what is love? baby don't hurt me, no more

this past week a terrible tragedy struck in a small town in Connecticut. 20 small children were taken to heaven. it struck a nerve for me because i have a little girl, princess, who is the same age as those children. I'm going to sound callous for a moment, please read til the end before you knickers get completely knotted up. how many children die every day from starvation world wide? how many die at their parents hands? how many sweet lives are stopped before they even take a breath? how many children are murdered in the war torn areas of the world? and why don't we mourn for them? where is our outrage over their little lives being snuffed out? do we as Americans feel this more because it "could have been our kid"? the hubby and i have been discussing this quite a bit since the shooting on Friday. I'm not trying to down grade what happened because it is horrific. what i wonder is...if we became outraged over all the innocents that die could we do more for the world. if we learned from what is going on all over the world could we change it? there have been a lot of misrepresentations on the news about the man responsible for this atrocious act. i have to say i am outraged about the way his mother has been depicted on the news. is she not a victim of this too? did she not lose her life too? how do we know she didn't try to stop him? do any of us really want to think our children are capable of something like this?

i have read several comments that "kids with those problems should be monitored" or "people with those kinds of disorders should be put away". really? what problems are those exactly? the news is throwing out that it was his "aspergers" that made him react that way. excuse me? I've known several kids who are on the autism spectrum and now I'm pissed that anyone would imply they need to be "monitored or locked up". do any of you know that is what Hitler did, yep i went there. he seemed to think if weren't perfect, his definition of perfection, then you didn't deserve to live. I'm sorry i can't go there. life is beautiful and the thought that a child should be locked up because there brain functions differently than yours enrages me. did the killer show sociopathic tendencies, maybe, but i once had a teacher use me as an example in front of the entire class as a sociopath. he seemed to think i was a classic case of one and he probably wasn't too far off the mark. i believe truly that each person chooses who we are. we can choose to give in to the past that wants to keep us evil, or we can find the peace that passes understanding and move forward. that's right i just put God in the mix.

i truly believe "that but by the grace of God go i." I've read the statistics of what i should be according to studies and psychology. the picture isn't pretty. a child of divorce that was raised in an abusive home that was abandoned at a critical time in her life. yeah, the odds were completely against me, but God had bigger plans. i raise my kids to know Him and i truly believe that if the world would take the focus off of "me, me, me" and "want, want, want" that we could change it. I'm often asked why we have so many kids, we only have 4, and my response is "i think that it is important to fill the world with intelligent Christians". I'm trying to put light into a very dark world. what if all parents spent a little more time hugging their kids instead of turning on the electric babysitters. what if we raised our sons to be gentlemen and our daughters to be ladies? what if we truly focused on our marriages and our families? the best way we can honor those lives lost in Connecticut is to raise our children in God's love. raise them to see the world through His eyes. raise them to be thankful for all the blessings we have.

i know that was quite a tirade, but i needed to get it out of my brain. i kept trying to type out my thankful list and it just wouldn't come. I'm feeling better for clearing my head, so if you are still with me and not wanting to string me up-then please feel free to join me for some thankfulness.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the ability to speak my mind- i am grateful that i live somewhere that i can speak freely about God and my faith. there are many who are put to death for such a thing

2. love- i am thankful for the love that God felt for me to send his son for me.

3.  my family- i am thankful that i am so blessed with the love that they give me.

4.  freedom- to live how i choose and worship how i choose

5. friendship- especially those that pray for me so regularly

6.  my hubby- tomorrow we will celebrate 14 years marriage

7.  my health- I'm getting healthier by the day and i am glad that God has given me the opportunity to do so

8.  cool weather- it is finally cool here

9.  hot tea- warms me up inside and out

10. the ability to cook- tomorrow we will buy everything needed for the tamale feast for Christmas

i am thankful that i get to share my love of Christ with all who read this

thank you, thank you, thank God for you

things are so much busier around here now that we have added another wee one to the group. how is it that time goes by so fast? she will be 4 months old very soon. my sweet princess is now 6 and my sweet lil man will be 3 in may. i think that it is imperative that i keep up with my thankful list, so that i don't let myself slip into the blahs.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. sisterly love- they had so much fun at blackbeard's on our trip to corpus during the short Easter break
2. good clean fun- the state aquarium has a new splash pad and the kids LOVE it. q was especially fond of the water cannons

3. the men in my life- these two finches are my favorite men. i am so blessed that q has such a great daddy

4. the little happy things- on our way to corpus finch surprised us with some yummy coldstone ice cream. the kids were elated

5. new discoveries- sprout, i think we need to figure out her blog name any ideas?, is developing all kinds of fun new things. right now fist chewing is a favorite.

6. family time- we took the kiddos to port aransas and they loved it. love to spend time having fun with the family

7. my kiddos- it is so easy to get frustrated with them, but i really don't know what i would do without them.

8. humor- only in texas will you find a drive thru liquor and gun store. we drive past this sign on our way to and from the beach.

