Sneak Peak

Today I took one of Owens little buddies 1 year pictures. Even though we didn't get to take them in the exact location we had hoped for (lesson learned) we got some pretty adorable shots! Thanks for letting me have the privlage of taking your little guys pictures, Kalina! Here is a sneak peak of some of the shots I got this afternoon. Enjoy!

Not Me Monday

Ive been reading other "Not Me" posts for awhile now but have never been brave enough to post my own. This week I'm sucking it up and confessing all. Well....some at least.

Last night I did not wait until my children went to bed to bake homemade cookies. I did not sit down and eat all but 4 of them last night with my husband resulting in us both having stomach aches before bed. Nope, not me! 

And, I did not secretly take a little relief in the fact that my kids had a stomach bug Saturday night through Sunday morning resulting in a lack of appetite yesterday. Their lack of appetite meant I did not have to cook any big meals because they weren't hungry. But, that lack of hunger didn't matter because I did not find relief in their lack of hunger from said stomach bug.

nope, not me. I wouldn't think that way!

I also did not pull the 'its Saturday and I want to lazy' card and leave the dishes in the sink until today. Nope, not me!

Well, see there. That was fun, wasn't it? I might just have to do that again sometime!

Spring has Sprung

Before I started staying home I worked as a studio manager for the Picture People. Each different event season {Christmas, V-day, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, 4th of July, Halloween} we'd come up with a new, catchy way to answer to the phone. For Spring one of our favorites was:

Spring has sprung here at the Picture People. Why don't you hop on in for some Spring pictures. When can I schedule your next appt?

Since I don't work at the Picture People anymore and would feel rather silly answering my phone with Spring has sprung here at the Lane household, how may I help you? I decided I'd use my blog to get that catchy phrase, along with new Spring pictures, out of my system!

Yesterday, was a beautiful Spring day and we spent most of it outside enjoying the warmth. It was pretty windy but I'm beginning to realize when you basically live in the middle of a field it's windy alot. Also, everyone looks pretty rough. We had no where to go and when thats the case the kids choose their own clothes. Trust me, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Lane, our nephew.

Purification.

Lately I've been really feeling like the Lord is prompting me to change some things in my life. 

A purification process if you will.

First, the way I spend my time.

I know, I know. I've said this before. But, this time I'm changing this big time. I've been really feeling led to give up Facebook...a Facebook fast of sorts, for awhile. But, I just have ignored that prompting. {Hows that for honesty?} So, starting Monday I'm giving up Facebook. For at least a week. Once that first week is up then I'll see how I'm doing. I'll re-evaluate where I'm at and how I'm managing my time. 

Why am I announcing this on my blog? Well, because I feel like maybe telling people on here will hold me more accountable on there. So, if you see me on FB this week...totally call me out :) And, some of you might actually have quiet status walls without all my updates :)

I have several books I'm in the process of reading right now that I'd like redirect my 'free time' to. 

{free time...with 4 kids and a husband...whats that?!}

I'm reading Passionate Housewives Desperate for God
Passionate Housewives Desperate for God, again, as part of an online book club. I'm also reading The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity
The Mission of Motherhood. Derek and I are reading Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God
>Family Driven Faith together. I'm also in the middle of the Breaking Free Bible study with a group of ladies from church. Wow. Who needs the internet when I have all of those to read...plus some.

I'm also planning a purification for the body.

Starting the Monday after Easter I'm going to start a cleanse diet. A purification of the body.

Inspired by my friend Hannah I'll be doing this diet. I wont be adding in the supplements this time around and since I'm nursing I'll continue to keep protein in my diet rather then eliminate it and reintroducing it at one point. 
This is going to a huge deal for me since I am addicted to Dr. Pepper and I LOVE breads. But, I'm excited to rid the toxins in my body and {maybe} lose the rest of the pregnancy weight that just.wont.go.away!

Most of all I'm excited to take this time and draw closer to the Lord. To see what He reveals to me through this purification processes. 

*I'll still be checking email and blogging. So, don't forget to keep checking back here for new posts on our happenings.

Natural Home Remedies

I have a few bloggy friends who have posted some wonderful natural home remedies for various things that I wanted to pass on. 

Among other recipes, The Mommy Place posted a recipe for 

Banana Conditioner:

1 banana
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

mash the banana in a bowl until completely smooth. Add mayonnaise & oil - blend until creamy. Must be used immediately. Apply conditioner to hair & cover your head with a shower cap. Leave on for 15 - 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water & shampoo as usual.

Check out her blog to see the other food recipes shes posted. Im excited to try them out!

