Breaking bread

Forgot to share this Samuel tidbit with you...

We were having canned soup and toast for dinner one night last week. I know, I know... a culinary delight. Samuel was eating his toast, broke it in half and looked up at me and said, "This is my body, broken for you. Eat it and when I die it will be in my tummy."

I guess the Easter Book we've been reading has really made an impact.

Praying for Stellan

Baby Stellan's surgery has begun as I write this. For those of you who do not read MckMama's blog let me give you a brief update. Stellan has a very serious and rare heart condition which was found while he was in utero. He was not supposed to make it into this world but by God's will he is alive. Now a few months later he fighting for his life.

His surgery is very complicated and has very significant risks. These are MckMama's specific prayer requests. Would you please take time today to pray for this family? It really does make a difference.

Would you pray that Dr. A will have wisdom as to if he should move forward with the ablation after the esophageal study? If he does move forward, would you pray that he will have clarity of mind as far as how aggressive to be with the ablation in order to fix Stellan's problem without putting him at undue risk for complications. Would you pray that the tiny catheters the doctors use will not nick Stellan's coronary artery? Would you pray for peace for me and my husband? Would you pray that heart block will not occur during the surgery? Would you pray that the extra pathways Stellan has will be located and successfully destroyed? Will you pray that, if they need to go through his septum, that it will heal as it should? Would you pray that in the days after the surgery (In infants, coronary damage sometimes doesn't appear for up to three days, so we'll be here for the rest of the week at least it looks.) we will cling to Jesus and not to fear?

Get your Depends on!

So last night my hubby and I spent a little quality time on You Tube. It was the most fun we had in months - for real! And so it would only be the right thing for me to do but to pass the laughter along to you.

Check out Remi Gaillard when you need a little comic relief. This dude is crazy funny. Sometimes I wonder things like, what would happen if I showed up to church in my bathrobe and my hair in a towel? Well, he's the kind of guy who thinks those things and actually has the guts to find out. My kind of humor.

Like I said in my title, get your Depends on because you might just pee your pants!





He's got tons of videos on You Tube. A few of them are mildly unsavory - most are just fine though - so use your discretion. Happy laughing!

Calling all squash lovers

If you are a veggie lover, you MUST try this recipe. It's been a favorite around here for a long time! I promise your taste buds will be in heaven!

Acorn Squash with Spinach Stuffing

3 small acorn squash
1 cup chopped celery
1 small onion chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
11 oz bag fresh baby spinach
1/2 tsp salt divided
6 Tbsp seasoned bread crumbs
2 Tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans
butter

Cut squash in half and discard seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in an ungreased baking pan. Fill pan with water to a depth of 1/2 inch. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.


Meanwhile, in a skillet saute celery and onions in olive oil until tender. Add spinach and 1/4 tsp salt. Cook and stir until spinach is wilted. (I like to sprinkle some extra bread crumbs into the spinach too.) In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, walnuts or pecans, and remaining salt.


Drain water from baking pan. Turn squash cut side up. Stuff with spinach mixture. Sprinkle crumb mixture over top. Place a nice slab of butter on top of each. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until squash is tender.

Delicious!!!!

Wordless Wednesday - A Day at the Park

All Things New

That was the title of our Easter service at church. Our pastor delivered a powerful message and I am reminded and refreshed once again in the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Some of you are saying AMEN! Some of you might scan my words and some of you will read no further, BUT before you click off this page, I urge to to open your hearts and your minds for just a little longer.

What if Jesus really can make all things new for you?

He did for me.

Would you take a half hour of your precious time and watch the following MESSAGE? It's really good stuff! Life changing! And please don't skip the cardboard testimonies at the end of the video. You won't regret it - I promise!

This is my cardboard testimony!


(Maybe I should have put a little make-up on before taking these pics at 11pm with a cold)

Do you have a cardboard testimony to share?
Please do!

The Easter photo that never happened

Let go of me!!!

Yesss!!! Free at last!

I'm out of here!

My week in review and some funny stuff too!

I can't believe I've not had a moment to put up a post. I could go on and on with a list of all that's been going on but I'll spare you the boring details.

Instead I'll just give you a few highlights of the week.

My sweet Gabby girl was dedicated to the Lord at our church last Sunday. We actually managed to get there on time. The kids wore their Easter outfits a week early! And oh how I enjoyed shopping for those girly white patent leather sandals.

Gabrielle and Pastor Josh

Daddy saying a few words about his baby girl.

As I stood there during the dedication, I realized just how much dedication is a daily heart issue and not an event. It starts the moment a baby is formed in the womb. We can eat well, rest, exercise, take vitamins, etc. but the rest is up to God. And so it goes from there... day to day, month to month, year to year. You do the best you know how to and the rest is up to God. How thankful I am to have such a faith in a God who knows my (His) child even better than I do and cares for my children even better than I can. I am an anxious type and so this is the place my head and heart can rest. It is so good to rest.

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On a lighter note,

Samuel has been cracking me up lately. And it would only be appropriate if I share the latest. You bet I got my camera out as fast as I could...


"I'm just pumping a little milk, mom."

Yes, that is what he said. Tim and I were instantly rolling on the floor with laughter. And of course I grabbed my camera as fast as I could. That's what a good mom would do right???



Look at the block carefully. You press the yellow ball at the top and the tube in bottom concave part moves in and out causing the wheel on the block to spin. For those of you who are experienced pumpers you would have to agree he's one smart boy. It really does resemble a breast pump.

Poor kid. Scarred for life.

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My dear friend, Val, had her baby this week. Welcome to the world Rebekah Faith!!!

I was honored to visit during labor. Childbirth never ceases to amaze me!!!

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It's Good Friday today and we have been reading the Easter story this week. This morning Samuel and I were having a heart to heart about discipline issues. Things have been really tough in this arena lately. REALLY tough. I might just be bald by the time this kid turns 4.

Anyway... we were chatting and I was wondering what he would say if I asked him what would be a good discipline for disobeying. Sometimes I just like to get into that little head of his. He said, "I don't know mom... please just don't nail me a to a cross."


Don't worry Samuel honey, mommy would NEVER do that. Oh my gosh!!! Is it really OK to read the Easter story to your 3 year old? At least he loves the part when Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene and turns her tears of sorrow to joy!

Dollhouse Boy-style

Our neighbor so generously gave us their daughter's old dollhouse for Gabrielle. Samuel however is having a blast with it.

This is what I overheard the other day...

"Oh, you have to go potty."
(As he puts the little girl doll on the toilet)

"Wow, that's the biggest poopy EVER!"

"Time to flush..whooooshhh"

"Oh-no, the potty is filling up"

"Hey mom, does this dollhouse come with a plunger?"

Wordless Wednesday-Thank God for Washable Markers