Happy New Year!

I cannot believe it is almost 2008!!
We had a good Christmas and hope you all did too!
The twins turned SIX on the day after Christmas!!
So we headed out to Grand Rapids on the 26th.
I have tons of pics but haven't figured out my new camera
quite yet.
My old camera which I still love also has some shots on it
but my dock isn't working right!!
So, pictures will be along soon, I hope!
I hope all had a blessed Christ-centered Christmas!

Christmas is fast approaching!

I can't believe how fast this month is flying by.
My sister in law, Sandi is here from Florida. I haven't seen
her yet but it is going to be fun having her home for Christmas!
My shopping is done, I think. Maybe a few more stocking stuffers.
I didn't get any candy yet.
I have had a blast buying girly stuff for Lindsay!!
Yesterday I took my mom and sister to the Festival of Lights at
Calvary church in GR. It was awesome! I loved it.
And the weather was decent. A couple times on the way it felt a little slippery,
but not bad at all.
I hope everyone has time to update their blogs soon!!!

A Winter Wonderland..............??????????

Well, this is my backyard this morning!!
Isn't it gorgeous? I love the look and smell of snow.
I just wish it would stay off the roads because it really
interferes with my driving. I like to drive fast and this
stuff really slows me down!!
Click on each picture to get a larger one and get the full effect!! LOL!

This is a hoot!!!!!!

Yippee!!!! DATE NIGHT!

Well, it's date night and I can't wait. Doug and I are going out for dinner and then do some Christmas shopping. I already have a good start.........shopping online at Amazon.com!! Their toy prices are matching the chain stores and they have free shipping. So I have most of Dylan's and Lindsay's and one of Ian's (main present--bet you can't guess what it is! LOL!)
I think we are going to Logan's for dinner. My sister , Rebecca is coming over to stay with the kids and she said we can stay gone as long as we want!
It snowed last night and it is so pretty.
I am getting excited about Christmas!

Some more Christmas cards!!!

A few more cards I did--I am really liking the wintergreen one.That paper is gorgeous!!! I added a rhinestone brad for effect and now I
think I might go back and put some irridescent ice glitter on the branch.
The one with the trees, I stamped two trees in the foreground and then stamped off for the trees in the "background".The one with the snowmen is super simple.......but it works for a quickie card!

Wrapping up the Holidays, Stampin' Up! Style!!!

Wow, I think this is the most fun promotion Stampin' Up! has ever done!!!
Check it out!! This special promotion runs until December 15 while supplies last!!
The Following items are on special at incredible prices:

Item Number Description Price
112409 Holiday Tag Bundle $4.95
110380 Tags for All Stamp Set* (20% off) $24.76
110264 Designer Gift cards* (30% off) $4.55
109862 Chocolate Chip satin ribbon* Buy 1, get 1 free!
109863 Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon*Buy 1, get 1 free!
112410 Tin 3-Pack $9.95
110147 Celebration wrapping paper* $17.95
110228 Hand Selected Accents & Elements (25% off) $8.21
*This item is from the current Holiday mini. Only this and other items indicated will be extended through the campaign period while supplies last.
All other Holiday mini items will be available until Nov. 30.
check out the link below and enlarge to 100%:

http://www.stampinup.com/us/documents/US_Wrapping_Flyer_1107.pdf 

There is no limit to the number of items a customer may purchase, but Holiday Mini items are available only while supplies last.

The tag kit is a really good deal. Enough supplies to make tons of tags!!! And the tins--we decorated one at Convention and they are great for gift cards.
Email me if you have any questions!!!

Christmas Card Designs........

That downline of mine, Jen Beggs is so talented and always posting pics of her stuff on her blog................so I thought it was about time for some pics of my artwork too!!! Here are three Christmas card designs.... I know I got the inspiration for one from a swap from Convention and one from SCS.
Click on the image for a bigger picture.

