Budding Artist

Not bad for 25.5 months, eh?
Lindsey said it's Sarah... never mind the leg count.

Bubble Wrap Mania

A package came today with a TON of bubble wrap in it.
Here is what we did with it:
Click here to watch 'Bubble-Wrap-Mania'

This will be a slow load for anyone, but it will be REALLY slow for dial-up watchers... sorry.

I've been told that this is now a much faster load for anyone. If not, blame putfile.com!

Gift Card Warning

Well, I came across a new way that crooks are stealing this season.

I love to get gift cards on occasion, but this would really ruin the fun:

If you buy gift cards from a display rack that has various store cards, you may
become a victim of theft.

Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store and then wait a
few days and call to see how much of a balance THEY have on the card. Once
they find the card is "activated," they go online and start shopping.

You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where
they do not have the Gift Cards viewable to the public.

Please share this with your family and friends...

This is true and it would be good to read the following Snopes.


Gift Card Theft

In the Garden

On Tuesday, as I was making mental preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, I caught a program on Great American Country TV, or "Gack" as Hannah says. It was Alan Jackson's Precious Memories album as a live concert.

Whew! I was already sentimental as Thanksgiving was my Nana's favorite holiday next to Christmas. But, the songs, which are all hymns, as Alan Jackson sang them were something I knew Nana would love. I was crying in the kitchen and my kids just let me do it. They know that I'm okay if I say, "I'm just missing Nana." Hannah is convinced she misses Nana, too, even though she had only been to MT twice to see her before the age of 2.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone who loves to sing hymns and not be surprised with vocal twists and turns.

This is the one that got me crying... knowing that Nana, and my Bobby & Poppa, and other loved ones are "In the Garden."

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me is falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

Losing a loved one

Marty's Aunt Sue has gone on to her heavenly home. I didn't know her very well since she lived a ways away from us. I do know that she was very loved by her sister, my mother-in-law.

I saw this poem today and thought I would post it here.

Remembrance

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she's gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back,
or you can do what she'd want:

Smile, Open Your Eyes, Love and Go On.

Author Unknown

"... but rather, rejoice because your names are written in Heaven."
Luke 10:20

Walmart update

The real story is that Walmart will give 5 percent of online sales to a particular group if the shopper enters the Walmart.com site through a specific link.

Since I would go directly to walmart.com without clicking an ad on their website, I would not be contributing to the agenda mentioned in the story.

Am I getting this right? It's too late to be thinking. I'm going to bed.

**morning time**

Snopes.com had some good info on it. True, but only to a point.
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Wal-Mart Supports Gays

Christmas Shopping

It's getting closer to the day when I need to have my ducks in a row for giving gifts. I'm not even close to being ready. I have only purchased a few things when I need about 100. Well, maybe not that many, but close.

I've come to expect the low prices on the day after Thanksgiving from the various stores around here. Walmart is not the only place that has good deals on Black Friday, as it is called.

Over the years, Walmart has been steadily losing ground in my personal shopping life. The service is unpredictable. The prices on the shelf aren't always what you pay at the register. The meat and produce are not delicious, either. Then there is the new self-checkout line, which is mostly worthless to me with 4 kids in tow.

I'm trying to do some shopping online so that I can have it shipped to my mom's house. We will be there for the holidays and it will be easier to hide gifts from the girls that way. This year I won't do my online shopping at Walmart because of a recent announcement. I can't promise, though, that I won' be going to Walmart ever again since it is basically the only place I can go get medicine in the middle of the night... or get the big block of cheese slices that we prefer.

**I lost my train of thought on this as I had to go break up an argument over the buzzer on a board game. So, I'll leave you with this:

Christmas is coming upon us quickly. I'm getting ready. I buy gifts because I like to give gifts. I know that Christmas is not about shopping and buying all the things kids want. My parents taught me better than that.

Christmas is about Jesus and the gift that He was and still is. I want to teach my children that we give to others because God gave so much to us. Yes, Christmas stretches the budget. But it is nothing compared to what we have received. Make good memories with your family and friends. Enjoy the life that we have in Christ.

A Mighty Fortress is our God

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his list of 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. This action started the series of events that we now call the Protestant Reformation. Many Christians in the world today worship in churches that came about because of Luther's actions.

As others are running about clueless as to the significance of this day, or maybe placing their own significance on it, Christians can rest assured that our God is the ruler of all days. He is mighty and sure to win all battles against evil.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God was written by Luther.
Today, take notice of the 3rd verse:

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

So, tonight, let your light shine as you pray for your neighbors to know Christ as He truly is: Mighty, Never-failing. His kingdom is forever.

Fun Day

Lindsey's party was today. Here is a link to her Elmo & Big Bird Cake and some sweet pictures of my little ones.

Sweet Lindsey

She's 2 years old today... my baby girl #4. I still call them all my baby, but she's the littlest one. She was by far my easiest baby to birth. That was one good epidural. While the nurses were preparing the hospital bed for me to start pushing , the doctor said she was already born! She did it all herself, determined and capable. Thanks to an amazing epidural, no pain at all for me.

