FREE - who wants them?

If you - or anyone you know wants a really cute pair of pink footie jammies with a blue dinosaur on them... just say the word and you can have them. Annie has worn them 3 times and she has not out grown them - I just don't want them anymore. But, let me warn you, they are bad news.

The first time she wore them she was sick and during the night she coughed so hard that she threw-up. It was an unpleasant smelly mess. Even after I washed everything I was still convinced that the jammies still smelled bad.

It was a month before I let her wear those jammies again. Then.... I was brave enough to put them on her. The night was fine, but she was up earlier than normal that morning. I was not feeling well. I was a bit congested and I sat with her on my lap for a while. We read a few stories and Don brought me in a cup of coffee. After a while, she began to squirm so I put her down and leaned my head back and closed my eyes and in 2.2 seconds - Annie put her little hand in my coffee and spilled it... everywhere. I quickly got up and grabbed a towel and cleaned Annie up. A few days later, it was obvious that I didn't clean the carpet very well. And I was convinced that the sleeve of her jammies also smelled like rotten coffee (with cream). If you know my husband, he doesn't deal well with things like that. I went on line and found ways to properly clean coffee out of a carpet and it is fine now. A few times since then I would pick her cute pink footie jammies with the blue dinosaur on them - and then put them back and make a new selection instead...until last night.

3 strikes... YOU'RE OUT!!

The night went fine - the morning went fine - then this....
Annie can walk really well, but those cute pink footie jammies with the blue dinosaur on them are really slippery on the wood floor in the kitchen and Annie had a hard time keeping her balance. Her teeth met her lip in a very not-nice way! So, we are done with them. Whoever is brave enough to want them - they are yours. I will gladly hand them over with a smile and a sigh. I just washed them so they are clean and ready to wear. I think the puke smell has diminished - the stinky coffee is gone and now all the blood stains are out.

A note to my husband-

Dearest sweetie pie-
Here are some thoughts that I have for you on this beautiful morning...
When you are awake - there are noises all around. I am a woman who can multi-task and busy with life and I take for granted the air I breathe. I am thankful that I can go thru my day and not have to think about breathing. It just happens and it gives me more time to do more important things. So, when you are awake everything around you seems to make noise except your breath.

Every once in a while, you will yawn louder than necessary or cough or hiccup or something that will make noise but that's it. (Here's my point) So, why is it when you are sleeping that your breathing can be so loud? Is it trying to make up for the rest of the day - or taking advantage of the moments when it can make it's presence known to the rest of us who are awake? Do you enjoy the AIR around you so much that you want to suck in as much as humanly possible in one big long breath? I need to find those ear plugs.

Ok- that's all I've got for now-
Love you-
een

During this Thanksgiving season I am very thankful for the air. (I like it during the day a little more than at night.)

a little thought about green grass....

Today I was thinking about green grass.
My husband is now working for a landscaping company. He was a huge lover of green grass before - I can only imagine what next summer will hold for our little piece of earth. But, maybe he will be working long hours during the summer days and he won't have a lot of extra time to make our already beautiful lawn even more picture perfect! We shall see.
Anyway- that is not the kind of green grass that I was thinking about! My green grass is my state of contentment.... my expectations..... my desires. I don't believe that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Well, maybe I do sometimes. (I am human.) But, for the most part I think my grass is greener right here and I have kept it watered with my cup that is usually half full.
My life has not been easy every day. I have had my share of struggles and I have worked really hard but I know that it's a choice to be content despite of my circumstances. There are some things that I wish I could change but I know that God is in control and that He has a perfect plan for me.
It is going to be Thanksgiving next week - and I have so much to be thankful for! God has blessed us beyond what we deserve. Please think through all of your blessings in the next few days. It will act like water and help your grass get a little greener!

footprints

My thoughts about Footprints in the sand:
I remember having a bookmark when I was in elementary school that had the poem printed on it. It had the classic beach scene with the footprints and it even had a baby blue ribbon on top. I kept it in my Bible and would read it often. It is such a classic poem. I think most people know it and after reading it - I think the normal response is a thankful sigh knowing that Jesus will be there to help us thru the difficult moments of life.
I have been thinking about it lately in a different way. My old way of thinking was that I would picture myself going thru a trial and at the point of shear exhaustion - or failure to do something in my own strength - I would crumple into a little ball on the floor and Jesus would pick me up and carry me the rest of the way. I would lay in His arms, looking dead, and He would walk thru the sand holding me all flopped over and there would be 1 set of footprints.....yada yada yada.

