Sunday Morning revision of the night before post.

Yesterday after the "Dinner Diner", I was able to cut out 6 pair of pants for Beauty. I had a very hard day due to a rotten attitude and a grumpy disposition (I neglected to take my hormones Friday night)!

I sure hope she appreciates them and likes them.

I have a U.T.I. and feel worn out! So there I vented! Sorry if it is a bit un characteristic of me (I toned it way down :) but I think I am spent and am falling on my face!

This onslaught all started after we were praying for many others by name, to overcome temptation. Ya think there is a correlation. ?

I am so introspective to task that I do not even know how to play or have fun very well! I want so much to give my kids a joyful Christmas... I will try to bring in some creative resources.

Tell me How do you bring joy into the Christmas season. I really want to be more playful and fun. Do you have any ideas that are not pricey?

Photo Hunt *Red*

Good Morning welcome to the Dinner Diner

Good Morning Mam , May I get something for you?...
Sung to the silent tune of..."I love My Mommie"

I said..."yes Green tea, onion and one egg scrambled...Please sir".

So Dash hired a cook (Beauty) a dishwasher (Daddy Man) and he being the waiter the Dinner Diner was in business. I got he best role in the play...
The Customer.
Order up!

and for desert...

Ezekiel Bread English muffins with lemon curd. OH! man these are ymmy. I dont eat bread because of wheat. These are a treat.

so starts my day...
:)

Bren thank you for the lovely life words this morning on the post on the other blog. It really meant a lot to me.

I took the kids on a walk this morning and saw a neighbor. Out of the blue she said that I looked like I am loosing weight. I was surprised she notice. It felt good to think that it is becoming more visible to others.

We went to the city yesterday at 1 pm for Dashes anointments and we were just doing the last anointment and had all my financial records spread out... and the hospital had a black out! No one had flash lights and so they were using the cell phones to see. I had to scoop up all the paper work and ID cards. and tail it out of there. The kids did well no major panic, but I had been fighting a head ache and two kids that had pushed behavior to the limit wrestling in the hall way at the clinic while I was trying to work with the therapist to schedule appointments. So I was taxed.
The financial review is not too good because Hubby doing the 5 ,10 hour days has bumped our income up just a bit. So I have to come up with several thousand in medical expense to still quality. I will probably meet to goal but I have a lot of adding up of little amounts to do. Then I have to go back to the city again to do it before our date of 12/18 our appointments are on 12/20 so we expire before our next anointment. Because of the black out they are going to try to retro activate the numbers for me.
I had to leave the city away from the freeway. We headed up north and wove our way through the streets that were nuts, to the grand parents. They were very gracious and fed us our evening meal. We rested there until the freeways died down and pulled to our driveway well after 7 pm. We were safe and home.
Living here it is funny that folks are so panicked when we get heavy rains. Our streets get very slick because of all the build up of oils and such. Folks are maniacs on the streets going too fast and no room between cars. I just get off the roads until the rush hour dies down.

I have some sewing of pants for Beauty today.

I hope that all of you get a little luxury today.

The kids were so sweet making me breakfast today. I am so hoping that this bad head ache will just stop! I got the irritable Mom syndrome because of it. :)

Friday Fiest

Fridays Feast #170

Posted on November 30th, 2007 by Christine

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?

I too love the Carousel.

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?

Openly honestly and with as much courage as I can muster to over come my fears.

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?

I am a very deep thinker. It is hard for me to be of the surface level. My personality is very introspective. It is very hard for me to just cut loose and have fun.

Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?

Yes, the children and I all got ours 2 weeks ago. Dash and I both have asthma. Dash told his daddy "if you don't get your flu shot and you get poops and puke we are not cleaning it up" That precocious little dude.

Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?

Very few now that I am blogging. Maybe 2 hours. I am always writing now that I have this outlet. I enjoy it much more and I don't just sit and snack any more.

Orniment Exchange Mailed out today.

Karen Beth,
I sent your little treasure off in the mail today.
I hope it arrives safely.

Willy is very board!

Rainy Day today.

It is so beautiful out today!
I have written some new posts on the other blog .
See side bar for link.

