check this out..

I am sure this is not new to many of you, but I saw this again on my friend Matt's blog, and I decided to add a link..my kids hear this at Aunt Brittany's house, so they can sing it and laugh...

HARMLESS THOUGHTS: What Would a Mom Say?

Movie Night

The girls and I headed to the theater tonight to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" which we have been anxiousy awaiting. The movie was amazing, and filled with plenty of Christian symbolism, just as the first in the series. The girls watched, enthralled, for the 2 1/2 hour show. The technical affects were great, and they managed to have great battle scenes, minus the gore you usually see. I tried to take the time to point out to the girls when the storyline was a clear allagory of the Christian walk. These people hadn't seen Aslan in 1300 years, and they were starting to not believe in him anymore. Lucy, the youngest of the 4 Kings and Queens of Narnia was had a tender heart toward her "god" Aslan. However, the others were losing hope in him and starting to put their hope in themselves. I could totally relate to this allegory. There was a scene when Lucy saw a flash of Aslan and knew which direction the group should go. Her faith faltered when they blew her off, so she followed along with their ill-fated plan. Later, when she came face to face with Aslan, she was lovingly rebuked. She said "I just knew it was you all along, but the others didn't believe me." His kindly replied, (I paraphrase) that she could have followed him anyway. I only wished that I could stop the movie and explain how important that conversation was to the girls. If the others had listened to Lucy on several occasions, or if she had stood for what she knew was right regardless, the losses could have been much less. Aslan reminded her that they would never know what could have been, only what was.

Sorry to go on about a movie, but I wanted to point out some of the things that spoke the most to me. I would love to hear from anyone who sees the movie, and picked out a spiritual application that affected them.

American Girl Place

 

 

 

 

Above..before, just outside the shop, lunch at their cafe, and after..with tons of loot! Check out the picasa web album slideshow for the rest of the pictures of the trip.

American Girls

 

Well..the day is almost here! There are 4 very excited little girls (and two excited mommies) headed to the Windy City tommorrow to visit The American Girl Store. Paige and Peyton got their dolls in February, and have been anxiously awaiting our long planned for trip. I decided when I visited the store 4 years ago (on a trip with just grown up girls) that my two were too young to appreciate the dolls, so we would wait until they were older, then we would plan a big trip to Chicago to get the dolls. I am making this trip a year ahead of schedule (life doesn't always work out the way you plan, you know ;) and the girls already got the dolls of their choice in February. It was decided that TAKING your doll was a better thing than getting one while you were there, so here are the dolls, ready for their trip tommorrow. Paige's doll is Nellie, and Peyton's doll is Mia. But pictured between them is the newest girl in our house, Julie. Julie is the 1974 doll that I fell in love with when the girls were picking out their dolls. Of course, I knew that I wouldn't buy her, but I secretly wanted her. (I know that my friends are scratching their heads in amazement, because I am FAR from a doll person, but I guess raising little girls has rubbed off on me!) Anyway, I had forgotten how much she appealed to me, until today. Today James announced that he wanted to give me an early wedding present. Not one to say no to presents, I pulled the paper off, and with one peek at the end of the box, I knew that it was Julie. I was SO excited, it was one of the sweetest presents that I could have imagined it, and I didn't have a clue it was coming! Stay tuned for more pictures of our trip to Chicago. Brittany and I and the 4 girls are leaving bright and early. Please pray for us for safety, good weather, a fun trip, and for Nathan to be healthy while his mommy is away (he has been sick today).

mothers day..again

 

oh..and..Happy Mother's Day to me....I love my girls! I can't say enough about how special Paige and Peyton are, and how blessed I am to be their mother. I had dinner with them, and brought them home after I finished work tonight. Those two are not afraid to show others how they feel about them, and I am often on the receiving end of their demonstrations of love. It is the best feeling to walk into a restaurant, and have them jump up to greet me with a hug and a kiss and an "I missed you Mommy." They have stuck with me through some tought times, and been my biggest cheerleaders. We have the best time together. I can honestly say these two are a few of my best friends...I love you, baby girls!

A friend of James got a new camera, and wanted to try it out, so we met them at Kennekuk on Friday. It was a bit chilly, but we had fun and got some good shots. I shared a few of them in this slideshow.

Happy Mother's Day

This picture is reposted from my Grandmother's 90th birthday in December. I worked today, but I still felt very blessed as a mother and as a daughter, granddaughter, aunt, sister, friend, daughter-in-law..etc..There are many wonderful women in my life, whether they are single, married, mothers or not. I want to take a few moments on Mother's Day to say thanks to the many wonderful mother figures in my own life for all of my 33 years, plus those that have touched my life along the way, as well as the women who are such wonderful mother figures to my daughters! I am SO blessed, as there are entirely too many to count by name. It is truly a blessing to know that even when I feel like I am having a bad mother day (or week) there are plenty of people to pick up that slack and carry that burden for me! Thank you all!

the day in Springfield

 

 

 

 

Paige and Peyton and I accompanied James on his trip to visit his grandmother at her home in Springfield today. He goes twice a year to do jobs that she needs done inside and outside of her house. Grandma Snyder has a beautiful covered back deck, which the girls and I fell in love with, even when the rain came. The girls and I visited Lincoln's house and took part in the tour, and then we headed back to the house to hang out on the deck. Here are a few pictures of our late afternoon outside, despite the rain.

finally back online!

