Good - bye 2011

As I sit here with my cup of coffee on the last day of 2011 I can't help but think about this past year.
While this year has been the scariest and the year that has stretched us the most, the scary times aren't the ones that have stuck in my head. Instead it is the obvious signs of God's grace to us. It is the times where "the peace that passes all understanding" came along just when it was needed. It is the times where a phone call from a friend or an unexpected visit was exactly what was needed to lift my spirits.
So overall at the end of 2011 I am overcome by a feeling of thankfulness. And in 2012 my prayer is that I decrease and that God increases in my life and the lives of my family. I pray that when people look at me, they see a reflection of Him.

There's nothing like your presence here in this place,
There's nothing like your passion that steals my heart away.
And there is nothing like your glory falling on me, more of you and less of me.


Cause I'm satisfied by you alone,
Just one touch from you oh Lord
Reach within my heart and make it new
Oh I must have more of you


Cause I'm satisfied by you alone,
Just one touch from you oh Lord
Reach within my heart and make it new
Oh I must have more of you
Brian and Jenn Johnson

Christmas Un-wrapped

This year was a little different when it came to celebrating Christmas. Because we had Pae for Christmas last year, we didn't have her for the actual day this year. She flew up the day after.
Because of this we only opened "Santa" presents on the 25th, saving the BIG celebration for the 27th.
With the "different" schedule we were able to spend Christmas Eve with some "military family". It was great to see the kids playing around and waiting for Santa to come riding around the neighborhood on a fire engine.

Spreading out the celebrations had its advantages. Both kids were able to enjoy and play with the presents as they opened them.

We spent the 25th having a nice quiet day with my parents and uncles. It was fun just to sit back and enjoy each others company.
On the 27th my sister and her husband came up from Salisbury. I haven't seen them for about 6 months so it was great to catch up a bit. Presents were shared all around. I got to give my mom the scarf I have be crocheting for her. It is my first finished project!!

I also got to give Pae her shirt and tutu that I had worked on. She seemed to like them!

The only one missing from the festivities was my youngest sister. She was missed immensely. I did send her some artwork I had made for her home.

We celebrate with my husbands family tomorrow and then the Christmas celebrations will be done for this year! Now I get to have fun organizing all the new toys and such!!!

Counting My Blessings

I was inspired by a friend to sit down and make a list of blessing God has given me in 2011. While this has been a very scary, difficult year, God's blessings stand out very clearly through the storm.

1)That my little Roo is still with us, and that her seizures seem better controlled.
2) My husbands promotion!!!!
3) Financial provisions that have come when we least expect them too
4) That both of my surgeries went well and with little complications
5) Traveling mercies for my hubby's TDY trips
6) My little professors doing well in school
7) I have gone a year without ER trips for my asthma
8) For friends who have become like family to me and have stood beside us through everything
9) That we have gotten to see Pae so much this year now that she can travel by herself
10) The "honeymoon" that my hubby and I got to take together last spring
11) The much needed beach trip with my friends
12) For my mothers extra long visit this summer
13) For my inlaws who have helped us so much this year and provided much needed date nights for my hubby and I
14) Little daily blessings such as my daughters giggles and my sons hugs
15) Getting to see two concerts this year
16) That I have been able to start a business doing something that I truly enjoy
17) Seeing healing provided to a friend


The list could go on and on. It was a great reminder that no matter how difficult things are God's blessings stand out like jewels!

Make it Yourself Christmas

This year I have been making alot of Christmas presents. I can't post pictures because then people will see what I made them, and it would be sad.
So instead I wanted to "show off" some of the decorations I made. I especially like these because they are winter decorations and not really Christmas, so I can leave them up longer.
I got the idea from Pintrest. We took craft sticks and made snowflakes! It was a muli-day process. On Saturday I let the kids paint the sticks, (and their hands and hair and whatever else happened to come in the way of the paintbrush!)
On Sunday and Monday we assembled them and hung them up by the tree. I really like the way they turned out and plan on putting some more together today!

Let the Christmas Baking Begin!!!

