Chicks

My husband had to fly back to Nebraska for a funeral. Right before he left, he said, "Rebecca, sometime next week, we are getting some baby chicks." What!? Well, he had this great idea to get some chicks, ducklings, and baby turkeys for our VBS. He got me somewhat set up with everything that I needed before he left. So Monday morning - Memorial Day - they came into our Post Office. I guess they hatched the day before - Sunday and they came from Webster City, Iowa. I am flabergasted how they got mailed to our house on a Sunday and then got to our P.O. on a holiday. But they did.
Now I have about 24 baby chicks in my garage. I am not for sure when the turkeys or ducks are coming. Sadly, one chick didn't live through the shipment, another died that day, and one more is clinging to life after being crushed with the watering can. I am not for sure how it happened, but it did and I feel terrible.
My kids love picking them up and holding them. Daughter never wants to leave them. Son #1 loves them and calls them his best friend. He named one yesterday - Joey. Son #2 just grabs them by whatever - a wing - a head - a foot- and he squeals.
The question that has yet to be answered by my husband - what are we going to be doing with these chicks when VBS is over in a few weeks? I will let you know how that one goes. So long for now from Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

Garage Sale

Today I had a garage sale. I don't want to be a person who keeps too much stuff. I want to use what I have been given and then let someone else use it. But many of the things I sold on today's garage sale are treasures. Little shirts and shorts and shoes that my babies wore. Toys that my babies played with. Memories that I can't get back because like it or not my babies aren't so much babies anymore. And I could be wrong, but I think that many of the people today will not treasure my things like I did.

I remember when we were getting ready to move to California from Iowa. In Iowa I had collected many things and I had plenty of room to store them. Knowing that we were going to move to a small apartment in California, we had a garage sale. We sold a lot, but many of my treasures, didn't sell. It was hard for me to put some of those things up for sale, but I thought that if someone else could use them, I could be all right with that. It got hectic right before we moved and the garage sale items that didn't sell were going to be taken to the Salvation Army by a friend. Two days before the big day I found all my treasures in the dumpster. My first reaction? To jump in that dumpster and pull them all out. Before I could do that, I had to stop and pray. I knew in my head that all those things were God's things. I did my best to take care of them, but I had to let them go. I didn't have time to deal with them, there was still so much to do.

I would probably be ecstatic right now if we would have sold most of it, or I would have made a huge amount of money. But neither happened. So I am disappointed in the outcome and now I have to figure out what to do with the stack sitting in my garage. I thought more of the baby clothes would go. I had a bunch still practically new. I guess since they are not name brand - or maybe it is easier and nicer just to buy new baby clothes. Now I need to figure out which charity to give them to, but sometimes they are picky with what they will take as well. Won't that be just awful if I have to put my own stuff in the dumpster? Lets hope that it doesn't come to that.

After doing this capital campaign at church, I have been really moved to take care of what we do have and not to have so much. Isn't it easy to just accumulate more and more? My husband and I are coming up with ways that we can do that. I will talk more about that later.
I am going to leave with one last thought - isn't it sad that no matter what you have, it will all end up in the garbage someday? I am so glad that our Heavenly Father gives us the choice. Am I going to be trash or treasure? Jesus is the ONLY way to being treasure.

Mother's Day

I just had a nice Mother's Day. It isn't like it was spectacular, but I don't think that I ever have had a spectacular one. I still remember the Mother's Day when I was pregnant with our first child. One of the girls in the youth group asked my husband what he did for me and he said that I wasn't a mother yet. He said it to get a rise out of the girls - which he did. His problem is that he doesn't like having to do these days. He likes to make me feel special on the days he designates - he doesn't like to be "cut out of the cookie cutter". Besides, I think that he just plain forgets, and he makes some jerky response to cover for it. Then I think that the Mother's Days after I had children also were forgotten, although again, I think he said something to the effect that I wasn't his mother. Not that being the mother of his children wasn't enough, and sometimes I do feel like his mother. Washing his clothes, folding his clothes, putting his clothes away, fixing him meals, serving his meals, washing his dishes, picking up his shoes, etc. Not that I don't want to do those things, I just think that he doesn't realize the time and effort it takes for all those things to get done for him, me and 3 little ones. Like for instance, the times that it takes over an hour to make supper. I get the table set, dish it up on plates, and call everyone to come to the table. Then the kids don't like it. The baby can't sit still and is a mess. The 2 year old is playing with his utensils like they are trains. The 4 year old can't believe that I put onions in it and the husband is in his own little world - perhaps watching Sports Center or Fox News.

