Prayers needed

Please keep Carl and Tess in your prayers today. They left for the hospital for an emergency c-section. They are at 34 weeks. They have a lot of history with complications with prior pregnancies and I know they would appreciate all your prayers.

What an eye opener!

Last night I took my youth group girls (6-8th graders) along with the 8th grade boys (4 of them) and their leader, Jeff, to a homeless mission, Degage, in downtown Grand Rapids to drop off coats and blankets that we as a church had collected. We parked about 100 yards away from the building because there were vehicles parked in front of the building. This means that we had to walk in front of one building, Goodwill, and cross over one intersection to get to the building. So we park and get the boxes out of the back of my Suburban. The boys took the really big box and the girls took the smaller box. These boxes were open on top so that people could just drop the coats and blankets inside them.

Degage feeds the homeless at 7:30pm and we arrived a little before 7pm which meant there were a lot of homeless people standing around on the corner waiting to go inside. Well the minute they seen us they pretty much surrounded us to see "whatcha got there" and they started to just take stuff right out of the boxes. Now I have been here before so I was slightly more "prepared" for what we were going to be seeing then the kids but I didn't expect people to start helping themselves. The kids were so taken back that they literally froze, eyes big as saucers, while the men continued to help themselves to the contents in their boxes. Jeff and I quickly came to the rescue (not that we had left the kids but our group and the homeless group had quickly become one big group) and moved the kids along to put an end to it but the kids were still overwhelmed. By the time we got in the building I was laughing and explained to the lady, Joy, who was going to give us the tour that we didn't have quite as much to donate as we did when we got out of the car. One of the boxes only had one coat left in it.

I was also asked by one gentleman if I had just $1.50 that I could spare. I hadn't even taken a purse for that very reason and explained to him that I had nothing on me. One of my girls leaned in and whispered in my ear "I have $7 in my pocket may I give it to these people?" I quickly,quietly said no and told her I would explain later. I told Joy about this while she was giving us our tour and asked her if she could explain to all the kids why that wouldn't have been a good idea. She jumped right in and explained it very well and told the kids if the wanted to give them something they could buy food vouchers and then give them to the people that way they wouldn't be able to use it on alcohol or drugs.

Needless to say the ride home the girls couldn't stop talking so it gave me a lot to discus with them. Our Youth Pastor sends the 8th graders every year and the 6th and 7th graders know this so they look forward to it. My daughter, Anna, was one of the girls to go tonight and she would not let me forget that tonight was THE night. It is funny then to take them and see that they really had no idea what they were in for. I was not looking forward to it because I had gone 2 years ago with a group and we had a man knocking on our van window asking for stuff before we even got out and I hadn't been there before that and it caught me way off guard. As soon as we explained to him we didn't have any money he left but it had shaken up the groups of kids we brought then also. I do believe it is a good experience for the kids I just wish I would have remembered to pray with the kids when we got in the Suburban before we left church and prepared them a little for what we were heading out to do. It would have helped to prepare me also.

I also made a mental note to tell Brandon (the youth pastor) that next time we should bring the coats and blankets in closed bags so it doesn't draw as much attention. (chuckles)

Smiles!

"The Golden Compass", don't be fooled.

Tonya alerted her readers about this movie a few days ago. She also mentioned that the books the movie is based off from are in the stores already for Christmas sales. Snopes explains that the author of the books is an atheist who "hates God". I went to Focus on the Family and found this article...

"Atheism for kids. That is what Philip Pullman sells. It is his hope that The Golden Compass, which stars Nicole Kidman and opens Dec. 7, will entice parents to buy his trilogy as a Christmas gift. It is our hope that the film fails to meet box office expectations and that his books attract few buyers. We are doing much more than hoping — we are conducting a nationwide two-month protest of Pullman's work and the film. To that end, we have prepared a booklet, The Golden Compass: Agenda Unmasked, that tears the mask off the movie. It is not our position that the movie will strike Christians as troubling. Then why the protest? Even though the film is based on the least offensive of the three books, and even though it is clear that the producers are watering down the most despicable elements — so as to make money and not anger Christians — the fact remains that the movie is bait for the books. ... We are fighting a deceitful stealth campaign on the part of the film's producers. Our goal is to educate Christians so that they know exactly what the film's pernicious agenda really is." — Catholic League president Bill Donohue [Source: catholicleague.org, 10/9/07 c&e]

This also caught my attention in an e-mail I received from a friend..

