Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wordless Wednesday--twins separated at birth?
Harmony and her friend Emi were born on the same day, at the same hospital, and were even the only two babies there at the time...I'm sure when they're old enough to know about books like The Parent Trap they'll wonder if they were switched at birth...
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Wordless Wednesday--Christmas eve
The kids said since I make them fancy cakes for their birthday, Jesus should have one too:
Harmony's Santa letter (I told her to say something about her year, and she said the family stuff unprompted...melts my heart!)
Harmony's Santa letter (I told her to say something about her year, and she said the family stuff unprompted...melts my heart!)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Harmony funny
This morning, while getting a Hello Kitty spoon to go with her Strawberry Shortcake bowl:
Harmony: Mom, what do you get when you put Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty together?
Me: What?
Harmony: Friends!
Me: That's nice.
Harmony: What do you get when you put Henry and me together?
Me: Siblings?
Harmony: No, a disaster!
(Actually, they played together nicely, with minimal arguing requiring our intervention and lots of laughter, for several hours yesterday--that was quite the Christmas gift!)
Harmony: Mom, what do you get when you put Strawberry Shortcake and Hello Kitty together?
Me: What?
Harmony: Friends!
Me: That's nice.
Harmony: What do you get when you put Henry and me together?
Me: Siblings?
Harmony: No, a disaster!
(Actually, they played together nicely, with minimal arguing requiring our intervention and lots of laughter, for several hours yesterday--that was quite the Christmas gift!)
Melodic Monday--Light the Advent Candle
Henry picked up this song on Sunday, despite coloring and looking like he wasn't paying attention while it was being sung. We lit the advent candles every day during advent while I was a kid. We're not quite so diligent, but the kids have enjoyed it the days we've done it.
Light the Advent candle one.
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day.
CHORUS:
Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.
Light the Advent candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night.
CHORUS
Light the Advent candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing "Peace on Earth"
At the Blessed Saviour's birth.
CHORUS
Light the Advent candle four
Think of joy forevermore
Christ Child in a stable born
Gift of love that Christmas morn.
CHORUS
Light the Christmas candle now
Sing of donkey, sheep and cow
Birthday candles for the King
Let the alleluias ring.
Light the Advent candle one.
Now the waiting has begun
We have started on our way
Time to think of Christmas Day.
CHORUS:
Candle, candle burning bright,
shining in the cold winter night
Candle, candle burning bright
Fill our hearts with Christmas light.
Light the Advent candle two
Think of humble shepherds who
Filled with wonder at the sight
Of the child on Christmas night.
CHORUS
Light the Advent candle three
Think of heavenly harmony
Angels singing "Peace on Earth"
At the Blessed Saviour's birth.
CHORUS
Light the Advent candle four
Think of joy forevermore
Christ Child in a stable born
Gift of love that Christmas morn.
CHORUS
Light the Christmas candle now
Sing of donkey, sheep and cow
Birthday candles for the King
Let the alleluias ring.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thankful Thursday: Timing
This week I'm glad that God has great timing:
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
This week, God's timing was totally apparent in Henry's life. His Winter Program was scheduled to be Monday night. Mammaw was very disappointed that she was unable to attend, as she's recovering from a perforated colon (from a colonoscopy--another praise, her recovery!). Well, Monday afternoon the weather turned blustery, so they postponed the program to January...and now Mammaw can attend.
Today, Henry was scheduled to get some fillings at the dentist...during his class's Christmas present from his teachers, a special in-class breakfast party. Once again, the weather to the rescue--there was a two hour delay (which would have been enough for him to make it to the party) AND the dentist called and cancelled. (Unfortunately it was minutes after I got him out of bed early to eat some breakfast before the "no eat zone" began...but I got to go back to bed :))
Not just one, but two times where God stepped in to bless Henry with his timing.
Jesus even confirms that God had a right time for him to die--John 7:6 says "Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come..." I'm so thankful we get to celebrate his perfectly timed arrival.
It gives me confidence that although I don't always immediately agree with God's timing, it IS perfect, and all works together for good in the end.
And I'm glad he died for the ungodly, because that's definitely me.
And speaking of timing, I need to go to bed. For more Thankful Thursday, visit Iris.
