Safe!

Since so many of my family read this, I figured that this would be the best way to let them all know that we are okay.  I'll start by saying that I stayed up praying much of the night because I had a bad feeling about these storms.  Daddy T wasn't as worried, but I come from an area that has tornadoes and not only have I seen them form by the house (my Dad and I are fascinated by them), but my aunt and uncle have experienced the devastation of a tornado destroying their home when Shannon was in the hospital.  I was in elementary school then and remember cleaning up Shannon's precious moments doll because not much was left.  All of that to say that I know the destruction it can cause, but also the blessings when the community comes together to help out the families with donations.  My aunt and uncle were blessed with those.  So now that I have kids, I packed a bag of water and food, put the dogs on leashes and stayed downstairs as we had round after round of tornado warnings.  I lost count of the rounds, but I know it was at least 5!

Early yesterday morning when the first storm came through, there were trees in our subdivision that were knocked on houses and that story was repeated throughout the roads in our area.  That was round 1.  It blew off a table and chair set from our neighbor's deck and countless trash.

I hurried and fed the kiddos lunch a bit early so they could take an early nap because I knew I would have to wake them up to take them back downstairs in about 2 hours.  Baby M slept but B refused and my head hurt from watching the weather so I decided it wasn't worth the fight today.  It was more important to me that I kept all of us safe than for them to have their nap.  Thankfully, he was really good despite no nap.

Daddy T came home early between round 2 and round 3.  I was so glad because you could hear things hitting the house and B kept saying "I scared."  I told him I was scared, too!  I kept waiting for these 2 dead trees in our backyard to fall, but thankfully, they never did.

Once Daddy T came home, he humored me by staying downstairs and transporting the kiddos back downstairs when the storms started getting worse.  Apparently it was the system that produced the tornadoes in the northern part of a neighboring county and in several areas all around us.  Destruction is everywhere and many roads are closed.  There are still people trapped in one community and in another, the area is leveled.  But God watched over us (as He would have even if we were hit) and protected us and we were unharmed.  Daddy T is doing double duty at work since 2 plants were hit by a tornado.  (I should clarify that it was the transmission lines and power lost that is the problem.  Thanks LA!  Daddy T leaves out words when communicating.  Goes back to his limited words allotted for a day!)  He worked some last night and had to go in early to do whatever he had to do to help. 

Here's some raw video from the local news channel here.  I couldn't help but tear up when I saw the kids getting in the ambulance.  They won't let the media in yet because they are still searching and recovering.  Daddy T's aunt and cousins live about 2 miles from where it hit and I'm so thankful they were okay.  They said it's all destroyed all around them and buildings are completely flattened. 

Meet Princess

I would like for you to meet the newest addition to our family...a horse named Princess.  Believe me...Daddy T has tried everything to convince B to name his horse something other than Princess.  The manly names just don't sound as good to him, which makes me laugh! 

There's actually a good reason that he's named it Princess.  You see, he loves the Backyardigans and especially the episode with the cowboys.  He runs to put on his fireman boots, his fisherman hat (we've got to get him a cowboy hat), and his work gloves that are too big.  He then renacts the WHOLE episode, complete with falling off of it when Pablo's horse bucks him in the water.  One of the horses on there is Princess and one of the girls tells the horse to "Giddyup Princess."  For some reason, that phrase stuck and he says that all the time.  Oh...and he likes to dance the polka.  Those of you who were in my ballroom dance class know that this is a child after my own heart!

I should tell you that I bought this dandy ol' horse that nieghs and moves it's nose and tail at a consignment sale a few weeks ago for $23.  It's the best I've spent.  He spends HOURS on it!  No joke!  And it has stirrups and a saddle that he especially enjoys.  Have I ever told you how much I love consignment sales?!  I was just thankful that a friend of mine had went, too, because she was able to put it in her car and drop it off for me.  Good ol' Princess will be in our family for many years, I imagine.  She will be passed down through several kids.  My best find yet, minus the lego table 2 years ago....and the clothes!

Book Review: Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud

This was such a wonderful, light, and relaxing book to read.  I loved how I felt like I was stepping inside not only the friendship of Cindy and Miriam, but also the home of Miriam.  Miriam is an Old Order Amish woman and Cindy is an "Englischer" or English. 

