tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63645347077533148342024-02-18T19:13:46.826-08:00Rachael's Little WorldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-83077319985285143842012-03-22T12:44:00.003-07:002012-03-22T12:44:53.270-07:00PassionIt was brought to my attention recently that I had not blogged in quite a while- and how true that is. So here's my attempt to blog some thoughts i have recently had.<br />
<br />
What does it take to be passionate?? Passionate about my Father God, about my amazing husband, my children? Passion~ it has so many meanings. To me, though, it means that that thing, or person, you are passionate about consumes your thoughts, you are eager to know more, see more, be more.<br />
<br />
The way I become passionate is by learning more about that thing or person. My passion for birth came after I dived head- first into educating myself on the subject. My passion for my husband comes from learning more about him and by allowing God to flow through me and love my husband with His love. My passion for Christ must come from a daily desire to be learning more, listnening more, and allowing him to feed the passion with His Truth. The passion for my children comes from knowing they are not mine- they are the Lord's. <br />
<br />
I have not read a novel in ....I cannot tell you how long...certainly before my kids were born- 7 years?? Over the past 3 days- while feeling too sick to do anything else- I read a wonderful book by my favorite earthly author, Francine Rivers. The title of the book is "The Scarlet Thread". I highly encourage everyone to read this highly convicting and life altering story of two women facing the same daily battles. This story contrasts a modern day woman, and a woman who is traveling the Oregon Trail. What an amazing journey for both of them to realize that God was in control the whole time...through death, birth, disownment, divorce, adultery, disenherritance, and so much more. <br />
<br />
God is always in control...now THAT is something I could get passionate about!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-21163008830583412042011-02-28T20:54:00.000-08:002011-02-28T21:02:52.244-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJJN3cDlRhkTYNCjknQgsO_e4TnDnwaRRanarYy1Jl40-aU-9rz86QsFId2o7rN_MzDUhUftkjk450U-GslbxsSuUDUcIJe7IwHHrjDFVLusWhuOFgOaeMqd4PDB1P75JxCXweXhIXA4/s1600/texas2010+034.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578971473028435234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJJN3cDlRhkTYNCjknQgsO_e4TnDnwaRRanarYy1Jl40-aU-9rz86QsFId2o7rN_MzDUhUftkjk450U-GslbxsSuUDUcIJe7IwHHrjDFVLusWhuOFgOaeMqd4PDB1P75JxCXweXhIXA4/s200/texas2010+034.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-25744583543077840142011-02-28T20:32:00.000-08:002011-02-28T20:52:33.429-08:00RevelationAmidst my mindless t.v. watching, I realized something... There comes a time in a teenage girls life when she says to her mother..."There's just some things that are easier to talk to Dad about." As much as I want my daughters...3 of them!!!!... to run to their Daddy when things are rough or confusing in life, why not Mom? Why is it easier to talk to Dad? And when I take the time to go back a few years...holy cow is it 15 year back...I realize it's cuz Dad doesn't take things personally, and Dad can see things from a dude's point of view, and Dad can set his emotions aside to answer questions. Why is that so hard for Mom? Why does Mom internalize all the "drama"? I remember waiting until my Dad would tuck me in- even as a teen- to spill the beans. He would listen and he would know what to say. Mom would freak out if she knew I was thinking a certain way about a certain something...but Dad just expected it...it's like he knew it was coming. Could he remember back to when he was a boy and see it from that perspective? Or did he just feel what I was feeling because I am his daughter? I look at my husband...and I look at my daughters, and I see him seeing things that I don't always see...I see him EXPECTING sin, when I am foolishly surprised by it. I see them wanting his approval. I don't know if every daughter felt this way, but I know I had a Dad who listened, and cared, and knew what to say, and who emmulated the true Father's love and how it is lived out. Praise God for my Dad!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-59513409965771498392011-02-12T19:00:00.000-08:002011-02-12T19:15:36.350-08:00RegretsI can remember driving the 25-30 mins. (depending on traffic) down Walden to Harlem to Mineral Springs, to Frank, to 161 Norman Ave.<br />I remember thinking that it was such a long trip. That I wish that they could only live closer. That I would just stay home since it would take such a long time to get there to visit. What a freakin' fool I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mom, and Dad, and my brothers, I would do ANYTHING to have you only 25-30 mins away. I can't handle it anymore. It hurts soooo bad. I can't write it...I can't explain the pain involved. You are so far away and I can't do anything to get you back here. All I can do is think of what a fool I was for not jumping at the opportunity to see you every chance I had.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-77429813554536460512011-01-25T16:35:00.000-08:002011-01-25T16:39:49.938-08:00Potty Time!Well for the past few weeks Trinity (2 yrs 2 months) has been pooping on the potty. She will tell me, " I go poo poo potty." and we'll run over to the potty and she will go! Today however, she told us twice that she had to pee pee, and she did! On the BIG potty! She seems to like going on the big potty, and she even went poop at a friends house on their big potty! I'm so excited! And so is my hubby, especially since he is the one who washes the diapers! So thus begins the adventure of underpants and puddles! It's exciting! She's so proud of herself and so are we!