Creative Homemaker

Fabulous nuggets of truth for your marriage over at Praise and Coffee . Stop by and read, this kind of attitude is so important for our marriage, and rather than me typing endlessly and never getting anywhere with it, I'll point you here and let you glean truths from someone who is more articulate than I am. Enjoy and come back tomorrow for more paltry excerpts from my boring existance.

Chaplains and their assistants. What the Army used to call the UMT, The Unit Ministry Team, and is now the RST, Religious Support Team is a special kind of small-scale unit. The Chaplain, and his Chaplain’s Assistant. From the Chaplain Training website : "Ministry in motion. Adventure and challenge. Serving those who serve. You will accompany Soldiers all over the world as they carry out their missions. And while you minister to the Soldiers, you and your family will be enriched as you are exposed to new places, new peoples, and new cultures. Your faith will be enriched, challenged, and strengthened as you carry out your duties as the spiritual leader in the spiritual community known as the Army." For 17 years we have seen first-hand the assistant side of the coin and now we enter into the other side: the Chaplain. I was always amazed at what the assistant has to do for his Chaplain, long hours often times, bulletins, reports, and setups. We wouldn’t see him during 3 out o...

I was just awarded an "E for Excellent" award from Lelia over at Write From The Heart . I'm speechless and wonderstruck that I even have readers who care about my paltry life struggles, let alone anyone who actually thinks I'm inspiring! I'm torn between laughter and tears, joy and bewilderment. Thank you, thank you, a million times, thank you! Now, I am honored to be able to pass this around to ten, (only ten?) faithful and inspiring blogger friends of mine. God has done an amazing thing with the power of the internet, bloggers and people who write from their hearts. Here are the ten blogs I find inspiring, fascinating, a daily must-read; in no particular order. Kim at Reformed Grits Marybeth Whalen at Cheaper By The Half Dozen Sue at Praise and Coffee Lisa The Preacher's Wife Totallyscrappy at Mudpies to Dragonflies (fellow Lutheran Chick!) Carla at Four By 40 Laura-a fellow Military Chaplain's Wife Meredith at Small Steps of Faith Sara at Sweet Autumn...

Mild headache, achey arms and back. No sniffles or coughing. Hope it's not the flu. I think hot soup and warm clothes are in my future. I feel like curling up in my chair and reading, watching a sappy movie and ordering take out. That's what I feel like doing, in actuality, I'll struggle with my acheyness, feed the kids something from the freezer, so I don't have to cook, and lay on the couch and moan. Pray for healing...ow.

I have tweaked, rearranged, added links, changed pictures, rewritten descriptions, and I think I like it now. My picture was old, I do not have that long of hair anymore, (wish I did, but thanks to a terrible haircut, I'm growing it out again,) my pink shirt in the picture clashed with the colors in my blog, and the text was funny, (not funny ha ha, funny peculiar.) I also thought my Supermom picture was a bit prideful, I'm not her, never have been her and thanks to testing and refining from my Lord, I don't strive to be her, so she had to go. My blogging should be a reflection of who I am, a child of God, on a path of growth and sanctification through Christ. Ok, I think I'm done now, three hours later, man this is time consuming stuff people. (Ok those of you who can write your own html code, can just tune out, but I find it time consuming.) So how is it? Like the new look? C'mon people, I'm fishing for compliments, here!

I have absolutely the best husband ever! He just returned from 3 days and 2 nights in the field, he arrived back at his barracks three hours past his usual bed time; tired, cold and dirty. Did he take a shower first? No. Did he throw his laundry in for a spin? No. Did he check his emails? No. He called me. He called me three hours away to hear my voice, to tell me he loves me and to talk to the kids. How sweet is that! A little over twenty years ago, I was smitten by a ruggedly handsome guy in my college choir class; he had black hair and the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. This drop dead gorgeous guy sat right next to me. We were introduced and I knew then that I couldn't live without him. I still can't. God has completed me in him, where I am flighty, he is constant; when I want to spend, he wants to save; when I'm impatient, he is like the prophet Job. He is all the good things that I am not. We were made for each other, we fit together, and we are both better...

I found a link on Monkey Giggles to post picture of your cozy corner, the place in your home that is just for you. A place you can relax and have your quiet time. This is mine, I wake early about an hour before the kids get up, read my Bible, drink my coffee and have quiet time with the Lord. I have always wanted a wing back chair; I found this at a garage sale about two years ago for $20. It was very musty, two bottles of Febreez later, and I now have a wonderful chair. My sister Silver gave me yards of gorgeous upholstery fabric to cover my chair and one of these days I'll get around to it. Oh, I don't always have to share the chair with a child, just so happened that Robby was sleeping when the picture was taken, he's snug as a bug upstairs when I'm enjoying my quiet time. Or at least I hope he is…

“We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer goes on to say that we should be grateful even where there is no great experience and discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith and difficulty. I am reminded of the verse in James that says, “Count it all joy, my brethren when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 Now this doesn’t mean that it’s all going to arrive at your doorstep in a perfect little box, so that you just have to “put on” perfection, no I think that the perfecting of our faith, if you will, comes in the form of baby steps, (I can’t write or say that without thinking of Bill Murray in the movie “What about Bob”) but baby steps the...