Well, I could go on, and I am ranting, so I will stop. I just wanted to say that my very fun, loving, wonderful-in-so-many-ways husband probably doesn't have a clue and he covers by making some jerky comment. I don't expect a lot for Mother's Day or any other day for that matter. I know that we don't have a ton of money, I just would liked to be recognized by the family. (By the way, I have some friends that send me cards and I love them. Girl friends are the best aren't they?) Besides, my own father fell short of recognizing my mother on certain important days as we were growing up. I do remember him making an effort as I got older.

So back to this past Mother's Day. My husband made lunch and supper that day. He spent a good part of Saturday figuring out what he was to make, going grocery shopping, preparing the marinades for it, and finally taking the time to fix it all on Sunday. I really had to do very little. Then afterwards he cleaned up the kitchen. I appreciated what he did and it all was very delicious. For lunch, he grilled Red Snapper, deep fat fried popcorn shrimp, and baked potatoes. For supper, he grilled a t-bone steak, steak kabobs with pineapple and strawberries, and had a twice-baked potato dish. For dessert, he had Strawberry Shortcake. It was really delicious. I hope that this will be a trend with Mother's Day. It beat going out and waiting in line at a restaurant. I hope you all had a nice time on Mother's Day, whether you are a mother or not, it is always fun celebrating people you love who are mothers or who mother you. By the way, I forgot to send my mother and mother-in-law a card - I guess a phone call and an e-card will have to do this year. But Helen and Pat - you both are great mothers and we are blessed to have you. We love you!

Lost Bunny

The other day we couldn't find our bunny. The cage's door was open and the bunny was missing. My daughter was upset, because she loved her bunny and didn't want to believe he was gone. After a few tears, we prayed for the bunny - that he would find a good home with some other bunnies. In my head, I figured he had been a good snack for some neighborhood cat - we have some big cats that walk our fence line. After we got done praying for the bunny, she wanted to drive around looking for him - I convinced her we couldn't, knowing it was a hopeless cause. The funny thing is, I was sad. I knew that she was sad, and it made me sad. All day I kept thinking and praying for that bunny, even though I knew he was a goner. Well, that evening I was looking out my window thinking about that bunny - and there he was. He had found a good hiding place and was keeping cool all day, but I guess hunger drove him out. My Daughter was so excited about the bunny. I am so glad we prayed about it. Even when I thought that bunny was gone and I felt foolish for praying, I glad we did. She had a positive praying experience. Some might think that God didn't answer our prayers, the bunny was safe all along - but we didn't know that. Besides, the bunny could have been a meal for some cat during the course of the day and he wasn't. Does God care about these kind of things? He has to, this day shaped who she is and her relationship with the heavenly Father. I hope that no matter what the situation is, that we will always go to Lord in prayer.

I Can Only Imagine

When I lay my sweet babies down for bedtime, I play a worship CD for them. It is the same every night. The first song on the CD is "I Can Only Imagine." Today in the car, the song came on and I hear my middle child, who is 2 - almost 3, just belting out the words - at least trying to. It melted my heart. I could play any song, and my 2 year old would learn the words through repetition, but to know that he his learning about our Heavenly Father and that someday those words will make it into his heart is such a gift.

Garbage in/Garbage Out is so true and the opposite is true. The good things that we put in, means that good things will come out as well.

