A thrift store junkie I'm not

If you know me even just a little bit you probably are fully aware of my dislike of thrift stores. Dislike is definately not a strong enough word. I tend to see everything as just junk, I HATE picking through racks, I hate them almost as much as I hate garage sale's. But yesterday I was looking at some blogs about great thrift store finds and ways to repurpose things and I was inspired. They had some cute things on thier blog. Cute things that started out ugly and they spray painted or changed a little. And I'm in need of a LOT of buttons for a birthday party we have coming up (totally accepting donations if you have buttons to spare, just let me know)

So, this morning we (I) decided to hit up a few thrift stores. Becasue of my dislike of them I'm not 100% aware of where the "good" ones are so we started at Ditto's. Lot's of things there, not all junk, but in my opinion a lot of it was overpriced. (Just my opinion) I found a couple of books for the kids, but in the end put them back on the shelves and left with nothing. Then, on the way home, we hit up the Holland Rescue Mission store on Chicago Drive. I've been to this particular store before and found it to be clutterd. But for some reason I gave it another try. Good thing! They have cleaned it up a lot, in fact there were some kids there volunteering (I'm assuming) and cleaning everything! It's pretty organized, as organized as a thrift store could get I assume. While looking around we found a snare drum from a big drum set, it was marked 9.99. I was going to get it for Elliot thinking he would love it and it's louder than his other drum set that he got for christmas (who doesn't like loud?). The drum set he got for Christmas was only $20 from Meijer and it was worth about $20 or less. It doesn't stand up on it's own, pieces are always falling off, just a disappointment for a three year old that loves drums. So anyway, on with the story... were walking around a bit more (still looking for something that I can repurpose) when Elliot looks up, almost to the ceiling and says "Mom, there are more drums up there". SURE ENOUGH, it's a full drum set, kid size. Before Christmas I was looking at sets like this but was NOT going to spend the $80 plus shipping to obtain one. It's not perfect by any means, it's well loved, but it would have been well loved by Elliot if not by someone else, so who cares. It was only $10. I was excited and I think they were excited to get it down for me and out of thier store! Elliot has enjoyed playing with it this afternoon, and it is a LOT louder than the other one. So, if you come over anytime soon, please bring earplugs or be prepared to deal with the noise!



And after all that I just may start to like thrift stores, but more likely next time I will go I will just get frustrated and then wait another year to go back to one!

See, I knew I would have a reason to go back soon... just found this post that looks interesting on "Our Best Bites"

Sacrifice

Yesterday I had the opportunity to volunteer at the "Step Into Africa" exibit I referenced a few posts back. Before volunteering you get the opportunity to go through the exibit. There are four different stories to experience when you go through, you go through one at a time, multiple people were going through and going right back in to experience another child's story. The lives of these children is just heartbreaking. I'm so sad that I was not able to go to Africa last year, what an amazing trip that would have been (but I know that I made the right choice for both myself and my baby at that time). Today Matt and I went to go through one of the "Older" stories, one that the younger kids shouldn't go through, equally as heartbreaking. Tonight Matt took two of the older kids to go through again, and tomorow I will volunteer again and go through one more story. It is all heartbreaking, especially when I arrive home to my safe and warm house with plenty of food in the cupboards, an overabundance of clothing in the closets, t.v.'s in the rooms, shoes in the garage, blankets on the beds, hot, clean water, realizing the "plenty" that I have. One thing that keeps repeating in my head and something I want to challenge you with is this...

Because I can't (won't) sacrifice ________________ a child will suffer.

You fill in the blank for yourself. I know that I could and will fill in that blank with many different things. One thing I was convicted of was name brand diapers, silly I know, but I also know I could save a lot of money if I bought off brand, and Lila is no longer an infant so it doesn't matter as much anymore. For you it could be Starbucks, chocolate, pop, movies, a new, unnecessary pair of shoes... what could you give up so that a child doesn't have to suffer anymore? What part of your comfortable life could you and I go without? And let's be honest, if we go without a few things, we will still be pretty darn comfortable, our "suffering" (if we even dare call it that) because of a little sacrifice will be nothing like the suffering of these children from Africa who have no parents b/c they both died of AIDS, who are raped daily, who have no food, or the child right here in America that has no food or shelter, or the child in Haiti that no longer has a place to sleep?