Dash has to go to the city today. We have to get new molds for his hearing aides and he also has a speech therapy appointment. I have a lot of paper work to do as well for the review of our financial eligibility. Please pray for the income is a little close to max due to Beloved having to work 5, 10 hour days to try to get our budget so it stops the hemorrhage that is bleeding our meager savings.

I have I.E.P. paper work to do today too. I am a bit drained from the emotional stuff I have on my mind today.

We are awaiting Beloveds skin biopsy report. The dermatologists felt pretty confident it was alright, but we have had positives before. Beloved has vitaligo it is when you loose your skin pigment. Doctor said that he thought it was wonderful how evenly his has depleted. His brother has a very defined line of demarcation. For those who do often have to remove the remaining pigment medically. God has been very merciful to my husband.

I had a wonderful evening giving my old friend a sewing lesson. It felt so good to share this knowledge. Boy I sure take for granted the things I know how to do.

Aloha Friday

How are you doing today? (Dash's prompt...)

I need to process this...

A man in prison.
When your brother (your will know them by their fruits) in Christ is a criminal. ????

A phone call just over two years ago stopped an embezzler, a man who almost stole all of our retirement. God protected us in the 11 th hour, 59.9 th second, I made a call that turned friend against friend. Caused brothers and sister in Christ to rift. But I made the call and it was the right thing to do. This man was my brother in Christ (or so I thought), he supped at my table heard my story and targeted my family. We became aware that he had over 100 citations and each one of a child p. nature. God protected my children from him and me too. Once, I allowed he and his wife to tend my kids (for two hours) and he was NEVER alone with them. Thank you God never alone with them, she assures me of this.
He is now in prison for 20-30 years and only 1 of those years is for the embezzlement and crimes he did toward his own wife and daughter. He is now off the streets. As of a month or so ago.

Night before last. In the late hours of the night my husband and I were praying for a dear friend who recently fell victim to a different man again preying on the naive trusting Christians of another church that fell hook line and sinker. Lost many thousands of dollars. We grieve for our dear friend. I am so sorry this happened to you. We were praying for you, and we are very angry that it all happened to you. We suspect many others as well were targeted.
The next evening, out of the blue. I received a phone call from the wife of the man I turned in (It had been a very long time since we had spoken). She asked me if we could get together for a sewing lesson. She was with me all evening tonight. No coincidence. We wondered what ever happened and had no idea. That he was charged and convicted of the se- crimes.

We were spared, we were his last clients. His wife even had the paper work of ours secured after the police had hand cuffed him. When I had learned that he had a weapon I went to the wife even when others thought I was over reacting. This was a brother who headed up a PRAYER MINISTRY! He targeted us! He had an addiction to se-. Embezzled over 1 Million and spent it all on prostitutes and child p. He sat in my living room praying with me hearing me story! I feel like showering just telling you this YUK! I know that if we all got what we deserved it would not be pretty. But that does not excuse us from the consequences of our actions. Our sins will find us out. It is excruciating when the body of Christ has to hold another so terribly accountable. But we must do what is right NO MATTER the price. This may have saved him from destroying a child physically for that is the next step and only God may know if he did cross that very line.

I was used in that type of photography as a small child, I had the stained panties from the torture of grown men. I am glad he is in prison!! So He is my brother perhaps? Yet I will not let sin shine in silence. I will pray for him his spirit. but his body and mind crossed a line that it is the better consequence for him than to be so easily tempted out in society!

God protected us!
We did what was right!
We risked friendships!
We stood up for the views we had that were not popular or shared!
We had the privilege to help stop a predator! Even though we were not aware at the time the full extent of his crimes.
Yes he is (was) a brother...or was he? (you will know them by their fruit)
We saw a wonderful fellowship disband from shock and the wake of the mans devistation (and other things It shook our fellowship hard!).
How many times do we forgive??70 x 7 but that does not suggest that we turn a blind eye to crime.

Jesus last said to us to pray for one another that we would resist temptation. Each one of us has a choice to resist it or not. To fulfill the lust of the flesh or flee it.

