Finishing Strong

Quotes to Ponder...

My friend R.J. put together these great quotes on COURAGE. As we enter a brand new year, I thought it was a great theme for my Quotes to Ponder post!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Theodore Roosevelt

Half of the failures in life come from pulling one's horse when he is leaping.
Thomas Hood

Go back a little to leap further.
John Clarke

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare

Failure is blindness to the strategic element in events; success is readiness for instant action when the opportune moment arrives.
Newell D. Hillis

There is no impossibility to him who stands prepared to conquer every hazard.
The fearful are the failing.
Sarah J. Hale

They fail, and they alone, who have not striven.
Thomas Bailey Aldrich

We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do.
Samuel Smiles

I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the best.
John Keats

It is foolish to fear what you cannot avoid.
Stultum est timere quod vitare non potes.
Publius Syrus

He that is down needs fear no fall.
John Bunyan

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
George Herman "Babe" Ruth

One who fears failure limits his activities.
Failure is only the opportunity to more
intelligently begin again.
Henry Ford

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard

Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.
Washington Irving

Our greatest glory consist not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Oliver Goldsmith

Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problems.
Nelson A. Rockefeller

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Vincent van Gogh

Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes.
James A. Froude

It is the want of diligence, rather than the want of means, that causes most failures.
Alfred Mercier

A man's life is interesting primarily when he has failed--I well know.
For it's a sign that he tried to surpass himself.
Georges Clemenceau

He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat.
Napoleon Bonaparte

There is no failure except in no longer trying.
Elbert Hubbard

There is no impossibility to him who stands prepared to conquer every hazard.
The fearful are the failing.
Sarah J. Hale

Disappointments are to the soul what thunderstorms are to the air.
Johann C. F. von Schiller

Failure teaches success.
Japanese Saying
__________________

Happy 12th birthday Joshua!

 


We had everyone over for Christmas this year. It was great. In the evening we have a birthday celebration for my Christmas "baby", Joshua. He had a great time. We had cake and ice cream for his birthday, but we never did get into the four pies that we made for Christmas dinner. Everyone was too stuffed! Joshua is becoming a very caring, sensitive young man with a huge imagination. He keeps us in stiches a lot of the time. He has a tender heart, and best of all he loves the Lord. Happy Birthday Joshua! We love you!

Christmas Tour...

I've heard of other bloggers giving a Christmas tour of their homes. Last year we were in the hospital, but since this year we are home, I thought it would be fun to participate! So welcome to our home! As you come in the door, the bells on the door will ring. We love nativity sets, so I have a few around the house. The little grey nativity is made out of Mt. St. Helens ash. Our poor little Joseph got broken over the year in our nativity by the front door. Fortunately, Mike was able to piece him back together. I'll have to keep my eyes out for a replacement. :( Only three more days until Christmas! We're still snowed in. The neighborhood looks beautiful! Thank you for visiting our home this year! Have a very Merry Christmas and the very best of New Years!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

I am so enjoying the snow days! All Obligations have been canceled! No parties, no caroling, not even church! We are snowed in. Mike even got a couple of extra days off of work before the holiday break. We are totally forced to slow down and ENJOY the Christmas season. This has been an unusual Christmas season for us any way, as we are not in the hospital. Every Christmas for the past I-don't-know-how-many-years, we have been in the hospital. This year they decided to give the kids one of the "big gun" antibiotics, Zyvox, and keep them home. I'm so glad. We might have to go up in January, but for now, we're playing games, baking cookies, watching movies and just enjoying being together. It looks like we will have snow until the New Year. YAY!

Bucket List... Well, maybe not exactly a bucket list.....

I found this on a friend's blog. I thought it would be fun to see how many of the 99 things I've accomplished. The yellow ones are the ones I've done. Some of these things aren't exactly what I want to do though. I was thinking about checking this list once a year and seeing what I have accomplished. However, I think if I were to do that, I should probably come up with my own personal "bucket" list. Anyway, I have done 56 of the 99, so that's not too bad! How many have you done?


1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (No Way!!!!)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

An interesting story...

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains
of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was
up early sitting at the kitchen table reading
from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like
him tried to imitate him in any way he could.
One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like
you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as
soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?" The
Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said,
Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of
water." The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked
out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and
said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him
back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran
faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of
breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water
in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he
went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy
knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that
even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he
got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he
reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he
said, "See Papa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless"? The old man said, "Look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that
the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it
was clean.
"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not
understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will
change you from the inside out." That is the work of God in our lives.
To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the
image of His son.
Take time to read a portion of God's word each day, and remind a
friend by sharing this story.
Author Unknown

Kelly's View Chocolates...

