9/26/08
New look, same great taste
Well, I thought I would be so clever and revamp my blog...turns out I am not clever at all. I had big plans for banners and buttons using great tutorials and online helps. It didn't go as planned. But help is on the way...I will have a new look...eventually. I want to go back to my old picture of the dogwood flowers, but it was on the old computer. I should never, ever, ever mess with my computer or anything computer related again.
Beth Moore Conference
The opportunity to see my friend Janet, came when she told me she was going to be in Billings, MT for a Beth Moore Conference. Thinking it was about half way for both of us, it would be a great way to see each other once again. So I sent out an email asking if anyone would go with me. I didn't think anyone would respond, but my mother-in-law and my friend Crystal both agreed to go. So last Friday at 8a we gals hopped in the car and headed to Montana! 
The drive was beautiful, now I know why they call Montana "God's country." The mountains were glorious, just starting to turn their fall colors, but with lots of green left.
We also figured out why we don't usually road trip without our husbands. When we thought we were about an hour away from Billings, Crystal looked at her phone and made a comment about the time change, something like, "Montana is an hour ahead of us, huh?" Then it occurred to Carol that we didn't take this into account when we were planning our drive time, oops. So with only one hour to make it to the conference, but almost 2 hours of driving left, Carol stepped on it! We made it to the conference with about 5 minutes to spare, and we stopped at a rest area to change our clothes along the way! That is some haulin'!
Beth Moore was awesome! I have never done one of her studies and didn't know what I was in for. She is so lively and passionate. I love her story. She talked to us about Isaiah 32:1-8. It included getting a new plan for our lives, God's plan. The whole conference was very applicable, but the most practical was the very last portion. She said that "Our intake (from being in the Word and prayer) has to be greater than our output (service, ministry), otherwise we are running on our own human, fleshly strength instead of the power that God gives through his Spirit. There were four ways to tell you needed to stop and take some time with God. 1. If you are doing your ministry without feeling it, just going through the motions because you have to, not because you want to. 2. When you start feeling like "I am the only one..." (insert, the only faithful one, the only one who does anything, the only one with a vision...) 3. Stuck in a stronghold of negativity, aka, complaining, whining, grumpy, gripy. 4. When you can't get full in other areas. Like eating, drinking, exercising, if you can't seem to get enough of something, anything, it is probably because you are empty spiritually.
If I tried to post all the good stuff she laid out for us, I would be here for 8 hours, writing a transcript. I recommend a conference anytime she is in your area.
The drive was beautiful, now I know why they call Montana "God's country." The mountains were glorious, just starting to turn their fall colors, but with lots of green left.
We also figured out why we don't usually road trip without our husbands. When we thought we were about an hour away from Billings, Crystal looked at her phone and made a comment about the time change, something like, "Montana is an hour ahead of us, huh?" Then it occurred to Carol that we didn't take this into account when we were planning our drive time, oops. So with only one hour to make it to the conference, but almost 2 hours of driving left, Carol stepped on it! We made it to the conference with about 5 minutes to spare, and we stopped at a rest area to change our clothes along the way! That is some haulin'!
Beth Moore was awesome! I have never done one of her studies and didn't know what I was in for. She is so lively and passionate. I love her story. She talked to us about Isaiah 32:1-8. It included getting a new plan for our lives, God's plan. The whole conference was very applicable, but the most practical was the very last portion. She said that "Our intake (from being in the Word and prayer) has to be greater than our output (service, ministry), otherwise we are running on our own human, fleshly strength instead of the power that God gives through his Spirit. There were four ways to tell you needed to stop and take some time with God. 1. If you are doing your ministry without feeling it, just going through the motions because you have to, not because you want to. 2. When you start feeling like "I am the only one..." (insert, the only faithful one, the only one who does anything, the only one with a vision...) 3. Stuck in a stronghold of negativity, aka, complaining, whining, grumpy, gripy. 4. When you can't get full in other areas. Like eating, drinking, exercising, if you can't seem to get enough of something, anything, it is probably because you are empty spiritually.
If I tried to post all the good stuff she laid out for us, I would be here for 8 hours, writing a transcript. I recommend a conference anytime she is in your area.
Family Friday
Ella Rose is almost 7 months old now! Isn't she cute?!
When we chose a paper out of our fun jar, it said, "Take a picture of a silly face, then email it." Blogging it counts, right? Of course it does. One day the kids and I were in the van running errands and Mikey said "Mom quick! Look at Haley's angry eyes!" I turned around and saw that she had figured out how to cross her eyes. It was so tempting to say "If you do that too much, they will get stuck like that!" But I didn't, because it was one of my favorite things to do as a kid, and mine never got stuck.