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
This week, God's timing was totally apparent in Henry's life. His Winter Program was scheduled to be Monday night. Mammaw was very disappointed that she was unable to attend, as she's recovering from a perforated colon (from a colonoscopy--another praise, her recovery!). Well, Monday afternoon the weather turned blustery, so they postponed the program to January...and now Mammaw can attend.
Today, Henry was scheduled to get some fillings at the dentist...during his class's Christmas present from his teachers, a special in-class breakfast party. Once again, the weather to the rescue--there was a two hour delay (which would have been enough for him to make it to the party) AND the dentist called and cancelled. (Unfortunately it was minutes after I got him out of bed early to eat some breakfast before the "no eat zone" began...but I got to go back to bed :))
Not just one, but two times where God stepped in to bless Henry with his timing.
Jesus even confirms that God had a right time for him to die--John 7:6 says "Jesus told them, "The right time for me has not yet come..." I'm so thankful we get to celebrate his perfectly timed arrival.
It gives me confidence that although I don't always immediately agree with God's timing, it IS perfect, and all works together for good in the end.
And I'm glad he died for the ungodly, because that's definitely me.
And speaking of timing, I need to go to bed. For more Thankful Thursday, visit Iris.
Wordless Wednesday
Well, it's barely still Wednesday, but here are some pictures from our Great Cookie Caper on Saturday...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Yeah, what she said!
We had a great weekend, especially at the Great Cookie Caper. Jen wrote about it, so read what she had to say! The picture of Samuel and Hope is really cute :) If I have time today, I'll add my pictures here--it was definitely a blast, and it's so nice to have Christmas baking done (at least round one :))
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Thankful Thursday
This week I'm thankful for:
--giving birth in our newly redone hospital maternity ward
--supportive friends and family who have showered us with gifts, especially yummy meals
--Time off from my job, though I still have work to do (enough to keep my mind busy)
And I'm most thankful for a baby born two thousand years ago, in an unsterile barn, who was probably shunned by his family and friends for being born out of wedlock (though some random strangers from both near and far brought priceless gifts to pay for their soon journey to a far off land...)
Share your thanks with Iris!
--giving birth in our newly redone hospital maternity ward
--supportive friends and family who have showered us with gifts, especially yummy meals
--Time off from my job, though I still have work to do (enough to keep my mind busy)
And I'm most thankful for a baby born two thousand years ago, in an unsterile barn, who was probably shunned by his family and friends for being born out of wedlock (though some random strangers from both near and far brought priceless gifts to pay for their soon journey to a far off land...)
Share your thanks with Iris!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
It's been a great day!
Hope slept for 5 hours (in a row!) last night.
I got a shower.
I went to work for about an hour.
I'm wearing pants that button and zip.
Somebody else made dinner.
What else could I ask for?? :) It's a good day indeed!
I got a shower.
I went to work for about an hour.
I'm wearing pants that button and zip.
Somebody else made dinner.
What else could I ask for?? :) It's a good day indeed!
Link love
I'm not good at one handed typing, so instead of my own thoughts, here are some cool posts by others:
Pastot Steven Furtick: Let them walk
A Misfit toy? by Lara O'Brian (sorry not a direct link--Dec 10ths devotion
Pastot Steven Furtick: Let them walk
A Misfit toy? by Lara O'Brian (sorry not a direct link--Dec 10ths devotion
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Top Ten Tuesday: Christmas traditions
Thanks to Mindy!
10. "Let it Snow" by the Blenders--polenesian style. Hilarious! (Jonell, you'd even like it :)--track 3 on the link)
9. Watching the Grinch that Stole Christmas and Charlie Brown's Christmas
8. Playing Santa (I've always been the one to stuff the stockings, ever since I graduated from high school)
7. Eating Robatsa (chinese dumpling soup that my grandfather ate as a child) on Christmas eve
6. Setting up the nativity set my aunt made for me
5. Christmas concerts--I still get choked up every time I hear O Come all ye faithful
4. Making traditional cookies like sandbaskels and krumkaka
3. Lefse, hot off the grill
2. Lighting the advent wreath and having special devotional time with my family
1. Candlelight service on Christmas Eve
10. "Let it Snow" by the Blenders--polenesian style. Hilarious! (Jonell, you'd even like it :)--track 3 on the link)
9. Watching the Grinch that Stole Christmas and Charlie Brown's Christmas
8. Playing Santa (I've always been the one to stuff the stockings, ever since I graduated from high school)
7. Eating Robatsa (chinese dumpling soup that my grandfather ate as a child) on Christmas eve
6. Setting up the nativity set my aunt made for me
5. Christmas concerts--I still get choked up every time I hear O Come all ye faithful
4. Making traditional cookies like sandbaskels and krumkaka
3. Lefse, hot off the grill
2. Lighting the advent wreath and having special devotional time with my family
1. Candlelight service on Christmas Eve
Monday, December 8, 2008
Melodic Monday: C is for conifers by They Might be Giants
"Here come the ABC's" is one of our kids' favorite albums, and would account for Henry's nerdy knowledge of conifers...
