Living Life One Cheerio at a Time

"YEA for me I get to do chores!" I know who actually thinks those words let alone says them out loud. My 3 year old. Typically her chores are real limited {pick up your toys, pull laundry out of the dryer} and aren't at all fun like sissy's {feeding the fish, putting away silverware, or sorting laundry} but today I let her sort her laundry basket into the piles I had already started. She loved it and well 95 percent of her clothes go into the pink/red/orange/purple pile anyway. Easy peasy! Got me thinking do I enter each activity i do with such enthusiasm...."Hooray I get to clean toilets!" I think not! Man I hate when I am called out by my kids to follow what God already has told me to do. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ." I can honestly say I have never been thankful for vacuuming or doing dishes or any of the other mundane ta...

I feel like I am drowning. Self pity, maybe? Overwhelmed, yes! Overwhelmed is not even the words to describe how I feel right now. Drowning is more like it. Its been a little over a week. It could be a combination of the reasons: * a little of post vacation blues * the craziness of  the hubs job [and some of his long hours] *a hubs in the middle of studying like a mad man for a certification for work *the 7th anniversary of the miscarriage of my first child *the fighting/arguing that the cheerio gang has engaged in *the clutter{in my house and my mind} *spending  the short quiet nap time to make phone calls to but getting no answers *trying to get activities lined up for the girls and not getting anywhere *less than a month before child #1 starts school *less than a month before I start school again (an endorsement for my teaching certificate that needs renewed) *a new opportunity/responsibilities for the CBS year wow that's some list! It was ...

So last week was the big week. . Somalian vbs-kids club-can't speak the name of Jesus to these Muslim children but gotta teach his truths-week.  I had know idea how physically and spiritually difficult this week was going to be. I was glad I had friends praying for my family. I ask them to pray we would be like a tamerisk tree seed. Planting shade in the desert for many generations. A slow growing tree but one that would benefit others and not ourselves. I prayed that I would not miss the big picture. So child #1 and I talked about how she could share her Jesus with her new friends with out using Jesus' name. I told her that she was going to be a missionary to a peoples that did not know Jesus. She was very excited about her important missionary job. And you know what...she was amazing. She had no problem making new friends. Every time I turned around she was holding the hand of her Somali-Bantu friends. She took her job seriously. Her teacher, Tricia, appreciated her helpful...

Monday: eating at Mimi and Papa's/pizza Tuesday: Italian sausages Wednesday: Steak fajitas Thursday: pork chops Friday:  bbq chicken you can go see what other people are having here What are my blessings this week... 90. a long weekend with daddy 91. my kids birthdays{my gifts from God} 92. vacations and memories with grandparents 93. a husband who works hard to provide for his family 94. an opportunity to minister to moms 95. an opportunity to minister to Muslim children 96. access to the Bible 97. teaching my children the truths of the gospel 98. God teaching me HIS truths through my children 99. child #1 being excited about being a missionary last week 100. making new friends 101. seeing those new friends over the weekend services 102. a desire to seek God 103. God's fingerprints recorded in my prayer journal 104. songs that teach God's truths 105. God's grace each and every day 106. ability to memorize God's word 107. running into an ol...

So one week and one day ago Pooh bear went full on big girl. She moved to a big girl bed and went paci free. Several weeks ago she announced that she wanted to be in a big girl bed. I told her that she needed to start staying dry all night. She was staying dry all day and during naps but nigh time was a different story. Then all of the sudden she started staying dry. ALL. NIGHT. So she was dry day and night for 2 weeks. The hubs and I decided to go get her a bedspread that would fit her full sized big girl bed. She wanted pink. We found a loud polka-dotty (pink, green and blue on a chocolate background) set. She loved it! We set it up and then dropped the bomb. NO MORE PACI. Guess what?! She hasn't asked for it. NOT. ONCE. She  has miraculously stayed in her bed until I get her out. I am loving my new big girl. Okay, now to be honest, she's only on the mattress and box spring. I call her pooh bear only because #1 gave her that nickname when she was born, but reality is she...

"No NO No NO NO No!" That was a recent entry into my journal. I was asked to do something that I without a shadow of a doubt knew it was God asking me to do it. AND I DIDN'T WANT TO! I literally followed it with 2 pages of ME telling God why I didn't want to do it and why I couldn't do it. Yes 2 pages.  Wow! I strapped on my toddler attitude and went to town. *Flashback to 1 month ago* Child #1's Kindergarten teacher, Kara,  also  attends the church we attend and we occasionally see each other at the same service. Well, one particular evening we got to talking and she asked me to join our church's version of VBS. We go to the west side {off campus} of town to the Somalian population and do a day time VBS and lunch for these kids for an entire week. Cool part, my own kids can come and be apart of the "missions trip."  What an invaluable a lesson to my kids to show love to others! Kara is heading crafts and wanted me to craft it up with her. ...

