Thankful List

God
Hubby
Kids
Family & friends
cookies
Automobile DVD players
Tummy panel in slimming jeans
Target clearance aisles
chai tea
Magic eraser
bear hugs from my kids
Mac n cheese
Poison control
Brothers
Tweezers
My home
Pet doors
Padded braziers
Garage sales
Peppermint shakes
Church
Laughter
Things to laugh at
Cool weather
Naptime
Having more than enough
Hearing my kids laugh
Chocolate
Warm pajamas
concealer
A warm Bed
Paid Bills
A worn Bible
Christian Music
A car that runs
My parents
food in my cabinets
and so many more.......Thank you most sweet Jesus for loving me!

Favorite Verses

In the next few weeks I am going to post thoughts on my favorite verses located on the left side of this blog. I am sure you are all super excited to see those!!!!

joe

Remembering Grandma

My Grandma(Mom's Mom) died Saturday morning. She had been sick for 2 weeks. She lived in a nursing home in Nappanee, but had been relatively healthy up until then. Here are some of the good memories I have of her.

She was a good cook-homemade pot pie and beef stroganoff are my favorites of hers.
Easter Egg Hunts and Christmas at her house
She loved Avon!
I have never seen her drive
She told me she prayed for me and my kids every day "I don't remember all their names, but I pray for them" hee hee
Holidays and birthdays were a huge deal at their house- gifts were her love language!
She sponsored me and Amy going to Costa Rica
We always called her Grandma Clifford-that was my grandpa's name-she never minded-I think I would have!
She always had a neat and tidy house with elf orange pop in the fridge.
She loved to crochet, but her arthritis was so bad lately she couldn't

I love you Grandma and I 'll miss you - See you in Heaven (with your brand new healthy body!)

Movie Review-Twilight

OK, let me set the stage. A theatre full of 12-16 year old girls and a few moms thrown in for fun. Lots of giggling, talking and screaming. The movie starts and Edward the main character comes out- the theatre goes nuts! I have to admit it was fun to go and see what Amy has been talking about for weeks. Now, I haven't read the books, but I read lots of reviews before I would OK her to read the books. She has also given me a play by play of characters etc, so I was in the know. Otherwise I think someone just going to the movie with no background would have been lost. It was obviously low budget, I think the sequel(s) will be much better.
On a side note, I couldn't figure out why these girls were so in love with a fictional character in a book. They didn't know what he looked like, and for goodness sake, he is a vampire! The movie made it clear to me. Edward is a gentleman, yet a monster, who protects the one he loves above all else. He shows great restraint and discipline, but above all protects Bella always. What girl doesn't want that? It led to good discussion with Amy about our Heavenly Father and the parallel with him. If for nothing else, it was worth the $20 for that!

This is my Fathers World

Has anyone else been humming these words from church this weekend? While driving up north to visit my grandma in the hospital it was on WFRN, and then it was on a friends blog yesterday. God reminds me of songs so often. Here are the words:

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,And earth and Heav’n be one.
This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,Came—a pledge of deathless love.
This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.No place but is holy ground.
This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roamWhate’er my lot,
it matters not,My heart is still at home.

Sticker Shock

I called IUPUI today to look into getting my Masters. omg! Not only was I already feeling too old, not smart enough, and just plain too busy and overwhelmed, but now I feel way too poor too. Praying for guidance and provision. I actually prayed today that if she didn't call me back (after the 2nd phone call) that must mean God doesn't want me to go back. I am pretty weak.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Monday Menus

Wow, how boring. I haven't blogged in a week. Here are more menus. Hee hee.

Monday- No Amy. She got the day off, and so did I(from my "real" job).

Chicken and pineapple kabobs with cinnamon barbecue sauce

carrot and apple slaw

red smashed potatoes with cheese

These yummy recipes were from a magazine and were YUMMY! The kids liked them too, especially the chicken. Who would have thought to put cinnamon in bbq sauce(except Laura Ingalls for Almonzo- I know wayyy too much Little house on the Prairie trivia!!) So sad.

Tues.

Sausages

Pasta and veggies

Wednesday

Penne Pastawith mini meatballs

salad
french bread

Thursday

Chili(we didn't end up having this last week)

cornbread/ corn chips

Friday

pizza

Weekend

leftovers

Monday Menus

Monday Amy's day

tuna melt

mac and cheese

salad and carrots

bananas

Tuesday- Grandma and Grandpa Here for Veterans day Program at school

Lasagna

garlic bread

salad

dessert

wednesday

chicken wraps(new recipe)

applesauce

thursday

chili

cornbread

Friday

leftovers

Saturday

homemade pizza

Yes, I do only make one meal for the family and I don't only make what the kids All like. It takes trying something 1o times sometimes to like it. We always have something that everyone will eat, no one ever goes hungry. They may not eat a lot, but that's all they get for the night. They have to try everything before they can get up. Sounds mean, but we feel like it teaches them to appreciate the things they have, and not to be too picky. For instance, in Costa Rica, Amy tried EVERYTHING we ate. She amazed the adults, the other teens were super picky and lost weight. Even if she didn't like it, she tried it. She found out she liked guacamole(it was so good there!) Not to say that this works perfect, but it does help stay out of the rut of eating the same things all of the time. Works for us.

