Memories from 11 years ago

My daughter, K, celebrated her 11th birthday today.  She loves excitement and being in the spotlight.  Her birth was anything but normal!

3 phrases stand out from that day:

"I'm feeling toes."

Silly girl flipped around the night before I started having contractions.  I remember feeling a lot of movement, but I had no idea what she was up to until the following day.

"It's a....it's a....it's a GIRL!"

We never found out the gender of our babies before they were born.  As they pulled her out during the c-section, she was bum-side-up so the doctors couldn't see what she was.  She was too slippery to turn over right away so we waited in anticipation as they were trying to get a look.

"We need help resuscitating."

Because she was born via c-section, she was not breathing.  For those of you familiar with births, her apgar score was around 3.  I don't remember for sure, but it was very low.  It was a frighteningly long 30 seconds as they brought her little body back to life...and we finally heard that precious cry.

Today in celebration of her special day, we made mini pizzas for lunch, went swimming at some friends' house, and ate out at Chicos.  She's saving up for an ipod so she received a lot of money for her birthday.

Here's some special things to know about K:

She is very much a girly girl who isn't afraid to get dirty with the boys.

 

She loves to dress up, look pretty, do her nails, and beg for makeup - not quite time for that, yet. ;)

She loves pink, and anything that sparkles.

She loves music and loves to sing.  She can memorize a song very easily, even after hearing it only once.

She's not afraid to play rough.  She is competitive and loves it when she can beat her big brother.

She loves Jesus.  She realized her need for a Savior when she was 3 years old and gave her life to Christ.  She desires to share His love with others and prays for the salvation of those who are lost.

I love seeing her grow in the beautiful young woman God is creating her to be.

Happy birthday, K!

Insignificant

Several years ago, while still in high school, I attended various conferences with friends.  At one particular conference, I met someone named Chad.  I'd see him occasionally after that.  He attended Emmaus Bible College and moved on.  I attended Emmaus some time after he left.

My senior year at Emmaus, I was about to graduate and my husband and I were looking for jobs preferably at a camp somewhere.  While walking down the hallway, I see a familiar face.  We pointed to each other and basically said, "I know you."  Yep, it was Chad, who had come by to visit other friends.  He asked what I was up to and about my future plans.  I told him we were looking for jobs at camps.  He said that he had a friend who worked at a camp and they were looking for a couple of people.  He gave me their contact information and we both went on our way.

That "chance" meeting led my husband and I to Village Creek Bible Camp in Northern Iowa.  There, I discovered my leadership skills, and we both gained some great friends.  I don't think I've seen Chad since then.

The first time I met Chad, it was a seemingly insignificant event.  At least 4 years later, Chad and I "happen" to be walking down the same hallway at Emmaus, where he was no longer attending.  God used these meetings to bless Seth and me at a camp for the next year.  He blessed us with friends, He blessed our work, He blessed our family as our son was born at the end of our time at VCBC.

Have you ever thought about how God has taken a seemingly insignificant thing in your life and used it to further His purpose?  The closer I grow to God, the more amazed I am at how He orchestrates everything for His plan.  His sovereignty is something none of us can truly wrap our minds around.

In my Sunday School class, we are studying the book of Esther.  Although God is never mentioned throughout the entire book, you can see Him working in the life of Esther and the kingdom in Persia.  Today's lesson revealed what could be taken as coincidences as part of God's overall plan.

The king had trouble sleeping.  This night happened at the exact time God intended it to happen.  Events that had occurred previously had to have been in place before the king had his night of troubled sleep.  Events that would happen later could not have taken place before this long night.  To us, it seems of no importance that the king had trouble sleeping, but God had a plan.

