I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don't know how to intercede for myself. My heart is so heavy with concern for my husband and our unemployment situation right now that I can hardly think clearly.
I know the Lord has us in the palm of his hand, and that our well-being is something he cares deeply about, and I am thankful. My hope is in him alone.
My prayers are a lot of sighs and groans, and today I'm near tears over it all.
So there you have it.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Concert
Our school held an instrumental concert last night. Both Peter and Leah were scheduled to participate, but Peter hasn't been feeling well, and when I checked his temp it was elevated, so he had to stay home. He'll be home again today as well. Poor guy. Here's a few pictures we grabbed of Leah from last night. It was a beautiful concert. I'm so impressed with the musical excellence our school strives for and achieves from such young kids!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
My Blog Style...
| I am a Life Blogger! |
 My blog is the story of my life - a living diary.
|
Friday, February 22, 2008
Gitt'n 'er Done!
Okay, this may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me and I'm proud of it, so here it is!
Mark built this divider between what we use as a living room and where our piano sits in the "dining room" though we rarely eat in there. Anyway, yesterday Mark and my dad put up the final piece of trim work to complete the envisioned look I had for the post when we first started the project. The "special" part about the trimwork is that my dad made it to match other trimwork that we have in our house.
Isn't it beautiful?
Here's another project my dad and hubby have been working on--dad did the designing and building, then came up here with the pieces to do the assembly and staining. We have to find a place to put the varnish on that isn't too cold--a tough order for where we live right now!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pinewood Derby
Here's a few pictures of tonight's Pinewood Derby. Peter was hoping for a medal, but that was not to be. He did place 15th out of 40 cars for speed, though. 
Do you think Dad looks concerned that the wins are getting recorded correctly, or confunded at how this double elimination thing works? He was beaming at times, but I missed those.
This last one is one of Peter's car crossing the finish line in first place for that heat. Mom was pretty proud of herself for capturing it!
Prayers Coveted
For Drs. Charles and Pam Adams, professors at Dordt College. Sunday afternoon they were involved in a serious accident, leaving them both in the ICU. Each suffered head trauma, Pam's injuries are more serious, as there is also considerable internal damage/bleeding. There is a Caring Bridge site set up, if you would like that information, please email me for it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Living with ADHD
I can speak volumes to being the parent of an ADHD child, but this article speaks volumes to being the child with ADHD... thanks to my iMOM subscription for pointing it out to me.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Working at work
Mark's still working at finding work. I hope his efforts pay off soon. There's too much room for discouragement in this game, that is one thing I know for sure!
Happy President's Day--what are you doing to fill your time?
Happy President's Day--what are you doing to fill your time?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Pictures for Steph, and anyone else who wants to know
These are corners in the now completely painted rooms. I hate my furniture (couch, recliner, and chair) so you don't get to see that. Someday when we "grow up" we'll purchase something we like better.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Finally completed!
I would have to resort to carbon dating to find out when we started painting the living room the color it currently is, but I can definatively say that TODAY I finally completed the project! Good heavens!
I guess I should be thankful that after all these years, and yes it has been years, I still like the color, and intend to keep it for a while yet. (Mark is relieved to know that as well...I tend to like to change things too often for his taste!)
I guess I should be thankful that after all these years, and yes it has been years, I still like the color, and intend to keep it for a while yet. (Mark is relieved to know that as well...I tend to like to change things too often for his taste!)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Interesting how after several years of marriage later Valentine's Day loses a some of its sweetness. I mean Mark & I still took the opportunity to exchange cards, but a bit of that is taken for granted. I take care to choose just the right card, and the words I've purchased for him are true and from my heart as well as Hallmark. :-) Anyway, I hope you all enjoy a special in your own way Valentine's Day. And don't wait until this type of day to express your affection for those you care about.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I really agreed to this?
So as we're in the pet shop last night with Peter for his birthday night out, and as we're loading our arms with all the items required for its care, I'm finding myself questioning whether I was truly sane when I said yes to this all those many months ago...
But here we are, and Peter is now the proud owner of "Spot" the...
Leopard Gecko
Yikes!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Helpful Hints...
Useful Hints...I got these ideas via email... .
1. Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little ¡stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
2. Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
3. Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
4. Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
5. To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
6. For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
7. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic
8. Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
9. Reheat Pizza... Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
10. Easy Deviled Eggs... Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
11. Expanding Frosting...When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar
and calories per serving.
12. Reheating refrigerated bread...To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
13. Newspaper weeds away...Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
14. Broken Glass... Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
15. No More Mosquitoes... Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
16. Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
17. Flexible vacuum...To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
18. Reducing Static Cling...Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.
19. Measuring Cups...Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
20. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
21. Reopening envelope...If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
22. Conditioner...Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
23. Goodbye Fruit Flies...To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
24. Get Rid of Ants...Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
25. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS...Ddryer sheets cause a film over the mesh of the lint catcher--that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. It makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!
1. Peel a banana from the bottom and you won't have to pick the little ¡stringy things' off of it. That's how the primates do it. Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.
2. Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!
3. Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
4. Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef. It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
5. To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream in and then beat them up.
6. For a cool brownie treat, make brownies as directed. Melt Andes mints in double broiler and pour over warm brownies Let set for a wonderful minty frosting.
7. Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic
8. Leftover snickers bars from Halloween make a delicious dessert. Simple chop them up with the food chopper. Peel, core and slice a few apples. Place them in a baking dish and sprinkle the chopped candy bars over the apples. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes!!! Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream.
9. Reheat Pizza... Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to med-low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on the cooking channel and it really works.
10. Easy Deviled Eggs... Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
11. Expanding Frosting...When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar
and calories per serving.
