tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29942866996559232682024-03-13T22:04:13.788-07:00Roots and Wings...A little spot to be still and discover what God has for me through my first mission fielddaughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-36940070735246386872009-04-20T08:34:00.000-07:002009-04-20T09:40:50.819-07:00Parenting 101Ok, so it has been over a year since my last post...since His mercy is new every morning-Ill jump into life currently.<br /><br />There are too many facets withen my mind to begin to cover them all in one post-so I will start with parenting...it's where my latest conviction comes from....<br /><br />Love....that's it. Do I really love? Fully, completely, unconditionally, physically, tangibly? Only when they behave as I desire? Is that where all my praise comes from? Do I expect perfection? Have I sucked the joy out of loving Jesus?.....yes, on all accounts. Guilty. Thank you Jesus for standing in the huge deficit of my parental skills....thank you , thank you......<br /><br />I took a long and extensive look in the "mirror" at the mother I have become vs. the mother I long to be....hum, tad off base....how do I get so far to the left? I have all the usual excuses, "I'm busy with 4 kids." " There is so much work to do, I don't have time to enjoy them!" " I didn't grow up this way. My mommy didn't love me." "My husband is in Iraq." You know, all the usual ones.... but really at the end of the day-they are just excuses.....I get on track for a while, then all of a sudden I look at the map and have no clue how we got here?! Thank you Jesus for your Map!!!<br /><br />Jesus said that they will know you are my diciples by your love (paraphrase, but close!).Quick revelation-I think he's talking about my kids too! Not just the outside world or those who don't believe. How about the little people who see me everyday, all day?! His word also teaches that I should "train them (children) in the way they should go..", somehow I am to merge these two thoughts! OH!! I get it!!!<br /><br />Somewhere in my brain , I think I thought that as long as I train-they will catch the rest..and I suppose that could be true-but I hyper-focused on one to the exclusion of the other. Opps. Again, thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy.<br /><br />Love them and train with grace....hum, nice one liner.<br /><br />I like things that I can write on the wall of my brain like post-it notes to self....it works for those of us prone to be distracted by shiny objects...<br /><br />So what does that look like to me? The mommy I long to be? I don't wanna fall to far to the right either and just stop parenting. It's not so black and white;right or wrong. I think I have to have the balance of tender, yet firm love and training. Is there a book on that? (lol)yeah, there is.....<br /><br />It can be so overwhelming....tender yet firm, gracious yet consistant, authoritative yet humble....<br /><br />I'll start here. For today, just for today...(pretty sure they use that in AA...but I digress...)I pledge to do the folowing:<br /><br /><br />Hold you for as long as you will let me.<br />Talk late.<br />Find the "funny" in you and all you do.<br />Cry with you when your heart hurts.<br />Love you...all the way.<br /><br />....and on that note....I'm off to learn more about crustaceans, supervise a chemistry experiment on fueling reactions, and go over colors with my two year old....love it!daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-14902531035609912942008-01-20T17:41:00.000-08:002008-01-20T18:04:44.672-08:00Update - day 17 (Confession)So, as of yesterday we can officially see the front and sides of our pantry shelves!! This is really very exciting-and no worries-we have not resorted to the crackers and Ketchup yet!! Far from it! In our journey to clean out the pantry-we have stumbled onto some great recipes and we are finally using the " stash" of brownies and cake mixes!! So don't feel too bad for us!!!<br /><br />Now on to the confession....we had some dear friends of ours Mr. and Mrs. R invite us out to lunch. The temptation of lunch was small, but the temptation to have adult conversation over a meal was great! And I caved in...at first we were going to a restaurant where I figured we could still do pretty good by ordering a la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">carte</span>. Then plans got changed and we ended up at a buffet....I hate buffets.....again, my desire to catch up and have deep conversation was too great....so we ate at the buffet...I hate buffets. It just reminds me of how wasteful we are but you barely have time to notice that before the waitress comes to remove your last plate so you can just go get another, clean, hot <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">fresh from</span> the dish washer plate because they can hardly keep up with the demand from the patrons for more!!!! (I know, that was not even a sentence..) Anyway-before we left they mentioned they were going to go see the new Veggie Tales movie....again, the temptation was too great. At that point I should have just been satisfied with what conversation I had and time spent-but then I thought that I would treat the kids(ha) because they have been so great with everything and we NEVER go to the movies.....now I remember why....crying baby, fussing baby, then sleeping baby who wakes immediately upon the absence of the constant rocking movement that I so desperately provide to calm him and not get nasty looks from all around me....I hate the movies....