We are all Gods Dudes

A friend of mine way back from Junior High (Thank you Facebook) married a Pastor and he wrote a book.  How cool is that?  It gets even cooler, she sent me 3 autographed copies so that I can somehow formulate a devotional off this book and then give them away at MOPs.  Even cooler, right?  This is a great book.  It seems to come along side of everything else I have been learning about recently in church, couples Bible study and our MOPs Bible study.  It just fits perfectly.  Over this past weekend the thing that has resinated with me the  most has been "pressing on".  Crap happens.  Lots of really crappy things happen to everyone.  Leave them in the past.  Move on.  Press on.  Learn from them and leave them the heck alone.  Seriously.  If they linger, they will give us fear for the future. Do not let the horrible. awful, no good things from the past get in the way of what God wants for you. God is your biggest fan, He wants far better things for us than we can even imagine.  Crazy thought, right?  So, seriously, get over it, life is hard, it's going to keep being hard, but through trials come tribulation.  Good always comes from bad.  I can list countless really bad things that have happened in my life that have resulted in really amazing gifts.  Have faith and trust that God will take care of you and do not get in the way of Him helping you.

A while back I saved this devotion because I thought it was so great and so fitting for my family. 

Overcome Fear with This Devotion

By Julia Attaway, March 13, 2013

My son Stephen and I have been reading our way through The Golden Children’s Bible, and the other day we arrived at the shores of the Red Sea.

It’s curious how things jump out at you unexpectedly, even in stories you’ve known for decades. This time it was the words of Moses to the panicky Israelites: “The Lord will fight for you if you will be calm.”

Huh. If you will be calm. I scurried off to my own Bible and looked up Exodus 14:14. The NIV translation was a bit different: “The Lord will fight for you. Just be still,” but the meaning was the same: Anxiety isn’t going to win you any battles. It might even get in the way of what God has planned.

Most of us have occasions when we are trapped by circumstances, when we feel helpless or afraid. Even when the danger isn’t as intense as having chariots thundering down on us, fear can be truly paralyzing. It makes me stop to wonder: How different is a fear-paralyzed heart from a hardened one? The will of God can’t penetrate either.

I turned back to Exodus 14:14 and thought about it some more. This time I meditated on the first part: “The Lord will fight for you.” If the Lord will fight for us, why are we afraid?

A problem that has been giving me anxiety lately came to mind. I imagined it as Pharaoh’s army. Then I prayed:

Lord, move the cloud of your protection between me and my fear, and let me walk ahead confident that you have chosen this path... even if I don’t see how things can possibly work out. Amen

Since Friday, so not very long, I have been trying to remember to thank God for everything.  Every little thing.  I feel grateful. I feel good.  There are so many wonderful things amidst all the crazy to be thankful for. After all, I'm on Gods fridge! It's been helpful and has given me a sunnier perspective. Cheers to sunny days! So, my devotion on this book is still a work in progress, but it'll come!

This is what's up

I start a boot camp today.  I'm scared.  After Tanner and Carter were born I was able to lose weight quickly and without much exercise (read: I do not handle postpartum well.) Along with the weight loss, I lost what felt like half my hair, was also totally overwhelmed, and a wee bit envious of the other moms who bounced back so well after having a baby.  Since Hadley was most certainly our last child I thought nothing else but that would happen after she was born.  Except this time, I didn't lose as much weight with her, I was happier, and not totally as overwhelmed as I had been unless I was in a situation that made me anxious or uneasy. Then I was a total mess, but thankfully those seemed to be few. So here we are almost 3 years after her birth and I am unhappy with my body and starting boot camp.  I am going to get this body back in to shape the fun way, without the postpartum mess! I took measurements and pictures last night and cannot wait to see my transformation in 8 weeks!  I think doing this along with my lemon and peppermint oil will really get me looking good for the summer! 

 Our MOPs group had a Luau at church a few weekends ago and it was a major blast!  Tyler smoked a pig at the packing house which was a huge success! I'm super excited he knows how to do this, expect many more pigs at the parties we host!

 The kids have been enjoying the sun and helping me keep my car clean.

