Thankfulness: My Boys are Growing Up!

It is humbling to be a parent.  I look at my two precious boys and am amazed that God has given them to me to care for and raise.  Through these two sweet miracles, I am learning so much more about Christ's love for me.

I am so grateful for these little guys.  I am amazed at how they are growing! This past weekend we had a small (very small thanks to the creeping crud we all have) 2nd birthday party for Buggy.

He was sooo excited!  I can't believe how quickly he is growing up!  Last night, he figured out how to buzz his lips and got a few notes out on my trumpet!

Today we had Scrunch's 4 month well-baby visit.  He's a moose!  He is in the 90th percentile or more for weight, length, and head circumference!  That's a far cry to Buggy at this same time that was under the 10th percentile for everything except head (he's always had a huge noggin.

Scrunchie-poo is doing great!  He grabs at toys and plays with them. He loves when his big brother tackles him - it makes him laugh!  He is just a jolly fellow!

Oh - and he will fall asleep ANYWHERE!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Other Bloggers

Throughout this summer, I really jumped into the blogging pool with both feet.  I have spent some serious hours learning about the blogosphere and how to improve my blog.

I have come to the realization that I am so grateful for other bloggers.  They have taken time to help me with even the silliest of questions.  They have reached out and held my hand during rough times.  They have rejoiced with me.

Most of all, they have held me accountable.

Held me accountable to my goals.  To my dreams.  To my faith.

To show my appreciation, I want to highlight a few blogs and bloggers who have helped me keep my face of God.  Most of these ladies I have never met in person.  How cool is that?

A Stranger in this Land - Mariposa is a blogger I just recently discovered.  I am enjoying her gentle way of breaking down the scriptures.  She is transparent and honest.

Happy Christian Home - Becky guest posted on this blog a little while back about breastfeeding her allergic baby.  She is currently doing a series on pregnancy.  She is so careful about pointing her story to the Lord.





AP FreeWriting - Ashley's blog focuses on encouraging women through the written and spoken word. She has a heart to serve the Lord with her whole heart.  If you need encouragement or need your heart turned back to Christ, this is the place to go.

So I Married a Mennonite - Michelle has such a heart for ministry.  She is part of the team of Gather Inspirit.  Michelle mixes humor with common sense with scripture and encouragement.

I want to thank these bloggers and many others who have come beside me to encourage and help me on this journey!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!
This post is also linked at Thankful Thursday.

Lessons from a Toddler

Have you ever been stopped dead by a simple realization from a fleeting image?  A simple truth from a moment in time?

This evening on our deck, I was struck to the marrow while watching my son.

The hubs was mowing.  Mowing day is an exciting event.  Anticipated daily throughout the week.  Buggy had his mower and was jumping, shouting, and dancing about the deck as he watched his daddy mow.  At one point, he was so overcome with excitement that he grabbed his mower and started mowing the deck, beaming from ear to ear.

He was so eager to imitate his father.  He wasn't shy.  He didn't try to hide his excitement.  He was JUBILANT as he did, in his mind, just what his daddy was doing.  He wants to be just. like. daddy.

How often are we so eager to be imitators of our Father in heaven?  Do we bubble over?  Do we race to do what our heavenly Daddy does?  Are we jubilant as we follow Christ?

We are to come to Him like little children.  Watching Buggy was a glimpse into the heart of God. 



Just a few housekeeping details:

• Be sure to check back throughout the week for special BLOGAVERSARY happenings!
• I will be hosting several giveaways on this site and PennyPinchingPenguin including a $40 gift card to CSN online stores, Gift box of pampering items, Diapers.com codes..... who knows what else!
• Keep watching the Downloads tab - big things are coming!
• Join me on Mondays for the new 5 Weeks to be a Better Housewife series 
• Check out the new forum!  In the right sidebar, click on the link to my community.  I may use your input in upcoming ebooks!
• Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Sleeping Through the Night!

I love my boys. With all. my. heart.  It amazes me how much I love them.  It physically HURTS sometimes.  I didn't believe my mom when she told me growing up what it was like.  I believe her now!

As much as I love them, this two-under-two thing is hard. They don't sleep at the same time. The aren't happy at the same time. They create more laundry than I ever dreamed possible.

The hardest thing is the sleep.

Or lack thereof.

Buggy hasn't slept through the night since his brother was born.  It took him 15 months to figure it out in the first place. I am praying it doesn't take him another 15 months to get back in that groove!

Scrunch/Bullfrog/Baby (still working on a nickname - whatdya think?) is now 3 months old.  He's a whopping 15 pounds!  That's HUGE. Especially considering he was under 6 pounds at birth.  He's done the normal baby thing of eating every 2-3 hours around the clock.

Until this week.