He is in prison and he will now be stopped from the advancement of this deadly addiction. Stopped from the temptations that befall him. His victims will only get half of the funds returned by the company he represented they lost half of their retirement savings. Elderly people, his response "They can afford it". His wife lost almost everything except a friendship that we hold dear. She has had to start all over again. His daughter, who he stalked and secretly harassed, devastated. He played the Christian society like a bunch of pansy's. It time we not only be gentle as a dove but WISE AS THE SERPENT!

Pray that you too will resist temptation and pray for one another.
Be Wise, Do not fall for any one in the church getting into your financial matters. You hire a reputable firm. Even then like us you could get hit, but at least the folks got half of the funds returned. Listen to your instincts. I stated mine and that is why I think that God saved us. I was not comfortable and deferred to my husband and prayed over it a lot. God preserved us.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I decorated today.
These two were decorated with a pop cycle.
Life in the desert at the end of November.
The floral arrangement was photographed but they did not get rotated so I'll have to take another picture.

I made a wreath for my front door out of some scraps of things I had.

I hung up the snowman from yesteryear. I think I made him well over 15 yrs ago.

The garland is now on the door. The pine cones from that last camping trip are in it.

Garland is placed also in the planter with some silk flowers.

The angle and some garland at the front window.
See the sweet flag.

The palm is now dressed with a festive look.

Table Cloth Preparation
When you pull out your Christmas table cloth it really works well to
Spray (spritz) it with water( the elders had a shaker years ago. This is a great technique for ironing clothing as well. Omitting the starch.) and with a fabric starch.
The textile will have a chance to relax.
Go back to it in a few minutes and you will find a cloth that is very easy to steam out.
The fabric starch will help it to release any stains that might be deposited during a meal.
This is a great way to preserve your fabric for year after year.

Well thats 11 but I have more to do so I'll go shower and decorate myself with clean clothing
An friend from years back called and is coming over for a sewing lesson. So Thrusday nights I will decorate this sweet woman with knowledge.
There is my 13 things I decorated today :)

hriatmas Ornament Exchange

This is the little Tea Ball After it steeped

I got a package!

Just as I finished my wreath and decorated the door.

Look at the wonderful ornament such a pretty apothecary bottle and seed pods.
That cool little ball is a Rari Tea it bloomed like a flower in my cup of hot water. Yum! I brewed the tea a little hot yet but it taste good.
How very thoughtful.
There is a little bees wax candle.
That little tin is so cool!
Look at the sweet little wreath and heart.
How Generous of you to send so many wonderful things.
Thank You Karen!
I love it all!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for My God who supplies all my needs according to HIS riches and glory!
What so ever you have need of ask and it shall be given to you...


Beloveds breakfast cookies...via oat meal on special , brown sugar reduced due to thanksgiving baking, A second box Baggies (when I ran out) stored from when I got them cheep. Eggs; buy one get one free special. A wonderful oven to bake them in and the tools to do it with quality. A husband who appreciates my efforts and holds me with the glee of a boy with a cookie (or three).

Thankful for the energy to clean all the dishes and such when I need to. Dish soap for $1. a bottle for the good stuff at the big lot store.

Insurance to go to the doctor and the appointment was a walk in and I was out in just under an hour. Rx in hand. The funds he supplies to get the medications I need for a U.T.I. say ouch and scream! :)

I am grateful that those medications cleared up enough of the pain to get a good 80% of the laundry done.

I am appreciative that not only the needs but an unknown want even. These match the crystal I have and they were at the lot store for $2 each!

And you know seeing all that laundry! Well I prayed for a chance to get some of the laundry soap that is the common old type, You know across the country they are no longer going to sell it like this. The soap is now very concentrated and we will need to dilute it our selfs. This is normally $6-8 a bottle I got it for $2.70, They even had the type I needed the free and clear. We have a home with allergies and asthma. I got 8 of them. I asked God to make a way for me to still find a nice store of them for the next several months. I spent 20. for at least 6 months laundry soap! God is so generous to us!

We had a wonderful play date yesterday at the home of a Mom of two adopted kids. We have had one here before and she and her family also are just newly attending the little neighborhood church we just started going to. What a sweet family. Debbie if our out there thank you again for such pleasant hospitality. We all had a nice time.
The fellowship is really great. Seeing you all at church has been such a sweet gift.

