Seven Arrows

For my "Oh so kind" seventh graders

2009-12-20T14:29:00.001-08:00

Today in our Connections class we celebrated the birth of Christ. Remember that we thought about what we would give Jesus for His birthday. We all wrote something down, sealed it in an envelope and placed it under the Christmas tree. Then we drew a name of a classmate from a bucket. Your assigment is to "gift" that person by perfoming a random act of kindness and then report back here in the comments section. For example:

To: Hannah C.

Today I bought an admission ticket for the next person in line at the basketball game and asked the attendant to wish the receiver a Merry Christmas.

I cannot wait to read all the ways you have spread the kindness and love of Christ to the people around you. Be creative. Bless us all by sharing your kindness in the comments section.

Love you
Mrs. Dorman

(this idea was borrowed from a fellow blogger. If you are not one of my seventh graders and would like the link, leave a comment requesting it.)

In case you were curious...

2009-05-05T09:02:00.001-07:00

about what we did over Spring Break:

Guess who got a new...

2009-05-01T14:02:00.001-07:00

webcam.
And how much time do you think we are wasting with this small piece of technology?

That's My King!

2009-04-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

I dare you to watch this video and not be moved!
Do YOU know Him?

We laughed and laughed

2009-04-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Actual sign spotted during our Spring Break trip to Carolina Beach. Guess how many times I told the children "Continue cut'n up and I will tan ya hide?"

Grab a tissue!

2009-04-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

If you have a few minutes, watch this video.
What did I take away? I can thank God EVEN for the obstacles in my life and the lives of my children.
http://vodpod.com/watch/1165857-walk-on-espn-video

Same ingredients, different recipe

2009-04-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

So...How did the muffins turn out? I would love to hear about some new variations you try. Try adding strawberries or chocolate chips.

Now, there are many recipes using these same basic ingredients. Remember, always keep these stocked in your pantry: Dry milk, all purpose flour, baking powder, and margarine.

Here is a family favorite:
Garlic Bread Sticks
3 cups flour
1t. salt
1t. garlic powder
1T. dry parsley
1T. baking powder
1 cup milk
1 stick margarine

In large bowl mix flour,

salt,

garlic powder,

parsley,

and baking powder.

Mix the dry ingredients well.

In a 9x13 baking dish, melt the margarine.

To the dry ingredients, add milk.

Don't be afraid to get your hand dirty. It becomes tough to mix it with a spoon so use your hands.

Knead the dough 5 or 6 times until it holds together. The dough will not be "pretty", it will look pretty rough. That's okay. Keep going.

Roll the dough into an approximate 9x13 shape. Doesn't have to be perfect.

My rolling pin is a good measure.

Place the rectangle of dough in the pan on top of the melted magarine.

Cut thin strips in the dough. The margarine will seep up between the strips. This is a good thing!! I happen to have this handy Pampered Chef cutting tool, but I've used a pizza cutter or a knife.

After all the strips have been cut, it should look like this.

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown.

Serve with Marinara Sauce or alongside your favorite Italian meal.
YUMMY!!

This batch lasted about 30 seconds.

Next recipe: Homemade Buttery Biscuits

The family needs to eat, therefore, I cook.

2009-04-04T17:39:00.000-07:00

I've never enjoyed cooking. It's just not my thing. As a newlywed, I prepared crunchy lima beans, undercooked turkey and a meal that was so bad that my husband still brings it up from time to time and has a hearty laugh. But over the years, I've improved. I will never be a Paula Deen but, trust me, you will leave my table content.

Not only have I had to learn how to cook tasty meals, I've had to learn economical, satisfying, and quick meals. Feeding a family of nine can be expensive but I've learned a few tricks to make it manageable.

One important tip:

These are basic staples you should always have stocked in your pantry.

I mean, really, does it get any more basic than this? This may seem like an obvious thing, but folks, I didn't know what to do with all of these. If it didn't come in a box with specific directions, I was lost. So if you already know how to make basic muffins, bread sticks, homemade biscuits, then ignore me. But I'm posting this in case it will be a blessing to someone just as it was to me.

Today I will give you the recipe for Basic Muffins with some variations. These are a favorite in our house. Oh the freedom! If I do not have french bread or dinner rolls to go with a meal, I just whip up a batch of these. They are fantastic. AND...I always have the ingredients on hand. If you are out of milk, just reconstitute dry milk. You cannot tell the difference.

Basic Muffins
1/4 cup oil
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups flour
Combine oil, egg, milk, sugar and salt. Mix well. Add baking powder and flour. Mix until moistened. Do not over mix. Spoon batter into 12 well oiled muffin cups. Bake 400 degrees, 20 minutes.
Cornmeal muffins: Replace 1 Cup of flour with cornmeal. Use 1/3 cup of sugar.
Cinnamon Raisin Muffins: Add 1/2 cup raisins and 1 -1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Use 1/2 cup sugar.
Cheese muffins: Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of shredded cheese. Use only 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Breakfast Meat Muffins: Add 1/2 - 3/4 cup of finely chopped, cooked ham or 6 slices of cooked, crumbled bacon or 1/2 cup finely chopped, cooked sausage. Add 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Use only 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Corn Muffins: Add 1 cup well-drained, cooked corn. Use 1/4 cup sugar.
That's it...Easy, huh?
If you try these, let me know what you think!
Tomorrow...a favorite afternoon snack.
Garlic Bread Sticks

Luvada

2009-03-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

This is Luvada Walker Hollingsworth, my grandmother.

Isn't she beautiful? I've never met her. She died when my father was a teenager. She had breast cancer.

My middle name is also Luvada and I would love to know her. Since she has 4 children, I like to imagine that she enjoyed being a mother as much as I do. I know she had very good taste. For heaven's sake, look at those "to-die-for" spectator pumps. From my Dad's stories I know that she was a disciplinarian, a strong woman, and rarely missed church. I gather that she had a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and is worshipping Him in heaven right now.

What a treasure to have this photo!

It got me to thinking...

What will the next generations "gather" about me?

What will my legacy be?

I wonder about the granddaughters and great granddaughters who I will never meet in the flesh. What do I want them to remember about me and my life?

What about yours? Have you given it much thought?

In the meantime, I look forward to meeting Luvada in heaven. We will worship the Lord together. Do you think we will be rockin' some awesome shoes? I can guarantee that painful high heels will not be there. Crocs? maybe.

We are still here

2009-03-13T11:17:00.001-07:00

I wonder if anyone noticed I haven't posted in a while. Well, I've been super, crazy distracted with my consignment sale and then there's the seven kids and all. They have grown accustomed to eating and wearing clean clothes. So that had to be done.

I will update you on everything...in time. And I have SO MUCH to catch up on like the surprise I found in the dryer, my unfortunate incident with the Polly Pocket house, my hormonal meltdown last weekend....and there are a few "How do you do..." questions left to be answered.

In the meantime I will share an original poem by Scooter (14 yrs). The assignment was to write a poem that imitates the poem "December" by Thad Stem. I think she did a great job. She has submitted it to a poetry contest. We'll see what happens.

