Bring it on/be thankful

The past two days have been HARD. VERY HARD. Lots of little things piling up. Here's just a brief recap: Matthew had an appointment that will hopefully change the rest of our lives. We will see where that takes us. The car decided to be a jerk and had to be fixed. Apparently, somehow, somewhere, someone decided we shouldn't live in the county where we actually live.... and when Jamie went to pay our car taxes, he couldn't be/c they told him we lived in a different county than we do. A county we'd never lived in. And if we'd have been pulled over for anything, we'd have gone directly to jail, do not pass go, thanks for that. So Jamie had to deal with the tax commissioner's office and prove to them who we are and where we actually live. (Are you serious?) I had an appointment and need to be seen by a specialist and might need another ear surgery, might not... it's just been one piled on thing on top of another piled on thing. I am praising God that we are getting answers about my ear issues and Matthew's issues... and I am PRAISING GOD that nothing is wrong with our tiny miracle baby.

In the midst of my woes... here is my pastor's thoughts on his blog this week. I thought I'd copy and paste it over.

It’s Always Right to Be Thankful

September 7, 2010 at 2:16 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

As I was reading the Scriptures a couple of weeks ago, I was convicted to just pause and thank God for what most of us would view as little things. I know that at Thanksgiving, we pause and devote a day to thanking God for our blessings. While I think that it’s good and healthy for us to do that, I think the danger we face is in possibly segmenting our gratitude and limiting it to a certain season.

So I started offering prayers of thanksgiving to God as people, things, and blessings came to my mind, and I found myself with a stream that seemed to increase in its scope and intensity. I must confess that I don’t always do this in my prayer time, but that day it seemed so natural and was such a sweet time to just thank God for everything that came to my mind. I didn’t exhaust my list at all, but there are other days, in God’s will, that I will have to remain thankful. Here are a few of the “small things” that God brought to my mind:

Sunrises and sunsets Memory Beauty

Ice cream sandwiches Music Faith

Laughter Family Strength

Now, if this seems hokey to you, just read I Thessalonians 5:18, then read Romans1:21 and 2Timothy 3:1-5 where thanklessness is a mark of the unconverted. Then go and spend some time in thanksgiving for what God brings to your mind.

I went ahead and looked up his verses mentioned for us all...

1 Thessalonians 5:18

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Romans 1:21

²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Thank you Pastor Joe for helping me to remember that instead of shouting "BRING IT ON!" "What else do you have up there in store for us?!" what I should be saying is "Thank you God." "Thank you for being you. For loving us. For keeping us safe. For our home. For our love. For your love. For Matthew's Christian education. For all the things that do keep us going on a day to day basis. Thank you for the morning you give us new each day. Amen."

coupon score today

Publix has some nice BOGO deals going on and with the $5.00 off Kraft items coupon, their dairy sales are major scores right now!

10(yes TEN!) four packs of yogurt cups (normally $2.50 each on sale BOGO) (coupon makes it 0.25 each)
one mustard (BOGO) (with coupon makes free)
one bbq sauce (BOGO) (with coupon makes .60 cents)
4 american cheese packs (on sale 2 for $4) (coupon takes $5 off Kraft)
2 sour cream (on sale $1)
one pack of animal crackers (coupon for it free)

18 items

TOTAL COST: under $8.00 !!! FOR REAL! I should have lined it all up on the table and taken a picture be/c seriously all that for less than 8 dollars is unreal!

Yogurt update: so the last time I did a major yogurt score was on 7/9. It's now 9/4. We didn't make it all the way until this sale came back without running out of yogurt, but not too bad. I think we bought one, maybe two tubs to cover the last couple weeks in between. I'm hoping for a few more from this sale. I have 3 coupons left, but they were out of vanilla which is what Matthew will eat, so I'm going to go back for some more.

When I went to the couponing workshop a month or so again, the author of the Southern savers site said that most deals cycle every 6-8 weeks. Nice to see this is the case here. I'm hoping if I can gain a few more coupons and get some more, we can really make it between now and the next deal without ever having to buy yogurt again at regular price. or even half price.

I love coupons!

Hi baby of mine

Yesterday I had another appt with my midwife, K. I love her. Oh how I love her. Love love love her. She's so wonderful and warm and understands my fears and concerns. She lost her own tiny miracle last year. She knows the pain I have felt in the past. We grieved together. She is more than ready to say "Call my cell, girl! You have a personal midwife, that's what I'm for!" any time I'm anxious, concerned, worried, whatever! She's so wonderful. It's no reason I followed her from my old practice to where she is currently. I don't mind the drive. The time I spend in the car on the way to the appointments, I listen to Phil Cross. I play his songs over and over. I go into my appointments with peace of mind, understanding that anything could happen. That I'm not garenteed anything. That God is a great and mighty and loving God and that ultimately He. does. not. owe. me. one. thing. Oh how I play that song. I'm glad for the time alone and I can just saturate myself with that thought. You do not owe me one thing, Father. This song has done such a marvelous thing for my thought life... ANYHOW!!

