Happy 4th!

And word to the wise, don't do anything funny while I am holding the camera.

Miscellaneous

We've had two days of coolness here--in the 60s and 70s in the mornings--and it has been just lovely. The boys said that they needed their jackets because it was "cold." :) Not quite, but it is refreshing after consistent upper 90s.

Joe and I are doing a bit of life review and questioning right now, mainly focusing on our children and our family devotion times. It is the strong desire of our hearts to raise worshipers of the one true God and even at their young ages they are developing habits that will either cripple or carry them for a lifetime. I want them to truly "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34). We want our times of family devotions to be authentic and to speak to where we are as a family.

We are also getting really excited about our trip to Virginia to see family from July 18th-28th. With 4 days on the road, it will be a long trip, but we can hardly wait to see everyone. Joseph is hoping to have his first tooth out by then since his cousin Ginna pulled her first tooth out this past week. (Fortunately, he does have one ready to come out--otherwise I think he'd try to pull one anyway.)

We are also down to the wire with choosing a curriculum for next year. Daily I go back and forth between Veritas and Sonlight. I feel like we "should" use Veritas because it is classical and just what people use, but Sonlight just looks like such a good curriculum--well laid out, fun to use, and literature based. We'll see where we end up when we finally hit the order button.

And finally, the mailman just brought a Land's End box to my door that I have been patiently (read: I walk to the mailbox at least twice a day to look for it) waiting for. I splurged last week and spent 1/3 of my birthday money savings that I have been hoarding saving for 2 years now. At the good suggestion of 2 friends, I ordered a much needed bathing suit. I also got 3 pairs of shoes and a cover-up. Yay for new clothes!

Will and Joseph have been patiently waiting for me to read them a book, so that is all for now.

Girltak has two timely posts of the value of homemaking. One here and the second here. I always need to be reminded of this.

They are gone

The two dear children that we have been caring for during the last six weeks left this past Wednesday. Over and over again we have had people say to us, "We don't know how you can handle 6 children!" And I would always answer, "The children are great! We love having them and they bring such joy to our family. It is all of the drama and difficulty of the situation that is hard."

On Wednesday, the parents finalized their divorce and the children went to live with their dad. I don't know if I am glad or upset about how everything ended because it is such a convoluted situation. But this phase for us is now over.

Wednesday night, Joe and I collapsed into bed at 9 and slept soundly until morning. Joe, who wakes at 5 for personal devotions, went back to sleep on the couch Thursday morning because he just could not stay awake. All of the adrenaline that sustained us for 6 weeks is gone and we are tired! We are emotionally drained too. I particularly am still reeling emotionally from all of the anger, manipulation, lying, and stress that we dealt with.

Joe has been so kind as to give me some needed alone time over the past few days. Because of some of the specifics of what had happened to the children before they came to us, we didn't leave the little girl alone with Joe at all. Which meant that I had a delightful tag-a-long all of the time. And she was delightful too--a sweet little girl with such spunk and zest. But I need quiet desperately, even in small doses, and have been dreadfully short on it recently. I am still recharging.

We learned a lot during the past 6 weeks and have been thinking a lot as we have processed everything this week. I hope to get some of my thoughts into post-form soon, but at least wanted to write tonight to say that they are gone. And we do miss them so! I hadn't expected to have so many heart strings tied to them in such a short period of time. I have been surprised by how dear they became to me.

For now, I leave with a picture of little R.'s bathing suit on our clothesline. The children had all played in the sprinkler and put their suits on the line to dry. M. and R. left so quickly on Wednesday that I have still been finding their things all over the house and packing them away for them. I have walked past R.'s suit several times each day, but hadn't had the heart to take it down. I told Joe that I just couldn't bear to take it down and so he did it for me last night as we walked in from the garden.

Charlie this morning

Repentance and the gruesome message of the cross

What do you do when you've lost your temper again with your 4 year old? What do you do when you realize that in the rush to get out the door you yelled at everyone, barking orders like a drill sergeant rather than a loving mama? What do you do when you hear yourself correct an erring child and realize that you are not speaking kindly but are fussing and threatening?

Around Easter, I remember hearing a news story somewhere in the blogosphere about churches that did not teach about the resurrection in their young children's Sunday school classes on Easter morning. It had been decided that the crucifixion was too gruesome for children, and it didn't make sense to tell about Jesus rising from the dead if you hadn't taught about him dying.

What!? There is no other hope for me to give to my children to face sin and pain unless I tell them about what Jesus did on the cross. And there is no hope for me either.

Certainly, the crucifixion is gruesome and one can spare small children all of the details. But, sin is gruesome too and I have nothing else to tell them except that Jesus died in their place to pay for the sins that they commit so that they can be right before a holy, just, and loving God. Simply telling them, "well, do better next time" or "at least you are not too bad" leaves them with an unbearable weight on their little shoulders.

They need the same message that I need. That I don't have to bear the weight of my sin because Christ has "satisfied God's justice by his suffering and death in the place of sinners" (as we have been learning in the catechism). They need to know that I need God's grace and mercy through Christ too as I repent of my sin.

So as my own anger and impatience is displayed again to my children, I tell them again of the cross. I repent to them and to God and remind us all about how much we need Christ's work on our behalf.

My message to my children is not "do better" because I can't do better. I need Jesus. And they know that. They see it every day.

May God use even my sins to point my children to the grace and forgiveness that is offered for all who trust in Christ for salvation. And may He grow me more and more into the image of Christ as I daily seek to follow Him.

• Joe telling me at breakfast that he knows that I am cooking the same things, but that they just taste better in the country, “like at Hanshill.”
• Still scrubbing soap scum and hard water stains every time I take a shower and still seeing no difference. BTW, if anyone has tips let me know.