Now I'm feeling it. Lindsey is the busiest of all 4 girls. My first baby, at age 2, was starting to sleep in her big girl bed & she would stay there until I went to get her in the morning! Not Lindsey. She wants out of bed & if she had a big girl bed, she'd be hard to find. At least for now I know where she is in the morning. The rest of the day has many moments of seeking her whereabouts, hoping she hasn't flushed anything else down the toilet or taken off a messy diaper... again.

Whew! She takes a lot of energy from me. But she gives a lot of love in return. She my biggest "hug bug" in the house. She kinks her neck and holds out her arms many times a day for a hug. She'll give one to just about anyone, too. She's a good baby... just determined to be self-sufficient as soon as possible. If she could just get all her teeth in, maybe I'd get some rest in between adventures.

Where did that one come from?

I was picking up the 2 big girls from school yesterday. As we were waiting in the van, Sarah noticed a sign tied to the school for "Red Ribbon Week," which is a week designated for educating kids against drug use.

Sarah asked what it was so I kept it short & simple by saying, "It means that kids should not smoke or drink beer."

....she thought for a 2-3 seconds and added, "or blow bubbles!!"

It's sinking in

Hannah was writing notes to herself. This is what one of them said:

"Juses is the Keng uv me"

" Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

It's just crazy

Virtual Bubble Wrap is fun in a strange way. I've obviously been captured by the nonsense monsters today.

Kids will be kids

I was teaching Sunday school yesterday to a group of preschoolers. One of the little girls in the class is crayon-challenged, so she asked me to draw and color a few hearts on her page. I was doing just as she asked, very nicely, but quickly since this is not a hard thing to do.

This child, who is usually so quiet, looked at me and said, "DON'T MESS IT UP!"

I chuckled a little bit to myself & smiled back and said I would be careful.

It did remind me though, of how we sometimes ask God to do something for us & He does it so easily. Yet, we sit in the background telling him how and when we want it done. If we could be more trusting and less bossy, we would probably see much more accomplished each day. I can just imagine God smiling to Himself as I'm praying about my troubles & asking Him to fix things & hoping He doesn't mess it up does it my way will give me peace about it.

Letting go of that last bit of control we have is hard, but it is the only way for us to show God that we trust Him. But, if we truly had control, we wouldn't need His help in the first place. In spite of the song my kids sometimes sing, Christians are not happy all the time. We have sorrow and trials, and we need help. Life is a challenge, every day. There is an answer.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalms 34:17-19

I'm still learning...

**This not new to me, but I came across it again & wanted to post it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing "Silent Night" Age 6

I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli either. Age 7

I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they stop what they are doing and wave back. Age 9

I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up again. Age 12

I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 14

I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15

I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24

I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures. Age 26

I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29

I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it. Age 39

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but just don't know how to show it. Age 42

I've learned that you can make some one's day by simply sending them a little note. Age 44

I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the greater his or her need to cast blame on others. Age 46

I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies. Age 47

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. Age 48

I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits for hours. Age 49

I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away from the phone. Age 50

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Age 52

I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills. Age 52

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you miss them terribly after they die. Age 53

I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. Age 58

I've learned that if you want to do something positive for your children, work to improve your marriage. Age 61

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. Age 62

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. Age 64

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your work, meeting new people and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. Age 65

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness, I usually make the right decision. Age 66

I've learned that everyone can use a prayer. Age 72

I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles. And to tell the truth, I've seen several. Age 75

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. Age 82

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back. Age 85

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. Age 92

Priorities

I found this in my draft file and I don't know who sent it to me. It was a good reminder today as I get ready to spend a 4-day weekend with my kids and some extended family from Montana.

A MAYONNAISE JAR and TWO CUPS OF COFFEE


When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the liquid into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house and car.

"The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"So... Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

"Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your loved one out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

"Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities.

"The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

It's the little things that count

“Know the love of Christ which passes knowledge."
Ephesians 3:19

To pay the debt of love, we can all do several things:
Mend a quarrel.…Replace a suspicion with a trust.
Remove any bitterness in your life.
Tell someone you know well how much he or she means to you.
Keep a promise.
Ask God to forgive someone who did something wrong to you, and forget the wrongdoing.
Don'’t be overly demanding on the other members of your family.
Express thanks to others throughout the day.
Pray for one of your enemies.
Send a check to someone who has a need.
Ask God to help you love the way Jesus loved.

*This is credited to John McArthur.

In the little things we do each day, we can make a difference in so many ways.

Today I am saying prayers of thanksgiving for my friends and family. The quote above was sent to me from a friend who means so much to me.
Her name is Sherri Martin. She could use as many prayers as you all can send up right now. She is fighting (and winning!) a battle with cancer. Her chemo has been doubled this week and she would treasure your prayers for strength and healing. Please add her to your prayers. She is a wonderful wife and mother & a fine example of the Proverbs 31 woman.