Just think about it, and think about what you could sacrifice to end the suffering of just one child.

For all the moms...

or anyone who does laundry actually!

We used to be addicted to an Amway Stain treater, but it seems that since our last bottle was gone they may not make it anymore, so we were at a loss. Seriously, that stuff got out EVERYTHING! Nothing else has ever compared! Until now.

We have been using Tide Stain Release for a few weeks and I have been super happy with the results. Lila had her first bloody nose a while back and I didn't realize that there were a few stains on her "Blankie", so when I finally realized it I washed the blanket with the stain release and voila... no more blood! Lila has also had some pretty bad diapers lately, the kind that stain bad and come right out of the diaper, but it is not the problem that it used to be, nope, all gone!

OK, just had to share, when I find something I like I like to pass it along!

The Message

I've been looking at 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 this week, looking at the many ways I fail to love others. There are a few people I can think of specifically that I've failed miserably at this. I'm not always patient, somtimes I'm envious, sometimes I boast, sometimes I'm proud, rude and self seeking, I'm easily angered, I keep record of wrongs and I delight in evil. Wow, I'm awful. Then I went to "The Message" to see it's version of this well known chapter. I like what it says as well, although again, I fail miserably.

Love never gives up. (How many times have I said, "Forget it, I tried."?)
Love cares more for others than for self. (I put myself first all of the time, sad to say, but especially in my home with my own family)
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. I'm soooo guilty of always wanting more, trying to keep up.
Love doesn't strut. (a meaning of strut according to dictionary.com: to dress, behave, perform etc one's best in order to impress others; show off) I'd like to think I'm not guilty of this, but in some way or another I know I am.
doesn't have a swelled head, Sometimes my head definately baloons up, I am proud of certain things I've done or people (children) I've raised
doesn't force itself on others Many times I really wish others just got things the way I got them, drove the way I drove, wanted to do things my way...
Isn't always "Me first", See "Love cares more for others than self" above
Doesn't fly off the handle All I can say is my poor kids some days, or the person on the phone that isn't getting me
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others How many times have I at least though "At least I'm not doing..." or but look what that person has said or done, I'm better than that...
Doesn't revel when others grovel No immediate thought is coming to my mind, but again, I know without a doubt that I'm guilty of this
takes pleasure in the flowering of truth Now this is one where I succeed, I definately take pleasure in the flowering of truth... as long as the truth isn't going to bring me down or reveal something I don't want revealed
puts up with anything Puts up with very little would better describe me
trusts God always Trusts God, but trusts self more often would be a better description of myself
Always looks for the best I'm more of a glass half empty person unfortunately
Never looks back Always looking back
But keeps going to the end. Gives up far to easy and far to often

Well, now that you all know that I'm a terrible sinner, oh wait, you already knew that, because really, aren't we all? I'm so thankful for a God that is quick to forgive when we ask and loves us no matter what, a God that will not turn us away because of one thing we do wrong. This is definately part of my daily prayers, that I would be better at loving.


Another chapter I've been looking at is Proverbs 31:10-31 (The wife of noble charecter), which was convicting in the NIV version, but then I read the Message version and felt even worse about the job I've been doing as a wife and mother.

It's long, but I encourage you to look it up on Bible Gateway when you have a few minutes, I'm going to highlight only a few, but know that once again, I'm guilty of all of not obeing any of them fully...
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing
She's up before dawn preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day
diligent in homemaking
always faces tomorow with a smile
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say and she always says it kindly

So, adding that to my daily prayers. To be a better wife and mother, being more diligent and less lazy, more productive, more God fearing and more generous.

An Opportunity for you...

My church, Community Reformed, is teaming up with World Vision to bring the AIDS experience to west Michigan. It's an interactive experience where you'll see, hear, and experience stories of tragedy and triumph lived out by real children in AIDS-affected communities, and you'll gain a completely new perspective on the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.

More information and free tickets can be found here (tickets are recommended but not required) And if your really ambitious and want to help volunteer you can also find that information w/ this link.

Frequenty asked questions can be found here.

I have heard only good things about this exhibit, can't wait to experience it myself and for my husband and Landon! If you go let me know what you think!

Picture Post

These are on facebook as well so I know they are duplicates for some of you...
9 months old and "So big"
Watch and learn lil sis


Guns... what can I say?

