Tuesday Tip - Food Tidings

So I had something else scheduled for today's Tuesday Tip, but after I read about this website from Carolyn McCulley, I just had to tell everyone about it.  It's called Food Tidings and it's a website to help you organize taking meals to people. So instead of staying on your computer all day to make sure everyone hits "reply all" when they sign up for dates or assuring that everyone has all the information they need (contact info, food allergies, food preferences, etc.), here is one website that does it all!  All you have to do is put in the dates meals are needed, their preferences, a few contact details and presto! - you have an online sign-up sheet that updates itself so you have no double bookings.  Food Tidings even has a prompt to ask what meal you're planning on bringing which is then posted for everyone to see, assuring that the receipients don't get 17 casseroles.  

So this website makes me really happy because our church has a rather large pregnant population that we bring meals to after their babies are born.  This could make all the arranging so much easier for everyone.  No more running around after service trying to make sure that all the slots are taken or that everyone gets the handout with all the info on it.  

So enjoy Food Tidings!  Use it anytime you need to arrange meals for family, friends, or coworkers!  

Fun Fabric Barrettes

This afternoon I didn't have much to do, so I decided to make some fabric barrettes that I found on Belle and Burger.  She said they were easy, but I was surprised that start to finish it only took me 30 minutes to make these four barrettes (and that's including getting everything out, picking my fabrics and buttons, and cleaning up).  The hardest part for me was decided which fabrics went with which buttons.  Here's what I came up with:

Verity was a good sport and let me try one on her after I finished.  I think I get bonus points because that clip exactly matches the flower on her sleeper.  

I think I might get some more "subdued" fabric and make myself some.  

My Girls

About two weeks after Verity was born our friend Casey came over and took pictures of our family.  I already knew Casey was a brilliant photographer, but the pictures were even better than I imagined.  I only have time to share a few right now - maybe if I figure out that bubbleshare thing I can post some more.  

Don't we look like a happy family?  I love that in CJ's picture you can see Verity crying in the background and Charissa is completely unfazed about it.  

If you ever need a photographer, I know someone you should use!  (Actually I know a two people you could use because my friend Kristin is also amazing.)  

Tuesday Tip - 8 Ways to Reuse a Dryer Sheet

Does anyone else find dozens of dryer sheets in their laundry room and all throughout your house as you fold and put away your clothes?  Charissa seems to think they are tissues and continually tries to blow her nose with them.  I applaud her ingenuity and her willingness to repurpose items to get more use out of them, but I think there are better uses for used dryer sheets.  Here's my top 8 list:

1.  Scented dryer sheets can be used in drawers, closets, at the bottom of a trash can and in shoes to help eliminate odors.  You can also get rid of that old musty smell books get by putting a dryer sheet in a Ziploc bag with the book for a few days.  And if your car stinks, put a few sheets under the seats and in a few days your car will be mountain fresh.

2.  Scented dryer sheets can also be used as a repellent for mice and insects.  If you know of a place they come in, put a few dryer sheets there and your problem will scurry away.  You can also put a dryer sheet in your pocket or belt loop (or anywhere else you want) to repel insects while you are outside.  I love this because I hate bug spray.

3.  Dryer sheets work great for dusting because they actually repel dust.  

4.  If you have any chrome in your house (or on your vehicle), use the dryer sheet to polish it up.

5.  When potting a plant, line the bottom of your pot with a dryer sheet to prevent the soil from falling out.

6.  Similar to a sticky lint brush, an old dryer sheet will remove pet hair from clothing and furniture.  

7.  If you collect enough dryer sheets, you can stuff a pillow with them.  Your pillow will smell great and won't be lumpy like with traditional synthetic stuffing.  

8.  A wet dryer sheet can be used in the shower to get rid of soap scum.  

Even though I'm doing a post on how to use dryer sheets, I just found a way to not use dryer sheets that I thought I should share as well.  All you have to do is take a small washcloth (like a baby washcloth) or a rag and soak it in fabric softener, then you let it completely dry.  Throw it in with your laundry and it'll keep your cloths soft load after load after load (I've heard it can last for 40 loads!).  This won't help your static problem, but you can always throw a balled up wad of aluminum foil in the dryer for that.  

