THE REASON

Mom's Little Laundry Helper

Well, she may not be able to fold and sort, but if you have to do laundry it helps to have this precious little one to look at and talk to!

Heart Overflowing

Before the baby came there, this lady used to spend a good deal of time at her piano, singing and playing. She used to draw and paint and read and write, but now she almost forgot she had any piano. The baby's cooing was all the music she cared for. And she left the drawing and painting and thought the sweetest picture in the world was that tiny, sleeping creature.......
~Little Threads, by Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss 1863

Why has my Mom dressed me like an elf????

Too Funny

Has Jenna been paying attention to Mom or what ?
(Jenna rubbed her nose raw with this cold, I have since taken her rag away and her mouth has healed)

A Lady and Her Cowboy : )

I am really thankful that Josh does not think that his sisters are gross! Janie Elise has loved him from the start. He is so sweet with her, and protective!

Want to get the attentiom....

.... of everyone who lives in our house?

Just say "Oh, what a beautiful smile!" and everyone comes running to see Janie Elise and her sweet smiles.

Happy Birthday Jessie

Isn't she just beautiful. That picture just captures the joy in her heart. I can't believe she is now a TEENAGER! When did that happen? I have to say she is the sweetest, most helpful and pleasant young lady. She has such a pure heart and a love for her family that is just a blessing. Oh, if I only had the words to express what she means to me and how she has totally changed my life. My little guinea pig, she has come through it all so gracefully. Hopefully all of those experiments will be beneficial to her brother and sisters : ) Keep a check on her blog to see the pictures of her getting pie in the face during her birthday lunch. She should get some pictures up soon.

A Moment of Grace

Janie asleep in the sling. (yes, she has baby acne)

As I was cooking supper with the baby in the sling, in the midst of many things undone, in what could have been a day full of frustration, I just felt so peaceful and blessed. This song came to my mind. I sat at the piano, with her still in the sling, close to my chest. She was so close that her little fuzzy head was easily kissable and I sang this song. I was just simply overwhelmed by God's grace and these lyrics express what I can't. Little Janie went sound asleep while I cried and sang, counting my blessings and being amazed by God's love.

I Am No Stranger To Grace
by: Kyla Rowland

My first thought this morning was of my great riches,
what substance, such treasures the morning did bring,
there was joy beyond telling,
a hope beyond fading,
I'm acquainted with all of these things.

cho: I am familiar with mercy,
known my share of victories,
covered with compassion every day along the way.
The sweetest love, there has been plenty
forgiveness when need be
I am no stranger to grace.

Praying this morning as I tried to thank Him,
His peace fell around me the same as yesterday.
Even though my tomorrows. may have sadness and sorrow
I will still be no stranger to grace.

Getting back in the swing of things.

Precious little bundle of joy!

Jenna is leaning to make biscuits (and a mess)

Ready for church.

Well, I don't have any deep thought provoking ideas to share today (it will probably be a long time before I do). Just a few pictures. Janie Elise is growing so fast. We are getting into our routine (slowly), it feels good. We actually went on an outing yesterday with the homeschool group. Josh does great with the baby in the car seat for rides. Jessie is an amazing big sister and helper in the house (that means a lot because we are really messy folks!) The best thing is the older children help with joy. They have yet to complain about it. I am just still at a loss for words when it comes to how blessed I feel.

Love

Here is a little mouth to kiss;
here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery.
Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worth all it will cost, since it is abode of a kingly tenant.

I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all.
Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mothers heart, welcome to her time, her strength, her health, to her most tender cares, to her life-long prayers!
Oh how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blest!”

Elizabeth Prentiss - Stepping Heavenward

And Here She Is!!!!

I have more pictures and I will tell about the whole thing when I have time.
Thanks for all of your prayers. We are so blessed.

My Favorite Time of the Year

I Love Fall!!!!

So, I was inspired by the weather to do a little blog decorating while waiting for the baby to come. Oh, waiting.......I just don't like waiting.

I hope you are enjoying the fall weather. I can't wait for the leaves to change. Surely little Janie Elise will be here by then!

It's Everywhere, It's Everywhere!

