day off??

a re-post from October 13, 2008 ... sometimes it's discouraging that I am thinking the same thoughts I did 3 years ago...

I know that my job as a mother is a very important one

I know that the time I spend investing in their lives will count for eternity

I know that the "compensation" can not be compared with any monetary salary

I know that this is God's will for my life right now

I know I should say "yes" to my kids more than I do

I know that it is only a season and a short one at that

I know that SOMEDAY I will miss this

I know that the dust and dishes and laundry can wait (but the bills can't)

I know that God made me a mother to show me how selfish I am

I know that God loves them and me more than I can every imagine

I know that God has great plans for my little ones

I know that He has blessed me to allow me to have a part in their training

I know, I know, I know

BUT I still could really use a day off!

He was unappreciated

Re-post from July 22, 2005 ... thinking that I need to find this book in my boxes somewhere and read it again!!

I read something totally new yesterday!!  It was something I never thought of before, and it is totally awesome.  I read it in the book Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God, by Mary DeMuth.  I just wanted to share it for all of you moms out there who think that Jesus "just can't understand what I am going through!!"

Hebrews 4:15-16  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

"Imagine that!  Jesus was tempted to scream at his disciples just as we are tempted to scream at our offspring.  He was tempted to throw in the linen wrapping just as we are tempted to throw in the kitchen towel. He was exasperated. He felt alone. His glory was unseen. He was unappreciated. He was misunderstood. His own family thought he was crazy.  He endured all that, so he will help us endure. He cried tears intermingled with his own blood; he does not despise our tears of salt water."

I really thought that was awesome and gave me a new perspective on Jesus and how much he can help me with the job that he gave to me of being a wife and mother.  I just hope I can remember it when my kids are driving me crazy and I begin to lose my patience.  I can cry out to Jesus and he will help me keep my focus on God.  He will help me bear my burdens and give me rest for my soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

Have a great day and let God refresh your soul!!!!!

cooking lessons

a re-post from January 8, 2010, another one of my positive mom moments!

My 4 YO received some kid-sized cooking utensils and an apron for Christmas from my mom.  We returned home from all our holiday travels on Sunday, and every day since then she has been BEGGING me to let her cook with me (I don't have lots of space and even less patience and 3 other little ones that want to be involved, so I was NOT looking forward to it).  Someone on facebook gave me a recommendation of something easy like eggs or french toast, so I caved.

We had french toast for dinner last night!!  This is how it went down.

Cracking the eggs  ("mommy, my thumb is slimy")


Whisking the eggs


dipping the bread


THROWING it on to the griddle (she did NOT want to burn herself)


flipping the french toast (her favorite part, once she got over her fear of burning herself)


eating the french toast she made!

she was soo proud of herself and couldn't wait to serve Daddy when he got home from work!!

then she wanted to do the dishes...  her uncle couldn't believe I made her do this part (I do have a dishwasher) but she insisted!! :)

scrubbing away!


"Mom, I am too busy cleaning to smile for a picture"


I surprised myself with how much fun we had... even with the others all clamoring for a part of the action.

On that note, I am teaching my 3 YO to make her own PB and J sandwiches... she still needs a lot of help, but at least we are starting somewhere!!


then the 6 1/2 YO wanted to help, too!!  This morning he had a 2 hour delay, so he begged for french toast.  the only part he did was the whisking and the flipping and he burned himself on the first flip... not such a great success story and no photos.  maybe next time will be better!!

any suggestions for how to incorporate my kids in kitchen help??? (especially when they ALL want to be in on the action and I go crazy very fast!!)  My 2 YO (next week) is trying to do it all, too!!

I hope you enjoyed my story!!!

* My kids are now 8, 6, almost 5, and 3 1/2, and they still don't get to help in the kitchen much.
*reading this post reminded me that I need to get my kids more involved in the kitchen again.  They have been doing dishes a lot more lately (since we moved I no longer have a dishwasher :( so sad)
* I would still love your suggestions on how you incorporate your kids in the kitchen work, and how much meal prep you let them do (I still serve up all their food and cut it for them, which is crazy when there is four of them)

Gratitude

reposting has been good for me... occasionally, it's a message I need to hear again... ya know, being thankful and all!! :) This one is from Monday, November 17, 2008. This was the year I posted something every day in the month of November about things I was thankful for. I thought it was appropriate to re-post for Multitude Monday!




I will be honest with you... My thankful posts have been very hard work the last few days.  I mentioned being in the pits, and boy, am I in the pits.  I have struggled with the time I spend on the computer reading and writing blogs (mostly reading) and other things.  the things that take me from the stuff I should be doing around my house, etc.   However, I know that I don't want to give it up completely, because it often gives me great things to think about.  here are some things I have read today.

