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men praying

DSCN4366Two rehab guys are going on a rafting trip/weekend, and on the way, they’re going to ride the electric train for two days and witness to people about God’s wonderful plan of saving us from our sin-induced separation from Him and how we can come back into having a family relationship with God.

DSCN4367Praying men.

It was only after being in Ukraine that I learned about making bread things with sour milk.

So usually I have various containers of soured milk (or milk products) in my frig, then I make crepes (blini) or pancakes with it.

Last night, I made this spice cake muffins.

DSCN4359Big muffins remind me of being a teenager and going out with my mom and her friends to Applebees or TGIF.

I loved listening to them talk, and they always included me.

DSCN4363Thank you, Mom, Mary Ramsey, and Rhonda Walker. I will eat this muffin in your honor :)

 

 

school place

I made this little school area for us:

DSCN4351

puffy paint message

puffy paint message

furniture/decor stickers

furniture/decor stickers

V has them learning the multipludication tables

V has them learning the multipludication tables

And I must announce to one and all that my children are brilliant.

They are so hot, they:

put their clothes in the freezer

put their clothes in the freezer

One thing God’s started teaching me the last few days, in a serious way, is to talk in a kind, polite tone of voice with the girls and consider their requests and words like I consider those of a friend.

S painted our toenails today

S painted our toenails today

I’m so glad God is helping me. It’s been a real problem, my tone of voice and brusque way of answering. And I’m not a terribly chatty person to begin with.

But tonight, I am so tired, so tired of constantly thinking about how I’m talking, exercising myself to keep it polite, to consider their thoughts and requests politely …

And I was about getting myself in a pouty mad mess now that I’m exhausted from all this and being with kids all day long.

And then God gave me this thought: And would it be any easier going back to the way it was????

Well, no. In fact, that would be worse.

So, dear mommy, take these days of being stretched and exercised in a new way, and stick with the exercise. Because after a few days, it will become easier

… then easier

… and even easier

…. And finally, it will be a natural part of you.

And now this tired mommy is ready to close with the Doxology, from memory:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him all creatures here below!

Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-mehhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnnn!

create a cult-like group using your particular applications/extractions you want to make of these instructions.

‘nough said.

I’ve never had a love relationship with my kitchens.

But it’s changing. I’ll show you why, but first I’ll tell you a few things. One big one is because I’m starting to frequently clean, re-clean the areas that irritate me. Like the floor, the kids seating area (grody), the rug in front of the sink, the table surface. I’m starting to wipe, sweep, whatever, a lot. So that I can enjoy being in this little area.

I’ve also:

asked Skyla to tape her handiwork up on the wall. It adds lots of color, personality, etc. That diamond-shaped object is a little craft I recently made–I read about it in a little girls’ craft book, so I made one to see if the girls like doing it.

DSCN4292I’ve moved my small netbook to this area, and V bought me these lovely speakers so I can listen to music, podcasts (I’m listening to thatmom right now :D ), youtube stuff…

DSCN4290And notice the flower bouquet^^^^^being sold a lot right now! Lovely.

I like this little tea corner:

DSCN4291So anyway, here I am :)

DSCN4110Thank You, God.

It’s just so lovely, lovely that in the providence of God I am reading/re-reading Titus, and and I finally meet, in real life!!!!, a lady who’s been both a friend and an ‘older woman’ for me.

MeNaYears ago, July 2006, to be exact, we ‘bumped shoulders’ online, in a good way. And somehow we made personal contact–they had been missionaries in Kiev, we were missionaries, etc.

And I was in a mortifying time of motherhood, and i somehow told this lovely lady how I was struggling with such negative relationships with my little, little kids.

And lo, and behold, a few weeks later I get a notice that I have a box waiting for me at the post office.

My lovely new friend had sent me a box of positive, gentle, gracious parenting books, early childhood development books, etc.

I gulped down the enormous flood of being taught, as a parent, to be gentle, firm, understanding, compassionate, boundaried, loving, discerning, diligent— As my mom says, how can you make choices you don’t know exist?  … I still fail every single day multiple times. But boy howdy, I’ve come a long way, baby. A long way. And this friend is one big reason why.

So this lovely lady, I knew her as Tulipgirl. And today, almost 7 years exactly from the time we made first contact, we met IN REAL LIFE.

DSCN4240and you know what I love about Tulipgirl, I guess after reading her blog I was expecting someone more sophisticated or professional. Because, buddy, she can think and write that way. But she’s so …

… mommylike, womanly, warm … I can hardly describe it. Like warm, cherry-filled vareniki popping sweetly in your mouth with sugar and sour cream dripping down your chin.

 

Did I just write that??

So wow, i’m just in a little corner of heaven here and we’re hoping to warm each others chairs a lot while we can.

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