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Thursday, 17 December 2009

  • Jokes and Pictures!!

     Lamont heard this joke at school ( what do you get when you cross a centipede and a parrot? a walkie Talkie!!) and Now he has been trying to think up his own "what do you get when you cross? & ?!!! Last night we were coming back from picking up  Tupperware party orders and he was at it again, He wanted to know what you would get if you crossed a rabbit and a spider, I said Hairy Leggs He didn't get it!! He said " No Mom, you get a scary Jumper!!!!  Maybe he has a career in comedy, I doubt it, but at least he has a healthy inquisitive mind!!!

    I have not shared pictures on here for a while so I'll post a few of my favorites from the past month, They are not collages, but I hope you will enjoy them any way!!

    This Is My Hubby's Dream Big Boy Toy!! A New Holland Boomer 8N

     

    Lamont, As an Indian Chief for his Classroom Open House!!
    You get stuck with wearing a blanket if your mom procrastinates
    to long in making your outfit!!



    This is what saterday mornings at our house look like if we don't have to go somewhere,
    the boys get up and crawl in our bed and talk to us or look at daddies truck magazines,
    That is when I'm very glad for a king size bed, I'm laying beside Lamont and took this shot!!



    They Realized pretty soon There was snow outside and Out they went!!


    I wish I could have captured this better it was so pretty, the lights were shining through
    the bird feeder,


    On our way to church the next morning I snapped this shot of Massanutten Peak,
    Yes, we are with in site of the massanutten ski Resort, hint hint, out of state cousins
    who need an excuse to visit me  They have a water park to!!


    Monday Morning Sunrise!!!



    Jayden Loves this Bridge, his week would not be complete without it!!


    Our faithful wood carrier, defiantly symbolize warmth at our house!!


    Lil Clown, trying to get noticed!! He has a pair of Mr Potatoe Head Glasses
    stuck on his nose, I think that is why the tongue is out, his head is getting squished!!


    And My Big first grader, He wanted to get in on the action to, He wanted a picture
    to give away but I'm not sure this one is quite right, I think we will try for a family shot!!!


    Ok, that is all!!!!! Have a great Christmas!!

    BTW, There is a Mini Yard sale over at http://www.amommymadeit.com

Thursday, 03 December 2009

Tuesday, 01 December 2009

  • Henpecking?

    Are you a bossy biddy?

    I read this following bit of advice in the newspaper and I had to ask myself if i'm a henpeckish wife? I sure hope not!!

    The wife who henpecks her husband is likely to find him listening to some other chick!

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

  • My Website!!

    Here is a sneak peek of the store content http://www.amommymadeit.com



                                                                                                Apron Ruffle options


    To find out more check out the website, I'm Hoping we will be open for business by the weekend.

Thursday, 05 November 2009

  • Egg, Carrot, Or Coffee

     

    A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

    A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up; she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

    Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

    In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

    'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

    Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

    The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

    Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

    Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

    'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

    Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

    Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

    Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

    May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

    The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

    When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

    Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.


    May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!      

     

     

Monday, 02 November 2009

  • So Funny

    The Power of the Badge...





    A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas , and talks with the old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay , but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.

    The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, " Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish, On any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"

    The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores while the DEA officer storms off to do his inspections.

    A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's huge bull...

    With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs...





    " Your badge! Show him your BADGE! "

Sunday, 01 November 2009

  • Daddy & Mommy time!!

    1. Daddy & Mommy Time
                                     a. Dates
                                    b. .Family Planning

    When I was writing this outline, I was planning to write about Exactly what is in the outline, But first I have a slightly different bunny trail now!

       To the moms who read this,  I am wondering what percent of parenting should be Dad and what part should be Mom! Is a 50 50 deal or that it is 70 30 or maybe even 90 10 ?  Do you feel like parenting is shared equally between parents, Or has our culture Mennonite put to much pressure on the mom? I realize that in most cases dad works and mom is home, but does that mean that mom is the sole child trainer just because dad is the sole bread winner?

