Homemade Christmas!

The budget is really tight for Christmas this year, so I am making a whole bunch of gifts for the little kids and a few for the older kids. It's seems like my little kids are easily pleased with homemade things....my older kids would be too if I could figure out what to make them! LOL
As for the littles...here's a list of some of what I am making.
Bean Bag Toss...made out of a diaper box and other materials I already have... FREE
Clothes Pin Drop....made out of a coffee can and clothes pins...FREE
Polly Pocket Houses...made out of boxes and other recycled materials...ALMOST FREE
Embroidered pillow cases for all 7...$1 each
Mod Podge'd note books for all 7...$1 each
Princess Wands....for 3 little girls...Almost Free
American Girl Sled....from an old wooden decoration, painted to look new....FREE
Dog House and New Dog...made from box and used stuffed animal...Almost Free
Barn and animals....made from box...will buy animal...so CHEAP
Stitcheries....FREE
That's all I can think of right now. Soon I will take pictures and share! I spend about an hour in the morning working on the gifts while the kids are still asleep! Then I wrap as I go...the bigs play a game with the littles and I go wrap! I am getting excited about Christmas!!

Faith...or the lack of faith

Well, yesterday was interesting....I was just going along with my day...teaching science...and the phone rings. I answer, and it is our lawyer for the adoptions....my heart sinks....what does he want?? He was calling to tell me that he couldn't get a hold of my case worker, he had been leaving voice mails, and that we are missing a paper that was necessary for the adoption of the two boys...they had everything for the three girls, but not the boys! I thought my heart was going to stop beating. I must have looked awful because my kids all stopped with their school work and just sat in silence....staring at me....all I could think about was not getting to adopt the boys on Saturday! So, I called the county office and left a hundred messages with people who may be able to help us. At this point, I was truly feeling like I was going to throw up, my chest was hurting, my stomach was in a tight knot of burning pain...I mean serious mental stuff going on....so, I called a few people to pray...I was still having all the physical side effects from this awful news when Rob gets home from work. He walked into the house and took one look at me and came rushing to my side wondering what was wrong... I told him and he just smiled and said "it's OK"... I was shocked by his comment, and upset that he was not joining me in my sinful pity party! I asked him how in the world he could say "it's OK"?? He just looked at me with those big brown eyes and said "They'll either figure it out or they won't, it's not the end of the world...the kids are all healthy, alive, and will eventually be adopted. God is with us, and knows what's best."....I was picking my jaw up off the floor...and the steam was blowing out of my ears...thinking ....what is wrong with this man! Then the big question came...he asked me..."where's your faith?"....I about fell over...but what I needed to do was fall to me knees and ask for forgiveness from my Father. Why do I always fall so short in trusting Him. I KNOW His ways are best...that He will work all out according to His good and perfect plan....but I also know that sometimes His plan does not meet up with MY plan! There, I said it....I am weak in my faith. I get things in my head, and make plans, and then get really pushy when they don't play out as I think they should. I KNOW this is wrong...I KNOW God is good...always...but I need to have faith in the fact that all that is true for ME...not just to say it...but to live it. So, as I am working and praying through all of this lack of faith in myself...the phone rings...the county took care of it...it will all be OK...and I got to grow! WOW...God is such an amazing teacher!

Seat Anyone??

Don't mind the mess behind the car seats...that's the mud room and it tends to get messy...Rob ditches his hunting gear in that room too!
anyway...the church used our big van to take the kids somewhere...so I had my kids clean out our van so there would be room for the kids to sit! It just made me laugh to see how many car seats we had in there! LOL....

Too Much To Do!!

Oh, how I wish I felt like this guy! But...I don't! I am so stressed out my stomach hurts! This is not good and I need to hand all of my anxiety over to the Lord. I have SO much to plan and do in the next 3 weeks it makes me sick to think about it. We are having Thanksgiving here tomorrow, the adoption is next Saturday...so we are finishing up all the loose ends for the adoption, we are going away for a Thanksgiving dinner the next day, the next Friday I go to the hall and decorate for the adoption party, the next day is shopping all day, the next day is the adoption party...I also need to take care of getting the adopted kids all new stuff like SS cards and such. Then there is Christmas....with a family to shop for and wrap for...this is a BIG job. I also need to keep up with school and teaching Sunday School. There will be hunting and babysitting...It is ALL fine, and WILL BE all fine, I am just looking too far ahead! The Bible tells us not to borrow tomorrows trouble and that is just what I am doing! Things always work out and get done...this will all get done. So, for the next 2 months...and this is BIG for me... I am not going to read for pleasure! This will almost kill me, but it's for the best. I get sucked in and read for ever when that time should be spent being pro-active...speaking of which....I'm now moving on to the things on my list to do!!

Frugal and Yummy Breakfast!

I just thought to post how we make great tasting eggs...fast! We often make our scrambled eggs in the microwave! I simply crack 18 eggs into a large bowl sprayed with pam add a splash of milk and some salt & pepper...microwave 3 minutes and stir...3 minutes ans stir....then I add pieces of meat and cheese...3 minutes and stir...they are usually done by then. During this easy for me cooking time I have plenty of time to make all the toast we need for 9 people and juice! This is one of our favorite breakfast foods...this also is a nice one to make along with french toast as the cooking time is so easy, it allows for the time needed to make french toast without feeling like your zipping around the kitchen like a crazy woman! LOL

Who Is Really Doing All the Work?

Just ask the little man and he'll tell ya! He really thought he was doing a number working with Daddy! Too cute! My husband has SO much patience, it amazes me!! He was shoveling our ditches with an injured back and with the constant "help" of a 3 year old BOY! We are blessed, huh!

What Took Me So Long??

I have walked around with the button that fell off my coat in my pocket for two years! Yes, TWO YEARS!! Today I sewed it back on...and I was missing another button as well...and I sewed that one on too!! It took all of five minutes (and two years) to do! Geesh.....