kasie's khronikles

romance and a noisy shower

2010-09-15T19:59:00.002-04:00

I am in love with Jane Erye.

I am only taking 2 classes this semester... one of them being Women in Literature.

This is how I met Jane Erye.

I was actually supposed to read the book. I watched the movie instead. I know... completely unethical & wrong on so many levels. I should be ashamed of myself. I comfort myself with the fact that one day when life is not so crazy busy I will most definitely take the time to read the actual novel instead of just veg out and watch the extremely long movie... which is what I did for most of the day.

I did that, gave Madison a spelling quiz (then she retreated to her room & finished the rest of the days work on her own), and I took a shower... while the kids cooked dinner.

I knew I was taking my chances with that last one. When I came downstairs the oldest babe had the middle babe locked in the closet. The youngest babe had made ~~a mess~~ most of the english muffin pizzas. Screams & banging were heard for most of the duration of my shower.

My husband is supposed to be home from a 3 day business trip in about an hour. My goal was to have the house sparkly for him when he got home. But instead... I blog and fantasize about Jane & Edward's romance.

ahh.

and I'm ok with that...

life goes on just the same.

letting my guard down

2010-09-05T12:01:00.000-04:00

Some times when I’m feeling overwhelmed or really stressed I close my eyes and I picture Jesus. I see myself walking up to Him as He wraps His loving arms around me. I bury my head in His chest. I'm wrapped up, safe in Him as He kisses the top of my head and let’s me know everything is going to be ok. Sometimes I even feel the wings of the Father engulf us.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

(Psalm 17:8)

I know He’s always with us. That visual means so much to me though. I’m so safe there. So secure.

The security & love found in God is like no other. I know that. I feel it. I’m confident in it. I’m also realizing that it is necessary for me to rest in the strength of my husband too. Today’s woman is so strong and independent. We have fought so hard to find our place in society… to become equal to man. I think in many ways we have fought so hard to get from one end of the spectrum that we have found ourselves at the complete opposite end. I long to be the woman I read about in scripture… who is strong and self-confident, but also able to let her guard down and rest in the strength of her man. There is something very liberating and satisfying in that. There is a demand on women these days to be independent, strong, self-sufficient, and never weak. To admit weakness and find strength in a man is almost taboo.

Do you agree?

I feel like there is a feminine side in all women that longs for that… to be taken care of and protected. That’s why the old time romance novels still intrigue our modern day women.

Well the hubby & I are faced with a decision. One that I have fought long and hard to oppose him on. I’m tired of wrestling it though. I’m exhausted spiritually & I’m exhausted emotionally. I’m raising my white flag. I still don’t feel like I am completely on board yet, but I have made my mind up that I’m willing to let go & move forward with this and trust him… and I’m also at a new place where I know… no matter what… It’s going to be ok.

If we fail, we fail together. Thankfully we serve a God of second chances. If we succeed, we succeed together. We are team.

Do you have any thoughts on how marriage/family has changed over the years?

***

We are spending our long weekend out of town with my in-laws. We are in the Appalachian Mountains. So beautiful. There is a fall chill in the air that has me extremely excited about this next season… I hope this little chill makes it down the mountains and over to my neck of the woods soon.

I pray you have a wonderful holiday weekend.

xoxo

homemade play dough

2010-08-30T20:51:00.000-04:00

This play dough is almost like the real thing. I actually like the consistency even better.
We keep it fresh in plastic baggies.

Good stuff.

Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp veggie oil
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tsp cream of tartar (found in the spices @ the grocery store)
- food coloring (you decide intensity)

a tweaked version of this recipe.

time to start studying again

2010-08-23T09:07:00.000-04:00

(Source)

Since I've been home I've been catching up on cuddles and good times.

I've been studying too....

I'm so excited. I went to a nursing school info session before I left for El Salvador.

There are 3 types of degrees for Registered Nurses:

Associates degree (community college level)
Diploma (a little higher)
Bachelors degree (the highest)

The original plan was to get my associates at the local community college. I've been completely through the pre-requisite program... on the path for that degree.... BUT I think I'm changing my mind.

There is a local (and I think national) chain of hospitals in my city. 2 of their hospitals are magnet status (top notch recognition). The other 2 are well on their way. I knew that this was the group I wanted to be employed with from the get go... but I didn't consider their nursing school because, at first, it was just about getting through as quick as possible.

After the information session I have officially decided this is the program I want to be a part of! It's a bachelors in science program.

They had 8 flags lining the classroom as I walked in...

Quality, Respect, Compassion, Growth, Integrity, Innovation, Justice, Stewardship

It's a faith based program with all the best accreditations. Student loan payback programs. Application/ interview assistance. World mission/local outreach focus (optional medical mission trip junior year)...

Why didn't I want this before?!?!

Every communication I've had with this program has been over the top sweet and helpful. They stressed in the session that every person no matter what faith, color, ethnicity is a precious gift and should be treated with the utmost dignity & respect. What is all nurses had that outlook? :)

Application deadline is Oct. 1st for Spring semester. The great thing is that the classes I've already taken are a part of the curriculum & will transfer.

Last semester there were 250 applicants & 56 were accepted. The entrance exam is a big part of it.

I've already starting digging into the study guide (400 pages... ay yaya) This score means everything.

I want this BAD.

I have some artsy ideas for an Etsy shop to raise money for missions. I can't wait to get started on those projects.

For now though... I study.

a beautiful nation

2010-08-08T23:45:00.000-04:00

( the team of young adults that I had the privilege of heading up & rooming with this week...
with our wonderful, sweet, fantastic translator.)

Most of the places that we visited in El Salvador were the worst areas in and around the capital city. However, just like any other place El Salvador has it's good places & it's bad.

The small area that we experienced was so beautiful. Mountains lined the background.

Volcanoes rose through the clouds.

We were fortunate enough to be able to hike down a beautiful waterfall.

some were adventurous enough to swim at the base.
I stayed on the slippery rocks & took pictures...

top of the waterfall... where we started

hairy little fellas we found on the hike down

We also got to hang out on the beach to relax & reflect on the week.

The Pacific ocean is a lot rougher than the Atlantic.

I have battle wounds to prove it. We had a lot of fun though.

El Salvador is a beautiful nation. The people we met were just as lovely.

the slum

2010-08-07T23:28:00.000-04:00

Today was the hardest day yet. We visited an area they called “a slum”. It was a huge area overcrowded with tin roof shacks. They said that 7-10,000 people lived in the small area.

As we climbed off the bus we were met with a stench like I’ve never smelled before. A few children flew their home made kites over the power lines. As we walked through the small area we saw some women doing laundry in buckets outside of their small home. Another woman cooked what looked like tortillas on an open stove under a small shelter.

The people met us with smiles and warm greetings.

We later learned that the people who lived in the neighborhood had been relocated by the government. There was a need for a dam to be built near their previous home so they were given this field as their new home. It was very sad to see that none of the homes had a solid foundation. Most were made out of what we would consider trash. Advertisement banners, mattress box springs, recycled lumber, tarps with holes, large rocks, trash bags, and a lot of barbed wire. Someone said they saw a stove top used as a front door.

We made our way to an open field where we performed our dramas, played games with the kids, did face painting and shared the love of God.

Many people became Christians today. We encouraged them with the message that they were created for a purpose and God loved them.

As I prayed with one woman who had just decided to follow Jesus she wept and wept. I held her and told her everything was going to be ok. I told her that her struggles were seen by God and she now had a hope in Him. I encouraged her to talk to Him and ask Him to guide and lead her. I told her that she would now experience true joy and peace that can only be found in Him. I told her she was beautiful and precious to Him. That He loved her & was so happy she turned to Him. She wept out loud. I knew she believed me. I held her in my arms and we rocked as she thanked God.

We saw and experienced devastating things today.

I leave there wishing I could do more.

I am happy knowing that we did impact their lives eternally. I'm happy in that, but my heart still aches.

I leave a changed person. I thank God for the privilege to be so blessed. I didn’t ask to be born in The States. I am so thankful that I was though. I am grateful for my house that in our American eyes at about 1200 sq. ft. is farely smaller than average for my family of 5. We have running water, we have a solid foundation, I have a bed to sleep on, I have climate control, I have running water, I have a toilet. I am protected from the elements. I have clean water and food. I take these things for granted… not anymore though. I am blessed to be a blessing. I’m asking God to show me what else I can do.

I know He’ll show me.

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

Ways to make a difference:

Educate yourself:

- Get your free copy of "Revolution in World Mission" here. This book will change your life. Do you long to let go of self-centeredness and be more eternally minded? Do you desire to make a difference in the lost world but not sure how to go about it? Read this book... it will teach you about missions and change your perspective on life.

-Another great book (not free though) is Operation World. I love this book. It's broken down by country & under each country it lists geography, people, economy, politics, and religion facts about each nation. Then there are also pray needs for each country. As you go through the book reading and praying your eyes will be opened to what the world is really like.

Donate:

-Feed my Starving Children (this was the food supply that we saw at the feeding center... our donations really do feed the starving children)

-Gospel for Asia- our donations support missionaries in Asia who are spreading the Love & Gospel of Jesus.

Sponsor a child:

-Compassion a dear blog bud of mine just traveled to Honduras as a Compassion advocate. Her stories tell first hand the need for sponsors. Please check out her posts here.

-World Vision

Both of these organizations are Christian based. They don't just meet the physical needs of these children. They also impact their eternity by sharing Jesus with them.