Friday Five

From Wilcox blog, I know its late, I had a long day yesterday!
Middles:

1. What marks the middle of your day? I guess lunch, but kind of , when the kids get home from school.

2. When was the last middle of the night phone call? Joe sometimes gets these from his clients who drive semi's. They forget what time zone they are in. A little annoying, and always scares me.

3.On what social, political, economic, or moral issue are you in the middle of the road? I am quite conservative on a lot of views, especially moral and social. Education is probably my middle of the road - good and bad for both!

4. How likely are you to give someone the middle finger? Not sure I have ever given someone "the finger". If I were, it would probably be in traffic, on my way to work.

5.When were you last caught in the middle of a disagreement that really had nothing to do with you? Like Sarah, I am caught in arguments that have nothing to do with me, or quite frankly, anything, on a daily basis with the kids. On a grown up level, I have been caught in the middle of patients and their families before on issues of driving and their health care- not a fun place to be. Especially for someone who doesn't really like conflict!

Politics

May God bless Barak Obama.

May Barak Obama seek the One true God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth.

May he humble himself to see that God and God alone is ruler of all the nations.

May he realize that this True God loves him unconditionally.

May he understand that with power comes responsibility and there is no greater source of power than God Almighty.

May Jehova Jireh, My Great Provider provide Barak Obama wisdom for things that he doesnt even know he needs.

May we all understand that we serve the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who knows our fears and our failures. This Mighty God that we serve hears us at night, in the morning and during the day when we humble ourselves and cry out to Him.

May He increase our faith and our trust in Him and Him alone.

joe

Our little politician

We broke our rule and let the kids watch a little TV last night and this morning. We thought it was a good idea to let them watch history unfold. It was also Aaron's homework, to watch a little of the election coverage. Well, Annie got up and saw who had won the presidential election and didn't say a whole lot. Joe sent her upstairs to get dressed, I went in a few minutes later to check on her progress(she tends to be pokey). She was lying on her bed crying. I asked what was the matter, and she wouldn't tell me. I kept prying, no answers. I finally asked,"are you upset Obama won?" "yes" she wailed. I reassured that God was in control and we were not in any danger.(she had a discussion on the playground about an impending 9/11 if he was elected!) She said "I know, I just didn't want him to win." I kept trying to reassure her and I prayed with her to no avail. I finally left her to get dressed. After praying before getting on the bus, she looked up and said " can we move to Canada for 4 years?" What a kid? What does God have in store for her? I better watch it, I may be the mom of a politician someday!

Pretty pictures

You may see these in a Christmas card soming soon! which one do you like best? Vote now or forever hold your peace!

Halloween

Here are pics of the kids before going trick or treating. Amy-hippie, Aaron-Alphonso Soriano(Cubs player), Annie-Statue of Liberty, Andrew- Bob Sanders(Colts Player). Andrew is sure that he looks "just like" Bob Sanders. Now, Bob Sanders has black skin and dreadlocks. He was upset with me for not letting his hair grow so he could look more like him. Joe finally stated the obvious and said"But Andrew, Bob Sanders is black." He replied "Dad, nobody looks at skin color, only their hair." Sweet innocence, I hope he stays that way. He also doesn't like us calling people black, because they are really brown, he says. Too cute. We had a fun time, only went to our neighborhood, the Estridges(we are their only trick or treaters!), and a few houses when we dropped Amy off at a friends house. Joe and I have successfully picked out our favorites, and they have hidden the rest. The dog got a couple Reese cups, not bad, compared to Easter!

I voted!

Joe and I waited an hour and a half to vote. We did our civic duty. Luckily, we don't have to worry about getting persecuted when we leave the voting place, it is a true freedom we have. A very long line. When I picked up Andrew at school, there were few people at that polling place. My friend Linda didn't have to wait long either. I am going to try and post some pictures of Halloween, in another post. This is Annie's patriotic get up. Isn't she cute?

It is a beautiful day, one of the last of the season, so we are going to try and take some family pics outside after school.

Monday Menus

Monday-Amy's

Burgers on the grill(with Daddy's help)

Mac and cheese

salad

Tuesday

Tacos

Wednesday

Chicken Marsala

Pasta

green beans

Thursday

Chicken parmigiana

garlic bread

salad

Friday

Homemade Pizza

Weekend

Potato soup

I was sick this weekend and am now exhausted after working today, so I am hitting the hay early!

First, Here is a picture of Amy and friends at a recent bonfire. I thought it was a cool pic-looked like fun!

Politics

who am I voting for?????

I can get cynical, skeptical and analytical. Ask my wife, I can even do all 3 at once..... however I always seem to come back to who I trust.

Not who I trust with my wallet.

Not who I trust with my retirement savings.

Not who I trust with my insurance.

Not who I trust with my kids education.

Not who I trust with my career.

Not who I trust in a bailout.

Not who I trust in a war.

Not who I trust to make a good speech.

What I have learned in my short 39 years about politics is that all men are fallable and my God is sovereign. They can promise a lot in a series of 30 second commercials.

So I return to trust. I trust God and God alone. Men (including me) will fail. We will break promises. We will let people down. We will be shortsighted. We will overlook our own miscomings and enlarge others.

So I try to vote as knowledge and information allows. Who is going to use their position to make a difference in the way my Savior would approve? I know, that is very difficult question to answer. However, mine is only one vote and it is how I muck through the wonderful process.

"Oh God, once again I ask for your direction." Pray with us as Tuesday approaches.

Joe