an angel of encouragement

I encountered an angel last evening. Aren't angels sent from God to encourage us? If so, then it was an angel. We were headed down to Sam's Club and a few other stores and needed to get dinner ahead of time. We had decided to go to a mexican restaurant on what is called "The Miracle Mile". (No clue why it's called that. It doesn't appear very miraculous to me.) Anyway, at the last minute we remembered a restaurant that we hadn't been to in a long time called Bernie Murray's. (If that restaurant was on the Miracle Mile, this story would be a bit more interesting, but it's not.) They have some great wings and a fabulous Antipasto salad.

We tried to enjoy our meal while helping the girls eat and trying to keep their sounds to a dull roar. It's always stressful, as any mom would know, to keep their children controlled in a restaurant that is not child-specific. Between Catie asking to get down when she is done eating (which we do NOT allow), to Lydia refusing to use words to ask for ANYTHING, to Miriam needing to occupied and dropping her toys every few seconds it's difficult to keep that sound down. I fear we interrupt the meals of those around us more often than I would like.

Toward the end of our meal a couple who had been eating at a nearby table got up to leave. As they walked past our table the husband spoke to us and said that our children were very well behaved. The wife commented that they are always a bit scared when they enter a restaurant and see small children, but ours were very good. This compliment was punctuated by the fact that we were there before them. I thanked them for telling us.

It meant a lot to me in light of the week I've had.

Then after James came back from taking the girls to the restroom to wash their hands another gentleman spoke to him and said he is a good father.

Angels. All of them.

If you want to be an angel, make a point of complimenting someone on the behavior of their children. It will make their day.

days off vs. time off.

I have been complaining that I don't get time off. I know, I know...I chose this life. Being a stay at home mom is the hardest thing I've ever done, and since most of you who read this are mom's and many of you stay at home, you understand what I'm talking about. I feel blessed to be able to do this, but there have been times when I would rather go to work OUTSIDE the home. Then I remind myself that what I am doing has eternal value. Plus, how would I get anything done if I'm away from home for 8+ hours of the day. There would still be dishes, laundry, cleaning, playing, meals, etc., etc.

James just got done with 3 days off. This new schedule doesn't give him many days off so it was a blessing to have, but I got grumpy at the beginning of the weekend and began complaining that I don't get time off. (and forget about getting a day or a weekend off.) There was no end in sight to my days of work...that's discouraging.

My perspective is ALL wrong though. I say that I view our marriage as a team effort, but I don't see him as part of the team. Even when he is home I consider the girls my responsibility. I consider the cleaning my responsibility. I consider everything MY responsibility. This isn't right. He reminded me that when he is gone the house and everything in it is 100% mine to care for, but when he is home, I get a bit of a break....I don't have to do EVERYTHING on my own. We are a team and he is here to help wherever he can. And he does, but the problem has been in my own head.

So, I'm turning over a new leaf. It may not be a New Year's resolution, but it's a change. When he is home I won't allow myself to try to do everything. I will rely on him more to occupy the girls while I do dishes. Or to pick up Miriam when she is fussing, so I can finish folding laundry. My time off happens when they are sleeping and I will use that time more wisely so that I can handle the rest of life when they are awake.

This is life and I better just get used to it or I'm going to be miserable for a very long time.

teaser pics

I don't have a whole lot of time on my hands right now. It might have something to do with the 3 little girls that won't stop calling me "Mommy". :-) But I wanted to give you a small taste of our

Christmas happenings, so here are a few cute pictures.

We went to Mima and Papa's house on Christmas Eve to exchange gifts with the Brewster family, but first the kids had to go sledding with Papa. Catie was the only child who didn't end up in the creek and Lydia was the only one who responded with hysteria. I don't know how far in the icy water she got since I was indoors and my dad couldn't give a straight answer, but she is fine. Although, she refuses to go sledding again.

I love (LOVE) The Children's Place store, which is where I got these adorable outfits for the girls Christmas dresses. This picture was used as our Christmas mailing. If you need a picture of my girls and weren't on our list of recipients just let me know. Everyone should have one of these pictures in their home. :-)

Pictures are difficult. Lydia does NOT enjoy them and the whole experience ends with me yelling "SMILE!!" at them while they stand crying or stunned or both. haha. I hope I'm not the only mom who is so adamant about getting the perfect picture that I end up making my children miserable in the process. It didn't help the situation that all the girls wanted was the gross gingerbread house candy and we kept having to say "no" b/c we were putting it on the house. Why do I torture myself with trying to do a gingerbread house with small children?

And just b/c you've made it this far I thought I'd include a picture of my sister Aaron with Miriam. My girls ADORE their "en-en".

to drink or not to drink...

