My Kaleidoscopic Cornucopia

A Wonderful Christmas

2011-12-26T10:27:00.001-05:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Psalm 46:10

2011-10-07T07:38:00.002-04:00

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

I have usually only heard the first part of Psalm 46:10 quoted. Be still and know that I am God. Yet when read as a whole it has much greater power in my opinion. I have to confess that in the past when I heard "Be still and know that I am God" quoted, it was always a little confusing to me. I always felt that the first part (quoted on its own) requires blind obedience, but God doesn't call us to that is this verse.

Just hearing the first part makes you think that God is calling us to sit and contemplate the fact that He is God and that is it. We are told to quietly sit and contemplate the fact that He is God but that is not all! We are told to sit quietly knowing He is God and has the power to accomplish all His holy will! Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

God is not sitting around fretting that Christians are not doing their jobs well enough. He does not worry that the world will forget Him and become a huge Sodom and Gomorrah (I do, and what that means particularly for my babies). I am not saying He doesn't care, He does or He wouldn't have sent His Son, but He isn't helpless in the situation. He is the Lord over it! And He doesn't call us to feel helpless in the situation either. What an encouragement it is to read this verse in its entirety! Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Be Thou My Vision, Selah

2011-09-13T16:06:00.000-04:00

Be Thou My Vision

2011-09-13T15:56:00.002-04:00

(English Versification of the English Translation of the Old Irish Text)

by Eleanor Hull, 1912

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, thou my true word,

I ever with thee and thou with me Lord;

Thou my great Father, I thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, sword for the fight;

Be thou my dignity, thou my delight;

Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower:

Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:

Thou mine inheritance now and always;

Thou and thou only first in my heart;

High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven's joys, O Bright Heaven's sun!;

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Melt My Heart

2011-06-13T11:01:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the nursing mothers room with Calvin, I was upset by having a disruptive three year old at yet another Sunday morning church service. We were sitting in a rocker. He was struggling to loosen my grip as I struggled to hold him still, trying to make being taken out of the service a more boring experience than sitting through it. Discouragement began to set in and I searched for ideas on how to make the struggling stop. "What color are my eyes, Calvin?" I asked. He stopped struggling and looked at me. He brought his nose within an inch of mine, looking deeply into my eyes. "Um, pretty," he said.

Park Classes

2011-05-22T22:11:00.001-04:00

I am having fun taking my babies to the preschool classes at the Metro Parks. This is a series of photos of the Windy Ride at Sharon Woods on Good Friday. I scheduled the ride thinking about what a beautiful Spring ride it would be around the park. But I forgot that I live in Ohio. So that Spring day turned out to be windy and raining with a high of 48 degrees. On a good note, Craig was able to come. He saved me. I don't handle to cold well, and I don't think I would have lasted through the ride and crafts with both babies by myself.

Calvin and I ran to the car when I could no longer stand the cold, and Craig stayed behind to help Ebie finish her wind socket. I think Craig enjoyed himself, and I think Ebie had a good time too. You can always tell how much fun a kid has by how messy they are.

By the looks of her, she had a blast.

Beautiful Evelynn...

2011-05-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

My beautiful Evelynn Louise celebrates her second birthday today. I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was holding the prettiest newborn little girl I had ever seen in my arms. The bonds we made on that first day have only gotten stronger these two years. I pray that they will grow even more as the years go on, and that she will never know a day when my love for her is doubted. She is so precious to me. Thanks be to God for choosing Craig and me to watch this beautiful little girl grow up.

Calvin

2011-05-11T07:12:00.000-04:00

Just plain cute!

Getting Ready to Plant My (portable) Garden

2011-05-10T07:32:00.000-04:00

The heirloom tomato plants I purchased for this summer are sitting in the front window waiting to be placed in their permanent portable home.

Nothing is being planted in the ground this season, because I would like to take the fruits of my labor with me if we move. We have tomatoes, peppers, carrots, herbs, zucchini, cucumbers, and beans all to be planted in portable planters, so we can still enjoy fresh vegetables in the midst of the uncertainty of things.

This is the one I am really looking forward to, an 1800's purple tomato!

Bird Nests

2011-05-09T06:00:00.003-04:00

Calvin and Ebie have been attending preschool classes at the Metro Parks here in Columbus. Classes are held at many of the different parks and the subject matter is usually about whatever animals you would expect to be active in that certain park, or just in the season in general. For instance, it's spring so one of the classes we attended was about birds and their nests.

The naturalist spoke a little about birds' nests, read a picture book about nests to the kids, and even showed them real nests that had been collected in the park. We sang a few songs as a group about birds' nests and then at the end each child got to fill a baggy with materials that some birds might use to build a nest. They were told to put the materials in a mesh bag and hang it in a tree in their yards. It might take a few weeks for the birds to find it, they were told.

Ours has been hanging in the small tree in the back of our yard waiting for the birds to find it for about 6 weeks now. It has been close a few times. Once we even put tortilla chips in the bag with the material to help things along. They ate the chips and left the material. But it still hangs there. Every so often, when we're outside Calvin will go up and check on the bag. He runs up excitedly, and when he sees that all the materials are still there his shoulders drop and he sighs. I'm thinking I'm going to have to do something about this.

Liberty Cabbage

2011-05-05T23:00:00.001-04:00

There is sauerkraut fermenting in my kitchen cabinet. Through my research into healthy diets I have come across a book called Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz. Mr. Katz writes about our bodies' need for traditionally fermented foods. Foods that have been fermented without heating hold on to their nutritional value and aid digestion by cultivating good bacteria. Commercially canned food is basically dead, he says. Yes, it gives us calories, but that's about it.

So I am making my own sauerkraut, Katz style. I chopped up a head of cabbage, and sprinkled salt on it each time I added some to my big glass bowl. I also added a little pepper and some onion powder. Then I punched it down with my fist, and set another bowl on top with two pitchers of water inside to weigh it down. The next day as the "brine" (or water that the salt had pulled out of the cabbage) had not covered the top of my cabbage, I added some salt water as per Mr. Katz directions. Then I set my sauerkraut on the counter to ferment. It is supposed to take about a week.

The evening of the second day, Craig came home to me wandering through the house trying to find a dirty diaper that had been left behind somehow. I had repeatedly asked Calvin if he needed to go to the restroom, so much that he was getting irritated with me. I had checked Evie's pants so many times, she started backing away and saying "No, Mommy!" whenever I walked by. But still there was this faint odor, and I couldn't figure it out. Craig dropped his briefcase and said, "Meg, it's your sauerkraut."

Since that second day, the house has been fine though. I put the kraut in a cabinet so it would be out of the way, and when I open it up to check it, it smells wonderful! I even made another batch from red cabbage that is currently being weighed down by the first batch. It all should be completely fermented by this weekend, so I can take it to my parent's house to share my homemade/fermented kraut with my family. I wonder who will be brave enough to try it...

The Look of Spring

2011-05-04T23:42:00.001-04:00

It looks like spring here.

Flowers are blooming.

And it's always raining. I am impatiently waiting for it to stop, and for the temperature to warm up so we can get outside and enjoy the end of winter. Still, the view out my windows is beautiful!

Life Is Good

2011-05-01T23:01:00.002-04:00

(Ebie drawing with chalk, on the front porch, on one of the many days it has rained here in Columbus)

Life is good here. The weather is getting warmer so my babies can go outside and play. I am planning gardens, both indoor and outdoor, and searching for the best ways to feed my family (more on that later). I am also starting new and exciting hobbies, at least they are exciting to me (you'll get to here about them soon), and restarting old ones. One of those old hobbies being blogging ;). Craig is loving his new job. Our family is growing mentally, spiritually, and at least in the case of the the two babies, physically. I see them everyday and am surprised how grown up they look!

