Monday, June 30, 2014

The amazing Susie...

It always seems that when a group of any women get together, for any social reason, the discussion eventually turns to childbirth stories. It's like we are telling our war stories. :-D It happens even more so when one of the members of the group is expecting. Well then, it's inevitable. The poor pregnant gals all have to hear everyone's stories. But it is fun at the same time too. What had pain killers? How long did your labor last? And so on...

This is one of my favorite stories from my childbirths, and I promise it is not too gory. It's ok, you can read on...

When I went into labor with our first daughter, we went into the hospital in the middle of the night (like 2:45 a.m.). We labored for a while at the hospital and a new nurse came on shift in the morning (7:00 I think...) We were playing Christian music on our CD player we brought from home (it was 1999, people!) and this sweet nurse remarked about it. She was a Christian too, and her name was Susie. We fell in love with Susie's kind attitude and gentle smile immediately. She confessed to us that she felt like she wasn't doing much for God in her job lately, and had asked for a sign. She didn't normally do that kind of thing, but felt like we were her answer to keep going, keep fighting the good fight. She prayed with me during the labor, while Joshua was helping me breathe, and it made a HUGE difference! She was delighted with little Rebekah, so sweet and encouraging to us when we left. She said prayers with us before we left. What an awesome nurse!

Fast forward to three and a half years later, when we went into a different hospital, because the birthing center at the smaller hospital closed. We figured our sweet nurse Susie was employed elsewhere. We had to be induced with our son that day, who was five days overdue. We were walking down the hall to our room, and we glanced into another room. Who did we see? Susie, of course. She was there, and changed patients with another nurse so she could be OUR nurse for the birth. She was wonderful, prayerful and encouraging once again. I think she was just as excited to see us as we were excited to see her! She was joyful alongside us as we had our son and took him home as well.

Another four years went by, and we were on our way to the hospital in labor with our third child. On the way to the hospital, we joked, "What are the chances that Susie will be there?!" We hoped she would be... When we arrived at the hospital that October afternoon, we were put into an overflow room for labor, since all the other rooms were full. Later, I realized that I was in transition when I got to the hospital. I laid down and just wanted to push. The nurse checked me and said I was fully dilated. Then she yelled down the hall, "SUSIEEE!!" We looked at each other in surprise. It was our favorite nurse, Susie, and she helped us again for the THIRD time. Isn't God amazing??
We finally got a picture with Susie after the third birth!

That labor and delivery was fast and furious, she was born in one hour, from start to finish. She was born twenty minutes after we arrived at the hospital. We were so thankful for the nurses that day that helped us so much, and the resident doctor who delivered her. Our doctor didn't even make it to the birth! I tried to convince him that her birth should have been free, since he wasn't even there, but he didn't go for that...

For our fourth and final childbirth, Susie was not working, and we missed her greatly. But God blessed us with another nurse, who attended our church and was a wonderful nurse to us too. So I've had wonderful labors, because God is faithful and blessed us with an angel in disguise. God is so good!

Do you have any similar stories where God has shown you His presence so clearly when you needed Him? I'd love to hear about it!


Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

Isaiah 42:14
“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.

Romans 8:22
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Father's day fun!

A few Sundays ago, on Father's Day we had a BBQ at our home with BOTH of our Dads! It was a fun time to be together and celebrate. We are thankful to have both of them in our lives! God has blessed us!
 My hubby being a good Daddy and playing baseball with his boy!
 Kids with Grandpa (hubby's dad)
Kids with other Grandpa (my dad)
Hubby and his Dad
 My dad and me
 My hubby and Bethy, being strong (like super-heroes!
 Our 4 kids and their daddy... Love them all! (Mallory's shirt says, 'Daddy's girl')

What did you all do for Father's Day? I'd love to hear about it!


Proverbs 23:24
The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.


Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:9
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

My 5 favorite smells...

When I need some inspiration for my blog, I look online a little bit. I found this prompt and thought it would be a fun one! You might just learn a little about me...

Here are my favorite smells...
1. My kids' hair after a bath

2. Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven...

3. My hubby after he showers & puts on cologne

4. My hubby's hand-made pizza fresh out of the oven!

5. Peppermint essential oil!


It was pretty easy for me to come up with five smells...
Don't you wish the internet had scratch & sniff?

What are some of your favorite smells? I'd love to hear about them!



