lefse! Yum

Today I find myself going back to the kitchen for more lefse! Butter and brown surgar! Not very healthy but oh-well. I will eat it in remembrance of Grandpa Andy and Grandma Alta!! They would be proud! :-) uff-da!

Mary the mother of Jesus!

"...the child you bring forth will be called Holy, Son of God."

Considering the impact this message would have on Mary's ordinary life -- she'd have to explain to her family and her fiancé that she was pregnant -- her response is powerful and such a witness for you and me. She told Gabriel, "Yes, I see it now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say." How could she so quickly and easily put aside all that this surprising news would mean and surrender her will to God's?

How did Mary come to that place? I believe that in her journey up to that point there were many small steps of obedience where she had experienced and witnessed God's faithfulness. Perhaps places where she said, "Yes, Lord," even when it was difficult or did not make sense. Choosing to say "yes" on ordinary days prepared her heart to say "yes" on this extraordinary day!

You and I have those ordinary moments in our lives too ... moments that in and of themselves do not seem significant but when weaved together create a heart of obedience. One day God will ask us to trust Him for something extraordinary. Where will our heart be? Will we be ready to say "yes" to God, even when what He is asking seems impossible?

Hmmmm.... just something to thing about!!

Ya ever feel like......

ya don't do anything right? This morning...
I made the fried egg sandwich wrong,
no clean underware ! ( if they would carry their OWN laundry down it might get washed) ,
didn't make the right sandwich in the lunch...fine make it yourself!
aaannnddd it is cold outside and it is not cool to wear a coat????? How dumb is that? Sooooo, I hope you freeze to death!
OK enough venting.... and one day they will miss me and appreciate me when they have to:
make their own breakfast
do their own laundry
make their own lunch
and someday it will be cool to wear a coat when it is cold outside.
Their turn is coming!
This is what I look like when I am FRAZZLED!!!!

I am back!

After two months off from blogging....I feel it is time to start it up again!!!
Life gets so busy and the clock just won't stop. But I will try to be consistant again!

The election in November

I received this e-mail today and thought it was GREAT!!!
Thank you, Bernie.

Fw: No matter who wins the election in November . . . .

Top 10 Predictions

No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

Isn't it GREAT to know Who is still in control?

Tribute to 9 11 and the USA!

My nephew Cody is in Iraq! Thanks for serving our Great Country!!! You are awesome!
You have wanted to do this since you were old enough to say so....and here you are!

"Go Get'em !!!"

Thanks to ALL our Military!!!

Thanks to President Bush!

check out this tribute on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUk-O3KpIqc

Pray for our country, the election!, our military and their families!!!

The most life-changing makeovers don't happen in the glow of the spotlight, but in the quiet of our own hearts.

The only thing I don't like about being 40.....

The five little hairs on my chiny-chin-chin!

What a PAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

( Dan, the fingernail clippers in the car are NOT to be touched! :-)

Here are the two new little ones!

No more than three daycare kids at a time so I can be sure to love ALL of them pieces !!

No more trucks and GI joes..... :-(

Jerid is 14! Sometimes I miss buying the little toys like match box cars, GI joes, trucks, all the little things that make a big hit!!!! I do have to admit giving money and not having to shop for presents is easier! Easier for everyone else giving a gift too...This year Jerid didn't get one present...only money and he was thrilled. But I still miss the little things sometimes! At the same time I am so glad they are all big!!!!! Yea!!!! One of those moments for a mom filled with mixed emotions!

Little bit sad and A LOT happy to have big kids. Weird, I know. I think this is normal right???

:-)

We are almost ready for grass!!!

Ahhhhh, sprinkler is working great!

I know this is boring to some of you....but hard work makes you really appreciate whatever you are working on. So just wanted to show you.

I will only post one more photo and that one will be GREEN GRASS! Can hardly wait not to have a backyard full of dirt!!

The top will have grass, the middle will be a stamped concrete sitting area with a fire pit, and the bottom will be the horseshoe pit/ target practice for the bow.
don't worry only the 10, 20, and very carefully 30 yard practice!

My husband is working me too hard!

Me trying to cool off!

The before photo

Demolishing the back yard!

Hard work!

Me helping with sprinkler system.

It has been very HOT here for several days. I prefer humid heat better than the dry heat here. At least when it is humid you sweat more.

We started a HUGE back yard project near Mothers Day and hoping to finish early September.

98% of it is totally Mans work....heavy, hot, digging, moving block, shoveling, raking, sprinkler system, recycled black top, and I have helped with most of it, as much as I could anyway! So this past weekend we worked our butts off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I managed to keep a good sense of humor, acting like a construction lady on a T.V. ....showing Dan how he should do things and then it would go quicker. Totally acting that I knew exactly how to do EVERYTHING! :-) totally not true but made it funny anyway. I might as well act silly and laugh or I might cry from pure exhaustion!!! This has been a overwhelming project that has brought me to tears twice but it will be well worth all the effort.

