Things I Love

I love....

...playing with Ladybug's hair while she sits on my lap.

...watching her face light up when her Daddy comes home.

...watching his face light up when she runs to give him a hug.

...watching her learn and discover new things.

...watching her finish a puzzle and clap for herself.

...reading to Ladybug.

...teaching her to use her imagination.

And although sometimes it scares me, I love knowing that God has given me the tremendous blessing and privilege of raising Ladybug. God, help me not to mess up too badly.

My Pittsburgh Steeler

Thankful Thursday

I'm a little later than usual in posting my TT list. Ladybug had a Halloween party with her Mother's Morning Out group this morning. I'm not into Halloween, but I think a party with classmates/friends is acceptable. Ladybug was dressed as a Pittsburgh Steeler! She looked adorable!!

One thing that surprised me was the goody bags for the kids. These kids are ages 6 months to 3 years. There was entirely too much sugar, and even choking hazards, in that bag. I brought goldfish cracker snack packets for the goody bags.

So how is this related to my thankful list? I am thankful that Ladybug is a blank slate when it comes to habits. The eating habits that she develops are largely influenced by Hubby and me, and we do pay careful attention to what we eat and what Ladybug eats. (Yes, I still have my chocolate stash for certain times.)

Hubby and I both have struggled with our weight for a long time, since junior high for me. I want to instill in Ladybug good, healthy habits so that she doesn't have to face that battle too.

And the good thing is that Hubby and I are eating better too. And in running after an active toddler, we are getting off the couch more as well. So in trying to instill good habits in Ladybug, our health is also benefiting.

Yes, I do allow Ladybug to have an occasional treat. But treats are not for every day consumption. And there were a few treats in her goody bag that I thought were great - a homemade muffin wrapped in cellophane, pretzels, and animal crackers - all things that I would consider a "normal" snack.

I am also thankful for a great Mom's Morning Out program that Ladybug can attend, with two very caring teachers. Ladybug wasn't too sure about leaving Momma those first few times in September, but she loves to go. And Momma gets a break to be able to do other things without a toddler clinging to her legs all the time.

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Grace Alone.

Wordless Wednesday - Hey!

Hey! Don't forget to vote next Tuesday!

(If you're an American and registered to vote. Otherwise, just admire how cute I look.)

Click here or here for more Wordless Wednesday.

Saggy Maggies

Male readers, be forewarned. This post is about my breasts, and there's nothing sexy about Saggy Maggies. You'd better click away while you still have the chance.

Are they gone? Okay. I have to share this funny story with you.

I've always been well-endowed. I'm not bragging, I'm just sayin'. And as a nursing momma, a lot of my waking hours are centered around "the girls." Not as much as when Ladybug was a newborn, but she definitely still loves to nurse.

I am very careful to make sure that I have a good fitting bra. For several reasons. One, I know that an ill-fitting bra causes extra strain on my neck, shoulders, and back and can trigger migraines. Second, I like to be somewhat fashionable, and I know that good fitting undergarments are a girl's best foundation. (Thank you, Stacy and Clinton.)

When one of my nursing bras starts to get stretched out, I go on-line and order a new one. On-line is the only place I can find my cup size, in nursing and regular bras. I know I will be needing to order one soon, but a few weeks ago, I thought I needed one much sooner.

Tuesday mornings are hectic. I have to get out of the house by 8:40 to get Ladybug to Mom's Morning Out and have a little bit of prep time before my Bible study begins at 9:30. That week, I was running late. Which is unusual for me. We left the house at 8:48. Uh-oh.

After I drop LB off at MMO, I go into the church office to make some copies for my group. As I'm standing at the copier, I start fiddling with my bra. I noticed the girls were really looking saggy. I couldn't get the bra adjusted and noticed that it seemed really stretched. R-E-A-L-L-Y stretched.

I get into Bible study. I'm the teacher, okay? My mind is supposed to be on the lesson and leading discussion. I couldn't get the sagginess out of my head. All of a sudden I realized that I'm wearing my bed bra. The most stretched out nursing bra that I own. The one I wear at night so that the girls stay at least a little bit contained.

How in the world did I walk out of the house and not realize until 90 minutes later how low the girls were hanging????

As soon as Bible study was over, I called Hubby and told him what I realized. He made some joke about lack of support, ha ha.

Okay, maybe that story wasn't as funny as I thought. Oh well. Now you know about my Saggy Maggies. Just keepin' it real. Word.

More of Him Monday - Inhibitions

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.