A quote from "the generous wife" emails I receive

     Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.     Henry Van Dyke

from Jill Savage...

But I remembered something I wrote in my book My Heart's at Home. (Yes, even authors are convicted by their own words!) The question I asked was "Am I a dream-taker or a dream-maker?"

a blog someone else recommended that I had never visited before...
Gratitude is the “taste berry” of Christianity, and when our hearts are filled with gratitude, nothing that God sends us seems unpleasant to us.


from Proverbs 31 devotionals

Dear Lord, grant me the courage to be the parent You want me to be. Help me control my temper and my anger, so that I can discipline my children in a loving way that will help them see You in me. Help me both display and teach godly character. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


and so much more, but I have other things to do...

So, Today, Monday, November 17, I am thankful for

stuff that makes me think (even though my brain is mush right now and quite the mixed up mess)
my girls, who are so quick to love and so quick to forgive me
my husband, who prayed with me/for me before he left for work
the anticipation of bible study tonight and learning more about Psalm 57
my friend Sue, who won't give up on me!!

see, I was counting the gifts, even before I started keeping track of the 1000, the infinite gifts!

Growing Together

 Growing Together
author unknown

Once upon a time there was a little grape stem
She was so glad to be alive.
She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and grew.
She was young and strong and could manage quite well...
All by Herself

But the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh,
And the snow was not one bit understanding.
The little grape stem experienced pain.
She drooped, weak and suffering.
"It would be so easy to stop trying to grow,
to stop trying to live," thought the little stem.
She felt poorly.

The winter was long, and she was weary.
But then the little stem heard a voice.
It was another grape stem calling out to her...
"Here, reach out, hang on to me."

But the little stem hesitated.
What would this mean? she wondered.
For you see, the little stem had always managed quite well...
All by herself.

Then ever so cautiously, she reached out toward the other grape stem,
"See, I can help you," it said.
"Just wind your tendrils about me, and I will help you lift your head."
And the little stem trusted.

Suddenly, she could stand straight again.
The wind came...and the rain...and the snow.
But when it came, the little stem was clinging to many other stems.

And although the stems were swayed by the wind,
And frozen by the snow,
They stood strongly united to each other

And in their quiet strength,
they could smile and grow
One day, the little stem said,
"Here, hang on... I will help you
And another stem reached up to the little grape stem.

And together, all stems grew...Leaves budded ... flowers bloomed ...
And finally the grapes formed....And the grapes fed many. 

just a little poem I found... somewhere! I have no idea were, but I still wanted to share it with you!

25 random things

another re-post from January 2009, although this one had to be edited because some of them didn't apply anymore.  just giving you a little chance to get to know me while I am on my blogging break! :)



1. I grew up in the Buffalo, NY area and I HATE cold and snow!!

2. My middle name is Anne ... with an "E"

3. I attended the same Christian school from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

4. I played soccer and was on the All-star team for THREE years!

5. I wanted to be an architect when I grew up and even did some floor plans of dream houses.

6. I birthed four children in 4 1/2 years! (no twins)

7. I didn't own a pair of jeans until I was in high school.

8. I don't have my ears pierced ...nothing else is pierced either!

9. I (use to) live in a 2 bedroom trailer with four kids, ages 5 and under!!

10. I once worked (as a secretary) for a stained glass studio (Baut Studios). It was an awesome experience.

11. I have hypothyroid.

12. I hated babysitting growing up and would not change diapers when I did.

13. I love reading Amish novels. (I can't remember the last time I read a fiction book... now I read blogs)

14. I am a Buffalo Bills fan (of sorts)

15. My husband is trying to convert me to Mac computers... it might work except that I hate change and I like Microsoft Word and Excel.

16. I was seeing a counselor for almost 2 years... struggling with post-partem, seasonal affect disorder, perfectionism, and dysthymia (all self-diagnosed) ...some days I think I should go back!

17. I love dark chocolate... Dove is the best!

18. I started drinking coffee when I was pregnant with child #3... it had to be highly diluted with milk, chocolate and other flavors. Now I drink it with just a little bit of sugar and some cream. I think it is rotting my teeth.  (update: my hubby has asked me to give up caffeine to see if that will help with my mood swings... PRAY for me)

19. I can't remember the last time I went to the dentist. (I finally went to the dentist last fall after about 7 years!)

20. I love watching movies/TV with my hubby... just vegging on the couch, eating snacks together and keeping warm under a fuzzy blanket!!