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-79425791793426703212011-01-22T03:23:00.000-08:002011-01-22T05:43:15.107-08:00The QuietI love getting up when my hubby does (5am) and getting him his coffee and making him an omlet and kissing him as he leaves for the day. It's not been an easy thing for me...I love my sleep! But I have noticed that on the days that I put Peter before myself, my wants (sleep!), then my day goes sooo much better! I'm able to get the laundry done- except the folding- I do that while listening to my oldest read. I'm able to get the dishes done, although I do sometimes leave the dishwasher to be unloaded by Trinity (2) and Hailey (6). They are so cute how much they love to do it! Hailey will hand a cup to Trin, and she will bring it to me, and I will put it away. The best part though, is how she says, "Here" every single time she gives me a dish! It comes out sounding like "HE." LOVE IT! I think I have figured out a routine that works for balancing homeschooling and mothering the other two little ones. And just because it worked yesterday doesn't mean it will work again, but it's something to shoot for I guess. If I wait until we've had breakfast, changed T. and P.'s diapers, and let them play a bit together, when P. is ready for her morning nap, I can put on Elmo for T. and then get started with school with H. I love getting school done before lunch- it's kind of like a reward for both of us! Which I'm not sure is a good way to look at food, but for now it's working for us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-30784831876568507012011-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:35:56.968-08:00Purposeful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRB0gxWt30qvABjjBElIAkZ4e4AUtksmhxxxpNZHwuKAFACwP1oahKcm8dHZtbF8tkWU2NcDD2ZaG2nKx2es6QPyalh16zhtL3tcRRXIu7w1XB5lcN4kqNzR3OCOEdnbnBl5OxCyZoXQ/s1600/spiritual+diagrams4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563990082259949650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRB0gxWt30qvABjjBElIAkZ4e4AUtksmhxxxpNZHwuKAFACwP1oahKcm8dHZtbF8tkWU2NcDD2ZaG2nKx2es6QPyalh16zhtL3tcRRXIu7w1XB5lcN4kqNzR3OCOEdnbnBl5OxCyZoXQ/s200/spiritual+diagrams4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIx8x8tFIt2EWHY-NrDvf04OMmNBxKTjW73aSs53DjA8OoFXX8T_wuApLSes9ZxWGcWhjppxuGB4Q_6nBtcMPtbZir6k4RvNog-s-UVUs4OROSXFJSKd4vMRu3k47OP1m99af2Rcrj4g/s1600/spiritual+diagrams3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563990081158268706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIx8x8tFIt2EWHY-NrDvf04OMmNBxKTjW73aSs53DjA8OoFXX8T_wuApLSes9ZxWGcWhjppxuGB4Q_6nBtcMPtbZir6k4RvNog-s-UVUs4OROSXFJSKd4vMRu3k47OP1m99af2Rcrj4g/s200/spiritual+diagrams3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjp6NDncnFo7f4Juz0f2XGmOQ5A5WpNgMuTAyEVnuk9Jo8TD9DAWXhZ7ABqZXef0DHgnBCSOp5S0m9prqP7YedqqQSI3GUkeT-tDt2eV2Ot1natimVured9nryzbEzKknKm9OcoVRg6E/s1600/spiritual+diagrams2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563990075326553634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjp6NDncnFo7f4Juz0f2XGmOQ5A5WpNgMuTAyEVnuk9Jo8TD9DAWXhZ7ABqZXef0DHgnBCSOp5S0m9prqP7YedqqQSI3GUkeT-tDt2eV2Ot1natimVured9nryzbEzKknKm9OcoVRg6E/s200/spiritual+diagrams2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiifMG6Jt8fJpLgXrrMH-UXcAyse25s2F7NzCxF1rz_cO6NgmB4QTS9B_OgLNPdEuwKkwYCT-II5XOq1UFTYEq-U7m_3eHz2P3eYIRC8VgAKX6GQT7kBVvVxgiZdzMIh5GpJG_w20DfcU/s1600/spiritual+diagrams.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563982255898586434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiifMG6Jt8fJpLgXrrMH-UXcAyse25s2F7NzCxF1rz_cO6NgmB4QTS9B_OgLNPdEuwKkwYCT-II5XOq1UFTYEq-U7m_3eHz2P3eYIRC8VgAKX6GQT7kBVvVxgiZdzMIh5GpJG_w20DfcU/s200/spiritual+diagrams.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>So I haven't blogged since I had my sweet little "Pay Pay" as we like to call her. I've been thinking lately about being "purposeful" in everything. Do I have goals for my day? Do I have goals for the week, month, year??? What do I want to accomplish and more importantly, WHY?? What makes that task worthwhile? Is it accomplishing anything for eternity? Is it glorifying to Christ? Will it change how I submit to my husband or how I parent my children? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Purposeful eating</strong>...Am I eating because I'm bored? Am I eating because I feel sad about how I look? Am I eating because it just looks so good?? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Purposeful reading</strong>...Will this draw me closer or further to Christ? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Purposeful TV watching...Will this benefit me? How could I be spending my time better? Why do I want to "veg?" Would my husband feel more loved if I shut it off and went upstairs to meet his needs? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Purposeful listening</strong>...Do I listen to others just so that I can respond, or do I really care about what they have to say? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Purposeful socializing</strong>...Am I a good friend? Am I trustworthy and someone to confide in? </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Well, just some of my thoughts. I'm going to pray that God continues to convict me and that I submit my will to Him, and surrender. </div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-49298321706790668612010-10-25T16:47:00.000-07:002010-10-25T18:34:16.545-07:00The Birth Story of Patience AnneMonday October 11, 2010- 10 days past my due date<br /><br />10am. Appointment with my midwife- everything is perfect- just waiting!<br /><br />11:30am. Massage with my best friend Rebecca. She hits some pressure points and we pray for things to begin!<br /><br />12pm. Visit my chiropractor who takes an extra long time with me doing everything he knows to get my body ready for labor. I am feeling good!<br /><br />4:30pm. Arrive at my in-laws for dinner.<br /><br />5pm. Start having contractions but they are sporadic and I've been having them for months so I don't pay too much attention.<br /><br />5:30pm. They seem a bit close together so I ask my mother-in-law to use her watch. They are 2-3 mins. apart.<br /><br />6pm. Everyone is sitting down for dinner, but I cannot sit. They are too close together and I'm uncomfortable. I walk around the house and go outside to text my mom and best friend that this may be the night.<br /><br />7pm. I tell my husband that we need to go home. I really don't want to have a baby in the van!<br /><br />7:30pm. We leave our 22 month old with them and we head home, but not before stopping at Tops so my hubby can get 2 energy drinks and I insist that he get me 2 yogurts for after delivery.