sing me to sleep...

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things was spending a Friday or Saturday night (or both)with my Gram. I always slept in her bed beside her, we would cozy in and read a book or two, and then she would sing me to sleep, rub my back, and lull me to sleep...

Even now when I'm upset, or really tired, afraid, or feel alone. Or maybe I'm just a little lonely for memories of her, I hum her song.

Lullaby, and good night,
With pink roses bedight,
With lilies o'erspread,
Is my baby's sweet head.
Lay you down now, and rest,
May your slumber be blessed!
Lay you down now, and rest,
May thy slumber be blessed!

Lullaby, and good night,
You're your mother's delight,
Shining angels beside
My darling abide.
Soft and warm is your bed,
Close your eyes and rest your head.
Soft and warm is your bed,
Close your eyes and rest your head.

Sleepyhead, close your eyes.
Mother's right here beside you.
I'll protect you from harm,
You will wake in my arms.
Guardian angels are near,
So sleep on, with no fear.
Guardian angels are near,
So sleep on, with no fear.

Lullaby, and sleep tight.
Hush! My darling is sleeping,
On his sheets white as cream,
With his head full of dreams.
When the sky's bright with dawn,
He will wake in the morning.
When noontide warms the world,
He will frolic in the sun.


Today has been a hard day. I wish for just a moment I could go back to being that little girl in her bed, comforted by her song...

in times of anxiety and worry...

This time of year is inevitably my most stressful. A lot seems to snowball on top of me. There are times that I let all the stress, worry, and anxiety pile on top of me, and bury my heart. There are years and times that I have totally forgotten who to put my trust in so that my anxiety will be at peace. Today, I am conscience of this stirring within myself... and I am not giving in to this stressful time. Sure life is still stressful... Sure I'm still tired as a dog... But, I know, that God will never give me ANYTHING I cannot handle. By worrying, and feeling anxious, I am sending God the message that he in fact does not have my trust or my confidence that he has me covered. So, in this season of stress, I give HIM my anxieties in prayer, and feel totally at peace!


"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:6-9 ESV

this and that...

Okay, so I know, I know, every time I post I talk about how I have been totally in a blogging rut. Yup, you've heard it, you know it, and guess what??? My story is still the same. I guess all of my creative juices have been used for other things lately... There is just not an ounce of creativity left to pour into this little Ole blog of mine. So sorry, all you who are still reading this, I really am!

So, since I haven't any of my own creativity these days, I will leave you with a few new blogs I have found that are fun and creative reads all their own!
Under the Sycamore
Hello, from the Nato's
The Reed Life
Deliciously Organic
Joy's Hope
enjoy!

For the next two weeks or so I am working everyday... long hours, getting ready for the holidays at our shop Emma Downtown. So, at the current moment all of my energy and time is going into re-doing a 2,000+ SQ foot shop into a wintry wonderland, doing all of my normal wifey and motherly duties, decorating 7 Christmas trees, (yes, 7)and basically staying upright. Prayers are always appreciated! :) I do love this time of year... I wouldn't still be doing this if I didn't!

a funny little tale...

I know that I haven't really been very good at blogging lately. Ever since my trip, I've been knocked off my horse so to speak. Maybe I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of things, maybe there is just too much to do and too little of time to do it all in, maybe it's because I've had a terrible U.T.I. for a few months (yes, a few months) and it finally got so bad I was forced to take care of it with heavy doses of antibiotics, and rest. Maybe it's a combination of it all... That's life. Pure and simple. However, I just don't like documenting the upheaval in life as I do the fun stuff, the joy, and the sweet little memories. So, that's why it's been a little quiet around here.

Something happened last week that made me laugh... it made me stop, and realize the sweet little memories are in the everyday stuff that happens. Even in the midst of what feels like upheaval.