Yay!!!

Getting around on her own!
Not so happy about the camera in his face!
Sleeping in an awkward way!


Parker & Lila

Healthier?

We've been trying to be a little healthier over here. By "We", I mean "I", the rest of the family is just along for the ride! By healthier I mean exercising, eating better and trying my hardest to loose some of this weight that just doesn't fall off like it used to.

Eating healthier has meant that I joined Weight Watchers online. It's only been a few weeks, but most of all I've learned to eat lower calorie, lower fat, high fiber foods. Filling foods. Food that make me feel satisfied for longer. One of my newest favorite recipes is this:
Mexican Quinoa (If you've never tried Quinoa you definately should, yummy)
2t Olive Oil
1/2c. quinoa rinsed thoroughly (you can get this at health food stores and I also found it at Meijers on the top shelf by the rice)
1/2c. chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced (I used the jar kind)
1/2c diced red pepper
1 14 1/2oz can rotel undrained
1 can whole kernel corn undrained
1/4t ground cumin
1/4t ground red pepper
1/4t salt
1 can black beans, rinsed
avacado
cheese

In a 2 quart nonstick saucepan heat oil over medium heat. Add qunioa, onion, garlic and red pepper and cook, stirring, until quinoa begins to crackle and onion is soft.

Add tomatoes, corn and seasonings, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until quinoa is translucent and tender. Add black beans.

Uncover and continue cooking 5 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.

Makes 4 servings, add 1/8 of an avacado chopped up and 1/8c cheese for a 5 point meal!

Excercising has meant that I get up much earlier than I ever though possible and head to the gym almost every morning. But now that I'm sleeping through the night it isn't so bad.

Speaking of Lila... she is on the move. FAST. She is trying so hard to pull herself up on everything and reach everything (and then proceed to eat it). Definately takes more supervision, but I would say that it makes her a bit happier than she used to be. She still likes us to be close, but were used to that! At her nine month appt last week she weighed in at 23 pounds 9 ounces, she is finally slowing down a bit! She has an eye doctor appt next week for her clogged tear duct, I'm not sure how bad it really is, but we'll see what they say!

Elliot had a big day a few weeks back (which I mentioned in a previous post). He started three-school. Just one day a week, the only opening that Zeeland Christian had mid-semester. He did so good when I dropped him off, he said goodbye and went and played, he loves it. He knows no one in his class so I wasn't sure how he would do, but it seems to be going well. I also signed him up for preschool next year, three days a week with his "best friend" as he says! The poor boy gets so bored at home with me so it will be nice for him to get to go to school!

Landon is busy with basketball on Saturday mornings and Bailey also has soccer on Saturdays, luckily only one game has overlapped! They seem to be having fun, both seemed to have improved over the last year quite a bit, Bailey scored her first goal ever this past week, we were all very excited for her adn luckily Matt was able to be there to see it!

I've taken very very few pictures so far this year and even fewer of them have made it off my camera onto my computer (0 to be exact). Hopefully I will find some time to do that soon and will be able to share some cuteness!

Yummy Stuff (& other un-important mumblings)

Yum! I made this salsa the other night, it was DELICIOUS (but I will warn that I woke up in the morning with a terrible taste in my mouth)!

This soup/chili is going to be one of our "go to" meals I've decided, seriously, it couldn't be much easier than this!

These are my new favorite "chips"! I picked them up at Nature Valley, not really super cheap, but yummy and so much better (tasting and for me) than potato chips or Doritos or something!

Lila is getting so close to crawling, she get's up on all fours and rocks, but has not moved yet! Thankfully. She has been pretty good lately, sleeping is still hit or miss, but whether she wakes up or not we don't get her out of bed, so sometimes she cries for a while in her bed, but she's in her bed, and most nights she sleeps about 12 hours, can't complain to much!

I started reading "Hole in the Gospel" this week, very convicting, but in a good way. I'm still trying to process it, between that, BSF and another book I'm reading I've been feeling very inadaquate.

Elliot starts a new adventure next week, I'm not going to give details yet, but it will get a post all it's own when it happens, promise!

