Contentment

Thanksgiving is a time for being grateful for all that God gives to us! 

But, I must admit that sometimes its easy to get distracted.... and grumble a little bit. 

God gives us everything that we need.  There are basics in our life that we totally take for granted, yet there are people who don't have a roof over their heads, a car, even don't have enough food for themselves.  When we think about it like that... we realize how very blessed we really are.  We have a home, 2 vehicles, Wes has a good job,  our kids go to school and have fun classes to take, our fridge and cupboard are full of food and we can run to the store and get anything else we need. 

I look at our kids... and realize how blessed we really are.  Our extended family on both sides... SO VERY blessed. 

But I grumbled.  For just a little bit I forgot to focus on the blessings and let myself dwell on what we didn't have. 

Our Ford Focus (read good mileage and husband's commuter car) had a coolant leak and needed a new transmission.  It was in the shop for about a week while they did the work.  Wes drove our van to work, and the dealership rented a car for us to drive while they fixed ours. 

What a pretty van it was!  Brand new, Stow and go 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan with all of these special features and doors that opened and closed on their own.  The kids and I rode around in it commenting on every feature that we found.  It was pretty, and suddenly I felt a discontent in myself as compared it to our (quite nice! Ford Windstar, 2003).  Then I had to flip a switch and I started talking with the kids about what it means to be grateful... what it means to be content with what we have... how God is the one who gives and takes away, and how in everything we need to give him thanks.  This verse is perfect: 

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12)

The kids and I started naming our blessings and soon the discontent faded. We prayed together and were so happy.  I love kids.. I love that everything is taken so simply.  I love that because I want to teach THEM good things and good habits, it makes ME get out of the funks I have. 

I had to sigh and thank God for giving us the money we had saved up, as we paid for the car when we went to pick it up.  All things come from Him and to Him we give all of the glory. 

I am trying to make this attitude carry over to the rest of my life.  Not to be distracted wishing I had more, or better, but to be content in any and every situation.  This can be an act of service to our wonderful God, better said, a natural overflowing of gratitude to Him for everything he provides. 


In other news, my boy lost a tooth! What a big boy he is now..

Things that make me happy!

Finally my Fall decorations are up! I've had a couple of pumpkins out... and some delicious candle scents.  It just changes the whole feel of the house when the decorations change for the season. 

By the TV. The plant isn't really "Fall"... but ah well!

Sarah made me this table runner and I love it!

Above our main windows

The "mantel". I am still displaying the kids' colored pumpkins.  In a kid house...it's just the way it is!:)

This had turned into a "catch all" for everything.. kid's homework, etc.  NO MORE! ha :)

Now the "catch all" is in a basket by the sewing machine. (One day, Sarah, I will give your machine back.. until then. I thank you!)

This is my favorite... I put mini pinecones in a jar, with just a couple of berries.  wrapped a seasonal ribbon around it.  

What makes me more happy is my family.  I am so grateful for every one of them! I feel so incredibly blessed.  I hope that we take this season to be thankful for all the blessings we are given. 

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13

Star wars costumes

  I have always loved dressing up and putting together costumes.   I must have a drama bug in me or something!   Halloween has become really fun now that we have our sweet kids.  They love dressing up, and it's the best thing ever for them to get candy and do fun things. 

I really, really wanted to make my kids costumes from the Wizard of Oz this year.  Kathryn as Dorothy, with the three boys as the scarecrow, lion, and tin man.  My older boys would have nothing to do with it! They just wanted to be Jedi. When Wes said that he'd dress up as a Jedi too, I decided to just go with it and do Star Wars costumes for the whole family.  And Kathryn was even excited about being Princess Leia.. I mean... she IS a princess, and that's really all that matters! :)

First thing I did was to visit a thrift store.  I found two Karate Gi's for the boys (a little too big so I had to alter the shirts down), a California King sized brown sheet, a tablecloth, and a white cloth. I think I spent $8 for all of that.

They already had belts, light sabers, blaster, brown sweats, and Wes had a Kempo Karate Gi of his own. 

I originally was going to make Matthew a Yoda outfit... I even found a light green sweatshirt to do so...but I found this little lion/bear outfit at the thrift store for about $2. Now he could be an Ewok! YES!

I visited Joann's with a coupon, and bought some costume brown satin, a small amount of silver, and some white muslin.  This was for capes for the boys, and a Princess Leia outfit for Kathryn.

