Not Me Monday

It's time for another round of Not Me Monday! I'm happy to participate because it gives me a good laugh to look at the things I did not do this past week! : )

I did not spend my time on the computer all afternoon yesterday instead of preparing in advance to start a new week/month today! I did not let my children play the Wii all afternoon so that I could just relax.

I did not get sarcastic with my 6 year old son who has no idea what sarcasm is and then burst out into laughter when he gave me a funny look.

I did not threaten my boys with consequences for arguing all weekend and then not follow through. When I finally did decide to follow through, I did not blow my top and yell at the top of my lungs.

I did not leave one last pile of leaves in the back yard sitting there for so long that it snowed. They are not soggy now that the snow has melted and won't be a pain to rake up before the next snow.

I did not clean my coffee pot and get it all set up, timer on, for this morning but forget to put water in it, nearly ruining my coffee pot. Yawn. I think I need some more sleep!

Lastly, I did not speed up beyond the legal speed limit on my way to church because there was a male driver in the opposite lane who wanted to be ahead of me going over the hill. The conversation with my son did not go something like this:

Son: "Mommy, how fast are you going?"
Me: "I'm just trying to get by this driver, son, it's ok."
Son: "Mommy, you're going to go to jail for going over the speed limit."
Me: "No, son, I would just get a ticket." (You'd think that after hearing the words come out of my mouth, I'd slow down.)
Son: "What's a ticket?"
Me: "You have to pay money for driving too fast."
Son: "Then you should slow down so you don't go to jail and have to pay a ticket!"

Now, my 6 year old son is quite a jokester, so that last part was accompanied by giggles from the entire van load, but I did not join in the laughter and then slow my speed just to make him feel better!

Speaking of feel better, that was fun! Try it! Just visit Not Me Monday and give it a whirl! : )

Psalm 84

Before I head to church this morning I just wanted to get a jump start on my passage memorization for December. : ) Psalm 84 is one that I have come back to again and again, and I think it's time to put all of the pieces together and memorize the entire psalm. I don't have a lot of scripture memorized, but I do believe that God puts the Word in our hearts to sharpen us and help us grow so when a specific passage is on my heart, I try to take time to memorize it.

I'll start today, with verses 1-2 and update this entry as I continue to commit this psalm to memory.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

A Perfect Thanksgiving

This year I had everything set up (at least in my mind) for a delightful Thanksgiving Day here at home. I decided to keep it easy and just go with a simple menu.

• Smoked Turkey Breast
• Homemade Scalloped Potatoes
• Fruit Salad
• Green Beans
• Biscuits
• Apple Cider
• Chocolate Pie for Dessert

I bought everything in advance and planned out a schedule for prep work and baking time. As the big day drew closer, I was feeling kind of smug. Pretty organized for my first time doing this alone. Little did I know how quickly plans can change.

First glitch...We had company over on Tuesday night. No problem. It was our usual night of the week when we get our family together with our good friends. Dinner was in the crock pot for the evening so it would be a breeze. All I had to do was remember to put the turkey in the brine after they left so it could soak for 24 hours. Oops. That's a problem. I was so tired that I just crawled into bed and forgot all about the turkey. Until 7:00am the next morning when I opened the fridge and slipped into a panic! I'm happy to report, though, that soaking it for 5 less hours didn't ruin the turkey. : )

Second glitch...Tuesday morning I took 4 out of 5 of my kids to the doctor to get a flu shot. (One had already gotten hers) It was time for my two youngest children's annual appointments anyway, so I thought I would just get it all out of the way at once. I wasn't, however, thinking about possible side effects and the fact that Thanksgiving was only two days away.

Wednesday passed with no visible side effects. LR had her 4 year shots, so her leg was a little swollen, but not bad. I woke up early Thursday morning to the wonderful smell of smoked turkey roasting in the oven. Whew! My husband remembered to put it in before he came to bed.

Things were looking good. But wait...what's that I hear? Yep. It's a kid throwing up in the bathroom! Oh no! I went in to comfort him, helped him get washed up, and settled him on the couch with cartoons while I set to preparations. Next thing I know, I hear him back in the bathroom again. Huh? He's still on the couch! Not another one! Sigh.