I appreciate all the wonderful decorations that I have had the privilege to acquire over the years. I am having fun today putting them all up. I'll post pictures later.

I am thankful for My God who supplies all my needs according to HIS riches and glory!
What so ever you have need of ask and it shall be given to you...

Please pray for Denise

Donetta,

This is Eddie, I have posted a new update on the blog, thanks for your prayers.

November 28, 2007 4:38 PM

Pay it Forward

There is still a spot available

I thought I would jump in and signed up on Bren's "Pieces of Me" This was going around the quilting circles and has now branched out, so please do not think you need to be able to quilt. Any handmade gift will do...napkins, aprons, bags, candles, any thing you can make with your own generous hands. Here is how it goes.

"Come join in the fun and make the world a happier place. So this is how it goes...It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! More than likely I'll get it made after Christmas and sent out early in the New Year. What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. Unfortunately this is only possible for those who have a blog."

So the first 3 people to comment and join in will get a handmade gift from me....I will make it a nice one, I promise!!

There is still a spot available

Tails from the scales Weel #9 -3

193 starting

191 week one

191 week two (at 189 on Friday) First Synvisk Injestion

193 week three Second injection

190 week four (189 peeked at me) Third Injection

192 week five

188 week six

189 week seven

192 week eight (most of it lining my colon)

189 week nine

I see a pattern loss gives me permission ...hum... I will continue. The eating for your blood meal plan type is a problem the items are too pricey and a bit of a hassle to get. I have to make myself worth it! It really does work when I am doing it. UTI no fun (thats one way to make you get your water intake :)! I am released from Physical therapy for my knee. I have to go back in 10 days unless I have pain that lasts for two days. So far GREAT! I am back with strength in my leg. I will be doing my exercises at home.
We may ride the bikes to the school tomorrow , I'll have to see how the day goes.
O.K. some goals.
1. Drink more water and tea
2. Do my knee exercises and core strengthening.
3. Walk or ride bike every day.
4. Stay away from avoids (wheat,dairy, corn and candy)
5. rest better set myself up for a good nights sleep.
6. Pray for all of you and myself that we all resist the temptations that would so easily take us off course.

Wordless Wedensday

Works for Me Wedensday, A five apron day!

When I am making Gift for Christmas I often will make several and do a type of assembly process. This will make your work go faster and easier. When you do one you know what your going to do then when you do four more it is just thought less and goes fast. I have a few tricks one of them is to use fusible tape to set your pockets. This will give you accurate placement and you don't need to use the pins that might cause it to pucker. Finished aprons under guard. (well they are gifts) Two of them will be for the children's teachers.


I got apron strngs

"SEW...?"

"Sew What...?"!
Aprons!

Heads or tales *Mark* Images Mark our life time.

Over at Meeyauw's visit the Heads or Tails

There are images that mark our life time. Those moment captured in a flash of of a camera. Marked by the flash of a moment for ever stopped in time.
Life is not rehearsed though like so many an image we have to thumb threw.

Babies grow so fast and nothing stops the mark they have upon our lives.
When life is a blur we often miss the mark we so longed for to gain.

This is a mark in time that we let go of. The times we played in our dune buggy and the others who found joy in it as well. All left the mark in time of the loss when we sold it . It marked those carefree days of desert trails. I miss that time. It left it's mark on me.

As parents we leave a greater mark for the future to behold. With our hearts we long for that result to be a mark of excellence, yet so often faltered we mark the road with trial of errors. Mark your course and set your sail.

The future will prevail.
Then they too will leave their mark upon this tired Earth.
It just might prove that they will erase those marks we make in error.
It just might be however that they will show the beauty of those marks well made.

Family Updates

My Immunologist called and all of the major concerns that he tested me for are "NORMAL".

I have been released for 10 days from Physical Therapy. If I get into pain that lasts mor than two days I have to get in. Otherwise that might be the last appointment. I get 9 hours a week back plus the drive time and a less interactive week. I get a little worn of folks when everyone is hurting so bad and so lonely. So many people with such gaping heart wounds. I am grateful to help but it is good to have more of my energy for the family.

