Sunday, November 22, 2009

7 of 52 weeks

This has been one of the busiest weeks I have had in quite some time. While I do plan on sharing our news, I have not yet had the time to sit down at the computer and upload some photos. I guess that's how us moms always go missing from the posts! I know that if I skip one week it is that much easier to skip the next so I am posting this week's photo tonight...Better late than never!



Forever In Blue Jeans




Yes, My Birdy's shirt is filthy with biter biscuits! I have found that it is easier to layer him up early and just peel the layers away as he ruins them!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

responsibilities

I wake up each morning and graciously thank God that I have these people to be responsible for:

{ My Sunshine }

{ My Angel }

{ Miss Thang }

{ My Birdy }

My life also bring other responsibilities. I have bills to be paid on time. I am the lunch lady for my church's Christian Academy. We attend several church services a week plus a Bible study (these are more privileges than responsibilities.) I am the teacher here at home. As a single parent I also do all of the maintenance on my home. Right now I am closing on a house that needs a little work. I have a busy schedule.

We all have very busy lives.

BUT


We need to remember that our responsibilities don't stop there.

Matthew 18:12-15
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I pray today and always that I have the courage to reach out and tell everyone that I can about my Savior.

Still don't think it is your responsibility?...watch this video and give it a little more thought.


Sunday, November 15, 2009

i love

Sneaky Momma
I {heart} Jesus.
I {heart} friends.
I {heart} perfectly roasted marshmallows.
I {heart} simple pleasures.
I {heart} hot tea on a cool night.
I {heart} flannel sheets.

Friday, November 13, 2009

ooooh, that smell, can't you smell that smell

My Birdy is 9 months old. He's at the wonderful age of mobile curiosity. Earlier this week I heard a crash, well there were actually several crashing sounds, in the kitchen. There he stood in his walker
{ X marks the spot he was standing }

next to the baker's rack

which he had thrown down to the floor

dumping baskets and contents

including the basket of silverware


Needless to say, I spent the next several hours rearranging the kitchen so he can only get to the items too large for him to man handle.

...........................

Yesterday My Birdy was given a new bottle because after searching high and low we could not find his

until

My Sunshine made pizza for dinner.


Because apparently I can move all the furniture around
but the fact remains

My Birdy

can still open the oven door

Thursday, November 12, 2009

6 of 52 weeks

Forever In Blue Jeans







Tuesday, November 10, 2009

my view 11.10.09

Our town is small. Downtown covers approx 5 square blocks and consists of 4 bars, 3 antique shops, a couple banks, a couple churches, a couple gas stations, 2 markets, a car dealership, a couple auto parts stores, a video rental place, the post office, a movie theatre, a hardware store, a family drug store, a dentist, a realtor, Walmart, Walgreens and McDonalds. Of all of the places we do not have in town, visitors from larger towns/cities might miss a coffee house the most. I have managed without one so far.

One thing we have that most do not is

[ Kitchell Mansion ]

It was built in 1876 by Captain John W. Kitchell, who served as a Captain for Abraham Lincoln both before and during his presidency. The house is at the top of the highest point in our town and and it is said that he selected this high point to look over the city and out onto the Illinois prairie.

The home still reflects the Second Empire design, mansard roof, central tower, and front and side verandas. I am so glad they are my neighbors because this is

|| My View ||


 

michael bublé cd!!! oh yeah, and an ipod

The Mom Blogs is giving away 5,
count em 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Michael Bublé CD's
~ AND ~
one of those 5 winners will receive an
iPod Shuffle!

His voice is easy on the ears to say the least.

So if for the last two years you have anxiously been waiting for his next CD, be sure to enter the giveaway before November 18th, through the link below!

If you are one of the last people on the planet who haven't yet had his voice grace your ears, check out the video in my sidebar. It's "Cry Me A River" which is included in his newest album: Crazy Love.



Monday, November 9, 2009

i love

Miss Thang loooooves her Grandma. Yet, she refuses to call her Grandma. She has always pronounced the word grandma, "DrahDrah". She is certainly articulate enough, we've even heard her slip and say Grandma, she's just stubborn and won't give it up! I don't know where she gets her stubbornness from...some say it comes from me, I don't see it.

Anyway, I was visiting Bridgette's blog, Life's A Beach, and found on her blogroll - Drahdrah's Place!

I had to visit her blog, if for nothing else, to make sure my mom isn't living some blogger life that I don't know about!!  (she's not)

Buuuuut, Drahdrah is host to


Sneaky Momma


I think a perfect way for me to end my day is to remind myself of the many blessings I have. I start my day this way but sometimes, by the time evening comes around and I have had a tiresome or difficult day, I forget how blessed I am...which is just silly because...

I { heart } Monday night prayer at church.
I { heart } watching the leaves fall from my trees.
I { heart } the sound of my children sleeping.
I { heart } that I am in this world but not of this world.
I { heart } that I am able to help people.
I { heart } that tomorrow God is the same as He was yesterday and today.

