wow!

so far today i've made the rub for my pulled pork, cut the stems off my strawberries, I still have to actually make jam and cook the pork, and make the bbq sauce, and make the caramel corn, and I want to exercise, i haven't read yet, yikes! It's only 8am. I am still finishing up laundry from the previous week and I am not quite used to the schedule now.. it is hard to come back to having a set schedule when for the last 5 days I've just gotten to do whatever I wanted to do (basically) -- I could get up and exercise, didn't have to worry about housework, we got to go where ever we wanted, didn't have to cook.. etc. It was a challenging day for me yesterday, which is sad, but I know it will get back to normal next week. All this constant moving is really wearing me out.  I just wanted to write a little -- but now I have to get back to work before the girls wake up.  It has been refreshing that they slept in a bit...kate came in the room about 6:15 and rolled around for quite a while so I am thankful that she slept in. Praying for strength in areas like parenting where I can be gentle and loving when the kids are trying. I cannot rely on my own strength, that's for sure.

quick

We are back from Minneapolis, and after talking with Peter, we both agree that the 5 days we were there (1 basically spent traveling) it seemed like 2! I remember being sad after Saturday because the trip was going so fast! We missed our girls more than usual, but we also really relished in the opportunity to just spend some alone time together. It is a really good time for us to go because it seems like May and June are always so busy on the farm, with all the planting and spraying he has to do. We are back for 2 days and then we go again for a Hvidsten reunion. I think that will be fun. PS, the above photo I thought was funny. Also, I had started the post below but never finished, so I just published that today, written on Friday morning.

 Line at Izzys.

 Meeting with Deb who does work at the rescue center I follow.

 Anniversary Meal.

 Our bikes!

We did some really fun things in the city this time, -- we spent more time with friends which was really relaxing, and did a lot of walking around downtown, which is where we stayed. We went for a long bike ride, and tried some interesting restaurants. We spent 2 hours in Ikea! Peter did not care for that I don't think; he spent a lot of time sitting, which he was then happy about. I suppose he's not used to all that walking. I got my frames that I have been waiting for, and picking up a list of things for a friend. On the way into town we stopped at an Antique mall and I found an almost perfect serving piece for my living room! I envisioned a black piece of furniture with one chair on each side of it. A little spot to enjoy some tea or coffee or just a good book. I also picked up a black chandelier from Ikea that I plan to hang above the area. I got the two chairs at a TJ Maxx. I was so thankful Peter was willing to just trust my ideas on decorating and when we set it up last night he agreed it looked really good. Today my goal is to unpack and tomorrow I am sure i will be cooking and baking for the reunion. It would be nice to get the shelving up too.I picked up some frames so that I could put the kids' art -- I am really excited to decorate some of the upstairs with the ikea stuff I bought. I'ts been 6 years and hardly anything is done up there. Also I plan to have lots of fun with my girls!!

excited

 I have started a huge list and have only a few things left on it to do this
week; I'm sure i'll add to it once I finish what's left. A while ago my camera was left in the rain so this week I'm sending off my lens to be repaired. I'm soo happy I got insurance on my camera and my lens. It's really worth it. I think the lens itself just needs to be cleaned but at least I don't have to pay for it.

Yesterday ended up being really fun. I tried to enjoy the kids a little more than normal. Kate & I went on our bikes up and down half of our block (on the sidewalk) - usually she is really scared because it is uneven pavement, but tonight she wasn't. Maddy followed behind on her little trike, not quite reaching the pedals. She moved out of our way when we passed her. The kids and peter, yes, peter, had popcorn for a snack. He was over enjoying that popcorn... he even had half a can of pop, which I also shared (it's been a long time for that, too, for me) He can basically have everything except gluten and dairy. He says he's going to cheat this weekend.

I am left with bittersweet feelings as I finish up packing and cleaning the house before we leave. I want to go for a walk with the girls or do something fun with them... it seems like Satan always tries to leave me with horrible thoughts of what might happen to us or the kids while I am gone. I am fighting those thoughts right now and ask for prayer! I want to be able to enjoy the weekend, not living in fear or worry about the kids' safety (or ours). Well I better get busy. Talk later, after our trip!

fun weekend.

It was a really fun and eventful weekend. I can't even remember really what we all did... Sunday I would say was our most full day of the weekend. Peter ended up working most of the day on Saturday but we visited my parents Saturday night and had a fire. Maddy and Kate loved the smores and all the treats they got. Sunday we went to our in-laws church mostly because we really needed groceries, and I didn't want to have to go during the week because this week is already filling up! I'm really glad we got to celebrate July 4th even if it was a day early... it just feels a little weird today not to be doing anything. I am used to being at the lake doing fireworks. Today Emily was here and I feel like we never really stopped once. I am definitely tired and my back hurts a little bit, but it could be because I lifted weights today and picked strawberries.

