Sledding

Here's some pictures from yesterday's sledding adventure:

A few days ago, we also celebrated my mother-in-law's 60th birthday. She wanted Lobster, so that's what we had.

Weekend Away

Yesterday we arrived in Bemidji.  It is nice to get away...to spend time with family.  Sleeping didnt go too bad, but we are all tired today. Right now the girls are taking naps and I am waiting for them to get up. I hope they sleep for a little while so they can catch up on what they lost last night. 

We didnt do too much yesterday, except swim and go out to eat. Kate had tons of fun swimming!! It was by far the best swimming place for both Maddy and Kate to swim. It had a little "beach" area for Maddy to sit and play in the water- she could crawl and watch the kids play.  Kate mostly went down the slide about 200 times. It was just her size too. She did climb up the stairs and slip though. She fell backwards into the water and I thought for sure she would be scared to go down again, but she wasnt.  I didnt snap many pictures.

This morning we woke up early at 6:30 and just hung around our room for a little bit until we got ready. We went to the mall where I picked up a few outfits for the girls. I am still debating whether or not to keep the one I bought for Kate. It was a huge sale. Plus coupons for 20% off and etc. I picked up some socks for me. That's all I could really find that I wanted to spend money on.  Soon we might go sledding, so hopefully that will be fun for kate.  Well I should go now.  They are both up!

Happy Birthday Cards

Just a quick post of the cards I made for my mother in laws 60th birthday. The smaller one was from Kate & Maddy, of course :)

Thank You

Today I went to shop/drop off the remainder of supplies for Haiti Relief. We had the back of our vehicle filled with good stuff! I am so thrilled that I decided to 'advertise' for this. I received more donations than I thought I would. I am so thankful for your generosity.  Here's some of the things that were boughten or brought to me:

• 8 or so boxes of dry instant milk (1 was dropped off at my house and still here)
• 3 big cans of formula, 1 little
• 8 total boxes of multigrain cheerios (sold in packs of 2)
• 5-6 boxes of cereal for baby/toddlers
• Large box of wipes that contain several individual packages
• Several boxes of bandages (different sizes)
• Several tubes of first aid ointment
• Boxes of Vitamin drops for infants
• Prenatal vitamins
• Chewable vitamins for kids
• Pain/Fever reducers for infants/children
• Boxes of Pedialyte (powder, to cut down on weight, you mix with water)

and more...  I sent a large box directly to Florida-- it will be flown by plane within a week to another orphanage in Haiti-- that way they can get it quicker.... those I had already mailed so you dont see it in the picture. There's a few things in a bag too. At that orphanage they needed things quick because they were out of certain things, like prenatal vitamins and Blood Glucose Strips, which I could not buy but might online.  If you would like to help and havent yet, please let me know.  One of the orphanages that I've been following has set up a site at walmart.com with a "wish list" with things you can purchase online and have shipped to the address in Florda where by plane, all will be sent.  You can find this information and directions here. 

Here's some things that were sent:

It doesnt really look like much but most of the big things were $10-13 a peice (including all vitamins) and of course formula is around $20-$25 dollars.  This will be a huge help to them, and I just sincerely thank you for being so generous.  I could just kiss you!

Full Week Ahead

Today we went to church in Kennedy.  It was weird to me to leave at 10:15. I was up at 7, so it was a long wait. We got home at 1:30! It helped to know some people there, a couple families from Stephen actually, and a family that has a son who roomed with Peter in college. It was nice.  I really felt relieved going there. We're in the process of searching for a new church, and I definetly want to go back. Although the time really stinks,(10:45 is the start-time) I am willing to deal with it if it means going to a church that I am excited to go to. Maddy even stayed in the nursery for a little while!! It was funny because I guess some other little baby had a melt down, and when Maddy saw him/her cry, she lost it too. So i hear this little baby crying as they are bringing her down the stairs, and immediatly I know it's my sad, scared baby.  I guess, also, there were a few younger families that did not attend so it will be nice to see people our age.  I am just so excited to go back!! 

