Thanks for Giving

Making pies

I feel like I have skipped town on the blogging front, but had been very busy setting up and preparing for Thanksgiving.  Jay and I hosted more than 20 family/extended family. I think everything went extremely well, except for my sister Valerie's cherry pie mishap. (Slippery little suckers)
Here are some photo's from our preparation and Thanksgiving Day:

My sister came over Wednesday afternoon to make apple and cherry pies. We played around with new ideas for the crust this year.+



I look really tired! :)



 



The cherry pie before...

The cherry pie after...

Zach and Madelyn (my niece) slicing apples.

Then we set up the tables. (See what Jay is doing in the background?  Yep, that is Modern Warfare addiction at its best.)

Yay! All done before bed.

The butter server, Valerie.

My aunt Sue, and my mother in law, Nora.

Me with them. ;)

Me and my trusty side-kick.

American (Indian) Torture

Madison's class had a field trip yesterday. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good field trip. Out of all four kids, I think I have miss two field trips. Ever. Because I had just given birth. (NO excuse, I know.)

Me and my girl

I wish I had missed this one.

Actec Indian

We went to Fort Story to an Indian Pow Pow.  The Indians were beautiful, the Fort is beautiful. The kids were not. We were guided down a path toward a large circle, where there was a dancing ring, and stands around the outer edge. The kids were encouraged to come around the circle and watch the dancing and participate.  Unfortunately, they were much more interested in all of the shopping opportunities on the outer edge of the circle. This makes a control freak mom crazy.  The kids refused to listen to my demands suggestions to stop touching the merchandise, as they had no money with which to shop.  (I could see the terror in the shop-owners' eyes.)  I still don't understand why they would invite 1,001 school-age kids to an event where all but one stand was shopping! Makes no sense to me at all.  They lost interest in the dancing/display in about 5 minutes, so that left the parents and teachers to frantically trying to keep them happy and out of trouble for the other 3 hours and 55 minutes. Did I mention Madison's teacher was out of town and unable to attend? I wish I had gone with her. 

Epic Fail.

Dancing With Raindrops

But I did get some cool pictures. I told the kids to pretend they were having fun. :)

With an Indian chief

Maddie and Jameson

This is what they did, when I told them to pretend they liked each other. ;)

A terrible rock demonstration

Gabby and Maddie

My other daughter Rachel.

Good 'Ole Conservative Values

I just got finished snuggling M.J. and Z.J. and watching the new episode of "Sarah Palin's Alaska". We laughed and "Ooooo'd" over the scenery and the dynamics portrayed in the Palin family.  I thought I was hearing a discussion (or a thousand) that C.J. and I have had when I heard Willow say, "Really? Mom. Really?" When given instruction. Haha  Guess I am not the only one who is a strict Mama Bear.

Incidentally, I am on a political spree of reading/t.v. watching. President Bush's new book arrived yesterday, Decision Points.  I ripped open the package and started reading, and could hardly put it down. His writing style is warm and engaging, and draws you in to the story. He has (so far) given a very honest portrayal of his decisions, both good and bad. And allows the reader a glimpse into the things that guide him in life. I can't wait to read more. But I don't want it to end!

Falling for Charlottesville





"I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles." Philipians 4:10-14 (The Message)

Don't you love this translation of the "Whatsoever State" passage?  I latched on to this scripture very early in my Christian walk.  It has been a hallmark of my faith to be content with every circumstance.  The Lord gave that gift to me quickly, and I am so thankful.  I can find joy in such little things with the reminder of this passage.

This past week, we took advantage of the school break, and took the kids up to Charlottesville to see the leaves, and to see Montpelier (home of James and Dolley Madison).  The weather was gorgeous, the leaves and mountains stunning, and the house was beautiful.  TJ got to practice some country driving, and I got to play around with my camera some more.  What an amazing backdrop!

Even in such a beautiful scene, I was reminded to take life a little more slow.  To pay attention to the details.  Like stopping when the kids found interesting leaves, to look at the scenery they found interesting, play a round of volleyball with my girl.  I tend to get so busy "taking care" of everything that I don't get to enjoy "everything".  We rented a small cabin at a KOA campground, and had a ball cooking outside, and playing card games with the kids, and even Jay and I snuggling Zach (who had a hard time sleeping)- all three of us in a double bed!

I love that our God displays Himself in such obvious ways! Look around you, He is in creation. Such magnificence!





I Am Not My Clothes by Peggy at She Hath Done What She Could

Here is a re-post of a blogger I read.  I loved her article so much, I asked her permission to re-post it here....

After reading Bonnie's post a few weeks ago about someone criticizing her on Facebook regarding her blog, my mind has been spinning. It's hard for me understand why people level criticism at others. Many times, people criticize others because they feel badly about something in themselves and they project these negative feelings about self onto others. Saying she was a bad mother because she is interested in fashion is a huge leap.


Through the years, I've heard criticism leveled at Christian sisters because they had an interest in fashion. It is automatically assumed that these sisters are worldly and materialistic. Can one not be a Christian and be interested in fashion? Are the two mutually exclusive?



What about Queen Esther in the Bible? She spent a year in "beauty treatments" in preparation to meet the King! A whole year of being at the "spa", in an effort to make herself beautiful.



The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 was clothed in fine linen and purple.



The Christian woman should follow the principles found in these verses regarding dress:

I Tim. 2:9-10

I Pet. 3:3-4

Rom. 12:2

I Tim. 4:12



I can't find anything written in the Bible that would make interest in fashion wrong unless it included the following:



1. Wearing fashions or trends that are immodest. The world would say "If you got it, flaunt it!" That is not the sentiment of the Christian. Sometimes people confuse modesty with being frumpy or being fashionable. You can be both modest and fashionable.

2. Spending money you don't have on clothing, shoes, jewelry, etc. and going into debt for it (not being a good steward of God's blessings.)

3. Spending too much time on fashion pursuits (shopping, finding sales, reading blogs, reading magazines) making your life out of balance.

4. Spending more time on fashion that on spiritual pursuits.



Why is it we criticize someone whose hobby is fashion, but label virtuous the woman who quilts, or knits or gardens? Aren't we presuming a lot when we think clothes are all she is about?



Many women write blogs about fashion. My blog is about fashion for less, dressing well and modestly without breaking the budget. Hopefully, I can help people find affordable fashion choices or share something they previously did not know about to add to their closet. My blog only shows one dimension of myself. The fact that I take 30 minutes a day to post a photo and write a few words is not indicative of what my life is about. It is simply what this blog is about.



It's easy to sit back and judge others in the blog world. God help us to put the best light on all situations and look for the good in others instead of being quick to criticize!



Therefore, today, I am thankful for those who encourage and not criticize!



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