Thanksgiving 2007

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I just wanted to reflect on what I am thankful for........
I am thankful first of all for my life. Thank you, Lord for giving me life and entrusting me to a mother who has loved and nurtured me for my whole life. Thank you for a daddy that loves me and has given me many happy memories.
I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ without whom there is no hope in this world. Thank you, Father that in this scary world we live in that YOU are in complete control and have a perfect plan for each of us that loves you and accepts your gift of salvation through Jesus, your one and only Son.
Thank you for Doug, the wonderful man that you chose to be my husband. Thank you for his faithfulness, his love and kindness to me. Thank you for his parents that brought him up right.
I am so thankful for my Jacob. My very hard come by miracle boy who is growing up so fast. Thank you that he is such a loving, soft hearted young man. Thank you that he is handsome, smart and funny. Thank you for the honor of being his mother.
And my twinnies..........Wow, it's been a rough road sometimes these past almost 6 years. I am so thankful that Dylan is the brown eyed sweetheart that he is. Strong willed, creative and talented. Such a loving little boy.
Thank you for my Ian Timothy. It was so hard to accept that he has Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are still days when I think it just can't be true.
But God has been good and we have an awesome doctor in Dr. Richtmeir who has helped us so much. We are thankful for the medication that God has made available to us to help Ian be happier and our household more calm. I am thankful that Ian is loving, accepts affection and gives it. That he is making conversation more and more and even cracking jokes!
Ian is so high functioning. It could be so much worse. He will be able to grow up, get married and have a family. He has autism, autism does not have him.
And Lindsay, oh my. The best gift I never knew I wanted. In fact was quite sure I didn't!! Thank you Lord for the gift of a surprise baby conceived the old fashioned way and a girl to boot!! So I am no longer alone in testosterone land!!!
I am thankful for my sisters, brother, sisters in law, brothers in law, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, my aunts, uncles, cousins. I am thankful for my dear friends.
I could go on and on, God has blessed me so much!!!
I am thankful for a nice home, food to eat and that my babies are warm in their beds. I am thankful that my husband has a job.
I am thankful that God has helped us get back into church and that we have attended 3 weeks in a row now!!!!!
Wow, I really could go on forever and a day.
Last for now, but certainly not least........I am thankful that my cousin, Kristin's daughter is safe with her family tonight.
God Bless everyone that reads here. If you do, you are a blessing to me too!
Thanks for counting my blessings with me!

Update because Jodi said so...........

Well, my cuz, Jodi said that we are all too quiet on our blogs, so.............here is my exciting week.
Monday, spent the morning and some of the afternoon designing cards and an album page for my workshop Monday night! Nothing like waiting til the last minute!!
So, Monday night go to my workshop in Walkerville. Thank Goodness, my niece Tif rode with me as it is a friend of hers that booked a workshop from her workshop. It was a very long ride! And then coming home we missed a turn and ended up by Ruby Creek Tavern. I got home by the skin of my teeth in time for Doug to go to work. Man, what a night. Thankfully, she did have a good group of people there!!
Tuesday........MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers). I am on the steering team and am supposed to be there by 8:45. Well............I didn't count on having to scrape my windows! And then I pick up one of our Moppetts workers too so I wasn't exactly on time. All went well though.
After MOPS , around noon, Miss Lindsay (the boss) said that she wanted cheese, a pickle and a "samich" from Country Daiwy (Dairy). So we did that.
Wednesday, Lindsay went to her Aunt Deb's for "school" and I cleaned house. Boy, did it need it .
I got alot done including mopping my kitchen and dining room floors which were a disgrace.
Today, Thursday.........left for Muskegon early with my mom and lindsay in tow, picked up my little sis at the park and ride on Russell road and we all went to Target, Meijer, JCPenney and Family bookstore. Got a Point of Grace Christmas CD. I love it!!!!! Oh, and since the boss was with us, we went to "Ol McDonald's" for lunch. Yes, my 3 little children call the Golden Arches "Ol McDonald's". Got home just in time to rest for an hour before the twinnies came home from school. They are so funny. Dylan is so into doing everything his teacher says. Ian is so much happier these days. It is so good to hear him giggle.
So, Jodi...............and anyone else who reads here, there is my update!!!!
Good night to all!

