Election Day

Warning: This is a post that requires a vote.

I have a mannequin that is naked in my sewing room, and she told me that she is in desperate need of some advice. I would like to dress her, one day a week, for a post about Modest Fashions. I thought that it would be fun to give her a makeover and hide her curves with some of the skirts and Goodwill clothes that I have been finding or making lately. Cheesy? I can't decide.

So, give me your voice. I'll make it a little easier by giving you a multiple choice form:

A: "I can't wait!"

B: "This could be interesting...."

C: "I am not really into fashion."

D: "Spare us all."

or

E: Your own answer inserted here.

Feel free to comment anonymously.

It takes a village to raise a child, and...

It takes a neighborhood....

To can for my family.

Big Thanks to ......

Robin for corn and fresh veggies delivered to my door weekly.

Christy for her extra green beans from her own bountiful garden.

Doug's for basket of raspberries that I made four PRECIOUS jars of jelly.

Amber for sharing her grape juice (NOT CONCENTRATE) from grapes off of our dilapidated vines that I was too lazy to pick.

Marilyn for sharing some jalapenos... mucho gracias...

But, most of all, Mama Lucille....

for tomatoes, peppers, pickles, and canning all of my jars.

Even though I show up at your house at 2:00 and ask you to can beans when you are leaving to go camping, do you still love me?

Because I love you. Thanks big time. IOU.
One of my PRECIOUS jars of jelly is headed your way.

Laurie and Maddie: If it makes you feel any better, the cat has found it's spot. I think it is adjusting well, despite the wide eyed stare and refusal to look me in the eyes. You named her Black Eyed Pea, but I would like to shorten it. I don't like Blackie, nor do I like Pea-Pea. I can't remember if you said it was a boy or a girl and I refuse to check it's gender. If it is a girl, I will name her Fergie, of course. And if it is a boy...... apl.de.ap.

Ephesians 6...

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth...

{Players}, be obedient to them that are your {coaches} according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart...

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil...

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness...

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all of the fiery darts of the wicked...

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God...

Finally, my {son}, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

The glory is His alone....

Purely for documenting purposes, I present you with my Gerberas.

Remember when I got them?

We're going on four whole months.

Still living, for all you doubters out there.

Not that I can take the glory, because I have watered them twice.

I will admit to you, I have had a rough summer. I worry about my boys. I worry about the future. I worry about our finances. I worry about what people think of me. I worry about worrying too much. It's an endless cycle. I have had many more days that I was a WORRIER than days that I was a WARRIOR.

And then today I walked out my front door and was confronted with my daisies. They are gorgeous, and I haven't touched the things. And I stood stock still when these verses smacked me in the face....

Consider the {daisies} how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Oh, yes He did. The Holy Spirit started calling me names.

At first I laughed, and then I hit my knees. It's true. My faith begins wavering and it is all downhill from there. As soon as I begin to doubt myself, Satan jumps in and starts shooting his darts and my Shield of Faith is not in place. And Satan wins that round.

But, thanks to my flowers for reminding me, that Satan will lose the war. And God will take care of me. And He will continue to send just enough rain to keep my flowers alive one more week.

But, wait, that's not all that God is keeping alive this summer....

These babies are thriving!

Sanctified Sunday

And on the seventh day, God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:2-3

This book is the reason that I am not starting Weight Watchers tomorrow. I am under strict orders on what I am allowed to spend money on for the next two weeks. (i.e. nothing)

Drew is into Hardy Boys right now. He found Nate's old stack and started in....

Finn wanted to take his skateboard for show and tell on Monday. That sounded like a disaster to me, but what do I know? I cut out a skateboard shape and let him go at it decorating with flames. He was entertained for two hours. Seriously.

We put the boys to bed at 7:45.
At 9:00, I peeked in at them....

and even the Black Power Ranger has to rest sometime.

Finn's First Day

I hope his teacher...

will let him see Drew if he needs to.

will allow him to draw if he gets overwhelmed.

will see if he gets too overheated on recess.

will give him a little one on one time if he looks confused.

will see the tears in his eyes if he gets them.

understands that he's a different personality than his brother.

knows that I've been praying for both her and Finn all morning.

First Timer

I did not decide to do a Not Me post because I am out of ideas for my blog right now. That might make you think that I am uncreative and uninspired right now....

I did not sneak upstairs on Saturday while Nate was cleaning the boys' room to check blog updates. I would never sneak around because I want to avoid Nate getting irritated.

I did not buy Finn skull and crossbones shorts for his first day of school outfit. That would be crazy to think that I feel sorry for Finn going to school so I bought him a piece of clothing that would make him "feel better." That would mean that I believe in Comfort Clothes almost more than I do Comfort Food.

I did not rip my absolute favorite skirt while rolling around in my sewing chair... and then I did not automatically think... "Oh well, Target still has them," because that would not be being a good steward. But then I did not patch it and think, "Ehhh, no one will ever notice." Because I would never wear something that has a 4 inch rip in it.

