More blessings!

Long story, but another church we are not even affiliated with gave us a card with a large amount of money in it... the name is APEX. It was through someone Ron knows in his job that they heard about us... WE WERE SHOCKED!!! Plus, a couple of ladies from that church came and cleaned my house a couple of days later!

Ron also cut down a tree for a neighbor, who paid him well... not as much as was required by a tree company (of course, Ron didn't want that much), but it made it possible for Ron to buy a long desired item... a laptop! It sure looks scary to watch him climb up in trees and do this type of job... I don't always watch him, because I think it would just make me a nervous wreck. He hasn't been doing this side job really since he has been out of the hospital. It is hard work, and he doesn't want to push himself too far... but, he's been eating healthy and exercising, and I must applaud him for that! Now, I need to join him :-)

Then, our church stopped by one day with... MORE GROCERIES!!! We are definitely NOT starving!!!

We had a very Merry Christmas! Faith loved her guitar, and Charity her violin, and Hope the wrapping paper... HA! They got a beautiful dollhouse and other gifts from Mimi, different little toys from Grandma, an outfit from Aunt Pam, candy from Aunt Rachel, etc. They had lots of fun!

AAAAAUGH!!!

Last year, it was some groceries but a mountain of presents (thanks to Kenwood Bible Methodist, Wesleyan Evangelistic Church, and especially an enormous amount from Grace United Methodist... I mean that church did something I have never seen!!! It took DAYS to open all of those presents!!!). This year, it is GROCERIES, and I am not talking about a few bags or a couple of boxes, I mean, I could invite my whole church over and just feed mac-n-cheese, and I think everyone would get filled!!! I am trying to find room for all the food, cleaners, detergent, and everything... guess what church did this?! THANK YOU, FRANKLIN BIBLE METHODIST CHURCH!!! What can I say?! ...but, thank you so much for caring about our family and doing this for us!!! Now, I want to know who my spy was!!! How did you know what size diaper Hope wore... how did you know what foods we liked... how did you know I was out of some of those things??? My children think they are in Heaven, I think... I mean, they absolutely LOVE mac-n-cheese!!! AND... the CHOCOLATE... oooh, that is my weak spot!!! Those fattening little truffles are nearly GONE ALREADY!!! MMMMM!!!! Well, I need to go find places for all of my goodies... any volunteers to help put it all away... I can make you lunch... he he!

A Merry Christmas from ours to yours!

Our princess, Faith, and our little love, Charity... this photo was paid for by my friend, Trisha Perkins, while she was watching my girls the last weekend Ron was in the hospital.

Our Little Hope

This is a picture of a picture taken at Walmart (the burgandy stripes are from my comforter on my bed). I know think you are not supposed to copy pictures taken by professional photographers... does anyone know if this violates that?

Ron's hair is growing back... but, it looks blond and is very soft.

A Good Night's Sleep

Although Charity still had that runny nose, we mananged to sleep quite well last night (I think too well for Charity... she had an accident), and without cold medicine (read previous post), and I was very glad not to be kept up all night.

The girls have been "reading" books, playing David and Goliath (I think that is why one is a "giant"), and eating cereal. I was trying to get the house cleaned for Saturday's celebration and strip the girls' bedding. I stop to get on the computer, and Charity climbs on my lap, and I realize how wonderful it is to have such precious little people... I have been overly stressed lately and not always felt so thankful, but I really am blessed. I love my runny-nosed, mess making, "Mommy, I need you" calling, "I can to do it by myself" crying, beautiful little girls. I am proud to be their "Mommy Lion." If this doesn't make sense to you, that is because you don't live here :-)

Milestones

Sooo excited to announce that Faith has begun to read!!! She is only 4! She is learning to sound out blends, and surprised me a couple of days ago when she read her first 3 letter word. I felt proud to be able to teach her that important step!

Ron has been back to work since Monday. I felt sorry for him last night. He came home from work, ate, went to do some business, then went to the church board meeting, then visited with me, brushed Faith and Charity's teeth for bed, gave them a drink of water, then... what do you think happened?! Faith and Charity were waking up off and on ALL NIGHT!!! Come 4 something in the morning, I HAD ENOUGH... I was VERY frustrated!!! I gave them a little cold medicine with antihystamine in it... and, finally, they fell asleep for several hours... which was nice for me because I nearly felt ill with exhaustion... but, it was too late for Ron. He had to leave for work. I am sure he will be ready for a nap when he gets home. The girls are in such better moods now that they have gotten some rest. Charity has had a cold, but I am not sure what was up with Faith. Glad I got some rest... I am in a much better mood, too :-)

Charity is doing FANASTIC with potty-training now!!! She occasionally has an accident, but she is basically finished with the training!!!

My little Hope turns ONE this Saturday! Can you believe it?!

I had been searching for several days for my cell phone (I had let Hope play with it when it turned up missing), and finally found it yesterday. I searched high and low, and I even went out in the rain yesterday and went through our trash dumpster thinking somehow it could have gotten thrown away... it was really gross (baby diapers are never fun to rummage through), I searched about everywhere I could think of. Then, yesterday, knowing how the girls like to play in closets, I searched through mine. I had put a laundry basket of nicely folded linens in my closet, and I could see that several articles were on the floor... so the girls HAD been in there messing around. I dug through it, and REJOICED when I spotted the familiar little pink cell phone! I felt like calling everyone I knew... then, I thought about it...
You know those Scriptures about the lady who lost the coin and she was searching EVERYWHERE until she found it, then she rejoiced!
Isn't it wonderful to know that God searches for us that way! He wants us sooo badly! He will even dig through the trash! Isn't that beautiful!
Ron pointed something else out to me. If people really want God bad enough, they will seek Him with all their hearts... they will go all out!
I love it when Scriptures seem to CLICK in a new way. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about how badly God wants us... He isn't ready to throw us away! Praise God!

