Right before the Love chapter

Something to chew on.

Did you know that if you are a believer, a follower of Christ, then you are part of a body? How does your own body function? Do you need your eye? Is it nice when your arm moves when you want it too? What if one part of your body decides not to function?

As Christians it is so vital that we are a participating part of the body of Christ. God chooses to work through his body. We each have a talent, a gift or a role to play and when we decide not to function the body doesn't work properly. There is POWER in the body. Miracles waiting to happen through the body. Lives that will be transformed as a result of the prayer of the body. Are you the missing piece of the body?

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!”22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

3 Quick Notes

I've got a new steam mop by my side and no kids at my ankles so this will be short. The steam mop is a very exciting thing. It is begging me to try it.

First thing. Do your kids like to play in water? I have to constantly shew my kids out of the bathroom because they will stand in there and run the water and splash it around everywhere. I knew they would love a water play table but I was not willing to fork over money for one last year and after revisiting the idea again I once again said, "I'm not spending $80 for my kids to play with water." But after a quick trip to Toys R Us the other day I picked up this fantastic waterplay table-top thing for $12. Some assembly was required but your husbands will love that right? It was totally worth it. Now if the weather will please warm up for us so we play with it outside!

Second thing. Here is a sample of what you can do with Photoshop Elements. Good thing I have a life or I would be an obsessed freak who does nothing else but play with pictures.

Original

A few layers later.....

Third thing. It is time for another organizing tip.

Tip # 142 from "1000 Best Quick and Easy Organizing Secrets"

You are not the only one who can sort laundry, put away groceries, or load the dish washer. You are, however, the only one who can do it exactly your way. Be willing to give up perfection for help. Plus it helps the person who is helping to build their skill set and confidence level.

Birthday Wish

We love you, Mom!

She gets more beautiful each year.

We had a great day at her cozy, little home.

With homemade cupcakes and her birthday card for next year.

Parenting Q&A

Shawn and I had a great talk last night. We are reading another marriage book together which brought up some great talking points. :) Timeout: It feels weird say "another" marriage book like we are always on the rocks. We are flawed people who are always in need of growth but just because it makes me feel better I would like to remind all that my hubs is a counselor which includes but is not limited to marriage counseling, so marriage anything is a part of our lives. I feel better now. Back to my point. During the discussion last night he brought up the fact that I am here sometimes but I'm not really here. Not engaged.

Our routine, especially in the seasons of plenty when Shawn works until 7 (like right now), I pretty much run to the bedroom and lock the door for about 30 minutes for a time of solitude and mental yoga as soon as I hear his truck pull into the garage. Then I come back out and we hang out for a little bit and then start our bedtime routine. But lately, and even on this past dreary weekend I had a hard time connecting with the fun. So what am I going to do? I am driving my little child-free self to Parenting Q&A tonight. It is just what the doctor orders for a weary mother's soul. I don't want to watch all the fun from the sidelines! Here is the link if you would like to meet me there!

Week in Review

Well, it's been real and it's been fun and a little busy around here. Thought I would do a week in review with some pictures and such.

We'll start with my favorite. Berklee and Hayden seemed to get along for like the whole week. We had minor incidents but overall it was grand. They even wanted to take brother/sister pictures together. When these two get along it brings me more joy than most any other thing on this planet.

Hayden can read his first word, he gets a lot of practice in on a weekly basis. The word? TIMEOUT. (It is carved on the bench).

Daddy took off early on Friday and we enjoyed the calm before the snow storm.

I got to practice on my best subject this week. He is such a good doggy.

Shawn and I had some conjestion issues early in the week and here he is showing the kids the coolness of squirting saline water into one nostril and it coming out the other nostril. I stuck to the spray saline.

These were two of our little visitors this week. Leah, one half of the twins Berklee absolutely adores, and their little precious brother Lucas. Don't they make beautiful princesses?

We started the "reward" system this week with Berklee and Hayden. They get quarters if they do things without being asked or go above and beyond the call of duty. Berklee caught on quick and has $1.25 to purchase whatever she would like. What would that be you ask? Only a Rudolph coloring book of course. She got a quarter for voluntarily offering to pose for pictures. Hayden owes his father and I $1.75.

My first fish of the year! Fishing and I have a love/hate relationship. I love fishing when I catch fish and I hate fishing when I don't.