The book opens with recounting how they first became friends and how Cindy visited Miriam for the first time at her home and stayed a week.  She gave insights into her view of Miriam's house and lifestyle and little pieces of "their world" that she has brought over to hers.  I love she reminded her readers about how the Amish have structures in their day, such as morning chores, afternoon chores, and evening chores.  You can tell what time it is by the chore they are doing.  In the English world, it all lumps together as we have time and sometimes the most important things don't even get done because we are too busy. 

Throughout the book, they share their experiences not only as a wife and a mother, but their joys and their sorrows and frustrations.  They are open and honest and by the time I got to the end of the book, I felt like I knew both of them and wanted to know even more about them!  I almost felt like they were my friends, too!  I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something encouraging and fun to read.
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This book was provided by WaterbrookMultnomah Publishers free for my review in exchange of the book.  I had no guidelines or rules to follow for this review.  It was simply my opinion.

Book Review: A Collection of Wednesdays by Amy Gaither Hayes

Amy sets aside Wednesdays as her day to journal and to write about her life and her thoughts and her struggles and dreams.  This book is a result of all of those Wednesdays.  Included in this book are poems, short stories and insights into her life and the lives of others.

This book was nice to read but some parts felt a little random.  I had a difficult time getting into the book but that could have been because I was coming off an intense book right before this.  This would be a good book to read in the quietness of the day or on the beach when you don't have so many things pulling at you and you can just sit and concentrate and think about how what she says fits into your own life. 

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Zondervan provided me with the book free of charge, for the purpose of review.

Completion

I love sewing and making things and different crafts.  My big problem is that I tend to have several crafts going at once.  This habit has caused a problem now that I've had kids because I tend to never complete things like I had hoped to and in a timely fashion.  A great example of that is the fact that I am still sewing Christmas presents for a few people!  Oops! 

Anyway, I started working on this quilt when I was pregnant with Baby M and finally finished it a few weeks ago.  Mom is adding some decorative stitching to it in a few spots to make it look super cute.  I love how it turned out.  At least my babes will have something special that I made them when they were babies.  It wasn't easy to make this thing with my big pregnant belly in the way!

Loading Up

It's no secret that B loves the farm and his tractor (both the green one and the little red one that dad calls his), as well as all of the other things that come with the farm.  While we were visiting them one weekend, Dad loaded up B's tractor on the trailer since B loves using a wagon or a trailer to tow behind his tractor.  He had so much fun driving the tractor up and down the trailer.

These boys were hard at work untying it and getting it ready to move.  I love B's too big work gloves!

Corduroy Lesson #5

Math and sequencing was on our to-do list for our Corduroy lesson of the day a few weeks ago.  I was a little hesitant in doing this one because I wasn't for sure that he would be able to understand sequencing.  However, I made a folder like I always do for some of my therapy sessions and decided to see if it would work.  I did!  Not only did he understand sequencing, but he loved it and wanted to do it over and over.  He needed a little help at first, but the he got the hardest one right all by himself.  Yesterday we were cleaning his room and he kept begging me to do "school' which consists of reading the book and doing one activity.  I happily said "yes!"  Next week we start reading about a yellow ball.  I'll catch you up on Corduroy, though....as if you were really longing to know!

I end today's post with a picture of the happiest baby!  Love those cheeks!

God loves...

One night before bed, I was reading a book and B wanted to read the Bible in bed.  He was holding his Bible and laying beside me while he read.  The next thing I hear is "God loves daddy, God loves B, God loves Sissy, God loves Suzzy, God loves Pop, God loves Mama, God loves Nanny R, God loves... and on and on.  Notice there was one person missing.  I said, "B, does God love mommy?"  He looked at me square in the eyes and said "no."

My Little Bandit

I'll recap my morning a few weeks ago.  It was awful.  And that's saying it nicely!  B was in one of his moods which automatically sent me into overdrive because we were in public.  Let's just say that his bad mood and public don't mix very well! 