"The anti-religious themes get progressively stronger with each book in the trilogy; in the final installment, the characters succeed in killing a character called God — who turns out to be a phony, and not God after all. The series has soared to the top of bestseller lists in the U.K. and other countries but has not caught on in the United States."

My husband mentioned this morning that the author is a hypocrite. "He claims to be an atheist (doesn't believe in God) and then uses God in his books. How can he write about something he claims doesn't exists?" I thought that was kinda funny.

Smiles!

What does "Meme" mean anyway?

I was tagged by Cheri and Kim to do this Meme. I have seen these going around and have wondered what Meme really means. I was thinking it was pronounced "me-me". It is not. I discovered it rhymes with dream. So now that I have educated myself this morning I will do the Meme that was requested of me.

8 Random Facts Meme

1. I have bungee jumped and my father has a video to prove it. (and no I won't be doing it again)
2. I have an Associates Degree in Technical Drafting and Tool Design from Ferris State University. (not so girlie after all)
3. I was a cheerleader in High School. (okay maybe a little girlie yet)
4. I had my 4th child 2 days after my 30th birthday. (Kim might find that funny compared to her 3rd fact)
5. I loved being pregnant. (and would love to be pregnant again but dear hubby has made certain that that can't happen again)
6. I am the 5th "J" in my family. (John and Judy had Jodi, Julie, and Jennifer and owned a dog named Joker)
7. I was never given a middle name just a middle initial. (the story goes that they couldn't think of a good middle name and my father said you never use your middle name anyway because documents just ask for a middle initial so they just gave me an "L" yup weird!)
8. When Mark and I got married we wanted to have 6 kids. (now number 5 makes more sense doesn't it, I think I got cheated somehow)

So there you go. I hope that was "random" enough for y'all.

I will tag...
Jenni
Jennifer
Jenna
Jennifer
(am I making you laugh yet?)
Jennifer
I was hoping for 8 but this is all I got so I will add...
Anna
Kaylyn
because they REALLY need a reason to update.

Smiles!

Good Fun!

So what do you do after you have eaten so much that you can't eat no more?

Board games of course.

Here is my favorite game, Settlers of Catan. Zack and I taught my nephew Brandon and Mark how to play it. Pastor Brandon (sorry to be so formal and all but I don't want everyone confusing you with my previously mentioned nephew) can appreciate this picture of Zack asking his dad what he would like to trade. I think Mark got just as frustrated with Zack as Pastor Brandon did when we played it in Chicago with the "that doesn't even make sense" trades Zack tries to offer.


I also warned both Mark and my nephew not to tell Zack what they had in their hand just in case Zack draws a Monopoly card and my quick learnin' hubby used it against Zack and me.


Pastor Brandon does this sound familiar...

Mark: "Zack you got any ore?"

Zack: "Yeah, but I'm not giving it to you!"

Mark: "Jen you got any ore?"

Jen: "Yeah but I really can't trade it."

Mark flips his Monopoly card and says (all proud of himself like), "Everyone hand over your ore."

Zack and Jen: "That's just not right!"

Then Mark proceeded to laugh so hard Zack asked him if he was going to be okay because Mark's face was beat red and he started coughing like crazy. That'll teach him to not be so scandalous. I had to include that last word (scandalous) 'cause it was Zack's "word of the day" apparently because he kept repeating it.



Mark had just tons of energy because he had spent the afternoon at my mother's house doing a lot of this during the football game...


Note the remote on his lap even though he fell asleep for almost an hour and then the rest of the guys had to watch the football game over his snoring. I am glad he feels so at home my my father's chair.



Smiles!

So much to be thankful for...

Libby must have been telling her Great Grandma something interesting. Aunt Jodi was listening in on it also.

