Ugh!

I have just noticed that my last 2 posts have not turned out good. I put a lot of good spacing between my sentences, and had it really easy to read. Now i see that it is all jammed together. I do not know why that happened. I have try editing those post, and spacing every thing out again, but seen they are still just the same. So i give up. I am so sorry. I do hope even though it is hard to read, that you will take the time to read it anyway. It is a good read! Mae

when mommy says....mommy means this.....

Just recently it has came to my attention that i seriously need to sit down with all my dear children and have a little talk with them. Some how they have not learned yet just through it experiences, some of Mommy's way of saying what she means. I am gonna have to explain to them that when mommy says a certain thing, she actually means something else. I know that may seem kind of confusing , but really it's not, once you learn the language! ( my oldest son has pretty much got it down pat now, it's just my younger ones) Here's what i am going to tell them at our little meeting. When mommy walks out the door and sees the bucket of cat food spilled on it's side, and says, " oh man, who spilled the cat food?" _ she means if you did it or not, it needs cleaned up now! When mommy ask, " you haven't done your dishes yet, Clayton?" _ she means it is high time they are done!" When mommy says, " on no, Anna is eating a crayon!" _ she mean someone hurry and get that crayon out of her mouth. When mommy walks in to the bathroom and exclaims in a loud and not so happy tone, "what are all these muddy foot prints on the floor?" _ she means clean up these foot prints right now, regardless of who did it. When mommy walks in the kids room and says, "oh man, what a mess in here!" _ it means you had better start cleaning up. When mommy asks, "who all hasn't brushed their teeth yet?" _She means those who haven't need to do it now. When mommy says, "I am sooo thirsty." _ Some one better get her some water and in a hurry to boot! When mommy gets in the van to go somewhere ( and in a rush like usually) and announces, "oh, i have no more water bottles in here!" _ She means some better run get a bottle of water. Or when mommy jumps in the van and says, "oh no we don't have Anna's pacifier or blanket!" _ She means, "some one, run get it, and hurry, we are late!!" When mommy finally gets the meal done and finally gets to sit down at the table, and looks around to see that no one has any cups. And she says, "wheres every one's cup?" _ that means she is asking for a volunteer to get up and get them. When mommy says, "oh no, look at Anna's dirty face!" _ she expects some one to get a rag and wipe her face. When mommy announces, "Gosh is it ever hot in here." _ it means someone needs to open some windows. ( that's in the winter time when the wood heater is working a little to good!:) When mommy says, " look at all these toys all over the floor!" _ she means it is time they were picked up. When Clayton gets out of bed,( when the rest of us are already sitting down eating), and goes to stand by the wood heater, and mommy says, "The food is over here." _ that means it is time to come sit at the table and and eat, your running late. Maybe it is to much to expect them to learn the secret code. But i think they could with some good training and my little meeting! :) They all know the 2 really good when mommy is getting in the van. Now we just got to work on the rest!! Let me know if you use this kind of code at your home too. Surely i am not the only one! In Him, Mae

Let's try that again

You know what i love about a new day? I love that we get a new chance, a new opportunity to start afresh. Sure i may have made mistake the other day __corrected my children too harshly, or let something slide that i shouldn't of, said something unthoughtful to my husband, got impatient with the kids ;but now that it is a brand new day- i get a whole new shot at it. I maybe can't undo what i did yesterday, but i can try it all over again. I can learn from my mistakes. Maybe I can not un-do what i did or said, but by golly i can make right my wrong, i can fix my mistakes, I can say i am sorry, i can forgive and forget. I can be forgivien. I can talk to my children and say, " you know what mommy lost it yesterday, mommy ran out of patience and said something she shouldn't of, or corrected in a way mommy shouldn't of". Or , "Mommy was busy and let something slide that she shouldn't of, but that's not going to happen again." And explain how that situation should have been handled. I get another try! Because it's a new day! Yesterday is long gone!! God has given me more time. He has blessed me with another day. Wow, another day to serve my God, another day to tend to and instruct my children, another day to be a blessing to my husband!! May i use this day wisely and only for His glory. May i be a blessing to others that i may be in the presence of today. It is your new day too! If you made mistakes yesterday like me, don't worry: because if your up and breathing that means God blessed you with more time, a fresh start! So come on let's try that again!!! In Him, Mae

lust of the eyes

Warning!!
This post is t.v. bashing. Yep, once again!
I am so sorry! Please forgive me.

