I love this poem...

A friend of mine was mentioning on facebook, how she did not get anything done one day. She has a new baby (her first), and was busy snuggling with her. I remember those days when all they do in snuggle up. Now mine will snuggle some, but nothing like those first few months. It reminded me of a poem I once heard and I thought I would share it. It is a wonderful reminder of how children are not little for long. I hope you enjoy it!

Song for a Fifth Child

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing and butter the bread,

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

God is ALWAYS Listening

I am very thankful that God is always listening. He hears even the smallest desires. I have been praying about some things for a while now and got a little discouraged lately. While, God has not closed the door I feel like He is just telling me to wait. I have to admit, as many of us know, it is difficult to wait. I was allowing myself to think that maybe God was not listening (I know He is ALWAYS listening). I was humbled by God's reminder that He is listening. I was making a quick trip to the grocery store, and it was cold (37 degrees with the wind chill- I know that may not sound that cold, but from a girl raised in southern Florida, that is cold). As I pulled into the parking lot I prayed that God would give me a close parking space. I know it may sound silly, but I was cold. As I drove down the row I always turn down (so I do not forget where I parked) there it was the first parking space.....empty. I pulled in and said "Thank you God!" It was a small (big) reminder that He hears me. He answers my prayers. God cares for me, in a world full of wars, protesting, starvation, disease, and people who do not know His love, He hears my prayers for a parking space. I am grateful for my humbling experience. Thank you God for loving me!

Vision Forum Giveaway

There is an excellent website called the Vision Forum! I frequent their website often....and dream. I have nto made any purcahses from them, but plan to in the future. They have Christian books, toys, movies, wonderful home schooling resources. Also, right now several of the blogs I follow are giving away $3600 in Gift Cards!!! You can go to their websites to enter, but hurry it ends tomorrow!!!

Here are the links to each of their websites:

Smockity Frocks
The Modest Mom
Life in a Shoe
Generation Cedar
Raising Olives
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

After entering the giveaway look around these godly women's blogs. A couple of them have some products that sell, and all of them are very wise women!

Being Content

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

My Monkey

My Jewel

All my life, as far back as I can remember, I have always been looking forward to the next phase in life. I have always struggled with being content. When I was little I remember wanting to be in the next grade, once I was in middle school I wanted to be in high school, then in high school I could not wait until college, in college I anxiously awaited finding my husband, once I got engaged I could not wait to get married, then once I was married I could not wait to have children, and now that I am in the middle of having children I cannot wait for each stage and for the next baby to come along. Recently I have remembered things from my childhood and realized I have missed so much. I have been so focused on what is coming next that life is just passing me by. I am like a little kid at Disney World so excited to see everything that when I get on a ride I do not even enjoy the ride because I am so focused on what ride I will be on next. God has been convicting me about being content with whatever season of life I am in. I love my family and I do not want to miss a single second of my children's lives. It is a process. Every time I feel God working in my heart it reminds me of the kid's song "He's still working on me." I guess as a Christian it is our life song, because God is always working on me. Thank you God that I am still clay.

The trying of my patience, worketh faith

Yes, you read that right. I have come to realize that having a two year old will increase your faith. I pray more now than I ever have. While this is funny, I am being very serious. Everyday I find myself praying more and more about each situation, in my desperate attempt to not respond in anger and to better understand why in the world he is doing whatever it is he is doing at the time. I have learned a few things through all of this.

1. Pray for the child in the morning. Before your day even starts pray, even if it is a quick prayer.
2. Pray before you respond. Now this one is tough. Many times you will need to respond quickly, but say asking for the right attitude and the right way to handle whatever it is that the child has done.
3. Pray for the child at night. I pray with my babies before bed. I thank God for our day and I ask help for the next.
4. Pray for yourself. This may be the most important! We as parents need to make sure our response is appropriate, timely, and effective.

I know these things sound very simple, but believe me. I have found if I do not do one of these things, my day is terrible. I am reminded of the verses about "soft answers" and "not provoking to wrath." I am so relieved to know I do not have to go through this alone. We have a Heavenly Father is the perfect parent to carry us through this difficult time.

Autumn Spice Cookies

When I was a teenager my sisters and I loved when fall would come around because we got to make these cookies. I must say half the fun of baking is enjoying the time with whoever you are baking with. My son is just getting old enough to help and I am loving his eagerness to do so.
Sorry, there are no pictures of the finished product because I am currently trying to manipulate the recipe, so i can use whole wheat flour. Usually I can use the same amount, but this time it did not seem to work. As soon as I have it figured out I will let you know. Here is the recipe:

1/2      c Shortening
1/4      c Margarine
1/2      c granulated Sugar
1/2      c Brown Sugar
2           Eggs
1        tsp Vanilla
2 1/2  c Flour
3/4     tsp Salt
1        tsp Baking Powder
1        tsp Cinnamon
1/2     tsp Ginger
1/2     tsp Nutmeg
1/8     tsp Cloves
1/8     tsp Mace

Mix in order. Chill at least 1 hour or until dough is firm enough to roll into a ball. Bake at 350 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6-8 minutes. Enjoy!