August

August waded into our sleepy town

With her flambeaux blazing streaks of orange and crimson

She lethargically fans her sweltering face

So powerfully, humid air crested over the rooftops

Like a cascading wave.

Then she flipped her fiery auburn hair

And the flames were provoked higher and more vigorous

To stew us and reveal her deceiving mirages

With an occasional performance from vivacious, pounding drummers

That make her flash a smile.

An encouraging verse

2009-02-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

John 10:27
Karen listens to my voice; I know her, she follows me. I give Karen eternal life, and she shall never perish; no one can snatch Karen out of my hand.

These are Jesus' words as He was speaking to the unbelieving Jews about His sheep.
Can you put your name in the blanks?

If you do not know or do not understand, read this.
Or let's chat. I would love to tell you what Jesus has done for me.

No camera. I'm sad.

2009-02-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

Why do camera batteries last for about 12 minutes before they die?

So, no pics for my posts because I'm taking my time getting to the store for batteries.

I wanted to do my "How do you..." post on Thurs but was waiting on pics. Here it is without pics. Not as fun but use your imagination.

Jen asks, "How do you get your children to do their chores in a timely manner?" or something along those lines. I'm going to answer her question in Palin-esque fashion and tell you how we do chores, not necessarily the timely manner part.

I divided the public rooms of the house into 6 zones.

kitchen

den and living room

downstairs bathroom and garage entry

bonus room

upstairs bathroom and hall (including the linen closet)

laundry

The dining room is rarely used and not very messy, so I didn't include it. Since we have six children capable of carrying the responsibility of a chore, this works perfectly. Each child can be responsible for a zone. I wanted to rotate the chores but still allow each child the opportunity to learn how to effectively clean each zone before rotating to the next one. We determined that a week works well.

I wrote on 6 index cards the schedule. For example:

Week #1

Kitchen - Scooter

Den/Living - Triple H

Down Bath - Banana

Bonus - Rosebud

Up Bath - Bucket

Laundry - Mojo

Week #2 will have Mojo in the kitchen and everyone else shifts down the list. After six weeks, every child has had every chore for one full week. If everyone does what they are supposed to do, all public areas of the house, including laundry is done. Each child is responsible for homework, zone chore and their room. I have a list of penalty chores. If they do not do what is expected, then a penalty chore is added to their responsibilities. Penalty chores are NO fun, like scrubbing the inside of a trash can, organizing the silverware drawer, cleaning out the van, etc.

Now, Jen's real question was how to get them to do the chore in a timely manner. I don't think I have gotten the timely manner part yet. I would love to hear from all of you. How do you get your children to do their chores quickly and without procrastinating? The only suggestion I have is to offer a reward. On the weekends we usually offer an incentive to do their work right away and with excellence. Usually it is family movie night or an ice cream cone or a family game night. That's right...we don't mind bribing our children.

Today's post is sponsored by the letter B

2009-01-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

For starters, I KNOW, quit yelling at me. I forgot to post my "How do you do..." post on Thurs. To satisfy you all, "How do you do time management?" I don't. But stay tuned, this Thursday Jen asks, "How do you get the children to do chores in a timely way?" If anyone has another "How do you do..." question, leave a comment.

For today's post Carpoolqueen, tagged me to list 10 things I love that begin with the letter B. I know you are on the edge of your seat, so here they are:
Bible Study. I participate in LAMBS at my church. I love it! Sweet girls, great teaching, and the book of John. What could be better? Of course, Bible study on my own is wonderful too. He speaks, that is all I need.

Basketball. Watching not playing. Six of the children play. I am especially enjoying watching the two oldest girls play for their middle school team. It is so exciting. By the way, they are undefeated in their conference so far this season. Due to a cancellation because of snow, they have four games this week. I'm tired just thinking about it. Do you see why I don't play?

Best Friends. I have the best friend in the world. You know who you are! ...and bloggy friends are awesome too.

Bath. I love a hot bath after a long, cold day. Ahhhh!

Blue Jeans. Does it really have to be explained? These would be on everyone's list, right? One little problem, though, I don't have a really good pair right now. Anyone have a suggestion for a reasonably priced yet well-fitting jean? PLEASE, share!

Byebyepie. This is the funniest blog. I'm not kidding. HILARIOUS! I love June.

Blogging. There is something therapeutic about writing a blog. I'm amazed that anyone actually reads it. Maybe I'm saving people money on sleeping aids....zzzzzz.

Beans. Don't laugh. We have them all the time. And, NO, we do not have the problem you are thinking about. My sweet friend SL gave me this recipe for 5 bean soup. Brown 1 lb. of sausage in a pot. Drain off fat. Dump in 5 different cans of beans (eg. Navy, black, kidney, lima, pinto), 1 can tomato soup and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Heat through on stove or in the oven until flavors blend. This is yummy on a cold day with cornbread.

Bojangles. When I'm pregnant I have very BAD morning sickness all day long. The only thing that gave me a temporary reprieve was Bojangles cajun fries and sweet iced tea. Sounds like a terrible idea if you are nauseous but it worked every time. One more reason I love the Bo....Bacon and Cheese Biscuit. Delish!

BC. If you have a headache ..these are the BEST.

"B" is a challenging letter.

What do YOU love that begins with the letter B?

What must it be like...

2009-01-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

...to be the youngest of seven children?

Take a peek:

Should I be more concerned about

the child giving the wedgie?

the child receiving the wedgie?

the child quietly filming the wedgie with no apparent concern for his/her little sibling?

How do you do...?

2009-01-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

I've got a new idea. Every Thursday will be a post titled, "How do you do...?" As a larger family we often get questions that begin with these four words, for example, How do you do naps? potty-training? eating out? dinner time? grocery shopping? You get the idea. Sometimes I have a nugget of wisdom, sometimes I have a very poor way of doing stuff and need your bright ideas.

So, let's get started. "How do you do all the kid's paperwork clutter?"

Well, for a long time we dealt with this:

And this:

Do you have these stacks on your countertops? They are usually filled with the important papers the kids bring home in the Monday folder, like permission slips and tests that need to be signed and that appointment slip from the orthodontist that needs to be added to the calendar and the numbers off of your sisters paint can that you need so you can buy a gallon for your bedroom. You know, all those important things that can't be thrown away or lost but don't have a specific place to be kept.

Well, I got sick of it! I discovered a solution that has been working perfectly for our family for a few years now. I bought a hanging file box/crate/thingamajig and some hanging file folders. A file was created for each family member, even the little ones and babies, and files were made for Miscellaneous, coupons, bills, etc. It looks like this:

Yes, you're right, it is not the most beautiful thing in the world. It will win NO style awards and my "cute" friends, the ones who do everything with flair and have creativity oozing out of every pore, would definately have found something pink, decoupaged, and bedazzled. Alas, no flair here. But organization...YES! No more lost permission slips. No more piles on every countertop. No more stuffed papers in drawers. When a kid asks where the owners manual is to his new Nintendo DS, my answer is...have you checked your file? When it's the night before the overnight field trip and we suddenly need the packing list that was sent home two weeks earlier from school, no more panicked shuffling through piles of paper, I simply say, "Let's check your file."

