Keep Moving...Keep Walking

Not long after I posted about my "40 Days Until I'm 40"  get more active challenge....I had a bad day.  Then, another.  This body of mine wasn't up for much activity.  Getting dressed and accomplishing school has been an amazing feat on some days.  So....I have not completely kept up with my 40 day challenge.  But, I've worked at it some and we've enjoyed it so much!  On my good days, this is a definite habit I'm making. 

We've taken walks as a family, hiked in the woods (I LOVE doing that!), gone to the park,  and....

 planted some new blueberry bushes together!

 the kiddos were excited to use Daddy's shovel!

 What kid doesn't like to dig a hole?

 And there they are!  Beautiful blueberry bushes in the ground.

Hoping they grow!!

Micah's Day

 Birthdays are so fun around here!  We let the birthday kid pick the food, the fun and everything in between.  Surprisingly, Micah planned a pretty laid back day!

First, we started with opening presents.  He loved everything!!  He told us several months ago that he wanted a big boy Bible. He decided to stop carrying his little one, and he began to carry Beth's old one.  We knew the perfect gift for him would be a Bible with his name on it.  He is so excited!  He's been wanting me to read devotions from his Bible, now!

 For his cake he wanted a strawberry shortcake.  But, he had one stipulation....we had to make it together.  It was so fun!  We started with making the yummy shortbread.  These kiddos love to bake!

 Then, he helped me make the yummy cream.  Whisking is his favorite part!

 His day also had lots of playtime and a hike in the woods.

 Sure do love this kid and the joy he brings!
  Happy Birthday Micah!

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

So, I sort of whet your appetite last week about the savoury new dish we tried!  Well,  I'll give you the recipe!  Remember, it's sort of an "add a little of this and a little of that" recipe.  But, it is so yummy!

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Peel, chop and boil potatoes like you would for potato salad.  I prefer mine quite soft, almost to mashed potato consistency.  But, that's up to you!  (We used russets.  But, next time I want to try to leave the skin on and use red potatoes.  Yum!)

Drain potatoes and let cool.  (Reserve the potato water for Dusty Potato Bread!  So Yum!! I don't think I've shared that recipe yet.  Maybe soon!)

Then, add as much of sour cream, mayo, chives, cheddar cheese, already cooked crisp bacon (we used a whole pack.  super yum!) and, of course, salt!

We were a little impatient and ate it slightly warm, but not hot.  I think we actually prefer it this way.

It was super yummy!  Hope you enjoy it like we did!

My Micah is 4

 Oh boy!  My baby boy is 4 years old!  It seems I was just trying to fit him on his quilt and getting him to lie still for his monthly pictures of his first year.  Now, I have a very energetic, fun loving 4 year old!

 I love how this little boy has stolen many hearts already!  Ask any of our ladies at church (usually 40 and up :o) )  They have all fallen in love with his dimple and sweet smile!
He's a charmer!

 He loves to play and his favorite place to be is outside.  This kid can get dirty!  Thankfully, he still loves his bathtime and by the night of his birthday he was swimming in the tub with his new "duck flippers."

He can be quite contemplative and begins a lot of his sentences with, "Well...."  But imagine it as a drawn out, southern "Weeeeeelllll..."  So adorable!

Lately, my Micah Roo has been asking many questions about what it means to be saved.  He has a fear of hell.  He knows he wants to go to heaven.  He's starting to understand he needs a Savior, but he's not quite ready yet.  He's asking lots of questions and the Lord is working on his heart.  Such an exciting time!  I'm praying everyday for my boy to accept Christ as soon as he understands.  It's the most important decision any could ever make!

Loving this little guy!  And so thankful to be his Momma!

No More Nursery Kids

Yesterday was my last day to pick up one of my own from the church nursery.  My Micah Roo is turning 4, so no more church nursery for him.  He's now a big boy!  sniff sniff.

So....now that he's out of the nursery, it's easy to look back and see what worked for me and my kiddos.  Here's my observation:

~Nurseries are wonderful!  It's a great place for kiddos to learn to play and interact with one another and to learn to share with someone that is not their sibling.  It' also great to teach them that they have to obey the one that is in authority over them.  It's also so nice, as the Momma, to sit in church, take notes, and give my complete focus to the message.  That's hard to do with a busy baby!

