time and keep my kids this age forever, I am also excited to continue to watch them grow and to see what God has in store for them.

A Hair Raising Wordless Wednesday

All Together Now

Verse Of The Week

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 25:1,2

I saw this verse and thought to myself what great words to have on my mind every time I leave the house!

My Boys

I have a new found appreciation for people who photograph children for a living. It took me a lot of shots to get these but it's still fun to see the ones that do turn out. Now it's just selecting my favorites. If you have a favorite I'd love to hear your opinion.