<br /><br />8pm. We arrive home and hubby is in super Daddy mode. He gets the pool set up in our bedroom, and all other preparations set. Hailey (5 years old) and I clean up the house. Contractions are still coming, but are a bit more sporadic.<br /><br />8:30pm. We decide to make a birthday cake for the baby! Hailey is super excited about this!<br /><br />9pm. We start watching a movie but decide it's not appropriate for Hailey, so we shut it off and go decorate the cake. Hailey loved it. I was still contracting- but they were still not too bad.<br /><br />10pm. We decide to put Hailey to bed so she'd have energy to be awake when the birth was occurring. She wasn't too happy to go to bed, but was excited with the idea of us waking her up to watch her baby sister or brother being born.<br /><br /><br />I'm not really sure about the timing of everything after that. I know Peter and I got into the birthing pool together at some point and it was really relaxing and intimate. It was great to be focused together and to not have any distractions. I still was not fully convinced that this was really labor, since we had had a false alarm two weeks earlier where I was contracting all night long and then everything just stopped. So it wasn't until...<br /><br /><br /><br />Tuesday October 12, 2010- 11 days after my due date<br /><br />1am. I noticed a significant change in the intensity of the contractions and they seemed to be "deeper". Rather than in my belly they were lower in my body. I was really uncomfortable and the only relief I had was when Peter would rub my lower back. I'm not sure how close the contractions were, but it was at this point that I was fully convinced that this was indeed the "real thing."<br /><br />3am. I was laying on my bed and I felt something burst (my bag of waters) and it was actually a bit painful. I let out a yelp- it sort of felt like I had been punched internally. When I felt the warmness of the water I told Peter my water had broken (good thing we had the plastic sheet on the bed!) and I got up out of bed and headed to the bathroom to pee and then got into the birthing pool.<br />We called the midwife and my mom, and I texted my best friend to let them know my water broke. My midwife said she was on her way. Once the water broke, the contractions were much more painful and were coming very close together. I knew the baby was making its way down. During this time I had to have Peter on his knees behind me, with his hands on my shoulders. This was the only way I could relax my shoulders and stay focused on relaxing.<br /><br />3:50am. My midwife arrived and checked for the baby's heartbeat. Everything sounded great and she headed downstairs to sterilize her instruments.<br /><br />4:20am. I can remember praying in between the intense contractions and asking God for His strength. I told my midwife to go wake up Hailey. I reached inside myself and felt the head about 1 inch away from being out of me. I knew I would be pushing soon. I got into a comfortable position squatting and leaning over the side of the pool. I wanted to gently and slowly let my body do the work instead of forcing it like I had done with my last child. I reached down and felt the baby's head coming out and I just held it there and tried to breathe until the next contraction came. I talked to my baby telling him/her that we were going to do this together and we were going to see each other soon. My midwife said to "Ease your baby out." So I kept saying "easy, easy." When the baby's head was completely out, I let out a scream of relief. It felt so good to be past that point. My husband didn't even know the head was coming out until it was completely out and he saw it. He reached in and helped me pull the baby up onto my stomach. Our sweet baby was out. It was amazing! My midwife put a towel around the baby and I lifted the baby's leg to discover that it was a girl! Our third baby girl! She was so calm and peaceful and never let out a cry at all. In fact, she was so relaxed on me that she started to fall asleep. Hailey was so excited to meet her new sister and kept saying how cute she was. Peter kept saying how awesome I did and was right by my side adoring our little Patience Anne. I decided to get out of the pool and deliver the placenta in my bed. It was taking a while since I wasn't able to nurse the baby due to her short cord. It was at least 20 mins. later when I delivered the placenta. It ended up being folded in half, so when it came out, it was like giving birth again. We left the placenta attached to Patience for about 2 hours. Every last drop of blood that she could have received from the cord got to her. The cord was completely white and totally empty when Hailey cut it. Patience Anne weighed 9lbs 4 oz. and was 20 1/2" She was completely healthy and nursed like a champ! This birth was amazing. I am so grateful to have such a supportive husband who was with me every step of the way through this labor and delivery. He took care of all the clean up from the birth and took such good care of me while I was recovering. Praise God for His enormous blessings that I do not deserve!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-27778044551860825132010-09-30T03:03:00.000-07:002010-09-30T03:45:14.394-07:00Pregnancy ThoughtsI cannot wrap my head around the fact that tomorrow is the day this baby is due. No one imagined that he or she would be inside me for this long. I feel very grateful to know that this baby is healthy and growing, and is going to be nice and pudgy when it comes out. I am so jumping out of my skin excited to meet them and hold their little hand and kiss their soft cheeks and watch them be completely satisfied at my breast.<br /><br />Although my stomach is so huge, and my thighs are bigger than they've been in a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">looonng</span> time, I have never felt more beautiful. My stomach is round and tight and smooth- there is no loose skin, there is no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">sagginess</span>. My breasts are full and plump, ready to do their job. I am in awe of the miracle of life. The beautiful intimacy that God created to be shared between a husband and wife. I recently heard conception described as "a mommy and daddy's love for each other just spilling out and it makes a baby." What a sweet description for a child to grasp how it really is love.