9. firsts- this was sprout's first trip to the ocean and she really enjoyed the water. there are so many firsts in our lives and i need to remember to enjoy them all.

10. smiles- the princess loves the beach. when we went to aransas she was very excited that there were tons of shells on the beach, and she spent her whole time collecting and showing them off. we are planning a camp out on the beach, so she can get first crack at the shells early in the morning.

I'm learning so much these days. i really need to get back on here more regularly to share the goodness with the few of you who still follow. well, it's time to go grab the girls from school. i hope that everyone has a great weekend.

oh baby baby

wow, where does time go? the last bit of 2011 flew by for us. my sweet friend pattylicious had her appendix removed, so i drove up to keep her company while she was in the hospital. the 10 hour drive was not a lot of fun because i was very pregnant. my sweet hubby made sure the kids were well taken care so that i could make the trip. after that trip was monkey's 12th birthday, then turkey day, then Christmas was here before i knew it. i was so excited for 2011 to be over i could hardly contain my joy as the new year approached. i knew that our sweet sprout would be making her way into the world at some point in January, so the year already held an immense joy. at midnight my water broke and the new year brought a new little girl into our family. a quick thankful list while she naps and q watches little einsteins.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. big brothers- he is such a big helper and loves his sister so much already.

2. my hubby- he has been so helpful and i can hardly wait to see what the new year has in store for us.

3. snuggles- there has been A LOT of snuggling going on in the house the past few weeks


4. laughter- there has also been A LOT of laughing in our house the past few weeks.

5. church family- we have found a wonderful group of believers who have taken us in and welcomed us as family. some of the members watched the kiddos for us while i was at the hospital having sprout. the kids loved the bath at gigi's and grumpy's house

6. moving forward- the Lord is moving in our lives and pushing us forward to greater things. i can see where he has been opening doors and putting people in our path. i am so excited to see what he has in store for this year.

7. sisterly love- i have friends who are super close to their sisters, and i have to admit I'm a bit jealous. my sister and i are not close and we never have been. i pray daily that my girls will be friends as they grow.

8. baby noises- the sweet sounds that new babies make are truly gifts from God.

9. our sweet lil sprout- she was born at 7:57 am on 1-1-12. she weighed a tiny 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long. it was love at first sight.

10. the grace of God- He has showered me and my family with it and i am so thankful for His love, grace and mercy.

i hope that this year brings blessings and joy to you.

what if Your blessings come through raindrops

two days in a row, don't believe it myself. my picture thank you is for wee lil sprout. she's quite the active baby so far. below is my favorite picture from her sono. she looked like she was waving hi to us, she did this right after the kids were talking to her. they thought it was super cool.

since it is Thursday i need to do my full thankful post.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. laundry- being able to do this "chore" means that i am capable of being upright, walking and carrying things. that alone should make me grateful, but wait there's more..... it also means that i have clothes that need to be washed, how wonderful is that. I'm trying to look at housework through different eyes and seeing laundry as a blessing was step one

2. hot tea- i try to have a cup every morning to start me off on a calmer note

3. honey crisp apples- LOVE these apples. they are only available for a short time, so i try to eat all that i can when i can get them

4. my minivan- it seats all of us and is super comfy, love it

5. friends- what a blessing they are to me. words of encouragement and prayers when i need them. even better being able to do sweet things for them

6. yarn- my yarn stash has gone crazy, but I'm slowly using it up making things

7. learning new things- my sil sent me a spindle for my birthday and I'm so excited to try it out, now i just need some extra time in my day

8. kool-aid- not only do my kids drink it by the gallon, you can dye yarn with it. yep, that's also on my list of to do things

9. good food- we are cooking more and more at home. i forget how much better a good home cooked meal tastes than what you can get out.

10. good water- our water here leaves quite a bit to be desired, so we have been buying water. you know it's rough when you think someone has been cleaning with bleach because the chlorine smell is so strong from the water.

i hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend

i will sing a song of hope, sing along

howdy to those who still check in from time to time to see if I'm still alive. i am and i am one year older than last time i wrote. the last two months have been a..... time for prayer and for... holding close and tight to those i love. i have decided to list, in honor of my bday, a list of 32 things i am thankful for.





I AM THANKFUL FOR:





1. prayers- i have been blessed with many answered prayers this past few months. the fires didn't make it to our property, the issues at hand were solved, and the family is adjusting to where we are.





2. friends- this past year has been worse than rough and my friends have been there to pray for me and to cheer me on, even when i wasn't sure i would make it.