Pray:

-for your world, these children, & missionaries everywhere!

prayers in the park

2010-08-06T23:05:00.000-04:00

We picked the perfect time to go to El Salvador because they were celebrating a national holiday. The children were all out of school and everyone had Friday off of work. We went to a local park in the center of the capital city.

The original plan was to perform some of our dramas. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to sit the sound system up or perform so we took the youth through the crowd for personal evangelism. We shared the gospel and offered prayer.

The prayer requests we received helped enlighten us on the true hardships that many of the people face. One man asked us to pray for him and his co-workers. He was a construction worker and he said gangs would come to his job site and demand money. They threatened that if he did not pay them a portion of his paycheck they would kill him and his family. We prayed with him and encouraged him.

Many prayed for protection.

it makes you wonder where they are accepted....

That was a common prayer request. It made me realize that I take for granted the safety I have at home.

I've realized this week that I take a lot for granted.

A woman we met said she was pregnant and wanted prayer for her new baby. She also said that her husband kept dreaming that he was going to die. We prayed with her & ensured her that Jesus had a plan and a purpose for her, her husband and her baby.

While we were walking through the park one of the park workers jogged to catch up with us. He saw us praying for people and told us that he was a believer in Jesus and wanted us to pray for his health. So we did. He was very thankful that we were there.

At one point 3 young guys that looked to be about 20 or so caught our attention. They were following us, very curious about what we were doing. We approached them and were able to carry on a conversation with the help of our wonderful translator. The guys asked us where we were from and what we were doing. We shared with them that we were from The States and we were there to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of El Salvador. They were elated. They too were Christians and thanked us for caring about their people. It was really awesome to see young people so excited about what we were doing. We chatted for a bit and then one of them encouraged us to not stop our work for Jesus. They thanked us several times. It really was encouraging and much needed at that very moment because we had just spoken to a man who was very angry and bitter towards Christianity. He had been hurt. It didn’t seem that we got anywhere, but we did share scripture with him so we counted it as sowing seeds into his heart. We can only pray now. His friend shared with us that he was going through a lot in his life, but he refused to turn to God for help. She had talked to him and tried to encourage him to trust God & forgive. It was discouraging to see his hardness. The 3 young men were right on time with their encouragement.

God always is.

holiday traffic

we met so many great people

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

Ways to make a difference:

Educate yourself:

Donate:

-Feed my Starving Children (this was the food supply that we saw at the feeding center... our donations really do feed the starving children)

-Gospel for Asia- our donations support missionaries in Asia who are spreading the Love & Gospel of Jesus.

Sponsor a child:

-Compassion a dear blog bud of mine just traveled to Honduras as a Compassion advocate. Her stories tell first hand the need for sponsors. Please check out her posts here.

-World Vision

Both of these organizations are Christian based. They don't just meet the physical needs of these children. They also impact their eternity by sharing Jesus with them.

Pray:

-for your world, these children, & missionaries everywhere!

orphanages

2010-08-05T21:00:00.003-04:00

Today the entire group split up into two groups. We each visited government sponsored orphanages. Our team went to an all boy facility (ages 11- 17) They were happy to see us.

We played a game of dodge ball and soccer. My team lost dodge ball. It was still fun & the kids were just happy to be playing.

The little boys kept coming up to us for hugs and high fives.

They were so sweet. I could tell they were not flirting with the girls... they just wanted to be held and receive the love & attention we were giving them. It was sad to hear about how the facility operates. There is a school in the area… but for some reason it is optional for the kids. They do not have to go, so most of them don’t. It reminded me of the Lost Boys on Peter Pan... except these boys were locked in.

There is a small tech center that has a few sewing machines and an art room. We didn’t get to see it, but I could imagine there wasn’t much in there. One of the workers told us that they were about to open a “meditation” room. Our Pastor promised to stock it with Spanish Bibles. The boys were really excited about that & couldn’t wait to receive them.

We met a man and his two children at the orphanage. His story was very touching.

He used to live in Pennsylvania, but after a few mission trips to El Salvador he felt the Lord leading him to move to San Salvador. He quit his career in computers, sold his house and his car & now he lives in San Salvador ministering through Ywam. He works at the boys orphanage frequently. I couldn’t help but think about the faith it must have taken for him and his wife to uproot their family.

The man told us that the boys receive very little life skills and when they turn 18 they are kicked out. What a bad situation. His mission is to change that and do what he can to make things better.

The boys watched a few of our skits and then were given the opportunity to receive Christ.

Our Pastor shared a powerful message with them. They were told that even though they may not know their fathers or maybe they had had a very bad experience with their fathers they could trust in the fact that there is a Heavenly Father who loves them and wants the best for them. They were encouraged to continue to pray to Him, read their new Bibles, and ask Him to help, guide and lead them. They were told that they were created with a purpose and God will help them to fulfill that purpose if they trusted in Him.

Most boys made a decision today to become Christians.

Please pray that they will continue to grow in God and get to know Him in a more intimate way. Also pray for that faithful man & his sweet family.

My heart breaks for these children. These orphanages were not like the Christian ran orphanages I visited in India. These children are not even identified through the government. When we dropped the larger group off at the other orphanage the guys were all instructed to respect the space of the girls because most of them had been sexually abused by family members most of their lives & unfortunately for many the abuse continues in the facilities.

Many of the orphans suffered from debilitating disorders. They were unwanted outcasts. Parents, without the means or willingness to take care of their disabled children... were left.

The team met a 13 year old who was pregnant with her 3rd baby.

I couldn't imagine the pain, hurt and rejection.

Please pray.

God is the Father to the fatherless. (Psalm 68:5)

***************************
Ways to make a difference:
Educate yourself:
- Get your free copy of "Revolution in World Mission" here. This book will change your life. Do you long to let go of self-centeredness and be more eternally minded? Do you desire to make a difference in the lost world but not sure how to go about it? Read this book... it will teach you about missions and change your perspective on life.
-Another great book (not free though) is Operation World. I love this book. It's broken down by country & under each country it lists geography, people, economy, politics, and religion facts about each nation. Then there are also pray needs for each country. As you go through the book reading and praying your eyes will be opened to what the world is really like.
Donate:
-Feed my Starving Children (this was the food supply that we saw at the feeding center... our donations really do feed the starving children)
-Gospel for Asia- our donations support missionaries in Asia who are spreading the Love & Gospel of Jesus.
Sponsor a child:
-Compassion a dear blog bud of mine just traveled to Honduras as a Compassion advocate. Her stories tell first hand the need for sponsors. Please check out her posts here.
-World Vision
Both of these organizations are Christian based. They don't just meet the physical needs of these children. They also impact their eternity by sharing Jesus with them.
Pray:
-for your world, these children, & missionaries everywhere!

field ministry

2010-08-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

In most of the areas we visited each of the little villages were separated and blocked off. The pastor told us that the area is very territorial. No one entered the others area. However, there were several open fields and places for them to come together. Little fields where they congregated and the children played games, flew kites and had a good time.

On many of the ministry stops we simply stopped the bus and took groups through the streets with a translator to invite people to the park.

They didn’t seem to mind us in their areas at all. Most received us and were happy to have us there.

We were happy to be there.

At the park we had face painting, soccer tournaments, jump roping.

We had not planned to braid hair but the children and some of the younger ladies fell in love with our teams long beautiful braids and they asked them to braid their hair too.

So they did.

We had the activities for about 45 minutes. Then we went straight into the dramas.

Each drama had its own message and most of them had no words, just music.

After the dramas there was an invitation to the group to accept Christ.

After they prayed the groups went through the crowd praying and chatting with people.

Most of the kids love soccer. However in a few places the children shared with us that they don’t play a lot because there are no balls. So each area we stopped we were able to leave several balls for them.

We also left a lot of hope.

It was good.

One of the field ministry days I was asked to share the meaning of each skit and give the crowd the opportunity to become Christians.

I shared (with the help of translator) the meaning of what they had just seen…

God is waiting for every person to give their heart to Him. He is our creator and He made us each for a specific purpose. He sent Jesus, His son, to the earth to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our wrong.

All we have to do is receive it. Accept it. Nothing we can do to earn it. Nothing too bad that we’ve done that can prevent us from having it. Never to young. Never to old. Never too early. Never too late.

Once we receive the gift our spirit is awakened and we can have the joy, peace and purpose that can only come from a relationship with Jesus.

Not only does He restore us and provide a new life here on earth but He has also promised an eternity with Him in Heaven. Our Forever is secure in Him.

We just have to believe and receive it by faith.

They did.

I prayed, the translator translated and they repeated a simple prayer that will change their life forever. They asked Jesus to come into their heart, make them whole, and guide and lead their steps into His will...

the only place that we can find true freedom.

It was really good.

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

Ways to make a difference:

Educate yourself:

Donate:

-Feed my Starving Children (this was the food supply that we saw at the feeding center... our donations really do feed the starving children)

-Gospel for Asia- our donations support missionaries in Asia who are spreading the Love & Gospel of Jesus.

Sponsor a child:

-Compassion a dear blog bud of mine just traveled to Honduras as a Compassion advocate. Her stories tell first hand the need for sponsors. Please check out her posts here.

-World Vision

Both of these organizations are Christian based. They don't just meet the physical needs of these children. They also impact their eternity by sharing Jesus with them.

Pray:

-for your world, these children, & missionaries everywhere!

faithful Lord

2010-08-02T23:19:00.001-04:00

Today was our first day of full ministry. My small team was fortunate enough to be able to go to a local feeding center to help feed lunch to about 50 children.

The leader of the feeding center is the local pastor’s wife. She was such a beautiful person… inside and out.

