Prayers from Little Hearts

This morning at breakfast Shaylen prayed, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful day. Thank you that we were able to go out to eat at the restaurant with Auntie Janelle. In Jesus name, Amen."

Marshall wanted to pray this morning for breakfast too and waxed eloquent. I cannot remember all he said, but he did say something like this, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful day. Please help someone to buy our house. Help us in this mist (it was foggy this morning). Help us to drive safely to New Hampshire. Bring Daddy safely home to us soon. In Jesus name, Amen."

Shaylen piped up, "That was a looooong pray, Marshall. You forgot to thank Jesus for our breakfast!"

So then, of course, I had to pray too!

Saco Home Update

Many of you know that we had a showing last night at 5:30. I spent a good chunk of Monday night and Tuesday scouring and scrubbing to make the house extra clean. Taigen was able to come home a bit early and help with the storage areas in our house. I am so thankful for his help. It looks so good. (I think I could've eaten off that kitchen floor!)

Janelle had taken the kids to her apartment so that we could concentrate on the house. When it was time to go, we went and picked them up and treated Janelle to pizza! It was the least we could do. She has been such a blessing in watching the kids each time we've had a showing.

The hard part now is just waiting. We are waiting to hear from our realtor with some feedback (or maybe an offer) from the people who looked at it last night.

If all else fails at least I have a clean home! Thank you so much for your prayers.

Good Fall Recipe: Pumpkin Roll

We were invited to someone's house on Sunday and I made them a pumpkin roll as a little thank-you. This is such a deceptively simple recipe that I got from a friend. It is perfect for this season.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Mix:
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup pumpkin (add last)

Grease cookie sheet (with an edge) and line with wax paper. Pour batter into pan. Bake 10-15 minutes. Take out of oven and cool approximately 10 minutes.

Turn out onto a dish towel that has been sprinkled with granulated sugar. Pull off wax paper while warm. Roll up into towel and cool for about an hour.

Filling:
2 Tbs melted butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
Mix well and spread over cooled cake. Roll up again and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Wrap in wax paper. Keep refrigerated.

New Dictionary Entry

liedampterist- formally known as "lepidopterist"; n. an entomologist who specializes in the collection and study of butterflies and moths

Marshall and Shaylen have a book entitled The Bug Hunt and it is from a series of Winnie the Pooh books. In this particular story, Owl proceeds to tell all his friends about his Aunt Augusta who was a lepidopterist. On our way home from Worcester, MA, Shaylen decided to tell a story. It was the story of Froodinand, the bear. Froodinand was a "liedampterist."

Enzo Is Three

On Saturday we were able to go down to Worcester, MA (pronounced "Wooster" [soft oo] for you non-New Englanders) and help celebrate Enzo's third birthday. Marshall and Shaylen were so excited to give Enzo his present. They even designed his wrapping paper.

It was so good to see our friends Jason and Joni and their kids. Julia is getting so big and continues to be the cutest little munchkin. I love her curly hair! Enzo is getting so big and plays so nicely with Marshall and Shaylen. I hope they remain friends forever.

We wish we could've stayed longer, but unfortunately we had a two hour trek back up north.

Lentil

Robert McCloskey is one of my favorite children's authors. He has written Make Way For Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine (and others). All of these books are fabulous and would make wonderful additions to anyone's library. His drawings take you back to a much simpler time.

It's funny how a book is like an old friend. You don't see each other much, but when you do, you visit and get reacquainted. This is what it has been like with Lentil.

Lentil is the story of a boy who wants to make music, but cannot carry a tune or even pucker his lips to whistle. He saves his pennies and eventually purchases a harmonica.

Marshall and Shaylen love this book, probably for one reason: Old Sneep. You'll have to purchase the book or borrow it from the library to find out what I'm talking about. Lentil has resurfaced in our household this past week, and so have the harmonicas. I wonder what they are imagining: saving the Colonel's welcome home parade or silencing the town grump!

Tea For Three

I had said a long time ago that I couldn't wait until we moved to New Hampshire so that I could have ladies over for tea and coffee. A couple of weeks ago a lady from our church approached me and mentioned an idea. She said, "Why should we wait? Could I bring up some ladies for tea?" I thought it was a wonderful idea. How nice of her to be willing to bring up a van-load of ladies!

The kids helped me clean the house and make muffins. Shaylen was especially excited about the chocolate chip ones. I know, that's a real shocker! They were so excited and so was I.

Mrs. Tock wasn't able to bring a van-load, but she did bring her mom and herself and we had a great time of conversation. Marshall and Shaylen even sang for them.

Charge!!!!