We have had THREE NIGHTS in a ROW where he has slept from 9pm until at least 3:45 am.  This morning he slept until 5:30!  Wow!  It would have been much sweeter if Buggy slept through as well, but this tired mama will take anything she can get!  Now if only he'd nap during the day.....

How are your kids with sleep?  Have you struggled with non-sleepers?  How did YOU cope?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!



ps.  Be sure to come back next week.  The big BLOGAVERSARY BASH will be kicking off! 

• Pampering Products giveaway
• $40 CSN Store giveaway
• Free Downloads

Gratituesday: Breastfeeding Support

As part of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I wanted to stop and be grateful for all who have helped me in my breastfeeding journey.

Before I gave birth to Buggy, I decided I wanted to breast feed him.  I wasn't opposed to formula at all.  I just saw myself as "crunchy" and wanted to do the all-natural thing.  I didn't do any research at all - it was natural, so surely it must be easy.  I was confident it would be no trouble at all.

Boy was I wrong!  Buggy was a month early.  I was completely freaked out and unprepared.  When he was handed to me, I had no idea what to do.  I knew at some point I would need to feed him.  He seemed too small to nurse at just 5 pounds 2 ounces.

Thank the Lord for Tina, the hospital lactation consultant.  I had no idea the hospital provided this service.  I thought lactation consultants were just for the wealthy.  Wrong!  Tina got us going and helped us through the first few months.  At home, I discovered a breastfeeding support and help forum on babycenter.com.  Those ladies taught me so much and helped me through some really rough times. We nursed for 15 months.

Now with my second, I was so much more informed.  Tina was eager to help again and made sure we were on the right track.  Once again, my entire family rallied around and supported my decision to breastfeed.  Armed with tons of support and a wealth of information, we embarked on our breastfeeding journey.

This time around has been quite easy comparatively.  Yes, we had a rough start health-wise around the house with a bout of the stomach flu for ALL of us (baby included) the day I came home from the hospital which landed me in the ER.  I am so thankful I was pumping right away to help Buggy recover - I had enough stored for Baby while I was in the ER.  As soon as we were all mostly healthy, Buggy came down with herpangina (hand, foot, and mouth disease).  Basically, we were all ill for about the first month.

Now, Baby is approaching his third month "birthday."  He has gone from 5 pounds 13 ounces at birth to a whopping 13 pounds 5 ounces as of his last weighing nearly two weeks ago!  Mama is making cream!

I just love how God has created us to nourish and caring for our little ones.  I love watching my baby grow on just my milk (we needed to use a lot of formula with Buggy).  I am so grateful for all the support that has enabled us to succeed.

 What are you thankful for this Gratituesday?  Write about it on your blog, then come link up with us here.  If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for! Check out Heavenly Homemakers for other posts about gratitude.


Just a disclaimer, I am not opposed to formula.   I am not judging those who use formula either by choice or by necessity. 

Gratituesday: This Past Week

Oh - what a fabulous week!  I cannot choose just one thing to be thankful for!  Here's a recap of a fantastic week.  We are so blessed!

Tuesday - We had a surprise overnight visit from dear old college friends!  We hadn't seen them in about 4 or 5 years!  Our toddlers got to meet and play and we had a fantastic visit!

Wednesday - Had my first trimester screen test including a big ultrasound and tons of blood work.  It is always unnerving when the ultrasound tech is so quiet and isn't allowed to say anything.  After meeting with the doctor, we were assured that the baby looks fantastic and shows no signs of chromosomal abnormalities.  My due date was moved up a bit from June 1st to May 30th.  There is a chance this little bun could be born on Uncle Justin's birthday on May 6th!  Hopefully the birthday will be much later than that though!

My parents came in for the night on their way to my brother's house for Thanksgiving.  We had offered to watch their pooches while they traveled.  It is always great to see them, even briefly.  They left before we woke the next morning.

Thursday - We had a lazy Thanksgiving day.  No travels for us.  We were too wiped out from Hubby's crazy work schedule (nearly 3 weeks without a single day off), Baby's teething, and my pregnancy.  We ate all our favorites for dinner and were truly thankful for all we have been blessed with by God.

Friday - We opted to not face the crowds on Black Friday.  We had a lazy day followed by some lazy late evening shopping. I decided to surprise Hubby with his birthday gift early - a winter leather jacket.  There were lots of great sales, so I knew he'd enjoy the hunt of finding a great jacket for a great price.  I love spending time with my Hubby!

Saturday - Hubby went to work for a playoff football game.  The team had a good run - the best in many years.  I am sort of thankful they lost - I get my hubby back now!  We spent more time together shopping and found the perfect jacket!

Sunday - We went to church in the morning and enjoyed wonderful spirit-filled worship and heard a fantastic  and challenging message on Advent and getting back to the REAL meaning of Christmas.  I love my church!  Late that evening, my parents returned with tons of pictures of their visit!  My brother FINALLY has found a wonderful girlfriend.  She works as a giraffe keeper at the zoo and gave my parents a special behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo.  Amazing!  I can't wait to meet her! 