<br /><br />I am so blessed to be surrounded by the family that I'm in. My husband is so attracted to me and my plumpness and he tells me daily. He is constantly touching my belly and telling this baby to "come out now!" He says how he can't wait to hold the naked baby with his shirt off and get that special skin on skin contact.<br /><br />Hailey is so excited and has been the most amazing big sister and helper. Last night I was holding onto Peter's shoulders for support through a contraction (15 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">mins</span> apart for over 4 hours- then <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">nothin</span>) and Hailey came over to us and he told her to go sit down and finish her cookie. She said, "But in the book, the Mommy is holding onto the Daddy and the little girl is rubbing the Mommy's back." It was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> sweet and innocent and she truly wanted to be a part of that moment. The name of the book is "We're having a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">homebirth</span>." <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rebecca</span> let me borrow it and the girls both love it. It has great pictures and it talks about the midwife coming to the house and how mommy makes lots of good noises like an elephant.<br /><br />Trinity definitely knows that something is going on. She knows there's a baby in my belly, but I don't think she knows that it's coming out soon. She has been acting out and being nasty to her sister and I think it's just the tension in the air from our patience being stretched to the limit! She can be so funny when her sister isn't around. She really tries to entertain us, walking around with her tongue hanging out and waddling like a duck. She knows she's funny too which makes it even cuter!<br /><br />I am struggling with feeling guilty for sending my kids off to people's houses while I try to rest and let my back rest. I have had such back pain and I think part of it is taking care of the girls and the house and the other part of it is the baby's positioning. I want to enjoy the last bit of time with Hailey and Trinity as my only two children- and I want to have one on one time with each of them, but I have to do what's best for everyone, and I am no good to anyone if I cannot move! I love when the girls cuddle up on what's left of my lap and I read to them.<br /><br />Yesterday Peter juiced a TON of apples and it's the best apple juice you have ever tasted! It tastes a bit more like apple cider than apple juice- not at all like the juice you buy in the store- maybe more like the organic all natural juice, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">i've</span> never had that to compare it. While he did that, I made an apple pie as a "birthday cake" for the baby. I got out a huge bag of shoes for the girls and Hailey kept putting different shoes onto Trinity and then bringing her in to show us "how pretty." Trinity would just light up to hear us say, "Oh Trinity that's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> pretty." Hailey would say, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">ok</span>, let's go get different shoes on." This went on for over a half hour. It was so sweet. I love it when they play together without fighting and I love to see how much they truly love <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">each other</span>.<br /><br />It's amazing to me how God has continually met our needs. I am blessed beyond belief to have a church body who is so willing to help our family. Whether it's taking the girls, bringing us a huge box full of loaves of bread (my freezer is overflowing!) or bringing us meals, they are more than willing to meet a need when it exists. Also, my mother-in-law, what an amazing woman! God has given her the gift of being a servant. Knowing I can count on her for practically anything is such a blessing. I don't even have to ask most of the time she just offers or just does it. I hope someday I am able to take care of her and her needs like she has for me.<br /><br />Despite the recent craziness of life, homeschooling is going surprisingly well. There have been 1 or 2 days that we have missed, but over all, I am really pleased with her progress and with all the new concepts she is grasping so quickly! She read a book to me yesterday- the whole thing- and was so proud of herself! I pray that things continue to go this well after baby arrives and my attention is demanded elsewhere.<br /><br />I started reading "To Train Up a Child" again for some much needed refreshing. I am looking forward to some good training sessions! I have totally been depending on discipline and ignoring training. It was good to read and remember what the difference is, and how to be intentional in training- and keep the goal in mind- working toward Godliness (me and my kiddos!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-86103868780576330692010-05-21T11:00:00.000-07:002010-05-21T11:17:03.442-07:00Life is Grand!I really have an awesome life! I am so grateful to be able to stay home with my two girls and spend everyday teaching them, and learning from them. My third child is growing quickly, I'm more than 1/2 way through this pregnancy- yeah! 21 weeks exactly today. I can feel him/her moving everyday and the prods and kicks are getting a bit stronger.<br /><br />Hailey just decided to decorate herself and her sister with little red spots. Fun. At least it's not permanent this time!<br /><br />We have 6 chickens who are growing rapidly and we are anxiously awaiting the fall when we can enjoy fresh brown eggs!<br /><br />The pool will be going up soon- hopefully this weekend- I cannot wait to float my big belly in that water! Peter planted 2 pear trees last week- they won't produce for 2-4 years. We'll be planting the garden soon- Dick and Pat will be doing half and we'll do half. Can't wait for fresh garden picked produce! We got a sandbox given to us and so we bought sand yesterday and the girls both love it!