This past weekend my MIL Beth came for a visit and we had a good time with her. The boys, of course, loved seeing Meemaw, and it was nice to have the extra help with them while we are still trying to get settled. The last of the boxes are out of the house now, but all that means is that stuff is now lying around the house rather than being stacked up in boxes. I have many pictures still to hang and much to organize. I’ve decided that I am of the “just get it unpacked” school of moving rather than the “get it all put in the right place” school.

We also had our first Sunday at church and I managed to convince Joe to just go to worship rather than worship and Sunday school. As it was we were inundated with new people to meet and I was overwhelmed. Everyone was very nice though and the younger boys did fine in the new nurseries. It was actually the first time that David had been in a church nursery; for the last 7 months, he has sat/slept with us in service. So it was quite a transition.

Time out

I was just getting back into blogging, but it seems like God has other plans for me for a time. As of last Friday afternoon, we have been granted custody of 2 children from our church whose parents are going through a divorce with some unusual extra issues--a little girl, who is 3 and a boy, who is 8. We are also supervising visitation with their parents 5 out of 7 days a week (the exceptions being Wednesdays and Sundays when we are at church). It all happened very quickly and we are unsure how long this arrangement will last.

So, what does this mean? Besides the obvious fact that I probably won't have much blogging time :) , it also means that we would appreciate your prayers on our behalf. For our marriage and our boys as we all adjust to the new schedule and having little time together. For these dear children, that we would be enabled to love them selflessly and meet their needs. And for their parents during this difficult time. Pray that all of us would be drawn to depend on God's abounding grace and strength. Pray that we would be daily reminded that Christ's death on the cross not only pays for our sins, but frees us to live lives of love and service. Pray that the children would all get along. Pray that I would be patient as I care for 6! children daily.

Joe and I have always said that we wanted our home to be open to those in need and for our hospitality to be taken to radical extremes to love people and share our lives with people. (1 Thes. 2:8) I had always pictured us opening our home to an unwed teenage mom who chose to give up her baby for adoption or something. I just always pictured it about 10 years from now! But there are so many ways that God clearly called us....to this....now.

We have been doing very well so far, but are also daunted as we look to the future. We don't all fit into the minivan and so are having to take 2 cars everywhere, although we haven't gotten out much. :) I was supposed to go to Texas for my sister Meg's baby shower in just over a week and my parents were supposed to come for a visit. We were starting to plan for the future and were thinking about putting the house on the market again. We had vacations planned, a daily routine that worked for us, time....See how easy it is to get into the "what ifs"?

Can I trust that God has a plan in this that is for my good and His glory?

Can I trust that He is leading us and will lead in the future, giving us grace to handle each day?

His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness IS truly great.

So that is where we are and where I will be....in the middle of the fun and busyness of our home, loving one wonderful man and for now, 6 precious children.

After dinner romp in the front yard

Do you ever have those moments where you look around at your life and praise God? Where you see the blessings He has graciously given and just revel in the joy of it all?

Last night was one of those times for me. We ran around in our front yard and played with the boys as the sun set in golden splendor and a gentle breeze rustled leaves and tousled the hair of my precious children. There was much laughter and running, and it was GOOD.

There was also selfishness, grabbing, hitting, discipline, and a short temper or two. That is just life. Many times I get so busy with the mess of life that I miss the joy of life.

God is good. He has blessed me abundantly. With salvation in Christ first, and also with my dear family and much more.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me and reconciling me to yourself in Jesus. And thank you for my strong and hard working husband. Thank you for these sweet boys. Teach me to praise you in the good times and to store up some of the joy for the darker days.

You know you are married to a pastor....

....when you apply theology to everything.

Joe: "I think that Oreos must have been invented by the devil because they are so tempting."
Me: "Nope. They were given by God because they are so good!"

Me and my littlest man

Us

Life is our own version of normal right now. Lots of noise, mud, anoles (small green lizards), growing things, gardening, playing, singing, riding, and did I mention mud?

We're rolling along just fine and everyone is growing so quickly. Here is a picture I took last weekend. If you are a member of facebook, you can see more through Joe's profile here.

Where I have been

Don't worry, I haven't lost my interest in blogging already, it has just been a busy week. Joe explained our week in a post today on his blog.

Weekend update

We have enjoyed a happy 2 days here with Joe back in town after 4 days away at the Together for the Gospel Conference. The boys and I had a busy time being "apart for the gospel" here at home.

Today, we replanted some tomatoes in the garden as the first batch all died a week ago during a late frost.

Practicing hospitality

I have been thinking recently about the dichotomy between hospitality and entertaining. Like many things I ponder, my thoughts are influenced by things that I have read but can't remember exactly where. So, if you've heard this before, you must've read the same article and if you can remember where, let me know!

The premise behind the article was that there was a distinct difference between hospitality and entertaining and that we should strive for the former over the latter. Entertaining brings up images of perfectly laid tables, elaborate menus, a sparkling home, and an unhurried hostess overseeing it all with charm and grace. Hospitality brings more homey images to mind—warm fellowship with friends new and old, laughing until there are tears in your eyes. While entertaining is concerned with impressing guests, hospitality focuses on welcoming people into your home and your life.

Mark Driscoll speaks about the home as a place “where God and His people dwell together for purposes of ministry.” He says the same could be said about the the temple, the church, and heaven.

Does that change how we view our homes? Not simply places to sleep between mad forays into the daily grind of life, but centers of ministry whereby we love our families and reach out to a watching world.

Being hospitable is listed among the requirements for elders in Titus 1:8. Being hospitable is also the mark of a life lived in obedience to Christ as part of the attributes of Godly widows described in 1 Timothy 5:10. It is also generally proscribed to all Christians as a way to show love to one another through service in 1 Peter 4:8-10. So we know that it is Biblical, but do we do it?

Much has been written about the decline of hospitality in our culture and the varying causes and remedies. I will offer just a few short suggestions that have motivated and encouraged me as I have sought to help Joe in offering hospitality.