Ebie and Me

2011-03-12T15:30:00.000-05:00

(Ebie and me sledding at Aunt Julene's house, this is the only copy of this picture I own now)

Hi. It's been a while. Life is different here than it was the last time I wrote. Here are the main events:
1. A prayer request was granted in a HUGE way, Craig started a new job!

2. We bought a very used van on Craig's List with our tax return money. It has been wonderful blessing! I have started going to women's Bible studies, kiddie classes at the metroparks, and the grocery store during the day. It's funny, the first week I had the van, I still waited for Craig to get home in order to go anywhere. He'd ask why I didn't go during the day, because I wasn't used to that being an option!
3. Our home was broken into and things were taken. They took my laptop. I was once again thankful that my aunt and uncle gave me an external hard drive so that the majority of my pictures were safe and sound. Sadly, I hadn't backed up my pictures for a couple months. So the only pictures I have from Christmas and such are the ones that are here on MKC. I am taking this time out to tell you to back up your pictures and any other things of value to you. Get an external hard drive, or back them up online. Anything. Do it, before you wish you had.

Life is still good here though. We are anxiously awaiting spring. We get a few little tastes of it once in a while and then Ohio weather rips it away again.

Right now I am reading the "wise" series of books by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. A friend of mine lead me to them indirectly. On Becoming Childwise and On Becoming Pottywise for Toddlers are the ones on my bedside table at this point. I have been looking for parenting advice that will help me out in understanding the way Calvin thinks and how I can minimize disobedience. I am liking the "wise" series so far.

We are praying for the people of Japan.

Resolutions

2011-02-04T10:48:00.002-05:00

(Ebie with her Christmas tea set, it is made of recycled plastic)

It is interesting to me how we go through seasons of life, even seasons within seasons. Right now I am in the "running around taking care of babies and needing the entire day just to get everyday life done".
Even though I don't get much outside of everyday chores and taking care of babies done, I have resolved to find time to read. That resolution was made at New Year's, but I reserve the right to resolve to do things after the first of the year. So far my New Year's resolution has been going well, it helps that it is enjoyable. Whoever said resolutions have to be tiring, right. So far this year I have read 41/2 books that I have always meant to read. Most of my time for reading comes when I am putting Ebie to sleep and would have to be sitting there anyway. Although when the book gets particularly good I read through her entire nap as well.

Walking every week day is another resolution I made at New Year's. That one isn't going as well as the reading, but I will not give up! No excuses will be made, although I can think of several that are pretty good.

Resolutions are very important to me. I made several resolutions in mid September of last year and only one has stuck. But the one that did stick (by the grace of God), has blessed me far beyond words. That one resolution was to have my own time in Bible study every week day. At first it was just part of my to do list, now it is a time I look forward to.

Have you made any recent resolutions?

My recent Bible studies have been about Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament covenant designs. Most recently about Him being our priest-king, in the order of Melchizedek. And being the fulfillment of God's promise that the office of priest and king (by one of David's sons) would be filled well after the time of the exiles.

I Wish There Was No Such Thing As Fish.

2011-01-11T21:00:00.001-05:00

Calvin can't pronounce "f" very well. It comes out sounding like "b". He also has a hard time saying the "sh" sound, it sounds more like "ch". So having a conversation about fish with him is extremely painful, as you can imagine. The conversations usually consist of him excitedly telling me all he knows about the fish we are looking at, their color, what they are doing, etc. And the only responses he gets from me are the correct pronunciation of the word, and it becoming more and more emphatic as the conversation progresses.

The pain only increases in more public settings. I just want to shoot myself when we take him to the aquarium at the zoo. Maybe the shocked glances I get from people sitting nearby are just figments of my imagination, I tell myself. Maybe they realize, having children of their own perhaps, that it is just a mispronunciation. None of this lessens the pain as I try, unsuccessfully, to get my son to talk of something else while in front of a vast aquarium full of "biches".

Monsters in My Cabinets

2011-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Calvin likes to hide sometimes. But the little feet I saw sticking out of my cabinet one morning did not belong to him. "Oh no," I thought, "I have another one."

Until I realized, Evelynn was not alone.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Just Don't Eat the Yellow Snow...

2010-12-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas Eve! Cookie rolling, baking, dipping and decorating are what we are doing ALL day! Then the Christmas celebrations begin!

Miss Evelynn and Snow

2010-12-23T12:00:00.003-05:00

Miss Evelynn was not as excited to be out in the snow as her brother. I couldn't get her off of the porch for the first 15 minutes that we were out there. She was perfectly happy watching. Well, not perfectly.

When I did get her off, all she did was whine...the whole time. She treated the snow like it was an alien, or some disgusting matter. She whined and flapped her arms if some touched her cheek. She whined and tried to brush it off of her gloves. When she walked around, she whined and said "stuck" over and over. Sigh.

Evelynn fell down once and didn't try to get up on her own. No, she whined and yelled "stuck"! I walked over to help her, but not before I snapped a few pictures of the damsel in distress.

Evelynn + Snow = Whining. Well, at least she looks cute while doing it!

Calvin's First Snow Angel!

2010-12-22T16:00:00.000-05:00

With the recent snowfall in Columbus, I bundled up my babies and took them outside. Calvin was thrilled to finally be let outside to play in the snow. He had been asking to go out even when there was only an 1/8 inch on the ground.

He isn't usually enthusiastic about trying new things, so up until this point I hadn't suggested trying to make a snow angel to him. But this time I did. After seeing me lay down in the snow, I half expected him to ask to go back inside. I was surprised when I got up and showed him my snow angel. He squealed, ran over to a clear area, laid down and start working his arms. "You gotta use your legs too", I said. He giggled.

In fact, Calvin giggled the whole time. Then he got up to survey his work. He was pleased. So pleased, he insisted on Evelynn making one too. It didn't happen.

My study has been about Nehemiah. Two of the concepts that have had an impact on me are:

God is always faithful to His Word. He blesses faithfulness, and punishes unfaithfulness. If we are in a state of discipline, God is still being faithful. Nehemiah praised God while Israel was in exile by the Persians because God was being faithful to His Word.

The Lord's judgment always starts in His house. If we are of a people who do not follow God, He will not excuse us for fitting in, even when it seems as though He is excusing the rest of the world. If He is unhappy, we will be the first to be disciplined.

Stringing Popcorn

2010-12-20T20:00:00.001-05:00

This week is going to be busy getting ready for Christmas. We have wrapping, packing, cookie making, cleaning, and celebrating to do. I am most excited for Calvin. I can't wait to see him experience Christmas. He was still a little too young last year to understand what was going on. But this year he gets it.

He loves doing anything that has to do with Christmas. He loves the lights, decorations, stories, and he has even picked out a favorite song (unfortunately it's Jingle Bells). I am sure his favorite part is going to be Christmas morning though. :)

Busy, But Good Busy.

2010-12-20T07:00:00.002-05:00

Earlier this month, I submitted a few of my clips/bows for review in Nie's Homemade Christmas. (If you don't know Stephanie Nielson's story you should read it on her blog, it's truly moving.) Stephanie generously set aside 5 days from her blog to feature the work of crafters and handmade goods people like me. Stephanie mentioned a few times that she wouldn't be able to review and post all the items she received. I sent in my bows/clips thinking that they wouldn't make it on the blog.

As the days drew nearer to the event, I was sure my clips wouldn't be chosen. Stephanie mentioned she has received hundreds of items. My clips didn't make the blog on Monday, so I anxiously waited for Tuesday's post. And to my great surprise/joy/relief, Stephanie had included my items in her review (here)! She even called them "dang cute"!

She put up a link to my Etsy account for any who are interested. Or you can click on my "Mini Etsy" in the sidebar to the right. Tell me what you think if you do view my Etsy account (please, please). I need feedback so I can get the kinks out quicker.