<br /><br />We ordered a video camera- which should be here in 4 days- I am so thrilled to have footage of all our adventures! The girls are so cute together and Trinity is doing so many new things. Her latest words are "cup", "down", "nite nite", she also will tell you what a cow, cat, dog, and duck say. She loves to eat and will outeat her sister anyday! She just started coming down the stairs on her butt instead of her belly which makes Mommy a bit nervous!<br /><br />I set up the sprinkler in the yard today and Hailey loved it- Trin wouldn't go near it! We were all getting a bit red so we had to come in- the weather is beautiful, but us fair-skinned people can't take too much of it.<br /><br />Trinity is walking around right now with one of my sandles on. She is such a girl~ looooves shoes! And she gets so mad if one of her shoes falls off- it's hilarious.<br /><br />Well, I'm about to do a color so bye for now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-45133511706185577772010-01-21T19:01:00.000-08:002010-01-21T19:16:57.424-08:00WOWOk where has time gone? I am so grateful for a husband who loves me the way God tells him to...washing me with the water of His Word! Eph. 4:25. His perseverance to do this daily is such a testimony of how God truly changes a person by his renewing his mind with the Word!<br /><br />I am so thrilled to be going to TX is less than 6 weeks! I made a paper link chain to count down the days with Hailey. She takes a link off everday.<br /><br />God has been teaching me so much lately. Mostly it's around and around the circle of "I'm all you need Rachael!" DUH! January is always hard when my inlaws leave me for 4 months and my family being so far...then I am reminded- God is all I need.<br /><br />I was reminded by the Holy Spirit today how I have such a powerful weapon...PRAYER. How often do we put down that weapon and pick up worry, doubt, and let our minds wander away down the wide path. I don't have to do that! I am His child- I CAN PRAY! So that's what I did. And will continue to do.<br /><br />I am so encouraged that my daughter is hiding God's Word in her heart. She came up to me today and said "Hey mom...necessary edification!" And so I said " OH yeah, are you learning the same verse that we're learning in church? And she said it with me..."Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearer." She has also memorized the Lord's Prayer- her Daddy does it with her every night before bed. She's got it down! Praise the Lord! Nothing better.<br /><br />Another thing God has been showing me is that we are to glorify Him in every decision we make every day...How difficult is that to flesh out? Not so if we are walking in the spirit...we won't fulfill the lust of the flesh. Gal. 5<br /><br />Thank you God so much for my accountability partner who challenges me and asks me the tough questions and encourages me with scripture. I have learned so much through her humility and grace.<br /><br />Joyful suffering. That's what the Bible Study has been about on Tuesday mornings. Not rejoicing in spite of a trial- but rejoicing because of a trial. Romans 5:3...Want hope? You must persevere through a trial first, and then recieve endurance- and then our character will be strengthened through His Word- His Spirit.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-65467941447574508532009-09-12T12:46:00.000-07:002009-09-12T13:02:17.330-07:00Two hiding friends.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp3kQLJ7suUIYyUjLIj9Ux2Sl8sFJpZ22M1JnxtTvPPDezhKkMLfn9E41Lq3k0ymbHSggLB1snt062Ke3nALjhB00znVRI6TbzZne_hs1e4tJgIZR6EACI8M4TBAxwpAiFdLyMOT8BLc/s1600-h/100_4097.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380670764211640514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp3kQLJ7suUIYyUjLIj9Ux2Sl8sFJpZ22M1JnxtTvPPDezhKkMLfn9E41Lq3k0ymbHSggLB1snt062Ke3nALjhB00znVRI6TbzZne_hs1e4tJgIZR6EACI8M4TBAxwpAiFdLyMOT8BLc/s200/100_4097.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This one happened about 10 mins before I took this picture. I had just checked it, and when I checked it again right after that, it had already changed. It still looked wet, gooey and different than the other one. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NOYUKuxElaXFNukwaHdlVnFmOl3ArU-3QFIhwDkeMdh5KpkBIxuagrINP-XqyNdo4Eq-kHOABc8__VjRzKzPPrgyXiWrTCSgJMqiSwZELHISHvFZkUXbww8A_1NfEhoo3ME9imokvGY/s1600-h/100_4100.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380670755775814818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NOYUKuxElaXFNukwaHdlVnFmOl3ArU-3QFIhwDkeMdh5KpkBIxuagrINP-XqyNdo4Eq-kHOABc8__VjRzKzPPrgyXiWrTCSgJMqiSwZELHISHvFZkUXbww8A_1NfEhoo3ME9imokvGY/s200/100_4100.JPG" /></a></div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NOYUKuxElaXFNukwaHdlVnFmOl3ArU-3QFIhwDkeMdh5KpkBIxuagrINP-XqyNdo4Eq-kHOABc8__VjRzKzPPrgyXiWrTCSgJMqiSwZELHISHvFZkUXbww8A_1NfEhoo3ME9imokvGY/s1600-h/100_4100.JPG"></a> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>This one changed overnight. We woke up to find it. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NOYUKuxElaXFNukwaHdlVnFmOl3ArU-3QFIhwDkeMdh5KpkBIxuagrINP-XqyNdo4Eq-kHOABc8__VjRzKzPPrgyXiWrTCSgJMqiSwZELHISHvFZkUXbww8A_1NfEhoo3ME9imokvGY/s1600-h/100_4100.JPG"></a> </div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-12777925357230099432009-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:002009-09-12T12:37:38.200-07:00Let there be PEARS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIqvWzFlvGwE-8SniKFUy0Oc7h-N37bJgvLpZygaNHMsWu3_mS6lP997rKDl6q7Ctm5mg_QN1yu4VkvhPox_ZYZ5z1s5ivw9a3_3_Kn52vRx5w79numJPbSz_7YAwIZ1NgyGB4HkNXFI/s1600-h/100_4088.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380667000407162898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIqvWzFlvGwE-8SniKFUy0Oc7h-N37bJgvLpZygaNHMsWu3_mS6lP997rKDl6q7Ctm5mg_QN1yu4VkvhPox_ZYZ5z1s5ivw9a3_3_Kn52vRx5w79numJPbSz_7YAwIZ1NgyGB4HkNXFI/s200/100_4088.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdHUI1oMfpG4sgpsNIm3egyMBz41VmHyvDYv3Q3ZLQf7oKSweHxwdlcUOf6so_sE-zJ_WBjPO176kozTUXt1EBd58F6ePs38W_GHOcUdCpgcromrWZvjggvMZjZ5SOW7WbbYaHzWsDJ0/s1600-h/100_4090.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380666987655728770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdHUI1oMfpG4sgpsNIm3egyMBz41VmHyvDYv3Q3ZLQf7oKSweHxwdlcUOf6so_sE-zJ_WBjPO176kozTUXt1EBd58F6ePs38W_GHOcUdCpgcromrWZvjggvMZjZ5SOW7WbbYaHzWsDJ0/s200/100_4090.