<br /><br />So, I left the theatre, sick to my stomach-and not because I consumed an enormous amount of freshly popped movie theatre popcorn (mmmm....popcorn.....) , but because I knew I had foolishly spent money that was now gone-buyers remorse had set in (it was either that or the chemical breakdown of that highly addictive, yet oh so good "butter" they squirt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">heavily</span> on the popcorn, but I digress...). I was so angry at myself and am still quite miffed at the whole day. And all though I very thoroughly enjoyed the company, I went over and over in my mind how I could have better handled my choices today.....<br /><br />All in all, here's where I landed<br /><br />Buffet for 4 : 26.00<br /><br />Movie with popcorn : 32.00<br /><br />The sick feeling in my gut of knowing that the money<br /> could have been much better spent : pricelessdaughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-9418494137761302992008-01-10T10:02:00.000-08:002008-01-10T10:20:01.185-08:00Update - Day 7, Our Journey Through the Pantry!It is day 7 (week one) of our Journey Through the Pantry and I have to tell you its been awesome! We still have plenty of good food to eat! I was talking with a friend in AZ (Mrs.B) about our little experiment, and she too has taken on the challenge! After talking about it with her, we decided that there were ground rules that should be followed. Rule one is that although we may not go "shopping" for food, we may get fresh fruit and veggies. I want to see how long I can live out of my pantry-not nutritionally starve my kids! Second, you may also purchase milk. We don't drink a lot of that in our house, but at Mrs.B's they do, and with three "little" ones(she has seven altogether!), we couldn't see going months without that! I buy instant nonfat milk now anyway-so we always have milk on hand!<br /><br />After talking about the "rules" of the game we added yet another side to it. In an attempt to keep our non-sense, impulse buys to a bare minimum. We are sending the oldest child into the store to retrieve said exceptions to the experiment. That way there is no aimless, wandering down numerous aisles of temptation!<br /><br />Last night we had chicken, gravy and mashed potatoes, and veggies. Yesterday we ran out of store bought bread-but I have a cupboard full of all the ingredients to make bread! Ahhh...the bliss of "going without"!daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-44145114103841433152008-01-05T09:40:00.000-08:002008-01-05T10:19:57.518-08:00Beauty for Ashes...So today is my birthday. No big deal really, but it does cause one to reflect for a moment on ones life thus far. And as I reflected, (curled up on my couch in front of the fireplace with a nice hot cup of french vanilla coffee), I saw once again how blessed I am.....<br /><br />I grew up on welfare and with no place to call home. With no father and a mom who worked two jobs to try and support us. We lived lived a life where I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">witnessed</span> things that no child should see..... I don't want to get into the whole story-but it was a sad and hard childhood-we'll leave it at that....<br /><br />Now flash forward to present day-I live in a home. A beautiful home(oh, thank you Lord...), with kids that I adore and will never feel the same pains and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">struggles</span> that I felt growing up(oh praise your Holy Name....), and a husband who loves me deeply with a marriage that only God could have granted and has blessed with His own two hands(I fall at your feet, my God....) how?<br /><br />I felt so unworthy.... there truly is nothing in me that deserves any of this." Weren't you there Lord, when I did that one thing...and then that other? I know you saw how bad I messed up when I did "that"? So by all accounts, You had every right to leave me no better then I came into this world!" But He didn't....oh Lord.....my God....my Father......how could I ever thank you for giving such Beauty for such burnt Ashes?