Wii, Wii, Wii, All The Way Home!

Four little piggies went to Munster for Thanksgiving...
One little piggie had deep fried Turkey.
One little piggie had a Munster Donut.
One little piggie had none.
One little piggie cried "I want a Wii, Wii, Wii, all the way home".

This was a synopsis of our Thanksgiving. We travelled to visit my sister and her family on Wednesday in Munster. Stayed up way too late and then rose on Thursday for Thanksgiving doughnuts from Munster Donuts our favorite donut joint. I had the best time peeling and cutting (way too many) 16lbs of potatoes with my sister. That was my first job of the day and I was pleased to stay by my sister's side as we prepared dinner and were joined by our sister in law - virtual farmgirl. We all proudly wore our "farmgirl" aprons, but I forgot to get a picture. The men oversaw the deep frying of the Turkey and the children alternately.

I had made "corn cob" party crackers for everyone as favors (filled with candy, thankful slip, crayon, a rock to remind us of Jesus our rock, nuts, slinkie for the kids, stickers and what not) . They seemed to be well received. Though, I did ruin the supper of at least one little niece. Sorry, virtual farmgirl and ifarmer. Ephraim was a picky eater as usual hence the little piggie that had none. I gave up my annual turkey leg so that Carson could have it. Glad to see Carson is carrying on my legacy.

We had a real feast including yeast rolls made by my eldest niece with the help of the second oldest. You know I couldn't resist the rolls being "white bread" and all. Made me think of my grandmother whom we called "Mam Mam". Troy had baked a pie and made deviled eggs. My brother and sister in law brought yummy pumpkin surprise pie, sweet potato casserole and handcrafted cranberry sauce and pumpkin soup that was made in its own shell. All to compliment the hard work my sister had gone too in preparing corn casserole and stuffing, etc...

My mother would have loved it all though I think she might have worried that the deep fryer would catch the house on fire. I certainly missed my mother, but it was a comfort to have my uncle and aunt with us. We were also joined by my brother in law's family which was a pleasure.

So I think I have given you pretty much a blow by blow of the day except to explain the "Wii, Wii, Wii". As we headed out the door to join Troy's parents for the rest of the day, I grabbed a piece of pumpkin surprise pie. Once in the car we started our 3 & 1/2 hour trip back to Columbus. As we drove up to Troy's parents Carson began to talk of his desire for a Wii game system for Christmas. The topic continued throughout the evening and continued and continued. A delightful evening of catching up with Troy's parents and playing a few hands of euchre was had(Troy and I lost). Carson wrote a letter to Santa with grandpa's help asking for a Wii yet again. Then we headed home. "Wii, Wii, Wii," that is all we heard all the way home. I am reserving judgement on this request for now. Carson has since written at least one more letter and wanted to know how to mail it to Santa. "Wii" shall see what happens.

I don't mind choosing something special for my sons at Christmas, because I know that they know the real meaning of Christmas which is our Lord and Savior Jesus. Carson couldn't wait to get the tree up this morning. We've started the decorating and I am looking forward to having it all up and ready soon. I love to welcome guests especially to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. Do drop by if you are in the area. More on our Christmas theme later...

Working for a Frosty

Okay, I spent today cleaning like really cleaning... that kind of sweeping and seriously dusting baseboards and clearing off that pile of random papers that ends up on the desk kind of work. The pulling things out and sweeping behind them kind of work. The kind I am not prone to do. But it was only right. I couldn't sit idle while Troy went to BSF meeting and then onto my uncle's cabin to work the day away. He does it all so joyfully, so dutifully, so willingly. If he can do that, I can do the sweeping and other drudgery that he actually normally does at our house.

Anyway, I spent the day doing things I don't normally do and felt quite good about it. So good that I didn't even realize that I had not eaten all day. Now before you call Child Protective Services, I did feed my boys, but I didn't want what they were having so I kept putting off my meals. Plus, I just needed to get one more thing done, then I would take a break to eat. That time never came.

