Gratituesday: A Broken Window....

SO, how can one be GRATEFUL for a broken window you might ask yourself?????
WELL-------- Because I didn't do it!!!!!!!! LOL! Ok, just kidding, but really, I didn't break it, my hubby did! and it wasn't our window, it was our NEIGHBORS WINDOW... and they are not home, they are GONE on a 2 week vacation.... SOOOO what is the story you might be asking yourself????
Well, my neighbors, this family with 8 children 1-15 yrs old.... and a mom and a dad all under one roof.... are on a 2 week vacation... and they trusted me so much to let me take care of their yard and garden (ok, really their garden is amazing, on its own water timer, I just got to cut the lettuce and share it with the other neighbors!) AND I didn't really even have to do anything else yet, besides water the PORCH flowers because we have had rain alot since they left....
SOOOO yesterday all of us headed over there with hubby on the tractor to mow their yard because it was getting soooo high and they aren't back until friday this week.... you know, doing a kind deed!!!!!!!!!!!! Right near the end of mowing, somehow a rock flew out of the mower (the opposite sides of where the grass comes out) and breaks the first pain of glass of their lower window......
My hubby was sooo upset, he was mad for hours.... I wanted to be mad, but for some reason couldn't do it.... I was like "WELL, accidents happen, and we will just replace their glass....!"
SOOOO Why am I grateful you might ask......
because this gives up the opportunity to show them how great of people we are... that we are the ones that borrow things and return them in better condition than when we took them... that we always replace when we break or lose, and that they can trust us....
I only say this all because sometimes I am unsure of what they think of us... I know this shouldn't matter... but these folks are very down to earth.... the girls all wear skirts and long hair and she is so patient that she homes schools all of them....
I wear my hair at shoulder length (I have THICK THICK Hair and long hair gives me headaches), I wear speg. strap tanks daily in the summer (I truly could DIE if I wore any kind of sleeve.... I am a sweat box!!!!) and I send my kids to public school..... So I guess sometimes I just don't know how they feel about us.... KWIM???!!!!
Anyways, I am grateful for the chance to see how they handle this when we tell them.... and see if I can READ in their faces what they really think of us, if that makes sense at all!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more gratituesdays at heavenly homemakers

Gratituesday: I won the War!

OK, today I am very grateful for my giving husband!!!!!!
NO really, I am !!!!!!!
SEE, last week he got a FREE camera (the one above) in the mail.... he has these AFTERMARKET REWARD POINTS he has been saving for a long time from ITEMS at work that you pull them off of.... Well, last week he turned them in for a NEW CAMERA and a Wii Truck game.....
The Camera came and I was in love instantly! I knew I HAD to make it mine... (SORRY, but it is true!)
I pleaded my case about how I was the one who took ALL of the family photos, how he just wanted to use it for WORK photos (progress of cars he is working on), how MY camera was ALMOST 3 yrs old.... How HIS NEW camera was SOOO much nicer than mine... ETC....
I know, BAD BAD BAD.... BUT.......................

IT WORKED, lastnight he told me that I could HAVE IT!!!!!! That he was thinking about what I said and it is true... I do take the family photos, I do order them, I do file them, I do scrapbook them, etc....... And I DO deserve the NICE camera (his is a 10.1 MP, mine was a 5 MP) WOW, double the fun...LOL!

IT IS ALL GOOD, STOP thinking I am horrible and terrible.... He is getting a great present in the mail in 2 days.... He has been wanting a MANTIS tiller for a long time, and I finally set aside enough budget to order it... HE HAS NO IDEA!!!!!

SO I am not so bad afterall, huh?????

Read more gratituesday over at Laura's Blog

Gratituesday: Son Liking Gymnastics!

Yesterday was our first day at Gymnastics.... My Second son begged and begged to get into the class... (his sister already had a spot)... So Shayla gave up her spot to Lucas and He was super excited...... In the end, there was an opening and Shayla (who's foot is in the lower Left) Got in anyways!!!! How nice of her to give her spot up though , HUH????

Anyways, I am just so Grateful that he loved it, even though he was the only boy in class! He did get alittle hyper about things and tried to run across the balance beam and fell, but he did great seated rolls and wonderful cartwheels!!!!!!

Visit more gratituesday HERE!

Gratituesday: An Awesome Concert!!!!