3. the baby- she's not here yet, but she will be before i know it. have i mentioned her due date is the day the ectopic pregnancy was removed? yeah, God works in mysterious ways





4. crafts- i have a couple of things planned for some special ladies in my life. those ladies that have prayed for me and cheered me on. yeah I've got a lil something planned for each of you





5. the cool weather- it was so cool this morning and it felt so wonderful. it's been too hot for too long here





6. tums- got to love heartburn





7. the ability to help others





8. the ability to let go and let God- this year has been full of these moments and i am slowly learning that it's ok to let go





9. kind words- there have been several times recently that it would have felt so good to lash out and be cruel, but instead i offered a few kind thoughts. not sure it changed the other person, but man did it make me feel better





10. silence- the self imposed kind. sometimes the silence between two people is needed to heal the wounds.





11. yarn- I've been crocheting and knitting nearly nonstop the past few months. i really should post some pics





12. laughter- it really is the best medicine





13. well behaved kids- it isn't until I'm surrounded by other kids that i realize "hey mine are actually pretty good"





14. feeding the ducks- the kids have enjoyed this tremendously. we have taken them several times





15. finding peace- I'm still trying to make sense of some of this past year. why people i thought were friends turned out to be... less that friendly, but I'm slowly making peace





16. sleep- i miss a good night's sleep





17. standing up for what i believe- not always the popular choice, but always the right choice





18. manners- how easy they are, but what a foreign concept they seem to be





19. good talks- i don't talk on the phone much, texting is so much easier, i mean who wants to hear my kids fighting while we attempt to discuss anything?





20. dvr- i get to actually watch the shows i want to watch.





21. rain- it has rained a few times, but we are in serious need of more





22. a church home- i miss ours and we are still looking for one here.





23. facebook- i don't play the games anymore, but it is nice to see/keep up with people that i have wondered about over the years.





24. good music- it helps to lift the mood and elevate the spirit

25. clean clothes- which means i do lots of laundry

26. my washer and dryer- after 7 years I'm still loving them

27. privacy- did you know that you can hear almost everything that your neighbors do and say in this apartment. yeah, fun

28. hot tea- it seems to calm my nerves and that has been something to be thankful for lately

29. baby wiggles- this sweet girl is very active. the kids think it is cool that you can see her move

30. soft toilet paper- seriously I'm all about good paper products. they are worth every penny

31. getting wiser

32. the life i live

there are so many things i thank God for daily and it has been nice to list some extra to share with you guys. hope this weekend is a blessing for all of you

hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me

this last week has been one of the worst i have ever endured. thank you for the friends that have prayed for us during this time. today it rained, it poured almost all day. it hasn't rained here in what feels like forever, and today it poured. the beauty is in the song lyric i used as my title. today all was made clear to us, and grace fell down like the rain.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. prayer- the amazing power of this has been so evident this week.

2. rain- so cleansing and beautiful

3. my family- what a great lil group we are

4. friends- you ladies are amazing. to those who have shared this week with me, i can never thank you enough. seriously, i don't know if i would have made it without your kind words.

5. laughter- i have cherished each laugh i have had and heard this past week

6. praise music- it has been so uplifting to hear it this week

7. sleep- I've missed having a good rest

8. iced tea- mmmm, so good when it's so hot out

9. joy- it has helped sustain me this week

10. peace- that deep peace that keeps me sane

hope everyone has a great weekend.

say a prayer for me

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

PRAYER- and i ask for my family to be kept in your prayers. thank you

perfection is my enemy

another great day in the finch house. we went school shopping for the girls, my sweet princess will be in kindergarten and monkey will be in middle school. everything is labeled, sorted, and put in its proper backpack. I've gotten my craft goods unpacked and placed in the proper places. wow, i have a lot of yarn. i also found tons of wip, works in progress. I've put them all in a bag and will be trying to finish at least one a week. I've also decided not to start any new projects, excluding swaps, until the bag is empty. maybe this will give me something to put on the craft blog. I've discovered so much this week that i am soooo thankful for.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. sun tea- i made sure to pack the sun tea jar this last round of move, only to discover that my mint has bugs and the jar spigot is broken. after a trip to the local heb i have a new jar and some delicious non-mint sun tea.

2. a/c- in case you didn't know 108+ add some humidity is not a good thing for this bird. the kids asked if they could play outside and i had to explain that we are not equipped to prevent boiling in this heat.

3. pictures- I've been going through all of the old pictures and they just make me smile. i need to get the scanner hooked up so i can get some of my middle school and high school pictures up.

4. the bird clock- i should have put this on my B list, but didn't. it was my grandpa's clock and it chimes/sings/calls a different bird song on each hour. it hangs in our living room and makes us all smile when it sings.

5. my recliner- yes again i find myself in it's loving arms daily.

6. garden ridge- we had some extra time before my doctor appointment, so finch surprised me with a quick trip

7. taking a break- we will be taking a small family trip to the beach next week and we are all very excited.

8. mail- i do love to get things in the mail.