    Ok back to the outline,
       How many of you get mommy only time? What do you do with this time? The only time I have like that is when I'm headed to a meeting or party!! It is nice tho to have a few minutes of time that I can think uninterrupted.
       I can honestly say my hubby really does not have any guy only time, he enjoys being with us or taking his boys along whenever possible. I do have friends tho that have hubbies with hobbies that seem to give them plenty of alone/ guy time, and it makes me wonder if it would be wrong for us women to have a couple evenings a month that we could ,without guilt, leave our children home and go out to scrapbook, shop or something
        Do you think mommy & daddy time is necessary? I'm talking about the kind were you send the children to a babysitter and go out for the evening? Do we really need to be away from the children to get a break?  Or are you on the other side of the coin where you never entrust your children into anyone elses care.
      While we are on this subject, Does anyone have any creative date idea's? Many of us are on tight budgets and it would be really interesting to see what others do on less!! One of the things we do is have champagne (sparkling grape juice) an chocolate by candle light..... after the boys are sleeping!!

    Ok Now for the Family planning!!!  Really I'm not going to give any advice, just some caution an opinions from my personal experience!!
       I personally feel that the "pill, patch, shot" should be considered a medication, and used with extreme caution. I personally think that we were given cycles for a reason, so we can predict somewhat when "things" could happen! But, I know from discussions with my sisters that it is also hard when you don't even have a chance to "family plan", Either because of irregular cycles or close pregnancies! I feel like God knows what moms can handle children close and who of us can't! By the Way..... irregular cycles is our bodies way of letting us know that something is out of whack!

       #1 Never assume because someone has only one or two children and they are spaced far apart that they must be on the pill!! I can say from experience that some of us are not "fertile myrtles", we don't cry when we don't get the monthly visitor, we cry when we do!!
       #2 If someone is using the "pill" it does not mean they are doing it with complete disregard for the side effects! I actually need to use the "pill" to become pregnant! And I know that many of my friends who need to take this kind of medication are very cautious and use a second "method" as a precaution at certain times of the month!
       #3 The "pill" is not the only prescription that can cause abortions. Be sure to fully check all side effects of all medicines!
       #4 Use extreme caution in preaching your personal method of "family planning" It is ok to state what you do, and be willing to explain it if asked, but "one size does not fit all"!! Remember no matter what you do, how many children you have, remember  you are the only one one who will aswer to God, and you must be sure you can do that with confidence if you were called "home" tonight!! I think our highest calling as parents is to be sure that our children,(how many or few we are given) are raise in the fear of God!!

    Ok, I know this is going to get a lot of footprints, If you would like to comment and don't want to post your name you can post anonymously, 

Monday, 26 October 2009

  • Should we " Go Green?"

    Ok, I'm back.  I have not forgotten the promised posts.
    I just have been busy but i'll tell you about that in the next post.

    Warning~ There are a lot of I's and we's in the post but that doesn't mean I feel like we have it figured out,
    I'm just outlining what we do and am open for more suggestions and opinions.
    We started most of these practices in the last couple years, after reading an article in a local paper that talked about how much it cost a county to "take out the trash". They ofset this cost with the money they bring in from the recyclable items.
        Did you know that fleece and microfiber is made from recycled plastic jugs and bottles?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    . Conservation
                                         a. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
                                         b. COOP
                                         c. Second Hand Stores
                                          d. Sharing websites
                                         e. Buying meats wholesale

         What is your take on conservation? I am realizing that I could do a much better job of " saving the planet".
    The view I feel is more biblical tho is that we are all Steward of this earth. We should not be contributing to the decline of the environment. I also know the earth is in natural decline and the end will come someday,.. ..........BUT,.... We also should do everything in our power, in our little corner of the world, to be sure we are doing the three R's, reduce, reuse, & recycle.
       There are many ways for us to do that.
        One of my favorite ways to REUSE is to second hand shop, I really enjoy second hand stores, they have so much more "personality" than a department store. I have friends that do not like to second hand shop, but I'm sure we all are part of the menno hand-me-down train. This may be with your own children or with cousins and church friends. My sisters and I do this, and not just with clothes. We share books, baby furniture, maternity clothes.....
          Another good example of reuse is CAM(christian aid Ministries) or other similar organizations, that send clothes over seas to be reused. I know of one Sewing circle that use women's pants to make comfort tops to send over, because that is something they received a lot of and they would not ship them. This sewing circle has a deal with a second hand store to take everything that they cannot sell.
         I'm also starting to really like my reusable shopping bags, you can fit so much more in them and they stay put better in the trunk and you can carry them in much quicker! If you do prefer plastic, most grocery stores have a spot to recycle your plastic bags.
          I am also a part of a local sharing website (http://www.freecycle.org) you can not exchange money you must offer your item for free, my SIL and I got lilies for our flower beds and i know she has received other things to, last summer she even freecycled summer squash and zucchini!!!