Church

Well, we went to church today..........that's two weeks in a row.
Ian was the best behaved of all the little ones today!!!
It feels good to be back in church. It is weird being in a different
church, but the pastor is a good speaker and the song service is
good.

Soup Weather.......

When the days get shorter and the weather colder, I pull out my soup recipes!
Last night I made Cheese Broccoli Soup and my recipe is so tattered, spilled on, etc.
that I brought it to the computer to make a new copy and decided to share it here!!
EMERY HOUSE BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

3 large potatoes- diced
1 stalk celery- chopped (I leave this out, I hate celery)
1/2 cup onion- chopped
Enough chicken broth and water to make 3 cups
1 tsp parsley flakes
3/4 tsp salt
10 oz. frozen broccoli cuts
5 TBS flour
2 cups milk
3/4 lb. Velveeta cheese- diced
Combine onion, potatoes, and seasonings in broth/water mixture and simmer for about 5 min.
Add broccoli and simmer 10 min.
Mix flour and milk gradually and blend well. Add this mixture to the vegetables and simmer until thick.
Add cheese little by little and stir until melted.
YUM!!

Fantastic NOVEMBER special!!!!

November 1 - 30
Buy 3 packages of Stampin' Up! designer papers and get a 4th package FREE!!!
There are 35 different designer paper packages to choose from and you can order
as many as you like and get every 4th package FREE!!!!!

More good news!!!!

Oh, my goodness!! I am so happy!
I went to Lewis' Farm Market with Ian and Dylan for their
Halloween field trip. I was very nervous. Ian does not do
field trips. Well, he agreed to go on this one and Kris, his
asst. said that he got a little antsy as they were waiting to get
on the bus, so she was nervous too.
Well, I met them there and was standing there as they got off
the bus.........Ian came first and was all smiles and happy to see
me!!!! Then Dylan flew at me so happy I was there!
We went on a very bumpy long wagon ride and Ian was perfect, got
a little nervous a couple times but nothing much. Then we stopped in
the orchard and picked apples, yes Ian picked apples too and was
excited about it!
Dylan was also on his best behavior!!
We got back from that and took a tour of the animals and then
fed them. Wonderful!!!!
Last we went into this big tepee for a story and donuts and cider.
Well, it was quite windy and the canvas of the tepee making a
whipping noise from the wind made Ian a little upset. I realized
right away what it was and took him out side. He never
got really full blown upset. He wanted to go back
in just a few minutes and have his donut. Then it was time to go.
I told the twins goodbye and would see them after school........
no tears, no tantrum, no nothin'!!!! Just "bye, Mom.......I love you."
from both of them!!!
You can have no idea unless you have a child like Ian what a tremendous
big thing this is to me!!! I totally enjoyed every minute of the field trip
with BOTH of my twins!!! I came home with a big grin and had to wake Doug
up to tell him. He was thrilled for me.
I am so thankful to God for leading us to Dr. Richtmeier. He is a truly caring
doctor who will not rest until Ian and the rest of us are doing well. I am so
thankful that this new medication is helping so much. I give all the glory to
God, not the medicine. The medication is only one of the tools that God is using to help
this family! After a great week and now this, I do believe we might be feeling
strong enough to get back to church!!!
God is so good.

Praising God!

I just had to report that we had a TANTRUM FREE WEEKEND!!!!
And Ian was perfect at the party for my mom. All the kids were very well
behaved!! Such a blessing!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Today is a special day.......We are celebrating my Mom's 75th birthday with a big
party!! We are expecting about 60 people.
I made a slide presentation set to music for the party. I just want to share a couple of my favorite pics of my mom........
the one of her as a little girl, she is about 6. Look how she has totally outgrown that dress!!! And the other is a picture she had taken for my dad after they started dating.
I love my mom so much, she has been so good to me and my family. I hope that God grants us
many more good years!