Today started my marathon of Christmas baking. I like to spread out the joy for the week and a half before Christmas, doing one thing each day so on the big day we have all sorts of sweets and treats to munch on!
This year I started with a new recipe, CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE COOKIES!!!
I doubled the recipe because I needed at least 60 cookies for a cookie swap tomorrow and wanted some extra as a present for my little guys teacher.
It was a wonderfully easy recipe...brought to you by Pinterest! The snitches of batter that I "sampled" was delicious, but I just tried by first baked cookie....so wonderful! The cream cheese lightens the cookie and leaves you with just a hint of cheesecake! So wonderful, and addictive!
After talking about it on Facebook I got alot of requests for the recipe I used, so here it is!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake cookies

1 cup butter , softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
8 ounces cream cheese , softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350°F
With an electric mixer cream butter and sugars until nice and creamy. Add cream cheese and continue to mix until all lumps are gone and it is nice and smooth. Add vanilla and egg and mix.
Slowly add flour, a little at a time. Add baking soda and salt and mix well, but not too much! ( mixed the dry ingredients in a separate bowl first)
Turn off your mixer and add the chocolate chips, folding by hand with a rubber spatula
Scoop cookie dough by the rounded tablespoon onto a cookie sheet; make sure they aren’t too close though!
Bake in your oven for 9-15 minutes, I do mine for about 14
Cool on a rack and once they are all the way cool put into a plastic bag or container and keep in the fridge!
Since they have cream cheese in them you don’t want them to spoil!
These are the best chocolate chip cookies ever! They stay nice and moist! Makes about 3 dozen.

Using the Force

Lately my little professor has been having quite a few "behavior" issues. Last night I decided that I have had enough, and I was tired of being "yelly" mommy.
Things always went better when he had an idea of what was expected from him. We did some behavior charts for awhile, but it never really stuck.
So while I was searching through Pinterest I found a Superhero behavior chart that operated on a similar concept as the one they use at his school. And while he lvoes his superheros he has a new interest in Star Wars, and with the whole "Jedi vs the Dark Side" I thought that it was a match made in heaven.
Here is what I came up with:

The concept is simple. Every day he will start out as a "Youngling" if I catch him doing something good he will move up the chart....if he makes Jedi Master he will receive a prize, such as a movie night with Mommy and Daddy, and ice cream date or something along those lines. If he makes bad choices he will move down the chart. On each level of the "Dark Side" there will be certain actions that will follow, such as an earlier bedtime, loss of dessert and things like that.
I like this because it gives him a chance to "get caught" doing good things. It will take alot of the "emotion" out of discipline.
I can't wait for him to get home from school so that I can show him!

Little Moments

I have been extremely blessed this year by having the opportunity to take some family pictures for fellow military families. I really love the time behind my camera. Having learned on film, I am trying to catch up with all of the digital technology, so this has been some great practice.
One thing I am learning that sometimes capturing little moments, that might not be the moment you were expecting, are some of the best.
Yesterday I took pictures of my friends little boy. He was not in the best of moods, but we were still able to capture some really precious pictures.
Here is one of my favorites:

I couldn't resist adding the caption! It was just too perfect!!
Last week I got to take some precious mother daughter pictures.

As you can tell they are expecting number 2, so it was nice to capture some special mommy/daughter time before she is a big sister.
Some little ones are big hams, and make my job really easy! This little guy was so cute and energetic!

I have enjoyed take family pictures too. As military families family time is extremely precious, and I feel honored to be able to capture it.

Sisterly love is awesome, and you can tell these two sisters really love each other!

.....but seriously they really do!

And the best is when I am able to capture pictures of pure joy!

So thank you to all of my "test subjects". You have given me such joy this holiday season!

Its Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas!!!

I am one who believes you shouldn't put out Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, but once Thanksgiving is over all bets are off!
This year we have done our decorating in phases. Pae was here for Thanksgiving, so that weekend we put out our "sit around" decorations.

The Advent calendar came out, along with my many angel decorations that I have collected over the years. I also enjoyed putting out the wooden Santa and angel that my grandfather carved.
This past weekend we went and picked out our tree. We have gotten it at the same place on post every year. We also get garland from there and use it to decorate our stairs.

I think the garland is my favorite decoration!
Last night we decorated the tree. Roo LOVED the lights, and had a lot of fun "helping" Daddy put up the ornaments. After each one she cheered, "Yay Daddy, Yay Roo-Roo!" She called them all "tree pretty's".
My little Professor also enjoyed decorating, although he seemed to favor one branch and I had to keep reminding him to decorate the whole tree. I seem to remember my parents saying the same thing.