 I took Carter to Big Al's for a little one on one time with Mommy.  We had a fabulous time.  Good lunch, good conversation and lots of game time! I actually am thinking of taking him to Las Vegas.  Seriously, the kid has a lucky streak and a midas touch! He won so many tickets (1732) we felt like we bought the store when we were done.  It was kind of a childhood dream come true! 

 Carter had his spring sing for preschool Thursday night.  Adorable.  These little recitals warm my heart so much.  

 Tanner is doing so well with T-Ball and having such a fun time.  It is so cute to watch the kids play! The kids and parents on his team are wonderful! 

 We had the Sterlings over for dinner Saturday night.  We always enjoy them so much! Hadley is just in love with Kayla too! 

Saying that the brothers are into Legos right now is an understatement.  They can't get enough and I think it is so great that the two of them sit down and figure out the instructions together!

The Potty Trainer

Potty Training.  The words make me cringe.  I am not a fan at all.  However, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel as Hadley is the last little person I am going to potty train.  Tanner was easy.  Actually what I think was easy was the lack of judgement I had when he went through this.  No one ever made little comments that hurt me or made me feel smaller than them. Carter was probably an easy potty trainer too however I felt so inefficient and small by others during this period.  It was an odd feeling for me.  My confidence in the whole thing was gone.  I will never forget sitting with another mother whose child was a few months younger than Carter. I mentioned that I was going to start potty training Carter and she got this looks like I was behind the times and said (in what I felt like was a very uppity and snide way) that their child was "almost totally potty trained" while I was still struggling with it. It's silly that I even allowed myself and my emotions to be controlled by others. But I did.  I sat there with a pit in my stomach feeling totally down, disliked, and not a very good mom at all. Where was the encouragement?  Where was the support? Aren't we all moms here just trying to do the best we can? It was all I could do not to just get up and walk out.  

I promised myself that with Hadley I would not allow myself to feel inadequate or judged from anyone. So, I tried for 3 days to potty train this little precious cutie of ours.  No luck.  No luck whatsoever.  I wasted 3 days and was mad the whole time.  Well, not really.  I did get the bathroom painted a very pretty color while I was trying to get her to be potty trained. It would have been some awesome multitasking if I had completed both the paint and the potty training, but alas, just the paint was complete.   At least no one was there to tell me their younger child was already almost totally potty trained, right?  So I stopped. I'm not doing it if she isn't ready.  She wasn't ready and I was totally done painting.  A few weeks later, she was ready.  She did it all by herself too.  She took off her diaper.  She climbed up on the potty by herself and she went.  And she continued to do this. Of course we still have an accident now and then but things are great.  I even went out this morning with her for 2 1/2 hours and she did wonderful!  She used the potty in Hobby Lobby too! Yay!  I am so proud of her and I am especially proud of me for not getting "down" during the whole process.  

This is what happens when you spend a considerable amount of time in the bathroom! You go a little crazy and wear swim caps! How could I ever allow myself to feel anything but a great mom when I look at this adorable face? She now yells as she is running to the potty "Potty Trainer in the house!" And she raises the roof with her hands as she says that.  Hilarious. 

 Everyone is proud of Hadley!  Because we can't seem to ever be apart.  Ever. if she is in the bathroom going potty, we all are.  Privacy has no meaning in this house. Of course the cutest thing is that Hadley wants to tell the brothers every time she goes potty in the potty and they are just as elated for her if not more about the whole thing.  I just love the encouragement we've got going on right now, it warms my heart and is just what we all need. I love seeing what my kids come up with when I give them the time and space to fill with whatever comes to their sweet souls. 

 In the midst of all this Tanner is playing T-ball.  He has yet to have a game but he has had a few practices and team pictures.  Its going to be great! 

Hadley and Carter at Team Pictures!

 Everyone in this picture has on undies! Hooray!! 

Spring is here!

I'm happy to report that I'm figuring this Apple thing out.  It's getting easier and better for me!  Hooray!  I found my pictures, they all go into the cloud automatically.  I love it!  Easy no work back up for me! We've had a fun few weeks.  The weather is nice, Grandpa came to visit, and T-Ball started up. 

 The crew! I started a little thing where I make the kids dress up for school.  I know it might sound a little bit silly and I'm not sure how long I will be able to enforce this rule but the results have been incredibly positive.  No we are at the point where the boys do it themselves and are excited about looking handsome! They even put on Tyler's deodorant and aftershave too.  So cute! Melts my heart!