Happy drying!  

Quarantined

The Treece family has been struck by the dreaded RSV virus.  Charissa got sick last Sunday evening and we thought she just had a bad cold, but then Verity started getting sick on Thursday and her symptoms were more intense.  All day Friday I watched her respiratory rate climb, she started wheezing, and she became congested.  Very scary things for a 6 week old.  When I called the nurse that night she listened to Verity's breathing and said, "How quickly can you get to the hospital?"  When I told her we could be there in 15 - 20 minutes she said, "Make it 10."  Panic and chaos immediately ensued.  However, when Verity was checked out in triage it wasn't as dire as the nurse made out, so my heart started beating again.  Britt and I were at the hospital until 130 AM hanging out with Verity while the doctor's checked her out and confirmed that she had RSV (Charissa was at our neighbor's house spending the night - we are so thankful for the Sylvies!).  

So we are officially quarantined until Saturday (combine that with staying home all last week and you have some stir-crazy girls).  So far we've done a lot of baking, coloring, and movie watching.  If you have any fun activities that don't involve mingling with the outside world, we'd love to hear them!

Valentine's Day Preparations

I don't normally do a lot for Valentine's Day, but this year I decided to make a wreath.  I found the idea on another blog where she took 1.5" ribbon and tied bows around a wire hanger that she had turned into a loop.  Well, since I have two girls (and I love red) I had a lot of fabric scraps in the red/pink genre, so I used that in addition to ribbon.  I didn't realize how much it was going to take to make this wreath, but after bow tying for 2 hours here's what I had:

And the best thing about this wreath was that I didn't have to buy anything to make it.  Woo-hoo!

I found the idea to make Valentine's Day Fortune Cookies from felt from the blog Create Studio.  Mine aren't nearly as nice as her's, but she is a professional artist so I'm going to cut myself some slack.  

Instead of writing messages on the slips of paper, I wrote questions.  At dinner Britt and I pull out several fortune cookies and ask each other whatever is on them.  Some are silly questions, but a lot are about our marriage, so it's been a nice build up to V-day.  

Oh - and if you have children you should get the book "The True Story of St. Valentine: Beyond Cards and Candied Hearts."  It's a wonderful book that teaches children that Valentine's Day is really about a man who stood up for his beliefs.  

Enjoy your loved ones on Valentine's Day!

It's hard not to smile ...

... when I stay home with her all day.  

Tuesday Tip - Book Recommendation

It's a must read - God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.  The first time I read it was for a class I audited with Britt at seminary.  I think I read it in a day.  It's 164 pages and not a difficult book to work through.  But every chapter is worth reading.  He discusses what the purpose of vocation is and how to find your vocation, but he also discusses different types of "work" - our roles in the family, our society, and the church.  

I would recommend this book to people of all ages, even those who have found what they love to do.  It just gives you a better perspective on what the goal is of working - glorifying God.  

Enjoy reading!

Happy Birthday Charissa!

Our sweet little girl turned 2 this weekend!  Can you believe it?  It's hard to imagine that 2 years have gone by already.  We decided to have a small party with a few family members since I still don't feel ready to host a large gathering.  But we had a great time!  Here are just a few pictures since both my camera died and my mother's camera died.  Great timing, huh?

This was my first time experimenting with fondant.  It was easier than I thought, but I definitely learned a few things that will help me the next time.

CJ loves purses, so it only seemed appropriate to have a purse cake for her.

I only got pictures of her opening one present - a xylophone that Britt and I bought her.  She played with it for a few minutes, and then her Uncle "Russy" played with it for a long time.  Actually, Uncle Russy played with most of her toys so I think next year we should all get him "toddler-appropriate" toys.  

I look at her little face and know it will only be a blink of an eye before I'm hosting her Sweet 16.  Just a reminder for me to treasure every moment with her.  

