Only the Title Page

Another cooking blog to check out! MMM!

2011-10-26T06:38:00.001-04:00

http://thekitchencookie.blogspot.com

The twins are 3 years old!

2011-10-14T06:29:00.001-04:00

This is a typical "brotherly love" pose: Evan pushing Ethan away, Anson trying to get both of them to do something (here to be excited about their birthday cakes!

The Way to Blessing

2011-10-04T14:47:00.002-04:00

A book I am re-reading in my devotional time (One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp) has a story I feel is worth sharing.

"A long time ago, a preacher named James H. McConkey asked a friend of his, a doctor, 'What is the exact significance of God's touching Jacob upon the sinew of the thigh?'"
"And the doctor told him, 'The sinew of the thigh is the strongest in the human body. A horse couldn't even tear it apart.'"
These are the words I have never forgotten, what preacher McConkey said: "Ah, I see. The Lord has to break us down at the strongest part of our self-life before He can have His own way of blessing with us."

A Riveting Book

2011-10-04T14:33:00.002-04:00

This book (Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan) is so riveting that I finished it (all 200 plus pages) in fewer than twenty-four hours. Michael Leehan describes his downward descent into following Satan and the misery he existed in throughout the twenty year period of serving Satan. Michael's struggle with the darkness of Satan's mind control paints a vivid picture of the very real spiritual battle that is ongoing in our world today. Ascent from Darkness is a must-read for anyone involved in Christian ministry today.

Another book review for Booksneeze.com

2011-09-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

This review is about the book: God's Love Letters to You: A 40-Day Devotional Experience (Paperback)

This book is an excellent idea and is well-written. It summarizes each book of the Bible as far as its purpose, intent and what it says to us, individually. However, I feel it would be more enlightening and helpful if Dr. Crabb would expand each summary to more than just a paragraph or two.

An Interesting Book

2011-06-15T11:20:00.001-04:00

Money Secrets of the Amish is an easy read, and is full of helpful examples and tips. The author does a good job of making thriftiness something fun and easy to do. Her examples from real life people (not all of whom are Amish)are easy to follow and easy to implement. She covers everything from saving money to resourcefulness with the money and possessions one already owns. She gives good examples of what NOT to do with money (ie. waste it on credit card fees, "sales" at favorite retailers) in addition to her own process of the whys and hows of managing money.

This book is not a stuffy textbook on Economics, but instead is a witty, practical book covering money management in real life America, where most of us have too much stuff and not enough time or money to handle the afore mentioned "stuff".

(This is a review I did for Booksneeze.com).

Our fun trio

2011-05-26T17:03:00.000-04:00

Happy 6th Birthday, Anson!

2010-12-18T17:09:00.000-05:00

A Time for Everything

2010-11-06T15:56:00.002-04:00

"To everything there is a season," says Ecclesiates 3:1 (KJV). "If I get the forty additional years statisticians say are coming to me," writes author Anna Quindlen, "I could fit in at least one, maybe two new lifetimes. Sad that only one of those lifetimes can include being the mother of young children." I, personally, am very thankful to be able to spend most of my time (minus a few shifts here and there each month as a Physician Assistant) as the mother of my young children!

Our world

2010-10-13T19:28:00.000-04:00

Can you believe it? They're 2!!!!

2010-10-03T15:16:00.000-04:00

The flowers (and boys) in my flowergarden!

2010-08-04T14:37:00.000-04:00

My favorite boys

2010-07-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

A moment (literally) of tranquility (that's all you get at this age!)

2010-07-04T16:42:00.000-04:00

Growing and growing!!

2010-06-16T20:57:00.000-04:00

Representations of their personalities

2010-05-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

Our sweet boys

2010-04-28T15:46:00.000-04:00

Happy New Year from our Family!

2009-12-29T18:16:00.000-05:00

Papa's buck

2009-11-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Lance's trophy

2009-11-09T08:29:00.000-05:00

Happy 1st Birthday (Sept 18)!

2009-09-24T05:56:00.000-04:00

Two Peas (oranges?) in a pod!

