The Room

Months ago I looked at our bedroom and said, "wow Steve, who painted this and hung this AWFUL border. It's ugly." He laughed and said, "you did, a long long time ago." Oh yes, I guess I did. He then stated no one see's our bedroom so who cares. I agreed and let it go, but in the back of mind I kept thinking, "this is ugly."
I was then with family and told my brother I've had the same comforter for 17 years. It fits a queen bed but we put it on our California King. We got a bigger bed but not the comforter. It's denim, kind of (that's classy). 17 years ago I thought it was VERY classy. As silly as that sounds, I do hold on to worn out sentimental things (ask Steve about my robe hehe). My brothers comment was, "burn it." Now, that was a thought.
Then there's the cost. If you know my husband, to spend money on a comforter is a waste of money. Well, everything aligned and I found one on clearance the 1st time I looked. (It even has a bed skirt, I've never had a bed skirt) As you can see, I'm easily amused. I ripped down the wall paper and I will paint it this week. Steve came home and said, "what did you do now?" He is aware, when he leaves me for too long I get in trouble :) Harvest is getting lengthy. Better get done soon honey, I have more ideas in my head :) (today I put on a new toilet seat)
So that's about all we've been up to. Hopefully in the next week + harvest will be done. Brooke is doing well and I'd LOVE to elaborate, but I'm not ready. I'm not always sure when she does things if it's a step in the right direction or just a fluke. So, we'll wait and observe, and pray that she makes great strides.
To God be the Glory!!!

"NOT FAIR"

Have you even heard your children say that? Or been accused of not being "fair"? I'm pretty sure if you are breathing you've heard those words before. Having a gang of children I hear that quite often. I usually just brush it off. "Whatever, it's just kids being kids." But lately I've had a hard time "brushing" it off. See I am being accused by my 3 year old that I am not being fair. Or as she says, "UGGGHHHH NOT FAIR!" The questions started with, "why does Brookie have a button?" I said, "ask her." So Brookie proceeded to tell Macy she doesn't eat and medicine is yucky. So Macy said, "I want a button." I said, "no." "UGGGHHH NOT FAIR!!" Macy's main concern now is why does she have to eat everything on her plate and Brooke can eat whatever she wants. Or why does Brookie get to stay up later and get her feedings and medicine.

I've tried explaining, but I've haven't found a good way to explain Brooke missed alot of developmental milestones and we've are trying to catch her up. Or Brooke was born without an immune system and we are trying to keep her healthy. By the time I ponder how to explain something, she has another question.

The other day Macy said, "seriously Brooke, just eat already." And Brooke yelled, "OK I WILL!" She then proceeded to grab a chip and eat it. Maybe this whole anger thing is starting to work.

So I have finally figured out how to explain it. "Life isn't always fair ladies."

Candy any one?

I enjoy candy, ALOT!! Saturday we went to a church outing and we had activities, dinner and of course trick or treating. Here's some pictures of the loot!

As much as I LOVE candy I am SOOOO sick of it! The older 3 girls are fine, they can somewhat control themselves. Macy is INSANE!! I actually hid her candy so she would stop talking about it. I was tempted to let them all eat candy til the got sick. But then I decided that might not be the best parenting technique. So the battle continues. If anyone needs candy, I'll send it their way. (But I like it too much that I can't throw it away :)

1st hayride......At our church gathering we went on a HAYRIDE! The 1st hayride the twins were ever on. I thought it was more exciting than they did. Brooke even fell asleep at the end.

And since she fell asleep I was so happy to have help carrying her around and watching her while I tended to the rest of the gang. Friends are great to be surrounded by. I am SOOOO thankful!!

As for actual Halloween, we stayed home. Ashley was sick and stayed home from school, so I thought she shouldn't be roaming around getting others sick, and we all know we didn't need more candy. On Halloween we go visiting and not exactly trick or treating. But it'll have to wait for another time. Ash was feeling better today and was back at school. Steve was sick Sunday but he is feeling better as well. Brooke has started with it, but we pray it stops there. If she gets too sick (or any children for that matter) I told Steve my mental health will be very compromised. So for every one's well being, virus be gone :)

Harvest is S L O W L Y coming along. Steve likes to get it done, unfortunately that's not in the plan for this year. So, it'll be done, when it's done. God's timing, not ours :) Why does that always come up? :)

Are you up for a Challenge?

I got an email from a friend about her journey. She challenged us, and I want to pass it on to you. Here it goes.
Starting now....ask God to give you a word, ONE word......something that He wants you to focus on or work on for the coming year. With that word, ask Him for a verse. You may have a life verse that you've picked out. That's not what I'm talking about. This is a verse just for this coming year. She also encouraged us to journal about your word and verse. It's personal preference.
When I got this email I was excited. It made me listen. This is not what I think I need to work on, it's what God lays on my heart. As the days went on I prayed about it and waited. The word "obedience" kept coming. I laughed and said, "no thanks." Obedience is a word I use on my kids. Its a word similar to submission, slacks and blouse. I just don't like them :) But God always makes His will known and that's it. So, I am now praying for a verse and I've had an amazing conversation about obedience, to the point that I no longer dislike the word but am excited to see what I can learn. I emailed this to another friend and he also came up with a word. Sometimes we don't need to search for answers. We just need to listen, be still and learn.