 4 kiddos in the bath! The conversation went like this; Tanner: "Mom, are cousins the same as brothers?" Me: "Aside from a few blaring differences, yes, cousins are the same as brothers." Tanner breathes a sigh of reliefs and says "Thank goodness because I want Chandler to be our brother." 

 Things get crazy, things get hectic, I get annoyed as much as I try hard not to. I've reinstated mandatory quiet time from 1-3 each afternoon and it has made a world of difference in my life. Thank God for Disney movies! We are watching them all! I have really been enjoying how NOT politically correct the oldies are, good for the soul and so refreshing! 

 Carter!

 Hadley

 We play a new game at night called Sardines in a can.  The kids have to lay on the rug and not move because they are all locked up in their sardine can.  They can only get up if we crack open the can (yes complete with hand motions and sound effects) It's been working like a champ too!  For some reason my calming lavender baths leave them crazy and ready to go running around like wild hyenas right before bedtime.  Sardines in a Can to rescue!  

 T-Ball is in full effect.  We have had one team practice so far, gotten all our gear and are ready to go!  First game will be April 22! tanner is excited beyond belief! The day of the first practice we had a little hiccup but it turned out to be such a great reminder for me.  Practice was at 6 Pm at Paramount which is across the street.  Easy. 6 p.m. is cutting it a little close but Tyler was going to be home by then so he would take Tanner.  Around 4:45 Tyler calls and is sitting on the side of the road by the fairgrounds because his truck just up and quit on him.  Now mind you it had just been in the shop for like a month with a repair bill the size of a mortgage.  I tried to stay cool and calm, but really it ticked me off.  There was no way he would be home in time to take Tanner.  I was doing it, and I was doing it with the two little guys in tow.  Easy. I get there and Hadley and Carter are being as good as two little kids can be at an elementary school playground and I am supposed to be helping Tanner warm up by playing catch with him.  I am trying to play catch with my 6 year old with a mitt in my hand.  I am not good at this at all.  I need Tyler.  I need Tyler and Tanner needs Tyler.  Boys need their dads.  For all intents and purposes girls need their dads too, but in this situation it really drove home to me how important Tyler's role is in the kids lives.  I am their mom and with them all day long so I feel like I'm super important.  I am important but I cannot even tell you how much I felt the importance of Tyler's role in the kids lives that night.  Thank God he showed up, not only because I am horrible at playing catch with a glove (not really any better without a glove) but because a fathers role is vital.  

 Lunch date with my boys at On the Border! This was right before we headed out to the airport to pick up Grandpa!

 Grandpa was here over the weekend and we played and ate and hung out.  We had a great time! 

 Tanner showed off his T-ball skills and Grandpa helped Tanner with his baseball!

....because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Where have I been?

So I have been MIA.  I realize this.  I have thought about this too and became plagued with guilt about it for about 30 seconds and then was able to push the thought away, quickly.  Its been winter for the last few months here.  Its been cold.  Its just been crazy.  It's also true when "the experts" say that a toddler (anyone under the age of 6) needs their mother once every 4 minutes.  Yes, every 4 minutes.  I'm not one of the biggest fans of "the experts" so I conducted my one quality controlled experiment in my house one day and it is true.  On average one of the kids called my name every 4 minutes.  Every. Four. Minutes.  That's enough to really slow things down a bit.  And since the computer is a source of fun in our home, if I was to get on it, so would everyone else and it became impossible to update the blog.  Our computer also bit the dust a while back and so I used that as a great excuse for a while!  Then we were so blessed to have been the beneficiary of a hand me down Mac from my uncle and so I used the excuse of "I have no idea how to use this crazy thing that is so not user friendly like the commercials say it is but it has a 24 inch monitor and looks amazing in our office so I want to learn how to use it so bad because it is cool" computer! So, slowly but surely with help from my Mac friends I am learning how to navigate this beast and having a really good time! 

So, this brings me to now.  Here I am.  Tyler and I spent last night alone in our own house because my mom took all the kids overnight.  It was pure bliss. We went out to dinner on a Thursday night and watched a movie uninterrupted.  This morning has been a quiet wonder.  The day is gorgeous, the sun is shining, I've got all the windows open already, I feel rested, and I am drinking coffee that is still warm.  It is truly peaceful.  So, the guilt of the blog came upon me and I thought now is my chance to give an update. Since New Years we have had lots of fun, done lots of lively and merry activities.  