Last Friday, Bella was off school, Meritt was in school, (Bella was thrilled to have me all to herself for 2 whole hours...). While Meritt was in school we went to run some errands, first thing we did was go by Starbucks for a Venti Black Iced Tea (aka lover of my soul). When we got to the window at the drive through the Batista hands me my drink and says 'I have a present for you!' I said 'I love caffeine presents!'... and Bella chimes in from the back seat, 'I don't need caffeine, kids don't need it, kids are born with caffeine!' Amen. There is a true statement if I ever heard one! Kids are born with caffeine! That's why I never needed it before I had children, and now that I have two, I am hopelessly addicted! She was so tickled with the fact that she made us all laugh with her witty and true remark, that she began to giggle at herself. In a pure seven year old way, that lights up the day, and makes everything right in the world. She giggled, and snorted, and laughed, until we were both laughing until tears came out. Leave it to kiddos to say it like it is, and be able to see the humor in the truth! I love that girl!

my favorite easy apple recipe...

Okay, so after you had to listen to all of my 'venting' and 'belly aching' yesterday I decided you deserved a little treat. So, I am sharing with you my most favorite easy apple recipe. I have been making this recipe for YEARS, since I was in 4H way back in the day.... that was a loooonggg time ago. It's really good. Really easy. Really comforting, and kind of one of those fake-out dishes that really tastes like you spent way more time and effort than you have. (love those!)





So Here it is...

Apple Crisp

4c. sliced apples
2/3c. brown sugar packed tight
1/2c. flour
1 stick butter
1/2c. quick oats
3/4tsp. cinnamon
3/4tsp. nutmeg

(use this topping for any kind of crisp you want just substitute apples for what ever fruit you like... I've made this with blackberries, marionberries, & peaches - it's all good!)

Place apples in a 7 by 9 inch greased pan. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl with wooden spoon until crumbly, and sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees or until brown and crumbly.

(you can easily double or even triple this recipe for a larger groups of people... also you can bake individual crisps in ramekins for petite desserts! Serve with vanilla icecream or fresh whipcream and oh, yeah...)




I finally bought one of these today... oh my gosh, had I known what I was missing, well, I wouldn't have done 50lbs. of applesauce in August without it. It's awesome! I'm not one for a lot of gadgets and gizmo's in the kitchen, or recipes for that matter, but these two are worth trying! Hope you enjoy. Happy apple season!

"seeds of discouragement cannot grow in a grateful heart"...

Hello blog friends,
It's a new day! Hooray. Woke up a little growly again... but I'm nipping that feeling in the bud before it has a chance to bloom. Got a very nice little note of encouragement from my friend this morning, and her advise was "seeds of discouragement cannot grow in a grateful heart"... I love it! Thank you friend! Just what I needed to hear this morning!

Last night as I was feeling a little down about spending the evening at home, alone with the girls, we decided to get out of the house... so, we went to Costco ate a $3 dinner, and shopped around. We bought nothing, but it was fun to check out all of their new seasonal stuff! Then as we were driving home we drove by our favorite thrift shop, the girls said "Mama, let's go see if Vinnie's has any treasures"... girls after my own heart. I LOVE THRIFTING! So, we stopped... I didn't find any treasures this time, but Meritt found a toy pony for $1.50 and Bella found two of her animal ark books she loves to read for .50 cents each, so they were both thrilled. As for me, I'm just grateful that my girls are still amused and grateful to get a used pony and some old books! I'm sure that won't last forever, so I am going to enjoy it while it lasts! Matt beat us home, so I avoided the bedtime/bath time routine alone... (hmmm, as if I planned it ;) ) Got home, gave the girls a quick bath, and off to bed they went. Then Wednesday night funny TV... which I love! Especially Modern Family, have you watched it? It's hilarious... if you haven't check it out next Wednesday!

So, today my friends, I have a grateful heart, for the little things, the big things, and all the other blessings in between!

Have a great Thursday!

needing a pep talk...

Hello blog friends... at the moment I think you are my only adult outlet, so I am turning to you. To vent. Sorry... turn off your computers and run now, if you like!

