This giveaway, being held on the blog "A Prefect Lily", to help bring Penny home...
Still needs just about one thousand dollars...
If you donate here, you can enter the drawing here...
And help TWO little girls come home! Because little Julia now has a family, too :)!!!
Also, the next Hidden Treasures auction is just a week away! They can always use prayers, bidders, and donations of handcrafted items, gift cards, gently used items, (maybe items that you have won in a drawing?... ;)...) and the list goes on! It has really been amazing to see all the neat and creative listings that have been posted over the past several months! The two little children that this auction will help, Elaina and Ethan, are just as important to the Lord as Penny and Julia, and we can help bring all four of these little ones home!
Showing posts with label Praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Praise. Show all posts
Friday, May 24, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
No matter what...
(Written last Friday, just not edited until now :P... It seems that all I ever do any more is short posts or just the rough draft. I have about ten in my drafts folder right now, haha ;)!)
It's 6:46. Supper is in the oven, and so are some muffins that I made impromptu while wearing the apron a friend blessed me with a couple of years ago. It was so fun to be baking again "just for fun". I haven't done a lot of that lately, we've just been making meals for the most part. It was wonderful... a counting lesson with the little girls, getting some more frozen fruit out of the freezer (less to move!), eating chocolate chips (chef's honors ;)...), coming a little closer to my goal of fifteen minutes from start to cleaned up (from eighteen minutes last time I timed myself, down to sixteen, haha :).).
The house is clean, and all the little ones are playing together. The Star-gazer lilies that our realtor blessed us with are sending their scent through the whole house. And we got a call not too long ago that we'll be having someone else come look at it tomorrow. We have one more load to throw in the washer tonight, and then we'll be almost caught up with the laundry. Bethi finished her hat this morning, and is extremely excited.
So many little things that make up a day.
So many blessings.
Yes, it can be harder at times. Instead of playing together, the little ones could be arguing. I could burn my muffins. The flowers will die; the house won't always be clean. Someone may become sick; things might not go as we would like. But even through these moments, the blessings still shine; God has given me the grace to get through those times. God has given me this life to live, these times to teach me lessons, and my family to learn these lessons with. The dishes may be piled; but we ate. The toddlers may be fussy; but we have them. The goals may not be met; but we can try again. Daddy may be in another state; but we are united in our love for Christ and each other, and God's plan for our lives, and we can trust him to bring us back together in his timing.
These past few months have been hard in many ways. They have been wonderful in many ways. I feel that we have learned a lot in many ways. But through it all, one thing is often thought of: God has a reason for this. We don't know what it is, but he does, and we know this is true. And, already, looking back, we can see that some of the things that didn't seem like something that we would pray for, have been used for good. Daddy being out of work and nobody answering his calls? I really think that that was preparing us for these months when we are having to go weeks with Daddy in VA.
It can be hard to keep seeing the blessings instead of focusing on the struggles. But when you really look for them, the blessings far outweigh, and are far more numerous, then you ever imagined. And I know, no matter what, I am truly blessed!
(And especially rejoicing today in the added awareness of my blessings as we rejoice in the celebration of our risen Savior's love for us!!!)
It's 6:46. Supper is in the oven, and so are some muffins that I made impromptu while wearing the apron a friend blessed me with a couple of years ago. It was so fun to be baking again "just for fun". I haven't done a lot of that lately, we've just been making meals for the most part. It was wonderful... a counting lesson with the little girls, getting some more frozen fruit out of the freezer (less to move!), eating chocolate chips (chef's honors ;)...), coming a little closer to my goal of fifteen minutes from start to cleaned up (from eighteen minutes last time I timed myself, down to sixteen, haha :).).
The house is clean, and all the little ones are playing together. The Star-gazer lilies that our realtor blessed us with are sending their scent through the whole house. And we got a call not too long ago that we'll be having someone else come look at it tomorrow. We have one more load to throw in the washer tonight, and then we'll be almost caught up with the laundry. Bethi finished her hat this morning, and is extremely excited.
So many little things that make up a day.
So many blessings.
Yes, it can be harder at times. Instead of playing together, the little ones could be arguing. I could burn my muffins. The flowers will die; the house won't always be clean. Someone may become sick; things might not go as we would like. But even through these moments, the blessings still shine; God has given me the grace to get through those times. God has given me this life to live, these times to teach me lessons, and my family to learn these lessons with. The dishes may be piled; but we ate. The toddlers may be fussy; but we have them. The goals may not be met; but we can try again. Daddy may be in another state; but we are united in our love for Christ and each other, and God's plan for our lives, and we can trust him to bring us back together in his timing.
These past few months have been hard in many ways. They have been wonderful in many ways. I feel that we have learned a lot in many ways. But through it all, one thing is often thought of: God has a reason for this. We don't know what it is, but he does, and we know this is true. And, already, looking back, we can see that some of the things that didn't seem like something that we would pray for, have been used for good. Daddy being out of work and nobody answering his calls? I really think that that was preparing us for these months when we are having to go weeks with Daddy in VA.
It can be hard to keep seeing the blessings instead of focusing on the struggles. But when you really look for them, the blessings far outweigh, and are far more numerous, then you ever imagined. And I know, no matter what, I am truly blessed!
(And especially rejoicing today in the added awareness of my blessings as we rejoice in the celebration of our risen Savior's love for us!!!)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
As grains of sand...
