Love this Song!!!

This is so beautiful!!!!

Hallelujah written by Leonard Cohen
Sung by various artists-here are a few of them.

Check this version out by Allison Crowe
http://music.allisoncrowe.com/track/hallelujah


Or watch k.d. Lang sing it on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE


This is for my kids! Listen to Jason Castro's version!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erjF2uxYcbo&feature=related



Words & Lyrics written by Leonard Cohen
"Hallelujah"

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Mama's doing something...

How many times have you heard yourself say that? Or something very similar. Daddy has to go to work, just a minute, give me a second, after this, in five minutes...It is a bummer but sometimes we can't stop what we're doing and our kids have to wait.

It's a tough call. I feel guilty sometimes-especially the times that I am not really doing anything important. But there are other times when I'm doing something I don't want to stop-like eating a warm meal (notice I didn't say hot!). And then there are actually times where I am doing something I can't stop-like going to the restroom! It seems like they always need you when you are busy.

There are also the even tougher times when you have to decide which child to take care of first. Like yesterday, when one child was closing the garage door with the back hatch of my car open and another child was crying because her brother slammed her finger in the door! Well, maybe that's slightly different... But you know what I mean. The hurt one had to wait for sympathy and loving while I rescued my car.

So, we just do our best. They will survive, right? I am just starting to read a book called "The Power of a Praying Parent" by Stormie Omartian. She suggests we pray for our kids-the concerns of the moment, for the future AND against the effects of past events. I like that. I think it's comforting to know that god can and will protect our children-even if it's protecting against our own actions.


Here's a Bible passage that might help.

O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief. Psalm 143:1

Here's another prayer that might help.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Here's a song that might help.

Jesus loves the little children-all the children of the world...

The New Year

Happy New Year! It's 2010!

What a great time to think about the year ahead! What do you want to accomplish this year? What changes would you like to make in yourself? What would you like your life to look like? In what area of your life would you like to grow? It can be overwhelming. Don't get discouraged already!

I am not making any resolutions but I sure would like to make some changes. I am hoping I can take small steps, with God's help, of course, in becoming more of what Jesus wants me to be.

1. Love my neighbor as myself-so I want to love myself more so I can love my neighbor more
2. Forgive so that I may be forgiven-forgive myself so that I can forgive others more easily
3. Do God's will-when I do my will it RARELY works out
4. Be grateful-remember to thank God for all that I have
5. Accept help-ask for help and LET others help

And then there are the littler things...

1. Get organized! Here is where it gets overwhelming-papers, papers, papers...
2. Get healthy-exercise more and eat less sugar
3. Be a better housekeeper-need I say more?
4. Use my time more wisely-less video games, more action

I kind of don't like putting it all down because it looks a little daunting but if I remember I don't have to do it all right this second it's more manageable.

I wish you a happy, healthy, peaceful New Year. May you feel God's presence in all you do.

Time Flies

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since the last time I posted.

In the past 6 weeks my kids have all had birthdays. My oldest is now 9, my middle child is 6 and my "baby" is now 3! This is unbelievable. It was just yesterday that I birthed the first one! Now she is 9! (Okay guys, you might want to skip this part). A friend of mine mentioned that she had her first period at 9! Oh, I am so not ready for that! Isn't there some way I can keep her little?

And my little boy! He is my baby! I want to be able to hold him forever. Thank goodness he is in this mommy stage right now. I am thoroughly enjoying it. But he is so big. He talks like a big boy in full sentences and you can understand him! Now I understand why people keep having babies!

My middle one is very sweet and she can't decide if she wants to be big or little. She wants me to hold her every morning but then she wants to be like her big sister and do every thing the big sister does. It is kind of nice and also trying.

So for now, I'll try to accept them and where they are at. I will try not to wish their lives away. I will try to enjoy them in each moment knowing they soon will be grown and no longer my babies.

I have a problem...

I want Christmas to be perfect. I want it not only to be perfect but I want it to be like the Christmases I remember from my childhood. Which is strange because our family Christmases were not perfect. I don't think any ones ever is. But I do have some fond memories.

I loved spending time with my paternal grandparents on Christmas Eve. They picked me up early in the day before anyone else came over. I ran errands with them. We would go to get a hamburger for lunch. I helped out a little bit but I also would lie on their couch watching old movies. We went to church for Christmas Eve services which I particularly loved. It was so nice to have all of their attention. It's one of my best memories.