I think I finally figured out why t.v. and movies are so appealing.
It's because it gives a person "something" to do with out doing "nothing"!
Times when you just want to sit, rest, and relax, and yet not just exactly sit there and stare at four walls!
And it has a lot to do with our eyes too.

Here is a couple verses  I have found interesting. We were just reading along one day and came a cross them, we were not purposely looking up verses on this or anything.
After we read them, I was like, "So that's why the t.v. and movie industry is doing so well"!

Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Proverbs 27:20

All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Ecclesiastes 1:8

Could this be why the t.v. is so very addictive to our human nature?
It seems it must be.
We just have to control what our eyes see, and what our children's eye's see, I guess.

Well just found this interesting and had to pass it on.
Sorry once again for the t.v. bashing though.
Really I mean it.

As always I love hearing from my readers!!

In Him,
Mae

valuing our time ( part 3 )

Here I come again for part 3!

Before I start though I think I should say that I know T.V watching is certainly not the only thing that can be poor use of our time. I am sure there is many, many other things as well.

I am so sorry if it seems i am really picking on that. The T.V is very addictive though I know.


Over all i have come to the conclusion or conviction that we should really think on how we use our time. I mean it is just like our money, we know that it is a blessing from God. And that we should be good stewards of what God has given us. We should use all our money as God would want us too, and give to the use of God's work.



I feel our time is also a blessing from God. We do not know how much time we have left here on earth before Jesus comes to take us home. Shouldn't He return to see us using our last bit of time here wisely? Also we do not when He may require our life. Even though His coming may not be for awhile, our time could be up tomorrow, or the next hour. The Bible said our life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.

If we all acted that we only had a very short time to live, I bet we would be doing things in our last few days very differently than what we are doing now.

I can imagine if I knew I had only, say, 5 days left I would be busy writing letters to my kids instructing then in God's word, and so much more. I would be phoning and talking to my family more, talking to my husband and sharing with him all my hopes and dreams and desires for our kids, telling my family how much I love them, praying for my family, and the list would go on.

It is just something I feel that God has been really laying on my heart lately.
And something I feel is very important to teach our children while there are young.
I want them to be creative, have fun and work hard, use their time to bless others, and just learn to think of others over their own personal pleasures or desires.
I want them to know that our time here on earth truly is a gift and blessing from God.
I want them to always be mindful of how God would want them to use their time, and what he wants for them to do with their lives.
I want them to always put God first, others next, and then their personal wants, and desires and so on comes after that.

And of course I have to be that example for them.

To close,  I must say I certainly do not have all the answers ( though i wish i did), and that i am learning and growing all the time. ( I hope I am anyway!!)

In Him,
Mae

valuing our time ( part 2 )

How's this for valuing time?
Below I have made up a little story to show how some people may value their time.

He is at work and he makes every minute count. He is diligent in what he does. His boss likes him because he of his hard work ethic and that he doesn't waste time.
He expects to be payed of course for every minute he is on the job. If he is short changed even 30 minutes by accident he goes to the Secretary and gets it straitened out, there's no way he wants to do any thing for free. He boast that time is money.
He doesn't want to do anything with out being paid.
He complains of wasting his time in the long line at Star Bucks and in traffic lights on his way home from work.
Then he gets home.
You know the first thing he does after greeting his wife and kids ?
Yep you got it, he plops down in front of the T.V, completely unconcerned of valuing his time anymore.
Not only is he not valuing his time, but he is in fact paying to waste his time. He pays for cable, net-flix, and computer game rentals.
SO he sits there wasting time and paying to do it!!
( so much for complaining about wasting time at the traffic lights and Star Bucks.)

Now I know this is not a true story, but I think unfortunately it is true way more than we realize.

To add to this fictional story......
As he sits wasting his time ( and paying to do so), his dear wife and children yearn for his attention.
His wife would like the family to eat dinner together at the table but that's next to impossible with Dad in front of the t.v, the kids want to do the same.
His kids would rather have him  play ball  or read a story to them though.
His wife would like him to read the Bible to the family.
He may be thinking, " this is my time, I can use it how I want."
But while he sits and wastes time, his family suffers for it.
His whole home suffers.