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aZVIpwsOLt4WxauWixVHprZOZ9igbkHot7ianL_5RgIySsJD7VAnBggfpgSF4U5sDJ19Y3TghIh9Er7Yimqi_lCq1_dS_vMlDv65pmNxW_edESm4uY0mBWJabS6Sh9lfpahfHfhhof4/s1600-h/100_4091.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380666986412206130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aZVIpwsOLt4WxauWixVHprZOZ9igbkHot7ianL_5RgIySsJD7VAnBggfpgSF4U5sDJ19Y3TghIh9Er7Yimqi_lCq1_dS_vMlDv65pmNxW_edESm4uY0mBWJabS6Sh9lfpahfHfhhof4/s200/100_4091.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKBf0VENM06fe-2uyNPqs6T8_onEHFophWgmotMEbq2UUKsgAeMmiY55Er6H36PnPMBu6gUm8rTGJ80iDnILX9J1Q1AeNLmSTDU_47a9vxmlmfdfCaBH2A1FyYjATVXe-n9HkNJmHpFM/s1600-h/100_4092.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380666976594967890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKBf0VENM06fe-2uyNPqs6T8_onEHFophWgmotMEbq2UUKsgAeMmiY55Er6H36PnPMBu6gUm8rTGJ80iDnILX9J1Q1AeNLmSTDU_47a9vxmlmfdfCaBH2A1FyYjATVXe-n9HkNJmHpFM/s200/100_4092.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7PxG7cOyWd4CsfVtGPc18RwEswA2clp-lo4H6DDQXhPLXvSPNND2RC77onsTaJdiZUqiQ6JyaFjDJE0RXxZKcl0lME2YK16iVXGT1frxuJkPmvYS7LfObKkfwmjeNyhw4NPx6Drwglw/s1600-h/100_4088.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380666968666761234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7PxG7cOyWd4CsfVtGPc18RwEswA2clp-lo4H6DDQXhPLXvSPNND2RC77onsTaJdiZUqiQ6JyaFjDJE0RXxZKcl0lME2YK16iVXGT1frxuJkPmvYS7LfObKkfwmjeNyhw4NPx6Drwglw/s200/100_4088.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Hailey took these pictures- my budding photographer!</div><div>This was today after we went to speak at a Woman's Aglow Meeting about the liver donation. It was really exciting to see how many women were encouraged and how it touched their lives to hear what a miracle God had done. </div><br /><div>We canned 12 pints today and 6 quarts yesterday of pears. I am done with peaches and ended up with 16 quarts...which was 1/2 bushel. I will be doing more pears tomorrow. They are sooo good! I am hoping to find some tomatoes somewhere- this year all the farmers tomatoes got some disease and all died. ;-( So maybe if I go to another county I'll find some. I want to make spaghetti sauce and salsa. Next month will be applesauce and applebutter, and then squash- acorn and butternut. YUM! We soo love squash! </div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-86284908134296766372009-09-08T17:58:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:04:10.151-07:00Canning Peaches<div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>These are my beautiful peaches that will be in jars on Thursday! Loving <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMb8P9xbcES-pMwHje6UTE-T7FbhcAVmMlDh_hoCX297mYfB1mdWglz8JtdLGdpEbZEzpIGu-Z9OHh903_Nh44XyEqHlD4PoSqGchfK9m6Yt87YX0usGNmOWeQVIV0pn_T3e2eEsW610/s1600-h/100_4084.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379266741853697426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMb8P9xbcES-pMwHje6UTE-T7FbhcAVmMlDh_hoCX297mYfB1mdWglz8JtdLGdpEbZEzpIGu-Z9OHh903_Nh44XyEqHlD4PoSqGchfK9m6Yt87YX0usGNmOWeQVIV0pn_T3e2eEsW610/s200/100_4084.JPG" /></a>this!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LObcjG_QHxmeNOoTxJj8pIjulPj4L07hvQdUvJqTv9bbyTlRY01EL-BJoDgGXtUL1VzhUX6e_gt73krlhQAomCsj7v4vegEK9Rp24i3qSmIaUbCdGm3XOSjkLN-1V3w0RRDLJGVsgyQ/s1600-h/100_4085.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379266730097786786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LObcjG_QHxmeNOoTxJj8pIjulPj4L07hvQdUvJqTv9bbyTlRY01EL-BJoDgGXtUL1VzhUX6e_gt73krlhQAomCsj7v4vegEK9Rp24i3qSmIaUbCdGm3XOSjkLN-1V3w0RRDLJGVsgyQ/s200/100_4085.JPG" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-23991459411312824682009-09-08T16:50:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:03:40.718-07:00New Friends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG0F62nFNWSx4wUiFovEhedB9gtz1TAVGwjvzwQXZsrBVPqgnY0GTgQBp5Smnz-TImykXcguNqh2r5JEGFdQz_UrL7a0XLuUhaYL56XxQqO4SeKhpG9nbvv9DQmx7TvN9QAGy_xL67Bs/s1600-h/100_4083.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379249494216917314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG0F62nFNWSx4wUiFovEhedB9gtz1TAVGwjvzwQXZsrBVPqgnY0GTgQBp5Smnz-TImykXcguNqh2r5JEGFdQz_UrL7a0XLuUhaYL56XxQqO4SeKhpG9nbvv9DQmx7TvN9QAGy_xL67Bs/s200/100_4083.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH-NdOP676XdFuv7JWNv7Jtu-bGlN4hKof0ru4BQbacIoOLSoP0C0Gx0kTyZeF8ZWrAtqX5IU3MFYxsvhnzvWxAS0kKN_sixbjynpF1KQRg9AIHqRvnZijAf1zYD77shkLzJbQi0K144/s1600-h/100_4081.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379249485647073490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH-NdOP676XdFuv7JWNv7Jtu-bGlN4hKof0ru4BQbacIoOLSoP0C0Gx0kTyZeF8ZWrAtqX5IU3MFYxsvhnzvWxAS0kKN_sixbjynpF1KQRg9AIHqRvnZijAf1zYD77shkLzJbQi0K144/s200/100_4081.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>These are the 2 newest additions to our family. We found them on a walk to see the baby pony down the road. Within two weeks we should have two monarchs! Yeah for the school of LIFE!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-89030735879741758532009-09-08T16:44:00.001-07:002009-09-08T16:50:36.097-07:00HomeschoolingOur first day of Kindergarten begins tomorrow! Wow, I cannot believe it's here already! I am excited and nervous and kind of weirded out that this huge landmark is here and we will be doing school for the next God knows how many years!!! A new adventure! I will need lots of prayer! Especially for patience and grace! I am just so grateful that I have a husband who leads me and who understands the value and importance of the role God has given us to "...teach and train..." our children. And I'm grateful that I am at home and able to watch my daughter learn all these firsts...learn to read, to tie her shoe, and so much more! Praise God for His provision and I pray that I never stop surrendering to His plan for my life!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-8887760237388191112009-09-08T16:27:00.000-07:002009-09-08T16:44:03.653-07:00My Make-up Artist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtl_LtGEJeLh-bwj97f1a8IzidBo4gNbl31itOFCq2TvrkocmelW67Bp5WUoZ9Xo5sOOccnFpgJSK3IjkdAPjKVXKxhMv99FU6QOnZIYlkA0X2soRPOJ2TZ7D3XhnYJGgJ35z4veyTQI/s1600-h/summer+09+150.