Because he couldn't sleep, he asked someone to read the chronicles of things that happened in the past.  That person just happened to choose an event that caused the king to act.  The incident that was read was about the Jew, Mordecai.  Five years earlier, Mordecai had discovered a plot of the king's assassination.  Mordecai revealed the plot to his cousin, Esther, who then warned the king.  The men who were planning to kill the king were dealt with.  Now, listening to the chronicles, the king asked if anything had ever been done to honor Mordecai for saving his life.  Nothing had been done.  At that moment, the king decided to honor Mordecai.  The person reading to the king that night could have chosen any event in the chronicles, but he chose this very significant event.  This may seem like a coincidence, but God had a plan.

Also, at that moment, Haman happened to be in the outer court.  Haman is Mordecai's enemy.  Their ancesteral animosity goes back for centuries.  Haman hated Jews, especially Mordecai.  Mordecai refused to give Haman any respect.  The city knew that these 2 men did not get along.  It's the middle of the night, the king would normally be sleeping, yet Haman is in the outer court ready to speak to him.  Haman has no idea the king is already awake and he may think nothing of it, but God had a plan.

The king called for whomever was in the court - Haman.  Haman had come to ask the king to hang Mordecai.  He had just built gallows for this very purpose.  The king, however, had different plans.  Before Haman could bring his request to the king, the king asked Haman how he should honor a man.  Haman assumed the king intended to honor him so he told the king everything he wanted to happen for his own honor.  At first it just seems ironic: Haman coming to the king to ask to hang Mordecai while the king wanted Haman's opinion on how to honor Mordecai.  Ironic to us, but God had a plan.

As the story goes, Haman is humiliated as he led Mordecai around the city on a horse, dressed in a robe and a crown, while all the city gave honor to Mordecai.  God's plan was coming together.

Are these four events truly coincidences?  Are they really insignificant?  God was working in each of these events.  He knew the end of the story before anyone else.

God still uses insignificant coincindences.  One of the young women in my Sunday School class gave an amazing example of such a case.  While on a missions trip, a little girl noticed a hair tie on her wrist.  She thought it was pretty, so this young woman gave it to her without a second thought.  Afterall, she had plenty of others at home.  The mother of this little girl was so grateful for the kindness shown to her daughter that she came and thanked the group.  No one receives something without payment and the mother was simply overjoyed.  Eventually, the mother accepted Christ as her Savior!!!  The young woman in my class never would have imagined that a simple pony-tail holder would lead a woman to Jesus.

Do you think any decision you make is insignificant now?  Think about a time in your life when God used the insignificant to become significant.

Rambo's story 2

Hello, Rambo here.  I am the Harrington's dog.  The other day seemed like it would be a normal day.  Mom got up and took my boy kid somewhere.  He's gone almost all day.  The 2 girl kids stay home with Mom.  Usually, they are working on books together and learning stuff.  They have lunch and work some more.  However, on this particular day, they didn't get the books out.  Instead, they cleaned the living room.  They even got out that loud machine that they push around the room.  I hate that thing.  I'm afraid it's going to eat me.

Then, the kids did some regular chores while Mom got the books out to look over them.  They seemed to be waiting for something.  I wish I knew what it was they were waiting for.  Mom seemed to be a little impatient.  Whatever it was, it was late.  She pushed buttons on her little red box.  I think she uses it to talk to people who aren't here.  Sure enough, it made a noise and Mom looked and announced, "She's on her way!"

Who's on her way?  I sat on my window seat and watched the neighborhood.  There's always cats and squirrels that I must bark at.  But, I knew someone was coming, so I waited to greet her....whoever her was.

I must have left my post for a bit because I heard Mom say, "Oh, there she is!"  And she got up from the couch.  Oh!  I know her!!!  Her name is Lisa!  And she was carrying a big basket.  I was just so excited to see her and thought for sure I was going with her somewhere.  I ran out the door as Lisa was leaving.

I guess that was a mistake.  Mom came after me.  Lisa grabbed me and handed me back over to Mom.  She was kinda mad.  She doesn't like it when I get outside when I'm not supposed to.