<br /><br />Later I read a post from my good friend Mrs.L. She talks about loving her new boys that they have recently adopted. How the boys had never heard words of love, so she reminds them several times a day by asking them a question. "How comes I love you so big?"(in polish, and I won't even try to type that!) to which they respond "because you do!". It is a touching story.<br /><br />As I got up from my computer to go refill my coffee, I thought about her post. I thought about how blessed I feel, how I don't deserve any of it, how God has adopted me into his family, how he loves me and I can't for the life of me figure out why!<br /><br />Then, it was as if I could hear my heavenly Father say...."<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Calandra</span>, how comes I love you so big?"....and I just smiled and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">softly</span> whispered back to Him......"because you do...."daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-22620061978668602172008-01-02T20:16:00.000-08:002008-01-02T20:39:16.925-08:00New Year-New Look?Yes, as you can see I did a little remodeling to the blog site. I really wish I knew how to make it more my style-but I only know how to use the templates provided...perhaps I will look into that in my spare time! For now-this was a fun makeover!<br /><br />So here's what I have been thinking. Well, first, here's what happened.<br /><br />I was making dinner last night and was missing an ingredient. So I dug deep into the "black hole" of a pantry that we have to see ,if by chance I had said <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ingredient</span> canned somewhere back in the recesses of the cupboard. After digging and shoving and pushing things aside, out of frustration I decided to just empty every shelf out onto the counter. OH... my, my, my.....<br /><br />side note:have you ever had <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gluttony</span> just stare at you right in the face? Sorry, I am getting ahead of myself<br /><br />I contemplated for about half of a second weather or not to brave the arctic chill of winter that was outside my door to go get this elusive <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ingredient</span>. Did the recipe really call for it? I should look at it again...yup, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that's</span> what it needs....oh well - nitrate induced hot dogs it is then!<br />Anyway, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">that's</span> when the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">epiphany</span> hit me. The idea that is rocking the world of the precious little ones that live with me.<br /><br />Just how long could we last only eating what we have hoarded in the pantry?<br /><br />I took the idea to the kids and shockingly, it has become quite a challenge! We got really excited about how this is going to play out. We decided to write down our meals daily; to keep a log of how we eat. I predict that we will be just fine for a while-but I can't wait until we get down to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">crackers</span> and ketchup! (By the way-I have had that for dinner growing up-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">that's</span> a post for another day!)<br /><br />So, here we go. On our little" journey". Day one-so far so good....soup and sandwiches for lunch;sloppy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">joes</span> and fries for dinner;....no complaints yet, but I'll keep you posted!daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-66722780019626029972007-12-28T22:01:00.000-08:002007-12-28T22:40:56.202-08:00Elvis has left the building....Well, I have always loved Elvis (because I was born in Memphis-and it just wouldn't be right if I didn't!) , but I love and miss my knight in shining armour more....actually , it's more like my knight in a teflar , bullet -proof vest....but you get the just.<br /><br />I kissed my knight farewell after a much too short holiday together. Where we discovered that being miles apart from each other for long periods of time does not change the constant humor we share!! It's a slightly twisted humor that he and I share.....but its magical!<br /><br />We spent our holiday cuddling, laughing, crying, shopping, staying up late, getting up early, cuddling again, making googly eyes from across the room, praying, talking, wraping more presents then we intended to buy, cuddling some more, visiting family, sitting with the kids, (did I mention cuddling? lots of that!).....it was the best Christmas......ever.....