Clip making, picture taking, and Etsy posting have been taking up a lot of my afternoons lately.
I have been having tons of fun though. It is an incredible feeling to make something with my own two hands and have someone else think it is special enough to purchase it. Hopefully, this new set up lasts for a long time.

I am also thinking up new products. Things made from re-purposed materials, jewelry sets, and Buckeye necklaces are just a few of the ideas in the works.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

2010-12-19T22:49:00.001-05:00

I am very confident we will be getting a white Christmas this year and I am very excited about it. Christmas in Columbus is usually brown and soggy, but not this year!

The weather man calls for a few snow showers here and there and then snow on Christmas Eve too. And the highs are in "butt-freezing", so there is no chance of it melting either.

(way to ruin the pretty snow pictures mood by using the word "butt", huh?)

Our Weekend...

2010-12-13T00:34:00.002-05:00

We took another trip to EnterTRAINment Junction this Saturday to see their Christmas displays. We went there for "the kids" but I had fun trying to find the little Santas they had hidden throughout the displays. I counted 13, but apparently there are 19.

Part of the special Christmas displays was a walk through show of The Christmas Carol. Craig and I really enjoyed it, I don't think the babies knew what was going on. The show was put on by two young men, who would pop in and out of character. They started the show by arguing over who was going to play Scrooge. They settled it by "Rock, Paper, Scissors". The guy who lost played all the other parts. It was pretty entertaining.

Bird's Nest Ornament

2010-12-10T00:44:00.001-05:00

Bird's Nest Ornament

2010-12-10T00:43:00.004-05:00

It is considered good luck to find a bird's nest in your Christmas tree. (We don't believe in "luck", but it is fun to play along.) We didn't find a nest in our tree this year, so we made our own. My younger sisters made this ornament at a function a few years ago and I have been saving the idea and waiting for the year that I could make one with Calvin. I think it is adorable.

Materials: Clothes pin, acorn cap, three Navy beans, glue, ribbon and scissors (optional)

1. Glue (we used low temp. hot glue) the acorn cap (stem down) to the top of the clip end of the clothes pin.

2. Glue the three Navy beans to the inside of the acorn cap.

3. Tie a bow with the ribbon, and glue it onto the clothes pin wherever you desire.

4. Write your name and date on the back, hold up your ornament and look cute so your mommy can take another picture! ;)

Calvin loved making this ornament. Using the low temp. hot glue was a good choice, in my opinion, because it doesn't burn if the little ones touch it. Calvin was also able to handle the ornament and clip it on the tree as soon as it was assembled.

A word on my Bible studies: I have been continuing to study every day (praises to God). The studies have been about the promises the Lord gave to punish (particularly with exile) Israel for disobeying Him. Israel did fall into grievous sin later in the Old Testament and the Lord fulfilled His promise by allowing them to be taken by numerous other kingdoms, the last and most extensive exile being the Babylonian exile. I have found it interesting that even with His promises to punish them, and after many incidences when that happens, the Lord keeps telling them that if they repent and return to Him, He will not abandon them. It reminds me that God desires us to be close to Him, but our repentance is required for that to happen.

December 2010

2010-12-06T23:31:00.002-05:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Second Day of Thanksgiving (better late than never)

2010-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

I am thankful that after Thanksgiving we will begin the season of celebrating the fact that our Lord left His Heavenly home to come down and live among us. And for a purpose that secured everlasting life for His people. Think about that, and I challenge you to listen to the song in the video below and not be overcome with gratitude (and tears! So far I have not been successful).

I am also thankful that my life has been full of babies. Children are a blessing from God. They have taught me so much over the years, and it has been an absolute joy to watch them grow up.
Nothing lifts my spirits like a child. They are the most precious things in the world.

MercyMe - God With Us

2010-11-24T11:30:00.000-05:00

David Crowder*Band - O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing

2010-11-23T09:22:00.001-05:00

First Day of Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

I am going to take this week of Thanksgiving to write about some things for which I am thankful. They will be in no particular order, except for today, I am writing about the two things that are most important to me.

First of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without Him I would be dead in my sin, doomed to alienation from my Creator and everlasting torment in Hell. So much did my Creator love me that while I was a vile sinner, loving the things that directly go against His nature, He sent His Son to pay the penalty for my disobedience and hatred for God. So much did He love me, that Christ took on the punishment that should have been mine, even taking on a punishment that made Him a curse before His Father (by hanging on a tree, Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13). And now through Christ I have full communion with God, peace, joy, and anticipation of everlasting life in Heaven.

Makes me want to sing the hymn by Charles Wesley that has been on my heart the last couple weeks (I've made Craig listen to the David Crowder Band version multiple times):

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ your Head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given,
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,
’Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!

I found and owned His promise true,
Ascertained of my part,
My pardon passed in heaven I knew
When written on my heart.

Look unto Him, ye nations, own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.

See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep,
And Christ shall give you light,
Cast all your sins into the deep,
And wash the Æthiop white.

Harlots and publicans and thieves
In holy triumph join!
Saved is the sinner that believes
From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew
In holy triumph join!
Believe the Savior died for you;
For me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, ye then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiven;
Anticipate your heaven below,
And own that love is heaven.

Secondly, I am thankful for Craig, the husband God has given me. He is a faithful and loving provider. I cannot imagine a life without him. No other man could be a better husband to me than Craig (multiple people have made this observation on seperate occasions). God created me to be a helpmate to Craig, but I benefit more from our relationship than he does. I love him with all my heart.

Zechariah 4- Zechariah is shown a new golden lampstand similar to the one in the tabernacle only it was continuously supplied with oil through two olive trees, which means its light would never go out. This lampstand points us to the true Light.

Also in the passage, Zechariah is asked if his understands all that he is shown, he replies that he does not, so he is given understanding. So to we will be given understanding if we run to God and ask for His guidance.

The Blog Guidebook

2010-11-22T10:21:00.000-05:00

If you blog, and would like to have your blog listed for FREE, I found this wonderful site called The Blog Guidebook. Click the button on the right of my page to go directly to their super cute site!

The Big Man Around Campus

2010-11-19T23:23:00.002-05:00

Craig is a celebrity.
We stopped by the community college to drop off some paper work and Craig asked if I wanted to go see his picture.
What?
Yep, that's my husband. He's so cool they're using his picture for the Mechanical Engineering Technology brochures. He's going places.

Inniswoods

2010-11-18T16:13:00.001-05:00

Here are a few pictures of a recent trip our family took to see all the Fall colors at Inniswoods.
We picked a beautiful day to go. It was so warm and sunny.

Calvin loved the frog pond, even though he didn't get to see any frogs.

And Ebie loved being able to walk the trails on her own.

Exodus 25:31-40 The last few days I have been reading about God's instructions to the Isrealites on how to build the tabernacle. The tabernacle was meant to be a copy of the Lord's heavenly throne room, and so each piece had great significance. God commanded the people to make every piece out of the finest materials. They were told that any who felt called to give materials, skills, money, or time should do so because it was the Lord calling them. It was interesting to learn that the people were called to give whatever they were ABLE to give. God does not expect more, and does not accept less. Not all are expected to give the same thing or the same amount, but we are expected to give of what the Lord has given us. We are also called to give of our very best. Now it is up to me to listen to what God is calling me to give and to give my very best.

The Craft Show

2010-11-15T23:21:00.001-05:00

The craft show was this past weekend, up near Lake Erie, at German's Villa. It didn't go as well as I had hoped, but it helped me to realize that I need to diversify my product.

I enjoyed being there though. I was there sitting alongside the veterans. Some of the vendors had been doing this for 30 years or so and it was fun being called a "vendor"with them. The remaining clips/bows from the show will be put up in my etsy shop soon.

This post is brought to you by: Rob and Susan Miller!

2010-11-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

My computer is having issues. It is old and has a lot of stuff on it. Craig and I have been taking things off of it to free up more space so that it will feel better. ALL my pictures are safe and sound (including these two of my beautiful baby), backed up on a portable hard drive my uncle Rob and aunt Susan generously gave me.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rob and Susan!