Two posts in one day...whew!

Well, what happened to Hope was... well, how do I explain it... um, the older girls were playing "manger scene" (Faith was Mary, Charity was Joseph, and poor little Hope was being forced to be Baby Jesus). Well, Baby Jesus was not appreciating "his" mangers, and I kept getting after the girls to leave Hope alone. For some reason they got into the closet with her, and in the process, smashed two of her fingers badly... I was very angry with "Mary" (She wouldn't let me call her Faith for a while) for hurting "Jesus." I became an evil ruler ready to show my power... don't worry, they didn't have to escape Bethleham. Her fingers should be okay, but it did take some skin off, and they are still red, and a little sensitive... we'll see how they look tomorrow.

Anyway, I didn't tell you that I made myself a camo skirt, face covering, and part of a shirt yesterday... bought the cheapest material I could find in Walmart, which happened to be flannel, so I was very happy that it should be warmer than the other nicer looking camo material. I am NOT a seamstress, but I like to try stuff now and then... been working on a quilt, too, but it certainly is NOT professional... I am just kind-of throwing it together and hoping for the best... It is tough to do when one had three children four years and under.

Did I mention how many baths I had to give today?! It has been a very messy day. Between potty-training accidents and baby with "stuff" going up her back, and speghetti being eaten very messily (is that a word?), and the routine daily baths, I think my children should be the cleanest in the state.

Why, oh, why, do I feel so frustrated with my children that I have to apologize, but then when they are sleeping, I just want to squeeze them. You should have seen how cute they were earlier. They fell asleep on the computer chair, and their heads were together, and well, I just had to have a picture... do any other moms have this thing going on? One moment you just can't figure out how they can be, well, so... ummm, baby-ish... why can't they get along without complaining that so-and-so is in their chair, has their toy, is in their way, you know what I mean? Then, the next moment they are like angels... kissing, hugging, telling you how great you are, how they want to be good all the time, how excited they are about Heaven, how they love Jesus, wanting to help do "jobs" in the house, playing church, entertaining the baby (without stuffing her in a box... I mean, manger), and just awesome to have around. I'm sure I did the same to my mom... it was just one of those days here.

It is almost midnight, and Hope is awake. Not sure what the problem is, but she is having trouble going to sleep and staying asleep tonight. I did let her drink some cow's milk the last couple of days (I still nurse her, I was just experimenting to see how she would like it), I am not sure if it settles well with her... sure hope that Hope ;-) goes to sleep soon!

Ron is planning to go back to work Monday!!! Can you believe it!? Fatigue will probably be the biggest issue. He got his central line out Tuesday, and, I guess all his counts are doing well. He should have his next PET in a couple of months.

Christmas at the Cooks

Well, since I just left a massive comment on my friend's blog, I realized that I could share some fun information with you all.

First of all, our house got decorated for Christmas BEFORE Thanksgiving this year. The children have been having way too much fun with the tree... It is probably not something you would ever see in a catalog... just fun for the kids.

Planning to only get each child two things for Christmas... they don't need anything really, but my two older children have been praying for something. Faith has been earnestly praying for a guitar... pink, at that! Charity is praying for a violin. Well, Faith's guitar and Charity's toy violin are proudly being hidden in my closet. I am a little disappointed in the guitar, as it has a crack in the paint around the neck and looks like it would be pretty easy for a pre-schooler to break... but it is pink and 25 inches, and rather cute... now I need to get it tuned. I found both items online. Hope's is getting a musical octopus and a classical music CD for babies. Charity is also getting a set of Berenstein Bears books that I ordered from Focus on the Family. Faith WAS going to get finger paints, but I let them use them today... oops! I was hoping to preoccupy them while I cleaned their room. (I am getting rid of some more toys and clothes, and don't want them to mourn their disappearances, but they have A LOT of stuff!)

Here's a piece of information that might interest you in some sort of way. I, Sarah, have my hunting license... yes, I, Sarah, may have the privilege this year of getting a big buck!!! I actually target practiced with a crossbow the other day, and found it quite fun.

I do have a some fear of guns since I went to a little four old's funeral a few years ago. It was a family Ron and I visited and brought several of the children to church, and, sadly, the twelve year old accidently shot the four year old. I still remember that little boy's constant runny nose when we would visit their home. I had never been to a funeral with such a small casket. I felt badly for the child who shot him, too, as I know he must have felt terrible... Don't know how the child got access to the gun, but, anyway... let's talk about something else...

Has any of you ever been bit by a spider? Nearly two weeks ago, I got these terribly itchy, yet painful spots on my back. Thought it would just go away, but they were miserable. Finally went to the doctor yesterday to see what was up. She said it could have been shingles resolving or it could be a spider bite. Since they were so itchy and there was only one small area with three spots, it must be spider.

Baby Hope just got hurt. Gotta go!