As I am writing about this sweet child, he is now sneakily trying to get out of taking his nap. I must now deal with this. Soon these moments will be over, I will try to treasure them.

My daughter

Our daughter got a rabbit on Easter. She was so excited when she won it in a raffle. I on the otherhand was not so excited. Who ends up taking care of pets? The mother. I have never had a rabbit before. Joy is the name our daughter picked for our new pet. He is living very happy in a cage that my husband built. I have been quite proud at the way our daughter has been feeding and watering Joy. This little bunny is growing on me, he is really cute.

Our daughter has also been taking a ballet class at the junior college. I wanted to get her into ballet in a studio, but when I looked into it, I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I decided to try this course at the college to see if she enjoyed it. I must say that again, I have been so proud of her. She listens and tries her best. Many of the other girls run to their parents, but she doesn't, although she looks at me and waves from time to time. I am just proud of that fact, but the teacher and then another parent have told me that she is a good dancer. In my head I said, "of course," but I know that I am biased. Now I have some choices to make - how far do I take this? Do I get her into classes that I don't think we can afford? Do I put her in dance now or wait until she is older - she is almost 5. There are so many different activities that children can get involved in,(soccer, softball, swimming) I don't know if I am ready for it all to begin for me. It feels like I may have to choose a few activities out of many and I don't like that she can't try them all. I was older, maybe 3rd grade before I did softball. I was in 7th grade before I started volleyball and basketball. Maybe I shouldn't get too excited. I just can't believe that my firstborn is going to start kindegarten in the fall and how big she is getting. I just hope that I will be ready for it when it happens.

Our Church's Capital Campaign

My church is trying to pay off our debt by having a capital campaign. It is called "Share the Vision." We had a luncheon and we are going to participate in a 40 days of prayer. They also handed out a book for us to read. It is called "The Treasure Principle" by Randy Alcorn. I haven't got through the whole book, but it is a very good and easy read and I recommend it to you to read.I just wanted to quote a part that I read yesterday from chapter 4.

A PBS television program called "Affluenza" addresses what it calls the "modern -day plague of materialism." The program claims:

+The average American shops six hours a week while spending forty minutes playing with his children.
+By age twenty, we've seen one million commercials.
+Recently, more Americans declared bankruptcy than graduated from college.
+In 90 percent of divorce cases, arguments about money play a prominent role.

What strikes me about this program is that it doesn't argue against materialism on a moral basis but a pragmatic one: Material wealth doesn't make us happy.

Earlier in the chapter it talks about how everything ends up in the land fill. It says, "Sooner or later, everything we own ends up here. Christmas and birthday presents. Cars, boats, and hot tubs. Clothes, stereos, and barbeques. The treasures that children quarreled about, friendships were lost over, honesty was sacrificed for, and marriages broke up over - all end up here. (I recommend taking a family field trip to a junkyard. It's a powerful object lesson.)"

Reading this book has made me real thoughtful about my material possessions.I know that I don't have as much as many, but I also know that I have more than so many in other countries. I want to be a good steward of what God has given me. One last quote from the book that I want to end with is, "Show me your checkbook, your VISA statement, and your receipts, and I will show you where your heart is." The book wants you to realize that you can't save treasures here on earth, but you can save them in heaven.

Please pray for my church family, that their hearts will be touched to change the way they handle money, not so much for the church's sake, but for their sake. Also - I haven't kept caught up on my One Year Bible. I am starting again, skipping to the month of April's selected reading.

No Electricity!

Yesterday, our electricity went out for about 8 hours. (Just our block - I guess there was a faulty transformer). I can handle a few hours with no electricity, but after a while it wore out its welcome. I couldn't do laundry AND I couldn't make a hot supper AND I couldn't use our phone ( I don't have a cell phone.) Plus, I didn't have many candles. I just wasn't prepared for a power outage. After getting some pizza from Round Table and after playing some games of Hide and Seek, we still had a good hour before it was time to get ready for bed. So we decided to go to Walmart to walk around. We couldn't buy anything because we didn't have any extra money in our budget, so we just walked around.