Today has been one of those blah kind of days. Not bad. Not good. Somewhere in between. Most of the time I am pretty good at seeing the beauty in the small stuff. I am more of a glass is half full than a half empty kind of person. Even on the really bad days, I (usually) don't feel sorry for myself. I don't today either.

I realize I live a completely blessed and happy life. I have a good husband, sweet, good girls, a wonderful home, and supportive family, dear friends, you name it I have it, I am, in a nut shelled, blessed beyond measure. I am aware of the suffering going on in the world around me. I can see the struggles on others faces as I pass them on the street or in the grocery line. I am by no way oblivious or unaware of these things around me. So, I realize for me to be typing that it has been a 'blah' kind of day, is sort of indulgent, since, my life is far from anything that a lot of folks face. But none the less, I am still human, and every now and then, even amongst the blessings that I have in my life, I feel, well kind of lonely.

I spend most of my days with little children. That like I said before are sweet, and good, loving, and adorable. But, at times they are also whiny, and self indulgent, unaware of other's feelings, and all about themselves. Just as I was to my mother when I was a child, and just like I'm sure every other kid out there is like. While I can logically realize these truths, there are still times, when the fits about sharing, or the complaining about the dinner that is put in front of them, wares at me... It's hard to remain patient and kind. It's hard to remain hopeful and optimistic. Most days I do. Today, well... I'm trying.

Tonight after Matt gets off work he starts his fall league of basketball. (his mistress if you will) (yep folks my husband is in love with something else besides me, and it's name, basketball) So, here's where the venting comes in... (Matt STOP READING THIS...)

Is it bad to feel a little resentful when your partner gets to play, when you are still, well, doing your duty? I want him to have an outlet for stress. I want him to do things in life that bring him pleasure. I want him to have hobbies outside of me. But, when the hobby comes in the way of the two hours a day I get to have his help with the girls it makes me GROWL! It makes me resentful. It makes me...... I don't want to have to feed my kids a third meal today without him. I don't want to give them baths and put them to bed without him. It's hard. It makes me feel lonely on these 11-13 hour days without him around to be my partner. So, it's 5:15, a little over two hours until he's home. So, I sit trying to give myself a pep talk to put my big girl panties on and 'deal with it'. I also try to sit and think of something to do, but can't come up with much, so I guess, I will put those big ol panties on, make dinner, clean it up, bathe the kidlets, read them stories, pick up the house, and tuck them into bed... and then still try not and be 'snarly' (yes that's his word for me) when he gets home, throws his dirty basketball clothes on the floor, and wonders what's for dinner. (by the way, I love my husband... a lot - I'm just human) Yes, as I say in my sidebar, life is not roses or songbirds all the time for any of us. Sometimes, we need to be, to say what's on our minds, to vent, to be blah, to be able to say that we feel lonely or resentful, even if just for a moment, so that the feeling can fade... or if nothing else, so we (me) can move past it move forward, and see the rainbow after the rain is done.

Thanks for listening to be vent blog friends. You have no idea how therapeutic typing out my feelings is for me. Some people jog to release stress, some play music, play basketball ;), take walks, bubble baths, or shop, me I have always preferred to write it out... Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do that here. It's nice to have a place to let my hair down. (if I had enough to put down) Hmmmm, now, back to what's for dinner????....... Reality is calling, got to go!

autumn...

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"


Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns. ~George Eliot

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face.
~John Donne

pumpkin picking...

Today we did our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. Or 'punkin patch' as Meritt exclaimed all day before and after our trip. I love this tradition. It's easy, and fun, and it's always so nice to enjoy the fall weather, bounty, and harvest. We are truly blessed to live in an area with so many local farms and farmers around us to find fresh fruits and veggies!

We got lucky and received a beautiful October day, with sunshine, and a slight nip in the air! This day has made me ready for fall! Bring on the cozy days of fall! Cuddling up, fires in the fireplace, slippers, pumpkins on the porch to greet us, yummy comfort foods, and lots and lots of family time!