<br /><br />Now, as my good friend Mrs. L would say, time to put my big girl panties on! I keep telling myself that we are on the downhill now of his tour-we did the last 10 months, so surly the next 2 and a half should be nothing, right? You know how when you run a race(don't laugh, I used to run) the last leg of it felt the hardest? You were tired, out of breath, and your legs felt like spagetthi-but you pushed through just long enough to make it past the finish line. Well, here I am. Staring down this last stretch of the race. A little older, hopefully a tad wiser, and definately with a tall, house blend, one sugar, two cream coffee in hand!!! Cheers!!!!daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-32906362651246407072007-12-04T18:29:00.000-08:002007-12-04T19:09:41.635-08:00What's a "tag"?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YUJ6gXBGI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ywL-IrE3fNA/s1600-h/pic+426.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140318185246360674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YUJ6gXBGI/AAAAAAAAABQ/ywL-IrE3fNA/s320/pic+426.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So my real life friend, Kelly "tagged" me with something called a meme. Where I am supposed to give up 7 unusual things about myself. OK, here goes...<br /><br /><br /><br />1. If in the unusual event I "forget" to make my bed in the morning-I have to make it before I get in it. Even if it is right before I am about to get into said unmade bed! (hows that Dr. Seuss!)<br /><br /><br />2. I have a strange love for the smell of bleach-my AZ friends are well aware of that...so no secret to them!<br /><br /><br />3. When in the shower I am kind enough to save my hubby the cost of drain-o or a good plumber by "swirling" the lose hair I get from shampooing on the wall....much to his disliking I often forget to remove the small "creature" and dispose of it properly in the waste receptacle. There, I outed myself on that one , Kelly!!!!<br /><br /><br />4. I could watch "Pride and Prejudice" every night of my life and never get bored...but who could ever tire of Mr. Darcy??? (that would be the new version, not the terribly long, 6 hour version by the BBC)<br /><br /><br />5. I have to move my feet in a clock-wise motion in order to fall asleep-I only recently found out how much this annoys my husband!<br /><br /><br />6. There is a certain way to eat, no, <em>savor</em> chocolate.....slowly and with a glass of my favorite red wine, on the porch with a good friend.....sure miss you Mrs.L!<br /><br /><br />7. When I get anxious I rub my left eyebrow-and as my hubby knows-I have been known to rub it right down to nothing!!!<br /><br />As I look over this tip- of- the- iceberg list of my "<span style="color:#ffff00;">habits</span>", how do you do it My Love? Boy am I glad God gave me to you! (Of course, not so sure you would say the same!!! Love you and counting down the days!!!!)daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-46202547685138165012007-12-04T18:10:00.000-08:002007-12-04T18:28:58.943-08:00Snow!!!!!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YKxagXBFI/AAAAAAAAABI/qqMDf1_YZhU/s1600-h/100_2462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140307868734915666" style="WIDTH: 245px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" height="222" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YKxagXBFI/AAAAAAAAABI/qqMDf1_YZhU/s320/100_2462.JPG" width="284" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YI36gXBEI/AAAAAAAAABA/U-4z3f6xPgs/s1600-h/100_2464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140305781380809794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YI36gXBEI/AAAAAAAAABA/U-4z3f6xPgs/s320/100_2464.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Yes, folks we have snow and lots of it!!!!!</div></div><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p>'Tis the season to snuggle under a hand-crocheted blanket next to the fire and play round after round of "uno"with the kids and not be considered lazy.....</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>It's that time of year when long blank stares out the window are normal....at least for me! The gentle fall of snow is almost mesmerizing to me!!!</p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YKxagXBFI/AAAAAAAAABI/qqMDf1_YZhU/s1600-h/100_2462.JPG"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YKxagXBFI/AAAAAAAAABI/qqMDf1_YZhU/s1600-h/100_2462.JPG"></a><br /><p></p><br /><p>I think back to when we first arrived in MN and after 30 minutes of bundling, my little Rose couldn't go outside for more then 5 minutes! Now when I call her in, she begs me for just one more "run" with her boys with her almost frost-bitten checks!!! It's all relative!