The craft show is this Saturday. Still busy getting things made for that. Whatever doesn't sell there will be put on my Etsy account for anyone interested. I'll post the information for that when the time comes. I am also very happy to report that even though I have not been posting, I have been doing my Bible studying everyday. I am thanking God for giving me diligence in that area especially. It has been such a blessing and encouragement!

Fall Playing

2010-10-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

I've wanted to share pictures and tell you about taking my babies to Boo at the Zoo.

I've also wanted to tell you about and share the pictures from the recent trip to the pumpkin patch.

But Craig said there is very little space on my computer, so I am not allowed to download any more pictures until I get rid of some old ones. It is taking a while to go through all the pictures on my computer and it is hard to delete them. I agree with Craig, I do not need all 15 pictures of Calvin's first smile, but it is so hard to choose which ones I am willing never to see again. In some ways the conveniences of today make life difficult. My mother never had to make these decisions! =)

I am posting my readings for earlier this week, I have not done my reading yet today, and I am hoping to go through pictures today so Craig will let me download and post some from trick or treating tonight, so I will post my reading for today then. That's a run-on. No, its a comma splice. Whatever.

10/25- The Everlasting Reign, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28: Although even righteous kings of Israel could not keep the law perfectly, the last King is the fulfillment of the law. King Jesus has come to conquer all His enemies. Death will be conquered and we will be set free from it's chains. He will set up an everlasting kingdom. All things will acknowledges His rule (He will have a visible reign).

10/27- God Chooses Israel's King, 1 Samuel 16:1-13: Saul failed to be a godly king for the Israelites, so God brought forward David, the man of His choosing. Samuel was surprised at God's choice. But we all know what God said, "For the Lord does not see as a man sees: for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." The Bible says David was a man after God's own heart. David was "sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit and knew when to repent if he had sinned" (Tabletalk). Am I a woman after God's own heart? No. It seems that more often than not I quench the Spirit by trying to justify my sin instead of repenting from it.

Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same

2010-10-22T19:00:00.001-04:00

As the leaves change and begin to fall, the realization that Summer is gone is beginning to set in my mind. I lament for the season I see as holding never ending lazy hours. Even though our activities change only slightly with the change in seasons, Fall always brings a mindset of leaving play and getting back down to the business of life.

Looking back on the pictures I took of our play from this week reminds me of earlier this year at another change in season, one that held a little more excitement for me. Seeing these pictures made me realize that a certain someone is always excited to see the changes.

Even when the snow comes, which I dread, he will still be happy to run around the yard like a crazy man.

("one Grecian Urn" if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to watch The Music Man)

2 Kings 20:12-21- Hezekiah makes a foolish decision that shows his lack of faith in the Lord and a desire to be like the nations around him. Despite his weakness the Lord loves him.

Extras

2010-10-21T17:05:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more things we did at EnterTRAINment Junction.

Really I just want to share the pictures...

Deuteronomy 17:14-20- The passage was foretelling of Israel's desire to have a king like the nations around them. Israel's "request for a king in Samuel's day was an implicit rejection of God as king." They wanted to rely on a man to fight their battles instead of relying on God who had promised to fight for them.
There have been undertones on reliance on God in my Bible study and in my reading outside of the Bible. I think God is trying to tell me something again. Not that it is a new message for me. Reliance on God is the basis of the Christian faith, but knowing a little of how the Holy Spirit works, I can say with confidence that if a subject is repeatedly being laid upon my heart I need to sit up and take notice. Now that I know what God wants me to hear, it is up to me to figure out (pray and ask God) to which area of my life the words need to be applied. If not all of them. After all, do I rely on God truly and sincerely in any area of my life?

EnterTRAINment Junction

2010-10-20T23:17:00.002-04:00

Last weekend we took the babies to EnterTRAINment Junction down by Cincinnati.
It was pretty impressive. The train display was huge and very detailed.

Calvin loved walking up and down the isles pressing buttons that made noises that could be heard in train yards or that made the trains go.

They also have outdoor train rides for the kids. Calvin was excited to get to ride Thomas again. He enjoyed his rides so much that he still randomly announces that he got to ride on Thomas.

I only rode on Thomas because otherwise Ebie wouldn't get to. Honest.

Joshua 20- God tells Joshua to set up cities of refuge for people who unintentionally murdered someone, to protect them from avengers of blood. Many people think Mosaic law was harsh, punishing with the toughest action for even small offenses, but here we find that God allows for mercy to the truly innocent.

"The Seriousness of Sin"

2010-10-18T23:35:00.000-04:00

Joshua 7- "The Seriousness of Sin" The Lord commanded the people to bring all spoils to Him at Jericho. One man, Achan, kept some of the spoils for himself. So the Lord caused Israel to be overcome in battle. Joshua pleads with God for Israel and God reveals to him that someone has broken His commandment. Joshua calls all the people and tells them to repent. The Lord leads Joshua to Achan. When confronted, Achan confesses to keeping some of the spoils for himself. He and his household are killed.
I have to admit, when I read this chapter, I thought it harsh that he and his family would be killed, even after he confessed. But Tabletalk pointed out that Achan only confessed after he was filled with the terror of being found out. He did not come forward on his own, this shows his willingness to continue in his sin if he was not found out. The family was also killed for the same reason. They did not love God's commandments enough to reveal Achan's sin.

I think it is easy for people today to take God's apparent lack of disciplinary action as a sign that He loves us so much that He overlooks our sin. Yes, Jesus came to save us from our sin. Believers (those who have repented) are forgiven. But if we give ourselves a license to disobey God, just because Jesus died, that is not true repentance. God does not honor insincere repentance, as we saw with Achan. Though God's judgement may not be obvious now, it will be at the Judgement, when all will have to give an account.

The questions I have to ask myself today are:
Do I love God's commandments enough to hold myself to obey them?
Do I have true repentance?

The 10 Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything. You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them. For I the Lord am a jealous God...
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God...
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet...

Just in case I am tempted to be content in my knowledge that I have never killed a person, in Matthew 5 Jesus talks about not just keeping the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law as well. I have a renewed thankfulness for Christ. Without Him, I would be doomed.

I'm Crafty.

2010-10-12T20:00:00.001-04:00

Working hard on my projects for the craft show in November. I am making hair clips, pins, and accessories.

I hope they sell. I feel horrible asking Craig if we can spend money so that I can try to earn some.

I wonder how the Proverbs 31 woman got her start.

Exodus 14- God tells Moses to take the Israelites out of Egypt by going "the wrong way", the way that leads them directly to the Red Sea. This was meant to make Pharaoh think they were lost and confused, but we know God had Israel's salvation in mind. When Israel was trapped against the sea, God rescued them and destroyed Pharaoh. Tabletalk says "When things happen that we do not understand or God calls us to do what is perplexing to us, we can be sure it is for His glory." I need to remember that God has fought/is fighting/will fight (and has/will defeat!) my enemies (sin and the devil). I can not save myself. Only God can save me!

Coram Deo for today says: "Salvation is a gift wholly from the Lord from beginning to end. He accomplishes our redemption on the cross and gives us the faith to appropriate that redemption for ourselves. It can be easy to forget this truth, but we must always be clear that His work alone can redeem us."

Hop On Pop

2010-10-11T21:00:00.001-04:00

We spent the whole day with Craig today. He was off for Columbus Day. So we celebrated by going to the zoo. It was wonderful. This isn't a picture from today, but the series is funny. It shows our babies sitting peacefully on top of their Daddy, and then all of a sudden they turn into monsters!

Poor Craig.

Baby

2010-10-07T23:25:00.001-04:00

I watched my new little cousin today.

He's little.

I had fun.

Matthew 2:13-15 We were all once slaves to sin. Christ came to free us from that slavery.