I know, I know....you have your own opinions already and you probably don't care about mine. Well, to that I say: Don't read my blog then. I have been thinking about this b/c James and I are becoming members of the Wesleyan Church (as soon as he finishes filling out some information). The Wesleyan Denomination is one that is close to my heart and when we participated in the membership classes recently it was confirmed to me that I actually DO believe the same things the Wesleyans believe. I always thought so, I had just never read the Wesleyan Statments of Faith (or whatever it's called).

James and I both grew up in this denomination, but we took very different paths in life. He took the path of alcohol and spent years in bars. I, on the other hand, have tasted alcohol a total of 6 times and have not enjoyed one drop. It tastes like cough medicine. I think it goes without saying that my husband no longer drinks*, but I said it anyway. We talk of this often in light of the fact that so many friends and family members drink on occasion. And some, like those buddy's he used to drink with, consume alcohol much more than occasionally. Here is an article he found recently that makes some good points.

I guess if you want to drink, no amount of logic/reasoning/arm-twisting is going to convince you to do otherwise. This does not mean I love you any less or that I think God loves you any less. That's for Him to decide. And, besides, I'm not posting this to convince you that my opinion is right or that you should change. It's simply for the sake of discussion and thought.



*the drinking that i am referring to is the consumption of alcohol, lest you believe that my husband is significantly dehydrated.

i miss us too.

i'm still alive. I didn't fall off the face of the earth (yet). I miss blogging, but it takes FOREVER and a day to upload pictures onto this thing and I don't have that kind of time anymore. Between Thanksgiving, 3 kids, getting ready for Christmas, 3 kids, James's random schedule, and did I mention 3 kids yet? well, with all that going on I've been absent from blogger. I'll be back soon. In the meantime, if you need a Catie/Lydia fix, so to my sister's new blog. i'll update pictures soon. i promise.










Ok, nevermind. you convinced me. i'm awake anyway.



this is how the girls like to watch tv.

my first blessing is 3

3 years ago on November 3rd I gave birth to my first baby girl. She has brought so much joy to my days since then. I have loved watching her learn and grow. I was surprised when she began walking at 9 months and even more surprised when she was talking in sentences at 20 months. She has always been an intelligent little girl with a sweet, sensitive spirit. She is a great big sister and a big helper to mommy. She is tempermental and frustrating, but when she looks at me and says "mommy I love you THIS MUCH", with her arms stretched as far apart as she can possibly get them, it melts my heart. I love her when she flashes that cute little girl smile after saying something unexpected and then laughs b/c she knows she's cute. I love her when she asks for "Power", wanting me to play the song "Power In The Blood" by Selah. I love her when she tries out a new word and messes it up just a little bit. ("Mommy, I need something to contain [entertain] me.") I love her when she sings "the deer song" ("Doe, a deer, a female deer...."). I love her when she prays before meals, thanking God for the food and asking Him to "bless it to our bodies". I love to hear her pray at bedtime and thank Jesus for "all of us". And i love when she has to tell us (every night) that "today is friday and daddy doesn't have to go to work and I love my room/windows/bed/music and we never painted my butterflies and I love you. mwah. bye."

My sweet Boogie, you bring joy to my life daily and I thank God for you. Thank you for your sweetness and your love of life. My prayer is that I will be the mommy that you need and you would grow into a beautiful, independent daughter of the King. I love you THIS MUCH!!!!!

Breakfast fit for a birthday girl. It's no worse than donuts (according to daddy). James also brought home a bouquet of Gerber Daisies.

This was dessert at lunchtime. 3 candles made it a birthday dessert. :)

yep...My Little Pony was the theme of her birthday party.

This was the real birthday cake, although I think we may have stumbled onto a good birthday tradition...candles at every meal. It just seemed to make the day (all day) a little more special.

I made this:

It's potpie and it's delicious!!! And because I'm a generous person I'm going to share this recipe with you...all 3 of you. I hope you make it too.

2 cups cubed meat. I used ham, but the recipe calls for chicken and also suggests turkey.

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables, thawed

1 can (18 1/2 oz) ready-to-serve cream of potato soup

1 refrigerated pie pastry.

In a bowl combine the meat, veggies, and soup. pour into a pie pan. roll out pastry on top; trim, seal and flute edges.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

This can also be frozen. I haven't tried to do this, but I will include those instructions and you can let me know how it goes when you do it. ;)

Remove frozen pie from freezer (or the cabinet if that's where you keep your frozen foods....doesn't it seem strange that the instructions would actually tell you where to get it from?) anyway.....Remover frozen pie from the freezer 30 minutes before baking...do not thaw. cover edges of crust loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees (I don't know how to make that little circle symbol so i have to type out "degrees".); remove foil. Bake 60-65 minutes longer or until golden.

mmmm....ENJOY!!!