almost done

Today really flew by. I left the house at 8:50 and got to BS at 9:30. BS was good today.  Really convicting, as always. I am hoping to do a couple this year, even if I have to do one myself!  Maybe my church will let me borrow one :) One thing I took away from BS was Isaiah 50: 4-5. She talked about really being a teachable student... always looking to be taught. That God gives us instruction to help those who are weary. If we choose to be in the word, and not rebel like it says, he will equip us with things to say - we are to be still and listen, wanting to be taught. How sweet is it, though, to wake each morning and listen cheerfully to what God needs to tell us, and not rebel and wait a few days.   Anyway, I am about to go to bed and finish the rest of day 1 of my study. Today was productive in the sense that I spent time looking and completing the girls' Christmas lists, added things to my cart for other gifts I plan to buy for Christmas, and ordered curriculum for the girls. I am excited to get started. I am mostly excited because it will really give me a structured routine to my day, which will be helpful during the long winter when we are inside most days.

Tomorrow I guess I plan to make a couple meals and most likely bring one out to the field, other than that, I hope to clean a bit and maybe make some headbands. I have no interest in being crafty these days.  It was hard for me to fall asleep last night so I am tired; I didn't even hear peter come in, which was around 3 or 4 last night. Countdown to beets being over is approximately 3-4 days, given that we are not shut down due to heat, (which is possible on Friday!)  Anyway, Beth Moore is waiting for me!

granola and yogurt

we have gotten back into granola and yogurt. The last time I had this was in July I bet. This time I added pumpkin seeds and it really does make a difference. I'm just not at all a cereal person; i'd rather have a muffin or scone.  so far in about 3 or 4 days we've gone through 1 1/2 thirty-two oz yogurts.  Everyone except peter is eating yogurt!

I am really looking forward to my Beth Moore Bible study on Wednesday morning. I normally have voice lessons then but am looking to switch to Thursday. My mom said she was willing to watch the girls on this date so, we'll see how long i can keep up with the two. I don't love having something going on every day.. it just makes the week go by way too quick and I want to enjoy being home with the girls. They're growing up too fast.

Last night we went to GF to get some stuff before round 2 of beets. Peter got some things for the truck drivers at Sams and dropped me off at Joannes.  I bought a bunch of different material to make fabric flowers with, and then I found these two peices of material that were in the clearance section, but then had an extra 1/2 off!  So i paid 6 dollars for 2 yards of really nice material. I think it was even upholstery material... i'm not sure. I plan to make a pillow out of it for someone. Not sure who. Our church will be having a silent auction and i was thinking about making something for it, either something sewed, or a wreath, with my vine from my backyard.  well i should go and get started on dishes. The kids are happily listening to music and playing babies. They really are best friends.

family pictures

It has been so weird lately. Last weekend when we took the kids' pictures, it was freezing cold. Now today, I could have gotten a tan and we were swatting away tons of mosquitoes!! We were taking fall pictures but wearing not so fall clothing. Here are the pictures we took, very quickly... and the one to the right was taken sometime this week. As I was checking on Kate... I just couldn't resist....

a quick trip

we took a quick trip to fargo and it was fun! I got some cute clothes for the girls and just was able to get away from making meals and finding things to do. Kate went to Awana and we stayed behind to play with Olivia. They even slept til 8! I didn't get many deals today but it was still fun to look around. I don't get to Fargo too often. Tonight I should really try to get to bed early - I have been behind in sleep since beets started. I am excited because we are done with Soybeans!!! The weather is so nice, but on the downside, beets will be shut down this weekend, which can be a nice break but it would be better if we could just keep going to finish. Everywhere I go, wives are complaining about beets and having to keep the house quiet, at least for part of the time, and most want beets to be done soon! I sure hope rain will stay away... I have high hopes to be able to go to Women Of Faith on the weekend of the 21st..so praying beets will be done before then. Well i really have nothing to say, just wanting to make a post. I am hopeful that this weekend I can can spaghetti sauce with my bags of tomatoes that are in the fridge!

big girl

j

    

