Growing Up

Here is my 17 year old gorgeous daughter, opening a letter from her 1st choice college:


Reading aloud to us:

With much excitement and help from her brothers:

The more she read, the more excited she got:

Until her joy just erupted into this!!!!!

"I'm IN! YAY!!!!!" 

And then, one look at me and her happiness became tears of joy: 

I'm not sure what my tears are of.  Maybe just tears.  Because, honestly, she's been a part of me as long as my husband has and my stomach literally hurts just thinking of her leaving. 

For now, I'll support, love and encourage her and pray someone is here to help put me back together next fall when she is very very very far away from home.

Man, I'm going to miss my baby girl. 

Norge

Welcome to my home, Norge! 

Norge, our 1960 WORKING refrigerator was welcomed to my home today after many years of living with my brother. 

Norge's life began in 1960 when my parents lived in College Town, Colorado.  They were poor as church mice and my Grandma sent them $100 to purchase Norge.  He's been a good friend.

He lived for many years with his original owners, my parents, until 1994 when he went to live with my brother. 



Norge has been faithful, keeping our drinks cold and extra food as he sits safe in the garage (after he was replaced by a larger model as the main fridge).   I prayed as they moved Norge that he would survive and turn on when plugged back in.  He did!   

Norge has door shelves and a veggie drawer, one metal shelf and and a freezer.  He is in pristine condition.

Norge, I am so glad to have you join our home.  As my parents and brother before me, I will love and care for you.  I hope you live for a long time in my pantry.

MEAT!

I just love a good savings, especially when it's on things we are going to buy anyway - like meat!

At my local Winco the other day I happened upon a fabulous chicken thigh special.  It just sealed the deal on what I would make for my sons 22nd birthday dinner.

The savings varied so here is an example:
1.69 pounds that I paid $2.41 for making it 1.42/pound instead of $1.78
1.84 pounds for $2.30 = $1.25/lb (instead of $1.78
2.13 pounds for $2.66 = $1.25/lb.

On 5.66 pounds of chicken thighs, I paid $7.37 for all of them instead of $10.07!  A savings of $2.70!  That is 27% savings!
It's a true savings since we were already needing meat and all I had to do was bring it home and freeze it so that it would make it one week for our party tomorrow.  What I also look for is meat that hasn't been frozen before; which this hasn't.  While I regret that I couldn't buy organic meat this time, I was able to buy hormone and antibiotic free meat, no salt added and never frozen.  So, I feel this is my next to organic option. 

Always out for a deal; especially on things we truly need and will use... er, eat. 
Yum-may!

Honor Begins at Home

I love the movie FireProof and Facing the Giants!  Now the same folks, who also made Flywheel,  have made another awesome movie: COURAGEOUS!

Staring tomorrow, January 17th, Redbox will have this available.  If you reserve online, it still only costs $1 to rent from Redbox. 

The Kendrick Brothers are real men, raising their families to love God.  The majority of their actors and crew members are people from their church as VOLUNTEERS!!!  Honestly, I've been tired of Hollywood for a long time.  I love seeing real people on the screen. 

And I want my children to see real people on the screen.  People who don't have live-in chefs, trainers and nannys. 

Courageous is a movie that we will own and watch and resolve to live.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:15

What We Got

Christmas Eve seems like forever ago and yet it hasn't even been a month.  To hightlight some of our Christmas time. check out the pictures below!

The long awaited Red Rider BB GUN!



Rest for the Papi

 Lovings for Zorro:

 Silly Kids with new Jammies:

 New Christmas Dress & haircuts:

 Some snuggle time between uncle and niece:

 A digital camera of her very own:

 A "new-to-him" iPod:

In 1937, my Great-Grandma Elda received the following:

Table Cloth, Purse, samdwich dish, gown, dresser scarf, book ends, dog ornament, picture, picture of baby, hankerchief. 

One gift was given per couple or family and many were made by hand.  I don't know that we'll get back to how they gave gifts but we're headed in the right direction; drawing names helps!

From an uncle each of my four minor children received Dutch Bros. Gift Cards and I honestly think if this is all the had gotten they would have been happy!

From another they received CASH.  Since we saving for a family vacation this summer, they were THRILLED!

Another gave them a book on CD which they love.

We gave our oldest son a coffee maker, coffee beans, creamer and mugs.

Our next to oldest son got PS3 games!

Our oldest daughter got a digital camera.

Our 14 year old daughter got a new coat.

Our 7 year old son got his BB Gun that he's begged for since he was 5.

Our 4 year old son got BOGS.

The little boys also got "new-to-them" iPods with lots of music on them, ready to go!  (LOVE pawn shops for things like this!)

Our granddaughter also got a "new-to-her" iPod, all set with music.  She also got a travel speaker so she can listen to it instead of earphones.  It was fun to set the kids up with all types of music; including lots of Spanish kids music!

My hubby got work boots (BOGS) and work jeans (Prison Blues) which he LOVES!

I got a gift certificate from my man.  Plus, a gorgeous Black Hills Gold necklace!

We fill the kids' stocking full of fun things:

• Orange goes in the toe
• all-in-one spoon/fork/knife
• gloves
• toothbrush and paste
• gum
• DVDs for girls
• socks for little boys
• orange peeler from Pampered Chef
• Lip Balm
• Renw Lotion
• Hotshot/Coolshot
• Soap
• Big Boys got pillowcases I made

Not in stocking but unwrapped and under tree were Hot Cheetos for all and Underroos for our big boys.