Throw away Southern Living and Martha Stewart!

Did I just say that and is there a band of sweet Southern ladies coming to tar and feather me as I sit here?

One of the main hindrances to hospitality is thinking that your __________ isn't good/fancy/expensive/big/whatever enough to offer to others. Realize that God has given you what you have, be content, and be willing to share. Americans who travel abroad almost always find themselves the surprised recipients of gracious hospitality from people who have little to offer, but offer what they have with sincerity and joy.

Do what you can

For our family, being intentional about hospitality means inviting people into our home and the craziness that is life with 4 small boys. I always serve the same meal. Homemade pizza with whatever toppings I have on hand and oven-hot cookies for dessert. Sometimes I make other side dishes, sometimes I don't have time to. Dinner is loud, the food is served buffet style, and you almost always have to refill your own drink. I do look forward to the days where I can be a bit more fancy, but this is where I am now and may God use it to His glory!

Pick a day

Once you get into the habit of practicing hospitality, it gets easier and easier. There are several families in our church that have two or three families and singles over for Sunday dinner after the morning worship service. I have been blessed to watch how these ladies invite not just those who are their close friends, but new attenders, widows, and people that they don't know well. Our family has been blessed by many gracious offers of hospitality from those in our church...and that is no small accomplishment! My boys are generally well-behaved, but there are 4 of them and they are little and so I am always so thankful that people have us over anyway!

We have chosen Friday nights to be our night for having people over for dinner and are just getting back into the habit of doing so after a hiatus when Charlie was born. Knowing that this is our intention every Friday night helps us to remember to invite people and be consistent about it.

Just do it!

It is fun. It is Biblical. It is part of living authentically and letting people into your life. Pray about it. Talk to your husband about it. And see how God might be calling you to offer hospitality.

Here are a few additional resources out there that I would recommend on this topic:

Women as Homebuilders

This sermon from Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle has a lot to say not just about hospitality, but about women in general. At just over an hour, it is a long sermon, but worth every minute! (***If you are on a slow internet connection like me, you can set your computer to download it just before you go to bed and that way won't tie up your phone line for hours during the day.)

Finding Reliable Men: Hospitable

This post by Thabiti Anyabwile is great and gave me a lot of my foundation for this post.

Wellness 360, part 4

Making Money--here is where it gets fun!

If you have been following my series on Wellness360, this is probably the post you have been waiting for: how to maximize your money! Wellness360 is NOT a major money-making plan, but there are a few ways that you can use the site more wisely and maximize your earnings.

Watch your email and do the promotions

Every few days, Wellness360 has a portion of the site that they give bonus points for accessing and/or updating. This past week, every time you updated your medical history, you received triple points. This weekend, they are giving double points site-wide and triple points on the fitness profile. Watch your email and be sure to do whatever promotional offer they are currently doing.

Track your eating

This is one of the fastest ways to easily earn points. It make take a little time to learn the site and figure out how to do so, but entering what I eat is my major point-earner right now.

Read some health news.

It is fairly easy to spend a few minutes browsing the health articles. These points add up pretty quickly too.

Refer, refer, refer!

This is the way best way to make money with the site. You earn an additional 25% of the points earned by every person that you refer to Wellness360. In other words, if I refer Susie and she uses the site to make $50 this month, I will get an extra $12.50 in addition to what I earn by my own site usage. Now, if I refer 10 Susies, I would get $125! You can see the exponential possibilities.

Just like every good Avon lady or Mary Kay saleswoman will tell you, the trick is not just to sell make-up, but to recruit other salespeople. I had a friend in Jackson who was very successful “selling make-up” because she was good at getting her referrals to sell well.

So, the best way to maximize your $ on Wellness360 is to refer people and get them to make $.

The next post in this series will answer a few questions about the site, so if you have any please feel free to post them in the comments and I'll get to them next time.

To see all of the posts in this series, click here.

If you're interested, check out Wellness360 and see what you can do.

Wellness 360, part 3

Useful site features

I mentioned in the previous post that one of the ways that you can make Wellness360 work for you is if you find personal value in the services that the site offers. This post will chronicle a few ways that I have used Wellness360 that have benefited me. So far, I have mainly used the site to track what I have been eating. I have explored a few other parts of the site that you might find helpful, however, and I've mentioned those here also.

The Food Journal

To find the food journal, click on “Nutrition” on the top center header of each page. Then, look on the left sidebar. You should see several options which include an option to “Search for Food,” go to the “Daily Food Journal” or go to “My Refrigerator.” If you click on “Search for Food” you can type any food into the search box and add it to a meal in the Journal for that day. Then by clicking on the “Daily Food Journal” you can see the nutritional totals of all of the foods that you have eaten. Each time that you add something to your journal, it also adds it to your “refrigerator,” so that you can find that same food again next time by simply clicking on the refrigerator. This is great since I eat a lot of the same things and can then easily add them to my journal for the next day without searching again.

I have appreciated seeing the nutritional facts for what I am eating. If I were on a diet, this feature would be even more helpful because it even calculates how much you would have to eat to maintain your current weight, lose a pound a week, or lose two pounds a week and shows you all of this beside the totals of what you actually did eat. There is nothing that works like seeing the cold raw data staring at you in the face!

Exercise Log

I haven't worked with this as much as the food journal, but the site does allow you to use a calendar to track daily exercise and you can even set it up to email you reminders to exercise! There is also a portion that will custom design a workout for you and has videos on how to properly do free weight strength training exercises.

News

Under the Resources tab, there is an option that allows you to either read daily health related news (articles, studies released, etc.) or to search for news on a specific topic. Very informative!

Medical Records

One of the aspects of the site that could potentially be very useful is the ability to upload medical records and store them digitally on the site. If Wellness360 gets wide enough exposure, it has the potential to allow health care providers (like EMTs and emergency room physicians, in particular) to access a patients medical records immediately through the internet.

