I am my beloveds and He is mine

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Please Pray for Cynthia

My Dear Friend over at "walking on" has had a real hard road.
Please Pray for Cynthia and her children.

Tackle It Tuesday

First I want to
Bid my Beloved Happy Birthday!

Christian Glitter by www.christianglitter.com

God bless you, my Husband.

After doing lunches and morning chores...

Take the kids to school.
Physical therapy for my neck.

Then.... I need to get the stuff done for taxes to be prepared...


I did not get to the taxes today.

Lemon Bars for the Birthday celebration,
and decorate a bit for him.
We went to Wal-mat and the Kids got Daddy Man a movie. It was marked 9.44 under the movie off a little to the right of center. We walked back to the garden dept. to exit and the price came up $20.+ . We went back to the video dept and spoke to the clerk she said too bad in essence, I asked for a manager he gave us the movie that was miss marked and we got it for the $9.44, half price!

Chicken soup to do for supper...

Dove loves soup

Dash does not so I made some pintos and gave him corn chips , soy cream cheese and salsa.
I have my last "Pay it Forward" to make. (finished)
Here is a sneek peek "Spider Lady"

Pack some more boxes...(stopped by the store after therapy this morning and got another great haul of great boxes)

I need to hem 5 pair of pants still for Dove.
Maybe tonight?

Now I got so confused.
I thought that one person with two identities (a blog id and a email id ) were two people. I have one more PIF to make for Cynthia.
Please pray for her she is having a hard trial of two children going blind.

Menu Plan Monday

This is last weeks menu I will be using it this week
because I used very little of it last week.

A Packing we will go

Good Day to all of you!
My joy is so full it is strange even to me. this is a wonderful adventure we have embarked on. I feel so alive and vibrant and happy.
Yes, my friend I did stop and eat. I saw myself do ...and did..Trusting HIM for the next thing and the next. Step by step:)

I packed my first box this morning.
I am so excited at what the future brings...
I turned the walls bare and boxed all my nick knacks too.

the scrap booking is defiantly going to wait:)
I have not done a meal plan yet...
The safe is finally cared for and all the papers ordered.
It is a cold rainy day here perfect day for working at home.

Marriage Monday *Valentine's Day"

"My Most Memorable Valentine's Day Ever"

February 14th of 1998 we were sitting in the nursery of the daughter that I had dreamed of for 16 years. My husband looking in my eyes telling me to hold on it will be soon. I beheld the crib the quilt upon the wall. It was really going to happen. A child. We were going to have a daughter. He held me as we were so close but so far. I just looked in his eyes and I believed. He had made heaven and earth stop just for me. The desire of my heart was not diamonds or rubies... Not chocolates or trinkets but a child. I longed for 16 years to hold a child ...my child. Sitting there in the nursery we held the photo of a little girl half a world away. My little girl our daughter. A child who although not born from my body but one that grew in our hearts. That was the most memorable gift of love that I ever received from my Beloved.

Please join us for Marriage Monday on Feb. 4, 2008.

Two Options

This month, you can write on one of the following topics:

1. "Top Ten Tips For the Ultimate Valentine's Celebration"

2. "My Most Memorable Valentine's Day Ever"

Valentine's is HOT, so plan to welcome some new visitors at your site. (Remember, the early linkers get the most comments.)

Marriage Monday Giveaway

This month, you get to pick the prize! Find an item you would like in the Chrysalis Café & Bookstore and leave your name and selection in my comments box on Monday. The winner will be announced on Monday Feb. 11, 2008.

I hope you'll participate this week.

Many blessings,

e-Mom :~D

Wow!...Friday/Saterday/Sunday busy...busy!

Sunday!
How did it get to be SUNDAY ?

Well Friday Morning I met up with Doves class for a field trip.
Three of us Room Mothers joined the Teacher in doing tasks the Teacher received help from us in.
While the two other Mothers were grading papers , I cleaned up the class room and then had the privilege of going to the school library to help the Teacher by choosing five story books. They were doing a unit on folk lore and so I found some good books on values and character tales. I returned with the books just as the last two kids (Dove and her friend) were awaiting my arrival.
We all walked to the buses and boarded.
We went to a High School to see a performance of "Paul Revere".