Thank you, my dear friends, for caring enough to pray for her. We all have needs. Send your prayer requests my way & we can all share God's love in prayer.

Things that make you wonder

I found this ad on craigslist.org when I was looking for something for a friend in Montana. It was enough to make me wonder how people become so strange... and don't even try to hide it. Of course this was for the Missoula area. There is quite a diverse mix of people there. And beer is quite popular around there.

I guess there might be someone desperate enough to barter for them. That's pretty sad.

**********************************

two cold cans of bud light for?

Reply to: xxxxxxxx@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-09-27, 3:35PM MDT


willing to deliver two ice cold cans of bud light. if you are old enough to drink them and have anything to trade in return, let me know.

for the right trade, i might even be willing to throw in an extra can.

***********************************



FYI- I am working on a post with much better content matter. This ad just made me stop and think about how silly we have become as a society.

Huckleberries

One of my favorite things about growing up in Montana is the annual huckleberry crop. I once mentioned huckleberries to someone and they were surprised that huckleberries were real. These tiny berries are real and they are really hard to get. They grow in the wild in the Northwest U.S.

Not only are they hard to get, but they are dangerous to get sometimes. They are quite popular with wild bears. Once these berries are ripe, the bears love to get their paws on them.

My Aunt Janice has lovingly sent a jar of preserves and some pancake mix with syrup all made with these tiny, tasty and tart creations. Her daughter, Angela, is scheduled to come to my house next weekend to enjoy these with me. Angela and I have both lived away from Montana for quite some time and know that anything huckleberry is a treasured thing from home.

To learn more about huckleberries, try these websites:

Huckleberry Hounds

Huckleberries and Bears

And while I'm at it, I'll share a tasty recipe you can use with huckleberry preserves OR fresh huckleberries. I use preserves since I'm too far from the source to have fresh.

Marsha's Huckleberry Coffee Cake
 (I don't know who Marsha is. I found this recipe years ago & can't find the source now.)

1/4 c. stick margarine, softened
1/2 an 8oz pkg cream cheese (or a 4 oz pkg)
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
2 cups fresh or frozen huckleberries **when using preserves, use about 1/4 cup and do not mix it in well. Just mix it enough to make swirls of it in there.

Topping:  2 T. cinnamon sugar
          
Beat margarine and cream cheese at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 1 c. sugar, beat well.  Add egg, beat well.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt, stir into margarine mixture.  Stir in vanilla.  Fold in berries.  Pour batter into a 9" round cake pan coated with cooking spray (or a pie plate works too).  Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over batter.

Bake at 350 for one hour.  Yield:  10 servings. ***I only bake it for 45 minutes so it's a little more moist

 Enjoy!

A Call to Modesty

I was talking to my friend, Kim, this afternoon and we were talking about how clothes for little girls are so immodest these days. As a mother of 4 little girls, I can see that this is going to be a big issue in our household as long as my girls have access to the outside world.

I found a mom on a blog who gives a "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED" AWARD to some retailers for their poor choices in marketing to young girls. I also saw on one of our local news stations (can't remember which one) that a mom protested to a retailer about the t-shirts that sport sexy sayings on them for her size-5 little girl. Moms everywhere are standing up for their precious little girls. I will, too. My mom taught modesty to me. I can pass it on. I'll teach it to my own girls, too.

It's not too late to teach our children modesty. One little girl at a time can change something if we raise enough of them up now.

Say Cheese!

The girls have been taking photos of each other again.

All 4 of them are growing so fast these days. The girls are always happy to pose... until the person with the camera takes too many turns.

The baby, for some reason, didn't want to cooperate, so she ran to hide between the speaker and entertainment center. Then, she had no where else to go... it was funny becuse when she realized the end of the road, she just turned her head & thought we couldn't see her. Silly kid.

Supper Swapping

Supper Swapping sounds like a novel idea.

I think I'd prefer to swap all on the same day & freeze or refrigerate stuff. Has anyone tried this? I'm only hesitant to ask anyone because I have such picky eaters. But, I thought maybe I'd glean from the experience of other moms who have done this.


Hmmm... something to think about... (Thanks, Kimmy)

Death of a Crocodile Hunter

TIME.com ~ Death of a Crocodile Hunter

This is sad to me because Steve Irwin leaves behind 2 little ones & his wife. He did have an awfully dangerous job, so I can't say it's not expected. It's just sad.

What do you get...?

What do you get when you mix Sesame Street with Law & Order?

Something worth watching. My Hannah was giggling at this & I thought I'd share it with you. I found it on another blog and had to post it.

Encouraging Realist?? Who Me???

Encouraging Realist

I thought I was a just a dreamer until I met Marty. Now I know what to call my personality since that whole Melancholy & whatever it was didn't sound very great. This might be the exact same diagnosis, but at least it sounds better. Or does it?

If you let your mouse rest on a color in the map above you will find out what each part of my personality is. I thought I had more confidence than that little streak of red, but hey... at least I am very functional... hmmm... I'm functioning with low confidence... and highly authoritative... maybe I should take the test again. nah. I don't have time. Dinner is not made yet & the kids are screaming. I wonder what that means...