I was headed to Kindermusik one morning and we stopped to pick up ONE thing.  I explained to him before we went in that I expected good behavior from him and for him to obey.  He repeated the rules back to me and I naively thought all was well.  We entered the store and I had him carry the ONE thing I needed so that something would be in his hands so he couldn't touch everything around him.  So far so good.  We get to the cash register and that's where this plan falls apart.  A nice lady (who is also a mother of a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, but whose kids were not with her) let me in front of her to check out.  I thanked her for her consideration and willingness to send me on my way.  B nicely places the item on the counter but then looks down and sees this large display of candy.  I see his eyes light up and he grabs a few of each thing to place on the counter.  I tell him no and he says "but I neeeed this."  That's when I realize he's unwrapped the bubblegum.  Great.  Now I had to buy it, but at least it's the kind Daddy T likes.  I tell him to put it all back and not to touch anything. 

After checking out, I take his hand to make him follow me to the car.  I was about to place him in the car when I looked in his hand and saw a lollipop.  My little boy STOLE a lollipop!  I marched him back inside and told him to place it on the counter and to tell the lady that he was sorry.  He did it willingly and very quickly.  The lady at the counter was nice and said that was okay.  I apologized, too, since I didn't see it when we walked out.  By the way, what kind of person designed the candy to go right in front at only a child's level?!  I'm convinced they get great satisfaction at seeing a mother fight with their child EACH AND EVERY TIME they step foot in their store.  It was probably a man!

Anyway, I told the grandparents how my day was because I knew they'd laugh which would lessen my anger.  My mother told my father, who then confesses that he got in trouble with his mom for stealing when he was little.  He tore off potato spuds to plant potatoes.  Nanny made him go back in and hand it back to the produce man who wasn't quite for sure what to do with those spuds since they're only good for growing potatoes.  I'll blame this incident on Dad's side of the family!

Book Review: The Scent of Water by Naomi Zacharias

This book was an eye-opener into the world of prostitution and brothels in India and other countries.  Naomi has worked with women in the red-light districts in The Netherlands, India and Thailand.  She also helps provide foster homes for children affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Asia and helps to find funds for hospitals to provide surgical treatment for women who have been the victims of violence in the Congo.  She works in women's prisons in South Africa; displacement camps in Indonesia, Uganda and Pakistan; areas of the Middle East offering aid to Iraqi refugees; and areas of Southeast Asia devastated by the tsunami of 2004.  All of his is through Wellspring International, which is an "initiative devoted to providing financial grants to international efforts working with at-risk women and children."

I felt that I needed to tell you who she is in order for you to know what this book is about.  It covers all of these things and talks about her personal story within all of these environments, as well as some of her personal struggles.  The stories were heart-breaking, but also encouraging. 

In India, their ministry partnered with another ministry to help those that wanted out of the brothels to get out and to never have to go back.  They believed in these women even when these women didn't believe in themselves.  That brothels and prostitution part struck me because she spoke about how many times we judge people for their past.  When we describe them, we say, "they're the ones who used to be in a prostitution ring, but got saved and stopped" or "they used to do drugs but got saved and stopped."  We don't see them for who they are now.  Yes, by God's power they overcame, but the sin didn't/and shouldn't define them or what we think of when we think about them.  "For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." It's not like there are levels of sin in God's eyes.

She also spoke of going into the red-light district and not wanting to demean the women in the window by looking at their bodies, but she also didn't want to pretend they weren't there, so she would stop and look in their eyes.  She said it was heartbreaking because many of them were in pain and ashamed and empty.

This book was a great read and has made me more aware of some of the issues going on in the countries that we don't hear much about.  I definitely recommend this book.
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Zondervan provided me with this book free of charge, for the purpose of review.

