My Parents

I have amazing parents.

They are so full of wisdom.

They are so full of love.

I love them so much.

I cherish them so much.

They mean sooooo much to me. 

Reasons to Smile

Overwhelmed...

It just seems as though this has been a month of heavy news. Between the Logan Co. killer (next county over), Senate Bill 5, Egypt, Libya, influenza, sickness, prices rising, and now learning even more about the heavy use of major drugs in our area amongst the youth....I just feel so overwhelmed.  Like seriously, my stomach feels ill.  Last night I had myself wound pretty tight with worry and fear.  The unrelenting winter weather has about sent me over the brink as well.  I suppose it is not a coincidence (hahaha...I don't believe in coincidence) I am re-visiting the book "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow. 

Father....My spirit is uneasy.  My heart is heavy.  Remind me that my hope is in You.  Remind me that You are in control.  Remind me that Your plan is perfect, even when I don't understand.  Be with those that I love and respect and cherish who are hurting, serving, and desire more of You.  Fill our cup so that it overflows because in our human-ness we feel as though our cups are empty.  Thank you Lord for hearing my heart's cry. 

Trader Joe's

I love Trader Joe's.  We have one within 40 minutes of us and I hardly ever go there because of the distance.  However, I am thinking I need to make more of an effort.  Their prices are fair.  Their food is healthy.  Their food is yummy.  I can read the labels!  They have a 100% guarantee, meaning if you don't like it you can return it.  Here is one of the goodies we got there this past Sunday....

2 bags @ $2.99 each

2 chicken breasts already in the freezer

Pure Yumminess!!

Letters to Daddy

The girls love to leave notes for their daddy before they fall asleep.  Here are the notes from last night...

To: daddy  FROM: Anna
I was so worrid about you daddy it will be so fun in the summer time when floweres sporut and the trees get there Leafs back and maybe the grass will grow more just thinking about it I want it to be summer rite now I Love you very very much I whish you dident have to work terne the page and there will be Kates note   Love Anna

To: Daddy  From: Kate
I love you daddy.  The roads were pobly really bad.  I hope you made it home allright.  If you are feeling up to it mabe you can make no bakes but only if you have the ingretients But it is okay if you are tired   Love Kate

You better believe Daddy made them no bakes last night!
Also, Daddy wrote them a note to read this morning.  Here is what his PS said, "Tell your mom she is amazing." 

I {heart} this man so much I think my {heart} could explode!

Homemade Cleaners

If you are like me you might wonder sometimes about homemade cleaners.
If you are like me you usually think about these every time you buy a new cleaner.
If you are like me you probably think it would be cheaper, healthier, and safer to just make your own.
If you are like me you might think you will research it so you can make the cleaner and begin using it before needing to make another purchase.
If you are like me you might even research.
If you are like me you might even purchase some of the supplies.
If you are like me, you just never get around to it.
If you are like me, you repeat the whole process the next time you realize you need more cleaner.
Soooo....if you are like me, this post from Under the Table Dreaming might just possibly be what you need to once again inspire you to give it a try because she has compiled several recipes together by category and it seems pretty darn simple.
If you are like me, you need to print this post (if that is even possible) and keep in front of your face so you remember you really, truly do want to move forward on implementing a healthier and cheaper way of cleaning.
If you are like me....I am wishing you BEST of LUCK!

A New Student

Making Mansfield Marvelous!!

To keep our week in Mansfield exciting (hahahahha...did you read my post about Valentine's Day?), we visited a few "hot spots"! 

 ~ Coney Island Diner ~

Kate is sooooo like me.

We get so excited about anything nostalgic.

She loved eating at a real life old style diner.

Coneys, fried pickles, french fries, but we didn't do the root beer float.

~ Richland Carousel Park ~

$0.75 a ride

Perfect fun!