My mom must have spent DAYS baking every Christmas. We had cut out cookies, coffee cakes, crescent rolls, pecan sandies, butterscotch stars, fruitcake cookies...I can't remember what else but it was all good...except for maybe the fruitcake:) I try to make some of mom's recipes but I also have some of our own favorites. It never feels like enough though.

A lot of my problem is that I want to get my kids everything they want...which this year is especially difficult. I want them to be thrilled and overwhelmed. Of course, we never get them all they want but in the past we have gotten them a lot. Well, this year we are choosing a different way. I hope that they will be happy about all of what we did this season rather than what they get. It is hard. With God's help I am sure we will make it through but there are still feelings to feel and emotions to deal with. God has a different path for us to take this year and It's sometimes hard to swallow...but God's path is always good.

My problem (or problems) can always be solved with God's help.

From the Big Book...
"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems..." p.449 in 3rd edition

From the Bible...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Easy but messy holiday treat!

Well, we just finished making a batch of Pretzel Snowmen at our house. They really aren't snowmen but my kids know them by that name. Maybe when they are older they really will be snowmen but for now they are just pretzel rods with melted white chocolate chip glaze and every sort of sprinkle possible! It is something we have adapted for each holiday. At Halloween they are pretzel ghosts and at Easter they are pretzel bunnies.

We love them but WOW! what a mess! The 3 year old joined in today and he kept (don't tell any of the relatives) licking his fingers! Both my 6 year old and my 9 year old fell off their chairs reaching for something! There are sprinkles everywhere and white chocolate glue attached to everything including the chair backs! Plus the bottoms of my socks are very sticky!

But it was great family time together. They love making them. I think they love making them more than eating them...or maybe not...I did catch my oldest eating up the pile of leftover sprinkles. It was fun and fairly inexpensive. I think the Pretzel ghosts will be a tradition for years to come. And a memory that will "stick" with my precious children for a long time.

Pretzel Snowmen

1 bag of Pretzel Rods
1 bag of white chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli)
Assorted Sprinkles (red & green sugars & nonpareils, crushed candy canes, etc.)

Melt white chocolate chips in a glass bowl for a minute. Stir to mix. Microwave 15 more seconds or until spreadable. Use a small rubber scraper to "paint" on the chocolate leaving a small unpainted "handle" at the bottom. Decorate and lay on a piece of waxed paper to dry. We have also dried them in coffee mugs so as not to get a flat side. Be aware it takes a lot of mugs and sometimes they stick together. Store in airtight container. They will last for weeks if you don't eat them before then.

We homeschool!

My kids are homeschooled. I love having the kids home with me. There are many times when I want to pull my hair out but overall it is awesome. I love the freedom. I love the relationship that my children have with each other. I love the opportunities we have to do things during the day. I love teaching my children what I think is appropriate. I love teaching them about Jesus and reading to them from the Bible. It is ideal for my family.

We have a curriculum but I have difficulty following the schedule. People tell me that kids need a routine. Well, I am not sure about that but I do know I get less whining when we do the same lessons each day. My son who is 3 listens in on what we are doing so I know he is taking some of it. My 6 year old is doing 3rd grade spelling which is definitely beneficial for her. We all read books together which builds our bond as a family. Reading is one of my favorite things to do and I don't do it very often because there is always something else to do. But this way I get to read stories I may not have read before. I picked this curriculum because of the reading. I actually had to hold us back from reading it all the first month we had the curriculum. My oldest and I would have finished it all and I am glad we didn't because now the 6 year old can read and we can all go through it together. We don't do our school the same time each day. We don't do it 5 days a week. We don't do each subject each day. We are a work in progress.

And about that socialization thing...it's the least of my worries. My kids have plenty of friends. They are comfortable speaking with adults. They have manners. They know how to behave (for the most part) in public. We have church, ballet lessons, field trips, parties, events, etc. in which they are around plenty of people. I really think that is the silliest excuse in the world to dislike homeschooling.

Here is a book that I loved about Homeschooling:
Real Life Homeschooling: 21 Families Who Teach Their Children at Home by Rhonda Barfield

Here is a homeschooling website with a daily devotional that I receive every day:
http://www.aophomeschooling.com/

Here is the website for our local homeschool group in Austin:
http://www.main.org/aah/