Babette Frustration

I didn't like the way my babette was looking. I decided it needed to be blocked. I took it all apart.
and blocked it the other night, all nice and pretty, using rulers and even a yard stick. You would think it would be PERFECT, right?



So I go to stitch parts one and two together and they don't add up right?!?!?! ARGH. I put it aside for a few days. I am too disgruntled to try to work on it right now.

Praises!

I have such wonderful praises! Kaedra has been trying lots of different foods lately! Here is the list of food she has now tried and will regularly have:

• water
• milk
• juice
• broth
• peanut butter

This is SUCH A huge praise! She has tried the last four on the list in just the last week! Today she tried both broth AND peanut butter! And she didn't just try it, she had more and more! WOOHOO!! We are SO excited!!

Thank you SOOOO much Amanda, for getting us to where we are now!!

Here she is having milk for the first time!

My hubby's funny

Michael, my hubby, has been working overnights. He hasn't gotten a good sleep in weeks. This morning during breakfast Brittany was reading a book to us. Michael was done with eating and raised his hand to ask to leave the table. Instead of asking to be excused, though, he said, "May I please be exhausted?"

It took him a minute to realize what he had said, esp with all of us laughing!

I told him I didn't think he needed our permission. :-)

My nativity Collection

I love nativities. I have always loved them! I have kept one out in my living room since I have had my own house. I hate putting them away at Christmas time. I wanted to show off some of my collection:

(I apologize for the picture quality, I had to use my phone, we were out of batteries for our camera)


I got this blanket from Brandi for Christmas a few years ago. I love it! I put it on a wall this year to properly show it off. It is large, taking up the space underneath my stairway. (a perfect place so everyone can see it when they come in!)





These are also from Brandi. They are AMAZING! They are carved into wood -- very intricately with the outside ornament (an angel or star) and then the nativity in the center. The colors are beautiful and they are my favorite ornaments! The star is purple, too, which makes it even more special. :-) They are Jim Shore Designs. You can see more here. I love his style!



This is from Alaska! Sherria got it for me while she was there. It is just precious...very teeny. The baby Jesus is just larger than a grain of rice!



This is actually Brittany's. She gets a Snow Baby from me every year. I had to get her this one because it is a nativity. :-)





This one I bought at Hobby Lobby this year before Christmas. They were having a sale and I just loved it. It is rather large, taking up about 1/2 of our Mantle. I am keeping it out all year on top of one of my bookcases.




This is a sweet little nativity that my mom gave me this year. She was worried she wouldn't be able to get my Christmas present to me in time. (it did get to me in time)


This is obviously not my set! My set is packed away in boxes awaiting our (???) move. My mom got me part of the set last year (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, some animals and a shepherd) and this year she sent me the three wise men. I love this nativity! I have a shelf that I keep it out on all year long (except, of course, when it is packed up!) I also collect regular Willow Tree pieces and you can see them here.

I have a few other ones, including the very first one I owned, but they are packed away. I also have a snow globe with a nativity in it. (funny if you think about it)

Thanks for looking at my Nativities!

ABC's, Describing Me!

Can you believe there are only 26 letters in our entire alphabet? Only 26 letters that you can create thousands and thousands of words out of, and all those little words make up all sentences, paragraphs, articles, and books we read? Homeschool Memoirs put up this Meme:

This week use the ABC’s to describe your character, your life, your homeschool, and your family. Next to each letter of the alphabet put a word that describes you or has something to do with you. It was very amusing and a bit tricky. Once you actually get to a letter your mind goes blank!

So here is my try:
Adoring
Born-Again
Crocheter
Daughter
Entertaining
Fulfilled
Godly
Hopeful
Intelligent
JOYFUL!
Kids
Loving
Married
Ninny muggin, cotton-headed of course
Oklahoma
Peculiar
Quirky
Real
Steady
Tall
Unaffected
Victorious
Warm-hearted
XXXVIII
Yackety
Zany

If you want to join in, go here!