As annoying as it was that we didn't have electricity (I couldn't watch my American Idol - I missed all the perfomances!) It actually was a needed distraction in our life. We wouldn't have done those things if the power had been on. Usually when the family plays Hide and Seek - I don't play. We don't usually go to Walmart as a family - even though we couldn't buy much, it was fun just to be out. AND don't I love not having to make the meal - that was a plus.

That just makes me think about one of my favorite church songs from my childhood - Count Your Blessings. I am truly blessed.

Prayer Request

I have many things that are requiring my attention lately and I am feeling overwhelmed by them. So much so that I keep putting them off and they just need to get done. Besides that, we are going to probably have to move and I am not sure how it is going to work out. Last night, my youngest was not sleeping well - crying no matter what I did. After I got him to sleep, I just laid there thinking of all the things that need to be done and then the fact that I don't know where we would move to if we have to move - the owners of the house that we are renting from have been looking at selling the house. We would love to be able to buy, but we have obstacles in our way - I just don't see how we could. Housing cost in CA is crazy! When we first moved to CA, we lived in an apartment, but it got too crowded. Finding this house to rent, that was in a decent neighborhood with a park and good school close by and in our price range was a great blessing. (it wasn't a beautiful house, but it worked for us.) We have lived here for a year and a half. I am asking for your prayers. Help me get my mind focused to get done what needs to get done and when we have to move out, that we will find what we need. Thank you!

Communion Devotion

*I was suppose to give a communion devotion for church yesterday. About a month before hand I was fretting because I wasn't for sure what to talk about - the angle. Well, I stumbled on a blog called "Silver Bullets" and he had a great message. I asked Tom if I could use his thoughts and I turned it into a great communion meditation. I got a lot of comments on it so I thought I would post it.

Neil Clark Warren, Christian psychologist and founder of eharmony.com, has said that he would like to change the frequency of the marriage vow. He said, “Instead of it being taken once in a lifetime under stressful conditions, I suggest that it needs to be said 2 to 3 times a week for the first 10 years and at least once a week for the rest of marriage. Why? To maintain a steady focus on the promises that form the steel framework of marriage. With this structure in place, it is more likely that commitment will shape the attitudes of the person.”

I think that we all could agree that being married can be hard work. "During stressful times in marriage, wedding vows seem like yesterday’s news, but it is in the repetition of our vows that can renew our commitment."

I am going to suggest to you that our relationship with Christ is much like a marriage and I think we all can agree that this relationship can be hard work at times. Look at it like this, Baptism is like a wedding. It is our statement of trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation. Participation in the Lord’s Supper is renewing that statement of trust.

I Corinthians 11:26 says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

"In modern western culture, we have devalued the necessity and power of ritual." Just as in marriage, spouses take their vows lightly and each other for granted, we as Christians can take our baptism lightly and forget the importance of communion. As marriage partners, if we are continually reminded of the vows we took during the good and bad times, that reminder could strengthen our marriage. As Christians when we take part in communion during the good times and the bad times, we strengthen our trust and renew our faith each week in the Lord. Sometimes communion once a week is not too often.

Let us pray. “Heavenly Father, Some of us here today are living the good life and some of us here are struggling. Whether in good times or bad times, ‘We proclaim our Lord’s death until He comes.’ Help us to do that today and everyday. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Mark 1:40-45

Mark 1:40-45 talks about Jesus healing a man who had leprosy. Jesus asked him to not tell anyone, but to instead take an offering. But what did the man do? Of course, he went and told everyone. Why did Jesus do this? Of course He had to have known that this man wasn't going to do what He asked.

I know as a parent that I am always disappointed when my children do something after I have told them not to, especially if it is something that could hurt them. After this healed man told everyone, Jesus had to stop going into a town openly, but He stayed outside in "lonely places." The Bible says that people still came to Him from everywhere.

