Birth Story #1

My first pregnancy was a very exciting one. I had never experienced pregnancy, so every new "stage" that I entered was an absolute joy to me. I had folks telling me how healthy and energetic I was for being pregnant....What?! Am I supposed to be sick? The only thing that I really dealt with during this pregnancy was low blood sugar and anemia. I had to relearn how and what to eat, making sure that I avoided sweets and increased my protein intake. My midwife also told me to take liquid chlorophyll and eat leafy green salads for my anemia.

I had chosen to have a midwife deliver me, so I went to their clinic for all of my appointments and the birth. When she checked my pelvis for size, she told me I would have no trouble delivering babies. It was all a new experience, but a very enjoyable one. We were hoping for a boy.

The day drew nearer to my due date which was July 31, 1997. I can remember on July 20th...the day of the full moon, hoping to go into labor. That night my husband and I went for a walk, walking up and down hills and such. That didn't work. I was somewhat disheartened but I knew that I wouldn't be pregnant forever.

On Saturday, July 26th, at 4:30 a.m. I woke up to my first contraction. I was excited, but went back to bed...I am not sure how long I slept, but I was able to go back to sleep. I had irregular contractions throughout the day. We were scheduled that day to clean the church, so that's what we did. I would stop for each contraction, but they still weren't regular at that time. My husband had some brush to haul off, so he and I drove separately to my folks house...Yes, with contractions I drove to my parent's house. (O; The contractions had begun to get more regular, but they weren't really strong yet. We had dinner at my parent's house...PIZZA, but I was getting more and more uncomfortable and was only able to eat one piece. I also took a hot bath at their house to help with the pain.

We headed home sometime around 9 or 10 p.m. and I continued to labor at home. I was having some bad back labor, quite painful, but my contractions were still not very close together. I got on all fours to help the back labor. I can remember rocking back and forth on my hands and knees, and having my husband rub my back (around the sacrum). Around 11:30 p.m. or so we decided it was best if we headed to the birthing center, my mom and sister had come over and they followed us there. Yes, we had called the midwife already, so when we arrived she was waiting on us.

I feel very blessed yet today to still have my mother and sister alive. As they were driving to the birthing center, they were nearly hit head on by someone who appeared to be drinking and driving. God was watching over them, for they arrived safely to the birthing center and were not hit by that driver.

We arrived to the birthing center at 12:30 a.m. There my midwife checked me and I was dilated to 4 cm., I still had a long ways to go. I was beginning to get really uncomfortable, so my midwife suggested that I get into the hot tub with jets. That was SOOOOOO relaxing, I absolutely loved the jacuzzi, in fact while I was in there I could hardly tell that I was in labor. But the time did come for me to get out and when my midwife checked me again I was dilated to 9 cm!!!!

I continued to labor in bed, never experiencing transition. At this time the contractions were coming about five minutes apart, and were pretty intense. However, I was sleeping in between my contractions and I remained calm and focused throughout the labor. Normally, I am a high strung individual, but when I am in labor or pain, I become quite calm and controlled. Unusual, I know. (O;

Finally, I was near 10 cm. with just a little lip that the midwife easily pushed out of the way. I was now able to push, and it felt so good to push. I relieved the pressure that I was feeling. I think I began pushing around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. I pushed for a long time! I was still resting in between contractions nearly falling asleep, but when the contraction came again I would push. I pushed for nearly 2 hours, until the midwife threatened an episiotomy...then I pushed with all my might and the baby began to crown. Once the head was out, the midwife checked for a cord around the neck and the cord was around the neck twice....no wonder I had such a hard time pushing the baby out!!! Once the head was out, I gave a gentle push and out came baby at 6:57 a.m., Sunday morning, July 27th...the day before my birthday! What a great early birthday present!

The midwife had put a warm towel on my tummy and then baby, and my husband came over to reveal to me that we had a son! He weighed 6# 13 ounces and was 22 inches long. Once the cord stopped pulsing, my husband cut the cord. Then the midwife took our baby boy, rubbed in the vernix, and gave him to daddy while I delivered the placenta. When the midwife examined the sack, she made and amazing discovery! My placenta was very large, in fact it was a double placenta and there was a double sack as well. The midwife showed me the sack. The sack that my son was in, a line down the middle, and a sack next to where my son was. TWO SACKS!!! I was amazed and very grateful for the one son that I had. The thought of possibly having twins was quite amazing to me. What an awesome God we have!