Monday - Hubby went back to work.  My parents stayed a bit and helped with Little Man.  Mom and I got to do a little shopping while Dad did some babysitting.  It was really nice to have a little break from the fussy Little Man who has been teething and not sleeping for weeks.

Tuesday - Now it is Tuesday again and I am amazingly rested!  Little Man pulled a 180 last night and slept from 9pm - 3:30am without waking!  The last time he did that was 10 months ago!  Granted, he was a bear to get to sleep, but once he was out, he was out!  He just now woke from a nearly 2 hour nap as well after not napping more than 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks!  Halleluia!

It is so good to list and remember all these wonderful things especially in the light of the current annoyances and hardships - mainly the refinance of our home.  It just seems no matter what we do, despite near perfect credit and a perfect track record of payments over 8 years, that we just aren't good enough to be given a loan.  All we want to do is reduce our interest rate and drop our monthly payment.  We want to be good stewards of the money God has given us.  My tasks for today include tracking down a ton of extra paperwork to appease the PMI company who doesn't agree with our appraisal and may want to lower it more (appraisal came in a tad too low - more than $10K less than the appraisal just a year ago - to completely do away with PMI, but we're a lot closer).  Thankfully, our mortgage broker is fantastic and has assured us that she will not hold us to paying for the appraisal if we choose to back out and go elsewhere at this point.  We are praying that God will work all this out for our good according to His purpose!

What are you thankful for today?  Check out Heavenly Homemakers for more stories of thanksgiving!

Gratituesday: Freedom

For this Gratituesday, I would like to pour out my heart in thankfulness to those who have served our country.  The military was not my calling but I am extremely grateful for those whose calling it is.  I am especially thankful for:

• All the hours spent away from your families
• The physical demands and stress
• The unknown of where you will live
• The danger of being activated
• The dangers of simply being stateside
• All the day to day activities that you miss while serving

There is so much more - I just can't put it into words.  Thank you for serving.

Join Laura at Heavenly Homemakers for other Gratituesday posts.

Also, don't forget to enter my Giveaway for a Berenstain Bears 3-Book Gift Pack!

Gratituesday: It's Not In Our Hands

The process of going through having our home appraised and refinanced has made me remember something very important.  There is nothing we can do to change the will of God.  He wants what is best for us.  Like our own children, we often don't see that loving discipline is sometime what is best for us.  At times, abundant blessing is what is best.

We don't have any results from the appraisal yesterday.  We are hopeful for a nice high number.  When we moved in 14 months ago, our home appraised for nearly $20,000 more than our purchase price.  We hope to take advantage of a much lower interest rate plus using that instant equity to get rid of mortgage insurance. 

After much stressing and cleaning and organizing, I realized that I've done my part.  I've done what I can.  It is out of my hands.  I'm not in control. 

What a comforting thought. 

Hopefully we will get our appraisal numbers in a few days.  Hopefully they are high enough - at least close to as high as the initial appraisal from when we purchased our home.   Either way, we know that God is in control and He has something to teach us through this experience.

Oh - how I often need to remind myself that God is in charge and that I am not Him. 

Head on over to Heavenly Homemakers to see other great Gratituesday posts!

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving.  I love taking time out to count my blessings.  I love the weather.  I love how the season of Thanksgiving leads directly into Christmas where we are so thankful for how God sent His Son to Earth as fully man and fully God. 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I wanted to pass along two fantastic things I saw today.

Kristen at We Are THAT Family has a fantastic idea for helping your family celebrate Thanksgiving all month long.  I am so excited about it that I may make one myself and start using it now even though Little Man is far to young to understand.  Check out her idea on the (In)Courage blog.

Laura at Heavenly Homemaker has challenged her readers to a month of gratitude.  Link up your posts of what you are grateful for each Tuesday and enter to win some sweet prizes!

Lastly, just a reminder about the 30 Days of Giving challenge!

Gratituesday: Counting My Blessings

I saw another blogger list her blessings a few weeks back.  I thought that would be a great exercise for today's Gratituesday post!  I know I will leave a ton of things out - some for privacy, some for time, some just because I am so blessed that I don't realize all the ways I am blessed!

I am grateful for:

• my God who loved me enough to send His Son to die on the cross in my place so I can spend eternity with Him (you can too - just ask Jesus into your heart)
• my immediate family - Hubby and Baby and Baby-on-the-Way
• my extended family - parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc - we are very loved!
• our church
• our home
• Hubby's job - providing for us so I can stay home
• our vehicles - we have 2 that run (1 better than the other).  Most people in the world have none.
• our pooch
• food - we have 3 meals a day plus snacks.  So many people go to bed hungry.
• our friends. We have lived in many places and have been blessed with fantastic friends at each stop.
  

