Thankful

I'm thankful for many things in my life. However, today I have a one track mind.

I'm thankful...

...that God bless me with the money to buy want I wanted to eat.

...that I didn't have to cook it all.

...that it taste good.

...for the teeth to chew it.

...and the tongue to taste it!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

What's for Dinner?

After many trips to various stores, I now finally have everything I need to start cooking our Thanksgiving Dinner.

Here's our menu:

• Turkey
• Pot Roast
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Greens
• Sweet Potatoes
• Dressing
• Dinner Rolls
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Vanilla Ice Cream

Mmmm...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

So, what's for Thanksgiving Dinner at your house?

Life at 4

Noelle's 4th birthday was not only fun, but quite unforgettable!

We started the day with a mad dash to the a morning show of Alice in Wonderland at the Stahl Family Theater.

Once the performance was over and the actors had taken they're bow, Alice surprised us all by announcing that it was Noelle's birthday. She called her to the stage and everyone in the auditorium sang Happy Birthday to her!

Poor thing. You should have seen her face. The girl was in a state of pure shock!

Here is a picture of her and Bella with some of the actors.



After the performance, we went to Dunkin Donuts for munchkins and iced coffee (because what would be a birthday without iced coffee?)

Later, we stopped at Target (because what would be a birthday without a trip to Target?)

In the evening, we had cake, ice cream, and the birthday girl opened her gifts.

Before she went to bed I said to her, "The Lord really blessed you, huh?"

She replied, "Yeah, I got everything I always wanted."

Ah, life at 4...so simple, yet so extraordinary.

Happy Birthday Noelle!

Today is Noelle is turning 4 years old! I am dedicating this post to all things Noelle.







































































About Noelle:

• Noelle was born a few days before Thanksgiving and a week past her due date.
• Noelle practically skipped crawling entirely and walked at 9 months.
• She was an early social smiler.

Noelle's Likes:

• Noelle loves to help others and to learn new things.
• She doesn't like to leave home without her purse.
• Her favorite devotion song is "God is a good God."
• She never passes up a good game of "Hide and Seek."
• She never passes up a good powdered sugar donut.
• She loves the entire concept of Birthdays and is genuinely excited when anyone has one (so you can imagine how she feels today!).

Things we love about Noelle:

• Her adorable dimple!
• Her vibrant and friendly personality.
• The way she initiates helping at the grocery store by putting items in the cart and on the checkout counter.
• The way she randomly tells us she loves us throughout the day.
• Her polite demeanor and the way she always remembers to say grace before she eats.

We love you Noelle! Happy Birthday!

Simple Meals for Busy Moms

Lindsay at Passionate Homemaking is hosting the Nourishing Crockpot Carnival. Over 50 bloggers have jumped at the opportunity to share their favorite crockpot recipes!

You can share your own or just browse through the links to find new ones to try. Enjoy!

Words from the Wise

The picture above is of Maggie Erber teaching a seminar at the 2009 Mother Daughter Tea. Maggie is the mother of 8 children & grandmother of 7.

I had the pleasure of hearing her share some of her experiences and wisdom on motherhood at the 2009 Tea. Below are some of the notes I took during Maggie's seminar. I hope that they will be as much of a blessing to you as they were to me.

*Please Note: I am paraphrasing her words, these are not quotes.

When you're feeling overwhelmed...

• We honor God by continuing on the path he put us on, even when its hard, knowing that God has a plan for us.

• When you're feeling overwhelmed, just do the next right thing that is in front of you (that may be praying, cooking dinner, or giving the baby a bath). That's the thing you have grace for.

When you're losing perspective...

• God says that holiness is beautiful. When we think like God, then holiness is beautiful to us(Psalm 29).

• A mother sacrificing her life to take care of her children is beautiful. (Titus 2 & Proverbs 31).

When you're struggling to have a good attitude...

• The fruit of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galations 5:2).

• Doing daily tasks with joy and the fruit of the spirit shows your children that holiness is beautiful and enjoyable. It causes your children to want to walk in the same path.

• You may not feel like doing it, but actions lead and feelings follow.

When you're feeling like an inadequate parent...

• Even though you see your faults, teaching your children to honor you, teaches them to honor God.

• Teaching them to obey your low patient voice, prepares them to obey God's still small voice.

In the mood for a little...

...praise and worship?

There's nothing like a little praise and worship music playing behind the daily noise of dishes banging, children playing, and dinner cooking!

The video below is of the artists from the Glory Revealed record. They are singing an awesome version of Mighty to Save on TBN.

Artists include: Candi Pearson, Mac Powell (from Third Day;) and Shane and Shane.

The chorus says,

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Had a rough day? Go ahead and push play. Then turn up the volume, lift your hands, sing along, and worship Him right in the middle of the kitchen! You'll feel better.

The 3 Amigos

Since Noah has been getting around on all fours, he and his sisters have become an unstoppable force!

You can tell that he thinks he is "in" by the way his face lights up and his legs kick whenever he hears their giggles coming near. Hubby and I have been getting a good laugh out of seeing the way he trails behind them from room to room, trying to get in on the "action."

I don't think I grasped the joy I would feel as a parent, watching my children develop a strong bond with each other. My only reservation about their playing is that the girls seem to already have a tendency to designate my baby boy as "the monster" during their play. The nerve!

