Change is Good!

I have finally done it. Against my initial desires, I have switched from Blogger to WordPress. There are just so many features that make this jump worthwhile.

You can find me at http://slavabogu.wordpress.com/

Please change your links to reflect my new site address, and happy reading!

Oh, the Funny Things They Say

A few nights ago, I got a call from my mom. "3 1/2 minutes to launch. The Space Shuttle. Turn on the T.V. Bye." Click.

This was the first time all three of my kids were old enough and understood enough English to really enjoy watching the shuttle take off into space. There were many questions throughout. Towards the end, after I had said they were traveling to the space station, Funny Boy very seriously asked, "Mama, do they have to dress up like aliens to go there?"

Later, when we had recovered from laughing, Sweet Pea asked, "Mommy, can they breathe up there?" to which Bossy Boy replied firmly before I could answer, "They can breathe for two hours." Really, he does think he knows everything!

We got a kick out of watching the kids' excitement and curiosity about space travel.

Then yesterday, my heart melted when my husband told Funny Boy that "Mama is crazy" after I did something silly. Funny Boy said, "She's not crazy. She's just right for me."

You tell him, Funny Boy, because we are just right for each other. :)

Menu Plan Monday

If you didn't see my post on the beef chimichangas from last week, click here. They were awesome! aaaaa

Once again, I am recycling a recipe I did not use last week.

Monday: Leftovers & Salad

Tuesday: Crisp & Creamy Baked Chicken

Wednesday: Family Night Supper at church

Thursday: Kielbasa, veggie, fruit

Friday: Something in the crockpot

Saturday: Sandwiches for lunch, Taco Soup for dinner (unless I think of something cooler I am interested in:) )

Sunday: On the road again...picking up children from grandparents!

So there you have it folks...the menu is not so well thought out this week, but I am off to take two of my three children to their grandparents.

Happy Cooking!

Sunday Scripture

Ananias and Sapphira

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"

"Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

I read this passage during my quiet times this week and was reminded of how arrogant we are to think we can deceive God. My children have been learning a catechism. On of the questions is Does God know all things? followed by the answer, Yes, nothing can be hidden from God.

We would do well to remember that no how much we deceive ourselves and others, God cannot be deceived. May our fear of the Lord and our reverence for Him keep us living lives of integrity.

Have a blessed day of worship!

Summer 2007 Update

In May, I shared the goals we wanted to accomplish as a family this summer. To help us meet those, I decided to do regular "checks" to see where we are. Below is a list of goals and where we are on meeting them.

1. Read books together. We are currently reading Traitor in the Tower together. Two of the three children can hardly bear to wait for the next chapter to see if Richard's father will be released from prison and what John Bunyan will share with Richard.

2. Work on math skills. We have been very successful in doing this with our older son, but I have been less successful at including the younger kids in working on this.

3. Physical Exercise. The kids are doing great in this area. Mom and Dad are not doing so well. :(

4. Household Chores/Projects. We are doing okay in this area. We have cleaned out some things, but have a long way to go in decluttering and deep cleaning. Still, I think it would be unreasonable to expect much more than what we have accomplished at this point, given our schedules and the fact that it is summer, after all!

5. Cooking. I am doing terrible in involving the children in this area. My oldest has helped once or twice, but the youngest two are often napping when I prepare dinner. I have decided to table (pardon the pun) any real effort in this area until July, when our schedule slows way down from the busy rush of sports camps and VBS.

6. Scripture Memory. Horrendous. Only one child has memorized a verse, and it wasn't in Philippians as planned. It simply had to do with his heart attitude and what God says about it. I have got to get better in this area.

7. Time with extended family/fun. We're doing well here. We have spent time with grandparents and extended family already, have played with friends, have been to the pool, have watched together the only TV show the kids really watch (Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?), etc. One area we need to work on is father/children time.

8. Catechism/Daily Bible Reading. We are doing so well in this area! We have worked a lot on learning a catechism together. So far, we have memorized just over 30 questions and answers, and the kids love to quiz each other and especially their parents. :) Also, we have made it a point to have the kids start reading their Bibles daily as Mom and Dad do. I can't say we've made it every day, but they are reading their Bibles most days. It has been so exciting to hear what they are learning.

So there you have it. My grand ideas for the summer and the reality of where we are with those ideas. To see the original goals and descriptions, click here. If you have any tips on accomplishing these goals, please let me know.