If you have a burning question for the "how do you do...?" Thursday post, leave a comment and I'll try to answer it next Thursday.

Changing the subject, lately I've begun to notice that everytime I needed a new toothbrush, my supply was gone. I stock up on toothbrushes almost EVERY time I go to the store and yet there is never one in the closet. So I went on a mission to find out what was going on. This is what I found in the bathroom drawers. Do you think it was pleasant to be in my house on this particular afternoon? I.think.NOT! At least the mystery was solved. I know where all the toothbrushes were going, but now I wanted to know why. I still don't know. Do you think they thought these were a "use once and throw away" product?

By the way, I know that some of you are counting. Aren't you? I'll save you the trouble. There are thirty-eight brushes. 38.

38!

Oh dear, that's all I have to say about that.

Great News!

2009-01-08T17:04:00.000-08:00

We've been heard!

Clarification has come from the CPSA regarding the legislation that could have potentially shut down my business and others like it. Read all about it here.

Thanks to everyone who wrote and called their congressman.

Y'all are awesome.

http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/

Where I've been

2009-01-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

I've not posted lately for a couple of reasons.

#1. Christmas.
I enjoyed a lovely Christmas with my family. I would have to say that it has been the most meaningful Christmas we've ever had. Jesus was the focus, rightfully so.
Not to say that we did not have presents. Oh, we had presents. First of all, shopping for seven children is a full-time job. Wrapping the gifts for seven children is another full-time job. Watching seven children open their gifts...well, that's like a full-time vacation. Pure joy!
If we were to give this Christmas a gift theme, it would have to be photography. Five of the children received digital cameras under the tree. {I got a great deal on Black Friday but that's a whole other post. Insanity!} I was so excited knowing that I would be able to borrow one of their beautiful 10.2 megapixal, red cameras. {Red is my favorite color.} As you've probably noticed I've been using a sad, little, 2.0 megapixal camera that was a hand-me-down. It has a broken battery door that will not stay closed so to operate it must have a tight rubberband wrapped around the body of the camera. Sad lil camera. BUT, what do you think my sweet husband handed me to open first thing Christmas morning. That's right! A new digital camera.
You are saved from the barage of bad pictures on my blog. Thank the hubby.
Old Camera

New camera...and, yes, it is red!

#2. My sister and I received some interested news last weekend that greatly affects our business.

A law has been passed that will make the reselling of used children's products illegal after February 10th. In order to be legal we have moved the sale date up from the end of February to February 5th - 7th. Obviously, we have had to kick it into full gear. We are very hopeful that the law will be amended and we will be able to continue with future sales, but not before the Feb 10th deadline. If you would like to know more about this law google CPSIA. You will get a ton of information. If it is not amended then it will continue to be illegal to sell children's clothes and toys on CraigsList, Ebay, at garage sales, Consignment Sales, Consignment shops, and Goodwill. This affects us all. It would be extremely helpful if you would contact your congressman and express your concern about this. In the meantime, check out our website and register to consign if interested.

Overheard...

2008-12-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

...in our home.
7. "LOOK! I just coughed up a hairball."
--Bucket, while holding up a large wad of dryer lint.
6. "When we go in here let's act like normal people...and not like crazy, wild heathens."
--John, in his ever-present, calm, even-toned manner, as we were getting out of the car and entering Wendy's
5. "Please, everybody, don't come in my room and steal stuff without asking."
--Banana, the most organized and particular one of our clan. I suppose you can steal her stuff as long as you ask first.
4. "Daaaaaaad......Bucket's about to DIE because Fig's sitting on him."
--Not sure who said this, because we were in another room and simply said, "Fig, get off your brother." Bucket is still alive, last we checked.
3. "Rosebud, Stop choking your brother!"
--Why do we have to say this?
2. "Bucket, It's NOT polite to suck the inside out of your deviled egg. "
--'nuff said
1. "Can someone help you ask Jesus into your heart or do you have to do it all by yourself, because Rosebud helped me and I want to make sure it's right?"
--Mojo, precious Mojo.

Thoughtful Gifts

2008-12-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Some folks just have a knack for giving extremely thoughtful gifts. Apparently I am surrounded by these folks. My family and friends have blessed me with very special gifts this Christmas. Maybe these will inspire you.

Do you love it!! I do!!

One of John's co-workers gave him this beautiful star. She made it herself out of tobacco sticks. How thoughtful! How personal! How meaningful! How beautiful!

My sweet Bible Study friend brought this by today with a huge "Merry Christmas"! This might not mean that much to you, but to me, it is like gold! She knows me. She knows how much I enjoy a cold coke...in a can...my favorite!

On a recent women's retreat, a friend introduced me to this fun game, Farkel. What a great idea; wrap up 6 dice and the instructions off the internet! She gave a perfect, thoughtful, family gift!

My sister know how much I love things that smell good. We discovered this product recently. It can only be found at Lowe's food (I think, let me know if you've seen it somewhere else) and it is a little more expensive than your typical dish soap or cleaning products. Therefore, I would not buy it on a normal shopping trip. It would only be a luxury. Well, my sweet sister, gave this thoughtful gift to me and I'm loving it.

Sometimes you have "history" with a friend. One such friend gave me this leather bound copy of a particularly meaningful devotional book. We have history bound up in this book, making it a very thoughtful gift.

Notice, that not one of these gifts would be considered expensive.

But valuable....yes!

Each one cost the giver something more valuable than money; it cost them time, energy, and a piece of their heart.

Thank you family and friends! I'm inspired to give a little bit more of myself this Christmas. What about you? Share your thoughtful gifts!

Did you notice?

2008-12-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Did anyone notice that my brother-in-law looks a lot like Harry Connick Jr.?

Whenever the cell phone commercials come on TV, my children always scream, "There's Uncle John!"

C'MON, You see it...right?

I don't know Harry Connick Jr. but I can be sure that there is no way he is as nice as my brother-in-law.

Wanna see a boatload of kids? Michelle and I have 11 children between us. Aren't they cute?

Happenings

2008-12-15T19:18:00.000-08:00

This verse stood out to me today.

Psalm 16:7-8 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

If you dare listen to the news or pick up a newspaper, this is a good verse to remember. I WILL NOT be shaken.

**********************************************************

Last night, we had dinner with my sister and her family.

You can't beat $1.49 for a Happy Meal. After dinner, we went to see a live nativity. After waiting in line for about 30 minutes, we found out it would be another 1.5 hours. I'm sure it was wonderful but the children were not going to hold up. We left and went to Santa's house. A precious husband and wife in Apex are opening their home every night through Dec. 23rd, to the public. They have it decorated beautifully, he looks great, and they hand out small gifts to every child. Next door a live handbell choir was playing. It was a real treat.

**********************************************

I borrowed a super idea from a sweet friend.

Salt dough ornaments are easy to make. The recipe is simply flour, salt and water. The recipe can quickly be found on the internet.

Making salt dough ornaments will be a new tradition in our home.