One of our friends, Miss Brenda, sent us the link to this site the other day... Sand grains magnified 110-250 times reveal each grain is unique.
These pictures of those tiny, tiny grains of sand are amazing! As Mommy pointed out, they give a whole new meaning to God's promise to Abraham that his decedents would be like the grains of sand. Not only would they be as numerous as the sand that we can not count, but they would each be beautiful in their own special way, just as God created them!
I think all of them are neat, but if you look through them all, I really like the "star" looking ones and the fragments of baby sea urchin shells (sounds kind of gross, but they are pretty :).)
They do mention millions of years in the video, but just in passing, and the rest of it was well worth a peak :).
Mommy showed it to Tori yesterday, and she immediately got her own microscope out, gathered some sand off of some sea shells she has collected, and we got to see those, too :). We would need to buy a certain kind of slide that Tori doesn't own (yet ;)... I'm sure they will be coming in the future after she has enough saved up or someone else helps out), according to a friend at church... But we could still see the shapes perfectly fine, and that was amazing in itself :).
Isn't our God wonderful?! Every snowflake, every grain of sand, every fingerprint, is different, no matter how many there are!
These pictures of those tiny, tiny grains of sand are amazing! As Mommy pointed out, they give a whole new meaning to God's promise to Abraham that his decedents would be like the grains of sand. Not only would they be as numerous as the sand that we can not count, but they would each be beautiful in their own special way, just as God created them!
I think all of them are neat, but if you look through them all, I really like the "star" looking ones and the fragments of baby sea urchin shells (sounds kind of gross, but they are pretty :).)
They do mention millions of years in the video, but just in passing, and the rest of it was well worth a peak :).
Mommy showed it to Tori yesterday, and she immediately got her own microscope out, gathered some sand off of some sea shells she has collected, and we got to see those, too :). We would need to buy a certain kind of slide that Tori doesn't own (yet ;)... I'm sure they will be coming in the future after she has enough saved up or someone else helps out), according to a friend at church... But we could still see the shapes perfectly fine, and that was amazing in itself :).
Isn't our God wonderful?! Every snowflake, every grain of sand, every fingerprint, is different, no matter how many there are!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Thankful Sunday...
...and look for a mega post for Thankful Thursday posts for weeks 35-40... or maybe a bunch of shorter posts, I'm not sure yet...
It's been too long since I posted a Thankful Thursday post! But, I missed a few during Christmas, and then since then I have been trying to "catch up". I've decided to just post this week's, and then work on the several weeks full worth I've got sitting in my drafts :)...
This week I'm thankful for...
~The van that Daddy was able to get to replace the car he has been driving. It served us well, but it officially gave out on him right before he came home for New Year's. So, last Thursday, he went to get a new one. The new van is even the van he has wanted since I was a baby, but could never get... we're not sure why the old van gave out now, but it does have it's blessings :).
~Thrift store finds (although we hope we never take three hours to run in and grab sheets again ;).). We found some really good clothes, including a shirt I love- I love one of my shirts, but between painting, cooking without an apron (...bad habit of mine...) and the fact that I have worn it for the past two years regularly... it looks bad. I found the exact shirt at Goodwill!
~Strawberries.
~Bananas.
~Creativity.
~Candy canes.
~Beautiful colors.
(And what do you get when you add those five things together?...
Some of the cutest, and definitely the healthiest, candy canes you've ever seen :). Idea from Pinterest.)
~Listening to a little one talking about or to the Lord... Abbi prayed the other day "Thank you for this life"... it was soooo sweet!
~Thankful Thursday posts :). They are some of the funnest to write, and I love being able to look back and see the blessings I have been given from week to week! (Exactly 100 posts ago, I also posted a Thankful Thursday post. Isn't that a fun bit of trivia?!)
~The new history books we got for Christmas. They are geared for younger readers, but I'll read any history, and some of the people I had never actually read about, although I knew of them :).
~Video cameras.
~Tori's creativity with clay.
~Free sheet music.
~Having fun watching some hilarious clips the other day. Mommy found some short videos online, that are done in a highly funny way. What would you get if a child told a story and an adult acted it out? Something that looked a lot like one of these... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CVJr97Yk&list=PLDFD0284A5DA24371
~Peter's little feet... :)
~Gingerbread cake...
~With chocolate frosting.
~The twelve day of Christmas.
~Paint...
~And that we are just about done using it ;).
~Memories, and all that can help us remember them :). (Mommy is going through all that she has saved over the years, and some of it is quite humorous!)
Updated to add...
And one big thing I am very thankful for... but that gets a whole post of it's own :)... Coming soon!
It's been too long since I posted a Thankful Thursday post! But, I missed a few during Christmas, and then since then I have been trying to "catch up". I've decided to just post this week's, and then work on the several weeks full worth I've got sitting in my drafts :)...
This week I'm thankful for...
~The van that Daddy was able to get to replace the car he has been driving. It served us well, but it officially gave out on him right before he came home for New Year's. So, last Thursday, he went to get a new one. The new van is even the van he has wanted since I was a baby, but could never get... we're not sure why the old van gave out now, but it does have it's blessings :).
~Thrift store finds (although we hope we never take three hours to run in and grab sheets again ;).). We found some really good clothes, including a shirt I love- I love one of my shirts, but between painting, cooking without an apron (...bad habit of mine...) and the fact that I have worn it for the past two years regularly... it looks bad. I found the exact shirt at Goodwill!
~Strawberries.
~Bananas.
~Creativity.