NOTE: If you have a More of Him post, please link up in the comments. Thanks!

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Jesus Blesses the Children

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

After church this Sunday, I watched in wonder as Ladybug ran down the aisle in the sanctuary. Everyone had gone to Sunday School, and we were waiting on Hubby as he talked with another staff member.

As I watched her run, the above scripture came to mind. We are to come to God as little children come to Him. Here I watched Ladybug run, giggle, and enjoy herself in the church, and it struck me how God must want all of us to be like that when we come to Him.

Now, I don't think it's irreverent to allow a child to run in church. That building only becomes the Church when the people are gathered there to worship. Of course, I do not let her run up to the altar as that might get someone in a snit, and I want her to learn to be respectful. But I see no problem in allowing her to run and explore among the pews and down the aisle.

She was having so much fun! It is a place that she is accustomed to being. She knows her way around. She knows which door leads to the nursery. She knows where her mommy and daddy stand when the music is playing. Our church is a familiar place to her.

Is church a familiar place to you? Do you allow yourself to have fun at church? Do you allow yourself to have a child-like faith when you approach God?

If not, I would encourage you to watch a child in church. See their enthusiasm, and their lack of inhibitions. They enjoy life no matter where they are.

As Christians, we are to come to God in the manner of little children. With inhibitions left behind.

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Where have you seen More of Him in your life?

Flashback Friday - First Emotions

It's Flashback Friday over at BlogMommas. Today, we are asked to share the first emotion that we felt when we first saw our progeny. This is an easy assignment, yet a difficult one too.

If you have visited here before, you know that our first daughter Susie was stillborn. But I need to share that story before I can move on to tell Ladybug's story.

Because we knew that Susie has already died in my womb, we opted to deliver her via c-section under general anesthesia. I did not want to see her without my husband present. Once I was in my room and some dear friends from church had stopped by to pray with us, we were told that we could see our daughter and spend as much time with her as we wanted.

The nurse brought her in a basket, all dressed in a pretty little dress and knit hat. I'll never forget the intensity of the grief at that moment. As I was sitting up in bed, the nurse brought her over to me. I remember the tears, the sobs, and reaching for her. Hubby and I held her for an hour or so before calling for the nurse to come take her away. That grief was one of the most intense feelings I have ever experienced.

So the emotion that I felt when I first saw Ladybug's face was both relief and joy. We also delivered her via c-section. You can read that story here. As the doctor held her up over the curtain and I heard her first cries, relief washed over me knowing that she was okay.

The nurses washed her and bundled her, and I was able to give her a first kiss. I cried tears of joy.

I'm sure these weren't the emotions you were expecting to read. Even though she is not with us physically, Susie is very much a part of our lives. We always love to share her story too.

And since it's Friday, does anyone have any big plans for the weekend? We have music practice Saturday morning, plus Hubby has to work. Then Sunday will include worship and football.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for Communication. Specifically, communication with almost-17 month old Ladybug.

She continues to learn new signs, sometimes repeating a sign after seeing it only once. She is up to about 35 signs now, and I need to learn more so I can stay ahead of her. We really want this time to be a strong foundation for using American Sign Language as a second language.

Ladybug is also learning to repeat words! She will try to repeat the words that we say, and it is so darn cute! Here are the words that she is saying without any prompting:

MAMA

DADA

BALL (sounds like ba)

ON (sounds like aw)

OFF (sounds like aw)

UP (sounds like uh)

MILK (sounds like ma)

READ

BOOK (sounds like buh)

DUCKIE (sounds like duh-ie)

KITTY (sounds like key)

DOWN (sounds like duh)

WATER (sounds like wah)

ALL DONE (sounds like ah-duh)

BUTTERFLY (sounds like buh)

BATH (sounds like ba)

I am sure there are more words that she says, I'm just not remembering them right now. Ladybug is also learning manners. We are teaching her the signs for PLEASE and THANK YOU. She uses THANK YOU more often, but when reminded, she will sign PLEASE.

Ladybug is so eager to communicate with us! You can almost see the wheels turning as she is soaking up every little thing that we say and do. It reminds me of how we should be eager to communicate with our heavenly Father. How we should be so eager to sit at His feet and soak up all that He wants to teach us.

Communication with our Ladybug is such a gift and a pleasure! And something for which I am VERY thankful!

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Grace Alone.

Mid-Week Linky Goodness

Today at Blissfully Domestic, I am introducing a series based on the book The Love Dare. If you don't already have the book, get it and read along with me over the next few weeks! And if you are not already a member of The League of Extraordinary Wives, e-mail wedblissfully@gmail.com for an invitation. It's a closed social network for the purpose of strengthening our marriages. Come join us!