I was surprised by how cute they turned out. What treasures they will be!

I've included a sample of each family members work.

Bucket's Christmas volcano? yeah...I don't know, either.

Fig's fish (remember, he's only 3)

Mojo's reindeer

Banana's bell...so funky!

Rosebud's Chocolate chip cookie...nothing says Christmas like a Chocolate Chip cookie!

Triple H's Wreath... I was impressed with her sculpting ability.

Scooter's silver snowflake... NICE!

John's "J" for Jesus...always the Spritual leader.

...and my lil red mitten...I'm so proud. Pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

But I saved this one for last. You see, this is more than a salt dough ornament. This is a spiritual mile marker. Every night, John has led us in an advent devotion. We've had some interesting conversations, but a good bit of the time we are wondering if anything is being caught. After all, some are under the table, a few are wrestling on the side, we even caught the 3 yr old playing with matches. But we perservered. A couple of nights ago we had an interesting discussion about Jesus' statement that we must drink His blood and eat His flesh. Who would have thought that our 7 year old son was actually paying attention?

We asked him what his ornament was supposed to be...

"This is Jesus' blood and skin!" he answered emphatically!

It will definately have a spot on the tree.

What's the deal?

2008-12-12T12:20:00.000-08:00

So...
I mentioned in my last post that I pulled a muscle in my back. What's the big deal? Right? Everyone pulls a muscle from time to time. But let me tell you. This one is a doozie. It will not heal and it hurts.

I can't figure it out and I'm in pain and I don't have time for such nonsense and I'm not sleeping and nobody wants to be around me when I don't get enough sleep...so...I went to the doctor. I know! for a silly pulled muscle. But this is no ordinary muscle thing.

This is what I came home with:

A steroid
A muscle relaxer
A narcotic pain pill
An anti-inflammatory

I am a little better. But after all of those you'd think I would be a lot better.

So...what's the deal?

My conclusion: This is simply a part of getting older. This earth suit is wearing out.

I look forward to my eternal body. Will heaven be great or what?

(By the way, the laundry is almost caught up. Whoo hooo!)

Bamboozled and Drowning

2008-12-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

I've been bamboozled by these three rascals. They claimed to be sick this morning so I allowed them to stay home from school. Here they are in their pjs with lots of attitude.

Because I pulled a muscle in my back, I have been out of commission for the last two days. I've let things slide. Letting things slide is not a good thing when you have a family of nine, especially laundry. This is the pile of clean clothes that need to be folded and put away.

This is the pile of dirty clothes that fill my entire hallway.
Can you believe it?

TWO DAYS!

How do we produce this much in such a short time?

It's a good thing I enjoy laundry. I love that it has an end, a goal that can be accomplished. Everything smells fresh and is crisp and clean. Ahhh, the pleasures found in small things.

So...this is where I will be today and probably tomorrow. If you would like to stop by, I'll pour you a cup of hot cider and we can chat over the hum of the washing machine and dryer. Be careful, though, you may have to do some folding.

Wait a minute, I have a better idea. We'll chat and the bamboozlers can fold laundry.

I'm sometimes crafty...sometimes.

2008-12-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

Wanna see what I made?

A fur wreath.

That's right...fur.

You don't have to like it. I love it enough for the both of us.

No, it was not my original idea. I was inspired by The Nester.

The next thing.

2008-12-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

Now that the exterior of the house is freshly painted. It's time to start on the interior.

Why do my children think it is okay to scribble on the wall?

My sister has been a mother for 8 years and told me that her 4 children have NEVER written on the wall.

ARE

YOU

KIDDING

ME?

I can't find a wall that hasn't been marked.

Maybe it is because they are artistic and the empty wall is beckoning them to fill it.

Maybe it is because they need attention, being one of so many children and all.

Maybe it is because they have too much unsupervised time.

Maybe it is because I was unable to breastfeed them.

Maybe this is their rebellion period and we are going to breeze through adolescence.

Maybe...

they are just children.

Children who will grow up and leave the nest one day and all my walls will be pristine and unblemished.

Maybe we don't need to be in a hurry to paint the interior of our house.

This, on the other hand, I don't even know what to say.

Do you think I should be concerned?

Bloggy Friends

2008-12-08T08:42:00.000-08:00

...are the best!

I received this award.

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

And I would like to pass it on to:
1. New Every Morning
2. Smellin' Coffee
3. Life with the Lords
4. The NC Brownings
5. The Toscano Family
6. Callery Chronicles
7. And the Festival Continues...
8. Reflections of a Mom's Life

A New Coat

2008-12-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

...of paint. We painted the exterior of our house. It is almost finished. So close to being finished that I am going to post the before and after pics as if it were completed.

We did not hire anyone for this job. It was a labor of love. John did a lot of it, I did some, and each of the children contributed a little to the work. But Poppy did the most.

Before:

In Process:

After:

It turned out just like I wanted.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua 24:15

My sweet husband...

2008-11-29T15:27:00.000-08:00

...gave me the best Birthday present I've ever gotten.

He carved our initials into a tree in our back yard.

I LOVE IT!!!

He took a picture of it and had it framed with these words printed on it:

John and Karen

Sitting in a tree...

The BEST birthday present EVER from the sweetest man I know.

Thanksgiving...a photo essay

2008-11-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Before the chaos... everything is ready...

Everyone arrives... brother-in-law, John and my Dad...my Mom and I are working furiously on something in the background.Thank goodness my Mom brought the giblet gravy.
Th kid's table

Notice: Fig has a mouth full of deviled egg.
After dinner, everyone read a passage from the Bible praising God's goodness

Did you know that Thanksgiving is my birthday?

Thanks, MOM, I love my new coat.

Shine On!

2008-11-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

I am thankful that Jesus shines through people who are willing to be lamps for Him.

Tuesday is L.A.M.B.S. day. (Ladies A.M. Bible Study)
I look forward to Tuesdays; it is a sweet, sweet time. Since there is a children's program, Fig goes too and enjoys his class.

This week, Fig and I took on all the regular Tuesday obstacles and battled our way to L.A.M.B.S. I'm telling you, there is serious spiritual warfare going on every week. But we made it, had a good morning, and headed out to the car afterward. I was battle-weary and knowing that the cupboards were bare at home and even if they were full, I didn't have the energy to make a PB&J sandwich, I pulled into the handy, dandy McD's drive-thru. I ordered a happy meal for Fig and pulled around.

"Oh, look! There's my friend Sam! Hi, Sam!" I wave and smile at Sam who is in line in front of me. I think to myself..."I love her...she's so cute and sweet". We inch our way up to the pay window and I extend my debit card to the McD employee. That sweet lady said, "Enjoy your lunch; the car in front paid for you." I couldn't believe it. What a blessing to me. Jesus was shining all over the place because of that thoughtful act of kindness.

But here's the thing. Although I enjoyed the radiance of His glory, there is a bigger story to tell. You see, when you are shining for Jesus it floods all over the place. Places where you didn't even anticipate. As much as I was blessed, the cashier at McD's was overwhelmed by the reflection. I'm glad I was there to see Jesus shine all over her, too. She's probably STILL smiling.
Shine on!
Shine on!