Twenty reasons why I love my husband........

Doug and I marked 26 years of marriage on Wed. Oct. 24, 2007.
I am so blessed to have him for my husband.
1. He is affectionate and loving.
2. He loves me through thick and thin (literally :)
3. He is funny.
4. He encourages me when I am down.
5. He never complains about what I make for dinner
(even if it's sandwiches or mac/cheese from a box).
6. He is a Christian man with integrity and an awesome
work ethic.
7. He is honest in all things.
8. He is gorgeous.
9. He likes my friends.
10. He is a wonderful father, hands on, at home.
11. He takes me out on dates.
12. He feels things deeply and is not embarrassed to show it.
13. He is a very good "cuddler". :)
14. He likes me.
15. He doesn't hunt or watch sports.
16. He is nice to my mother & sisters.
17. He does the laundry.
18. He lets me sleep in on Saturday.
19. He was smart enough to marry a wonderful woman.
20. He is the only man for me.

DONE PAINTING???

I sure hope so!
The carpet is coming tomorrow!
I can't wait!
That room has consumed so much of my time these
last weeks!!!
Next week I plan to stamp, stamp, stamp and play
with my new toy, a Bind It All that I just ordered!!
It 's from Doug for Christmas, but he doesn't know it
yet!! :)
Hope to post some pics next week.

Painting........

I have been painting. I do not like to paint.
Doug and I are moving downstairs! The walls in the downstairs
bedroom had to be scraped, patched ( I did not do a great job),
painted (two coats) the ceiling painted (also two coats ) and all the
woodwork primed and then painted . I am down to the woodwork now
and it is going to take two coats also!!!
Why is it that whenever I paint it always takes at least two coats??????
Even if I buy the expensive paint that is supposed to cover in one???????
Never happens.
I am so glad it is almost done!

Holiday Glitz Promotion

please go to www.stampinup.com to see the details of this promotion!!
If you love it, don't wait...............only available while supplies last!

October is National Card Making Month!!!

and October 6 is National Card Making DAY!! To celebrate I have the following specials to offer:

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October 4 – 8

Receive 20% off any Simply Sent Set
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Beginning on October 1 and while supplies last, PUT A LITTLE GLITZ IN YOUR HOLIDAYS!
Check out the enclosed info on this special!

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Any order of $100. (net) or more placed via telephone or email on NATIONAL CARD MAKING DAY, OCTOBER 6
will get YOUR NAME in a drawing for a $20. STAMPIN’ UP! Gift certificate!!!

So, why not get your order together and call or email me on NATIONAL CARD MAKING DAY, OCTOBER 6, 2007
and take advantage of all THREE of these special offers!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR BUSINESS!!!

Janine Eitniear, SU! demo since 1998
eitniears@charter.net or 231.861.6334

My little Lindsay girl

Lindsay Marie (3 1/2) mixing up cookie dough. I know I am probably biased, but when I look at her I see the most beautiful little girl God ever created. :)
She is so smart too. She can count up to 20 or so. She knows all her colors and shapes and is recognizing numbers and letters and is writing alot of letters. She is funny and loves to dance and sing.

Class Ring time?

Well, so it begins! Jacob's freshman class is ordering class rings already!
And are they expensive!!!
He is so excited, though.

My album class went well! Everyone had a great time and each album was totally
unique and their own! It was chaotic but so fun.
I would repeat this class if at least 6 were interested.

Had a chance to post some stuff on EBAY today.
I am excited about my mini album class tomorrow night!
I hope everyone has a good time.
Not much to write tonight, I am pooped.

Two mini albums and one card that I made recently. The album on the right I got at Convention and was my inspiration for the one on the left. More pictures below. :)

This is a cross over card that I made the other night. I am thinking of doing a class on this and other advanced cards.