Ipod Hoodie

I saw this cute Ipod Hoodie on my friend Karen's list of to-dos. I knew right away that Brittany would LOVE it! I had Britty pick out here favorite yarn and then set to making it. She wanted some modifications: a strap so she could wear it around her neck and a pocket in the back so she could put her wires in it. It came out so cute! I love it! (and so does Britty!!)

Ravelry Addict

It's true. I haven't quit crocheting, I haven't quit posting my items, I have just started putting everything on Ravelry! Then it seems sort of redundant to post it here. Ravelry is AWESOME, for any of you who might be in to crocheting or knitting. Heather told me about it and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It is like Facebook for Crocheters and knitters.

If you are on there, my user name is Peculyr. Feel free to add me as a friend!

Okay, now I will add some of my newest projects. :-)

Come,
let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
Come,
let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice,
Psalm 95:1-7 TNIV

Pay It Forward, the Blog Edition

I am really excited about this. Cuddles on the Couch wrote about a Pay It Forward Idea with handmade gifts. What a wonderful idea!


How does it work?

• First, announce this in a post on my blog!
• Commit to making 3 handmade items and ship to 3 special readers.
• There is NO $ amount--It's the personal time and love that make the difference!
• The 1st 3 commentators who agree to also "Pay it Forward" will receive a Handmade gift in the mail from me.
  
• I have 365 days to make/ship my handmade goodie! (Although I promise it will be most likely much sooner!)
• The 3 commentators then post this challenge on their blog and we keep the "Pay it Forward" blessing going and going and going!

So please comment and let me know if you are interested in joining and I will make you a handmade gift! Just for you! :-)

Cry Holy

I Have to Believe

Other people's Babettes

I found another place to see lots of Babettes!
What is your favorite?

Simple Woman's Daybook Jan 12, 2009

FOR January 12, 2009...
Outside my window... grey skies, slight wind, a bluejay flitting back and forth

I am thinking... Ethan may need a nap

I am thankful for... nursing tonight!! We have had on and off nursing lately and it has been really hard on all of us!

From the learning rooms...(if this applies): Emily is working on Math, Brittany is doing her school, Kaedra is practicing tracing her name

From the kitchen... nothing at the moment. Today was supposed to be our big cooking day but after no sleep for Michael or me last night, it has been moved to tomorrow. Michael and I are going to go out and use a gift card from his boss tonight at Red Robin. It has to be a late date because we have to wait for our nurse to get here at 8:00. I will find something yummy to feed the kids. :-)

I am wearing... jammies with pink elephants ice skating and black sweats

I am creating... a Babette blanket, booties for some babies at church and an afghan for a charity. Also working on a beaded crochet bracelet for myself.

I am going... nowhere today until our date tonight.

I am reading... still reading Spiritual Authority by Watch
man Nee. Also reading Created to be His Help Meet again.

I am hoping... to hear from Springfield today about Michael's promotion.

I am hearing... roofers next door.

Around the house... Christmas STILL not down. Maybe I can blame it on the Zandi Christmas video not being here yet. (not really the reason although Emily is convinced it is, but I can try), house is messy at the moment, need to re-organize Kaedra's supply closet.

One of my favorite things... sleeping in my own bed.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Date with Michael tonight, taking Emily on a date tomorrow with her best friend, Church on Wednesday, our church is having a meeting this week so I will be helping out with that Thursday and/or Friday, taking food to it on Friday and going to our friend Amanda's house to play with her and our other friend Nicole and her twins on Saturday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
This is a picture of "skinny me." Funny thing was, I didn't think I was skinny. Trying to get back in this size now.

