2137 days of Flicka

You are six today. It's hard to believe. We were on our knees for 3 years praying for you. And, at last, you were due to arrive from Heaven on Leap Day 2004 and instead leaped into our hearts and still hold them in your hand.
You are goofy, emotional, stubborn, smart, and *ahem* persuasive. You have this crazy laugh and an even crazier love-hate relationship with your brother that I'm still trying to understand.
Unlike your brother, God hasn't deemed it necessary to give us a peek into what you might do when you grow up, what His plan might be for you. But, I'm sure whatever it is, it's something that will testify to what a miracle you are.
You are entirely like me one day and entirely like your father the next. Practical, frugal, and crafty one minute and then industrious, imaginative, and exploding with new ideas the next.
Over the last month or so, your daddy and I have been brought to tears at how fast you are growing up. Looking at these pictures that Daddy took of you, I can picture your wedding day and fear it's not far enough away for my liking.
Happy birthday, my angel. You are God's promise and answered prayer to us all rolled up into one feisty and beautiful package. We love you beyond words.

Happy Birthday my precious little man of God

You aren't even supposed to be here. The wisdom of this world said the odds were too great. But, my God is greater! You arrived from heaven on this date four years ago huge, heavy, kicking and screaming.

You were my "John the Baptist" in the womb - dancing and leaping each time Daddy and I were singing at church or at home. And, now you already have such a fine and quick brain for the stories and things of God. (We just have to work on your praying LOL)

While still growing within me, many prayers and prophecies were spoken over you. I have no doubt that they will come to pass. I still remember the day Pastor Deb and the ladies of the church laid hands on me and my very pregnant belly. You "jumped" liked nothing I had ever experienced and I felt the hand of God that morning. I can still feel it deeper than anything I've ever felt before. I'm in awe at the wondrous things God has planned for you.

You are feisty, empathetic, and a better share-er than any child your age I've ever seen. You are such a snuggle bug and a wonderful giver of hugs and kisses. You are braver than any preschooler I've seen having already have stood your ground against "giants" (a 6 year old) to defend and protect your sister. You are good with details and things being "just so" SO much more than either of your parents. Now if you could just apply that trait to keeping your room clean...LOL

Your daddy and I can not WAIT to see what God has for you to do in your life because we have been assured that it will be something great! Happy birthday, sweet boy. May God continue to overwhelm you with his blessings!

2010's Goals to Achieve

I've never been one for "resolutions" - well, at least I've never been successful at resolutions. But, now that DaHubby and I completed Financial Peace University in 2007, we realize how important setting goals are to achieve the things we desire for ourselves and our family as a whole.

My goal setting has always been more of a personal thing. Not sure if I've been worried about letting out some "secret" that I'm weak in certain areas or knowing that if I didn't succeed no one would know or care.

Also, as an adult ADD-er, goal setting is a minefield that could easily put me into counseling again. LOL Keeping goals manageable, accountable, measurable, specific, blah blah blah does not really meld well with my ADD tendencies. Most times I sincerely forget because I just get caught up in something else.

And, the thought of having to be accountable and consistent with ANYTHING for a WHOLE year, scares the ADD pants off me!

But, I'm always up for some self-abuse in the interest of self-improvement. LOL

I used 43things.com for most of 2008 and found a lot of success with it; in 2009, not so much. But, then after doing some more reading here about more realistic goal setting for ADD-ers and reflecting more about Dave Ramsey's "baby steps" to success I've come up with a few for 2010.

Build 1 month food emergency fund (to be done probably on a 5-pay month)
Restocking the emergency fund to chosen amount (first third of year)
Read at least a book a month (all year)
Paint Pojke's room and then Flicka's room (in the spring)
Paint kitchen (summer project)
Read the entire Bible (all year)
Keep a prayer journal (all year)
Start donating blood again on ARC's schedule (all year)

And, work on being more healthy with 4 specific goals here:

working out (starting at 2x/week & working up to 4x/week),
eating sweets/drinking soda only on weekends, (first half of the year)
eating more veggies and fruit (second half of the year)
food journaling (first third of year)

Now, all this being said, there needs to be room for flexibility.

First, I'm sure I've forgotten something. LOL Second, we have winter and spring semester to survive with DaHubby's schooling.

Finally, DaHubby graduates this year which means that, at the end of 2010, we could still be living in this house with Flicka at her current school OR we could have just completed a cross country move to a new job and a new school for Flicka.

Wherever God and DaHubby lead, we will follow so all the above are still subject to change...probably before March! LOL

It's been worth it.

As a mom with little ones, we're often faced with the question "is the mess worth it?" Is the joy that the kids' experiencing worth the mess, the money, whatever?

In this category for me personally are times like when I made the Vikings a rice table in the house or let them "finger paint" with pudding or play with shaving cream outside. It's often the suspension of "being a mom" and jumping in on the fun or allowing a little "organized chaos" enter into a regular day.