</p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/R1YKxagXBFI/AAAAAAAAABI/qqMDf1_YZhU/s1600-h/100_2462.JPG"></a><br /><p></p><br /><p>It just hit me that my little girl will really be a Minnesotan?!? I will always think of myself as an Arizonan-although-I did notice my vowels getting longer!! Doon't cha' knoow!!!!! </p>daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-4737333218956627362007-12-04T18:05:00.001-08:002007-12-04T18:05:20.538-08:00daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-82983913867353708322007-11-20T17:41:00.000-08:002007-11-20T20:42:06.465-08:00Oh, So Thankful....My husband is thousands of miles away in a foreign country currently at war with itself, I have been a "single"mom for the past 9 months, homeschooling 3, taking care of an infant, and I'd give anything for a cup of coffee and adult conversation! - but I am the most thankful I have ever been!!!<br /><br />Needless to say - I miss my hubby something awful! Or maybe it did need to be said...see, if you would have asked me 3 years ago <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whether</span> I missed my hubby-the answer would have been very different ! Without going into great detail and rehashing stuff that feels so far away its almost like a bad dream...lets just say that our marriage was FAR from perfect! There were times when all I could think about was how fast and how far could I run...I mean really? I could re-name myself...I always liked the name Lisa.... I could just pick up and start somewhere else and who would know? Just to have a second chance seemed so tempting...and that time I would do it right!! (wink)<br /><br />I can't pinpoint one talk I heard, or which marriage retreat it was, or which piece of advice I took that really changed it all. I only really <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">remember</span> praying daily "Lord, change me and change my marriage. The wine has run out..."<br /><br />Fast forward now, a few years later, in a different state over a thousand miles(literally) from where we started, and James in Iraq.....Nothing like a a "little" change in your life to wake you up! ( Lord...change is what I prayed for, right?) <br /><br />I prayed for change and all, but wow! I just didn't think he would have to take him clear around the world to do it!!! This past 9 months I have watched how God has moved in my husbands heart. Making him and leading him into the leader of our home that He desires James to be....and molding me into the serving, help-meet that He desires of me.<br /><br /> What a miracle God has done in my life and in my marriage-it started 7 years ago when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And the ride ain't over yet! You could never have told either of us this part of the story and have us believe you! To be where we are now in our marriage, with our kids, and with our walks with God? Crazy talk, I tell you!<br /><br />When I look back at who we were then and how I thought things could and would never change, I am in awe of the complete miracle God has poured out on my family...<br /><br />When we started, things just weren't moving fast enough for me...couldn't we just profess Christianity and then be immediately changed? Well, yes and no. We desired to change, but needed guidance on how to walk that out. So God, in His <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">infinite</span> wisdom, stuck myself and James in a spiritual "vat", stirred the pot a bit and let it simmer for a long time(that is how you get the best flavor, right?). <br /><br />And today- I am soooo very in love with James...andI stand so thankful...yes,thankful for the long nights of wondering if we could get through the next week .....thankful for the tears shed on bended knee... and thankful for the cries out to Jesus to just "replace the wine, for we have run out..." Because without those long, heart wrenching moments, I wouldn't know that He still performs miracles...I wouldn't know His powerful grace... I wouldn't know His healing touch and I wouldn't know just how blessed I am ......thank you , Lord, thank you so very much ...daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-9394009343771445062007-11-14T15:33:00.000-08:002007-11-14T15:52:20.640-08:00Canning everything!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/RzuKF5oZXjI/AAAAAAAAAAo/OsO5KvWS4RA/s1600-h/DSC00247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5132848034293046834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/RzuKF5oZXjI/AAAAAAAAAAo/OsO5KvWS4RA/s320/DSC00247.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Did you know that you can can almost anything!? My dear friend D intro'd me into this glorious arena! I have now canned peaches, pears, green beans, pinto beans, peach jam, chili and pork and beans!!! I plan on canning enchilada sauce and more beans this week. There is nothing better then going down stairs and seeing rows of fresh preserved food!!! Not to mention the savings!! And I won't have to drudge in the cold winds of winter frequently! Lovin' that!! