Friday, October 31, 2008

Quilt #2







All hands helped with Danielle's quilt. She is not verbal enough to express her favorite colors but we found a girly print that reminded us of her and a pattern that used a similar print and ran with that. She obviously loves it as she sits at the table quietly for a time and wants to help. So now there are two quilt tops pieced and two to go.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Poppell Farms















Today, we headed to Odum, Ga to go to the pumpkin patch. We had lots of fun. Danielle was so funny.......she kept picking up pumpkins and then put them down as she got to the next one and then switched it out for that one. I think this was done about 15x. Zoe just loved everything....The farm had animals, a catfish pond, a moo cow train ride, slides, a hayride, the pumpkin patch, a gift shop, a concession stand, a corn maze........we spent hours there.........thankfully everything could be bought in a package which included a pumpkin for every person.

Reflections of time

It has been a year since my husband walked thru the door at dinnertime tired from a day at work. It has been a year since I watched him pack up his duffel bag and gather his gear, strap on his weapon and stand in formation. A year since he boarded that stinking white bus that I will have alternate feelings for in 2 months. It has been a year since I ensured his name tapes were on everything. It has been a year since our kids tried to crawl in his bag to go with him. In that year, the baby had her first birthday, Ken turned two numbers, Zoe turned 3 and we both turned 40. I have struggled with my health and Kendra started cheerleading. Zoe now can say her ABC's and is learning to count. She can color between the lines on occasion. Danielle is starting to talk more and loves to be read to. She has moved from bottle to sippy and has gotten 12 teeth. Danielle loves to color on everything...........including herself. We had a full set oh holidays and are starting our next round of them. Some this year he will still miss.
During that year, I have shuddered everytime the phone rings at odd hours. Early morning or late evening calls worry me. Some mornings at the beginning of the deployment, I peeked out the window to ensure no one was waiting to greet me. I hate that feeling. Lately though, it seems to have quieted down over there some and my concern level is not as high as it first was. I hated those days, when he was not on the computer as planned........those were the days that the quietness and the news would get to me. My husband's unit has now moved to their last stop before they head home EARLIER by just a few weeks shy of the 15 months. I still do not feel able to breathe deeply....not just yet, as that will not happen until he is firmly on American soil. Only another military spouse will probably understand that. I can not wait to see the guys march in and sing the Dog Faced Soldier and the Army Goes Marching Along song. I cannot wait to feel the sense of pride and know that he is home not just for 17 days but more than likely for a couple years this time. It will be the longest we have been together since we got married..........we actually may be able to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary together.............which will be a first. We have not been together for a single one yet. It is looking like John will be home just in time for the second and eleventh birthday of the kiddos and Christmas. We are all so excited!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Sunshine Quilt



My hands have not been idle this week by any means...........iron transfusion took a whole day (again) it seems until my numbers come up into a normal range the every 6 months thing is somewhere in the future. I was an 8.3 this time though! I will be glad when hubby is home to take me and watch the kids......cause sitters and gas money for a driver is costing us an extra $100 each time. Christmas is around the corner we need to be watching pennies. UGH.
But the real work is Zoe's Christmas present from Mommy. In consideration of all the stuff they have and our upcoming move. I decided each girl would get a quilt for Christmas from John and I. Although he is not here to physically help he did work to be able to afford the materials. Zoe has seen me working on it and keeps coming over and tells me Mommy, I love you working on my quilt and kisses the material. She is so loving.
We chose the sunshine design (Grandmother's Fan) cause she loves the colors of orange and yellow. I call her my sunshine girl as her smile lights up a room. The top of her quilt is done..I now have to layer it and back it but decided I would do that after the other girl's tops are done. Danielle's is all cut out and the tops are being pieced together. Na was interested in learning how and helped pin and sew last night. She learned to make a 4 square..........Kendra will help tonight as we start piecing together. Each of the girls have picked out a pattern. Kendra, of course, had to create her own. Now, I just have to draw templates out for it. It will be cute but is going to entail learning some things and more purchases which have to wait for payday. I really like that the girls are enjoying this and wanting to help. Even Zoe has been trusted with scissors. (She cannot do any more damage to her hair and the threat of what will happen to Christmas presents has her scared to leave the table with the scissors). Zoe sits next to me and trims the strings. All able and capable hands have had a part.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Kisses or Prayers