Now that I am older and have gone thru some trials of my own I have these thoughts: I don't have to try to do everything in my power to make it on my own. And when I can NOT do it anymore- or when I can NOT go one step farther- or if I do NOT have the strength to stand.... then He will swoop in and take over. He is with me all the time. I don't have to be 1/2 dead for Him to come along side me and help me. And if it is a time when He is carrying me thru a rough spot - I can choose HOW I am carried. Being a mom, I can understand that more now.

Annie loves to sit on top of her daddy's shoulders. I think she can see the whole world from up there and it is an adventure. He carefully holds her feet and makes sure she will not bump her head and she is filled with wonder as she is being carried so high. When she is hurt or not feeling well she loves to be held close to my heart. She will lean in and snuggle my neck and cling to her blankie and enjoy the comfort and warmth of the security of her mother. Other times I rest her on my hip as I walk around. My arms do start to ache after holding her for a while. Especially if she is squirming around. God won't tire of holding us but, I don't think we are meant to be held our whole life either.

I can see how different my life would be if I climb up on to His shoulders knowing I am on an adventure and enjoying the ride. Other times I know I need to cling to His neck and long to snuggle close, breathing in the safety of His grip. So, why do I try to do things on my own. I know in my own strength I can do nothing. You'd think I would have learned that by now.....

If you need to be reminded of the beauty of this poem - here it is.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

oh the lemon holds on.......

So hard for me to believe that 2 lemons are still on my lemon tree. Life has been a bit crazy these past few weeks so not only have I neglected to water my plants I have a silly 1 year old who keeps eyeballing the cute green balls that are at her level.
Here are some things that have taken place in the past 6 weeks....
My husband went to Arizona to help his dad for 10 days... (they are in the middle of building a new house and he went to help with the plumbing)... then he came back and started a new job. He worked for 2 days and then got really sick so he missed a few days due to bronchitis and then pneumonia. (So much mucus and coughing - it must be a world record!!) I had a work convention in Madison... then I took Annie to the Dells for a vacation with my parents.... then I went to Vegas for another work trip for 4 days.... then Don went to Timber-Lee to run sound for a father/son retreat... then in the middle of all that, one of my co-workers quit due to some health issues so I have been working more hours to fill in... and now I have a day off and here we are at the end of October and I am sitting at the kitchen table on a Friday morning anticipating a weekend that we will be home and together. I almost don't know what to do with myself - but I turn look out the window and see leaves EVERYWHERE. I am sure raking will be in my near future. There are still a lot of leaves in the trees - so maybe we should wait a wee bit longer?!?!
Happy Fall everyone!

okdokie

Since Annie's birthday....
We had a few parties... a few shots and some blood drawn... I was a single parent for 10 days... Donald got a new job... and we all got sick... besides that - it has been very boring around here.

I am leaving this afternoon for a work trip to Madison. It will just be today and tomorrow but I feel bad leaving when Don is still sick. Annie and I were sick while he was out of town and it is no fun to do the parenting alone when you are run down and coughing and achy and coughing and tired and coughing....

Annie has been a trooper through all of this. Especially her visit to the doctor, getting 3 shots and her finger prick. She was so proud of her "Owwie" and sad when I took off the band-aid and it was all better.

