Keepin' it Real :)

Sometimes things happen and while you are in it, it makes no sense. The why's come quickly. The how will we survive? What will we do?

Then one day when you are sitting around a bed in a nursing home. A nursing home you never expected to spend so much time at. And you see your kids laughing and giggling with their Grandpa, hearing stories that may have never been told because life gets too busy. And now we have no choice. But that is a good thing.

And you realize once again that God has this. He has this thing called life :)

FIL.

PRAISE THE LORD! Glory to GOD :) HE'S talking (can't  understand him very well) :) He's sitting up in a chair :) He seems to be waking  up :)  Thank You just doesn't cut it for all the thoughts and prayers we have been a part of. 


He's awake and wanting "Orange Juice and Cold Pop" :)

They are still monitoring his brain for bleeding....so far we are in the clear.
He need to be weened off of oxygen. (he is still on the nasal cannula).
He needs to eat....still on the feeding tube.

Thankfulness.

Today I was busy in the kitchen thinking about all the things....in our home....I was thankful for :)

1. The Stove simmering today's lunch! Yummy Veggie and Rice Soup!
2. The Chopper cutting my onions.....no tears :)
3. The Dishwasher....no not #3....busily washing the breakfast dishes.
4. The Rice Cooker that was cooking the rice for the Soup.
5. The Bread Maker that was kneading the dough for the home made bread for lunch.
6. The Washer who was busy washing and wringing the clothes.
7. The Dryer making them nice and toasty.
8. The Oven that is making my Amish Friendship Bread.

Some days I think being a SAHM isn't that difficult...ya know until you add the kids.....and home schooling ;)

Thankful Tuesday!!!

New (to us) (Free) Furniture!!

It's another "Little" Thing.

But it makes me smile every time I see it :) Ever since we went to a nice Italian Restaurant I have wanted one of these. Hee. Hee. I have no idea why though. Just thought they were cute.

Well I am just plain cheap...instead of calling everything expensive ;) And didn't want to pay much. Over the weekend we hit up our local thrift stores and I found this beauty for....50 cents!!!!!!

Sure I could have asked for it for Christmas or Birthday, but I love when God gives it to you :)

Next on the list. Waffle Maker & Carpet Cleaner & Family Room Furniture......NOTHING is too big for God!!!

And of course that sent me on a mission for a recipe for good Italian Baked Spaghetti lol!!!

HERE is the one we are trying tonight!!!!

Happy Heart.

http://popup.lala.com/popup/504684650714635328

Why can't I just keep a happy heart? I guess because I am Human. But I don't want to be. I want to be so in the Spirit that I am not "just" Human. I want to be up in the good times and the bad. God is just as Faithful in the downs as He is in the ups.

We had one of THOSE weeks. Where the Valley seems so low. Where we meet a Brick Wall. Where there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Where God seems SOOOO Far away.

Then the my Mood goes straight down in the dumps. Grrr. I hate that. So what are you to do? Listen to old sermons ;) I love our Pastor. He is so right on. No beating around the bush. Just tells ya how it is & how it should be!! And when I changed my poor pitiful me mood. He came in and saved the day!!

I am soooo thankful that He is still in the Moving Mountains Business!!!!!! He has blessed and blessed and blessed this week. I am Humbled by His goodness. By the generosity of others. By the Anonymous Person who set that Christmas Card with that amount of Money ;) By Family that is always there. By Friends who when they find out the hard time you are having, don't judge and lend you a shoulder to cry on.

I am thankful this Black Friday for all of the empty bags from the store.
That I was physically able to stand in the lines.
That my kids will be SO excited Christmas morning!!!
That at the 3rd store I tried I was FINALLY able to find my Puppy a new bed ;)
For the leftovers......because we had SO MUCH food yesterday.
That when my Husband said the "Good Times and Bad" he meant it.
For my Kids and their health.
For their loving attitudes.
For their caring spirits.
For their giving spirits.
A Final Adoption.
Still Looking like we can start for #5 @ Tax Season!
For my Dogs just cause they are so cute ;)

So I don't have a brand new car. So my kids didn't get the newest electronic game. We are warm, full, we have shoes, we have clothing, we have the best family, we have the best church family, the best Pastor, a free Country, Service Men who are willing to miss the Holidays for us. For our Country ........We are BLESSED beyond measure!!!