So, My friend invited me to a concert this past sunday! Of course I said YES!!!! The concert featured Israel Houghton and the main man was Chris Tomlin!!!!!!!!!
I haven't been to a concert in FOREVER!!! ! I mean really, over a decade, it is just something we don't spend money on!!!! SOOO I was so blessed by her generousity to invite me along, and NOT let me pay for the ticket (I owe her a steak dinner now!!!!!)

Israel Houghton on stage! HE WAS AWESOME!!!!

Chris Tomlin! He rocked the house!!!!!!! I laughed, I cried, I raised my hands to God! It was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

So Today I am grateful to my wonderful friend MiRinda! Thank you SOOOO very much for allowing me to go with you!

Read MORE gratituesday at heavenly homemakers

Gratituesday: My IPOD!

I know, really Denai, is that all you have????
But yes, that is it for today!
(First, I just want to say, I am grateful to even have the IPOD, I got if FREE with our credit card rewards! YEP, I could have used the rewards on lots of things, but sometimes you just have to reward yourself... NOW of course if they had a grainmill instead, I would have gotten that!!!!)

I am grateful to be able to grab it at any time and listen to any music I want to hear at the time!
I love music! I mean really LOVE music! All kinds of music, but lately I have been loving Worship Music the most! "Sara Groves" fills my heart, "Go Fish" makes me boogie, "Third Day" just is wonderful, "Casting Crowns" well, need I say more????? OH, all these great singers and more fill my IPOD with worship and praise and my soul with such love and compansion!
Who wouldn't be grateful for a THING that helps keep God with you when you need him!!!!!

Read more gratituesday at Laura's BLOG

Gratituesday: My Second Son....

Ok, those of you that know me in my REAL LIFE, must be thinking... IS SHE JOKING????

Nope, not today, Today I am really grateful for Luke!

YES, there are times I want to yell at him (and I do) and there are times he makes me so angry that I cry (yep, do that too), but then there are the times where he cracks a joke and makes everyone laugh until they cry!

Ex: lastnight he was mad that he had to clean out his shelf in a pantry cabinet that I have.... I mean really, When I have to DIG for his lunch box on a small shelf... it is time to clean it off!!!!

Well, he didn't like that idea and was complaining and throwing a fit.... blaming me for things like having to throw away ripped projects (I know, Why is that my fault???? HMMM!)

OH WAIT... you must know this info first before you find this story ending VERY FUNNY....

This past weekend, he was driving me MAD, complaining about having to unload the dishwasher when my hubby asked him to..... So Finally I said "GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN THEN!" He said "It isn't your kitchen, it's Dad's! He pays for it!" Then I informed him that if he asked DAD whos kitchen it was, I can bet that the answer would be "MOM'S".... So he did and of course that was the answer.... Then DAD told him that the garage is his etc....... SOOOO NOW back to the story!

OK, so he is getting mad about cleaning up, so he slams the door of the cupboard open against the wall.... So Hubby says "Don't Treat my stuff like that!" and Luke says "It's NOT yours, it's MOMS!" (Ok, he is always VERY literal!!! I mean REALLY!) So I say "Well, the Doors are Dad's" to which luke replies, "WHAT, Does it lead out to the garage or what????"

OMGOSH, I laughed so hard I stared to cry!!!!! Even though I wanted to be mad, I couldn't, he is just funny that way!

He also NEVER asks for things like lastnight he called me into his room after he was tucked in... instead of asking WHEN he will get to make his Valentines box, he stared crying and saying "I GUESS I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE MY BOX NOW, THANKS ALOT, THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TIME, SO THANKS, NOW I WON'T HAVE ONE!!!" To which I replied... "Oh that's a bummer! Hey Trevor, How about we make your box tomorrow.... Goodnight boys!"

YES, HE NEVER asks, he always COMMENTS!!!! But even when it makes me mad, it is WHO he IS! OR SPIRITED LITTLE CLOWN!!!!!!

The best part is, no matter how much he "HATES ME" during the day, or how angry he and I get with eachother, EVERY NIGHT I crawl into his bed to tuck him in and we joke and laugh, etc.... So, now matter what, at the end of the night we re-connect and get ready to start fresh and new the next day!!!!!!!!

So there you have it... TODAY I am grateful for Luke!!!! The wiggly, ants in the pants, can't slow down, always putting blame on others, best tempertantrum thrower, Dancing, best cooker, So Proud, Risk Taker, Daddys helper, jokin boy I know!!!!!!!

Please visit Laura's blog for more gratituesday!