If I was being transparent, I often have trouble with this. I often see more of the laborious prep and clean up rather than the joy something will bring the Vikings...but I'm working on that. And, the last 3 days are a testimony to that effort.

I haven't cooked a "regular" sit-down meal in 3 days. We've grazing as we are hungry, eating sandwiches and leftovers, completely off our schedule. We've had a breakfast at 11am and a dinner at 8pm.

We are watching more TV than DaHubby and I would normally allow but have been snuggling more. And, that's not including the brand-new Wii which joined the family Friday and has over 9 hours of use on it.

We've spent all but a few hours since Thursday in our PJ's. We've only left the house once...to treat ourselves to a McDonald's breakfast and visit DaGrandparents for a while yesterday.

We've not taken our vitamins in a week! *gasp* LOL

The only "work" I've done in a load of dishes each day while DaHubby has "only" shoveled and snowblowed.

We haven't woke up before 8am since Thursday.

Last Friday's clean laundry is still in a basket in the hallway, there's a load of whites "missing", we're low on underwear and socks but I still might not get to laundry today.

The kids' rooms are TRASHED as is the living room except for the once-a-day, midday clean up that I still insist on.

But what was the return on this investment of laziness? Three days of giggling, snuggling, laughing, overeating, and spending long stretches of uninterrupted quality time with DaHubby who heads back to work tomorrow and to a full load of school commitments in 2 weeks.

As an organizationally-challenged adult ADD-er, it is gonna take me WEEKS to get us back on track. But, that's OK.

It's been worth it.

Ho, ho, ho!

Another guest post at lakemichiganfamily.com is up today. Go check it out!

Wordless Wednesday: My little St Lucia

(In a hat tip to DaHub's Swedish heritage, Flicka dresses up each December 13th for St Lucia Day and takes goodies to her grandparents. However, Grandpa was too sick this year so Flicka took her show on the road...to school! LOL I doubt St Lucia had the red glittery dress-up shoes though. :))

For more WW, go here or here.

Seven days of fun; seven more to come.

Please stop by Lake Michigan Family today to see my guest post about our ongoing adventures with the Vikings Family Advent Calendar. Go now...please? LOL

Week 2 Preview

We're already into week to of our 5th annual Viking Family Advent Calendar. I'm guest posting over at Lake Michigan Family about it. See what we'll be up to the next 7 days here. Go...now...pretty please?

Flown By

The first week of our Vikings Family Advent Calendar is complete. My guest post at Lake Michigan Family has all the details! Go there...now....please? LOL

Tuesday Tip Jar

Been out of the loop lately in my little corner of the blogosphere so just jumping back in (again) with a TTJ tip. This has worked well for me the last two years. While I'm not doing it this year, I would definitely still recommend it to anyone who asks.

Keeping in mind the economy and its effects on most everyone I know plus the added benefit of handmade vs. store-bought presents, in terms of extended family Christmas gifts, try giving everyone the same thing!

Two years ago, many of my extended family got an individual Christmas ornament picked out just for them. Last year, I went all crafty and made about about 12 to 15 corn pillows out of regular placemats from Big Lot for all the all the grandparents, aunts, uncles, and such.

Now, I'm about the frugal, homemade, and sincere. I'm not talking about taking this route only to make your life easier but it does have that added benefit since you can do all your gifts at once (either at home or in one store). In addition, for those of us on tight budgets, you have a relatively fixed cost of what to expect at the cash register.

For more TTJ's, go to Blogmommas today.

5th Annual Vikings Family Advent Calendar

I'm guest posting several times in December at Lake Michigan Family with the previews and wrap-ups but those interested in our full list...this is what we'll be doing around the Viking Hus the next 25 days:

1 paper snowflakes
2 walk-in crafts at Lincoln Twsp library 6-8pm
3 GSBC holiday party
4 hosting MOMS Club craft/Light Up the Bluff 7pm
5 Reindog parade/Maud Preston Library sweet shoppe
6 put up Cmas tree
7 wreaths from paper plates
8 see downtown snowman
9 Swedish paper hearts for tree
10 make hot chocolate mix
11 YMCA family night
12 Curious Kids crafting
13 St Lucia Day
14 SJ schools holiday concert at Mendel
15 Parents As Teachers holiday party at the RESA
16 red/green RC treats
17 school donation
18 make Scottish bannock cake/Y family night
19 ice skating? Or Barker mansion light display? Lake Michigan Admirals game?
20 Polish star craft
21 Cmas cookies
22 Grinch 1pm @ Linc Twsp library
23 something for birds
24 Jesus b-day party - cake/balloons/the whole sh-bang!
25 Christmas

It's nearly that time again...

So, I've got the 5th annual Vikings family advent calendar ready to go starting Tuesday. But, this year, there's a little twist on things. Meagan at Lake Michigan Family wants me to guest post our adventure this year.

