I am writing on a January day during which I ran errands and took the kids to piano lessons and never put on a coat!!! THIS IS WRONG. I am very put-out!
Where is the lovely white canopy? Where are the drifts I should have to climb over to get to my mailbox? Why has my wonderful hubby not needed to use the snowblower? WHERE are the neatly groomed trails for my cross country skiis? WHY can't I go down-hill skiing or sledding with my kids? WHERE IS THE COLD, BLUSTERY, WEATHER THAT MAKES ME WANT TO CUDDLE UP WITH MY FAMILY AND MAKE THEM COCOA?
Okay. I'm over it. I just needed to get that off my chest. Whew!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
7 years ago
over 7 years. that's how long its been since i've worked outside our home. it's been really great and i am not currently looking to change vocation. i am, however, finally beginning the process of obtaining illinois licensure. i've started and stopped several times over the years, always meaning to do it, yet very reluctant.
yesterday i finally went back to the shop and got out the 5 boxes of papers from work: stuff i kept in case someone sued, "c.y.a." stuff on hours worked and clients seen, notes and books about counseling techniques and mental illnesses, proof of continuing education credits, the list goes on....
this week i will be burning all the stuff i no longer need to save. i did find the two important folders about my licensure in wisconsin and my application information for the lcpc (licensed clinical professional counselor) certification. so, i'm finally beginning the process for real. wow, just a little scary and sad to think that my time at home with my kids is limited.
it will probably take me at least a year to get licensed and there are no plans to go back to work at this time. actually, august was very clear last night when i explained what i was doing. he said, "i'm not sure that's a good idea" and "i guess it would be okay if you worked for a couple of hours while we're at school, but then when would you go grocery shopping?" :-)
yesterday i finally went back to the shop and got out the 5 boxes of papers from work: stuff i kept in case someone sued, "c.y.a." stuff on hours worked and clients seen, notes and books about counseling techniques and mental illnesses, proof of continuing education credits, the list goes on....
this week i will be burning all the stuff i no longer need to save. i did find the two important folders about my licensure in wisconsin and my application information for the lcpc (licensed clinical professional counselor) certification. so, i'm finally beginning the process for real. wow, just a little scary and sad to think that my time at home with my kids is limited.
it will probably take me at least a year to get licensed and there are no plans to go back to work at this time. actually, august was very clear last night when i explained what i was doing. he said, "i'm not sure that's a good idea" and "i guess it would be okay if you worked for a couple of hours while we're at school, but then when would you go grocery shopping?" :-)
Friday, January 27, 2012
Celebrating 13 years...
We took five boys tubing to celebrate 13 years of boyish, fun-filled, head-strong, curious, lived-to-the-fullest LIFE!
the coup
the brave and the young got together for a serious coup during the Christmas holiday...
motto: "you could put an eye out like that"
rules of engagement: none
theme song: "it's the end of the world as we know it..."
Christmas 2011 Pictures (I know...I know...)
A rare moment of brotherly and sisterly cooperation. (I think they may be plotting an overthrow of the parental authorities)
It's a little late, but here you go. Some pictures from Christmas 2011. Oma and Opa with the grandkids and below, the whole gang. It was so much fun to have a baby around at Christmas again!
It's a little late, but here you go. Some pictures from Christmas 2011. Oma and Opa with the grandkids and below, the whole gang. It was so much fun to have a baby around at Christmas again!
The little ones were less than excited about the mandatory photography! :-)
Thursday, January 12, 2012
snowy morning
I have my toast, spread with creamed honey and wild Manitoba blueberries (thanks Heidi) and my hot coffee. I'm sitting in the basement, looking out of the windows at snow steadily coming down. We have about an inch already this morning! I'm still wearing my fleece pyjama pants. I love snow! This is the first snow of the season and I intend to savor it!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
soap story
Here goes.
Back to April, 2011 when, during a leadership meeting at church, (I confess I was daydreaming a little) in popped the idea of making bar soap. (Have never done this before and never thought about doing this before.) I was convinced this was from the Lord, but couldn't imagine why God would ask this of me.
I prayed and asked the Lord "Why am I making soap?" The answer seemed to be "trust me." I don't particularly like this answer. I researched the internet on soap making, picked out a few recipes, compiled a few ingredients and made my first batch. May 5, 2011. It was okay. The scent was not very strong (since I had no idea how much I needed) and the bars were kind of hard, but when tested in the sink and shower--sure enought it was soap!
I did not, however, feel the relief and contentment I hoped to feel. Instead I really NEEDED to make more!
I told my good friend Stephanie about this crazy thing I was doing. I thought she might tell me that I was nuts and there was no way God would tell me to make soap and I should stop right now and what was I thinking...