She told us that when she came to the area to start the center she found some of the neighborhood children locked in homes with no food to eat.

She said they were barely surviving. Some of the mothers are prostitutes in this small village. They’ve also found that the older siblings deal drugs to the younger children in the area.

Her mission is to share the love of Jesus with the neighborhood. She feeds the children lunch Monday through Friday. She said for some of the children the meals they eat at the center are their only food. She also opens her home to them for dinner if they are hungry.

Her small team of volunteers teach the children the Bible and pray with them too.

The beauty of Christ shines through her sweet smile and gentle spirit. I could tell she really loves the children.

And the Lord.

She gets ongoing support from a church in California. "Feed My Starving Children" ministry supplies some of the children’s food.

A missionary team from Jamaica helped build and renovate her small space. YWAM sends help on a regular basis. It really blessed me to see that this sweet woman had a vision, trusted God to provide and He did through people all over the world.

Amazing.

God is so faithful!

one of the sweet volunteers

we helped by serving the food & cleaning up afterwards

the children had 2 basins to wash their hands & rinse

they liked taking our pictures

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

Ways to make a difference:
Educate yourself:
- Get your free copy of "Revolution in World Mission" here. This book will change your life. Do you long to let go of self-centeredness and be more eternally minded? Do you desire to make a difference in the lost world but not sure how to go about it? Read this book... it will teach you about missions and change your perspective on life.
-Another great book (not free though) is Operation World. I love this book. It's broken down by country & under each country it lists geography, people, economy, politics, and religion facts about each nation. Then there are also pray needs for each country. As you go through the book reading and praying your eyes will be opened to what the world is really like.
Donate:
-Feed my Starving Children (this was the food supply that we saw at the feeding center... our donations really do feed the starving children)
-Gospel for Asia- our donations support missionaries in Asia who are spreading the Love & Gospel of Jesus.
Sponsor a child:
-Compassion a dear blog bud of mine just traveled to Honduras as a Compassion advocate. Her stories tell first hand the need for sponsors. Please check out her posts here.
-World Vision
Both of these organizations are Christian based. They don't just meet the physical needs of these children. They also impact their eternity by sharing Jesus with them.
Pray:
-for your world, these children, & missionaries everywhere!

El Salvador Day 1

2010-07-31T22:00:00.000-04:00

We made it safe and sound. What a long day. It started at 4a. It’s now 8p (10p my normal time).

El Salvador is even more beautiful than I expected. We passed several mountains on our 45 mile drive from the airport to the hotel. There is also a giant volcano in the middle of the city.

So beautiful.

This is going to be a good week.

i leave tomorrow

2010-07-30T06:23:00.002-04:00

During devotion time the other day with the girls the question to be answered was...

"what is God like?"

the middle babe's answer: God is like a super hero because He has super powers. He heals us and saves us. He's brave and strong. He's really nice. He loves us no matter what. all the time. He's awesome.

the oldest babe's response: God is kind of like a super hero. Except super heroes only come around when you need them... God is always with us.

wow. I don't think I could have said it better myself.

God said, I will not in any way fail you or give up on you or leave you without support. I will not in any degree leave you helpless or forsaken or let you down. (or relax My hold on you) Assuredly not! Hebrew 13:5 (amplified version)

This is just one of the scriptures I am holding onto as I head off to El Salvador.

I leave first thing in the morning. We will be ministering at an under aged girls prison, a government sponsored orphanage, a feeding center and several impoverished neighborhoods. We will return Monday August 9th. I'm not sure if internet access will be available or not.

Your prayers for this trip are appreciated!

Love,
Kasie

just like spongebob...

2010-07-28T21:10:00.001-04:00

We went jellyfishing.

That wasn't the original plan though.

Mom found a new beach online. It was so beautiful.

For some reason the jellyfish were horrible though There was another mom out there teaching the kids how to hold the jellyfish.

Did you know that you could hold a jellyfish upside down & not get stung? Did you know that you can't get stung on the palm of your hand or the bottom of your feet because there are no hair follicles?

We didn't... but now we do.

By the end of the day all the kids on the beach joined in the adventure. They were jellyfishin'... just like sponge-bob. I know they found at least 50!

It was a fun day.

nutty parmesan crusted fish recipe

2010-07-27T07:00:00.002-04:00

Everyone knows that fish is really really good for you.

Unfortunately noone in our house really likes fish that much. (actually the more we've eaten it the more it's growing on us.)

I like to add lots of flavor to take away the fishy taste.

This is by far my favorite fish dish so far.

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I've used walnuts, pine nuts & almonds... cashews, peanut & pistachios would be good too I'm sure.)
-1/3 cup bread crumbs
-1/3 cup parmesan
-1 tbsp. fresh chopped rosemary
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1/8 tsp. pepper
-2 tbsp. olive oil
-1 1/2 pounds of fish fillets (I've used fresh Mahi Mahi, Talopia & catfish)
-2 tbsp. dijon mustard
-2 cloves minced garlic

1) preheat oven to 425
2) cut fish fillet into small portion sizes (or large if you want. I like small because you get more breading on each piece)

3) combine nuts, bread crumbs, parmesan, rosemary, salt, pepper & olive oil in a medium sized bowl

(rosemary- strip needles from the stem & chop up)

4) mix dijon mustard & garlic in a small bowl & then brush on the tops & sides of the fillets.

5) cover baking sheet with foil & spray with cooking spray.

6) dip coated fillets in the nut mixture. Place fillets on baking sheet & then sprinkle the remaining nut mixture on top to make it even thicker.

7) place fillets on greased foil & bake for 15 minutes

The oldest babe loves this recipe but the younger 2 don't. I think it's the mustard... so I always cut a few fillets in strips, dip in meted butter & nut mixture. Then fry in EVO oil.

(homemade fish sticks)

They love it!

Enjoy!

I've linked this recipe to...

stories from mexico

2010-07-26T13:17:00.001-04:00

The oldest babe has been resting quite a bit. We've been milking stories out of her. Last night the hubby and I had a very refreshing time with her in deep thought and conversation as she reflected on the trip and what is meant to her. My sweet girl is becoming a sweet young lady. I'm so proud of her and blown away by the depth she has at such a young age.

She told us about a sweet older gentleman that she got the opportunity to spend some time with. When he was younger he was involved in the spanish mafia. He confessed to the group that he had killed several people during his time in the mofia. He was so grateful that they were there because it was a group of american missionaries... just like them, that had visited him when he was younger. That group meant so much to him because they had introduced him to Jesus. The Lord had awakened his spirit and changed his life. He thanked them with tears in his eyes for their labor of love. He was so thankful that they were there to share the hope of Christ with the younger generation.

Her favorite encounter was with a young 7 year old girl. She was able to converse with her with the help of a translator. She asked the little girl if she could change 1 thing about her country what would it be. The little girl went into detail about how she desperately wanted more for her family. They were very poor and had next to nothing. She just wanted her parents to be provided for and happy. My babe said she couldn't help but cry when the little girl asked her what her country was like. She had only a one word answer... selfish.

She told me that she went to Mexico to help the people of Matamoros... but what she didn't expect was that they were going to help her in ways she never imagined.

She said she is trying to put in words what exactly happened inside of her while she was there. She's still working that out. I know that the trips I've taken have changed my life in ways that I still can't fully comprehend. Just like her though.... the desire to continue to make a change is still burning strong.

I leave for El Salvador Saturday early in the morning. Her stories have gotten me that much more excited about what we will encounter while there.

It's going to be good.

Unfortunately, she left her camera in Texas. Hopefully they will find it and be able to ship it back to her.

For now though here are some more photos of India...

(the families were so sweet and hospitable)

(one families home.. their only shelter)

(India is mostly a Hindu nation... but we were able to visit a Christian house of prayer)

my sweet girl is home

2010-07-24T20:28:00.000-04:00

My sweet girl is home... safe and sound.

We had lunch at my parent's house... where we sat around taking turns asking her lots of questions.

Poppaw's was the most intriguing.... "did you feel the surge when you went through the time change?"

That funny guy.

She is tired... but deeply impacted. I can tell.

Looking forward to more of her stories and seeing God continue to stir her heart more & more.

can i pee in peace... please

2010-07-23T18:14:00.000-04:00

(mom gives the babe a new doo)

You know... it used to be said that the bathroom was my little quiet happy place in the house. The one place for me to get away and find peace and quiet.

So much for that notion.

This little baby has become quite the adventurous little explorer. Quite needy as well. Maybe it is the teething.

All I wanted to do was take a mini bathroom break. That's all. That's not too much to ask, right?

Wrong.

The little snotty nose, drooly, teething mini person sat outside the bathroom door crying... "mommy, mommy. I want you."

She wore me down. I opened the door. She crawled up onto my lap as I finished my visit to the potty.

Too much info? Sorry... that's motherhood.

and it's worth every minute!

Besides invading my privacy & stripping me of my dignity... her newest hobbies include eating all things wax and creating beautiful sharpie masterpieces throughout the house.

It's awesome. This age is fantastic...

---

Maddy update:

She is back in America. I have talked to her a few times since she got back to the mission headquarters. She is having a great time.

She knows my mom is quite the worry wart. When she crossed back over the border she called and left her a message... "mimi, I'm not dead & I don't have malaria." Mom was happy.

When I spoke to her she said. "mom, all I can say is... God bless America." I think she's happy to be back on American soil.

I pick her up from the airport in the morning. I can't wait to get my hands on her.

homemade bedroom door sign

2010-07-23T00:19:00.000-04:00

According to Olivia this is the best craft ever. So I thought I should share how we made it...

