When Nate was about 4 years old he had his first real nightmare. I can't remember exactly what it was about but he talked about it for days. Over the years he's had quite a few more (usually about bugs, fires, falling, or being separated from Abi or Kenny) and so praying to not have nightmares has become a big part of our bedtime prayer time.
The other night, after our bedtime prayers, Nate said that he really wanted to trust God but he was just too afraid to go to sleep. After a few nights of hearing how scared Nate was, Abi and Kenny were starting to say that they were scared, too. I had to act fast!
And that's when I got my ingenious idea. I could almost see the light bulb glowing above my head.
I took a can of home fragrance spray- Spiced Cider- that my friend, Twila sent me a while back, and sprayed a shot in the kids' room. When Nate asked what it was I told him it was "sweet dreams spray". That as they fell asleep it would make them think of good things like apple pie and candy and make them have the sweetest dreams.
The minute they caught a whiff of the heavenly scent they totally fell for it.
So, I kissed them goodnight I begged God to make it work.
It did, and Nate hasn't had a bad dream all week. Every night the kids spray and I pray.
Hey, (defensive tone, here) kids have been fed bigger lies by their parents all throughout history and they grow up just fine. And my lie isn't really a lie. The scent does make them think of apple pie as they drift off. Abi said so.
Now if I could only figure out a way to make them fall for the "makes-you-cheerful-while-you-do-your-chores" spray, or the "makes-you-want-to-stop-sucking-your-thumb" spray.
Sigh... A mom can dream can't she? (and now, my dreams can be spiced cider scented)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Frugal Friday: Meatless Spaghetti Sauce
Yesterday I took advantage of the fact that Hetee will be out of town for two days and had a meatless meal with the kids. I was already planning on making spaghetti sauce and I usually brown some ground beef to go in it. But since Hetee wasn't here I decided to make it vegetarian. Not that he would have minded the vegetarian version, but I try to cook with meat for him because I know he enjoys it more.
All I did was prepare the sauce as usual and added zucchini, cut in medium sized squares. I cooked that down for about 15 minutes tops (I wasn't paying attention to the time) and it was ready. A LOT faster than if I had put meat in it, seeing as I would have had to thaw a chunk out, trim the gristle and hand grind it myself.
So this meal was very frugal both money and time wise. Something I really need at this stage in life! Have a blessed weekend and check out Biblical Womanhood for more great money-saving ideas!
All I did was prepare the sauce as usual and added zucchini, cut in medium sized squares. I cooked that down for about 15 minutes tops (I wasn't paying attention to the time) and it was ready. A LOT faster than if I had put meat in it, seeing as I would have had to thaw a chunk out, trim the gristle and hand grind it myself.
So this meal was very frugal both money and time wise. Something I really need at this stage in life! Have a blessed weekend and check out Biblical Womanhood for more great money-saving ideas!
Not A Nerd And Proud Of It!
The whole time I was taking this quiz I kept thinking Hetee would totally know the answer to this one.
I will get him to take it when he gets back from the countryside. Maybe it will prove something I already know and tell him all the time, that he's such a nerd!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What's Been Making Me Smile...
- Nate understanding the power of prayer in his life
- Warm arms to rest in every night
- Seeing Bogi and Enkhmaa in their new apartment
- Abi's beautiful hair
- Another baby saved from abortion, another mother spared the heartache
- Printing worksheets of the Internet for the kids and seeing their imaginations run wild
- Earlier bedtimes all around
- Peach jello with whip cream for dessert the other night
- Lost sheep returning to the fold
- Kenny's singing
- The digital camera which we thought was broken turned out to be ok. It was only the memory card that was broken. Yay!!!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Family Time And Slowing Down
Thanks for the encouragement, guys. After some prayer and purposeful de-stressing, I feel much better. I was able to see how I was allowing the stresses to creep in and get me down.
My headache is much better but I still feel a bit sensitive to light etc. So, I won't be spending much time in front of the computer today.
On Sunday Hetee and Abi went to UB. Hetee preached in church there and Abi got to see her friends Tungana, Mei Mei and Boloro (used to be our helper/nanny before going to UB to study). Abi was in heaven, having all her daddy's attention to herself and getting to play with friends she doesn't see often. She also got to spend the night with her Mongolian Grandparents who love spoiling her. =)
While Hetee and Abi were gone, I got to spend some down time with my boys. Kenny and I picked Nate up from school Monday morning and headed to the hairdressers to get Kenny's hair cut. Kenny didn't want to have anything to do with the hairdresser so Nate ended up getting his hair cut to "show him how it's done" but, with no luck. Nate looks cute, though.
On the way to the hairdressers we ran into Zaya, my little Mongolian sister. She's the youngest of the 2 sisters who my parents adopted about 6 years ago. She walked with us to the hairdressers and after, we went to a little store got some suckers. We then walked to my parents' house to eat lunch and wait for Hetee and Abi. My mom had made oven roast (beef) and mashed potatoes. Mmmmmm! With homemade cheesecake for dessert!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about de-stressing. =) And suckers before lunch felt SO good. haha
After lunch my dad took the boys to check on the construction going on at their church across the street. Kenny walked across wet cement and got in trouble (not really). He was covered in cement specks when they got back.
While Kenny napped, my mom worked on a teddy bear she's sewing for Nate. She's really talented with sewing and is also working on "log cabin" jean (old jean scraps) quilt. I'm told I might inherit it one day. =) Nate and I occupied ourselves by eating mom's homemade cheese on crackers with some of her homemade spicy relish and doing voice impersonations. Some of my best impersonations are of Scarlet O'Hara, the Mexican Muppet that always says "ok" at the end of every sentence, and a valley girl. Nate loves it when I do those. Abi just rolls her eyes.