I have been really tired lately (no, i'm not pregnant!)  I had been staying up way too late friday and saturday night and still waking up early, so it is catching up with me, for sure.  Kate's fear of the potty is pretty much gone. She goes on both toilets, she went at a restaurant, and ECFE tonight, she wears underwear during nap

time and bedtime, she actually just goes to the big potty when she needs to and doesn't ask for help, she has been brushing her teeth with real toothpaste and spitting (though she calls it spilling).  Next year she's starting preschool.... where does the time go?!  It will be fun to see Maddy at her age. 

photo shoot

This weekend has been pretty fun. We mostly had something going on every day.. so that is always good, especially in the mornings because Peter has been working a lot of hours, and not getting much sleep. The first day he worked 20 hours, and last night he worked til 5, and got 5 hours of sleep. It is hard to keep quiet mainly because we spend a lot of time playing in their rooms and I can't keep them from slamming doors! Saturday we stayed busy in the morning and after nap we did our photo shoot that my sister and I planned a little while ago. We thought it'd be fun to use props.  Though at the time, it seemed like the pictures were not going to turn out at all, mostly because Maddy was crying most of the time and Kate was bored out of her mind. She just wanted to play, and I don't blame her!

Today I went to church alone, which was sad but doable. I loaded all my supplies up for sunday school and got through teaching 6 between 1-3.. in a small room. that was busy.  We had crying kids, kids wanting to escape, some that did what they wanted, and I didn't even really get through one thing that I had planned. Oh well. At least I got to mention God. :)    I napped today because I, too, have been getting to bed really late. We went to my parents for supper because they invited us so we ate, and I was going to go home at 7:30 but decided to stay for baths. So, I bathed them and left, and ended up getting into an accident.  A very minor one, but I almost hit a deer, so I slammed on my breaks to avoid the deer and the girl who was going about 90 miles an hour behind me and tailgating me for about 10 seconds clipped the side of my vehicle.  I am still in shock that it happened.  I am mostly upset because we will have to pay for our vehicle even though she was following way too close and going way too fast (even have a witness) so I am going to see what we can do about that. I wasn't even going to mention this but I am just really annoyed by it.  I hope it can be worked out smoothly. I just feel very blessed that no one was hurt obviously, but to have left at that same moment is for a reason I can't even explain or try to understand. My thoughts are that if I wouldnt have been there, this girl would have hit the deer at a very high speed, with a semi driver behind her, mind you.. and lots more could have happened.  Or maybe this is a lesson not to drive at night during beets? Or maybe it's a lesson for her not to tailgate?  Sad. Anyway! Here's the rest of the sweet photos.

We did it?!

Yesterday was  a pretty good day. So far I have stayed busy enough to not notice that peter is gone. He happily informed me that if everything goes just right... today would mark 7 days left of Beet Harvest. But, because of rain and warm weather, that usually puts a stop to beets. Next week we are banking that Monday-Wednesday we will at least be shut down during the day due to heat.  That kind of stinks but then at least they will be able to put long hours into soy bean harvest. But I would definitely prefer to keep going with beets.  Anyway I am just jabbering.

I remember with Kate, I would stay up and do my bible studies or write in my journal -- this would give me more freedom to get more work done around the house for sure, which is always helpful.

Speaking of Kate, we went to her preschool screening. She is doing great with everything, which is good to hear. I remember telling Peter today, and my sister-in-law, that she has a year to go on the potty, or else she can't be in preschool.  And I remember hearing..."well, you have a whole year, she should do it by then"  -- I said.."You never know..!"  just knowing how stubborn and scared she is. Well, I have had a talk with her the last couple of days saying that she has go to on the BIG potty eventually, and we can't go to school unless she does that.  So, ok... she wakes up from her nap yesterday and says, "I want to go on the big potty!"  Obviously I am surprised so I let her and she climbed right up, told me to go away (after I put the potty chair as a stepping stool below her) and she peed.  I couldn't tell for sure because Maddy was crying in the background and I couldn't quite tell if there had been any drops in there... but then the next time she sat on there, i could hear some trickles.  So, as I write this, I am honestly wrinkling my face in disbelief.  Wow, God is working miracles in my home.  I can't even believe how the last year has been. God is revealing things to us all the time, and it is comforting to know we are in His care.  More later.