My mother would be so proud...

First a little back story.  One Thanksgiving when I was in high school it was my responsibility to mash the potatoes.  I don't remember exactly what happened, but the mixer had been turned off and I was moving the bowl from under, getting it ready for the table.  I dropped the whole bowl.  Ruined was one of the staples at our Thanksgiving dinner table.  I remember I was extremely upset, humiliated.  Since then, every Thanksgiving it is my job to do the potatoes (note, I've not dropped them since).  Well, tonight for dinner I decided to make, from scratch, mashed potatoes, all by myself.  First time ever on my own, not on any holiday.  They were delicious, and I didn't drop one bite!

I'm sure you're all so glad I shared, I was very proud of myself.  And my husband was pleasantly surprised too.  He was glad to have something yummy that he was able to eat (he had his wisdom teeth taken out almost 2 weeks ago and now has dry sockets, he's been STARVING!).

If only I could say it as good as...

Well, clearly Elizabeth George in "A Wife After God's Own Heart", since I pretty much shared the book here a couple months ago.  She just explains it so perfectly!

Or, Bob Carlisle in "Butterfly Kisses" - SUPERB!

Or, Chris Tomlin in "How Can I Keep from Singing Your Praise" - makes my heart happy!

Or, Matthew West in "My Own Little World" - who I want to be at the end of this year

Or, Francis Chan in "Crazy Love" - what I'm reading now


I guess that's why these, and MANY MANY more, make the big bucks huh.  They say it perfectly!

Oh the things you can do...

... and feel good about!  Any of you that know my family at all know that we REALLY like to eat out!  Well, over the last six months or so I've been trying to steer us away from that.  It's healthier, and definitely cheaper to eat at home.  Now, I've always enjoyed cooking but never was very good at it.  I could cook anything in a box; but come on now, that's pretty much cheating and probably still not very healthy.  So, I've really been branching out.  I plan a menu every month.  We eat at home every Mon, Tues, (used to be Wednesday but church starts back this week so we'll be eating there most Wednesdays), Thurs night John and I try to go out for dinner (just the 2 of us so that's usually the kids sandwich dinner night, or ramen noodles, etc.), Fri, and at least one meal on Sat.  The first month or 2 was pretty boring I must admit.  I have a pile of cook books but was really afraid; that the kids wouldn't like it, that I would have no idea what to do, etc.  Around Mother's day (I think) we sold a cook book at church to raise money for a local children's home.  It was made up of family favorites from around the area so I thought "why not, other families like this stuff".  Well, our meals suddenly became much more involved; which was fine with me!  The family loved most everything I made.  We were all sitting at the table together enjoying each other in a much quieter atmosphere, and it wasn't breaking the bank!  The past month or so I've been digging into that pile of cook books.  Turns out my family is pretty willing to at least try anything; and they are still loving most everything.  If there is anything that even one of us doesn't like we talk about why, and if it's something that can be altered to fit us better; we decide I'll try it like that next time and we'll go from there.  It's absolutely wonderful, and I feel so good about being able to cook and provide good healthy meals for my family.  It also helps that I'm being money conscious for John.

How it happened...

Well, today was meet the teacher day for Jordyn; yes, "the teacher"!!!  We were quite anxious when we pulled up to school.  As we walked to class we discussed that the year was going to be great, that God has a plan, that we prayed all summer for our second grade teacher and that God answered our prayers with "the teacher", that God would never put us somewhere where we would get hurt because He loves us so much. We walked into the room and "the teacher" was with another student so we stood back and waited.  As I watched I was feeling more and more relaxed.  Watching her with that child was like watching a grandmother with her grandchild.  It was so warm and gentle.  Next was our turn.  Jordyn walked up and introduced herself and they talked about all the fun things that they would be learning this year, and about basic classroom activities.  Again, my heart was softening (think God's trying to teach me something?)  After they talked she came over and her and I talked.  We discussed a couple of pertinent subjects and then we left.  I was much more confident in how the year would go.
Next we went to visit last years teacher (the one we were hoping for this year!).  We walked in and she ran over to us.  She gave us a big hug and nearly cried.  She told us how it happened.  That they made classes while she was on maternity leave (she had a baby right at the end of the year last year), and she came back to find that some students did not make her list that really should have.  She said she told them her feelings but that it was to late.  I became kind of emotional.  I knew at that moment that God totally has this under control. (Why is it that even after YEARS of Him showing me that, I still doubt.  When will I learn?!?!?!)  There are to many reasons why she should have been with last years teacher and still isn't.  As we walked out of the school Jordyn looked up at me and said, "She was really nice.  I'm excited about going back to school."
God is going to do great things this year, I can feel it in my bones; and the closer Monday gets, the more excited I get!!!

today was the day...