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379243622406633010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtl_LtGEJeLh-bwj97f1a8IzidBo4gNbl31itOFCq2TvrkocmelW67Bp5WUoZ9Xo5sOOccnFpgJSK3IjkdAPjKVXKxhMv99FU6QOnZIYlkA0X2soRPOJ2TZ7D3XhnYJGgJ35z4veyTQI/s200/summer+09+150.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtIUEGfOzurIJ7bF4x9LE_h2xThSXfmvfFH6d_TwzWPZ1wxTDgYqu4FHZDJ3NtFeUpG1EAVl_JhGLqoBK1OoZO-wxvPNWAMXddNCvu-_-wjhNf6EAWLF4b75zit0CIYawhpAEL-iRSnA/s1600-h/summer+09+149.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379243606281760818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtIUEGfOzurIJ7bF4x9LE_h2xThSXfmvfFH6d_TwzWPZ1wxTDgYqu4FHZDJ3NtFeUpG1EAVl_JhGLqoBK1OoZO-wxvPNWAMXddNCvu-_-wjhNf6EAWLF4b75zit0CIYawhpAEL-iRSnA/s200/summer+09+149.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_evmNdt4epoT2URAurLaxAqAFAaRxmHsXwVCT6knqeJi4cFJm9CQ4K3feAFsDW0bh3XaHnV_eIDlNuf7ch9xHCSSqqOhUoWNppTqI_Uq_9nsBeDr6wtR9kWzd06zSvd2bfy0x87Wy-ko/s1600-h/summer+09+152.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379243612050961426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_evmNdt4epoT2URAurLaxAqAFAaRxmHsXwVCT6knqeJi4cFJm9CQ4K3feAFsDW0bh3XaHnV_eIDlNuf7ch9xHCSSqqOhUoWNppTqI_Uq_9nsBeDr6wtR9kWzd06zSvd2bfy0x87Wy-ko/s200/summer+09+152.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Thank God this was her makeup and not mine, and that she asked me if she could do this before she did it! Of course she had to decorate barbie too! So when Pastor Steve came for a visit today, this is what Hailey decided to do. She is quite talented! I do think he was pretty impressed!! </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-13409824976621576792009-09-08T16:20:00.000-07:002009-09-08T16:26:14.720-07:00Labor Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xZWhnoD6qGXt1wjE6__ABpqjh7BgOebe9Uq78O0sr_QPkpLfML01CMTxELi-bBDsFFoxJt006GxMZKKTmkDLmrG6qW4BlS-vCQkjEQZZ6nFTMMMaamPc4Ia5zZHl6iFfMazpyU83fs/s1600-h/summer+09+148.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379241542103427970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8xZWhnoD6qGXt1wjE6__ABpqjh7BgOebe9Uq78O0sr_QPkpLfML01CMTxELi-bBDsFFoxJt006GxMZKKTmkDLmrG6qW4BlS-vCQkjEQZZ6nFTMMMaamPc4Ia5zZHl6iFfMazpyU83fs/s200/summer+09+148.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F6uaKyENFrDrWypKu7h1HUz13ZskkWtteueaFxhvDemaDbmiyYSna8Zg-PGJy3nblHKhZ2yC5ZpEAgwmXx6fbM-JDV_XDmp0yj7mRoRezSoGa1qgf2Q0eiw1WkKG0P6Nglj-Q6gUfac/s1600-h/summer+09+147.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379241533864590658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9F6uaKyENFrDrWypKu7h1HUz13ZskkWtteueaFxhvDemaDbmiyYSna8Zg-PGJy3nblHKhZ2yC5ZpEAgwmXx6fbM-JDV_XDmp0yj7mRoRezSoGa1qgf2Q0eiw1WkKG0P6Nglj-Q6gUfac/s200/summer+09+147.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>We spent Labor Day at Brown's Berry Patch in Waterport, NY. It was about an hour away and Rebecca and Jordan and Gracie and McKenzie joined our clan. It was a beautiful day! There was so much for the kiddos to do and they totally had a blast! They had billy goats up on this roof/bridge thing, and there was a pully to lift food up to them. They had a huge slide- that was sooo fun! And the giant pillow was incredible- i'm not sure if the kids or "grown-ups" had more fun! There was even a misting tent for when you got too hot! After we all played a while we went "pickin" and got apples, elderberries, </div></div><br />blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries! YUMMY! I froze them to put into pancakes and waffles in the winter! Here's the website for Brown's Berry Patch so you can check it out yourself! Happy Labor Day to all! <a href="http://www.brownsberrypatch.com/barnyard_adventure.html">http://www.brownsberrypatch.com/barnyard_adventure.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-66384098064810447912009-08-22T12:33:00.000-07:002009-08-22T12:44:48.595-07:00How awesome is our God!Ask and you shall receive! I went to a class this morning to learn how to can peaches. Well...I left the class praying for God to provide a huge pot with a wire rack for the jars. I stopped at a few yard sales right around my house, and asked a lady- who didn't have any kitchen items out- if she happened to have one- she said, "i think i have an extra one, hold on" So...$4 later I have my very own canning pot with a rack! Yeah God! I am so excited- I will be canning peaches and pears as long as my hubby says it's ok. and i learned that you can make the syrup for them with honey instead of sugar! yeah for natural! i just can't wait until in january (actually i really don't mean that) when it's a huge snow storm and i open a jar of summer!!!! how awesome will that be! maybe i'll be brave and do tomatoes, and salsa, and spaghetti sauce. Next year i think i'll do some jams. I love being effiecient and frugal! I just need someone to watch the kiddos while i do all this! When Hailey is old enough to help me with all this what a blessing that will be!!!<br /><br />OH yeah and at the yard sale that i got the pot- i also got asics sneakers...probably cost $70 in the store- for $3!!! and they look brand new!<br /><br />my inlaws came over for haircuts and they took Hailey with them...PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! I love being with her but she talks a mile a minute and I am getting mentally drained!!!! I am so grateful that they were willing to do that- and the best part is- it was their idea!<br /><br />So my catscan is scheduled for sept. 3. My mother in law will pick me and the girls up and we're going to make a day of it. My appt is at 8:30 am. thank God because i can't eat for 2 hours before the test- and then i have to speak with the doctor- which is scheduled for 10am. but i've been throught this drill before and when they say 10am they really mean 3pm. So hopefully the girls will enjoy this little "outing"!<br /><br />I have lots i can do without hailey breathing down my neck so i'm ganna get busy!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-6454677646516031232009-08-13T03:46:00.000-07:002009-08-13T03:51:09.613-07:00Pretty Girls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm8ZtAqF5_Y4sxLU90j24csii7tRjoVSS8JSLCsvOxBMR3TSPT2-QOsKHrF7MeFZ4xpbYLKuWRvtREc4m5xsyoApxZOtzpuLM5ktwgC9oY-eaWsViOEb24Z5XXB4DlIk9q4LAPrYQeTI/s1600-h/100_3968.