Instead, my friend (who also happens to run our church food pantry) began to tell me a story about a survey the food pantry clients completed in April in which soap and cleaning products were high areas of need which were not being met.
HMM...
So, I prayed some more and began to feel that God was leading me to make soap and bless our food pantry clients with it. But that's a lot of soap! So I spent the late summer and fall happily making soap--all kinds!
It was amazing the interest this sparked. The conversations I was having with people about soap and about the food pantry.
One lady I talked to suggested that women who are struggling financially often aren't able to afford personal items. That especially at the holidays women often don't have enough left to get things they need for themselves.
This got me thinking and when our church ladies were having a tea before Christmas I suggested we take up an offering and put together some bags with special items for the ladies. This was met with resounding excitement and encouragement, so we collected $133 from the ladies tea and got additional contributions from others in the congregation.
Then came the shopping! Another good friend Jill and I went hunting for goodies to put in the brown paper bags. Then we filled the bags and added festive ribbon at the top. When we were finished we filled 100 bags! Praise the Lord!
The soap bars were cut and packaged with "Pure Blessings" and Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God." written on the label. 190 bars in total of homemade soap (not the first batch--which I am keeping to make laundry detergent ha, ha, ha).
But God blessed us even more...the week before the giveaway the local food bank which distributes food to pantries in the area asked Stephanie if she could use 8 boxes of hardcover books about women's health!!!
My daughter and I set up the table and gave away the soaps and the books and the paper bags. We were so blessed to have the opportunity to tell about the soap making to some of the clients and volunteers. We were doubly blessed to have so many people ask did I really make the soap. We were thrilled to tell the ladies that the ladies of Trinity Church wanted to bless them by giving the bags with personal items (deodorant, lotion, lip gloss, sanitary items, etc.) which they were so grateful to receive.
But most of all, we were grateful to God, who brilliantly orchestrated the entire event and brought so many people together before Christmas to give of themselves!
PS. I am still making soap...
Back to April, 2011 when, during a leadership meeting at church, (I confess I was daydreaming a little) in popped the idea of making bar soap. (Have never done this before and never thought about doing this before.) I was convinced this was from the Lord, but couldn't imagine why God would ask this of me.
I prayed and asked the Lord "Why am I making soap?" The answer seemed to be "trust me." I don't particularly like this answer. I researched the internet on soap making, picked out a few recipes, compiled a few ingredients and made my first batch. May 5, 2011. It was okay. The scent was not very strong (since I had no idea how much I needed) and the bars were kind of hard, but when tested in the sink and shower--sure enought it was soap!
I did not, however, feel the relief and contentment I hoped to feel. Instead I really NEEDED to make more!
I told my good friend Stephanie about this crazy thing I was doing. I thought she might tell me that I was nuts and there was no way God would tell me to make soap and I should stop right now and what was I thinking...
Instead, my friend (who also happens to run our church food pantry) began to tell me a story about a survey the food pantry clients completed in April in which soap and cleaning products were high areas of need which were not being met.
HMM...
So, I prayed some more and began to feel that God was leading me to make soap and bless our food pantry clients with it. But that's a lot of soap! So I spent the late summer and fall happily making soap--all kinds!
It was amazing the interest this sparked. The conversations I was having with people about soap and about the food pantry.
One lady I talked to suggested that women who are struggling financially often aren't able to afford personal items. That especially at the holidays women often don't have enough left to get things they need for themselves.
This got me thinking and when our church ladies were having a tea before Christmas I suggested we take up an offering and put together some bags with special items for the ladies. This was met with resounding excitement and encouragement, so we collected $133 from the ladies tea and got additional contributions from others in the congregation.
Then came the shopping! Another good friend Jill and I went hunting for goodies to put in the brown paper bags. Then we filled the bags and added festive ribbon at the top. When we were finished we filled 100 bags! Praise the Lord!
The soap bars were cut and packaged with "Pure Blessings" and Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God." written on the label. 190 bars in total of homemade soap (not the first batch--which I am keeping to make laundry detergent ha, ha, ha).
But God blessed us even more...the week before the giveaway the local food bank which distributes food to pantries in the area asked Stephanie if she could use 8 boxes of hardcover books about women's health!!!
My daughter and I set up the table and gave away the soaps and the books and the paper bags. We were so blessed to have the opportunity to tell about the soap making to some of the clients and volunteers. We were doubly blessed to have so many people ask did I really make the soap. We were thrilled to tell the ladies that the ladies of Trinity Church wanted to bless them by giving the bags with personal items (deodorant, lotion, lip gloss, sanitary items, etc.) which they were so grateful to receive.
But most of all, we were grateful to God, who brilliantly orchestrated the entire event and brought so many people together before Christmas to give of themselves!
PS. I am still making soap...
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