Disappointment

Tonight I found out my children were doing something that was very disappointing to me.  It is so hard as a parent when your children disappoint you.  My heart literally feels broken.  Kate was so heartbroken as she realized the depth of my disappointment and sadness over the situation.  I just don't know how to handle it, especially knowing this won't be the only time it happens.  I don't know if I am ready for it.  Parenting is sooooo hard.

A funny

Anna asks to eat "curds and whey" instead of asking for cottage cheese. 
Cracks me up everytime!

My heart melted

when I finally got to see little Isaac up close.  I still can't hold, kiss, and love on him...but seriously, my heart just about exploded with love and pride over this little one yesterday.  Paige begged the nurse, who wasn't thrilled with the idea, to bring little Isaac over to the window so I could actually see him.  Priceless.... 

*Pictures still do not do any justice to the preciousness of this little blessing*

Trick or Treat

My little cowgirls

 

Jack-o-Lanterns

Digging out the "guts"

Not so impressed with this job

Designers at work

 

A little help from mom

Happy Campers

 

What darling jack-o-lanterns!

Christmas Wishlist Item

Can you tell what is on the girls' "Christmas Wishlist"?
In case you can't tell, we received an American Girl Doll catalog this week in the mail.  The girls taped pictures of the dolls from the catalog all over their room.  We'll see what Santa thinks....  ;)

Do you ever...

have so many things running through your mind you don't even know where to begin?  It is like I have 'written' down a bunch of notes for myself and just stuck them in all these different spots within my mind and now I need to clean house and get them all organized.  If you are thinking, "Whoa!" I don't blame you.  I kinda am too.  However, it is the truth...it is how I am feeling tonight. 

Prayers

Little Isaac has been such a trooper,

breathing on his own that his little lungs are tired.

So, the doctors are giving him a rest with this contraption called a CPAP.

He isn't on any oxygen but it helps give him an extra boost.

I covet your prayers for my sister and her family for their physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial needs.

Isaac Update

He now weighs 2 lbs 12 oz.
Last night he ate 14 mL.

To help you gain perspective:
15 mL = 1 Tbsp.

Things that weigh roughly 2 lbs:
two 16 oz tubs of sour cream
two 1 lb boxes of butter
a Yorkie puppy

Sweet Reflection

This week has been a hairy one...2 trips to the dentist, 1 long trip to the doctor (which included a discussion regarding the pros/cons of flu shots and other vaccines), Parent-Teacher conferences, groceries, volunteering at school, library trip, school drop off/pick up, and the list goes on....  While it has been tiring doing all the "to and fro" duties, it has been full of sweet blessings such as an incredible Bible Study, lunch with a dear friend, excellent reports on how the girls are doing in school, surprise chat with the neighbor family who I want to reach out to, planning a community outreach project as a small group, priceless conversation with a new friend, priceless conversation with a best friend, encouraging conversation with a developing friend, upcoming night with one of my best girlies, cardmaking with my precious girls, swimming with my girls, great reports on my baby nephew, hearing the squeal of excitement from my little sister as she got to hold her little one, seeing the joy in my mother's eyes as she got to hold her new grandson, getting more free goodies from my dad, my husband installing my new light in 'my space', and Belly Acre pizza with my mom, dad, and girls in front of the fire around Honey's table on a Friday night.  So many people touched my life this week.  Thank you.... 

One of my Favs

One of my favorite stamp sets by Stampin' UP is "Always".  I had my eye on it for quite awhile and then got it as a Christmas gift last year.  One of the reasons I love this set so much is because of the bird stamp in the set.  Much to my surprise, SU came out with a "peel & stick" (kinda) decorative line.  I couldn't resist....  Here is my "Always Bird" on a window I had bought years ago at a yard sale for $5.00. 

Brag Session

God's Pharmacy

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

My Space!!

WOW!  I have been dreaming about my very own FUN space, not office space, since we were married.  10 YEARS!!  When we moved into this house I staked my claim on this little nook in the basement.  I have been envisioning "MY SPACE" for 5 years now!  While it does seem a bit selfish, Scott has the garage AND a workspace in the basement.  I had an office...but there is no need for that any longer.  Besides, I hardly think an office should count as someone's own space.  So, here is "My Space!", full of all my teacher goodies and crafting goodies!!  