Change is hard, old habits are hard, and success doesn't come easily. The setbacks of last week make recovery difficult. I haven't been out walking in over a week, I was doing so well until I pinched the nerve in my neck and could hardly move. I am making motivational signs to post on pantry and fridge today. Any ideas? I have done things like: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Think Thin Diabetes is an enemy Plantar Faciaitis hurts Asthma is bad, breathing is good I was thinking that motivation in the area of good health would be a motivator for me because when I was thinner, I wasn't plagued by these things. I did not lose anything this week, but I did not gain either, so I guess that in itself is an accomplishment. I am too the point now where I don't want to look at another salad. It is cold still here, (everywhere I guess unless you are in Arizona,) but who wants to eat salads when it is 28 degrees outside. I want things like pasta buried in white sauce, h...

My dear friend Ang and I are making Lasagna today; Mega-Lasagna! I have tons of cottage cheese that was given to me and it needs used up. We have a dairy here locally who gives generously to those in need. Now I need to do lots of cooking to use it up. I'm planning on freezing about 4 dishes of lasagna, and egg and cheese dishes. I'll let you all know how it goes later, with pictures. Happy Cooking!

An article from the Nisqually Valley Newspaper Dated Fiday 28 Dec 2007.

I just watched a very inspirational and moving clip from the Movie “Facing the Giants.” I found it here: I was so moved by the coach's, well, coaching, that I thought it would be helpful to many of us who are facing deployments, or to those who are going through seemingly insurmountable trials. I know I have been there many times, where I just didn't think I could go another step without some help. I was certain that I would fail and by failing, disappoint so many around me; people who were counting on me to uphold my part of the situation. I have been through two deployments, and many months of separation from my best earthly friend, my sweet Bear. I have known, but haven't always felt the presence of my Heavenly best friend, my Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a child of God, he is your coach, He is your cheering section, and He is your support system. You can do it; you can make it through when life seems too much to bear, and when people try to discredit what you ar...

The kids are in bed, tucked safely in. All is still at my house when {Whoomp!} the windows start rattling, and the floor shakes. Then again 30 seconds later, and another two on the heels of the last. Whoomp! Whoomp! Whoomp! I'm used to it, I guess. I live near the firing range and boy do these soldiers like to blow things up! Call it training, night fire; some of my neighbors may call it annoying and wish they hadn't moved so close. My kids are used to it. They'll sleep right through. They have grown up near the firing ranges most of their lives, they don't even ask me what that noise is anymore. That's part of being a military family, part of being near a military post and part of being truly an American. That is the sound of freedom. The sound of peace in action, the sounds of protection. I don't find it annoying at all. I find it to be a great comfort. Whoomp! Whoomp! Whoomp!

I have now had my poor Sub in the shop twice in the last 2 weeks, it is still misfiring, I think. (I'm no mechanic, but I don't think it should be so jerky, even if it is technically a truck.) Maybe I'm just not used to driving it since it was out of commission for so long. I have got to get it back in and have it looked at. After a catalytic convertor, O2 Sensors, and Intake Manifold gasket, complete tune up, new plugs, wires, ditributor cap, etc. It should be running right! Arrh, I'm so frustrated about transportation. If we didn't owe so much on it, I'd drive it off a cliff. "No, really honey, I don't know what happened, the brakes must not have been working, don't know how it got here at the bottom of this ravine, full tank of gas and up in flames, just don't know what happened." I can see it now, that won't work, sigh... Dear Lord, please be with the mechanic and help him find the problem, please!

I was sorting through papers on my desk today, feeling insignificant, as most of it was junk mail addressed to Resident. (No one lives here by that name; I wish that the post office would get that figured out.) I walked into the front room to deposit a bunch of scrap paper in the recycle bin when the UPS truck drove up. I wasn’t expecting anything so I was surprised when he headed straight for our door, carrying not one, but two boxes just for me. (Now let me just say here, that I’ve been receiving boxes of Creative Memories donations from my friends from the Yahoo Group CMC Sharelist, to help out with the families that had their homes flooded in Centralia last month.) I assumed the boxes were more scrapbooking supplies. I was thrilled to see the return address was that of my sweet sister, Nin. I couldn’t possibly imagine what would be in it, since I already received from her the surprise of a beautiful fruit basket with a chrysanthemum at Christmas time. I opened the first one, and ...

I am dieting, so instead of my usual chocolate dessert fare, I’ve been trying to eat healthy choices. Tonight we had angel food cake with a blueberry sauce over the top. Most of the children devoured it without batting an eye. When I served Ace, my five year old son, he asked me what it was. I replied, “Angel food cake.” He inquired, “Did Angels make it?” “No," I laughed, "Angels didn’t make it, it came from the store.” This time he inquired a little more cautiously, “Is it made from Angels?”