Despite these little glitches, our Thanksgiving was a happy one. We spent a quiet day watching the parade, napping, and cheering our favorite football teams. Dinner did come together and we sat around the table as a family, sick kids and all. The two that were sick in the morning felt better that evening so even though I can't prove it, I'm pretty sure it was the flu shot.

The turkey turned out great and we have plenty of leftovers. It was nice to have my brother in law at the table with us, knowing that soon he will be going on tour with the military over seas. We'll see him again around New Year's, but then his nieces and nephews won't see him again for a year.

If there's one thing I learned this year on Thanksgiving, it's that there is much to give thanks for, no matter what your circumstances. Glitches happen and plans change, but I am forever thankful for family.

I Thess. 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

He Is...

This morning I was reading Rachel Anne's thoughts over at Home Sanctuary about what it means for God to be "enough" for us. Normally, this would be the day that I would post my 10 Things for which I am thankful. I think that today I will combine the small thing with Ten Things Tuesday, and make a list of verses that speak to me about how God is "enough" for me.

1. He is my provider. "So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." Genesis 22:14
2. He is my peace. "And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" Isaiah 9:6b
3. He carries my burdens. "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19
4. He is my salvation. "The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
5. He is my strength. "The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." Habakkuk 3:19
6. He is my rock. "But the LORD has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge." Psalm 94:22
7. He is the one who sees me when I feel invisible. "She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me.'" Genesis 16:13
8. He is my hiding place and my deliverer. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
9. He is my father. "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." Galatians 4:6-7
10. He is my guide. "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

God is all of these things to me and many more. He is more than enough for me!

Blessings,

Melissa

My First Not Me Monday

I've been thinking about joining in the fun of Not Me Monday for a while now. What a great way to get a few things off my conscience and laugh at myself in the process! Plus it's fun to read all of the Not Me Monday confessions listed by other moms.

All right, I'm going to start slow...wouldn't want to get too carried away with the confessions right off the bat! : )

I most certainly did not pig out on three different kinds of birthday cake/cupcakes over the weekend! November is so full of birthdays that I did not consume enough sweets this month to last me a lifetime!

I did not turn my back on my two year old long enough for him to squeeze most of the toothpaste out of the tube and spread it all over his hands, face, the hallway walls, and the floor this week.

I did not almost go ballistic on my kids yesterday when they crushed the plastic ball that came with their brother's bowling game after he hadn't even played with it for more than 10 minutes. I did not tell them that if they don't learn to take better care of their toys, I would take them away.

Whew! That was fun. A good laugh is a great way to end my Monday.

Happy Birthday CD!

It's my youngest's birthday! Today he is two years old. I can hardly believe it! Two years ago on Thanksgiving, I had my thanksgiving dinner in the hospital. I guess "what goes around, comes around" would be the appropriate cliche here! Considering that it was thirty five years ago yesterday that my mom had her Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital. : )

I have a lot to be thankful for in my son CD. He is such a delight. He is in that curious stage where he tests and tries out everything. Including my limits! What a joy it is to watch him learn and grow more each day. You just can't turn your back on him for more than two seconds!

Take last night, for example. Everyone was brushing their teeth in the bathroom so I proceded to pick up for a few minutes. The next thing I knew, here comes a very blue CD covered in toothpaste! He looked like Papa Smurf! What happened to all his older brothers and sisters that were helping in the bathroom?

Not a dull moment with a two year old in the house! I love him to pieces though. Some people call it the "terrible twos". I call it the "terrific twos."

Happy Birthday CD...mommy loves ya!

It's a Wonderful Life

35 years ago today on Thanksgiving, my mom was on her way to the hospital. Yes...35 years ago! Get it out of your system...I know you want to tell me I'm old. ; ) I don't feel old though. I feel like I am in the best part of life.