And this is Mikey's silly face, the rolled tongue. My kids are so talented! Yesterday we went to the park for some bike riding practice. As he was going around the little sidewalk circle, I saw him start peddling to beat the band, as fast as he could. Then he drove his little bike over an eight-inch drop into the bark, and into the play area. After he stopped, he stood up and said "Did you see that mom? I jumped my bike, I really did it, I JUMPED IT! JUST LIKE IN THE BIKE SHOWS!"
This is in Riverfront Park, a favorite place in Spokane. Man, they are cute!
9/25/08
Bandana Crafts
These are clearly not my own ideas, I don't actually have any of those! I kiped them from Grace Violet...here...and here. I think it says in one of her posts that she got them from Martha?
I did change the apron up a bit, by putting some little darts in the top. The dart idea came from a blog called "Fresh From the Chari Tree" which I can't find now. Otherwise it is just sewing the bias tape across the top. I sewed it on with a zig-zag stitch from one end of the bias tape all the way to the other, with contrasting blue thread, It took all of 20 minutes, but I am sure that now it would only take about 10 because I got the dart thing figgered out. I gave it as a thank you gift with some personalized recipe cards from Design-her Gals.
I am full of ideas for ways to use the 
little drawstring bag. It is black and orange because one of my ideas is trick-or-treat bags. I want to do some red and green ones for Christmas treats, and put these mini-pies in them. We will see if I ever actually get to that one since we will be in transit over the holidays this year. Either of these is very easy to do, especially for newbie like me!
I did change the apron up a bit, by putting some little darts in the top. The dart idea came from a blog called "Fresh From the Chari Tree" which I can't find now. Otherwise it is just sewing the bias tape across the top. I sewed it on with a zig-zag stitch from one end of the bias tape all the way to the other, with contrasting blue thread, It took all of 20 minutes, but I am sure that now it would only take about 10 because I got the dart thing figgered out. I gave it as a thank you gift with some personalized recipe cards from Design-her Gals.
I am full of ideas for ways to use the 
little drawstring bag. It is black and orange because one of my ideas is trick-or-treat bags. I want to do some red and green ones for Christmas treats, and put these mini-pies in them. We will see if I ever actually get to that one since we will be in transit over the holidays this year. Either of these is very easy to do, especially for newbie like me!
9/24/08
My friend Janet
You have to stop right now and think of someone who has had a huge impact on your life, but you didn't realize how big until later. With that person in mind you can fully understand this post.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, all the fruits just well up out of Janet. She is clearly God's servant. I had almost forgotten just how well she displays these attributes until this weekend when I got to see her again.
Phil (her husband)and Janet were the college group leaders when Michael started taking me to church. Very shortly after that is when I became a Christian. There are so many things they tried to teach me back then that I wouldn't listen to. Things about living debt free, evolution, submission and love for your spouse, inerrancy of the Scriptures, the list goes on and on. (Michael wasn't nearly as ignorant as I was!) Now looking back I can see just how their influence has shaped much of my thinking today. All those truth seeds they planted during our time together have produced fruit in my life.
I am a huge proponent of love being a verb, not just something you feel, but something you do. Love is sacrificial service. Phil and Janet gave up sleeping in every Sunday morning to teach our college group, even when only 2 or 3 people showed up for the class. They made us dinner almost every Sunday night, took us camping, skiing, jet-skiing, played games with us until the wee hours of the morning. When Michael and I broke up Janet was the first person I called. As we were remembering this, she wanted to know if I knew what she said to me, and I can't remember, but she was there for me, that is what was important.
So thanks to Phil and Janet for such wonderful memories and more importantly for such wonderful examples to follow.
Maybe someday I will do a post all about Phil, well, I could do several posts about Phil...all good of course!
9/22/08
Why I started blogging...
Tip Junkie (a favorite blog of mine) is having a linky-thingy and wanted to know why women blog. Really, I just wanted to be cool like Jodie! Well, she is cool, and so is her blog, but the real reason was to show off cute pictures of my kids.
The first blog I started reading was Tidbits of Green by Ben and Sarah Green, the newlyweds. Then I found Jodi's blog, and through her links I found a few more and then a few more and then a few more. Pretty soon I was reading several blogs each morning, as if they were the morning newspaper!
Between enjoying other blogs so much and the pressure from my mom to send grandkid photos ALL THE TIME I decided a blog was the way to go. It has turned out to be a great outlet for me.
Other blogs inspire me in so many ways, I love crafty blogs, mom blogs, kid project blogs, home school blogs, devotional blogs. I love seeing slices of what other people's lives look like.