When Kendra was little, I started with her education that God is bigger than Mommy. With no active father figure around at that point (this was 10 years ago....), I wanted her to know that Mom did not have all the answers and despite my attempts at it... Mom is not Superwoman. That God has more authority and knowledge than me. I started with a simple little thing. When she got hurt and came running to me for kisses, I asked Kisses or Prayers? Is this something Mommy can take care of or is it bigger and a God thing? I have continued this tradition with my other kids as I see it works. Today Zoe stubbed her toe......and asked for prayers. When we were done, I asked how it felt. She replied Good. As she got up and started running from my lap she yelled Thank you, God. Then stopped in the doorway and turned around and said Thank you Mommy for praying with me. I responded immediately with tears and an "AWWW...it made Mommy happy to...anytime kiddo. I love you." It was just one of those moments I want to record on my heart and in my memory forever.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

the number 40-food for thought

Lately, I have noticed the number 40 being repeated in the Bible a lot.
here are some examples.
t rained for 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over.
(Gen 7:12 KJV) And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

Noah waited another 40 days after it rained before he opened a window in the Ark.
(Gen 8:6 KJV) And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

Embalming required 40 days (although this was an Egyptian custom, the Egyptians recognized the period of 40 for the preparation of going into a new life, what they called the afterlife)
(Gen 50:3 KJV) And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days (TWICE)
(Exo 24:18 KJV) And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
(Exo 34:28-29 KJV) And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(Deu 10:10 NIV) Now I had stayed on the mountain forty days and nights, as I did the first time, and the LORD listened to me at this time also. It was not his will to destroy you.

Moses' face shone after the 40 days on the mountain.
(Exo 34:29 KJV) And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

It took the spies 40 days to search out the promised land and bring back fruit
(Num 13:25 KJV) And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, one year for each day they explored the Promised Land.
(Exo 16:35 KJV) And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.
(Num 14:33-34 NIV) Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the desert. {34} For forty years--one year for each of the forty days you explored the land-you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.

Goliath came for forty days before being killed by David
(1 Sam 17:16 NLT) For forty days, twice a day, morning and evening, the Philistine giant strutted in front of the Israelite army.

Elijah strengthened by one angelic meal went forty days to Mount Horeb where the Lord passed by and he heard the voice of God
(1 Ki 19:8 KJV) And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Jonah warned the City of Nineveh they had 40 days until God would overthrow the city. The people repented in those 40 days and God spared the city.
(Jonah 3:4 and 10 KJV) And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness
(Mat 3:17 KJV) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(Mat 4:1-2 KJV) Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. {2} And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

Jesus was seen in the earth 40 days after His crucifixion
(Acts 1:3 NIV) After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

in talking with Ken about it........40 also is the average amount of weeks one is pregnant. and in thinking back over my times of testing it appeared to last 40 days. It was exactly 40 days from the day of my fire until I moved into my new house.
40 seems like a significant number and hmmmmmmm...I am 40!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

POOR ZOE

Zoe has had quite the week.................my little long haired princess has had a cold .......... a deep cough that we could not get her into the pediatrician to see about. So over the counter stuff we are attempting to ease her discomfort with. Then her sidekick decided to "do" Zoe's hair.....with my Design perfume lotion. A no-no of course not only does lotion not go in hair but not my favorite stuff. Well when she realized she was going to be in BIG trouble over this she tried to remove it herself. Her mode of doing so? Can you take a guess? no not water.....she did not flood the house or even bathroom. No not my good towels..........she used SCISSORS! I have had a pair missing for a week but she knew right where they were and those were the ones she used! This all happened in a 15 minute timeframe too. I attempt to be in every room with every child and keep the house up and dinner on the table but man every time I stay out of a room for 10-15 minutes things like this happen. UGH......
so now my long haired beauty has a very short do. It will grow..........It will grow..........it will grow. There was no saving much at all and for a bit she will PROBABLY be mistaken as a boy. IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE WEEKS. I think it will be time to start the reminders that beauty comes from within talks again.............

