So CJ Mahaney really did use to have hair...

Go watch THIS video

Sex, Romance and the Glory of God

...is a book by CJ Mahaney that I highly recommend. The title of this book is the perfect summary of it. I read the part in the back for women written by his wife, Carolyn. Excellent. I also peeked at several other pages. But this book is primarily for EVERY Christian married or getting married man. It is the kind of book that, when our 4 boys get married, they will get a copy of it at least a month before their marriage ceremony so that they will have plenty of time to soak it in. (We will also give it to the men our 2 girls marry :-)

Let me give you an example from my own life that reflects how different men and women are when it comes to sex and romance. Don't worry... :-/

Jon was in the kitchen flipping through a men's Territory Ahead clothing magazine and he saw this shirt that he really liked, so he turned to me and said "I really like this shirt. Doesn't it look comfortable?"

My response..."Yes... it would make me want to throw you on the ground and cuddle you."

Jon cocked his head to the side and gave me this ... look. "Ooooo, yes, that is what every man wants. To be cuddled." :-D

He teased me all day and it tickled me so much that I would, for example, be in a room alone cleaning it and laugh really loud, unable to stop, whenever that conversation popped into my head. My children thought I had lost it because it was just one of those things I could not explain to them why it was so funny.

Anyway... get the book. Really. Whether you are about to get married or have been married for what seems 100 years. Because apparently, even though Jon and I have been married almost 16 years and we are healthy in that area... we still have much to learn.

A New Ham Bone Bean Soup Recipe

I can't tell you exact proportions. Sorry. I was experimenting, which is how I often cook. The more experienced I get with cooking, the more these experiments turn out yummy. The downfall is that I do not write down what I am throwing in.

Anyway, what I did was start with a traditional bean soup recipe that included celery (which I grated into the soup instead of chopped) and garlic (which I also grated instead of pressed). I then added corn on the cob that I cut in half; along with several cups of frozen hash brown (grated) potatoes.

I learned that putting whole corn on the cob in soups is extremely tasty from a friend from Mexico.

I put frozen hash browns in a lot of recipes; Including my rice cooker when I am cooking Basmati rice.

As for the spices... I added both cumin seed and cumin powder, cinnamon, powdered Greek seasoning, and lots of pepper. Do this all to taste, but remember not to put in too much cinnamon.

It has become a tradition around here to make ham-bone bean soup after Thanksgiving with the leftover ham. If anyone has any other recipe suggestions for holiday leftovers, e-mail me or leave a comment if you'd like.

Making Mountains out of Molehills

Yep... that is me. ugh. As a mommy of 6 you would not think I would have the time for such a thing, but I give into this temptation more than I would like to confess, really. Like when my twin son decided to cut his own hair. His older, teen brothers did this when they were much younger... except they were jumping on a bed when they decided to cut each others hair. It was awful. I got over it.
I got over these things quicker than I do now.
Why?
Is it because I have so many more children, so many less brain cells, so many more grey hairs, so much less energy?
Excuses... excuses.
You see... this twin son not only cut his hair once and then just about swore up and down that NO ONE CUT HIS HAIR even though it was obvious... he then decided to cut it again, but this time much more dramatically. When I took him to the mirror after the first haircut to help him "fess up" and realize that the evidence was clear that SOMEONE cut his hair, he cried and said "Okay, okay, I cut my hair. It will grow back, right momma?." (It was a big chunk cut right out of the middle front) When I took him to the mirror again for the second hair cut, he cried and fessed up... and yes.... he spent time denying it. He said, "I have no idea who cut my hair, I just woke up and there were the scissors."
Aaaaahhh!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to totally shave his hair off now. If you saw it, you would know why.
The problem?
He DOES NOT WANT HIS HAIR CUT SHORT.
Hmmmm.
I decided I would hold him even though I wanted to ring his neck.
I held him and prayed, "God, help me mother this child. Help me be patient with him.... HELP!!!!"
I looked at him and said, "I love you no matter what, and YES your hair will grow back. But please do not do this again. Please?"
He looked up at me and hugged me really tight.
"I'm sorry mommy that I cut my hair. I'm really sorry."

This is my child that brings daily challenges to my motherhood and makes me realize how utterly STUPID it is to attempt even getting out of bed without first looking to the Lord for strength.

It is all a matter of perspective, and I want Christ's perspective to be at the forefront of my mind so that my actions exemplify Him.

But by the grace of God ...

Thanksgiving Contemplation

My father sent this to me: This is a Thanksgiving poem by John Cowles wife who passed from cancer. It was written during a time when she knew she had cancer.

Written in honor of the 'thanksgiving season. To Be Read Thoughtfully

T THANKS wells up within my heart.
For all You've done for me.
THYSELF (my Lord, my Master)
My deep TRANQUILITY.
For TABLES, TOAST and TELEPHONES TASTE and special TREATS,
TEENS. TOOLS, TENDERNESS,
Safe TRAVELS I complete.
TEACHERS who are TETHERED,
To sound THEOLOGY.
TRUST, wee TYKES, and TYPEWRITERS, Modern TECHNOLOGY.