After bringing me inside, Lisa left in her car.  Mom and the kids were all very interested in what was in the big basket Lisa brought over.  They were all talking and smiling.  What was in there?  I jumped up to see, but Mom shooed me away.  It was must be something special.

Mom and the kids did something in the basket, but I still couldn't see what it was.  I jumped up again to have a look, but again, Mom shooed me away.  Hmmm, how was I going to see what was so exciting in this basket?

Finally, they took it out.  It was another kid!  But this one was really small....almost as small as I am.  They set her on the floor.  I thought, "A playmate!  They brought me a friend to play with!!!"  I was so excited.  I jumped up on her and tried to sniff her out.  Mom pushed me down and told me to be gentle.  The little kid pointed at me and said, "Bah!"

Bah?  I'm not Bah.  I licked her hand to let her know I was nice.  Mom told her I was a doggie.  She pointed at me again and said, "Daw!"  Closer.  But not quite.  I licked her hand some more.  I thought she wanted to play with me so I began to jump around and bark playfully at her.  Mom told me to be gentle again.

She followed me around some.  She seemed to be very curious about who I was.  Mom and the kids played with her, too.  She also ate a little food.  The kids thought it was funny.  Then, Mom finally let me play with her.  She reached her hand toward me and I playfully licked it.  Normally, I bite very gently when I play with Mom, Dad, or the kids.  But I knew I needed to be extra gentle with this one so I didn't bite at all.  It was fun.  She swung her hand around and pushed on my face.  I jumped back at her and licked her hand.  Then, she pointed at me and said, "Doggie!"

She did it!  She knows I'm a doggie!  Mom let her know she was right.  She said it again.  Yep, I'm a doggie.

Later, she seemed to get upset and started making a crying noise.  She crawled to Mom and sat on her lap with her blanket.  The kids said she must be tired.

Soon, Lisa came back.  This time, Mom held me so I didn't try to run outside again.  I guess I wasn't supposed to go with Lisa this time either.  Lisa put the new kid back in the basket and they left.  It was a fun morning.  I like getting to see other people and play with other people.

Now, back to routine.  Guarding my family from my window seat and waiting for my boy kid and Dad to get home.  This is the life.

Cooking Adventures

You would think that in a household of 4 daughters, I would have learned how to cook before leaving home.  Well, I didn't.  In fact, I hardly knew how to work the stove or the oven.  I never helped Mom in the kitchen.  If I did, it was more of the mixing or rolling dough or something like that.  I do remember one time when no one was home, I thought I would surprise everyone by making supper.  I went to the pantry and found a box of hamburger helper.  I read the directions.  Then, when I discovered I would have to brown my own hamburger, I put it back.  I was NOT going to brown hamburger by myself!  Another time, when I was in high school, I remember sitting in the living room while Mom had cookies in the oven.  She was upstairs when the timer buzzed.  I didn't bother letting her know the timer buzzed....I kinda thought she would hear it.  I was also very annoyed at the buzzing sound so I turned off the buzzer thinking it would also turn off the oven.

Nope, it doesn't.

Mom came downstairs a bit later and asked if the timer buzzed.  I informed her that it did and I shut it off.  She pulled out the nearly burnt cookies and explained to me that shutting off the timer does not shut off the oven.  My friends....my GUY friends...never let me live that one down.  I told them that I would just learn on my own oven when I grew up.

And that's exactly what I did.

I went off to college having never done laundry or cooked for myself.  Thankfully, I friend took me under her wing and showed me the basics.  I was fine.  I met my husband, got married, and had to learn how to cook on my own stove and oven.  It really wasn't that difficult.  I actually think it's better that way.  This way, I am not already accustomed to my mom's way of cooking, but I can learn to cook the way my husband likes his food - which means more like his mom's way of cooking.  She gave me tips, Seth gave me tips, and I follow recipes to the letter.  I did call my mom for some directions I didn't understand like "cut in" or "pat dry."  But mostly, I learned myself.