Little Things

2008-11-18T18:31:00.001-08:00

[Remember, I am pretty good at laundry, birthing babies, applying lipstick while driving, but photography...not so much.]

I'm thankful for the little things like:

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

with a cold Coke

in front of a cozy fire.

Little things like knowing that I don't have to pack six lunches in the morning because it's pizza day. These little stacks of money are all they need.

A Christmas wreath I made with my Mom.

The little things my kids say that make me laugh.

Rosebud: "Mom, Listen! Moonsand, Moonshoes, and moonscape, isn't that cool, Mom, they all have moon in them!"

Me: "mmmmm...yes, how 'bout that?"

Rosebud: "yeah.." {she walked away with a smile}

The little memories that we will share as a family.

For example, last night I left several baby photos on a side table in my bedroom. I intended to return them to the photo album when I had an extra minute. This afternoon, while tidying up a bit around the house, I picked them up and noticed that someone had drawn little moustaches on the babies with permanent ink. Hmmmm....very interesting. At dinner tonight, we held a court proceeding. I presented the evidence and asked if anyone was interested in confessing. We had lots of giggles and everyone enjoyed looking at the silly photos but no confession. Someone came forward later and fessed up. Their honesty earned them amnesty. Everyone enjoyed a funny moment.

Yep, I am thankful for the little things.

What little things are you thankful for today?

My Little Secret

2008-11-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

I have a secret.

I've kept it long enough. It's time for the world to know.

It all started when I reached the end of my rope. You've probably all been there.

WHY DO NONE OF THE SOCKS MATCH!!

Then when we had several children, it became impossible. John's socks, my socks, and the girls socks were everywhere and always needed to be sorted and matched. John and I would sit in the middle of the den floor and work on "The Project"

"I have a thin, pink, medium-sized sock with a small rosette on the ankle." I would say.
John responded, "Nothing like that over here. Do you have any gray athletic socks with Nike on the toe?"

And then...the dilemma...what to do with all the socks that haven't matched up in a couple of weeks. For goodness sake, do you throw them away? That doesn't seem right. Where are the matches anyway? Probably the same place where all my spoons are disappearing to. One day I will discover a jackpot of unmatched socks and cereal spoons.

When boys were added to the family, it took me over the edge. I needed to approach the sock issue from a whole new angle.

Here it is...my secret.

I don't match socks anymore.
There. I said it.

All socks are kept in this community sock bin in our linen closet.
It works beautifully. When we fold the freshly washed laundry, I make a pile of clean socks and put them away, all at once, in this bin. Every morning, each family member makes a trip to the bin and finds two socks that fit their feet. Voila! Simple as that.

One more thing. We only buy white socks. Find two that are approximately the same size and you're good to go.

Our Thanksgiving Tree

2008-11-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

To turn our minds toward thankfulness, we have created a Thanksgiving Tree.

I used a simple poster board and traced my hand and arm and John's hand and arm to form the trunk of the tree. Each of the children added branches by tracing their hands.

Each night at dinner we add some leaves. The leaves are cut out of construction paper. Everything is simple and basic. I'm sure some of you could get even more creative and have a real masterpiece. I've learned that I can become paralyzed by perfection. I just used what I have around the house.

The children are enjoying this fun project and I'm blessed to hear their hearts.

Yesterday

2008-11-14T08:15:00.000-08:00

I did not post yesterday about what I am thankful for.
So...to get caught up, I'll give a belated gratitude post.
Drumroll, please.

Ready?

Yesterday, I was thankful that I survived the day.

I wish it was inspiring or encouraging or even just hinted at positive.
Nope.
It was a tough day.
Nothing earth-shattering or catastrophic...just hard!

Do you ever have days like that?

Aren't you glad for new, fresh mornings?
Today will be better.

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
Lamentations3:21-25

Consequences

2008-11-12T17:43:00.000-08:00

There are times when consequences are necessary for our children. Unpleasant, I know, but necessary. [Big Sigh]

John and I have discovered that creativity is the key. Also, the importance of matching the consequence to the poor choices they make.

One of the frequently used consequences is hard work. When chores are not done because poor choices are made, the offender will be issued a very unpleasant, additional chore. If you drive by our house and see a kid filling a wheelbarrow with pinecones, you'll know why. If the offense is absolute rebellion you may find that the inside and outside of our trashcans have been scrubbed squeaky clean.

Some of our creative consequences have been:

Losing the privilege of sitting on furniture because he/she was jumping on or abusing it.

"Practicing" walking up and down the stairs, since he/she obviously "forgot" that you shouldn't stomp up them.

"X" number of laps around the house because he/she repeatedly acts out in anger.

You get the idea.
We try to stay positive. I'm not always successful, but I try. Usually, the consequence is beneficial in and of itself. They learn something or accomplish something.

Most parenting books you read will always talk about being consistent. I agree....sometimes.
Sometimes children need grace.
This is the part where we, the parents, have to make good choices. We need to be prayerful and know when to administer consequences and when to extend grace.

There are times when swift consequences speak the loudest to my children but there are other times when knowing they goofed up and receiving undeserved favor speaks even louder.

I'm certain of this because I've experienced it myself.
God's grace to me ....that's what I'm thankful for today!!

Laughter

2008-11-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for laughter.

Our house is full of chuckles, and giggles, and howling and chorkles and hahahas.

My kids are hilarious. Just tonight...

Scooter sniffed one nostril closed without touching it...how do you do that? We laughed.

Triple H sang "We will, we will...Rock you" and then added on something about Cool Whip. We laughed.

Banana was caught in the act of Hip Hop Dancing to a Hannah Montana song. We laughed.

Rosebud was also dancing a little jig with wild hand motions. We laughed.

Bucket put pantyhose on his head and pretended to be a bank robber. We laughed.

Mojo replied to a sibling with the attitude of a 17 year old. We laughed.

Fig ran outside wearing only a NC State tshirt (no diaper). We laughed.

What was funny at your house today?

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine

The Bridge

2008-11-10T09:26:00.000-08:00

I'm thankful for The Ultimate Sacrafice.
Grab a tissue and watch this.
http://www.maximumreferrals.com/bridge

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

2008-11-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to be home. I've been to the PBC women's retreat. Wow, it was great!
Here are the highlights:
Car ride with Jennifer Kennedy Dean
Lots of freetime to do what I please (I actually got to use the bathroom without little finger wiggling under the doorframe and voices yelling, "Mom, you in there?")
Delicious food that I didn't plan, cook, or clean up
Excellent teaching on "The Prayer Driven Life: Living in the Power of the Promise" (Oh boy, was I ever convicted, encouraged, challenged and inspired)
Farkle
Beautiful scenery (Have you ever been to Lake Hickory...stunning, absolutely stunning)
Creative Saturday activity
Early morning worship time at the gazebo

and

Time with precious women.

