A touch of femininity for my girls....

Sunday mornings at our home can be hectic getting everyone dressed and out the door for church on time. That is actually kind of funny because I have no trouble getting the kids to school or anywhere else on time. Anyway, we have kind of gotten into a rut over what we wear to church. I grew up wearing my best to church every Sunday. Now that I am married and have a family, we attend a different church that is more relaxed and heart focused rather than custom focused. The boys wear nice jeans and the girls wear khaki dress pants or even occasionally jeans.
I was thinking yesterday (as I watched my children scatter to sunday school) that my girls will grow up to raise their little girls the same way. Pants! Ugh! Dont get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with pants, but young ladies and little girls look so prescious in dresses and skirts. So feminine. It is only recently that we have gotten lazy. Lazy!! My girls used to wear beautiful clothes to church that my mother would search out in boutiques when she was on vacation. She even sewed some of the more special things from the satin of her own wedding gown.
Now I know that my 14, 12 and 10 year old daughters would not go for that now, but I was not at all prepared for the response that I got when I asked them if they wanted some skirts for church.
It was a resounding YES!!!! The were so excited. So yesterday after church I grabbed my mom, my girls,and my coupons, gift cards and Khols Cash and headed to the city. I must admit that I NEVER do this! I am a thrifty girl by nature and dont normally shop at the mall as a first step. Its usually when I have exhausted everything else. I spent some money, but I also saved a ton as well using my gift cards and coupons that I had saved up as well as hitting some sales that riveled the Salvation Army!  It was also a great opportunity for some girl talk about appropriate fashions and modesty. I wont say that the girls deserved these new things (they have Christ and is all they will ever need) but they deffinately appreciated them and cant wait till next Sunday.  

Blessings!

Cybil

I was tagged...does that mean I am it???

Andrea at Rightthinker tagged me for a meme about my kitchen.  This has never happened to me before and I wont tag anyone else because I honestly don’t know how! SORRY!! I am not even sure I know what a meme is! Anyway, I enjoyed reading about other peoples kitchens so I filled in the questions about mine. (Sorry Andrea if I screwed this up!!)

1) Do you have magnets on the fridge?

Yep! I buy stainless steel magnets with clips attached. They hold current papers for school and the occasional art work from Cody’s preschool.

2) Do you have a calendar in the kitchen, and if so, what's the theme?

Yes! My calendar is antique tractors! It was free from my husbands employer.

3)  What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool?

Definitely my Kitchen Aid mixer. I have almost all of the attachments and I love it. It is especially helpful for harvest season and for my noodles.

4)  Are you lucky enough to have a pantry of some kind?

I have a pantry in my kitchen that is a fair size for the age of my house and I have an area in my basement for home canned food and bulk purchases.

5)  What is your favorite appliance?

My favorite appliance has definitely got to be my new stove! My hubby bought it for me just this week and I love it. It ranks up there with the dish washer that runs at least three times a day. Maybe it’s a tie….

6)  Do you have an eat-in-kitchen?

We do have an eat-in kitchen. My husband is currently building a banquet for my table and it is really looking great! We also have a dinning room attached to the living room, but it is carpeted so we use it only for holidays. Food + kids + carpet = a big mess!!
7)  Do you have a bread box?

Yes and I use it for bread on a daily basis! Its an antique and I love the beautiful color green.

8)  Do you have pictures of your kids on the fridge?

I have a few school pics, but try not to keep them up as the edges tend to curl. I am an avid scrap booker and know the importance of taking care of the pics!

9)  Do you ever cook breakfast in your PJ's?

Not really… During the week I am dressed for breakfast. On the weekends my husband LOVES to make breakfast so I might eat it in my pj’s then. 

10)  Do you have a favorite cookbook?

I have several old cookbooks that I glean recipes from as well as a collection of family recipes.

11)  Are you lucky enough to have recipes that were passed down from grandmother and mother?  
Yes, my grandmother and her sisters were really well known in the area for their baking and candy making and I have all of those recipes as well as the ones from their restaurant. My mother is a wonderful cook and baker as well and she has made up several sought after recipes.
12)  What's your favorite thing to cook?
I actually love to cook anything over the open fire. We camp a LOT in the spring, summer and fall and we try just about anything over the open flame.

13)  Is your coffee pot electric or stove top?

Electric

14)  Do you make your own bread?

Sometimes. I would like to more often but the time……

15)  Does your kitchen have a theme?

My kitchen is filled with antiques and vintage items. I try to find vintage items to use in my kitchen when replacing something. We eat off of ironstone daily and I love to search for new pieces.

16)  Is there a clock in your kitchen?

Only the ones attached to the microwave and the stove.

17)  Do you have a bowl of fruit on your table or counter.  

Always!

18)  What type of canisters do you have?

I have vintage aluminum canisters but they are put away right now.

19)  Name one thing you have hanging on the wall in your kitchen

My enormous enamelware bowl. White with red trim. It’s the popcorn bowl.

20)  What's for supper tonight?

Tonight we were going to have steak on the grill with sweet potatoes and mixed veggies but the regulator on the grill went out and the fire almost took out our garage……so I ran and picked up  some chicken from a local favorite to replace the charred steak.

21)  Do you have enough cabinet space?