21. The farthest West I have ever been is Ohio.

22. I hate shopping!

23. My new favorite for my girls is girly jeans... with flowers and butterflies all over them!! (I would never wear them, I just like them for little girls)

24. I was a tomboy growing up... hated the color pink and my favorite Christmas present was my race track!!

25. I love to make cheesecake!!


what should I know about you?!??!

You can't disappoint God

just a little re-post from May 17, 2010 (when I used to blog on Xanga)

don't you just love it when God uses your kids to hammer in something He's trying to teach you??!  I had one of those moments recently and it thrilled me beyond belief!

 
Back story:  In the Spring, I did the study "The Grace Walk Experience" by Steve McVey. it was excellent and I forgot half of what I learned/read, but the other half has been life changing... think I might have to go through it again to get the other half! 

A faulty perception of God is that He is a harsh judge
"Many people picture God sitting in heaven, scrutinizing every act, watching, waiting for them to make a mistake. They picture God with a frown on His face... They see Him as an impatient parent who's ready to spank the child who's getting on his nerves." p. 182

This was hard for me to read, because I am a perfectionist which makes me that kind of impatient parent.  I also see God as that kind of God.

but McVey goes on to say.  "your heavenly Father never condemns you. (Romans 8:1)
When He looks at you, He looks at you with delight. He rejoices over you with shouts of joy (Zephaniah 3:17)

God actually likes you. He is completely accepting and affirming toward you. He adores you just like you are. p. 187

I am often frustrated, disappointed, irritated with my kids, because I am expecting them to do something (or not do something) and they do the opposite!  I want to be a God-filled parent, having His love flowing from me. That my kids will know this grace-filled God because I was a good example (still working on that one)



So here is the story.
Sunday night after church we stopped  by Wendy's for some Jr. Frostys.  Sienna was the only one still in her Sunday best from the morning (her Easter dress, no less)!  However, I gave her the Frosty to eat

... in the car



... on the way home



... without any assistance! 
KNOWING full well, she was going to spill, drip, or even dump her Frosty! 

halfway home, I hear... "uh-oh, I spill, Mommy"  and you know what?!?!?!

I did NOT freak out... not even on the inside!! 
I even smiled a little inside
and immediately, I heard God say...  "See, no condemnation"

"You can't even disappoint God.  Disappointment is the result of an unfulfilled expectation. you expect one thing, but you get something else. You cannot disappoint God because God doesn't expect anything. He already knows everything. He will never say to you, 'I expected something different from you.' He knew. You didn't know, but He knew.

When I say you can't disappoint God, don't think I'm saying it doesn't grieve the heart of your Father when you sin. Of course it does, He hates to see you do things He knows will hurt you. But it didn't surprise Him that you did it. p. 199



I was a little sad...
and I am hoping and praying that the chocolate comes out of her cute blue dress,
but I did not yell one little bit

and for me, that was MAJOR!!!

Now the fact that it took her and her sister OVER AN HOUR to settle down for naps (and I am not even sure they are sleeping) ... that I might yell about, but hey, it's the little steps!! :)

*cute pics are not from the offending frosty occasion, just recent ones of the cutie pie!

*it's been over a year now, the dress is too small of course, but the chocolate did come out! :)
*here's a most recent picture of the cutie pie... I still yell at her, she still forgives me, and occasionally I respond correctly... all in the process, all in the process!!

two week break

So my kids go back to school in 10 days... where did the summer go??? The last few weeks have been hectic and crazy and overwhelming, and I have really struggled with being down in the dumps!  I really feel like God has been prompting me to focus on my kids these last few  days before school starts, so I am taking a Two week blogging break... this is also going to include twitter and facebook because they are huge time wasters for me!  Would you pray for me? the temptation is going to be strong!

I have never been one of those people that loved coloring or playing with kids, or doing anything that makes a mess.  I get super sleepy when I read out loud to my kids and I don't have much motivation for walking or exercising.  So I am really not sure what we are going to do to fill our days over the next 2 weeks (although I do need to do some school clothes shopping with the girls... but who wants to do that?)  So to prepare for this 2 week break, I actually scheduled some posts to pop up for all my faithful readers over the next two weeks.  Most of them are re-posts from my old blogging site (Xanga). So please stick with me, feel free to comment and I will try to get back to you after we get into the swing of our school schedule!

I am posting this on Monday, so I did want to count some more of the 1000, the infinite gifts before I started my bloggy break!

