Thursday Thought

Earlier this week I was throwing myself a pity party, and let me tell you, I can throw a good one! But thankfully I have a good friend that is good about gently pushing me back to where I should be. While feel overwhelmed and disappointed, she reminded me to go back to what I knew I should be doing...back to the basics. Was I reading my Bible every morning? Was I getting some exercise? Two things that can easily change your perspective and give you energy. After getting back to what I knew to do...my heart began to refocus. I still feel a bit overwhelmed and disappointed, but I'm not allowing it to consume me or dictate my emotions and reactions. Thank you, Lord for amazing friends that you have put in my life! Now if you would just move them a little closer...

Music Monday: Hymns

Sometimes hymns can be slow and old-fashion, but they are what I remember singing in church growing up. they bring back wonderful memories of snuggling with my mom in the pew watching my grandmother play the piano. Or memories of sitting on the piano bench with my grandmother. Both grandmothers played the piano or the organ for church. Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening...you get the idea. I've listened and sung a lot of hymns.

I love how some musicians are taking the hymns and updating the music. The same wonderful words and melody, but fun music. One of those musicians are the Go Fish Guys. I love their music; my kids love their music; judging by the dancing, my van likes the music. They have a new CD, Kickin' It Old School. They have taken lots of hymns and made them funky. and my kids LOVE it. We have been listening to nothing but that CD in the van for the last six weeks!

There is just something gratifying about hearing your four year old sing "sweet, sweet song of salvation" while she is coloring!

Go Fish is releasing one of their songs for the radio: My Father's World. You can listen to the whole album by clicking on the music in the side bar of Jamie's (one of the Go Fish Guys) blog. Enjoy!!!

Thursday Thought

My tip for dealing with life's craziness?


Ask for help

Wordy Wednesday

Some one asked me what I do all day now that I only have one child at home. Really, I wanted to come up with some snarky comment, but I was too dumb-founded that they would actually ask me that question. I said something about still having lots of laundry and cleaning and cooking to do, but then their comment stayed with me all day today. It is now after 9pm and I am just sitting down with "nothing" to do and I thought I would recap the day...

Alarm goes off @ 5:45am
Hit snooze
Alarm goes off again @ 5:50am and I know I have to get up or risk being late
Shower
get coffee
get dressed
do my hair
wake sweet children
help Mikalah print her english assignment
wake sweet children for a second time
make sure sweet children have their clothes out for the day
encourage sweet, sweet children to get dressed quickly
bribe child #5 with being able to ride his bike if he gets dressed and eats quickly
fix breakfast
warm dryer
explain to children that they must have cereal this morning because they are all moving slowly
explain to sweet crying children that I will fix eggs tomorrow
tie four pairs of shoes
floss three sets of teeth
load children in van
deliver child #1 to the high school
deliver child #2 to the junior high
deliver child #3 to elementary #1
do child #4's hair
deliver child #4 & #5 to elementary #2
do child #6's hair
call school of child #1 to inform of dentist appointment
call school of child #4 to inform of dentist appointment
call orthodontist to reschedule child #2's appointment
stop at home to unload/reload dishwasher and clean up breakfast
warm dryer
pick up child #1 from high school
run to music store to get new book for baritone
deliver child #1 to junior high
run to store for groceries
pick up child #4 for dentist appointment
pick up child #1 for dentist appointment
pick up #4 from dentist and have a mcwonderful lunch
pick up #1 from dentist and get her St.Arbucks for sore mouth
deliver child #4 back to school
deliver child #1 back to school
run home to go potty - child #6 does not like public restrooms and self-flushing potty
unload groceries and warm dryer
go to Costco for rest of groceries
go home and unload rest of groceries and warm dryer
make lemon bars and call friend
brown ground beef for dinner
unload and reload dishwasher
pick up child #4 & #5 from school
go home to go potty and get snack
go pick up child #3 from school
go home and meet child #2
call teacher of child #3 to schedule meeting time
make lasagna
watch child #5 ride bike
look through all papers from school
read mail
warm dryer
pick up child #1 from softball
make salad and heat bread
get child #2 snack and ready for football
send child #2 to football
warm dryer
finish dinner prep
answer survey woman at door
eat dinner
direct children for evening clean up
lock self in bedroom and talk to awesome friend!!!
(while amazing hubby gets kiddos ready for bed)
warm dryer
answer email and make a few mops phone calls
realize I forgot to do five things on today's to-do list
add them to tomorrows
warm dryer
load dishwasher
get ready for bed
fold load from dryer and start another
snuggle with hubby and watch top chef...or at least the first 20 min before I fall asleep before 11pm

Tasty Tuesday: Texas Sheet Cake

There are several desserts that I only make when I am serving a crowd or in need of gifts. Lemon Bars of course I make and then try to give away half of the pan or I will eat the whole thing myself! I will admit to telling my kids that they can have one only to eat four or five myself! The other dessert that I only make for a crowd is the Texas Sheet Cake. Any recipe that calls for almost a pound of butter and requires a jelly roll pan is not meant for the family dessert!

Yesterday being our church picnic (welcoming Fall apparently), I made a Texas Sheet Cake so there would be enough for everyone. I am happy to report that I had one brownie and magically the rest of the pan disappeared! Thank you to my Yellowstone Church family for helping me out!

Anyway, I had several people ask for the recipe and I can not take credit for something that is not mine. I got the recipe from...Beth Moore! If you want a Texas Sheet Cake recipe go to a real Texan! You can find the recipe here.

Monday Music: Football

It is Labor Day, and while I was raised that that meant LABOR, like clean out the garage, or do lots of yardwork, in Mike and my creation of a family that means FOOTBALL!



We love the start of the football season. There is the NFL...there is Little Guy Football...and then there is fantasy football with its live draft. Each year Yellowstone Church hosts a fantasy football league. Each year I learn a little more about how the fantasy game is played...one year I even won!

This year I am more focused on Judson playing and today was his first practice. i know when he gets home he will want a small amount of food (really I thought he would want to eat more) a shower and then BED!!! He will be asleep before I can count to 10. It is going to be a great football season! Go Colts...Go Dolphins...Go Ivy Six-Pack (for the six kids incase you were wondering)!!!