Trace line & then cut inserts a little bigger than the traced line.

Olivia made 3 inserts:

-Please knock

-School time

-God time

She colored the inside of the plaque with the words "welcome"...

for when the inserts are not in.

Next she colored the inserts & the outside of the plaque.

Next glue around the edges of the uncut piece of poster board & place the colored outside piece on top. (don't glue the top part bc that's where the inserts slide in)

ta-da!

For such a simple craft Olivia has really been enjoying this.

our stories

2010-07-20T16:20:00.000-04:00

This morning I met up with my favorite mother of 5. She home-schools her children and she helped me get my home-schooling paperwork together to send to the county. I'll be home-schooling Madison this year! (much more on that soon) I'm very excited & can't wait to blog more about it.

Then my very sweet neighbor had us over for lunch. Having good neighbors is so wonderful. I love my neighbor... & not just because she feeds me... often. I love her sweet spirit & her generous heart. Our girls had a painting party while we sat and chatted. She shared some of her story with me. I think I have a tendency to ask way too many questions. I hope I didn't pry too much. I just love learning about people. I love to hear their stories. Do you know what I mean by that? We are all so different & we all have a story. I love to find out about people's past... I love hearing stories of others journeys and what has brought them to today. Our past is what makes us who we are & I love hearing about that. We all have a story to share, don't we? It's taking the time to talk, listen and hear all about it that is special. Those times are precious to me. I love moments like today.

We chatted while our kids painted everything but the paper. She was so sweet about it too... "oh., let them be kids". So we did. Then we cleaned up later. They had fun, we had fun. It was nice.

Speaking of stories... I finally finished "My Love Story" post. Since this story is such a huge part of who I am I decided to create a little tab just for it at the top of my blog. Of course my love story is an on going journey, but for now... @ least the post is complete. Enjoy!

---

Maddy update...

We FINALLY got word yesterday that everyone is happy & healthy. They painted a new church and have been involved in a lot of children's ministry. I checked weather.com & it has rained a bit in the part of Mexico that they are in. They are camping & I wonder how my little diva is holding up... in a tent.... in the rain. I'm sure she is fine. I pray that she is so much consumed with the experience that all of the inconveniences are second thought.

Today was their last day of ministry. Now they get to celebrate & have a little fun. I know the beach & a water park will be involved. Have fun Maddy-Poo... you deserve it!

(Maddy on the left. Photo courtesy of Global Expeditions FB page)

I see this picture & it makes me want to hug that sweet neck of hers. Saturday... come quick please.

world missions

2010-07-16T16:34:00.000-04:00

I remember a video that was played during one of my very first visits to my church. A mission team had just returned from Africa. The video was a recap of their experience. The images on the screen had me captivated. It literally took my breath away as tears filled my eyes. At that moment I knew that something like that was in my future. I knew that world mission was something that would be a part of my life.

I got my first opportunity in 2005. I went with a mission team to Chennai, India.

A trip to another nation like this changes you. I came back a different person. The things that I saw and experienced took a part in making me who I am. You see images on TV and hear stories... but until you touch is, smell it & look into the eyes of this other world... you just don't know. I often say that we all need to experience this other world. This planet would be a lot different... that's for sure. Or at least I'd like to think it would.

(each orphan had a trunk & in it was their only belongings)

India was so amazing. The people were so precious. On our visit we did manual labor at the sites of many orphanages. We also brought over book bags with personal hygiene items and a few small toys for many of the village chldren.

Most importantly we brought the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The children were so precious. We would sit and play with them. We didn't speak the same language... but it didn't matter. The girls would run their fingers through my hair and they loved rubbing my skin. They would feel and stare at my hands then giggle at each other. I was confused until one of the orphanage workers told us that they had never seen white people before.

Could you imagine?

I have so many stories from India to share & I plan to.

I'm going to El Salvador in about 2 1/2 weeks. I know that this trip will produce many more stories of it's own.

I'm not exactly sure what my future holds... only God does, but I know in my heart that this other world will be a part of it.

I can't wait for the adventures ahead and I also can't wait to share the stories either.

our favorite summer hang out

2010-07-15T22:53:00.005-04:00

The kids and I had a great day at our favorite summer hangout.

The theme park.... Fun times.

We did something new today. We went up on the top of this thing...

It's a 1/3 scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. It was a little scary, but we had a fun time. I wish I could have captured Reece's expression. She was amazed the entire time. I did manage to get this shot...

It was so pretty up there.

(this is the coaster I blogged about here last year)

(whatever you do... don't look down)

I love going to this theme park. When I was a little girl my parents used to take me & I remember how magical it was back then. It's so cool to see the girls making their own memories on some of the same rides my brother & I used to ride together. One of these days I'm going to dig out my old pictures so I can scan and share them.

We even got to see a show.

Olivia was mesmerized by the pretty dancers. She decided she wants to be a theme park dancer when she grows up.

They did do a great job. I was just trying to figure out how those girls were doing all that jumping & hopping around without peeing on themselves.

They obviously don't have 3 kids... just saying.

Good times for sure.

What's your favorite summer hang out?

---

Maddy update: I have not heard from her, but I did get word that they arrived at their project site yesterday safely & they started their work today.

(sleeping on the bus. photo courtesy of Global Expedition FB page)

our slow switch to organic

2010-07-13T20:27:00.001-04:00

Our switch to organic has been about a 5 year process. It started when the doctor told us that Madison's early development most likely had to do with the hormones that were in the milk she drank when she was younger. You see... when she was little I only gave her milk until she was about 3 years old. I thought I was doing a good thing by giving her so much calcium. Instead of juice I just fed her a lot of fruits. Unfortunately the milk that I was giving her was not organic.

When puberty ends... so does the growing. The doctors were concerned that she would sprout up quickly & then stop growing too soon. She went through blood tests & bone age tests. Thankfully (thank you Lord) it didn't stunt her growth... she is taller than me for crying out loud. She does have a few joint issues that are working themselves out though. That scare led me to investigate the differences between organic & regular foods. I've always been a bit of a naturalist at heart anyway. I like to keep it simple and as natural as possible. God created everything we need to sustain human life for as long as it needs to be sustained. (that's a whole other post... don't get me started.)

Our first organic switch was our milk. Now we buy organic meats, dairy & produce. Since we eat mostly whole foods... that's the bulk of our grocery shopping. Right now I am in the process of trying to figure out how to eat organic on a non-organic eating budget. It's been a challenge and what I'm finding is that due to supply and demand it may not be totally possible... but I'm determined to make it as close as possible. I'm convinced that with proper planning and research organic eating CAN be affordable for anyone.

This is a journey that I plan to blog about. After learning in anatomy how our bodies operate and also learning about how our food industry operates I've developed a passion for healthy eating. I'm even thinking that my future as a nurse may be involved in this area a bit. Not totally sure. For now though... what I am sure of is that I will find a way to make this organic eating thing affordable. I'm also convinced that I can't afford to NOT make the switch.

---

Maddy update: She got her wallet on time & she arrived in Mexico TODAY! :) There is no electricity where she is so they already warned us that we probably won't get an update for a few days.

I did get to talk to her before they crossed over the border & she has already decided she wants to either go to Italy or Panama next year. I told her she better get cracking on the fundraising as soon as she gets home :)

Oh & she said she wants to adopt a child from another nation so they can always be appreciative of what they have. She hasn't even gotten there yet.... I know this trip is going to change her life.

(photo off of Global Expedition Facebook page- VBS training)

training

2010-07-11T23:59:00.002-04:00

Maddy & I both had mission training today.

Her training in Garden Valley, Texas & mine at our church...

I love how Teen Mania (the ministry she is with) has communicated so well with us. They started a Facebook page where they post pictures and updates of her trip. They also have a 24/7 parent communications line that we can call for any reason.

(the picture Teen Mania sent yesterday after she registered)

Last night they had a worship service. I got to chat with her a bit yesterday. She was excited that the campus had longhouses. That's where she will be sleeping until they leave for Mexico.

Today she went through personal evangelism training. I also got word that she does have her luggage. Whew. The FedEx tracking system shows that her wallet should be there in the morning... right on time. So that is very good.

---

I leave for El Salvador in about 3 weeks. We started our training today. A big part of what we will be doing is street dramas. We were assigned our roles & started rehearsing today. We also went over our itinerary. Good times. Now that Maddy is off and taken care of I was able to let my trip sink in a little more. Todays session got me really excited. It's going to be good.

(pictures from my training)

blackberry pie recipe

2010-07-11T00:32:00.001-04:00

I made my very first homemade pie!

I had to do something with all those blackberries we picked at the farm.

I did it!... and I must say... it was pretty darn good!

I made 2. One for us & one for our 4th of July picnic.

I had to do a lot of research... Who knew homemade pie making was so daggon fussy?

