Sunday Morning Madness

We've had the sickies around here. Well, really just Aidan, but it has affected us all. Stomach bugs are the worst and even though it's been a couple days since it started I felt it best to keep both kids home from church.

Can I just say that Nora is rocking the headband today... :)

Why I Shop at Aldi

So, I've been trying to figure out the best way to save money on groceries without just eating crap all the time. It is no easy business, let me tell you! I started a routine of sorts that has been pretty helpful. I take out a certain amount of cash at the beginning of the month and that is all my spending money for groceries, diapers, toiletries, and other household items. I then try to got to Aldi once a week and get as much as I can there. I usually take a  trip to Wal-mart to supplement what I can't get there (for instance-Almond milk) and then get my meat and sometimes bread from Publix. It's worked well this month and I have been very please with how much money I have saved just going to Aldi every week.

This week I got a steal of deal:

2 lbs. grapes
broccoli crowns
sweet potatoes- 5
garlic-3
4 medium zucchini
2 lbs. strawberries
1 pineapple
oats
Lifeway kefir
2 avacadoes
16 oz. of cheese
dozen eggs
salsa
4 corn on the cob
a tub of pretzels
box of crackers
frozen edamame
frozen strawberries
sourdough loaf
rice crackers
lettuce
bag of apples
bunch of bananas
sour cream

I spent $51 on all that food which I thought was excellent. They had strawberries for .99 a lb. and grapes for 1.78 for 2 lbs. Also, the pineapple was only .99 and the avacadoes .89. I usually find that buying fresh produce can be super expensive, but Aldi seems to have some of the best prices. I even got avacadoes for .49 a couple weeks ago when Wal-mart was selling them for 1.80!

There are times I go to Aldi and leave disappointed because they were out of things or their deals weren't so great, but for the most part I am amazed I am leaving with a cart full of fresh food and only paying around $50 for all of it.

17 months

 Nora,

My joyful one. You are a "shining light."

You are so funny these days. Talking, talking, talking. My favorite things you say are: "good girl", "baby", "mine" (not so much the reason behind it), "eyes", "1, 2, 3, go", "bear", "i love you", "night night" and "outside." You are definitely a communicator.

You love: blankies, babies, bears, your doll stroller, riding in the wagon, bubbles, being outside, eating snacks, going "night night" and being silly.

You still love eating and can pack away food like crazy. I can give you a plate full of food and you can be done in 2 minutes and asking for more. Seriously.

You are still nursing. We are quitting in less than 3 weeks because I am going away for the weekend, but you are still not willing to give this up on your own. I love all the snuggles and cuddles, but I think it will be a good thing to finally wean.

You are sleeping pretty well and you've been very healthy this past month. No ear infections, PTL!

You are cutting the last of your teeth before you get the 2 year molars. You and I both agree that teething is horrible.

You are loving and sweet and have a good little feisty side too. You are starting to throw fits, but you also give up a little bit easier than I expected.

You are such a fun part of our family and we so enjoy you.

Love,

Mama

Superman and a little Ballerina

Taking a walk

Just Be

This is an old pic...back when Nora's hair stood up straight all the time. But I can't help but loving it...even in all it's semi-blurriness.

It helps redirect my thinking when I look at pictures of my kids. I so often get caught up in "getting things done" or come up with one more hobby or project or idea that distracts me from being present...being here.

Deep rest is hard to find sometimes...not the kind that comes in long hours of interrupted sleep, but the soul kind, the kind that is peace-filled and full...that ever present knowing that God is with you.

I try and find that peace every morning in the quick moments of bellies filling up on oatmeal, spoons clinking on bowls, and morning t.v.

It is my quiet. My rest. I read and hurry, meditate, pour some coffee, and journal. I wipe sticky fingers, and sit again. Looking for that peace, that rest, the calm before the storm of my day.

So often I can get caught in the race to read through emails, glance at a magazine, and start morning dishes while my breakfast is hot. Shoveling mouthfuls and as I walk around  doing...not being.


Be still....

find that place and let the warmth of peace flood into your being so that you can go forth and do what you are called to in this day.

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

Sometimes it takes hurtful things happening to see a closer glimpse into the Father's heart for His children.

I took the kids to the park today and we hadn't been there long before they wanted to eat their picnic lunch. Some of the older kids were climbing on the picnic table and I let Nora up there as well because I knew if I deterred her, she would probably try climbing herself and I didn't want her to get hurt. It's funny how in hindsight, I should have been thinking clearer, but I guess I wasn't.

The inevitable happened. Just as I was reaching to stop her from scooting too far back, she pushed away from me and fell backwards off the top of the table, smacked into the bench, and then twisted and fell face first on the concrete. It was so fast, but so slow. I was yelling and trying to grab her, but I couldn't. And it happened and in the short moment, I felt a horrible fear and panic. I scooped her up and she was bleeding and crying, and her face was dirty and I just held her in my arms comforting the sobs, thankful she was coherent.

She is now home napping, with big scrapes on her face, a bloody finger, and a swollen little eye. As I held her in my arms and rocked her to sleep, I couldn't help but touch the sore places and thank the Lord that she was okay.

Nothing hurts worse than your kids hurting. Or getting hurt. Or seeing them get hurt and not being able to do anything about it.

And then I thought of the Father God watching his Son Jesus be crucified and knowing that He couldn't do anything about it because it was His predestined purpose. I can't imagine the agony. My split second  experience seeing my child fall so helplessly was nothing compared to the torture and pain of the crucifixion. How deep His love. How vast beyond all measure. It is. I know it must be. I cannot imagine anything worse, but it was done for us.

I sit in awe of the One who loved so much He suffered the giving of His child, the pain of sacrifice.

How can I ever question the love of God? It is beyond anything I can imagine.

Book Reading 2012

So, one of my goals for this year is to read a lot more books. It's not that I don't love reading, it's just that I have a lot of excuses for not doing it.

Here's what I read in January:

I read The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton in December and was curious to read another of her novels. I found it entertaining and interesting. It reminds me a little bit of the BBC show "Downton Abbey" because of it's similar time and setting. I like the way Kate Morton starts with a hint of mystery and ends by revealing details that are alluded to throughout the novel. I would definitely recommend it.

I honestly started this because of all the hype that went with it. I thought the premise was morbid and horrible, but once I started reading, I couldn't stop. I definitely still struggle with how it is all portrayed because children killing children just doesn't sit well with me, no matter how intriguing the story is. I honestly wish I could say that I wasn't drawn in and that I didn't read it in two days, but I did.  And, I'm honestly not sure how I even feel about it. I hate to say I love it, but I was sucked in to the story and couldn't stop, so there you have it.

So, I read the 2nd book. In two days again. And I found it just as interesting. Becuase I knew what to expect, I wasn't too shocked with the story, but I definitely was curious and excited about it. I would say that there are elements to the story that give hope for redemption for the entire idea of it, but I've heard the 3rd book isn't promising. Either way, I'll probably read it. And see the movie. And then I'll sit and struggle some more with whether or not I should even like this.

The hubby read this first and I honestly didn't think I'd be all that interested in it. But,it was excellent. Leif Enger does an amazing job writing a story in such a beautiful and captivating way.There were moments in the book where he described something that I could so intimately relate to, but not have been able to describe in words. It is funny, sad, and remarkably honest. I loved it and would highly recommend it. 

On my current book reading list:

Bringing Up Boys by Dr. Dobson

Mockinjay by Suzanne Collins

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller

I have started 2 of the 4 already, so we'll see where I end up at by the end of the month. Anyone have good reads they recommend?