Marty the Party Gator

Yes, this is a reference to my Dear Marty. It's his birthday today & I thought I'd give him a public wish since I just couldn't find the right card while the children hovered under my feet at Walmart yesterday. I eventually had to give up because one child just had to "go" now! Aaaah... such is the life of a mother who doesn't make sure the kids "go" before we shop...

A few years ago I discovered a smallish purple t-shirt with an alligator in a party scene. I've show the image here... Apparently, Marty used to have a bit of fun in his smaller college days. Our little Sarah just loves to wear it for PJ's. And I let her. The smile she gives when she says "Marty the Party Gator" is priceless.

So, my dear Marty, have a great day knowing that your children adore you. And here is a wish that they don't have as much fun as you seem to have had so long ago.

**I have just been told that Marty's parents bought this for him in New Orleans. And here I thought it was custom made for my fun-lovin' man.

Tired Already

Time is flying this week as we are trying to adjust to the new schedule. The girls can't get to sleep early because it is still light outside at 8 o'clock. They were so tired and crabby tonight that I tried a 7 o'clock bedtime. It took 2 full hours of ups and downs to get them to sleep. The most stubborn was Lindsey, who had a short nap today & should have been just as tired.

So, 6:30 comes early for my night owls... but they sure look cute in their uniforms.

This about sums it up

"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." - Phyllis Diller

I've had kids growing for 7 years. They are not done yet. Last week, my house was mostly clean on Wednesday & back to messy by Thursday at lunch. it just doesn't last. I'm hoping that when my 2 oldest start school tomorrow (Yes, we are having them go to a school, not home school... don't faint, please, it's not permanent.) I can eventually find myself a routine that allows a clean house a few days a week, yet also allows for some free time.

For now, I need to go investigate the crashing and yelping from the playroom.

...sigh

A Mother's Love

I've probably mentioned my kids in this blog before... Well, let me talk about them some more. They are my unique and precious gifts from the Lord.

So, why is being a mom so hard?
Why do I let my 4 year old bring out the worst in me almost every day? ...and who taught her to lie down on the floor in a temper tantrum and yell, "YOU MAKE ME DO EVERYTHING!!"

This came recently after I asked her to go upstairs and get her baby sister's sippy cup from the playroom. I interrupted her desire to run outside and play, I suppose, and tripped the angry cord of her heart, resulting in one of the worst displays of temper yet.

Obedience might be the behavior most sought after for a mother from her child. It's at least in the top 5. Love comes easy, but obedience is hard to come by sometimes.

"You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?"
Romans 2:21

Occasionally, when I correct my children I am reminded of a time when I was a child receiving the same correction. More often, though, I am giving them instruction that I know God is telling me to do at the same time in my own spiritual life.

"If you love you me you will obey my commandments," (John 14:15) takes obedience to a whole new level. I also recently read John 14:21 and Luke 6:46-49 showing me that love IS obedience. That's a tough one for me to explain to my children. Hugs and kisses and nice words and fuzzy feelings are love, right? Not really. Those are emotional responses to love, in simple terms. But, obeying when you don't want to do so is a truer way to love someone.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

My only hope for teaching my children obedience is to keep at it. I also need to keep being obedient in my own walk with the Lord so that when it comes time for them to see that love is obedience, they will really understand that it's not about me. It's about God and His unfailing love for us. We must be faithful. We must persevere. We must train our children in the way they should go. If we don't, how will they know they are loved?

So, mothers, I encourage you to use the Lord's strength to get through each day. I don't think it is possible to get though motherhood on my own. I'm so thankful for the Word of God and for other moms, young and old, who encourage me every day. Take care of your own walk with your Savior and he will lead in you the way you should go.
Psalm 32:7-8
Psalm 86:11

And when all else fails-- Remember Psalm 46:10,
"Be still, and know that I am God."

Have you heard?

The Silent Killer: Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a report on a rare breast cancer. I watched the video because I had received an email about it from about 7 different people in about a week. I'm not one who forwards very many things, so I thought I would put it on my blog so that you all could see it without having to download a file in email.

I thought to say that this info is just for women, but I decided husbands need to have it, too. Sometimes busy wives & mothers don't take time to get themselves checked out, but a caring husband could be the one with the knowledge to urge his beloved to get a checkup. It can also happen to men, so don't be shy about watching it. Even though it's rare, it happens & it is very aggressive.

The text on the website is good, but watching the video is great if your computer can handle the download.

Read it. Watch it. It might be something you need to know.

New Every Morning

Time is passing so quickly these days. The girls are growing up & changing every day. I can't stop that, and honestly I don't want to. I love their innocence & youth... but now that I'm a mother, I see that my girls have such potential to grow into women of faith. I want them to grow so that I can see the seeds that I am planting come to fruition.