So, as the day slipped away, we got our showers and then readied ourselves for church. Before church we did make a stop at Sam's Club. We had to pick up a certain kind of bread that Troy wanted for his french toast casserole we are having tomorrow. I did have a couple of bites of a soft pretzel there and then a few "samples" of the holiday fare that Sam's is hocking. But, still no supper.

I took the boys to church by myself as Troy had work to finish in Shelbyville. The sermon was on Mary and Martha and the way Martha was so busy fixing the meal she forgot to spend time with Jesus. Well, I wouldn't say I was a Martha today. I did take time this morning to pray and be in God's Word. I spent time at His feet just as Mary did, but I sure did do my best also to be a Martha as I dutifully completed my work at home. I suppose I hit a good balance today, but of course that is not always the case.

After church, we had not eaten a real supper, so I took the boys to the Wendy's drive thru. We also picked up supper for Troy as he was just rolling into town. I don't like to eat so late, but that seems to happen to us on Saturdays lately. The real reason I wanted to write this blog, was to ask you all a question. No, I don't want to know if you are a Mary or a Martha. I want to know "What is a frosty anyway?" Is it a super thick shake? Is it really soft "soft serve"? Why do they give you a straw and a spoon? I mean really it is too thick to drink with a straw and almost too messy to eat with a spoon. I am pretty sure it isn't really a dairy product. Is it a dessert to be eaten at the end of the meal or a beverage to be savored with the fries? If you can answer this question, I welcome a response. Meanwhile I am going to take a few tums and sign off.

Today is NOT...

A cute story to share: Ephraim and I ran to the grocery store quickly to get some things we needed for a baking project and for supper we are making for a friend tonight.

As I got Ephraim out of the car he asked sweetly "Can we get a 'crazy double cart', mama?". For those of you who do not know what the "crazy double cart" is, let me explain. These are the kind of carts that stores have available for parents of older toddlers/young elementary age children. They hold two bigger kids, but are very cumbersome. Very hard to push and maneuver at least for me. As a rule, I simply choose not to use them and make Carson walk and let Ephraim ride in a regular cart.

Back to my story, I respond to Ephraim's request for a "crazy double cart" with a simple "no, not today sweetie". He says "why mama, is today not "crazy double cart" day?" "No, Ephraim. Today is not "crazy double cart day". He seemed content with that answer and we moved on.

Later in the store, Ephraim asked me if he could hold one of the many toys piled up for sale at the front of the registers. I said "no, Ephraim, not today". He said "why is today not 'holding day'?". I reply, "Nope, today is not 'holding day'.". Finally, Ephraim said "Well, what day is it mama?". I respond with a smile "It is kissing day". I try to finagle a kiss, but Ephraim says "No, mama today is not kissing day".

Though Ephraim and I can't seem to agree on what day it really is, I do know that "today is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it".

Indoor Snow Ball Fights and Other Unusual Happenings!

Picture from Winter 2007 NOT today!


Today was a day of unexpected and unusual happenings. Just to give you a small snapshot here are a few things that came about:

A Discussion of Hell: Today at my Thursday Noon Prayer Circle, we were discussing a book about life after death. The topic was hell. I came in near the end of the discussion and was given a paragraph on the fire and sulphur of hell to summarize and report on. Immediately my mind went back to a dark night many a year ago when I was a child and we were travelling home from Shelbyville where we had visited my maternal grandmother. Out the car window we could see what I believe was a burning barn, (I know my sister will correct me if I am wrong). My mother said: "Look kids, that's what hell looks like"... For those of you who knew my mother, you might have known that she was very matter of fact. Indeed that visual was "burned" into my little mind. While it may seem like a strange memory to be glad to share, it just made me happy to have a little bit of my mother to share with my precious prayer partners. Blessed by a hell report, now that seems unusual.