~Candy canes.
~Beautiful colors.
(And what do you get when you add those five things together?...
Some of the cutest, and definitely the healthiest, candy canes you've ever seen :). Idea from Pinterest.)
~Listening to a little one talking about or to the Lord... Abbi prayed the other day "Thank you for this life"... it was soooo sweet!
~Thankful Thursday posts :). They are some of the funnest to write, and I love being able to look back and see the blessings I have been given from week to week! (Exactly 100 posts ago, I also posted a Thankful Thursday post. Isn't that a fun bit of trivia?!)
~The new history books we got for Christmas. They are geared for younger readers, but I'll read any history, and some of the people I had never actually read about, although I knew of them :).
~Video cameras.
~Tori's creativity with clay.
~Free sheet music.
~Having fun watching some hilarious clips the other day. Mommy found some short videos online, that are done in a highly funny way. What would you get if a child told a story and an adult acted it out? Something that looked a lot like one of these... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CVJr97Yk&list=PLDFD0284A5DA24371
~Peter's little feet... :)
~Gingerbread cake...
~With chocolate frosting.
~The twelve day of Christmas.
~Paint...
~And that we are just about done using it ;).
~Memories, and all that can help us remember them :). (Mommy is going through all that she has saved over the years, and some of it is quite humorous!)
Updated to add...
And one big thing I am very thankful for... but that gets a whole post of it's own :)... Coming soon!
"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!"
~Psalms 118:1
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and his name shall be called
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
I pray that the realization of this will stay with us all through out the year, even now that Christmas is over! Praise God for gifting us with his only Son to pay for our sins on the cross!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Over the past couple weeks...
...There was this new update on the Pleven orphanage.
A while back there was a new director placed in Pleven. She made many changes in the orphanage that has been greatly appreciated. The little children there have already shown signs of better treatment. But this doesn't stop the fact that the little ones need FAMILIES. Better conditions are good, but their real need is a Mommy and Daddy. Nevertheless, we do not want their circumstances to change back to the worse.
And there is danger of that. Or, there would be if God was not in control.
But we know that God "holds the government on his shoulders". And he will work this out for the best.
Please, those of you who read this. Pray. God will hear the cry of his people. Pray that the Bulgaria government would be lead by God to not re-institute the former director "who was enriching herself at the expense of tiny, hurt children who were and are completely helpless to defend themselves."
What she did was significant, and they know, or at least need to know, that. And, may I ask that, as one lady who reads Miss Susanna's blog mentioned, we would pray that God would work significantly in her life? That he would draw her to him in His saving grace.
Among other things, I have also been praying that this bit of news would break the hearts of those who feel God leading them to adopt and yet are holding back from fear. That the thought of that child that they would love to have in their home going back to those conditions would cause them to step out in faith in God.
But then another update this morning may mean that isn't possible.
This post (which leads to another post, which leads to the petition... sorry if it seems complicated...) tells that the government for the country these children are in may make it to were these children may not be able to be adopted by Americans. From the sounds of it... because they are trying to get back at Americans for something our Government did that offended them. They are trying to use children's precious lives to get even.
If you feel so lead, would you sign the petition? And please... PRAY. This doesn't just mean that the children who don't have a family committed to them would no longer be able to be adopted by Americans. That means even those who are close to being brought home here in America would not get home from the sounds of it. Please, pray.
This is Christmas, the time of anticipation... joy... hope... salvation... preparation... faith in God. And these children need families to anticipate and prepare for them, to offer them hope and salvation, through faith in God, to bring these children joy in this season, in their whole life! Families who will nurture these children and explain these concepts to these children, through faith in God.
I praise God that he has placed me in a family where our parents have explained to us what each of these things really mean. And I pray that the door remains open for families to do this for other little ones, too. To care for orphans is what God has commanded, and he will cause it to happen, no matter what. But he has also commanded us to pray. Let's do just that!!!
On a lighter note, there is a little fundraiser going on to help bring Tommy home...
And precious Garnet and Kramer have families working to bring them home!!!
And, have you seen who the next Hidden Treasures action will be for? I think Payton is adorable, and he is a very good example of the change that the new director at his orphanage has brought to help bring better health to these children, if you've seen the pictures of him a while ago! It starts in February, so any of you would have plenty of time to think of something to donate this time, if you would like. I know, I've always mentioned the next one while it is running... I know that does next to no good for somebody who would want to donate something that would take a week to get ready, I'm sorry :)...
A while back there was a new director placed in Pleven. She made many changes in the orphanage that has been greatly appreciated. The little children there have already shown signs of better treatment. But this doesn't stop the fact that the little ones need FAMILIES. Better conditions are good, but their real need is a Mommy and Daddy. Nevertheless, we do not want their circumstances to change back to the worse.
And there is danger of that. Or, there would be if God was not in control.
But we know that God "holds the government on his shoulders". And he will work this out for the best.
Please, those of you who read this. Pray. God will hear the cry of his people. Pray that the Bulgaria government would be lead by God to not re-institute the former director "who was enriching herself at the expense of tiny, hurt children who were and are completely helpless to defend themselves."
What she did was significant, and they know, or at least need to know, that. And, may I ask that, as one lady who reads Miss Susanna's blog mentioned, we would pray that God would work significantly in her life? That he would draw her to him in His saving grace.
Among other things, I have also been praying that this bit of news would break the hearts of those who feel God leading them to adopt and yet are holding back from fear. That the thought of that child that they would love to have in their home going back to those conditions would cause them to step out in faith in God.