~ A New Library ~

Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky = SMILE!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Well, I knew we were headed to Mansfield for the week so I had done just a tiny little something special for Scott before we had left.  I had also picked up cards and little gifts for the girls and had Scott write each of them a note inside their cards.  Funny...I got a card with a kitty on it for Anna because she loves cats and a card about a "recipe" for Kate because she enjoys cooking with me.  When Scott wrote his notes in the cards he mixed up the cards.  These were priceless to the girls and just like their Mommy, they get so much strength and comfort knowing how much their daddy loves them.  They slept with these cards underneath their pillows every single night while in Mansfield.  We arrived on Sunday night, late.  We had just battled the influenza and precious Kate still had a fever.  All day Sunday I was beside myself with anxiety.  I ended up calling the pediatrician on call to see what she advised.  Luckily, she ended up prescribing an antibiotic for Kate.  I was so incredibly thankful because I didn't want to take her to Urgent Care (dislike these for the most part).  When Scott went into town to pick up the script he decided to pick up some extra LOVE for the girls and bought them new baby dolls and the game LIFE.  Isn't he sweet?  Anyhow, I knew Paige had a very important doctor's appointment bright and early Monday morning.  When I got to her house I became very concerned about her ICY driveway since my car doesn't handle wintery conditions well, at all.  I just kept praying for the Lord to help us, knowing He is always in control.  Sunday night Paige and I stayed up later than we probably should have, giggling and laughing as only sisters can.  It had been a looooooonnnnnnnnggggggg time since we had done that. 

Monday morning.  We are up.  Everyone is ready.  Everyone had breakfast.  Everyone is in the car.  I gave the girls their cards and a little love (Crayola Expressions).  It is 8:15!  This is a huge accomplishment from the girls and I since, well, we just are rarely (mainly me) ready by that time in the morning.   Before backing up, I pray.  As I back up, I pray.  As I pull forward to get up the inclined and icy driveway, I pray.  As we begin to slide backwards because of the ice, I cry.  Then I pray.  We made it this far....

and were then completely stuck.  Paige called the doctor's office.  I prayed.  I took this picture and sent it to Scott and said, "Happy Valentine's Day!"  Yep...I did! 

another picture I took and sent to Scott with the same message

Paige's neighbor Marilyn, who could easily be the real life Maxine from Hallmark, kept offering her tidbits of wisdom as she watched from her window in her leopard print bath robe.  No joke!  She gave us some kitty litter from when she used to have a cat....like 20 years ago.  I so appreciated the gesture but it didn't work.  We used her garden spade to try and break up the ice.  It didn't work.  Paige called AAA.  After waiting for a very, very long time, help arrived....

Yes.  That is a flatbed towing truck.  I have had an unexpected date with one of those before and hoped to never have to see one again...but alas, another date.  Unlike my other date, I didn't have to be pulled up onto the flatbed, just hooked to the chain so he could pull us out.  Another unique part of this story is that Paige's driveway is at the crest of a hill, so when you pull out you pray there are no cars coming.  Yep.  Can you tell that I really, really, really, really dislike her driveway situation for several different reasons?  4 reallys...maybe even 5!  Anywho, he pulls us out and we almost get stuck again, halfway in the road and halfway in the driveway because of the ice still on the driveway near the entrance, but the Lord protected us and we made it!  We sang His praises all the way into taking Paige to the bank, for her first day back to work!!  It is 10:30ish.  Hallejuiah!  (By the way, I sent the picture of the flatbed truck pulling us out to Scott too with the same message and shortly after sent him an actual text that said I would be treating myself to new tires today!)  I forgot to mention that we all stayed in the car this whole entire time.  Paige asked later why we didn't take the kids inside the house.  Ummmm......well, I suppose it was because we just kept trying to get unstuck with kitty litter, hoping and praying for the best, and they seemed content thanks so much to the new DVD player they got for Christmas!  I also told her it would have been very, very dangerous for them to be walking on the sheet of ice that covered the driveway, right?  ;)