I think this is a great idea, but won't work unless hospitals implement it too.

Assessments

In addition to the Health Risk Assessment that you have to fill out to start earning points on the site, the login screen has links to 9 other areas of the site where you can enter data about yourself. These assessments (which include things like entering your family medical history and your currents medical statistics) allow the site to be further customized for you each time you provide them with more information.

Simply click on each area and follow the easy instructions to enter the correct information.

All of the areas that I have mentioned in this post are aspects of the site that I think people might find useful. And as I said earlier, if you can earn a little bit of money doing things that are beneficial to you....why not? Come back tomorrow for a few tips on how to increase your earnings with the site.

To join Wellness360, click here and start seeing your points add up!

To find the other posts in this series, simply click here.

Lots of stain remover and a well-needed shower

As you might have noticed, I am trying to revive my blog these days. Just outside the office window, the three older boys are digging holes in the yard...making dirt roads and castles and driving their assortment of cars and construction equipment around on them. It is one of those times when I know that they are doing what little boys should--playing in the mud in their backyard! There is also much opportunity to deal with sin and the Gospel ("Give me back my truck!") as I seek to teach them to love one another. Behavior modification techniques might manipulate a child to lessen undesirable behaviors, but they will not show him his need for a Savior.

I am reminded this morning that my job in mothering these boys is not simply to make them well-behaved (although it is my prayer that they would also be so), but that I primarily want to disciple them rightly in their understanding of sin so that they would rest on Jesus as their only hope. And that is a lesson for me too. That as I see MY short temper in dealing with them or see my inability to respond kindly, I would fly to the cross and say, "Here is my hope! Here is my sufficiency! Lord, make me more like Christ!"

What is Wellness360?

I have been using Wellness360 now for almost 3 weeks and am still pleased with the site. I am mostly using it now to track what I am eating and am also taking advantage of whatever promotion the site is offering each week to maximize points awarded. I am posting about it again for any of you that might have joined a few days back when I first mentioned it or who are considering joining. I will be doing a short series over the next few days to give more information about the site.

Still Under Construction

Though I don't know the exact launch date, I do know that the site is still in development. In just the short amount of time that I have been a member, there have been updates and kinks worked out. So, if a feature doesn't work now, be patient and realize that it will probably be fixed soon.

How it works

Advertisers and networking sites are forming new partnerships all over the internet that are changing the way that these sites are set-up. Facebook, by opening up to outside applications and allowing third party access to its site, is one example of how advertisers are capitalizing on the popularity of certain sites.

Another new trend in internet marketing is basically profit sharing. Wellness360 offers advertisers a chance to connect with people who have an interest in health and wellness. Companies pay wellness360 for letting them put up ads on the site. You can see the ads along the side edges of most pages on wellness360, if you don't have pop-up blocking software on your computer. In turn, wellness360 pays a portion of their advertising earnings to the users of the site (a small portion!) and they keep the difference as profit.

The point to money ratio

Each point that you earn is worth 1.5 cents. Most “clicks” on the site are worth 2-4 points, and more complicated actions like filling out your medical history, updating your fitness measurements, tracking your daily exercise, or adding what you eat to your daily food journal are where you really earn points quickly. If you only search for the foods you eat and add them to your journal each day, you'll probably earn $1-2 a day.

Where the money meets the road

If you are looking for a part time job or an easy way to make thousands, this is not it! Unless you spend a lot of time on the site, you won't earn significant money. However, that doesn't mean that they whole thing is pointless. If you can be intentional with the things that you do on the site to earn maximum points in minimum time, it can be a good deal. Or if you find value by using the site (i.e. reading the health news articles that they archive or tracking your exercise or eating) AND can earn a little money in the process, it is a good deal.

The next post will explain a few areas of the site that I have found valuable and the post after that will be about maximizing your point earning in a minimum of time.

*****If you are interested in joining, click here and check it out!

Spring morning

Today is one of those perfect spring days that starts off cool but warms to shorts weather by mid-afternoon. There aren't many days like this in MS. We have a mild winter, but go from cold to too hot very quickly. The boys wandered around outside all morning while I tried to get caught up on my cleaning, laundry, and other household chores. I weeded a little around the strawberries afterwards and was excited to see that they are flowering and little strawberries are already forming. It would be fun to get a decent crop this year as last year's was pretty slim. David and Will had picked a lot of the flowers off of our blueberry bushes (arg!), but I hope that we'll get some blueberries too.
I have just spent a half an hour of naptime reading all through an old friend's blog. Kellie and I went to high school together and she is now the mama of twin girls who are just precious. I really enjoyed her blog and catching up on her life a bit.
Now I better get off of the computer and get some more done while it is quiet around here!

Sunday

We are in the middle of some hard pastoral things here and it is a constant struggle and issue for prayer for us. We are both feeling the weight of it and want to speak truth and love.
The boys are doing well and enjoying the spring, watching the plants come back to life again and playing outside for hours on end. We've started some of our garden and look 3 and 4 times a day to see if seeds have sprouted or plants had grown taller. We've "harvested" a literal handful of broccoli and hope that isn't the totality of our crop. As I have said before, I am not a very good gardener!

Earn a little bit from home

I know that I haven't blogged in forever, but I just had to share a site that I found. Wellness360 hosted a fabulous $5 off of a $15 purchase CVS coupon and so I joined the site just to download the coupon. Then I started clicking around and found out that I was earning $ by entering what I ate in the food journal, reading health news, and logging my exercise (which at this point in my life means yard work , housework, and chasing small boys). Their health risk assessment was quite informative and I have appreciated using the food journal to see the nutritional value (or lack thereof) of what I am eating.

I got an email today saying that just by using the site for this past week, I had earned $15 just for clicking around while sitting at my computer! Yay! That more than pays for our monthly internet service. I plan to make 4 times that much by next month since I'll have a whole month to earn.