Sorry the post is so short...I'm spending precious moments alone with my husband, and I don't want to spend it typing.

I Hate Litter.

2010-10-06T19:36:00.002-04:00

(Calvin playing in a house made from a box my dad gave us earlier this summer)

At the same moment I paused to look out our front window today, a car stopped in front of our house. I watched the woman who was driving finish a Capri Sun and throw the package out the window. "She did not just do that", I said. Yep, she did. She was a full grown woman. I sighed, put on my shoes and walked outside to pick it up out of the street. I hate litter. While I was out there I found two aluminum cans though. Jackpot!

I like to recycle. My big project has something to do with recycling. Not in a save the world way though. More in a good steward/serving way.

Question(s) I am pondering today: Has the day been a success if the house is a mess? Or, has the day been a wash if the house didn't get cleaned? Wondering. My nerves scream no.

Isaiah 19:16-25 Although the Egyptians were enemies with the Israelites, God says there will be a day when all nations will be at peace and worship Him. He will call all nations to Himself and He will be glorified. "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

Plans...

2010-10-06T09:49:00.002-04:00

(my babies and me this summer)

Making plans for a project I want to do. It is a very long term project, something that I hope would last my whole life. It could be big, it could be small. It all depends on me. Hoping to making it kind of big though. Plans for international involvement. I need to give myself some training first, however. No money for classes right now. Guess books and Youtube will be my best friends for a while.

I read Exodus 1:8-14 yesterday. Egypt had a new pharaoh, one that did not know Joseph. He convinced his people through propaganda that the Israelites meant to harm them. There were too many of them he thought. And so began Israel's slavery in Egypt. But the more Egypt persecuted them, the more their numbers grew. What Pharaoh meant for evil, God used for Israel's good. Gives you a better perspective on your trials doesn't it?

Pumpkin Painting

2010-10-04T21:59:00.000-04:00

Calvin finally got to paint his pumpkin today. He has been asking ever since we bought it a few days ago. I have him paint pumpkins instead of carve because there are no knives involved and when he gets bored he is done. No gutting left for me to do. The only bad thing was that he didn't get bored quickly enough, because after his pumpkin was covered in paint he wanted to paint mine. I guess I could always wash it off, but I probably won't.

The passage was Leviticus 18:24-30, with further reading at Revelation 6:12-17. In Leviticus God told the Israelites: You shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations...lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean. I have to admit when I read this passage I thought this was not going to be a very pleasant thing to put on my blog. But sin is rebellion against God. You can do nothing to make it pleasant. It is so disgusting, even to creation, that the land would reject a sinful people by expelling them from itself. Revelation says making creation sick is the least of our worries though. The passage in Revelation described a time when all the people: hid themselves in caves and rocks of mountains and said to the mountains and the rocks," Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Can you imagine being in the position where you are begging creation to swallow you up because it is better than the alternative of facing your Creator and having to give an account of your life? When I try to imagine it my stomach turns. What would I be able to say to Him if it weren't for the blood of the Lamb? I think I would be the first on my knees begging the earth to consume me.

Marker Monsters

2010-10-02T02:00:00.000-04:00

Craig and I were trying to get the house cleaned up, so we gave the babies some markers to color with. We gave them paper too, but they didn't really use it as you can see. Evie's markers were meant for babies so it came right off.

Calvin's however, I found out were not washable. I'm so glad he only really tattooed his torso because they were still there over a week later.

Deuteronomy 8:7-1o - Just as God promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites, the new heavens and earth are our Promised Land. Israel was kept alive in the desert by His kindness and so too anything we have is due to His kindness. God deserves our gratitude and thanks for ALL things He has given.

Dirty Laundry

2010-09-30T23:00:00.000-04:00

(All babies think it is funny when you put them in a basket and call them dirty laundry.)

Just a day of ordinary things, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, sharing the same cookie dunking milk with my babies. Evelynn had her 15 month appointment today, which means shots. Calvin and I took her in, and we all left having been shot. Apparently its flu shot time. Fun, fun. Calvin felt betrayed because I told him we were going for Evie, he didn't feel any better knowing I had a shot too. He keeps randomly saying, "She (the nurse) hurt me!"

Galatians 3:1-9 Through faith we are sons of Abraham, and we will share in his inheritance because we believe. When God told Abraham "through you all families of the earth will be blessed", He was talking about us. I find that exciting! Before I was even born, God had a plan to call me and bless me. That's power!

Bluejackets:4, Other Team:3

2010-09-29T16:23:00.000-04:00

Craig had tickets good for a Bluejackets game last night, so he took me. My mother graciously agreed to watch our babies for us. I am not a big sporting event fan, but when I suggested that Craig ask someone else to go with him he looked sort of disappointed, so I went. I guess sometimes its nice for him to have a whining wife clinging to his arm instead of having fun with a buddy. He must really love me. I brought my iPod to have something to do.

(me being bored at the hockey game)

When we got to the game, I was disappointed to discover that my iPod would not pick up the Wifi at the arena. "Now what am I going to do?" I asked Craig. "Watch the game", he said. Yeah right, I watched people instead. Usually we sit in what we call the Fat Boy seats. Either right on the glass, or a few rows up, in plush comfy seats where waiters come up to you and ask you if you would like them to get you some refreshments. We get these seats from my Dad. The company he works for buys season passes every year and they all take turns using them. The section is full of rich people or obnoxious die-hard hockey fans who scream obscenities. There aren't many children in those seats.

Last night we sat all the way up in the nose bleed section, and there were quite a few children up there. The men were on the their best behavior. The only negative yelling done up there was: "Come on!", "Aarggh!" (with the "g" pronounced), "Oh, fun!", and my favorite "That's not your teammate, man!" (in response to a bad pass). You remember all these things when you aren't there for the game.

After the second period, people thinned out, meaning most of the people who had a kid with them left, but things were still quiet where we sat. I got even more bored because there weren't many people to watch, so I started whining. I do this thing to Craig when I start fake whining about stupid stuff I don't even care about just to get his attention (he knows it too, because he just playfully chuckles and gives me a hard time)

(Craig and me in the nose bleed section)

I told him I was cold. He said, "Aw." I asked him for some ice cream, which was dumb because then I really was cold. So I told him my nose was cold, and he asked if I wanted to warm it in his armpit. I gave him a love tap. I asked him if we could go home, "When its over.", "When will it be over?", he ignored me. And so it went on until it really was over. And I asked Craig to pick up his empty beer can to bring it home for my sister Kate who recycles them for college money. He said we were not walking around with an empty beer can. Apparently he doesn't want Kate to go to college.

Isaiah 51- God called Abraham and promised to bless him. God kept His promise and turned this one man into a people of great number. Think about the promises God has given us, He will kept them. And He will greatly exceed our expectations.

Thomas the Tank Engine Rolling Along!

2010-09-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

We bought tickets for Calvin (and the rest of us) to ride Thomas the Tank Engine for his birthday.

It was hot and dusty and not exactly very exciting in my opinion. Calvin liked looking at all the overpriced Thomas stuff (none of which we bought). And Evie tried eating overpriced smashed popcorn off the ground (we did not buy the food either). By the time the day was over we were all hot, tired, hungry, and cranky. Calvin and I were the crankiest, but he's 3...

This was the only picture I could get with Calvin's face (sort of) and Thomas in view at the same time. Whenever Thomas was around Calvin wanted to be looking at him. He was afraid to miss anything. It was cute how all the kids thought it was the real Thomas. Calvin was very excited to get to ride on him, in the train car he kept saying, "I'm riding Thomas!"

