I need to remind myself This...

Today, from the time I left the quietness of my prayer time,
I needed to look at this picture because..
it has been ONE OF THOSE DAYS!



As little as we formally do for "school", we started doing that again after a little time off!
But...
The nice little organized way that I had in mind and had planned for weeks did not
Work...
It was utter chaos and the furthest thing from organized that I can think of!
So...
After I collected my thoughts, picked up a broken picture frame that had "mysteriously" fell to the floor, and layed on my bed in tears for a moment
We..
Continued to do things as I had planned
However...
Things still were not working!  Kids running in cirlces, spilled water all over NEW school books, etc!

Until...

Dad walks in the door!
Suddenly...
Everything was quiet, and everyone was getting along and playing together!  HA!
After...
He saw it written all over my face, I shared my morning with him and he saw my frustration, he calmly states to me
This...
"I know it has been bad, but look at them!  They are doing so well!"  (Me, not so much!) To that I reply
BUT...
"You were not here an hour ago!  This is NOT the way it was!"  He looks at me and winks
Then..
I get an overwhelming peaceful feeling that is just what I needed!
Because...
Sometimes you just have to sit back and realize that things are never as bad as they seem! 
Remember...
We see bits and pieces
BUT...
God see's the whole puzzle
And...
after the puzzle is put together and the pieces suddenly fit, it will all be worth it!

Raising children is so hard somedays and things just don't turn out the way I had planned but that's okay!  I have a loving Father that wants for me to lean on Him and give Him my weakness so that He can be strong!  For that I am SO thankful!  (Otherwise I just might not get up tomorrow morning!) :)

Foto Friday- A feast for many

We had the joy of sharing a meal with another large family we know.
There were 21 children between our two families!
I wonder if the tables in heaven will resemble this? :)
 It was a wonderful time of fellowship.

More sharing...

It was so much fun sharing yesterday my 11 year old, today I introduce to you...
My 13 year old!

She...

~ is my other right hand!

~ grew up overnight

~ has a beautiful spirit to go with that beautiful smile!

~ is the favorite babysitter in our home

~ comes up with some fun, crazy idea's (may explain the previous sentence)

~ loves to tease other people

~ is so good at it people usually don't know if she is kidding or not

~ gets that from her dad

~ loves animals

~ gets her braces off next week after wearing them for 3 years

~ is VERY excited about that!

~ loves to have things neat and tidy (most of time)

~ has a cat mom and dad gave her named Miette

~ has 8 bunnies (the mom just had babies)

~ takes great care of the boys!

~she plays with them, bathes them and loves and entertains them

~ is my saving grace!

~loves the color turquoise

~ loves biscuits and gravy

~ loves to go to church

~ loves to help others

~ is very special to us!

 

Sharing

I seem to talk lots about my younger kids so today, I thought I would share with you a little info about my 11 year old!

She...


~ is my helper
~ loves to laugh
~loves the ones who others find hard to love
~ is so kind and giving
~ tries to keep 7 younger brothers in line (and does pretty good)
~ loves to read
~loves to play the piano and is getting VERY good!
~is going to teach her little brother to read this year (maybe 2 brothers!)
~loves to swim
~loves being a girl but can get messy and play like a boy too!
~is genuinely sweet
~is a PICKY eater!
~loves fruit
~loves the color red
~is a little sister to 2 big sisters
~sometimes she thinks that can be reallly hard!
~loves to memeorize scripture
~loves Jesus!

Today...

Today is one of those days, (actually it has been longer but I'm not really counting), when the presence of God has been so real in my life!  Not a cymbal crashing, plowed over kind of real,(although I have witnessed those times too!) but a quiet, gentle, peaceful spirit kind of real!  The kind that every thought you have you just feel covered!  Every trial you face is being carried by Him.  Every decision you make is made because you have taken the time to 'listen' to that still small voice and you just know that your decision was God filtered!  I must tell you that unfortunately, I do not always have this!  I get into MY ways and MY bad habits, and just plain don't even think about looking to Him!  Selfishness, rebellion, and disobedience are just so on the surface sometimes! 

I look at my kids and as I think about this peacefulness that I am having because of my Heavenly Father.  Do they have that with me?  Am I showing them that God is all the things I know He is?  I know that our image of God is formed because of our parents and how we view them.  (That can change once we draw closer to God.)  For instance, my dad left my mom when I was very young and my step-sister once told me he left because I was born!  So I grew up with the thought that I always had to do things to make sure God would love me and not abandon me!  After all these years, I am finally grasping the idea that God is love and no matter what I do, He loves me and will not leave me!  My past has left many scars, but God is good and He is showing me how to get past those by looking to Him.  I have talked to my children about that so much and as far as I can see, they understand that God loves them and they don't approach Him with a lightning rod in His hand mentality!  (The "strike" you down kind if you do something wrong!)  Although we do need to teach our children the "fear" of the Lord, we need to do it in a biblical way by using His Word as our guide! 