• I have a wonderful husband whom I've been married to for 14 years. I admire him more with each passing day.
• I have 5 wonderful children. Each and every one of them is a blessing to me. We had parent teacher conferences yesterday and I don't mind telling you how great it is to hear my kids' teachers boast about how great they are!
• I come from a wonderful family, and I'm blessed with wonderful in-laws. Even though we live in separate parts of the state, I am close with them and love them dearly.
• I live in a wonderful house. We were blessed to find this house when we moved here. It has plenty of space for our family and a great, fenced in, back yard for the kids and our dog Max to play.
• I am surrounded by wonderful friends. They rejoice with me when I am happy, and pray with me when I am down. I am thankful for the ones that I can call up and meet for coffee, as well as my support network that can meet with me through e-mail, phone calls, and blogging!
• I serve a wonderful God. He has shown me time and again how much He loves me. In turn, I am grateful that He uses me to share His love with others.

Happy Birthday to Me! It's a wonderful life! Thanks for being a part of it! : )

Getting Ahead in the Game

Coffee Break!!!! It's been a busy morning. My day started by nursing a sick kiddo. Funny, didn't he just have the flu last month? If I recall correctly, he's the one who started all this illness, and now, it's come back around to him again. "What goes around, comes around." That's my BC for ya. And since it started last night, he's yesterday's cliche.

Where was I? Oh yah. Today's small thing. After I dropped my kids off at school I took my shopping list and made my way to the grocery store to beat the Thanksgiving rush. It was a great feeling to get just about everything I need for Thanksgiving dinner. I will need a few fresh items from the store as it gets closer, but I'm on the ball for the most part.

Last year I wanted to smoke a turkey but I realized that UH! OH! The turkey needs to marinate in the brine for 24 hours, and then cook for 15! That wasn't going to happen when my turkey was still frozen the day before Thanksgiving. So this year I made sure to plan in advance. My turkey is defrosting in the fridge and I have everything I need for the brine. I'll start the process on Tuesday, and by Thursday, we will have started a new family tradition. Yay! I just hope it turns out ok.

I'm taking a coffee break in between household chores and parent/teacher conferences. I scheduled all three PTC's on the same day because I wanted to get them out of the way and Fridays are my husband's day off. That means that one of us can go to the conference and the other can stay home with kiddos. Somewhere in the midst of all that, we have to pick up my brother in law at the airport. Like I said, busy day. But it sure is nice to stop and have coffee for a few minutes.

Well, it's "back to the grind" for me! Hmmm....maybe I'll go grind some more coffee! That Rachel Anne! Now she's got me doing it! : )

Enjoy your coffee girls! Have a great weekend!

Ten Things Tuesday

This is the time of year that the word "thankful" comes to life. In school, my kids are studying the history behind Thanksgiving. In church they are learning about gratitude; expressing their thanks to others around them. At home, we are talking about being thankful for family, and for a roof over our heads, and food on our table. We are trying to teach them that Thanksgiving is not just a holiday that happens once a year. It is something that needs to happen every day.

This week my list is a little random, but I am thankful for the little things!

1. I'm thankful for my new toaster from my mom. No more burned toast!
2. I'm thankful for gloves, hats, and warm coats in this cold, crispy weather!
3. I'm thankful my husband, who helps me pile five kids into the van in the morning so I can get them to school.
4. I'm thankful for electricity. It's getting dark early here now and it's nice to have lights to turn on instead of using candles like back in pioneer days.
5. I'm thankful for my washer/dryer. I may never be caught up on Mt. Washmore, but at least I am blessed with my own appliances to use while I try!
6. I'm thankful for soap. It seems like we wash our hands a thousand times a day here. What would we do without antibacterial hand soap???
7. I'm thankful for glasses/contacts. I can see so much more clearly with them!
8. I am thankful for trash cans. Where else would all of those used kleenex go?
9. I am thankful for the dishes that we have to eat on, and the dishwasher that cleans them every night. It may be half size, but that means half the amount of dishes to unload every morning!
10. I am thankful for toothbrushes and toothpaste. Two of my kids went to see the dentist yesterday and everything checked out great. The dentist was impressed at how clean their teeth were for a 4 and 5 year old. :)

There you have it. I will leave you with one last thought today. I am thankful for the God-given ability to recognize and acknowledge all that I have to be thankful for! Even the little things.