Although the passage I read yesterday was very pertinent to my life right now, I was thinking that I needed a little more direction in my study, so I picked up an old Tabletalk. I had just been reading whatever sounded good, or sometimes where ever the pages happened to fall open. It isn't the best way to study, in my opinion. But God will use whatever means He wants to get you to hear the message you need because the passage for today was Genesis 12:1-9 (the call of Abram). And the corresponding study about how God called Abram, and kept him, and blessed him. Not because of anything Abram did, but because He chose him. All Abram had to do was trust God. I think God is trying to tell me something. And when I realized this, how the tears began to fall.

Oh How I Love Them!

2010-09-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

It has been pointed out to me that my attitude lately has been bad, to put it honestly. Someone who loves me very much and whose job it is to say these things if they need said, told me so recently. He was very right. And I am glad he told me, not that I hadn't noticed myself, but sometimes you need someone else to say something to actually kick you back into place. I am sorry I didn't take the criticism well when it was given, but I hope (Craig) that person has seen that I have been trying. I am ashamed to say my attitude was bad in regards to my sweet babies. Oh, how I love them! But I have a heart prone to wander, and if it is not brought back to God on a regular basis it will stay out there.

It is impossible to keep my heart in the right place if I am not reading the Bible. So I have made the promise to read my Bible every morning while I have my breakfast. It has to be done at this time because I am the queen of "I'll do it after I...", and if it isn't done then it won't be done. I am also going to have to start journaling it because I read my Bible at breakfast this morning, and by lunch I couldn't remember what the passage I read was about. So MKC (My Kaleidoscopic Cornucopia) will be my journal. After every post you will see what passage I read, what it was about and some way that applies to me. I'll have to go reread today's so I can actually tell you.

As for getting back on track with my babies, that's easier. It has always amazed me how forgiving children are, especially of their parents. I have offered my sweet ones my apologies and even though they didn't really know what is going on, it is obvious they have no ill feelings toward me. I am rereading books on making early childhood happy and special, and have been surprised how much I missed just having fun (singing, playing, dancing, reading) with my babies. It makes me wonder how I got to where I was? But I guess I already answered that question. Thankful for God's grace to give, and use, faithful husbands.

This morning (and a few times since then), I read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Paul was writing to the Corinthians and giving thanks for God's grace in granting them gifts. And encouraging them in the fact that the God who had called them, would keep them, and perfect them for the Coming day. What a encouragement it was for me to read that the God who had called me, used the husband He gave me in order to call me back again, that He might continue to perfect me, so that I could stand blameless on the day of Christ.

No Longer A Baby. Now A Little Boy.

2010-09-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

My baby boy turned 3 on September 16th! My birthdays don't affect me, but his, especially this one did. I had a profound feeling of losing my baby. I know he is only turning 3 but I have always viewed the age of 3 as the door from babyhood into childhood. No longer a baby, now a little boy. I sat on the back porch after he opened all his presents from us and watched him running around the yard playing, I'll admit I nearly burst into tears.

The Last Day of Summer/First Day of Autumn

2010-09-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today, I took my babies to the beach for the last time this summer, or should I say the first and only time this Fall? Discovering that it was going to be in the 90's today, I assumed this would be the last day we could go, especially since it magically becomes winter-like in Ohio on October 1st.

After the beach, we went to the playground. I picked one with kids on it so that Calvin could possibly find a playmate, he isn't the most social little boy. Two little girls started following Evelynn around, so closely in fact that their bellies were touching her back, I trailed about 3 feet behind them. Their conversation went like this "Where is that baby going? I don't know, let's follow her! She's a cute little baby. (I quite agree!) Oh, she wants to swing! She's too little to swing." By this time Calvin discovered that another child had dared to even look at his sister and came running up and shoved his way in between them all. Every move that Evie made the little girls tried to follow her and Calvin tried to cut them off. Poor little Evelynn got the raw end of the deal as she was knocked down several times and not permitted to do anything as she was thought to be too little.

Shortly after all that, I took the babies across the parking lot to the empty playground because Calvin got in to a fight with another little boy. (Sigh)

Unschooling

2010-08-25T08:48:00.000-04:00

I am not going to send my babies to school outside the home. In no way do I condemn parents that choose to do so, but I believe it is Craig and my job as parents to lead our children to learn whatever it is that will make them successful in the life God has chosen for them. Most people would say I plan to homeschool my children. I use the word too, whenever I want a quick answer to the question of how I plan to get my babies educated. But what I want to do is so much more, and less, complicated than homeschooling (doing school at home). I plan to unschool my children.

You may have heard the word. Recently the unschooling movement has gotten pretty popular, especially with modern day hippies trying to stick-it-to-the-man. There are varying degrees of unschooling. On one side there are people who are basically homeschooling, just without a set curriculum, and on the other end there are parents who let their kids do whatever they want all day. I am somewhere in the middle.
It has always perplexed me why we tell our children they are special and unique and then expect them to get the very same education all the other children are getting. I reject that way of thinking. I know God has made my children unique, with their own set of interests and gifts. It is my job as a parent to lead my children in the pursuit of those interests and gifts.
In the preschool years its easy, just keep the tv off and plenty of craft supplies, books, play dough, and blocks nearby, oh, and spend a great deal of time outdoors. As they reach "school age" my job becomes a little harder. Starting off I will need to coax my babies into learning. After all what six year old little boy would rather practice writing the alphabet than play outside?

As the years go on my hope is that I will have exposed my children to such a large range of subjects that by their teens they have a pretty good understanding of the world around them and how they fit into it. By then, Lord willing, they will also be self educating and grow into adults that continue to learn throughout the rest of their lives.

A Post Just For Grandma Nickoloff

2010-08-21T11:00:00.000-04:00

Favorite Bits of Knowledge From My Parents, Random pictures of my children

2010-08-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

(Evie with my maternal Grandfather)

Dad: Never give an honest man a chance to steal.

Mom: (About children) They're only little once.

(Calvin with my older sister, Cassie)

Do you have any favorite pieces of wisdom?

Un Bobby

2010-08-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

"Un Bobby" bravely loading the rubber band gun for Calvin to go shoot in other people's direction.

Memories of Calvin

2010-08-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

Calvin has a rough and tumble personality. Sometimes he is a little too rough for my liking. He likes to climb all over me, tug my hair, pinch my cheeks, and press his face (really hard) into mine. He was doing his regular thing one evening this week and my nerves were wearing thin. I told him to quit a few times, then I started to get angry. Right when I was about to lose my temper, something inside told me to pause and pay a little attention to him. So I stopped and let him bring his face up to mine. He stayed there for about 30 seconds or so. I breathed in deep and smelled him. He smelled like a dirty little boy, but under that was a faint sweet smell and...Craig. Hhmm. I just got a glimpse of Craig as a child I thought. It's funny to learn of the things we share with our parents, even things we can't see. Things like a smell. What are some interesting traits that children in your lives have inherited?

Chubby Pink Face

2010-08-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

After dinner, I pulled the bench from the dining room table over to the window so I could read by natural light. I don't know why I wanted to read there, just an urge for some reason. Craig and our babies were in the other room watching some strange kids movie that Craig had found on Netflix. Normally, I would've sat in with them, wanting to just spend time with them, but this time I wanted to read. I was grateful to Craig for letting me spend a while with myself. Completely absorbed in the story, I didn't notice Evelynn waddle up. By the time I did realize she was there she was already smacking my arm and yelling "Ma!" I looked down at her and my heart melted.
Her chubby little face was still covered in sauce and grease from the pizza we had for dinner. The light from the setting sun shone in the window and illuminated her shiny face in pink light. When she moved the shine showed every little curve on her face. She looked beautiful... young... dependent. I was overcome by the feeling of my responsibility to guide this little one in life, to be an example to her of what a Godly woman should be.
I know you're thinking, "Whoa, all this from a little grease and sunshine?" But it's true. I put down my book and cradled her. Does God really think I can do this?