I just wonder what the consequence is of this man not doing what Jesus asked him. Is that what Jesus didn't want? He didn't want to have to stay in lonely places - He wanted to be able to walk about freely? Is that just a testament to how God works? - to be able to make a negative into a positive. Even though Jesus couldn't walk about openly, He still ministered to people (vs 45.)

I don't know if my questions quite make sense. I just think that God could do anything so what is the point of Jesus telling that man to not tell anybody except to give him a choice to do the right thing or the wrong thing. And that is my conclusion. We can make a decision to do what Jesus tells us to or not. He may not be happy with our choice, and there may be a negative that comes from it, but He can always turn that negative into ways that Glorify Him. Thank Goodness for that.

Manna

So have you thought about how the Israelites had to eat manna and quail for 40 years in the wilderness. That is my understanding - that they ate that for their meals for the majority of their wilderness wandering. Maybe I should remind my husband of that after we have had bologna sandwiches for lunch, 5 days in a row.

Bible Reading

Okay, I got behind on my reading. I was planning on telling you all my excuses, but as much as these excuses may be plausible - they are still excuses. It took me until today to get caught up. The thing about reading the Bible through in a year is that it does not take that long to do the daily reading, but once you start getting behind - it is overwhelming. Thanks for keeping me accountable.

My Baby

My youngest son is a mamma's boy. He and I have been inseparable since he was born. Well, in a little more than a week he will be 1. Age 1 is the time when I wean my babies. So we have started to give him sippy cups and he has been eating more table food. Already, I can see him changing. The other day, I was cleaning out my cupboards and I stumbled on baby bottles, milk storage bags, pacifiers, and my pump. It was heart wrenching to throw it all in the trash. To know that unless there was a miracle, I was never going to have another baby.

My husband is ready to move on to the next chapter in our life, but I am not completely ready. Of course I will enjoy all my babies not being so dependent on me as they get older, but I think in some ways I enjoy being needed so much.

The main reason why I started this post was to talk about the baby finally sleeping in his crib. After the baby was born, I got extremely ill and it was hard to move around, so I kept him near me. He slept right next to me. I think that is one reason that he is such a mama's boy. Well, after I got better - it took months, it was hard to get him to sleep away from me. I don't like to leave a baby crying, but it got to the point that it was ridiculous holding him all the time. I had other things to do and he was getting too big. I couldn't leave him on the couch because he would roll off and it wasn't always the quietest of places. He would cry for 45 minutes in his crib and never once go to sleep. After trying a technique that I saw on The Super Nanny, he is finally taking naps in his bed without crying at all and he starts the night in his bed. He only sleeps for a couple of hours - but it is a start.

Just now I left him for his nap and I am so proud of how he laid down and went right to sleep. Before he would have cried and cried. I have been spoiled because my other two children have been good nappers and I felt helpless with this one. This being my third one, shouldn't I be a pro? Obviously not.

By the way - I am starting my One Year Bible on Thursday. Anyone want to do it with me?

I Finished!

I have been trying to read a chronological Bible for about 4 years now - from beginning to end. I would be doing really well, reading a little everyday and then other days - not at all. The thing I discovered about reading the Bible from cover to cover is that it is hard. If you know me very well, you know that I love to read. I can't just read anything, it is something that has to tickle my fancy. And when I get into a book, I can't put it down until I am done. I have been known to read all day and all night just to get a book done. Well, since I have had kids that doesn't happen too much - okay not at all. It is not that I didn't get into reading the Bible, there were times I did. There were other times, however, that I felt that it was too hard to read - my mind was bogged down with all that I was reading. So then I wouldn't read for months, until I finally would get the nerve to start again. Well, today I finished it. I am feeling excited that I finished it, but my heart is still digesting some of what I read in Revelation. That is a heavy book. Whew!

I had meant to finish by the first of January, but that didn't happen. My new goal is to read the Bible in a year. Right Rebecca, it took you 4 years to finish the Chronological Bible - what makes you think you can do it in 1 year. Well, I am seeking your help. I am hoping that you will check up on me and keep me accountable. I have an actual Bible that is set up to read in 1 year. I am going to start in the month of February. It would be even more exciting if you read with me. Think about it.