My sister Julie is talking to my Grandmother. Julie is the excited mother-to-be of the baby represented in the ticker on the side. Isn't she just glowing? I am so excited for her!
Two of the important men in my life are carving the turkeys. That is right, we have 2 turkeys every year. My mother roasts one traditional turkey in the oven and my father deep fries a second turkey. I look forward to the deep fried turkey because it is so moist and juicy. That is my Grandma in between them pointing out something to her son.
I think my dad is wondering what is taking Mark so long to carve that bird since he has finished carving his already. In the background is my busy mother and I am bummed now that I realize I didn't get any pictures of her because she was busy at work preparing for us. I will do better at Christmas, I promise.

Here is my father sitting next to his mother at the head of the table. He is deciding how he is going to sign his name this year on the table cloth. And Grandma is giving me her "Jenny put that camera away right now" look. I love you Grandma and I want pictures of you for the scrap books. She wasn't really mad at me she was just being funny. I don't think she has ever really been mad at me.
Here is my most favorite part of the entire meal my mother's pumpkin pie. My sister can't eat flour so I even ate her crust for her. It is the best crust ever I just love it!
Do you see the names on the table cloth? Every year whoever is sitting around the table signs the table cloth with a pencil then my sister takes it home and embroiders over the name with floss. She uses a different color for every year. It is really quite a keepsake.
Around the table starting with Grandma.
Grandpa, Uncle Jer, nephew Derek, Brother-in-love Randy, hubby Mark, brother-in-love Leo. My sister Jodi is sitting next to Randy but Mark is kinda blocking her out of the picture.
Here is my Grandpa trying to decide how to sign the table cloth this year and Grandma giving her two cents.

Here is my handsome son watching him some football. What would Thanksgiving be without a little of the the Detroit Lions. Isn't he handsome? I am so proud of the young man he is becoming. Check it out, in the background way to the left is my mother again still busy at work.

I hope you all had a wonderful time with family and friends.
Smiles!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Zingerbug on imikimi - Customize Your World

Free CD if you act fast...

( click on the picture above)

If you are a blogger who lives in the U.S. and would like a free copy of Michael W. Smith’s, It’s A Wonderful Christmas CD, click on the button you see below.
There are 150 free copies waiting for the blogging internets.

Okay in my haste to get this out there for y'all I didn't read the fine print. Apparently there is some "criteria" you have to meet in order to "eligible" for the free CD. But hey it is worth checking out and we will see what happens.

Smiles!

Big blog hugs to Megan!!!

I wish I lived close to Megan because I would give her a huge hug! I made her Red Beans and Rice for dinner tonight and it was a big hit! (Addendum: I used the "Mom's Red Beans and Rice" recipe.) It is a must make comfort type food that y'all must try. I was planning on following it up with Megan's Cranapple Crunch for a before bed treat but my little darlings attacked the apples that I bought on Saturday and when I went to retrieve them from the refrigerator there was only one lone apple. Bummer. Maybe tomorrow night. I also picked up some vanilla ice cream to top it with (thanks again to a timely e-mail suggestion from Megan) but that has also taken a major hit from the family.

So here's to you Megan...

YOU ROCK SISTA!!!!

Smiles!

Timing is everything?

It is hunting season, as you can see from previous posts, but what you may not realize is that this causes me to be somewhat of a single mom. So off to church I go yesterday with the girls in tow. I teach Young Children and Worship during first service and this is usually not an issue because dear hubby would be sitting in church with the youngest charges next to him keeping an ever so watchful eye. Well yesterday I needed oldest daughter to help me in YC&W. That left lovely 12 and 8 year old daughters to be the responsible youngsters I raised them to be and sit very quietly in church ALONE for the last 45min of church. Silly me, I hadn't even made it to my Sunday School class before the first comment came up about my little darlings and their not so appropriate behavior. Okay this first comment was made by the couple that sits right behind us so they had a close up view. And in my girls defense the husband hushed his wife with "they were not being a distraction". Maybe they weren't really that bad. Again, SILLY ME, by the time I was ready to leave church that morning it was quite apparent to me from random comments that I would be having a not so nice chat with the accomplices before lunch. I need to add in here that 2nd service ran VERY late so I was already feeling a bit behind the gun in getting lunch on the table. But first I had to find the kitchen counter. So dear hubby arrives home and finds me in not such a "happy welcome home honey" mood. I politely ask him to leave the kitchen area so that I can finish getting dinner done. He obliges but in his dismissal he decides now would be a good time to share a little bit of information he acquired from his brother this weekend. "Hey I asked Dave this weekend where Christmas was going to be this year and Dave said 'wherever you pick I guess... it is your year'!!!!!!" Now here is the timing is everything part....