The pastor there went to Haiti and just got back not too long ago. I talked to him a little bit about that and it is just not a coincidence at all that he was at the same village I am promoting and buying supplies for. Neat huh?  I just see God working in every situation and He has consumed my thoughts about Haiti for several days now. It is a nice feeling to see God really talking to me about this. I am wanting to serve in any way I can.  If you are looking for ways to serve, please go to the link I shared in the post below. She's got set up a wishlist at walmart.com, and then you can purchase and have it shipped to this place that will be providing free of cost, an airplane to ship all these goods. Otherwise, contact me, i can give you more addresses and numbers.

Since we got home from church late, naps got delayed too. Kate got up not too long ago and Maddy just went down about an hour ago. So Peter took kate sledding and I am inside resting. I should have napped a bit... but I was too excited about this Haiti stuff. Yesterday Peter went ice fishing with my dad, nephew and father in law. So i was alone yesterday and managed to take a short nap AND bring both sledding! Here are some pictures:

This week : Monday - bible study, Tuesday, Peters bible study, Wednesday, Cherylls (motherinlaw) birthday, Thursday, Peters curling, Friday- Monday we are going to Bemidji. = FULL WEEK!

New Blog

They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.


I found a new blog today.. just had to share.  I am so upset right now... There are people who don't give a SINGLE CENT. They dont even bat an eyelash! They know what's happening, and carry on with their day. I am not saying we can't enjoy what God has given us :  (Ecc. 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him- for this is his lot. .5:19 says, Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them , to accept his lot and be happy in his work- this is a gift of God. )

(Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do)

I am so lucky to have two healthy beautiful young babies to care for, but I cant help but be obsessed about all the suffering going on. Here is a recent post from this blog:

Today a baby died. And it was normal. Life here went on as always and once again we went back to the chaos of clinic and the military being here and the patients and the rescue center kids etc etc. But that death should have shaken someones world. It should have made someone cry, or mourn. It should have made someone want to change their perspective and take on life and live more for God and for others than for them self... instead, it became one more dossier to add to the stack of kids that couldn't be saved and life went on... Sometimes i wonder how many kids are out there in the world dying, with no one who cares or knows, and what will it take to get the world's attention? How many kids have to die for stupid reasons before enough people get involved so that third world countries get the education and help they need. It's not their fault they were born in a country where school was too expensive, where one meal a day was normal and that no one taught them what a balanced diet means. The earthquake brought supplies into Haiti immediately, but Genise didn't die from the earthquake, and the aid obviously didn't reach her family. The underlying problems in Haiti will not be fixed by short-term aid brought in because of an earthquake....

http://hisfaithfuldoaf.blogspot.com/

No Date Night!

Hi.  Today is Friday, which is usually a date night for us. But due to an exhausting week, we are skipping it.  Also, the winter olympics are on.  No really, we're going to bed early. Today I went to my appointment in Grand Forks (finally) after 6 months of having to reschedule (long story).  It went ok.  We went to Target and Sams Club to purchase a whole bunch of formula/milk/cereal, etc for the Haiti drive that I had mentioned. So far, 5 people have contacted me to donate.  PTL!!!  I will be going again on Tuesday I believe to make some more purchases and then to the Covenant Church in GF to drop off.  I am so thrilled. I hope I am making the right amount of purchases. I have contacted a couple ladies who are in charge, and one that has been to Haiti. I hope she will reply to let me know what they need *most*.

I was going to post some pictures of my quilting project. I did on facebook, but I suppose I could on here too, since some dont have facebook.  Here they are:

The top two were my "lessons" from my mother in law. I have never quilted before (post home-ec) so this was a neat experience. I learned most when I had to do it on my own. Cheryll had left to Arizona and I was responsible to do some cutting myself. Then I went to "quilting" in Stephen, where a bunch of ladies get together and quilt all day -- literally. They even would bring lunch and suppers! I got to go a couple times after 3pm when Peter was done with work on the slow days....so I havent gotten much done. But i am starting to sew more now, as you can see in the pictures.  I dont really care how long it takes me. It is fun to do it when I can. Maybe I will learn enough to make one for Maddy all by myself!

Haiti Relief

I was planning to take a nap today since both kids are down at the same time, successfully. Then I changed my mind into doing my bible study. Instead, I am crying over Haiti.