Sleeping

I can't wait until I can sleep like I use to sleep. You know that kind of sleep that is selfish. That kind of sleep that is all about you. As soon as your head hits the pillow you are asleep and you sleep all night through. Not only that, you can snuggle into your warm covers and enjoy the softness of your bed.

The only reason why I am thinking about those wonderful memories is that I have been suffering with a cold off and on for the last month. I thought that I was better and then a week later I have another cold. It is when I am sick that I want to be comforted and do comforting things like sleeping and taking a hot steamy shower. Well - I am finding out that as a mother of 3 beautiful children that is almost impossible. There were days that I was so miserable that it was a stay-home- from- work kind of miserable and yet I can't because my work is at home and these sweet little munchkins really don't care about the way I am feeling. Especially since they have been suffering from this cold as well, especially the baby. That means that he is needing extra attention.

My husband does help as best as he can, but he has been extra busy this time of year. In fact he was gone all weekend on a retreat with junior highers. I should have been with him on this retreat - which would have been better - having a cold or chaperoning junior highers?

Ephesians 5:14 says, "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

It is important to get your rest and sleep and it is important to have time for yourself. But as I was feeling sorry for myself this verse popped into my head. (This verse isn't really talking about resting sleep, but about waking up from the way some people were living.) In today's culture, a lot is put on selfish needs and wants. I need these kind of clothes, I need to have my nails done, I need these kind of products for my hair, I need to take a 45 minute shower, I need an hour to get ready, I need my sleep otherwise I am grouchy, I need to have Starbucks everyday, etc. These things have not made us better people. These things make us grouchy when we don't get what we want when we want it. Being a youth sponsor, I see kids that are raised that way. What kind of adult "Christians" are they going to be?

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:15-21

Someday I may get that much wanted sleep and when I do I will appreciate it, but until then I choose to be thankful for what I do have and the luxuries that I do enjoy.

The Santa Claus Question

I have a question to ask you all as you are getting ready for the big Christmas day. It has been my firm belief for many years that Santa Claus was not going to be a part of our Christmas. Now, my daughter has asked me if he was real and my reply was that some people think that he is real and I have told her about the tradition of St. Nick. My husband has even gone as far as telling her that he is not real. Well, she has decided that she is going to believe in him anyway.

So my question is, how do all of you or how have you dealt with the big Santa Claus dilemma. And please, mom and dad and brothers don't tell me that whatever radio station tracks Santa on Christmas Eve. You had me crying once and I don't want to go through that again.

I do need your advice so that I can make peace with my decision - I might give in and lie to my children. I am in the middle of the road on this one. Up until now we have done a birthday cake for Jesus and we will continue with that tradition.

Anyway, I hope that you have a Merry Christmas and that all the shopping is done, so you can enjoy the whole weekend.

JTB

My church does a ministry every December that is an interactive nativity. People come from all around to become part of a family going from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay taxes. Along the way they see a map maker, Roman soldiers, other Jews, the Wise Men, the Shepherds and the Angel, beggars, thieves, the tax collector, the Bethlehem marketplace, the Innkeeper, and then Mary and Joseph. My husband and I are tour leaders. We become a Jewish family who take the group of people on the mile journey. It is amazing how many people that came through and how many lives that are touched by the ministry of our church. We get around 8,000 - 10,000 people to come through. This is the 10th year for our church to do this and it gets better every year.

It has really made this time special for me and it jump starts the specialness of the holiday. I wish that everyone could come and participate in this ministry. I hope that you will take time during the busyness of this Christmas season to remember what is really important and make it extra special.

Spiritual Disciplines

I received a handout in my Bible Study called, "Taking the 'Ugh' Out of Spiritual Disciplines." It is taken from the "Thin Within" newsletters. I think that disciplines should draw someone closer to God, but many times when we don't do them we start feeling guilty. Then when we finally do draw near to God we don't freely enter God's prescence. Here are some thoughts from the handout that spoke to me and I hope that they speak to you as well.