Not really….. I do have room in the basement on shelves that keep things that I use rarely like the bunt pan. I make do. The new seating that my husband is building will have lift up seats to store things like my crock pots and tablecloths. That will be helpful!
22)  Does your family use paper plates?

 We use paper plates for camping or when I am away, my husband will use them.

23)  Do you have a good set of china packed up?

I have several sets of china. Two sets at my immediate disposal and the other sets are in the attic. My grandmother, mother and myself as well as the great-aunts were/are all collectors of antique china and glassware. I am trying to teach my girls how to make a beautiful table.

24)  Do you wear an apron to work in the kitchen?

I fail at this….

25)  Name one thing you would change about your kitchen if you could?

I would LOVE wide plank (12 in) heart pine floors. Sigh….

Loving my Husband

I will be honest in saying that, in the past, I was the one in our home who made things happen. Until recently there hasent been an alpha male. There was Joe and there was me. We have been married for 15 years. Those years have not always been super happy, but we have always made things work. Recently with the enormous amounts of stress we have gone through, I have found that my shoulders are not quite as broad as they once were. I cannot handle everything on my own and I have started to lean on Joe for decisions and leadership in our home.  Let me tell you...it is wonderful to come up under his guidence and direction. I, of course, knew it would/could be this way. After all we have taken enough marriage classes in our Bible study group over the years that its has been ingrained in my brain, but it wasnt in my heart.  For me to give over even small decisions to him was like pulling teeth and then eventually he just relied on me....just like one of the kids.

I am married to a man who is finding his own within our family after 15 years of marriage. I have Rhumatiod Arthritis and I almost wonder if the Lord didnt allow this to happen in order for me to "have no other choice" but to allow Joe as the head of our home. One never knows...

Blessings!

Cybil

Its only been a year...

I had to remember today that it has only been a year since our son came into our home at the age of 4. I had worked so hard at his reactive attatchment training and when things settled down, so did my training with him. Not smart. I recently started babysitting for an infant and two toddlers who are wonderful therapy for me as I can't have anymore children. My son has gotten irritable and nervous about my "attatchment" to this infant and is reacting. Frustrating!

Smacking my head against the wall!!

So thankful for a call I made to a friend who hooked me up with some extra reactive attatchment training available soon.  Thankful that I was able to vent a little and learn a little.

God is good..... I am nothing without His stringth.

Blessings!!

Cybil

I can feel spring if I try hard enough!

It has snowed and blowed (it that really a word???) through northern Indiana this year! Having not lived more than six miles from my current address all my life, I guess you could say that I am used to Indiana weather and know what to expect. I actually used to love the cooler months more than the warmer months......until I met my husband. He has trained me over the years to be a lover of spring, summer and fall. ONLY! Winter is officially OUT after the tree comes down. The snow is beautiful and covers up alot of ugliness outside. I do love to sit on the couch with a great book and a cup of coffee while it is snowing. OK, now I'm getting awfully picky and ungrateful. Thank you Lord for the beautiful snow that is so good for my garden and covers up the ugly yard and gives the kids yet something else to be excited about.

I tell you what though, it is the end of January and I can feel spring coming. I am going to be starting my flower seeds in mid February and that makes spring come even quicker. March brings on the vegetable plants for my garden and that means spring is aaaaaalmost here. I will be content though and not press the Lord for spring or He will press me for patience.



 This is the view I get every time I walk into my kitchen.

I need to stop complaining!

 Blessings!!

Cybil

James 1:19

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the rrighteous life that God desires.

This verse is one that I have heard several times over my Christian walk and yet for the first time, it has truly caused me to pause. Our Sunday School teacher was teaching on this verse last Sunday and I was suddenly very aware that I wasn't listening to my children or husband. I was angering quickly and speaking even quicker. I can see the evidence that my actions have taken on my 2nd to oldest daughter. She is twelve and starting to shut herself away from me. Why shouldn't't she, I don't listen and I quickly speak over her.

Don't expect your children to develop character any better than that which you display to them.

This is something that I read off of a blog this week that is also sooooo very true. I often hear my younger children arguing, using the exact words and tone of voice that has come from my own lips. I feel so pathetic and ashamed of myself. I am the adult and child of God that KNOWS BETTER!!

Forgive me Lord, and help me to plant these words in my heart and be reminded of them daily. Hourly if needed. Amen.

Blessings!

Cybil

Back at it..

Tomorrow the kiddos go back to school. I loved having them home, but they are ready to head out to schedules and structure. I purposefully don't impose too much structure on Christmas break as its about the only time of the year that they get to "veg". I had started a routine before Christmas of having devotions before bed. I was looking through the web tonight trying to find online devotionals for my inbox. I love being able to print them quickly. My goal for the year is to keep the kids devotionals on task. The kids truly love it and so do I.

My adopted son is not going back to preschool until Friday. This has been a rougher 2 weeks for him than usual. He is usually the only one home with me and has me all to himself. He has had to share me, his dad, his toys and his home to brothers and sisters as well as extra friends for this school break and I can tell its been a bit of a stretch. He has been acting out a little and I am anxious to see if he settles back into routine. He needs routine and stability to make him feel secure and somewhat in control of his life. The sweet little dear.

Blessings!

Cybil