Today's Scripture verse; the last day of 2009

Remember the former thing, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is not other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:9-10 NIV

Mommyville has had an eventful year. I am overwhelmed with parenthood. I am a bit lost at year end, behind in everything and feeling very much frazzled. My hopes and dreams for 2010 are getting pushed back further and further behind simple priorities like keeping the kids fed and the house cleaned and doing laundry.I pray that I keep the Lord high on the list this winter as I need Him now more than ever. I overheard a stranger the other day, talking about her chemotherapy - she was commenting on the effects of the medicine (poison)on her toenails and her skin. For just a fleeting moment I could feel the bruised toes and the numbness in my fingers, taste the metal in my mouth. It was a memory I had forgotten, something I should feel blessed to forget. Today I am thankful for my lungs and the breath that fills them; for the simple, yet miraculous, thump thumping of my beating heart. I am alive. I am loved. I am a child of God. I am not worthy.

Goodbye 2009. May 2010 be full of many more miraculous blessings.

Spamified

I am getting a lot of spam comments on the blog so I had to put word verification up for a while. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please feel free to still post your commments. I appreciate your patience...

Monday Multitudes

This week I am grateful for family, health, and a warm place to live...

Lord, let me never take for granted;

51 leftovers :) that feed a crowd including Christmas cookies
52 new toys and the boxes they come in
53 neighbors who move snow in exchange for a bit of powdered sugar :)
54 warm beds in a snowstorm whether it be home or a hotel
55 family get togethers on Christmas, even if it wasn't the "real thing"
56 safe travel for loved ones
57 warm rolls and soup from a neighbor on a cold winter night
58 snow hills as high as the house for the kids to play on
59 electricity and satellite and a wii
60 church services in a blizzard

Ta Ta Turkey...

I make it no secret that I am cheap, er um, frugal. If you don't know that about me already then you don't know me much at all.

Leftovers are a staple here, so when I made a 16 pound turkey after Thanksgiving I knew we would be eating the bird for quite some time. We had turkey casserole three different ways, turkey breast hot sandwiches, turkey salad, and today we finished the last two cups of white and dark meat in turkey tortilla soup.

It felt great to use up corn and tomatoes from the pantry. It was a pretty cheap soup and the flavor hit the spot after all this traditional food, too. I fry up some homemade flour tortillas and cut them into chips for the top of the soup with a bit of cheese and it's delightful.

Turkey or Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes ( I used my own canned maters.)
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth ( I used water with bouillion)
1 1/4 cups water
2 cup whole corn kernels, cooked (more garden goodies from the freezer)
1 (4 sounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups cooked turkey or chicken whatever you have leftover...

tortilla chips
shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions
1.In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2.Stir in corn, chiles, beans, and turkey/chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3.Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips and cheese.

MMM MMM, well you know the rest...

Merry Christmas snowstorm

The snow is here, finally. Everyone has been talking about it for days...

We snuck out to Grandma Bonnie's yesterday morning and got some celebrating in. Last night we even got to go to Christmas Eve service, the candles were missing, but it was good for the soul and we saw the LIGHT anyway.

We miss daddy today, he left last night about an hour before they closed the interstate and we probably won't see him again until Monday morning. His employer has gracious supplied him with a warm room with a king size bed and shuttle service to and from the hospital. Now, if the hotel can only keep things as quiet as we do during the day so he can get a good day's sleep...

We will miss family today, too. Christmas dinner will not be the same without the whole crew. We are hoping we can catch up with them for New Years.

So we plan to hang out in new outfits and jammies, eat candy from the stockings, play with zhu zhu pets, parachute with screaming monkey slingshots, watch movies, snuggle up in beautiful memory quilts from thoughtful neighbors, eat cookies, make lego creations, dress baby dolls, race mario carts, drink hot chocolate, watch the snow fall, read books, play playdough, and color. Hope we have time to fit a nap or two in...

Darkness to Light...

The darkness is...closing in on me. I have to do lists looming, birthday party disaster hangovers, weather woes that cancel holiday gatherings and force early work for daddy, crabby babies, dirty laundry...it's really dark here.

I am lost. It feels as if my eyes cannot open. They are stuck closed. I cannot see the light, nor feel it.

I read the verse for the day, the advent devotions. I try to anticipate the light. My soul is lonely today. It aches.

I yearn for the WORD to be heard in my heart to be felt, to be heeded. I pray that my brain can relax and remember the events of our dear Savior's birth and not be boggled with the darkness and ick.

I read the mail, see the happy family pictures, read the greetings and giggle at the funny stories. I feel lighter even if just for just a moment.

Lord help me to see the light. Help me open my eyes and my ears to the Joy of the World...

Come Lord Jesus, COME!

The Light has come into the world...

... those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God."


John 3:18-21

Happy 8th birthday, Maleah!

You are such a blessing to us, dear daughter. Where did the last 8 years go?

Monday, December 21, 2009

Addison and Nora find more trouble...