We purchased these new fancy cups from Sam's this week. Love 'em. And we also got a Brita water filter. It is truly the little things in life. This water is smooth like butta and I can't believe I waited this long to buy one. I guess that makes me a water snob now.

We also had my aunt Lynn over for dinner last week. I have always called her aunt Lynnie but Berklee took my pet name and added her own personal touch. She called her Lynnie Guinny because the Guinea Pig off of the Wonder Pets is named Linny. So catchy isn't it?

I Had Forgotton

ALL that He IS........

Faithful GOD, The God who Sees ME, Immanuel, Light OF the World

My Confidence, GOD of Truth, A FORTRESS of Salvation

Heir of ALL things, JESUS CHRIST, The Gate, Wonderful Counselor, My Salvation,

The Strength of MY heart, The POTTER, Sovereign Lord, JEALOUS,

My Strong Deliverer, I AM WHO I AM, Refuge for the poor, God of Truth,

He who reveals HIS thoughts To man, Forgiving, Physician, Our Passover LAMB,

The ONE who sustains Me, REDEEMER, GOD my Maker, Shepherd,

Bread Of LIFE, He who Raised Christ from the DEAD, Head of the Church,

Everlasting GOD, Maker of ALL things, MAJESTY, Friend of Sinners, PHYSICIAN,

Righteous JUDGE, Sure foundation, TEACHER,

The glory of Israel, OUR High Priest, The LIFE,

The stone the Builders REJECTED, BRIDEGROOM, King of Kings,

Lord of Lords, Father of the Fatherless, AWESOME, Holy,

One who Speaks to the FATHER on our behalf, Prince of Peace,

ALPHA AND OMEGA!

LOVEing the longer hours of daylight and the warmer weather. Daddy snapped some photos the other night of Berklee finally getting the hang of her bicycle and zooming all over. I'm sure it won't be long now until Hayden is right there with her. He is one determined little guy.

Have you noticed with more sunshine and more daylight hours that people have become more friendly? Or maybe it is just because I am feeling more friendly..... Anyway, just seems like there are more hellos or waves or smiles from strangers in line at the store. More small talk between patients waiting for the doctor. I love it. We are all emerging from the caves after a loooong winter.

{{It Will Fall Apart Pot Roast}}

I had almost given up on ever making a pot roast again---ever. We don't play games around here. Shawn is honest about my cooking and I am glad most of the time because it saves me from wasting money and time making something he doesn't like. (I'm not a picky eater so I don't care all that much). The pot roast has been rated a 9.5 out of 10 which has maybe happened three times in our marriage! And both kids ate 2 helpings, which is rare for the meat section.

So, I decided to try one last time and picked the recipe from the slow-cooker section of my trusty old "Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook." It truly never lets me down. I have now made the pot roast twice and it was just as delicious the second time. Wooo hooo! It wasn't a freak accident the first time! And with the leftover pot roast I chopped it up really small and mixed it with BBQ sauce the next night. It was still so juicy and tender that Shawn thought I had made BBQ beef brisket!

Are you ready for the secret? You only put a little water in the crock pot and cook it on low for 9-11 hours. I had always filled up the crock pot and only cooked it for 4 to 5 hours. But this lets the juices from the meat fill up the crock pot and that is where all the flavor comes from and it is not watered down! Here is my "adjusted" recipe based on what I already had on hand. I promise you will thank me for this unless your grandma already told you the secret to making pot roast and then I will be mad at you for not telling me about it.

2-3 lbs. boneless beef chuck pot roast (I would recommend doubling this recipe if you want any leftovers)

1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp instant beef bouillon granules

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp dried basil, crushed

2 tsp garlic powder

1 pound tiny new potatoes or 4 medium potatoes

1 pound carrots

2 small onions, cut into wedges

2 stalks celery, sliced into 1 inch pieces

1/2 cup cold water

Trim fat from meat. Place veggies in bottom of crock pot. Place meat on top of veggies. Combine the water granules, basil, and salt. Add to cooker. I sprinkle the garlic powder and a little salt and pepper on top of the meat. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 9 to 11 hours.

Easy, Healthy, Really Really Good!

Good Laugh

We thought we had to fit all 4 of our faces into

a little round circle in the middle of the

screen. It was like trying to braid your hair

backwards in a mirror.

We got a good laugh and

then realized that the circle was just there to let

you know where the center of the photo would be. Which

caused even greater laughter.

Like mother like daughter.