I am so thankful to be blessed with incredible friends. It was a huge blessing to spend uninterrupted time with those sweet girls. Some are long time friends (notice I didn't say old) and some were new friends. I love them all! I am thankful for friends to laugh with, friend who are willing to say the hard things, friends who cry with me and for me, friends who inspire me, friends who hold me accountable, and friends who love me even though...

Thankful For

2008-11-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hi there, Im banana plus Im my moms guest blogger today! One of the things we are thankful for is our grandparents. We are blessed with good, loving grandparents! Our grandparent are always coming to games to support us, always helping with the kids, and giving us lots of love!
We just wont to say thanks to grandparents for always loving us! Thanks!

Tagged

2008-11-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

I was tagged a couple of weeks ago to post my schedule for a typical day. I've procrastinated because, well, it's a little drab. Try not to doze off. Here it is and never let it be said that I am not a rule follower.
(By the way, I'm in a bit of a hurry...there WILL be grammar and spelling mistakes...my editing and grammar friends will have to extend some grace...you know who you are)
Since our schedule varies wildly...here is a slow day.
6 am -- wake when John showers
615--wake again when John wakes older children
620-- wake again when 1st kid showers
630-- wake again when 2nd kid showers
635-- get out of bed, read Daily Light, stumble downstairs and pack 6 lunches
7 am-- Good Morning America (love that Robin Roberts)
715-- Begin the out-the-door countdown and the "have you...?" checklist (have you brushed your teeth, packed your gym bag, etc?)
730-- Kiss oldest 4 children goodbye- carpool picks up- Kiss John goodbye
735-- Shower and Dress
805--Dress 3 youngest kids
830-- leave for elementary school
9 am-- home for tidying up, laundry, to-do list, etc
10am-- start dinner, plan meals and snacks
11am-- feed Fig (only kid at home)
1130-- Play and Read with Fig
12 noon-- Nap for Fig and Quiet Time for me (my favorite part of the day)
1pm-- Email, Blog, Facebook, Craigslist
2pm-- Chores or projects or business tasks (www.twiceasnice4tots.com)
230-- Run carpool for older kids
3pm-- Snack and Homework
330-- Run carpool for younger kids
4pm-- home to change into basketball uniforms for young kids
430-- young kids to Upward basketball
5pm-- pick up older kids from school basketball practice
530-- pick up younger kids from Upward basketball
6pm-- home for homeward and dinner prep
7pm-- dinner when John gets home
730-- clean kitchen and supervise kids chores
8pm-- Enjoy each other...family time
9pm--bedtime

You still there?

Today I'm thankful for my good health and the good health of my family.
Because God has graced us with healthy bodies, we are able to do all the things I've listed. I'm grateful and try not to take it for granted. John has diabetes. God has kept him miraculously healthy and well-controlled. Seven children, 14 years and only one broken bone...Praise God! If we encounter a health crisis tomorrow, God is good and His grace will be sufficient. I've seen it in the lives of dear friends. But for today, thanks to the Lord, He has kept us healthy.

Ooops, I get it now!

2008-11-06T10:52:00.000-08:00

I feel like one of those folks on the V-8 commercial. Someone should have hit me on the forehead. There is a reason why everyone doesn't use their children's real names in the blogs. I'm new to this and it shows. But I'm having so much fun.

I've edited all the previous posts and replaced real names with our beloved nicknames.
In birth order:
#1...Scooter (because all first born children in the Hollingsworth family are nicknamed Scooter, so you guessed it, my Dad calls me Scooter, too. Shhh, don't spread that around)
#2...Triple H (because my Dad accidently knocked her in the head one time and it should've hurt but didn't. He called her hard headed ____...triple H.)
#3...Banana (if you know us, its obvious)
#4...Rosebud (ditto)
#5...Bucket (I have no idea, but it's funny and he thinks it is super cool)
#6...Mojo (you have to know her)
#7...Fig (read an interesting story about Jesus calling the first disciples in John and you will figure it out)

I love November. There are many reasons including my birthday.
Thanksgiving is another.
Goal: To post everyday between now and Thankgiving with something I am thankful for.

Today I am thankful for my husband. He works so hard and is so smart. He is more than I could have dreamed of as a father. He is willing to go it alone this weekend so I can attend a women's retreat and he has not complained one time. He is very funny. (Did you know that about him?) His love language is gift giving and everyday, when he comes in from work, he brings me a Coke in a can...my favorite! My husband loves Jesus and spiritually leads our family. He can't watch someone getting a shot on tv because he is so empathetic. He has never raised his voice and is rarely angry. He loves me, even when I am unlovely. I thank the Lord for choosing him for me.

Af-een

2008-10-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

For a year and a half Fig has been receiving speech therapy twice a week. He has verbal apraxia. Here is an explanation from the Apraxic-Kids website:

Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a motor speech disorder. For reasons not yet fully understood, children with apraxia of speech have great difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw and palate that are necessary for intelligible speech.

He qualifies for services provided by the State of NC until the age of three. Fig will be three on Monday. Today was his last day with his speech therapist, Miss Af-een. Translation: Mrs. Kathleen. There is no way to adequately thank her for all that she has done. This is the best we could do. This and a three year olds hug.

Dear Kathleen

We want to thank you for your investment and hard work with our little Fig. We have enjoyed our year and a half with you and will never forget you and your sweet family.

With all of our children, we dream and hope for perfection. We imagined a journey for each of them that is smooth, without pain or trials or challenges; a life of happiness, success and no struggles. Thank heavens we don't get all we ask for or dream of. In the absence of struggles, trials and challenges we would miss the biggest blessings God has planned for us. Kathleen, you are one of those blessings. I would not have chosen verbal apraxia for Fig, but PRAISE GOD that He created him the way He did. We have so much to be thankful for. I appreciate every word that he speaks. I savor the sound of his voice. I treasure the sweetness of his singing. All in ways I wouldn't unless he had this delay. I am especially grateful to have known you.

We all prayed for you even before we knew you - even before your were assigned to us. We prayed for a "good fit". We prayed for someone who would love Fig. We prayed for someone professional, knowledgeable, and exceedingly capable. We prayed for someone friendly... for someone nice and someone FUN! We experienced Ephesians 3:20 God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. You are more than we could "dream up." We are thankful for you and your commitment to the children you work with.

I know that you have many more children that you see weekly - many more that you have seen in the years before meeting Fig, and there are many more to come. But you have made us feel special and loved, as if we were your only client. We will never forget you and the miracle God has done through you in Fig's life!

