Happy Birthday to me!

Meet Sebastian, my new kitten. I got him last weekend, about 3 weeks before my birthday! Isn't he sweet? He's not the one I originally wanted, but the other kitty was much older, and this one was local.

He has made himself at home, and besides your lap, he likes the couch, and...

You never know where you'll find him in the girls room.

The other day we couldn't find him, and M had been sitting at this chair at her small table, working on crafts. She had no idea he was right below in this little cubby hole.

He has definatly made himself right at home. I don't normally get myself early birthday gifts, or for that matter, gifts at all, but this year, I just had to bring home my hearts desire...a fluffy little kitten. The girls are all loving him. The baby even loves to watch him play. She has been known to burst out giggling when watching him. Welcome home Sebastian!

Link to a very good blog post...

Find out what former wiccans say about Halloween...


http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/carolinametzgers/739981/

A recent conversation...

Here's my little sweetie the way she goes to bed every night, hugging her Ellie! She still loves her elephants!
Well, I was at work the other day, and daddy was up that morning getting breakfast for the girls. L loves cereal, and she is very disappointed if there is something else being prepared for breakfast. Lucky for her, it was a cereal morning. Now, some of you may remember the food issues we had with L since the beginning. She still has some lingering effects, but she is doing much better. But, as you will see in this conversation, there are still some deep seated issues that revolve around food for her. Here is the conversation between her and daddy:

L: Daddy, I want more cereal!
Daddy: Ok, one more bowl, but that's all. (she eats big servings, and eats them very fast-still).
L: Thank you, da da
Daddy: You're welcome
L: (Finished with her second bowl within moments) Daddy, I want piece of toast like M.
Daddy: No, you are all done with breakfast now, M is having one piece of toast because she just had one bowl of cereal. Go play now.
L: That not fair! I mad! Where the phone???!!
Daddy: Why do you need the phone?
L: I call Mama!
Daddy: Why do you want to call Mama?
L: You not feed me!

So, as you see, she still feels deprived, even after two large, adult size bowls of cereal. We sure did get a kick out of this one, though. To think just a few months back she was barely even putting 3 words together, and now she expresses herself like this. I am a little worried looking ahead though, M is 8 and has never expressed herself in this way! What are we in for???!

Your Storm, and other random thoughts...

"Stop telling God how big your storm is, instead tell your storm how BIG your God is!"

We all go through storms in life, and this quote is one that has stuck with me. It is so true, and something we need to remind ourselves of every so often. This life is not easy. Even looking in at those whose lives may look like a piece of cake, there is a storm brewing right around the corner, if not already in full force. As christians, we aren't even promised a smooth ride, no, but we are promised that HE will be right there with us during our storms. If we ask God to help us, He will, He is always faithful!

As a homeschooling mom one of my most important duties is to teach my children the word of God. My oldest often questions how we are to truly believe. This is not always easy to answer. It's called faith. Faith is believing in something that is unseen. I have not always been a christian, but for the many years that I have now been one, I can tell you that faith is something that is also felt. It is a knowing that you know that you know that it is true. The best way I can describe it is that if we first step out in faith, God knows, he sees our hearts, and takes action. We begin to see and feel what God is doing in our lives. It is an incredible thing, and it's something to hold onto during those storms of life, as a reminder that He is there, and always will be.

Years ago a good friend and I used to walk together almost every day after work. This was way before we each had kids. Thinking back on our numerous discussions, there is one thing I remember us always saying and repeating to each other on an almost weekly basis. We would express how we know we could not make it without God. We talked about how we would have no clue how to handle the storms without knowing the Lord was with us. It was almost an unbearable thing to think about. Being without God in the good times, and without him in the hard times would not be an option for us. We just couldn't make it, we wondered how other people could. I remember reading a book a long time ago that discussed excuses people use for not going to church, or becoming a christian, etc. One of the reasons was, people would say that they didn't want to have a crutch. I remember the response, and it was, "Well, who doesn't need a crutch?" If it's not God, it's going to be something else, and I would much rather have the Lord as my crutch, than anything else. What do I have to lose? My heart is grieved when I think of several people in my life who don't understand the price of not believing, and following God. When asked what do they have to lose, they don't really have an answer. I think they feel they will have to give up their way of doing things, the things in their life that have become their "God", so to speak. When really, all God wants is for us to believe in him as our savior, and confess that we have been doing things our own way, and He will take care of the rest. The truth is, living for the Lord and following His calling, and his will for our life, is SO much more exciting than anything we could ever do on our own. If only they knew. They are so missing out on the blessings!

Oh, Lord, help me to be the kind of person you want me to be. Help me to boldly proclaim who you are not only here on this blog, but everywhere. I have failed. I have messed up. I haven't even trusted you fully during the storms I have been through, and continue to be caught up in. Help me God, to have a faith that cannot be moved. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen!

I came here tonight to write something. I had no idea what it would be. I just knew there was something that needed to be written, and the first thing that came out was the quote, and I went with that, not even having that quote in my mind a few seconds prior to writing it. I don't even know why I wrote any of the above, other than, I did. There must be a reason, but only God knows.

Blessings!

A Bithday Party for a Dog

The other day was a big day for M, and her Doggy, Mitten! It was Mitten's 1st birthday! Being the animal lover she is, M had a little party all planned out for Mitten. She had even found a recipe for a doggy birthday cake. Here is the cake after completion! They were very proud of this!

Happy Birthday Mitten! We sang Happy Birthday, and Mitten had lots of help blowing out her candle! Then, Mitten got to dig in! No, this is not a cake meant to be shared with their humans, it is strictly a dog cake.

Mitten liked her cake so much, M wanted me to share the recipe with others, so their doggies can enjoy a birthday cake too! Here is the recipe!

Doggy Birthday Cake

1. Gather these ingredients: white or wheat flour, baking soda, peanut butter, cooking oil, carrots, vanilla, a jar of beef baby food, honey, and eggs.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Take a small bowl and shred 1 cup of carrots, and set bowl aside.

4. Place 1 cup white or wheat flour in med. bowl followed by 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup cooking oil, 1 cup shredded carrots, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/3 cup honey, and 1 egg. Mix all together thoroughly.

5. Lightly grease your pie pan and add mixed ingredients to it.

6. Bake for 40 min.

7. Let cool 5 min.

8. Frost your doggy cake with beef baby food and sprinkle with some more shredded carrots.

Let your dog eat, and enjoy!

PUMPKIN PRIDE!

I love, love, love pumpkins, and it appears that this has rubbed off a bit on L! The day she picked out her own pumpkin was probably one of the proudest moments of her life!

A great fabric giveaway!

Pumpkin Patch Primitives is having a giveaway for some amazing fabric!!! I have been so into sewing lately, and drooling over all the quilts I want to make someday, and this bundle of fabric would definately get me started on my quilting dreams! Go check it out, and enter!

By the way, my first quilt is still not done. I am hoping to have it done next month, as I have found a nice lady at my church who is willing to help me finish it! Stay tuned for the final results!!! I better hurry and get good, because M said she is ready to start her first quilt!