Gratituesday: Healthy Kids....

So, as I reflect back on the winter so far..... I have to be grateful for HEALTHY KIDS!
I have so many friends who's kids have missed soooo much school and some holiday fun because of sickness..... So far my kids are Healthy Healthy Healthy (better knock on some wood right now!!!!!) Actually they have always been pretty healthy kids.... In fact my 5 1/2 yr old has only been on Antibiotics ONE TIME, and that wasn't because she was sick, it was to see if it could clear up the fluid in her ears that was making her deaf.... (I didn't want to do it, but hubby said he did ... UGH!) Either way....
All and all I thank God all the time for LITERALLY healthy children.... and I Pray for the ones who are not so lucky! I don't know what I did to deserve 4 healthy Pregnancies, and 4 healthy babies....... God Is GOOD!

Read more Gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: SNOW!

I know, what a silly thing to be grateful for today... but here is the scoop....
About 10 yrs ago, right before we got married, my hubby told me he was buying a snowmobile... WHAT, WHY, Why are you brining Debt into the marriage???? UGH, but of course, there was NO stopping him.... Then 2 years later, I bought him a used one he had his eyes on. I surprised him with it and he loved it!!!!!!!! We went on a snowmobiling trip when our oldest was just 7 mo old (YES, that was 8 yrs ago... SAD) and didn't really go anymore that winter of 2001. Then in Jan. of 2002 I had my 2nd baby and finally got to do some snowmobiling... Ever since then... there has really NOT been enough snow to hit the trails.... sooooooooo our sleds just sat there.... not being used... BUT this year.... we are taking a weekend away with my hubbies brother. We actually got to go just a weekend ago for a few hours on my brother inlaws snowmobiles! It has been great fun, and for that I am grateful! I love snowmobiling and wish every year there was enough of the white stuff to go!!!!!!!! THANKS LORD FOR THE LOVELY SNOW THIS YEAR!
To read more gratituesday posts, head to heavenly homemakers

Gratituesday: The Child Called It!

I don't know if this is really something to be grateful for, but I started reading the story "THE CHILD CALLED IT" yesterday when my back hurt so bad, I couldn't function anymore! (FEEL PITY? LOL!) I cried though the chapters I read, and my son asked me "MOM, are you reading that story about the boy who was beat by his mom?" "YES, trev I am..." "MOM, why did she do that to him?" "Trev, I have no idea?" "MOM, where was God when he was being beat?" UGH, I didn't have an answer.... Where was God? WOW, what a profound thought for an 8yr old (this is the same boy who when I told him he could swear all he wanted as long as NO ONE heard him, he said to me "MOM, but God will hear me!" )
SO, today I am grateful for all my friends here who can help me out and give me something to say to my son who wants to know "WHERE WAS GOD MOM?"
THANKS so much!
To read more gratituesday, go to Laura's Blog

Gratituesday: A NEW BLOG!

OK, so can one really be thankful to have a new blog... I mean really, MORE WORK, is that something to be grateful for????
BUT REALLY, I am very thankful to have the internet to be able to blog! After all, I would have never met most of you!!!!
SOO, I have this new blog that I started yesterday that I am going to show how to eat healthy on a FOODSTAMP budget.... if My family were on FULL FOODSTAMPS we would get 600-650 a month in foodstamps... SOOO I took the number 600 (which is what we spend anyways...) and am using that.... which is $3 a day for each of us..... Just like the government says... $3 a day to eat on!
THANKS to "LAURA" who is such an insperation, who has taught me alot in the last 8 months or so.... and thanks to the internet once again who has taught me about all the nasty stuff in our food! OH, and thanks to recipezaar where I find alot of my recipes!!!!
OK, so here is my new blog.... http://feeding6.wordpress.com/
I am super excited about it..... teaching people how to eat healthy food and keep a budget makes me feel very good about myself..... considering it is NOT coupon foods (mostly processed foods full of JUNK) that we eat at our house.... but good old fashion homemade things!

See Laura's Blog for more gratituesday posts!

Gratituesday: Face Book

OK, is that a weird thing to be thankful for????? I mean really.... Face Book?????
OK, but it is something to be thankful for!
In just a few days, I have gotten contacted by 5 old friens.... 2 friends I haven't seen in over a yr, an old neighbor friend I haven't seen in over 15 yrs.... and MY BROTHER...LOL!
I couldn't figure the whole thing out at first, and WISH there was a way to ADD my maiden name, (because I didn't do that in the beginning, so if you know a way, PLEASE let me know!)
BUT now that I figured it out... I am loving it! I am alittle afraid to click the FRIENDS button, because they have to CHOOSE to be your friend, and what if they ignore you???????
Either way, I am enjoying it for now!
Go and sign up if you haven't, it is really fun!