But then another update this morning may mean that isn't possible.
This post (which leads to another post, which leads to the petition... sorry if it seems complicated...) tells that the government for the country these children are in may make it to were these children may not be able to be adopted by Americans. From the sounds of it... because they are trying to get back at Americans for something our Government did that offended them. They are trying to use children's precious lives to get even.
If you feel so lead, would you sign the petition? And please... PRAY. This doesn't just mean that the children who don't have a family committed to them would no longer be able to be adopted by Americans. That means even those who are close to being brought home here in America would not get home from the sounds of it. Please, pray.
This is Christmas, the time of anticipation... joy... hope... salvation... preparation... faith in God. And these children need families to anticipate and prepare for them, to offer them hope and salvation, through faith in God, to bring these children joy in this season, in their whole life! Families who will nurture these children and explain these concepts to these children, through faith in God.
I praise God that he has placed me in a family where our parents have explained to us what each of these things really mean. And I pray that the door remains open for families to do this for other little ones, too. To care for orphans is what God has commanded, and he will cause it to happen, no matter what. But he has also commanded us to pray. Let's do just that!!!
On a lighter note, there is a little fundraiser going on to help bring Tommy home...
And precious Garnet and Kramer have families working to bring them home!!!
And, have you seen who the next Hidden Treasures action will be for? I think Payton is adorable, and he is a very good example of the change that the new director at his orphanage has brought to help bring better health to these children, if you've seen the pictures of him a while ago! It starts in February, so any of you would have plenty of time to think of something to donate this time, if you would like. I know, I've always mentioned the next one while it is running... I know that does next to no good for somebody who would want to donate something that would take a week to get ready, I'm sorry :)...
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Praising the Lord for a working sink!
Our sink is draining freely again!!!
Mommy finally tried holding a hairdryer under the pipe, and gave it to Tori so that Mommy could go do a bit of cleaning. I looked over, and at 12:29 a.m. last night (yes, I checked the time!) the sink drained by itself for the first time in about nine hours.
I had prayed just a few minutes earlier that it would drain by 12:30...
And when I pulled up my dashboard to start this entry last night, I saw a neat milestone for my blog: I had had exactly 5,000 page views since I have joined blogger :)...
Mommy finally tried holding a hairdryer under the pipe, and gave it to Tori so that Mommy could go do a bit of cleaning. I looked over, and at 12:29 a.m. last night (yes, I checked the time!) the sink drained by itself for the first time in about nine hours.
I had prayed just a few minutes earlier that it would drain by 12:30...
And when I pulled up my dashboard to start this entry last night, I saw a neat milestone for my blog: I had had exactly 5,000 page views since I have joined blogger :)...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
One more little one...
...with a committed family :)! Thank you Lord for bringing a family to little Penny!
There are still seven other little ones listed for adoption from Pleven. They need a family. And God will bring them one, in his timing. Let us pray for God to glorify himself in giving these little ones loving families who will raise these children for him!
Would you mind sharing the link to this blog post? You never know how the Lord can use you to bless these tiny human beings, no matter how "small" a bit of help you give! No help is too small, especially for the souls that the world considers "the least of these".
Lord, may you bring families who will show these children their true worth.
There are still seven other little ones listed for adoption from Pleven. They need a family. And God will bring them one, in his timing. Let us pray for God to glorify himself in giving these little ones loving families who will raise these children for him!
Would you mind sharing the link to this blog post? You never know how the Lord can use you to bless these tiny human beings, no matter how "small" a bit of help you give! No help is too small, especially for the souls that the world considers "the least of these".
Lord, may you bring families who will show these children their true worth.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Some reflections...
For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
For my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Jeremiah 2:10-13
I was reading in Jeremiah the other day, and this passage really stuck out to me. How sad, and yet how very true. Christ's followers, who are being lead by the TRUE God, are the most likely to wander from the path they are following. I pray that God would help us to stay true to him, and praise him for his loving grace, that holds fast no matter what. May our hearts take these words in, and may he use them to keep us on the one and only true path to life, with the one and only true God!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Anna and Nora
A couple months ago Tori asked some of you to pray for "Marsha". Just a little later, we heard she was being adopted, along with her future sister, "Gabby". Their parents changed their names to Anna (Marsha) and Nora (Gabby). Anna and Nora received a visit from their Father recently and many things were brought to the notice of their parents, as stated in this post.
Please pray that the adoption will be speed up and that both girls are able to get the surgery they need in time! Praise God that he holds these little ones in his arms! And praise that these little girls are already comforted in their earthly Father's arms instead of alarmed!
Please pray that the adoption will be speed up and that both girls are able to get the surgery they need in time! Praise God that he holds these little ones in his arms! And praise that these little girls are already comforted in their earthly Father's arms instead of alarmed!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
I was so excited
To read one of the recent posts on the blog "The Blessing of Verity."
Look at what the Lord is doing!!!
This story is just amazing!!! Praise God for all that he has done, and is continuing to do!
As mentioned, the new director needs much prayer, as she is working hard against all that has become the normal for this orphanage. God has been working through her, and the change has been mighty, but there is still much to be done. And these seven precious children have all been rejected. God will bring them their family in his timing no matter what, but, just as Christ has commanded us to pray for all things without ceasing, we must still obey, and, out of love for them and the Lord, pray for them!
And is anyone interested in a candle or two :)?