I'm off....to decorate the tree with my Wonderful Family!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Verse 1:
When He moves among us all that He does
all of His mercy and all of His love
and the pen of the writer could write everyday
even this world could never contain
how I've been blessed

Verse 2:
The warmth in winter the flowers in spring
the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves
the food on my table a good place to sleep
clothes on my back and shoes on my feet
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 3:
Arms that will raise a voice that can talk
hands that can touch and legs that can walk
ears that can listen eyes that can see
oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe
I have been blessed

Verse 4:
A father and mother who nurtured and raised
a brother and sister memories made
our pastor to lead us the altar to pray
stripes that can heal the blood that can save
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Verse 5:
We live in a country the greatest on earth
our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth
she stands in the harbor Miss Liberty calls
all have gave some but some have gave all
for me to be blessed

Verse 6:
He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down
the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed
the place where He hides me under His wings
He's not just a song He's the reason I sing
I have been blessed

Chorus:
I have been blessed God's so good to me
precious are His thoughts of you and me
no way I could count them there's not enough time
so I'll just thank Him for being so kind
God has been good so good
I have been blessed

Thankful Tuesday!

God has Blessed us again!!!

We decided to take a chance on Craigslist and post a wanted ad :)
Thinking really who wants to give up a wooden swing set
.......for FREE.

But a few people have responded Praise The Lord!!!!



Hubby picked this one up on Friday and picking up another on
Thursday.....we are going to make one great big one!!!
Should be perfect for 5....or 6 Kids ;)

Awesome.

Today we went out for the first time in a few days. Yes sad deprived stay at home home school mom here!!!

ANYHOW......there were flags & yellow ribbons EVERYWHERE I was thinking what on earth is going on?

Then I started seeing signs.......WELCOME HOME TROOPS. Homemade ones, really nice ones, businesses had signs in the windows. Those signs with the letters that you change ALL of them every single one in town said "Welcome Home".

I guess our National Guard Unit in our area is returning.

There is a parade tomorrow "in town" welcoming them home!!!

Just thought it was awesome that they do that!!!!

Welcome Home Guys!!! You make us proud!!!!! And Free!!!!!

Love it!

I love it when God does stuff like this!!

WOOHOO!!!

My brother in law got baptized yesterday.....GLORY TO GOD!!!!!!

I am so happy for my sister.......and Dan too lol!!!

If ya think of it today......

.......pray for my sister! She is moving from her state to our state. We are so excited to have her back home!!!

He cares for the "little things".......

.......so I have spring on the brain. Yes it is 36* today I understand BUT I am ready!!! I pulled out #4's next size and notice it was lacking a great deal. Stink. She had plenty of "good" clothes but not much to play in.......ya know stuff that you don't stress over because it got a bit dirty. Reminder: we live on 10 acres. The kids spend most of the summer OUTSIDE playing. We "play" in the garden, sandbox, the swing, just exploring.

So I started looking for "play clothes" $5.99 -$9.99 for cute little summer dresses. WHAT? Too much for play clothes for a toddler who WILL be a mess everyday ;) So I decided to pray for play clothes. And ya know what? My God cares about my need for play clothing.......I have had TWO ladies from church give us clothes!!! I have shared with them that they have been an answer to my prayers!!

THANKS Mrs N and Kelly!!!!

Thankful Tuesday.

On Wednesday Nights our church takes prayer requests. Cancer, still
born baby, mother with 7 months to go with a pregnancy on BED REST for
the rest of it, her life and her twins lives are in danger, little
ones with health issues....on and on.

And I sat there with my healthy husband, myself, my 4 kids, 2 healthy
pregnancies, one resulting in a twin birth where BOTH twins and myself
went home in 24 hours, the other child resulting from a SAFE trip to
India, her amazing adjustment.

A home, HEAT, plenty of food, my husband has a job......STILL ;)

God is SOOOOO good to us.

BUT with all that said......if we went through everything on the
list.......He'd still be good. Because He is. And He'd be with us
through every trial!!!!!!

What a Mighty God we serve!

Praises.