Another handmaiden nearly left my service. As you may know, I have named my appliances , because I was feeling a bit discouraged that I didn’t have servant girls like the Proverbs 31 woman. My dear and faithful sewing machine hasn’t been so faithful this last year, and I’ve begun to wonder if it is her time to be removed from service. Elna’s timing has been off quite often lately and she drops stitches sometimes and skips them at others. During the beginning of her servitude, I was extremely happy with her capable assistance, but lately, during crunch time she has failed to perform and I’ve had to resort to borrowing a handmaid from a neighbor or friend. I am of the opinion that borrowing a sewing machine is like borrowing your friend’s socks; you could do it in a pinch, but it just doesn’t feel right. She worked fine through all the Christmas sewing. Five pairs of flannel jammies finished two days before Christmas, a record for me. But as I was stitching some cute little duckies on ...

Hey there's a cute baby contest here! I am SO entering, because I am/was (who's splitting hairs) just about the cutest baby ever. A few of me. The first one-2 years old, just look at those adorable ringlets! What is with the kewpie doll look? BTW, this is the same picnic table about which I had a terrible nightmare later in life involving a roaring lion and his midnight snack, namely, ME! Third grade, four-eyed beauty! My friend Becky and I-waiting in line for our turn at 4-H modeling at the State Fair. I won two gold ribbons; for modeling, and for sewing that stylish jumper. Sixth grade 1978, so very proud of my handiwork. I did the topstitching by myself you know.

I must be cycling into a depression zone. There is no sun outside, my workouts have produced no weight loss, and have only served to provide me with an incredibly stiff neck and a pinched nerve, the effects of which are causing me increased stress, incredible laziness and an enormous appetite, (or cravings perhaps, who can tell when I’m feeling this way.) I have consumed two bags of popcorn, 94% fat free, of course, so I am justifying it; 5 chocolate kisses, the remains of my York Peppermint Patty mints, and a carafe of chai tea, sugar free, (so it doesn’t really count, right?) I have been reading through my usual list of blogs today hoping for inspiration, motivation, something to help me out of this dump I am in—nothing. I have come away feeling more lonely, isolated and exceptionally boring. I long for the relationships with women that so many of you have out there in bloggyland. I am tired of being a stay at home mom, not really the Mom part, just tired of staying at home. I ...

I had been on the phone with the mortgage company and was feeling rather stressed. I was slamming things around in the kitchen and immediately my mind went to the decadant cream filled cake still in the fridge. "Self medicate, self medicate" it said. Boy there was an internal battle of wills going on here, between the Fat Girl, the Skinny Girl inside of me and that darned chocolate cake. I needed to feel its creamy goodness sliding over my tongue. That would make me feel better about the mortgage phone call, sure it would. "No it won't, don't let others' negative attitudes sabotage your good day." Skinny Girl replied. "But I need to just have a bite of it, just a small slice," the Fat Girl said. "No!" the healthy, just-walked-a-mile Skinny Girl replied. "That's it!" Skinny Girl grabbed the cake and mashed it into the garbage can, right on top of a poopy diaper. "Just try and dig it out now!" Fat girl can...

My Dear #1 Niece emailed me this question, I thought I would answer it here: Mary, I need some advice about preserving photos. We got a portable hard drive for Christmas and I am in the process of backing up my photos on that, but it got me thinking. OK, now I've protected my photos in case my computer crashes but what about fires, floods and things like that. What is your recommendation? Should I burn them on CD? I probably need some other storage space outside of my house? Safe deposit box or box at Grandmas I don't know. And what about my albums? Where do you store yours? Love ya, Thanks, Leesha ;) That is such a good question Leesh, I'm posting my answer here on my blog (I know, shamelessly promoting myself here, so you'll all have to listen, read, whatever.) I have decided some things after seeing the devastation that can happen when things are not properly stored. I'll give them in list form, it's easier for my brain to wrap around a list than a ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! This is the time for reflection, this is the time for reminiscing, this is the time for New Years Resolutions, which I’ll do faithfully for 15 minutes or so. Resolved: to stick to my goals, resolutions, whatever. Resolved: to be more realistic in my goals. Resolved: to actually accomplish the new habits I’m trying to implement. Resolved: never to make resolutions again. That was productive… Ok, the reflection part. What a year this has been. I don’t remember January and February much, April was spent getting ready for DH to leave the Army, May it happened, June, and July were spent keeping the bill collectors at bay, August we had a break while DH did 30 days of active duty. September, October and November we again fought off the hording masses. December, DH started working again. Pearl Harbor Day, actually. It is a general rule that we only do significant things on days that were already designated as a holiday. Miss Busy was born on Mother’s Day, DH left the ...