I tore a little with the delivery, so the midwife put in a couple of stitches (one's that dissolve). I was able to nurse him almost immediately, but as a first time mother, I struggled to get him to nurse. I stayed at the birthing center for about 4 hours and then was able to go home. I don't remember much when we got home, except when I had to nurse him at about 12:30 a.m. I remember sitting up in bed, Indian style and dreaming that I was feeding my son peas and carrots!!! Oh, what the mind does when you are so exhausted. This feeding he actually seemed to "get it" that is, nursing, finally he was nursing well. I remember that I had struggled all day trying to get him to nurse.

My mom and sister came to visit me the next day, and brought me flowers and a balloon for my birthday. I think I had actually forgotten it was my birthday, but that birthday in particular, I felt very, very, VERY blessed!!! I have received a son from the LORD!!!

Blessings!
Heather

Please Pray...

My mother called me this morning and told me that my sister-in-law spent the night in the hospital last night. She is expecting twins two weeks after me. They suspect that she may be dealing with pre-eclampsia, although her blood pressure was normal, her liver enzymes (or something) were elevated and she had some swelling.

At present she is 28 weeks into her pregnancy, probably far enough along for her twins to survive if they had to be delivered, but still at risk for problems.

Please keep her in prayer.

Prayerfully,
Heather

Coming Up....

As part of my "Memories, Celebrating my 100th post" series, I will be working on posting my birth stories, all six of them. Yes, my memories have faded, yet I remember distinct details about each birth. I am quite busy this week, so we may be looking at the weekend or later, before I am able to post them.

Blessings!
Heather

A GIVEAWAY....from Making a House a Home!!!

Mrs. U at Making a House a Home is having a giveaway celebrating her One Year Anniversary of blogging!!!

Here is what she will be giving away (her words, not mine):


- a set of Martha Stewart Everyday Towels (like I mentioned here)...
- a pair of earrings of YOUR choosing from the Etsy shop of new jewelry designer and real life friend, Melissa...
- an autographed copy of "Queen of the Castle- 52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged or just plain tired homemaker" by Lynn Bowen Walker that I reviewed here (and mailed to you FROM THE AUTHOR HERSELF!!!)...
AND...
- a 2 year subscription to Victoria Magazine graciously sent to you courtesy of Hoffman Media.

The drawing will be held on Saturday, June 30th...so you better hop over there and sign up so you don't miss out!!!

Blessings!
Heather

Menu Plan Monday

Monday AGAIN?!!!! Boy, does time fly! When I realized that I needed to plan another menu for this week, I gasped!!! I almost said, I don't have the time!!! But I don't have time to fly by the seat of my pants either, so here I am again! Would you like to join us? Go HERE to join.

• Monday: Leftovers.
• Tuesday: Marinated Pork Roast in Crock pot, roasted potatoes, green beans or salad, rolls(?).
• Wednesday: Pizza/Stromboli, salad, raw veggies, bread sticks.
• Thursday: BBQ pork sandwiches on homemade rolls, mac & cheese or French fries, raw veggies.
• Friday: Spaghetti & meatballs, salad, bread sticks.
• Saturday: Breaded chicken sandwiches, salad, chips.
• Sunday: (Church Dinner) Crock pot Baked beans, dessert or salad.

And if you glance to the sidebar, you will see that I have posted my menu plan there too!!!

Have a blessed day in the LORD!!!
Heather (O;

My Quiet Place Today...

Praying Hands
Each day, we should take time in our "Quiet Place," that is the place we go to cry out to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, spend time in His Word and pray in our "closet."

Today, I ran across two posts (Anger and The Sharp Tongue) that dealt with the very issue that I have been struggling with lately: Anger. Yes, anger...I came from an angry home, not abusive, just angry. I was never taught to control my temper, to hold my tongue, or to use a soft answer. Now I am not trying to excuse myself because I was never "taught" to do this, I am just simply explaining the case here. It is my deepest desire to become that quiet, soft spoken mother and wife that I see in others and in God's Word.


Proverbs 31: 10-31
10 ¶ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.


This passage speaks volumes to me. It challenges me, and urges me to change my sinful ways to be more like Christ. We must live each moment as if Christ is in our home visible to us in the flesh. Watching our every step. Would you lash out at your children or husband if Christ was sitting there, in the flesh, watching?

***NEWS FLASH***: He is watching us!!! We may not be able to see Christ sitting there, but He is there!!! Can you feel His Presence?

May you be blessed today!
Heather

Update!!!

I finished planting my garden today (with my dear hubby's help)!!! YEAH!!!

My green beans and cucumbers are planted (I already have 2 hills of cucumbers growing).

My sunflowers are coming up around my deck!!!