The rest of the week seems like it will be lots of fun, and especially since Friday we get to leave for Minneapolis! We are staying at comfort suites downtown, Minneapolis. I feel like when I get my hopes up or get really excited about something (such as this weekend) something happens to steal my joy. If you can remember to pray that Satan is far away from us, not looking to squish my excitement! We don't have any set plans but a few ideas that might be fun. I'd really like to bike downtown, near parks or some scenic area. I also hope to get some good sales!

 My MIL made this with an oat/whole wheat flour blend. Really good!

 Gluten Free Peach Crisp made especially for my honey.  Tonight I also remade some GF banana bread with eggs and the Vegan butter instead of the oil. It really did taste more like normal banana bread, not quite a GF texture. The eggs really do make a difference.  We noticed these with the pancakes we made, too.

 Yep, me and my white legs picking some strawberries! Below were the two buckets I took home. I suppose I have to make some jam this week, and will most likely have to freeze the rest since we're leaving.

Maddy has been getting better and better with going on the potty... though because we haven't been home much, going number 2 has been an issue. Yesterday her poop was hard and today it is really soft and not formed at all, really. So she's had a couple accidents with #2. I am just pleased it's going well before our trip. Well, these two kids have got to get to bed. more later this week!

editing

I am certainly enjoy a nice cup of coffee from this morning (still tastes good) and time to my self for browsing pretty things on the internet and editing fun photos of my kids. Today has been a good day so far; lots to be thankful for. Yesterday I went on a media fast and prayed for no rain. God is so good... he spared us! We also had our triad meeting yesterday and that was such a blessing and an encouraging time. It is so nice to be able to meet once a week and discuss strictly a book of the bible and tell each other what God is doing in our lives. I'm really encouraged because I can see in each of our families how God is working in and directing our lives! I love it.  Today during our walk, it began to sprinkle a bit. So i asked Kate if she would pray with me that the rain would quit. She prayed at least two times and said "I did it mommy". I think it is important to train our kids to be praying when they have concerns, or really anytime, whether at meals, bedtime, or on walks. I spend a lot of my walks in prayer, aloud.  People might think I am nuts, 'talking to myself' and all, but I don't care.

It has been 5 days now that Maddy has been potty training. We've had one small accident (she was outside and we didn't bring the potty chair out). She is beginning to learn that she shouldn't hold her BM; now she has been going when she feels like it, so at least 2-4 times in the morning. Sometimes they are really little, sometimes a lot. Even poop! I am so amazed and proud. I remember my posts about what a failure I was, not being able to potty train my kids. I prayed over her potty chair over and over while we were having trouble and just really asking God for wisdom, submitting fully to him and I really believe that is what made it go smoother. Sometimes I ask once and forget about it. I have been learning to keep pressing and asking until I get that peace.

It has really been a good week spiritually for me, and a good week spending time with my kids. Emily is back! It is such a joy to have her around.. not just because she helps us a couple days a week, but she is a good example to both the kids and Peter & I. I am really looking forward to her stay this summer, it's been a blast already, especially spending time in the kitchen. We went to Florian yesterday to swim and they had a blast. Definitely prefer going there instead of the pool. Maddy wasn't feeling well though, she kept having loose stools and sat on the potty most of the time. Hopefully the weather holds up this month so that we can make frequent trips there. They both have swimming lessons the week of the 18 so I am not sure how much we can go then, but either way they will be in water and will have fun.  The next two weekends I am really praying will be fun. We get to go to Minneapolis and I am really looking forward to some time with Peter. We have some things planned but we definitely just want to spend time together, mostly laid back. I really just want to be in the sun and relax. Also, my lens got damaged a month ago from leaving it out in the rain, so I am hoping that I can get that fixed/sent in soon.

 I made foccacia bread on Wednesday. My favorite.

 Homemade popsicle from the party: 1 cup blueberries, 1 cup strawberries, 1 can coconut milk (reduced fat), 1/2 cup honey, half of a banana, 1 cup water, 1 cup orange juice (or any juice) Puree in food processor and put in dixie cups. Wait until just slightly slushy to insert popsicle sticks :)

 I videotaped Maddy's potty success and sent it on my phone to Peter. He then sent a video message back. Love!

 

I made Peter a special chocolate torte to eat at Kate's birthday party

Salad with Skinny Low-Yolk Egg Salad Sandwhich. Also yum.

thankful

Open my eyes so that I may see wonderful things in your law 

I guess right now I am just so thankful that God even still bothers with me. I am a sinner and often do not love Him the way I should or even give Him the time he deserves.

I am seriously crying right now. God is so good to me.