Smart Habit Saturday: Making the Bedroom a Haven Again

It's Saturday again...time to review the habits I am trying to establish and decide if I want to implement a new one.

This Saturday, I want to start making a habit out of making up my bed every day. This is something I always did prior to marriage, and due to schedules early in our marriage when I worked outside the home (or maybe just due to my husband's generosity), DH started making the bed in the morning, and I got out of the habit. This went on for about 5 1/2 years.

Shamefully, I must admit that now I have been home 5 1/2 years, and I have never regularly gotten back into the habit. My DH no longer makes the bed...after all, I am up last. There is something about going to sleep in a bed that has been made up during the day that just makes it feel cleaner. I miss that feeling. I also am tired of pillows laying all over our bedroom floor. Our bedrooms are supposed to be a haven of peace, and mine just isn't right now. This is a small step to reclaiming the room.

I actually started this new habit three days ago, and I am going to try to keep it up, even if it means getting rid of half the bed pillows that irritate me as I put them on the bed each morning!

Now, for an honest assessment of how I am doing in my other SMART Habits:

• Touch the mail only once: Week 1 has gone really well...6 out of 7 days, I have met my goal.


• Drink no more than one diet coke a day: I'm still working on this. About half the time I manage it. The other days, it might take me three to get through the day!

Friday Photo: Love My Dogs, Hate Their Hair

How many times of running the washer do you think it took to get rid of the hair from the dog's towels? Care to share any tips?

Wow!

Well, I finally made the Beef Chimichangas after their presence on my weekly menu for three weeks. They were a HUGE success!! My husband raved about them, my kids couldn't get enough of them, and best of all, the recipe was so easy!! These were so good I couldn't wait until the next Menu Plan Monday to share.

We will definitely keep this in our recipe file, although due to the fact that they are fried, we won't have them a lot.

I would make one change: the sauce for the chimichangas was really spicy, and the filling was not, so next time I'll probably put half the jalapenos in the filling and the other half in the sauce. With the exception of my younger son, we all really like spicy food in this house.

Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One

I have so may things to be thankful for, but sometimes, when I am dealing with wild animals the natives my children I forget that. Sometimes, when my husband makes me want to scream irritates me forgets things gently disagrees with me I forget that.

Seriously, my husband and children are blessings and I believe it is useful to have a list of my blessings and things for which I am thankful to reflect on upon occasion. God gives us so much, and it is so easy to think we deserve to have this or that or just to take our gifts for granted. With that in mind, I present my first weekly set of 7 things for which I am thankful, in no particular order.

1. St. Mary' Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana (It was here that I became convinced that God was real and not a fairytale--yes, I was quite slow on the uptake).

2. Daffodils (They are the first sign of spring to me. I used to love picking bunches of them from my Grandma's yard).

3. The color blue (I find it very peaceful).

4. My younger son's laughter (It is a belly laugh, full of good humor, and makes me want to join in).

5. My daughter's hugs. (They are, quite possibly, the sweetest things on earth. There is nothing better than to have her little arms wrapped around me and hear the words, "I love you, Mommy. You are the best mommy in the whole world.").

6. My husband and older son sumo wrestling on the sand (To see the two of them cutting up together gives me great pleasure, especially to see my son having a father-son relationship and enjoying it so much).

7. Gulf Shores, Alabama (Growing up, I spent many weeks here with my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. After being to a variety of beaches around the world, I still prefer Gulf Shores and the surrounding area).

So there you have it, this week's list of seven things for which I am thankful. What are you thankful for?

Adoption is at the Heart of the Gospel

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Galatians 4:4-6

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6

Adoption is at the heart of the Gospel. There are several biblical instances of adoption, such as the adoptions of Moses and Esther. In both cases, God used their new life circumstances for His glory. Even more apparent is that our relationship as children of our Heavenly Father, as demonstrated by the verses above, is made through adoption.

All of my children are adopted. I love them deeply. Yet for all my love, there have been trying times. One child, extremely angry over his life circumstances, has allowed his heart to be eaten up with rage and self-centeredness. You may think it unkind of me as a mother to say such a thing about my child, but I could tell you many things which have happened that demonstrate this. Has this child been difficult to love? Yes, at moments, because I am sinful. Will the reward ever be known? I don't know, but God has shown me much about who He is and who I am through these circumstances. And, graciously, He has given me a great love for this child who so desperately needs the hope of Christ. God has also made very real to me the fact that He alone can bring true healing to the human heart.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that prior to knowing Christ, we too were ugly on the inside (and occasionally after knowing Christ), yet He loves us. The Bible tells us that we love Him because He first loved us. Yes, even as we were ugly and "unlovable". Despite who I was, my God was faithful to adopt me as a co-heir with Christ.

