What Happened to Thanksgiving?

What happened to Thanksgiving?  Where did it go?  It seems that every year Christmas anticipation comes earlier and earlier.  Or maybe I'm just more sensitive to it this year.  I'm not sure.  However, I do know that I've seen less and less time allotted to being thankful and more and more to "buy this for Christmas, buy that for Christmas."  Don't get me wrong, I get caught up in the excitement and wonderment that is the Christmas season.  I always have to hold myself back from spouting the Christmas music in full volume and finding the best and brightest deals for my kids' presents.  I think it goes in waves for me.  One minute I'm wrapped up in the commericalism and the next I'm peaceful and tranquil remembering the true reason for Christmas.  What a gift!  God's one and only son, born only to die for me and my family.  It just blows my mind!  Such a selfless gift of love for me and for people that have and will never know about him. 
So, once again, what happened to Thanksgiving.  Not that we shouldn't celebrate the amazing time that is Christmas but I think we should take the time allotted to Thanksgiving to show our greatfulness.  The blessings that have come to my family shouldn't ever be ignored and this is the perfect time to highlight them.  Please, take the time to be thankful.  God's gifts are endless and we should show our gratitude. 

Enjoy the season!
lisa

An Almost Perfect Day

Ever have one of those days that seem as though NOTHING could go wrong?  It seems so "Betty Crocker." Everything is working together and nothing is out of place but, then it all comes to a screeching halt.  Yup, that's what happened to me yesterday. 
We all got an extra hour of sleep right?  Nope, not me, my kids were up at the 'old' normal time.  However, with that extra hour before church I was able to have children fed, washed, and dressed appropriately with a little extra time for me.  After spending time getting myself ready I was actually able to spend time in my bible.  You must understand that me reading the bible in the morning just doesn't happen.  I'm usually falling asleep to it in bed!  After loading up my two dearest children we drove the 20 minutes to church where my son did not cry for the first time while being left in the nursery and my daughter went into children's church without a struggle and tears.  I was left to sit peacefully and really dwell on the words of the worship time.  I was able to turn to a verse in my bible during the sermon without pulling out yet another pen I will lose and scratch piece of paper for scribbles.  I REALLY was able to listen and LOVE the sermon at church.  Afterwards picking up both children with smiles and Sunday school crafts in tow.  Then off to the market....  Can you hear the 50s elevator music yet???  After making it through the store without cries of 'pleeeeeeeeaaaassssee I really really need it!!!"  We stopped by the local sandwich shop to take home lunch for all, including my extremely hard working farmer husband.    After walking in the door with my DS asleep on my shoulder and my DD ready to visit with her Nana and cousins I was met with more peace and quiet.  As both of the 'men folk' rested and watched football and my DD was next door playing, I was left with time to rake up leaves outside, to make a nice supper and clear up the dishes, and read a book that wasn't a 'how to raise a (fill in the blank) child."  With supper slowly cooking and my DS waking and going next door as well, my husband began to get ready to go outside to start the evening chores.  To this point, it's been a beautiful, peaceful, Little House day.  The only thing better would be chocolate at this point.  (But WW frowns on pigging out on too many. ) As I begin to place the homemade beef vegetable soup in freezer containers my husband turns to me and asks, "so....  what should we do with our life?"   WHAT???????????  A life question now?????  Are you kidding me??????  HUH????????  I love him dearly but does he understand what that type of question does to a woman's mind???  After that it was mass chaos and such.  Both kids came home, my husband left to do chores, my sister and her husband showed up, my DS threw up all over the floor, my DD didn't want to go to bed even though she had bags under her eyes, and I had, yet again, a sink full of dishes to do.  WHAT HAPPENED???????  
Ok, so all of you who have been through this are probably laughing at me.  That's ok, because I choose to remember the peace, remember the tranquility, remember the ahhhhhhhhhh never mind.