What a funny kid

One night shortly after Verity was born Charissa and Britt went out on a donut date.  While they were eating, Britt decided to take a few pictures.  Here's what he got:

I guess she thought he wanted to document everything.  She just makes me laugh.

5 - 5 - 5

Has anyone else seen all the 5 - 5 - 5 blogs?  You have to go to your 5th picture folder and post your 5th picture and then tag 5 of your friends.  Here's the 5th picture in my 5th folder:

This was taken when Charissa was only 4 months old.  We had just gotten this little pool for her and we were actually using it on our front porch.  I love this picture because she looks so small and for some reason I feel like the little duckies balance the picture our nicely.  

So now who should I tag?  Here's my line-up:

1. Julie S.

2. Nicole W.

3. Amy H.

4. Shannon N.

5. Monica R.

Lookalike

Is it just me, or does Verity have the same hair as our friend Gena?

Man, I miss Gena ...

The Best Date

Yesterday the girls and I went out shopping and ended up spending all morning and a good bit of the afternoon out.  Since we were gone so much longer than I thought, we stopped to eat lunch at Steak 'n' Shake.  We had so much fun!  I hadn't been to a Steak 'n' Shake in so long I forgot that it was a full-service restaurant.  Baby V slept through the entire event, but Charissa and I had a blast.  We colored and talked and laughed and someone ate all my french fries but didn't touch any of her own.  We stayed for a lot longer than was necessary, but we were having so much fun I didn't want to leave.  

I didn't take any pictures of us while we were at lunch but here are a few from the mall when I was shoe shopping and Charissa decided to try on a pair too.  

I have to say, Charissa is one of my most favorite people to spend the day with.  

CJ's New Desk

Last week Britt's mom gave Charissa a new desk.  Well, it's new to her, but it's actually the one that Britt and his brother used as children.  What a treasure!  Britt's step-dad sanded it down and re-stained it and it looks brand new.  And Charissa loves it!  She sits at it all the time and keeps herself occupied coloring and writing and playing on an old keyboard.  

I love these next few pictures because it looks like she's hard at work paying bills or working on homework or something.  She looks so grown up.  

It's been a pretty exciting season for CJ.  Christmas, a new sister, a new desk, and then her birthday is next week!  

Can anyone else believe my tiny baby girl is going to be two?

Snow Day!

Did anyone else feel like they woke up in Narnia this morning?  It was so beautiful!  And it was just snowing, snowing, snowing still.  We bundled ourselves up and headed out to enjoy the snow - you never know how many snow days you'll get in Raleigh.  

CJ actually had to borrow some pants from our neighbor Nathan because she didn't have any weather appropriate ones.  

Here Britt is making "Snow Art."  It was going to be a snow man (or a snow woman "because of the curves"), but it ended up just being "art."

Baby V thoroughly enjoyed being snuggled up in her Ergo and staying warm next to Mama.  Every once in a while a large snowflake would fall on her and she'd open her eyes a little, but other than that she slept through the entire outing.  

Things I'm Relearning About Babies

1. You change their diaper or clothes and they will immediately get them dirty.  Baby V seems to be able to time it to when I've just picked her up from the changing table.  Talented girl. 
2. Babies eat a lot.  Often and a lot.  Nursing is a full-time job.
3. Five hours of uninterrupted sleep is a miracle.  
4. Cuddling an infant can distract you for hours.  
5. Somedays it's enough just to make sure your children are fed, clothed, and safe.  Laundry and house-cleaning are bonuses at this point.

Enough Love For Two

I have been so surprised by the number of people who have reminded me to pay attention to Charissa and not forget about her.  Seriously?  How could I forget my first born?  I'm hoping that people mean "Don't get too busy with the new baby that you don't have time to play with Charissa" instead of "Don't forget that you have another child and forget to feed her or change her diaper or leave her at home."   