1. We have a little green card stating that we now have a resident alien living among us LOL :)

2. For my Dad and tax season!!!
Last night our laundry room had smoke in it.....I guess the washer bit the dust :( But our new front load washer is on its way!!! PRAISE the Lord!!! This is the first time our washer and dryer will match lol......not that it matters BUT it does encourage me to clean up the laundry room a bit!!! YEAH for more room too!!!

I Heart Facebook :)

Remember awhile back I mentioned that I wanted to get the kiddos instruments for Christmas? Well I put it on my facebook status that I was looking for a Trumpet, Sax and Flute. A friend from a few years back saw that and contacted me about having a Trumpet, Sax and a Clarinet. Close enough right?

Well I have been dragging my feet getting them and she e mailed said her and her Dad would meet us half way to get them. Blessing #1. I also had a friend volunteer to get them for me she lives in the same town as them. THANKS Brooke!! But I felt bad asking her to load up her kids in the freezing temps this close to Christmas!!

So yesterday we loaded up the van and started our half way journey. As we get close I call her and realize "oh no we switched time zones". When we said 10:30 I assumed my time zone and they assumed in theirs :) They waited for me for close to an hour. Blessing #2.

On the way I was "concerned" that the kiddos would see the gifts and wondered how I could get around this. Guess what? They were thoughtful enough to put them in black garbage bags. Blessing #3.

I went to hand them the money and they said "no, Merry Christmas". We had agreed on a price before hand though. Nope they would not take it. "At least let me pay for gas, or the McDonald's you ate because I was late" Nope would not take it. Blessing #4.

Then they tell me they put in a recorder for #4 so she would have an instrument on Christmas Day too. Blessing #5.

They also gave us extra reeds. The cleaning supplies too. Blessings #6 & 7.
Also beginner books for each instrument. Blessing # 8. I was going to go there last night after James got home to get them those.

Then I get home to peek in the bags :) Each Instrument had big bows on them. Blessing #9. AND the books were wrapped and ready for the under the tree. Blessing #10.

God is so GOOD!! And we were then able to go buy a few more gifts for the kiddos because of the "extra" money we had. Blessing #11.

THANK YOU MEAGAN and her Dad for blessing our family this Christmas. When I told my husband of everything he just couldn't believe you had done that for our family!!!

What a difference a day makes :)

What ever it was it look like it was a 24 hour bug. So far no one else is showing signs of it Praise the Lord!!

So Thursday Night/Friday morning it hit which made for a not so nice night of sleeping.....too much info coming.......you've been warned! After everything and then some was out of my stomach, I was able to sleep.

I woke up Friday morning.....knowing I had "slept in" and asked #3, "what time is it?" 11:30 WHAT? yes Mom it is 11:30 :) OH NO where is #4??? I look over and she is sleeping soundly at 11:30!!! Now it helps that our bedroom is in he middle of our house....or building.....and it has no windows. NONE it is pitch black in there in the middle of the afternoon on a bright sun shining day!! But still 11:30?????

So I get up only to feel woozy and ask the kids what on earth have you been doing??
Dad said you didn't feel good and gave us a list of things to do while you slept.........honestly bless the man....what did I do to deserve him????? They then proceeded to pull out the math, reading, and science they had done. They did the dishes, and had the laundry going :)

Then #4 was UP and ready to start her day.......#3 says "i got her mom" and went and changed her and put new jammies on.....cause we were going no where!! The kids then played quietly for the most part of course on the floor of our bedroom.

Hubby call on his way home and asks how I'm feeling.....SICK......so he orders pizza for dinner :)

So he comes home and I can tell he is going over what the kiddos did in "school" minus the teacher that day.

Blessed beyond measure over here on 10 acres.............

Glory to God.....

......#4 has health insurance as of this morning!!!!!

The Ergo has arrived......

.....ok by the time this posts on blogger it will have been here actually a few days.
But here we were trying it out! Hubby tried too but wouldn't let me take his picture! And eventually the dog RAN if we can toward her with it :)

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WOOHOO!!!

My friend Amy is going to India!!!! YEAH praise God for court movement!!!!

What does this mean to us: It technically is a celebration for her. She is going to #4's orphanage though, so new pics and possibly a video. BUT what we are praying for is that we have the same judge he seems to be moving cases QUICKLY through the courts. Their first court date was September 1, and he skipped the 2nd straight into the 3rd court date a few days later!