Over at my friend Jennifer's blog shes posted a natural Liver and Gallbladder cleanse. 
If you, or anyone you know, has issues with Gallstones this would be a wonderful, natural remedy. 

While you're at their blogs let them know I sent you there ;)

A Great Giveaway

My friend, Stephanie, over at The Mommy Place is running an AWESOME giveaway over at her blog. You can go here to follow the directions and enter.

Thankful Thursday

This past week I have been dwelling worried a bit about the health care bill that was passed Sunday. I wont get on my soap box about that {for now}. But, with all this worry I have realized I need to focus my attention on not what could be but instead what is. 

I need to reflect on what I'm thankful for.

I'm sure out there in bloggyland there is another blog that does this as a blog carnival, and someday I may go look for it, but for now I'm doing it on my own. Hopefully every week!

So....this week for Thankful Thursday I am thankful for:

My husband. I haven't blogged about it, but plan to, but this past week my husband displayed the perfect example of showing grace to me. By the grace he showed to me through this experience he put on display the grace the Father shows to us when we mess up, for our children. The Lord reminded me through this how very blessed I am to have the husband I do.

My kids. I know I know, husband and kids. Of course I would list them on Thankful Thursday right? But, how can I not at least this first time. I am constantly amazed at the life the Lord has given me and the little people He has filled it with. {note to self: come back and read this when everything seems to be falling apart around here!}

My parents: I think I have just about the best mom in the world. A month ago they moved about 2 1/2 hours away and Tuesday my mom came to watch Audrey so I could take the big girls to a girls club theyre apart of. When we came home she had my kitchen cleaned and living room picked up for me. Such a blessing! She married my step-dad when I was 14 and although my world seemed upside for a few years I could not have asked for a better step-dad. He loves me, Derek and the kids just like we are his blood. And he makes my mom very happy. 

My church family: through the above mentioned situation where my sweet husband showed incredible grace for me, a family from our church stepped in and met an incredible need we had. They once again showed us the deep need and love of the fellowship of a church family in our lives.

I could go on and on. But, I'll stop for now.....otherwise I might run out of things for future weeks! Wait, I dont think thats possible.

Resurrection Cookies

This year our plan on the eve before Easter is to make "Resurrection cookies" with our kids. Well, the girls really. I've seen this recipe posted on one of my yahoo groups the past couple years but we have never made them. So, the very day that I went on there to search for the posts containing the recipe someone shared it again this year! (Thanks, Raye Ann!) Pretty cool how God knew exactly what I was looking for ;)

Consider making these with your kiddos this year as a way to really imprint the Easter story. I know my kids remember things so much better when we have a hands on learning experience to go along with it.

Annie's "Resurrection Cookies" Page
~Also known as Easter Story Cookies~

So Grab your Apron and Let's Get Started!!!!!!!

You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter.  

Preheat oven to 300F.

*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).

Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon

to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested.  He
was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read: John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar
to drink. Read: John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life
to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest
into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to
know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins
have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20&22

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked
surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9

If you blog and make these and then blog about it, come link up your blog post about it in the comments section so we can share the experience with each other!

Maybe a Few Bad Eggs

The other day I bought 3 dozen organic, grain fed, free range eggs. You know, the good kind. 
The expensive kind!
Well, that night the eggs got left in the car! YIKES!! It was in the 40s that night so I was hoping my eggs weren't ruined. But, with everything we've always been taught about food saftey I was sure they were ruined. 
I went ahead and put them in the fridge when I found them the next day and decided to do some research.

By research I mean....ask if anyone knew if they would still be ok via my status update on Facebook ;)

Leave it to fellow 'friends' to know their stuff. One of my friends posted a response that if the eggs sink they're still good. If they float they're bad.

With that information I did a little more research via Google. Because, you know, everything that pops up on a Google search is reliable and all. {smile}

Indeed my friend was right! Apparently, when eggs are bad they release gases and when that bad egg is dropped in the water it will float because of the gasses that were released inside the shell. 
Interesting.
This morning I wanted to make banana muffins and needed an egg. So, I put the sink/float thing to test. And....my eggs sunk! I tested several of them, just to be certain.
Yippee! 
They weren't ruined! 

Hopefully, someone out there who might read this blog doesn't know this little tidbit of info either and I have shared some wonderful, new knowledge with you!
Yet another benefit of the blog-o-sphere.

The misconception of mom bloggers

Blogs are an interesting thing. 

You can post anything you want. Anyone can make their awful life look wonderful on paper over the internet. Any bad mom can seem like super mom through her blog posts. Heck, I bet if you blogged enough positive things about your life it might actually start turning that way....{positive thinking here}, if it wasn't already. 

