I Appreciate That

Yesterday I had to run an errand at 5:00 in the afternoon. We got home around 5:40 so you can imagine that getting supper on the table was a bit of a panic. I quickly heated up some leftovers, made a salad and mixed up some juice. (In my haste I did not do any measuring with the juice.)

We sat down at the table, prayed, and then Sam took a drink. Do you know what my sweet, gracious boy had to say about the juice? "Mom, this is good juice. It kind of tastes like water, but it's good."

It's so nice to hear kind words... especially when they are in gratitude for efforts that didn't have spectacular results!

I must remember this.

Happy Valentine's Day

We have been looking forward to this day for a while. The kids had so much fun making their valentines and then dressing up in red for the activities of the day. Sam wanted to wear a red tank top! I was able to talk him out of it by telling him if he wore this shirt he would match Luke. It was a great plan, but then he put it on and we discovered that it had been put away without going through the laundry! Does that happen to anyone else?! I told him he could wear it for the picture and then had to change... at that point we were on the verge of being late so he didn't have time to argue with me when I gave him a different long sleeve red shirt.

A couple of nights ago I asked the kids what we should have for a special Valentine's supper. Sam said: "Well, I would say hotdogs if I liked hotdogs!"

(Thanks... that's helpful!)

Maarti said: "Hmm... I guess waffles would be okay."

(A little enthusiasm would be nice!)

So waffles it was... with these for dessert:

Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting... it was a pretty good idea if I do say so myself.

So that was our family Valentine's day.

And in case you were wondering... Jeremy and I celebrated Valentine's a couple of days ago - dessert and a movie. It was the perfect at home date.

Maarti to the Rescue

It's Wednesday.
I love Wednesdays. Jeremy has the day off and we usually run errands... it's fun (...or at least more fun than running errands by myself with the kids.)

We are planning on going on a cruise this spring with Jeremy's family so we decided that we would use the kids Christmas money and buy them each a suitcase. (We usually just pack in laundry baskets, but since it's a cruise and not a container ship we thought we should try and avoid looking too hill-billyish.) Thankfully we found a fantastic sale and thankfully the kids think luggage is cool and were happy to part with their money for it.

After shopping, we ate a quick lunch and Jeremy ran off to Sam's school to volunteer in the classroom and then take Sam out for ice cream. Since the guys were having fun time, we needed to do something fun as well.

Ta-da!

Valentine cookies!

Sam and Jeremy came home and I started to figure out supper. I found a new recipe that looked good, quickly scanned the ingredients and started cooking. Half way through the recipe I discovered that it is supposed to be in the fridge overnight before cooking.
That's just great!
Abort dinner plan.
Throw chicken and potatos in the oven and make a salad.
Phew. That was quick thinking.
As we're eating Maarti says "I like this supper Mom. It's great!". Sam says "What Maarti said is what I say!" Five minutes later Sam pipes up again, "I kinda like this chicken and I kinda don't. It's one thumb up and one thumb down." Yikes! The ratings were dropping rapidly. I had to think of something fast! Good job I had some dessert to pull out!

Thanks Maarti for saving supper with your beautiful cookies!

So Proud

Dear Sam

I am so proud of you that I might just explode! Every morning on our way to school we pray that you will be a blessing there and a good friend to your classmates. Yesterday I found out that you are doing exactly that. I had a short conversation with another mom. Her son does not like school and the other day he really did not want to go. When he walked in the doors you said "hi" to him and he didn't even turn around to say goodbye to his mom. Recently someone asked him what he likes best about kindergarten and his quick reply was "That Sam loves me."

Sam, you are gifted with people. Continue to use that gift to show God's love to others. There is no better way to use your life.

When you were a baby we chose a special verse for you: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Your Dad and I are THRILLED that you are already living this verse.

You are a blessing to us Sam and we love you so much!

Choices, Choices...

Lately I've been trying to teach the kids that life is about making choices and I find myself saying over and over "Make the wise choice." I've said it so much that I've been frequently hearing it in my head as make my own choices big and small:

Juice or water?... Make the wise choice.
Watch TV or read?... Make the wise choice.
Kind voice or frustrated voice?... Make the wise choice.
Resentment or forgiveness?... (ouch)... Make the wise choice.

And that is not the only phrase I keep hearing... Somehow, Ann Voskamp is also in my head... "Gratitude redeems. Eucharisteo [giving thanks] always precedes the miracle."

Isn't that beautiful? "Gratitude redeems. Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle." Isn't that the wise choice?

And so today, I will make the wise choice, I will choose gratitude and I will expect a miracle.