Look at what the Lord is doing!!!
This story is just amazing!!! Praise God for all that he has done, and is continuing to do!
As mentioned, the new director needs much prayer, as she is working hard against all that has become the normal for this orphanage. God has been working through her, and the change has been mighty, but there is still much to be done. And these seven precious children have all been rejected. God will bring them their family in his timing no matter what, but, just as Christ has commanded us to pray for all things without ceasing, we must still obey, and, out of love for them and the Lord, pray for them!
And is anyone interested in a candle or two :)?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thankful Friday
This week I'm thankful for...
~Daddy's visit home last week.
~Our trip to the zoo.
~Getting to feed the birds while there- that was the best time we have ever had feeding the birds! I promise I will work on that post soon, but life is a little busy right now :). It has been good busy, though :).
~The great fun outing we had yesterday-
~-we went to Ckick-fill-a, where we had great food and the little ones got to play.
~-Then we went to Hobby Lobby. We had a wonderful time...
~...looking at fabric...
~...picking buttons...
~...finding yarn...
~...and looking through Christmas ornaments.
Then we went to Target, Walmart, and Food Lion, where we got food for our pantry, pjs for Andrew, and shoes for Tori and I (along with a "big-girl" travel cup for Abbi,
a ball for Emmi, books for Bethi and Andrew, Peter's first toothbrush, etc. :)). We also got some kitchen towels as the finishing touch to a sewing project we have coming up, which is why we went to Hobby Lobby :). I'll post more on that later :).
~The meal Mrs. Ann sent over this morning.
~Our awesome apple peeler!
~Lots of apples.
~A large kitchen, busy with making...
~...applesauce...
~...apple chips...
~...apple pie filling...
~...and apple butter.
And,
last but not least,
the fact that...
~We now know where we will be moving!
We have thought for years of moving to Virginia.
And now, we're 99.99% sure that in a few months, maybe less, that's where we'll be living!!! daddy meets with the DM next Friday to finish all the details. After that, it appears that his twelve week training is over, and he only left the first of this month- how NEAT is THAT?! It is more than neat... this whole thing- Daddy loosing his job, staying home for two and a half months, then joining with Lifeway, and now our upcoming move- has obviously been planned- orchestrated- designed- by a wonderful director. I wonder who that could be?!
Thank you so much, dear Jesus, master designer, for your hand in our lives and this story you are working! May you receive all the glory!!!
~Daddy's visit home last week.
~Our trip to the zoo.
~Getting to feed the birds while there- that was the best time we have ever had feeding the birds! I promise I will work on that post soon, but life is a little busy right now :). It has been good busy, though :).
~The great fun outing we had yesterday-
~-we went to Ckick-fill-a, where we had great food and the little ones got to play.
~-Then we went to Hobby Lobby. We had a wonderful time...
~...looking at fabric...
~...picking buttons...
~...finding yarn...
~...and looking through Christmas ornaments.
Then we went to Target, Walmart, and Food Lion, where we got food for our pantry, pjs for Andrew, and shoes for Tori and I (along with a "big-girl" travel cup for Abbi,
a ball for Emmi, books for Bethi and Andrew, Peter's first toothbrush, etc. :)). We also got some kitchen towels as the finishing touch to a sewing project we have coming up, which is why we went to Hobby Lobby :). I'll post more on that later :).
~The meal Mrs. Ann sent over this morning.
~Our awesome apple peeler!
~Lots of apples.
~A large kitchen, busy with making...
~...applesauce...
~...apple chips...
~...apple pie filling...
~...and apple butter.
And,
last but not least,
the fact that...
~We now know where we will be moving!
We have thought for years of moving to Virginia.
And now, we're 99.99% sure that in a few months, maybe less, that's where we'll be living!!! daddy meets with the DM next Friday to finish all the details. After that, it appears that his twelve week training is over, and he only left the first of this month- how NEAT is THAT?! It is more than neat... this whole thing- Daddy loosing his job, staying home for two and a half months, then joining with Lifeway, and now our upcoming move- has obviously been planned- orchestrated- designed- by a wonderful director. I wonder who that could be?!
Thank you so much, dear Jesus, master designer, for your hand in our lives and this story you are working! May you receive all the glory!!!
"Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!"
~Psalm 66:3
Friday, October 12, 2012
For fellow crafters, or any who are interested.
Tiny Tommy has a family, praise God! But he's still not home yet...
The next Hidden Treasures auction, for Tommy, which will be called "It's Tommy's Time"...
will be running October 22-27. That leaves a little bit more than a week before items will be going up for the auction.
I know you've probably heard me talk of Tommy before, so I won't go into too much detail on that. If you want to learn more, the second link is a post by his Mommy telling his story. But the Hidden Treasures auction will go to help the Musser family bring home their tiny treasure! All funds gained from the auction will go straight to the Musser family.
There are many ways we can help. Donating items would be one way. For us crafters, it is fun to have something to make to help :). For those who don't make, or just don't enjoy making, handmade things, donating bought items is an idea. Gift cards are also taken. Or, bidding on the items is just as much of a help! Or, if you aren't able to help in any of these ways, there is one more very big way you can help- pray! Pray that the Lord would lead people to the site who need to be. Pray that the adoption would continue to go well, as Tommy ages out next year and they have to have certain things done before then. And pray that, once again, glory is given to God for defeating the enemy!
I thought I'd share in case anybody would be interested in joining in helping bring home another treasure that has been without a family for so long!