Here is a pic of the mini album we are making at my class on Monday. It is full, but I will repeat it if there is enough interest! :)

Ian had a great day at school. His daily report had 11 smiley faces on it!!
He is doing better each day. Thank you, Lord!
Lindsay and I went shopping today. It took almost 2 hours to get through
Meijer, but we got some good deals.
Tomorrow we are staying home! And relaxing. (?)
Next week I am starting a huge project. Redecorating our downstairs bedroom
so that Doug and I can move in there and give Lindsay our room.

Monday, Monday......

Feels like FALL today! Lindsay went to "school" at Aunt Debbie's today and I got a lot of cleaning done! I still have tons of toys to sort and hopefully give some to Goodwill and even throw out some that are broken , etc.
I try to do a good "toy dung out" before Christmas gets here.

Well, we got all dressed for church yesterday and headed to Rothbury to visit Rothbury Community Church. We pulled in the parking lot and there was not a car in sight! I thought "someone must have told them we were coming.". But there was a sign on the door saying that services were being held at Camp A-O-Ah- Kayah that day! We would pick that Sunday to visit there!

Tomorrow is our first MOPS meeting. I am looking forward to seeing my friend Angela who I have not seen ALL summer!!!! :(
Lindsay loves to go to MOPS too.
I am so hungry for Apple Crisp! Might have to run up to the Farm Market tomorrow and get some apples.
My Apple Crisp Recipe:
Peel and slice as many apples as it takes to fill a 13 x 9 pan to heaping.
Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon (I don't measure but it's roughly 1/2 to 3/4
cup of sugar and then enough cinnamon to cover the apples pretty well.
Cut 2/3 c. margarine into 1 c. brown sugar and 1 1/2 c. flour until crumbly.
Sprinkle all this mixture over apples. I usually add about 3/4 c. chopped walnuts over that. But if you don't like nuts or just don't have any, it is delicious without it too!
Bake in 350 oven for 1/2 hour, poke a couple slices with a sharp knife to check for doneness, continue to bake until apples are fully cooked, probably another 15 to 30 minutes if you really heaped it.
This is my mom's recipe that I kind of adapted to our taste. It is extra yummy served warm with vanilla ice cream!!

Saturday, 8 Sept. 2007

Wow, it's been a rough week. The kids started school on Tuesday. Jacob loves it and so does Dylan but Ian is having a really hard time getting used to it and getting into a routine. He has been tantruming a lot and is not happy. I am sure it will take time and then he will love school. The teacher and his assistant are total strangers so it will take awhile for him to be comfortable around them. Jennifer Russell went in on Friday and spent the whole morning in the classroom to observe Ian and to help. He loves J. Russell as he calls her but he was even snarky at her.
Wednesday my cousin, Roberta "Bert" Wenk died from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She was 49 years old and full of life, a real spitfire. She was so nice to me when I was just her pesky little kid cousin (she is 5 years older than me). I will never forget her and the memories of her from when we were kids.
Jacob is doing well at school. Praise the Lord.
We are going to try a new church tomorrow, Rothbury Community Church. I am so nervous about it. And then we are going to Roberta's memorial service at 2 pm. I am sure it is going to be packed. She had a small family, but a lot of friends.
I need to get working on supplies for the album class I am doing here on the 17th. I have lots of paper to cut!!

Roberta's Obituary

Roberta "Bert" Wenk
Date: 2007-09-05

Roberta E. "Bert" Wenk, age 49, of Shelby, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at the Hackley VNS Hospice Home in Muskegon. She was born May 18, 1958 in Shelby to Raymond and Margaret "Peggy" (Hansen) Mitchell. Bert was a 1976 graduate of Shelby High School and a life resident of Oceana County. She worked at Howmet Corporation for many years and had also been employed at The Captain's Table Restaurant, Shelby Bakery and the Brown Bear. She is survived by her children, Tim (Tressa) Wenk and Shaina Hasty; her parents, Raymond and Peggy Mitchell; her sister, Kathleen (Roger) Fessenden; nieces, Theresa (Kurt) Westrate, Lisa (Joe) Ernst and Erin Knoth; great-nieces and great-nephews; and many friends. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 9, 2 p.m. at Shelby United Methodist Church with Rev. Earnest Cummings officiating. To find the church, from US 31, take the Shelby Exit and go east one mile to the stop sign. Turn left or north onto State Street (Oceana Drive) and go two blocks. The church is adjacent to Monument Park on the left side of State Street. Memorials to the A.L.S. Association - Michigan Chapter, 678 Front Street, Suite 159, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 are appreciated.