Here's the recipe:

Pie crust: (x2... 1 for the bottom crust & 1 for the top crust):

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (chilled & chopped)
1/4 cup of ice cold water

1) combine flour, salt & butter in a medium size bowl (use your fingers as less as possible... apparently the heat is not good for the dough... and don't work the dough too much!)
2) meanwhile put water in a small bowl in the freezer. Once small ice crystals start to form in the water then mix it all into the dough 1 tbsp. at a time.
3) once all water is added gently form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap & refrigerate overnight.
4) when you are ready to make pie, roll 1 ball of dough out into an 10 inch round circle.
5) wrap dough around rolling pin & gently place in the bottom of a 9 inch pie pan. (wrapping dough around pin helps transfer to pan easily)

Pie filling:

5 cups fresh blackberries
3/4 cup of white sugar (separated)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3 tbsp. of lemon juice
2 tbsp. butter
1 egg (beaten)

1) combine 3 1/2 cups of berries in a medium size bowl w/ 1/2 cup sugar and all of flour. Mix until you no longer see the "white"coating on the berries... it might take a bit of time.
2) brush 1/2 of the egg on the bottom of the pie crust. (this will keep it from getting soggy)
3) spread berry mixture in the bottom of the pie crust.
4) spread the remaining 1 1/2 cup berries on top of sugary berry mixture.
5) sprinkle lemon juice on top of filling & then dollop butter on top
6) roll out 2nd pie crust ball into a 10 inches circle & cover filling.
7) crinkle edges with a fork & cut slits in the middle of the crust OR use pizza cutting to cut strips & form a lattice top crust (I used this video to create a lattice top... it was worth the extra effort.)
8) brush top of the pie crust with remaining egg & sprinkle top with remaining sugar.
9) bake 425 for 15 minutes and then reduce oven temp to 375 for additional 30 minutes.
10) let cool for at least an hour before you cut.
11) ENJOY!
(adapted from this recipe & this recipe.)

I hope you likey likey as much as we did. My husband said it was the best homemade pie he has ever eaten. That's saying a lot... he's from a small mountain town where they know how to throw down in the kitchen.

Happy Baking!

and she's off....

2010-07-10T11:58:00.004-04:00

Madison's dad & I dropped her off at the airport this morning. Her flight left at 7:00a. She seemed really excited. She has landed in Texas & will stay there until Monday when they will head off, by bus, to Mexico.

She had to wear this cute little green shirt & her plastic "unattended minor" necklace.

We were standing at baggage check-in when she spotted another green t-shirt behind us. She approached the girl and found out she was going to Mexico too! She was relieved to be able to fly with someone she knew. (I was too!... it took a huge load off knowing she wouldn't be alone.)

The great thing about the unattended minor program is that we got a pass to get through security & to the terminal to wait with her. The flight attendant came out and told us that she was able to get the girls 2 seats together. I thought that was awesome. I just feel bad for whoever had to sit beside the 2 chatter boxes. :)

We were able to watch take off from the end of the terminal.

Once we got in the car... to my horror... I found her wallet (with her passport AND all of her cash) in my pocketbook! After a mild freak out moment Maddy's dad reminded me I could just overnight it to her. So I did... this morning. She will get it Monday morning. I called the mission headquarters & they said that would be ok. Then I got a frantic call from her letting me know that her luggage was left here in Richmond. Great... I spoke with the mission rep & American Airlines has promised her luggage to be delivered before they leave for Mexico.At least she has her sleeping bag, snacks & most importantly.. her camera in her carry on.

(packing)

Two whole weeks without my Maddy-Poo. :( I'm so proud of her though. She is so brave to take a trip like this. I know it's going to be life changing.

We had a fiesta for her Thursday night with my parents, brother & a few of her closest friends. It was nice.

Friends and family also sent a bunch of sweet messages that I bound together in a little "book of encouragement" for her... something to encourage her in case the homesick blues try to creep up on her. She opened it on the airplane. She said "it made me cry". I could tell it meant a lot to her.

We have indeed had a little drama this morning... but I'm just glad that she is there safe on the ground.... now I can relax & get started on this Saturday. On the agenda: absolutely NOTHING... my favorite kind.

a happy 4th & a hot date

2010-07-06T23:46:00.003-04:00

What a great extended weekend!

We had a perfect Independence Day...

a cook-out with dear friends, a ball game, and fireworks.

It was grand.

I love you America!

---

Monday was amazing too. Stephen had off of work for the holiday so we went on a hot date (that's what we like to call them). Usually our hot dates consists of an evening out at an ethnic restaurant. That's our favorite past time. We love checking out ethnic restaurants in our city. Monday was an all day hot date though. Madison went with her dad for the day & the youngest 2 went with my parents all day. They had a blast & so did we!

I surprised him & planned a day at a local state park. We went mountain bike riding and then we went kayaking. It was amazing.

Our 1 mile mountain bike trail ended up being a 5 miles trek around the lake. Turns out the blue trails are the advanced trails. Who knew?

I had to stop about every mile to rest and cool off.

As we sat on the forrest logs Stephen fantasized about having a forrest in our back yard so that he could bike ride every morning. That was great.. I was just trying to get my throbbing heart beat to stop pounding in the temple of my forehead.

It was nice to sit there though all alone deep in the woods with nothing but nature surrounding us. It was very romantic. My favorite part of the bike ride was stumbling across this little brook.

We used my bandana to scoop water on our heads & down our shirts to cool off. I thought about Kate & Sawyer on LOST. I thought Stephen was going to eat a tadpole like the Survivor man... but we made it through. I think we'll find the green beginner trail next time though.

I do love the feel of the wind in my face on a good down hill. I want a trail with all down hills and no rocks or roots. Maybe we can find that trail next time.

After our bike ride we cooled down in the ac of the van & then hit the lake. Our first time kayaking. It was awesome... except for when we rammed into a tree branch & got stuck for a bit. I thought we were going to tip. And even though I knew there were no alligators or crocodiles it still seemed at the moment that it could be possible & I really didn't want to be eaten.

After that it was smooth sailing though. Literally.

We even beached for a bit for 1 last time to soak in all the quietness of the forrest. Ahhh.

It was so relaxing.

What a perfect hot date with my hubby!

my little world changer

2010-07-03T01:00:00.007-04:00

Madison participated in her youth group's 30 hours of famine tonight. It's a World Vision thing & will continue through the weekend. They are fasting & praying for the poverty of this world.

They watched some intense videos & then went to our city’s homeless area to pray for our city's poverty.

She came home talking a mile a minute.

Next week she will experience this world’s poverty first hand. The world’s poverty is like no one can explain. You may see images on TV or hear stories about the 3^rd world… but until you experience it firsthand you simply can’t fathom the depth of it.

Madison came home tonight with a passion in her eye and tangible goals to make a difference in this countries poverty situation... My 12 year old little girl.

Next Saturday she will head to the airport and depart on a plane headed to a place where she knows no one. To a place she has never been. She is simply headed out on faith that God will use her to make a difference.

People may ask (& they have)… How I could send my daughter off on such a trip? My answer: This is her passion. A purpose in it for her. There has been a fire lit within her from the day she heard about the trip. She knew it was a trip she was supposed to take.

Who am I to stop this passion? There is a desire within her to change her world. How dare I intervene? How can I teach her to make a difference with one random act of kindness at a time & then prevent her from fulfilling her heart’s desire to touch her world for Jesus?

I can’t teach her to follow her dreams & then hinder her & fill her with fear... preventing her from from following those dreams when they present themselves.

Tonight I saw within her an all too familiar disgust for injustice & I also see her heart ache due to the lack of compassion she sees.

I look into her eyes & I see a world changer. A history maker.

This trip is going to change the lives of others in Matamoros Mexico… and ultimately I know... it’s going to change the life of a 12 year old I know... forever.

Watch out Mexico... here she comes!

berry picking and the beach

2010-07-01T23:33:00.005-04:00

We traveled through the beautiful country today on the way to the berry farm. Olivia shared her dream of being on “America’s Got Talent”. She is going to sing a Hannah Montana song while hula hooping or she might do her Fred impersonation. I’m sure either will be great.

As we passed all of the farms and horse pastures I got a little giddy thinking about having our very own house on a beautiful piece of land. I told Stephen we should have a horse barn with a pony pasture. We could charge people to board horses and even have one of our very own. I told Stephen since he keeps fussing about my desire to have a motorcycle I would just have a horse instead. It’s kind of the same thing… besides all little girls dream of having a horse. I took a vote & I was right. Each of the girls agreed that a horse would be great. Stephen, being his analytical self, tried to reason that we don’t know how to care for horses. Surely we could figure it out with a few Google searches... I told him.

It’s going to take me some time to talk him into this one. A few things we’ll have for sure though… a mega veggie garden, a few chocolate labs, a chicken coop & maybe even a billy goat.

It’s going to be good.

Berry picking was lots of fun. Ahem… I found the farm through a Google search. Noticed it was in the town of Colonial Beach… so we decided to hit the beach too. Stephen had the day off. It was great.

We ate a little picnic at the berry farm. There were a few groups there on daycare field trips. All of the kids were running around having a great time. I was checking out their labeled water bottled and matching day care shirts when it dawned on me how thankful I was to be sitting there with my family. I looked over at Reece who had blackberries smeared all over her face. I fed her a bite of her ice-cream & then glanced over at Olivia feeding Madison a big bite of her cone. I got a little teary eyed when I thought about how not too long ago I was working full time hours wishing I could be at home with my girls. I prayed many prayers asking God to make a way for that to happen. He is so faithful.

We had so much fun.Best day ever.

Now I just need to figure out what the heck I am going to do with these 10 pounds of blackberries.

I put all of our pics from today here.

Cheesy Potato Recipe

2010-06-30T23:23:00.001-04:00

Madison has been cooking simple things like eggs & grilled cheese for awhile.... but recently she has developed a desire to cook more & more. The other night she cooked pizza quesadillas. I never thought something so simple could be so scrumptious. I'm seeing some serious potential in her. Her dad is really passionate about cooking and now that I have the time I've thrown down in the kitchen a time or two. I told her I want her to cook dinner from now on at least once a week. This week she got one of her recipes out of a book called The Children's step-by-step Cook Book ( I would recommend it to all young chefs!)