We love you,

Karen

God changed me

2008-10-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

Bob Barnes came to Providence and held a 3-day conference on parenting. As always it was wonderful... convicting... but wonderful. He said many things that I had heard before, but needed to be reminded of. If you know me, you may have heard me say this: Don't be your child's consequence. This is one of the most powerful things I have ever heard on parenting. When I first heard it, years ago, I knew that God was using those words to change me. I tend to be a "yeller". When I yell at my children, I become their conseqence or punishment. I know this but tend to forget it when I discover peanut butter smeared into the carpet or when someone leaves their math binder at home....again. Bob Barnes gently reminded me that I want to be their Mommy, who is just as bummed as they are when they "blow it" and will be IN the punishment with them. "Oh No! Rosebud, I'm so sorry you forgot your binder again. Phooey...I LOVE to watch you play basketball and I will be SO disappointed that we have to miss your game. (No basketball is the predetermined consequence) I will stay home with you while Daddy takes the others to the gym. I'll even help you write an apology email to your Coach." Doesn't that sound much more effective than angrily yelling?
[By the way, Rosebud didn't really forget her binder or have basketball taken away...it's all good with Rosebud]

The second nugget I came away with from the Bob Barnes conference involves prayer. He said something about sitting on the edge of his kids' beds at the end of the day and spending a few minutes with them saying goodnight. During this time, the children tend to open up and share things about their day, their thoughts, and feelings. I was convicted. At the end of the day, I am looking forward to bedtime and having a few moments of quiet before going to bed myself. Unfortunately, I tend to hurry through the nighttime routine and rush them off to bed. Sometimes, I'm so busy with laundry or packing lunches for the next day that I will just let John handle it all. Well, John is out of town this week and it is just me. God has nudged me to seize the opportunites at bedtime and spend a few minutes lingering with each one of them. It has been precious time.

The first night was a little awkward. The thirteen and twelve year old are probably thinking, "What's up with Mom?" So in the awkwardness, I asked them if I could pray for them. No way would I have thought that up on my own. God put it there. How sweet to pray for them. Here is the quiet miracle that happened. I thought it was going to be for them...this whole thing...spending time on their bed...listening to them talk about their day...all for them. But it turned out to be a gift for me.

Our week has been sweet.
God changed me.

Big Brother

2008-09-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Mojo started Kindergarten this week. She was ready. Actually, she was more than ready. I think she was ready a couple of years ago.

Bucket was so proud to show her around the school and be the one "in the know". It is just the two of them at the elementary school and he feels in charge. During the open house I enjoyed watching him introduce Mojo to the PE teacher, to Mr. Jones, head custodian, and to the principal.

So, naturally, on the way to school that first day, I had a little chat with Bucket. I was feeling a little nervous about leaving my baby girl. I pumped him up about being the big brother and how it was his job to look out for lil sis. "Bucket, when they make the announcement for car riders and you come downstairs, look around and make sure Mojo is out there. She may not remember the carpool number." He answered with a confident, "Yes, Maam!"

Fast forward to 3:30. School dismisses at 3:45 but I am already in carpool line because I can't wait to see them. The doors open and the kindergarten teachers escort the new kindergarteners outside ahead of everyone else ... I guess so that they will not be trampled. There she is...smiling from ear to ear...precious!! Mojo climbs in the car and begins telling me all the details while we wait for Bucket.

We wait and wait and wait. No Bucket. He is called by the staff several times and yet he is no where to be seen. After waiting at least 10 minutes, he emerges from the school, pale as a ghost. I watched as he spoke to a teacher's aide and it suddenly hit me. He was looking for Mojo. I yelled out the window (sophisticated, I know) to let him know that Mojo is in the car. He came running and climbed in.

As soon as his rump hit the backseat and the 5th grade safety patrol kid closed the door, he exploded into tears. Bless his heart. He had been searching every kindergarten class for Mojo and couldn't find her. He was so upset. I did the best I could to reassure him and tell him he is my hero. Did I put too much responsibility on him? Was I expecting too much?

I'm not sure the answer to those questions. But what I DO know...Bucket loves his lil sister. I do not need to worry about sending my baby girl to school. She is the most protected and cherished lil sister at JG elementary school.

I'm Taking a Poll

2008-08-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

I have a sweet, precious friend who pulled me aside recently and gently informed me that the abbreviation I used for Emergency Dinners in last months post was also widely used as another abbreviation. I was completely shocked. It never entered my mind. We laughed. Of course, this particular friend ALWAYS has me laughing. She shall remain nameless.

So... I need to know. Am I the only clueless one? Did it occur to anyone else? Please respond to the poll to the left. If you answer yes, please comment to this post. I want to know if you REALLY know or just THINK you know.

It's been a while!

2008-08-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

(Norma...is it "a while" or "awhile"?)
It's been a month. You cannot imagine what has happened in that month. I'm still trying to keep my nose above the waterline. Instead of catching up on what's been going on with our household, I will share an original poem by Scooter:

Where I'm From

I am from endless laughter

lost remote covers,

nowhere to be found,

and broken Christmas ornaments.

I am from "goodnight"

special days every year

from New Life Camp,

my second home.

I am from "Shoo!" and "Bless"

sniffing mildewed washcloths

sweet potato pie

bursting with toasted marshmallows.

I am from scrunched up cheek kisses

Providence Baptist Church,

What Not to Wear,

memory verses and "the corner"

searching for pacies.

I am from Easter egg trails

overflowing with jelly beans

artificial trees, and

waiting at the top of the stairs.

I am from Grammy and Poppy

Maw-Maw and Big Dad

from never-ending dancing

and talent shows.

I am from turnip greens

doused with vinegar

carless garage,

skinned knees, and Jon and Kate plus Eight.

I am from "can you squeeze my feet"

Coke and playing in the rain

from big bellies, Sunday lunch

and NC State.

I am from "Goodnight JohnBoy"

coin collecting every time we get together

and "Guess What?"

I am from endless blood

my Dad has shed

from popcorn kernels

and sticky peanut butter

scattered throughout the house.

I am from Rudinos after church

and SweetTarts

passed

down,

t h e r o w.

I am from twelve passenger van

that takes me over the "BUMPS!" in life

from "What's in your mouth?"

and sweet dreams.

Emergency Dinners

2008-07-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of meals that I consider Emergency Dinners. You know what I'm talking about, right? It's 5:00 and you realize that you forgot to defrost anything. There is nothing in the crockpot, nothing on the stove or in the oven, nothing ready for the grill. AHA!! You can fall back on your emergency dinner. One of my EDs is rice and beans. I always have the ingredients on hand. Rice served with black beans (canned), corn (canned), salsa, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Open a can of fruit as a side dish and voila...a quick meal.

What are your EDs? Please share. As busy as life is, we need to have a couple of these to pull out of our pocket.

Twice As Nice

2008-07-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

My sister, Michelle and I bought a business about 6 months ago. It is a biannual consignment sale of gently used children's clothes, toys and equipment. Our first sale is coming up a week from Friday. Yikes!! We are both excited and a little nervous.

The best thing, so far, has been watching God work. He has smoothed a path for us, guided our steps, and protected us from missteps. He has blessed us BIG!! I don't know what next weekend holds but I trust Him to show up.

We have had some interesting experiences like the man who demanded that we repaint his mailbox because the flyer damaged it. Michelle did a fine paint job. How about the evil birthday clown who emailed me a nasty message? What's that all about? We ignored him...clowns scare me.

But mostly we have had wonderful experiences and have met fantastic people. I feel like I have a new friend...Cary. She is the owner of a newsletter called Social Butterflies. Precious!! I have only met her via email but she is a light for Jesus. I knew it before she ever told me.

The highlight up to this point: Working with my sister. She is smart and funny...no, make that hilarious.

