Who Doesn't Love Babies?

I love babies. If you have read even a little bit of my blog, you will see that most of my posts revolve around my own sweet babies (who aren't really babies anymore)

I was asked by Bzzagent if I would share with my readers about a new movie coming out called "Babies" (I am a member of bzzagent) and at first I hesitated. That is not really what my blog is about. My blog is more of a personal one. An online scrapbook if you will (and I know you will!) of the day ins and outs of my little family and our ministry.

Then I watched the preview. OH! How could I NOT post about it? It is like a little study into different cultures AND it has babies. My two favorite things! Now if only they gave out free coffee at the movies...

I digress. Anyhow, I just wanted to share the preview with you. Enjoy! Oh, and if you see me in the theatre, want to sneak me some coffee?

An Organized Way To Save

I have always been a couponer. I have very early memories of rainy days with my mom at the kitchen table, sorting her coupons. She would pay me a penny for every two coupons I cut. A good way to get them cut AND keep a crazy kid out of her hair no doubt. So, I guess you could say I got the "bug" from her, watching her work to save her family money.

When we were first married, we were poor college students living on $20 a week for groceries. Little did I know that would help us prepare for being missionaries! :)

I have always used an envelope system of sorts to organize my coupons. Then I moved to the plastic accordion style folder. The folders just kept getting bigger and bigger, but the problem was always the same. They would not close very well, making it ridiculous to carry around, and impossible to stick in my purse.

So, now I use baseball card holders. I'd like to tell you that I came up with this idea on my own, but it is not an original.

I am able to sort them by category, and then they go into this big file folder.

I misplaced the tabs to write on shortly after purchasing this file folder, but I have been using this system for so long, I just remember where it goes. Paper products, cleaning supplies, refrigerated, frozen, canned, etc...

It all ends up neatly. Now, there is no way I can fit this in my purse, but I have gotten over that, and have come to love this new system, and have a lot less "lost coupons" that I didn't see and then they expire before I can use them.

Do any of you have special ways that help you save?

Medieval March Madness

I know I haven't posted in a while. March always seems like such a busy month for us. It is reading month in school, so Emma comes home with and extra 20 minutes (at LEAST) of homework each night, the warm weather beckons us to spend time outdoors and neglect the usual routine we have. Also, we are preparing for the big Spring Fling here at NTBI.

This year it was called "Spring Fling Medieval Thing", and it was a huge success! I was not as involved this year due to my many doctor's appointments, but I was thoroughly impressed with the evening. Everything from the turkey legs and bread bowls of stew for supper, to the jousting on hobby horses attached to scooters made the night a fun one! I only wish my camera was working better. It has been on the fritz lately.

As far as my health goes, the doctor may have figured it out! Part of it was that I was having a strange reaction to my thyroid medicine. I have been off it for almost two weeks now, and feel ever so much better! They also think I may have endometriosis, and so I am scheduled for a quick surgery on April 19th. Nothing too bad. It is an out patient procedure.

The girls are growing by leaps and bounds, and amazing me every day. I am so blessed. It has been a busy month, but we are enjoying life!

Here is the gym at the school. Check out all the costumes!

Addie kicking Josie's bottom at Wii boxing. :)

Here is a picture of my new haircut. I like it. :)

A Quick Visit

Last week Josh's sister Chris and family were close by, and so we decided to meet up for dinner. They live several hours from us, so when they are three hours away, we agreed to both drive an hour and a half and meet up.

We met at some local pizza shop in Bryan, OH called Myro's. Their breadsticks were PHENOMENAL!!!

We had a great time visiting with Chris and Winston and Cora. Ken was not able to make it. He sure was missed!

At the end of our dinner, as the restaurant was closing up (we stayed awhile!) we said our goodbyes in the parking lot. It was sad to see them go, but we are glad we had an evening together. Josh made sure to program the number of the pizza place in my phone so we could order breadsticks if we were ever driving through Bryan again. :)

My nephew Winston is getting SO big!

The girls acting VERY silly. This went on all night!

Proof that I was there. :) Love you Chris!