Beauty does not have to do first phase on her braces. She gets to wait another 6 months before we begin. She has a mouth of a 12 year old and we await her two baby teeth to fall out. We have the choice to make of Head gear every night for two years Or pulling out two teeth.

Dash has an I.E.P. appointment on December 6th! Then services will comence.

Dash has an 2 appointments on this Friday at the Children's Rehab Services Clinic at ST. Joe Hosp. We also have to do a financial review and update. Big hassle of paperwork and such. Hubby not getting a raise yet is a real bonus here for we are covered at 100%. Funny how God works.

Hubby may have some more skin cancers, he sees a doctor tomorrow. Please Pray for him. :)

So much good news!

Your Christmas is Most Like: The Muppet Christmas Carol

You tend to reflect on Christmas past, present, and future... And you also do a little singing.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

The little drunner boy

I want to live my best for Him, but I fail every day. I want to be in tune and on the beat, but I falter and fall on my face. The thought of Him smiling at me brings me to tears. Every time I hear the drummer boy song...well I feel His love for me. When it is sung "Mary smiled"...well it is like My own Mother being pleased with me. Every child wants to know that their Mother is pleased with them. This morning both of my kids made choices that frustrated me. I as a mother have to correct them, train them and find a way to always let them know I am pleased with them. It is hard when you have all your work undone by them and then more work created by thoughtlessness.
I guess that must be what it is like for God with us, With me. Yet He still finds ways to say that he is pleased with me. The greatest hurt is when the efforts we take go unnoticed. These can be deep wounds to the soul.
Lord help me to notice all of your efforts, and those of my children and all of the others around me.

"Drummer Boy"

Come they told me,
pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him,
pa rum pum pum pum
when we come.

Little Baby,
pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy, too,
pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you?
pa rum pum pum
on my drum.

Mary nodded,
pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time,
pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him,
pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him,
pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me,
pa rum pum pum pum
me and my drum.

"Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God."
-- Matthew 5:8

Christmas Meme

Hootin' Annie Started a meme go gove her a visit to get the code.

For the holiday season, I've started a meme. "The Twelve Questions of Christmas" If you'd like to participate, I'd be honored to have you join in the fun. If you'd like, you are welcomed to use the meme header graphic!

1. Christmas is HOLY. [fill in the blank with ONE WORD]

2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past?
Shopping for Christmas Angles. I love the Salvation Army bell ringers! I will always try to share what I can and then some when I see them. I try to have a little gift for them in my bag. I get a wonderful rush when they tear up at the kindness.These folks kept me alive in my childhood and made many a Christmas come to life for us.
I often sign and have several cards in my purse for those acquaintances you see in community.
I love the Worship time, the reverence I teach the children and have of my self. For a single life, ONE life, changed everything. To me that is HOLY, each of us have ONE life that can and will change those around us to the good or to the detriment, we get to choose freely what it will be. Seeing this reverence on the face of my children is pure unadulterated beauty! By taking them to live nativities, and reading to them the HIStory of God (not done religiously but relationally) these are those moment when I see in their eye that they really get it.

3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what]
I remember on year, I had told my Beloved a story of a little paper ballerina music box I had, that had been destroyed in my childhood. That year just before Christmas he was forced to take a class in another city. We had rarely ever been apart. For Christmas that year he gave me a gift. As I opened it I knew before the paper was off what it was. I began to cry...little paper jewelry box. When I opened it I was a child again with everything that the worm had eaten restored. I wept freely for the first time in my adult life. It was profoundly healing. I still have it this many years later it is one of my prized possessions.

4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both?
We try to go to a candle light service. We have a tradition to open one gift on the Eve. We first have communion together ( as man and wife) and ask for forgiveness of one another. We thank God for each other in specific ways.We worship and pray and open a gift together.
We watch the children play peacefully with the one gift that would be lost in the madness of the mornings rush. Sometimes it is the PJ"S made for the night.

5. Is there something you make each and every year? [craft or recipe]
Leg of Lamb in remembrance of all that is Holy. On Christmas Morning a pot of coffee for hubby and tea pot of loose leaf for me. A breakfast treat of baked muffins or such.

