One more music thing

The new Todd Agnew "Reflection of Something" is AWESOME! It is a little harder than his last album but I like it even better. There are even parts of it that sound very much like Texas Blues, which I love.

New Music

One of Kaedy's nurses, Renee, heard Sherria and I talking about music on Thursday and so she joined in the conversation. She eventually asked me if I knew of James Clay. She really likes him and thought I might like it since I like Bob Seger. She went out to get it from her car and got me that CD to borrow and brought another one by Derek Webb. I listened to them both last night and I like them both a lot. I probably like Derek Webb the better of the two. He is very different from most Christian music which is why I like him and why she doesn't like him as much. She likes one song of his that was on the radio "She Must and Shall Go On." I hadn't heard it on the radio since I hardly EVER listen to the radio unless it is the station my pastor is on. In the car I either listen to tapes from church or my own CDs. Anyway, James Clay is very good, too. I like the first song on the album: "I Still Believe." I first heard it in the movie "Lost Boys" and had it on that soundtrack for a long time. I like it from a Christian point of view. :-) He reminds me less of Bob Seger and more of Counting Crows, but he is good none the less.

I usually listen to harder music than these two. I really like Christian rock: Kutless, Day of Fire, Building 429, POD, TFK, etc.

Glory Babies

I just found out that two of my friends have lost their babies. My oldest friend (I've known her longer than any other friend, I mean, not that she is old) lost her baby in November at 34 weeks, her baby was half of a pair of twins. My other friend just lost hers in between 6-8 weeks. My heart grieves with them and for them right now. I would have done anything for these friends not to have joined that exclusive "club" of those of us who have lost our babies.

Please pray for both of my friends and their families.

Glory Baby by Watermark

Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby…baby..
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby…baby..
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you…
Until we’re home with you…

Miss you everyday
Miss you in every way
But we know there’s a
day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You’ll kiss our tears away
When we’re home to stay
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you
‘till mom and dad can hold you…
You’ll just have heaven before we do
You’ll just have heaven before we do

Sweet little babies, it’s hard to
understand it ‘cause we’re hurting
We are hurting
But there is healing
And we know we’re stronger people through the growing
And in knowing-
That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would…
Just like He said He would…

BRIDGE:
I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies
and what they must sound like
But I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home
And it’s all you’ll ever know…all you’ll ever know…

My love and tears to you both. I would wrap you each in a warm hug, if I could.
I am sure your little ones are surrounded by much family and they are playing with my Jacob, passing the time until we can all be together.

And yet, there is still reason to celebrate... the other twin, Katie, is doing well. A blessed welcome to the world, little one.

Tired of putting out fires!

Yes, Oklahoma has been having many problems with fires. No, I have not been putting out THOSE fires.

I am so glad I have Christ in me and that I can do ALL things through Him. Lately I have forgotten that and been living very reactively. I have been taking care of things at the last minute, when they HAVE to be taken care of. We are supposed to start school today but we can't because we have an exterminator coming this afternoon and there are things that have to be cleaned up before he can do his job. (We have mice...my husband's FAVORITE critter....ROFL.....without him, I would probably catch one and keep it as a pet! LOL) On top of that, I did not have a school schedule planned yet OR even my daily schedule planned. I am such a planner that I can't start my day without a plan. Well I am sure I CAN....I just don't!! And then the day drags on and on without form or substance. NO MORE OF THAT!

I am so excited that I have an opportunity for a fresh start. I am learning so much as I get ready for my seminar. I sometimes think I am the WORST person to speak about this at a seminar, but then again, I am someone who actually struggles with it, so I will be able to help others that struggle. Anyway, last night I worked on some long term goals and fitting them into my schedule. I will be able to finish that stuff up today and start a great day of school tomorrow.

I am no longer saying "I can't" and "I don't know." I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength and I know all things because I have the Spirit within me. (2 Corinthians 1:21 and 1 John 2:20,27)

I am not satisfied with mediocrity, just getting by, barely making it, etc etc. I am ready to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give us! I am not settling anymore! I am proactive and I don't even have fires to put out anymore!!! HALLELUJAH!