Does he really have the right to use his time like this?

What a sad story that is. But thankful it is just all made up, or is it?
Is this not true in many a home?
But I must say I am not picking on the men or husbands at all, only seemed convenient to use the man in this made up story.
But i know full well the women and moms can be just as guilty of this.
Oh, but you say, " that's not so in Christian homes". Well i sure hope that is true.
I would hope this is not the way christian homes run.
How sad that would be.

Well i guess that brings us to the end of part 2 on valuing our time.
It looks like we will have a part 3 as well!
I hope you are enjoying this topic.
I would love to hear from you on what you think on this.

In Him,
Mae

valuing our time ( part 1 )

I have been thinking a lot lately of time. And valuing time.
It has always been a big deal to me to make the most of my time, or using it wisely.
Might have something to do with my upbringing or just my characteristic
But i have never liked to just sit around, i have always felt there has to be something that needs doing, and most of the time as a mom there certainly is. But i also feel there is a time for a rest or a break too. That is vital to keep us moms going. I nap daily
But i have never liked to feel that I was wasting my time, like watching a movie, playing computer games or the like.
It may be because I grew up with out a T.V, and computer. SO there was no sitting around watching something and no computer or video games at all.
When i was really little ( under 8 ) my parents ran a market garden in the summer, plus we had our own house garden, did ranching, and lots of animals. So there was lots to keep us busy at. Both work and fun.
For evening activities when it was dark and work was done, or in the winter time, we played board games, card games, reading books, and such.
When i was 8 and we moved from there, we still had a big garden to tend, lots of animals, and lots of fun and work to do. Never was a dull momnet!

So what I am getting at is that since i was not use to sitting and do nothing but watching something, I still to this day do not feel right just sitting and wasting time like that. It has to be to be in the evening when there is absolutely nothing else better to do, and then only once a month, if even that. It wasn't always this way though.
There was a time after i got married and we got a T.V. for watching movies ( it even got 3 channels, though a little blurry), that i did enjoy watching. And quite often too, though not in the day time,( i just could not stand that at all).
At the time we had that T.V. we only had 2 little ones and we did not have to worry so much about what we watched. We had that one about a year and a half. Then got rid of it.
A couple years later we got a D.V.D player, and started getting D.V.Ds from the Library or rental store to watch and did that quite often.
By this time though our kids were older and we really had to make sure they were family friendly, but often during the movie we would find, "oops it was not."
That's when i started to get sick of movies. The lack of good and wholesome ones out there.
We did buy the whole complete season set of Little House On The Prairie. And loved watching that together as a family.
But from then on I gradually got sick of movie watching all together. We went from watching a few a week to only Friday nights. Then i was like, "Why don't replace our movie night with a game night instead." So that's what we did. ( but soon our game night wore off, but we did not go back to to movie night to my great delight.
Now we almost never watch any movies at all. It has been a long time.
Also the kids would play computer games at a lot. I could not stand them sitting there during the day doing that, so i really limited them, or said only in the evening. ( though that has been our reading time as well)
Now i am happy to say they don't play computer games any more!! YEA!!

I just feel they have much better things to do with their time.
They have school of course and chores, but after that is done, they can play outside in the woods, ride bikes, build things with wood, ride their scooter, skate board, read books, write letters to their many cousins, color and draw pictures, and so much more.
I want them to be creative. I don't want them to feel that the only thing there is to do for fun or entertainment is to sit and watch something. And i don't even want them to feel that all spare time should necessarily be fun or entertaining.

And that is how it is with me too, i feel I have way better things to do than sit and waste it watching something, i don't care if it's good, it is still wasting my very valuable time.
Like i said i do need need breaks in my busy day as mom.
And of course more than just a nap.
But my breaks can still be very useful. I can sit and write letters, read my Bible, read other good books ( like i have done this winter), phone my many family members, write on my blog, send e-mails, go for walks, chat with hubby. All that to me is taking a break, yet accomplishing so much. I could not bare to sit and do nothing.
But maybe that's just me.
Maybe the Lord is just convicting me of this.
Maybe this is just for me and my family and no else.
But i have been wondering as a whole, should God's people be valuing their time more?
I have been wondering does God care at all what we do with our spare time?
Does it matter to Him if we just sit wasting our time away by watching something?
What does He think of all this?