WHY WOULD MY HUSBAND CHOOSE TO TELL ME THAT RIGHT THEN WHEN I AM HAVING SUCH A BANNER DAY ALREADY???? I can't possibly fit 27 people in my living room.

I love my husband

I love my husband

I love my husband

I love my husband

Smiles!

Hunting success!

Mark took Zack, Anna, Kaylyn, and Dani (Anna's friend) up north Wednesday night after youth group so they would be ready to head out into the woods first thing Thursday morning.


Zack sat by himself in the morning and shot the biggest buck he has ever had a chance at. He was a very excited young man! You'll have to ask Mark to share (my man loves telling stories) about Zack's excitement.


Anna and Dani sat in a blind together. They didn't have much luck but what a better way to spend a day off school then to sit together in a hunting blind. Oh the memories those girls will have.


Kaylyn sat with Mark (and Zack in the afternoon). She shot her very first deer! I was so worried about that tender-hearted girl and how she would handle the emotions involved, but Mark said she was soooo pumped about it. Yeah!





I know hunting involves death which in turn involves blood... but we (as a family) usually do a better job at making certain there isn't so much blood in the pictures. So I hope these pictures weren't too "real" for some of you. If so please accept my apologies as I am very aware that hunting isn't for everyone. (If you don't click on the pictures you probably can't see what I am talking about. So if it is an issue, don't click.)


Have a great day!
Smiles!

Amen!

Sent to me via e-mail from my Uncle Blaine...

However, I noticed that Cheryl beat me and posted it yesterday.

I am "hunting for the floor" in youngest two girl's room today while the mighty hunters are up north in search of great "buck". Hopefully I don't get lost while I am in there. Yes, it really is that bad!!!


Smiles!

Libby's purse

Here you go, yet one more purse picture. Are you getting sick of them yet?

The first time I washed the purse it didn't shrink up much so I sent it through a second time, whoa, who would have thought it could have gotten that small?!?!?! I really had to stretch it just to get it to the size it is now. Lesson learned, watch closely while felting.

Good thing Libby still likes it however, it won't be her bible bag like she was hoping. Big thanks to Khrista for sharing this wonderful pattern! Libby thanks you too!

Smiles!

Lynnea's Potato Soup

Lynnea's Potato Soup

In a large pan add:
6 lg potatoes or more, peel and dice (if using red-skin potatoes, I don't peel and I use about 8)
3 celery stalks, cut in bite size pieces
3 lg. carrots, cut in bite size pieces
1 sm. onion, chopped
Cover with water and boil until veggies are soft. Stir occasionally.

In med. sauce pan add: (I do this part in the microwave)
6 T butter
6 T flour
* make a paste
salt and pepper to taste (I just pepper, the ham adds enough salt for us)
Also add:
1-1/2 c. milk
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
Stir until all ingredients are smooth.

Then combine with veggies. (Note: I remove some of the veggie water before adding the rest because hubby doesn't like "watery" soup. I usually remove enough so that the veggies are just above the water line.)

Add some ham chunks - amount is flexible.

Simmer for an hour.

Enjoy!

An Award from Kat and a lot of misc. stuff.

Kat at justabeachkat has given me a special award. Thanks Kat! I needed that today.







If you are still wondering what last night's dinner was here is a picture of the leftovers....

It is my girlfriend's (Lynnea) Potato Soup that my dear hubby says is the absolute best Potato Soup and coming from a man who loves his soup that is not to be taken lightly. When I have more energy I will post the recipe.