Yesterday was beautiful weather, so James had a great idea that we could go and check out the "wildlife" at our local state parks and let the girls take some pictures. The wildlife that was willing to sit for a picture was pretty limited (and that includes the girls), but we did have a great time, and a nice hike. Here a few of the pictures from the day.

I will probably try to add another web album from ice show pictures and Paige's play.

thanks Erma Bombeck

The Purple Hat



IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck

(Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's'; more 'I'm sorry's.'
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
Instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope you have a blessed day .

I have been loosely following a blog lately that I am sure many of you also follow. I have never posted, but I have taken the time to go back and read much of this beautiful love story. It is the story of a husband and wife who are trusting God through huge obstacles. I am posting a link because Tricia, the wife, just went through a double lung transplant and could use all of our prayers. She and her husband, who faithfully updated his blog, are new parents to a NICU baby. Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis and was planning for a lung transplant when she discovered she was pregnant. This story is real and very beautiful. Most of all, it completely glorifies God. Please join me in praying for this family.

Here is the blog, "Confessions of a CF Husband."

 

 

 

As I take a few tired minutes to blog tonight, Paige is sound asleep on the couch, just as pictured below. She fell asleep about an hour ago, most likely due to a mixture of exhaustion and tylenol with codeine! Paige woke me up about 1 am this morning complaining of her belly hurting. We slept on and off for a few hours, but in the end, her pain was getting worse. Her belly was soft, not hard and distending like it is when she is..ahem..constipated. (Don't tell her I told you about that occasional problem!) She was able to pinpoint the pain to her right lower abdomen, consistently in the same area. I began to fear that her appendix might be a problem, so we decided to go to the ER. Now, I have worked in the ER for 6 years, and I don't take visits there lightly. I knew that a workup for an appendix would be long, and not all that easy on an 8 yr old. Grammy came to take Peyton home, and James met us at the ER to find out what was troubling Paige. Paige did great throught the blood draw and IV. I know that it is like to try to stick a kid for an IV and get blood with the least ammount of distress as possible. My coworker Becky did a great job of making this happen for Paige. Thank you Jesus, and Becky, that this went so well! The doctor ordered fluids because she was dehydrated, and a CT scan because he too was concerned about her tender tummy. These tests are time consumming, but Paige was very tired, and able to sleep between them very well. As tired as we were, the hours flew by, and soon we were headed home. Paige doesn't have an appendicitis, but tonight, she is still having alot of pain in her belly. Thankfully she is asleep now, and God willing, will stay that way most of the night.

I don't usually say too much about where I work. But I can't say enough about how wonderful they all were with my daughter in the early morning hours. The ER was very busy for after 3 am on a weeknight, this was obvious from walking into the waiting area. However, Paige's tests were ordered and her treatment was carried out as quickly as possible with caring hands. I was very proud to be a part of the team there today. Our ER truly cares about the patients, especially the little ones!

Art class

 

For those of you who know Paige, you know that she is a very busy girl. Paige is very interested in artistic things...a quality that doesn't come directly from either of her parents! For the past year or so, Paige has been going to art class. These classes are once a week at The Blue Kangaroo. For the last few months, her cousin Elijah has been joining her. Here are the two of them at the end of this week's class. Paige is also getting ready for an ice skating recital, piano recital, and she is taking part in the play, "The Music Man" which is coming up next month.

I said yes!

 

 

 

 

A very special guy..and a public proposal...James asked me to marry him in front of the crowd at the Westville Fire Department St. Patricks Day Dance last Saturday evening. He engineered a game that used elimination questions to remove couples from the dance floor. The final questions required a member of of of the couples to be prepared to ask their dance partner to spend the rest of their life with them. James has been part of the Fire Department for many years, and he considers most of these people to be like family to him. This was very evident in the heartfelt congratulations we received from the people who attended. We have many things to talk and think about in the coming months, please pray for us as we make plans and decisions regarding our future.

web album of the birthday party

Karaoke and American Girl was the name of the game at the Thornsbrough house last night. Paige and Peyton nearly stayed up til their birth time (after 11 pm) singing and dancing and playing with their new, beloved American Girl dolls. The cakes were made by cousin Lauren, and James provided a karaoke set-up for all of us to enjoy. The kids practically wore out the Hannah Montana and High School Musical karaoke CD's that we got..and we are all kind of hoarse! I have some great shots of the night..not that I took a single picture (thanks Jamie and James for handing over your memory cards before leaving for the evening). Be warned..their are a few short video clips...and in case anyone is wondering...STEPH picked out the song that we sang! (Sorry guys..at least I am embarrassing myself too!)

happy birthday to a couple of "American Girls"

a little further down my walk down memory lane..