Some how i feel that just as we should value our money (which God has blessed us with), and use it wisely for God and not just on our selves; that we should also value our time that God has gave us here on earth and also use it wisely for Him.
We do not know how much time we have left here on earth. I really feel we need to make the most of it.
I have been so convicted of this lately.

SO how do we spend our evenings then?
Well we don't have much of an evening during the week in school season since supper is at 6:00 and bed time is at 8:00. Between those hours the table is cleaned from supper and dishes are done, a little play time either in doors or out, then wash up time, then comes reading time. I read to the children form a children's Bible, and other good Godly character building books. Some where in there may be time for a quick snack. Then after reading time is brush teeth time, then off to bed at 8:00.
No school nights( which is Thursday and Friday nights in our home), and summer evenings are different only in that bed time is later. Other wise we do the same things. They just have more free time between when supper dishes are done and reading time. Summer evenings though find us a lot of times out in the garden after supper. We all work together to keep it weeded and watered and so on.

I find i have much more to share on this topic than i first thought, so I am planing a part 2 on this.

To close up part 1 this, I would just say it is something each family has to be convicted on. Something to to think on, pray about and discuss with hubby.
I personal took awhile coming to this conviction, was not something that happened over night for me, so i would not expect that of any one else either.

Well until next time,
God Bless and Take care!!
In Him,
Mae

do we have what it takes?

Since I have been reading in the book, The Hole in The Gospel.
I have been thinking more and more about the life styles of the regular average Americans.
How we live compared to those others in poor countries.
Many of us may be barly making ends meet or just making it from pay check to pay check.
And we wonder how could we possible give to poor in another country.

Well that may very well be true, because of the life style that we are trying to live, and all the many things we "have to have", and what we call "needs''.
But most of us live way beyond basic needs don't you think?

Here i have put together a list of things that if we can afford, then we surly can afford to give to the needy in the poor countries i think. ( my opinion only though)


If you have enough money for:

• dinner out a couple times a month or even only once a month
DVD and commputer game rentals


• cable television
• netflix


• a vacation
• birthday or Christmas gifts


• manicures
• pedicures


• brand new clothes instead of second hand ones


• getting your hair done


• jewelry


• your kids to be in sports


• bringing your family to the Rodeo or Fair


• your kids music lessons
  
• dance and krate lessons


• gambling addictions


• a smoking habit


• all those yummy already prepared store bought foods we could live with out


• gas to run the roads for this activity or that one



If we have money for those things, then surly we have money to give to the needy and poor, to support orphanages, sponsor a child, and so on.




Sure it takes sacrificing of our wants and pleasures a bit, but we are talking about starving and hurting people here. Children with out moms and dads who need good clean orphanages to love and care for them. Orphanages that need you and me to keep them going. But ultimately they need adoption though. There is a HUGE NEED for this in worn torn Liberia.

SO i am thinking do we have what it takes?


Well just something to think about. Somthing that has been on my mind.

In Him, Mae

Tears of The Rain

Here is another book I am reading that I just love! ( I have finished the book The Hole in The Gospel )
I just had to share about it here.

It is called Tears of The Rain, by Ruth Ann Stelfox.
I got mine where I order my kids school. Christian Light Publications. http://www.cpl.org/ I make my orders over the phone at 1-800-776-0478.



Anyway this book is about a family who spent 2 years serving in Monrovia, Liberia with the Christian Aid Ministries. It is like a diary of their time there.
It is easy to read and so very interesting.
Through this book you can gain a great knowledge of the work and need there in that area, plus you get to see what all is being done there by the Christian Aid Ministries and others like it.

The need over there is so VERY GREAT, but it is so wonderful to see what these Ministries are doing for the people.
They have many, many orphanages that they support. Plus many other forms of help the poor.
It also gives us knowledge of places that need our financial support and prayers.