After we dropped her off I called my dad, since my loving husband was not responding to my calls or messages so I could get his advice.  My mom answered my dad's cell.  :)  While this made me smile, I was thinking...I called DAD's cell for a reason Mommy dearest!  :)  So I explained to my dad what had happened and asked his advice on whether I should drive home and get the truck or get more salt for the driveway.  He advised to get more salt for the driveway.  The kids and I then headed to Walmart to get Ice Melt.  I had no idea how much it was, I just told the lady, "I want 3 bags!"  She said I could do my other shopping and come back and she would even help me load it in the car!  YEAH!!  We shopped around for the groceries I thought we needed, checked out, and then I had a grandiose idea....WENDY'S!  Oh...I forgot, I also bought a garden spade, not a little one but one with a long handle like a shovel!  So, I went through Wendy's, grabbed lunch for the kiddos, backed into Paige's driveway (praying, praying, praying) onto the tiny, little dry spot, left the car running so the kiddos could eat their lunch and yes, watch more movies, while I set about de-icing the driveway with Ice Melt and my new garden spade.  (Yes, I have a picture of this too that I had Kate take and send to her Daddy with the same message but it didn't turn out very good.)   It is 12:30ish! 

I worked and worked on that driveway for at least an hour to hour and a half.  As each car and truck passed by I couldn't help but wonder what everyone else was doing.  I did think about all anger and frustration I could have been feeling but just kept talking to the Lord, praying for His strength to get the job done.  I kept thanking him for the men in my life who are always there to help me, to keep me safe, who usually are available to do these jobs that I do not like to do.  I kept thinking to myself, "Wow girl...did you know you had it in you to get this accomplished?"  Then I remembered to thank the Lord for His strength because He helped me.  Although I keep mentioning I sent those texts to Scott and while it may come across as though I was angry, I really wasn't.  No joke that I was frustrated and feeling helpless, I really did try to keep the perspective that at least we were safe, the kids were taken care of, the car was safe, Paige was working!!!, my mom and dad were on a much needed WARM vacation in Florida, this is all about service, Paige's neighbor did try to help, I am stronger than I think I am, when push comes to shove I can git-r-dun, I can't allow this to set the tone for the rest of the week, and thanking the Lord over and over again for His strength and grace!  I actually had fun (but don't want to admit it too loudly) breaking up that ice and spreading salt everywhere.  Even though I felt I had conquered the world, in all acutality I had cleared a safe walkway to the steps so we could get in and out of the house, and closed the icy gap between the road and her pavement to only 1 foot instead of 3 feet. 

Once I felt as though my hands and arms would fall off and my back would break, I hopped in the car and we headed to Krogers for the final groceries needed that weren't at Walmart.  We bought some special things to help us celebrate Valentine's day like ice cream and sparkling grape juice then headed out to pick up Paige from work.  Once home, Paige put Isaac down for a nap and we were just hanging out in the basement when we heard a huge THUD upstairs.  Seriously?  Isaac had climbed out of and then fallen out of his crib.  After realizing he was okay, since he laughed when the girls and I rushed into the room, Paige and I set about lowering his mattress.  We just laughed and laughed about our terrible day!  :)

For dinner that night I had talked Paige into trying spaghetti squash with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, garlicky olive oil, and parm cheese topped with baked balsamic chicken.  Low carb!!  The girls decorated, signed Paige's V-day card, set the table, and got the fancy glasses ready while I cooked.  Unfortunately, no one besides me, really cared for the spaghetti squash substitute.  I think I just missed something in my prep...like more salt, more cheese, more garlic or something....that would have made it better.   Oh well, we turned the whole day into a day full of laughs, hugs, and love as it ended with these sweet girls putting on a "show" for us with these loving words for their daddy....

{creating}

This is something along the same lines of what I posted earlier this week.  I loved, loved, loved how it turned out.  I gave this to my sister-in-law for Christmas.  This frame was bought at Goodwill for like $3.  There were actually two, exactly the same.  In the other one I removed the glass, put in corkboard that you can buy at Walmart, and wa-la...a matching bulletin board to go with her menu board!  She was beyond thrilled! 

I am a little disappointed with the coloring in this picture but you can get an idea at least.  I spraypainted the frame, after using a little sandpaper on it, the aqua blue color (from Walmart).  I then used a walnut stain that I rubbed on and rubbed off, which antiqued the frame bit.  Like on my other project, I put burlap behind the glass, cut the word MENU from black flannel, and cut the typeset letters using this printable from my favorite blog, Under the Table Dreaming, from which this whole idea came.  I hope you feel inspired to make your meal prep or kitchen a little more exciting!  I now need to make one for myself!