Yesterday, after listening and preparing my heart for any outcome, I walked into my appointment feeling a little anxious. What met me though, on that ultrasound screen was nothing short of God's glory. K was overjoyed and just as excited as I was while I saw our sweet miracle baby turn in a full circle, wiggling around. S/he raised a closed fist high above the head in a stretch and stuck both feet out, showing me all the toes. I felt such a peace as I sat there watching my child dance inside me on that screen. A screen where I have seen and felt emptiness and heartache, yesterday showed me hope and joy and peace and glory and God in a way I needed. I know that there still isn't a promise that I'll hold this child on this earth. And I have to live knowing that. But I feel as though I got a huge gift yesterday. This window, this glimpse in the womb, to see this miracle. It was as if God said, "here child. I'm here. This baby is fine. Stop you're fretting now."

So. I made my phone calls to the appropriate people and began again singing to God how He doesn't owe me one thing, but how grateful I am for each moment with my children (all of them) he has given me and continues to give me.

Next appt is in 3.5 weeks (the longest between them so far) after we get back from a week to the beach!

10 on Tuesday--The Nic edition

Here's my ten on Tuesday trip review:

1. She met me at the airport with my favorite starbucks drink (coffee-free of course)! What a way to start the trip. Nothing says, "Hi. I love you" like being greeted with starbucks!

this was us Friday night

(((Jessica, do you see the bump shirt?!?!)))

2. I think my most favorite part of the trip might have been our waffle driveway picnic breakfast and sidewalk chalking time with the kids Saturday morning. The only thing missing in that special time was my own boys. We were out there for a long while and it was so beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky.

Waffle breakfast picnic

Nic with her cuties

Nic and Jonathan

Allie and Aunt Kate

3. I love my pretty toes!

4. I loved catching up on movies I hadn't seen yet: The Proposal (SO FUNNY) and Romy and Michelle (it was good!)

5. Nic won the pie eating contest.

6. I loved when Allie and I read together on the couch.

7. Jonathan is getting WAY too big and WAY too smart.

8. Allie is beautiful. She's going to be a heart breaker.

9. Oh look! I got a birthday cake, with candles and singing and everything. I hated that Matthew missed it. but isn't it so pretty?!

10. March is a very long way away.

I'm so excited!!!!

And I just can't hide it!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I will be face to face, arm in arm with my best friend. WHEW! It's been too long and it will be even longer still after this weekend until the next time (which we wont talk about again thank you!) I just can't wait until tomorrow. We have a CRAMMMMMMED weekend planned with lots of fun events and family things to do. I hope we can manage to get it all squeeeeezed into a short weekend trip (and still have time for me to nap!) Anyhow I have the boys sorted (thank you T!), a ride to the airport established (thank you N!), and some much needed me time while I wait for the flight! Yipppppie! I'm hoping this weekend besides being wonderful to see Nic and family and spend some great time with her and make some great memories with her kiddos, I'm hoping that this weekend will also help recharge my mommy battery. Things have been very hard lately. I'm so tired. a. lot. I just want to sleep all the time. I can't of course. My kids need you know the attention that they deserve during the hours that they themselves are awake, but lately, it's just been harder. I'm tired, I'm grouchy, I'm anxious... and I'm ready to charge that up and come home nicer and tolerant... It's hard sometimes to remember that the children are children. I ask Matthew sometimes to help me with this chore or that chore, but he doesn't have chores-chores yet. He doesn't truly understand there is ALWAYS a cause and effect. I can't make him answer me as to WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY he would rather sit in the chair with the poop in his pants, crusting on him, as opposed to coming to tell me he had an accident. I can't make him understand that it is BETTER for him and me if he'd poop in the potty. (That was tonight's little battle as I was two minutes from leaving the house for the evening). But I'm tired of being cranky so much. I want to cherish him for being him. For being a child. For exploring the world while he's trying to learn about it. I want to love him for being him. GOOFY and loud and all. So. Instead of butting heads with him this weekend I will be missing him, and hopefully I will come back and be a better mommy because of my much needed break.

So! "Look out Kansas City, Kansas City here I come!"

(Leave a comment if you know the song/singer)

Trip to Nana's

Nana and Jamie

Jamie and the boys

Petting Nana's cat Fluffy.

Following Daddy across the dirt road to see the cotton fields

the boys looking at the cotton

and digging in the dirt

Nana and Markie

gathered around looking at girl stuff

Markie, Kate, Carter, Jennifer

All the little cousins running around outside.
I think here they were playing freeze tag or starting their hide and seek adventures.