12. Reheating refrigerated bread...To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
13. Newspaper weeds away...Start putting in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers put layers around the plants overlapping as you go cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic they will not get through wet newspapers.
14. Broken Glass... Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.
15. No More Mosquitoes... Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away.
16. Squirrel Away! To keep squirrels from eating your plants sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant and the squirrels won't come near it.
17. Flexible vacuum...To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.
18. Reducing Static Cling...Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone.
19. Measuring Cups...Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.
20. Foggy Windshield? Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!
21. Reopening envelope...If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily.
22. Conditioner...Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair.
23. Goodbye Fruit Flies...To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass fill it 1/2' with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid, mix well You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever!
24. Get Rid of Ants...Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works & you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!
25. INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS...Ddryer sheets cause a film over the mesh of the lint catcher--that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free -- that nice fragrance too, you know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire & potentially burn your house down with it! The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. It makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Happy Birthday, Peter!
You're 13 now, it's hard to believe it really has been that long. The journey hasn't always been easy, has it? Still, we wouldn't trade it for anything! We love you, and love the young man you are growing up to be.
Each day we pray for you, that you will love God with all your heart (and it is a big one!), all your mind (and it is a smart
one--the way you think about things often puts us to shame!), and all your strength (and you have a lot of it!) And that you will show that love to those God brings across your path...
Right now you're laughing and having a great time with your friends, doing what you do best, relishing life. We are so proud of you! 
one--the way you think about things often puts us to shame!), and all your strength (and you have a lot of it!) And that you will show that love to those God brings across your path...Love,
Mom
PS: Remember, no matter how old you are, you are NOT allowed to forget my birthday--I think THAT'S why God had you be born on it! :-)
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
I've been "Tagged"
I've been tagged by Carey to list 7 things you might not know about me.
The rules are to link the person who sent this to you and leave a comment on their blog so their readers can visit yours. Post the rules on your blog. Share 7 strange/weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, linking their blog. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
So now, I need to come up with 7 things you might not know about me...hmmmm...
1. I was born in Chicago, more specifically Roseland Community Hospital. When I was born, my parents lived in the area where Al Capone used to thrive.
2. I actually enjoy being frugal, but its more fun with a buddy--canning fruits and veggies (and sometimes meat) is relaxing and enjoyable to me, though I do appreciate the "end" of "canning season."
3. I am not self confident. I don't believe that people would really want to know me, so I appreciate it so much when they take the time to do so. But I hate to barge in on a conversation because I wonder if they'll hate me for it.
4. I crave dark chocolate, good coffee, and pure water. Oh, wait, you already know that about me! Hmmm, a gimme!
5. I have lived in 13 different houses (16 if you count college), but have moved 22 times. (figure THAT out!) I know my mom is counting right now...
6. I taught myself to sew when I was 13 years old, and I still love it, but it isn't as economical as it once was.
7. I like rearranging my furniture.
OK, I tag:
Steph at Learnin by Grace
Nicole at A Gauntlet with a Gift in It
My mom
Gretchen
Rachel P
Deb
Lisa
(even though all those people don't have blogs...just email them to me! :-)
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Nothing profound, just stuff
Well, another day has gone by, and next week Monday marks the one month anniversary of unemployment. Like the kids said at supper tonight, it seems like it's been longer than that. I guess it's because we're all more aware of our circumstances. Perhaps its because we are spending much more time wondering what is next. Perhaps it is because I'm spending more time in prayer. Which isn't bad, of course! I guess waiting for anything makes the time seem longer, then when what we're waiting for finally comes we wonder why we thought the waiting was so long and so bad.
Now I just had a thought...is that what I'm going to feel like when I get to heaven? That all the waiting and wondering when it would come and believing that it might never come will all seem so silly, and the time spent waiting really was no time at all? I think it might just be that way! After all, our time here on earth is a waiting time for paradise...for those who call on the name of the Lord as savior, like I do...
Now I just had a thought...is that what I'm going to feel like when I get to heaven? That all the waiting and wondering when it would come and believing that it might never come will all seem so silly, and the time spent waiting really was no time at all? I think it might just be that way! After all, our time here on earth is a waiting time for paradise...for those who call on the name of the Lord as savior, like I do...
Saturday, February 2, 2008
The end of year one
Well, the early morning practices have come to an end. Can you picture my happy dance over that? Hee-hee! Drill team has been a blast, and I loved every minute of watching the performances, they alone made the early mornings pay off, but I'm still glad to be able to say that there won't be any more early mornings for it! Whoo-hoo! We survived! When I high-fived Hannah about that today, she said somewhat sheepishly, "But I want to go out again next year..." and I said, "Great! And I hope you make it, but it is time for a well-deserved break!" So kudos to the drill team and their coach...until next year...here's the co-ed routine...
We're almost finished with Peter's room--he and I put the first coat of chalkboard paint on this morning. This past Tuesday, I faux finshed the remanining walls to look like brushed aluminum. It looks okay, and pictures don't do it justice, but you might be able to get the idea from these...
Mark will probably get the trim up this week, then begin to fanegle out how to get a little loft area built over where his bed will be, in the chalkboard nook...
Hannah's room is again finished, as we "took" a couple feet from Peter's room and "gave" it to Hannah's, so she has more space in there. She likes it.
We're almost finished with Peter's room--he and I put the first coat of chalkboard paint on this morning. This past Tuesday, I faux finshed the remanining walls to look like brushed aluminum. It looks okay, and pictures don't do it justice, but you might be able to get the idea from these...
Mark will probably get the trim up this week, then begin to fanegle out how to get a little loft area built over where his bed will be, in the chalkboard nook...
Hannah's room is again finished, as we "took" a couple feet from Peter's room and "gave" it to Hannah's, so she has more space in there. She likes it.
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