In-Laws In Agreement: You have to know my relationship with my in laws to appreciate this in its fullness. First of all, I spent an afternoon and evening with my mother in law and we got along beautifully. We were able to work side by side on a family tradition of baking cookies for the church cookie walk. Things were definitely supernaturally different. It was just amazing how God answered my prayer to make me patient with and to honor my in laws. And not only did I have agreement with my mother in law, but for the first time ever that I can recall my brother in law and I actually agreed on two different subjects. Without going into any detail my brother in law and I are polar opposites on most subjects, so for us to agree, this again was a divinely inspired event. God had His hand all over this evening.

An Indoor Snow Ball Fight: I saved my favorite for last... The biggest, most unexpected and most unusual event of the day was an indoor snowball fight initiated by my two precious boys.

While the adults all gathered in the kitchen; downstairs a devious plan was being hatched and paper snowballs were being wadded up. I only suspected something when I saw two stealth figures zip by with a large Lego bus.

Moments later a barrage of paper snowballs began pelting all of us standing in the kitchen. What joy on the faces of my sons as they chorused "snowball fight". I gleefully joined in and to my delight, my in laws joined in too. First a hesitant mother in law picked up the "snowball" as if she was headed to the trash to dispose of it. But, instead she winged it right at Ephraim and hit him in the face. For my mother in law this was a most amazing thing, because she can not stand things out of order. This was definitely out of order and quite unnerving for someone who likes to have everything in its place.

For a small moment in time, maybe three to four minutes the kitchen/open living room space became a winter wonderland. My brother in law joined in too as did my sister in law from her wheelchair. The smiles on everyone's faces were priceless. We were actually enjoying one another's company in a real way. Again, a very supernatural and divinely inspired unusual happening.

Praise the LORD for those unexpected moments. For the real relationships that He puts us in with friends and family. And for the relationship He invites us to have with His Son Jesus. Want to experience some unexpected/unusual supernatural, divinely inspired moments of your own??? Just open your heart to Jesus, He has a storehouse, He is ready to throw open. Trust Him. He always keeps His promises, sometimes in the most unexpected and unusual ways.

The Last Hallelujah!

Most people want the "last word". Some people want the "last laugh". Ephraim, he wants the "last hallelujah".

I was singing the song: "Praise Ye The LORD" with Ephraim today on the way to pick up Carson. If memory serves me correctly, it is the first time, Ephraim and I have ever sung the song together. The song as many of you may know is an echo-type song. One person (or group) sings "Praise Ye The LORD" and the other person (or group) answers back "Hallelujah".

I asked Ephraim what part he wanted to sing, and he of course chose "hallelujah" as that is a popular word in our home. So, I started the song "Praise Ye The LORD" and he would echo back "Hallelujah". The song continues until it culminates in a final "Praise Ye The LORD". Ephraim not knowing the song as I do, wanted to answer back his "Hallelujah" to my final "Praise Ye The LORD!".

Who am I to argue with a little boy that wants to praise the LORD with his "Hallelujah", so I let him have the "last hallelujah". Brother Carson was also eager to get involved when he got in the car and he too seemed to think it was okay to let Ephraim have the "last hallelujah".

Gripped in Gratitude

You can live your life "gripped" or held by many attitudes. You can be gripped by fear or gripped by panic. You can be gripped by grace or gripped by God's love. For me today I was gripped or held by the notion of gratitude.

Often times, I have to check and double check that I am using a concept in its correct context. I looked up "gripped" in the dictionary online and Webster says: 1 : to seize or hold firmly 2 : to hold the interest of strongly . I looked up "gratitude": the state of being grateful : thankfulness (grateful) -1 a: appreciative of benefits received b: expressing gratitude 2 a: affording pleasure or contentment : pleasing b: pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated.

So depending on how you look at it, you could say I was gripped or held by the attitude of thankfulness. I was in the "state of being grateful". I looked around me and saw all kinds of things for which to be thankful.