I am SOOOO excited. Just think, in 50 -52 days I will have tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and peppers to eat fresh from my garden! YEAH!!! I get antsy just thinking about it! I feel so blessed! God is sooo good!

What did I plant?

• cherry tomatoes (10 plants)
• Big Boy slicing tomatoes (7 plants...it was supposed to be a six pack, but one of the slots had two plants so I separated them)
• Burpless cucumber (2 hills, Tasty Green Hybrid)
• Pickling cucumber (2 hills, Burpee Pickler)
• Green beans (1 row, Burpee's Stringless Green Pod--bush type)
• Green beans (1 row, Brittle wax--yellow bean--bush type)
• 1 row of green & yellow beans that I mixed
• Sunflowers (Mammoth--Gigasol Gigante) These sunflowers are actually supposed to get 12 feet tall ( not six feet).

I have never grown sunflowers before (except as a child), and I am very anxious to see them grow tall!

All that is left to do now is to put newspapers and grass clippings around the green bean rows and cucumber hills and I will have a weed free garden this year!!! Yeah!!! I will try to post pictures once things are growing nicely and near maturity!

Blessings to you all!
Heather

Boy OR Girl?

Audrey asked me today if I thought I was having a boy or girl. Truthfully, I am in the dark. Here are a few "clues"....I don't know what the gender of the baby is, so YOU have to guess.

1. The heartbeat has stayed around 140 every time I have been to visit my midwife.
2. I am carrying the baby all out front like a basketball, not at all around my sides & such.
3. I always carry my babies low, as I am long waisted (short-legged).
4. My 2 year old daughter is clingy...every time my girls have been clingy I have had a girl. However, I have not had a boy following a girl. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, my youngest son didn't want to have anything to do with me.
5. My oldest son was clingy, just like my daughters have been when I was expecting a girl.
   
6. I get occassional heartburn, but generally can eat whatever I please.
7. I haven't had morning sickness at all for a month now.
8. I haven't had much energy.
9. I have had round ligament pains with all of my pregnancies including this one.
10. I have not been craving chocolate.
11. I have had fewer headaches.
12. I have had anemia and am working to correct that using liquid chlorophyll.
13. I have not had much swelling.
14. The baby is active, but not extremely rough.
15. The baby hasn't hit me in the bladder yet.
16. There are times that the baby is moving constantly like he/she is kicking his/her arms and legs.
17. I have gained more weight with this pregnancy than all my others.
18. Just as soon as Daddy puts his hands on my tummy to feel baby move, the baby stops (usually).
19. I haven't had any aversions to cereal and milk (like all my others).
20. I have been extremely emotional lately, crying about every little thing.

Do you have any ideas or guesses about what I am having? Like I said before, I have NO clue...just like all the others. I can only go by what I know from the past pregnancies.

Have a great day!
Heather

Do you remember this list?...

Here is my task list so far...
Vacuum girls' bedroom, I have maintained it so it is clean!
Fold laundry in baskets.--->DONE! but is a continuous process!
Wash ALL sheets and comforters; hang out to dry.
Make ALL beds up again.
Clean master bedroom & vacuum.
Clean upstairs bathroom, sweep & mop.
Scrub bathtub, showers & toilets.
Help boys organize room & vacuum.
Clean & organize living areas (2).
Sweep & mop kitchen floor, thoroughly.
Clean & organize downstairs bathroom.
Clean & organize laundry room.
Clean stairwell to office.
Clean & organize office.
Plan menu--Mondays.
Finish planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans & sunflowers.--->DONE!!!
Load and Run dishwasher daily.
Clean out coat closet.
Go through all childrens' shoes.
Clean out master bedroom closet.
Clean out laundry room closet.
Go through dresses in guest room closet.
Clean out and organize closet under stairs in kitchen.
Clean out and organize kitchen cabinets.
Clean out the refrigerators.
SEW, SEW, SEW, SEW!!!!

Well, I am not doing so well at it this week. I wore myself out last week trying to sew and clean up for company! I am barely catching up and it is already THURSDAY!!! YIKES!!!

I am not doing too well! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I was extremely tired. Last night I woke up with one of those wonderful round ligament pains (yes, again...bananas no longer help) at 2:00 a.m. and finished my night's sleep out on the couch downstairs. Our 2 year old daughter has been waking up every night, climbing out of her bed and joining us in ours. With only a queen size bed that doesn't leave much room for me and my enlarging belly. I guess I am going to have to start sleeping with her in the guest bed.