I am teaching my children a little bit, although I think I'm like my mom in this area.  I'm usually too much of a perfectionist to let the kids do some things or I'm in a hurry.  But, I do try to let go and let them learn.  K has made a couple of things on her own with very little of my help.  Little A loves to stir things and she helps with other easy jobs in the kitchen.  J isn't that interested, but I really do want him to know how to cook.

Why is it that at that critical moment of making a meal when you can't leave the kitchen and you have several things cooking and needing stirred or something chopped and added or whatever that something else is trying to get my attention?  The phone rings, the doorbell rings, the kids need something, or nature is calling.  Bad timing!!!  There have been times that I turned off the burners just so I could run to the bathroom.

I wouldn't say that I enjoy cooking.  But, I don't hate it either.  I do love making food for other people and I love making it look pretty.  I cook in the oven, on the stove, in the microwave, and with other small kitchen gadgets.

I must say that for only 15+ years of cooking on my own, I have gotten quite good.  My children may complain, but kids are kids.  So, to you who thought I was silly for not learning to cook when I was younger...HA!  We're not starving in this house.  :)

Consequences

 How often do we think about the consequence of our actions?  I know that I don't think about it much.  I make decisions based on what is going on at the time, or how I'm feeling, but I don't often consider how that decision will affect people down the road.

A week before Christmas, I was in a car accident.  I was headed to a place of business that I had never been to before, so I wasn't exactly sure where it was at.  I only knew what intersection it was on.  As I made my way towards the intersection, I slowed down to look around.  I asked the kids to help me find it.  Trees had covered their sign and I didn't see it until I was almost passed it.  I realized I was in the wrong lane, so I quickly looked for clearance and began to change lanes.

*SCREEEEEECH.....BANG!!!*

My very first accident.  And I caused it.  As if I didn't have enough to do already!

No one was hurt, thankfully.  But, that one decision to merge quickly without fully looking around all my blind spots, affected a lot more than I even know.

First, it threw my entire week off.  I then had to deal with the insurance company and auto shop.  We received a rental car, but I didn't want to drive it more than I had to, so I didn't run every errand I wanted to run before we left for Christmas in Iowa.

Second, we didn't get to leave for Iowa when I was planning to leave.  The people at the auto shop worked very very very hard so we could leave on time, but there were things that weren't under their control that slowed them down.  I was still able to leave the same day, just a lot later than planned.  This meant missing going caroling with my home church which K and I were really looking forward to.  And I'm sure my family was looking forward to our early arrival and had a nice supper planned.  It also meant driving on slick roads in the dark with deer everywhere by the time I reached Iowa.  We made it safely without incident.

Third, it may have thrown my life out of whack, but I have no idea how it affected the woman I hit.  Her mother arrived on the scene afterwards and told me there was family stuff going on at home.  I'm sure I added a lot of stress to her life which already must have been very emotional from what I gathered.  Perhaps I caused her to change her holiday plans as well, or her family's.  I honestly have no idea how my quick, selfish, decision affected her life, but I know it did.

Fourth, I received a traffic ticket which of course costs money, which we don't have much of especially during Christmas season.  Along with that was the co-pay for our auto repairs.

Now, I'm a lot more careful about checking my blind spots completely before switching lanes.

That ONE decision had a huge affect, not only on my life, but on my children's lives, my husband's life, even my family's life in Iowa, not to mention the life of the woman I hit.  One decision.

While in Iowa, on Christmas day, the kids had gotten new toys and were playing with them.  I think it was around supper time when K came up to me and said someone got her Pony castle out of the box after she had put it all back in and that the pony was missing.  I knew Little A is also a Pony fan so I questioned her.

Little A has gotten very good at lying and I can't always trust her answers.  Yet, I would hate to accuse of her something she didn't do.  Ah, those difficult parenting moments!  She looked at me straight in the eye and told me she did not get the Pony stuff out.  I didn't believe her.  And I also wondered if she had an accomplice.  So I asked my niece.  She also said she didn't touch it.