So here I am...wet shirt is not enough...still too hot so I laid down took the hose and wet my whole head and body! That cooled me off! In September I hope to post the FINISHED photo.

What an inspiration!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkrajf-Y7xI&feature=related
Check out this video! All I can say is WOW! Truly amazing woman!
just click on the youtube address.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

Yesterday we were all sitting around and got to talking about books we have read.
To Kill a mocking Bird was one of them. A little while later Jerid asked:

" What was the name of that book we were talking about?..."To shoot a pigeon?"

Took us a minute to figure out he was talking about To kill a mocking bird!!!
That is Jerid for ya!
Man did we laugh!

Memories

For five years I have had my Grandpa's bird house hanging in my tree! This is a special birdhouse because he made it 25 to 30 years ago.Well, this summer I have so enjoyed it because finally a little bird family moved in! One morning I saw the busy parents flying in and out with weeds. sticks, cotton, whatever they could find to build a nest. Not long later I could see little mouths peeking out the corner hole when mom or dad came back with food! They didn't use the round hole they used the hole that was from their little home being used and worn out!!!
Every morning while doing dishes I was blessed to watch this little family and reminisce on so many wonderful memories with Grandpa & Grandma out on the farm. Best memories I have as a child!! This fall I will glue the bird house to fix it up a little and hopefully next summer another little bird family will move in!

I love good memories and will cherish my birdhouse forever.

Faith.....just take the first step!

Don't wait until you believe it all!
Don't wait until you can see it all!
Don't wait until you understand it all!

I am Rich!

Last week I was listening to KYGO cleaning the house to a little country music. Then I heard them say...."Are you a stay at home Mom?" Well, that perked up my ears......someone did some research and found that if you added up everything a Mom does staying at home they are worth.....get this......$175,000!! a year. Wow ! wouldn't that be nice!? Too bad the government (or somebody doesn't pay us to stay home!)

But ya know what? I feel worth more than that! I have three great kids and a beautiful daughter-in-law. Not any amount of $$$$ can replace that. All the joy, love, happiness, and yes some difficult times, laughter, stages of growing up, sacrifice, and all the fun is WAY more of a wonderful reward than $175,000. Words cannot even express! So the world can have the $, I will do what I have to do to be able to stay home, if that means shop at the thrift store, drive older cars, and having less elaborate vacations....that is OK. I am at home and that is where I want to be! So even though I make $0000000.00 a year, I am the Richest Mom anyway!!!

Gonna Be a Bear

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life, I'd like to come back as a bear. When you are a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.....sort of.

Before you hibernate, you are supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.

When you are a girl bear, you birth your children ( who are the size of walnuts) while you are sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly, cubs.
I could definitely deal with that.....except newborns are precious!

If you are mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.

If you are a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, I'm gonna be a bear!

Thought this was cute...Author not known.

Dana

I have recently been in touch with a friend from 20 years ago!! We had our first babies together. We were young military wives living far away from home and anyone we knew! Our babies were due 3 weeks apart! Hers came first! We spent several days a week together! She was a blast....we were eachothers company, support, fun, and friend.....always there for eachother! Taking pictures and videos of our two little boys! We made wonderful memories together.

But then the military split us apart. They got orders to Belgium. I missed her dearly! I had another baby and life went on. We were in touch a couple of times through the years but that is all. Now that I am in touch with her again I intend to keep it that way!!!!

Do you have a friend that you lost touch with? Send an email or pick up the phone...how ever you can, look them up!! And never lose touch again!

Friends are far and few between...make sure you nurture the ones you have!

Modest Is Hottest!!!

Are we teaching our girls that Modest Is Hottest!?

Two are One

Cherish each other in the chaos of life!

Courage

Lisa, I know I stole this from your blog.... but it fits on mine too! :-) Thanks!

Faith is all dreamers need to see into the future!

Dreams are the essence of life----not as it is, but as it can be.

Dreams are born in our hearts and minds, and if we keep our dreams alive the fruit of those dreams will come a reality.

See beyond the moment and create our tomorrows by what we dream today!

Keep your dreams alive as long as you are alive....there just may be a rainbow when it comes true!!!

Make a list of all the things you would like to do, be and have in our life.

Prioritizing that list will help you discover the ones that are the most passionate in your heart!

This is from a study I did with a small group of friends on Dreams from the book:

The Ultimate Gift.

Through the eyes of a child

As followed my 1 and a half year old daycare baby on a walk, it was so cute to see how everything was beautiful to her. She would smell all the flowers and say "rose!!" Even the dandilions that I try to kill in my yard! She would bend over touch it and say "Rose!!"There was some tall grass, just as tall as her, she played with it, smelled it and said "rose!!"