59. 3 beautiful healthy and rambunctious active children 60. my mom who felt the urge of the Holy Spirit and began taking us to church when I was 3 61.my momma 62. my 2 1/2 yr old's desire to be a "big girl" and  announced "I want a big girl bed soon!" {people I thought she might be a crib lifer} 63. a little man who repeats E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G 64.  seven handwritten cards from my 5 yr old (i luv mi bff, i luv yor pise{pies}, i luv you momee) 65. In laws who watch my kids for long periods of time 66. a date  with my hubs 67. lunch at a new restaurant 68. a full grocery cart 69. coupons 70. A Saviour who is the perfect parent 71. mercies new each day 72. a God who will not let his people be idle. 73. new exciting opportunities {a post on this later} 74. a break in the weather and maybe a little sunshine today. As you can see I have a lot to be thankful for this Mother's day. Jeremiah 29:13 " You will seek me and find me when you seek ...

Its been been awhile since I've done this but thought it would be a nice addition today on this rainy Tuesday. Outside my window...rain, rain, rain, and more rain I am thinking.....my hubs may need to get a 2nd job just feed these kids. WOW. they have healthy appetites! I am praying....for my Big Papa who is battling cancer. Just let his pain be minimal and his ease into the next world be swift. He's ready for his new body, to praise Jesus and to see his bride {she's been gone 4 years} I am thankful for... adjustable pants for my skinny Minnie 5 year old. In the kitchen....Nothing! I baked so much yesterday that I am tuckered out. I will post later about the cinnamon raisin bread of yumminess that I made. I also made brownies to send to school for child #1's teacher appreciation gift. I am wearing....a turtleneck in May...its supposed to be 40 today. Where are you summer? I am going....to CBS today. I am hoping...for a nice mother's day weekend. My...

I am trying to plan ahead as much as possible with my grandpa REALLY sick I don't know when we will be making a trip back to the homestead. I am trying to keep the fry to fruit ratio under control.It seems that our catch what you can 3 hour trip to the "ocean of cornfields" tends to be heavy on the fries. so here's the menu in no particular order... chicken quesadillas grilled hangabergers (hamburgers) pork chops fish lo mein/pork buns pancakes chicken mac and cheese 49. fire ants song that my children dance 50. sleeping in{ 7:30-whatcha going do} 51.watching a royal wedding with my own little princess 52. dvr so I don't have to get up so early to watch a royal wedding 53.encouragement from my core group at CBS while studying Habakkuk

This last weekend I went home to my parent's home with my circus in tow. We had several reasons for going home. First and foremost it was the celebration of the reserection of Jesus Christ. The second reason was my grandpa found out last Wednesday he has cancer throughout his body. He broke his arm on Tuesday and they will not be able to do anything to help heal him, just pain management. We wanted to see him before he went home. And our third reason was my brother, Uncle BoBo, decided to get married to his fiance. They planned a  wedding that was supposed to happen in December in just a few days.  Big Papa, and my dad Papa and some of the grand kids and great grand kids  Aunt Lindsey and Uncle BoBo Sitting down to their first meal as a married couple Cutting the cake My husband and brother in law ran to the local store to get a few supplies : TP, soap, frosting, string and dog bones. They had a few partners in crime  little help from my dad and uncle ...

Sometimes on these rainy midwest spring days its just good to count your blessings! So today I am thankful for: 32. playing card games with my 5 yr old 33. children with healthy appetites 34. supportive husband 35. a hug from my 5 yr old 36. assurance and hope of eternity with my Father 36.Jesus who died for my sins 37. family 38. my CBS friends/prayer warriors 39. a dinner with friends who know too much that still love hanging out with us after 11 years! 40. a phone conversation with my grandpa about his desire to "go home and get his new body" 41. a faithful God "for when we are faithless he remains faithful"

I've been in a real funk lately ( lack- o- sleep-little-coffee-grumpy-sick children-frustrated husband-combo). So for today's post I am going to continue my list of things I am thankful for... 19. my grandpa able to get out of the hospital 20. friends 21. sunshine this weekend 22. warmer weather 23. children being able to play OUTSIDE 24. flowers peeking out of the ground 25. green grass 26. children who slept in past 7:30 on SUNDAY 27. an amazing worship service on Saturday 28. God's truth in his timeless word 29. food cooked on the grill 30. a husband who works hard everyday to provide for his family 31. ability and flexibility to go back to school Jeremiah 29: 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.

I have been linking up recently to quite a few blogs. Not that I am jumping on the blog band wagon, but I feel that this one is important. Being thankful for the things in your life. http://www.aholyexperience.com/ 1. coffee and conversation with a longtime friend 2. fresh flowers 3. date night with the husband 4. grandparents and the special time spent with my kiddos 5. God's ancient yet relevant word 6. God speaking to me through His word 7. Obedience to the Holy Spirit 8. A handwritten note 9. Rich discussion at CBS 10.Spring weather 11. Being able to walk to the bus stop and pick up #1 12. The never ending laundry 13. Soy products for my little ones who suffer from allergies and intolerances that can be found at Kroger's 14. Open windows to get fresh air...a no germ zone! 15. Jesus dying on the cross for me. 16. For good friends 17. My husband's job that allows me to stay at home with the babies. 18. Prayer