I did not tell my boys that they could keep two kittens from the garage, and then watch the mama cat out the window and decide to carry the kittens back outside because I felt sorry for her. I did not peek around the corner of the garage to make sure that she began feeding them again.

I am not dreading getting up at 6:00 AM, Wednesday morning. You might think that I have not gotten up that early all summer....

I did not take pictures of my own eye after I saw Pioneer Woman's picture of hers. I did not die laughing at my splotchy greasy skin and unwaxed eyebrows... And I did not vow to never never post that picture on my blog. Because my life is an open book and I share everything with you!

I have not let the thought cross my mind that I am looking forward to the quiet house when Drew and Finn go to school. No way, the thought has not occurred to me.

I have not been counting the days until my Amish Cinnamon Bread starter is ready. I haven't buried my nose in the bag for ten days smelling the fermenting sugar. That would just be weird.

The sermon we heard at church yesterday did not apply to me. I always fill my thoughts with whatsoever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtue, and praise. I had no idea what Pastor was talking about when he said to guard our minds.

And finally, I am not addicted to Facebook. My blog takes up enough computer time and adding more time to check FB seems ridiculous. I absolutely do not think that if I haven't checked it for six hours that I have missed out on somebody's news.

On these final days of Summer 2009...

We think it is important to spend time with our best friends doing the stuff we love...

Swimming
Shopping
Eating
Aaaaaand Football.

I make a vow to not do football posts all fall.

But bear with me for the first benefit game please....

We were all pretty pumped up for the Season Opening Scrimmage....

Even the referees.

Southern Hospitality

My Grandma Reese's 80th Birthday is this month and our assignment is to do a scrapbook page for a recipe book. I fixed a meal and took many pictures (65 to be exact) and I reflected on the many things I've learned from her. She was raised in the south and they live at the family farm in Northeast Ohio. They struggled, along with all of our grandparents, to support five daughters through droughts and her disability from polio. But the one thing that has always been important to her is hospitality. When you knock on her door, you can be sure that she will hand you something to drink and she'll pull out a chair on her ivy covered patio to chat for a while. Age is quickly taking from her the ability to pull all the weeds in her garden and keeping her roses trimmed, but you can be sure that as long as she is able, you will be made welcome in her home. I have learned some things from her, such as....

Make sure that everyone is holding a drink. A good hostess keeps the glasses full.

Homemade bread is the only way to go.

Garden fresh salads make any meal gourmet.

Search for the perfect recipe for the occasion.
And don't be afraid of ingredients that you don't have in your pantry.

Measuring spoons are not a requirement.

Polish your silver regularly. (This I don't do.)

Do not use disposable plates. These are enamel, but she always uses china.

Fresh cut flowers are a must!

And the fellowship that follows with great friends....

Well, that's just Icing on the Cake.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Romans 12:9-15

He does not take after me...

It must be football season. We dug out Facing the Giants and I boo-hooed my way through it, again. Tears came to Nate and I's eyes as we read this post. I never in my life thought that I would be a football mom, but for some reason, Drew loves it.

Whatever it is, whether it be high knees,

or bear crawls,

or hand-offs,

or wearing pads in 90 degree weather for two hours,

or tackling drills,

he just can't get enough.

As for Finn and me,
we'll just chill on the sidelines drinking Mountain Dew,
thank you very much.

Survival Guide

If you are responsible for five boys under the age of ten, you will need a checklist.

1. Establish dominance.

After watching Kung Fu Panda, they all learned the Yes, Master pose. And I was not above taking advantage of it.

2. Stock up on food.

Portable snacks (Gogurt, string cheese, pop, etc.) I fixed a 9x13 of Bubble Pizza, and they cleaned it out.

3. Keep the baby happy.

Finn was determined to be difficult all week. So if he wanted PB&J, he got it.

4. Encourage Christian music.



We listened to Toby Mac alllllllll week. This was a lot better than Boom Boom Pow which my boys somehow know all the words.

5. Memorize the words "Everything is not a Competition."

Whether it was putt-putt golfing or eating or jumping on the trampoline or belly flops, for pete's sake, their miniature testosterone's were in full force competition mode.

6. Don't try to get picture perfect poses.

It ain't gonna happen. Someone will throw a peace sign or stick out their tongue.

7. Keep track of their belongings.

These ten shoes were never all in one place at one time. We needed a full ten minutes to find our shoes before leaving the house.

8. Just give up on keeping your blog updated.

My apologies to everyone. I am well aware of the fact that my July posts are pretty pathetic.

9. Most of all, have fun and be safe.

I realize now how tense I was just making sure that all 5 were accounted for all week. I kept having adrenaline rush moments when I couldn't count all five heads at once.

I miss those crazy boys.