Well, we've been waiting all summer to find out who Jordyn's teacher is for 2nd grade and to find out if the boys got in the classes we hoped for.  Let me start by first saying, I was told once (about 7 years ago when I was so worried about Travis starting school) to pray daily, all summer long, that God would place him in the class best suited for him with the teacher best suited for him.  I started then and have never swayed.  I pray starting at the end of the school year until a few weeks into the year that God will place all three of them in the best situation for them for the year.  It has been a WONDERFUL, miraculous thing watching God work in this way when I trust and watch.  A few examples, of course with Travis, when he was in 1st grade he got a teacher that was WONDERFUL.  She helped my behavior challenged child blossom into an independent, mostly attentive, by the end of the year hardly ever getting in trouble, 7 year old.  It truly was a miracle and I am forever grateful to her.  In 4th grade he was put with a teacher that I was sure was a mistake!  John John had had him in 4th grade as well and though I loved the teacher was sure it was not who was best for Travis.  Two weeks into the year I received a letter stating that the class was being split and did I have a preference or not.  I prayed again and chose not to choose believing that if God wanted him moved He'd find a way for him to be one of the ones picked.  Travis stayed in the class where he started and it ended up being one of his best years yet.  God truly does have it all under control.
Now, back to today...  Actually it started last week.  John John got his schedule last Wednesday and thankfully is in all the classes he requested.  Travis, of course, was the one I was most worried about.  We got his schedule over the weekend and were very happy to see that he got into the classes that we wanted for him.  Now, today the elementary lists came out.  We knew who we wanted, and I probably could've requested, but as I said before, I have trusted God so far and it's been nothing but perfect so why change things now.  On Saturday I checked the list of teachers and was very surprised to see some teachers had moved around.  The teacher whom Travis and JJ had had in 4th grade had moved to 2nd grade, and another teacher had moved from 5th grade to 2nd grade.  The lists showed today that Jordyn not only did not get in the class we wanted, she got the last teacher I would've picked!  Now, first things first, I have never met this teacher; have had no experience with her at all, this is strictly based on things I've heard, and one thing we've experienced.  This particular teacher has a reputation of being very strict.  In a way this could be very good for Jordyn; she needs to learn to follow directions the first time, to pay attention to what she's being told and doing, and to be in a little bit of a hurry.  However, I've also heard that this teacher is not very kind.  I know that last year one day in the parent pick up line Jordyn had to use the restroom.  When she asked could she go this particular teacher told her no and proceeded to yell at her when she started to cry.  Needless to say Jordyn wet her pants and was forever terrified of said teacher, whom she will now be spending an entire year with!!!!  I am having a very hard time, right now, trusting that this is the right place for her.  I know that God loves her more than I do and would never put her in a place where she would be hurt (in this case emotionally); but it's all I can do to not contact her teacher from last year, whom we LOVED and completely "got" Jordyn, and make sure that this is gonna work.  My baby is so sensitive and becomes very flustered when she is scared and let me just say that if she comes home one day crying....  Well, anyway, I'm praying hourly now that I become more trusting.  As I said before, it's been a wonderful thing watching God work in mysterious ways that I never would've thought.  I just have to keep reminding myself of that over the next few weeks!  Thank you God for the love you have for my kids.  Thank you for teaching me trust in this time when all I want to do is run crying to someone to save her!  Thank you for hearing my prayers over the summer and putting my children with the teachers that will love and care for them the way you, and I, would want.  Thank you for preparing the way for them!  In your name, Amen

Jordyn is 7...

WOW!!!!  I can't believe it's been over seven years since one of the biggest surprises of our lives!!!  I'll never forget the day I found out I was pregnant.  I was actually afraid to call John and tell him.  He was so adamant that he was done having children, our home was perfect just the way it was.  I even called my sister first, crying.  When I finally called him he was definitely shocked at first, like for DAYS, then the shock wore off and we were all pretty excited.  The day our princess was born our family was definitely complete.  No words can describe the happiness she brings to all of us.  

God has truly blessed us with an angel here on earth.  She is caring, compassionate, loving, kind.  She is the light of our lives.  God knew what we needed when He gave us Jordyn.  He knew we'd need the laughs that she adds to our days, the little grins she gives when we see her across the room, the way she runs to us when we haven't seen her all day, the random kisses and snuggles she gives.  I've seen her walk up to the boys, on separate occasions, and just reach out and hold their hands.  I love the nights that I hear her little footsteps down the hall and across the kitchen into my room til she makes it into my bed. My precious little girl is growing up way to fast.  I hope she always knows how much we love her.  That no matter what, God loves her, and He gave her to us to raise as one of His children.  I pray she'll have a wonderful life.  That we will be able to give her all that she needs to grow into a most godly woman/wife/mother.  

I love you Jordyn!