9. good food- we had hummus and tabbouleh today for lunch and it was so good. not as good as the foccacia from yesterday, but close

10. bedtime- love the time of day when i get to sit and relax for a just a lil bit.

i hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

broke into the old apartment

we are apartment dwellers again. we know that once again it is for the short term and that God provided what we needed when we needed it. the great news is that it is in the school district we wanted the girls to attend, so no transfer fees this year. I'm hoping that living in this environment will cut down on some of the screaming that has become second nature to the family. it feels great to have a kitchen again. we've been eating some seriously yummy food this past week. felt sprout wiggle for the first time on Tuesday. finch was put his hand on the ever expanding bump, and there was a lil flutter. monkey is getting ready to head to camp with her bff next week, and can hardly contain her excitement. I've been trying to catch up on all my friends' blogs lately and i have to say I'm loving the alphabet game. in fact when we get back from this trip i may start it here.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. a place of our own- how we have missed this the last 6 months

2. being together- q is so excited to have daddy every day again

3. good water- i have been so thirsty and the water here is way gross, so we've been buying water. we have a Brita pitcher and it doesn't help at all.

4. my bed- man i have missed it this summer while packing in happy

5. good laughs- how great it is to joke and laugh

6. picnics- we went on a picnic today with finch's mom. we had chicken and played at the park. the kids were so happy to see nana and play with her.

7. good friends- i have some amazing friends who have been wonderful to me during the transitional period. I'm sad to leave some behind, but excited to be near others.

8. swaps- i had planned on sitting out of any more than the dishcloth ones I'm in, but there is a recipe swap. you guys know how i feel about recipes. woohoo

9. maternity clothes- yeah, now i just have to find them all

10. quiet time- the kids are getting use to being here, so bedtime is still a war zone. they are usually asleep by 9, and then i get a lil bit of time to crochet.

i hope that this weekend is wonderful for everyone. i will be making a pack and move run this weekend. it should be fast and furious. don't forget to take a minute to count your blessings.

someday i'll be saturday night

i love me some bon jovi, and i can relate to this song more than i should probably admit to. the chorus says "I'm feeling like a Monday, but someday I'll be Saturday night." too often I've felt like Monday, and it wasn't until last week i began to understand Saturday night. the kids and i were jamming out to bon jovi while packing and this song came on. the kids were dancing around and laughing. i couldn't help but grin ear to ear and laugh as they spun around giggling. i realized that i have Saturday night everyday of the week, but too often i get caught up with the crap of life to realize it. there in front of me was happiness and contentment. man am i blessed.

i missed my thankfuls last week, not because i wasn't thankful, but mainly due to the fact that my computer was in a different part of Texas than me. i went to the doctor last week for a routine checkup, and sprout is getting bigger and the heart rate sounds great. after the appointment my dear hubby and i drove back to the town without a frown.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. my Saturday night- glad God reminds me to take a minute and enjoy what really matters in life.

2. my husband- he works so hard so that we can have such a great life. he stands by his beliefs and loves the Lord. who could ask for more?

3. my wonderful summer help- I'm learning to relax and let the kids help more. we got most of the kitchen packed up and all the books.

4. my washer and dryer- man how i have missed them, seriously i missed them.

5. good sleep- it feel good to be rested because packing is hard work
6. milk- i have really gotten to love a cold glass of milk before bed. it really helps me sleep

7. peace and harmony- with 3 kids peace and harmony are sometimes hard to come by, but when they happen.... ah they are wonderful


8. family- i have an amazing family. 3 great kids with another on the way and an amazing hubby. who needs more? i am so blessed.

9. a job well done- i started packing by packing all the books. this might not make sense, but it feels good to walk in the den and all the shelves are empty. it's rewarding to see how much has been accomplished.

10. friends- i have some amazing friends and i am very thankful for each and every one of them. i don't know what i would do without the support and love they shower me with.

i can't believe how much of my life has changed in the path of less than a year. i can hardly believe how much is still to come. i wonder at what God's plan is, and i am very excited to see what he has in store for us. this year is half over, and i can't say I'll be sad to see it go. hope everyone has a great weekend, i have more packing to do, so i better get some sleep.

i'm going off the rails on a crazy train

we've been watching megamind again. q absolutely loves it and anything with that great of a soundtrack has my vote. June is over halfway gone and I'm not halfway finished with all the packing. turns out packing makes me tired, and being over tired makes me cramp. i feel so blah lately, i know mostly because I'm missing my sweet hubby worse everyday. i sat down with my aunt on father's day and we were discussing weight loss, good conversation for a pregnant chick right. i told her that i had dropped a lil over 8 pounds since we got back to happy, and it wasn't until i was talking to her about calories that it occurred to me that perhaps i wasn't getting what i should be. yeah, most days I'm getting less than 1000. oops, i have the tendency when busy to forget to eat and drink, yep that's why the kidneys hurt today. I'm doing my best to remedy the situation, but old habits die hard. I'm tired and tomorrow will come early, and I'm finishing my cookbook packing tomorrow. already packed 6 boxes of them today. on the the thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. text messages- it's about the only form of communication i have anymore.

