A Cookbook Giveaway

I am always looking for new recipes and I love getting a new cookbook.  So I am excited to share a giveaway with you.  Angie over at Homemaker Chronicles is giving away a cookbook that is a tribute to her grandmother.  What a neat giveaway.  You can check out the cookbook here and then head over to Homemaker Chronicles to enter.  She is announcing the winner tomorrow so hurry and enter today!

Homemaker Moments: Fall Recipe

I was hoping to have a yummy cranberry orange muffin recipe to share and also replace the one I love from an expensive bread shop in town.  Unfortunately it came no where close to replacing the bread and was not even worthy of eating...so sour!  So instead I will point you to these Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins that I can't wait to try.  Bake at 350 has tons of great recipes and she includes pictures which I always find helpful.  

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for

1. My husband who works hard so I can be home with the children.
2. Good friends that help keep me sane through out the week while I am home with the children.
3. The kids in the Toddler Class I teach at the YMCA.  They always make me smile.
4. Early Christmas shopping...I only have a few more things to get then I am all done.  
5. Being crafty...something has come over me and I just want to make everything.
6. Fun Playdates
7. My mom and grandma...they still call or text to make sure I am feeling better when I sick.
8. Dry underpants (this is refering to my son, not me...I usually don't have a problem with this)
9. Time in God's Word
10. A new prayer journal...I used to faithfully keep one, but had gotten out of the habit.  I was  reminded how helpful they can be while reading "Feathers From My Nest" by Beth Moore.  I highly recommend that book to moms of any age.
    

Tender Heart

My lion has a tender heart.  

I usually err on the minimal side of vaccinations so we don't as a rule get flu shots, but this year we are traveling to the in-laws who live in El Paso, TX.  Not only will we basically be in Mexico; we will also be in airports and in airplanes breathing in everyone's air.  So we decided to err on the side of caution and get our shots.  Since Elaine had never had a flu shot and was on the younger side of things she got hers in two doses.  Yesterday it was time for her second dose, so I loaded up the kids and headed to the Dr.  Before we even arrived Landon was telling me that Elaine didn't want a shot.  I was trying to explain why Momma and Daddy had decided she should get one, and I told him he needed to be brave for her.  He said, "I don't want her to be sad."  Once at the Dr. he asked if he could stay in the hall, and I told him that would be fine.  So as Elaine received her shot he called from the hallway, "It will be ok...it will be real fast...be brave!"  As soon as it was over he rushed in, gave her a hug, and told her he was proud of her.  

I need moments like that to help me through mornings like I had today.

Thankful Thursday

I often like to post a list of things I am thankful for on Thursdays, but this Thursday I have decided to show you a project I did with the kids to introduce the upcoming holiday.  It is a Thankful tree.  I first used the die cut machine at the library to cut out leaf shapes in fall colors.  I then asked Landon what he was thankful for and we wrote those on the leaves.  Then I helped both Elaine and Landon make hand prints in fall colors on green paper.  Then I cut out each hand.  I used a piece of brown paper for the trunk and then placed the "leaves" to create the tree with a few falling to the ground.  I was pleased with how it turned out.  Now we have a little reminder to be thankful.

We are also learning:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Homemaker Moments: What Do You Need?

It is that time again to join in with Homemaker Chronicles, and she is asking the question, "What is my greatest need?"  Well in the immediate as I sit here typing...sleep.  The past two nights have been spent trying to console a very congested 18 month old.  Which means no sleep for mommy and only a little sleep for Laine Bug.  So right at this minute sleep is what I need.  I have been quite reflective and serious for my last several posts, so I think I will switch things up and take the light hearted approach to this topic, especially in light of my sleepless nights. 

So here is a list (in no particular order) of things I "need"...

1. Sleep and a shower
   
2. Scrapbooking - It is my favorite crafty outlet.
3. More time to be crafty.  I have lots of projects I want to try, but I just can't find the time to get started.
4. A Vacation
5. Shopping - I like to shop, even without money.  I don't mean buying things with money I don't have.  I mean window shopping.  I just like the process of looking and deciding...even if I am not really going to make the purchase.
6. Exercise - I enjoy getting to workout at the Y.  If gives me time to clear my head and usually energizes me for the day.  That is if I have the energy to get there in the first place.
7. Baked Goods - preferably homemade. 
8. My Family
9. My Friends 
10. My Faith 

Fishy Game

I am always on the look out for fun games for my kids to play. Especially ones that might keep them engaged long enough for me to make lunch, dust off some furniture, vacuum a room, or make a phone call. I came across one last week that was great, so I thought I would share it.

1. Cut out fish of different colors (we used red, blue, yellow, green, and orange).
   
2. Then make a "boat". You can cut the top off an envelope or just make one by folding paper and cutting the top in an arc. If you use folded paper make sure to tape up the sides so the fish don't fall out.
   
3. Then lay out the fish and talk about the color of each one. We also counted them. Then have the child put the fish in the boat as you talk about the color.

This game works on colors as well as hand eye coordination as they have to pick up the fish, open the boat, and drop the fish in. To engage Landon I took it a step further. He would close his eyes and I would put a fish in the boat. Then he would have to decide which fish was in the boat. He loved this! He felt like a detective. This was great for his problem solving skills. I hope you have fun playing too.

The Lion

Have you ever had God speak directly to you...in almost an audible voice? I have to say I have had it happen, only a few times. I mean He speaks to me all the time, but these times I am referring to it has been very different. One time I was at Church and we were singing...I can't even remember what song. Kyle and I were going through a rough time of waiting for children. I was feeling very overlooked...unchosen. Then it was like God said just to me, "I am not, not choosing you". I guess that may not make a lot of sense, but it made perfect sense to me. It wasn't a direct answer to why we hadn't been blessed with children yet, but it did heal the whole I had in my heart thinking I had been overlooked. It made me realize I was missing out on my life, because I was so focused on what the future may or may not have been holding. I needed to focus on the One who was holding my future instead.

This past Sunday it happened again. I have really been struggling with my son lately. He is rowdy, curious, asks 5 million questions, and must debate every point. I have been thinking he will never surrender His life to God, he won't even go to the potty when I ask him to. Then once again I was in Worship singing...and God said, "He is like a lion." God was reminding me that Landon is wired just how He wants him...like a lion. During our wait for our first child, I purchased a stuffed lion. We weren't sure when our first child would come, but we wanted him or her to know God's character. We also love how CS Lewis relates that character with Aslan in the Narnia series. So Landon does life like a lion, ready to roar. I do not need to be worried about all that passion, after all Kyle and I prayed he would follow passionately after Christ almost every night after we knew I was expecting. Again I need to focus on the one who holds Landon's future, not so much on what the future may or may not hold. I can't tame a lion, but I know God can.