men praying

Two 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.

Praying men.

sour milk becomes dream breakfast

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.

Big 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.

Thank 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:

puffy paint message

furniture/decor stickers

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

disciplining the mommy

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

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!

the danger of Titus 2, part 3

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

‘nough said.

i’m starting to like my kitchen!

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.

I’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 ), youtube stuff…

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

I like this little tea corner:

So anyway, here I am

Thank You, God.

in real life, one of my most influential friends

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.

Years 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.

and 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.