This list could go on forever.  Just getting started, I am overwhelmed.  Thank you, Lord, for all of Your blessings on our lives - even those blessings that cause us pain but are good for us.

Click over to Heavenly Homemakers to add to the list of blessings today!

Also, click on over to my money saving blog to enter to win an envelope chock-full of great coupons to stretch your budget!

Gratituesday: First Birthday

I cannot believe it - Baby is one year old today!  To top it off, he started walking yesterday!  This year has simply flown by.  I am speechless at how blessed we are. 

Buggy, we  are so blessed to be your parents.  You are a joy to us each and every day.  We love you more than words can explain.  We pray you will continue to grow up healthy, big, and strong.  We pray that you will know Jesus early in your life.  We are so thankful for your smile.  Your mommy and daddy love you so much!

My, how you have grown!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go on over to Heavenly Homemaker for other stories of gratitude.   Don't forget - you can enter my giveaways!  Coupon giveaway  and Elizabeth Elliot book giveaway.

Gratituesday: Memories

I learned that my college roommate/best friend lost her grandfather yesterday.  It was a sad day.  I had only met him once or twice, but his passing reminded me that the wounds of losing my grandparents, friends,  and students are still quite fresh. 

I am thankful for these sad days of rememberance, even though they are bittersweet.  These days help keep the memories alive. 

I was reminded last night of:

• how soft my Grandma's skin always was when I kissed her cheek
• how Pap always had his breakfast table set the same way and had his coffee crystals (which caused a disasterous mothers day breakfast in bed years later when I didn't realize that ALL coffee isn't like his crystals)
• how Grandpop loved working with wood and creating beautiful works of art.  I always loved how the woodshop smelled.
• Now Namu always had my favorite snacks on hand for when we visited and how she always smiled when there was music
• how my friend Scott had a great sense of humor
• how my student, Kyle, worked so hard to be able to graduate early and with honors although he didn't get to graduate

I didn't mean this to be a downer of a post.  I find these memories to be beautiful.  They cause me to long more for Heaven where there will no longer be suffering, sickness, or death.

Click on over to Heavenly Homemaker for other great posts of thankfulness!

Gratituesday: the Internet

Whether Al Gore invented it or not, I am thankful for the internet.  I was thinking about how much life has changed over the years since the internet really took hold.  I take the convenience for granted. 

I'm not that old - 30-something.  I remember writing programs for the computer in gwbasic.  I remember when floppy disks were just that - big and floppy.  I remember our first non-tv based computer that had no hard drive - just 2 floppy drive where we had to keep swapping out disks to keep programs running.  I remember writing code to configure my computer in college to run our college text-based email system in kermit.  During my college years, the world-wide-web really began to "expand" into our current internet.  I was able to look up articles for my music history paper online!

Here is just a short list of things made sooo much easier by the internet!

• real estate - we have purchased 4 homes and sold 3 in the last 8 years.  Our first home purchase was done without using the internet much at all as the companies in our area weren't listing online much.  With our last purchase, we were able to house hunt in West Virginia while living in Nebraska and Pennsylvania
• research of any kind - products, doctors, illnesses, events
• connecting - the internet has allowed us to stay in touch with our families as we have moved around the country.  In recent years, we have been able to do both business and social networking.  We have found old friends and actually met extended family.

What has the internet helped you do?  Join me on Heavenly Homemaker to share what you are thankful for today!

Gratituesday: Cooling Temperatures, Emerging Color

Oh, how I am thankful for fall.  I know, it isn't officially here yet.  That's ok - this past week's temperatures assured me that it is just around the corner!  What do I love about fall?

• The crisp, cool air
• The scent of campfires
• The need for a cozy sweater
• The increased opportunity for wearing hiking boots
• The bees that are becoming drowzy
• LEAVES!  COLOR!  PILES TO JUMP IN!

Yes, here I am, 32 years old, and I still jump in leaf piles.  I take hundreds of photographs of the brilliant colors, capturing the change from the vibrancy of summer to the starkness of winter.

I grew up not too far from where we live now, but have spent 7 years in different parts of the country.  Four years were spent in Tennessee where the air just didn't quite get cool enough and the colors just weren't as bright.  Three years were spent in Nebraska where summers were intolerably hot and humid and winters were frigid.  We had approximately one week of spring and one week of fall before the drastic temperatures took over.  Brilliant fall colors were hard to come by.

Here we are, back in the northern Ohio valley with the glorious colors known far and wide.  What a blessing to be back.  What a blessing that God provides such immense beauty for us.  We deserve death but He gives us blazing beauty.

I am humbled.  I am thankful.

Join Heavenly Homemakers in a feast of thankfulness!