I just have to post a link to one of the best post I have read about modesty that proves just how desensitized we are to nakedness. What was not accepted by our Grandparents is now just nothing to the average person, even the Christian. I have seen Christian ladies come down the isle of their wedding wearing dresses that revealed what should have been saved for the honeymoon. I really wondered how the preacher felt during the ceremony. Just recently I was in a public waiting room and grabbed up a magazine just to browse. My son, who was eight years old at the time said "Mom, can you put that book down so when I look at you I can't see it?" I turned it over to see what he was talking about. It was a well endowed female in her undergarments and her "assets" were taking up most of the 8x13 page. He has been taught that this is going against how Christians should display themselves and how women should be modest. He knew very well that he should not have been seeing it and I was proud of him for bringing it to my attention. We don't have magazines like that in our home and he is not accustomed to looking at it on a daily basis, thank the Lord. You may think I am strange. Well, I think the bible calls it peculiar, but when I lay down at night I feel like I am doing all I can to protect my children's pure mind. It will not be long before they will be grown and have to make decisions on their own, I desire to lay the firmest foundation I can. These kinds of issues are a part of our daily conversations around the house. We want our children to understand why we teach them the things we teach and for them to know that we know that we are accountable to God for the way they are raised. Our handbook is His word.

Please click on this link and read the post. One Less Naked Person

Matthew 18:5-7

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Mark 9:42

42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Luke 17:2

2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Recorded three times.....it must be important.

Blessings!

Happy Birthday Cowboy!

We have been celebrating Josh's birthday most of this week, you see with Mom so close to the end of pregnancy we just could not do a party. So, he has had gifts brought by by family and friends and he was taken out two days with Poppa.....fishing, shopping for a new bike, and lunch. What more could a boy want? Well........this Ice Cream Cake was a good start!

We are so thankful for Josh. He is a hard worker and a compassionate son (you should know how many times he has rubbed my swollen feet without being asked, and he ends every prayer at night with asking the Lord to "let Mom have a good night"). Happy Birthday Cowboy, we love you!

Two peas in a pod!

Another cake made just for Josh with a Civil War scene. (Thanks Tara, your cakes are the best!)

Romans 10:13-15

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

This post is dedicated to my husband, who I admire, appreciate and love more than words could ever say. The picture above is him with our oldest daughter. They are preparing to go to church. This is the 3rd week of revival in a row for our family. I rarely have sent Greg to church without me, but late pregnancy changes every thing for me. Jessie loves to go with him and I think that is precious. I can count on her to talk his ears off on the long drive home tonight (all the way from Alabama) He is more tired than I have ever seen him. My prayer is that the Lord will give him the strength that only He can to preach these last 3 nights and then I pray that he will bless Greg with sweet rest and peace and time to just hang out at the barn and relax with me and the kids at night.

....and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?

I have witnessed Greg's calling and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God called him. I have heard the messages, I have seen the Lord bless him behind the pulpit. I know Greg enough to know that he would not do this just for show or position. I also know that his work is not in vain but as a wife and mother I know that I miss him during these revival meetings. I want people to appreciate his sincerity and his love for them and how he gives of himself to do what God has called him to do. That is why I am so thankful for the little church that God has placed us in. You can just feel the love they have for Greg and the rest of our family. It is a tremendous blessing to be a part of that congregation.


Lord, be with my husband tonight. Give him the unction of the spirit to preach the word and help me to be the helpmeet that I should be to help him on his way. Truly how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel.

Little Happenings

Jenna, with her new backpack (Thanks, Mrs. Tara). She loaded it with her things, got on her tricycle and announced, " I am going to Panama City!"

Reading time. Notice the blanket, I'll talk more about that in a moment.

There is nothing like Sunday afternoon naps. Jenna told dad, "Lets take a little nap." He was more than happy to do that with her.

My poor family. No, this picture was not taken in the middle of winter. I am sure that day it was around 100 degrees outside. Remember, I am 34 weeks pregnant. I walked down the hall and felt a heat wave coming from Josh's room and this is what I saw. That also explains the girls under the blanket. : )

I just love the everyday happenings. I think it is when I count my blessings the most. It is the normalcy of our days, just living life together, greeting Dad excitedly when he comes home, eating dinner around the table and enjoying a Daniel Boone movie all together at night that I am thankful for. Too many families are torn apart, too many Mom's and Dad's separated, too many children lonely and hurting. I am so grateful for our home.

Ahh....Pregnancy

Now, I could tell you how amazed I still am at the wiggles and kicks of this baby. Even if it is the 4th one, it is still incredible. I could go on and on about how blessed I am, because all kidding aside I don't know why I have been so blessed. I am truly the least in the kingdom of the Lord.