Read more gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: My God Is An Awesome God!

How was GOD great, in 2008? (OH, I am a poet!)

Here is how God was great in a nut shell!

1- New Job for my Hubby after 16 yrs at one place!
2- My Old Job back (up until last sunday :-( to help me bring in money for our family!
3- A great YIELD in our garden! Enough to share with many!!!!!
4- Over 200 LBS of apples from our adopted Grandparents! (this ='s over 150 jars of apple sauce!)
5- Making great new friends!
6-Showing me the way to eat "CLEAN" this year has made a huge difference in my family! PLUS, I got to meet so many Woman on blogs here online who are a great support when I feel those around me are LAUGHING at me!
7- the finances to purchase my WONDERFUL Kitchenaid (ok, so that is a really selfish "THANK GOD" thing, but come on I bless my family with it daily!)
8- My ETSY shop selling lots... bringing me to over 360 sales!
9- Did I mention great friendships, in real life and online?????
and Number 10-
Giving me my wonderful family on more year, with out sickness, accidents, etc.... Showing me that my children and my husband are the greatest people here on earth, and I shouldn't take advantage of that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Read more HOW GOD WAS GREAT IN 2008 at heavenlyhomemakers.com

Gratituesday: My KITCHENAID MIXER!!!!!

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times.... EVERYONE NEEDS A KITCHENAID!

I got my first one for a wedding gift from my inlaws.... at first I didn't use it often, maybe 4-5 times a month TOPS! But as the years went on, I began using it more and more (could be that the babies came!)

One day last spring I turned my old one on and it started to make a grinding noise, which scared me because it A: was now 9 yrs old and B: because we use it ALL THE TIME, and I knew apple sauce season would be coming soon and that we would be using it A LOT!!!!

SOOO for mothers day/my birthday I got a new one! AND I AM IN LOVE WITH IT!

I use it pretty much ATLEAST once a day on average!

I love the PTO's that we have for it..... The shredder, the meat grinder, the ice cream maker, the strainer (the best thing to have for making apple sauce as seen HERE.....)

I am not sure I would be as good of a baker/cook with out it.... it is like that 3rd arm we all wish that we had!

SOOO, if you do not have a KITCHENAID mixer yet... put it on your wish list and find a way to get yourself one! ALSO, keep a look out at your friends mixer... maybe they will get a new one and you can have their old one!!!! (YOU ARE WELCOME GABBI!!!!) OH, and if you wait for a good deal you can get one for a great price... I know we just gave my MIL one for $103, a really nice one that was ONSALE at Kohls the day after thanksgiving!!!!! (with 15% off and rebates it was a steal!)

Read more Gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: Kleenex!

Runny Nose, Runny Nose, Runny Noses EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Need I say more????????

AND really WHERE does it all come from?????????????

Read more gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Here is a great RUNNY NOSE POEM I found on the NET!!!!

I've got a runny nose!

By Denise O'Hara

I've got a runny nose!

It never seems to stop!

I wipe it with a tissue;

I've used three boxes up!

I've got a runny nose.

I blow and blow some more.

I need a box of tissue;

Oh! Now I've used up four!

I've got a runny nose.

I sniffle, snort, and sneeze.

Oh, dear! It's running faster now!

Quick! Pass the tissue, please.

What?! There is no tissue left

For my runny nose?

But it's running, running, running

Faster than a garden hose!

Oh, let me look all through the house

To see what I can find;

Oh, no, I can't use that stuff!

That stuff's for my behind!

I've got a runny nose.

I've rested like I should.

I've taken all my medicine.

I think I'm feeling good.

I had a runny nose.

It finally, finally stopped.

But instead of feeling better,

My runny nose is all plugged up!

Gratituesday: ETSY

OK, so today I really need to be grateful for ETSY and the opportunity it has given to me!

These last few weeks have been filled with sales and I couldn't be happier! November was my best month ever and I give all the credit to God! YES, God,.... for I prayed and prayed and asked him to do with my shop what he see's fit.... it is funny how that works...WAY back in July I did the same thing and up until November, JULY had been my BEST month! Why you ask don't I just do that all the time... WELL, I have no idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT I am handing it over to him again this month and so far with 4 sales, I think he is SOOO in-control!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO on this Gratituesday, I guess in a nut shell, I am grateful for the internet....LOL, but really I am grateful for ETSY!!!!!