Isaiah 64:6 teaches us that our righteous acts prior to grace are as filthy rags (or filthy garments or polluted garments, depending on the translation). When my child does disgusting things to exert control or does cutesy things that ring false to gain favor, I must remember the state of my own garments before knowing Christ.

As an adopted child, I cost the Father greatly. His Son carried the burden of my sin. Yet, He has remained steadfast in His relationship with me. Through adopting my children, I have experienced motherhood, a wonderful privilege accompanied by tender moments and humorous moments. I have also experienced knowing God more, and learning about the wickedness of my heart.

My love is not as easy and forgiving as I once thought it. My perseverance and patience is not longsuffering. My ability to put my neighbor or even my child's needs above my own has been weak, at times. But, through it all, God has brought me into a deeper knowledge of Him, a more honest examination of myself, and a life that has eternal meaning. He is teaching me to be faithful, to persevere, to show a true love rather than a fickle one.

I don't know for what purpose God chose my children out of the millions who need mothers and fathers, but I do know that He chose them to be mine for a time. I pray that one day His call on their lives will bring glory and honor to Him and His truth will be made known in a greater capacity. I thank Him for the privilege of loving my children and having them for however long He allows me to.

To learn more about how adoption is at the heart of the gospel, I strongly urge you to read this message by John Piper and the accompanying letter he wrote his wife as he shared his commitment with her to adopt their daughter.

Menu Plan Monday

Okay, so my mom decided to drop in at my sister's house for a week. Of course, my sister lives a mile from me and works during the day, so I spent lots of time with mom, which was good, really good, except my menu plans were extremely messed up for the week. Aahhh, but if life were too organized it would be boring (at least that's what I keep telling myself).

Below is the key for new recipe ratings:

aaaaa As my grandpa used to say, "luscious"
aaaa A new family favorite
aaa Pretty good, worth making occasionally
aaNot our favorite or a mixed review
aYuck!

Last week we tried:

Aussie Sausage Rolls a

This recipe is definitely not a keeper! We were a little surprised by how much we disliked it as it had a 5 star rating from Taste of Home. Perhaps we just didn't know what we were doing with the phyllo dough, but it tasted like many many layers of paper were around the meat--not something we cared for much. It might be good with some modifications, but with so many other recipes out there, I doubt we'll bother.

Here is the game plan for this week:

Monday: Hamburgers, Chips, Salad

Tuesday: We'll eat at the ballpark as our choir is performing the National Anthem!

Wednesday: Family Night Supper at church or sandwiches at home

Thursday: After three weeks, we're finally going to try and get the Beef Chimichangas on the table!

Friday: Grilled Chicken with a side of pasta

Saturday: Chicken & Rice Casserole, a green vegetable, Bread

Sunday: Crisp & Creamy Baked Chicken, Broccoli Casserole, Bread

Happy Cooking!

Sunday Scripture

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"-- and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:14-26, ESV

Smart Habit Saturday--Oh, How I Used to Love the Mail...

It's Saturday again, and that means it is time to reflect on the last smart habit I tried to establish, and implement a new one.

This week, I am going to start going through the mail and getting rid of it each day it arrives. I used to love getting mail, but now I get junk, and bills, and more junk...and occasionally something I am interested in. Thus, I have developed a bad habit of looking through the mail, pulling out what I am interested in, and leaving the junk for another day. When I finally sort it, it becomes several little piles--shred, discard, pay, reply, magazines to read, etc. I have grown to hate all these little piles that clutter up my living room. I want to start sorting the mail and doing everything that needs to be done in regard to it on the day it arrives (except, maybe, for reading the magazines that day). My family will certainly appreciate our living room being paperless!

Last week's smart habit was to reduce to one per day the amount of diet coke I drink. I succeeded every day, even going without diet coke at all one day, until today, the start of a new week, when I have had 2 1/2...okay, yes, it's soon to be three...diet cokes. So, I feel pretty good about it, but need to regain control after today!

What's your Smart Habit? Join Lara over at the Lazy Organizer to share what you are working on this week.