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
If you see a Christmas tree or a stack of newspapers or a 2x4 frame of a house
It's probably made from pine trees and pine trees are conifers, that's what this song is about
Or if you see a plant in the shape of an elephant, or in the shape of a dog
It's probably a shrub, a conifer shrub pruned into that shape by someone
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
Spoken: There are so many different kinds of conifer trees.
This is just a few of them: Spruce,
Hemlocks, larch, cyprus, juniper,
Fir, Douglas fir, cedar, yew,
Pine, the dwarf conifer,
And the great California sequoia redwood.
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
If you see a Christmas tree or a stack of newspapers or a 2x4 frame of a house
It's probably made from pine trees and pine trees are conifers, that's what this song is about
Or if you see a plant in the shape of an elephant, or in the shape of a dog
It's probably a shrub, a conifer shrub pruned into that shape by someone
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
Spoken: There are so many different kinds of conifer trees.
This is just a few of them: Spruce,
Hemlocks, larch, cyprus, juniper,
Fir, Douglas fir, cedar, yew,
Pine, the dwarf conifer,
And the great California sequoia redwood.
Most with cones for seeds, most with needles for leaves
C is for conifers, my kind of trees
Large junipers and fir, spruce, cedars and pines
C is for conifers, more then five hundred kinds
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Proof that my children will be/are nerds...
On our way to Kokomo yesterday, we drove through a fairly large Christmas light display. As we approached, Henry's comment was, "Mom, they have both the conifers and non-conifer trees decorated!" Guess I better teach him the word "deciduous"...
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hope's top ten favorite things to do
10. Poop right after mommy has changed my diaper.
9. Listen to Henry sing his version of "Lullabye" at a very loud volume.
8. Have Harmony hold me.
7. Stare at the throw on the couch.
6. Listen to the vacuum cleaner.
5. Sit in the moving chair from the Lingley's (but not moving)
4. Nurse.
3. Listen to the bathroom fan--it puts me to sleep every time.
2. Sleep between mommy and daddy.
1. Sleep ON mommy or daddy in the recliner!
Gotta love life as a baby...
9. Listen to Henry sing his version of "Lullabye" at a very loud volume.
8. Have Harmony hold me.
7. Stare at the throw on the couch.
6. Listen to the vacuum cleaner.
5. Sit in the moving chair from the Lingley's (but not moving)
4. Nurse.
3. Listen to the bathroom fan--it puts me to sleep every time.
2. Sleep between mommy and daddy.
1. Sleep ON mommy or daddy in the recliner!
Gotta love life as a baby...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Mother Letter
If you could give a letter of encouragement for a mother, what would you say? Well, here is your opportunity...
In pursuit of a "free Christmas", this husband and father is collecting such letters at the Mother letter blog.
I'm working on mine, and will post it when I'm done...I hope you'll write one too, whether your a mom or not. Or at least visit the blog, and read the submitted ones in the comment section--they're a fun read! (though a bit of a tear jerker...at least to a post partum mom!)
In pursuit of a "free Christmas", this husband and father is collecting such letters at the Mother letter blog.
I'm working on mine, and will post it when I'm done...I hope you'll write one too, whether your a mom or not. Or at least visit the blog, and read the submitted ones in the comment section--they're a fun read! (though a bit of a tear jerker...at least to a post partum mom!)
My Visa commercial
Hospital bill for me: $6200
Hospital bill for Hope: $2100
Doctor bill for me: $2400
Having Hope: priceless.
(Insurance doesn't hurt either...though I already see some of it billed incorrectly. Too bad I don't have better insurance...)