There is this misconception when moms read other moms blogs. I've fallen into this trap myself. You go to one moms blog and read about her wonderful life. How she does these wonderful unit studies with her children, bakes everything from scratch, teaches her children wonderful Bible lessons, is always on top of her laundry, has a super organized house and a wonderful marriage. Oh and did I mention she has a billion kids and still manages these things? 


While, I am sure there ARE those families out there, I would venture to guess theres not too many of them. I would venture to guess that most of the families we follow online are imperfect.
Just like I am. 
I bet those moms laundry falls behind, I bet theres been times shes fed her kids cereal twice a day during her first trimester because she can hardly function let alone cook. I bet her kids fight and sometimes forget to brush their teeth. 


My point is this: most blogs only show what they want you to see. Most blogs don't show the nitty gritty 'I don't have everything together' parts of their lives. And thats ok, INPO *in my personal opinion*. 


If I were on a mission field in a foreign land and was keeping a blog of my daily life I don't think I would be blogging about the bad side of it. I would be blogging about all the wonderful things that the Lord is doing while I'm on that mission field. I wouldn't be getting online to tell the world how bad the people stink {think poopy diapers or potty training here} or how poor my living conditions are {not being content with the home the Lord had given me and sqeezing 6 people in a 2 bedroom home} or the frustration with the people I'm involved with on a daily basis {fighting amoungst the children}. 

No, I would be sharing the good side.

Sharing the victories and accomplishments through the grace of God. I would be sharing the joy and excitement I am experiencing right where the Lord has me.  Right here. Right now.


So, that is the mission of blogging through this motherhood journey. No, most of the mommy bloggers out there {including myself!!} are NOT perfect. Does that make the blog entries any less real? Nope. It just means we're choosing to show the good side of the mission the Lord has us on! The mission of motherhood! Following Philipians 2:14 and 15. 

¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or complaining, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Blogging about the good things isn't meant for discouragement for others. Its meant as ENCOURAGEMENT! I can't tell you how many time I have stumbled upon a blog, or visited one I frequent already, and have found the perfect encouragement for a challenge I'm already facing. Or, found a new way to do a task I struggle with. 

My prayer for anyone reading my blog is that everything I post brings encouragement and glory to the Lord. Yes, I may occasionally post our family imperfections. But, for the most part, I will choose to post things which help build up this mission to which the Lord has called me to. 

This mission of motherhood.

 

*on a side note, I cant get the Adsense ads off the bottom of my posts...anyone have any advice? The gadget doesnt show up when I got to the layout.

ICE! for Dr. Seuss day

Back in November we went and saw ICE! at the Gaylord Texan. This year it was featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas so our girls were super excited! After not ordering tickets head of time and waiting for over 2 hours the day after Thanksgiving with a 4 month old, barely 2 year old and 3 older kids we entered the exhibit at around 9 pm.

We learned quite a few lessons that night. 

First, always pre-order tickets if the option is available. 

Second, don't go anywhere in public the day after Thankgiving. If you think everyone will be out shopping, they wont be. They're thinking the same thing you are and are probably going the same place you are.

Third, before driving almost 2 hours to your destination with overly excited children call ahead and make sure there is no other event going on. In this case it was Texas Tech Alumni weekend at the Gaylord. We were some of the few people not decked out in Red Raiders attire.

Fourth, there is no convincing overly excited children the wait for something is too long. They'll never agree when they've been counting on something for days. 

And lastly, even if you have to wait over 2 hours for your 'spot' in line to start moving and almost 3 hours to actually get into your event it will all be worth it in the end when the kids can't stop talking about it for days. Even if you have to deal with a screaming 4 month old who needs to be asleep in his bed but instead is being bundled and strolled through an ice exhibit that is 9 degrees cold. (No, really, it wasn't that bad)

All of that to say...we had a wonderful, memorable time! 

So, in honor of what would be the 106th birthday of Dr. Seuss here are our pictures from ICE! How the Grinch Stole Christmas

  The older boy with us is our nephew, Ethan. While everyone else, besides my parents, left, he stayed and hung out with us! Keep in mind everything is made of solid ice carvings!

All of us getting our parkas on.

 

All of us, including my nephew.

  

The ice slide!

  

 A nativity scene made out of ice. Pretty amazing...

And the winner is.....

Lucky #13! 

Luanne thats you! 

I'll be getting in touch with you to send you the info on how to download the Ebook of your choice! You are going to have so much fun with these with your kids no matter which ebook you end up choosing!

Thank you so much Activities in a Bag for donating one of these fun Ebooks!!