The seeds that were planted in me so long ago by my own mother, step-father, & grandparents are important factors in the faith I now have. Seeds of faith that were not easily crushed. There were some years when I did not go to church or even care to go. There were times when I pushed away from my faith and pursued my own desires. A part of me regrets those years, but at the same time, it created such a thirst for God in me that when I found him again, I knew I would never leave Him for that old, parched life again. I had to leave some friends behind. I had to let some things die in order to grow my faith. It wasn't easy, but God as faithful to lead me in the right direction.

Each morning is not a breeze, though. I struggle to find time to read the Word. Some days I forget to pray until the day is done. There are many times I feel like I have failed in this planting, growing, weeding, and nurturing process, which is not just in my own garden anymore. I'm growing my daughters' faith as I grow my own. Sometimes I feel like they are way ahead of me in the faith department. Those are the days when I know I'm still under the mercies of God. If I could not wake (or go to sleep) each day knowing that I have another chance to get it right, I might not get to sleep. Being secure in the knowledge of new mercies every morning brings peace each night and hope to each day. I'm not going to stop trying. The lives of my children are at the mercies of the Lord, too. Praise be to God for that, because if they were at my own mercy, they would dry up.




"Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. " Lamentations 3:22


"I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth."
3 John 1:4

Forget MySpace, this is neat!

Ok- so, I doubt people will abandon MySpace.com anytime soon. I actually do have an account there, but that is just so I can read other people's profiles. I don't actually do anything there. Too many freaks are there, my own family included.

This new place, though, is going to be much more interesting. It's called LibraryThing and it is a place where you can catalog your books online. I know, I know... I'm weird. But, there is something about books that draws my attention. Marty loves them, too, resulting in one problem we have with unpacking here at our new house. Too many books, not enough bookshelf space.

But LibraryThing will allow us to catalog them, then tag them with a note saying where they are. I can also see how many other people have the same book. Well, that might only be fun for bibliophiles. Still, it's much more interesting than some other things I've come across on the web. Now if I could just talk Marty into cataloguing them all for me, I'd be all set.

A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.

Jerry Seinfeld


**It figures that the first day I discover something like this, they are having server issues. The upside is that they are going to transfer to more servers, which means quicker loading... Anyway, if it doesn't work, check it out another day. And a bonus is that to register, you don't have o put in all your info. You can just choose a name & password. That's it & you are in. You don't even have to give an email if you don't want to.

Birthday Girl

This pink camouflage outfit from Gramma Mary is so adorable on my little girl! It could have done without the teal platform flip flops, but they are one of Sarah's favorite things at the moment.

She had a wonderful day & a fun party. She fell asleep before she made it to bed.

You can check out her cake here.

*if you click on the photo, it will open up as a larger photo.

Royal Singers

Two of the girls gave a sweet performance at Marty's family reunion. All of the girls, even the baby, practiced a song much of the way up to Oklahoma... then sang a different song once they were in the spotlight. My oldest child, who has been to theatre camp and even won a local award for her performance of Molly in Annie, got stage fright.

My Beloved

Happy Eighth Anniversary, Calvin.

For those of you who don't know, Marty & I met on the internet in January of 1997. His online ID was Calvin. So, when we met in person, I sometimes slipped up & called him Calvin instead of Marty. Sometimes I would make a typo when we would chat and it would come out Clavin. Now that typo makes me grin because Cliff Clavin of Cheers fame was so full of useless information... Of course, Marty's information ended up being very useful one particular day.

It's been a roller coaster ride with having four beautiful daughters so close together, but we are in it for the long haul. That makes all the difference.

Friends

I received this photo in an email, and I just adore it. It reminds me of my sisters, my friends, and my daughters.


Here is a little excerpt from the email:
Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong. Thank you each for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own. I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.


I don't know where I would be without my girl friends. One prayer for my daughters is that they will find support in each other and find as many wonderful friends as I have found. The friends who have been the strongest are those who trust in the Lord.

"Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

Sittin' Pritty

My wonderful in-laws gave us these beautiful stools as a housewarming gift.
The girls just love them! I do, too. (the in-laws AND the stools!)




Luke 6:38 — “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Thank you, Gerald & Rita! Many happy blessings in return.

Poor Daddy

My dad, Bernie, fell from a ladder yesterday & broke his wrist. He ended up needing surgery to pin the bones & all that stuff back into place. He's not quite feeling the pain yet as he still medicated. So, please day a prayer for his recovery. He is a wonderful carpenter & all around handyman. This will be quite hard on him to be still and rest.


This photo is of my dad with the newest grand baby of the family, Jaxon Bernard.




"For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, saith the Lord."
Jeremiah 30:17

This time last year

A year ago I was getting very little sleep.
Remember why?

Lindsey is going to spend this summer getting teeth. She officially has 4 teeth in place, 4 more are breaking through. Not fun, but at least it's not itchy.

Family

I've often joked to my husband that my extended (and immediate) family can sometimes resemble an episode of the Jerry Springer Show. It's not that bad every day, but we have our moments. I'm more than thankful that I live in Texas where I don't have to be in the middle of the drama.

This quote from Jeff Foxworthy made me laugh today.