H For HUSBAND, HEALTH and HALLOWED pews, The HOLY SPIRIT in me.
Godly HABITS learned in youth, a HOME with HARMONY.
HYMNS, HUGS, HOSPITALS. An HEIR to all in HEAVEN.
HANDS to work, sustaining HOPE, Bountiful HARVESTS given.
For HAMMERS. HOBBIES, HANDLES,
Safe HARBORS I have known.
That I am HARNESSED in Your yoke
And I am HEADING HOME.

A AIRPLANES and ANESTHETICS
An AUTOMOBILE for me.
Myriads of ANGELS,
Bid His AUTHORITY.
My ARBITRATOR, ADVOCATE, His AUTOBIOGRAPHY,
Instructs me to ABIDE in Him, Puts ARMOR upon me.
ACQUAINTED and ACCEPTED, ATONED, ADORED, ADORNED. I thank Him for an ALPHABET. By which it is ALL known.

N I'm grateful that I bear your NAME, Your NATURE given me,
That You a lowly NAZARENE.
Grant me NOBILITY
My days (and hairs) you've NUMBERED Lord, And NOTICE every tear.
You NOURISH me, supply each NEED, And always You are NEAR.
NEIGHBORS, NAPS. sharp NEEDLES, NOSE a rose to smell.
NUTS on Chocolate, NIGHT to rest,
And NEWS that all is well.

K Thank you Lord for KISSES,
And KITCHENS to make stew.
KOALA bears and KANGAROOS show The humorous side of You.
To raise the KIDS you've given,
To fear and follow Thee,
You, the Great All-KNOWING One, Through prayer give us the KEY.
You are my KING, I worship You, My KNEES (though creaky) bend.
You rule Your KINGDOM, each request, In KIND or KINDNESS send.

S STORES, garage SALES, SANDWICHES, And SACKS for all my loot,
SATURDAYS and SUNRISES,
And SOCKS within my boot.
SACRED SABBATHS I have known.
SACRIFICING SAINTS.
SCIENTIFIC SCHOLARS,
SURGEONS for complaints.
SALADS, SALT, and SAFETY PINS, STRENGTH and SANITY (partial). The SEASONS and the SCENERY, SIGHT that I might SEE.

On this Thanksgiving Day --My heart is full of praise at all that You have given me, Lord --I bow in awe, amazed

Video of Our Marriage Testimony

Doing this video was completely out of my husband's comfort zone, so when we were asked to do it, Jon's initial response was a soft-spoken "no way." But, the Lord did a work in his heart that he couldn't deny. We both know that the Lord can use this testimony for His glory. It is not about us, but all about the mighty work of our Lord and His transforming power and abundant mercy. God can take what seems completely hopeless and incomprehensibly restore it. That is what He did to Jon and I's marriage after an 18 month tumultuous separation after about 5 years of marriage with 2 children. We now have 6 children and have been married for almost 16 years. It was only 4 months after our reconciliation that I was then diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It was a very difficult season of our lives that we hope the Lord will continue to use to bless others. I can honestly say I am married to my best friend... my husband... my hero. Thank you Lord and to you alone be all the glory.

Below is a video I have posted before of our 4 year old daughter singing a song that I felt was appropriate to watch after watching that marriage testimony video. She snuck into our home library and got ahold of my 12 string guitar and started singing "Humble Thyself."

Making History Fun

Rodeirk from thekingdomecome.com left a comment today at THIS post that I wrote last October informing me of a video that he apparently downloaded onto Youtube. Watch it. It's got, as he put it, a bit more historicity. BTW, historicity refers to the historical authenticity of a person, event, or place

I didn't "dis-da-peer"

... that's how my 4 year old pronounces "disappear"...
Lately, I have spent time trying to figure out how to post that video of Jon and I's testimony. Remember, I am techno-impaired so it takes me longer to figure things out and I haven't yet. I am, however, very determined because, by the grace of God, it is a powerful testimony and my husband does most of the talking. And well, yes, that is unusual...I am typically the one that does most of the talking.
I know, I know... you all would have NEVER guessed that. *snicker*
Just be patient. I think you will see why I am so determined to post it ...once I get it all figured out.

Doctrinal Flip-flopping

THIS GUY published a post you don't want to miss.

Just Thinkin'

I will be getting that video interview of Jon and I giving our marriage testimony in the next few days. I am hoping to post it on this site if I can figure out how.

It has been busy around here. *shew* But the tile work is almost done and it looks beautiful. Our hope is to get our oldest 2 boys in their new room by my oldest sons 14th birthday coming up soon... very soon. Less than 2 weeks.

It is really hard to describe the changes I see in that child... that boy... no. He's a young man. The changes I see in him, well, some are hard to deal with. Mostly because I am so use to him being my little boy. But he isn't my little boy anymore. Besides the fact that he is taller than me, he really has matured into a young man that I LOVE to be around. My 12 year old that will be 13 in about 4 months... same thing. A true delight to be with.

I can't believe how time has flown.
Didn't I just graduate from college? No. It has been almost 18 years.
Didn't I just get married the other day? ...only if "the other day" was almost 16 years ago.

It is good to look back and see where I have come from. Much learned... Much more to learn. The Lord has been so good to me. Even the rough times... He was there. He is always there.