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/2010/02/201028101150152925.html

I know that my blog is small and do not have many readers, but I wish I could be some type of outreach in my community. I wish that somehow people could be interested in donating or helping out in some way. I wish that I could be in Haiti...but I know that I can't go, and even if I went, it would be terribly hard to leave. Peter and I were on Samaritans Purse's website last night. After about 2 or so months, maybe 3 months of really praying and trying to decide where we could donate more money to, we hadnt really come up with anything. So at that time, we knew we just had to be patient. Previously, God laid on my heart that we needed to donate infant formula to babies in Africa. That was an answer to prayer. Some other opportunities came up around that time so we did donate to those, but still nothing really was popping out at us. Then we heard about the earthquake in Haiti and though it was not 100% certain to me, I knew we would donate there.

Ever since then it seems like each day I have just had such a softened heart toward Haiti. The last few days I have been asking people a lot of questions because I want to make sure our money will be used for the people. At Samaritans Purse, they use it for water filtration systems, for food... etc. So we feel really good about donating through them.  I also found out about the Lacey Hewitt foundation, who is at Haiti right now and has been there since August. They need money for building supplies for their orphanage. That video link I posted is that same village. It made me cry several times. In order to house more orphans, they need to rebuild their orphanage. We are also donating towards infant formula.   It makes me sick that I am so happy here, when others are dying and suffering. 

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that they may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows'" (Mal. 3:10)


Test God.  Give more than you can manage, and see how He responds.

http://laceyinhaiti.blogspot.com/

Be Mine

I would like to announce that I have the best husband ever!!  He is sooo sweet. I never dreamed he would be so good to me. I woke up and took my shower before church, and came into the dining room and there was a load of gifts on the table for me and my girls. He bought 3 roses, 3 cards....and some other goodies.
Here are some pictures of our special day

We celebrated by going to the movie Dear John, which was really good. Then we hurried over to the Toasted Frog for our Valentine's Dinner. Peter had the Walleye Fingers (breaded walleye in strips) and I had the Mahi-Mahi fish tacos with avacado, coleslaw, mango salsa, and other relishes. It was really good! Both of my parents came over to watch the girls, which was so nice to be able to just come home and they were all washed up, the house was clean, and the girls had all their toys to play with. We did it this way because my parents dont see them very much, so anything that would help make it more familiar to them they were willing to do. Plus they wanted to make it easier for us too, and that was so nice of them! Peter also wrote me a love letter, which i have requested most every year (birthdays, anniversaries, valentines day... you name it) in fact, thats sometimes all i ask for. I just love reading love letters. I think it would be the cheapest gift a guy could give his wife, and it would mean the most too. But he wrote me one reguardless, and it made me cry. I dont think he would ever read my blog, but if you are, I am so blessed to have you. I pray that our kids find husbands like you.

Valentine's Cards

The last two days I have gotten to take some time after the kids had gone to bed to make some cards...that means trying to be creative. I realized you have to be creative when you dont have a lot to work with...meaning embelishments. I have plenty of paper, but not a lot of really neat ribbons etc.  So, I used what I had, and came up with these:

These were for "k"ate & "m"addy

The next is for Peter, and the one after that is a Birthday card for my sister

I have some time

I have some time to post, again.  This morning I was soo busy. I made cookie dough for some sugar cookie cutouts I plan to do this afternoon, I made pancakes and bacon for dinner, and i threw in a swiss steak in the crockpot for supper tonight. Oh, i wish I could have just thrown it in...but if you've ever made swiss steak, you would know it takes a bit more work than that.  I had to flour,salt and pepper it, then hammer it down (with a meat tenderizer :) ) then cut it up, then brown it, then slice up green peppers and onion, then saute those with the stewed tomatoes.... PLUS i was making lunch at the same time, and then Maddy woke up from her nap! so it was chaos in my kitchen for a while, plus I burned 3 peices of bacon too, so I am sure that smelled real nice.   Anyway, i am taking a well deserved break or I will lose my mind. Here are some pictures I have taken sometime this week, probably a few days ago... I'm not sure.

We invited a few couples over for the superbowl...here's a couple pictures from that.

Unfortunately Kate will just always have more pictures than Madelyn. Right now for sure Maddy is just always on the move, so I cant seem to get a good profile picture of her. I am so thankful I got her 9 month pictures done!! I can't wait until it's nice out.... and am excited to see how my camera will perform outdoors. I will just say that taking pictures has gotten really expensive.... but it's worth it!!!