Hospital bill for Hope: $2100
Doctor bill for me: $2400
Having Hope: priceless.
(Insurance doesn't hurt either...though I already see some of it billed incorrectly. Too bad I don't have better insurance...)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving
Heather at The Mouth behind the Moose is hosting "Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving"--a chance to do what Abraham Lincoln originally intended Thanksgiving to be: "I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."
We have tons to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. One of the most amazing ways God has provided for us this year is financially. For example, we got a large, very unexpected tax bill...and the next day, got a check for almost the exact same amount. That happened again about two weeks ago (though this time it was property taxes). It was an act of faith for Patrick to step down from a regular, salaried job, but God made it very clear that it was what he was supposed to do, and He has been very faithful in providing for us.
I am also incredibly thankful for answered prayer and new life. For quite a while, both myself and a small army were praying that God would either take away my desire for another baby, or for a successful pregnancy. Seriously, three days after I finally felt at peace with only having two children, I found out I was pregnant. God definitely has a sense of humor...and of surrender. When I had given up, there were still faithful friends praying for me and our family. It is amazingly obvious Who is really in charge, and the answer is definitely not me.
Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
We have tons to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. One of the most amazing ways God has provided for us this year is financially. For example, we got a large, very unexpected tax bill...and the next day, got a check for almost the exact same amount. That happened again about two weeks ago (though this time it was property taxes). It was an act of faith for Patrick to step down from a regular, salaried job, but God made it very clear that it was what he was supposed to do, and He has been very faithful in providing for us.
I am also incredibly thankful for answered prayer and new life. For quite a while, both myself and a small army were praying that God would either take away my desire for another baby, or for a successful pregnancy. Seriously, three days after I finally felt at peace with only having two children, I found out I was pregnant. God definitely has a sense of humor...and of surrender. When I had given up, there were still faithful friends praying for me and our family. It is amazingly obvious Who is really in charge, and the answer is definitely not me.
Paul said it well in his letter to the Ephesians:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Thankful Thursday, kid versions
I asked the kids for their thankful lists tonight--I was encouraging them to come up with ten...and they both came up with more than 20! Here they are:
Henry's list:
My sister, Hope
Mommy
Daddy
Star Wars videos
Legos
Music videos on the computer
Grandpa
Grandma
Mammaw
Pappaw
Great Great grandma
Aunt Sharon
Harmony
Ali (our cat)
Coloring and crayons
school
My teacher, Mrs. Hensley
The number 1,005 (??)
the letter H
going to the gym with Brandon
Beth
My class
Aden and Jacob living upstairs this summer
pens
food
the colors brown and red
The tub (??)
Harmony's list: ("I'm thanksful for" )
my new baby, Hope
Family
my friend Emi
feast at school
the water park in Columbus
Water park in Lafayette
the pool
the slippery slide at Mammaw and Pappaw's house
roasting seeds
Sydnee
my cat Ali
Strawberry festival
Miss Jennifer being our teacher
Henry comes to school after rest time
Miss Sophie and Miss Anna are my dance teachers
We went on a plane to San Diego
Playing with a girl on the beach
We get to help Pappaw set up the tree tomorrow
Going hiking
Pumpkin pie
My fluffy jammies (the footed ones)
Henry's list:
My sister, Hope
Mommy
Daddy
Star Wars videos
Legos
Music videos on the computer
Grandpa
Grandma
Mammaw
Pappaw
Great Great grandma
Aunt Sharon
Harmony
Ali (our cat)
Coloring and crayons
school
My teacher, Mrs. Hensley
The number 1,005 (??)
the letter H
going to the gym with Brandon
Beth
My class
Aden and Jacob living upstairs this summer
pens
food
the colors brown and red
The tub (??)
Harmony's list: ("I'm thanksful for" )
my new baby, Hope
Family
my friend Emi
feast at school
the water park in Columbus
Water park in Lafayette
the pool
the slippery slide at Mammaw and Pappaw's house
roasting seeds
Sydnee
my cat Ali
Strawberry festival
Miss Jennifer being our teacher
Henry comes to school after rest time
Miss Sophie and Miss Anna are my dance teachers
We went on a plane to San Diego
Playing with a girl on the beach
We get to help Pappaw set up the tree tomorrow
Going hiking
Pumpkin pie
My fluffy jammies (the footed ones)
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