My wonderful husband also strung lights outside. I don't have any pictures of that yet, but they will be coming. I love having a house that looks so "merry and bright"!

"The God Who Requires Trust"

Yesterday I was able to go to church for the first time in awhile. Sickness, surgery and other things have gotten in the way.
Once the service started I was reminded how much I need church in my life. It makes me stop and focus on what is important. I can take much needed time out of my schedule and sit in God's presence.
The sermon yesterday really spoke to me. The title was "The God Who Requires Trust". The part that really got to me was the idea that "old faith is never going to be enough for new challenges."
The idea was that as things come up in our life, we need to grow in our relationship with God in order to handle what comes along. The pastor spoke of the Children of Israel in the dessert. In chapters 14-17 of Exodus, things kept coming up that tested them. The lack of water and food tested their faith. They whined, and complained. They allowed outside circumstances affect their relationship with God. They whined because what mattered to God didn't matter to them. While it is easy to sit back and judge them, I know I do the same thing. I allow the circumstances in my life to affect my relationship with God. I question, complain, worry and fight.
The service ended with the song "Blessings" by Laura Story. The lyrics were so beautiful I wanted to share:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Courtesy of lyricshall.com
'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

As we get ready to end 2011 I look back and am amazed by God's mercy and blessings. It has been a really tough year, I have cried, complained, wondered "why me", yet the whole time God has shown His faithfulness. He has more than proven that He can be trusted. I have a renewed fervor to increase my faith.

Ribbons and Bows

Now that my little Roo's hair is long enough I have started researching ways to make hairbows.
Thanks to Pinterest I have been able to look at quite a few different ways to make them. After taking some of the best hints and techniques I have made some really cute ones for both Roo and Pae to wear Thanksgiving Day.
Here is how I did it...

Cut six pieces of ribbon all the same size. Lay them out in the start pattern, alternating colors. With a needle and thread make one stitch to connect them all.

Bend over both sides of a ribbon to the middle, add another stitch. Continue to do this alternating colors. Make a final stitch, and knot and cut thread.
Using a hot glue gun add a charm in them middle to cover up any stitches, and glue onto your clip.

All done!!!! Some of the other instructions I saw used a glue gun for every step. I was afraid that it would make the bow too thick. I am not the best at sewing but found this really easy.

Can't wait to make some for Christmas!

Back to My Childhood

When we were growing up we always had oatmeal at least one morning a week. My favorite way to have it was with maple syrup and raisins. When I got to college instant maple brown sugar oatmeal became my between class snack.
This afternoon I decided to bake some cookies, my husband had mention oatmeal cookies last week and so I decided to whip some up. When I discovered I had no more vanilla I decided to try to bring back some of those oatmeal tastes. I took a basic oatmeal cookie recipe and switched it up a little.
I came out with a wonderful chewy oatmeal cookie that tastes even better than the oatmeal....so maybe cookies for breakfast tomorrow?

Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together throroughly:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Beat on medium speed until well blended:
1/2 pound butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 tsp maple flavoring or real maple syrup

Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until well blended and smooth. Stir in : 3 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats, and 1 cup chopped raisins.

Drop dough onto baking sheets about a tsp at a time. Sprinkle with raw sugar then then press to flatten slightly. Bake at 350 for 9 minutes. (I baked mine on my stone and so it took about 15 minutes for them to bake). Let them rest for about 2 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack.

In the Spirit of Thankfulness

Usually this month of the year I update my Facebook status each day with something I am thankful for. With my surgery and the way life has happened this month I haven't kept up on things which is why I wanted to take a minute and write this blog post.
This year has been very difficult. One thing after another has happened with my family's health. My little Roo has developed a seizure disorder, this morning she is undergoing an MRI to try to find the cause, my hubby started off the year with having a stomach surgery and has had issues with his shoulder, my little professor has had some asthma attacks and I have been dealing with issues that came up during my last pregnancy.
Last night I sat and cried, all I could think of is, "why can't we get a break". It is one thing after another. It is exhausting and taking a toll on all of us.
However, I awoke this morning with a feeling of utter thankfulness. While life is swirling around me, I have a constant rock that I can sink my feet into. Through all of this God is beside me. He knows my limitations more than anyone and will give me the strength to get through anything, no matter how big or little that comes along. As the ole' "Footprints in the Sand" poem, He has been carrying me through this year.
I am so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Him. I am so thankful that He loves my children more than I do and that each one of us is in center of His hand.
I don't know why all this is happening, and my humaness rebels against the trials with every breath I take, but I know I need to relax, to rest in Him and let him take the burden.
So this month I am thankful that no matter how much life changes God doesn't. I am thankful for my family and my friends who has put up with the ups and downs that is our life. I am thankful for friends who are willing to share their gifts and talents with me. I am thankful for my husband and for the support that we give each other. I am thankful for my children, and that they are so resilient, that each day I hear giggles from both of them. I am thankful for the military and my husbands command who have taken such good care of use this year. I am thankful for our house and the things that fill it. I am thankful that even though I have had multiple health problems, I haven't had asthma issues. Most of all I am thankful for a God who doesn't expect us to go through life on our own.