Can we look at everything and say "rose!" Even the weeds!! hhmmmm?! I think I will still keep the dandilions out of my yard!

Children: beautiful and innocent, sometimes we need to see things through the eyes of a child!

Happy Mothers Day!

"Oh, I'm just a mom. I don't have a job."
Have you ever heard a mom say that?
Immediately the hair bristles on the back of my neck and sirens and lights go off in my head. "Just" a mom. How can moms say such a thing? I myself have been known to say it like that.
I assure you it is the most important job in all creation: to create order out of chaos, ensure the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of our children, and shape the individuals that will contribute to who we are as a community and a nation. I don't think we should ever use the words "just" and "mom" in the same sentence again.

Let's unpack that little word, "mom." What exactly is her job description? She's a wife, mother, friend, housekeeper, interior decorator, laundress, gourmet chef, short order cook, chauffeur, painter, wallpaper hanger, seamstress, nurse, guidance counselor, the list goes on and on. She may not get a salary, but the fringe benefits are invaluable: hugs, kisses, and buckets of love. And hopefully, one day a child that will call her blessed in their own special way!

Even though we change hats from one minute to the next, we can assure our children that our love never changes, our support never tires, and our commitment is to be the best mom we can.
We are not perfect moms but we're MOMS.

This Mother's Day, my hat is off to moms! Thanks for all you do to raise the next generation for Jesus!

Chick Flick in a house full of guys!!!

Daycare kids where sick on the same day....hhhmmmmm.. what shall I do? I have a ton of laundry just because I never have been real good at keeping up on laundry. So I will rent girly movies and do laundry all day. I laughed and cried through this whole movie!!
Couple parts could do without but I recommend this one!! Has a great ending I was laughing and crying at the same time at the end!
27 dresses.......good, but not bragging about that one.
Thoroughly enjoyed my girly day.... need to do it more often!

National Day of Prayer

A special day of prayer where people all over America get together to pray for our country. Lets all join together and Pray! Scroll to bottom of page to view video.

Don't worry about tomorrow...be Free to live today.

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time!!! Abraham Lincoln
The best and most beautiful things in life cannot been seen, not touched, but are felt in the heart! Helen Keller
If you can dream it, you can do it! Walt Disney
No one can make you feel inferior, without your concent! Eleanor Roosevelt
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy to a friend! Martin Luther King Jr.

Dance in the "rain"

My devotion this morning.... timely for me. So here it is!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to "dance in the rain." I'm taking it as a challenge. Will I choose to "dance" in my"rain"?

Many of the people I know would trade my "rains" for their "rains". Their lives hold divorce, illness, death---myriads of places of sorrows. God doesn't promise us a trouble - free life, but He does say that the rains will eventually become pools of blessing. We choose our attitudes. We can decide to trust Him during the difficult seasons or we can bury ourselves in bitter self-pity.

Lets not do that...... Lets take the challange and learn to dance in the rain!

I'm taking the challange.

Gray is good!

Last week I went to a bar party. I was looking for an inexpensive gift in the local liquor store....cheap wine probably tastes like cheap wine... what could I get. Obviously I am not too experienced with buying alcohol. So I ended up with peppermint schnapps. Can't go wrong with that. So I went to the counter to pay...the man was a very small Chinese man only coming up to my chin (felt like an over grown ox next to him) with broken english. So I set the schnapps on the counter and he says: "$8.74 please. " So as I was digging in my purse I jokingly asked him: " Aren't you going to card me?!" He started laughing and said: " No--too much gray streaks!" I started to giggle and said:" that is NOT gray, that is my natural highlights, and I have earned everyone of them!" His reply was "Nooooo I don't think so!" Gave him a good laugh anyway. Makes me wonder how long I can hold out on not coloring my hair. Gray is Beautiful right?!!!! I will say again, I have earned them and I once heard wisdom comes with gray hair!!!!! :-) So I must be getting pretty wise!

Anytime you feel like quitting

Remember what President Lincoln went through:

He failed in business in 1831.

He ran as a state legislator and lost in 1832.

He tried business again and failed again in '33.

His sweetheart died in '35.

He had a nervous breakdown in '36.

He ran for state elector in '40 after he regained his health.

He was defeated for congress in '43, defeated again for congress in '48, defeated when he ran for the senate in '55, and defeated for vice presidency of the United States in '56.

He ran for the senate again in '58 and lost.

This man never quit. He kept on trying till the last.

In 1860, this man, Abraham Lincoln, was elected President of the United States!

Wow, this man had detemination! It never pays to quit....keep on going!

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently!" Henry Ford

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts." Winston Churchill

Happy 50th Anniversary !!!!