1028. little kids in soccer uniforms (especially little girls decked out in pink)

1029. meeting a friend at the park
1030. and meeting a new family that will be at my kids' school this year
1031. peepers/crickets making noise outside my window
1032. bed comforter spinning in the laundromat washing machine ... and dryer 

1033. my parents coming to visit for 2 days

1034. Nanny reading books, books, and more books to her grandkids
1035. stocking up on school supplies
1036. my daughters sharing their princess crown with me :)

1037. needing a sweatshirt in the morning... but still breaking out the flip flops before noon!
1038. the kids using the sprinkler
1039. burgers and hot dogs cooked over an open fire

1040. smores...
1041. the smell of a campfire
1042. the kids camping out ... on the porch
1043. some time off for scrapbooking
1044. fellowship with my friend!
1045. Wendy's chili and baked potato
1046. french toast, sausage, bacon, peaches for Sunday dinner
1047. big bird... hawk??? on my kids playground 

1047. preparing for a two week bloggy/twitter/facebook fast!


I am hoping to keep on counting even during my break!  I will post them when I return!

Over at The Gypsy Mama, they have been on a Beauty Hunt this week... and while I haven't written stuff down daily, I know that I can find some beauty in the next five minutes... so I am joining up with Five Minute Friday!  Here's what she says...

Want to take five minutes with me and share what you found? Want to just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. Here’s how we do it:
1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard.
OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

Beauty… 

Beauty is my 2 oldest all decked out and ready to go for Big Blue Soccer camp this week... can't believe today is the last day.

Beauty is a fresh egg found in the chicken coop

Beauty is my comforter spinning in the washer and dryer at the Laundromat this week... and my 2 littlest watching it.

Beauty is hugs and kisses every day from my crazy kids.

Beauty is Nanny and Papa visiting for 2 days.

Beauty is Nanny reading books and books and more books to her grand kids.

Beauty is the view from my back sun porch.

Beauty is my body with stretches and sags in all the "right" places after carrying and birthing 4 children (at least my husband says so... I just need to believe him)

Beauty is kisses from my husband!

Beauty is smiles and laughter.

Beauty is library books.

Beauty is school supplies stacked and ready to go.

Beauty is me in a little girl's princess crown (at least my girls thing so)

Beauty is dinner served with love and care.

Beauty is dinner eaten without complaints from any of the littles

Beauty is Bible verses that encourage, exhort, correct, and give wisdom

Beauty is flowers from my kids

Beauty is God!

Ten things I have to be happy about

I had a really negative blog post brewing in my head; like Top 10 reasons I hate blogging; Top 10 reasons I won't take anti-depressants; Top 10 things I worry about... stuff like that! I have been quite down in the dumps lately and I just can't seem to shake it...

So in an effort to be more positive, I am going to TRY to come up with 10 things I am happy about (in no particular order).

10. I have a beautiful 3 bedroom home that may not have my name on it, but holds my family very nicely.  I give thanks for this every day! (I can't believe we have been here almost a year now!!)

9. I have a husband who loves me.

8. I have FOUR, unbelievably beautiful children, who are all 100% healthy.

7. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so ... Grace, grace, God's grace!!

6. It's summer time... I like to be warm (and I love my flip flops)

5. One of my chickens is laying eggs.

4. My husband is employed... I do NOT take this for granted either!!

3. Chocolate, decaf coffee, Wegmans brand O's, Chocolate

2. I do have friends... I think!

1. My parents are coming today to visit for 2 days!!

woo hoo... I did it!! :)

and I am linking up with

the 1000, the infinite gifts

just because I reached 1000 doesn't mean I am going to stop counting, but I didn't do a great job of writing down every day, so my list is shorter this week, but still I am counting.

1004. motivation to mop the kitchen floor.
1005. drinking decaf coffee, with a great friend!
1006. blue and black butterfly flitting around my backyard
1007. kids playing well together
1008. chocolate covered fingers and faces
1009. eating our first backyard eggs!
1010. bunk beds... great for saving space, a real PAIN to change the sheets! :)
1011. homemade juice pops
1012. the kids "playing" Adventures in Odyssey
1013. finding an egg in the nesting box almost every day

1014. a chilly day, perfect for Taco Soup!!
1015. one kid eating seconds, one kid eating THIRDS!
1016. a complement from Wesley
1017. sun shining through the clouds on an otherwise dreary day
1018. singing along with the car radio
1019. lighting pretty smelling candles
1020. my new-to-me camera arriving in the mail!!
1021. finally getting a picture of "Thing 1" and "Thing 2"  (can't wait until they start laying)

1022. great deals and money back on soccer stuff for the older kids!
1023. field of Queen Anne's Lace

1024. butterfly kisses from my little girls
1025. fresh corn-on-the-cob, and Chiavetta's chicken on the grill for dinner!
1026. meeting my daughter's pre-school teacher in church
1027. starting a puzzle as a family... a global one!

join the counting at any time...