 


Josiah and Christalin have done many fund raisers for Children's hospital over the years. This current fundraiser is Kelly's View chocolates. They had the kids draw pictures. Josiah's pictures was chosen to be put on the exclusive chocolates. I think there are six different pictures and six flavors. The proceeds from the sale of the chocolates will go to Children's Hospital. They had a revealing party where the kids got to paint with chocolate and make yummy chocolate treats. They had fun.

Happy Birthday Joseph!!

 
Double Digits! Yikes! Joseph has arrived in the double digit realm! Ten years old! Joseph is a great young man. He is quick to smile, quick to defend and always helping. He very patiently waited at the church while his brothers went through three hours of auditions for the Valentines Theater. When we finally got home, we had his favorite dinner and cake and icecream. He loved his pile of gifts. We had a quiet party at home and played Monopoly until midnight! As a final birthday present, Joseph won!

O Christmas Tree... O Christmas Tree

 
We got our tree up. I think it turned out very nice. This year I let the kids put almost all the ornaments on. They did a nice job I think. I guess you know your kids are getting older when they can do a Christmas tree by themselves and it still looks nice. In years past, we used to have a bunch of ornaments all along the bottom of the tree when I had the kids help. Sigh. They are growing up so fast!

A couple of years ago, my on-line FIAR family lost two mothers, Missy and Lorrie. They didn't know that that would be their last Christmas with their families. However, they made it a point to make the most of their Christmas. Here is a quote from Missy's blog:
"For now, I'm enjoying making memories with my family and letting all the worries and stresses roll right off my back. They'll be there for another day. But for today I'm going to get my Love Bank filled back up with kisses and hugs and quiet conversations (while making those same kinds of deposits into each of my loved one's Love Banks) and regain the strength to face all those worries and stresses that will still be waiting for me come January. I think that by then they won't seem so big anymore anyway."

So my FIAR friend Christy has encouraged us: "In honor and memory of Missey and Lorrie, I hereby declare that in our home the whole month of December will be spent making wonderful, warm memories with my family and taking the time to do what THEY want."

I try to make that my daily motto; to make memories every day. We really don't know how many days we have with our families. I have a dear friend that is having to go through the holidays and the rest of her life without the love of her life. Andy was killed in a horrible car accident a few weeks ago. All she has is her memories. They are ever so sweet for her.

I don't mean this to be a downer message. It's just that the kids grow up so fast! Memories are made every day - what kind of memories are you making? Let's all try to make them the sweetest memories ever. Don't stress about all the little things, but stop and enjoy your families this year.

Merry Christmas!

A great song...

A lovely poem...

My nephew who is in the Army in Germany sent this poem to me. It is written by a young cancer patient with six months left to live. As we enter the holiday season, it has a good point to consider. Life does go by so fast.

SLOW DANCE


Have you ever
watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to
the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a
butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading
night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so
fast.

Time is short.

The music won't
last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your
bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through
your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so
fast.

Time is short.

The music won't
last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it
tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see
his
sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good
friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call
and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance
so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't
last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You
miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry
through your day,

It is like an unopened
gift....

Thrown away.

Life is not a
race.

Do take it slower

Hear the
music

Before the song is over.

My Little Orphans....

 

We got our costumes for the Christmas Madrigal play. The kids are in the orphan choir. They are so cute in their rags!

 

I'm delighted with my costume. It is so pretty! And it's pink! The costumer said I was supposed to be the "cotton candy" of the play. I am "Cousin" in "The Calling of Everyman." It is a medievel banquet theatre. The basic premises is that your kinsmen and cousins, worldly goods, fellowship or good deeds will not go with you when you're called to your maker. Only wisdom of the salvation of Christ will go with you, everything else will forsake you. It is a good gospel message and should be entertaining as well. It has been a lot of work, but it has been fun!

Abundant Blessings... Abundant Turkeys!

 

The Lord has such a sense of humor! I was shopping at our Grocery Outlet on Saturday. I was standing over the turkey case, wondering if my sister or my mom was going to do the turkey, or if it would be me. I had forgotten my cell phone at home, so I wasn't sure what to do. I was talking with the Lord, wondering if I should buy one or not.

The Grocery Outlet was having it's anniversary that day. They were playing a bingo game. Every ten minutes they would call out a number. There were numbers taped on the ground throughout the store. I had three of my kids with me and boy, did they have fun! We walked out of the store with THREE turkeys!! Each of the kids won!!