Charissa has done so well with the addition of a new baby in our home.  She loves Baby V and wants to make sure that she always has her paci and she becomes very concerned every time she cries.  And she's such a helper!  She loves to go get diapers or burp clothes and Baby V never has a lack of toys brought to her that she can't possibly play with.  Oh well - at least she's interested and happy.  

And yes - I am still spending time with Charissa.  In fact, since Baby V sleeps almost 20 hours a day, it's not hard to spend time with Charissa.  I've tried to make sure that CJ has had mama time every day.  One day we ran errands just the two of us, another day we read books, and we watched "The Little Mermaid" together.  Well, we watched about 20 minutes of it before she got antsy and wandered off.  

So please be assured that I haven't forgotten about my sweet CJ.  I still love her and love spending time with her.  She's still my little bundle and one of my most favorite people in the whole world.  There is more than enough love in my heart for both of my girls.  

Here's a picture of me and my girls and the way we spend most of our time - close together.

My Girls

The other day I did a little photo shoot of Verity in the same outfit that I had Charissa in when I did a photo shoot with her.  Here's the results:

Charissa - 1 Week Old

Verity - 1 Week Old

Charissa - 1 Week Old

Verity - 1 Week Old

So they aren't carbon copies of each other, but there are some serious similarities.  It'll be interesting to see how they change over time.  

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Verity decided that Christmas was a great time to be born. After four hours of steady contractions, we called the doctor and headed in to the hospital late last night. Seven hours later, Verity was born.


They even gave her a cute Christmas hat to commemorate her famous birthday. One friend of mine said, "She'll have to learn real soon that she'll be overshadowed by Jesus on her birthday."


Here is a photo with Cindy, our excellent nurse. She was very helpful and supportive. God always sends us extraordinarily kind nurses.


Praise the Lord Jesus for our precious daughter!

Some News

We went to the doctor today, and we had some encouraging news, but not enough to make me think Baby V is in any sort of hurry.  We couldn't get scheduled to be induced next Tuesday, so it's looking like Wednesday will be the last day.  Which, if you check your calendars, is New Year's Eve.  Looks like we could possibly have a 2009 baby.  I'm still praying she comes on her own before then, but we'll be patient with her if she doesn't.  

I'm past due and there's not a lot going on around here 2 days before Christmas, so this afternoon I made curtains and a throw pillow for the guest room.  Unfortunately, I don't have a curtain rod so I couldn't hang them after they were made.  I have to think that picking up a curtain rod from the store is easier than actually making the curtains, so I'm not too concerned about the next step.  I'll post pictures when they are actually on the wall.  

Tomorrow afternoon we're going to head to my brother's house in Durham to spend Christmas with my family - at least until Baby V shows up.  It's about equidistant from our house to the hospital as it is from their house to the hospital, so we're not any farther away in case we need to make a speedy return.  And Charissa will be staying with them while we're in the hospital so we might as well get her there and all set-up for when we're gone.  

You may not hear from us for the next few days if nothing happens.  But if there's any baby news, we'll be sure to let you know.  We hope everyone enjoys their Christmas!

Due Date Fun

Well, Verity decided that she didn't want to make her entrance into the world on her due date.  I'm actually a little bit thankful for that.  Charissa and I both got stomach bugs over the weekend and spent two days out of commission.  Even though I really wanted to see my little baby girl, I knew that it would be safer for her to stay put until Charissa and I were better.  Which we now are - so she's free to come any day now.  

Today we celebrated Christmas together as a family.  We do stockings together every year as just as our family.  Britt has two whole weeks off of work, and today was the first day of our Christmas vacation.  So this morning we got up and had a special breakfast and then dug into our stockings.  Charissa really enjoyed going through all the "socks" and finding all sorts of goodies.  

It seemed appropriate for Charissa to wear her Baby Claus outfit today.  This outfit is a little big, so it makes her look even skinnier than she is.

Here she is "helping" me open my stocking.

And now helping Daddy take out his new Dr. Scholl's.  

Reading her new "Go, Dog, Go" book.

Trying on our new bracelets.