To more 'peaceful' days ahead!
Lisa

In Awe

Well hello everyone out there! Boy it has been a long time since I've written. I even had to go through all of the resetting passwords, usernames, etc. I couldn't even remember the sign in!!! Oh well, here I am and A LOT has happened since the last time I'd written. Instead of trying to recap everything I'll just hit a few key points for everyone.

We have moved into my eventual dream house.(It's going to take years to get it into shape but it's worth it! :-)) I'm homeschooling my eldest with a GREAT program called "My Father's World." We have found a new church home and I have embraced being a "once a month" worship team leader. My DH has become a farmer alongside his father and has lost about 40 lbs! (I know, not fair is it ladies!) We had an abundance of pie pumpkins and tomatoes in our first garden. The mums are planted next to the deck and the bulbs are planted for beautiful daffodils in the spring. My children have just blossomed beyond my imagination. All of God's wonders are here for us to explore; from the growth of a tiny kernel of corn to a full stock to feed a 1000 pound cow for the winter to the flooding of a "mighty" river in the span of an hour.

My children have really grown to love our lifestyle here. It's not quite been 6 months since we left our 'big' city life but already they run as fast as their little legs can carry them when they hear their daddy bringing in the buckets to prepare the feed for the baby calves. The smile of my DH as they put on their 'mudders' (outside boots)and coats to hold a bottle for a new baby calf is all I need to make a hard day, wonderful.

I must admit though, it's not all 'little house on the prairie.' There are days when we are all so tired that we get a pizza and are full of spit and vinegar. Some nights my husband is asleep before my kids have even settled down enough to think about sleeping. Some days, I look at the pile of dishes or the ever mounting pile of leaves and sticks that need raking once again and just want to curl up with a blanket and watch my favorite movie. But it seems that when those days come, they don't last long, and God always gives me a comforting line from one of my kids or a loving friend/relative to get me through.
As the days turn colder and the wind blows harder we are starting to transition into 'home mode.' We've brought out the bread making 'gear.' The bikes are put away, the puzzles are found and all pieces accounted for, and the windows are all closed and getting ready for plastic. We hope to get the piano tuned and the fireplace ready for a Christmas of 'old.' I get such a loving feeling when I think of my family huddled together listening to the radio, eating popcorn, drinking hot cocoa, and laughing. Then I remember, we haven't even made it to Thanksgiving yet! :-)

Happy Harvest!
Lisa

Brothers and Sisters

From the best of friends to competitive rivals brothers and sisters are a unique and wonderful camaraderie to watch. Our family has been going through a tough and wonderful time recently with a move back to the country. It is taking longer than expected to get into our prospective home. However, this has given me a different type of trial. I have really had to flex my creative muscle to keep my children occupied. From movies, coloring, outside adventures to the new garden, (where my son tried his first REAL pea pod) hide and seek until all of the spots are well learned, to a wonderful mini tea party. The possibilities are endless... at least until mom is ready for a break!
My two little munchkins are so much fun to watch. In 30 seconds they can be bitter enemies and fight over the one purple car in a box of 80 different matchbox cars and then they are hugging and giggling until they fall on the floor. What makes them that way? Why can my son haul off and hit his big sister only to not want to be two millimeters away from her? Then there is my daughter, how can she take the time to make sure her little brother has his favorite toy, blanket, and cup only to snatch it away when she wants it?
From screaming to laughing what amazing little people our children turn out to be. Each day is a fun and trying adventure. Thank you God for blessing me with my children!