2. central air- with highs over 100 this girl is way to hot just walking to the car.

3. ravelry- there is a group that i belong to and they are just so amazing. they cheer when you are up, they rally around when you are down. love this group

4. my hubby- the nightmares are getting worse and he sends me sweet emails and calls to reassure me that all is well.

5. prayer- the power of prayer is more amazing than i can ever explain.

6. friends- i have a great group that supports me and lifts me up in prayer whenever i need it, thanks guys

7. the ability to say no- my family situation is tense at best, both related and married to, and it has been such a relief to step away and say nothing. no i won't be your friend on fb, no i won't tell you what is eating me alive so you can pawn it to the highest bidder, no i won't let you bring me down anymore.

8. standing firm- the hubby and i have some very strict rules and guidelines as far as our kids go, and some of these, most of these, have been tested the past 6 months. it feels good to not back down from what we know is right and what we know God has set forth. yep, even when everybody else is doing it.

9. friends from the past- there were some wonderful christian people put in my path during a very difficult time in my life, and they were always such a bright beacon of hope for me. i only wish that i had known to run to these people when my world collapsed. i wonder if i had run to them instead of seeking solace in a bottle how much smoother high school would have been. how was i to know that some people offer love unconditionally. thank you ladies, you may never know how much you and your daughters meant to me.

10. good teachers- i had some great teachers and i have friends who are now great teachers. keep up the good fight, you never know how much you you do for those kids.

i hope that this first weekend of summer is cooler for you than it will be here. smile you never know whose day you will brighten

baby can i hold you tonight?

so our first week back in happy packing has gone surprisingly well. I've stirred up tons of dust, so my sinuses are on full back up. while we've been enjoying 100+ temps here, my sweet hubby has been in San Diego at a conference. he got back a day earlier than we had thought, so we actually got to see him for his birthday. the kids have been really great about letting me rest in the afternoons, turns out preggie at 32 isn't as easy as preggie at 20-who knew. I've gotten most of the books in the den packed, those who know how many books we have know this isn't too shabby a job for one person in a few days. I'm feeling gross, so this is going to be short. my thankful list

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. being held to go to sleep- i don't sleep well as a general rule, nightmares are tough. it was wonderful to have my sweet finch home to hold me to sleep.

2. naps- I've taken 2 today and will probably call it an early night.

3. my nook- yep, last night when we all loaded in the van to come home from the airport, my sweet hubby took a detour via barnes and noble to get me a nook. he knows how much i love to read, and how i refuse to buy anymore books this summer to pack.

4. my hubby- he is so good to me and the kids, and he is capable of keeping the house in running order. i made the joke on facebook that other than a busted water pipe and looking like boo radley had been renting our house looked great. finch got the water fixed the next day and still made it to the girls birthday party.

5. cute maternity clothes- i put on some of my capris, that fit fine last week, and lo and behold they were tough to zip. i figured it was due to my constant hunger that i had been gaining weight, so i hopped on the scale to find I'd actually lost 4 lbs. hmmmm, may have to bust out the maternity shorts and capris sooner than i thought.

6. yogurt- mmmmmmm, the one snack everyone in the house can agree on.

7. micro food- i love to cook, but as time and kitchen resources are limited, well, we have been living on some tasty micro meals. the kids think it is such a treat. they were actually upset that they didn't get ramen for breakfast. i guess anything that you get rarely is a treat when you're a kid.

8. central air- please see above about 100+ degree weather

9. friends- monkey has spent the day with her bff and will be staying the night as well. the kids are so excited to get to see friends while we are here.

10. God- sometimes it is difficult for me to fathom a creator that would care for his broken creations so much. then i see how much i love my sweet kids, even when they are being monsters, and i wonder how much more God loves us. without Him i wouldn't be where i am, so a huge thank you to Him.

i hope this weekend brings us some rain and a cool down. i also hope to feel well enough tomorrow to actually be able to function like a normal human.

hold my heart

what a week this has been. school has finished and the girls are so excited to spend the summer in happy. I'm thrilled to get to spend time with my friends that i have missed, but the thought of single parenting, packing, and morning sickness all together makes me want to cry. yes you read that correctly, we are expecting. we waited to make the news public until after the sono, the ectopic in January really took the wind out of my sails. the title of today's blog is the title of another one of my favorite songs. every time it comes on the radio i choke up. it's late and we are spending tomorrow traveling, so i should get some rest.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good news from doctor visits- a friend from ravelry got great news today that her grandpa's cancer was indeed gone.

2. the wonder of a child- we took the kids with us, and the looks on their sweet faces when they saw the baby was amazing. q started dancing when he heard the heartbeat, it was too cute.

3. dum dums and ginger ale- yeah the nausea has been rough so far.

4. good talks- we had one of those tough, but needed talks with monkey this week. you know the one that goes "people who really love you will never ask you to go against your morals and beliefs". it is wonderful to be able to talk to her and to listen to her in return

5. prayer- the power of prayer never ceases to amaze me. the ability to commune with my Maker, that's the good stuff.