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Because although I love the snow-I love to LOOK at the snow while sipping hot tea and working on a project! I do not love running to the store everyday for food! My plan is to only go out for weekly milk. I will bake my bread in my handy , dandy breadmaker. And I am serioulsy contimplating using dry milk for us anyway. It is cheaper and we don't drink much milk, on the whole. That would mean I could hibernate all winter!!!Send the children out to sled down the hill(it's actually our septic mound!) and be ready inside waiting with hot chocolate and a fresh plate of cookies!!! Am I dreaming? I love it!!!!</div>daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-77541951471886490692007-11-05T17:43:00.000-08:002007-11-05T17:56:23.168-08:00The Nutcracker : Starring our little girl!!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/Ry_H-euhyfI/AAAAAAAAAAg/as3t2SNkOO8/s1600-h/DSC00011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129538376812317170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/Ry_H-euhyfI/AAAAAAAAAAg/as3t2SNkOO8/s320/DSC00011.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>C. is going to be performing in The Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet on Dec 6th!!!!! Officially she will play the part of a snowflake-unofficially: she's the star!!!! </div><div> </div><div>My mom is flying up for the "debut" and we can hardly wait! The performance will be held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN. </div><div> </div><div>Until then she is practicing diligently and making great new friends!</div>daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-60997520726051569412007-11-03T09:10:00.000-07:002007-11-03T09:16:29.972-07:00Flowers from Iraq?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/Ryyez6PFhEI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ER4dd13Iqns/s1600-h/DSC00004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128648690311201858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mJoZmAzYHNM/Ryyez6PFhEI/AAAAAAAAAAM/ER4dd13Iqns/s320/DSC00004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>No not really-it was our 13th anniversary on the 21st and via family James sent me half dozen roses. Although, my daughter keeps asking me how daddy was able to send them from all the way over there! I tell her"with lots of love..." Ain't it the truth....</div>daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-66788044085067611782007-11-03T08:44:00.001-07:002007-11-03T08:56:53.743-07:00I knew I wan't gonna be good at this....Sorry, I have been horrible with keeping up on this-but I will try again!<br /><br />It has been about 5 months and, as anyone who knows me well knows,that is enough time for my whole world to change! And it has!!<br /><br />We have a new baby (details to follow when the case isn't soo sensitive), we moved to our dream home, and I had a small accident and hurt my leg.<br /><br />Baby doing very well, house is amazing and leg has blood clot! Two outta three ain't bad!<br /><br />The fall season is once again upon us and oh wow....you guessed it ...its incrediably beautiful! I have vowed to start taking more scenic pics to share because words just don't do it justice!! I know that seems kinda loofty seeing as how I just started this again-but a girl can dream!!!<br /><br />Off to get started on my privilage and duty to my family!! It's Saturday and that when "Hurricane Mom" comes through and wipes everything out and starts anew!!! Love to all!!daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-34533083705221732802007-05-14T16:41:00.000-07:002007-05-14T16:51:41.763-07:00Spam?!Thats right. I need to talk about this deliciously, salty staple that Minnesota calls "Spam". My daughter, C. who lives on fruit and cheese won't touch almost any other "meat" (dare I call spam that?) except this! She loves it!!! She'll eat it hot, cold, fried , boiled, basted or roasted...the girl is crazy over it! With it's REALLY high salt content, I am not sure it is any better then just buying the girl a salt lick and attaching that to my kitchen wall! So I don't buy it often , but if you are in wal-mart and happen to hear the far away shrills of a very happy little girl crying out"We get Spam?!Yeah!!! Spam!!!" don't worry, it's just us...daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-28702345583684916132007-05-03T07:49:00.000-07:002007-05-03T08:05:48.021-07:00Who knew?Spring is sooo here!<br /><br />I grew up in the Southwest where the only two varying degrees are hot and hotter. Where grass is a serious luxury, and most of us just have pretty colored rock. Nothing wrong with that in a state where water is scarce and cacti are the natural landscape that covers those gorgeous mountains.