As the Snow Melts

After the week of snow, we had a week of beautiful weather, reaching a high of 45 degrees yesterday! With the thaw, comes perfect packing snow! We had a lot of snow, and we decided to make the most of it. Josie, Emma and I went and made a snowman to greet our neighbors as they drive down the alley. :)

Josie and Emma pose with Mr. Chilly. I think it was Josie who named him.

Isn't he a friendly snowman? He lasted four days before his head melted off. That is pretty good!

Where was Addie during all of this? She was watching a movie. She didn't want to get wet. I didn't blame her. :) Plus it is no fun to have a crabby, soggy toddler cry while you are making winter memories. She will just have different ones. :)

Snow Day!

Last Sunday was beautiful. The grass was starting to show through the little snow we had left. It was warm enough to go for a walk with just a vest on. The birds were singing little songs. It felt like spring was starting to arrive.

Then Sunday night it happened. It happened again Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We got DUMPED on with snow!

Monday school was cancelled for Emma. Her sisters were sick, so I couldn't take them to the park, but once Daddy got home Emma went sledding down our front hill while he shoveled the walks. When he was done he took her over to the park for a couple of minutes before it got dark.

She had SO much fun! What seems like a lot of snow to an adult is totally amplified to a child. I am sure she will remember this snowfall, and tell her children about it. :)

Starting down the hill. There was still a week of snow left to fall at this time. :)

She made it to the top of the snow bank!

Who needs a sled to go sledding when you have a perfectly good belly?

Germsville

That is what you could call our house lately. Or maybe Coughland, Sicki-poluza, Ill-ville, Cold Country.

We finally got a bug. I'm not exactly what sort of bug it is. The doctor said it was either croup, or RSV, but they didn't have the tests to check. Helpful, I know. So, since Saturday I have been home with Josie and Addie, trying to get them better. God has graciously spared the rest of our family, which is a miracle in and of itself. We seem to always get sick all at once. So, home we stay. Snuggled in a heap of blankets watching the Little Mermaid, part 2.

I can't say that I've really minded all too much. I have had a lot of snuggle time with my sweet ones, who will soon be past that snuggly stage. I have taken a good whack at the laundry, and have come out on top. There is still plenty of it, but it is not as daunting as it once was. It is hard to stay on top of laundry with sick children in the house. It sort of makes for extra laundry.

The laundry battle should be over with now though. I am happy to report they are on the mend, dare I say it, better?

Here is a little glimpse of how they spend their week.

They are either watching some Disney princess movie, or Barbie princess movie. They do love their princesses. I love mine too!

Even when they feel miserable, they can look cute. :)

On a completely separate note...

Josh just hung some curtains in our bedroom last week. Didn't he do a good job? I love them. If I close them, they let in enough sunlight that I can pretend it is spring outside. :)

Thank you hon! They are perfect!

Campus Life Coffee Social

Saturday night we had our annual coffee social for New Tribes Bible Institute. Josh and I lead the campus life group here at NTBI. Campus life is a group of students who organize events and community service projects that help facilitate in building relationships between staff and students.

My parents came out to watch our kids so I could go and help. Besides a little running around to grab things we forgot to bring, I didn't really have much to do but visit! A local coffee shop was were we had our event, complete with a dessert contest. There was a lot of people playing games, but mostly people were able to just relax and socialize. It was a fun evening!

This was just the upstairs. Downstairs you can order drinks. Campus life bought a drink for everyone. Free coffee tends to draw a crowd!

Josh was announcing who won the dessert contest. Congrats Lauren!

Josh is helping serve one of the many delicious desserts that were made by staff and students.

Josh and I got to visit for a bit with our good friends Mandi and Josh. They are new on staff this year, and we made fast friends with them. It must be our shared love of missions, coffee, photography, and Lord of the Rings. :)

Friday Confessions

It's Friday, and it's time to get real. Here are my Friday confessions:

1. Even though I am a snow lover, I am tired of winter and just want to go to a beach.

2. I love Reeses peanut butter cups. I love them so much that I can't buy them, because I will eat them all. It is taking all the will power I have to not eat the peanut butter cup that came with Josie's Valentine today. I'm not sure it will be there by morning.