Addi:"We must be really cute 'cuz mom is taking pictures again.It sure was a good idea to drag that stool into our room and get into the Desitin.It makes good lip gloss, doesn't it? Now we are good and moisturized...bye bye dry skin :)
Nora:" What's Desitin?"

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Monday Multitudes

It's crunch time.

Lord, I pray that you help me keep YOU in the front of my brain this week...

I am so very thankful for

41 neighobors who don't care how loud my kids are or how fancy my house is
42 kids who love making pretzels dipped in chocolate and white bark
43 celebrations with family even if it is not on Christmas day
44 fast, free, shipping for last minute gifts
45 Maleah's birthday and the memories of her last 7 ones...
46 health care workers and others who have to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including my adorargble hubby
47 external hard drives to back up pictures and documents when my computer decides it's tired of working
48 community gift wrapping parties that will provide lots of surprises and good cheer to those who may not have otherwise had...
49 the Baby in the manger, who came to save us all from sin
50 warmth for everyone from heat, food and love this Christmas - a very Merry one to you...

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Cheer

A superb cartwheel and a collision...

GO MCM!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Monday Multitudes

31 sunny snow days for sledding
32 gifts for cats named Eddie
33 jumpy monkey coffee
34 fevers that don't last
35 memories that do
36 warm pajamas and soft socks
37 Christmas programs
38 Mema's that are 60 years young
39 Christmas cards that catch up
40 lessons in giving

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Mema is 60 years young

We celebrated my mom's 60th birthday on Friday night. We had fettuccine Alfredo, spaghetti with two kinds of sauces, salad, bread sticks and homemade chocolate cake, YUM! Happy birthday dear Mema!

A dress mess, a concert and caught red handed...

or grey socked in this case...guess who was goofing off during the Christmas concert? I actually missed the concert the babies had a crazy high fever day and I couldn't sub or take them anywhere. Dad took these photos. It was short lived and they are much better now.
The dress mess: I had Maleah try on the three dresses in her closet and they were all too small. I went to Target, Jcpenny,Old Navy and Walmart and looked for dresses - NOTHING in her size or my price range...so I second handed a dress from a thrift store, it was awful. Three dollars for a wrinkled mess of dress with missing ribbons and bows. So I washed it, only to find out it was dry clean only. I had my miracle sis make some clips to hide the waistline, she made one for Maleah's hair to match. I tried to steam it to release the wrinkles and I melted the fancy fabric so I gave up. She wore shoes two sizes to big and had to stuff her toes with kleenex. Lord, help me I have THREE GIRLS!

Silent Night

Maleah has been playing piano for a little over 3 months now. Her first recital was held at Golden Living in Salem. She was nervous, but I think she did just fine;)

Monday, December 07, 2009

Monday Multitudes

More bountiful blessings.

Thank you, Lord, for;

21 healthy children
22 battling women who are BEAUTIFUL, yes I am talking about you Patricia and Denise, no hair or hair, you are both SHINING bright
23 date nights ;) volunteers who gave up a Friday night to watch my babies and biggies and gift cards that never expire
24 ill family members fighting to get well, prayers for an end to the suffering
25 email buddies who listen to my griping
26 forgivness of all my many sins
27 Jesse tree activites that are opening conversations about Jesus between me and my kids
28 weather that cooperates so that farmers can combine late into the night and finish before the BIG snow comes
29 deer that stay off the road and ones that provide a sport for my husband and chislic for supper
30 uncles who weld apple slicers, thank you Steve :)

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Food funnies

This morning I was carrying a pound of hamburger up from the freezer when Addi saw me and said, "Oh yum, CAAAAAKE!"

Last night the kids were doing their chores when Maleah asked, "Mom if we are good can we have something yummy like ice cream...or Doritos?"

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

The same are very different

Maleah went to school in Gavin's jeans today. I didn't have the heart to tell her. Then, as I was sorting laundry I noticed Gavin's long john's perfectly lining one of Maleah's wide legged blue jeans, I giggled. I wonder how long they will be the same size. People ask me all the time if I have twins, two big and two little. That would be something, wouldn't it?

While I was in the laundry room Nora successfully mastered the stairs. She went up and down and up and down and up and, well you get the picture. I remember Addison just taking her first steps around her first birthday. Nora has been moving for awhile now. Today she gained access to every room in the house. There will be no escaping her wrath!

I wonder what the requirements of a parenting expert are? I mean, I have four children and I am still learning new things all the time. They are all so very different. I can't imagine how many it would take for me to feel like I knew what was coming...perhaps Ma or Pa Dugger would know?

Deja vu

This morning, left to her own defenses, little Lou Lou single-handedly took on a whole box of Puffs.


We were mighty proud of her for taking on the challenge. She is doing a wonderful job of following in the footsteps of her not so much bigger sister who, just last April, tackled her own box.

Since she has already mastered the unrolling of numerous rolls of t.p., we have no idea what particular paper product her next training exercise will involve...

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Wisdom from the 6 year old...