I am so enjoying the book. Even my 10yr. son is reading it too, and really enjoys it. I think it will be great for him to see the needs of that area, and to gain a heart for people like that.
I am hoping some of my children will be led to serve in mission field.
It is so important now at this early age for them to get a knowledge of the need and a heart for the people.


Other great reads of mine this winter have been ,

A Change of Allegiance by Dean Taylor

Over Coming Evil God's Way by Stephen Russell

The Hole in The Gospel by Richard Stearns ( World Vision President)



I have found the Christian Light Publications to be a very great place to order good books for the whole family. Character building books for children, Mission stories, books for Christan living and so much more. I love their catalog that is just for books. You can order one for free at 1-800-776-0478.



Well I guess that's it for now.
A good night to all!!
In Him,
Mae

Back with wind!!

Hi all!!

I am back with some more wind!!

Oh course I still do not know how often I will post though. I just do not get alot of time.

But at least I have had a break, and i have had a lot of fresh thoughts and such on mind that i am eager to share.
I did not take notes on paper though like i had planed, it's just all in my head.
But i think it it will all come together when i go to post.



My cough still hasn't gone away. But at least I got some antibiotics this morning from wonderful mid-wife at my monthly check-up. So i will be glad for that to do the trick and knock my cough out for good!! My baby check-up went fine. I am at 18 1/2 weeks along now. Every thing is going good, and was wonderful to hear the baby heart beat again!!



With the all the bad news on the earth quake in Japan i have just been thinking about how so very blessed we are here! Or good and spoiled may be more like! We need to be so ever grateful for our things, food , and water. I know it is easy to take all that for granted, but in a blink of an eye, like in a earth quake, that all can be wiped out.

The people there have been in my thoughts and prayers.



Well look for super duper coming posts!!

In Him,
Mae

Out of wind

I know this may sound funny on my part, but I am just posting to say, "I think I am out of wind for now!!"
I have had so much on my mind lately, lots of wonderful thoughts and such I would love to share, but at the moment do not know how to write it all down.
I feel like i need time to refocus and recompose!
Maybe a little break is all i need.
In the mean time i can write my wonderful thoughts as they come to mind on note paper so i don't forget them.

I have had a cold this past week that has lasted so long, and really had me feeling miserable for a few days. So i know i can of took a break already then. I feel better now, but i still have a cough, that just won't let go.

Our weather has been wonderful here lately with cool mornings and pleasant after noons. Although it has been going up and down quite a bit in temp wise. I feel that's what can give us the colds.
We have planted potatoes, beets, and carrots now.

Anyway other wise all is going great in Mae's house.
I am going to take a little break, and gather my thoughts and be back with some supper duper posts!!
So keep on the watch!
And hope all is going great at your house!
In Him,
Mae

peanut-butter cookies and coffee

I just love how peanut-butter cookies and coffee go together!
Yesterday afternoon I was thinking, " a cup of coffee would sure seem nice about now."
So i went to make a pot of coffee.
And after i had that going I started thinking, "boy it sure would be nice if i had some peanut-butter cookies to go with it."
So then i quickly made a batch of peanut-butter cookies.
And then I got to set down with my cup of hot coffee and warm cookies straight from the oven!
Of course i wasn't just sitting there, i was correcting Nathan's school too.
But still it was wonderful!!

Of course peanut-butter cookies is not the only thing that goes great with coffee.
I have never liked just a cup of coffee. I have to have something to go with it.
It's funny, if i get a dessert i am like," now i need coffee to go with this."
Or if i have coffee, i soon start thinking, "what dessert or cookie or something sweet that i can have with this."
Am i the only one like that?

Anyway since I bragged up my peanut-butter cookies i thought i better share my recipe here.
It is nice and soft chewy cookies.

Peanut-butter Favorites
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1/2 sugar
1/2 brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking power
1/2 tsp salt
Heat oven to 350F. Cream together the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl mix together the remaining ingredients.
Then pour the flour mix into peanut butter mixture and work into soft dough.
Roll into balls and place on greased cookie sheet, press down with floured fork.
Bake about 12 -15 min, till nice and golden. I don't like mine over done, because i do not like them crispy.
Enjoy them warm or cold with a hot cup of coffee or a nice glass of cold milk!!

Have a great day!!!
In Him,
Mae