Bible Reading Plan

Every few years I read the whole Bible through again. The other years I usually do topical studies. This year is another year of reading the Bible through. I have done different methods: cover to cover, in chronological order, inductive method, reading a different type of book each day (ie The Law, History, Psalms, etc). This year I am not reading it in any certain order but, since I got a new Bible last year, I am using the inductive method to read it and make my notations. I usually have a chart on the inside cover of my Bible where I can track my progress. I cannot find the original chart that I used and loved so much, but found this one, which will work fine: 52 Week Bible Reading Plan. I am not using it in the order that it is listed, but I am marking off each book/section as I read it. When the whole thing is checkmarked, I am done! What is nice about this one is it is all on one page, so I just fold it over and tape it to my front cover in my Bible and I always can find it easily!

Babette news

I have started putting it together! WOOHOO!! inspired by Heather's pictures of her pieced together Babette, I worked on my 12 round and 2 8 rounds so I could at least get the first few sections done. I started last night and had to call Heather after only a few minutes. My squares weren't lining up right. She explained that I would have to stretch some of them to make them work. AHA! The lightbulb went on. Okay, that makes sense. So now I have sections 1-3 completely done and I am working on section 4. I will post pics soon.

Brittany's blanket is looking great too! She started on her 12 round last night. She is looking forward to starting to put hers together too.

Thankful Thursday 1-8-09

It has been a really long time since I've done a Thankful Thursday. I have been thinking of them but haven't had a chance to sit down and do it yet. Although today is already Friday, I am definitely in need of a Thankful Thursday post. I had such a horrible day yesterday and horrible night last night that I need to remember all I have to be thankful for!

So, without further ado....

I am thankful for.....

My Lord and Saviour! His mercies are new each morning, Hallelujah!

His Word: How awesome to have a manual, love letter, history book, biography, and so much more here for us to be able to dive into whenever WE want.

My hubby's job (even though it is not our SOURCE, I appreciate that it is a vehicle to get our needs met and keep me at home)

My hubby: he is hardworking, doing whatever his job needs him to do, taking care of his family

Brittany: She is such a lovely young woman, so much fun to be around, such a joy.

Emily: God gave me a really sensitive girl that feels everything. I know she has a job in the Kingdom using that skill

Kaedra: oh so loving right now and wanting to be involved in everything.

Ethan: such a little boy, so loud and fun, so loving

My church: for teaching the Word and how to apply it. For Pastor Danny and the time and effort he puts into the messages. For Pastor Jerry, Pastor John, Jennifer, Laura, Linda, Ben, Kenny and Lisa (and countless others) that keep everything running smoothly.

My friends: they are the icing on my cake. They add sweetness and joy to my life. Especially thankful for my best friend, prayer partner and accountability partner, Brandi.

Homeschooling: it is so wonderful to be able to stay home with my kids and be able to share their lives with them in such a consistent manner. I love seeing them grow every day and I am always amazed at what God can do with our day and with their lives.

Our nurses: I often think that I should be trying to do it without them and then I spend a night without them and wonder how I ever could. They are such a blessing in our life.

The Internet: I know there are a lot of "evils" with the internet..the obvious evils and the subtle evils but I am thankful that it is here and that it is so diverse and helpful. It helps me stay in touch with my friends when my life would seem very secluded without it. I even get to meet new people states and continents apart. It helps me with my homeschooling, it helps me with my running my house, it helps me with recipes and "how-tos"

I am so Thankful, Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL your blessings.

See other Thankful Thursdays here

Hard Decisions

Brittany (in the pink shirt) doing ministry in the park in Mexico last year

Wow. We had a hard decision come upon us today. For the past few years Brittany has gone on the mission trip with our church. She has loved it. She has had a missionary heart since she was 5 years old, so we knew that she would be heading in this direction. This year, our church is going to a new location in Mexico City. They are also taking an airplane. Because of trying to get the best deal on an airplane ticket, the decision about whether or not to go on the mission trip came about much earlier. We had to know by this week.