Volume...Well need I say much more?... :)

We disembarked some 20 minutes later at a Very large , new High School where we joined around 1500 other 3rd graders! VOLUME!!!!!!!!!!

We were the last buses to arrive and to be dismissed at the end of the play.
Her class behaved very well.
The play was performed by a professional troop from New York City.
It was very well performed.

They waited respectfully in their seats while the whole of the massive auditorium exited.

See how large it is.. the sound from all those children was deafening...literally...a migraine set in about half way through the performance. The audience was well behaved but they were provoked to volume by the woman who was on stage from the school district. She had them cheering. VOLUME!!!!!!!!!!!!magnified!

The children opted out of a 15 minute recess and ate a very late lunch in the room. The teacher had fed them all peanut better sandwiches before they left for the play but the kids were so hungry. I went and got something for my head ache from the nurse and returned to have lunch with Dove. They ate and went off to recess. The other Mothers and I cleaned up the room.
I went over to Dash's classroom and stayed there for the remainder of the afternoon. Dash had a Spanish lesson and a "feeling lesson" . His teacher showed me a "research paper" Dash had just finished on the state of Minnesota. He is doing 3-5th grade work in 1st grade! I then took the children home at 3 P.M..

The children snacked and rested a while.
Beloved came home at 4 P.M. and we all had a simple supper.
We were able to register the kids for a free Hokey Lesson so we had to go do the sign up and get the loaned uniforms and equipment.

They had a fitting, and came home to a bath and a movie night with Dad.
Mom was knocked out with the migraine it went into the outer limits of manageability. I was in a dark room and medicated after an hour or two I found life more tolerable. kissed the kids goodnight. I went to sleep early and awoke Saturday more myself. The dregs of the migraine still haunting my temples I had to use some care in the morning.

We returned here at mid-day Saturday!

We found the locker rooms and got help dressing the kids into the uniforms

This young boy was so helpful.
The 14 year olds do the work with the little kids They were great!

Our two looked so adorable all dressed out with the gear.
All of this was for free...just a deposit on the equipment.

I found the sounds rattled my head a bit. I was in a bad way with pain and was so enjoying being with my family. It was so fun to see them have such a opportunity.
It was so cold in the rink like being inside a refrigerator. Daddy Man and I snuggled in the stands. He forgot his jacket but I had grabbed two blankets and I was glad I had.

This boy was so good.
He was told of Dash's Hearing impairment and looked in his face when he spoke to him. The two siblings were able to be togeather and that was perfect!

Dove has the orange leg warmers on, she was so easy for us to spot.

The time was extended from one hour to almost two for the rink was not being used right away.
It was so fun. And My Beloved and I had time to see joy and to have a new focus of Hokey. It was fun! We got home and rested a couple hours then we were off to...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At 4 P.M. We had a Party to attend with ?40-50 others

A Bon Voyage Party for the daughter of a friend. This Young wife and mother was but a babe in her mothers arms on my wedding day. Now she had a baby and a husband who is going with her to another Country to work for a year. What an adventure is in front of them.
Daddy Man and the kids had fun on the trampoline While I helped the hostess a little.

The calm before the crouds...

She set a lovely buffet and everyone had more than they could desire.

One of the guest had set up a system that he lugged over including the large TV, and game. It was "Rock Band" I think that was what they called it. It is a carioke on steroids, drum, guitar,base and vocals. I had fun playing the drums and Dove had the guitar down. It was a lot of fun. I am so out of what is modern and current. I knew some of the '80's hits but wow have things changed.

It was really fun!

This young woman was a little girl when I taught her Sunday school.

It was fun to sing together as women. Life is so fast!
Don't blink!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Well the decision being made. God provided the best boxes!
I made two trips one Saturday and one today. The Produce man is kindly saving them for me.
I begin packing boxes tomorrow!
I will thin down the house drastically.
My Sister gave this link on naked room solutions
I will be doing a lot of packing and such.
Taxes too and all my daily chores. Life just got a lot more interesting!
We are so thrilled at our future. It will take a work ethic of great proportion and courage. We are facing a great adventure in humility to gain freedom. I am so grateful that it is by choice and not necessity. Many are suffering around the states. I trust that there is a buyer for this home. I hope that we do not have to sit too long with a storage unit bill.