Mom & Dad thanks for being the best parents ever! And for being such a wonderful example! You both are Wonderful! All because of you.... you ended up with all of us!!! We love you!
Happy 50 years! Tony, Gary, Randy & JeriLyn & all of our families!

Mom is Toughest !???

I have always wrestled with my kids......I would "slam them down" sit on them and ask them "Who's toughest?!" and would not let them go until they said: "Mom is toughest!" I have to admit as of the other day my last son can now make Me say, "Jerid is toughest!!!!!! Let me go!" All the while I am screaming my head off, telling him to be careful not to hurt me! The greatest feeling for a young man is to be able to "beat up his mom." So, no more kids at my house.....my last is becoming a great young man.
No raising mamas boys in this house!
Sure glad he knows I'm still the boss even though he can throw me around ! :-) Well, as far as One Tough Mother.......... there is not one at my house any more! And that is a wonderful thing!

Be thankful for each day!

This is one of the families that lost one of their children in a school bus accident. The little girl on the right is Emilee and she is in heaven now. As you see this post say a little prayer for them as it has been a little over a month now. I heard from them a couple of weeks ago and I can't imagine what they are feeling....because I have never lost a child. The heartache must feel unbearable at times. But I can pray even as time goes on that the wonderful memory they have of her will bring a little more happiness with each new day. I can just picture her dancing with Jesus on streets of gold! What a beautiful family. Have you hugged your kids today?!

Happy Easter !!!

Christ the Lord has risen today !!!!

My nephew Cody Pehrson & A dad home for Easter!

Thank you Cody....we are proud of you! And Thank you to ALL our military!I heard about this story on the radio in the car. Made me cry. Thanks to all our military for all they are doing for America! Do you know someone in the military? Even if you don't, pray for them and their families every day! They are AWESOME!

Maj. Michael Sterrett, a 40-year Army veteran, has been stationed for the past six months in Tikrit.Isabella Sterrett and her classmates sent him Thanksgiving cards, and she makes pictures at school that she sends to him.To keep Wednesday's visit a secret, Isabella's kindergarten teacher, Susan West, had the entire class gather by the front steps to greet a "mystery reader" for the class. They also were given small American flags to hold, but were not told why.Isabella led the students in waving the flags and singing "God Bless America" beforehand.She was startled to see her father."Daddy!" she yelled as she ran into his arms Wednesday afternoon.The 40-year-old Army officer is on a two-week break from his second tour of duty in Iraq."I almost can't explain; it was spectacular," he said after holding and hugging Isabella for a moment. "It's wonderful to get to see her and spend time with her."The moment was equally touching for Isabella. She said he's a "good daddy."Isabella knows only that her father is helping people in Iraq with building."I can't imagine being 6 years old and knowing about (war)," her mother said.Maj. Sterrett said he's seeing progress in Iraq and that it is not uncommon for Iraqi schoolchildren to greet him."It's pretty exciting, because we get to go down and talk to local leaders there," he said. "We've seen quite a bit of progress."

Pour another glass!

One of the most important things you can do for your body:

Drink WATER....take your weight and divide by 2.

The answer gives you how many ounces you should drink a day.

For a change add fresh lemon or lime with some of the pulp!

Or a little of your favorite 100% juice, just to add a little flavor.

My new favorite is Dole Pina colada!

Drink up! Your body will thank you!

Thanks Keebler!!!

Keebler Grasshopper mint cookies. Should not buy them or look at them!

Every time I walked by I had to eat one...or 2 or 3 or 4 they are small you know...so 5 won't hurt! Needless to say being home with dayare kids....the box of cookies didn't last long. And I didn't share as many as I should have. They are just to easy and the right size to pop in your mouth and sneek another one! Although the 3 year old kept asking..." What do you have in your mouth? ....candy? " Oh-my!

Won't be buying a box of those for a long time.

Thanks again Keebler!

Better yet, No Thanks! :-)

Go ahead..Put it off until tomorrow!

What does your "to-do" list look like? I am sure it is FULL just like mine! So.....
I will call a friend......tomorrow.

I will have lunch with my each of my kids...tomorrow.
I will bring a treat to the neighbor...tomorrow.
I will spend quality time with Dan.....tomorrow.
I will clean the house....tomorrow.
I will do the laundry...tomorrow.
I will ____________....tomorrow.

I've decided that I am going to make today my "tomorrow" by moving into action. Instead of wasting precious time, I want to look at what I've been putting off until tomorrow and put it in action today.
Will you join me? What changes, goals, or intentions have you been putting off until tomorrow? Take a look at your current "to-do" list and make it a "to-day" list. Not only will you have a sense of accomplishment, but you'll also make a difference today.
Today is tomorrow!