6. friends- i have been so blessed with a great group of friends. i think it is very needed to tell them and the world how wonderful they are. YOU GUYS ROCK

7. a great hubby- God really knew what he was doing when He put us in each other's path. what a great man I'm married to.

8. tums- yeah heartburn has started early this round.

9. new beginnings- the girls will start school in a new district this fall. it was a long discussion, but ultimately we want what is best for them.

10. friend dates- pattylicious and i have a long overdue date planned for Saturday night.

thanks for the comments they are good to read. i do hope to be able to post some on my other two blogs in the near future, but don't hold your breath. I'm going to be a very busy girl for the next.... several months. i will try to put some more pictures up soon. take care and have a great weekend.

the honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a halleluia

things are very busy here in the kingdom. we have been busy clearning brush, so that we can get electric out to the property. after that we can get the house. it's getting very hot here, we've already had a few near 100 days. it's been forever since i've done a thankful list, but lately i have been so thankful for all i do have.
I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. hard work- it feels good to be able to use my hands to get things done.

2. the results of the hard work- above is the property where the house will sit. it has taken a lot of work on our parts. we've been using a lawnmower, chain saw, machete, and tree loppers.

3. family time- we've been clinging together as a tight group lately to get the work done, and when we get to let off some steam and play it really helps.

4. long walks on the beach- above is a picture of us walking on the pier at port lavaca

5. flowers- we planted some pots of flowers this year because we weren't sure where we ulitmately would be.

6. friends- it is so amazing how we draw together when one of us has a problem. my friends are amazing

7. crafting- i have been crazy busy working on projects for friends, family, and swaps.

8. new experiences- above is the kids in corpus. q was a bit confused by the waves at first.

9. being loved- there is no better feeling that to love a be loved in return. there is a lot of love in my life.

10. family- i have a great family. just look at that smile, that makes all better.

i hope that things are going great for everyone who reads this. we have big plans this weekend. the princess has a skate birthday party to attend and i'm meeting friends at knitting nest for a book signing. things are looking up and looking great.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades

this is from one of my favorite songs we sing during worship at church. i had every intention of blogging sooner, but we were without Internet for two weeks and then..... well suffice it to say life happens. yesterday i went into surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy, so now I'm trying to recover. while in surgery the doctor realized that the fallopian tube had already ruptured, two weeks ago is her guess of when it happened. so in the face of losing a life that i was carrying in my body, i could have lost mine. that was not God's plan yet, for He spared my life. the doctor assured finch, i was still in recovery, that we should have no problem having another lil finch if we still chose to. i have been so blessed with prayers and well wishes from my dear and wonderful friends. during my short stay at the hospital peaches came to see me and brought me chocolate, a beautiful magazine, and an apron book. how awesome is that. pattylicious came to the hospital to see me too, and she brought me the prettiest sparkly daisies. i am truly blessed with a wonderful group of friends. i am so thankful for all the love and prayers that have been showered on me and my family as we waited to see what would be.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. prayers- the ability to communicate with the Lord, this has been my saving grace the past two weeks.

2. God- without him i wouldn't be here.

3. life- i know that medically speaking i shouldn't have made it, but i am here by God's will and i am soooo thankful for that

4. good doctors- my ob/gyn twice has given advice that has let me live a full life.

5. friends- my sweet friend kayla kept the kids for me during the days that i spent at the dr trying to figure out what was wrong with me. my dear friend firecracker came and stayed the night with the kids, so that finch could be with me in the hospital. all my other friends that offered up prayers and gave kind words when things seemed so dark, they reminded me of the Light.

6. my hubby- he is taking excellent care of me.

7. my sweet kids- monkey has been cooking dinner for us, so that i can be off my feet. the princess has been fetching me cups of water. the poor lil q just wants to be held and loved.

8. pain meds- i usually don't use the pain meds that I'm given, but oh my am i glad i got the prescription filled this time. wow i hurt.

9. compassion- the nursing staff decided to prep me in my room for surgery because there were lots of babies in pre-op and they didn't want me to be sad. they gave hugs and prayers to help comfort me. what a great group of ladies.

10. my recliner- i can relax in the living room with the fam instead of being in bed by myself.

I've seen so much cruelty in my life and it is too easy to get caught up in the cruelty that the world dishes out. it is easy to forget how many truly kind people there are in this world. thank you to each and everyone of you.

how many kings have stepped down from their thrones?

what a busy week we have had. i would love to say that the time has flown, but that would be a lie. this week has crawled by at slower than a slug's pace. this morning princess and i made some reindeer dust to give to all her friends in prek. they have their Christmas party this afternoon and she was very excited about having something for everyone. Doppler Dave says that we have a chance for a couple inches of snow tonight and into tomorrow morning. that's always very exciting for the kiddos. monkey has her party at school tomorrow afternoon and i am supplying the puppy chow and rice crispy treats as requested by her. had to get lil man another pair of shoes, he keeps losing one of each pair. i have tons to do, so on to the thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good music- i joined a swap group on ravelry called the odd ducks, and one of the sweet ducks saw that i love better than ezra. she sent me 2 cds. i was so excited that i jumped up and down and did the lil happy dance.