3. I cry like a BABY every time I watch Disney's Pocahontas. When John Smith (Mel Gibson's voice) starts to sing the "If I Never Knew You" song, the tears start coming every time. I keep wanting for her to jump off that cliff and land on the deck of the ship at the end of the movie, but she never does. :(

4. I never drink enough water. I don't know why. I know you should drink eight glasses a day. I just don't.

5. I am getting more freckles the older I get. I thought they were supposed to disappear?

6. I filled out all of Josie and Addie's Valentine's Day cards this year, while they were in bed.

7. I think that that it is always a good time for popcorn. YUM!

8. I have some gray hair. Even though I said I would be fine with gray hair, I keep pulling them out. I guess I didn't think they would come this early.

9. I let Addie say words wrong, because I think it is cute. I NEVER let the other two do that.

10. I am going to let my kids eat sugary cereal for dinner AND have ice cream, because I am the Mom, and I can do that sometimes. Don't judge. :)

Prima Ballerina

Ah! This winter has dragged on. There is not enough snow to play in, and it is just sloppy out. Many days we are just inside. Cooped up like chickens. Ha!

Okay, well it's not that bad. :)

I haven't blogged that much, because not that much exciting has been going on. I still am going to the doctor, and still don't know anything official about my health. I am hoping that in the next couple of weeks that will change.

We have been spending our days baking, playing with Barbies and dress up, watching movies, and of course BALLET!

Addie recently has been wishing that she could dance ballet like her older sisters, so now we have our own little ballet class at home. :) She has such a funny "serious face" on when she dances. It's hilarious!

Pretty pose.

And spin...

Ta-Da!

Guess Who's Three!!!

Adelaide! That's who!

We were able to have a very fun weekend celebrating Addie's third birthday. Our little princess is three, and what is better than celebrating with a bunch of friends?

It seems weird to me that my baby is three years old. Feels like it was only a year ago that she was born. Time sure does fly!

Addie, you add so much joy to our lives. You are such a loving little girl, and we are so thankful that God brought you to our family.

Happy Birthday little princess!

Addie eating some birthday cake on her pink plate. She requested a "pink party", and that's exactly what she got! :)

Slowly Falling Apart

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday. Please be praying for me. It is a new doctor, and I really just want some answers. I just feel like with my teeth, and my thyroid, and everything else that is wrong, I am slowly falling apart.

Without getting into the unsavory details, I am having a difficult time eating..or digesting. I'm not sure which it is.

I get sick..A LOT. I have eliminated meat, and some dairy from my diet, and it is a sad day.

I don't know how vegetarians do it honestly. I mean, it is a struggle for me not to eat it, and it gives me pain so great it drops me to my knees. Alas, it has been weeks since I have even eaten the tasty goodness.

I am praying that they will find out what is wrong, and that we will be able to get it fixed soon. Oh, and that I can eat meat again.

I SOOOOO am craving a yummy taco right now!

Maybe someday...

My Little Miss Sunshine

It has been a little gloomy this week. Cloudy and overcast, and sloppy. Not cold enough to play in snow, not warm enough to dry up the yard.

That is okay though. I have some sunshine right in my house!

My own "Little Miss Sunshine"

Here she comes!

Oh, it's coming...

There is the sunshine!!!

It just warms me right up!

Who Doesn't Love a Hobbit?

Last night Josh and I had a group of students over for a Lord of the Rings party. Josh made lattes and I made cookies with our friends and then we watched the extended version. It was so funny as some were quoting the movie almost word for word, as others made jokes, and one hadn't even ever seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies! We even had the "experts" who kept us updated on how it did or did not go with the book. It was such a hilarious night! I just love it when the students are over on a Friday night. SO much fun!

Some of the group. It grew even bigger as the night went on.

Just a little proof that I was there too! :)

Our entertainment for the evening.