2009-08-08T16:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, Grammy & Hops! (only a month late)

2009-07-26T19:07:00.000-04:00

A Spring photo

2009-05-27T10:23:00.001-04:00

Blowing bubbles

2009-05-27T10:10:00.000-04:00

Just in time for Mother's Day....

2009-04-30T06:13:00.000-04:00

Our trio of boys!

2009-04-04T13:50:00.000-04:00

Growing boys!

2009-03-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

Two unique individuals!!

2009-02-07T22:35:00.000-05:00

Our priceless treasures!

2009-01-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

Mr. "Sweet smile in his eyes" Ethan

2009-01-07T13:43:00.000-05:00

Mr. "smile over his whole body" Evan!

2009-01-07T13:23:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-20T19:00:00.000-05:00

A fun birthday project for the train boy!

2008-12-16T09:10:00.000-05:00

Our beautiful boys!

2008-12-12T06:36:00.000-05:00

Two little angels

2008-12-04T06:53:00.000-05:00

What Mommy & Big Brother Anson did today!

2008-11-21T13:59:00.000-05:00

A photo for Sonja and Kimberly

2008-11-21T13:54:00.000-05:00

Something was funny!

2008-11-17T14:17:00.000-05:00

Thankful

2008-11-16T19:25:00.003-05:00

At this Thanksgiving season, I have MUCH for which to be thankful, not the least of which is my 3 healthy children. There are moments when I feel very "shorthanded"--when all 3 of them need me at once! Anyway, I am very thankful for the grace of an all-sufficient God in my life. Where I am inadequate, He is fully adequate. Where I come short, He never fails!

I recently read a devotional that meant so much to me, especially given the risks of my pregnancy with Evan and Ethan. It is from STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY by Joseph Stowell.
"How many times have we said, "Well, it turned out all right after all"? If, in the normal course of life, things that seem disappointing, difficult, and defeating can be transformed into that which is good and significant, how much surer is this process in the hand of a wise and powerful God, who always guarantees the outcome? It is a great comfort to know that He only permits what He intends to turn to His glory and our good."

2 "big" boys (7lb 4oz & 6lb 5oz)

2008-11-02T00:34:00.000-04:00

Can you tell them apart?

2008-10-24T13:34:00.000-04:00

Getting bigger!

2008-10-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

A mark of God's faithfulness

2008-10-15T19:40:00.000-04:00

I hold on my lap a tiny miracle; another is sleeping nearby. God is so good! He kept His hand on my little ones when there was nothing that I or anyone else could do were something to go wrong in utero. Eugene Peterson writes about making a map of God's faithfulness, and the safe arrival and complete health of Evan and Ethan is truly a mark God's faithfulness in my life.

Here's the quote from Eugene Peterson:
"Christian discipleship is a process of paying more and more attention to God's righteousness and less and less attention to our own; finding the meaning of our lives not by probing our moods and motives and morals but by believing in God's will and purposes; making a map of the faithfulness of God, not charting the rise and fall of our enthusiasms."

Our three sweet little "pumpkins"!

2008-10-12T12:05:00.000-04:00

A family of five!

2008-10-05T20:52:00.000-04:00

All dressed to go home!

2008-10-05T20:49:00.000-04:00

Home!

2008-10-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

The twins came home yesterday afternoon, so we're all settling in to a (sort of) routine. Anson has been so excited about having them home. Last night he said "Mama, I am full of happiness because you brought the babies home!" He loves holding them and wants them to be awake all the time while he "reads" to them, shows them his toys, etc. I'll post some homecoming pics soon. Thanks so much to everyone who prayed for us throughout all the past months and weeks of my pregnancy & Evan and Ethan's NICU stay!

Two Peas in a Pod

2008-09-30T06:33:00.000-04:00

Growing

2008-09-26T06:27:00.000-04:00

The boys are doing well. Their feedings have been increased to the maximum amount for their weights and they are keeping that down. Most of these are via NG tube, but they are just starting to get the hang of bottle feeding. They get pretty tired with either bottle feeding or nursing, so we have to work on that. Ethan is catching up to Evan in weight; he is 4 lbs, 1 oz and Evan is now 4 lbs, 9 oz.

Anson is adjusting to all of this, too. He has only seen the boys once, so I don't know if it seems real to him. I think he's just glad his mommy has a lap again!