I Thess. 5:18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. (Amplified Bible)

Company Girl Coffee

I just have to say, that I have been enjoying visiting all of you for Company Girls Coffee this morning. So much, in fact, that I had to get a second cup! : ) There is a lot of wisdom and insight to glean from all of you! I love the honesty that is put into your posts and really enjoy taking time to look into your lives and get to know you a little better. It makes me feel like I'm not so alone in many areas of my life. Thanks for sharing! This Company Girl is glad you do, and I consider myself blessed to know you!

Yesterday was a very busy day for me, so I didn't get time to post until now. I want to pay special attention to this month's verse. I already posted it once, stating how much I am comforted by it, but I didn't go into why.

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

My favorite part of that verse is "He will rejoice over you with singing." You see, I am married to a Worship Pastor. He has a lot of other gifts that God has blessed Him with, but I am not exaggerating when I say that he is truly anointed by God to lead worship. There has never been a time when God has not used him to lead me straight into the sanctuary to worship at His throne. Many times over, I have felt God's presence, and known, that even when I felt so consumed that I had no voice, He was singing over me during that sweet time of worship. Comforting me. Healing me. Quieting me with His love. He is so good that way.

I am so blessed to be married to a man who loves worship. I have always loved to sing and make music in my heart to the Lord. Ever since I was a little girl. I know that's why God gave me my DH...So that we could worship HIM together.

Today, in keeping with yesterday's small thing, I'm going to make sure that my DH has a relaxing day of fun! He deserves it!

May you feel God rejoicing over you with singing this week,
Melissa

From Pumpkins to Pie

From This:
To This:

I am no Betty Crocker, but I just had to take a quick minute to share about my recent adventure in cooking with my Sister-in-Law. She and I sometimes like to take on projects together in the kitchen. One summer it was canning peaches. This fall, it happened to be making pumpkin pie from scratch.

Last month I got my kids four small pumpkins from the grocery store to decorate. When I looked on the bottom of them, there was a recipe for pumpkin pie. The recipe said "Easy Pumpkin Pie," but I am not sure it could be qualified as easy. It took us all afternoon to complete the task. The results were well worth it though. When we were done we had three delicious, made-from-scratch-with-love, pumpkin pies!

Thanks for trying something new with me La! Cooking with company is always twice as much fun! : )

10 Things Tuesday

In celebration of my 4yr old's birthday, I will be writing my 10 things about her today! : ) Happy Birthday kiddo! You'll always be my Care Bear! I love you very much.

1. Four years ago today I was blessed with my fourth child. I love her so much. I am so thankful that she was born.
2. I love her smile. There's something mischievous behind it. It's very contagious. I am so thankful that she can make me smile, especially when I'm feeling down.
3. I am thankful that she is content to play by herself or entertain her little brother when I need to get some things done around the house.
4. She's very curious. Always wondering how things work and asking lots of questions. I am thankful for her desire to learn.
5. I am thankful for hugs and kisses! Any time I get ready to go out the door, and every morning when her daddy gets ready to go out the door, she runs with open arms yelling "hugs and kisses!"
6. I am thankful that the first thing she wanted to do this morning after opening her presents was share her puzzle with her brothers and sister. What a sweet thing to do!
7. I am thankful for and amazed at the imagination she has! She doesn't need a lot of toys. She takes what she has and turns it into whatever she wants to play. I love to watch her and sometimes play along.
8. I am thankful for her love of music. She loves all different kinds of music and wants to listen to music all day long.
9. She adores her big sister. I am so thankful that she was born a girl...and I'm sure her sister is too! Even with three years between them, they love to play princess and have tea parties and retreat to their room to play together away from the boys. I'm so thankful they get along the way they do.
10. Most of all, I'm thankful for the God given gift of raising this precious child. She is so dear to my heart, as are all of my other children.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift You've given me in each of my children. I am reminded with every birthday of the incredible privilege of being a parent. You answered my prayers for children, just as You did for Hannah. For this, my heart rejoices in You.