Ian off to Kindergarten and not wanting his picture taken!!!!

Dylan off to Kindergarten!!!

Jacob off to 9th grade!

Labor Day 2007

Well, my oldest son is in mourning.......tomorrow school starts.
He is going to have a fabulous year, though! I can just feel it.
Ninth grade, how can that be? He is tall and handsome and has the most beautiful smile. He is my greatest encourager and my joy. He is a huge help to me. Oh, no....he is not perfect. He is also a major scheister and knows how to play me. He is also a slob!! :)

My twinnies start Kindergarten tomorrow. I have been counting the days, but now that it is here I am kind of sad that their baby days are really truly over and they will be in school all day everyday from now on. They are beautiful boys. They are alot of work and are both very demanding. Dylan is the peace keeper and likes everyone to get along and be happy. Ian is more self centered due to the autism spectrum disorder but is also very sweet natured and surprises me alot with his caring for others. They are both excited about school. The only thing spoiling it for me is that they will not be at New Era Elementary where they belong. I am trying not to think about it, but it stinks.I am keeping positive as not to influence them. Their teacher seems nice.
My boys are all handsome, smart and good hearted. Thank you, Lord for my boys.

And as for Miss Lindsay...I am looking forward to having some one on one time with her and turning her back into a little lady!!
Hanging around with boys all the time is not good for a girl!
I plan to teach her some crafting, baking and do lots of reading.
I am also going to get her a preschool workbook and see what we can accomplish with that. She already knows all her shapes, colors, lots of letters and can count to 15, sometimes 20.
Well, tomorrow I will post some pics of my boys off to school.

Tuesday of Mad Week.......

I just got home from my weekly 1 hour massage!! I am so thankful that our insurance covers them, because they have been a life saver!!

Doug got the fun job of taking Ian in for his immunizations this morning. Took 5 adults to hold him down. Dylan already got his a few weeks ago. No more shots for the twinnies.

Tomorrow is Freshman orientation for Jacob and then meeting the twins' teacher, Mrs. Darke.

I have heard alot of good things about her, so I am feeling a little better about them having to go to the ECC in Shelby. Still makes no sense when we have a perfectly good Kindergarten room at New Era Elementary, but, hey.........the big bad school board (whose vocabulary basically consists of "Well, we talked about it and this is what we decided.") says it has to be and a few parents that really care about their kids is not enough to fight "city hall".

They will be back to New Era for 1st through 5th unless the school board and superintendent have something else up their sleeves. And then I will have Lindsay in Shelby and the twins in New Era!!! Ok, I better stop venting now before I say something not nice about select school board members. I believe that I will be running for school board in the not so distant future, as that board needs someone on it that cares about what parents want for their kids and what is best for kids, not just the budget and whatever is easiest. Ok, I'm done.

Anyway, Jake is off to high school, and that is so hard to fathom.

Well, I want to remind every one to visit my Stampin' Up! website (link below). I will have my class schedule on there and we have a newly revamped version of the demonstrator website coming real soon. By the way, my class for September is FULL.....YIPPEE!!

$1.00 Album from Target

I found these cute little plain albums at the Target $1.00 spot.

I embellished it and plan to do each page too.

I only bought two! Now I wish I had bought more!!

I'm Invisible............

A friend of mine just shared this with me..........I love it!!!

I'm Invisible.............

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.
I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Pick me up right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -- but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:
"To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read -- no, devour -- the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals -- we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."> > And the workman replied, "Because God sees." I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become." At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand-bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together...

Is it really Friday again?