Here's some pictures of how everything turned out for the kids:

For Wes' outfit... he wanted to be Mace Windu.  So, he wore his Karate Gi in White.  Then I made a shirt out of the brown tablecloth.  Then I made a cloak out of the brown sheet.  The lightsaber was funny, because we couldn't find a purple one at the stores.  We would have had to order one online.  Since it wasn't until last week that we decided to be Jedi, I was afraid we wouldn't get it on time.  So, I used a purple plastic tablecloth and covered a red one the boys had. Funny! But hey, it worked!  It wasn't perfect because I didn't use patterns for anything, but for a costume I think it came out pretty good.

My costume was Padme Amidala from  Episode II.  She wore so many outfits in the movies but this one was the easiest and cheapest to put together... the battle outfit.  I wore the white pants from one of the Karate Gi's I got for the boys (ha!), and a long sleeved white shirt that I had. I draped the white material like a cloak.  I made silver bands from cloth, wore boots and a white belt and carried a blaster. 

We had such a fun time being dressed up all alike and got so many comments from people about being the "Star Wars family".  Or, "The Force is strong with this group".  One boy saw Wes and yelled out in amazement,  "WOAH, it's a Jedi Master!"

We spent the evening at Paz Naz' Harvest Festival. The kids bounced in bouncers, played carnival games winning handfuls of candy.  Got Jamba Juice, hotdogs, popcorn, Cotton candy.  Matthew's favorite was a duck fishing game, where they caught ducks out of a mini swimming pool of water. And then got candy for it.  He didn't want the candy... he just wanted the DUCK!  He was a sad little Ewok when I picked him up and carried him away to go do something else.  He kept yelling "Duck, Duck!"   They had so much going on we didn't even get a chance to do everything, but we did have a great time.  :)

We ended the evening with a lightsaber/blaster duel in the parking lot.  Fun night for all of us :)

Fall = pumpkin bars

I really enjoy this fall season.  I love scarves and sweaters, pumpkin and spice, hot apple cider and  warm blankets.  I haven't finished fall decorating, but I did get a couple of small pumpkins to display on our table and bring some immediate fall cheer into the house. 

Then Matthew climbed on the chair, stood up, said "Ball!", and the pumpkins went flying.  Thankfully, one survived.  The other did not! There was a perfect crack right down the middle.

*Sigh* What to do, but turn the cracked pumpkin into something delicious?   So, I baked the pumpkin, cooled it and then made pumpkin bars.  This recipe is from my sister, Kathie, and they are SO very good :)

                                        Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs

1 1/3 c. sugar

1 c. oil

16 oz. pumpkin  (2 cups mashed, baked or 1 can)

2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

      In mixer bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy.  Sift together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.  Add to pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly.  Spread batter into ungreased 15x10x1 baking pan.  Bake at 350 ^degrees  for 25-30 min.  Cool.  Frost with Cream Cheese Icing.

Cream Cheese Icing

1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

½ c. butter or margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. powdered sugar, sifted

Happy Fall!!

kid activities

Life is in full swing!  Our two boys in school, doing great and loving it. 
Here's a snapshot of them yesterday.  They had a "Dress for Success" day at school.

We have also enrolled the three older kids in a Parks and Rec class of their choice.
The boys picked "Tumbling", and they really enjoy it! I don't have a picture of it yet... I'll bring the camera next time :) 


Kathryn picked ballet. She loves dressing up, follows the teacher's instructions, plays with the other little girls. And it is a HUGE deal for her to have a class of her own. Her brothers and cousins are in school, and now she has Ballet!

You think she likes it? I'm not sure.. :)

Matthew comes and hangs out with me during the class.  I think he wants to join in, but he's not quite old enough.  For now... we arrive early and Matthew will roll around on the mats before tumbling.. Or run around after all the little girls before ballet class.  Then we go outside where we can watch through the glass walls.  He goes from peeking through the class calling "Kathryn, Kathryn!", (sounds more like "yeah yen" but I get it!)  Or pointing and cheering when the boys do a "spider walk" across the mat.  Then he tries to run away from me giggling so I have to chase him or we play and stomp on the leaves that have fallen to the ground.  Doesn't my life sound fun? ;)

Matthew watching the class

Happy Birthday, William!