-1 Samuel 2:21 "And the LORD was gracious to Hannah; she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters."

Happy Birthday Grandma!

This is a little late, (due to some unavoidable events this week) but I wanted to say a special Happy Birthday to my 95 year old Grandma! I admire her greatly for her strength and determination. She is 95, but still going strong. She lives on her own, still cooks for herself, knits, sews, and gardens. Those are only a few of the things that I love about her. The more I learn about her, the more I want to be like her.

She's a faithful wife... She stood by my grandfather through thick and thin over the many years they were married. Right up to his death she loved him, and she continues to cherish him in her heart today.

Faithful mother/grandmother/great grandmother... She would do anything for each of her four children and her many grandchildren/great grandchildren. (Mine included) She has taught all of us how important it is that we stick together as a family and take care of one another.

Hardworking...From her days on the farm with my grandfather, to their property on the Oregon Coast, to the plot of land she lives on now, she knows the value of being a hard working woman.

If there is an example of a woman who lives life abundantly, it is my grandmother. I love you grandma! Happy Belated Birthday!

Small Things on the Go

This week, I had a very scary incident with my 7yr old daughter. On Monday night, she began throwing up and she continued well into Tuesday. When it didn't stop and she couldn't keep even a tablespoon of liquid down, I called her pediatrician. On Wednesday morning I took her in to the doctor. From there, they sent us to the ER, where they immediately put her on an IV for dehydration. They drew some blood, and when the results came back, I was told that she would be admitted to the hospital overnight.

There, I stayed with her overnight, comforting her by holding her hand, praying with her when she was afraid, and sleeping by her side on a cot. When she wanted water, I held the cup and straw to her lips. When she was finally hydrated enough that she needed to pee, I helped her by wheeling her IV along side her into the bathroom. I am so thankful for the doctors and nurses that helped get her on the road back to health.

We were able to come home yesterday, and she is resting peacefully. I wanted to take a minute to share this story because I discovered something about small things while I was caring for my daughter. They are not just something that you do at home. By Rachel Anne's definition, small things are the "simple activities" that we do to make our home a sanctuary for our family. I would take that one step farther, and say that small things include anything that we do inside or outside of the home to make our family feel loved.

Thank you, Rachel Anne, for helping me realize that sanctuary is in the small things. Now I know that sanctuary is not just something that happens at home. It exists in my heart, and it's in the small things that I do, wherever I go.

With Gratitude

When I learned the "Virtue of the Month" in church on Sunday for Kids' Church, I could hardly wait for 10 Things Tuesday. This month my kids will be learning about Gratitude. Their memory verse for week one is "Give thanks to the Lord, because He is good. His faithful love continues forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NirV) I look forward to talking with my children about the many ways we can express gratitude. Today I will focus on some of the things I am thankful for as a citizen of the United States.

1. I am grateful for the privilege to vote. Women haven't always been given that right, and although I am only one vote, I take that responsibility seriously, knowing that even one vote can make a difference.
2. I am thankful that no matter what the outcome of the election today, ultimately, God is in control. Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."
3. I am thankful for generations past that are responsible for our freedom today.
4. I am thankful for the dedicated men and women that lead this nation today. I may not always be on the same page as them, or have the same beliefs as them, but they are willing to work hard to ensure that our freedom as Americans stays in tact.
5. I am thankful that we, here in America, still have the right to worship in public. There are some countries that do not allow it.
6. My gratitude goes out to the many volunteers in our Church that make Kids' Church happen. It is an honor to team up with them in teaching my children about God.
7. I am grateful for the freedom and opportunity to talk with my kids about gratitude this month. Deut. 11:18-19 "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
8. I am thankful for good teachers that work hard to ensure that my children get a proper education, and for the public school system that is still free.
9. I am grateful that even in hard economic times, we still have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and clothes on our backs.
10. I am thankful that not only do I have freedom as a citizen of the United states, but I will always have freedom in Christ here on earth and forever in heaven. John 8:36 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

God Sings

I am encouraged by this verse today.

Zephania 3:17

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."