So, knowing that God is right beside me and guiding my every step, how do I guide them in that way?  By example!  When I am going through a trial, I share it with them and tell them how God led me out of it!  When a neighbor is ill, or needing help, we reach out to them.  When our own children are hurting or just want to talk, we LISTEN to them!  (I struggle  with this one sometimes!)  God always listens to me and sometimes I bet I sound pretty ridiculous!  :)  The most important thing we can do for them is show them a love for the Word of God and have a relationship with Him!  Not made of works, by telling them all the things they must do to show God their love, but just by being and dwelling with Him!  I so often get caught up in all the things that my kids need to do in our home and I forget that sometimes I just need to BE with them and love on them for awhile!  They need that from me!  Just as I need that from God! 

Colossians 2:20-23~  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as thought living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men?  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  (in other words unless you have a relationship with Him, all the do's and don'ts will be stale religion.)

We NEED a relationship with Him!  Then all the other things we are to do will fall into place!  Just as I need to grasp my child's hearts!  The motivation that they have to obey SHOULD be to please me not just a list of do's and don'ts so they don't get in trouble!  The way I mold their hearts to that idea, is to BE there for them and appreciate them!  Just as my heavenly Father does with me!  A list of rules and regulations only causes guilt and condemnation and even bitterness, but a relationship with my children, gives them a freedom to love and please while they work!  The heart is totally motivated by love not "religion"!  If we truly love God, we desire to please Him and it SHOULD break our heart when we don't!  That is what causes us to repent!  May we draw our children to us so that they will draw close to God!

God~ today I thank you for being with me and loving me just because I was created to love you!  Please help me to be that way with my children!  Help me to grasp their hearts and that their motivation to do things for others would be because they desire to please me because they love me and in return please you and love you as they grow!  May they always look to you, but help me be a vessel you work through while they are young so that their idea of who you are is not warped by my humanness!  Thank you for the job you have given me and that you trust me!  You are love!

Foto Friday ~ Overlooking the flood...

Dad took the kids on an adventure to get a bird's eye view from a top an old railroad bridge of the recent flooding in the river close to us
(Mom stayed home because mom does not do bridges!)

Very exciting to watch!

It was a great way to discuss all kinds of "science" things! (Us homeschooling families grab every opportunity we can! :)

And then to run off some energy!

Enjoy your weekend!

Thankful for food Thursday!

Got a sample of this at a grocery store.  My kids LOVED it!  I made a few accomodations to fit to my style of cooking!

EASY Cheesy Chicken

1 T olive oil

3 cans of chicken  (I used 2 lbs of fresh shredded chicken)

2 boxes mac and cheese ( I made my own with 15 oz of pasta and 1 cup of american cheese)

3/4 C italian salad dressing

fresh parsley (optional)

fresh thyme (optional)

1. 
   
   Prepare mac and cheese
2. 
   
   Heat oil in large skillet and chicken until light brown or fully cooked if using fresh chicken
3. 
   
   Add dressing and 3 Tbs water stir and cook for 2 minutes
4. 
   
   Add chicken, stir together and cook for an additional 5 minutes on low
5. 
   
   sprinkle with parsley and thyme, serve!  (Makes 6-8 servings)

You can add some peas or broccoli  to get those veggies in!  Make some homemade bread or biscuits and you have yourself an easy, delicious meal!

What little boys do!

Big brother worked at a tire shop

so...

Little brothers made their own "car"shop!

Fixin' tires...

Changin' oil...

And just other things little boys like to do!

Spaghetti-Smeared Generation...

This is one of my favorite ananlogies I have ever heard on why we allow God to choose our family size!  This is the beginning Please click HERE to read the writing in its entirety!

Raising Children: My Spaghetti-Smeared Generation

Farmer holds a few ordinary seeds in his hand.

he doesn’t see seeds. He also doesn’t see, or rather, doesn’t dwell on the work he’s about to give himself to.


OK he does see the seeds, and dirt, and sweat and weeds. But it’s what lies beyond the seeing….it’s the VISION.


He really sees a swelling harvest from that handful of humble seeds–a miracle he really can’t fully understand.


He sees results of his labor and the fruit of his hands and the many who will be blessed by it for years to come...


This is the websight this is from...

Foto Friday on Saturday and Random thoughts for the week

Just thinking this looks really nice right now!  SNOW! 
NOT heat advisories!
Soon enough!




Random thoughts on the past week...



~ it was tiring



~HOT!



~LOTS of water and flooding



~full of activities



~expensive! (had to have a new transmission put into hubby's car!) AND



~electric bill tripled (we are looking into that!)