It was a pretty fun morning.  We spent the rest of the day doing some house-keeping things (you have to stay on top of that when your baby is expected at any moment), and running a few errands.  

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment so hopefully we'll hear some good news.  Either way they'll go ahead and schedule my induction while I'm there tomorrow, so at least we'll know when the end is.  It'll be nice to know that by X day we'll have our baby.  I'm still praying that she comes on her own though.  And soon!

What a Few Minutes of Unsupervised Play Can Look Like ...

Mama's Little Helper

I love shopping with Charissa.  She is by far my favorite shopping companion.  Today we went to Jo-Ann Fabrics to try to find fabric to make curtains and throw pillows for the guest room.  I had a little piece of paper that had a paint sample on it that I was trying to match fabric too.  I bent down once to compare it to a bolt of fabric and Charissa bent down next to me, cocked her head to one side, and said, "hmm..." as if she was really considering whether or not it matched.  I explained to her that I was looking for a match and handed her the paper, and she happily trotted up and down the aisle holding the piece of paper out to all the bolts of fabric.  It was so cute!  She was really trying to be helper to me.  

On the way home we had a conversation about CJ teaching Verity how to be a big helper just like Charissa was.  She's starting to get really excited about Baby V, especially now that all of Baby V's things are out and her car seat is in the car.

Only a few more days!!

Baby V Update

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 39 week check up and at the end I was told I needed to come in the next day (today) for an ultrasound because according to my measurements Verity hadn't grown much in the last four weeks.  Thankfully, when I went in today EVERYTHING was fine.  Verity is measuring just a few days behind, but according to the technician she is weighing in somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 pounds - so she's definitely a nice weight (and not too big!). I was able to see a 4-D image of Verity and she has nice chubby cheeks just like Charissa did.  And she has hair!  The tech couldn't tell exactly how much, but she could see it moving in the amniotic fluid.  How exciting!  So maybe we'll get to use hair bows sooner with Baby V than we did with Charissa.  

Hopefully we'll be able to see Baby V soon (I'm praying for Friday) and check out the little chubby cheeks and hair with our own eyes.  

Me & My Baby

I think I only get to call her that for another week or so ... then she'll get relegated up to the title "Big Sister" (which in her own words comes out "Bid Sit-ter" - pray she doesn't sit on Verity!).  

I'm so rarely in pictures with my little girl, so I just had to share this one with you from when we were getting ready for the Baby Sprinkle last weekend.  

I had put on my wedding tiara to tease Britt that I was just bringing the price-per-wear down, and so it made total sense to wear it.  Of course, I was kidding - I would not wear it ... outside the house.  But I love how in this picture you see some corresponding attributes between me and CJ - even if it's just in the silly way we posed.  

Turns out, she's not all Britt after all.  

No News Is ... Well - It Means Nothing Is Happening

Some of you are probably wondering what's going on with Baby V since there are only 11 days until my due date.  But don't worry - you haven't missed anything.  Nothing is going on here.  I went to the doctor yesterday and they confirmed that nothing is going on.  In fact, I was told that I'll probably go to my due date or a few days late.  There was a twinge of disappointment, but then I realized that I don't want to have the baby this week, so I'm ok with it.  If I had my way, she'd be born on the night of the 19th or the morning of the 20th.  Britt's last day of work is the 19th and he doesn't have to go back until the 5th, so it would be perfect if Verity would come at the very beginning of that.  But all of this is completely out of my control, so who knows what's going to happen.  She will be born in 2008 though - that much I do know.  

We are getting ready for the little girl's arrival though.  We've washed all her clothes and blankets and socks, we've set up the swing and bouncy seat, I got out all the bottles, and hopefully this weekend we'll install the car seat.  So far Charissa and Verity have their bags packed for the hospital/spending the night with a friend, but Britt and I are still unpacked.  Another task for this weekend.  