(By the way... Daddy got home last night, and doesn't leave until Tuesday!!! We were all very glad to see him,and have enjoyed our time with him so far!!!)
The next Hidden Treasures auction, for Tommy, which will be called "It's Tommy's Time"...
will be running October 22-27. That leaves a little bit more than a week before items will be going up for the auction.
I know you've probably heard me talk of Tommy before, so I won't go into too much detail on that. If you want to learn more, the second link is a post by his Mommy telling his story. But the Hidden Treasures auction will go to help the Musser family bring home their tiny treasure! All funds gained from the auction will go straight to the Musser family.
There are many ways we can help. Donating items would be one way. For us crafters, it is fun to have something to make to help :). For those who don't make, or just don't enjoy making, handmade things, donating bought items is an idea. Gift cards are also taken. Or, bidding on the items is just as much of a help! Or, if you aren't able to help in any of these ways, there is one more very big way you can help- pray! Pray that the Lord would lead people to the site who need to be. Pray that the adoption would continue to go well, as Tommy ages out next year and they have to have certain things done before then. And pray that, once again, glory is given to God for defeating the enemy!
I thought I'd share in case anybody would be interested in joining in helping bring home another treasure that has been without a family for so long!
(By the way... Daddy got home last night, and doesn't leave until Tuesday!!! We were all very glad to see him,and have enjoyed our time with him so far!!!)
Monday, September 3, 2012
Of icebergs and fevers
Great news first: Peter is feeling MUCH better today! He no longer has a fever, and seems to be breathing much better! He is his regular, smile-y self, although a bit shaky and less busy than usual ;). He s sitting here so snug'y :)... We are so glad that he was only that bad fr one day!!!
And as to the icebergs, Bethi and I had a great time earlier looking up icebergs in the encyclopedia :). She asked about them this morning, and so I took her back to the library and looked it up with her. I learned a bit, too :). We saw Greenland on the map (Aunt Tessa, can you tell Grandma that Bethi definitely remembered that from our history study with her :)?), we talked about how to use an encyclopedia :), we learned how many feet a mile is (yes, I got off on "rabbit trails", but hey, they were all related!), what ratio of the iceberg can be seen above versus below the water line, among other things that she thought were just as interesting :). But not how cold they are, at least we learned that while at the Titanic exhibit. It may be wrong of me, but I had to wonder what kind of encyclopedia we had that didn't tell you how cold the thing that is famous for being cold is :)? Anyway, we had fun....
And as to the icebergs, Bethi and I had a great time earlier looking up icebergs in the encyclopedia :). She asked about them this morning, and so I took her back to the library and looked it up with her. I learned a bit, too :). We saw Greenland on the map (Aunt Tessa, can you tell Grandma that Bethi definitely remembered that from our history study with her :)?), we talked about how to use an encyclopedia :), we learned how many feet a mile is (yes, I got off on "rabbit trails", but hey, they were all related!), what ratio of the iceberg can be seen above versus below the water line, among other things that she thought were just as interesting :). But not how cold they are, at least we learned that while at the Titanic exhibit. It may be wrong of me, but I had to wonder what kind of encyclopedia we had that didn't tell you how cold the thing that is famous for being cold is :)? Anyway, we had fun....
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
You are Holy...
God of Wonders...
I wrote this post less than two months ago.
I asked you to pray for the children in Pleven.
But especially for Tommy, who's time was running out to be adopted.
Today, I read the news that this tiny boy had a family. And not just any family. But the family who loved him so much that they were asking others to bring him home because they thought it would be impossible to adopt the child that they loved so much.
But nothing can stop God.
Go the "The Blessing of Verity" to read the story!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!
I wrote this post less than two months ago.
I asked you to pray for the children in Pleven.
But especially for Tommy, who's time was running out to be adopted.
Today, I read the news that this tiny boy had a family. And not just any family. But the family who loved him so much that they were asking others to bring him home because they thought it would be impossible to adopt the child that they loved so much.
But nothing can stop God.
Go the "The Blessing of Verity" to read the story!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Just too cute...
I mentioned the fact that we had learned to sign "Away in a Manger". Well, Emmi enjoys joining us :)!
She'll be playing, eating, anything... Then, she says, out of the blue, "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus... The sky!!!". As she says "Jesus", she holds her little hands under her chin (half of the sign for the "morning is nigh" part). As she says "the sky", she throws her hands in the air (you sweep your arms in the air to sign "sky".). It is really cute :)!
Also, today we went to clean the church. Daddy came to help us, but he had to get back to work after we were done. The rest of us were going to do some shopping before we went home. Abbi called from the back "Can we eat at a frefont? I mean- a fryfont?" She meant restaurant! I think she must have wanted fries ;)!
And, a wonderful update on Miss Rhonda: She got to come home right before Christmas!!!
She'll be playing, eating, anything... Then, she says, out of the blue, "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus... The sky!!!". As she says "Jesus", she holds her little hands under her chin (half of the sign for the "morning is nigh" part). As she says "the sky", she throws her hands in the air (you sweep your arms in the air to sign "sky".). It is really cute :)!
Also, today we went to clean the church. Daddy came to help us, but he had to get back to work after we were done. The rest of us were going to do some shopping before we went home. Abbi called from the back "Can we eat at a frefont? I mean- a fryfont?" She meant restaurant! I think she must have wanted fries ;)!
And, a wonderful update on Miss Rhonda: She got to come home right before Christmas!!!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Crocheting lessons...