6. What is your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns?
"Drummer Boy" Hand Down!, Oh holy night, Silent Night, What child is this? and a funny tune..."i yi yi it's Christmas and I don't know what to do...I yi yi it's Christmas and I don't have a gift for you! The children and I do this silly dance, it is a very upbeat ray gay(sp?) tune that is so funny to dance and be silly with.

7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days?
Peace

8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. [whether it's across town or across country]
We all load up and go to the Grand Parents across town. Everyone wants to stay and play with their toys and so it is bitter sweet. Everyone also wants to be with the folks. They often nap and ketch their breath and settle down. It is a time of transition. Usually a desert or main dish between my feet or in the trunk. It is quiet because the kids are tired and we just rest our ears for the 30 minute drive. :)

9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day?
Often I have all the picture of Christmas Morning in a robe and nightgown (there is no time for me). The night before is usually late if I am doing the meal. So waking up is a blur. Once it all settles down I get to look at the pictures and relax.
I like to have a warm dress on and boots with a nice necklace on. Jewelry is essential even it I have jeans and a cute vest. I love my jewelry and beads

10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap?
My children have a voice and prefer not to sit on any strangers lap, they will approach him and be gracious standing beside him for photo opps. They just would cry so I never forced them to do it. They know that the history is that these are traditional helpers who costume in remembrance of the real Santa who passed years ago.

11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year?
Traditional family ornaments many hand made. We have an ornament for every year we have been together. One for each year of the children's lives too. Many the kids have made or have been given. Several that have been gifts to me by other children or by friends over the years. Several Russian made, beautiful ornaments that will be passed to the children when they are grown and have homes of their own.

12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas?
I have dreamed of making a "Drummer boy" "I played my best for him " yard decoration! I even purchased all of the supplies years back, It never gets made. It is a vision I want! I always do my entry and love to fly a few December flags. Now it is "Winny the Pooh on a shovel sliding down a hill". Next it will be my "Wise Men Still Seek Him" flag and then as the season grows close It is a "Nativity" flag. We have white lights to trim the side walk if I can get them up and lights that trim the house they are like ice cycles. Beloved kinda does not enjoy the work of it. I really love it all decked out! I like garland around the front door and a wreath too. I had a beautiful huge wreath I made and let Hubby talk me into tossing it last year...Arg! It hung over the garage, I just love the way it looked but it was a pain for him to mount.

Tackle It Tuesday

Dee: I love the note pad on the big board.

Big day for my Daughter,
she will have a new panorama of her mouth (x ray) taken to find out how everything is coming along. Beauty had a maverick tooth grow parallel in her upper pallet that we had to have surgically removed. It pressed against her front teeth and mal-formed her teeth. We have been waiting for her to develop both physically and emotionally to set braces. She has had hardware on the bottom to hold her teeth with enough open space as to not close in. Now we need to address the extensive overbite caused from the maverick tooth we had removed about a year ago. Braces in the new year we think?
I am devoting this Tuesday to my daughter. I think I will take her out to a nice lunch or make her her favorite tuna here at the house before she goes back to school. Her laundry, Her room and her Christmas gifts sewing projects.
I trust it will all bring her a smile that will shine her heart out to it's full!

Good news!
Her little 10 year old mouth is more like a 12 year old and the orthodontist was surprised. He is going to skip 1st phase and wait 6 months more for the last two baby teeth to fall out "No Braces now "until next summer. More time to save up for it.
I actually took a day of leisure! Yes ME! I needed it!
Now I need to sew.

Pardon my horse pucky!

I am full of it! Minimalistic Christmas ... I just been far to extravagant for far too long...Don't listen to me wine. I ran out of cheese, harhar

Morning thoughts

The reality of a minimal Christmas is hitting me. It is so much fun to celebrate the kids and too splurge. They are such great little people. I will have to really step it up to be so creative as to bring tradition into it as well. It is really a sweet thing to love them this much to refuse myself the pleasure of over abundance toward them. I really want to love them so well as to break this cycle. They have way too much. They are so crowded in the rooms and I want them to have better character. I am a little teary eyed. Oh how forward I look to seeing them on the pedaling devices encoded here. That is the big thing we were able to do. We must stop spending the emergency savings on "stuff". When we were out of work for over a year all those years of savings flew pretty fast. We have to work hard to build that back up. You know each family needs to have a good three months worth of income saved up. We are now far from that and getting older. Remember to guard your selves from hard times. Financial stress is so devastating on families.