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369399146419023730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm8ZtAqF5_Y4sxLU90j24csii7tRjoVSS8JSLCsvOxBMR3TSPT2-QOsKHrF7MeFZ4xpbYLKuWRvtREc4m5xsyoApxZOtzpuLM5ktwgC9oY-eaWsViOEb24Z5XXB4DlIk9q4LAPrYQeTI/s200/100_3968.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAXmpAowjcc4B8nNFOrVOTLntPvn92tV2800a-Yr8aPUUVn0AElkr5D2W-UUf43UHa1OQtWN5hSxp2bgIqlNT3qmegXPypnP4PG4v1nrzIJs1L04e0SoJWBx6QOMnKJrJUmS75aVSQD0/s1600-h/100_3980.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369399134878159346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAXmpAowjcc4B8nNFOrVOTLntPvn92tV2800a-Yr8aPUUVn0AElkr5D2W-UUf43UHa1OQtWN5hSxp2bgIqlNT3qmegXPypnP4PG4v1nrzIJs1L04e0SoJWBx6QOMnKJrJUmS75aVSQD0/s200/100_3980.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-4186123076732308462009-08-13T03:33:00.000-07:002009-08-13T03:46:13.812-07:00MommyingI can't tell my husband enough how grateful I am to be able to stay home with our girls and enjoy their everyday changing. I was in a store the other day talking to the clerk and she was sharing how her daughter- a couple months older than Trinity- was starting to step away from holding onto furniture. She said "I know i'm going to miss her first steps because i'll be here at the store." I just thought how sad that something so special is traded for a little money.<br /><br />I am getting excited about homeschooling- and wondering how an unstructured gal like myself can try to implement some structure into my daughters lives. I know i'll be praying a lot!<br /><br />Hailey's curious little mind is always asking questions, like this morning- taking Peter to work at 5:30am..."mom, why is it so smokey?" Oh you mean the foggy fog! and then when we got back home- "mom what does udicrous mean?", "you mean ludicrous?", "yeah" ,"it means crazy."<br />or yesterday..."mom, what means lergic?", "you mean allergic?", "yeah", "it means you get all sneezy when you're around something. like daddy is allergic to cats and that's why we can't have a kitty- cuz he'll get all sneezy." which brought on a whole slew of questions later on like..."are some people allergic to trees? are some people allergic to babies?"<br /><br />there are some things you think would never some out of your mouth- but as a mother, somehow they manage to come out. such as..."stop licking that chair!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-50312315177761503232009-05-06T07:40:00.000-07:002009-05-06T07:42:10.674-07:00SleepMy wonderful 5 month old actually slept from 9pm-4:30am!!! Praise God for sleep! Then she ate and went back to sleep until 8:30! I'm so blessed! This could become a habit and i'd be totally cool with that!!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-17527113422632575772009-05-06T07:38:00.000-07:002009-05-06T07:40:26.759-07:00Polka DotsSo I said to Hailey as we were both looking in the mirror, "Do you think you look like mommy?" and she replied, "no, cuz you have polka dots on your nose and i don't."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-16428660996601100852009-04-24T19:27:00.000-07:002009-04-24T19:45:08.246-07:00Exciting Times...and CrocodilesI am now the proud owner of a salon and am licensed by NY State as a business owner...Yeah!! I had to jump through a few of their hoops, but it was so worth it to be doing things legally and to be able to stay home with my girlies, and not go away to work. Now I can plan my business around my schedule and what works for our family.<br /><br />I quit my job at the salon in Lancaster. Tonight was my last night and I really wasn't sad. I loved working there, but I know God has revealed to me that my place is at home, and I can be a helper to my husband by bringing in some extra money by doing this business at home. Hailey was so excited when i told her that i didn't have to leave her anymore to go to away to work...what a blessing to have a hubby that supports this and encourages me to GO FOR IT!<br /><br />The electrical work in the salon was done yesterday and the plumbing and sink are being put in on Sunday. Then Monday, Peter and i will do the finishing touches...paint the floor, put up trim, put a desk in there, a rug down, a magazine rack, a plant, pictures on the walls, paint the cabinet that surrounds the sink, and curtains up. I still have a few things I have to purchase- an appointment book, towels, shampoo, etc.<br /><br />The other exciting thing is that my mom is coming up in 4 days with my two brothers!!! I can't wait! She's only staying here one night, but hopefully we'll get the boys a bit longer than that. Hailey is thrilled to see them again so soon.<br /><br />Yesterday Hailey and I were discussing what it means when Jesus is your Savior. After explaining it a bit, I asked her if she had asked Him to be her Savior, to which she replied, "yes, I did it when i was in my bed", And I said, "what did you say?" And she said "I didn't say anything, I was asleep." So I said, "No, you can't ask Him when you're asleep."<br />I then asked her, "What did He save you from?" And she very matter of factly said, "From the crocodiles." .......Thanks Jesus for saving us from the crocodiles!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364534707753314834.post-16552255275687190572009-03-25T04:10:00.000-07:002009-03-25T04:29:45.818-07:00Learningsometimes you realize that you believe something you didn't know you believe. For instance, i discovered this week that i grew up believing that i could trust people. i trusted my parents, siblings, my husband, and i was teaching my children to trust me. all sounds good right? well, Jeremiah 9:4 says " Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. " and<br />Mic 7:5 "Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms..."<br />Psa 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.<br />The Bible teaches us that the only good and righteous thing in us is Christ- without Him we are scum! So to trust someone is just foolishness- we trust Christ- and we must expect that our spouse, parents, children are going to screw up! They are going to let us down. If we maintain trust in people rather than God then we will end up with a very disappointed outlook on life. Man will always let you down. That is because of our sinfullness. Just some thoughts...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4