I am desperate for some extra energy and if you have any extra energy floating around send it to me!!! (O;

Anyway, for y'all that have been wondering what happened to all that spunk and energy last week, it got lost in all the fatigue that hit me Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. If you happen to think of me, please say a prayer for energy and strength. I am planning on starting up school again next week (going until noon each day) and I will be including more things with my two oldest daughters---mostly phonics.

Have a great day & Blessings to you!
Heather

Crockpot Baked Beans

Here is the recipe!

4 cans pork & beans (don't rinse)*
2 cans black beans (rinsed and drained)*
2 cans chili beans (don't rinse)*

*that is, approx. 15 ounce cans or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans per can.

If you make your own beans, any kind is fine, just make sure that they are thoroughly cooked and as tender as you like because the tomato base of the ketchup in this recipe will cause them to firm up a bit.

Then add:
1-2 cups ketchup ( you can substitute half of the ketchup for tomato puree, but it won't turn out exactly the same)
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
2-3 T yellow mustard
3/4 cup brown sugar ( I use raw sugar)
garlic salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Mix these ingredients with your beans in your crockpot and let cook overnight until lunch or all day until supper. You can add any kind of meat to these beans for a complete meal.

If they seem a little soupy after they have cooked for several hours, take the lid off and turn them on high to cook for another 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Fixin' Dry Beans...The Quick Method

Have you ever had one of those weeks that you are too busy to remember to prepare the fixins' for a meal ahead of time. Something like dry beans? Well, I am busy and forgetful! However, there is a solution for this problem so I am going to write it out for any of you that have the same problem that I have.

*NOTE*...This recipe does require a pressure cooker.

1. A Quick Soak

2-3 cups dry beans (pintos and great northern beans work best)
6-8 cups cold tap water (or filtered if you prefer)

Put these two ingredients into your pressure cooker making sure that you fill it only halfway full with these ingredients. Uncovered, bring to a rapid boil and cook for 1-2 minutes. Keep an eye on your beans so they don't boil over. Turn off the heat and let sit for 1 hour or more. When you come back to your beans all or most of the water will be soaked up.

2. Cooking the beans with your pressure cooker.
Drain and rinse you quick-soaked beans in a collander. Put them back into your pressure cooker and fill it with filtered water to the halfway mark (or until the water covers the beans by about 2 inches or so). Place the lid on (it will have two pressure release valves on top, a rubber ring inside, & your 15 pound jiggler that goes over the top point). Turn you heat to high until the jiggler thingy starts jiggling, then turn your heat to medium. Let cook for 20 minutes, set your timer. Once they have cooked for 20 minutes, place entire pan in sink and run cold water over the lid until the pressure releases and it is safe to take the lid off. Now season your beans with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (that is if you are cooking the standard 2 cups, 2 teaspoons if you are cooking 3 cups). Put the lid back on, place on burner and get the jiggler going again. Cook for 5 additional minutes. Turn off the heat and let sit on burner until the pressure release valve goes down.

3. Now your beans are ready to use as you like. You can add them to a Mexican casserole, make baked beans out of them, or leave the water on an continue to cook them down for a refried beans mashing them as they cook.


I love cooking my beans this way because it saves time and planning, the skins on the beans are much more tender than if I were to cook them in a crockpot, and I can depend on the results being the same every time.

If you do remember to soak your beans overnight, you can still cook them in your pressure cooker following the directions from step 2.

Swylv, I haven't forgotten about the Crockpot baked bean recipe you requested. I will try to type it up this evening sometime!

Blessings!
Heather

Memories...Celebrating my 100th post.

I am finding it quite difficult to sit down and type up 100 "fond" memories. In fact, I am avoiding it. The task, to me, seems mountainous. Finding fond memories, only, is also a task in itself SO I am working on memories only, fond or not. I know I won't have time to put them all in one post, so it will be broken up into many different posts.

Under the Sunflowers


Childhood Memories:

1) I lived in a small town in Missouri. My playmate was my cousin who lived just a few blocks, or should I say a few backyards, away. We would often call each other and meet somewhere in the middle (of the yards that is). Once I walked all the way to her house, and she walked all the way to mine! We didn't cross paths that time and we had to come back again to meet! We always enjoyed each others company as youngsters and spent many summers together.

2) I can remember visiting with an elderly woman in my neighborhood, Mrs. Watts, from time to time with my mom. Her home was always decorated with crocheted afghans, doilies, dolls, silk flower arrangements, and teacups. Once she made my sister and I a doorstop doll, dressed in a beautiful dress and bonnet, made with an old dishsoap bottle which was filled with sand. My doll had brown hair and a blue dress, and my sister's doll had blond hair and a pink dress (I think).