About three years ago I thought it would be really neat to learn how to crochet. I had already known how to knit for about two years, thanks to a sweet lady who lived next door to us back then (she was an amazing knitter, and she also knew sewing/crocheting!). Well, about eighteen months ago I found some good instructions, and got serious about crocheting. At first I still liked knitting better, but crochet is slowly growing on me to where I like them pretty much on equal levels now :).
Tori started learning just over a year ago, and Bethi learned chain stitch not long after that. The other day I decided to do something Andrew had been asking for for days... he learned chain stitch as well, while Bethi got a starter on learning single crochet!
He did so well, I guided his hands for about five stitches, gave him reminders for four... and he had it! He accidentally took out all of his first stitches, but here are some of his earliest, he had only done about 15-20 stitches before he was able to do this:
Andrew wasn't feeling too good that day (we have all had a bit of congestion/ fevers and all that, Emmi's breathing sounded so bad that Daddy and Mommy took her to urgent care just to make sure it wasn't turning into pneumonia, but not a thing had settled in her lungs, we're not sure why she sounded so bad!), but he so wanted to keep working at it, because his hope is to crochet a "Larry" (a character from Big Idea's show "Veggietales") for Abbi for Christmas.
Tori started learning just over a year ago, and Bethi learned chain stitch not long after that. The other day I decided to do something Andrew had been asking for for days... he learned chain stitch as well, while Bethi got a starter on learning single crochet!
He did so well, I guided his hands for about five stitches, gave him reminders for four... and he had it! He accidentally took out all of his first stitches, but here are some of his earliest, he had only done about 15-20 stitches before he was able to do this:
Andrew wasn't feeling too good that day (we have all had a bit of congestion/ fevers and all that, Emmi's breathing sounded so bad that Daddy and Mommy took her to urgent care just to make sure it wasn't turning into pneumonia, but not a thing had settled in her lungs, we're not sure why she sounded so bad!), but he so wanted to keep working at it, because his hope is to crochet a "Larry" (a character from Big Idea's show "Veggietales") for Abbi for Christmas.
Bethi was excited to learn the next step in crocheting, too!
This is how tired they all were from being sick...
They NEVER fall asleep on the floor!
And I don't see how anybody sleeps like that :)!
This is how tired they all were from being sick...
They NEVER fall asleep on the floor!
And I don't see how anybody sleeps like that :)!
Update on Miss Rhonda: She is doing much better, she can not talk at the moment, but she can communicate, recognize people, etc., and they are sure she will recover!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Update:
We have received word that Miss Rhonda has gotten over the surgery and has gained consciousness. They are still not sure how well she is doing, but they are almost sure that she is going to make it. We are so thankful that she has made it this far!!! Thank you for all your prayers, please keep praying for a fast, wonderful recovery for Miss Rhonda, and grace for the whole family on this rough journey.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Have any of you noticed I've been missing? ;)...
Probably not... oh well :).
Over the next couple of days I'll be doing a series of the great time we've had over the past few days, going on a very special family vacation! The granola and bread that we made on Tuesday was going to that cause. We made WAY too much for those four days, but, oh well, we'll always be able to use it! (Andrew was looking for his clothes for Thursday on Wednesday, and stopped to look at Mommy and say "Once we were at a hotel... and they had FOOD!!!" He is so funny!)
After I posted on Wednesday last week, we started packing for a four day trip as a family! We children were not told were we were going (although Tori and I had a pretty good idea :)...) and we were not told what we were going to be doing when we got there (Tori and I just thought that we had a pretty good guess on that one!)
The next morning we left at about eleven thirty, thinking we were going to have a calm, enjoyable two and a half hour trip. Most of the trip was a wonderful time talking, listening to tapes, reading (I'm doing a three month Bible reading challenge, and I'm down to the last month, so an hour of my time was spent with the Bible. I have so enjoyed doing this :)...), and for some of us (that would mainly be me) crafting. Tori did do a bit, too. I completed the tic-tac-toe board, and worked some more on Thanksgiving decorations that Mommy requested (I showed them to her with the idea of making her ask for it, haha... I'm not telling what that project is before I get the set complete. Anyone interested?).
We did have a bit of a scare during the drive, though. We were pushed off the road by an eighteen wheeler, who came so close to our car that he pushed the passenger side rear view mirror in. He never even noticed, not even when Daddy was honking the horn, but kept driving. We were so thankful that Daddy was able to get of the road, that nobody was too close to us, and that not a bit of damage was done to car or passengers! Five miles down the road we saw a car that had been hit, their trunk was in a awful condition. Daddy stopped to see if everybody was alright, and to make sure it hadn't been the same truck. It wasn't, so Daddy prayed with them and we headed on for the more peaceful part of the trip.
We got to the hotel in SAVANNAH (we guessed right about that part of it!), unloaded and went to the beach (I'll be doing this series a little odd, just so the posts are a more reasonable size: I'm going to tell the day's doings, then post the pictures. Sound alright?).
We were going mainly for pictures that night, we were planning on coming back the next day to do a bit more wading in the ocean, but we did find some beautiful shells and get our feet wet :). Daddy is a wonderful photographer, he does all our pictures, and a few for friends, free of charge :). After all the photo shoots, we headed back to the hotel to take baths. It was amazing how sandy everybody was after being told "not to play in the sand, it was time for pictures"... I guess it didn't work, haha :)... Anyway, we stopped on the way to get some pizza for tradition's sake, and that just thrilled Abbi!