The Fruit of the Spirit is "self control" This is a terrific opportunity to practice and teach it.
I will be SEWING every day! I will be doing ONE on One with them instead of giving them so much stuff. Parenting is an education in doing it differently as I go. I miss home schooling because of this. I once spent so much time with them. Gotta to go wake them up now to do so.

Have a great day!

Menu Plan Monday

For more ideas stop by "I'm an organizing junkie"

Good Morning!

I am having a little challenge with this meal plan. Eating for your blood type is very hard. I should live in the Pacific North West! This stuff is not so easy to come by in the desert. I will do my best because I know it works and it is very healthy for me. I feel the creek in my joints from all the "avoid" foods I have consumed over the last week or so. I need to matter to get this weight off and stop the allergic reaction stuff. I gotta tell ya Liver and onions is an iffy for me, but I'll try. I got to call Michelle to see if they might boarder for some venison.

Dee:
I love the magnetic note pad it is just perfect for my shopping list on the big board. Thank you.

Symbols of Christmas

1982 Our First Christmas togeather.
Thos clogs have a great story. Beloved killed a cock roach for the sales clerk and got 10% off:) Wow we still have his old lunch box. I wore the clogs out though.

1984

1986
The first year in our second home.

In 1997 this is the match Photo we received for Christmas. It is Beauty. We had to wait a long three months to hold her in our arms

1999 Our First year in this home. This is all for one child! Nuts!

2000 A little girl in paradise.

Her favorite gift! A "Moses stick" I whittled for her and dried in the attic. I sanded it down and she adored it!

2001 We returned from Russia on December 15th with our son. What a Gift!

2002

2003

This year my family received a Mother alive. December 21st, after I was hit by a man who fell asleep at the wheel and struck my car doing in excess of 120 mpr.
However I was out of action for several months to come.
This has an amazing story behind it os God's intervention and protection.

2004

2005

2006 We totally splurged and answered a little girls prayer. A bonus made us able to give her a pony. We did not have to feed it or clean up after it. Youth fades so quickly.

I once had a tree decorated with forest birds hanging from fishing lie from the ceiling laying popcorn carlands around the tree. The tree was full of bird nests and dried flowers.

Many symbols of Christmas are absorbed from Pagan origins and assimilated into Christian customs. The Christmas Tree is one of them. Like the pumpkin of Halloween it has its roots in paganism. There was a time when I had a large wooden cross in my living room in opposition to the tree. Then as I looked back I became aware that it is a symbol of torture (the realization of it has made me not to fond of wearing a cross either having known torture personally). I much rather see Him on the thrown :). I use a Tree as a place to put reminders of our life time together on display for the holiday season. Because Dash and I have asthma we use an artificial tree. I sorta don't get into the thing to cut down a tree for my own self if I am not going to burn the wood and use the resources, but thats just me. Living trees pose a lot of insect and mold issues. A couple of years or so ago we were fortunate to find this tree at a reduced price. Our former tree was dwarfed by our high ceilings and this one is tall and skinny so we keep the much loved floor space.

He is so pleased to be trusted with the glass ones .

Beauty is placing her "1st Christmas "

The children had so much fun. For every year of their life I have made or purchased an ornament that was applicable to the year lived and a token of remembrance. Prized treasures. I need to make them this year (we are being VERY disciplined to conserve our funds to go back East next year, pay for Beauty's braces and an tooth implant for me) We all love them (the memories and ornaments). The kids did all the decorating except the ribbon and the lights and star. I put a few of the very top things on. Beloved helped a while and asked to be excused because he wants to clean the kitchen for me to have a fresh start in the morning. How sweet is that!
My children have grown so quickly. These days will be a blur soon for the years are as a vapor in time. Treasure the years you have with you kids. They are a sweet gift. We are going back now to our roots for it is vanity to continue to splurge like this. I will make them a nice Christmas. It is time to stop the over abundance and now we live within the lesser means made available to us. We had fun when we were in the money... It will be fun now too. Just take a little getting used too.