To be able to give our family the freedom from financial strain will be the gain of all the sacrifices we are about to embark on.

Very very busy weekend

I will post tomorrow. Sleep well. Peace be with you.

Aloha Friday

Visit Island Life for more Aloha Friday's

The question of the day is.....

If you could sell your home and down size, shedding most of your mortgage debt would you?

Expect the unexpected

For ever and always I have known the common threads, the tactics of war. I see it every day in all of the lives around me. Yet it still startles us... The expected to some and yet I and others still are startled by the unexpected.
We set out hearts to goal and then the expected comes the doubt the annoyances of any and every tactic that the opposition can come up with.
If it gets to hard do you too get ready to let go? The expectable unexpected hindrances...doubts and fears. Added challenges and hindrances. Can't let them throw you!

I have the privilege of going on a field trip this morning Paul Revere with Little Dove.
Busy Morning.

Grab the day and...
Expect the unexpected.:)

Tagged I'm it *6 Qurkey things about me"

"Heart of the Prairie"
Has tagged me for 6 quirky things about me? Thank you for showing interest.

1. I like my bed sheets to be really clean and never polluted by kid dirt or pet hair. I have asthma so I will get all stuffed up and cough if the kids get the dog hair or dust on my pillow. I thrill with 300 thread count (or higher) cotton linens. The texture is so soft and wonderful. Like sleeping in a cloud.
2. I have had the same hair style for 28 years. With the exception of a wave or two, and bangs or not. My hair is baby fine and straight. It does not curl. I just started to use a hair coloring a shade lighter than my own less than a year ago other than that I never colored it. I have worn it long. It is my Beloveds' delight.
3. I am a collector of fabric, beads and anything like art supplies, books and kitchen tools. I love to be surrounded with good tools and supplies so when the mood strikes me I have what I need (usually I hit the clearance racks and just find those types of things cheep) After years of doing this however I have an excess!
4. In all my artistic vigor I would rather give my creations than to sell them. Selling is very odd for me. I have sold a lot of jewelry and crafts in shows, but I think I like just giving it to people so much better. Same with crafts and created things. It is just so full of fun and joy to give.
5. I can communicate with wild things. It used to be that on those long walks I would take that wild birds would land on me and butterfly's and such. I can tell a fly to go to the door and I'll let them out or they die, and they would go to the door. This has been witnessed by many people who know me. I really miss nature.
6. I absolutely soak up beauty like a sponge. I feel it absorb into me. I see it everywhere. The love of color and texture, the sounds of beautiful music envelop me. I can see it in things that are not so to some. I can see the beauty hidden in even the most unlovely things and people. Sorta like being ultra optimistic. I usually can see beauty evolve like a vision and then I try to gently coax or force it open like a rose bud teasing open the peddles.


I forgot the rules part so I am to do the following...

~Link to the person that tagged you
~Post the rules on your blog
~Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
~Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
~Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

The people that I am specifically tagging for this meme are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Thankful Thursdays *Making decissions*

Talked with a Realtor last night. Then a long distance phone call came in ... then Beloved had a Mens meeting to go to and had to leave shortly after that. We never really got a chance to talk. This morning we spoke very little before he had to be off for work. This evening we are going to get together to crunch numbers to gain data and then do our pro/con work sheet.
We have many variables.

This is how Mr Uncommon and I make difficult choices.

