Good Morning

This is what I woke up to.....












Beautiful, glorious, God is good.

I wear these shoes.

Author Unknown

I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some women are like me and ache daily as they try and walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so they don’t hurt quite as much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.


Yesterday I read this on Amanda's blog
http://arewethereyet-amanda.blogspot.com/

Amanda and her husband Andrew lost their son, Aidan Jackson, who was born July 27, 2010.
Aidan went to be with Jesus at birth as did our Addison.
Oz Kidd-Ward was born 07.21.10 to Kendrah and Chris.
And Ryan James was born September 17th, his parents are Jen and Scott. http://jen-ourlittleking.blogspot.com/

Its been over 3 months since Amanda and Andrew lost Aidan and Kendrah and Chris lost Oz.
2 months since we said goodbye to our little Addi and also 2 months since Jen and Scott said goodbye to their son Ryan.
I too know how it feels to miss my baby every day. But I know that our babies are with Jesus, all together.
Knowing this helps me make it through each and every day. It helps me to read their blogs and know I am not alone. That they are not alone. We all wear these shoes.


Please keep us all in your prayers during this holiday season.

EGG NOODLES

Ingredients
2 EGGS (beaten)
1 1/2 to 2 cups FLOUR (I start with 1 1/2 cups add more as needed)
1 Tablespoon OIL
2 Tablespoon MILK
1 teaspoon SALT

Directions
1. Beat eggs
2. Add flour into bowl, then add oil & milk and last the salt.
3. With hands or fork, thoroughly mix.
4. Put dough onto well-floured board; knead until smooth, about 10 minutes.**Add more flour or water if needed
5. Roll dough out with rolling pin.
6. Cut dough cross-wise into 1/8-inch strips for narrow noodles and 1/4-inch for wide noodles.
(WE JUST USE A PIZZA CUTTER and have fun cutting how ever they look!)
7. Add noodles to boiling chicken soup for 10 to 15 minutes or until tender.
8. ENJOY!!



Chicken Soup

Ingredients
1 teaspoon oil
1 4 boneless chicken breast or you can use a whole chicken
4 carrots
4 stalks celery
1 onion
water to cover
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 chicken bouillon or a 1 chicken gravy mix/1 can
(I use what ever I have at the time)
Optional -mashed potatoes
(I always try and make when I have left over mashed)

Directions
Cut up the chicken Put the oil in a pan (I use the same large soup pot I am cooking the soup in)then put the chicken and cook.
When the chicken is almost cooked add the cut up onion.
Then add carrots, celery in the pot and cover with cold water.
Heat and simmer, uncovered.
Add the chicken bouillon and season with salt, pepper taste.
OPTIONAL****Add mashed potatoes, this thickens the soup!!!
**OR put soup over top of mashed potatoes***
Add noodles to the pot, cook 10 to 15 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

I also have cooked this in the crock pot!
***No need to cut up the chicken it will shred wonderfully! Just cut up the carrots onion and celery and add the bouillon and salt & peeper and water to cover. Cook on low all day or high for 4 -5 hours.
When you get home shred the chicken in the crock pot with a fork!

I also have put in whole potatoes and cooked them right in the soup and them when I got home I take the whole potatoes and mashed.
Make some egg noodles and add to the crock pot (ON HIGH-needs to boil) and cook 15 -20 minutes, then serve!

Enjoy the little things in life

for one day

you may look back

and realize they were

the big things..................

Happy Halloween 2010We had trick or teaters this year!!!

KarLee redecorated her pumpkin

Some of Decor

Halloween and Harvest

Our Newest

KarLee and I made up some "Finger Food"!

and some snack brooms!

Hope everyone's Halloween was good!

TO HAVE & TO HOLD

TO LOVE & TO CHERISH

FOREVER

The 5 Love Languages

Go here to take the test to find out which "Love Language you are".

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/

I think it is important to always try and find helpful ways to keep OUR marriage going strong. Today I read this and it reminded me of the Book The 5 Love Languages.

1. Make time with your husband a priority, and start speaking his love language.
While you should not go into this with thoughts of what you may get out of it (It is very important to never use physical intimacy to manipulate your husband.), you may be surprised to find that if you are more physically affectionate and open to him, he may respond by being more loving with you in your love language.
As he feels more secure in your love, he will reach out to you in more loving ways. Maybe words of affirmation...maybe hugs...you will be surprised at how you can melt his heart with your love. And, yes...it really is that simple.

2. Do not underestimate the importance of physical intimacy in marriage. A good friend of mine calls it the "glue that holds us together".
God designed sex in marriage to be a blessing.
The marriage bed is "pure and undefiled".
So, we are supposed to enjoy one another, and make it fun.
(Don't believe me?
Have you ever read the Song of Solomon?)
Yes, it is for the purpose of reproduction...but also so much more.
It is meant to be a blessing to both of you.
Have you ever noticed that when we neglect this part of our relationship, there is more tension and distance?
But, when we are making it a priority, there is a bond of affection and often more patience.
We look at each other through eyes of love.
And that love and commitment is renewed and solidified in the act of marriage.
(The Act of Marriage is also the name of a really good book that encourages Christian couples in this area, too!)

3. Remember that your husband speaks a physical love language.
Your love and respect give him confidence to be the man he is called to be.
He needs this from you.
It is part (a big part) of your role as helpmate.
If he swats you on the behind as he walks through the kitchen, take it as a compliment and a sign of his affection. Be glad he thinks your behind is "swat-worthy".
And, you may just be surprised, if you begin responding to him in a physical way how he will respond to you.


4. Communicate with your husband about your needs and intimacy, using words of love and affirmation.
And make sure he feels safe communicating with you.
Remember this gift in marriage is not just for your husband, but for you too!


5. Don't let your body image keep you from enjoying your husband physically.
Some wives feel less than perfect (aren't we all!), especially when comparing themselves to the unattainable images bombarding us in all forms of media.
I think most husbands, though, are less critical, and maybe don't even see the flaws we see when we look in the mirror.
Most of the time, a man enjoys the soft physical beauty of his wife, and sees her through the eyes of love.
I know this may not always be the case, but I think it is most of the time. If this is an area you struggle with, I hope you found a little encouragement here.
And, hopefully this doesn't offend anyone.
I just want to encourage Christian wives to make loving their husbands a priority.

I found the website and wanted to post it here. It also has info I am going to get reading on Teenagers!

To learn more, and to take different assessments clink here:

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/