Lessons Learned and Giggles Giggled during Influenza 2011

Let me begin by explaining why I keep calling it "Influenza."  As I have mentioned before I always opt out of the flu vaccine.  So, on Monday morning when I thought we might be dealing with the flu and remember I sent Scott with the girls so I didn't have to face the doctor, well, Anna was terrified to the point of shaking that she would find out she had the flu and need a shot.  Anywho, when the doctor had returned to the examination room to confirm the findings she said, "Yes, the girls have the influenza."  Once in the truck Anna told her daddy, "At least we have the influenza and not the flu."  :)  I keep kinda slipping up and she has asked, "Momma, do we have the flu?"  I reply, "Honey, you have influenza."  Because my girls never stop thinking, this afternoon as I crawled into Kate's bed to console her because her fever had returned she asked, "Momma, do we really have the flu?  Anna told me in the bathroom that she thinks we really have the flu."  I confirmed again, "Honey, you girls have the influenza."

~~~

Tonight Anna was begging me to cuddle with her.  Cuddling with Anna sometimes is not an easy task because she bounces and moves all around.  She lays on you, kicks off all the covers, twists, turns, flops, and flips.  I cherish it all, but you know sometimes you just want to cuddle and relax.  I had had about enough and got up.  She begged me to come back over with her.  I said sure but told her she needed to quit bouncing.  Here is her reply, "But Momma, I'm six.  Six year olds bounce.  That's just what we do."