After we have prayed about it we then to a pro con sheet with all the data collected and varied counsel. Counsel will always come with a bias. (ie the Realtor wants in your pocket too.) Everyone wants in your pocket bear that in mind. Although a workman is worthy of a wage just remember that some will be trickier and greedier than others.
The seller will always say "it is good" and the buyer will always say "it is worth less". There is even a proverb about this.
We have data to collect and will use a mortgage calculator to do so. We will determine some of the Pros and Cons that is costs and gains.
We will then list three options. A column for Pro and one for Cons (costs and gains). We will print out the data and collect a varied counsel. There is wisdom in a multitude of counsel. Varied by bias, knowing what the bias of your counsel is will help you to seek motive if any.
For every decision to make there will always be benefits and costs.
But are the benefits worth the costs, what are you willing to give to gain? That is the place where free will comes in. When choices are made in this fashion the Cons are the loss that one is willing to sacrifice and when it gets hard you know why you chose what you chose. Your YES can be YES and you NO can be NO. You remove the double mindedness.
We have found out some disturbing news and have to look at that. We will have to take out a small mortgage to afford a starter house and the amount has an enforced minimum higher than what we wanted to do. (mortgages must be no lower than 60k, and with that the interest rate is above prime. If you take out a Home Equity line of credit then you have a much higher interest rate. ) If you want prime interest rates you have to borrow 100k or more that make 30 years of high payments even if you pay it off sooner the payment remains high just for a shorter time frame.
Con for us is that with a higher payment even though we would pay it off much faster we would not have the $ to fix it up or to do the travel that we desired to do while the kids are young. Tricky stuff!
Then as the final determining factor we... "let the peace of Christ be the final determining factor in what so ever we say or do." That is an agreed upon peace where we each will go before God and do nothing unless we agree or at worst I will defer as spouse and trust in Gods covering. Not fewer than once in our 25+ year marriage I have witnessed Gods intervention even at this point. Visa versa as well if I have felt VERY strongly "The MR." has deferred, and if I was wrong God intervened too. Sometimes Gods intervention was in way of a hard lesson but one that needed to be learned.
You know,... I learned the Pro/Con process form Mr Uncommon a few years into our marriage because I would just lock up or like most people do "toss a coin" (so to speak) or look for signs and then think "I must not of heard from God" or if it went well think "I must of heard from God" (Pride or opposite,... still pride). Well I think when I was a babe there was a lot of grace but now as I am no longer a babe mature methods must be used. They are a lot less spooky too :)

Wordless Wedensday

Good Morning!

Wow what a strange night.
I slept very little .
I found myself up throughout the night with full on board celebratory exuberant excited full of anticipation joy!
The idea of being debt free! Or much closer to it.
The idea of still even in a total life change ,a socio economic free fall into a lesser home a more humble neighborhood there is a freedom. I am so relieved the thought of the loss of stress over every dime and making ends meet every month. What freedom awaits me. It is funny really we worked our whole lives gaining more raising up in home ownership, accomplishing such luxury only to see the very great cost it takes to do so. Oh how much I have waisted!

When we lost our high end job 5 yrs ago we went down in wage 2/3's yet we have managed to stay and now to choose to let it go to have that free choice!
We do not have to leave because we could stay and live here scraping by and all.
We have a choice, many do not.
I am so relieved to think of the freedom to do things with and for our children and for others.
To once again have extra to share... I am so excited.
I know that all will unfold in HIS perfect timing.

Well Dash is wanting me to build Lego's gotta run.
What freedom there is in JOY!

This is an excerpt from a devotional that Short Bear sent me this morning...
Because joy is a deeply-rooted confidence that God is in control, it only stands to reason that the highest joy will come through the greatest pain. But that only happens when we choose the right attitude toward pain. Here it is!

James 1:2-3 Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. (NLT)

When was the last time you threw a party to celebrate the trials and storms in your life? God’s ways are higher than our ways and most human reactions are in direct opposition to the paradoxical ways of God. Honestly, there are times when what He has asked me to do simply does not make sense – to me. And there we find the problem. Faith is a matter of blind obedience, not human logic. At the heart of every storm is victory – waiting to be claimed!

What storm is raging in your life today? What step do you need to take in order to experience His strength for that storm? Your Father stands ready to meet you in your darkest hour. He longs to wrap His arms around you until the winds die down and the waves are stilled. Right now – surrender. Celebrate the storm that dashed your battered life on the shores of His unyielding love.

That was pretty rich.