For the first time, probably ever, I did not get up with my oldest three this morning to help them get ready for school. I woke the girls up and climbed back into bed and set my alarm to get Libby up later. Poor kids. I just finished getting Libby on her bus and now I am going to crawl back into bed. Last week Wednesday night I noticed I was starting to loose my voice. By Thursday I was sounding like an 80 year old woman who had been smoking since she was 10. I haven't had a full night of sleep since then. I felt like I was trying to swallow a tennis ball for the first couple of days. Now the huge lump feeling is gone but my throat is raw. I think the cold is now heading north. Monday morning I couldn't stop sneezing and blowing my nose. Of course, now my nose is also raw which is such a pretty picture. So I am going to give into my body's cry for rest today and sleep. I hope the world doesn't come to a screeching halt.


Smiles!

Kaylyn's purse is finished now on to dinner...

Here is Kaylyn's purse. I did this over the weekend and just finished washing/felting it this morning. She is going to be so excited! I wasn't feeling well yesterday because I have had a terribly sore throat that has been keeping me from getting a full night sleep for the past 3 nights so much to Kaylyn's disappointment I just wasn't up to working on it much yesterday.

I haven't "shaved" it yet like I did for Anna's because I like the fuzzy look so I will wait and see if Kaylyn would prefer to leave it fuzzy. Kaylyn also purchased a fun button for the closure.

Added: Kaylyn wanted it shaved so here you go. She's right, it looks better shaved.

I have already started Libby's so I will post those pictures when I get it done.


I am moving on to dinner now, can you guess what it will be from this picture?

Have a wonderful day. It is gorgeous weather here in Michigan today!

Smiles!

The secret to good leftovers....

So it was another busy night at the Hill house last night. First we had a Parent Teacher Conference to go to for Libby. She is doing excellent as far as her academics. We are told she is reading at a 7th grade level, excelling in Math, understanding the concepts learned in Science and Social Studies, HOWEVER my daughter has become a vandal. WHAT!?!?! The teacher asked me if Libby mentioned having to stay in at recess last week and scrub her desk. I, nervously, said that she hadn't mentioned this to me. Apparently Libby and another boy decided to write on the sides of their desks. So the wise teacher made her (and the other boy) stay in at recess and scrub their desks with paper towel and hand soap while she explained to them the importance of respecting property. She went on to tell us you really have to work at it to get it off using this method but it is a good learning process. She also mentioned she could have just had the janitor come in and spray his magic cleaner on it and it would have wiped right off but she didn't want to let the kids off the hook that easily. Too funny! I like this teacher!

Next on the agenda... 20% off wool yarn at Country Needle Works from 6pm-9pm (or so the ad led us to believe, in actuality the sale was all day the "open house" was from 6-9 wish I had known that I would have gone earlier). So off the Hill women go to buy us some yarn. We have had a couple comments from people "who can't knit" mention they would love a purse like this that I thought, okay Brenda suggested, it would be a good way to raise money for the mission trip to Haiti this summer if I made up some purses to sell. Anna wants to make some more scarfs. She could make scarfs all day long.

What does this have to do with leftovers? Hang in there I will get to it....

We rush back home, drop off Kaylyn and Libby, pick up Mark and head to church for a meeting. Anna came with us to watch some younger kids of other parents that were attending the meeting or as Brandon requested, "just make sure they aren't throwing popcorn all over the floor". We left Zack in charge of the home front.

So what do you do for supper on a super crazy night like this? Well I usually tackle this issue by making something that warms back up easily so everyone can eat at different times that best work for them. Last nights meal was "Quick-Fix Beef Burrito Skillet" (doubled of course for our big family) which Mark said the last time I made it, "You can make this whenever you want". Meaning, I just LOVE this stuff. So you can imagine his delight when he got home. So while the women were out yarn shopping he was quickly eating so he would be ready to go when I got back home. I should mention that by now the kids and I have already eaten. I would like to believe that in the haste of the evening he didn't have the chance to put the leftovers away (in actuality he was probably thinking "I am eating the rest of that when I get back home so why bother getting another container dirty" and in case you are wondering, yes I think that's gross but he hasn't died yet from doing it). So we get back home around 9pm and while I am hurrying kids to bed he enjoys the leftovers.... are you ready? This is the whole reason for the post. After taking the last yummy bite he notices that someone (I am guessing Libby from the handwriting) left a very interesting message under my agenda for the evening...