She made her shopping list last night & we did our weekly grocery shopping today.

Tonight she made parmesan chicken (her own recipe) and cheesy potatoes. She also made homemade cookies. (both from the book)

Madison was in the kitchen cooking, Olivia & Reece were napping and I was outside working in my garden. I think I could get used to this.

Cheese and Potato Bake:

(taken from Children's step-by-step Cook Book)

-1 cup grated sharp cheddar (she had to have white sharp)

-1 egg

-salt & pepper

-2/3 cup heavy cream

-1 1/2 pounds potatoes

-1 large onion (she left this out)

1) preheat oven to 350. Peel & slice potatoes. Put them in a bowl of water.

2) Slice onion. Melt butter in the saucepan over low heat & cook the onion until soft.

3) Grate cheese. Butter baking dish & spread a layer of sliced potatoes on the bottom. Spoon some onions on top.

4) Add salt & pepper and sprinkle w/ cheese. Continue layering potatoes, onions, and cheese, finishing w/ potatoes.

5) Beat the eggs into the cream with a fork. Pour it over the potatoes and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.

6) Bake the potatoes for about 1 1/2 hours.

These were so yummy! Try 'em out.

world records & new structure

2010-06-28T21:37:00.004-04:00

(yard sale @ mom's)

Saturday's yard sale was awesome. Maddy made $400! I'm so grateful for friends who donated things & especially grateful for my mom, dad & brother... they put in a lot of work. My aunt came in to help too.
It was the hottest day known to man kind... but it was good.

Madison leaves a week from this Saturday.

----

Olivia is trying to break the world's longest gum chewing record. She has been going at it since yesterday afternoon. After she tried to stick it behind her ear at bed time I had to make a "no gum IN the bed" rule. I guess that's why she thought it was ok to put gum ON her bed... not IN it. She thought the head board was a nice resting place last night for her wad. Madison tried to convince her that this goal was not possible because surely the record has to be longer than a few months and once school starts back she won't be allowed to chew gum during school hours. I encouraged her to follow her dreams... and she is determined. Same piece, going strong... except for this morning when she dropped it in the floor and asked for another piece. I slipped her another one & told her that we'll just let that one slide.

(olivia- a self portrait)

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Our family went to a going away dinner at our friends house Saturday. One of our favorite families is moving away next week. Very sad, but God has given them instructions to start a church across the country... so they are. I'm excited for them, just sad because I will miss them. At the dinner I got the opportunity to have an awesome... (answer to my prayers)... conversation with 3 friends. 1 who has a very successful college student, 1 who is an elementary school teacher, and another who is having some of the same mom struggles that I am. We picked their brains a bit & out of that conversation our new "family schedule" was birthed.

(super-nanny style)

We had a family meeting on Sunday, established some rules & presented a new schedule. Today is Day 1 & it went so awesome. Some of the things that my friends brought to my attention is how important structure is for kids (& mom's) and also how important rewards are instead of just punishments. When I got home, before our family meeting, I searched a bit online & found this star rewards system. I tweaked it a bit & made is a sticker system instead. Obviously with the age difference the rewards are pretty different... They are both happy about it though. The schedule was met with a little frustration & concerns, but today has been great.

I'm so happy to have awesome women in my life who I can learn from. That Saturday night conversation was really good & much needed.

I'm sure I'll be blogging about our progress soon... I'm really excited about this. Today flowed so great.

The day started with a kiss on the cheek from my honey as he let me know that he thinks I get prettier & prettier everyday... how could it not be a good day? I just love that guy.

pool time & diet time

2010-06-23T23:37:00.002-04:00

Pool time today was fun. My girlfriend came over with her daughters. I hadn't seen her in awhile.

She asked me what I've been up to. "busy as usual?"

"Nope not at all really"... that was nice.

And I haven't been. We've been fundraising a bunch. We had a huge rummage sale @ the church & the group made over $3,000. Had a couple babysitting nights & a spaghetti dinner... which made me want to work in a restaurant again. I loved being a waitress.

Maddy has been handing out sponsor letters. Her dad got her a fundraising night at Chick-fil-a... best darn chicken around! She made about $120 with that. 2 yard sales= a seriously purged & organized house. I'm loving that!

Well, maybe I have been a little busy... but it hasn't been that crazy. It feels good to be on break from school.

---------

Went to church tonight with all 4 kiddos... Olivia is having a sleepover, which explains the 4th child.

I was looking pretty cute in my new denim .50 cent yard sale ~~dress~~ steal. until....

someone asked if I was pregnant.

awesome.

I simply love it when that happens, don't you?

Dang... must.eat.less.food.

doing it, more babies, missions & bark piles... and some other stuff too.

2010-06-22T14:03:00.017-04:00

I realized that I haven't felt much like blogging lately unless my heart has been heavy... which explains the last few posts. I should lighten things up a bit with a little conversation that I had with Olivia the other day. It went something like this:

olivia: mommy, why do you & daddy always do "it"?

me: (as I try to gain composure & not let her see the panic in my eyes) what do you mean by "it"?

olivia: you know what I mean mommy...

me: no honey I really don't think I do, please explain.

olivia: ok... I'll spell it.

me: ok dear, please do spell "it"

olivia: K-I-S-S-I-N-G

me: (thank you sweet Lord!) Oh, that! Of course... mommy knows what "it" is! It's because me & daddy love each other. That's why we do "it"... you know kiss & all.

olivia: ewwww

whew!

(Olivia graduating Kindergarten!)

----------

To top things off... this morning Stephen & I were cuddling & doing "it" (kissing, of course) When Olivia busts in...

Gee Whiz... it's too early for you to be up... go back to bed dear child... is what I was thinking, but didn't have time to say because she tattles...

"mommy & daddy, Reece peed a lot in her diaper & then she sat on my head

& now I have pee on my head."

classic.

----------

Happy summer! I couldn't be more excited about this summer. No work, no school (just a little studying for the nursing entrance exam.) just me & the kiddos having a good time!

This is the life. I love being a mom so much. I think if I didn't have 3 more years of school in front of me I'd be ready to have another one.

We'll wait... for now.

----------

Maddy got her passport in the mail yesterday!!! She will be headed to Mexico on her very first mission trip in less then a month!

She is really excited. We have one last fundraiser for her this weekend.

Our 2nd yard sale. good times.

I'm leaving for El Salvador about a week after she gets back. Just got an email saying we are going to visit some orphanages, women's prison & feeding centers. I'm excited!

Two life changing trips, I'm sure of it.

----------

Got some changes coming in our lives soon. If you know me or have read my blog for a bit you know how I struggle with decisions.

I'm praying and seeking God... He'll lead me the right way. He always does.

I some times wish that He would just reveal the entire picture all at once... He's smart like that & doesn't. Step by step... it's what the faith walk is all about. I trust you Lord. Take my hand daddy & lead me... I know you won't fail me....

More to come on that in due time.

----------

Got any fun summer plans?

(Olivia & I make bark piles while we wait for Madison to ride roller coasters...

it doesn't take much folks.)

my daddy

2010-05-24T11:02:00.003-04:00

You would think at age 29 I would be well over the fact that I hadn't seen my real father since I was 13. He has health issues among a slew of other reasons that sent him catapulting out of my life at a young vulnerable age of 13. I know he didn't realize exactly what he was doing when he walked out of my life. In my mind he couldn't help his decision to be absent. He was in & out of illness & had his own life to deal with... much less his son & daughter.

I remember when I was 16 years old... I found out I was pregnant. My step-dad stood at the entrance of my upstairs bedroom. I was sitting on my bed & I had called them both up to reveal the news. "Mom, Mike.. I'm pregnant." I waited, in anticipation. How will they take it? Will they be mad? Will they be disappointed? My step dad, in silence. Slowly made his way across my bedroom... he bent down & gave me a hug. a hug like I had never experienced before from him, to my rememberance. A hug of acceptance. A hug to tell me everything was going to be OK. I needed that hug. Moms can give a hug.. but in that moment the hug from dad was what made it all better.

I have recently been in touch with my real father. I found out he has a little girl who was born on my birthday. She will be 9 years old this year. I have received snail mail letters from my dad. He has recently gotten the internet & obtained an email address.... yahoo. I have Yahoo too & the little side bar tells me when he is online. we have chatted online a few times. I am so proud that he has actually figured out how to chat online. This is all brand new to him. I joked him... "now all you need is a facebook"

"what's that? will it let me chat more with you? "

"kind of. it's a place where you can put pictures & tell people about yourself.. and chat with people too"

"how do I get one?"

"facebook.com... just enter your new email address & follow the instructions."

I didn't think he was serious... but he now has a facebook. He wanted a way to keep in touch with me better. That felt good.

I miss my dad. I talk to him every now and then & I get a letter & an email every now & then. I still cry each time. I'm not sure why really. I'm not sure if it's because I'm grieving his absence? I'm not sure if it's because I feel so sorry for my little sister,who is now having to deal with some of the uncertainties that I'm too familiar with (she doesn't live with him).... I know the pain that comes with that & I want to rescue her, but I don't even know her. My dad makes up part of who I am... I think I am simply grieving the lost years. It's been nearly 17 years.... over 1/2 my life.

I thought I was ok... and I am. But every little girl needs her daddy. When I talk to him I catch glimpses of myself. Part of me is missing. Part of me has been away for way too long.

I want to see my dad.