Since so many of the activities included this year have to do with many of the wonderful (and often free) activities in Southwest Michigan, she'd like me to share with her readers as well.

I will be posting there but will be linking to it from here starting Monday. If you are interested in peeking at our previous attempts, I have three of them. (I wasn't blogging in 2005.) But, I DO have them for 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Please meander through the old posts and come back Mondays and Tuesdays in December see a preview or a wrap-up of what we've been doing.

Happy Eighth to me!

Eight years ago today, all my dreams came true...


Thank you, my love, for the promises you've kept and the life you've built for us. You honor me more than you know and I'm so proud to be your wife. Thank you most of all for the Vikings (the little mini-you's LOL) and all the laughter. My life is forever changed.

Happy Earth Day

What a lovely coincidence - look what we found today!

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Tartan Day!!

Where would we be without Americans of Scottish descent? Well, where would we be without...

9 of the 13 original governors of the colonies?

or these men of the first American cabinet:
Secretary of State - Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of the Treasury - Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War - Henry Knox

Or John Paul (alias John Paul Jones, the founder of the U.S. Navy?

Lt Col. George Armstrong Custer, Kit Carson, or Davy Crockett?

Or food-related Scots Joseph Campbell (of Campbell's Soups) or John MacIntosh (of apple fame)

What would the late 1800's have been without General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, or Robert E. Lee?

How 'bout Alexander Graham Bell, Andrew Carnegie, or Bill Gates?

Today is National Tartan Day which is North American commemoration of Scottish heritage celebrated in Canada and the USA. According to a 2006 statistic, there are roughly 6 million people of Scottish descent in the United States.

And, it is held on April 6 which the anniversary of the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was created in 1320 - which is a Scottish declaration of independence which established it as its own monarchy instead of a feudal piece of England.

So, while March 17th is reserved for the Irish, today is reserved for their neighbors to the northeast.

And, since I come by my frugalness by my heritage (LOL), I'll leave you with this:

"Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves." and

"Money is flat and was meant to be piled up."

Happy Tartan Day!

The Party

I scrolled back and realized I had posted any of the party pics here at the blog! *smacks forehead*

So, for those of you who haven't seen the photos yet on my Facebook page...it's quicker to give you the FB photo album link that load them all up to Blogger so...here ya go! LOL

Flicka's birthday cake

With thanks to my mom-in-law...

Happy birthday to my "sweetheart miracle"! I pray this year teaches you more about yourself, about God, and is a kind one to you. XOXO

Shhhh...a boobytrap! *tee, hee*

And, when Flicka opens her door in the morning...an avalanche of balloons for the girl's actual birthday!

41 reasons to be thankful

Well, it has been 14,965 days since I was born but, while I'm sure the Lord's blessed me at least that many times since then, I don't have the time today to come up with 14,965 things to be thankful for! LOL Probably should have posted this yesterday for Thursday Thanks Tank but I'm in the midst of planning Flicka's own birthday extravaganza for tomorrow! LOL

So here goes...

for God's grace
for His word
His salvation
and His supply!
DaHubby
Flicka
Pojke
my parents and their spouses
my sisters
my extended family in SE Michigan
my in-laws
my extended family here in SW Michigan
my pastors
my local church family
my "church grandma" - Sister P.
my "church parents" - Brother and Sister B.
for Becca, Juli, and Beth who remind me WHY I believe
Lisa
Jill
Shelagh
Melanie
Melissa
all my new MOMS Club buddies
Anita, Sara, and all my early blogging buddies
Janet, Allana, and all my PAIF buddies (And, especially Allana since it's her b-day today too!)
for this home
for our transportation
for our technology which *tries* to make our lives easier! LOL
my health and that of DaHubby and the Vikings
DaHubby's job even as unsteady as it is
for DaHubby's college adviser - she's such a blessing in this stressful time
for Dave Ramsey's advice, class, and radio show
for living *just* where I dreamed I would when I was young
for closets with clothes and cabinets with food
for my joy in reading
for my joy in cooking
for my ADD (and that's a tough one to be thankful for! LOL) which blesses me in backhanded ways I couldn't have anticipated
for the miracle in Brother B last year
for the miracle in Peggy this last year
for the past year of craziness
and for the upcoming year...filled with God's promises!

Birthday Cake Round Up

You ever wonder about all those cool cakes some moms make for their kids' birthdays? Well, that ain't me! LOL While I have made it a tradition already that I try to make something cute, easy, and different each year for the Vikings' birthday, I'm definintely still in the Jiffy cake mix category!

So, I'm participating in a meme today that shares birthday cake ideas. I already linked up with these posts: Pojke 2009, Flicka 2008, and Pojke 2008. But, I can't find find a pictures of any of Flicka's other cakes. And, apparently I only posted about the type of cake I was going to make for Pojke's first birthday but never actual pics...so here's a pic of the table with the 3 Lego cakes I made in 2007.


If you are interested in seeing some *really* cool cakes, stop by FishMama's bloggy home today.