Alum Creek

2010-08-11T23:08:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I took my babies to Alum Creek Reservoir. I didn't think we would be there long. I thought my babies would both hate the water and be bored with the sand. Just had a feeling. It turned out to be wrong. Calvin LOVED the water, and Evie even warmed up to it after a while. And we had fun building "Sand Castles in the Sand". =)

After a few hours Calvin was still going strong. Evie however, decided she had had enough fun and climbed up into the stroller and sat there for a good 20 minutes just watching Calvin and I run around.

The reservoir even had a little playground, so we took a break from the beach and played up there for a while.

Oh Happy Day!

2010-08-05T12:30:00.000-04:00

BOBBY IS HOME!

Welcome Home...

2010-08-03T23:00:00.000-04:00

(Another picture that has nothing to do with my post)

Tomorrow we welcome OMLT 1.3 and my younger brother Bobby home from Afghanistan. Bobby's wife Candace, our parents and all of his sister's will be there. (praying for our brother Matt, who is suffering through Basic Training right now) Master Sgt. Reed, who was injured in action and sent home early, will also be there to welcome them back to Ohio.

We all made signs tonight. Complete with little flags, yellow ribbons, and plenty of glitter glue.

Can't wait to see them tomorrow. Praying for the rest of our troops still in danger.

Drawing Lines

2010-07-30T23:41:00.000-04:00

I am naturally pretty laid back when it comes to parenting. My kids are not on a strict schedule. They normally eat whatever I am eating, run around bare foot all the time (even have been known to be naked occasionally) and are free to try to do things themselves. Sometimes I feel irresponsible because I don't have special rules for them to follow. Unless there are clear signs of impending doom, I usually let them roam, play and generally figure things out on their own. My mother says I parent as if Calvin (my first) was my fifth child. I believe my parenting style mostly comes from being the second oldest of 6 kids, and experience tells me that the majority of the things little ones do won't kill them. They usually end up learning something from all their shenanigans. Yeah, this way of parenting is pretty groovy to some, but I feel like most of the time I am seen as lazy or apathetic.

Lately though there have been several times where my laid-back-ness has allowed some hurts and very near catastrophes to happen. So I have been interested in tightening up the reins on my own parenting style. The problem is I don't know where to draw the lines so to speak. Are there clear lines between irresponsibility and hyper-parenting? I just don't know when to say, "Yes, now I am responsible enough." Sure there will always be times when I feel like I am not as good as a parent as I should be. But there is always room for improvement too. Just wondering where to draw the line. It can't all be hazy, can it?

Dayton Air Show cont.

2010-07-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

I don't normally take pictures that don't have someone in them (except of creation).

Nor do I normally share them.

But the air show was awesome.

Craig kept trying to leave before it was done, I was flabbergasted.

It Is a Soldier

2010-07-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

They read this over the loud speakers at the air show, I thought of both my younger brothers.

IT IS THE SOLDIER

It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Dayton Air Show

2010-07-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Craig and I took our babies to the Dayton Air Show on the 17th. We didn't think about it being loud. So when we arrived and there was a fighter jet flying through the air, Calvin started freaking out. We tried to tell him it was just an airplane but it didn't work. Craig ended up buying ear plugs at the nearest booth. It was a good thing they had them or we would've probably left. Even with the ear plugs in it took Calvin a while to settle down. But by the end of the day he was watching the jets fly through the air with no problem.

Evie and I did some kissin' while the boys looked at boy stuff.

The boys were lookin' cute!

Creekin'

2010-07-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

You get a line, I'll get a pole, honey.

You get a line, I'll get a pole, babe.

You get a line, I'll get a pole, and we'll go down to the crawdad hole.

Honey, oh baby, mine!

Memphis Kiddie Park Pictures cont.

2010-07-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Little Dipper

2010-07-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

Calvin rode his first roller coaster at the Memphis Kiddie Park. He had so much fun.

I am showing you the fun he had at the expense of poor little Emmarose. She didn't like it.

Not even when Mommy rode it with her. Calvin and his Daddy had a blast however.

More Memphis Kiddie Park Pictures

2010-07-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Memphis Kiddie Park cont.

2010-07-22T10:00:00.000-04:00

Do you know how hard it is to get a good picture of four babies? I mean one where they are all looking at the camera, and not making weird faces? Practically impossible.

Cutie and the Monster. Get it? It's like Beauty and the Beast, only it's...ahem.

Memphis Kiddie Park

2010-07-21T14:38:00.000-04:00

On our last trip up to visit Craig's parents, we all (our family, Craig's parents, and is sister, Julene's family) went to a kiddie park Julene had taken her babies to last summer. It was a little park with kiddie fair rides on it. The babies LOVED it.

And everyone had a wonderful time watching them enjoy it. Well we enjoyed riding a few rides as well.

The Columbus Zoo

2010-07-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

We have been to the Columbus Zoo many times. But recently, Grandparents Nickoloff came down for a visit and we all went together. My babies enjoyed having there Grandpa and Grandma there.

It was easier on Craig and me too. Now instead of trading kids every 15 minutes, there were twice as many adults to keep them occupied.

Evie's Picture...

2010-07-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

Every little one needs a picture sleeping with their daddy, here's Evie's.

Dreamy

2010-07-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

Two of my favorite pictures so far of summer time fun...

The Pool.

2010-07-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

Monday was a hot day. It was hot at 10:30am when our family went outside to do some yard work. So I suggested to Craig that he go pick up a little pool for the babies. I was thinking he would just get a small round pool, something that wasn't a bucket, he came home with this thing. I didn't have any more Swimmers so you can see in what condition my babies enjoyed their new pool. Craig said, "So now we're the family with the naked kids?" I guess so.

Today...

2010-07-08T23:02:00.000-04:00

Today I...

sat in the baby pool while my naked babies ran around the yard doing other things,
listened to Calvin singing along with the rescue pack song on Go, Diego, Go!,
made strawberry shortcake with a biscuit recipe like my mom likes it and it was delicious,
ended up taking a nap right along with my babies (oops),
shelled and deveined shrimp for the first time,
cleaned up the entire bottle of Fiesta Lime seasoning Calvin dumped into the sink,
bought another pepper plant because my other two are doing horribly,
had a water fight with Calvin using the water from the baby pool while also using it to water my garden,
how's that for recycling?

Kate and A Camera Continued...

2010-07-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

Some good photos come from Kate's shenanigans. Here are two for the album.

Kate and a Camera

2010-07-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

My sister Kate is notorious for getting a hold of someone's camera (or phone) and filling all available space will random pictures. Most of the time they are of different angles of the nearest person's nose. At least there was a little variety this time, although the majority of the photos I found on my camera recently were of Evie's booty. Fun times.

By the way, Kate is the crazy one in the first picture.

A Picture of My Heart

2010-07-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know this picture is not cute. How can such a pretty little girl look so... disturbing? But it has a story with it. Craig gave Evie her own bowl of ice cream to eat because we were busy doing other things. This was the end result. But before she made herself look like a monster she was trying to actually eat the ice cream. It wasn't going very well because she doesn't know how to use a spoon for anything other than dipping right now, so I would periodically stop and try to help her get a little bit in her mouth. I would have to pry the spoon from her fingers and yell over her that I was trying to help her as she screamed bloody murder. Doesn't she trust her own mother enough to know that I would never be trying to hurt her in any way? Hhmm... I thought. Did I just get a glimpse of my own heart?

How many times has God had to pry things out of my hands as I screamed bloody murder? Don't I trust my Creator and Heavenly Father enough to give Him control, even if at the time, it looks like He is just trying to steal my ice cream?

Slate Run Again...

2010-06-30T09:00:00.001-04:00

Slate Run has a variety of old-fashioned toys to try out. I tried the hoop and stick (not sure what its official name is). I knew it was hard, but it was even harder than that. I basically stunk at it.

Calvin didn't do much better. Well as they say, when life hands you lemons...

Slate Run Continues...