Do you read Feels Like Home? Tara has become a great bloggy friend, and she has an adorable daugther who is just a few days younger than Ladybug. If you don't read her blog, you need to start! She's a great writer, talks about her wonderful family, and shares great recipes too.

And you need to hurry on over to Truly Captivating before Friday morning. Susanne is giving away the new Lincoln Brewster CD.

Catching Up, Randomness, and Chotoberfest

My apologies for being absent from the blog yesterday. Mondays and Tuesdays are my busy, run-run-run days. I don't like it, but that's how it works right now.

For you work-outside-the-home-moms, this won't seem like any big deal. It's a big deal to us since we're not used to it. We have to be out of the house by 8:40 so we can get to church. I drop Ladybug off in the nursery for Mom's Morning Out. On Mondays, I go to the chapel for staff prayer time then staff meeting. (Hubby's work schedule right now allows him to go too. But with grad classes, that can change.) On Tuesdays, I have a little bit of prep time before Bible study starts at 9:30.

On both days, I have extra time before gathering Ladybug from the nursery, so I'll either run errands, make business phone calls, or read. Then I collect my girl around 11:50, we get loaded in the car, and head for home. Ladybug always falls asleep during the drive.

Most days, I can get her out of the carseat and into bed so she can continue napping. But not always. And even if I do get her into bed, sometimes she wakes up within a few minutes. So I don't always have time to unwind after being busy all morning.

When Ladybug wakes up, we jump into our afternoon routine. Lunch, playtime, reading. A few days a week my nieces are here after school. Other times, Hubby is home. But I rarely get computer time in the afternoon. Sometimes I can get on the computer after dinner, but other times it's not until after LB goes to bed.

All that to say, my schedule gets crazy sometimes, and if I don't schedule posts on Sunday, I may not have time to post until Wednesday morning. And thankfully, LB is sleeping in a little today. Ooops, here she comes with her Daddy. BRB.

Okay, I'm back. Let's see if I can finish this rambling post before LB starts pounding on my laptop.

I keep saying that LB is ready to start doing craft projects, and she is! We brought home her first coloring page from MMO this week! Sure, it's a bunch of scribbles, but it is the first of many.

In other random news, I hosted my very first Choctoberfest last Friday! I was so looking forward to having a girls' night. We had a small crowd, but it was fun. I made Chili con Chocolate (yum!), and we had two chocolate ice cream desserts (double yum!). And we are planning the 2nd Annual Choctoberfest for next year.

This is Kathy, myself, Dawn, and Suzanne hanging out in my kitchen. We had a few last minute cancellations - we missed you, girls! But it was fun to catch up and not have a toddler needing my attention every two minutes.

I think that's all the randomness I have in me this morning. Thanks for listening!

More of Him Monday - Give to God

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.

NOTE: If you have a More of Him post, please link up in the comments. Thanks!

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Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 16 They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. 17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
“Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.

Matthew 22:15-22

This passage was the text for our sermon today. Normally, this would be a great text for a sermon on stewardship. But our wonderful deacon shared some great insight that really hit me. I just have to share.

First, the coins were stamped with the Caesar's image, which was actually a form of idolatry. And it was a disciple of the Pharisees who was carrying a Roman coin. The Pharisees, who were so careful to keep every minute detail of every obscure law, were allowing idolatry.

Second, when Jesus said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's," He was pointing out that the coin really belonged to Caesar because it bore his image. Therefore, anything that is bearing God's image belongs to God as well. Hmmm... Aren't human beings made in the image of God?

We should be giving ourselves to God, wholly and whole-heartedly, because we belong to Him anyway. Ouch. Giving ourselves to God.

We talk so much about giving our money and our time to God, but giving ourselves hits a little too close to home. I want to be my own person, live by my own rules. But, as a Christian, I cannot. I belong to God.

And I don't say that begrudgingly. I love that I belong to God. I love that He is in control. Because anytime I try to take control of my life, I make a royal mess.

Giving all of myself to God means that I also have to give Him control. In all areas of my life. In the big things and in the little things.

And when I give God all of myself, then He becomes the Sole Owner of my Soul.

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I need to start carrying a notebook in my purse because there were a lot of other great thoughts that came in today's sermon. I wish I could have remembered them all. God was definitely speaking to me today.

Where have you see More of Him in your life?

Happy Birthday...