For our trip to Savannah four years ago (and to learn the story behind the pizza, haha!), you can look here, here, and here on my Mom's blog.
Day two coming soon!
Over the next couple of days I'll be doing a series of the great time we've had over the past few days, going on a very special family vacation! The granola and bread that we made on Tuesday was going to that cause. We made WAY too much for those four days, but, oh well, we'll always be able to use it! (Andrew was looking for his clothes for Thursday on Wednesday, and stopped to look at Mommy and say "Once we were at a hotel... and they had FOOD!!!" He is so funny!)
After I posted on Wednesday last week, we started packing for a four day trip as a family! We children were not told were we were going (although Tori and I had a pretty good idea :)...) and we were not told what we were going to be doing when we got there (Tori and I just thought that we had a pretty good guess on that one!)
The next morning we left at about eleven thirty, thinking we were going to have a calm, enjoyable two and a half hour trip. Most of the trip was a wonderful time talking, listening to tapes, reading (I'm doing a three month Bible reading challenge, and I'm down to the last month, so an hour of my time was spent with the Bible. I have so enjoyed doing this :)...), and for some of us (that would mainly be me) crafting. Tori did do a bit, too. I completed the tic-tac-toe board, and worked some more on Thanksgiving decorations that Mommy requested (I showed them to her with the idea of making her ask for it, haha... I'm not telling what that project is before I get the set complete. Anyone interested?).
We did have a bit of a scare during the drive, though. We were pushed off the road by an eighteen wheeler, who came so close to our car that he pushed the passenger side rear view mirror in. He never even noticed, not even when Daddy was honking the horn, but kept driving. We were so thankful that Daddy was able to get of the road, that nobody was too close to us, and that not a bit of damage was done to car or passengers! Five miles down the road we saw a car that had been hit, their trunk was in a awful condition. Daddy stopped to see if everybody was alright, and to make sure it hadn't been the same truck. It wasn't, so Daddy prayed with them and we headed on for the more peaceful part of the trip.
We got to the hotel in SAVANNAH (we guessed right about that part of it!), unloaded and went to the beach (I'll be doing this series a little odd, just so the posts are a more reasonable size: I'm going to tell the day's doings, then post the pictures. Sound alright?).
We were going mainly for pictures that night, we were planning on coming back the next day to do a bit more wading in the ocean, but we did find some beautiful shells and get our feet wet :). Daddy is a wonderful photographer, he does all our pictures, and a few for friends, free of charge :). After all the photo shoots, we headed back to the hotel to take baths. It was amazing how sandy everybody was after being told "not to play in the sand, it was time for pictures"... I guess it didn't work, haha :)... Anyway, we stopped on the way to get some pizza for tradition's sake, and that just thrilled Abbi!
For our trip to Savannah four years ago (and to learn the story behind the pizza, haha!), you can look here, here, and here on my Mom's blog.
Day two coming soon!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Mommy and Daddy shared some news with us...
Sometime next April...
We're going to have another baby in the house!!!
We're so excited :)! It came as a total surprise. I mean, who thinks "Mommy is sending Tori and I out to check the mail together. She must be expecting!"? Even IF their Daddy is standing on the porch with his camera?
Now, before you get any of the meaning of all this, I'll have to explain a few things. First: with both Abbi and Emmi, Mommy got a newborn sized sample diaper in the mail just a few weeks before she found out she was expecting. So, we've joked the past year that if we get a newborn diaper in the mail, we're all going to think we're going to have another baby in the house soon.
Next, don't think we didn't SEE Daddy outside taking pictures. We saw him all right, but we thought that he was taking pictures of the heron that was in the retention pond beside our house- he does that every time he sees the bird. So, it was a big surprise when we saw that diaper in the mailbox :).
We're all so happy! Andrew, who told Mommy when Emmi was on the way "I want an Abbi like an Andrew" (read: I want a baby like a boy) was talking about the baby to Emmi (who he loves to pieces!) today, and he says: "Mommy is having a baby. And maybe it will be a boy!!! But, if it isn't, that will be a LOT of sisters in this house!!!" Love his way of putting things :)!
We're going to have another baby in the house!!!
We're so excited :)! It came as a total surprise. I mean, who thinks "Mommy is sending Tori and I out to check the mail together. She must be expecting!"? Even IF their Daddy is standing on the porch with his camera?
Now, before you get any of the meaning of all this, I'll have to explain a few things. First: with both Abbi and Emmi, Mommy got a newborn sized sample diaper in the mail just a few weeks before she found out she was expecting. So, we've joked the past year that if we get a newborn diaper in the mail, we're all going to think we're going to have another baby in the house soon.
Next, don't think we didn't SEE Daddy outside taking pictures. We saw him all right, but we thought that he was taking pictures of the heron that was in the retention pond beside our house- he does that every time he sees the bird. So, it was a big surprise when we saw that diaper in the mailbox :).
We're all so happy! Andrew, who told Mommy when Emmi was on the way "I want an Abbi like an Andrew" (read: I want a baby like a boy) was talking about the baby to Emmi (who he loves to pieces!) today, and he says: "Mommy is having a baby. And maybe it will be a boy!!! But, if it isn't, that will be a LOT of sisters in this house!!!" Love his way of putting things :)!
"Lo, Children are a heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward"
~ Psalm 127: 3
~ Psalm 127: 3
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