The kids have off from school tomorow, Elliot and Bailey are having friends spend the night tonight and Landon is going to be gone! Tomorow night Landon has an event at church to go to adn then Saturday Bailey has a soccer game and Landon has 2 basketball games, all right in a row, which means that for three hours miss Lila is going to be having a great time! Should be fun! (Really, I love watching the kids play, just not fun for the little ones)!

Catching up (didn't I just say that?)

Well, it's been 2 weeks again, time is just flying. We have been so busy with other things that this just get's neglected. Actually I've just been filling my time with more important things. But at the request of someone who drove my son home for me (thank you so much), I'm updating, and including pictures of course, b/c what is a blog post w/o pictures?
The kids are back at school, regular wednesday night church starts this week, BSF started this week, basketball practice started last week so our weeknights are officially booked. I miss break already and we have a long ways to go with all this busyness.


Lila had RSV last week, but fortunately for all of us, recovered quite quickly. She was not a fan of the breathing treatments at all, but they helped a ton! She is definatly loosing some of her rolls, when I had her at the doctor she weighed 23 pounds some odd ounces, which is only up around 2 pounds since her 6 month visit (which was actually closer to 7 months) and she is almost 9 months now.

Elliot and I have been playing candyland a lot. I went to grab it from the game cupboard the other day and realized that we didn't have Candyland. We didn't have candyland... are you kidding me? So we had to go to Target to purchase it, and at $5.02 I think it was a pretty darn good investment! He loves it!




We watched Parker yesterday, I don't get to see him nearly enough, that's for sure!

Lila and Elliot took a bubble bath together yesterday, Lila thought the bubbles tasted great!

Brothers, I just love that they love each other so much!

And this terribly boring post is the reason I haven't updated is so long, our lives are super busy, but very very boring! I'll try to come back before 2 weeks this time though, even if it's just to share pictures.

Catching up

Wow, I guess I took a bit of a blogging break. Really it's been a full computer bread. I've spent far less time on the computer than normal, and it feels GOOD! I think this may become the new norm.

There is no way I will be able to catch up on all of the past 2 weeks, but a brief overview will hopefully work.

Landon had his 6th grade choir concert. It was the first one, they did a great job and sounded very good! Note to self, get there earlier next time. Enough said.

We took the kids to see Santa. Elliot was geeked! He had a gigantic smile on his face the whole time, it was sooo sweet! And, it was no suprise when he told him that he wanted a drum set! Bailey's list was a little longer and a LOT more expensive, including things like laptop, ipod, dsi... you know, the little things that cost a LOT!

Christmas morning the kids found thier presents from Santa right by the fire place, Landon got a bb gun, Bailey got a keyboard and Elliot got a drum set! Oops, santa forgot about Lila! As usual I felt like we were celebrating, eating and opening presents for days with all of the parties we attended, it was crazy!


It has been good having the kids home for break, the first few days were rough, I won't deny it, but it's gotten better and now I'm used to it, it will be hard to have them return to school again.

Tomorow is the last day of 2009. What a year it's been. Lila is probably our biggest change for the year, the biggest impact, the biggest blessing, the biggest frustration and the biggest baby yet! (The "yet" there by no means implies that there will be another, not even possible, which is in fact another HUGE change for 2009, but I'll leave that one alone for now, some day you may just have to read more stories on that whole change).

We will be celebrating the new year with friends at ngiht and then Friday we will probably not do much of anything. We'll see what happens though! Wishing you all a wonderful new year, may 2010 be full of blessings!

There are plenty more pictures that were uploaded to facebook if your interested, it takes so long to upload them here!

Christmas Pictures Take 2 and Snow Day

It wasn't quite as ideal to photograph the older kids Christmas pictures, the light wasn't nearly as bright, but I like what we got. We may still try to do a retake though, next week (I'm sure they will LOVE me)









2 snow days last week. We needed to do something to keep busy, so on Wednesday we tried decorating a gingerbread house. DISASTER! The roof was cracked, multiple times, the gingerbread was cracked, it was awful. We tried fixing it, but thatw asa disaster too. So, the when I gave up and said "Whatever", the kids being the great kids that they are made lemonade out of the lemons and took the roof off and decorated anyway!
Our repair attempts...

Elliot and his gingerbread...
The not so finished, not so fixed gingerbread house...
How would you like to live in that house?
They took out the Halloween candy to decorate the roofless house more. (Did I just admit to still having Halloween candy sitting around?)

