New Camp Site!

Mikey hasn't been able to go outside lately due to the weather so he decided to make his own camp site! I didn't realize the mess my kitchen was in until I saw the pictures but they are still worth putting up! My iron was still out from getting things ready to sew and my cookbooks are a mess. Mikey's coat is on the counter too. Oh well, we had fun. The drawers he has pulled out are his Awning for his camper! The food on the floor is his fire pit and dinner he is cooking! lol He loves to camp!

A Snoodles Tale

We watched A Snoodles Tale (part of the vegi tales) this morning. As I watched it, I thought wow this movie is pretty deep! I've seen it several times so it wasn't new to me. I just saw it from a different point of view this morning.

There was a lot of symbolism in the movie that I hadn't picked up on until today. I was most impressed with how the writers expressed how we are in God's eyes. He sees the finished product while all we can see is what we are right now, and how our view of ourselves sometimes is based on what others think of us. Which led me to the thought that others views of us may ultimately be inaccurate and biased. Wow!

What tools have we been given by God? How do we use them? Is our work on "His refridgerator"? Is it something He can be proud of? Does it honor Him? What were we created for? Do we see ourselves the way He does or how others see us?

Pretty deep for a kids movie! And I just thought I was entertaining them so I could get ready for church! I'm sure the children didn't get the same picture I did. I loved how it showed that others negative thoughts and comments can drag you down so that you can't "soar" like God wants you to. You have to see yourself as God sees you than you can fly!

Life!

This is a partial view of my newly rearranged living room! It still looks small in this picture but the tv is behind me.

This is base camp. These were supposed to be at the end of the post but I can't seem to operate this thing today. My 3 & 8 year old have been playing camping here most of the last week.
This is his fire pit. lol We warmed our hands on it today!

Taking care of business at camp! (black mail pictures for when he is a teenager) You can see my back yard needs grooming and you can see the corner of my little garden.

Amazingly enough, only the boy was in the corner!

Mikey is rebuilding base camp for his adventures! The wind was trying to take it away.

The most important part of this entry is this.....from my back porch!

This is my view of God's glory this morning! He is just so awesome! My precious 8 year old pointed this out!This is from my front deck!

This one is from the back porch too. Sorry for the gutters! My screen is busted on my camera and I have to just guess at the placement. I added this one by accident and couldn't get it off the blog.

Thankful Today

I have had a very busy week. I am thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having! Indian summer is almost over and it is starting to get colder. My husband loves it, everyone else is bundled up! lol

I got some of my Christmas gifts completed! I was so excited! (and kind of proud that I actually finnished one-probably sinful) They turned out very nice and they are for a favorite aunt. Bless her heart she married into this crazy family! She has always been a such a wonderful blessing!

Today, I finally got around to taking my state board test to get recertified as a CNA. I was originally getting my CNA back so I could work just a few hours and make up the rest of the money we need for bills without working full time. (I haven't worked as a CNA since 2004 when I found out I was pregnant and spent the next 8 months on bed rest) My hearts desire is to be home with my beloved children. The reality is that this is not a possibility at this time. And with the economy in the proverbial crapper, it may not be for a long time. I was strangely excited that I passed all the little tests. I was quite unemotional until I got the result from the skills test. Then I was shocked for about 20 minutes before I was excited. I am now officially certifiable! lol

I did take this extra time with great weather to have the little ones play outside. My 3 year old made himself a little "camp". He set up his little indoor tent out in the yard and made a place for the fire-gotta have smores! lol He and my eight year old son were out playing "camping" for the better part of the week. Michael (3yo) now wants me to set up the "camp burger" (translates to camper).

I've been reading Parenting Teens with Love and Logic. My husband and I decided to try it and let the girls have a little more room to make mistakes and own the problem as long as it's safe. I must admit I am one who runs to the rescue way too much. I had my first test of this new "method" on Saturday. I just have to say it-I won! I won! I won! ha ha ha ha ha ha It actually is liberating to let them own their problems as much as possible. I've decided to adapt this principle to other things as well. The girls have appreciated having the extra freedom and they really didn't give my a whole lot of problems about dealing with the problem they created without my help. I was quite happy about it. I know that they will push the envelope again but I am savoring this peace with 2 teenage girls!

I came home tonight to find that my husband had done somethings that I had been asking him to do for a long time-and some other things. He got the old ratty sofa out of the living room (of course it's on the front porch but at least it's out of here!). He moved the china cabinet to the living room-it looks ok. I personally would have left it in the kitchen or hallway. Our living room looks much better and there is a lot more room for the kids to play! I still have a sofa and 2 recliners to sit on so we really didn't need the sectional sofa and I am sooooo happy to have it out of here!

I have got to get some pictures!

My crochet needle is calling my name! Be blessed!

Thankful

Today I'm thankful for my sewing machine! How silly is that? I love my sewing machine! I wish I could take it outside and sew while my boys play! I've been working on Christmas presents already. I want to actually get them done this year. Most years I run out of time before I run out of presents to make. Hopefully not this year!

I am thankful!

I have been trying to remember to count my blessings every day. Today I am thankful for:
My home
Fabric to sew
Friends to confide in
Mikey kisses!