~~~

My mom had given me some movies that she had taped on to a VHS tape.  Yes, you read that right!  VHS tape.  We don't have the Hallmark Channel so she has taped us some movies so we could watch these good movies.  Anyhow, we have had a marathon of watching these movies.  My favorite so far is one called "Generation Gap."  Soooo gooooood!!  Anywho, my mom, while taping these movies from her DVR onto the VHS (isn't she amazing!  what an act of love!), fastworded through the commercials.  Again...amazing and an act of love!  The girls would giggle when maybe she had gone too far and had to rewind.  However, the funniest comment was while we were watching one movie the commercials had not been fastforwarded through so Anna states, "Grandma must have fallen asleep on this one." 

~~~

• I will probably still decline the flu vaccine next year.
• Although at times the high fevers have been very scary, it forced us to slow down, enjoy being together, caring for the needs of one another, relax.
• I think this helped the girls realize how I serve them as their Momma.
• Anna willingly served her sister tonight as Anna was feeling great but Kate's fever had returned.
• I have been so proud of the girls having courage and understanding there are some things that aren't worth fighting about....like taking icky medicine.
• I am a terrible nurse, but I try.
• Scott is incredible.
• Scott is tender.
• Scott is incredible.

My Friend, Kim

I hope I don't embarrass her by writing about her but I just have to.....
Kim is 100% total darlingness!  All 5 feet and maybe 3 inches of her! 
She is from Memphis, TN.  She and her husband Brent, along with 3 kiddos at the time, moved here to Ohio to help our pastoral team plant Living Hope.  Kim grew up in Memphis, loves Memphis, misses all of her friends and family in Memphis YET she obeyed the Lord's calling to Ohio.  There is snow in Ohio.  There is ice in Ohio.  She doesn't have family in Ohio.  Yet you know what?  Kim is ALWAYS, and I seriously mean A.L.W.A.Y.S., smiling.  ALWAYS.  I can't say it enough.  She amazes me.  Since landing in the freezing artic of the north, she has faithfully endured challenge, after challenge.  She found out she was pregnant (while this was not a challenge but a blessing, it was a surprise blessing!), her precious little babe needed heart surgery, her children have been sick a.lot, her honey travels, her honey has been sick, her daddy has been battling cancer back home in Memphis, and yet Kim always has a countenance that truly radiates the joy of the Lord.  I have been truly touched by her living testimony.  I felt compelled to write about her because tonight I was thinking about how she has helped me.  Kim, because she is always smiling, laughs!  She laughs!  I had the pleasure of spending a Sunday lunch with her and her family and they all laugh.  They don't take life too seriously regarding the things that most of us get hung up on.  When it could be a stressful situation like a crazy messy house because you were gone overnight and the honey handled all four kiddos so you could be away and an unexpected lunch date shows up after church on Sunday, she laughs.  When 10 kids are running all over the place and we are trying to get dinner fed to all of them, she laughs.  When kids make mistakes that would cause some adults to have a meltdown, she laughs.  Tonight, I found myself laughing....like Kim....and I thanked the Lord for her.  This week she has been texting me to check on my girls.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt when she said she was praying for me, she was.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt when she said she could bring me anything I need, she would.  Kim is amazing!  I thank the Lord that He called Kim and Brent to Marysville, OH and I thank them for obeying. 

PS:  I want to be sure to make clear I had other very dear friends call and text me this week concerned about the girls and equally willing to help me at a moment's notice, as well as praying for us.  I am so unbelievably blessed and thankful for my friends!

Confusing???

I admit, it doesn't take much.
For me to be confused.
But I just don't get it.
We want to claim the power of the Cross.
Especially when we are going through a trial.
We want to claim our inheritance.
Especially when we feel it being threatened.
We get involved in ministry, sometimes even at the very top.
This makes us feel closer to Christ, as we accomplish His mission.
We quote, lead, sing, pray, read...
Yet, we continue to choose to hang out with the pigs.
We continue to choose to wallow around in the mud.
Trashy TV, trashy music, ...
Don't we remember the saying,
"Garbage In, Garbage Out."

Tonight I was just broken hearted as I was reading Staff Bios from a local church (not ours by the way).  You might think I am sounding judgemental but, well, I just don't understand.  There were some questions like, "What is on your iPod?" and "What do you Tivo?"  Some of the answers were beyond understanding to me.  The answers listed by these church leaders included shows and music that truly make a mockery of Him, His laws, His Word.  What?  These men are in the pulpit or leading others to a deeper relationship with Christ.  How?  If they are so willing to openly expose the garbage they are taking in that is blatantly against Christ, I can't help but wonder what is done in secret.  Again, I am by no means perfect.  If anything, seeing these leaders answer these questions so candidly honest made me think even more about myself.  What am I taking in?  What do I allow my girls to take in?   All Christians are to be above reproach.  So, let's do it!  Let's live for the Cross, not the world.  Let's claim our inheritance and lead with integrity for the Gospel!

~ Oh Lord, may you deal with me.  Make me ever so sensitive to the things of this world that displeases You.  Make me ever so sensitive to what I allow to fill my time, both for my sake and for the sake of my girls.  It isn't about being "holier than thou."  It is to be an expression of my love and devotion to you.  Make me desire Your ways above all other ways.  ~

Chronicling the Influenza 2011