Happy "Normal"-ween!!!

Yesterday was such a fun day. It was our first "normal" day we have had in awhile. I got to sit back and watch both of my little ones have a great time and act like kids!
Roo and I have been spending most of the days in the house or in the doctors office. Not exactly the fun life she should be having at this point of her little life. So yesterday as I watched her be goofy waiting for Cameron's parade to start it did my heart good!

My little professor has been having a tough time lately as well. He is worried about his sister and just been kinda sad. Yesterday I got to see him smile alot, he was excited to dress up as his favorite book character, "Jack" from "The Magic Treehouse" books for school. He looked adorable in his glasses and little backpack!

I spent the morning make cupcakes to take to a friends potluck that she held before we all went trick or treating.

The potluck and trick or treating was so much fun! All of us enjoyed being around our friends. It has been weeks since I got to see my friends and all of their little ones. It reminded me how thankful I am that God has given me such a close group of friends. I don't know how we would have gotten through the past few years without their love and support.

I was very proud of the fact that I put together both kids costumes this year! I felt so crafty!!

Trick or Treating was so much fun this year. Both kids amazed me with their energy!!! They kept going long after I was tired out, and now we have enough candy to last us till next Halloween!

It really was a great day and encouraged my heart so much!

Getting Crafty

This morning the weather was abysmal. After running to the commissary which had to be done, I decided we were going to hunker in where it was warm and dry.
To pass the time I pulled up pinterest and my little professor and I did two fun crafts that I had "pinned" in his folder.
The first was a fall tree using his hands as the leaves and branches, (I really love hand and footprint crafts). He added his own touch by putting thumbprints on the ground to show the fallen leaves.

After the picture was done he and I worked together to make a jack-o-lantern garland, meaning I did the cutting, he did the designing. We hung it on two hooks that we use to hang garland on for Christmas. It provides a nice splash of color to our large wall in our living room.

After watching the rain turn to snow I figure we should do all of our fall crafts this week, while it is still fall weather!!!

Tradtions

As I have gotten older I am more thankful for traditions. This time of the year makes me think through them. In my family growing up, every Christmas Eve we went down to Union Station in DC to look at the Christmas decorations and then after dinner would drive around and look at lights. And then because of allergies we had a "fake" tree, and it was always fun trying to figure out the branches!
I have enjoyed starting traditions with my family as well. Being military, you move around alot, and last year I loved being able to take our kids to get a Christmas tree at the same place we did the year before. It is a nice luxury to go back to the familiar.
Last year my friends and I discovered the most awesome pumpkin patch! We spend the whole day there and wore all the kids out.

This is a picture of my kiddos last year at the patch

This is a picture of them this year....lots of changes!!! (including being alot harder to pose this year as they are both so mobile!)
We added a few new friends this year. One thing about being in the military is that your "family" is always flexible. Some years we may have 5 families going, the next year 15.
I love traditions. They are so special. I am treasuring these times with my kids because I know before long they are going to be grown up and making traditions of their own.

Time Behind My Camera

I really enjoy getting behind the lens of my camera. Today I got to take some pictures for a new friend of mine. You couldn't have asked for a better day...it was a wonderfully warm fall day. They graciously allowed me to try some new ideas and poses I have come across recently and I am really pleased with how they turned out. I am still editing some of them, but wanted to share a few of my favorites!!!

We all know that I love taking pictures of little girls in tutu's!!

Such a sweet moment!

One of the new ideas I wanted to try!!!