We are making plans to visit this summer. My kids have only recently discovered that mom's real dad isn't Poppaw. Mike-is my dad... but now so is my real one. It's time to reconnect. This does not mean that Mike is any less my father. It just means that I am reconnecting to another man who is a part of who I am too.

I'm excited about this.

(dad's Facebook profile pic) :)

The great news is that I've got a flawless Heavenly Father. A Daddy in Heaven who is, has been & always will be there when I need Him for anything... always... & forever... no matter what. That makes me extremely happy & grateful.

stop growing, would ya?

2010-04-26T23:28:00.005-04:00

I've never been a full time mom. Of course I'm always a mom... but that role has always been shared with other titles & responsibilities.

I was a senior in high school when I gave birth to my first born.

After graduation I immediately enrolled in community college.

I worked as a waitress while I went to school.

College didn't work out. After two years of general studies and no idea of what I wanted to do with my life I realized I was wasting my time.

So I got a job at the best gig in town. A major credit card company. I was a bill collector.

Money was great... much better than the weekend tips I was receiving before.

After some time I got overly zealous about a network marketing job & quit the good gig to make hundreds of thousands of dollars every year selling legal insurance plans... so I thought anyway.

No over night millionaire here.

I did love the feel of the heels, suits & sales pitches though. It was empowering. I had a huge desire to be a powerful business woman. a fast talking, multi-tasking, order giving, business lady.. in heels, of course.

Independent sales ended up not working out quite like I envisioned.

It wasn't long until I was able to get a job at my church. I was grateful for that. I had many roles there until I went on to work another sales job. Then I worked yet another sales job. The "business world" glitz and glamour had worn completely off by that point.

Yuck. I hate sales.

Now, nursing school.

I also help Stephen with the young adults ministry. I love it. It's a rewarding role & one that I know God has given us grace for. I love me some YAMers. It's always good times in the making, for sure.

It's fulfilling & I love the relationships we are building.

I don't consider it a "job", but it is work and a lot of responsibility.

You know what I've never had though...

I've never had the role of just "mom". I wonder what that feels like.

I wonder what it feels like to just be a mom. That "just" is a good "just". I know being a mom is never "just" being a mom. Being a mom is such a multi-faceted job in itself.

I do wonder what it's like to wear only the mommy/ home-maker hat though.

No morning rush hour traffic, no submission deadlines, no pressure to read 5 chapters before the big exam on Friday, no event advertising, no note-card studying, no event planning meetings.

None of that. Just me, being a mom...

I am certainly not complaining. I'm just wondering...

I know I am where God has me for now.

The point of all of this is only to say that I've just been thinking a lot lately about how fast the girls are growing. I hate the thought that they are only little for such a small amount of time. I am starting to "hear" & take notice when people tell me... "take advantage of it when they are young, because they grow up so fast". And boy, do they!

It makes me sad some days. Today is one of those days.

praying for mom

2010-04-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

mom is really funny when she's in the hospital on those heavy hospital meds. She says funny things. We sit together in her hospital bed, hold hands & laugh at each other. She was admitted on Wednesday due to abdomen pain. This is the second time in the past couple of months, but she has had the pain now for several months.

We are praying for answers. The docs don't seem to know what is going on. The Lord does though & I know everything is going to be fine. I'm frustrated at the lack of concern & consideration from the docs though. So quick to prescribe a med then to get to the bottom of the problem. Mom is eager to get to the root of the problem... not just cover up the symptoms.

Mom's hospital roommate had a breast removed due to cancer. I didn't realize they still did that. She opted the removal over chemo. Madison was completely fascinated with this & asked the male nurse if the doctors were sure they had removed all of the cancer & if she would be able to get an implant replacement. Mom & I just looked at each other with wide eyes. She's been asking "whys" & "how comes" ever since she was teeny tiny. Once when she was 5 she was staring out the car window up at the sky & asked me "mama, how does the world work". She's always wondering.

Olivia doesn't like seeing mom in the hospital. It worries her. I ensured them both today that she was going to be ok.

Please say a prayer for mom. We just need to know what is causing the pain.

a little love for my neglected blog

2010-04-07T20:08:00.003-04:00

I miss blogging.

Life is so busy.

I have found time for my new ~~obsession~~ hobby. I have a nice little garden going. I'm determined to not be my typical plant killing self. So far I've killed 2 batches of seedlings a 2 huge clumps of cilantro mom dug up for me out of her garden.. Oh, & some pretty tulips I bought at Lowe's. Note to self... fertilizer burns new baby seeds & so does scorching hot sunlight. They say 3rd times a charm. We shall see.

3 weeks & I have no school for 3 whole months. How exciting.

This semester is going well. Way more intense than last semester though. I'm pretty sure my Ethics professor is a crazed maniac with way too much time on his hands. That's been a little weird. There is hope though...the weight of constantly feeling like I need to be studying is almost over for a brief bit. That will be refreshing.

I also get to fly to Florida at the beginning of May, directly after my finals to see my bud Drea graduate from nursing school. That will be an inspirational & a joyous occasion. Can't wait to see my friend. I miss her like crazy.

Also traveling to El Salvador this summer. Madison is going to Mexico. 2 mission trips to pay for...

I forgot to mention... I'm also knee deep in fundraising.

Life is good though.

In other random news. I've been in touch with my real father. I may be able to see him this summer. Haven't seen him since I was 13.

Oh, and I'm considering dreadlocks for myself. Crazy huh?

My neglected blog will get much more love soon as can be.

I miss you blog buds!

Happy Belated Resurrection Sunday (8 years since I made Jesus my Lord... best decision ever!)

smitten

2010-01-31T20:46:00.001-05:00

we are smitten with God's love.

God is smitten with our love.

God is love. love never fails.

love, love. love. love. love... i love love. you can love love, right?

i do. love love, that is.

smitten: a heavy blow, affect sharply with great feeling.

i was struck by His love so powerfully that it knocked me right off my feet. i have been swept off my feet.

He's a God like that... a sweep you off your feet kind of loving God.

sacrificial love

the Roman empire ruled the world that Jesus was born into. a world without love...

-infanticides (newborn killings) were a norm (because of poverty, human sacrifice, burdensome)

-children abandonment (wild packs of children would roam the streets... not uncommon. These were the children most likely that Jesus said... let the little children come to me. they were outcasts, unwanted and unloved. that was normal)

-sick & elderly were left in the elements to die (normal and very common)

- none of the Roman gods or goddess were portrayed as having compassion or sympathy.

-entertainment was watching people kill each other in the coliseums

this was the world that Jesus lived in. this was the world the early church had to live in.

the love that the early church displayed completely revolutionized the world (literally)

love isn't always convenient and some times it's not even comfortable.

Jesus said to His disciples.... "by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (john 13:35)

it's our heritage. it's who we are. the birth of christianity.

if we want to change the world... it starts with us. one sacrificial act of love at a time!!!

Acquire the Fire was amazing. I took Madison & we had a great time. It's a youth conference. Madison loved it & I got a lot from it too. It got snowed out half way through. bad news. the good news is that we get free admission into 2 other upcoming conferences. we're excited.

my parents had to come in Big Red (my dad's big ol' truck) to get us. It was quite the adventure. i forgot to get gas on the way down so we couldn't keep the car on for very long. we ended up sitting in the cold for about an hour. when my parents got there I had them follow me to my schools parking deck (right around the corner) because the deck I was in was pay per hour.... just to get around the corner & realize my school deck was closed. no way I was making it onto the interstate or off that particular road for that matter. Hercules (my dad) some how parallel parked my car in a cozy little spot downtown. He was slipping and sliding all over the placed. He finally had enough, got out & physically pushed the rear end into place... hence the nickname Hercules.

SO my car is currently in the city, with no gas. poor little thing... & no doubt completely piled with snow from all of the street plowers.

Thankfully school is closed tomorrow (for me & the girls). I will head down there some time this week with my shovel & gas can.... good times.

Acquire the Fire... fantastic times.

This was a shot I took on the way home in big red. this was the interstate. i lost count of how many vehicles were in the ditch. we don't get much snow so when we do... this is what happens.

2010 Photo Journal- Week 4

2010-01-30T21:48:00.001-05:00

Week 4

day 22

me in va

busy night at the movies

more fun with shutter speed

drea in fl

A snuggly morning

Taken because it was a wet and foggy morning. So we were hanging in our jammies watching the Disney channel.

day 24

me in va

tiny baby bottles

taken at my cousin's baby shower

drea in fl

Oh my chocolate

Taken because Ethan was tearing into a chocolate doughnut like he was expecting to find money in the middle. LOL.

day 24

me in va

toofers

I had my nose in the books ALL day except for church. I submitted my 1st ethics exam this day. This sweet little thing kept crawling up on the kitchen chair to say hello.

drea in fl

Mi amore

Taken on our trip to Manatee Park. Enjoying our family day together before he had to go back to Sarasota.

day 25

me in va

split peas

made split pea soup for dinner

mmm

drea in fl

Moseying along

Taken because this old man was adorable and he is obviously wise enough to take his time and enjoy his stroll.

day 26

me in va

buttons and thread

one of my goals this year is to learn how to sew (the right way)

drea in fl

The chime of time

Taken at Edison State College because this clock tower chimes the coolest songs, including Jimmy Buffet. This always puts a smile on my face, amidst a stressful school day.

day 27

me in va

Liv and the clothespin girl

olivia made this for her missionettes teacher at church

drea in fl

Gumption

Taken because this man is 100 years old, yet he has the gumption to row that boat around the lake every single day.

day 28

me in va

we took a stroll to the playground

drea in fl

Rugged athlete

Taken while Ethan was kicking around a giant soccer ball like a little pro, and so serious too.

see all 2010 Photo journal posts here

no boys for this little girl

2010-01-26T20:31:00.000-05:00

Olivia: mommy, guess what two boys in my class told me today!

