Bay & Sam's prayer

We had a rough time this afternoon, okay, I had a rough time this afternoon and was not exactly very joyful. I couldn't shake it but, thankfully, Derrick rounded Bay & Sam up to pray with us. He asked each of us what we wanted to pray about. Samantha said, "Umm...going to the store." Bailey said, "For God making us." So Samantha prayed and thanked God that we would go to Sam's. Then Bailey's prayer, "Thank you for making us and thank you that you will give us a baby brother and thank you that Isabella will grow up bigger so I can play with her. Amen." And, yes, Lord, thank you for giving us children that melt our hearts.
Oh, and about the baby brother, he's been praying for that since before Isabella came along! She was only a couple of months old when he stated that God gave us the wrong baby! That was a surprise to me who quickly explained that, no, God gave us the right baby and he doesn't make mistakes! ;)

Parenting

"Parenting is the most demanding job in the universe. The CEO of a mega company needs to excel in a limited number of areas only, but to be an effective parent requires expertise in many areas. And, more than any other job-more than being a pastor or missionary-it requires purity of soul." Michael and Debi Pearl

We have butterflies!

Yay! Three of our butterflies came out of their chrysalides! I heard a flapping noise and looked over and saw one flying before we noticed them. Bay & Sam are excited! They went and picked some weeds out of the grass to feed them but we are going to go get them some carnations (with sugar water sprayed on them) and an orange to eat! They have named them Bailey, Sissy, and Isabella. We are waiting for the other two!

Growing fast

I was talking to my cousin today and I got to thinking about our childhood. Some things seem just like yesterday. And Bailey is almost 5 and the time has flown! People are always saying, "Enjoy them, they grow up fast." I believe them. I probably can't even grasp how quickly it is going to go by. Some days are hard and I think us young moms don't always remember something my mother-in-law's friend told me, "The days are long and the years are so short!" When I remember this it makes me sad and I think, "Oh, I should go wake them up!" And then I remember, "No, they are crazy! I must clean, rest, or..." ;)

Good and Quick Rolls

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Stir together:
1 cup white flour
2/3 cup powdered milk
1 tsp. salt
2 TBS yeast

Mix together & add all at once to yeast mixtures:
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 1/2 TBS melted butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup honey

Add: 1 cup white flour, 2 cups whole wheat. Knead & then return to the bowl, let rise 15 min. Roll 3/4" thickness & cut rolls.

Place on greased cookie sheet. Let rise 10 min. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 min. Yield: 20 rolls

"If You Want Me Too"

These lyrics (a song by Ginny Owens) really hit home with me when I think of past trials, ones that are soon to come, trials in the distant future, and specifically worrying about if the children will choose to walk with the Lord. How He does draw us so much closer to Him by using trials in our lives. So much so that I wouldn't wish a one of them away. One of my Bible study leaders asked the question, "If He gave us everything we wanted would we still need Him?" But there is great beauty in coming to a place of deeper dependency and a greater trust in Him. As hard as it may be to accept at times, we need to welcome those trials knowing that we should "count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith will produce patience. Letting patience have it's perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4 John MacArthur writes about this, "Every trial becomes a test of faith designed to strengthen... Through tests, a Christian will learn to withstand tenaciously the pressure of a trial until God removes it at His appointed time and even cherish the benefit. " I have found this to be so true. I have walked through some fire thus far and sometimes I say, "Oh, please, God just don't let me ever go through..." But, if He so chooses to "send me through the valley" it will be for my good. So, will I still clench my teeth? Yeah, probably so! But I pray when I come out of it I will be able to say that it helped me trust my precious Lord ever so more!

If You Want Me To
"The pathway is broken And The signs are unclear And I don't know the reason why You brought me here But just because You love me the way that You do I'm gonna walk through the valley If You want me to Chorus: Cause I'm not who I was When I took my first step And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet so if all of these trials bring me closer to you Then I will go through the fire If You want me to It may not be the way I would have chosen When you lead me through a world that's not my home But You never said it would be easy You only said I'd never go alone ya oh oh noSo When the whole world turns against me And I'm all by myself And I can't hear You answer my cries for help I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through And I will go through the darkness If You want me to When I cross over Jordan, I'm gonna sing, gonna shoutGonna look into your eyes and see you never let me downSo take me on the pathway that leads me home to youAnd I will walk through the valley if you want me to Yes, I will walk through the valley if you want me to"

The Wisdom of Daily Life

Samantha enjoying life when she was one ( Derrick said, "You stopped putting pictures on!" I said, "Because I've run out!" I hope to get updated ones on the computer!) ;)

I found this in my new cookbook:

The Wisdom of Daily Life

Watch the sunrise at least once a year.

Plant flowers every spring.

Look people in the eye.

Compliment three people every day.

Live beneath your means.

Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of your happiness or misery.

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.

Don't postpone joy.