3) I can remember when my mom was pregnant with my sister, how excited I was, and the night that my parents took me and my brother over to my aunt's house to stay when my mom was in labor. In the morning, when I woke up, I remember the phone call from my folks...I was so excited that I had a baby sister! When we arrived home, I remember how much she slept...all day sometimes! I remember peeking into the bassinet to see her sweet little face. I don't remember her crying, just the wonderful moments of having her there.

4) My birthdays were always special to me. I was born on my maternal grandmother's birthday. She and I were always very close. Every birthday I got to spend the night at her house (sometimes two nights in a row). It was very difficult to let her go when she passed away. I was in college at the time and she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer a year earlier. I had just turned nineteen (July 28) and she had turned 70. I gave her some earrings for her birthday that year and fifteen days later (August 12) she went to be with the Lord. My grandfather gave me the earrings back and I still have them to this day. I dream of her occassionally and she seems so alive and real in my dreams, she reassures me that she is okay and doing well. When I awake from my dreams I often feel like I have actually visited with her, it makes my day. I greatly anticipate the day that I get to see her again! She was (and is) my best friend!

5) Summertime. This time of year is always a sweet time for me. So many memories focus around this time of year. As a child, summertime meant no school for a few months, swimming pool visits, playing in the sprinkler, hanging clothes out to dry on the line, gardening with my mom, canning green beans and pickles, wilted lettuce salad, fresh veggies from the garden, playing with my friends, going on long bike rides, fresh cherry pies, homemade ice cream, taking walks with my mom, church camp, trips to Silver Dollar City and White Water Amusement Parks, cook outs, soaking up the sun, and the wonderful smells that fill the air in the summertime.

Well that is all I have time for now. Please stay tuned as I think of some more memories to post. If you are inspired to do the same, let me know and I will drop by for a visit!

Have a blessed day in the Lord!
Heather

Menu Plan Monday

• Monday: Breaded Chicken sandwiches, salad, deviled eggs, raw veggies.
• Tuesday: Beef BBQ, cauliflower/broccoli salad, baked beans or mac & cheese.
  
• Wednesday: Taco casserole, salad, corn cake.
• Thursday: Pancakes or waffles, french toast, eggs, sausage, biscuits & gravy (?).
• Friday: Sausage meatball sandwiches, salad, raw veggies.
• Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers and Hotdogs, salad, chips.
• Sunday: Crockpot roast, carrots, potatoes, green beans, rolls.

You can join us at Organized Junkie!

Have a great day in the Lord!
Heather

An Update...

I want to thank each and every one of you that have been praying for my sister-in-law's parents. Her mother went to be with the Lord yesterday evening. As you can imagine, this is quite devastating to my sister-in-law as she was very close to her mother. Please pray for her as she grieves over the loss of her mother and pray that she will be able to carry her twins to full term.

In Christ Alone,
Heather

The Beauty Around Me.

A storm threatening (from earlier this week).

The petunias next to the barn where my husband has his shop.

The swingset my husband built for us this week (in our back yard).

The rose next to our garage.

My Garden (I will be planting more cucumber hills and green beans today!)

Our Front Porch Climatus

This is just part of the beauty that surrounds me daily. Unfortunately several of the pictures did not turn out, therefore they did not get posted! Enjoy!

Blessings!
Heather

Today is Our 11th Anniversary!!!

Eleven years ago today, at 2:30 p.m., my husband and I vowed to love and cherish each other for the rest of our lives! This was truely one of the happiest days of my life. I had finally found "the one" for me with God's help. Had my husband not prayed for a companion almost 2 years earlier, I don't know where we would have been today. God answered his prayer, and unknowingly at the time, answered my prayer for a godly husband. Everything that I had ever wanted in a husband, is in the man I married. And by God's intervention only, did we unite our lives together "until death do us part."

Blessings!
Heather

How did I do?

Well Mercy & Tiany, Tuesday evening, I folded all of my laundry in the baskets...probably 5 loads or so and I put most of it away. The rest belonged to my boys and I had them put their laundry away. Yes...laundry was all I got completed on Tuesday, but it made Wednesday go much smoother.

Wednesday...

• I loaded & ran my dishwasher.
• Got someone to help me sweep the kitchen floor (it is not mopped yet).
• I tidied up the downstairs rooms and vacuumed the carpeted floors.
• I was able to get the bathroom tidied up (but toilet & bathtub still need to be scrubbed).
• I straightened my desk, but was unable to clear it all off (due to all the homeschool stuff).