This past weekend we had a wonderful "Baby Sprinkle" with lots of our friends and family.  The shower was Christmas themed so there were all sorts of Christmas treats and music.  We received adorable baby clothes, toys, a picture framed painted to match the girls' room, and a tutu.  A lot of our friends pitched in together to get us the Ergo Baby Carrier which I am so excited to use!  Hopefully it will help me balance carrying an infant and chasing after Charissa.  My parents and grandparents gave us a Joovy Caboose Stroller - a much needed item for two!  Some other friends of ours pitched in and gave us 3 months worth of Netflix - isn't that a wonderfully creative gift?  It's winter, you're stuck inside with a newborn - you're bound to watch a lot of movies.  And with the instant downloading and getting them in the mail, you don't even have to run out to the movie store!  

Pray that I continue to have patience with these last few days.  It's not that I'm uncomfortable or feeling terrible, it's just that I'm running out of things to do.  And I can't really plan any projects because I don't want to have half-finished projects waiting for me when I get home from the hospital (or a mess to clean up).  But I guess in a way it's good because it means Charissa and I have lots of time to just hang out and play together.  

Only 11 more days ... keep us in your prayers!

Book Recommendation - A Thousand Splendid Suns

Yesterday I decided I was going to just rest during Charissa's nap time since my opportunities to do that are quickly fleeting.  So I curled up on the couch with a slice of freshly baked banana bread and started Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns (He's also the author of the much acclaimed Kite Runner, which I haven't read yet).  It's completely engrossing.  I finished the book during today's nap time.  

The book follows the lives of two women from Afghanistan from the mid 50s to the present.  I felt like I learned so much about the culture, history, and hardships.  But it was weaved into the story so wonderfully that it didn't feel like a history lesson.  I was fascinated from about page 3 all the way to the end.  I think the thing that was most riveting for me was that one of the women from the story was born a year or two before me, and as her story was told  I kept thinking what I was doing at that age, and how life was so different for her.  The author included the year at the beginning of some chapters so you could follow the timeline and you realize that these things happened recently - not twenty or thirty years ago.  The atrocities against these women were very real and very recent.  There were many portions of the book that I just cried through.  And then when I got to the end, I just sat there and cried some more.  

I strongly recommend reading this book.  I now really want to read The Kite Runner.  Add one or both of these books to your holiday reading schedule!

Tuesday Tip - Use Craigslist

This morning I was reminded of how much I love Craigslist.  We sold something this morning and I was thinking about how easy it was to post the "junk" I wanted to get rid of, find a buyer, and make money.  It's great!  And everything is free to use - unlike ebay or a listing in the paper.  Craigslist is really useful for those things that are a little bit too valuable to take to the local Goodwill.  And with it being local, you don't have to worry about shipping costs and making sure the item gets to the buyer. 

Basically you just go to craigslist.com, find your city (or the city closest to you), create a login, and then post your item under the appropriate category.  And then there's the fun of waiting for dozens and dozens of responses from people who are really excited to get whatever it is you're trying to get rid of.  Like in October when we listed our old fridge and within 24 hours I had received over 50 responses from people wanting it.  Ridiculous!  

And, it's a great resource for finding quality, used items.  We've bought a jogging stroller, a bookcase, a booster seat, and many more.  With no bidding, no shipping costs, being able to quickly and easily talk to the seller (and barter for the cost), it's a great place to look for all sorts of things.  So take a look - you might find a really good deal!  

What A Change a Year Makes

Tonight we had Britt's assistant principal/mentor over for dinner along with his family.  We had a great time getting to know them and the kids played so happily together (they have two little boys who are 4 and 16 months).  They are also believers and were such an encouragement in how he does his job, how she cares for their children, and how they interact with each other.  

Last year at this time, Britt and I were dealing with a vindictive boss who was extremely hard to work with.  It was not a good situation.  Things are so different now!  There is so much support and care for Britt professionally, as well as just being able to enjoy a genuine friendship between the two men (and I'm sure his wife and I could be good friends if we saw each other more often).  