For anyone who can't make out what our precious daughter wrote it says, "Don't eat Gunner Slobber!" Apparently, under Zack's not so watchful eye, Libby caught the hound dog helping himself to the yummy leftovers and instead of throwing it away she chose to leave a warning sign. You think Mark will still be making a habit of eating food that has been left out on the counter? Probably, but I am hoping he will be looking for a warning sign first next time.

Smiles!

As promised.

Here you go, the finished product. Anna is very pleased with it (after I "shaved" it for her). See used wool yarn with Angora and apparently I didn't mention to her that Angora would be fuzzy. No worries. I took out the clipper we use on Mark and Zack and I shaved the whole purse for her. Ta Da! I am excited to make one for Kaylyn. Maybe I will need to purchase some yarn for one for myself also. Hmmmmm...
Smiles!

Before now, after to come later...

Here is the before picture I will post the after picture later.

This is a project that Anna has recently finished and she is waiting on me to help felt it. Well I seen this adorable purse on a blog that I bounced to from Bonnie's blog this morning and just new I have to get Anna's purse done.

So when Anna gets home from school today this is what we will be doing and I will post a picture of the finished bag asap.

If you have never heard of felting I will give a quick explanation. Some of you may have done it completely by accident and turned your favorite wool sweater into something only your toddler can now wear. It's okay to admit I did it to one of my very favorite sweaters that snuck into the laundry without me noticing.

Felting instructions: (this only works on projects knit with wool yarn) Felting is best accomplished by machine washing the item in VERY HOT SUDSY water, agitation on the longest cycle, then rinsing in VERY COLD water. Repeat if necessary. Shape if needed, feeling free to "tug" and "pull" at the yarn, as it is very sturdy. Lay flat to dry.

I can't wait to see how it will look when it is done.

Country Needle Works is having a 20% off sale on wool yarn this week Thursday from 6-9pm. Kaylyn and I are going to go because she would also like a purse like this but she doesn't have the patience to knit it herself. I told her if she buys the yarn I will knit it up for her. Wool yarn is rather expensive compared to regular yarn and then to make it worse you need to knit the project extra big because the felting shrinks it down so you go through more of the yarn.

The nice thing about felting is little mistakes are hidden so it is a "less stressful" project for beginners because in the end no one, even them, will see the mistakes.

Smiles!

A wonderful surprise!

Mark's work is changing some landscaping and in the process needed to dig up a whole lot of burning bushes. Mark didn't want to see them go to waste so he took our trailer to work and had the guys load the bushes on the trailer as they were digging them up. He had planned to put them around the fence of our pool to try to keep our English Setter from digging under the fence in the summer. She likes to run back and forth on our pool steps to cool off and get a drink. This is a problem because she is usually filthy from running in dirt and makes a mess of the pool.

The trailer, full of bushes, has been sitting in the back yard for the past 2 days waiting to be planted but of course dear hubby has no free time being that is hunting season. (priorities?) He mentioned to Zack (without my knowledge) that if he would get some of his buddies to help him plant them Mark would pay the boys for their time.

I left to get groceries with the girls this afternoon and when I got home this is what I discovered...

What a wonderful surprise that was for me! Aren't they going to be gorgeous next summer/fall? They are hinting that we may be getting snow here as soon as this coming Tuesday so the timing of the boys couldn't have been better.

Thank you to Zack, Cody, BJ, and Josh! You boys rock!
Smiles!

1,000 Gifts List

I'm starting a 1,000 Gifts List at Ann's suggestion. I originally found it at Jennifer's site. I am hoping it will help keep my family's focus on what really matters, God and all his wonderful blessings. I will occasionally add some of the "gifts" that we have recorded. I am curious to see how long it will take us to get to 1,000.




1. seeing my children showing each other love
2. unexpected hugs and kisses

Smiles!