Sweet boy.. 7 years old. Full of life. Polite and kind.  Loves his siblings. Works hard and is good at lots of things.  Willing to learn! Oh William, How I love you!!

We have had a fun few days.  First, we celebrated his birthday with family that lives right here in Rosemead on Sunday.  We had pizza, salad, fresh veggies, jello, cake (decorated like a Pokemon poster he has), and other fun stuff like blue licorice and other treats.  He had such a great time and was grinning from ear to ear!

Then on his real birthday... October 12, I brought cupcakes and juice to his class for a party there.  It was a lot of fun to spend a little time in his classroom!

And then we took William to Red Robin for his "Free kids meal" And we enjoyed our time there! They even brought him a HUGE sundae that he ended up sharing with Josh and Kathryn. 

Happy Birthday, William, we love you! :)

Our Life Lately!

I haven't blogged in a little while, so I thought it would be a good time to update.  We have been oh so busy, but that is nothing new! :) 

1) Matthew's burn is healing beautifully, praise God. And Matthew is trying to hurt himself again... daily!  Something about this wonderful age-- he is incredibly active and ALWAYS climbing and getting into everything.  He keeps me on my toes, and RUNNING after him :)

2) Kathryn had her very first 'Girl sleepover' with her younger cousin Makayla!  It was so sweet, Kathryn has been talking about it for about a month, and she and Makayla went to Grandpa and Grandma Lennertz' house for a overnight visit.  She came back and told me everything, and came home with a new Rapunzel shirt and other things.  She LOVED it :) And the sweetest thing for me was how her brothers missed her.  They kept telling me "Mom, I miss Kathryn so much!  She is such a nice girl" Or, "Mom, I can't stop thinking about Kathryn!"  Melted my heart to see their love of each other.  It is precious.  (I hope it's the same way when they are teenagers!!)

3) My sister Julie came to visit! She flew in with another friend of our family too, Jo.  It was so special to see them both. It's hard to live so far away from family..  We had lots of fun going to the beach again and canoeing, and talking, and just spending time together.
 Here's a couple of my favorite pictures from the beach. 

Auntie Sarah, William and Jo.  Nathan is on the boogie board

Uncle Johnny playing with the boys

Loved this.. Ellen was drawing in the sand

Matthew was so interested in the seaweed.. shells.. everything. 

Ellen bringing in her board

The giant sand hill.  The kids LOVE this thing!

Uncle Johnny, Joshua and Auntie Julie

Some of God's amazing creations... William, the water, sand, the setting sun

4) Joshua has a best friend in school and it's the cutest thing.  Her name is Neftaly and her older sister was in William's class too. He comes home and tells me that she was "wearing a crown today", and that she was so "lovely and kind" to him. And they like bringing letters and pictures to each other, or little treats to share.  Joshua brought this letter home the other day:

Yes... that says "I LOVE JOSHUA".  So sweet and innocent at 5 years old.  :)


5) Our hearts are also very heavy, as we pray all the time for Wesley's Aunt Kim.  She has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and starts treatment on Monday. We pray for comfort, for peace, for strength to get through this,  for healing. We serve a God who Loves us deeply.  " who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Psalm 103:3"  She is such a beautiful person, so kind and loving.  She serves others as they live and work in Alaska. She is a blessing and an inspiration.  Here's her caring bridge if you would like to see her story, etc.

6) William had to get new glasses yesterday, so I took Joshua in for a vision screening too.  We found out that he is going to have to get glasses too. However, it is for slight far-sightedness, but mainly because one of his eyes is  a "lazy eye", and he will have to wear a patch over the good eye for a couple of hours every day.  This should help exercise and train the other eye to be used again, in hope that the vision will be corrected.  It is amazing because his cousin Nathan has had the same experience, and the eye doctor told me that it was such a good thing that we caught it now.

7) Just a funny story to finish up.  The other night we were reading the story of David and Goliath for devotions after a meal together.  They were asking all of the kids about what they would use to fight the giant.  The boys were saying they would use "a sling just like David" or "A sword".  Kathryn says "I would use a WAND!" ( Leave it to our girl to bring in some girly fairy tale twist .) We all giggled, especially all of the kids as William says "HA HA, Kathryn would turn him into a frog!"


How I love my kids!  And if I feel this way about them.. Can you imagine how God feels about us?? It amazes me, overwhelms me. So precious.