We have been so thankful for this job, and tonight I was shown yet another reason to give thanks.  It makes such a difference in our family that Britt is able to go to a job that 1) he likes, 2) his co-workers and bosses are supportive, and 3) that the company does an amazing job of appreciating and rewarding their employees (in addition to providing for them with incredible benefits).   

It was a good night. :)

All Things For Good

When I was in college I taught a Bible Study to a group of girls 2 years younger than me.  The semester that we studied Romans was an especially fruitful one for me, and hopefully for the girls in the study.  I vividly remember the night that we studied Romans 8:26-28 :

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

We were discussing the passage when one girl started sharing about the death of her grandmother and the intense pain that followed, but how she was able to see God moving in her family and bringing her unbelieving relatives to know God.  She cried and spoke of praying for her grandmother to live and not understanding God's reasons to let her die, but only a few short months later she could see much fruit from tragedy.  One by one, many girls spoke of how God had done much good out of the ashes of tragedy, loss, and despair.  

This past August some friends of ours lost their precious baby boy.  We knew a few weeks before that his life was in jeopardy, but we prayed and petitioned that God would show mercy and spare his life.  The night Asher died started a week of agonizing pain and mourning for me like I had never been through.  I still cry almost every time I think about their loss.  

In the midst of all this suffering, I watched our amazing friends lean steadily on the Lord for strength and comfort to get through each moment.  They were honest about their pain, but they continued to rely on the sovereignty of God and their faith (as well as many, many others) was strengthened incredibly.  

That was in August - 3.5 short months ago.  This week, God placed a baby girl into their arms.  They had just started the process of applying to adopt through the foster system, when they were chosen by a mother.  It's an amazing story of the faithfulness of God. Our tears of mourning have turned into tears of rejoicing.  

I can't really do justice to their story, so you should just go read it yourself.  

Tuesday Tip - Depend Not On Thy Retailer

I was flipping through the lastest Land of Nod catalog last week and I saw a very distressing sight:

It's a card board box.  They are selling a card board box in their catalog!  Not only are they selling it, but they are selling it for $90!  Seriously?  Now parents are supposed to buy card board boxes for their children to play in?  I thought the whole joke was that you bought an expensive present that was in the box and then the kids liked the free box more.  Now you can skip that whole process and just buy an expensive box.  

Has no one thought of going to Sears and asking for an old refrigerator box?  Kids can make a play house out of that.  And paint on it.  And make a door.  And windows.  And it's free.  I'm very distressed over this.  It's as if parents have given up on being creative and making presents or at least finding cheaper alternatives.  I just cannot fathom paying $90 for a card board box.  

I do, however, really like the idea of a play house that is completely collapsable.  And I will probably be searching for my own free card board box soon so that I can make it for CJ.  But I will not be buying her this one.  

My tip today is to not be so dependent on retailers and manufacturers.  They show us an ad, we think "I must get that item for myself or ____", and then we go out and purchase it.  Where is the fun in that?  It's so much more rewarding to think through gifts that would bless someone and then actually have a hand in creating it or forming it.  Even if you don't make any part of it, just knowing that you haven't given a generic gift is a huge reward.  And toys are a real temptation with this.  But I don't want my girls growing up having the exact same set of toys that their friends do.  When I see something I like, I try to think how I can reproduce it myself to give them something that is personalized and tailored for them.  Yes, there is more work involved than if I just went to the store and bought it, but I have a much more satisfying end product (and it's usually cheaper).  

Ok - I'm off in search of an empty, free cardboard box for the taking.  When I finish, I'll show you my results.  

Term!

Today I am 37 weeks pregnant, which means I'm full term!  Theoretically I could go into labor any day now and everything would be fine.  With that said, I fully expect to go another 3 weeks.  But it is nice knowing that I'm that much closer to actually having our baby.  

I guess in celebration of "term day" Baby V decided not to let me sleep.  Maybe she's trying to get me ready for her arrival when I'll be up with her during the night a lot.  Oh well.  

Ok - I'm going to try to get some more sleep.  Maybe I can get in another hour or so.