Then on Sunday, Christalin's sunday school teacher told her she had a surprise for her. After class she gave Christalin a turkey!!!

Here I was asking the Lord if I should buy a turkey or not. I guess that answered my question! FOUR turkeys!!!! It's a good thing we have a freezer! The Lord is so good!

Decorating the church...

 

We had a long day on Sunday. After teaching for two services, we had play practice. We got to church at 8:30, and were finally ready to leave at 4:30. However, my daughter must have gotten some of my love for Christmas decoration genes. She saw that they were putting together the Christmas tree. She beelined it over there and invited herself to the decorating party!

 

She got to go on the lift too. We all got together to fluff branches on the large Christmas tree. I didn't realize how much work went in to putting a tree together! We got a pizza feed for our efforts, and was able to leave at 6:30. We left the real decorating crew there to finish trimming the church. It was a fun night, but a looong day! 10 hours! whew!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 
Well, it's official. Christmas is coming. While the kids have been having Christmas Play Practice every Saturday morning since the end of September, I just haven't had the holiday spirit yet.

On a whim, I signed up for an ornament exchange. We were to make 11 ornaments and send them out, then we would get 11 ornaments back again. It sounded like fun! So the kids and I decided to make some Norwegian Heart ornaments. Then they had the idea of choosing stickers that would correlate with the certain books in the Five in a Row curriculum.

I think they turned out really nice. I think we will try and make more to give out to family for Christmas.

Our first Christmas decoration we put up this year is a wreath we put on the kid's bedroom door. We're hanging all the ornaments we receive on it.

Now it is beginning to look and feel like Christmas.......

Random Acts of Kindness...

It's amazing what 20 cents can do. We went to a field trip yesterday to the Children's Hands on Museum. My kids are getting a bit old for it, but we talked some dear friends of ours into coming along, so either way, it would be a fun trip.

I don't know about you, but I hardly ever carry cash. I especially don't carry change. Before we left, I knew that the parking was metered by these special meter boxes that only took coins. So, I glanced at my change purse and quickly counted out $1.50.

When we got to our destination I parked and pushed the buttons for the meter. I had asked for parking in the amount of $1.50. Unfortunately, I found I actually only had $1.35. The meter would not give change. It also stated that even if I canceled the transaction, I would lose the $1.35 I already put in. I only had pennies left in my purse, which of course, the machine wouldn't take. I started asking the kids if they had fifteen cents. They of course didn't.

Then, a perfect stranger walking by said, "I do." She then proceeded to dig through her coin purse and give me twenty cents. She saved the day! My kids were able to have their fun afternoon with their friends.

I know that doesn't seem like much, but we really don't get out that much. The kids were so looking forward to this. They got their school work done quickly and efficiently. They hadn't had a "play date" with their close friends FOREVER. This ladies' random act of kindness, while didn't cost her but twenty cents, made our day and made a memory that will last a lifetime.

It makes me want to pass it on! How about you?

Hands on Museum

 
I know my kids are getting a bit big for the Children's Hands on Museum... but sometimes it's just fun to act little again! We met our friends, who have boys the same ages as our boys, at the Children's Hands on Museum. I think one of the favorite things was the bead board. I don't think I could have stuck my face in it though. I'd be worrying to much about germs! The kids had a great time though!

Holidays for the troops

 
For the boys' Scout service project, they manned a booth at the local Walmart. They were collecting items and money for the troops. Over the two days, the Boyscouts collected over $400. We will use the money to buy hats and gloves and socks to send to the troops. It was a cold night, but they made a difference for a great cause. I'm proud of my boys!

Trick or Suite!

 
We had a great time at Starlight Starbright's Trick or Suite! We had never participated before, but this year Erin asked, and I decided to give it a shot. We were able to spend the night in one of the suites too! For our family of six, a getaway to a hotel is a very rare treat! They took an entire floor of the hotel and decorated the front rooms of the suites. Then the kids got to visit each of the rooms and play games and get candy! Oh my did they get candy!!! They had so much candy, their bags broke! They had to get a second bag! They were beyond delighted! Most of the rooms were safe themes. They had an underwater room, Candyland room, Pirate room, Mad scientist Room and a bunch of others. Our room was the luau room. They even left us a couple of boxes of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts Covered in Milk Chocolate. Yum!