          My husband has been big in helping me realize how much of an impact we can have just by Recycling our own trash, We downsized from three trash bags a week to one!!
            I have several trash cans in my sun porch for, plastic, soda cans, tin cans, glass, and we also separate out our cardboard and newspaper. We actually separate our newspaper by shiney or not shiney and we shred the non for our chickens bedding.
             Speaking of Chickens, they get all our table/kitchen scraps except egg shells, this has really helped with the smelly trash can. I guess a compost pile or bin would also be an option.

       To Reduce is  harder for me, Reduce means to leave less of a "trail". There are many ways to do that.
    We try to do as many things as we can in the trips to town as we can so we don't waste gas to do it later.
    Paper towel use is something that I am really trying to use less of, mostly for budget reasons. Hanging tea towels have been a great replacement for most of my paper towel uses. I'm also trying to convince myself to start taking my dining trays and tableware to fellowship meals and family reunions, still working on that, pride I  guess.
     Other ways that are not as obvious are,
    Take your own drink= less plastic bottles in landfill
    cooking with the microwave= uses 55% less energy
    baking at home=less plastic, better for you
    rechargeable batteries = less toxin in the land fill,
    Buying your meat direct from farmers= less fuel for transport, better for your health,
    If you don't garden buying your veggies and fruits local= less fuel for transport, supports your neighbors
         Washing dishes in dish pans that fit in your sink, then watering you flower beds with the water, this is one of my grandmother's habits.Turning out lights, using energy efficient bulbs, packing lunches, not leaving the water running, buying in bulk, and COOPs are other ways to cut down. Most of these things are tied directly to the bank account!!

        The one place that I refused to do any reducing, reusing, or recycling was in diapering my children, I know that it may be better, but!!!!  I saw another way to reduce the other day that i'll NOT be trying!! HMMM... i'll let you all make your own minds up on that issue! Go to http://www.cottonbabies.com and look under menstrual needs!! hint cup!!


    Do you think that we as a community of plain people do a good job of "cleaning up after ourselves"
    How do you personally reduce, reuse, recycle?



Monday, 19 October 2009

  • Video Use

    This is something I am on the fence on, Should we totally shield our children from any movies or can they be useful even educational,! I think it is kinda scary how easy it is to just pop in another one when i'm busy! It is much easier to let my boys watch a ABC movie rather that get out the crayons and encourage them to do something with their hands.
       I read the Pamphlet entitled Video & The Christians Mind By Henry Blank
    I was very convicted and encouraged to work harder to help my children.
         Here is a little snippet that has caught my attention!!
     "the first thing you need to know is that when you sit down in front of the screen, your logical thought processes tend to shut down fairly quickly. ..............So here you have children in front of a television screen being trained hour after hour to be in the passive state, asking no questions with all logical thought turned off, and then we expect those children to grow up and be able to "rightly divide the word of truth"? We may have to give them the bible on DVD  "
        Basically it makes young children's minds like a big sponge, they just sit there and everything enters and they question nothing!!!
        Scary, Oh i'm going to work harder at encouraging my children to work with their hands!! I think we should be sure that what our children do watch is ok for their brains/minds to be absorbing!!
           Do you know what the ratings stand for on the cover of videos?
     G=
    PG=
    PG13=
    R=
    I saw a dvd player at our local Christian book store, It is suppose to screen all offensive language and scenes!! Interesting thought!!

    What do you think on this topic, Is it something that we should be concerned about!! 

Thursday, 15 October 2009

r4valilswitz

  • Visit r4valilswitz's Xanga Site
    • Name: Josten ;) Dorcas
    • Member Since: 1/28/2007

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  • Country is the life for us.

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