I believe any intentional practice that turns your heart toward God, deepens your relationship with Him, and transforms you to be more Christ-like, however slightly or slowly, is worth incorporating in your life as a spiritual excercise.

I know a pastor who began making the bed each morning as a spiritual discipline. By faithfully doing so, he engaged in an intentional act of loving and serving his wife.

Spiritual habits help us watch ourselves closely. They impress God's word on our souls and help us keep God in the forefront of our thoughts.

The appropriate purpose for engaging in disciplines is to grow closer to our God and become the people He created us to be. Our purpose is not to curry favor with God or earn points.

Certain disciplines help us draw near to God;others build godly character; still others help us avoid that which pulls us away from God and numbs our sensitivity to Him and others.

As a stay-at-home mommy I have fallen short of my Spiritual Disciplines. Having a baby consumes my time and energy and everything is about the baby. As the baby grows and becomes more independent, there is some extra time, but in my case I had another baby - so the cycle starts over. I also think that I have gotten out of practice. I want to encourage all of you to continue in spiritual disciplines. We need to watch our hearts and remember that these disiciplines do not make us better than others, then we may be like the Pharisees in Bible times. But when we do these disciplines, they grown us, they protect us, and they can comfort us. We build spiritual disciplines like we excercise. Something that we do everyday, in the same way - Bible study, prayer, serving others. If any of you have a way that you practice spiritual disciplines, please share it. I would love to hear from you.

Holiday Ideas

Today my Mom's Club meeting was about holiday entertaining. I didn't realize it at the time, but it made me realize that I didn't have any real plans for Thanksgiving. Listening to everyone talk about getting together with family made me homesick. I miss getting together with family and it looks like we won't be going back to the midwest until next summer or the next Christmas.

I want to make this Thanksgiving and Christmas memorable - they gave lots of good ideas today at Mom's Club, but I wonder if anyone in my own little family will care about any special details that I will try to put into the holidays. So this afternoon I was feeling a little disheartened.

I did get some good ideas. One that I want to share with you is a Thanksgiving Tablecloth. Get a white tablecloth and have everyone at your Thanksgiving celebration write what they are thankful for on it with a permanent marker. Every year get out the tablecloth and add to it. I thought that was a beautiful idea - kind of like a growth chart. Every year you see how much you have "grown."

Another idea is a recipe. It is a Baked French Toast recipe. It would be perfect for Thanksgiving morning or Christmas morning.

1 loaf Sweet French Bread (13- 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half and half
1 cup milk
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash of salt
Praline Topping (recipe follows)
Maple Syrup

Slice French bread into about 16 slices. Arrange slices in a gererously buttered 9x13 inch baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Whisk until blended, but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk/egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. Make Praline topping.

1 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Set aside until morning.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup. (Personally, the maple syrup can be omitted - it is perfect without.)

I hope that you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving - it is coming fast. I want to encourage everyone to make it special. Include the children and do special projects. And please pray that my little family and I will find a way to have a memorable holiday season.

Feeling Sick

Today I had Oprah on and it left me sick. She had on a teenage girl who killed her baby, (I think while she was still pregnant) and left him somewhere. I actually didn't end up watching the show - I turned it off - I thought that I was going to be sick. I heard some of it and I didn't want to hear any more. Now that I am writing this - I am mad. What is the point of hearing her story? To get it out there that people do unthinkable things? That unborn babies aren't "alive" - what? I do not want to sympathize with her and I am afraid having her on the show will cause people to sympathize with her.

I know that we all have done bad - evil - wicked things. I think, though, that we have gotten into a society that either looks over, tries to smooth over other's wrongs or they are the complete opposite and are extreemly condemning. I have no answers, just some frustrations. What I do know is that still thinking about that girl - what she was saying and how she was saying it - still makes me sick to my stomach.