Mark really enjoyed Kyle who kicked the ball with him for
a while while the big kids ran to fast for him to keep up.

As you can see, we had a great trip. These pictures were all from Saturday. I napped a lot. It was nice to just sit with family and soak in Nana. I hope we get down there around Christmas time and can visit longer.

Kate's cake

I didn't get my camera in time to take a picture of the whole cake, but here's what was left when the camera came. :) It was really yummy. Banana Oat Crumb cake... with frosting between layers. I did take a picture of the whole cake with my phone. And it's currently the background on my phone, in case there are those that need to know that. Ha ha

Wanna Be Apple Pie Muffins

No official "10 on Tuesday" but here's a few things...

1. I got my camera back!!!! LOOK OUT! Here come some pictures!

2. I wanted to post this great recipe. Made it tonight and it was soooooo good.

Crisscross Apple Crowns (I will be calling them Wanna-be-Apple Pie Muffins) From Taste of Home Magazine. Giving credit where credit’s due: Teresa Morris, DE.

Prep time: 30 min (Eh, give or take maybe, I didn’t think to look but I didn’t feel it was lengthy)
Cook time: 20 min
Makes 8

1-1/3 cup chopped peeled tart apples (I used two big green apples, peeled and sliced and smashed to bits with the Pampered Chef food chopper)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins (I omitted these)
½ cup sugar, divided
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
Dash salt
1 pk (17.3 oz) Large refrigerated flaky biscuits (I got large flaky Grands with butter)
2 tsp butter, melted

In large microwave safe bowl, combine the apples, walnuts and raisins with 3 Tbls sugar, flour, ½ cinnamon and salt. Microwave 2-3 minutes or until almost tender. (I did 3 minutes, it was great)

Flatten each biscuit into a 5-inch circle. (I kind of pulled them around the edges, turning and flipping until it was stretched. The “flattening” on the cutting board wasn’t working out). Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle a rounded teaspoon of mixture of each biscuit. Top mixture with ¼ cup of warm apple mixture. Bring up edges to enclose mixture, pinch edges to seal. (I did this one biscuit at a time “flattening”, spooning sugar, and then apple mixture and then pinching and sealing and placing in pan then moving on to next biscuit rather than to flatten all at once.)

Place (now a ball of dough) seam side down in ungreased muffin cups. (I wasn’t sure about this. I used a paper towel and gave each cup a rub with Crisco). Brush tops with butter, sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture. With sharp knife, cut an X in the top of each.

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before moving to wire rack for cooling. (I will be using the Crisco from now on, as they came out beautifully, without sticking)

SOOOO YUMMY. It was like apple pie wrapped in a biscuit. I seriously see us making this often, it was super easy and so good. Enjoy the pictures. I'll be back with trip pictures in a bit.

Before cooking

After

The most wonderful time of the year....

And no, I'm not meaning Christmas just this one time. Today is my most favorite day of the year. Don't exactly know why it means THAT much to me, but it just does. My sister's birthday was yesterday and tomorrow is mine. And for this one day only, we're only 1 year apart in age instead of 2 years. I've always loved this day. She called me today and said "I know it's your favorite day of the year today" and it just is. I didn't think she'd think about it any. I didn't say anything about it yesterday. I don't' really think I say anything about it any other day of the year unless you're taking some silly friending quiz, you know and there's a question like "what is your favorite day of the year?" and then I get to answer: August 22nd! 22 happens to be my most favorite number anyhow. Don't know why. Maybe it evolved from this date business, I'm not sure. So it's a double win for me. I'm particularly fond (cough) of even numbers. So there's a triple bonus maybe? Uh-huh, I totally know I'm rambling. But oh well. If you want to read the ramblings of a slightly delusional white chick, then you're in the right place. If you don't, then "go away eh" (Brother Bear quote). So there you go... for me... Today was the most wonderful time of the year... with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer... Oh yah, I got distracted. Christmas is then my next most wonderful time of the year of course. So yah. ... Yesterday Jamie said something about Silver Bells and that song was in my head all day. mmmm Christmas music rocks.

Anyhow, Happy yesterday Kris.
Happy tomorrow me.
Happy day. Today.

Hello little baby!

I had an appt today and I was very pleased. My sweet darling baby was still in there, squirming around. We're 10 weeks tomorrow. I'm equally excited and nervous still. I love this baby so much already but I know that everything is at God's timing and even if we get past the "danger zone" I still have zero control and anything's possible. I just have to remember to give God all the glory and to praise Him every day He lets me have my children with me.

At the ultrasound today I was so pleased to see my sweet baby again. Strong heart beat. Baby was beautiful. Kicking both little leg nubs and totally squirming around. So cute. It looked like a little gummy bear or teddy graham in there! SO CUTE!


~~PSALMS 139~~