~I realized you can get cabin fever in the summer too!



~the baby got a high fever



~I HATE it when my kids are sick!



~I still have no coffee pot



~It's ok, I only drink decaf anyway so I am awake, not problem!



~I want to go to our state fair this week, but WILL NOT if temps don't cool down!



~I have never missed our state fair!



~I love the busyness boys bring but they can be REALLY loud!



~I love how I can relate to my girls



~I realize how much I need God!



~I wish I would remember that hourly instead of trying to do things on my own!



~I am wondering what I am going to do when my 14 month old's lovey bunny loses it's ears! (It's what he falls asleep with and it is getting ragedy already!)


~Hoping next week we can get outside more together and actually ENJOY summer! :)

A Birthday Tribute to my Mother

Why I love my mother...

:: she is one of the most selfless people I have EVER known!

:: she is so caring

:: she always helps me see the good in things

:: she is my cheerleader

:: when I worry, she reminds me I am God's hands

:: she never judges me

:: from the time I was young, she let go and allowed me to become who God created me to be

:: when my dad left her when I was 6 months old, she gave up everything for me!

:: she NEVER once let me think anything but good about my dad!

:: she has shown me how to forgive others!

:: she has always supported my dreams

:: I love the way she loves MY kids!

:: she is so rational, me? Not so much!

:: she has shown me how to love my husband unconditionally.  To take the good with the bad and still choose to love!

:: the older I get, the wiser it seems SHE is!

AND most importantly...

:: she taught me to put God first and everything else would be okay!

Thank you mother!

  You are my best friend and I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

xoxoxoxox

Thankful for food Thursday!

We try not to use our oven during these hot summer days, so here is a recipe for INCREDIBLE sandwiches.  The possibilities are endless!  We love bacon on them and add some other veggies too!  Or try them on soft shell tortilla's!

Caesar Sub-Club Sandwiches

4 submarine sandwich rolls (about 6 inch) or 1 baguette (8 oz)
1/3 cup Caesar dressing
1/2 package (3.5-oz size) sandwich sliced pepperoni
3/4 lb  rotisserie chicken (from 2- to 2 1/2-lb chicken), cut into about 1/4-inch slices (can used grilled chicken or sliced deli chicken)
4 slices (1 oz each) Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend
4 slices tomato, cut in half
4 lettuce leaves
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced


1. Cut rolls horizontally in half (if using baguette, first cut into fourths). Spread dressing over cut sides of rolls.

2. Layer bottom halves of rolls with pepperoni, chicken, cheese, tomato, lettuce and onion. Top with roll tops; press gently. Secure with toothpicks. Cut each sandwich diagonally in half.

This is fun!

I found this idea here.  It is a fun and unusual way to get to know others!  It is the websites that you visit. Just open a new browser window or tab and hit your "a" key to see what site your browser pulls up first. Then continue doing that for all the letters of the alphabet.

a~ avent, GREAT bottles and fav breast pump EVER!
b~ babies'r'us, wonderful online shopping
c~ cutest blog on the block, use it for my blog background
d~  Johnny Diaz, favorite christian singer (daughter's fav anyway!)
e~  ebay, I sell all kinds of things
f~  Francesca Battesteli, another one of daughters fav christian singer (Hey, this is supposed to be MOM's computer!)
g~ google, need I say more!
h~ headaches, maybe needed that one because  have 11 children?  Hmmm...
i~ pop it, it's a game my kids play
j~ Johnny Diaz, AGAIN
k~ King James Bible online
l~ back labor, had that with my last baby for the first time!
m~ my charming kids, LOVE this blog! 
n~ newborns, wish I needed that again! :)
o~ ovulation, okay, not sure why I would need to look that up!  lol
p~ pop it, AGAIN!
q~ quiverful, that speaks for itself too!
r~ real payer, use that to load my mp3 player
s~ summer plants, wanted to plant a small garden this year, planning on herbs instead
t~ Target, I spend lots of time there!
u~ maternity underwear, don't need that right now!
v~ vision benefits, 2 year old broke my glasses this year, explains that one!
w~ wal-mart, do you see a pattern here?
x~ nothing!  Nobody plays the xylophone in our house!
y~ youtube, lots of downloads for Christian music
z~ zoocity, another kids website!

Wow, it is fun seeing where I have been, (or my daughter has been I guess :)  )
Let me know if you try this on my comment page and leave your blog addres!  I would love to see your answers! 

At the Well

Come on over and vistit a GREAT websight that I write for.  Today, my writing is being used.  Click here and take a look!

Dog days of summer

It really has even been too hot to play in the water!

 But early in the morning just to get some energy out,

Water...



 buckets...

 mud...

and more mud...

...and just good old fashioned summer fun!

*Clean up for mom, not so much fun! :)