... to me!!

Here are a lot of great facts about October 19th that I posted last year.

I'll be enjoying the day worshipping the Lord and hanging out with the family. Have a great day, y'all!

A Single Yellow Rose

A single yellow rose

Sits on my window ledge

A reminder that you are not here.

At first, it was a tight bud

Now the bloom is full

Reminding me of the girl you might have become.

But there are no regrets now

Although I miss you so.

I know you are safe

In the arms of Jesus

Which is much safer than my arms could ever be.

I miss you, my sweet first born girl

I don't think that will ever change

I look forward to our reunion

And wonder what you will look like.

Will you still be a baby,

All five pounds and twelve ounces of you?

Or will you be a grown up girl?

I wonder if you will hold me

And comfort me

As I have longed to hold and comfort you.

As difficult as it is

I thank God for His wisdom

In taking you from us.

His ways are higher than our ways

His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

I give Him thanks for that single yellow rose

That reminds me of you.

Thankful Thursday - God's Wisdom

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.

“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so my ways are higher than your ways

and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Today, I am thankful for God's wisdom. I am thankful that He sees the past, present, and future all at once and that He knows what is good for me and what isn't.

As I look back at events in my life, I see God's hand guiding me, guarding me, and forming me to be the person that I am today. Even in the rough, desert places of my life, God was there. He was using those rough places to slough off the dead skin in my soul, giving me a spiritual exfoliating treatment.

And as far as I have come in this spiritual journey, I still have so much farther to go. I know that there are many rough places in my life and in my character that need God's wisdom more than my own. Just when I think a desert phase has passed, there is another area of my life that needs God's housekeeping expertise. But I am thankful that He continues to persevere and never gives up on me.

Lord, I am Yours.

Mold me, make me,

heal me, love me.

I am Yours.

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Grace Alone.

Wordless Wednesday - Peekaboo!

Click here or here for more Wordless Wednesdays.

What Do You Say?

How many times have you struggled with what to say when a friend, colleague, or acquaintance is going through a tough time? Because of the loss of our first daughter, people often ask me how to help those who are grieving. My response: just be there. Don't offer answers or excuses. This quote sums it up:



When life caves in, you do not need reasons - you need comfort.
You do not need answers - you need someone.
And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation -
He comes to us with His presence.
- Bob Benson

More of Him Monday - Emotions

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.

NOTE: If you have a More of Him post, please link up in the comments. Thanks!

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Sunday was a day of emotions. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by the intensity of my own emotions. But I realize that they are a part of who God made me to be.

When I read the Psalms, I see the same intensity and range of emotions reflected in the psalmists' writings. From lament, depression, anxiety, and grief to gratitude and joy. The Psalms make me feel somewhat normal.

Worship on Sunday morning was excellent. It was uplifting and joyous. We had an inspiring sermon. The music raised the roof. If there was someone there who did not feel the power of the Holy Spirit, I would question if they had a pulse!

However, an hour before worship began, I received a phone call that one of my aunts had passed away Saturday night. She had been diagnosed with lymphoma in June. But in spite of the grief, I felt the joy of worship.

In addition of the fresh grief of learning of my aunt's passing, Hubby, Ladybug and I attended A Walk to Remember at our local hospital to celebrate and remember the babies that have been lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, or death in early infancy. This was the fourth year that we have attended this event. It was a sweet time of remembering and sharing with others who know the same grief of losing a child.

My emotions wear me out, especially on a day like yesterday. And I couldn't take a time out from being a wife and mother. I still had a husband and child who needed me. I found joy in making dinner for my family. I found joy in watching Ladybug spin in circles until she fell over. I found joy in the midst of the grief.

And in that joy, I felt the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit. And I found comfort knowing that "the joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)

Thanks for listening. Where have you see "More of Him" in your life?

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Everyone knows that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But did you also know that it is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month?

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know about our first daughter Susie. She was stillborn on December 6, 2004, at 36 weeks gestation due to a cord accident. You can read her story here.

October 15th is the offical Remembrance Day for Pregnancy and Infant Loss. That day at 7 pm, those who have lost a baby either during pregnancy or early infancy will remember their babies by lighting a candle. There will be a "wave of light" through all time zones on that time as the hour of 7 pm occurs.

If you know someone who has suffered the loss of a baby, please visit this page for more information.

About the Busines of Blogging

This blogging is an amazing thing. In the last few weeks, I have gained at least 10 new subscribers. That's amazing because I feel totally off in my writing lately. And if anyone has come here to read because of my posts on Blissfully Wed, then I'm really amazed because I don't feel my game has been "on" over there either.