Looking more alike! (Ethan on Left, Evan on Right)

2008-09-25T21:41:00.000-04:00

The "easy-going" one--Ethan

2008-09-23T20:44:00.000-04:00

The "spunky" one--Evan

2008-09-23T20:41:00.000-04:00

Ethan James on left (with hat), Evan Robert on right

2008-09-22T09:14:00.000-04:00

Update on Evan and Ethan

2008-09-22T09:05:00.000-04:00

The boys are doing very well. I came home on Saturday afternoon, so we're going down to visit them every day. They are both off all oxygen, breathing on their own. They are working on tolerating feeds now; they are getting them via NG (nasogastric) tube right now because they are not mature enough to coordinate the suck/swallow/breathe that is necessary for bottle/breast feeding. Everything else seems to be fine!

Evan was born first and had a double nuchal cord (cord was wrapped around his neck twice) and had 3 knots in his cord. Ethan was deeper in my pelvis and was more difficult to get out, so he was a little gray and "floppy" at first, but perked up quickly. The Lord definitely had His hand on them both.

We are very grateful for all your prayers. The boys just need to be "feeders and growers" for a little while before they can come home. Pray they don't have any setbacks so they can come home as soon as possible!

2008-09-19T07:49:00.000-04:00

Evan was 4 lbs, 11 oz and Ethan was 3 lbs, 13.6 oz. Everyone is fine, and we praise God for His mercies.

2008-09-18T19:58:00.000-04:00

2008-09-18T19:55:00.000-04:00

Another update

2008-09-07T20:30:00.000-04:00

Just thought you readers might want to know....my scheduled C-section date is Sept. 18, assuming all continues to go well until then. Keep us in your prayers!

Still his favorite pastime!!

2008-08-23T14:32:00.000-04:00

The Refiner's Fire

2008-08-23T14:05:00.000-04:00

I came across a story today that really encouraged me. I have been thinking lately about our need of placing absolute trust in God, and how that doing so gives us complete peace and freedom. This story illustrates both God's infinite wisdom and His tender care for us as individuals. The following is from another blog, so this is not original to me:

Years ago, a group of women met together to read the Bible. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Intrigued by this expression, they debated its meaning until one of them proposed to visit a silversmith and report back to her friends what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and found an old silversmith. Without telling him the objective of her errand, she begged to know the process of refining silver. He then proceeded to describe the process to her. "But Sir," she said, "Do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh yes, Madam," replied the silversmith, "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; the very hairs of their heads are numbered.

As the woman was about to leave, she thought to ask one more question of the silversmith: "How do you know when the refining process is complete?"

He then replied, "I only know when the process of purifying is complete by seeing my image reflected in the silver."

There is purpose for what we experience. We are known in such personal and intimate ways by a loving Father, who tenderly watches over us as we go through our refiner's fire. I find great comfort in knowing that He knows me and is with me every step of the way.

Two "pufferbellies"! :-)

2008-08-05T13:29:00.000-04:00

Cherilyn, Anson and Kristin

2008-07-21T14:59:00.000-04:00

Mommy and Anson

2008-07-21T14:56:00.000-04:00

Our big boy!

2008-07-21T14:53:00.000-04:00

An update

2008-07-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

I am now 25 weeks along, measuring 30 1/2 weeks belly-wise (fundal height), according to my doctor today. I do feel (and am starting to look) like I am 7 or 8 months pregnant, as opposed to just over 6!! I have gained about 25 lb., but that's right where I'm supposed to be with twins, so I guess I'll have to adjust to feeling like a small elephant for the next 7 or so weeks. :-) Everything else looks good at present. I'll have another ultrasound in 2 weeks to measure the boys' size/weights and make sure they are concordant.

The Lord's constant reassurance that all is in His hands is truly the best thing to have these days!! There is always something about which one could be anxious, but He is still God and is still in control and cares enough to manage the smallest details in my life!!

We spent a few days in the Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown area with Lance's family the first week of July, so that's where the above photos of Anson and his cousins were taken. Enjoy!!