We then joined Grandpa in the living room to watch a movie about The Alamo. It was a good American History lesson for Nate who was full of questions and who's attention span amazingly spanned most of the movie.
Before long, Abi and Daddy came and ate some of Grandma's yummy roast. We headed home tired, but happy to be all together again.
I realized once again yesterday how blessed I am to have my parents nearby. With 3 little ones, I frequently rely on my mom for babysitting, clothes sewing, and just general "Grandma stuff". Nate has a special bond with his American Grandpa (both thoroughly enjoy playing tricks and jokes on people) and it's good for the kids to have a safe place to be other than with us. My parents are great and never have any complaints about watching the kids when we need them to. I am blessed!
I would have pictures, but we are currently grieving the loss of our trusty digital camera. My blog might be a little bare until we get it fixed or get a new one.
Part of my de-stressing has been to count my blessings and let go of the things that I cannot change.
On Sunday I was with a girl as she miscarried in the church restroom. She and her young husband asked me for answers as to why this was happening to them a second time. I was able to share my own miscarriage experience with them and help them find comfort in their Heavenly Father without getting caught up in the "whys". Their names are Gana and Uchka (Uchka's the wife). Please remember them in your prayers.
After ministering to Uchka on Sunday, I was, once again, struck by the suffering people endure. It was especially poignant because Uchka and Gana and Enkhmaa and Bogi are best friends. After church I saw Enkhmaa hugging and consoling a crying Uchka as she cried her own tears of grief. Even as my heart felt heavy, I felt God saying to me that we were all going to all be ok. This comforting Voice was completely unexpected and it was all I needed to "let go and let God". I hugged the crying girls one last time and told them they knew where to find me when they needed me. I needed to go and spend time with my boys. My 2 healthy, thriving, full-of-life, boys. My life is good. I want to live it on purpose without just saving the "leftovers" for my loved ones.
I'm thankful that God showed me this.
Well, Abi's after me to make her a smoothie...
God bless!
My headache is much better but I still feel a bit sensitive to light etc. So, I won't be spending much time in front of the computer today.
On Sunday Hetee and Abi went to UB. Hetee preached in church there and Abi got to see her friends Tungana, Mei Mei and Boloro (used to be our helper/nanny before going to UB to study). Abi was in heaven, having all her daddy's attention to herself and getting to play with friends she doesn't see often. She also got to spend the night with her Mongolian Grandparents who love spoiling her. =)
While Hetee and Abi were gone, I got to spend some down time with my boys. Kenny and I picked Nate up from school Monday morning and headed to the hairdressers to get Kenny's hair cut. Kenny didn't want to have anything to do with the hairdresser so Nate ended up getting his hair cut to "show him how it's done" but, with no luck. Nate looks cute, though.
On the way to the hairdressers we ran into Zaya, my little Mongolian sister. She's the youngest of the 2 sisters who my parents adopted about 6 years ago. She walked with us to the hairdressers and after, we went to a little store got some suckers. We then walked to my parents' house to eat lunch and wait for Hetee and Abi. My mom had made oven roast (beef) and mashed potatoes. Mmmmmm! With homemade cheesecake for dessert!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about de-stressing. =) And suckers before lunch felt SO good. haha
After lunch my dad took the boys to check on the construction going on at their church across the street. Kenny walked across wet cement and got in trouble (not really). He was covered in cement specks when they got back.
While Kenny napped, my mom worked on a teddy bear she's sewing for Nate. She's really talented with sewing and is also working on "log cabin" jean (old jean scraps) quilt. I'm told I might inherit it one day. =) Nate and I occupied ourselves by eating mom's homemade cheese on crackers with some of her homemade spicy relish and doing voice impersonations. Some of my best impersonations are of Scarlet O'Hara, the Mexican Muppet that always says "ok" at the end of every sentence, and a valley girl. Nate loves it when I do those. Abi just rolls her eyes.
We then joined Grandpa in the living room to watch a movie about The Alamo. It was a good American History lesson for Nate who was full of questions and who's attention span amazingly spanned most of the movie.
Before long, Abi and Daddy came and ate some of Grandma's yummy roast. We headed home tired, but happy to be all together again.
I realized once again yesterday how blessed I am to have my parents nearby. With 3 little ones, I frequently rely on my mom for babysitting, clothes sewing, and just general "Grandma stuff". Nate has a special bond with his American Grandpa (both thoroughly enjoy playing tricks and jokes on people) and it's good for the kids to have a safe place to be other than with us. My parents are great and never have any complaints about watching the kids when we need them to. I am blessed!
I would have pictures, but we are currently grieving the loss of our trusty digital camera. My blog might be a little bare until we get it fixed or get a new one.
Part of my de-stressing has been to count my blessings and let go of the things that I cannot change.
On Sunday I was with a girl as she miscarried in the church restroom. She and her young husband asked me for answers as to why this was happening to them a second time. I was able to share my own miscarriage experience with them and help them find comfort in their Heavenly Father without getting caught up in the "whys". Their names are Gana and Uchka (Uchka's the wife). Please remember them in your prayers.
After ministering to Uchka on Sunday, I was, once again, struck by the suffering people endure. It was especially poignant because Uchka and Gana and Enkhmaa and Bogi are best friends. After church I saw Enkhmaa hugging and consoling a crying Uchka as she cried her own tears of grief. Even as my heart felt heavy, I felt God saying to me that we were all going to all be ok. This comforting Voice was completely unexpected and it was all I needed to "let go and let God". I hugged the crying girls one last time and told them they knew where to find me when they needed me. I needed to go and spend time with my boys. My 2 healthy, thriving, full-of-life, boys. My life is good. I want to live it on purpose without just saving the "leftovers" for my loved ones.
I'm thankful that God showed me this.
Well, Abi's after me to make her a smoothie...
God bless!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)