The other great part is that I earn 25% more for each person that I refer. So, if you are interested, click through to Wellness360 here and check it out! To get started earning for yourself, just fill out their health risk assessment and then click on “my points” to watch your totals add up!

I have to add that the $ will not be staggering, but every bit helps!

Edited to add: I got the check on Friday!

?

Last weekendThis weekend

My choice

My favorite blogger posted this last week.

I am sure that you already know this, but...

...when your baby has strange symptoms, do NOT get on WebMD or google and start searching to see what the illness could be.
Charlie seems to be okay and I'm pretty sure it is NOT measles or scarlet fever. :)

So I guess that composing the opening lines of blog posts in my head doesn't count....

I haven't posted in about a month due to busyness, too much going on that I cannot explain, and not feeling like writing. The writing bug still hasn't really struck, but I did want to jump on and say hello in response to the kind inquiry in the previous comments. So, "hi!" and here's a short list of things I and/or we have done during the blogging break:

--Christmased in Atlanta with Joe's family
--rang in a New Year in bed asleep (that's the second year in a row that we've slept through New Year's Eve)
--spent just under $500! on 2 new car seats. (yes, being in 2 wrecks makes Britax look pretty appealing)
--dieted and lost the rest of my baby weight--yay!
--passed the stomach flu around the entire family (with Will enjoying two bouts even!)
--lost even more weight from said stomach flu (so yes, Mama, I know I'm now too skinny) :)
--started teaching a monthly circle on Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney
--flew with Charlie to Va Beach for the weekend to go to Joe's sister's baby shower
--watched Seasons 1-3 of The Office; yes, it is as funny as everyone says, but no one told me that it is also pretty raunchy
--started being a bit more intentional in what I do with the boys on a daily basis. Is that nonspecific enough for you? :) When you're a mama of 4 five and under, you hesitate to use words like "schedule" or "plan".....let's just say that we have a general routine with much room for flexibility, error, sin, mess, etc. The routine is a guide and not a law and therefore any deviation from routine should be met with peace and patience. Ha, ha...ask me how I'm doing on that one sometime.

CVS, take 2

There are hundreds of bloggers out there to tell you about the fabulous deals to be found at CVS. It can be intimidating. Even my forays into posting about CVS have been less than helpful. I am going to try again tonight while I am here waiting for my hubby to come home from a late meeting.
Buy Energizer batteries (AA/AAA 8 pk, C/D 4 pk, 9V 2 pk) on sale for $5.29.
Buy 2 Trident 8-count mulit-pak gums for around $2.29 each.
Buy 1 travel size Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo for $.99.
Buy any 1 Tresemme shampoo, conditioner, or hair product on sale for 3.33 each.

Use your Extra Care Card.
Use this $2 of any $10 CVS purchase.
Use this $5 off Energizer coupon.
Use this B1G1 free Trident coupon.
Use this $2 J&J coupon.
Use this $2 Tresemme coupon.

Pay around $1 for it all!

Or just do the battery deal $ .29 for a pack of batteries? That is a deal any day!

O Holy Night

by Placid Cappeau

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!


This is probably my favorite Christmas song, purely for the majesty and drama of the music coupled with a clear and stated lyric. When sung by a talented soprano, it is breathtaking. See all 3 verses here.

How many shopping days left?

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Joe and I finally ordered the last few things online last night. Now we wait at the mercy of the USPS.

My littlest man

What a sweet baby Charlie is. I am so thankful for him!

Life

Well I haven't posted in a while, which means that real life is happening. Hopefully I'll have a chance to post an update soon.

In the meantime, here is a picture of all of us from getting our Christmas tree last weekend.

(Edited to add: The picture! Oops, here it is!!)

True Worship

Yesterday at church was one of those mornings where I shuttled from one thing to the next without feeling like I did anything well. I missed Sunday school because I was nursing Charlie and then it was too late to join the class without majorly interrupting. Joe was assisting in the worship service and so that means he is up front until just before the sermon; he comes and sits with us during the sermon. Will and Joseph are usually quite squirmy and need lots of redirection some mornings during church. Yesterday was one of those. About 5 minutes into the sermon, Charlie was too fitful to be in the service (and I thought that he might be getting sick and so he couldn't go in the nursery) and so I slipped out to take care of him.

As I was walking out to the car after church, I started to feel sorry for myself. I hadn't worshiped. I had been distracted and doing something for my children all morning rather than worshiping. I missed Sunday School. I had a few quick, surface conversations with other believers, but not much substantive. All I wanted to do was to be able to worship God without interruptions. Is that too much to ask? Why am I always so busy with my children? Why don't they behave/sit quietly/not need me so much so that I can at least participate in church? Why can't I do what I want to do?

As I walked out to the car thinking about this, I realized something vital.

This is my worship.

Being a mama to these boys that the Lord has given me. Obediently submitting to His call on my life. Focusing on their discipline instead of my agenda. Caring for a baby. Reacting with peace when plans don't go my way.

To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22b

There is nothing magic about being about to sit through a sermon quietly, or going to Sunday School, or talking with other Christians that makes going to church be true worship. The Lord God is real and active, and by obeying Him in doing the work that He has given me to do in being a wife and mama, I am worshiping Him with my life.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. John 4:23

Crystal wrote a post along these same lines that talks about how she has realized that her ministry right now is her family. It was right on target. And especially pertinent to a pastor's wife. It is too easy to neglect the simple and sometimes mundane in favor of "ministry." The good can trump the best.

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

by Henry F. Lyte

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah
Praise the High Eternal One!

I have loved looking at the rich texts of all of the verses in the hymns that I post each week. However, in order to focus on a more manageable chunk, I am going to post fewer verses each time. I'll always include the link to the whole hymn too though. See the rest here.