Everything else is planned to be done today. (O;

Although, I washed 4-5 more loads of laundry yesterday, so I will be folding the last two loads up this morning. I then plan to wash all of my husband's clothes & my clothes.

However, one major thing today that is planned is sewing and resting. Friday, June 15th, is our 11th wedding anniversary, so I am going to try to sew something up for that. (O;

I will be making up tomorrow's meal today, also.

Thanks for asking!
Blessings!
Heather

Out of Steam...

I started my day out by sleeping in a little later, for some reason I was tired this morning. Since my 5 year old DD was not awake, I decided to sleep until she got up (around 7:30 a.m.). Today I have felt like I have been in slow motion. I am not sure why I am so tired, I just am.

After breakfast today, I decided that I better get outside before it rained. The forecast was predicting thunderstorms off and on all afternoon. I started outside by digging up a new flower bed that went all the way around our deck...that took me all morning, but I finished the task and planted my sunflower seeds all around my deck just as it began to thunder and rain.

I can't wait to see them in 80 days (when they are full grown), they are supposed to be giant sunflowers...I think they are going to be six feet tall! I have never grown sunflowers before, so I am really excited!

As it was sprinkling, I also made 2 hills for my cucumber seeds and planted them. I am still needing to plant my green beans, but they only take 55 days, so I still have some time. I like to plant an early season of green beans and a late season. I will be planting green beans again in August (just before the baby is born).

However, since lunch, I have not had any energy. I guess all that wonderful sunshine and fresh air took it out of me...or maybe it way the digging and pulling of weeds!

I need to motivate myself to move, so I am going to write up a list of things that I still need to do today.

1. Load and run the dishwasher.
2. Wash all of hubby's laundry.
3. Fold the clothes in the laundry baskets.
   
4. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor.
5. Tidy up all rooms downstairs for my guests tomorrow.
6. Vacuum downstairs rooms.
7. Tidy up bathroom.
8. Clean off desk/table in living room.
9. Wash up dishes that can't go in dishwasher.
10. Straighten couch cover & shelves in living room.

I have a big list, and big hopes. I need MOTIVATION. My energy level is low, I will say a prayer.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

1 Corinthians 14:40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."

Coming Up...

For the "celebration" of my 100th post, I had asked my readers to give me a suggestion of what I should write on. Well, if you looked at the comment section, 2 of my readers recommended writing about fond memories (100). I will be working on this, however this may take some time as I am in a very busy season of planting, weeding, cleaning and organizing!!!

Blessings!
Heather

Menu Plan Monday!!!

Today is the DAY!!! That is, Menu Plan Monday. This is the day that I plan my meals for the week. Did I tell you how much it helps me to know what I am fixing for dinner every day? It helps me tremendously!!! This week I may have a guest eating with us every day, so I MUST be prepared. (My dear friend from church is away this week, so her husband may join us for dinner.)

Here's the plan:

• Monday: Pizza from Wild Wings & Things (Monday Madness Special), raw veggies & salad.
• Tuesday: Marinated pork roast with potatoes & carrots, rolls, green beans and salad.
• Wednesday: Mexican Fiesta: Tacos, nachos, burritoes, corn cake, spicy cheese dip, salad.
• Thursday: Leftovers (or Breakfast) and/or quick and easy meal.
• Friday: Meatball sandwiches, salad, raw veggies.
• Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers and Hotdogs, salad, chips.
• Sunday: Crockpot baked beans, salad or dessert.

There you have it! Would you like to join us this week? If so, hop over to Laura's blog at Organized Junkie and sign up! You won't regret it!!!

Oh, and I have a recipe for those of you that are looking for a new spin on you meal time. I did not use this recipe this week, but with picky eaters I tend to plan things that they don't mind too much. This recipe is delicious and nutritious, anything that you see is low-salt can be replaced with the regular thing (it is just higher in sodium that way). I gave the recipe to Swylv to try, it can be vegetarian or meat can be added to it! Enjoy!

Sesame Broccoli Stir-Fry (with or without chicken)

1 - 2 split chicken breasts, cubed (optional)
1 lb fresh broccoli
2 tsp peanut oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. medium mushrooms, quartered
1 red pepper, cut into 1 inch squares
2 T reduced-sodium chicken broth (or water)
2 T reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 T toasted sesame seeds

Chop broccoli, set aside.
Pour peanut oil into wok or nonstick skillet; place over high heat unit hot. Add chicken (optional), garlic, & stir-fry 30 seconds (with the chicken, stir-fry until chicken is thoroughly cooked 8-10 minutes). Add broccoli, mushrooms, and red pepper and stir-fry 2 minutes. Stir in broth, soy sauce, and sesame oil; stir-fry 2 minutes or until most of liquid is evaporated and veggies are crisp-tender. Transfer to serving bowl and toss with toasted sesame seeds.