Struggles

Usually when I sit down to write a blog post I have it all neatly organized in my head. I know the direction and the purpose for writing. This time is a bit different, I am just hoping that this writing serves a purpose.
I feel like I have spent the majority of this year in tears and fear. My little girl has had multiple seizures. The one that happened on May 9th was extremely scary, and caused her to be intubated and sedated. It seems like in many ways I can't get passed that day. Whenever she starts acting the way she did that day, it is like I am physically transported back there. The terror, uncertainty and all around panic flood my body and mind.
Being a Christian, I know that we are not supposed to live in fear. I can quote multiple Bible verses that deal with the fact that God is in control, nothing happens to us unless it is ordained by Him, and that He is the Father of peace. I know these things....but at this point I feel like my fear is bigger than the promises.
It is not like I am rebelling against God. I am searching for Him and crying out to Him with all of my heart, I know that He is the only way I am going to break through these chains of fear. I feel like He is near, yet so far away.
I was doing better, she hadn't had a seizure in five months, and then this past week she had two. We still don't have answers, and in alot of ways I feel like I am fighting an unknown enemy who could strike at anytime. It is very exhausting. I feel like it is easy for the doctors to say, "well, this looks like it will just be a part of your day to day life now", they don't have to live it! It isn't their child, who looks so little, lying there seizing, staring at them, but not recognizing them.
I want to come out of this a stronger person, I want to come out of this, just a little more like Christ, I want the way I handle all of this to be a shining light of God's love and protectiveness, but I am just not there yet.

Tu-Tu Much Fun!

I have been wanting to work on my daughters Halloween costume for awhile now, and today I finally got to.
She is going to be a black cat....today I made her little black tu-tu to go with her costume!

Using a crocheted hairband I got at JoAnn Fabrics I tied on the tulle to make a very easy no-sew part of her costume.

While I was contemplating making her black tu-tu the other day I thought how cute it would be to make her a "candy corn" tutu to wear when we got pumpkin picking. Using the same method I made her a really cute tu-tu! It may be a bit long for trudging through the pumpkin patch, but I will bring it along for some photos!

I was really pleased on how they turned out. It was very simple and a wonderful way to spend an afternoon naptme!

Taking Time to THINK!

I came across this acronym last week:

T: Is it true?
H: Is it helpful?
I: Is it inspiring?
N: It it necessary?
K: Is it kind?

I really liked it, and thought it would be a great reminder to hang on our wall. I need to take a moment and think before I speak.
This afternoon I took a canvas from a botched art project, painted over it with a few colors, added the acronym and a few paper flowers for embellishment.

Now it is hanging on our play area wall as a constant reminder to tame our tongues.

Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Let the Fun Begin!

My dear daughter started toddling at 9 months, so child-proofing started early in our house. However in the past week I have had to become inventive, since she can now climb up on our bar chairs and open doors.
The doors are pretty easy to take care of thanks to child-proof knobs and locks, but here climbing habits were a bit harder. She loves to sit up at the counter and try to "help" me with whatever I might be doing at the time.
After a frustrating day yesterday I came up with a plan. I had made my son a "bored box", why not do something like that for her? I took a small metal tin that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I put a magnet or two on the outside, since she loves playing with those. Inside I put stickers, crayons, paper and a pen. It kept her busy this morning so I could get things done. She seemed really excited to have her own "work" to do!

Enjoying her work station.....and Mommy kept her sanity this morning!!!!

Stretching Myself

While I love being crafty, I have never really gotten in the groove of sewing. It has been something I have always wanted to learn, but always gotten frustrated before the task was completed.
Awhile ago I saw a great idea for using baby blankets to cover pillows. There are two of my daughters blankets that I haven't been able to part with so I decided to try....I mean how hard could it be?
A friend of mine came over today and set up my sewing machine. I sat down after I put my daughter down for a nap and attempted to use the machine. After three broken needed I decided that I should abandon the machine, since I only had two more needles left. I picked up a needle and thread and whipped stitched the blanket. I added some ribbon detail to the end to make it washable, pulled on it a couple of times to make sure it wouldn't fall apart, and now I have a cute lounging pillow for my daughter.
Hopefully the next one will be a bit easier....I think I need stronger needles!!!

My starting materials

The ribbon detailing I added to make it washable...figured that would be a good idea!

The finished product!