21 weeks

2008-06-23T16:02:00.000-04:00

Twenty-one weeks

2008-06-23T15:54:00.000-04:00

For those of you who have been wanting to see a photo of how I currently look (I FEEL like a beached whale), above is a shot of me from yesterday. We found out at our last ultrasound that the twins are boys, much to Anson's delight! (Good thing I kept the receipt for those pink curtains!) Anyway, all is going well; please do continue to keep us all in your prayers!

A beautiful evening

2008-06-12T20:49:00.000-04:00

Preparing to help with two babies?

2008-05-22T13:32:00.000-04:00

My daffodils are (finally) blooming!

2008-04-29T16:02:00.000-04:00

Surprise--it's twins! Here's baby A...

2008-04-05T10:39:00.000-04:00

...And here's Baby B!

2008-04-05T10:37:00.000-04:00

In perpetual motion!

2008-04-02T14:08:00.000-04:00

Grammy, "Hops" and a big brother!

2008-03-27T14:50:00.000-04:00

An Easter Craft

2008-03-18T22:01:00.000-04:00

An Easter Craft

2008-03-18T21:46:00.000-04:00

Above is a little craft I helped Anson make for Palm Sunday/Easter. It consists of a construction paper cross glued to a popsicle stick and some silk flowers/greenery stuck into a base of Homemade play dough, which was then allowed to harden. He had a great time making it. I didn't realize how much of a great time until yesterday after supper. Lance and I were in the kitchen and Anson was upstairs being rather quiet. I came up later to find little snips of construction paper everywhere (he loves his safety scissors), more silk flowers strewn everywhere, and his original craft sitting down for him to model as he tried to create his own!!! Kids are such fun!

Bradley Spitler

2008-03-06T15:37:00.001-05:00

Lance's cousin, Bradley, went home to be with the Lord yesterday morning. Please pray for the family. Bradley left a wife and three young boys, from 12 down to 4.

Robert Booth has a post with a link to his obituary. Scroll down to the links at the bottom of my page.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2008-03-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2008-03-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

I'm only a week late!!! It was last Thursday (2/28). Anyway, we had a little family get together and all enjoyed a meal and a home-made ice cream cake! Anson gets excited about either cake OR ice cream, but especially cake!!

A couple weeks ago, we were looking through a picture book and there was a picture of a cake in there with some candy flowers on it and he asked me if I would make him one. So I did while he was napping, and you should have seen how excited he was when he got up and saw it!! Doesn't take much to make little ones happy!!

Anson and his "snow family"

2008-02-25T14:35:00.000-05:00

Old friends

2008-02-25T14:15:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know, I'm a little behind on my blogging!! Fortunately, there are no rules to this (really)!!!

I've been thinking about some of my friendships and how it seems that some of my oldest friends are the most special to me!! You know who you are, "old" friends!! I have a book that my dear friend Shaun bought me a long time ago called simply "Girlfriends". It has some really neat things in it, and I'll share one here. It's part of a chapter titled, "Savoring Friendship".

"While meeting a new friend can be exhilarating, the most rewarding aspect of friendship is that day-to-day (or decade-to-decade) presence, whether it be immediate or distant. As friendships deepen and mature, we can take comfort that our girlfriends appreciate our support and are not offended by our bad moods or scared by our tears. We can settle into the friendship as into old slippers--remembering, of course, not to take even old slippers for granted."

Love is like the wild rose-briar;
Friendship like the holly-tree.
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,
But which will bloom most constantly? ---Emily Bronte (1846)

I appreciate each one of you!!!

Mommy and "the boys"!

2008-02-07T15:23:00.000-05:00

2008-02-07T15:04:00.000-05:00

I'm reading the book Rumours by Philip Yancey. He talks about how the natural and supernatural are more closely linked than we often realize. So, I've been thinking along those lines again, especially since Lance's cousin Bradley is in the late stages of terminal cancer. Without a miracle, his time here is short. Perhaps God's choice of healing will be eternal healing. I am so thankful that the Great I Am is exactly what we need in times such as this!

Lord, I knew a time like this would someday come my way--
When in disbelief I'd watch my whole life change.
I thought I'd have the words to tell you how I feel,
But the only thing my heart is telling me to say, is

Lord, stay close to me--As I journey through the darkness of this great unknown!
Lord, stay close to me--Though I've placed my faith in You I feel so all alone.
My heart trembles like a child as I walk each scary mile
And the only prayer my lips can find to speak is "Lord, stay close to me."