First of all, I got out of bed this morning. That means I was alive and well. I could stand on my own two feet and walk with ease to my kitchen laden with food (albeit, not the best kind of food, but we can talk about that later). I was thankful that I had two boys to ready for the day and that meant getting them out of my warm cozy bed. Yeah, they made their way into our bed last night as they often do. I used to let that bother me, but I am so thankful to have boys that want to be with their mom and dad, I'll take the cramped quarters. (Who would think it would be cramped since we now have a King sized bed, but it seems the more room you give them especially Ephraim the more room they take).

I am thankful too that I have a husband that is the spiritual leader of our household and looks out for the spiritual, emotional, and physical well being of our family. I was thankful that all my family had their health this morning. I was thankful for our time to pray together before Carson and Troy headed off to school and work.

As I approached my somewhat regular Thursday shopping at Aldi, I was grateful for the man who gave me his shopping cart when he saw me fumbling for the quarter I was certain I had ready to secure my cart. I was especially grateful, because this man looked as if he could really use that quarter and yet he was giving it up for me. God used that man to teach me a lesson.

I was grateful as I perused the aisles at Aldi because I could do it without my children. Not that I don't love my boys, but I was grateful that Carson was at a school that teaches about Jesus and is a safe haven for him and that Ephraim was at a Children's Morning Out program where they too love Jesus and teach Ephraim about it. My boys were well taken care of and I was able to shop unfettered.

I was grateful that I had money to buy the groceries and a few Christmas toys. And all of you will be glad to know and probably thankful that I even put a loaf of 100% Whole Wheat bread in my cart. Not only did I put it in my cart, but my children asked for it later in the day and ate it happily.

Well, my post has already exceeded the length that my sister will read, so you too may have tired of my gratitude, but I know that the Lord is always glad to hear me recount how thankful I am to Him for all that He has given.

By the way sissy, I am also thankful I was able to go to Texas Roadhouse tonight. Mmmm... good and that you listen to me no matter how verbose I can be. And virtual farmgirl, I am thankful for your encouragement to try a more healthful approach at my house. The 100% Whole Wheat bread is a start. Though I don't know if dear husband is convinced of that yet.
Look for pictures soon of the boys enjoying the wheat bread bounty. Maybe a video if I can get it figured out.

Soaking It All In!

As I write this post, I am drawing myself a bath in my jetted tub. I have even used my luxury bath products my twin brother and sister in law gave me for my birthday. It has been one of those days. My day did not start as it usually does. I didn't make time for my devotions and prayer time and that always throws me off.

After I get Troy and Carson on their way to work and school. I scurry around finishing up the things I should have done the night before for Bible Study today. Anyway, Ephraim wakes earlier than usual and I am now attending to his needs. We snuggle a bit and I take him to the bathroom. He pees no problem and then I encourage him to finish his duty. He says "I don't need to poop". Well, you can probably tell where this is heading. Five minutes before we should be heading out the door, he says "Mama, I pooped" and it wasn't in the toilet. So, I have to take time to clean up him and get him changed. Ugh. I was not in the best of moods. And now I was late. The lesson we were handing out to the mothers today at Bible Study was helpful hints on how to be an "on time" family. Well, that just went out the door for me. Pun intended.

Bible Study went well and I really enjoyed my time with the children. After class we have time to listen to the lecture. About 3/4 of the way through the lecture, the volunteer watching Ephraim comes to the door and says he has wet himself. Ugh. Now I am really in a funk. He gets so many things, but this potty training thing he has to be coached through. He doesn't initiate it. Soaked for the second time today, he was feeling pretty bad. I really tried to be reassuring while also trying to be firm about where the poop and pee are supposed to go... in the potty of course.

All the way home, he keeps saying he is sorry. I am trying to be calm and respond lovingly, but frustration got the best of me. I let the devil sneak right in and I lost my patience. When we get home, he asked if he could build with his train set, I said "Yes, please go downstairs to play". He said "Mama, please come with me". I said "Ephraim, please go downstairs, please listen to Mama and obey."