Man, the weeks fly by.
Well, yesterday was the big appt with Dr Richtmeier. What a great guy. He spent almost 2 hours with us and never acted in a hurry. He didn't have any of the "I am a DOCTOR therefore I am GOD" attitude at all. Jennifer, our case worker from the ISD went with us and was able to provide lots of info on how he was at summer school. She totally loves Ian. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. She is a Christian too so we were both seeing God's work in how we did in traffic, how Ian had an episode so that the Dr saw it instead of just me telling him about it, how God worked out that Jen taught this summer for the first time ever and had Ian in her class so that she can pass on what she's learned about Ian to his Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Darke.
Ian had an episode as soon as they called us back so Dr. R. got to see what we deal with on an almost daily basis. He had to be carried kicking and screaming into the examination room and then sat in the corner screaming for the next 10 minutes or so. When he is done, he is alway contrite. He came and sat on my lap and was very eager to please after that.
Dr Richtmeier did play therapy with him to see how he would react in certain instances. He also did a pretty thorough physical exam. He said that he felt that the ASD is that much worse on him because he has so much anxiety. So we are going to do a trial of meds to see if it helps his anxiety. He also said that our family doctor needs to get on all the upper GI issues that he deals with: gas, bloating; stomach aches. He said that not feeling well will exacerbate the problems too, which of course I knew and that is why he has been seeing a chiropractor for over a year.
He did different things with Ian to try to provoke certain autistic behaviors and Ian got pretty irritated with him a few times. He noticed a lot of things about Ian that no one has ever noticed but me and so I felt somewhat validated in that. He said that several of them are classic ASD behaviors.
Dr R. and his intern were both amazed at what a beautiful child he is and how smart he is.
From their first impression of him when we came in they were not expecting him to be such a nice, well behaved child when he is not having an episode.
We are going back in 5 weeks and I am supposed to call early next week to let Dr R. know how the meds are working.

Exhausting week so far!

The Highlights:
Doug, Jake, Dylan and Lindsay went to the circus yesterday, Tuesday.
It was awesome except that Ian didn't want to go so he stayed with Deb & Jerry.
I had so much fun watching Dylan & Lindsay's faces!!!
The New Era Chamber of Commerce put the circus on right here in New Era.
It was great!!
Today Lindsay had her first dentist visit. She was so excited. All she talked about for the
last 2 weeks is a new toothbrush.
She was so darn cute.
Tomorrow we have our long awaited appt with Dr Richtmeier, a pediatric behavioral specialist at DeVos Childrens' Hospital. He specialized in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Ugghh........

Paying Bills.......is there a worse job?
Well, I am sure there are but right now it doesn't seem like it!
Another rainy day here.
I took all 4 of my kids and one extra to McD's for lunch and play.
What a madhouse!
Everyone had the same idea to kill some time on a rainy day.
My life is pretty boring.............but hang in there, something exciting
might happen!

Gloomy Sunday

Wow, what a dark and dreary day it has been.
Feels like Fall for sure.
The kids have been pretty good considering they have
been inside all day. We watched "Are we done yet?"
That is a pretty funny movie.
I don't have alot to write today......
and I'm not sure anyone is reading it anyway!!
Janine

Good Saturday Morning!

Good Morning!
I am going to try to post some pics of the cards I made for Convention in Denver. I had an absolute blast and am so glad I went!!!!
I am so revved up about my business and my goal is to earn the trip to Hawaii!

One more try!!

Well, I have been a frustrated blogger for almost a year now. I am going to give it one more try.
Today has been a rough day. One of my twins has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Some days are more trying than others. I am pooped this evening.
I got double baby fixes today!! Went to my sister in laws' to see my little great nephew, Cody.
What a doll. He is my favorite kind of baby, snuggly, smiley, happy and smells good.
Then this evening I got the girly baby fix, my neighbors little granddaughter, Emily. She is alot like Cody. Tonight was the first time she has smiled at me. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and is very animated. I love her. I call myself the Grandneighbor. :)
That's all for today. I am one tired mom....................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.