2010-06-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Just some more pictures from Slate Run. Would've organized them better but Blogger won't let me, and I am giving up before I throw my computer.

More Slate Run...

2010-06-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

A few days after our family went to Slate Run Farm, I went back with my babies, Mom and younger sisters. I love it there. I wish I had my own farm where I could grow my own food so I knew for sure where it came from and what was used to grow it.

I would love to work all day in the garden taking care of the plants that would be used to feed my family for the year. Enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables in the spring, summer, and fall and canning some for winter.

Chickens would roam free eating grass and bugs and getting good and healthy so we could in turn eat them and be healthy. I would have a huge amount of compost that pigs would turn and fill with all kinds of good bacteria and nutrients so that I could put it on my garden to make my plants grow even bigger. My cows would be grass fed, and I would not have to pay $6.99 a pound for hamburger, that would be nice.

Not entirely sure I would want sheep though, maybe a lamb or two just for the freezer. But I'll have to grow my own apple mint to make some jelly to go with them.

"Meg, Why Is There a Couch Laying Across Your Garden?"

2010-06-28T16:21:00.000-04:00

(the blanket is on the ground to kill the grass, it is not a permanent thing)

I have to admit, the recent unintentional break from my blog was a product of a phase of lack of motivation I have been going through. It has been a chore for me to get anything done lately, don't know why and I will soon be back to normal (I hope). But even in this phase, I have diligently been taking care of my vegetable gardens; taking trips out to the back of the yard where the sun is always beating down sometimes multiple times a day, just to survey the progress. Then today when my mom and sisters came over, I heard my mom ask, "Meg, why is there a couch laying across your garden?"

At first I thought she was joking, and when at first I saw it, I still thought it was a joke of some sort. But no. Someone actually did take one of the couches that my neighbors were getting rid of, out of the alley and threw it into our yard on my garden. Why? I don't know. They were bored? Who knows. This isn't the first time I have seen random acts of vandalism, and I am sure it won't be the last. It isn't a huge deal. The couch was picked up, and I notified the proper people to come and get it. One plant was smashed beyond hope, others were damaged, but life goes on. Funny though how a small thing like this can remind you to pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

Slate Run

2010-06-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Our little family recently took a trip to Slate Run farm. It was the first somewhat successful trip we have made. I say somewhat successful because every time we have been before this trip it was always closed. This time we knew it would be open but as we were getting out of the car we heard distant rolls of thunder. We decided to go in anyhow and see what we could while it was still sunny.

All three of us who could walk tried our legs out on the stilts. Craig and I lasted a few steps and Calvin didn't want to have anything to do with them after we tried to get him to walk with them. Evie just sat on the bench under the grape vines lookin' cute.

We didn't get to see much that trip. The storm came in pretty fast. But we tried again a few days later...

Goodness.

2010-06-24T02:00:00.000-04:00

The plan was to make Summer Paella from this quarter's issue of Edible Columbus, but I was short on time so the main ingredients (plus some zucchini) were put on the grill. It was good, but I think the dish would've been that much better. I still intend on trying it. Next time I will actually purchase the mussels that are supposed to go in it. I chickened out this time, cooking things like that scare me. But I guess there always has to be a first time.

For anyone interested you can go online and subscribe to receive an issue from Edible Publications. They have issues for several areas. Or try visiting your local Whole Foods.

I'm Back.

2010-06-23T00:18:00.000-04:00

Back from an unintentional break from the blog. Thank you to those who inquired about my break. I am glad you enjoy reading my blog. Here are some of the pictures I took of Evelynn over my break. These will count as her one year pictures.

These are just a few of the tasty photos grandparents should expect to get a copy of at some point.

Natural Bug Repellant

2010-06-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have made my own insect repellent by following the ingredients in natural repellents at Whole Foods. I also bought a bottle of Burt's Bee's repellent just in case mine doesn't work. I was a little disappointed because Whole Foods didn't have plain citronella oil. They had citronella java which I thought smelled pretty...gross. We'll see how this goes.

An Upside-Down Kind of Day.

2010-06-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

Things are kind of topsy-turvy around here.

Fountains At Easton

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

The days are hot here in Columbus, so Craig and I decided to take the babies to Easton to cool off in the fountains. Calvin wasn't interested. Partly because he is a two-year-old old man, and partly because there were miniature trains set up close by.

Evie enjoyed the water. She also enjoyed meeting all the other little ones, and watching them run through the fountains too.

She was very proud of herself for being able to walk only holding on to one of my hands.

Evelynn's Birthday Party

2010-06-05T09:08:00.000-04:00

We had fun celebrating Evie's first birthday with family and friends (Not pictured because I didn't ask their permission to use pictures I have of them. Attention family and friends: if you don't mind me using your picture on my blog please let me know!)

There were some good ones of our family though.

I like this one.

Getting Ready.

2010-06-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

I made pierogies from scratch for the first time for Evelynn's birthday party. Craig's Grandma Nickoloff gave me her very old recipe. It was easier and harder than I thought it was going to be. And I think they needed salt. It won't be the last time I make them. I plan on perfecting the recipe to our families tastes. Here is the recipe for anyone interested. Add whatever seasoning your family likes.

Pierogi

2 cups flour
2 eggs
2 Tbl. sour cream
1/2 cup milk
Mashed Potatoes

Combine flour, eggs, sour cream and milk; knead until dough is soft and pliable. Roll out to desired thickness on a floured surface. Cut into rounds with a glass or cutter. Place a heaping teaspoonful of filling (in this case mashed potatoes) to one side of the dough, fold over and seal edges. Drop pierogi in boiling water, and cook until they rise to the top, remove carefully.

Craig likes to saute them with butter and onions and sprinkle them with cinnamon. Sounds weird but it is so good!

This is what Evie was doing while I was making pierogies and trying to clean up for her party. Tearing stuff out. But it kept her occupied. It's funny how I had to let her undo something so I could get something else done.

My Gardens So Far...

2010-06-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

"What's with the voodoo?", Craig asked. It isn't voodoo. They are egg shells, sprinkled around the plants slugs like best. I need more. Omelets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

The slugs have practically destroyed my pepper plant. I bought another one just in case. The zucchini plants need thinned out, but I am waiting to see which plants do the best first.

I was a dork and put my tomato plants in one of those hanging things to keep them away from the rabbits. They are doing well, but aren't getting as much sun as they need up on the porch. The plan was to move them to wherever the sun was throughout the day, but that thing is heavy!

I Want Gray Hair.

2010-06-01T17:04:00.000-04:00

In a society that WORSHIPS youth, I am longing for my older years. I am really longing for the wisdom that comes with years. Sometimes it is extremely frustrating to be inexperienced and immature. I am not despising my youth, I love it, I just despise my present perspective, temperament, and rationale. My prayers consist of me practically begging God for wisdom. There must be something wrong with the way I am going about getting it because I am not any wiser.

More Rainy Days...

2010-05-18T21:30:00.000-04:00

More rainy days has made it necessary for me to get a little more creative with indoor play.

I was set to make a homemade fort for my babies, but the idea of having to set the thing back up after it had been knocked down multiple times lead me to remember the play tent we stored under Calvin's bed.

I set up the tent, added a blanket, a few pillows, and lots of board books and tada! instant distraction.

Happy First Birthday, Evelynn!

2010-05-18T21:29:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe a year has gone by.

Rainy Days

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

On rainy days, and there have been quite a few lately, when we can't go outside we have to find other ways pass the time until Daddy comes home. Calvin loves to paint. He has to have a little bit of every color, dips his paint brush in and then watches the brush as it moves all along his paper. He gets into it.

And sometimes it gets on him.

Anger, Rage, Revenge

2010-05-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

Evelynn has gotten to the point where she knows what she wants, and is not easily distracted from it anymore.

And when she doesn't get what she wants she lets you know about it, and even punishes you for the wrong.

...a woman scorned.