Thanks Drahdrah.

Friday, November 6, 2009

helping hands items added

Proverbs 28:27
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.



The items below are in addition to what is already available. Please visit my post:
to see the complete list and how to request an item(s).

I will thankfully accept small monetary donations to be used towards my shipping expense. This can be done through Paypal by clicking on the Donations button in my sidebar or by mail to:
Jennifer Von
PO Box 224
Pana, IL  62557-0224

Click on items for larger images. 




This item expires 09/11 and posting will be removed at that time if it has not been mailed out

Thursday, November 5, 2009

5 of 52 weeks

Forever In Blue Jeans


the 1st day of the rest of our lives

I receive Daily Focus emails from Alpha Omega Publications. After our devotions, we post the verse of the day on a chalkboard in our kitchen. It never ceases to amaze me how relevant these verses are to our daily happenings! I am so thankful for these "faith builders".

This morning, like every other, we gathered in our classroom and read the verse:


ACTS 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 

It is a verse we all need to know. As a mother it is my job to make sure my children learn this, love this, live this.

A couple months ago we (My Sunshine, My Angel and I) were supposed to be baptized. The day before it was scheduled, My Sunshine was diagnosed with mono and we ended up spending the next day in the hospital. The baptisms were put off.

I have felt a burden lately to take this next step of obedience even though everyone isn't well yet. So, last week I scheduled it for today.

I love that God is always proving His presence in our lives. He is constantly giving me assurance when I am on the right path, and punishing me when I go against His word. Today, on the day we are being baptized, I received assurance.

The closing prayer for today's devotion was

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sins. I confess that I have sinned and accept Your free gift of eternal life today. Take my life and use it to glorify You. In the wonderful name of Jesus, Amen.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

my view 11.3.09


We can only burn leaves here every other week so every day this week is being spent clearing as much as possible. I sent My Sunshine and My Angel out to clear the back driveway of leaves. 

Thanks guys but uuummmmmmm


I think if I light that pile right there

we're gonna lose that tree

{ and }


the power lines!

from the kitchen entrance today, this was 
|| My View ||
until I raked them over about 20 feet south! 
 

Monday, November 2, 2009

this post and I am lousy with photos

GENESIS 8:22
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

I appreciate the gift of the seasons that we have been given. This season always reminds me to slow life down, for the things that truly matter are ever-changing
{ ever growing }
and before I know it this season in my life will have passed.







The kids and I love visiting the pumpkin patch. It means, hot chocolate, lots of pumpkins with warts, dirty animals eating out of our hands and plenty of photo opportunities that are perfect in my mind but never turn out that way in the albums!

I knew it would be wise to get all of the photos taken when we first arrived but they wanna go go go so I take what I can get!
I was certainly pleased that no blood was spilled getting in or out of the wagon.
I was even more pleased that no one walked in front of the camera (or anywhere in the picture actually) for the 3 seconds that all the kids were smiling AND looking at me!!

And off they went.

First they fed the not at all soft, begging for food, otherwise not friendly g-o-a-t-s.




And then it was off into the corn maze which had riddles like this one throughout




My Sunshine and My Angel went into the haunted barn while I took Miss Thang for some pictures.
She loves Wizard of Oz so she was really excited to find this.

I figured I would take the boys back to this before leaving for a complete photo.

I also wanted to get a picture of them in the covered wagon. Simple enough, no?
{ NO }















OK... so I am not going to get a picture in the covered wagon. It was the end of the day and no one had napped. Besides, maybe I was being too picky. Maybe I should just get the one photo I wanted and be done.
So, off to the Wizard of Oz cutouts we went.

{ Not gonna happen this year! }
Not only does the hot chocolate around Miss Thang's mouth make her look like The Joker with his smile painted on...


but she's actually crying hysterically!


This [ gentleman? ] was our closing greeter.

I think he had a longer day than I did!


my angel's choice for dinner - salmon patties

My Angel enjoys cooking. He's not great at it yet and he ends up making a H-U-G-E mess but he wants to learn. He enjoys simple cooking...pancakes, meatloaf, baked fish, chilli and his favorite,  
SALMON PATTIES

INGREDIENTS
2 cups canned salmon, drained
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 egg, slightly beaten
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
Extra virgin olive oil


PREPARATION
Combine salmon, lemon juice, egg, salt, pepper and breadcrumbs in mixing bowl; mix well. If mixture seems very wet add a little more breadcrumbs. If mixture is too dry to patty, add a little water. Shape into patties.


COOKING
Brown lightly on both sides in hot oil.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

look up

Jeremiah 4:13
Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.


 The sky tonight was

absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

I wondered how many people noticed.

It only lasted a few moments.

I wondered what He was feeling.

I am thankful that He shared this with me.