Lisa

Moving Day

Our family recently made a move to a new township. What craziness!!! We have moved from the 'urban sprawl' of a city that consists of around 50,000 people to a small farm outside of a town that has about 700 people. The conveniences of the city are long gone and the concept of planning has become a necessity. However, it struck me as funny that in the city we drove around 15 to 20 minutes to get to our local walmart and in the country I have to drive 15 or 20 minutes to get to the nearest walmart. So, it's all in the eye of the beholder I guess.
As we wait to move into our new house, I constantly ask myself if I kept enough stuff out to keep my two kids occupied. How will our life change with this move? Will my children adapt? Will my husband find happiness? What about me, will I find contentment?
So much faith is needed on our parts to trust God with his plan for us. It's the 'what ifs' that get ya. God will do his part.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

How many times have you listened in to your kid's playtime? Or have you been holding a conversation only to have your little one pipe up something of such profound insight that you wonder which college will want them first?
Well, it's amazing what terms our children pick up and use against us! Now before I go any further let me just say that we are a Christian family. We strive to live our lives as Christ tells us in his word. (for more info on that topic please visit www.family.org)
Anyway, like many people, especially adults, we sometimes let worries and anxieties get the better of us. Well, my DH and I were trying to figure out some important future plans. Obviously we were not keeping our conversation private by speaking in the car. Our 4 year old DD decided to pipe up and remind us that we need to be thankful no matter where we were or what we were doing. How in the world did our 4 year old become a voice of reason. I think it's amazing when God uses the smallest voices for the biggest points.
How many times do we question ourselves only to look in our child's eyes and know everything will work out just fine? Or how many times have you been about to blow your stack and they smile and say, "I love you mommy" or "you're the greatest mommy in the whole world!" It always seems to be just enough to make you melt or forget your troubles for just a second. I think that is a way that God sends his peace that passes all understanding. Well, I hope this finds you all healthy and happy. Especially if your kids are saying something profound!

In his Name,
Lisa

Customer Service

Ok everyone, this will be more of a complaining day. I believe that everyone is intitled once in awhile!
After many weeks of researching a certain item I came to a national company in electronics (one with a yellow tag.... hint hint hint) that had the best deal. I was excited to go and pick up the pieces to my 'item.' I went in to purchase the item and was shot down! I found out that the 'bundle' I had picked out was an online only deal. Even though they had all three pieces no more than 2 feet away from me they refused to match their own company's deal! Also, because I would have to order everything online they would not honor the coupon I had for $50! So because of technicality and lack of customer service that big coorporation has lost my family's business. Now, I have to make it known that it wasn't just my dissapointment of losing the item that made me stop shopping there. It was the way they made me feel. Like my business was just a drop in the bucket, and that if I'd just spend more of my hard earned money in the store they would then take care of me. (this idea was said to me by the manager)
Well, the good news is that after talking with friends and doing even more research, I did end up with an even better deal for my item and now am having a blast with it.
Now, I'd love to hear about your customer service nightmares! complain now and then forever hold your peace! Credit card companies, retail, magazines, information lines... etc! One day to let it out and let it go.
Ok everyone, enjoy the warmer weather and the new spring growth!

In his name,
Lisa

Eatting Out

So, when you eat out what do you order? Do you go with the special? The most greasy yummy meal they have? Or do you order the plain chicken breast and the steamed veggis? What about the portions? Do you supersize? Do you get the to go box at the beinning of the meal or none at all?
With so many choices how do we decide? Do we go healthy or do we do what we want? Do we think of starving children and realize how lucky we are? (just got a call from World Vision!)
We live in a world of excess. Larger and fancier cars, homes the size of old school houses, make up and pedicures, and meals the size of small animals! How do we live right?
Pop portions now start at 12 ounces. Do you remember when we could barly finish a 12 oz can of Mt. Dew? Now we expect our kids to finish it all! How about sides like french fries or mashed potatoes. We want to get what we pay for and now they have supersized everything!
I thought I'd give us all something to think about today. Especially as we come into the 'bathing suit' season.