2. surprise packages- i was expecting one box last Saturday from a winter dishcloth swap i was in, but to my surprise and excitement there were 3. 1 package had the above mentioned cds and the other was a loaf of shelly's famous chocolate chip Amish friendship bread. it was sooooo good.

3. netflix- the hubby has been gone all week, so I've been enjoying watching movies instantly while i crochet presents.

4. early bedtime- for me. i require sleep, lots of it, or i just don't function well. this week has been great I've been in bed by no later than 10:15 every night.

5. the ability to be a friend- i don't often brag on myself, but i will this time. i think I'm a pretty awesome friend to have. i don't make friends easily, so i try to hold on to those that i have with all my might. i got to spend a wonderful day with a good friend from high school and it was great to catch up and cook together.

6. my friends- now this group of ladies is just amazing. they are truly God's gift to me in my times of need. it has been a rough 3 weeks and they have been awesome

7. prayer- the power of prayer is soooo amazing.

8. cooking- i love to cook and bake and make things for people.

9. giving- it is the time of year when gift giving is the norm, and i wonder why more people aren't giving the rest of the year. i don't necessarily mean money. my friend peaches gave me the prettiest coupon holder for no other reason than she can. she is an amazing woman that i am thrilled to know.

10. ravelry- seriously addicting, but the ladies i have met are AWESOME.

i am thankful for God who sent Jesus to earth, so that one day i might be saved. i hope the rest of the season is a blessing to you.

every new boy that she meets doesn't know the real surprise

I'm just going to jump into my thankfuls this week.


I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the crafts i do- i am thankful that God has given me a healthy way to unwind.

2. dancing with my hubby- we haven't gone out dancing in a long time, but from time to time he will spin me around our house. it's times like that when i can't believe it's been 12 years of us together.

3. crafty people- i don't mean the con artists of the world, I'm talking about the people who can take simple yarn or towels or food and make them into works of art. you people inspire me to do more and be more than i am today.

4. laughter- i went to a celebration of a life ended too soon this past weekend, and there were tears shed for a woman who touched so many lives. in the midst we found ourselves laughing about things she had said or done that touched us all.

5. innocence- the kind that when lost just can't be regained. the kind that makes every person a friend.

6. sweet songs- i love the sound of children singing. i sometimes wonder if it is the closest to angels we hear on earth.

7. friends- the picture below is the lovely gifty that my friend peaches sent me. isn't it beautiful. she is one of the most amazing people i have met. proof that you are who you choose to be, and being kind is a good thing.

8. my mail- i was not aware of all that was required to get that simple stamp or gift to where it needs to be. postal employees i salute you.

9. prayer- there have been lots going up lately, and there have been lots answered. a kind wall post when i needed encouragement. the news that a dear friend is feeling better one day at a time. the blog post that God sometimes speaks to us when we least expect it.

10. cool weather- we have been getting in the 40's for lows and there is rumor of 30's next week. i love this time of year.

so I'm curious, those of you who still read- do you take time during your busy/crazy week to be thankful. do you find yourself being thankful for the little things that you so often take for granted? i live in a tiny town that somewhat prides itself on its old fashioned way of life. i know small town living isn't for everyone, but who doesn't love watching andy griffith. did you ever dream of living in mayberry? i live there. in a town where people wave to each other, and mind everyone's business. I've known this about my lil town for the entire 6 years we have lived here, but never did i realize how far that stretches til i started training at the post office. people come by to ask how the postmaster is doing and when she'll be back. they stop to chat and ask how my training is going or to let me know that it's OK if i make a few mistakes when learning the job. this week has been long. the hubby has been traveling all week, so we haven't seen much of him. I've trained almost everyday this week, i missed Wednesday training because monkey was under the weather. just when i thought "oh yeah, i have this mail thing down" no, no, not even close. so far all i had trained on was putting the mail in the proper places, little did i realize how much goes on in the afternoon at the post office. WOW is all i can say. today was insane busy. i don't know if I'm cut out for this. i am thankful for those who still read and those who have moved on. take a minute this weekend and say thank you for something or someone that sometimes you forget to. I'm off to finish a surprise for someone who has been a beacon of hope for me for years. take care and God bless

r e s p e c t, find out what it means to me

i finished my second day of training at the p o today, and all i can say is... be nice to your postal workers. there are lots of rules, and sometimes what you want isn't within the guidelines of those rules. that being said i am enjoying myself immensely. tonight i am enjoying one of the things i love the most, time with the hubby. the hour grows late and i need sleep, so without further ado: the thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. note taking- who knew there was so much to putting mail in boxes.