Paige and Poppa


Peyton

My babies are 8!!!!

Peyton and mommy

Paige




I managed to scan a few pictures..and before midnight I plan to add a few of them growing over the last few years. Today was a great day..I plan to add some pictures from our karaoke party next chance I get. Paige and Peyton have grown so much this year..in every way. The have both gotten taller, smarter and grown more mature. They genuinely love others and they love Jesus. Today..they are totally in love with their new American Girl Dolls..and there will be a few pictures of these new additions to our family coming soon!

no cereal on the fridge..but it is bad enough!

Adding Beauty to Order
By Glynnis Whitwer

"On the walls all around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers. He also covered the floors of both the inner and outer rooms of the temple with gold." 1 Kings 6:29-30 (NIV)

Devotion:
My second job out of college was for a developer of retirement and assisted living communities. The CEO of the company was a woman named Prill, with a passion for developing beautiful living communities for seniors. While she abided by all the right code restrictions and architectural guidelines, she pushed the envelope to make them lovely. Prill always imagined her mother walking the hallways or sitting in the dining room. Where would she rest and what would she gaze upon as she got her mail? These types of questions guided her philosophy of blending function and grace.

One of her pet peeves was cluttered-looking administrative offices. While people at other companies might tape notes to walls or windows, we had to put them in picture frames. We drank our sodas out of glasses and never ate at our desk. Clutter was abhorred and order was the rule of the day.

I learned a lot from Prill. When she was in town, she'd walk with the management staff around the community and share her philosophy of caring for the aging and creating a beautiful home for them. One such walk sticks out in my mind. It was the day my approach to organization changed forever.

As we walked around the administrative offices, Prill shared tips on how to keep our workspaces attractive and clutter-free. As she chatted she warned us to stay away from "the-cereal-box-on-top-of-the-refrigerator syndrome." I sucked in my breath, wondering if someone told her about my house. The top of the refrigerator was exactly where my cereal boxes were, and had been for years.
I mused about her comment for days; alternately defending my approach (they don't all fit in my small cupboards) and considering other options (I could put them in storage containers that do fit in my cupboards). Needless to say, the cereal boxes came down. I scrubbed the layers of dirt and grime off the top of the refrigerator and positioned a plant in an attractive pot there instead.

Now let me assure you, it's fine if you have cereal boxes atop your fridge. What I learned from Prill is that when we put a little extra effort into organization, our surroundings look peaceful and nice. While I don't pour my sodas into goblets anymore, I have incorporated Prill's concern for making practicality as pretty as possible in my home and office. Because I spend so many hours each week at my workspace, keeping it attractive and organized is a priority for me.

Keeping things in beautiful order is a practice we also find in the Bible. In the book of First Kings, we find records of the temple Solomon built to the Lord. Not only are we given precise information about the details, but we get a hint of its beauty, complete with floors of gold, engraved cherubim, and the tops of pillars in the shape of lilies.

While our offices aren't temples, they can be a place where God is worshiped and honored in our hearts and in our lives. Perhaps you'd like to bring a little beauty and order to your workspace. It may just take a few changes to create a place of organized inspiration. After all, God is a god of order and beauty.

If you would like to pursue this idea, I invite you to visit my blog where I just did a series on bringing order and beauty to our workspaces. I'd love to hear your thoughts and answer any questions you might have.

Dear Lord, You are the creator of all things lovely. You are also the giver of peace and the designer of order. Help me bring that peace and order to my place of work. I long to bring honor and glory to You everywhere I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Visit Glynnis' Blog for practical tips on bringing order and beauty to your workspaces

work@home by Glynnis Whitwer

Cleaning up the Clutter by Emilie Barnes

Application Steps:
Look at your workspace with new eyes. What hits you first as being the most cluttered element? Make a plan to tackle that project first.

Reflections:
How does a clean and organized desk/office make you feel?

How does an organized work area affect your productivity?

What are your top challenges in organizing your office?

Power Verses:
Psalm 84:1, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!" (NIV)
Romans 1: 20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (NIV)
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." (NIV)


Proverbs 31 Ministries
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My devotional this morning...very timely between 12 hour shifts

Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Jennifer could hardly wait for her shift to be over. The nurses' station was a mad rush, and there was simply no time to even catch her breath. Some nights she wondered why she had ever gone into nursing. The pace was so crazy, and the work was exhausting, both mentally as well as physically. For a moment, Jennifer closed her eyes and said a quick prayer to the Lord, thanking Him for His great mercy and asking for just enough strength to make it through.
The Lord listens to our prayers, and He responds by giving us the strength we need to meet every situation. He truly is our strength of our fortress. Trust in the Lord, and He will grant you His peace.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, there are times when I just don't think I can make it. Please grant me Your power to endure and succeed. Help me to remember that r eal strength comes from You. Amen.