~They will stop crying.  For the most part I have left my children in the nursery.  There have been a few times on the deputation trail that I felt I needed to keep them with me, but that was quite rare.  My children didn't go through any major bouts of "separation anxiety."  But, during those times when they cried when I left them, it only took a few minutes (sometimes a few seconds) for them to stop crying, realize they were going to be in there for a bit, and to enjoy it.  I confess, I was the Momma that would stand outside the door waiting to hear my baby settle down and quit crying.  They always did!

~Pack a good nursery bag.  Load it will snacks, drinks, a change of clothes and plenty of diapers.  Let the worker know your expectations for feeding your child.

~Thank the nursery worker.  It's often a thankless job and that is so sad!  Someone is giving their time to take care of your precious little one.  Thank them.  Praise the Lord for them.  Brag on them to others.  Be a blessing to the nursery worker!


And the last....
~Enjoy the time when your baby is a baby.  And when your toddler is a toddler.  Yes, this is a busy, active time in your life where you go to bed exhausted!  But, what a precious time that is all too fleeting.  Love on that nursery baby of yours!

Something to Savour!

Josh came home last week and told me about an amazing dish that a lady had brought in to work,  Twice Baked Potato Salad.  He said it was some of the best potato salads he had ever put in his mouth! It was creamy, cheesy, bacon-y....what more could you want? :o)

He decided to ask the lady for the recipe.  She said there really isn't a recipe, you just add a "little of this" and a "little of that."  He made this dish sound so amazing, that I decided last night I would attempt it.  I prepared and added my "little of this" and "little of that."

We all sat down to eat and after everyone tried the potato salad, their eyes lit up and it was as if the hallelujah chorus of YUM was being sung at our table.  Everyone loved it!

We each had seconds (I think Callie had thirds!)  We had a visitor drop by and we gave him a bowl of it to take home.  For snack that night Josh had some more.  Beth wants me to add it to our recipe folder.  I'm telling you, it was that good!

This morning I read in Matthew 16:23 words that Jesus spoke to Peter,
"thou art an offense unto me:  for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

My mind went back to the night before and how we all savoured the new dish on our table.
-We took time to enjoy it
-We shared it with others
-We wanted more

Just like we enjoyed this super yummy dish on our table, I want to be savouring the things that God has for me today! His Precious Word.  His Promises. His New Mercies Every Morning.  The Blessings He Has Given Me.

 Am I savouring those things?  Am I sharing them?  Do I want more?

  Or am I savouring things of this world that don't really bring lasting joy and contentment?

 Oh how I need to savour the things of Christ!  This Momma here needs His joy and contentment!  I need to hear my loving heavenly Father's voice to guide me through my day. I want to savour the things of Him!

And for those of you wanting the recipe....I'll share it on here soon! :o)

Day 40, 39, 38, 37 & 36

My count down to 40 is going quite fast!  I'm enjoying making being active a new habit!  Here's what I've done so far:

Day 40:  Nursery with 7 kiddos.  Need I say more? ;o)

Day 39:  My kiddos had some friends over to play.  It was a beautiful day outside, so I told them we were going out to play "Follow the Leader"  That's a nice, quiet activity, right?  Boy, was I wrong!

 They were quite excited as we lined up together.

 We did lots of high-knee marching,

 Lots of jumping over things,

 Lots and Lots of running,

and lots of smiling, red cheeks and a really good workout!  These kids know how to play, that's for sure!

Day 38:  My knewly graduated daughter had gift certificates to spend.  We spent a fun few hours shopping together.  I love being with her one on one like that!

Day 37:  My Brenna has been lifting some weights and doing some exercising lately.  I decided to join her.  Yikes.  I am sore!  This was good work out!

Day 36:  It was Sunday, I was going to take the day off, but I saw my Silas staring at the ceiling while everyone else was doing their own thing on a lazy Sunday afternoon.  I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk with me.  His eyes lit up as he said, "Sure!  I love being with you, Momma!"  We walked and he told me all about green caterpillar blood, hiding army guys in Christmas Trees and about the funniest sermon illustrations he's heard.

So, I would say the first few days were a complete success.  As I type, I am sore, but loving the extra memories I've made with my family.  Can't wait for more of this challenge!!