2. good food- lots of good home cooking lately

3. my hubby- he has been so helpful this week and i don't know what i would do without him

4. new shoes- the hubby got me a really cute pair of shoes last week.

5. kind words- you guys have been so sweet and kind. i can't say thanks enough

6. crochet- I've been making stuff like no one's business. several projects need to be posted on my craft blog soon

7. ravelry- I've joined a group of ladies that are amazing. they are wickedly talented and compassionate to no end.

8. chocolate- I've got some awesome chocolate that is to die for, and I've been enjoying it one piece at time

9. coffee- it's really helped with my early mornings and late nights

10. fall- it's cool here, evenings are in the upper 40s and lower 50s. i LOVE this time of year

i hope that this little bit of happiness brightens your week as you have brightened mine with your kind words. thanks

the big giant gorilla went up the water spout

that's right sing it to the tune of the "itsy bitsy spider". the girls sang that to us as were driving home from piano last night. i am happy to report my spoilee for the swap received her package and was thrilled with it. i don't know why i worry so much, maybe it is because secretly i crave recognition and validation. my friend's mom is back in ICU, she was improving so well and then took another nosedive. i think i may rename her heiness to the princess, yeah let's do that. well, the princess missed pre-k yesterday because she was sick Wednesday, and i don't send sick kids to school. I'm so excited about being able to go to east Texas. it will be a quick trip, but I'm hoping to get to see some of my buds. there is a hotel with a 2 room suite we will be staying at when we are there, and I'm trying to talk the hubby into driving in Friday and leaving Sunday. i didn't even realize i had missed my thankful list because i didn't realize yesterday was Thursday. i began this post this morning, but right as i began to list my thankfuls i got a text from my friend, firecracker. her mom is the one in ICU. i spent today there with her and her brother as they made some very difficult choices. my love and prayers go out to them and their families tonight.



I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good Kleenexes- otherwise my nose would be raw by now. there were many tears shed today.

2. good friends- while visiting another of our friends arrived. she was tired from her long drive, but glad that she could be there when her friend needed her.

3. changes- I'm so glad that at some point when i wasn't paying attention i became an adult, and so did the people i went to high school with.

4. hot tea- I'm feeling a bit weak tonight and the tea is helping warm me.

5. fall- there was a crisp bite to the air this morning and it whispered fall to me.

6. my hubby- he watched the kids today, so that i could be with my friend. he then took us all to dinner to get us out of the hospital. he is an amazing man

7. my kids- apparently they played very well today, and even got a big bag of dum dums for my friend.

8. my bestie- we were going to have a date tonight, but i was called elsewhere instead. she was so sweet about it and i really appreciate it.

9. crafts- they help work out some of my angst and turmoil.

10. you- that's right all of you who read this and leave me encouraging words. i can't say thank you enough to you.

11. peaches- she's my friend from Georgia. i received the sweetest package in the mail from her this week. she said that she sensed that it had been a rough summer for me and she wanted me to know that she had been thinking about me. thank you.

it is good to be thought about and prayed for. have a good night I'm going to crochet something

the answer my friend is blowing in the wind

what a whirlwind week this has been. we traveled the state of Kansas with my hubby this week. did i mention we were a mere hour from both Nebraska and Colorado at one point. on our way home we stopped by to have lunch at the Dog with my mom, and then a quick stop to see a friend. this friend takes the best pictures, and every time we go she takes some for us.

i mean isn't he sweet. yeah, my hair is purple if you look close. i was going to post the family pic she took, but it was a little small to see all the smiling faces. I'm tired and there doesn't look to be a slow down in the near future for us, so onto the thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. facebook- say what you will about it, but a good friend of mine used it to communicate with several of us about a struggle she is facing. I'm glad she had a way to talk to me.

2. swaps- i have missed them so. i am totally stoked about the coffee/tea swap I'm in.

3. not expecting perfection- the one and only perfect person to walk this great planet had to endure an agonizing death. i don't want to be perfect and i don't expect other people to be perfect either. people will disappoint you and make mistakes, it's part of the human condition.

4. good food- I'm thrilled to be home and cooking again.

5. good long talks- it doesn't matter if they come via email, text, phone, letter, or in person. i love a good conversation.

6. my bed- the tempurpedic bed i have is amazing. i forget how amazing sometimes until i get to sleep on a hotel bed for several nights.

7. family- while traveling the amazing I-70 corridor this week, i got to see some of my family that i haven't seen in years.

8. expectations- as the gin blossoms once said "if you don't expect to much from me you might not be let down". I'm learning that some people are only capable of so much and if i don't expect more than that, then I'm not let down.

9. my hubby- he tries so hard, and sometimes he falls short of his mark. he always gets an A+ for the effort he puts into things.

10. prayer- the power of prayer is truly amazing.

i hope that everyone has had a fantastic week, and i hope your weekend is even better.