CVS Black Friday deals

Meg and I ran to CVS early yesterday morning to get these great deals. Crystal's write-up of some of them is here. There are lots of things that are free after ECBs and you can stack many with printable online coupons. The ads that list the free things were in the newspapers, but you can see them here too.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Hollands!

Happy Thanksgiving! Now let's get crafty!

Go and see what a beautiful centerpiece Meredith made with her kids for Thanksgiving. Here is the Holland version. Can you tell that I am not at all a craft person? Still, I was pretty proud of myself since I am not creative. Thankfully, Meredith is and included step by step instructions and picture. At least I can follow directions....

Rainy Sunday

Today Joe preached and served communion at the homecoming service of a small church about an hour from here. We enjoyed the potluck lunch after the service and the gracious hospitality of the people there. It was a very Southern experience all around. Here are a few verses of an excellent communion hymn that focuses on the believer's awe in response to Christ's sacrifice (see the whole song here).

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
by Ber­nard of Clair­vaux

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

Do you CVS?

I have been learning how to "CVS" (yes, the drugstore and yes, it can be used as a verb apparently) for the past few months. I started by buying the items each month that earned equal money back in Extra Bucks and therefore are basically free as long as you remember to pay with the Extra Bucks the next time you go to CVS. Extra Bucks print out on the bottom of your receipt and can be used like cash at CVS stores. Then, I starting finding manufacturer coupons for the items that earned Extra Bucks, meaning that now I was getting paid to buy things. Next, I realized that I should break my transaction into several smaller transactions to be able to use a CVS store coupon with each transaction and to use the Extra Bucks from one transaction to pay for the next transaction. Now, I am learning to add more store coupons and rebates, as well as trying to minimize my cash expenditures so that I am only paying with Extra Bucks.

I just have to show what I got today.
The total rang up to just under $100. After all of my coupons, I paid $23 dollars in Extra Bucks and just 12 cents in cash! And I earned $10 in Extra Bucks for next time. The net loss in Extra Bucks is for the milk because everything else that I bought earned as many Extra Bucks as it cost.

Right now, this is taking me a ridiculous amount of time to read the ad and find the right coupons, which must be factored into the equation when considering if it is all worth it. However, I am getting faster and faster and have already cut down on my preparation time. For example, one huge lesson was learning that I don't have to clip every coupon in the paper. I can just look in the ad online and then clip only the coupons for the things that I am going to buy for an Extra Buck deal that week.

If you are interested in learning how to CVS to cut down on your grocery and household items budget, I highly suggest that you start with MoneySaving Mom. Crystal has a CVS primer that explains the basics and she posts some of the best deals each week. Hot coupon world posts the CVS ad and the coupons available each week (here is the link to 11/18-11/24) as does SlickDeals (here is 11/18-11/24). Both include links to online coupons that you can easily print. The post at SlickDeals is a wiki of each week's ads and so readers edit it to add whatever coupons they find. Both sites also have extensive discussion forums on CVS deals where it is possible to waste lots of time. Here is HCW's and here is the CVS discussion on SlickDeals. I'm learning to stay away! Both also have lots of coupons if you have time to click around.

Anyway, in another month or so, I hope to understand all of this well enough to use a few extra minutes here and there to dramatically cut back on our grocery bill. And, I am planning on using some of my great CVS finds in gift baskets for Christmas presents to cut back on our Christmas spending.

Eating an elephant

I just sent in an extra payment towards our mortgage and it feels so good! Our major financial goal right now is to pay off this house and we are on track to do so in 2-3 years. I wrote a while back that we were trying to sell this house to move into town into something cheaper. After sitting on the market for 4 months with very little interest, we decided to take it off of the market last week. We probably will list it again in the spring. In the meantime, the house not selling has caused us to recommit to paying down the mortgage as fast as we can. It was such a nice feeling to put that check in the mailbox! I can't wait until we are debt free (and yes, I'm planning on calling Dave when we do it)!

Weekend news

Joe is in Belize this weekend on a quick mission trip with one of the elders from our church. The boys and I have been doing well and having fun. I think since I am the only one here, I have given myself permission to be the "fun" parent some too instead of leaving that to Joe while I usually am the "get things done" parent.

Church with all 4 to myself tomorrow should be an adventure.

Guns and good wives

Joe read from Proverbs today about the foolish or wayward woman. He told the boys that it would be their job to choose a good wife and that they should watch out for bad women.

Will's response?

"But, we will buy guns and shoot the bad women!"

I'm thinking that Joe might need to do our morning devotions on the 6th commandment tomorrow.

My men

I decided to use this morning to try to take a picture of all 4 of my boys. I re-dressed everyone in clean clothes (it was only 9:00, but they were already dirty from playing outside and I wanted matching outfits) and washed 4 little faces. I wet down and brushed everyone's hair (although Will's still sticks up no matter what I do). I brought the tape player into the living room and turned on a happy Sesame Street tape (a fun gift from a friend who is decluttering and gives us all of her old homeschooling and baby/young child type things). I grabbed a rattle to keep Charlie's attention and later even brought in a bag of chocolate chips for a treat for smiling.

"Sit still."
"Smile!"
"Hands in your laps."
"David, take your finger out of your nose."
"Look at me."
"Sit still!"
"Say cheese."
"David, take your finger out of your nose!"

....It was a fun morning....Here are some of the outtakes. If you know me in real life, you'll just have to wait to see if I get my act together enough to send out Christmas cards to see the best shot.

Joe and I decided that this one captures our boys' personalities amazingly. Joseph, our firstborn, serious, methodical, helpful, and down to business. William, number 2, a fun-loving goofball with a lot of silliness and spunk. David, our third, is pictured here kind of fussy--which he is. But not to only capture a negative trait (even though it is his most defining characteristic right now), he is also a sweet, tender-hearted, tag-a-long to his big brothers, especially Joseph. When they play outside, I can usually find him following about 10 steps behind Joseph. And Charlie, our sweet baby, such a sweet disposition. We'll see how he grows and develops.