Of course when I heard about the mission trip, my first thought was excitement for Brittany. We have vowed to always try and let her go so she can follow the mission that God has given her. I even talked to the Youth Pastor and asked if she could still go even if we moved. I thought we would figure out SOME way to get her here, even if we were states away. Also, her cousin, my darling niece Sherria, was also going, which made it even more neat that they would be going together.

Michael and I had a talk about it and he expressed some concern over the trip. He wasn't feeling good about it. At first that sounded odd to me, being in the mindset that she ALWAYS will go on mission trips. Then I started listening to my Spirit. Today we got an email from our Youth Pastor telling us when the money was due and when we had to make our commitment. Immediately, I had total peace about the fact that she should NOT go. In fact, I had it on good authority (the Holy Spirit's) that he has something better planned for her. I felt bad (in the flesh) telling this to her. I hemmed and hawed a few minutes and Brittany interrupted me and said, "I am pretty sure I am not supposed to go on this trip." WOW. How blessed we are! Our daughter hears the Lord and is mature enough to follow Him, even when it is hard. I almost wanted to cry.

Isn't it silly of being proud of her doing what she is supposed to be doing? It is almost like giving someone a cookie for staying out of jail. But to have a daughter that hears the Lord AND obeys him is such a treasure. And I will rejoice in the Lord for her!

(and I can't wait to see what He has planned for her! HALLELUJAH!)

Simple Woman's Daybook Jan 6, 2009

I am a day behind in my daybook. Schoolwork took precedence over everything yesterday, and being our first day back it was a little longer, so I didn't have a chance. Today is running smoothly, so here is my Daybook.

FOR TODAY January 6, 2009 (12th day of Christmas, Epiphany)...

Outside my window...beautiful male and female cardinals and two bluejays darting about

I am thinking...how blessed I am that I can stay home and teach these wonderful kids and spend my days with them.

I am thankful for...my husband's job, even if he is working 4-6 months of overnights.

From the learning rooms...Emily is just about to read her "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons," Brittany is reading about the USS Constitution, Kaedra is coloring in shapes

From the kitchen... I made sweet potato chips (any they are almost gone...yummy!) we are having fish, rice and broccoli tonight.

I am wearing... blue capri sweats and a purple flowered shirt

I am creating... a babette blanket and some baby booties for some babies at church. (Susan - Pam got tired of making socks so I am taking over for her for awhile! LOL)

I am going... to go pick up some prescriptions for Kaedra as well as some OTC stuff.

I am reading... Spiritual Authority by Watchman Nee

I am hopingpraying...For Michael to get the Springfield, MO store or a store here in OK. He has an interview with Springfield (which has been our prayer for about a year!) on Friday at 3:30!

I am hearing...birds being very vocal.

Around the house...Michael is sleeping (after the second of his overnights) and I am trying to keep everyone quiet so he can get a good sleep! It is harder than you think.

One of my favorite things...a productive day of school!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
church tomorrow night, the interview on Friday, maybe a date with Michael Friday night, a date with Brittany on Saturday

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

This is Ian, my best friend's oldest son who became an Eagle Scout over the fall and had his Eagle Court this weekend! Congratulations Ian!!

The swing of things

Well, I am trying to spend today getting back in the swing of things. Trying to plan out our next few months in general, the next month in particular. I am really having trouble getting my brain to work in the right way. For some reason, it is almost actually hurting trying to think of this stuff. I must be severely out of practice! I can usually whip up a month of school plans in no time. It is usually something I enjoy, which is why I don't usually buy prepackaged curriculum. However, this time I am having some problems getting going.

My Babette so far

And here is my Babette, so far:

Brittany's Babette

Here is what Brittany has done so far on her Babette:

Granny Square Addict

Okay, I think I am a Granny Square Addict. I like almost everything made of Granny squares! Especially the things that aren't usually made from them like purses, mittens, hats, aprons, sweaters, etc. I am working on some Granny square fingerless mittens today. They are so cute! I will post a picture as soon as they are done.

Okay, maybe not all Granny squares.....