I heart blogging, and I think everyone should try it, what do you have to lose?!
The first blog I started reading was Tidbits of Green by Ben and Sarah Green, the newlyweds. Then I found Jodi's blog, and through her links I found a few more and then a few more and then a few more. Pretty soon I was reading several blogs each morning, as if they were the morning newspaper!
Between enjoying other blogs so much and the pressure from my mom to send grandkid photos ALL THE TIME I decided a blog was the way to go. It has turned out to be a great outlet for me.
Other blogs inspire me in so many ways, I love crafty blogs, mom blogs, kid project blogs, home school blogs, devotional blogs. I love seeing slices of what other people's lives look like.
I heart blogging, and I think everyone should try it, what do you have to lose?!
SUBJECT: Notification of Your Confirmed Separation
Your separation has been updated in the Military Personnel Data System effective 12/31/2008.
You must complete the initial separations briefing located on vMPF in the self-service actions under Separations module. It is a very in-depth briefing with required memorandums to complete for your final out-processing interview.
You must complete the pre-separation order worksheet also located on vMPF in the self-service actions under Separations module to initiate your separation orders. Once orders are complete, they will be available on vOP.
You must initiate your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty in self-service actions under Separations module as soon as possible by NLT 30 days prior to projected departure date. It is your responsibility to ensure all out-processing actions are finalized for your final interview.
If at some point your decision changes and you want to remain in the military your separation must be cancelled. If you applied for an early voluntary separation, you must log onto vMPF and initiate 'Withdrawal my Application'. If you are separating on your DOS you must select 'Cancel DOS Separation' link located under Separations module in the vMPF.
(This is an email we got last week regarding Michael's decision to get out of the military. It was weird to read through it. When we got married, Michael's plan was to put in his 4 years and then get out. At which point we were going to move somewhere and buy a house and stay in one spot the rest of our lives, raise our kids in the same house from birth to whenever they left. Then the AF offered him a re-enlistment bonus that we couldn't pass up so he put in another 4. Then at the end of 8 years we were debating again whether or not he should get out or stay in. We were convinced that if he stayed in, that we would make it a career, because who in their right mind gives up all those retirement benefits after serving for 12 years, only 8 left and the end is in sight! Now we are there, he has almost 12 in, the end is in sight, and we are getting out! This is another "WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?" moment. And as usual I never would have pictured it this way, but God did!)
You must complete the initial separations briefing located on vMPF in the self-service actions under Separations module. It is a very in-depth briefing with required memorandums to complete for your final out-processing interview.
You must complete the pre-separation order worksheet also located on vMPF in the self-service actions under Separations module to initiate your separation orders. Once orders are complete, they will be available on vOP.
You must initiate your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty in self-service actions under Separations module as soon as possible by NLT 30 days prior to projected departure date. It is your responsibility to ensure all out-processing actions are finalized for your final interview.
If at some point your decision changes and you want to remain in the military your separation must be cancelled. If you applied for an early voluntary separation, you must log onto vMPF and initiate 'Withdrawal my Application'. If you are separating on your DOS you must select 'Cancel DOS Separation' link located under Separations module in the vMPF.
(This is an email we got last week regarding Michael's decision to get out of the military. It was weird to read through it. When we got married, Michael's plan was to put in his 4 years and then get out. At which point we were going to move somewhere and buy a house and stay in one spot the rest of our lives, raise our kids in the same house from birth to whenever they left. Then the AF offered him a re-enlistment bonus that we couldn't pass up so he put in another 4. Then at the end of 8 years we were debating again whether or not he should get out or stay in. We were convinced that if he stayed in, that we would make it a career, because who in their right mind gives up all those retirement benefits after serving for 12 years, only 8 left and the end is in sight! Now we are there, he has almost 12 in, the end is in sight, and we are getting out! This is another "WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?" moment. And as usual I never would have pictured it this way, but God did!)
9/15/08
More technical difficulties and puke
The computer is broken, for sure. And it is my fault. We have two hard-drives and both of them are almost maxed out, so in an effort to free up some space and possibly solve the other problem, the one where the computer randomly shuts itself off, I uninstalled some stuff. Apparently it was important stuff because now we can't connect to the internet.
As for the puke, Jeremiah ate breakfast this morning and then puked all over Haley's bedroom. And then all over the hallway, and then the couch and then his blanket, which was on the floor in his bedroom. Yuck. Poor guy, he is really miserable, and cranky, I would be too. But with all the puke and crankiness I had to get out of the house for a few...and blog...at the quiet library.