Me: What babe?

Olivia: They both said they L-I-K-E-D me.

Me: Really? What do you think about that?

Olivia: I think I don't like it.

Me: Why not?

Olivia: Because I am not allowed to have a boyfriend. That's what I told them. I think you should have a chat with their mommies.

That's my girl.

2010 Photo Journal- Weeks 1-3

2010-01-23T20:31:00.024-05:00

back to blogging :) YAY. The past 3 weeks have been great. We have some exciting stuff coming up this year... but I'm sure I'll be blogging about that soon. For now I have LOTS of pictures to share.

Inspired by this I decided to join the Project 365 challenge. 1 photo a day everyday for 365 days. Fun huh? One of my goals this year is to become a better photographer. Practice makes perfect, right?

Inspired by this I decided to do the challenge with my friend in Florida. I miss her so much. We thought this would be a great way to stay connected. We've been sharing our photos through email & I do feel closer to her. It's nice pretending we don't have about 1,000 miles between us.

I'll share my photos daily (or as daily as possible) on my Flickr stream & she is sharing hers daily on her Facebook page. I'll post ours together here weekly.

Meet Drea:

"I'm a pretty busy person. I'm married and have two great kids, both are boys. So I've got my hands full there. I live about 10 minutes from the beach in south Florida and LOVE IT!! The flip side to that is I'm so busy with work and school that I rarely get to go. But that will change soon when I graduate. I was a real estate appraiser for 6 years and one day realized that I belonged in nursing. God put some great opportunities together for me and I haven't hesitated for a second.

I love my life, my family and my friends. I also love Jesus. He saved my life. I've been through a lot of horrible stuff that could have ended things for me, but instead of letting go I called on Jesus. He is my rock, my strength, my Lord and my very best friend. I can't even describe how He has changed my life."

Here's what we've been up to the last 3 weeks....

week 1

day 1

me in va

wii boxing

I didn't actually decide to start until the 2nd, but thankfully I did get this on Maddy's new point & shoot. One of her teachers had us over for dinner on New Years Day. Stephen packed up the Wii. Mr. Green kept saying... "this is stupid, completely pointless. why do people even waste their time paying this." We could tell he was loving it though.

drea in fl

Exploring new oceans

taken to remind myself that in order to explore new oceans I can't look back at the shore."

day 2

me in va

yoda, reece/ reece, yoda

nice to meet you

we were at Target

drea in fl

There once was a crab

Taken because I'm learning about manual aperture and shutter speed settings.

day 3

me in va

cheapest diffuser ever

1st thing on my "things to buy for camera" list... an external flash. This thing is a beast.

drea in fl

Holding on to innocence

Taken because he rarely sits still long enough to get precious shots like this.

day 4

me in va

prepping

for my new wall collage. pic of the wall on day 12.

drea in fl

Laundry, oh Laundry!

Taken because it was a laundry day....a major laundry day.

day 5

me in va

sending a surprise

I popped a "just because I love & miss you bunches" present in the mail to Drea

drea in fl

Heavy load of anticipation

Taken because it's the beginning of a new year and I was thinking about everything I needed to accomplish.

day 6

me in va

YAM planning

drea in fl

Cold cold condensation

Taken because it was very cold outside and Ethan and I spent the day cooped up in the house.

day 7

me in va

vintage lovelies

out thrifting with mom

drea in fl

Epic battle

Taken because Mitchell and I are constantly battling over rights to my desk chair (a.k.a. my throne).

week 2

day 8

me in va

El Salvador Interest

YAM Interest Meeting for 2010 El Salvador missions trip

drea in fl

Matters of the heart

Taken because I have started the cardiac segment of Adult II nursing. I love the cardiac system. It is my favorite, and this is the continuation of a passion.

day 9

me in va

free blanket rides

drea in fl

The home stretch

Taken after my first clinical day of Adult II, my last semester of nursing school.

day 10

me in va

milk goggles

drea in fl

Young warrior

Taken because Owen's name means "young warrior" and that's exactly what he is.

day 11

me in va

back to it

back to the snooze button, rush hour traffic, flash-card making, all the time studying, pre-requ fun.....

leaving the parking deck

drea in fl

Special delivery

Taken because Ethan looked so cute in that little box and I'm loving how to edit with photoshop elements.

day 12

me in va

the eclectic wall

my latest home project... finito

drea in fl

Constructing adventure

Taken because Owen absolutely loves his legos. Especially building "Star Wars" space ships. This is my first experiment with shooting a close shot with a wide angle setting.

day 13

me in va

dissatisfied

she was not diggin' dinner

drea in fl

Good morning Lord

Taken because He blessed me with this beautiful sunrise this morning and because He is so good.

day 14

me in va

you don't scare me mr. lion

I saw him when I was out & about on this day. actually he was at the end of a driveway. there were cars in the driveway too... i bet they are still wondering who the weird girl was taking pictures of their stone lion out in front of their house.

drea in fl

Dat's my hat

Taken because Ethan refuses to get rid of this crumpled up party hat from New Year's eve and it's just too cute.

week 3

day 15

me in va

peekaboo sunshine

on the way to class... I pulled over on the interstate to get it.

drea in fl

Little iron chef

Taken because Ethan always wants to "help" cook dinner, and this was how he chose to help tonight. LOL

day 16

me in va

fun with shutter speed

maddy was such a good sport. I dare to say she even enjoyed this shoot. I just love my little lady!

drea in fl

Best brothers

Taken at Lakes Park while these two had a ball on the giant inflatable slide.

day 17

me in va

untitled

Olivia's little bud spent the night. this was taken before church.

drea in fl

Deep in thought

Taken because Ethan looked like he was trying to solve a college calculus problem.

day 18

me in va

big, just like mama

drea in fl

The escape route

Taken to fulfill a deal..."I'll buy tickets for you to play on the slide, if you promise to cooperate for some picture taking". LOL

day 19

me in va

bubbly babe

drea in fl

Alphabetology

Taken because I was using this puzzle to teach Ethan the alphabet. Hence, the title. Meaning, the study of alphabet.

day 20

me in va

a puppy & a pigtail

my girlfriend's daughter.

drea in fl

The shadow of your wings

Taken because this reminded me that no matter the circumstance, I am safe under the shadow of God's wings.

day 21

me in va

bath-time reflections

drea in fl

Come rest here

Taken because Americans need to be seeking after God, not just expecting to receive from Him.

blog break

2009-12-31T23:59:00.003-05:00

It's time to take a break!

I am participating in a fasting & prayer time with the rest of my church's congregation. I'm choosing to limit internet time during this 3 week period, as well as other things.

I am also going to take this time to set goals & do some of this years planning.

I'll take this time to seek the Lord and get some direction, as well as pray about some other stuff too.

toodles for now. and only for a bit.

happy 2010!

year in review- 2009

2009-12-29T21:02:00.003-05:00

I never send out the "year in review" letters at Christmas time... heck, who am I kidding, I haven't even sent Christmas cards since... well, I can't remember. I do LOVE getting those letters in the mail though & catching up on what's going on in the lives of family & friends. My goal is to get cards AND a letter out next year. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

If I had sent one out this year...

it would have gone a little something like this....

Dear family & friends,

What a year it has been! (so cliche & so cheesy, huh?) As usual, the Sanders home has been a busy one this year.

Stephen is still working at our church as a video editor. He edits the broadcast that our church produces as well as other creative short videos that our church uses for various things. He loves what he does and sees it as a privilege to have a part in spreading the gospel across the world though media.

I have decided to stop working and become a full time student. I enrolled at a local community college and am now pursuing a nursing degree. I am absolutely loving school and I am also thoroughly enjoying the extra time I now have at home with the girls.

Stephen & I also work together to head up the young adults ministry at our church. Our responsibilities include planning fellowship & outreach events for the young adults in our church. We love it & would definitely say our most memorable experience with the "yammers" this year was a New York City mission trip we went on in August. Many lives were changed... especially ours. We are looking forward to taking a trip to El Salvador in 2010!

Madison is now a middle schooler. She is maturing into a sweet young lady. Her new favorite things to do are send text messages, take pictures, and cheer. Yes, can you believe it?!? Our self-proclaimed tom boy is now a cheer leader.

Olivia started kindergarten this year. She is such a smart little cookie. She is reading very well these days. One of her favorite things to do is read books. She also loves math. She takes it upon herself to study Madison's multiplication flash-cards, as well as her own addition & subtraction ones.

Reece is a very busy bee these days. She turned one in October. She is walking, climbing, and even jumping around the house. She is most definitely the busiest babe I've had. She is also starting to say small words. She is a chatterbox. We may not understand what she is saying, but it sure seems like she knows.

Life is good these days. We are looking forward to an awesome 2010. We hope you are too.

Lots of love!

Stephen, Kasie, Madison, Olivia and Reece

i ♥ faces- “Hilarious Outtakes”

2009-12-28T21:02:00.002-05:00

Earlier in December I went on a bff photo-shoot. This is my sweet friend Robin & her family. She truly is a super mom. Not only does she have 5 kiddos, but she is also a determined homeschooling mama. Her dedication & commitment to her family inspires me to be a better mom.

As you can see in these pictures her family is lots of fun to be around.

I got to pick 5 this week!

See all of the other entries here.