But, there have been some strange things going on. I used to think I had a good head on my shoulders. I am beginning to doubt.

Just how many times can one pay the payment due to AT&T Home bill to the AT&T Mobility bill and visa versa? If that person is me, I think this is the 3rd time....Time spent trying to figure out who gets what.....1 hour.

Did you know that the choir at my church can sing "His Love Lights the Way" to the tune of "Let My Life Be A Light"? They never even looked at my funny as I played this tune for them, they just sang their hearts out and never missed a beat. All verses!

How about when the pregnant piano player just changes keys in the middle of a song.....I am so glad that they love me!

And of course, the missing piano player......in the bathroom.

Did you know that the mortgage company don't really like it when you send them the tiny payment that was suppose to go to the next person on the list on your internet bill pay? So, why is it that my husband still asks me to pay the bills?????

My days are sort of foggy, please don't ask important things of me. The doctor told me at the beginning of pregnancy to eat well, but not to worry, the baby will get what it needs. I guess it needs some of my brain, because I seem to have lost a portion of it!

Happy Birthday Jenna!

My baby is three! Where does the time go?

Getting ready to blow out the candles.

Blowing out the pretend candles that came with her new play kitchen.

Playing dress up....who would have thought that my little girls would enjoy that old prom dress so much? Of course, when I wore it there were a few more layers on the bottom! I will not tell you how many years ago that was.

Of course, the little Princess needs her rest!

Amazing

We had a 4D ultrasound today. These pictures are just amazing to me, I almost cried when the image came on the screen. It just makes me that more anxious to get my hands on her and post pictures like the one on my friend Tara's blog. Just a few more weeks........

Right now she weighs about 2 lbs. 7 ounces.

Looks like she was getting tired of all of that poking!

Daily Bread

I wanted to share my recipe for homemade bread using freshly milled grains. I have to admit that lately during this pregnancy I have been buying store bought rolls and bread out of convenience but with the cost of food seemingly going up every week I decided that I better get to baking. We were consuming at least one loaf of bread and a dozen dinner rolls every day.

This makes 2 loaves of bread or 24-36 dinner rolls. I did one loaf and 12 Large rolls. I also use this same recipe to make hamburger buns.

First:
Mill 2 cups spelt & 4 cups of hard white wheat

Into mixer place:
3 cups very warm water (115-130 degrees)
1/4 cup dry buttermilk powder
1/4 lecithin powder
3/8 cup of extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup raw honey
21/2 TBS SAF instant yeast
5 cups of the flour mixture

Mix just a moment, until all is moistened and cover and let set for 10-15 minutes. ( Don't forget this and get too busy, it will come over the sides of the bowl)

Then add:
1 1/2 TBS Realsalt (sea salt)
1 1/2 TBS dough enhancer
1/4 cup gluten

Add remaining flour, cover and turn on the mixer. The dough should clean the sides of the bowl, mine usually does not at this point so I slowly add unbleached all purpose flour until it does. Knead on low or med. speed for 5-7 minutes trying to insure the gluten is developed.
Cover and let rise until double in size.

To shape into rolls I roll dough into a rope and tie it in a knot. Place on greased pan.
For bread just shape into loaf and place in greased loaf pan.
Let rise until double in a warm place. (I have the oven preheating and I sit the pans on top of the stove for the dough to rise.)

Rolls: Bake 10-12 minutes or until brown.
Bread: Bake 25-30 minutes or until brown.

This is delicious straight out of the oven with honey on it.
You can also make a big batch of smaller rolls and freeze them for another day. Just place in freezer after shaping. (Do not let them rise before freezing)

The Beach Bums

So Jenna just had her first trip to the beach and that is all she talks about. If you even say the words ocean or sand you will get a response from her. This is what she told my Dad in church Wednesday night, "When we get done singing this song we are going to the beach" : )



After supper it is either Putt-Putt or go carts.


Thanks to my parents for taking them and my brother and his wife for helping to watch over them. ( I am a little obsessive over them being watched, constantly!) I just don't do sand and heat very well while pregnant. : )

I am never surprised...

...at the ideas my children come up with. Josh wanted to bring a little outdoors in.




and another thing that never shocks me anymore is where Jenna can go to sleep.



Please know that I DO NOT leave her like this. I have always had to rock and sing my children to sleep so this has been new to me.

So this post is nothing but a little bit of our normal days, nothing special. Well, I take that back, they are all special.

Have a blessed day,