A whole lot of nothing

It's Five Minute Friday again...



START
I type the word "Whole" (our prompt for this week) and my WHOLE mind goes blank.  I just can't think! Seriously, I could just sit here for five minutes and think of nothing to write on the word whole...

My whole life
a whole day
my whole family
a whole meal

(the word "Whole" is starting to look funny to me)

what makes a person whole?

it has been almost a whole YEAR, since we moved and I have been thinking on "anniversary" posts! I love my house!

so I am back at WHOLE ... and I still got nothing!  so maybe I will try again later.

STOP


So go visit The Gypsy Mama and all the other great writers for some blog posts that are a WHOLE lot more interesting then mine!  :)

Abide in the Vine

I love Wordles, so when I did a search for "abide in the vine" and saw this, I knew I had to use it! (It's not coming in very big... you might have to go to the wordle site to see it better!)

My #SSMT verse for the month of August (or at least the first half) is John 15:4-5


Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


linking up to Word Filled Wednesday

cake is so sweet

It's Tuesday again... and while I would love to join Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda... I just can't come up with 10 of anything right now, so I will join in with Sweet Shot Tuesday.



If you read my blog regularly, you will remember that my camera BROKE!! I dropped it, and the lens will no longer focus or zoom in/out!  I am soo sad, but my husband ordered me a replacement on ebay... hope it comes soon and works perfectly!!  So I have had to take a week off from my #Project365 goal this year. But I promise, I will pick right back up when I get my camera again!!  but I did want to share this fantastic picture of chocolate cake that we had when my sisters visited 2 weeks ago!

It has hazelnut coffee in it... melted chocolate chips layered in it, and a most delicious frosting and "ganache"  ooh my word, I am salivating just thinking about it!  The problem is, my sister didn't leave me the recipe!!  ... are you reading this??? in all of our recipe exchanging while you guys were here and NOBODY left me a copy of this chocolate cake recipe!!  so somebody... get on the stick and send it to me! :)


here's my son... sniffing the goodness that was this chocolate cake!!

 My kids totally licked their plates clean... good thing we used decaf coffee! :)  ...and yes that is me in the background just digging into my piece... it was huge, and so rich I couldn't finish it in one sitting!!

So, sisters, please send me the recipe... I might want to make it one of these days! :)

I made it to 1000!

This was a week of ups and downs (aren't they all!) I had some emotionally down days, days I just didn't even want to get out of bed.  I had a much harder time finding the gifts (so much so, that I was afraid I wasn't going to make it to 1000 this week). The biggest one this week for me was on Thursday night... I had had a  couple of bad days, and I was feeling unlovable. I looked out my back window, like I do ALL the time, and said, "ya know, God, it's been a while since I've seen any deer back here." (okay maybe not quite like that) but anyway, just after we put the kids in bed, I looked out the window again... and there was a deer meandering through the field. I almost missed it, and then as I stood there and stared in amazement, I saw another one hidden in the tall grass.  do you think He loves me???  so here are my gifts (without photos, because my camera is broken!) :( ...okay a couple of photos from hubby's iPhone!

972. summer storms
973. library fun

974. little kids in little racecars

975. a little escape (Arbonne spa party)
976. chocolate and fruit (what a great combination)
977. a bright red cardinal on green trees
978. leaves rustling
979. birds singing
980. chickens fighting
981. phone call from a friend
982. freshly ironed shirts
983. interruptions
984. tears and prayer
985. herbal fruit tea
986. orange butterfly
987. yellow chickadee
988. Scripture memory
989. sharing my soup bowl with the kids
990. my 3YO singing LOUDLY, while using the bathroom
991. 2 deer in my backfield (it doesn't get old)
992. gentle breezes across my skin
993. wind chimes
994. reminder (from The Gypsy Mama) that I am not a failure (even if I think my blog is)
995. ice cream on hot days
996. kids sharing their favorite things before bed (a counting of the gifts)
997.the smell of fresh cut grass!
998. 3YO making her peanut butter sandwich
999. a vacuumed house (deep clean vacuuming)
1000. kids in canoes with Daddy
1001. songs all about God's Grace
1002. reminder at church to trust the Gift Giver, not in the gifts
1003. our first backyard, homegrown egg!!!

come count with me...