Later, I heard his little voice coming from his room. I was on my way to his room to let him know that I was not pleased that he had not obeyed me by going to the basement to play. As I approached his room, I heard him saying "Dear God, please help me obey my mommy and daddy. Please help me go to the potty when I am supposed to. Forgive me when I do not obey. in Jesus name, amen".

While of course, my heart melted. He has been soaking it all in. Everything we have been trying to teach him about God's love, His care, that God hears when we pray and that we can go to Him with all our needs. Oh my goodness. He was praying on his very own. He has prayed before when we all prayed as a family with meals or adding to the prayers at bed time, but he was initiating prayer on his own. I guess if he is going to initiate only one thing, I would prefer it be prayer over the potty. God is in charge. He has shown me time and again.

Now as for me, I am going to soak in the relaxing bath I have drawn and soak in the love and grace that God has shown me and pray that I can extend it to my family too.

Mouse Trap -- The Game!

For a very long time, we have had a mouse trap game that I bought for the boys at a garage sale. The game either did not come with the needed game balls or they were lost shortly after purchase. I can't remember which. Either way, I have searched for alternative options, we have used marbles (too big for the bathtub hole), we have tried hungry hippo balls. All to no avail. I usually try to avoid getting the game out because it is not complete and it takes time and effort on my part to assemble.

However, Ephraim asked for it this week. So, I got it down. All the while asking God to give me patience to help him with it. When I let go and was at ease about it, I came up with an alternative that actually worked... the metal balls from the Magnetix sets. Hallelujah!

Yeah, I do eat White Bread!

This is not a political message. I simply needed to get this off my chest. A lot of people give me a hard time because I still eat and serve white bread to my family. I know that we all have our vices, I probably have more than my share, but what harm does a little white bread really do. I do eat other types of bread, I really love rye, I like wheat and oat. I am not against other breads.

I do serve "enriched" white bread. It is so soft and it almost melts in your mouth. We are studying the Exodus from Egypt and I have to believe that the manna was much like white bread. Mmmm.... Slightly sweet and so satisfying.

We don't eat white bread at every meal. It is mostly for toast or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We don't always get through a loaf of bread before it goes stale. I think it goes back to moderation. My grandparents always had Wonder bread on hand, as well as fresh homemade yeast rolls. But, even back then, they also had Roman Meal wheat bread too. They lived to be 95 and 96 years old. When I have guests, I make an effort to have wheat bread on hand. Often times though when my guests see the white bread the wheat bread goes uneaten. Oh well.

Maybe you don't agree with my opinion of white bread, and that is okay. Maybe we can agree to disagree. I think we all have to do that sometime or another. Have a comment, please share. I pray that no matter what type of bread you eat, that you are feeding on the "bread of life" which is God's Word. This bread satisfies for eternity those who believe in Christ as their Savior.

God Did It!

This weekend we were really struggling with Carson having control over his anger and himself in general. He was being particularly defiant on Sunday as we were going to brunch. I have tried to be conscious to stop and pray with him when I am losing my own patience or simply do not have the words to calm him.

On this particular occasion, I had already prayed with him once and as we were getting out of the car to go in, I heard Troy praying with Carson too. When we went in, Carson did amazingly well. No outbursts or remarkably defiant behavior. Praise the LORD.

When we got to the car, I praised Carson for his good behavior. Carson said to me, "I didn't do it, God did it". Carson said this without any prompting from us. He recognized the work of the Holy Spirit in his own heart and mind to calm him. We were so happy that God had revealed Himself to Carson and that Carson had responded.

What an awesome breakthrough. We are to meet with Carson's pediatrician today to discuss his present issues in school with attention and behavior at home. As I have said before, Carson's doctor is a wonderful Christian woman so we are certain that she will be prayerful in her response to Carson's needs. Please pray that God's wisdom be discerned in Carson's plan and that we feel His presence in this meeting. That He might be glorified in this whole situation.