Cookie Baking Night 07/17/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carissa, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo (and let's not forget Larry and Clara). Tonight was Clara's birthday choice. For supper, she chose french toast (her favorite), bacon, and strawberries. For her cookie, she chose oatmeal cookies.

We were so busy tonight, I didn't take many pictures. 

For our Bible lesson tonight we read from the book "God's Names" by Sally Michael. Our lesson tonight was the name Helper. We learned about God the Holy Spirit in this lesson. 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26

We talked about the part that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives.

"Neverthless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away. for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." John 16:7-8

Good Bible lesson, and a fun time was had by all. 

Caregiving-Changes 12/14/2017

 In the past couple weeks, I've really seen my Mom's cognition change. It's much harder for her to form full sentences. She's having a hard time remembering what she did earlier in the day or even 5 minutes ago. I find it very hard to watch. I try to keep it together while I'm with her, and then I start crying when I leave her sight. Even things she's always known and been adamant about are not that important to her. We don't think she has a bladder infection right now, so it's hard to know if this is a downward spiral into dementia or an illness in her body that we need to have checked out. I find the mystery of aging to be the hardest part. You're in charge of the care of someone else's body, but you can't feel what they feel, and they can't communicate exactly what they feel either. Aging doesn't get better, it only declines.

Lately, I find myself missing both my parents when I'm gone, wishing I was here, but also dreading being home again because I want it to be better. I feel helpless.

I'm constantly counseling my mind to trust in God. I'm so grateful He knows what I do not know, and He will take care of us.

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up
My eyes are not raised too high
I do not occupy myself with things to great and too marvelous for me
but I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother
Like a weaned child is my soul within me
[O Israel] hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 131

Cookie Baking Night 07/03/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carissa, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo. Tonight was Carissa's birthday choice. She turned 12 years old just a couple days ago. For supper, she chose macaroni and cheese, tator tots, strawberries, and peaches. For her "cookie" she chose dirt cups (chocolate pudding, cookie crumbs, and gummy worms - mmm).

While I was putting the finishing touches on supper the kids (and Clara) colored flowers to use as decorations in the dirt cups.

The finished product. Pretty cute. 

In honor of Carissa's birthday, we walked to the local gas station for a treat. Uncle Greg joined us for the trip. 

We took the long way back and walked along the brick wall for a ways. 

It was a night full of activity and, as usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 06/19/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Emily, Ethan, and Carissa. Tonight was Uncle Greg's birthday choice. He chose lasagna for supper and peanut butter cookies for his cookie choice.

Smaller crowd tonight as Cookie Baking Nights go, and that meant we all fit around the table without the assistance of a card table at the end. 

Greg said he wanted peanut butter cookies, "the kind where you use a fork", in other words nothing fancy, I'll take the classic. 

We walked to the local gas station for a treat

And played board games for ages 7 and up. It was a rollicking good time. And, as usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 06/05/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan, Carissa, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo. Tonight we made "chocolate pretzels" As far as I can tell, this treat really doesn't have a name, but most of us have seen them around Christmas time. It's the pretzel, Hershey Kiss, M&M treat.

Here's how we did it. We unwrapped a bunch of Hershey Kisses and Hugs.

Then we placed the candy on top of a pretzel twist. 

We placed them in a 350-degree oven for about 3 minutes (just until the chocolate was shiny and melty). Then we took them out of the oven and placed an M&M on top of each one. 

And Voila! A tasty pretzel treat. 

The weather was beautiful this evening. We walked to the local gas station for an ice cream treat. Uncle Greg was able to join us. 

After the walk we spent a little time rolling down the hill in the backyard. The boys (and girls) were fascinated by the culvert at the bottom of the hill. The repeated question was "why does it have a grate over the top of it?" I asked Rylar, "What would you do if that grate wasn't there?" He said, "Crawl inside." I said, "That's why it's there." 

The lilac tree in the backyard is in full bloom, and it lasts about a week, so we thought we'd seize the moment for a lilttle photo op. 

We spent more time outside than inside tonight but we did make time for a Bible lesson from the "God's Names" book by Sally Michael, Tonight we learned the name "Father" and talked about God is our Father and what that means. To illustrate the lesson of a good and kind father, the book pointed us to the story of the "the prodigal son" in the Bible (Luke 15:11-32). 

Another beautiful almost-summer Cookie Baking Night has come and gone. As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 05/08/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Carissa, Allison, Rylar, and Enzo. We made peanut butter pretzel bars.

We started by crushing the pretzels. We put them in a plastic bag and used a rolling pin to crush them. 

Next measure out some peanut butter.

Add the powdered sugar. Mix. Spread in a pan. Melt some chocolate to put on top. Throw on a few M&Ms for color. 

And Voila! 

Tonight we made flower-garden pictures. My mom, Clara, spends her days coloring flowers that she uses to minister to others in various ways. One of the ways we used them today was in our pictures. The kids glued the flowers to large pieces of paper and used colored paper or markers to add stems. 

I think they turned out beautifully. It blesses my heart to see the generations coming together here and each glorifying God with what He has given them. 

For our Bible lesson this evening, we once again turned to the book "God's Names" by Sally Michael. Tonight we learned the name Jehovah-Rohi, which means "The Lord My Shepherd". We learned that sheep are not like other animals. They don't protect themselves. They are not leaders. They are followers. They need someone to safely lead them. That is the job of the Shepherd. We also learned that the Bible compares people to sheep and calls Jesus the Good Shepherd. 

We read Psalm 23 together, as it so beautifully illustrates how the Lord is our Shepherd. 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

He leads me beside still waters. 

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life, 

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

As usual a fun time was had by all, and God's grace abounded. 

Cookie Baking Night 03/13/17

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Allison, Rylar, and Enzo.

Just the little ones tonight. We made M&M cookies.

We went for our first walk of the season tonight. It was warm enough to walk but cool enough to dress warmly. They weren't anticipating going for a walk tonight, so no one had mittens with them. I gave Allison a pair of my knit gloves to wear, and the boys wore socks. They weren't too excited about that are first, but they warmed up to the idea (as did their hands). 

We walked to the local gas station for a treat. 

                         

And ended our evening snuggled on the couch watching a little "Finding Nemo". Awww.

As usual, a fun time was had by all.