My desk was a free donation from my dad.  The base is made from two old filing cabinets my dad gave me.  Scott and I painted them with this cool "Rust" paint kit.  The counter top was also given to me by my dad.  YEAH - Free!!  Oh, my dad gave me those black filing cabinets too.  I only had to spend $18 on a light (not installed yet) so I can see better.  My only other "want" is an area carpet for underneath the work table.  

ahhhhh

Tonight after the visit to the doc for the girls and a mad dash through Wally World, we came home for dinner and "unwind" time.  I have grown to truly cherish our after school and evening routine.  Cara, routine?  Sounds like an oxymoron, I know!  But I LOVE IT and honestly, my system is thrown out of whack when life interrupts our routine.  Anyhow, I have been busy (along with Scott's gracious help) working in the basement (Be sure to check out the next post!) to prepare a more exciting space for the girls and our family.  Tonight Kate asked me to be her student.  Here are some pictures of the school room...

I am always the student.  I purposely have the girls "teach" me things they need help with in school (i.e. counting by 2's).  Of course I get them wrong, so they can have the pleasure of grading my paper.  It is a sweet time of doing "homework" and they don't even realize it!  What was so funny tonight is I forgot to put my name on one of my papers.  Oh boy...I had to owe +5! 

Latest Funnies

Kate told a friend of ours she has "a new cousin and he is in a cage."

As we were driving onto the OSU campus, Kate and Anna kept marveling at the "skyscrapers."  They loved pushing the buttons on the elevator and kept asking if we were in a "skyscraper."

Peeking In on Isaac

The girls and I went to go see Isaac Michael today.  Precious!!

He Is...

After witnessing firsthand God's faithfulness and miracle working power in bringing little Isaac into this world, I am reminded of the fact "He Is."  Please watch this video, meditate, and remember...

Introducing Isaac

Isaac McFarland

Parents: Matt & Paige McFarland

Born: 10/8/09

Weight: 2 lbs 4.7 oz

Length: 15 in

Miracle!

I wasn't allowed to get up close so this is me peering in through the tiny crack of the blind and window sill thing to capture my little sister loving on her tiny baby boy.

Precious!

I love, love, love this picture!

The new family, rejoicing in God's faithfulness!

Homecoming Festivities

Tonight we enjoyed some of the North Union Homecoming Festivities.

Hotdogs, face painting, balloons, and a parade with candy!

{Goodies}

I got goodies today from my Stampin' UP party!  YIPPEE!

So I had to break it out and create...

Can I just say, I am really diggin' the Medallion background stamp?

A True Buckeye Wedding

Mr & Mrs James & Carmen Francis

October 2, 2009

Ceremony @ St. Agatha's Parish

Reception @ OSU Golf Club

A little birdie told us we would meet Brutus so we got our picture with him...and then the real LIVE Brutus surprised the crowd...

The wedding cake was a Chicago Style hotdog...

SCRUMPTIOUS Cupcakes for the rest of us...

Buckeye

Snickerdoodle

White

Pumpkin Spice

The Buckeye won hands down but it was close!

A little dancing...

Preparation for the Battle

If you read the story of Jehoshaphat (post below) and concentrated on those certain verses, you probably noticed this outline...

(v 3) - Inquire the Lord
(v12) - Fix your eyes on Him
(v15) - Do not fear, it's not your battle but His
(v17) - Take position & stand firm
(v18) - Bow to & worship Him
(v19) - Stand up & praise Him
(v20) - Have faith
**Wisdom for Mothers by Denise Glenn**

In verse 30, notice His people experienced PEACE & REST after the battle. Isn't that what we all want, some peace & rest? I know I do after having a "go, go, go" kindof week attending to the house, children, and my husband. It doesn't matter how great or small the battle, HE CARES!

My Bible Study

Several of the mothers in our church started getting together for a Motherwise Bible Study.  This particular study is called "Wisdom for Mothers" by Denise Glenn.  I love it and am learning/being challenged in so many ways.  Today I read the story of Jehoshaphat from II Chronicles 20.  I think I actually blogged on this once before but this is such an amazing story it is worth another posting!  Using Jehoshaphat's experience, the study outlined steps to help us deal with our fears or obstacles that seem impossible.  First, read the story, then go back and check out these specific verses.

II Chronicles 20:1-30

What did Jehoshaphat do or the people of Judah do in each of these verses:  3, 12, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20?  Write it down.  I will post more tomorrow!

Also, check this out....
"See, I (God) have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."  Isaiah 49:16
He loves you so much He has tatooed you on His hands.