Every night when we are home, the kids ask Taigen the All Important Question after dinner: "Can we charge you, Daddy?" Tonight was no exception and I was able to snap a few shots.

"Charging" involves: jumping on Taigen, trying to knock him down, throwing balls at him, burying him in blankets and taking flying leaps onto him. I have delegated this activity to Taigen for obvious reasons...I cherish my life.

A Toddler Book Review

Every summer since we've been here we've gone to the local libraries when they have had their book sales. We love buying the old classics for ourselves and usually end up with a few books for the kids. This year we came home with a $.25 copy of The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Marshall and Shaylen have enjoyed it.

The other night Auntie Janelle was reading it to them while we were away at a meeting. I guess when they were done, Shaylen said, "They are bad...but there is some goodnesss."

When He Cometh

Marshall and Shaylen enjoy sitting in on my children's choir rehearsal. The benefit of them being in there with us is that they learn the great songs the big kids are learning. Here is Shaylen singing the most recent song When He Cometh. She has such a sweet little voice and I take great delight in listening to her!



Shaylen has always had a low, grovell-y voice and when she talks it is usually way below Marshall's. Until recently she has not been able to sing up high and on pitch with the rest of us. Within the last month though, she has flipped it up into her "head voice" (my musical friends will know what this is) and nailed almost every note. Our hope is that our children will catch our joy in singing!

Unseasonable Weather

When we lived in Biddeford and Buxton, the heat always was on by this time of the year. Maybe it is because those homes were decades old (Biddeford's was built in 1920 and the Buxton home was over a hundred years old), but even the weatherman here has stated that we are having such mild weather for October. In the seven years we've lived in New England, I cannot remember having my windows open this late in the year. But, in fact, the windows are open and a cool breeze is keeping our home at about 70 degrees. It is very comfortable.

We had rain last night and some pretty strong winds. Leaves have been knocked from the trees and are plastered to the ground. We have a nice green lawn with hints of gold and brown. It is beautiful!

Speaking of Monsters

Many of you know that Marshall is a little chicken when it comes to anything scary. Today at lunch Marshall and Shaylen were placing their hands under their napkins and pretending that there was a monster under there. Marshall said, "Mommy, it's a serious creature!"

I'm thinking he got that phrase from a Winnie the Pooh movie.

The other day I was concentrating on a foreign object in Shaylen's hair. Marshall piped up and said, "Mommy, you are staring anxiously!"

The Infatuation Continues

Remember the post from a while ago when I pictured Marshall's drawing of a plane? Remember how I mentioned that Marshall is in love with any form of aircraft? Well, the infatuation continues.

Last night before church Marshall drew what he calls a "facing plane." He did a pretty good job I think! Look also at how neatly he writes his name (for an almost four year old...it's pretty good!). He is a bit more obsessive about details (okay...that's probably an understatement) than Shaylen, but hopefully that spells neat and accurate school work in the future and maybe a clean desk too!

Special Guests

This week at Heritage Baptist Church, we are having evangelistic services with Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Sivnksty. It has been a wonderful week so far and we've had a great turn-out of our folks.

Dr. and Mrs. Sivnksty came up yesterday and had lunch with us. It was such a special treat to have them in our home. Marshall and Shaylen were looking forward to spending time with them. It was cute to hear them pronounce their name! We had a great time sitting at our kitchen table just listening to his great stories, laughing & talking. What dear, dear folk and a great example for godly living.

Dr. Sivnksty has made up a song about dieting, running and walking that is just hilarious. I keep trying to convince him that he needs to sing it publicly but he refuses. I cannot tempt him to do it. He was however tempted to eat some monster cookies and drink a few cups of strong Starbucks coffee.

We were so thankful they made the trek up north to spend time with us.

On a side note: Many of you know Krista Brezonick Sivnksty, Dr.and Mrs. Sivnksty's daughter in law (she married their oldest son, Todd). I grew up with Krista in Colorado, and Taigen traveled with her on a BJU Musical Ministry team.

She has a new piano solo CD out that is just fabulous! It is entitled My Father's World. I'm not sure where all it is available, but I found it online here. You will not be disappointed.

Monster Cookies

When we got married, I learned early on that Taigen was a cookie monster. Sherry (my ever-wonderful mother in law), shared a recipe with me for Monster cookies. They are out of this world. Tonight we are having friends over for dessert and I made a batch of these to go with ice cream. I thought I would share the recipe with you since I know I have a few readers who love the peanut butter and chocolate combination.