We have been experiencing fall this week. The days are shorter and the weather is cooler. The leaves are beginning to change colors. It is so beautiful and I love being able to snuggle up in a sweatshirt that has been in the closet since last April.
The other day, I brought in some house plants that were outside all summer to protect them from the cold nights. One of them was my lemon tree. My sister gave me a lemon tree 3 years ago and I am sad to admit it but it has been a little neglected. After all this time, I finally have 3 lemons that are growing on it.
Well, 2 are left.
One of them was knocked off and Annie has been having fun throwing it and rolling it around on the kitchen floor. I was looking at the other 2 this morning wondering if they would make it. As they are getting bigger I am not sure that the branches can support them. As Annie is more mobile, I am not sure that she will leave them alone. As I go throughout my day, I am not sure I will remember to water the plant so that they can continue to grow.
All of this concern about lemons!
It made me so thankful that God is concerned about me. He cares for me even though He has the whole world to take care of. He will protect me from dangers that try to distract me and pull me away from the branch. His mercy and strength will sustain me even in times of trouble. We are so blessed. I need to NOT take that for granted. I need to continue to hold tight to one who brings peace, joy, and LIFE!

Happy Birthday, Annie Joy!

What a difference a year makes. Annie turns 1 in a few days and as I sit here and reflect I am reminded of so many great moments and times of laughter. She is sweet and funny and truly a joy to my heart.

Exactly a year ago today, I can remember feeling anxious and stressed. I knew in a few short days - I was going to be a mother. I was going to be holding this tiny bundle and all I could think was "what if I drop her?" We had spent years waiting and longing for a child and then we spent months preparing our home and going through hours of education to gain our foster parents license. But, if you would have asked me if I was ready to be a mother I would have been the first to respond -"no way!" I didn't know what I was doing. I had been around babies before but not 24-7. I was just the babysitter or the aunt and I could always go home at the end of the night and put my feet up and enjoy a good nights rest. I was also getting ready to leave my job for 6 weeks. That was my life up until this point. I wasn't sure how the office would survive without me.... (they did great, by the way).
But, now it is a year later, and some of the things I find myself saying on a regular basis are.... peek-a-boo - what does a monkey say? - uh oh! - not in your mouth - how big is Annie? - be gentle with keekah (our 15 yr old kitty cat) - Let's go to grammo's! - more? - don't throw that on the floor - are you ready for ta-dah? - no screaming - where is Rosheena? - where is the ducky? - where is my nose?- i love you - i love you - i love you!
I love you, Annie Joy Blessing! Thank you for being my little girl.
Happy Birthday.

days turn into months...

It seems like yesterday our little Annie Joy looked like this! Just a few days later..... (umm - I mean 10 months later) I am still in shock at how she has grown and how much joy she has added to our lives. I am learning how to multi-task and juggle responsibilities and my husband is learning how to be more patient. Every stage so far has been more precious than the last. As she calls me mommy and leans in to get a kiss, my heart melts. She is learning new words and crawling so fast. She is eating so many new foods now that she has more teeth. Each day is an adventure.
A highlight of the summer is spending time with her cousins. Wyatt told me yesterday that Annie is perfect. He could not have asked for a better cousin. They love being with her and she watches all they do - trying to take it all in. Life will not be the same when they go back to Indonesia. We will treasure the time we can be together and try to store up the hugs and kisses to get us thru.
I love being a mom. Thanks, Annie Joy! You are such a blessing.

It all happened in April!

We are officially a family of 3! April 9th at 11:30 we met with the judge and he declared that Annie is our daughter! I am so overcome with emotions. After all this time God has blessed us with a precious little girl. Oh how I love her so very much. Here are a few pictures of that special day. Then we had a party 2 days later. and many of our friends and family came to celebrate Annie Joy Blessing Peterson. It was a great day!

A few days later I packed up and went to Denver for a work convention. It was 5 days being away from my family but I learned a lot and it was a profitable trip.
Then came Don's birthday on the 29th and on the 30th we received the good news that he passed his pluming test and is now an official Master Plumber. I am so proud of him.

April was a month full of Joy in the Peterson house. Praise God for his faithfulness and blessings.