If you ever start feeling like you have the goofiest, craziest, most dysfunctional family in the world, all you have to do is go to a state fair. Because five minutes at the fair, you'll be going, "You know, we're alright. We are dang near royalty."

This weekend, the Scott family reunion is up in Oklahoma.
They meet at the fairgrounds.



**In case anyone is wondering, the part of the Scott family to which I am so blessed to belong, IS THE ROYALTY of the Scott clan. There's no doubt that I'm a part of a wonderful family.

Summer is finally here!

Well, not officially on the calendar, but it's Texas. It's been summer since April.
Our school co-op is out for the summer, so it's summer for us now. We have been letting the girls swim just about every day for the last month. It's tiring me out, so I told the girls that today is "take a break from swimming day." They barely said a word. That speaks volumes to me.

Resting in the knowledge that the pool will still be there tomorrow, my girls are quick learners.

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks

May 10th was a fun day for our girls. We saw our first Rangers game. I'm short on time, but here is a picture with the smiles I love to see.

He's got the whole world in His hands...

My sweet, thought-full Hannah was saying prayers on Saturday night. She ended with "...and thank you for the whole wide world... and all the other stuff, too."

Wondering what could possibly not be included in the "whole wide world," I asked her "What else is all the other stuff that you are thankful for?"

Without missing a beat, she answered, "Well, the consonants and all that."

I don't think I have ever been thankful for consonants. I've learned so much from this sweet girl.

Happy Mother's Day 2006

For all mothers- I hope this makes you smile & enjoy the day that sometimes turns out to be more hectic than relaxing.


If You Give a Mom a Muffin........

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor,
she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan dinner for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She will look for her cookbook (101 Things to Make with a Pound of Hamburger).
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring.
Her four year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee on Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.

And chances are......
If she has a cup of coffee......
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

**author unknown**

HappyMommyTo2: April Fools!!!

I meant to post this a month ago.

While we were sweating with record heat here in Texas, this is what was happening back home in Montana. What a big world it is that we could have both on the same day.

I just spoke to Kim again and they still are getting a few skiffs of snow in the mornings. Today in Texas, we had mid-90's.

Weeds and Water

**This was from April 24. I found it today in my draft files.**


This past Friday I spent a good amount of time weeding the back yard of our new house. It was obvious that the previous owners cared very little for the yard. Weeds of every size were taking over the yard. At first glance a few weeks ago, the yard looked impossible to clean up. There was a sticker bush that had grown about 3 feet tall, maybe taller. My mother-in-law brought over a wonderful tool that really helped speed up the process of getting rid of the weeds. So, with the help of that tool and a good rain from the night before, I set about my task of getting the weeds up so that Marty could mow over the weekend.


As I began working, I said some prayers of thankfulness for this house & for our family. I remembered a scripture that I had heard earlier that week about grass growing & its flowers withering... it started an hour-long thinking and praying process about how each of us has a yard or garden in our life. In our yard, it seemed that the weeds were neverending. How much can our own lives reflect that kind of neglect & helplessness?

Weeds steal water, light, and nutrients from the soil, nourishing themselves and leaving the grass to die. In the parable of the sower, Jesus uses some strong language to describe the power of weeds. “The thorns grew up and choked it.” (Mark 4:7, 18-19 NRSV) (talking about a seed) If weeds are given freedom to grow, they will likely destroy the good plants and spread more seed.

Even more dangerous than the weeds in the yard are the intruders which we allow, sometimes invite, into our everyday lives and into our world. How often have I felt choked by the things in my life? Have I been teaching my children how to tend a garden? Not lately. I'd better get pulling.

Some weeds are easy to pull. They pop right up when you apply just a little pressure. Some weeds have been taking root for ages & need much more force to get them out. In hard, dry soil, I found the large weeds would break off, leaving some of the root in the soil. The rain on Thursday night provided a boost to get the roots out on Friday. So, I thought about water... the Water of Life. Water carries nutrients to the plants, just as God's Word waters our spiritual garden. Plants need a constant supply and so do we. If we are in constant connection with God through His Word, we are much more likely to recognize and remove weeds when they are small.

Now these were not all new thoughts to me, but they have come together at this point in my life for a reason. I was learning for myself that I need to devote more time to watering my spiritual garden. I have some weeds that are going to need a lot of water before the roots will loosen up. I'd better get reading.


Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour out water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants

A Good Read

I've been reading a blog that makes me laugh, cry, and know that I am not alone in the motherhood calling. Check out one of the latest posts from Amy's Humble Musings. I don't know her personally, but I think she's a good role model for many moms.

Happy Birthday, Hannah

She's the most thought-full girl I know. All of my girls are smart, but Hannah seems to dig a little deeper than the others. One of her favorite things is a pretty dress. It looks like she got another one from her precious Grandma Rita today. I just received this photo in my email. Isn't she beautiful? She's growing up so fast.





A daughter
may outgrow your lap,
but she will never
outgrow your heart.

OOooo, babies are so cute!