Now onto some fun. The first person who can name correctly which part of the trilogy we were watching will win a prize!
*Disclaimer- please do not enter if you saw my facebook status last night. That just wouldn't be fair! :)

Toasty and Dry

Nothing big or exciting going on here. I just had to post different pictures of the girls. They look so cold and wet in the last ones! ha!

Emma

Josie

Addie

Snowflakes That Stay On My Nose And Eyelashes...

That snow we were watching decided to dump on us. Ballet class was canceled, and we got to play in the snow!

Then this morning, school was canceled! You couldn't ask for a better start to the weekend.

This year I have to be on my guard. The girls love to snowball fight, and they are getting good!

Emma may or may not have gotten a total white wash just before this shot. I assure you, if it happened, it was deserved.

The snow was clinging to Josie's eyebrows!

Addie's eyelashes were catching all the snow falling in her direction.

Things I Like About Winter

It is just starting to snow again. We haven't really gotten a lot of snow here in Michigan yet. Well, in my neck of the woods anyhow. Anytime we did get snow in the last couple of weeks, we have been out of town.

So, the snow is falling, and Josie, Addie and I are eagerly looking out the window. There is not really enough to play in yet, but maybe when it is done. I want to go play in it now, but I have a meeting soon that I have to go to, and hat head is not my preferred way to wear my hair. After the meeting Emma will come home, and will have homework. Then Josie and Emma are off to ballet, and when we get back we will have just enough time for dinner and bedtime.

So, today we will wait. Occupy ourselves with the things that need to get done. Maybe tomorrow... we will see.

Until then, these are some things I love about winter here in Michigan:

Itty bitty snow boots. They were even cuter when the girls were smaller, but useless, as everyone knows a one year old can't walk in them.

Puppy prints in the snow. These are Sonny's, but any puppy print will do.

A scenic snow scape. I don't really have that big of a yard, but I live across from a park, so I have one heck of a view! Now if I could only get those wires out of the way...

Hot cocoa. Yum! I think even if I didn't like this drink, I would still fix it for all the memories it brings back of me playing in the snow as a kid with my brother and sister. We would come in, sopping wet, and head down to the basement to peel off layer after soggy layer, shaking the little snowballs that stuck to our knit mittens onto the wood burning stove to watch them sizzle. Then we'd head upstairs and make a cup of swiss miss, and I would inevitably burn my tongue until I learned the ice cube trick. :)

Getting Down to the Root Problem

Yesterday I visited the dentist. I was just there six months ago for a cleaning. Everything was going well. This was just another routine cleaning and check up.

Then "IT" happened.

Looks of shock.

Counting.

More Counting.

Then it came.

"I can't believe this, but it seems we will need to work on twelve of your teeth."

I couldn't believe it either! TWELVE??? It's not as though I have given up brushing, or been on an all candy and soda diet for the last six months.

Apparently, my body is flipping out on me. I mean, I never even had a cavity until I was 26,now there is barely a spot where I don't. I guess this can happen when you are working with hormone problems or thyroid problems. Since I have both, I am guessing this is a double whammy.

The work needs to be done soon they tell me. They ask if we have dental insurance. We don't. We couldn't afford it even if we wanted it. The dentist has always been so gracious to us missionaries, giving us a discount at every visit. They say they will see what they can do.

This morning I got the call. With a huge discount they can get it down to one thousand, five hundred dollars.

Did I hear that right? I think I am going to be ill. That is more than we make in a month.

Deep breaths.

Then it comes. A gentle reminder in my head. Don't you know? Your Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills! Have you ever gone hungry? NO! Have you ever gone without clothing or a roof over your head? NO! Have you been blessed time and time again? Of course. Then why worry about your teeth?

So, I ask that you pray for my teeth. That I could keep them all. That I can get them fixed. That it won't hurt.

Mostly, that my smile won't look like this.

Or this.

And also, that I would remember these truths quicker, as I think I was going to pass out on my bathroom floor, which incidentally is where I took the call from the dentist. Hey, what can I say? It is hard to find a quiet place to take a call in my house. Oh, and dentist receptionist lady? Don't worry, I wasn't using the bathroom...really.