Of course, this only causes me to want to have another boy in order to even out the playing field;)

Why I Love Being Married #1: I Look *Good*

I've concluded that there are some things that can only occur in the context of this holy, sacred, kinship-forming, gift from God called marriage.

There are just some things that can only carry a certain weight when coming from one spouse to another. No other human bond can match it.

Take this conversation I had with hubby for instance...

Hubby returned today from a weekend in Texas. In the midst of our catching up on each other's lives, our conversation took a turn like this:

Me: (feeling sorry for myself) "Yeah, I've been dieting all weekend. I actually have a hunger headache, like right now."

Hubby: "Honey, you've had 3 babies. You look good."

Me: "No, but I..."

Hubby: (cutting me off mid-sentence and looking me straight in the eye) "Babe, you look GOOD!"

Me: (holding my head a little higher) "Oh...okay."

Well then, I guess that settles that. I look GOOD.

See what I mean? Now, pass the chocolate!

A Fresh Spin on a Time-Honored Classic

Our librarian introduced us to this very comical, new version of Chicken Little by Rebecca and Ed Emberley.

The girls and I love the bold and colorful illustrations and even I have to laugh out loud at this book's sheer silliness!

If you're looking for a good "Thanksgiving read" for your little ones, you might want to check it out.

"Chicken Little was not the brightest chicken in the coop. He was very excitable and prone to foolishness.

One day he was doing nothing, his usual pastime, when an acorn fell from the sky and hit him on the head. BONK! EEP!" (pg.1)

Kids and Chores

Recently, I posted Noelle and Bella's Reward Chart on the wall. They receive stickers for doing their chores which include; making their beds, and putting away their toys, books, and clothes. It may not seem like much, but its a start.

I hope to instill a value and appreciation for hard work in my children (and keep my home a little cleaner;) by setting an expectation for them to do chores as they grow up.

Below is a helpful article by Christine Field that explains what chores are age-appropriate.

Teaching Your Children How to Work

by: Christine Field

Age Appropriateness: What Can Your Child Do?

OK, you are looking down at your eighteen-month-old toddler and saying, "Sounds great, but I guess it will have to wait." Not so. A child of that age can be asked to fetch items, fold washcloths, pick up toys, and carry plastic dishes to and from the table. We can ask and train, even at this age. And as they mature, our children are capable of much, much more.

The following chart gives some ideas of what is possible at what ages. These are merely guidelines—your child may do more or less. Knowing that learning life skills is a process, don't expect perfection from him. The intent here is to give you ideas to try out in your family.

Age-Appropriate Chores for Children

Ages 2-3

• Begin to dress self
• Put silverware in dishwasher
• Help make bed—at least pull covers up
• Help feed animals
• Help wipe up spills
• Pick up toys
• Dry unbreakable dishes
• Hang clothing on hooks
• Sweep
• Carry laundry to and from laundry area
• Bring in newspaper
• Mop a small area
• Help fold towels
• Pour from a small pitcher
• Empty light trash cans
• Pull weeds
• Dust
• Fetch diapers
• Carry plate to sink after meals
• Help pick up living room

Ages 4-5

• Dress self
• Help in kitchen—stirring, ripping lettuce, drying dishes
• Make own bed
• Clear dishes from table
• Help carry and put away groceries
• Set table
• Retrieve the mail
• Wash toys when needed
• Dust
• Help rake yard
• Water plants
• Help wash car and clean interior
• Sweep patio
• Sort clean clothes by family member
• Wash floors, low walls with sponge
• Sort dirty clothes by color
• Put away own clothes—put dirty clothes in hamper
• Hang towels after bath
• Help load dishwasher

Ages 6-12

• Make bed
• Straighten up house
• Take care of pets—clean cages and feed them
• Wash, dry, and put away dishes
• Clean bathroom completely
• Cook simple foods—use simple recipes
• Rake leaves, shovel snow
• Weed and water garden
• Make school lunches
• Use washer and dryer
• Help with yard work
• Take out trash
• Help wash car
• Strip and change beds
• Wash, hang, and fold laundry
• Iron
• Vacuum, sweep, and mop
• Polish shoes

Ages 13 and up

• Any of the above, plus:
• Cook meals
• Change light bulbs
• Do all laundry functions
• Replace vacuum cleaner bag
• Iron clothes
• Wash inside and outside windows
• Do clothes mending, repairs
• Mow lawn
• Clean out refrigerator
• Trim yard
• Clean stove and oven
• Wash and polish car
• Prepare a meal
• Maintain a bicycle—fill tires with air, oil squeaks
• Make grocery lists
• Shop for groceries
• Help paint and caulk

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Footnotes:
Ages five to twelve or so are golden years for teaching children at home. These kids are increasingly capable and yet not too preoccupied with school and extracurricular activities. Make sure you start to give both boys and girls the opportunity to do outside chores and to do maintenance-type tasks with Dad. Don't neglect teaching both your son and your daughter to do chores inside the home, like cooking and cleaning. You will shortchange them for life if you do.[back]

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Excerpted from Life Skills for Kids by Christine M. Field, Copyright © 2000 Chris Field. Used by permission of Shaw Books, an imprint of WaterBrook Press, Colorado Springs, Colo. All rights reserved.