I hope you don't mind that I am sharing this adorable picture of my newest nephew with his lips posing for a kiss. He's supposedly the best baby ever. I might beg to differ, but not while I am looking at this cute photo.

ebay Outrage! I need to vent!

It has come to my attention that ebay no longer allows the sale of Teacher's Edition Textbooks. The claim I've been hearing through the message boards is that non-teachers, namely students, are buying the answer keys for their own use.

So what? If it is a college student, that person is an adult and has a right to buy it from anywhere else on the web. If it is a pre-college student, why isn't the parent watching them more closely? Don't punish the rest of us because some kids are cheating. ebay isn't for kids. BUT...Kids are also buying rated R videos, mature books, weapons, diet pills, and pretty much anything they need to self-destruct. Why take away the off-chance that they could absorb some knowlege from copying the right answers for their homework.

It just doesn't make sense. Something else must be up...


aaaargh! I just had to vent.

Life goes on...

My nephew was born yesterday & boy is he ever cute!
Jaxon Bernard Logan




My sister is doing fine & is home already.
God is good.

Joy in the Chaos

It's been an adventure trying to get things organized here. We sttill have some things at the old house that we need to go and get. Even with all the monotonous unpacking and organizing, there is joy to be found. I am very tired, but finding strength to make a little progress every day. Sometimes the daily grind gets in the way of making big strides, but things are getting done. I know that this house will be a blessing to us & I have plans to use it to bless others. So, as I unpack a little at a time, I am singing praises of thanks for this beautiful home.

Ps 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

For the girls, there is a playroom full of toys. I have a plan for organizing it, but it will have to wait. In the meantime, Lindsey plays in there for hours and keeps finding fun. I sent this photo to a friend yesterday & she said it was like a Where's Waldo game. Can you find Lindsey?

I'm back, but not for long

That's a good thing, though! We are closing on our new house today & are going to spend much of the next 2-3 days moving out of the old & into the new house. I'll be scarce on the computer for quite a awhile I imagine.

My mom is back in Wyoming as of yesterday. She was disappointed that we hadn't scheduled this closing to be while she was here. But, now she has a good reason to come back in a few months.

Since my mind is elsewhere, I'm going to go.

Here's a picture that was taken when my mom was here.

Gramma Mary is coming to town

Well, she won't be here until after bedtime, but she's still coming. I'm beyond excited and the girls are, too. I think they might even be happy enough to help me get some cleaning done "for Gramma Mary, " of course.

Here is a photo of the last time the girls saw her. They have changed so much since then.

Woo Hoo!

We got the house!
I don't have any details yet, but here's a photo. It's so much bigger than what we are in right now. I can't stop thinking of where to put everything.

Where have I been?

I've been slacking in the blog department, for sure. Things have been keeping me busy around here. I won't go into detail, but it's been quite an adventure. We are still waiting to hear about the house we want to buy. After all this time, if we are turned down, I will NOT be a happy camper.

In a week, my mother will be here for a fun visit. For the first few years of my living here after I was married, she only came for the birth of my babies. It just worked out that way. This time she's just coming for fun! We are having Erin's birthday party while she is here. My mom is the reason I love to have a cute cake for the birthday girl. She made our birthday cakes herself & we always loved them. I have a picture somewhere of one that had pink, purple, and blue swirled inside like marble. It was so neat to me back then.

Erin's party is going to be a luau style party, complete with leis and grass skirts for the girls if I can find some for a reasonable price. She drew a picture of her cake for me. I'll do my best to replicated her wishes. It will be a fun time of 3 generations putting their creativity together for a good time.

Motherhood is calling, so must go.

Rockin' Girl

Erin went to her first Makeover Party last night for a friend's birthday. It was at Club Libby Lu. She had so much fun. She was even thoughtful enough to bring home a treat for her sisters.

Then & Now

I was watching my girls play today & I realized how much they have grown in the past few years. Here are some reminders of just how much...
Erin and Hannah in October 2001




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And today

*******************************************************************************************

Sarah in July 2003




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and today...waiting for Grandma to pick her up for a sleepover



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Last, but not least, Sarah one year ago



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and last month, still smiling

No News could be Good News

We still have not heard about our 2nd offer on the house.
I know God is in control, so I have to keep reminding myself that His timing is best.

I'M JUST HAVING A HARD TIME WAITING! But today's Psalm of the day is perfect!
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
Psalm 27:14

In the meantime, I have been making home videos and putting them on the web for y'all to see. I'm not very good at it yet, but I'm learning. If it doesn't work, let me know so I can try to fix it.

Welcome to the Scott family homepage!
It's a free hosting site, so you have to endure ads and promos for other videos--but hey, it's free!

My Sweet Valentine

Marty came home from work with this gift for me. They are the perfect color and the perfect flower for me.

Anticipation

We are sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear if our offer for a beautiful house is accepted. It's perfect for us... there's a story to go along with it. You can read it here and here.