In his name!
lisa

Warming up the Winter Blues in the Kitchen

Do you get the winter blues? How do you handle them? What cheers you up?
Many of my friends and I suffer from the winter blues. When the temperature hits the 10 degree and lower mark I feel trapped in my own home. With two little ones I try many things to get through our long Wisconsin winters. From movie days to baking bread my family and I rack our brains to make it through.
As I mentioned, one of my favorite things is to bake bread. My DD and I just love to make loaves of fresh bread together. For my birthday and Christmas a year ago my family bought me my first Kitchen Aid and the attachment to grind wheat. It's so fun to get it all set up and watch my DD and DS run into the kitchen to watch as tiny little berries of wheat turn into enough flour to make bread, cookies, and whatever else we can dream up.
In one of my previous posts I told you that we love the Little House series. My daughter will get dressed up in an old dress my mom remade for her and we put her hair in braids as she helps me measure the ingredients into the bowl. She always asks about what each ingredient is, (even when she already knows) and turns to explain to her younger brother who is just standing and watching what everyone is doing. Ya know, he actually looks like he is paying very close attention to the details she is explaining!
Well, after the bread rises and we've shaped it into loaves, rolls, or a special treat, ooey gooey bread, we stick it into the oven and the house begins to smell like a wonderful bakery! Of course the second the bread comes out of the oven, we burn our fingers as we crowd around to get a nice warm slice covered with butter and sometimes honey.
It feels so wonderful to have taken that time to make something from scratch that includes my family. I encourage you all to take a day and make something from scratch either for yourself or for the ones around you.

In his name,
Lisa

Surrounded by Babylon

Oh God, who made the summer and warmed the earth with beauty,
Warm our hearts with gratitude and devotion to our duty,
For in this age of violence, rebellion, and defiance
We've forgotten the true meaning of dependable reliance-
We have lost our sense of duty and our sense of values, too,
And what was once unsanctioned, no longer is taboo,
Our standards have been lowered and we resist all discipline,
And our vision has been narrowed and blinded to all sin-
Oh, put the summer brightness in our closed, unseeing eyes
So in the careworn faces that we pass we'll recognize
The heartbreak and the loneliness, the trouble and despair
That a word of understanding would make easier to bear-
Oh God, look down on our cold hearts and warm them with Your love,
And grant us Your forgiveness which we're so unworthy of.

-Helen Steiner Rice

As I click on and off of Ebay or Craigslist looking for the best deal for the coolest new stuff I realize my deep seeded need for stuff. Our generation seems to have fallen prey to the 'gotta have it now' syndrome. At every turn we can make a million decisions. With a click of the mouse we can outfit our children, cars, home, and ourselves. Even as I write this I see the impatience of my kids as their favorite show is on and they want me to turn it on 'right now!' How did this happen?
My DD and I have been reading the "Little House" books. It's almost like another planet. To have a 'Ma' that makes everything in the house and a 'Pa' that is home every night to read stories and play a song on the fiddle to help all go to sleep. My favorite stories are the Christmas ones. The pure excitement and gratitude by all for a handmade pair of mittens, ONE peppermint stick, and maybe a button string. Can you imagine giving your child one piece of candy and it absolutely MAKING their Christmas? I know we've all become so commercial that it just wouldn't fly. What about a homemade Christmas? I have come up with every excuse in the book why I can't finish one project let alone all presents for an entire family.
Well, the end all be all is that we have become desensitized to many things. One of those is society versus what is right by God. So I challenge everyone to take a minute and think things through. Does my child or I need that one more toy? Should I expose myself to that show or is that one just not really what I should be watching? For a absolutely wonderful detailed look at what God says about integrity in a Babylon, I encourage all to check out Beth Moore's bible study on Daniel. I've just finished it and I can say that I've learned so much. I pray it is stuck tight in my heart and that you may all get an idea without condemnation about our 'gotta have it now' mentality!


In his name,

Lisa

TV time

The weekend is coming and I'm out of town so, thanks for reading but there will not be a post for Saturday or Sunday. Check back on Monday and I should have a new topic for all!