So thank you, new subscribers and new readers! Seriously. It warms my heart to know that y'all read what I write, and that you like it enough to come back!

I've been struggling with what to write lately. My good bloggy friend Liza made a good point a while back. This is a "mommy blog," so the topics can be whatever this mommy wants them to be! That advice has helped some. I have a few posts waiting in draft though, because I'm not sure if you really want to read about my bra. (Not all of them are about my bra, that's just the one that comes to mind right now.)

For my fellow bloggers out there, I have a couple of questions. Do you use a reader to follow your favorite blogs? If so, which one? How do you organize it? Do you cap the number of blogs that you follow?

There are so many great blogs out there. When I discover another one, I want to add it to my Google reader, but I'm subscribed to almost 200 blogs as it is. I don't know how to read everything and comment too.

I don't get as much computer time since Ladybug is so active and busy. She can entertain herself for a while, then comes over to see what I'm doing. She's already broken the left shift key on my laptop. So I prefer to keep it out of her reach. (Which means not on my lap!)

I have several ideas floating in my head for new posts here. The problem is getting them onto paper or even typed up before they leave my head. I do my best thinking while driving, and it's hard to write and drive at the same time. I don't even like to talk on the cell phone and drive!

I really do enjoy this hobby of blogging. It doesn't require intense concentration or incredible creativity like some hobbies do. And I do enjoy that y'all like to share your thoughts too!

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday - Prayer

Today, I am thankful for prayer. When I feel helpless, I know that I can do something by praying. Even if my prayers are only a sentence sprinkled throughout the day, I know that God still hears them.

I recently read these lessons about prayer and wanted to share them.

1. The only real mistake we can make in prayer is in not praying.

2. No matter how much you pray, you will never be completely satisfied with your prayer life.

3. The Holy Spirit helps us in our prayer.

4. Keep on praying.

5. Our emotions and feelings are irrelevant to effective praying.

6. Heaven places the same value on our prayers that we do.

7. Throw away your clock.

8. It's not necessary to know the will of God in order to ask for something.

9. There is a mystery involved whenever we come into the presence of God.

10. Always keep paper and pen handy when you are praying.

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Grace Alone.

Wordless Wednesday - Hiding Place

Okay, so this isn't exactly wordless. Ladybug is "hiding" under a buffet table that I inherited from my maternal grandparents. It is part of a dining set that includes a large dining table (seats up to 12!), the remaining 5 chairs, a china cabinet, a large buffet table and this small buffet table.

The funny thing is, I used to hide under it when I was a kid, and my mom used to do the same thing! Ladybug discovered this all by herself. She will sometimes take a book under there to "read."

Isn't she just the cutest?

For actual Wordless Wednesday posts, click here or here.

Goals for Today

I'm no longer calling it a to-do list. These are my goals for today and I plan to come back and cross things off as I accomplish them.

~ clean kitchen counters
~ put away laundry
~ sweep kitchen floor
~ grocery shopping
~ write blog posts on Pregnancy and Infant Loss Month, and Your Opinions Please
~ make bread
~ make muffins
~ post a WW pic
~ make 5 customer phone calls
~ get nieces after school (my BIL will be getting them instead)
~ make dinner

Also, does anyone have a good, safe insect repellent to recommend for use on a toddler? Ladybug and I are both allergic to mosquito bites. And I'd rather prevent them than treat them after the fact. Thanks!!

Book Meme

I was tagged by Babystepper for this Book Meme.


Here are the instructions -


Grab the nearest book.
Open the book to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions.
Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
Tag five other people to do the same.


The closest books are Ladybug's boardbooks, so none of them have 56 pages. So I had to get up to grab the closest book with more pages! It happens to be "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding." I'm re-reading it because I have a good friend who is expecting in February and a very close relative (wink;-) who is expecting in May. (But I haven't been given permission to discuss that person's condition on the blog yet.)


So here goes....


"Cynthia Webb, from Montana, tells how her La Leche League Leader helped her to overcome the problem of engorgement and get off to a good start breastfeeding her daughter:


'The day after we got home from the hosptial was the day my breasts became engorged. With the baby crying in the background and the sample bottle of formula from the hospital looking temptingly easy, my LLL Leader gave me advice and solutions that had us back on the right track in half an hour.


'It took Kelli and me a little longer to really get the hang of nursing. Then one day everything seemed to fall into place.'"