So maybe we will get our computer fixed soon and I can get back to my blog and my blog friends, or maybe I will steal a few minutes at the library each day until it is fixed. I might like that idea better, I heart the library. Nerdy.
For my praying friends, please pray for the big job decision. And pray for me, something about not knowing where I am going to live in 71 days is a little unnerving. But I don't want to be unnerved, I want to be steadfast and just know, just trust that there is a big plan and wonderful things waiting for us out there in the civilian world...
As for the puke, Jeremiah ate breakfast this morning and then puked all over Haley's bedroom. And then all over the hallway, and then the couch and then his blanket, which was on the floor in his bedroom. Yuck. Poor guy, he is really miserable, and cranky, I would be too. But with all the puke and crankiness I had to get out of the house for a few...and blog...at the quiet library.
So maybe we will get our computer fixed soon and I can get back to my blog and my blog friends, or maybe I will steal a few minutes at the library each day until it is fixed. I might like that idea better, I heart the library. Nerdy.
For my praying friends, please pray for the big job decision. And pray for me, something about not knowing where I am going to live in 71 days is a little unnerving. But I don't want to be unnerved, I want to be steadfast and just know, just trust that there is a big plan and wonderful things waiting for us out there in the civilian world...
9/11/08
Puff paint
You need:
4 tablespoons self-rising flour
4 tablespoons salt
water
food coloring
Mix the dry ingredients together and then add water until it becomes a thin paste, divide between different containers and color with food coloring. Paint onto your picture/paper with a q-tip. While it is still wet, microwave it for 30 seconds and it will puff up.
This was fun, and I got the idea here. If you click on my bottom photo to make it larger you can see the results better, it is pretty cool. The kids liked it too, but it didn't hold their attention as long as I thought it would. Maybe it is because we have a friend spending the night?
Three things to know beforehand, if you want bright colors you have to use A LOT of food coloring, I used between 10 and 12 drops per little muffin cup. Use the muffin tin instead of a bunch of little containers, easier for cleanup. I didn't want to use paintbrushes in case it dried to hard to wash out, but it cleans up very easily, especially if it is already dry, it just flakes right off, so next time we will use brushes or sponge brushes.
9/10/08
Houston pics
Okay, finally pictures! Hopefully my computer will be kind and let me finish this post before shutting itself off again!
This is our newest nephew, he and his mommy flew from Wichita KS to Houston to visit while we were there. Man is he ever cute, and it was so sweet to hold a little sleeping baby. He is still in that small, scrunchy stage where they just fit right on your chest, love it.
We went to the Houston Zoo and this is Jeremiah watching the fish. Fish was one of his first words and he says it like this "fsh." Cute.
Mikey and the cousins.
Couldn't they be brothers? Someone did stop and ask if they were twins. I should've said "yeah, but they were born 2 years apart." I think the lady might have believed me.
Ella started crawling for real while we were there, and she has gotten really good at sitting up on her own, and she started pulling up on stuff this week too. Man am I in for it or what?!
This one was from the Butterfly Conservatory at the Natural History Museum. I thought Haley would love this place, and she did, but so did I. All those butterflies were so cool, I felt giddy like a school girl. It was very Fancy Nancy-ish. On a side note, if you have a little girl, you must have the Fancy Nancy books.
Uncle Michael and the new cuz.
Our poor kids want a pet so badly. And as anti-pet as I am right now, these dogs almost broke me, they were so friendly and quiet, no shedding, no stinky dog smell. Exactly the opposite of Cooper. (For those who don't know, Cooper was our old dog, I could write post after post of his misbehaviors, we kept him around about 6 years too long...)
This is our newest nephew, he and his mommy flew from Wichita KS to Houston to visit while we were there. Man is he ever cute, and it was so sweet to hold a little sleeping baby. He is still in that small, scrunchy stage where they just fit right on your chest, love it.
We went to the Houston Zoo and this is Jeremiah watching the fish. Fish was one of his first words and he says it like this "fsh." Cute.
Mikey and the cousins.
Couldn't they be brothers? Someone did stop and ask if they were twins. I should've said "yeah, but they were born 2 years apart." I think the lady might have believed me.
Ella started crawling for real while we were there, and she has gotten really good at sitting up on her own, and she started pulling up on stuff this week too. Man am I in for it or what?!
This one was from the Butterfly Conservatory at the Natural History Museum. I thought Haley would love this place, and she did, but so did I. All those butterflies were so cool, I felt giddy like a school girl. It was very Fancy Nancy-ish. On a side note, if you have a little girl, you must have the Fancy Nancy books.
Uncle Michael and the new cuz.