Exodus 30:7
“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps.

Ephesians 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Philippians 4:18
I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Essential oils for summer

There are several oils from my favorite oil company that are great to use in the summer. I will highlight a few of them here. If you are interested in ordering anything, please visit my website here.

One of my newest oils is the Repellent Blend. It's a great oil for summer! It is great to use as an insect repellent because it has a pleasant scent, is all natural and effective. You can apply a drop to each ankle and wrist for insect repelling, or you can use it on an insect bite afterward. You can spray it on windowsills to prevent insects from getting in your home. It is also great at repelling spiders, safe to use on plants to eliminate bugs and flies, and can be used in the kitchen to keep fruit flies at bay. What a versatile product!! Another recipe I found on Pinterest using Repellent blend is to add 10-15 drops of oil to 1 oz water, put into a small glass spray bottle and spray over exposed skin and clothing. 

Another wonderful oil for summertime is Lavender. Wait, isn't that great year-round? Yes, it is. But lavender can soothe skin irritation such as sunburn! I think it would be great sprayed on the skin. You could add it to doTerra's unscented lotion and apply to skin that way too. Lavender is also great to put on all those knee owies and scrapes that kids get this time of year! Some people like Melaleuca for soothing skin irritations too!

One more great oil for summer is peppermint! Peppermint has a nice, cooling effect and can be applied topically to cool down a hot body. Ants also don't like peppermint, so it is good to use as a deterrent for them. 


I've heard coconut oil can be used as sunscreen, but have not tried it. I also saw a recipe for sunscreen using Helichrysum and Lavender (which both help skin recover quickly) with Fractionated Coconut oil. (FCO)

Hope that helps you find an all-natural essential oil to use this summer for your needs!



Psalm 92:9-11
For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
You have exalted my horn[a] like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.



Exodus 30:22-29

Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus,  500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil.  Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law,  the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense,  the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand.  You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Rhubarb bars

Last week, a lady from our church gave us some rhubarb. I've not had rhubarb in many years, and searched online for what to do with it. (I also looked for ingredients that I had IN my house!) I found a delicious recipe on Allrecipes.com for rhubarb bars. Now if I ever get rhubarb again, I've got a great dessert recipe I can use with it!

I thought you might like to see and use the recipe too, so here it is:
(The original recipe is found here.)
Ingredients

Original recipe makes 30 bars












  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. (I used a 9 X 13" pan)
  2. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups of flour and baking powder. Cut in 1/2 cup of butter by pinching between your fingers or using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly. Stir in the egg and milk just until the mixture is moistened. Pat into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread rhubarb over the crust in an even layer, then sprinkle the dry gelatin powder over the rhubarb.
  3. Prepare the topping by stirring together 2 cups white sugar and 1 cup flour. Cut in 1/2 cup of butter as you did for the crust. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the rhubarb.
  4. Bake in the preheated oven until the topping is golden brown and the rhubarb is tender enough to easily pierce with a fork, about 45 minutes. Cool and then cut into bars to serve.
  5. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Let me know if you try this recipe-- I'd love to hear your review!


    Exodus 29:2
    And from the finest wheat flour make round loaves without yeast, thick loaves without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves without yeast and brushed with olive oil.

    Ezekiel 16:19
    Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.

    Matthew 13:32-34
    Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
    He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
    Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Our garden so far...

This Spring my hubby got some bricks from our neighbor. He and my son laid them out in the garden for garden boxes! Several weeks ago, my hubby and I worked to fill them with dirt and manure. Then we planted a lot of seeds, the tomatoes and broccoli given to us by another neighbor. It has been so nice to have garden boxes and to see the seeds growing! It changes out there every day!

Here is what we have so far...
 Spinach/ lettuce-- planted late...
 Green onion...
 Carrots-- yum!
 Tomatoes are so happy!
 Green beans...
 Sweet potatoes...
 Pickling cucumbers...
 Sunflowers near the cucumbers, since they like each other...
And sweet snap peas!


We are really looking forward to watching it all grow and being able to pick all of the yummy veggies! I've been watering them by watering cans each day and enjoy seeing the growth and change, and even weed little weeds out. It is easier to weed when they are small, right?

Do you have a garden this year? If so, what have you planted in it?



Psalm 104:13-15
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.



Matthew 13:31-33
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: Spring baseball!