This has been a great reference for me, and I can't wait to share it with my friend and my very close relative!


Now, I am going to tag:


Tara at Feels Like Home
Dawn at Baby Addiction
Bean's Mom at Beanish and Other Languages I'm Learning
Lisa at Blessed with Grace
Jeni at Allen Family Circus (Jeni just changed the name of her blog to Peace and Carrots - I like it!)


If you don't want to play along, that's okay. And if there is someone that I didn't tag that would like to participate, leave me a comment so I can hop over and check our book meme!

More of Him Monday - Stewardship

Welcome to More of Him Monday! This is a weekly carnival in which we can share encouragement with fellow Christian bloggers. Please read here for participation guidelines.

NOTE: If you have a More of Him post, please link up in the comments. Thanks!

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It's that time of year. In most churches during the fall, a stewardship campaign gets underway. The church needs the people to pledge how much they will give in the upcoming year so that they can prepare a new operating budget. That's the nuts-and-bolts reason.

There is a spiritual aspect of stewardship. As Christians, God asks us to be good stewards of all that He gives us, not only money but material possessions as well. We are to be good stewards of the earth. Some people might call that "being green." I call it being a faithful Christian.

With money, God asks that we give him the "first fruits" or the first 10 percent of our income. Before any bill gets paid, before any groceries are purchased, God should get 10 percent of what we receive in our paycheck. That's tough, especially if you are barely making ends meet. If we understand that it is God who provides our jobs and that everything belongs to Him anyway, it gets a little easier to give that 10 percent because we are simply giving back to Him what is His to begin with.

In our sermon yesterday, there was another point that struck me about being a good steward. As parents, when we dedicate or baptize our children, they now belong to the Lord. We are to be good stewards with our children and fulfill the vows we made at their dedication.

I've always seen our daughters as a gift from God. Susie's death is a gift so that we can minister to others who have dealt with the loss of a child. Ladybug is a gift because she brings us so much joy. But they both belong to the Lord. We are merely stewards of this tremendous gift that God has given us.

With Susie, it's a little easier to see that. She is with the Lord, and we look forward to our reunion with her. But with Ladybug, it's easy to be self-centered. She is "our" daughter. But first and foremost, she is a child of the Most High God, and He has asked us to raise her to know, love and serve Him.

Having lost a child, it's very easy to want to cling tightly to Ladybug and be selfish. But we cannot. It's not easy, but in order to be the parents that God has called us to be, we have to acknowledge that she belongs to Him first.

What are your thoughts on stewardship? How can we be better stewards of ALL that God gives us?

I Love to Swing!!

My sis-in-law took these pics last night. Ladybug gets to play with her cousins at least once a week while Hubby and I have music practice at church. Look at her having so much fun!

I'm making this a late entry in Photo Story Friday - hat tip to Carissa at Good and Crazy People.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Thankful Thursday - Friends

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17

Today, I am thankful for friends. Friends in real life (IRL) and friends on-line. Yes, you. I am thankful for YOU! You know who you are and I want you to know that I am thankful for YOU!

For more thankful hearts, please visit Iris at Grace Alone.

Stretching the Grocery Budget

The whole concept of being frugal has been very interesting to me lately. I've been reading frugal blogs, learning how to use coupons better, CVSing, etc. Not only because of all the state of the US economy, but because we have 2 part-time incomes. So I am trying to be a good steward of the resources that God gives us.

I have changed a few habits in order to be more frugal. I am trying not to be brand loyal. While there are several non-negotiables (diapers and toilet paper - keeping bums clean and dry is very important!), I'm trying new products when I have coupons and can match them up with sales.

I used to buy a lot more convenience foods but I am trying to do more cooking and baking. I have been baking all of our bread since June. With the convenience of a bread machine, it's so easy!! Not only is it cheaper, but it is also better for us because there are no preservatives and I use whole wheat flour.

Another habit that I've changed is the way I buy meat. I used to buy a lot more of the quick fix frozen meats. But I have been looking for (and finding!) marked down meat at our local grocery store. Last week, I bought beef for fajitas for $2.00 and it made four servings.

Today I bought 10 lbs of chicken leg quarters for $3.95! I came home and put 4 leg quarters in the crockpot with rosemary, thyme and salt. Yummy! I divided the rest of the leg quarters into two freezer bags.

We had plenty of leftover chicken, plus a yummy broth. I'll make either chicken and dumplings or chicken soup later this week.

What are some ways that you are trying to be more frugal, or just keep your grocery budget in check? I'd love to hear your ideas!!