Isn't it beautiful?
They made cookies out of the roof... doesn't this one look just delicious?
A chocolaty one...
Watching the whole thing.


On Thursday we just hung out and cleaned and played games, and then on Friday, the kids got to go back to school, we were all a little happy about that, except Elliot. But only a little, I really do enjoy having them home! I'm considering it practice for Christmas break.

Saturday prior to these snow days, we also decorated our Christmas tree. It started off that I wanted a "pretty" tree, but the kids got so excited about the older ornaments that we had lying around that we went with a kid friendly tree. I don't mind the hodge podge of ornaments either, they are mostly ones from Matt and my childhood so it's kind of fun to rmeember as we decorate! And, I still think the tree is pretty!

Getting the ornaments out.

So excited to decorate.


Lovin' the lights!
The kids and the tree!
She loved the beads.



We had our first Christmas party yesterday followed by a concert at church. Tonight we get to go watch Landon's choir concert, busy week ahead and then more parties next weekend, and the kids are home again next week, for two weeks!

Appetizers

I'm an appetizer girl. I could be completely happy if I could only eat appetizers for the rest of my life (as long as chocolate was involved somewhere).

Some of my favorites are:
Buffalo Chicken Dip
1 block of cream cheese spread into bottom of 9x13 pan
Top with 1/2-3/4 cups ranch dressing and 3/4-1cup buffalo sauce
Top with 1 can of chopped up chicken pieces
Top this with shredded cheese
Bake at 350degrees for 30ish minutes

Sausage dip (originally shared with me by Sarah)
Brown one pound of sausage (I like hot, but italian or original are good too)
Mix with 1 block of cream cheese and 1 can of Ro-tel tomatoes
Serve with tortilla chips

I then use that to also make Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapeno peppers cut, and seeded (use gloves)
Fill with Sausage dip (See above)
Cover with shredded cheese
(Can also be wrapped in bacon, but this add's quite a bit of time and work so I normally skip it)
Bake at 350 degrees for a litle while (until hot)
ENJOY!

OK, so these are just a few of my staple list, and they are all EASY and seem to be well enjoyed when I make them. But I'm in need of a few more... share with me your best appetizer recipes either in the comments section or email me at lynettebell(at)chartermi(dot)net!

Look-alikes

Who is this do you think? Landon? Bailey? Elliot? (Probably not Lila, for obvious reasons)

Can I be completely honest?

Seriously, life is not all rainbows and sunshine. You have to have rain to have a rainbow. I'm living in the rain right now. Life has been in a bit of a slump.

Lila is difficult. She is still up at LEAST 3 times at night. That's minimum. I am up with her every time, b/c if I ask Matt to do it it just makes the situation worse. Not that he's not willing, he's just not able.

I am a girl that likes my sleep. A LOT. I'm not a morning person (I REALLY like to stay in my bed as long as possible) and I'm not a night person either (I go to bed around 9 or 10), I like to sleep, that's what kind of person I am. So, since I haven't slept a full night in over 7 months (not to mention pregnancy when I didn't sleep either) I'm a little worn down. OK, a lot worn down.

I thought I was dealing with the whole thing quite well, but I just hit a wall. I want to cry, scream and stomp my feet more often than I want to smile and laugh. I don't always do it, but sometimes I do. I want to take naps, but Lila doesn't. Or she will when the older two get home, which means I can't.

When she is awake, she just want's me to either be RIGHT BY HER or holding her. Doesn't leave me much time to do important things, like shower, clean, wash dishes, laundry, cook dinner, you know, the things that get us by and make us presentable. I'm at a point where I probably just need to let her scream it out, but that just seems cruel.
To all of us.
I guess leaving her out front with a for sale sign would be cruel to though. Somedays I feel like it. Don't worry though, I wouldn't do it.
She might get cold.

OK, enough venting. Funny thing is, I have these posts quite often, but rarely do I hit "Publish Post". Today though, I'm going to, I can't be the only one in the blogiverse feeling this way. We all have our days. Right?

(I get to go watch an Arthur movie that I've watched a million and one times right now. Aren't I lucky? Yup, I am lucky, b/c I get to watch it with my favorite 3 year old and my favorite Lila, who are both healthy, happy children, who both have beds to sleep in and food to eat, I AM lucky)