Notes from Our Finest Hour

Last night at church was amazing, as usual. Pastor did not preach, but another man from our church, John Exum, did. It was a very moving service for me and God spoke to me quite a bit during it. In fact, I wrote an entire page of notes that were directly from Him.

Anyway, I thought I would share some of the things John preached last night.

Why are we looking somewhere remote for the works of Jesus
when WE should be DOING the works of Jesus?

If you won't preach the word of God wherever you are, why would God promote you?

What is my call and why am I not fulfilling it?

We are not living at the level God wants us to be at because we are not being who He wants us to be.

God is never quiet. If we are not hearing Him, we aren't close enough to Him. (and, if we go by too fast, we hear Him out of context)

There is more to life than what we are living right now.

When we are consumed with knowing the plan, we miss living the plan.

God's plan for me is not JUST for me...it is for someone else too.

Yield to Him! Come back to God and repent. There is no plan "b."

The church's web page has MP3s now of many sermons and of the New Year's Eve Prophecies. http://ourfinesthourchurch.org/

Please pray for my friends!!!!

Our friends, Jim and Melanie Walenciak, and their family had their car stolen. Please read their story and pray for them...we know that Satan will be defeated and he will have to pay them back SEVEN times and that God WILL be glorified through this!!!! Hallelujah!!!

http://melaniewalenciak.blogspot.com/

New Year's Poem

Twas the night before New Year's, and all through the house
Everyone was partying, even the mouse
The snacks were all out, with people beside them
And drinks were being poured, as fast as people eyed them.

The kids were all playing Monopoly and cards
And some were outside playing tag in the yards
While Dad and I were snug in the den
Sitting around and talking to good friends

When in our conversation, such a topic arose
To frighten the women and curl the men's toes.
Someone had the audacity to bring the word up
And the rest of us just stared at the ice in our cup

RESOLUTIONS the word was, that caused us to groan
And as they searched for paper and pencil, more intense grew the moan
We all had been there before, with our intentions grand
Only to fail miserably, everything we had planned.

The lost weight, the exercises, pilates and tae bo
Were forgotten as our waists continued to grow.
The plan of time spent with God and kids and friends,
Lasts until the new TV Season begins.

What went wrong, we ask ourselves, as we avoid making more
Knowing that new resolutions are something we all abhor.
As we sit and we think, contemplating our downfall
The missing element comes to me, as I think and recall

We never asked God to give us His life goals
Instead, we thought we were the bishop of our souls
And leaving Him out, we let in defeat
And year in and year out, this we did repeat

Instead, let us Listen, this year to our perfect Lord
And let us with the Holy Spirit be in one accord
God has great plans for us, when we listen and obey
So before another year of broken resolutions…..let's take the time and pray.

Big plans!

Well I just got done accidentally waking up Kaedy by having too much fun with Tarry! It is so nice to have her come over twice a week and talk...oops, I mean work! LOL. We have a lot in common, so I really love talking to her, it is nice to talk to a like minded person and share our struggles and our triumphs! :-)

I have been working on my speech for the seminar coming up in January. I am so excited about it and I have been working THROUGH it as well (it is going to be a workshop on scheduling and organizing) and I have been learning so much about myself and my habits. It has been awesome. God is really opening my eyes to a lot of things right now and I feel like I am getting a much better handle on my life. I have been working on it with Sherria too, although she is a little harder to get a handle on. She is goal-resistant. LOL Well, at least that gives me something to practice with, in case I have some goal-resistant listeners!