If you add chicken, cook it first then add veggies.

To toast sesame seeds, put a dry pan on medium heat, add seeds, and stir until seeds start to brown. Careful, as they will be very hot!

This recipe is delicious and can easily go over rice for those who are eating carbs.

Have a great day!
Blessings!
Heather

Boy am I CRAZY!!!!

Well, maybe not CrAzY crazy, but just a little overambitious sometimes. I finished planting my tomatoes and green peppers. Then the children and I put newpapers and grass clippings all around the plants to prevent the weeds from growing. That was hard work!!! I am sure that I will pay for that later!!! But the good news is, now it is done!!!! Yeah!!!

I was also able to trace and cut the bodice pattern out for the jumper that I plan to make. I will probably try to do a little on it tonight yet, but I won't get it done. That's okay, it will be there for me tomorrow!

And I just realized that this is my

I am not sure what I am supposed to do when I have written my 100th post. I have seen some write 100 things about themselves, but maybe you, as my readers, can think of something?!?

Have a great day!
Blessings!
Heather

Saturday Cleaning Spree...

Clean and Fresh

And a cleaning spree every day until my home is clean...

Here is what my cleaning day #1 looks like....

• I got up somewhat early so I could have some time to prepare myself for my day. Today, I got up and came downstairs, put some towels in the washer, got dressed to my shoes (lace-ups so I can't take them off easily), made coffee, read my Bible, and began fixing breakfast. WAFFLES, YUM!!! And they were Mickey Mouse waffles.
• I ate breakfast, waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, and as I was eating I continued to make the waffles until I had used up all the batter.
• When the waffles were done, I started a bath for my youngest daughter--she was covered from head to toe in syrup!!!
  
• I got her in the bathtub, then I asked my second oldest son to watch her while I got clothes for her and hung the towels out to dry on the clothes line. At this time all of my other children are outside while Dad is weed eating and mowing.
• I finished bathing my daughter and got her dressed. Then I began clearing the table of syrupy dishes, so my daughter could not get syrupy again, and putting the food away.
  
• I put another load of clothes in the washer, loaded up the dishwasher with the dirty dishes from this morning, and washed all the remaining dishes. And as I walked from the kitchen back to the laundry room, I picked up items on the floor in the living room (the main thoroughfare and put them in their places.
• With the dishes washed, I wiped down the table and counter tops with my hot soapy water and when I was finished, I started my dishwasher. Now both of my "servants" are working. That is to say my dishwasher and my washing machine are doing their "jobs".
• Then I swept the kitchen floor, and sat down for lunch.
• I cleaned up after lunch, put my three youngest down for a nap, and read another chapter in my Bible. Then I pulled all of the dresses out of the washer, hung them on hangers, and put them out on the line to dry.
• Then I picked up a little on the living room, vacuumed the middles, got a nice cold drink of water, pulled the things from the dryer and folded them, put them away, and started another load of laundry.
  
• I got the towels off the line and folded them--I will get the dresses later, and then got out one of my favorite jumpers and began tracing it to make a pattern off of it. I plan to cut out a jumper and sew it up for myself. We will see how far I get with that project. However, dinner is soon to be here and my body is telling me to stop walking, climbing stairs, and standing so much. So now it is the fun time of being creative.
• The plan for this evening is to plant my tomatoes and peppers. I may also try to plant my sunflower seeds, green bean seeds and cucumber seeds. We'll see!

I hope you enjoyed my cleaning day at a glance. It was motivating to me to write it all out!

Have a blessed day in the Lord!
Heather

In the Mood for Cleaning

NOTE: My list keeps growing! Everytime I think of something new to do, I hop on my computer and add to my list! The advantage to this is that I can't lose my list! (O; (O;

School is just about done and I will have a short break before we start up again. And guess what I will be up to? You got it!!! CLEANING!!! And if I have time, I will go on a sewing spree. I don't need to go get the fabric or materials, I just need to sew. I will hopefully get some jumpers sewn up for my 4 lovely daughters, and if I have time I will make a jumper for myself--one for nursing and maternity.