Good morning once again! It is sunshiny here and a nice warm 5 degrees! :-) Don't worry all of you, it'll warm up to 29 today!
So, one of my guilty pleasures is to have my DH make a big bowl of his famous popcorn, grab a box of raisettes from the dollar store, and watch hours upon hours of tv. But how much tv is really too much and which shows are ok and which are not? Boy, it's really a fine line isn't it? I know there are many out there that feel no tv is the best. I can see their point, especially with kids in the house. I'm of the mindset that with careful monitoring some tv is ok.
When it comes to my kids I'm very careful. PBS is a constant fixture in our house. However, we then get into the argument of certain shows teaching certain subjects. For that matter what about your favorite show doing a topic on something you don't want your kids to know about? Turn it off and risk the wrath of a tantrum? Or take the time to explain and deal with a moping child? What about commercials for things you don't support or inappropriate images?
I tell you, it's a fine line. I think each instance needs to be address individually. But after saying that I wonder about finding a standard? I guess it's a trial and error type of thing.
How about the amount of tv? Computer also? For my 4 year old we are using a bean technique. For every chore or random act of kindness towards someone, she earns a bean. Each bean equals 15 minutes of tv time or computer. I have to say that it has worked really well. The only exception to the rule is if it's family movie night or family Wii night. I do feel that it has helped overall. Her chores have been done each day before breakfast and the tv/computer hasn't been on all morning and afternoon. She has been doing so many more things for fun. Of course that means more picking up at the end of the day for Mommy but I think I'll take it over mindless staring!

In his love,
Lisa

How do I start to lose weight?

Good morning all! I once again hope this is seeing you all healthy and happy. It's been a busy morning here in our home as we have DH off to work and DD off to school. That leaves me and my DS home with me watching his favorite PBS show.
So, throughout my teenage years and into my adult life I have tried many many things offering a 'healthy lifestyle.' From classes, books, infomercials, and meetings, I feel like I've tried it all! It seems like every month some new thing comes along and tempts us with 30 days money back, or guaranteed weight loss in so many days. How can they promise that to someone when they don't know them or their heart???? I am at a point in my life that I'm sick and tired of being an out of shape, overweight mom trying to keep up with her little ones. I'm not a skinny person at heart but by golly I can try! :-)
So, here is my question. What is the proper way to go? All meat, no carbs? No meat all fruits and vegis? Is there a magic drink or pill out there? What piece of exercise equiptment or video do I have to buy to make me 40 lbs lighter? Does it happen quickly or am I looking for a long term fix here? There are sooooooo many things out there to choose from but where to begin?

Well, I tell you where I'm going to start. My heart. I know I can't do this on my own and I need an unfailing team mate. A leader that will always listen and give advice in love. God! He has the only program that will not fail. So, I'm giving him all my measurements and I don't have to take a picture cause he sees me as I am. After that, I can't fail!
Many women are afraid of the word submit because it sounds as if we are giving up or it makes us less of a 'tough cookie.' However, how much more power can we gain by admitting we need help. (isn't that part of the 12 step program?) There is power in numbers and boy I'd like God to be one of my numbers!

In his love,
Lisa

A First Timer

Well, after much debate and counsel, here I am on my own blog! I typically am not a person that writes a lot. However, I've decided to try my hand at this new technological wonder. For many computers are a lost cause. For many still it is an amazing tool that gives life to imagination and information that one can't believe. There are many that can even make a living from typing on the computer. (I believe that my brother could be one of them!) hint hint k!
Anyway, a bit about my life. I am that ever striving girl that is working towards that goal of the Proverbs 31 woman. Yet, life never seems to get there. Everyday life seems to get in the way. From illnesses to failed new recipes things seem to fall short of the mark. However, I keep my chin up knowing that God loves us all and that he sees my shortcomings and still has faith in me.
My family is an amazing family that loves music and sports. My little ones are active and growing. From Tiny tots, basketball, and AWANA my kids love to be out and about.
We have family that is close and family that lives many states away. But, we love each other in our own special ways. I hope to touch on many things throughout the life of my blog from recipes, cleaning tricks, schooling questions, and deeper ideas. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it and tell me your opinions too!


In his love,
Lisa