Read more gratituesday over at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: Shutterfly

Do any of you use shutterfly???
Today I am grateful for their photo books!

I find that I do not have much time anymore for scrapbooking and their photo books are the PERFECT thing to do instead of scrapbook!

The downside for me is that I have DIAL UP and it takes forever and ever to do each page... in fact I was at it for more than 2 1/2 hours...

but I am now done and our TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA is now in a perfect little book that will soon be on the way to my house...

NO scrapbook supplies used, NO cutting, NO writting, NOTHING!

Just pick up photos and DROP them into place!

If you have never tried it, run there and check it out!

Check out more gratituesdays at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: A NEW JOB!!!!

Ok, not to beat a dead horse, but my hubby GOT THE JOB!!!!!!! YES, you heard me right! GOT THE JOB!!!!!

Life will change around here starting next Monday and MONEY will be VERY TIGHT for awhile while we have to pay our $900 Health ins. ourselves for 2 months (who has that kind of money lying around????) BUT I know GOD is in control and that this is an answer to our prayers! SOOO I will put it all in his hands and let him have that control! I will NOT worry about things and when I start to, I will PRAY!!!!!

THANKS to all who prayed for my hubby last week!

Good things are happening all around us!

Take the time to notice them!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: Kids and Reading!

I think it is the BEST that when I walk into a room and find my middle two children sitting this close together and not fighting; but rather reading together! What a blessing it is!

Every night we ask our childern what their favorite part of the day was, and VERY often my oldest says, "Listening to mom read" or " finishing my Book I was reading"..... oh the feelings can't be discribed! I can only hope that they will keep reading and enjoying it!

Read more Gratituesday at heavenly homemakers

Gratituesday: BOOKS ON TAPE!

I know, what a silly thing to be thankful for, but really. I am on my 2nd book on tape....
First one was DOES THIS CLUTTER MAKE MY BUTT LOOK FAT. I wrote about it here.
Right now I am listening to THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA, wow, it is wonderful! I am SO SURE I would never be able to read this book without giving up! It is full of UNBELIEVABLE information! I am just about 4 hours into it... (it is 15 hours long).... and I have learned more than I ever thought possible about CORN! I plan on blogging about this sometime in the near future!
SOOOO THANK GOODNESS to whoever started books on tape! I love love LOVE to read, but wow, to listen while I drive back and forth to work on the weekends... NOW that is wonderful!!!!!

To read more gartituesday, head to heavenlyhomemakers

Gratituesday: A FIVE day WEEKEND

Atleast a 5 day weekend for the kids! (I still have to work :-( boo)

We are planning on doing some fun things for the next 3 days.... well, maybe not tomorrow, we are actually CLEANING OUT the house... getting rid of UN-NEEDED things to goodwill! Toys will be the FIRST thing to go since christmas will be here before you know it! (FYI: We are NOT buying our children toys this year, we are also not buying them for the neices and nephews! HANDMADE all the way this year!!!! )

We have confrences with the kids teachers tomorrow night, which I am super excited about! It is always great to hear/ or not so great to hear, how the kids are doing in school! (this is most important with our 5 yr old in Preschool, she is Oppositional Defiant and Mild PDD, but the teacher was NOT supposed to be informed of that, I wanted her to FIND things on her own instead of LOOK for them, KWIM!?!?!?!)

Thursday my dear hubby is taking off of work (he has lots of time to use up) and we are heading to the Science Museum of MN! The kids and I were there in June, but my Hubby has never been to the new one that opened about 7 yrs ago! Lots of fun to be had there!!!!!! We are hoping it won't be tooooo busy since MN has school and WI has th/fri off for the state teacher thingy.

Friday the kids and I are headed to the MN Zoo to have some animal lovin' fun! WE have a membership to the zoo and try to get there every few months!!!! Hopefully we will meet up with a few friends which will make it a rockin' good time!!!!!!!

And then of course, they will have fun with their Dad during the weekend while I am off working to bring home some much needed bacon!

SOOO today I am grateful for DAYS OFF of School!!!!!! Yeah for teacher workshops!!!!!

Read more Gratituesday at heavenlyhomemakers!!!!