Here is a list of my cleaning tasks so far (you may recognize part of this list because I am copy and pasting it from another post of mine):

Here is my task list so far...
Vacuum girls' bedroom, I have maintained it so it is clean!
Fold laundry in baskets.--->DONE!
Wash ALL sheets and comforters; hang out to dry.
Make ALL beds up again.
Clean master bedroom & vacuum.
Clean upstairs bathroom, sweep & mop.
Scrub bathtub, showers & toilets.
Help boys organize room & vacuum.
Clean & organize living areas (2).
Sweep & mop kitchen floor, thoroughly.
Clean & organize downstairs bathroom.
Clean & organize laundry room.
Clean stairwell to office.
Clean & organize office.
Plan menu--Mondays.
Finish planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans & sunflowers.--->Tomatoes, peppers & sunflowers planted!!!
Load and Run dishwasher daily.
Clean out coat closet.
Go through all childrens' shoes.
Clean out master bedroom closet.
Clean out laundry room closet.
Go through dresses in guest room closet.
Clean out and organize closet under stairs in kitchen.
Clean out and organize kitchen cabinets.
Clean out the refrigerators.
SEW, SEW, SEW, SEW!!!!

I am planning on starting this cleaning spree on Saturday. So if you think of me, say a prayer. With this pregnancy and all of them, I tend to get really stiff and sore, so all prayers are greatly coveted!

Blessings!
Heather

Our Belated Birthday...

My youngest daughter's birthday was yesterday, June 3rd. However, she was still running a low grade fever last night so we decided to hold off on the "birthday party" until this evening.

She woke up this morning with out a fever!!! Praise the Lord!!! Your prayers have been greatly appreciated. I think that she may have been cutting her two year molars and that may have caused the fever. She had no other symptoms, so that is what I am guessing was the culprit.

Anyway, today I made her a birthday cake and we gave her her birthday presents. This year we gave her all toys, especially since we have bought her so few toys. She got a baby, a ball, and a noisemaker (a little jukebox). I think she likes the ball and the jukebox the best.

She has been so lovable today. I am blessed to have her as a daughter!!! She has blessed my life for two years now, and Lord willing many more years to come.

Blessings!
Heather

Home Management Binder Updated

For anyone that has been following along with my Online Home Management Binder, I just updated it with a daily to-do list and a weekday to-do list. I will probably be adding more to this as soon as school is finished (this week, YEAH!!!).

Blessings!
Heather

Menu Plan Monday...

Yes, it is that time again....and boy did I have a hard time figuring out what we were having for dinner this week! However, now it is done and I don't have to think anymore. All I have to do is look on my menu plan each day and do what it says! If you would like to join us, go visit Laura's blog at Organized Junkie. It is not too late!

Here's What's For Dinner:

• Monday: BBQ ribs & roast beef, mac & cheese, green beans, breadsticks.
• Tuesday: Beef and noodles, rolls, green beans and corn.
• Wednesday: Homemade Meat pockets, salad, raw veggies.
• Thursday: Leftovers and/or quick and easy meal.
• Friday: Pizza/Stromboli, salad, breadsticks.
• Saturday: Grilled Hamburgers, salad, chips.
• Sunday: Sub-sandwiches, chips, salad, raw veggies.

Have a great day!

Blessings!
Heather

Family Happenings and Needed Prayer

What's going on...

Yesterday our pump went out on our well (thankfully we rent). However, now we are having to run the water constantly to get all the grit out of the water...don't worry, we don't drink the water.
Anyway, now our drains are getting clogged and we have pipes leaking in the cellar! I turned the water off. However, our upstairs toilet won't flush without having it almost run over! I am at my whit's end right now! I need to fill the dishwasher to run it, but I can't because I can't put the filters on the faucet to hook up the dishwasher...by hand it will have to be. I am hoping to wash a bunch of laundry so I am praying that the filters on the washer hold up without getting clogged.

ANYWAY...that's not all...

Needed prayer...

I spoke with my mother today and learned that my sister-in-law's mother may not make it through the weekend. She is refusing food and water, her liver seems to be shutting down, and her body is not passing fluids as it should. My SIL is devastated and remember she is also carrying twins (she is about 24 weeks along). This is extremely stressful for her and stress is not a good thing when you are expecting, especially twins. I am praying that she doesn't go into premature labor. My brother also needs prayer as he tries to support his wife. On Sunday, they will have been married for a year. All prayers are greatly coveted for them right now!

My Youngest Daughter...

As you may remember that less than 2 weeks ago I was asking for prayer for my youngest daughter. Well, today I am asking again. She has a low grade fever...that's it, no other symptoms, but it concerns me. Also, tomorrow is her birthday, she will be two. She is eating and drinking, she just doesn't feel well. I would greatly appreciated anyone who will lift her up in prayer.

Again, all prayers are coveted for these matters.
Blessings!
Heather