I love having price limits and scoring big on sales so we can spoil our family a little bit.  Most importantly, it was the time we spent together.  We got out of town for New Years and you'll have to wait to read about that later. 

Blessings Abound,

Mamacita

Conversations in the Tub

Growing up, we had one of these awesome claw foot bath tubs.  I loved it.  As a child, it was deep enough that I could play and not make a terrible mess even if one of my friends was in there with me!  As I grew older, it was deep enough to really soak in and enjoy taking a bath.  Ours was inside our home but I have to tell you, I have dreams of having one outside...



As a child, when my Mom was bathing, I would come in, sit on the toilet lid and we'd talk.  I remember walking in on my Mom on many occasions while she was bathing and we would visit about who knows what. 

This happened all of my growing up years.  She never made me feel weird or intrusive or interupting her bath.  Is it because I am her only daughter?  Is it because after three boys she didn't know that other people didn't do that? 

Why am I thinking of this now? 

Why did I feel this was the best time to talk to her about really important things?  Maybe because if I was going to be vulnerable asking, she was vulnerable sitting there in the tub.  Subconsiously did I need to level the field a little?  As a teen, did talking to my Mom while she was in the tub give me the courage to talk about things I might not have been courageous enough if we were both clothed in the kitchen?  Perhaps.

Why I am thinking of this now?

As I took a long bath last night, I locked the door.  I locked my girls out of an opportunity that was never off-limits to me.  I didn't think of it while I locked the door but as I sat in the tub, soaking in the hot blissful bubbles, I thought of it.  As I heard the girls talking outside my door, through the door, I thought of it.  And honestly, it made me a little sad. 

If it's my body I'm self-conscious about, add more bubbles!  Maybe if they saw me more confident and not caring they'd be more confident in their own skin and not cower and cover when forced to change in front of each other.  In front of me.

Needless to say, I've been doing some serious thinking.  My Mom isn't perfect but she sure has done lots of things right and set an example for me to follow on how to be a moma.  I just have to follow more closely.

So, here's a question for you mamma's with daughters: "Did or do you let your daughter come in while you are bathing or showering or do you lock the door?"  If you lock the door, what was the most frequent time your daughter came to you about important, maybe sensitive, things?  When did she see you as vulnerable if outside the tub?

Maybe, if I get my outdoor clawfoot tub fixed up, I can create a safe place for us girls to visit.  Just thinking....

I May Never...

There's a picture hanging in my hall from 2003 when we took two of our many kids to Mexico.  Why only two?  Well, we didn't have three of them yet and the other one had a schedule confilct.  Anyway, back to this picture... we're in our swimsuits, mine a bikini.  I look G-O-O-D.  It's a year after my wedding (remember I married three kids when I married my husband) and I was looking great. 
I may never look like that again.  There, I've said it outloud for the world to see.  I MAY NEVER LOOK LIKE THAT AGAIN!!!

And what if I don't?

I have two healthy sons who each did a number on this bod. 

I love to eat.  I really do.  I love food.  It's flavors, smells and textures bring me pleasure.  I don't eat just for nutrition, I eat because I want to!  It's fun and enjoyable. 

I may never do many things in my life but there are some I really hope I get to do.  Fitting into and looking great in my 2003 bikini is not even on my list. 

I want to feel good.  I want to feel good when I wear a swimsuit.  I want to feel good when I have on jeans.  I want to feel confident wearing a sundress.  I want to BE confident in my own skin.  I want to look in the mirror and smile from my heart on out.
I may never look like that again but I sure hope I feel that way one day again... sooner than later  is preferred.

P.S.  I am blessed to be married to a wonderful Godly man who loves me just the way I am!!!!  That is among blessings I count often. 

2012 Priorities

Let's see how I fared last year before writing down 2012:

1. I still want chickens. It's been on my list since 2009... so this will be the third year it's listed.  DONE!  This past June we got hens!  Here's a great post on my being the Country Aunt.

2. Garden - I'd like to have a large enough garden that I can can food from it. Especially tomatoes and green beans.  DONE! 

3. I'd like to get my composting worms back in business. They took a year off.  Oops...

4. QUILT! Having just begun this journey, I can't wait to see what gets completed this year. Thankfully, I have a new sewing table to make it less painful on body. For Christmas, Roy got me a quilting retreat in McCall in March! YAY! I can't wait. So, quilting is on the list for 2011.  YES!

5. Keep snowballing our debt.  WHOO HOO!  Not done but goals have been met.

6. I want to learn to bask in the love of Jesus. To grow in Him, show His love more, be His hands and feet regularly.  Still learning.

7. Show love to my family... they are the ones it's easiest to be short and snippy with.  I think I did better this past year in this area - I need to check with the ones who are on receiving end, though.  

2012 Priorities 

1. Move on to Baby Step #3; which is 3-6 months of living expenses saved.  We need to complete #2; which is be debt free - we are on our final debt (besides mortgage).

2. Spend time with my family. 

3. Continue Bible Studies and continue to work on a strong foundation so when the walls fall down I'm still standing firm. 

4. Refresh my Spanish speaking skills...

5. Adjust to life with my oldest daughter leaving for college in the fall.  Man, will I miss her! 

6. Utilize my gym membership!  Get in shape, loose weight and feel great!

7. Maintain these accomplished priorities:

          ~ Chickens

          ~ Garden

          ~ Healthy Wholesome Eating - Organic

          ~ Quilting/Sewing

          ~ Green Living

8. Relax and just have fun!  (Easier said than done for me)