You'll need:
6 eggs
2 cups sugar
4 tsp. soda
1 1/2 lbs peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 lb. margarine
1 box brown sugar
Mix these together and add:
3 tsp. cinnamon
9 cups quick oatmeal
M&M's

Use large cookie scoop and place on a cookie sheet. Bake @ 350 degrees for 12 minutes. I would tell you how many it makes, but I have yet to determine this accurately since I have a husband who loves to eat the dough (and now two munchkins too!). It makes a bunch. I usually fill up two gallon size Ziplocks and freeze those and still have some left on a plate to serve. Enjoy and thank my mother in law!

Anger Issues? Don't go shopping

I guess this gives a whole new meaning to "road rage." Hilarious!

Little Taigens and Crystals

Here are a few, recent phrases that have escaped the lips of our young offspring. I thought you all might enjoy them.

On Sunday we were able to go over to someone's house for lunch. They have a son, named Ryan, and Marshall and Shaylen enjoyed playing with him. Ryan has a really great "tree house" in his backyard and the kids went out and played in it for quite a while. When they came back, Shaylen said that she had gotten some boo-boo's. One in particular hurt her and she was whining a bit about it on the way to church that night.

Marshall piped up from the back, "You have boo-boo's everywhere. You are a mess!"

Shaylen was sitting at the table on Monday night eating dinner. I had recently bought her some headbands and she was wearing a pink one at the time. Obviously, she was thinking about it because she said, "I surely want to wear a purple head-band."

Later that night Taigen and I were talking and the kids were playing with the Geo-Trax train set. The train and bus and fire engine were "talking" to each other. Shaylen said, "You have clearance, Clarence!" (That comes from her father, who did that with her Fisher Price Little People a few nights ago.) We were in stitches!

There Were Twelve Disciples

We have always enjoyed singing as a family. Every so often, I will teach the kids a new song to add to their repertoire.

Marshall and Shaylen have enjoyed the stories of the twelve disciples and so I taught them this song. See if you can think of all twelve names before playing it. It's amazing how a song can help you remember things.

Here are the words in case you need a refresher:

There Were Twelves Disciples
by George A. Minor
There were twelve disciples Jesus called to help Him:
Simon Peter, Andrew, James, his brother John;
Philip, Thomas, Matthew, James, the son of Alpheus,
Thaddeus, Simon, Judas, And Bartholomew.
He has called us too, He has called us too;
We are his disciples, I am one and you.
He has called us too, He has called us too;
We are His disciples, We His work must do.

(By the way...I am NOT singing with them. They did it on their own. I love hearing them sing!)

The Benefits of a Long Drive

I hadn't thought of this before yesterday, but one of the many benefits of a forty-five minute drive is that you have forty-five minutes to look at the beautiful leaves of New England. There are no billboards in Maine to clutter the view and it's not like it is super populated with skyscrapers and homes. There are pretty much woods on either side of the interstate. I know that is hard for some of you to imagine! The only thing we saw last night were a few deer munching on the grass.

The leaves are reaching their peak here in the next couple of days and they are so rich with color! There are vibrant reds, greens, yellows, oranges, tans, and browns mixed with the evergreen trees. It is such a sight. There is nothing like it. The air is cool and crisp (perfect for baking apple pies), and yesterday evening there was a mist that had settled. It was picture perfect.

New Dictionary Entry

freelection- formally "reflection"; n.the production of an image by or as if by a mirror. We were on our way home from church last night when Marshall pipes up from the back, "Mommy, I can see my freelection right there (pointing to the window).

Treasures FOR My Heart

The Ladies at Heritage Baptist Church have a ministry that was created years ago by the pastor's wife. The ministry is called "Treasures of the Heart" and they meet on the second Tuesday of every month. I am eager to be a part of this ministry and though I don't know what all takes place during the monthly meeting, I do know that they take time to have a devotional and also pray specifically for some of the missionaries that the church supports. This is one aspect of Treasures that I am going to really love.

Every year, the ladies have a "kick-off" brunch for Treasures of the Heart. This is not your average brunch though. A man from our church caters this, and I think it is his mission to spoil us ladies completely. It was quite a spread!

This year, they asked me to give a short devotional so that I could let the ladies know my heart when it comes to these ladies' meetings. I was thrilled! Here was my opportunity to let the ladies know how eager I was to get to know them and to thank them for the warm welcome we have received.

As I was taking my seat after I was finished, the lady that heads up Treasures presented me with a huge basket of little gifts the ladies had been collecting for a couple of weeks. They had wanted to give me a "little" welcome gift! Wasn't that so sweet? There were notes of welcome and candles, chocolates, lotions, note cards, luxury soaps, bath gels, stamps, stickers, coffee and so much more!!! I just about cried going through it when I got home. Each item and note was such a treasure for my heart. What an encouragement this basket was to me!