Sunday Hymn

Jesus, I Come by William T. Sleeper

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

All of us!

Our church had a Fall Festival as part of our annual Missions Conference. Here is a picture of all 6 of us (a rare thing to get us in one shot) on the hayride taken by my friend Christi.

Sunday Hymn

How Sweet and Awesome is the Place
By Isaac Watts

How sweet and awesome is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
“Lord, why was I a guest?

“Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there’s room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?”

’Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice, and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

Wife, Mama, and What?

I have been writing at this blog address for over a year now and never have posted on it's unusual name. Some of you may have already understood the allusion, but others of you have probably wondered at some point or another. Here is the story....

When logging in to Blogger for the first time, one is immediately prompted to provide a name for the fledging blog to be created. It is a daunting task to name something that then is put out into the world for anyone to see. I knew that my blog would be only about me. After all, personal blogs are by definition the epitome self-centeredness in many ways. It would be what I thought about, what happened to me, and my observations about the world. However, I wanted to portray in my blog what I value about myself and focus on my main callings in life. Thus, "Wife" and "Mama." I started writing here just after we moved to Kosciusko, and thus "Country Mouse."

Richard Scarry wrote a little story called "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse." It is about a little country mouse named Annie who is visited by her city mouse friend, Melissa, and awed by Melissa's descriptions of rich city life, decides to return to the city with Melissa. After being chased by a cat and a dog in Melissa's grand house, Annie runs all the way home and settles back into her cozy life with a new thankfulness for her humble home. The story ends with these words, spoken by Annie, "I would rather live a simple life in peace, than dine on riches and live in fear."

And so it was with me last year when we moved to Kosciusko. The blog name asks the question that I was asking myself, "Am I really a 'country mouse?' Do I really want to be here?"In many ways, this simple life can pale in comparison to the comforts and opportunities that come with living in a larger city. The draw to be a "city mouse" is strong. And the draw to choose a place based on what I want and what I like is strong.

Yet, I know though that God went before us and clearly called us here, to this place, to this small Mississippi community. I too have learned Annie's lesson. I am thankful for a chance to live "a simple life in peace."

Rainy Thursday

Today was Joe's day off and it was a treat to have a little extra time with him. Our church's annual Missions Conference starts tomorrow and so the next few days are filled with extra activities. Our little MS church proudly supports many missionaries and has a legacy of passion for missions that has been passed down from previous generations. It should be good to hear of God's work in advancing His kingdom around the world.

Back to Budgeting

When Joe was in seminary in Charlotte and I was home with Joseph, we lived on his part-time internship salary and our savings. We were so young and lived very simply. God provided abundantly for us during that time (as He still does today), but I have many stories specifically of His provisions for us financially then.

I also was very careful with our money and have realized recently that I have grown sloppy about it. Inspired by the women at Frugal Hacks and Money Saving Mom, I have reinstated a tighter grocery budget and am looking forward to the challenge of keeping to it. I am learning how to do the CVS system and am cutting back on our weekly Wal-mart grocery run.

Towards that end, I have also become an affiliate of Crystal's Supermarket Savings 101 e-course. Crystal runs Biblical Womanhood, which is a site that exists "to promote femininity and build up women as they embrace their Biblical callings." It is a great site to check out as it is full of thought-provoking articles on being a Godly wife, on graceful parenting, on cheerful frugality, and on current news. Crystal's posts on her blog often provoke intense debate from a spectrum of viewpoints.

Crystal is a savvy business woman who has written many e-books that she sells on the site in addition to traditional hard copy books on family, womanhood, modesty, marriage, etc. Her Supermarket Savings 101 course started with an e-book that she wrote about feeding her family on $35 a week that she then expanded into an online course. The e-course is only $8.97 for the next 48 hours and also includes 6 other ebooks.

Click here to learn more about the course and buy it. And as a bonus, I'll get a little money back for being an affiliate!

Sunday Hymn

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand(x2)

One more

For all of you mamas of little ones out there, this one hit home to me....

Notables

I've had these links bookmarked for a few weeks now and just want to go ahead and post about them. This is just a random list of articles that have caught my attention and so it is a really hodge-podge list.

• Just in case you needed another reason to avoid the public schools in Massachusetts.
• Tracing a new movement in evangelicalism, this article chronicles a growing number of conservative Christians who are embracing environmentalism, organic foods, and anti-consumerism.
• As I am on an ongoing mission to conquer the toys that are trying to overtake our home, this article was right on target.
• I've written here before about how much I loved my experience giving birth at home with my midwife and here is an article that spells out why.
• And here is a link to my midwife's site!
  
• Lastly, my aunt has a store at Ruby Lane where she sells beautiful handmade jewelry. Check out her store here.

Kind and wise

Another great post by Sara on taming our tongues. This one is so applicable to me--very convicting!

A family loves and mourns

From John Piper, who is always worth reading:

What I Said at My Granddaughter’s Funeral

A hard truth

It all started easily enough. I was reading through my usual blogs and checked in with Jess at Making Home. I've only just recently started reading Jess's blog, but have found her posts to be informative, well-written, and thorough (I am actually amazed that she finds time to write so much so well!). From time to time, Jess writes a round-up of articles of note that she has read recently. And then under the category for "Food For Thought" , I read:

"Vaccines and their ingredients: You may be surprised (as I was!) to learn that aborted human fetal tissue is an ingredient in many mainstream vaccines. Take a look and make an informed choice about these issues from now on."

I have read anti-vaccine information before. It seems that many of the natural birth, home birth, whole foods, homeschooling, etc. crowd are also anti-vaccine, and I was interested by the idea although I had not done much research. Then, this past week, Jenny McCarthy spoke about the MMR vaccine and her ideas about it causing her son's autism. I was curious, did some research on MMR and autism, and told Joe yesterday that I wanted to consider not giving it to Charlie. But nothing prepared me for the information I read today.