Spring baseball is coming to an end in our area already! I have really enjoyed watching my son pitch, catch, throw and hit so well this season! He has been in a higher level this year, and it has been so fun! He has honed his pitching skills and pitched very, very well in several games. He has held the score low, and yet had some great hits low into centerfield. I am a little sad that it is nearly done, but the weather is getting hotter...

I took five pictures of him pitching, and they were all nearly the same. He throws faster than my finger can capture!



 Up to bat... swinging, fouling and ready for another pitch...
We sure love our boy and are proud of his hard playing this season!



1 Samuel 16:17
So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”


Psalm 33:3
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.


Zechariah 8:5
The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there.

Monday, June 9, 2014

VBS Preparations!

We are busy getting ready for VBS which begins tomorrow (or today as you are reading this...) I was head of the decorations this year. I am so thankful for the resources that I had, the people that so willingly helped me, and the work that was done in the past several days. I stepped into the decoration job just two weeks ago. Our VBS staff has lacked in volunteers this year (people being out of town, moving, family medical needs, and so on.) Lifeway (who creates our VBS curriculum we use) had a great book with lots of decorations ideas that I used. I gathered a few ideas from Pinterest. It was fun to plan, purchase supplies, work on it and have it turn out much the way that I envisioned it!

Here are some pictures of how things turned out...
 Our "spy guy" that we will place around for the kids to find during the day...

 Grids I made for shoe box lid hand scanners... later traced different sized kids' hands on them.
 Thankful for these diligent helpers that worked on this "bookcase" last Thursday...
 I think I cut out about 50 of these "Top Secret" labels for boxes, file folders and misc. decorations...
 My sweet friend and daughter made this black painted box look like a cool table for the snack room...
 Our C.E. Pastor and his kids made a cool Security entrance...
 Our "elevator" for the Junior Agents age group (Kind.-1st grade)
 Our "book shelf" for the Analysts age group (4th-6th grade)
 Back of the sanctuary... where kids get ready to play games outside...
 Across the auditorium at the signs...

 The "evidence vault" for the Code Breakers age group (2nd-3rd graders)...

 The evidence room shelf for the recruits (Pre-K age group)...
The mission possible shelf where we will collect food for our local food backpack program...

I didn't get a picture of the stage which looks so cool! My hubby worked hard on making a digital cross! Maybe another day I'll post one...


I'm so glad that everything is up and ready! Another task that is different for me this year is that I will be the Preschool teacher. Our faithful teacher that we've had in that level for the past 4 years became a missionary, raised her funding and moved a few months ago to Nigeria! I am excited to try something different since the past four years I have sung on stage (I will not be this year) and I have been a photographer/ craft helper/ floater volunteer. It should be fun to work in a more hands on way with the kids! Pray for me that I will be an effective teacher with the kids! 

Our theme verse for the week:
"Always be ready to to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." 1 Peter 3:15

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The days are fleeting...

Last week, I was walking with my three younger children out of our city library branch with my bag bulging with picture books from the shelves. We chose a bunch that piqued our interest, including Curious George, Mo Willems books, a few Little Critter, easy readers, comic books and several others. The kids always enjoy perusing the stacks and choosing some leisure reading for the next few weeks.

As we walked out, I was holding my young daughters' hands (ages 5 and 7), one on each side. My son walked nearby. I put on my sunglasses against the noonday sun. We walked past a sweet, white-haired couple, who was walking out of the library slowly. They were bespectacled, each with one chosen book in their hand. I walked past them with my bulging back, and thought, "That will be me someday soon. I'll have no more bulging bag of books, but just one large novel to read." The thought made me a little sad, yet determined to savor these full days of late Spring and early Summer.

Days full of riding bikes, playing catch, doing chores, watering plants, watching early morning cartoons and reading books surrounded by one, two or three children. Days reading with my children all kinds of books, from classic picture books to read-aloud story books with make us sad and yet giggle too. I know my days of having small children at home are numbered, and I want to savor them.

Thank you Lord, for the reminder to treasure these days with my children, to be there to enjoy their smiles, kiss their knees and look into their big eyes. Thank you for appointing me to be their mother. It can be a tough job, but with God's help, I find moments of joy in it all.



Psalm 39:4-5“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.



Psalm 144:3-4Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,
mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;
their days are like a fleeting shadow.
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