Ramen Noodle Heaven

Lindsey spent some time at Grandma's house and had her first taste of ramen noodles. It looks like she really enjoyed them.
She figured out that she could get it in her mouth more quickly by eliminating the hand to mouth step.


I was told that she ended up eating them out of the bowl, in a dog-like manner.

Huh?

This might be the most amusing ebay auction I've ever come across...
AMAZING nVIDIA User Friendly Printing Device - Wireless

Memory Lane

I found a bunch of photos from a few years ago.
Erin drew this when she was two and a half years old. Quite impressive for a young tot, but not so flattering for the rest of us. And what is that in Marty's mouth, hair or teeth?

Sweet Sisters

Necessary Grace

"I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be."
John Newton

That quote was on an email sent to me by a fellow MOMYS . Being a mom of any number of children of any age is helpful in understanding grace. I think every mom, at some point, realizes that she is not the mom she wants to be...yet. Children have a tendency to be self-centered and disobedient, requiring much patience and grace on the part of the parent. Being Godly-minded parents, though, it is our job to teach the child that grace is not a license to do wrong or repeat an offending behaviour.

So many times since I have become a mommy, I have seen in action the love that God has for us. When I say to one of my own, "How many times have I told you not to do that?", I can picture God's loving smile as he is thinking of a time when he has told me time after time to do something in His Word, and I struggled to get it right. When one of the girls is throwing a fit, I think of when I cried and cried to God about something that did not work out the way I wanted it to work. He just waited until got quiet and comforted me. That is grace abounding. His grace is perfect. His grace is the ONLY reason that I will one day be admitted into heaven to worship at his feet. God's grace, to me, is not always letting me get off the hook for my sin, but rather showing me through the pain that if I had only obeyed Him the first time, this pain could have been avoided.

'"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." (Isaiah 48:18, NKJV)

When my children are grown up enough, they will know for sure that the punishments they endured were given out of love. Because I love my children, I will continue to make sure they know that grace abounds because of the greatest love. In reality, I am not just raising children; I am raising children of God, who will become warriors for the Kingdom. By the grace of God, I will get it right in the end.

"Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound."
— Romans 5:20

**If you would like to know more about God's Amazing Grace, please email me a note and I can share some Good News with you.

Pet Peeve

I don't think I have very many pet peeves, but this is one of them...

When people spell SEPARATE with 3 E's.

I'm not too critical when it is just a casual note or something informal. However, in the last year I have seen it misspelled in at least 3 magazines and now I have it right in front of me on a contest entry form from Weight Watchers. It is just not acceptable when a professional company doesn't have an editor who can spot that error. Don't they have spell check at least??

I "googled" the misspelling, and there are over 9.6 MILLION times that it is misspelled. I know that some of those are people like me, complaining about the ignorance of some others...but 9 MILLION! Really, now.

Playing in the leaves

Well, not really playing...more like sitting. The kids were going to play, but a neighbor's dog went on the loose and we had a dash for the front door.

The dog, by the way, was a mini dachshund named Sugar.

My Hope is in the LORD

This morning as I read my online devotional by Elisabeth Elliot,
Hope Is a Fixed Anchor, I was reminded that it has been 15 years (tomorrow) since my paternal grandfather died of cancer. When we first found out that he was terminal, it was unreal to me. I was 19 and still had all of my grandparents alive. The only loss I could really remember was my mom's brother, Errol, who died in a truck accident in his 20's. Other funerals were for people that I really didn't know very well. So, when he got sick and my Nana needed help, I postponed college to move in with them for awhile...to help them hope and pray for a miracle.

Since Bobby, as his grandchildren called him, was not a Christian man, this hope for a miracle had to come from someone else. It was heart-wrenching to watch the deterioration of this man who was once so solid. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was not a tall man, but his presence was big wherever he went. Now, he was shriveling before my eyes. He didn't have any hope for a cure...but I held out for as long as I could.

While he was sick, he had time to reflect on his life. He had made some rough choices in his life & was seeing that there must be more. He began to let people talk to him about things that he never would have opened his eyes to if he hadn't been dying. My step-dad, Bernie, took it upon himself to speak the gospel to Bobby. He would pray with Bobby whenever he had the chance. Bobby died on January 3rd, 1991, a child of God, full of hope for eternity.

Now that I have looked back over his life, cancer was not what he needed to be healed of. Because of his cancer and the time it gave him to think, he was able to receive the gospel and see that Christ was the only way to heaven. I don't think he would have heard that with an open heart if he had not been face to face with death like he was.

The hope that saved him was not the hope for physical healing. It was the hope that once his life on earth was over, grace alone would allow him to live eternally in perfect peace. A miracle came...just not the one I started out hoping for. The miracles that came were more meaningful than anything else...the transformation of a sinful heart, undeserved grace, peace, and forgiveness.

This new year is full of hope and promise. The things I hope for are in God's hands...not man's. Let us draw nearer to the heart of God as we hope for the promises He has made to His children.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" (Heb. 7: 19).




****i had to change the link to Elisabeth Elliot's devotional. For some reason, it is no longer on the original website.