I guess that I could ask you for some miracle,
To even take away this trial that I face.
But, Lord, I know that You alone know what I need
So, will You hold me tight as I journey through this place?

Lord, stay close to me--As I journey through the darkness of this great unknown!
Lord, stay close to me--Though I've placed my faith in You I feel so all alone.
My heart trembles like a child as I walk each scary mile
And the only prayer my lips can find to speak is "Lord, stay close to me."

Stay Close to Me sung by Legacy Five
written by Patti Hawkins, Ann Downing, and Laurie Winton

Anson & his cousins, Cherilyn & Kristin

2008-01-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

In Need of His Wisdom

2008-01-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking lately about the verse in James that says, "If any one lack wisdom, let him or her ask of God, who gives to all men or women liberally" (my paraphrase). We must first realize that we need this wisdom before we can even ask for it, let alone receive it. I am so often reminded of my need for wisdom from above (being a parent especially brings this home to me!). The great part about it is that God gives liberally, freely, generously, when we ask. All we have to do is be humble enough to admit that we don't know everything, and then ask for the wisdom that we need.

Dreaming of my backyard in summer

2008-01-21T14:25:00.000-05:00

Praying "The Lord's Prayer"

2008-01-21T10:43:00.000-05:00

I find that many times, especially when perplexed by a difficulty in my life, I do not know how to pray. At those times, the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples is a great source of comfort to me. Praying along the outline that The Lord's Prayer presents gives me a framework to pray and a direction to know how to pray. Here are some thoughts along those lines:

Our Father, which art in Heaven--He is our "Abba", our Daddy, our provider, protector, defender, comforter, helper, keeper and so much more. He is everything we need.

Hallowed be thy name--we respect and revere Him for He is holy and His name is holy. He is the only way we can be holy.

Thy kingdom come--the only way for peace to reign in our hearts is for His kingdom to be supreme in our hearts and the only way that peace will reign on earth is for His kingdom to reign on earth.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven--If His will were done in every thing, every situation, every decision here on earth, earth WOULD be heaven. Someday this prayer will be fulfilled.

Give us this day our daily bread--Everything we have comes from Him. As the song says "There's not a single blessing that we receive on earth that does not come from heaven, the source of our new birth". (From the song It Is Truly Wonderful). We depend on our Father to provide for us, physically, spiritually and every other need.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors--Could we not be forgiven of our trespasses against our Creator, we would never have any hope of eternal life. He forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil--Deliver us from the possibility of evil, the results/consequences of evil. Deliver us from the Evil One, from every subtle force he would use to introduce evil into our lives and the lives of those we love.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.--If I could insert a musical score, I would put "The Hallelujah Chorus" here--"And He shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!"

Our "boys"

2008-01-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

2008-01-17T10:49:00.000-05:00

2008-01-17T10:33:00.000-05:00

The Edge of Heaven

2008-01-11T11:19:00.001-05:00

Being duly inspired by several of my good friends, I shall try my hand at blogging!! I so enjoy reading the blogs of several of my dear friends from college (Kimberly, Sonja, Jenny).

I have been thinking a lot in this new year about heaven and how this life is truly only the dress rehearsal, only the title page to the real story. My dad bought a book for Anson called "Pip and the Edge of Heaven". The concepts introduced by that book have set me to thinking. The plot is basically a little boy who is learning about life and applying that to what he thinks heaven might be like.

"Pip asked his mother, 'Mother, is heaven invisible?' But, before she could answer, Pip said, 'I think that maybe heaven is hidden behind the things that we can see. Maybe, sometimes, when we look very carefully at things, we can just see heaven shining through....Maybe, here, we are really camping, but heaven will be home....God must be where people love God...And God must be where there are people God loves. And God loves everyone, so God must be everywhere...everywhere must touch the edge of heaven.'"

Without being morose, I want to make my focus for this year on what really will matter into eternity. Sometimes I get caught up in and frustrated by events that really won't matter in 100 years; I want to remember that we are living on the "edge of heaven."