So...that's what I'm doing this week...working on the sale.
www.twiceasnice4tots.com
If you are in Apex Aug 2nd, stop by and shop or just say hello.
If you see an evil birthday clown...RUN!

Mojo

2008-07-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

Mojo is our 6th blessing. No other child on the planet has a more sunny disposition. Take a look at this video and see why she is our Jolly Mojo.

Buie Farms

2008-07-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

John's family has a farm in Robeson County. We spent the day there today. What a wonderful trip. We had a great time experiencing the farm and hearing all about the places where Grammy grew up. (We also visited Pembroke where Poppy lived...very cool!)

Uncle John (Grammy's brother) graciously showed us around, taught us new things and even gave the children a ride on the tractor. No one enjoyed the tractor ride more than Fig. He loved it!!

Bucket and Cousin "C" (my nephew) had a blast...literally. If they honked that tractor horn once, they honked it a hundred times. Uncle John was very patient with us. The boys will never forget it.

Another highlight was finding arrowheads. They are plentiful in the fields. The children found arrowheads and Indian pottery pieces.

The children love spending time with their cousins. Cousins "L" and "C" went with us and we enjoyed the opportunity to be with them.

Uncle John taught us a lot about corn and cotton. The wheat had already been cut. (This year was a bumper crop!). They also grow soybeans.

We arrived home tired but happy!
Thanks, Uncle John, for a great day on the Buie Farm!

Thanks, Poppy and Grammy...Great idea!

Memories were made.

Molly was curious

2008-07-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday mornings are a huge adventure. Getting 9 people awake, clean, fed, and dressed all at the same time is no small feat. By the grace of God we manage to accomplish it every week. This morning we pulled up to Providence Baptist Church at 9:30. Ahhh...on time to boot.

After LIFE classes at 9:30, we all attend the 11:00 worship service except for Fig. He stays in the children's ministry until we head home. We almost fill an entire row in the worship center and usually sit in this order: starting from the aisle seat... Bucket, John, Karen, Molly, Scooter, Rosebud, Triple H, and Banana. It's a good plan. The "little ones" are seated next to an adult, John and I get to sit next to each other (big smile), and the rest are big, little, big, little.
It's a good plan if we stick with it. This morning we were completely out of order. John, Karen, Mojo, Tripe H, Rosebud, Bucket, Banana, and Scooter. "What's the big deal?" you may be asking yourself.
Well....
Bucket, in a rather loud voice, says from his seat at the other end of the lineup..."I have to go to the bathroom REALLY bad, is it almost over? (Don't forget 7 year old boys usually accompany this comment with a visual aid...hand firmly clamping the appropriate area... and a few hops and bounces for dramatic effect).

Banana and Mojo leave the worship center during special music to go to the bathroom. (If only they had invited Bucket...sigh!)

Mojo created a masterpiece on the worship bulletin and in the process got black ink on her hand-smocked dress.

My favorite: When the Lord's Supper was served everyone took a cup of juice from the tray except Mojo. She is not quite ready to receive the elements. She watched Triple H carefully, probably wishing she could participate in the "snack". As I was solemnly watching the deacons finish up the distribution, I heard Mojo ask Triple H, "Can I just smell it?" The entire row behind us erupted in giggles. It really was the cutest thing to watch her shoulders rise as she sniffed Triple H's grape juice. If she couldn't receive it, at least she could smell it.

Next week, we will be in our assigned seats.
C'mon and join us. John passes out Sweet Tarts. You can have one if you stay in your seat.

Monkey Munch

2008-07-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is our family's favorite new snack and it is super easy to make. In fact, the kids make it by themselves. That's my kinda snack!

Monkey Munch as seen on Jon and Kate plus 8

9 cups Chex cereal (any variety)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cut butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Put chex in a large bowl and set aside.
Place chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter into a quart-sized microwavable bowl.
Stir ingredients together.
Microwave the mixture uncovered for a minute on "high". Stir the mix again and continue to heat in 30 second intervals until it mixes smoothly.
Add vanilla and stir.
Pour over the cereal while stirring.
Put combination into a 2-gallon Ziploc freezer bag.
Add powdered sugar, seal the bag and shake until distributed.
Spread Monkey Munch out on wax paper to cool and dry.

Be prepared. It is very addictive.
YUM!

It made my day!

2008-07-10T16:39:00.000-07:00

I do not particularly enjoy grocery shopping. My technique is usually pretty simple. Get in. Get out. Nobody gets hurt.

Today, I had a different experience. As I was finishing up business in the checkout line, a young man caught my attention. I would say he was about 18 years old and working at Harris Teeter as a bagger for the summer. Why did I notice him among all the other 18 year old baggers at the grocery store?

He was helping a mother with a toddler in her cart out to the car and he was making goofy faces at the baby. I know....it's a little thing...but it made a huge impression on me. How often do you see teenage boys eagerly and persistently trying to coax a smile from a baby? In public no less? It seems to me that young adults are usually so consumed with what they will do when they get off work or too concerned with how they look to others that they would never be comfortable engaging a small child.

It was sweet. I have thought of that scene several times today. What a thoughtful young man. I want to raise boys like this. Let me rephrase that. I want to raise men like this.

Super Summer Adventure

2008-06-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Super Summer Adventure is my church's version of Vacation Bible School. Today we completed our week of crafts, Bible lessons, snacks, games, and fun.

I'm pooped...worn out...exhausted...wiped out...tired...and happy!!

What a precious group of children. My favorite new friend is Quandre. He is a delight. Everyday, he walked into our room and lit it up. He shone brightly with enthusiasm and friendliness and just plain joy.

Would I have met Quandre under any other circumstances? Probably not.

Would I have sought him out in a crowd? Probably not.

Does he look like me or my family? Not particularly.

Does he go to school with my children or attend my church? No.

But that is the beauty of God working in our lives. He brings people to us that we need. People we need to refine us. People we need to enjoy. People we need to serve. People we need to encourage. People we don't normally "hang with".

Thank You, God, for Quandre and thank You for bringing him to me this week at Super Summer Adventure. I needed him and You knew that.

Who will you bring tomorrow?

Blankies

2008-05-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

My son has a blankie. He loves it. This blue and yellow square of fabric has been well-loved and carried everywhere. It shows it and smells it.
I love to watch him love it. He cradles it in his arms, hugs it, strokes it, rubs it between his fingers, chews on it, smells it and never shares it. He especially enjoys one particular corner that is a darker shade than the rest of the blanket and has a worn-through spot from his incessant rubbing. When he is comforting himself and trying to fall asleep, I enjoy watching him savor his beloved blankie.
I've noticed something interesting. When he is hurt and John and I are trying to console him, just the mention of his blankie is comforting, even before it is within sight. Blankie makes everything alright. Blankie brings immediate peace and comfort.
Jesus should be my blankie. If only I savored Him the same way my son savors his treasured blankie. Why don't I immediately turn to my Jesus when I'm hurt or scared? He brings immediate peace and comfort. Why don't I spend that quiet time relishing my Jesus, allowing Him to rock me to sleep?