Our poor kids want a pet so badly. And as anti-pet as I am right now, these dogs almost broke me, they were so friendly and quiet, no shedding, no stinky dog smell. Exactly the opposite of Cooper. (For those who don't know, Cooper was our old dog, I could write post after post of his misbehaviors, we kept him around about 6 years too long...)
I LOVE MOPS!!
Angie and I are racing to see who can blog about MOPS first, and I think I win! Wahoo, nothing like a good competition!
There is no way to express how encouraging MOPS has been in my life. When I found out I was prego with Mikey it was a HUGE surprise, I wasn't trying to get pregnant, I wanted to wait at least 5 more years, and I. was. not. ready. And without MOPS I might have turned into one of those bitter, mean moms who resents her children because of all the time and energy and money you have to shell out for the little darlings. Instead the ladies at my MOPS group have been quick to remind me how fortunate I am to have children, that they are God's blessings on my life, and that they need a mommy who cherishes them. There is no more important job in the world than being a mom, and God chose me to take it on! Incredible!
Today was no different. We started a new year at MOPS and with it came a reminder about our attitudes as moms. We really do set the tone for our homes, don't we. "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." "Happy wife, happy life." Instead of using those phrases as ammunition for our children and our husbands to maintain our personal happiness, why don't we make it our own responsibility? How do you think of your family? Blessing or burden, opportunity or obstacle? If you are stuck in the negative rut, go to Jesus, confess your sin and your inability to do it alone, he will meet you there, he always does. I wish every mom in the whole world could come to my group, and hear our mentor moms speak.
If you are MOPS mom, leave me a comment on how spectacular it was to start a whole new year! I love going there and feeling like everyone knows exactly how I am feeling, because we are all in the same boat! The hot breakfast and free childcare aren't bad either!
There is no way to express how encouraging MOPS has been in my life. When I found out I was prego with Mikey it was a HUGE surprise, I wasn't trying to get pregnant, I wanted to wait at least 5 more years, and I. was. not. ready. And without MOPS I might have turned into one of those bitter, mean moms who resents her children because of all the time and energy and money you have to shell out for the little darlings. Instead the ladies at my MOPS group have been quick to remind me how fortunate I am to have children, that they are God's blessings on my life, and that they need a mommy who cherishes them. There is no more important job in the world than being a mom, and God chose me to take it on! Incredible!
Today was no different. We started a new year at MOPS and with it came a reminder about our attitudes as moms. We really do set the tone for our homes, don't we. "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." "Happy wife, happy life." Instead of using those phrases as ammunition for our children and our husbands to maintain our personal happiness, why don't we make it our own responsibility? How do you think of your family? Blessing or burden, opportunity or obstacle? If you are stuck in the negative rut, go to Jesus, confess your sin and your inability to do it alone, he will meet you there, he always does. I wish every mom in the whole world could come to my group, and hear our mentor moms speak.
If you are MOPS mom, leave me a comment on how spectacular it was to start a whole new year! I love going there and feeling like everyone knows exactly how I am feeling, because we are all in the same boat! The hot breakfast and free childcare aren't bad either!
9/9/08
I done did read these...
"Five Love Languages of Children" by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell, M.D.
What I did like:
Lots of ideas on how to show each of the five love languages, and very practical, easy to implement into daily life.
What I didn't like:
The authors put a negative spin on spanking.
I don't want to do too much review on this one, you just have to read it and decide for yourself.
I might have a new favorite book. My sister-in-law has a huge library of books and she picked this one off the shelf for me to read while we were staying with them. It is "Christy" by Catherine Marshall. A wealthy, well-bred, young woman answers a call from God to go to the remotest part of the Tennessee mountains and teach the backwoods folks that live among them. The book is about 500 pages and only chronicles the first 11 months that she was there, it is packed with stories about these "hillbillies," and you fall in love with all of them. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!
Technical difficulties
I have been trying to get on here and post pictures of our trip to Houston, but our computer likes to randomly shut itself off. Anyone else ever have this problem?
We had a great time in Texas, it was pretty much what we expected weather-wise. I never aniticipated having such a time getting around in traffic, but that was the only bad thing. The company and the job were better than we expected. So now it is more waiting, more weighing of the options, more prayers, until Michael decides what to do. He has to decide soon so prayers are appreciated.
We had a great time in Texas, it was pretty much what we expected weather-wise. I never aniticipated having such a time getting around in traffic, but that was the only bad thing. The company and the job were better than we expected. So now it is more waiting, more weighing of the options, more prayers, until Michael decides what to do. He has to decide soon so prayers are appreciated.
9/1/08
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