Our church does a harvest party that is like a big carnvival with lots of games to play for candy. It is great fun, but they are not allowed to dress up. So the Starlight Starbright's event was a real treat! They got to dress up and get lots of candy, and go swimming, and spend the night in a hotel and have a HUGE breakfast! What could be better than that? Thanks Starlight!

Catch up....

With school started and in full swing, I hadn't had time to blog about some of the things we have been doing over the past couple of months. For my own records, I will pre-date the posts to when they actually happened so in years to come I can look back and they will be in chronological order. Soooo.... if you see the same top post as the last time you visited, it might not necessarily mean I haven't posted anything new!

Roses in my rose garden

I love roses. I have a few roses in my flower beds. They are beautiful. I'm not sure I care for them properly, but they keep coming back each year and blooming for me. On vacation last summer, we had our lunch in a rose garden. It was so pretty and it smelled so nice. That's where these pictures were taken.

I am so thankful for the flowers in my garden. They might be a bit thorny at times, but they are beautiful and even smell nice!! lol. Ok, well maybe I was taking that analogy a bit far. Not that they smell bad, mind you, but, well... they're mostly guys and smelling like roses doesn't actually fit. ANYWAY...

How to break a child's heart...

My heart is broken. I know in the grand scheme of things, this really is only a blip, but right now I'm stunned.

We have been dreaming of a "Make a Wish" trip for well over a year. I have posted about it here and you ladies have helped us dream too. Christalin wanted to go to Disney World and be a princess for a week. She had plans of a different princess each day; Ariel, Sleeping Beauty.. you get the idea. She has been telling anyone who would listen about her Make a Wish trip.

I did the referral about a month ago. I just got a call on my answering machine from Make a Wish. They said she is NOT eligible for a wish.

WHAT? She has Cystic Fibrosis! This is a life threatening disease! I called them back and they said I would have to talk to her doctor. Her doctor is out of town until Monday.

When Josiah was 7 (he has Cystic Fibrosis too) he was all set up to do the same trip (minus the princess part of course ) He backed out, because he wanted his little sister to be able to remember the trip.

So why can't she go? And how on earth am I going to tell her?

Quotes to Ponder...

Blessed is he who speaks a kindness; thrice blessed is he who repeats it.
- Arabian proverb

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain, American writer

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness...never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
- Lord Chesterfield

If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.
- Unknown Author

We may not have it all together, but when we're together we have it all.

I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." --Helen Keller

In order to realize the worth of the Anchor, we need to feel the stress of the storm" ~ Corrie ten Boom

If you think twice before speaking once, you will speak twice the better for it.
- William Penn

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.


It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not to deserve them.
-- Mark Twain

Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect.
-- Benny Hill

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.
-- Jack Handey

If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?
-- Tom Snyder

Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the perfect principles of art.
-- Marcus Aurelius

Cardinal virtues… they are: Prudence, Temperance, Justice, Fortitude.
-- C.S. Lewis, a 20th Century Knight, from Mere Christianity

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. – unknown


Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.
-- Will Rogers US humorist & showman (1879 - 1935)


Quitting is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. ~ Unknown


Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.
-- Thomas Jefferson


Club Manana – “Carpe Diem Tomorrow”
-- T-shirt

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).

Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.
-- Henry Ford--

We found a home for them!

 
Last spring, I posted about a huge box that came to our house. They were the deer heads from the hunting trip last December. We had no idea where we would put them! We came up with a place! The top of our stairwell works well! The bigger one is Josiah's and the smaller one is Mike's.

(I still apologize to them every time I go downstairs. - I'm so not a hunter! lol)

To teach or not to teach...

Ahhh the joys of 3's! My dh and I have been teaching the two's and three's at our church for over ten years. The first years when our children were that age, we bounced from the two year old's to the three year old's and back again. Now that my youngest is older, we've been sticking with the three's. They are a fun bunch of kids. We usually have about ten kids each service. Last week we had 25 kids, but the 4&5 year old teacher wasn't able to make it, so we piled them in with us. It was crazy, but fun.

As our kids are getting older, Mike and I have been wanting to work with the jr. high kids. We were all set to stop teaching the three's and go to the jr. high. However, our four kids have been helpers in the three year old class since they were three years old. They love it! They begged us to not stop teaching the three year olds. How could we say no? So, we are all teaching the three year olds first service, then Mike and I are in with the jr. high second service. We go to church for ourselves on Saturday night. Whew! Pretty busy, but lots of fun!

The pictures of the kids with the fish is of course for "Jonah and the Whale." They were pretending to be swallowed up!