Tonight, during supper, the Gavinator twisted his face as he fished a lima bean out of the chicken casserole. Finally, he lifted it into the air on the tip of his fork, and screamed, " EWWWWWW MOM, I got an M&M in my casserole!"

Monday, November 30, 2009

Monday Multitudes

Gratitude, Thanksgiving, Praise


Continuing to count my blessings.

Thank you, Lord, for

11 family photos
12 friends who email invites for opportunities to exercise this old body... I just need to get up the nerve to reply
13 leftovers
14 sisters who love to play all day with fabric
15 clean mopped floors, if only for a moment, *sigh
16 gorgeous weather in November
17 free shipping on Cyber Monday
18 sweatpants :)
19 hot water and brown sugar body wash
20 nativity scenes

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

No Room at the Inn - sharing gifts

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No Room at the Inn Sioux Falls

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Trail Ridge is hosting the No Room at the Inn on December 5 and 6 at Trail Ridge Retirement Center in Sioux Falls.

This beautiful display of many Nativity scenes is free for the family and there will also be vendors with booths including my sister and her hairbows and headbands for girls of all ages.

You really can't afford to miss this. There will be a free will donation that will benefit the homeless in Sioux Falls. I think it is a win win event.

See you there:)

While I was typing this post I got this message from my mom:) I'll call it divine timing...

This Christmas season, we are re-gifting Christ’s birth to the Sioux Falls community. You are invited to share in the wonder of Christmas by attending the fifth annual No Room at the Inn on December 5th (6 to 8 PM) and December 6th (1 – 4 PM) at Trail Ridge Retirement Community near 69th and Louise in Sioux Falls.

No Room at the Inn is a display of unique nativity scenes from around the world - with personal reflections about each Nativity by its owner. There will also be a silent auction, holiday vendors, outstanding entertainment and refreshments. What a beautiful way to remember the wondrous story of Christ’s birth and the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

No Room at the Inn helps two organizations…who in turn help many: St. Francis House in Sioux Falls, whose mission is to “move people from homelessness to hope,” and The Greater Sioux Falls Coalition on Aging, whose mission is to educate people on the resources available for the elderly – including housing options.

We ask you to accept this gift from us – to share with your family the story of Christ’s birth, to become aware of the needs of the homeless in Sioux Falls and become a part of the solution by attending this event. For you see, a young couple currently wanders the streets of Sioux Falls looking for shelter. They are knocking on your door. Will you tell them that there is no room? Or will you agree to accept this gift from us, and in-turn pass the gift on by supporting No Room at the Inn and our efforts to help the St. Francis House and the Greater Sioux Falls Coalition on Aging?

For more information about how you can support No Room at the Inn, please call 605-339-4847 or email nrati@live.com. This event is free and open to all public.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Use it or lose it?

Ever wondered how long you can keep food in the freezer or fridge, say for example a 16 pound turkey you put in the freezer last November?

Find out what you can use and what you should throw away using Stilltasty.com.

Thanks, Cindy!

btw I need to cook a turkey this week :)

Manic Monday Multitudes

Not in the mood.
Her head got in the way of her brothers hammer.Beautiful even with three stitches...

Ever have one of those days, weeks, months, years?

This morning I woke up to a a two year old with a reddish blueish colored eye who did not want her photo taken. It seems in the craziness of yesterday she may have fallen down the deck steps, or something, and bruised her eye. That's what we came up with anyway. No one really has an explanation for it. But some of us vaguely remember her toppelling down the steps last night as the rest of us were busy cleaning out the garage and tending to the one year old.

Both the youngsters have a cough. It started on Thursday or Friday and has culminated into a snotty wheezy bark. The fever, when it appears, is only slight and the only other symptom is uber crankiness. When they cry or whine it sounds like someone is slowly releasing the air from a helium balloon. Pleasant it is not. I am trying to justify taking them in to the clinic for clear runny snot and a barky cough. Luckily my adorable hubby is a respiratory therapist and assures me we don't need call the doctor just yet, otherwise I may be slightly neurotic about the whole thing. Have you ever had to listen to two squealing balloons off an on for 5 days? Truly, I am sympathetic. They are only babies, but I am the kind of sympathetic with a headache:)

So this morning, when I had to rearrange some of my plans for the day, I got a little discouraged. Another day of not crossing the things off the list that really need to get done. Before I got too deep in my own pity I glanced at my verses for every day of the year and this is what it said...

ALWAYS BE JOYFUL. Always keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

So, I am reminded of One Thousand Gifts, Multitude Monday at Holy Experience, something I have wanted to begin for a long time...so here goes.

Gratititde, Thanksgiving, Praise

Thank you, Lord for;

1 manic Mondays that help me remember to be thankful
2 beautiful faces with three stiches and brown eyes and red eyelids and blue eyes
3 gatherings of family for thankfullness, dinner and photos(even with healing faces)
4 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
5 days to spend with my children, healthy or healing
6 apple pie that has yet to be made
7 cookies that failed this weekend and some that did not
8 freecyle finds and friends
9 crocheted hats and beautiful bows made by a loving sister
10 piles of laundry that may stay in piles for another day