10 weeks

I did not realize until Thursday when talking about his homecoming and all .........that Christmas was exactly 10 weeks away. and only 4 more paychecks! I knew it was up and coming but not really THAT close. My goals were to bust out some quilts for the kiddos. I may have the base done for all but not the actual long arm quilt pattern or machine stitch quilt marks at this point. So I have some things to keep me busy until our family is reunited and to help pass the time. It will fly by I am sure. Seems like there should be more time in there but gee I am glad there is not. The football games, band practice and all will also keep us busy as bees and assist the time to fly by. Football games are now so expensive. Not only is it 7 per person including Zoe to get in but snacks are way high there. So weekly it costs us around $21 DOLLARS. I started bringing our own snacks and drinks which helps. But we want to attend to support Na since she is playing in the band. I attended every football game during high school but my senior year 5A championship game and never realized the bleachers were so uncomfortable. Maybe it is age.......or the fact that the littles do not sit still and I am constantly worried as they can fall through these bleachers and it is a long way down. The games are just not as enjoyable as they used to be. but just think in ten weeks even high school football will be over!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Naked Archaeologist

ok.....gotta start with the name put me off. The subject matter intrigued me and the show within 5 minutes had me mesmerized. This, after watching three episodes, is my new favorite show. This man so reminds me of a family member that it amazes me.....can anyone else see glimpses of Doug in this man? The laid back style with the intelligence and curiosity to ask just the right questions and keep you interested as you learn, may keep you from switching channels. Even Kendra sticks around for the entire show! For instance today's show was about Royal Blue ink that was used to dye the one string of prayer shawls and how it is a foretelling of the end of the world. That it has disappeared and can only be found in a certain sea creature. Then the other shows have been good also and all on discovering things about or from the Bible or life of Jesus. I had no knowledge of much of this..............it is not the stuff they taught in my somewhat dry Bible classes at college. This is interesting!!!!! You should check it out. Here is a link The Naked Archaeologist.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Columbus Day Activities




















Well to start off we slept in! I even slept until 9:30 it was amazing!!!! Then we got up and out and headed to Oatland Education Center (Savannah's Zoo) and only walked one side. We visited the American Alligator wetland area (a new exhibit) where we learned that the temperature actually determines the sex of the offspring from the eggs. That was a cool tidbit of info that made learning fun for the girls. Most of this educational experience takes place by walking in the woods on dirt paths and/or wood platforms...........this concerned Zoe to no end. She could not let go of the fact that we may not find our way out and kept on and on about it. Asking me countless times how we would get out. I assured her that we had been here before and Mommy knew the way and that the paths were marked but there was no consoling her so we headed out and went to the barnyard area and decided to forgo the other area as it is situated almost the same way. We then headed to Chuck E Cheese as we were all hungry anyway. This was an experience that we wanted Na to have also as they have nothing like it in Korea. She had a great time and is already talking about going back.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Homecoming game





This was the first game Na played her flute (in the stands for). She has not learned the marching bit yet but will start attending practices in order to do so this week. She had fun but was very nervous beforehand. I could not talk her into going to the dance but I have already started talking with her about prom so maybe she will get to experience that American tradition. I think she was very pleased when i told her we would be there to support her.......just like we do Kendra with her cheerleading. She said ok AND SMILED. She is a girl of few words!!!!!!!!!!

Sesame Street











Sesame Street came to visit. They gave away one of the toys to every
kiddo (you know the ones they sell for $20 at the real shows that light up and spin and that the kids just beg for) which was really nice. the show was short about 30 minutes but entertaining and in the end both my girls were excited about it. At first Danielle was not sure of the monsters. We do not typically watch the show......but we do read the books and use some of their tools for learning the basics. Zoe got hugged by Cookie Monster and Zoe. She was upset that she could not get near Elmo or even touch his hand due to the crowds. They did not have a meet and greet or picture taking session. Which surprised me. They just came out to the front row during a couple songs. The first show we sat too far back so the last show we got the front row.