So, every year my pediatrician asks, with a smile, if I am going to get the girls vaccinated for the flu.  I reply, with a smile, "No."  I have never had the flu shot, even in my years as a teacher in a very poor, Appalachian district, where it was very highly recommended.  Call me a conspiracy theorist or skeptic because well, I am!  My girls got all of their other vaccinations, although I would probably approach those differently now if I were to do it again.  When Kate was going into Kindergarten I declined the Chicken Pox booster.  Oh boy...what a story I can tell you about that experience.  It is definitely not easy to go against the medical community.  Last year was a struggle as well since the pediatrician was basically pleading with me, very politely and with a smile though, to get the flu vaccine and definitely the HINI vaccine.  I really do like my pediatrician, but obviously we don't agree on vaccinations.  I stay with her because she is great with the girls and polite, respectful, and patient with me.  Plus, she is a mother with young boys.  However, yesterday when I was pretty sure, although praying for strep, we might be dealing with the flu I sent Scott to the doctor with the girls.  He laughed at me because he knew I was afraid to face the doctor, thinking...wondering if she would bring up my choice to not vaccinate.  After confirming, but hoping along with me we were dealing with strep, the girls did indeed have the flu, she was gracious and didn't rub the vaccine thing in our faces.  She kindly told us how to deal with it, what to watch for, gave us a prescription for Tamiflu, and sent us on our way.  Tamiflu...what a fiasco!  Dr. K told us it works best if administered within 24 hours of the first symptoms.  Well, Anna was probably past the 24 hour period so we decided not to get her script filled; however, since Kate had just woke up with a fever in the morning we would go for it.  The pharmacist told Scott it would take an hour to fill because the medicine had to be compounded.  What does that mean you might ask?  Well, the drug company no longer makes a children's dose so the pharmacist has to "compound" an adult dose so it is safe for children to take.  Scott said, "OK" and went on to kill an hour with two very sick little girls.  He went back to Walgreens for pick-up and there was a long line in the drive-thru so he went in to the store.  You are never going to believe this!  The pharmacist was beside herself because our insurance company was refusing to allow the script to be filled because it needed a special type of approval that could take up to 72 hours.  WHAT???  That's ludicrous!!  Scott was on the phone with the insurance company and it was horrible the service her received plus being told again it could take 72 hours for approval.  Needless to say, he came home and we decided to just tough it out with any help from Tamiflu.  I knew the girls were feeling terrible because when they got home because they had not eaten the McDonald's Scott had gotten them, stripped off all their winter layers, and went straight to their beds.  Usually when the girls are sick we hang out in the living room...but they felt so miserable they made a beeline for their own beds.  It hasn't been easy, as I am sure many other mothers have experienced.  We have been watching movie, after movie, after movie.  Scott brought in a chair from the downstairs for either he or I to sit in so we can be close.  The humidifier was pulled out, medicines kept handy, straws, water, popsicles, blankets, Ramen Noodles...  My dad is so priceless and even brought by some extra Delsym and Children's Motrin because I began to run low.  So...will we vaccinate next year?  I don't know.  The verdict is still out at this point.  Anna is doing much better at this point, fever broke, talking and even eating a little bit.  Kate on the hand is really struggling.  Her temp reached a high of 105.  I am not sure if it really was 105 or if the thermometer registered it a little higher because I kept taking her temp over and over again.  To take precaution I put her in a lukewarm water bath.  The real hero through all of this so far though is Scott.  He is sooooo amazing!  He took all care of the little girls, as I slept on their floor, last night.  He would wake me up with updates.  Kate was the one with the crazy fever all night.  I am soooo blessed and thankful for him. 

We Have a Scientist In the House...

A Simple Project...

This isn't my original idea but loved it as soon as I saw it on one of my most favorite blogs, Under the Table & Dreaming.  I bought several frames at Goodwill before Christmas.  This is one that I spray painted black, added some burlap as the picture, cleaned the glass, put it all back together and WAHLAA...I have a really cool dry erase board!!  I love that this particular one is an oval.  I love how it looks in my very rectangular kitchen.  :)  I wrote one of my very scriptures on it.  I deem this one of "thee BEST" projects I have ever done. 

Little Change = Big Impact

Scott and I have always worked really well as a team.  We get so much delight accomplishing something together.  Here is yet another one of our home improvement projects...

Before

After

Random Reasons to Smile

I found several "one off" type of pictures that have been lost in the shuffle.  Sometimes this idea of a "Scrapbooking Style Family Blog" gets the best of me as I do get behind, just like my feeble attempt at scrapbooking several, several years ago.  Thus...a post with several random pictures, all of which have a reason, purpose, and ultimately make me smile. 

Ice, Ice, and even more Ice

Boy, it's been a long week and a strange week at that.  Because of an ice storm and then a dusting of flurries later in the week, we have been home bound.  Scott ended up getting off work early one night, another night of work cancelled, and then yet another night off he had scheduled so he could attend the Father-Daughter Banquet at church.  As you can imagine, by Thursday we were all stir-crazy!!  Since the banquet had been cancelled, he promised the girls to spend the entire day with them...I wasn't allowed.  He treated them to Bob Evans for lunch, a few quick errands, a late afternoon movie (Secretariat--everyone loved it) at the dollar theater, and then DQ!  It was clear to me they had had a blast because they got home at 7:30 pm and the girls fell right into bed, exhausted.  Yeah for Daddy!  Here are a few pictures of them playing out in the ICE!