I am getting back into the calligraphy business. I am going to offer a free class to my homeschool group (adults and/or children) and then I am going to advertise my services through the city-wide homeschool "magazine" we have and possible through continuing education as well. I used to teach calligraphy in Albuquerque from the time I was about 16 until I was about 25. I did it through continuing education and the technical institute there. I also did wedding invitations, name place cards, certificates, etc etc. I am going to get back into all of that. I really enjoy doing calligraphy and I want to share it with others as well as make some money at it! :-) I was never as artistic as I wanted to be, but maybe with some practice, I will be able to become a little more artistic. I will probably start selling my "Namelets" again, too! I haven't even thought of those in years. But those are two nice things I could do, being confined to the house a lot of the time. And extra money is always nice! :-)

God is planning and working and weeding in my life and I am seeking Him with all my heart. It is a wonderful time!

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace.

I feel like I am going through most of these times right now....a little of each....and I will be more like my Savior when He is done with me. Hallelujah!

Things to do this week

Tomorrow I am having some sweet friends over for dinner and we are having a traditional "New Mexican dinner." (They are from NM too!) I am cooking tamales, posole, frijoles, calabacitas, tortillas and sopapillas. Susan is bringing flan over for dessert. I am making tamales today. Sherria is going to help me and we are going to cut the recipe in half and only make 5 dozen. It is great to have them in the freezer ready for whenever we are hungry! I cooked the pork meat all last night and the house smells delicious!!!!! Now I am going to let it cool until 'Ria gets here.

Most people are taking their trees and decorations down this week, but we are going to keep them up until at least the 6th of January (traditionally the 12th day of Christmas.)

We do need to write thank you notes this week, get all the way caught up on laundry, get chore charts done, write bills, work on seminar, send an update and pictures of Kaedra and put Christmas presents away.

Some praises:
Emily slept in her own room last night!!! WOOHOO!! That is her first time in years. I did stay in ther until she fell asleep, but I will be weaning her back on that.

My cold is going away and I can breathe through my mouth for the first time in weeks!!!

The girls have been doing much better on their chores.

Kaedra went down to 12 breaths a minute and tolerated it wonderfully! I also lowered her oxygen and she is doing great with that!

Kaedy has her four molars already cut through!! She has her first two teeth on top and bottom and then her four molars. I have never heard of that.

Brittany loves her Nancy Drew software I found for her online for Christmas!

Kaedy is able to support herself standing (by holding on to something) and is able to roll over to her tummy and move herself around. Not exactly crawling, but at least an effort! :-)

Okay, bye for now!

Country Vegetable Pies

I hope you all had a great Christmas!! What a blessing to have Kaedra Noelle home with us this year. I kept thinking it was "Baby's first Christmas," which, to us, it was! :-) We did things differently this year, but my favorite part was going to church on Christmas morning. I wish we had church EVERY Christmas morning! We took Kaedy to church with us, too, and it was wonderful. It was a prayer answered, to have her there, with her church family, able to sit through a service. (well, just barely, she was SOOO wiggly and busy!)

My parents are in Hawaii on a cruise and it was a little odd not talking to them on Christmas (they were in the middle of the ocean, away from phone service on Christmas day). On top of that, we have been talking more regularly now, so I have missed them while they have been "out of pocket."

I tried a new recipe the other night and everyone LOVED it. It was a HUGE hit! I need to type it in for Miss Linda and for my palm pilot cookbook, so I think I will share it with all y'all here!


Country Vegetable Pies
Yield: 2 pies to serve 6-8

2 prepared pie crusts
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
4 cups frozen vegetable mixture
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. LIne two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with non stick coating.
2. Place 1 piecrust on each baking sheet.
3. Beat together the cheeses. Spread half on each piecrust, leaving a 2 inch border of dough.
4. Todd the vegetables with the vegetable oil, basil, salt and pepper.
Place half the vegetables on each crust, covering the cheese mixture.
5. Fold up the edges of the dough, partially covering the filling. Press the edges together to hold them in place.
6. Use a pastry brush to cover dough with egg wash.
7. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm.

(I messed with the recipe a lot. I added chopped ham, used olive oil (instead of veg oil), used italian seasoning (instead of basil), used garlic salt (instead of salt) and didn't do the egg wash. You can use any kind of veggies and add any kind of meat. Michael also wants to try it with cheddar instead of swiss.)