Book Review: The Take Action Bible

This is a neat Bible that focuses on how God calls us to go, serve, give, heal, and teach all the way from Genesis to Revelation.  It's written in the NKJV (New King James Version) and has a concordance in the back of it.  It's is small (like the size of a regular book) so it can easily be carried around.  It has real-life stories in it that show how real people with real lives have answered God's call.  They are just ordinary people that are obeying.  Along with the stories, there is a Personal Take Action note page so you can write your notes on.  At the end of the Bible, there are 52 Take Action ideas of how to put your faith into action andhow to go, serve, give, heal, and teach.  I love the Bible reading plan that is included in it, as well.  It has a column for your morning devotions and your evening devotions.  The words of Jesus are in red and there are text notes.  It is not a study Bible, so there aren't a lot of notes or extra information about the time/history/etc. given, other than God's Word.  Just the name of the Bible alone reminds you that the Bible isn't meant to just sit on a table and collect dust or to only be read.  It was meant as a guide for us to put into practice and live it out, no matter how easy or difficult the circumstances.  Every time I look at the title, the first thing that pops in my head is obedience and that alone reminds me what God wants me to do.  This would make a great gift!
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I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Book Review: God Gave Us Two by Lisa Tawn Bergren

What a cute children's book!  This book has beautiful illustrations that appeal to a child's eye and an adults, as well.  The book is about a polar bear family who already has one child and is expecting another.  Little Cub asks his mommy all of those questions that he needs confirmed when a new baby enters the scene.  Questions like, "Can they make it be a girl or a boy" or "Can they send back the baby if they don't like it" or even "will you forget about me when the baby comes?"  Momma ends with saying "God gave us you, now He gave us two."  This is a sequel to the book "God gave us you."

I enjoyed reading this book, and so did my 2-year-old.  In fact, every time we mentioned the fact of being  big sister (I changed it to big brother so he'd think it was about him), he would point to his baby sister and say that was his sissy and he loved her.  I think this book will be one of his favorites!
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This book was provided for review free of cost from Waterbrook Multnomah Press. I was not required to write a positive review this book.

Growing Like a Weed

Has it really been 10 months since our precious baby girl entered the world?  Some days it seems like she's always been here and others it seems like she should still be my precious little baby that was so tiny!

Baby M is a bundle of joy.  She is so happy and laid back and loves to eat.  She's the lightest sleeper (thanks Daddy T), which does not go well when I have a loud 2-year-old who doesn't know what a whisper means despite all of the practice we do.  (Tiptoeing is another one we're working on, but so far he that only lasts a few steps and then it's clomp, clomp, clomp.) 

In the past 2 weeks, Baby M has started standing up by herself, waving "bye-bye", talking A LOT, saying "mama" (not Daddy, mind you...she won't even utter those words), and crawling super fast.  She would still much rather walk, given the chance.  I suspect that will be soon.  B started walking at 10 months, and she has been doing the same things about the same time as him so far.  I don't mind if she holds off a bit, though, on walking!

I'm excited for the summer and all of the playing outside, which we've been doing a lot of.  However, I'm sad that my baby girl will be turning 1 in 2 months.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm happy that she's here and healthy, but I always have a hard time with that first birthday because the years seem to go by so quickly.  We love you, happy girl!

Book Review: When the Soul Mends by Cindy Woodsmall

This book is the third book in the Sisters of the Quilt series.  Like most of Cindy's books, you don't have to have read the other 2 to know what is going on in this book.  Cindy is a great writer of Amish fiction and is a great storyteller.

Hannah Lapp left the Old Order Amish community when she was disgraced 2 years ago.  Needless to say, there is tension between her and her parents since her departure was into the Englischer world.  While immersing herself into the ways of the English, she finds a man that she loves and is helping to raise the two kids.  All is going well in this new life of hers until she gets a phone call from her sister, Sarah, who is in dire need of help.  So Hannah decides to return to help her sister.

As if returning to this community and their disapproving words are hard enough, she is also made to work together with her former fiance, Paul Waddell.  When Hannah realizes that a lie was the only thing that made them split, one that Paul never knew happened, she falls in love with him again.

Now she must decide not only which man she wants to be with, but also which world she wants to embrace.  Will it be that of her heritage or the ways of the world?  Will the Amish community offer grace to Hannah and stop their judgements?

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This book was provided for review free of cost from Waterbrook Multnomah Press. I was not required to write a positive review this book.

Book Review: The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble

I was thrilled when this book came up for grabs because I was just introduced to Colleen Coble's books a few months ago.  She is an excellent writer and keeps me turning pages even when I should have been asleep a long time ago!