I thought that surely this idea that vaccines were made from aborted babies must just be the latest right-wing rumor making its way around the internet. So, I clicked her link and was brought to an anti-vaccine website that contained a table showing the ingredients in different vaccines. I chose one that I recognized and think that my boys have gotten: Varivax. The chart says it contains (among other things) "human diploid cells from aborted fetal tissue." What!?

Still not convinced and since there are so many rumors going around out there, I went to the manufacturer's website and found the prescribing information for Varivax. The first paragraph that describes how the vaccine is made says:

"The virus was initially obtained from a child with natural varicella, then introduced into human embryonic lung cell cultures, adapted to and propagated in embryonic guinea pig cell cultures and finally propagated in human diploid cell cultures (WI-38). Further passage of the virus for varicella vaccine was performed at Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) in human diploid cell cultures (MRC-5) that were free of adventitious agents."

I still didn't believe what I was reading and called Merck (880-672-6372) to hear it directly from them. After only a minute or two punching the right numbers on my phone to get to a service representative, Stacey answered. I described going online and finding the prescribing information, and then I asked my question.
"Where did you get the human embryonic lung cells?"
"I will be happy to find that answer for you, Mrs. Holland. Can you hold, please?"
Stacey placed me on hold and when she picked back up, it was obvious that she was reading a scripted answer.
"Thank you for holding, Mrs. Holland. The cells cultured for this and other vaccines were approved by the FDA for use in vaccine development from an aborted fetus from 30 years ago...."
I really didn't hear much after she said "aborted fetus." Nothing else that she said mattered. I do remember her emphasizing the "30 years ago" part, as if profiting from a death that took place a long time ago made it less heinous. I ended the call politely and went and found Joe and told him what I had learned with tears in my eyes.

I have spent the remainder of my free moments of time (stolen in between the normal work of day to day life) pulling up article after article. Apparently, many vaccines were developed using embryonic stem cell lines derived from aborted babies. They actually know in the case of some of the stem lines, what baby it came from (a boy or girl and it's gestational age) and the situation around the abortion! I had no idea! I am still just in shock and feel so deceived. I hate the horror that is abortion and have wept before at the magnitude of its evil. But, I never before today realized that I have ever done anything to support it.

Read it!

I read a great post a few days ago. I am late in referencing it since made the rounds in the blogosphere while we were on vacation, but nevertheless I had to post it here too:

The Invisible Woman by Nicole Johnson from Fresh Brewed Life
http://www.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=10240

(HT to Barbara at Mommy Life)

Wreck update

Joe rode to Jackson with a friend today and got a rental minivan. So now the boys and I will be able to get out of the house! The adjuster from AllState looked at our minivan too and estimated the damage at $2900. Now, we'll take it to the body shop and they can make their adjustments to AllState's estimate and start working on the van. It is borderline on whether it will be declared "totaled" or not...we'll see.

Joe is still pretty sore and I've kept Will and David on ibuprofen until last night. Will is more bothered by the 60 or so chigger or tick bites on his ankles than he is from the wreck. David can't say, of course, but seems to be fine.

Just another manic Monday

I know that it is going to be a long day when I am giving the boys a bath already at 10 AM. Monday was one of those days. With energy to burn after being cooped up in the car for 2 days, the boys ran and ran Monday morning and were coated in mud. I popped them in the shower (they were actually too muddy for a bath to have done any good) and got them out and dressed. I ran to answer the phone and it was a realtor wanting to show the house...in an hour!

I said yes and scrambled to get ready. Thankfully, Charlie had fallen asleep in the swing and I plopped Will and David down in front of a movie. Joseph and I worked our way through each room straightening and cleaning. He was such a good little helper and had a great attitude the whole time! I grabbed a loaf of bread, block of cheese, and some waters and put the boys into the Corolla (the van is still out of commission from the wreck). The three bigger guys where in the back and I sat Charlie's carrier on the front passenger seat. We drove just barely down the street since Joseph and Charlie weren't buckled in and waited. They ended up looking at the house for almost an hour. Later, the realtor said that the wife really liked the house, but that the husband wanted more land.

I was grateful that I had left the house presentable before we left on vacation and that we had put most things away on Sunday when we got home. I was also grateful for God's peace as I "stashed and dashed" cleaning up. He knew each part of my day that Monday and had a plan and a purpose for the busyness. I kept on reminding myself of his sovereignty as I cleaned and repeated Isaiah 26:3 ("You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.") to myself.

On the road again

I'm checking in tonight from the Courtyard Marriott in Chattanooga where we are staying on the way home. What a week! Joe was rear-ended while driving the van with David, Will, my dad, and my brother-in-law in the car with him. It has added drama to an already intense week. And tonight, Joe realized that he left his prescription muscle relaxant for the whiplash in Lynchburg.

We have talked a lot (okay, not a lot because it has been busy, but whenever we could) about how God has a plan for this too. We are wanting to learn to be content in all circumstances!

Tuesday morning

It is 74 degrees here this morning and my boys are excited because they think, "Fall is here!" They insisted that they were freezing and needed to wear their jackets. I wonder what they are going to think when we go to Virginia this weekend and it is in the 50s?

Update

I made meatballs for the first time today using a recipe from Tammy's Recipes. I doubled the recipe and froze 3 meals worth, while we enjoyed spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight too. I also made Tammy's Italian Cheese bread, which reminded Joe and I of something we used to order out from Gumby's in Charlottesville.
Charlie has finally turned a corner (and it is not a corner leading to a dead-end as Joe predicted) and is happy! He is starting to sleep more and doesn't cry all of the time. Hallelujah!
We leave Friday for Virginia and can't wait to see everyone!

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

by Louisa Stead

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”

Refrain

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Refrain

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Refrain

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Refrain