<br /><br /> We moved here to Minnesota only about 18 months ago. This time last year I was back "visiting" AZ and missed this most amazing transformation of the short days of winter to the long warm days of spring! The beauty of thousands of tall majestic trees "waking up" after the dorment days of winter is overwhelming to me... Once again I feel like God is painting this huge canvas just for me... I anxiously run to meet everyday, just to get a peek, wondering what artists touches he has added today!<br /><br />I am sorry if it sounds trivial for those who are used to this-but so much green, these long warm breezes that just take the edge off of the sun, and these lakes! It's all so new and sweet to me! It is not just the kids that I have to keep focused on school-I want to go outside too! I am longing to go sit on my back porch and slowly work on my cross-stitch while I sip on some sweet tea and just quitely enjoy the day with my children....yeah, I'm sorry where was I?<br /><br />Is this what is called spring fever?daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-23450604224248843232007-04-24T22:06:00.000-07:002007-04-24T22:34:54.773-07:00I married the good samaritanAnd there is so much I love about that! My DH is away helping to organize local police stations for the Iraqi people. When he first brought the idea to me, I have to admit, I was not real thrilled. You see, He volunteered to go. But I realized something I was doing. I was fine with praying for everyone else that this war has touched personally-I really didn't want to be one of them! So, I prayed and thought about the fact that I married a true good <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Samaritan</span> and that that was exactly what I loved about him! I had been praying for God to reveal himself to my DH in a new and fresh way, I just didn't fathom that He was going to have to take him to Iraq to do it!!<br /><br />Already, I could be a witness and testify to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wondrous</span> blessings that God has bestowed on our marriage and family in the short time that he has been away!! Distance <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">truly</span> makes the heart grow fonder...and I find myself in a position of renewed respect for him.<br /><br />When he left(almost immediately) I felt like God was calling me to do three very specific things. I will not go into huge detail about two of them , but there is one I will talk about and that has been most pressing on my mind. That is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">renewed</span> call to purity and modesty. In thought and in action. Yes, me who has "idolised" and worshiped fashion, stood before my closet weeping as I threw outfit after outfit to the ground in a sharp realization that they were not as modest as I thought.<br /><br />"I saw this same outfit on so and so, why Lord can I not wear it? She wore it to church, why can't I? I just bought that! I haven't even worn that one!" were my selfish cries. I wept as I was made to see my extreme gluttony that took over in the dark, recessed places of my walk in closet. How blind I had been to the monster that I had slowly created in there!<br /><br />Since that "cleansing" I have never felt more freedom and more beautiful then I do now! I am fully covered, not drawing attention to any parts that ought not to be accentuated, yet not frumpy and sloppy looking either! I asked God to give me clear direction-and I believe he did! Hosanna!! I have come into what I feel is such an amazing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">closeness</span> with my God! Immeasurably more then I could have thought on my own!<br /><br />Who knew!!<br /><br />Not to mention that it gives me great honor to know that my shape is for one mans eyes alone. My hubby. Thank God that He gave him eyes for me! As I have just passed the 30 mark-it seems that things are not quite like they used to be!!<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Humm</span>...I was praying for my hubby to come to know Him in a new and fresh way and it seems as if God said" Oh my sweet daughter, but I have so much to do in you...."daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2994286699655923268.post-4624603795514623202007-04-24T21:31:00.000-07:002007-04-24T21:36:16.900-07:00So this is it?<span style="font-family:verdana;">Well, here I am in the cyber world that all my dearest friends have been raving about. How proud they will be to see that I put my big girl britches on and finally did it! Well, had I known that it was truley this easy-I would have done it along time ago!!! A whole world where I can ramble on and on with the crowded thoughts inside my mind! The realization of it all makes me rather giddy! Ok, ok, grant me a little time to get used to all this...</span>daughter of Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16977178105234038779noreply@blogger.com2