The Lightkeeper's Ball is the third book in the Mercy Falls series, but it's very easy to follow even if you haven't read the first two books in the series.  Olivia's sister passes away, so Olivia is left to decide whether or not she should take her sister's place in society.  Some things just don't add up in her sister's (Eleanor) death, so the family packs up to go investigate for themselves.  Since Eleanor was arranged to be married to Harrison, Olivia is now expected to take Eleanor's spot as wife.  After meeting Harrison for herself, she learns that Eleanor's death wasn't an accident.  Oh, and dare I ask one question?  How great would it be to find out the facts about her death at the ball with lots of people?!  With so many secrets emerging, will Harrison find out any secrets that Olivia is trying to keep?  So many questions and so many answers to be revealed only by reading the book.

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I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <[...]> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Corduroy Lesson #4

What can you do with felt and ribbon and a button?

 If your guess was to make a ribbon snake, then you'd be correct.  I saw this idea on the Delightful Learning website and thought it was a neat concept so decided to make my own.  B loves it.  He doesn't even wait for our time for school to play with it.  He'll just bring it out and practice putting his Corduroy and overalls over the button onto the ribbon.

Even Baby M likes them.  B was nice and let her hold one of the bears until he needed it.  Progress in sharing his things with his sister!  By the way, I'll update on ALL of Baby M's progress this weekend.  My, when she decides to learn something new, she goes ALL the way in a matter of a week!

Corduroy Lesson #3

This particular day's lesson wasn't challenging, but it was fun for B since he loves to color.  He's getting good at his gross motor skills and is able to start coloring in the lines and draw shapes.  He's perfectly content sitting and drawing or writing.  If there's a pen or paper lying around, it's fair game for him to write on.  I'm in trouble if I forget to put up a book!  The hardest part to explain is when I'm doing my Bible study and am marking in my Bible.  He'll ask if I'm coloring in my Bible and I try to explain to him that it's not exactly coloring, but I am using colored pencils.  He doesn't quite understand that one and I'm not for sure how to explain it, so some of my Bible study books have cute little markings all over them.  That's okay, because it makes me smile to see what new "note" he left me from the day before!  All of that to say, this activity took a while since I got to color with him.  This was our art lesson.

Recipe Sunday

Hearty Mac & Cheese

Prep: 25 minutes

Cook: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Taken from: Taste of Home Simple and Delicious Magazine p. 16 (Feb./Mar. issue)

Given to magazine by: Carol W. of Manitora

1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) macaroni and cheese dinner mix

1 lb ground beef

3 Tbsp. chopped onion

2 Tbsp. chopped green pepper

1 can (10-3/4 oz.) condensed tomator soup, undiluted

2 Tbsp. water

2 Tbsp. ketchup

2 tsp. prepared mustard

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 cup frozencorn, thawed

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/4 cup 2% milk

1. Cook macaroni acording to package directions; set cheese packet aside.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain.
2. Add the soup, water, ketchup, mustard and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4 minutes.
3. Drain macaroni, add to the beef mixture.  Stir in the corn, cheese, contents of reserved cheese packet, butter and milk.  Cook over medium heat until heated through.

My entire family enjoyed this meal.  B and Daddy T could eat mac n' cheese all the time.  However, I don't think it's a meal so I very rarely make it, much to their dismay.  When I saw this recipe, I figured I would give it a try.  They both ate it for 2 days in a row with no complaints and I actually liked it.  I don't like it quite as cheesy so if it was just me then I would probably add less cheese mixture or even add my own cheese to it instead of the packet.  I may play around with that a bit.  This was easy to make and I whipped it out in no time.

Corduroy Lesson #2

What can you do with these?

Use them for a lesson in math and graphing, of course!  I can't believe that wasn't your first guess!  In my search for lessons to do on Corduroy, I joined Tot School and used some of their ideas, as well as some homeschooling websites and then my own brain.  Part of this idea came from one of my favorite blogs, Delightful Learning, but I decided to make my own worksheet and colors that related to the colors that came in the gummy package.  B liked this activity, although I think he ate as many as he graphed!

This lesson was fun for both of us.  He did a very good job at sorting by color.  Good thing I didn't open up the 2nd package to graph, though, or he may not have eaten dinner that night!