We met the cold of winter head on and went skiing as much as we could.  It was so great!  Such a freeing activity that all of us did together.  Well, Hadley had to hang back but next year she will be there with us! 

I also turned 35 which to be honest scared me a bit.  That number seemed fairly daunting to me for some reason.  However, I rang it in proudly and loudly with friends and family! 

We registered Hadley for preschool next year.  This was a big deal, it means that all our children will be in school next year.  Tanner will even be in "Big School" as he calls it, which means he will go all day. This it is a huge turning point in our lives.  It is bittersweet however I know I will appreciate the days I have to myself!

The last week or so has brought spring to our neck of the woods.  my bulbs are popping up, I've got daffodils in the yard now, the sun feels warm, and I don't think I've run the heater for a few days now either.  What a welcomed reprieve.  Spring and summer are my two most favorite seasons of the year. Bring it on! 

I know we have done more in the last 3 months than I can remember.   Pictures to come later! 

Happy spring! Enjoy your day!

Finishing off 2012

We ended the year with Carter's preschool Christmas program and Christmas and New years Eve.  All were so much fun!

Here are the kids before Carter's Christmas Sing.

This is Pastor Tom from Carters preschool.  he is great, I think I could listen to him talk all day!

Carter walking in ready to sing!

 

Carter with is classmates!  All ready to sing his little heart out!

 

Carters teacher this year, Mrs. Lindemood.

 

His last years teacher, Mrs. Dockweiler

 

Tanner's 3rd year teacher Mrs. Sale!  Carter will have her next year.

 

Christmas morning!  Hadley woke the brothers up to tell them Santa had come to her house!

 

The toys were in the office....Santa was worried a child might wake up in the middle of the night!

 

And as I try to finish this, I am also in the middle of potty training and so New Years Eve will have to wait.......

A visit with Santa

 

We went and saw Santa this afternoon.  The kids have been so excited about Christmas this year, it is definitely our most exciting Christmas yet! Between looking for Frank, our Elf on a Shelf, each morning, to shopping for presents for each other, getting excited for Jesus' birthday, and all the other fun filled holiday activities; it has most certainly been amazing to see all this through their eyes.  I'm not really sure what it is this year, but things seem full of love and happiness and a pure zest for life.  I LOVE this time of year and I LOVE these 3 kids!

 

The boys were full of questions and advice for Santa.  He patiently listened to both of them ramble on about lots of exciting things! Hadley didn't cry this year which is a big step, she did however become totally silent and tight lipped with a bot of fear when it was our turn.  Luckily, she has two older brothers that filled Santa's ears with all the presents they thought she wanted.  This was an experience!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Pepper Jelly

 

This was my first time making pepper jelly! This was actually my first time canning without using a pressure canner-eeks!  I was a bit nervous! This pepper jelly recipe is so delicious and I wanted to give it to friends and family along with cinnamon rolls this Christmas! I also wanted to dump a bunch of it over a block of cream cheese and eat it with crackers!

 

It was a bit hectic in the beginning, all 4 of the kids were here, running (or scooting if you are Chandler) around and I was trying hard to stir constantly and watch the rolling boil, etc. Mission accomplished!

 

Mess accomplished too!

 

Jars hot and sanitized and kept hot in a 225 degree oven while I poured the jelly into them and secured the lids.

 

a 10 minute boil process in the canner.......

 

cooling and SEALING on the towel!  Hooray!  Success!

 

All the while the boys were getting on their ski gear because Bogus is going to open in about 10 days! Never a quiet or dull moment around this neck of the woods!

 

 

 

The World's Best Pepper Jelly Ala Tami!

 

2 red peppers, seeded, finely chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)

2 green peppers, seeded, finely chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)

10 large jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped (about 1 cup)

1 cup cider vinegar

1 pkg. SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin

1/2 tsp. butter or margarine

5 cups sugar, measured into separate bowl (See tip below.)

Make It

BRING boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
PLACE peppers in 6- or 8-qt. sauce pot. Add vinegar. Stir in pectin. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
LADLE immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 10 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing centers of lids with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)