What I have been doing

Monkey has been doing some school as well

I know I have not been on in almost a month. If you remember I had said I was going back to school. I have been busy getting A's. I was so excited to see that my almost final grades are A's. I was taking two what I call "fluff" classes. They are classes to help you get back into the feel of being in college again, so they were fairly easy courses. Starting in October I will start some much more difficult classes, like Anatomy and Medical Terminology (yikes!). I am very nervous! The goal is for me to work at home. We cannot really afford for me to work outside of the home. We only have one car, and my husbands work schedule would not allow me to work outside the home until 2pm. Plus, it cost a lot of money to put two children in daycare and we are not sure I could make enough to pay for that and still have money left over. We also just want me to stay home. It has been difficult juggling babies, household responsibilities, spending time with my husband, and school. I also hate to admit that some were neglected, my house is messy (I must say if something is going to be neglected, that is the only thing on that list that I am willing to neglect). I am still praying my husband will find a better job, but right now we are happy he has one.

Learning his colors

Happy Birthday Jewel!

On August 6th, my baby girl turned 1, I know these are long overdue. Here is her party!

 We also gave my son a couple of gifts. When everything was over, she was playing with his cars, and he had the baby doll! I love my babies!

Well....

I may not be on as much. I mentioned at the start of this blog that my husband may ask me at any time to return to work. Well, I have not returned to work, but I am currently in school to get a degree in Medical Billing and Coding. It should take about a year, including an internship. This should end in a job for me. Unfortunately, the job may require me to work in an office for 6 months to a year before I am given the opportunity to work from home. I love my husband and my children, and it has always (from as far as I can remember, about 3 years old) been my dream to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. I knew that I may have to return to work to help out financially, but I was really hoping I would not have to. My heart is at home, and I am praying I can give 100% to my school work. I know that most of family is thrilled with the fact that I am back in school, and I would love to make them proud. To be perfectly honest I can not help but sit here and cry at the thought of taking time away from my family and possibly working outside that home. My desire all my life is first and foremost to be in God's will, but I am not sure this is His will. I know that this is what everyone else wants. I have always heard that God's will may not always be easy, but I have heard that you will be happy if you are following it. I am sorry for such a discouraging blog entry this time. I always speak from my heart and this is where my heart is at this time.

Diet

Since this will be the first time in three years that I am not pregnant and/or nursing I am going to use it to get rid of some weight that has crept up on me these past several years. I like to blame it on the 23 pounds I gained with him, or the 16 pounds I gained with her, but I am one of those people who weighs the same they did before they were pregnant (please do not hate me) the day they leave the hospital. Although, I might add that the weight has done some shifting through the years. As you can see from the previous post I am not the 110 pound I was in high school. I, unfortunately, am not a patient person, I like to see results right away. I am going to of course start burning more calories than I take in, and make sure I am drinking plenty of water. I am going to start by doing a quick diet that I remember my parents doing often when I was a child..... The Cabbage Soup Diet. I know it sounds gross, but when I was very young I remember enjoying the soup. Basically, you eat mostly fruit and vegetables, some meat, and as much of the soup as you can stomach. It is only seven days, so hopefully I will last. I figure if I can do this tough diet for seven days I can do a moderation (everything in moderation) diet for a few months. I will let you know how it goes. I am a little concerned though, the last two time I have gone on diets and started losing weight I got pregnant, so we will see (I guess that is a good excuse not to lose weight). Oh well....

Have you ever....

Have you ever had something hit you hard....... You know those things that just hit you like a wall and you think why am I reacting this way, why am I dwelling on this, God are you trying to teach me something, what is wrong with me. That is the way I have felt the past few days. For the past six months, I have discovered an elementary school friend died, three friends children have passed away and one grandchild, a friend of my husband's family, a father of my brother's friend, and now a high school friend's younger sister. To be perfectly honest I was not very close to any of these people, but for some reason I morn the loss like I knew some of them more personally. I believe the one who hit me the hardest was the most recent one (the sister), I used to go to their house, until her sister and I parted ways, I participated in  cheerleading with this girl. She was 21, and unfortunately, everyone she has left behind is now dealing with the choices she made. Maybe somewhere in my head I think if I had stayed friend with her sister I could have made a difference. I know we can not think about the "what if"s, but i know that all I can do is pray for their family. When I say "all" I know that I serve a BIG God, and He hears my prayers, so I know that the prayers help somehow. I just find it so sad that her life was cut so short. Maybe it is just the sheer number of passings that I am struggling with, or that I am a little worried God may be preparing me for something. I just do not know...... Have you ever had something hit you hard?

Frumpy to Fabulous

Recently Caroline  blogged about going "From Frumpy to Fabulous" for your husband. I realized how much my husband must love me. I would be in my pajamas all day and he would still tell me I am beautiful. I realized that despite my logic and reasoning ("Since we are not going anywhere, why get dressed; I will just have more laundry to do."), it would be nice for my husband to see his wife and children get dressed. For the past week, I have woken up and dressed myself and our children. I have done my have wavy, the way he likes it, and worn very little make-up (he likes it to look natural). Caroline also has a wonderful series on "She wears Skirts." Although, my husband does not mind if I wear pants or shorts, he told me he thinks I look pretty in skirts. this week I have worn more skirts. One bonus for all this is I actually feel better about myself, wearing skirts make me feel more feminine, and getting dressed helps with the desire to be lazy. It has been fun to try to learn more about what he likes and does not like. I am going to keep learning, everyday for the rest of our lives.