1998

October 20, 1998 I looked out my kitchen window to see fire trucks, smoke and an ambulance next door at our grain bins. My reaction was, "oh good Lord what happened." I made my way over there and my father in law said, "don't worry, no ones hurt. Just a little fire." (It didn't look little with all the commotion). He then added, "nothing to go into labor over." Oh yes, I was pregnant :) At midnight that night I was calling cell phones, (the guys were still working). I FINALLY got ahold of my brother in law. I told him I NEED to talk to Steve. He said, "Shelly this isn't a good time." I still laugh about that. I was aware it wasn't a good time. (And in the next 13 years I would really learn its not my timing that matters) The next morning, we welcomed Leah Rose into the world. How fun! She is actually a riot! Wise beyond her years, caring, a stubborn streak (I don't know WHERE that comes from :) She's everything we could ask for and more!! Happy Birthday Sweet Leah Rose!!!


Speaking of Leah Rose, she learned this week how much food means to men. When I was young, I occasionally had the job in the summer of going home from the blueberry's a little early and starting supper. I could really only make spaghetti, so we ate alot of it. But my dad assured me this was a VERY important job. (It also kept me out of his hair for an hour :) Now that Steve is harvesting I try (notice the work "try") to get food out to them at night. It all depends on the kids evening schedule but that's a goal. Leah helps me cook and package food. We pile the girls in the van and drive. Steve usually directs us as to where people are in the fields and Leah gets out to deliver the food. She always comes back laughing. "How can guys get soooo excited about food?" I agree, but the saying stands true, "the way to a mans heart, is through his stomach." A lesson to all my girls, we better teach you to cook, (something besides spaghetti)!

Harvest is going! The rain has delayed things a little, but no one is too depressed yet. The girls get out to ride. I haven't had my chance yet, but I will.

We've had some illness' run through the house, but we've been ok now for the past week. And Brooke has escaped it all. I told her nurse, "you people tell me she doesn't have an immune system but she's the healthiest of them all." Unfortunately due to me being sick we had to cancel her MRI. There is really no hurry so we have it rescheduled for Nov. 9. She did have labs done this week to see if the immunizations we gave her are responding. I've thought about that outcome once. "What if she isn't making antibodies to the immunizations?" Oh well, then we don't give her immunizations. That's my mind talking. I'm sure the MD's have a different, more scientific approach. I'm ok with where we are right now. Enjoying the day God has given us!
Our woodsy Sunday afternoon walk.

I'll keep you updated on the lab results and harvest. Life is going to calm down here with volleyball being done and soccer coming to an end. What will we do with all our time :)

For Grandma....

My grandma and I talked about applesauce awhile back. I've always done it the same way. A metal colander and a wooden mallet. And I MASH the tar out of those apples I boiled. My friend had this "Sauce Master." I had my doubts. 1st, the name is funny. 2nd: after I got it together, I inspected it, and thought: Shelley (my friend) is really laughing at me. This will never work. I told my grandma about it, and she said, "how does that work?"
Well above is a picture and it WORKS!!! It was fun, and easy. I am excited to do more. It's even been placed on my Christmas list. So Grandma, I'm sorry I didn't invite you over to play with it, but once I get one I'll do a demonstration :) Even the twins helped!

Other than applesauce this week, we stayed busy. Megan had a sleepover of 4 girls. It was L O U D!! But fun! What a good group of girls they are and fun to be around.

From there we went Art Prize Saturday. Leah and I went to it on a field trip but it was fast and furious. So we went back so the other girls could see it too. They were amazed by the art and how big some of them were.

Then we did a little shopping. Had to get them some church clothes and Megan needed pants (she strongly dislikes jeans). We ROCKED the clearance rack at Children's Place. That makes a happy mama!!

The weather is so nice we had to take advantage and get stuff in. But I think it's back to the routine this week, kind of. Leah has a sleepover birthday party with a few girls (3 of them are turning 13 OH BOY) but not at our house, (OH BOY for the other mom :)

Harvest continues!! Dust is good and it's dry out. That means Stevie works am to late pm. I do like harvest season, I like fall in general. Pray for no rain and safety for all these men out there.

A Fireman Hero!

My girls LOVE the fire station! Which might seem strange considering they are girls. My mom texted me tonight to tell me the fire station was having their open house tonight. OH BOY! The whole way there the twins made fire truck siren noises (that was pleasant). So why are girls so excited about the fire station...........

You guessed it! That's my brothers name and hat. Uncle Brent is a fire fighter and they are sure that he would and could save them. They love to see the trucks he takes to fires, the fire station and all his "stuff."

The whole way home I get to hear about how "cool" Uncle Brent is and what an "amazing" job he does. I just think it's so cute. I think my brother's pretty cool too, so of course I love it.

Here are a couple of Brooke's favorite men! She has a few favorite men. They are all family. I love it because Brooke can walk into my parents house or my in laws and always walks right into arms of people that love her. Maybe it's because she is so little and cuddly, or the fact that it's her personality. (She has sisters like that too:) Anyway, I just love these pictures, and these men.

No new Brooke updates. Still waiting on the med to stimulate her appetite. We did talk to the feeding clinic MD in GR. At this point we are going to keep doing what we are doing. Encourage her to eat, love her, and do tube feedings. No out patient therapy or anything else. My gracious, wonderful husband has taken the reigns and talked to the MD re: my "issues" with her feeding stuff. So all is well for the time being. Steve is best fit to deal with this issue. He deals with facts and not emotions, which is why we work so well together. Once again, God knew just what He was doing.