Today was another rainy day. Kate was in our room at 6 a.m. Being she was scared, we let her sleep with us and all she did was toss and turn so I went with her to her room and we fell asleep. Thank goodness she has a full-size bed. I slept until 8:30. Kate woke up at 9. I decided since it was raining I should keep introducing the potty to Maddy. Previously this week she had made a couple "dribbles" in the potty, which definitely was success in our books! So, we continued today -- she peed in her underwear once, and after that she kind of was pouting to not go on the potty. At that moment I remembered really to pray to God over her potty chair that Satan would flee, not causing fear or any anxiety, and wisdom for me to make the right decisions. We pretty much went the whole day peeing several times in the potty.  Wow, i am speechless. I am so thankful. We of course, made a huge deal about it and she got lots of candy. Most of the time it was her idea to go. She'd grab my hand and bring me to the potty that she had already went in, and she got a candy from the parade. I was so proud.

We went the whole day being fairly busy and really not stopping except to finally shower at 3:30. We found out we were having supper guests so I tried to hurry to make a rhubarb/strawberry coffee cake. Man, was that good!  I felt bad for Peter not being able to have it. I tried to only eat a small piece. Even Jed, his cousin, liked it, who told me right away he does not like rhubarb :)  When they all left, I could tell that Maddy had to go to the bathroom and Kate was bugging us in the bathroom so Maddy wanted to get out. She stopped, and had diarrhea all over the carpet in the dining room. I was already discouraged at this point but we didn't make a big deal about it and I used a cleaning product from Don Aslett that is a miracle potion! I am looking at it now and it is completely gone.

The girls went to bed and I really felt like God had something for me in my "To Live Is Christ" bible study book that I have been reading when I feel prompted. Sure enough, just what I needed to hear. The key reading was Philippians 4: 1-23. Beth talked about the 5 thieves of contentment: 1. Pettiness (how women tend to get their feelings hurt about petty things) 2. Anxiety ( using prayer in verse 6 to battle anxiety, with specific requests and details in our prayers) 3. Destructive Thoughts  (meditating on negative, destructive thoughts, and how Paul gave us a wonderful checklist on what thoughts we should be meditating on , vs 8) 4. Resistance to learn (how we learn to be content by the trials we face and how we should ask to have teachable hearts through these trials) 5. Independence (Relying on God to give us strength)  Before I started the study, I wrote in my journal just really asking God for strength and peace. I feel like a lot of times when I ask God for certain things, such as self control over food, the very next day it is extremely bad. I know it's because Satan (the thief) is there to tempt me.  I need to be asking God for STRENGTH!!!

So that is when I opened up my study and realized the exact thing I was going to be reading about was Philippians 4:4-7: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Yup. Just for me. Even though I have read that verse probably a hundred times. It was what I needed to hear tonight.  Now about strength: vs 19:  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Again, a verse read multiple times. Just what I needed tonight. I need to really ask over and over and over for strength. No matter what I'm struggling with. All I have to do is ask.  So encouraging. And why is it that I am always so amazed that God speaks to me through bible studies and his Word at the exact time I need it?  I don't know, but I am thankful !

attitude

Today has been a really good morning so far... and it's only 8:15. Peter woke me up because he had to get up for work and I've been really tired lately, so i was so happy he woke me up. Then we both got out of bed and as I went to the couch to start reading my bible, he plopped down beside me with his. I was thrilled. We both read our devotions and I went for a quick jog around south Stephen - though I think next time I might eat a little something before I go because I always get hungry and have side aches which prevent me from running the full 15-20 minutes I have.  It has been really interesting to me to see how God has transformed my 'motives' from getting up to basically exercise (though I would read first.... my motive for getting up was for sure so I could exercise)  and then when the kids would wake up pretty much right as I was getting done with  my devotions, I never did get to exercise. But, I would still get up... my thoughts are, if i have time to exercise, I will, but I for sure want to get up to read.  I probably never would have had the motivation to get up to read if it had not been for my determination to exercise, though it was a wrong motive to get up early. I should have been wanting to get up to read my bible, not to exercise. If that makes sense. ah!

Anyway, it is a beautiful day out today, yesterday I got to clean the house in the morning while peter was home (we both kind of took turns) and we had a good family night last night, just trying to be together, spending time together. I said to peter, can you give baths so I can clean up the kitchen? and he said, 'lets both give baths... i want to spend time together'. his attitude the whole night was that, they are so young... we have to enjoy them. Then he asked if he could put them to bed... maddy cried when I wasn't going to read to her, so as a family we piled into kate's bed and all read a book.  I also felt really good yesterday because during nap time i got to edit some photos and then lift some weights (tone) and i felt like i got a really good workout. I was sweating, and today my muscles hurt. I just feel good.  The last few days (like sunday, monday, & tuesday) I really haven't been eating the best. Just the mentality that I don't have to be so strict, etc.  I am not saying that I should lose more weight, but I want to keep up  my healthy eating for the most part and toning. Anyway.

Today as I read through 1 Peter, I underlined lots of things, but these verses stuck out to me: "Therefore, be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray."   then, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling"... recently I declined a playdate at my house because I was overwhelmed with housework.  I feel like god was telling me that I shouldn't have done that!!  Well i better go, it's time to play.