Hmmmm, what to do.  Well, maybe the mother of my niece could see if she was lying.  So, my sister went and talked to her daughter about the incident.  As Little A watched her cousin get in trouble for something she knew she didn't do, Little A began to cry...and confessed.  I let my sister know that her daughter was safe and took Little A to my room for punishment.

Her decision to play with the Pony set without permission affected more people than she would have thought.  I'm sure she didn't even consider how this decision would affect anyone but her sister, if she even thought of her.  Little A just wanted to play with that Pony set.

Her decision led to a missing pony, lying to me, K, and her aunt, and getting her cousin in trouble.  One decision.

If we really sat down and considered how each decision we make would affect multple people, would we still make the wrong choice?  Obviously, some decisions must be made quickly and thinking through the consequences just isn't possible.  Even those choices we face when we have plenty of time, we can't see every possible outcome.

That's the beauty of hindsight.  In retrospect, I wish I had just driven around the block instead of trying to get there at the moment I was passing it.  I'm sure Little A wishes she had simply asked her sister if she could play with the Pony set.  (The pony was found, in case you were worried).

All of this makes me think of Adam, the first man created by God.  And let's not forget Eve who was actually the first person to eat the forbidden fruit.  But, Adam, knowing God had said not to eat, chose to eat.  Do you think that if he considered the consequences of this decision that he would have said no to Eve?  Adam's one decision led to every single person after him to be born with the natural habit of sinning.  Everyone.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.

It doesn't matter who you are, what you do, where you live, you are a sinner.  I am a sinner!  It is natural for us to choose our own selfish desires instead of what God has for us.  Because of that, we are separated from God.  God used to walk in the garden with Adam and Eve.  They were perfect, sinless, had everything they needed and more.  But Eve fell for the serpent's lies and was deceived into eating the fruit God said not to eat.  When they sinned, God could no longer dwell with them.  God, who is perfect, righteous, and just, could not be in the presence of sin.  He was forced to remove them from the garden and punish them.

But, removing them and punishing them didn't solve the problem of sin.  Sin was here to stay.  Every baby born from Cain until now and in the future is born a sinner.  There is no escape from that fact.  Sin separates us from God because He cannot be with sin.

God already had a plan to save us, though.  He does not want anyone to perish so He set things in motion to bring a Savior, One Who would be perfect, sinless, to take the full punishment for all the sin in the world.  At the right time, God's Son, Jesus, fully God and fully man, came to earth to fulfill that need.  He is the Savior.

All the sacrifices required throughout the Old Testament pointed to the One sacrifice that completed the payment.  Sin requires blood sacrifice and the only blood pure enough was God's Son.

There is absolutely nothing we can do to get rid of our own sin.  Good cannot outweigh the bad.  There is no such thing as being "good enough."  One sin keeps us from entering heaven and dwelling with God forever.  But God loves us so much that He chose to sacrifice His own Son so that if we choose to accept His death as payment for our sins, we would be forgiven of all sin and be allowed to enter heaven.

Adam's one decision affected the entire human race.  God's decision made it possible for our sins to be washed away.  Now, it's up to you.  How will you decide to react?  This one decision will affect your own eternity.  You can accept the fact that you are a sinner and Jesus died for your sins, personally.  That is what I have decided to do.  Do I still sin?  Yes.  Am I perfect?  Not even close.  But my sin is forgiven and I am promised a home in heaven.

Or, you can choose to believe your own path.  Walk away from the Truth and ignore His warnings in the Bible.

There's only one way to heaven.

Every decision has consequences.  What is your decision?

There's a 7-year-old in the House

As if the Christmas season isn't busy enough!  lol  Little A made her grand entrance into the world 7 years ago.  I remember waiting and expecting her to be early.  She wasn't.  Looking back, I'm glad she wasn't born before Christmas.  She waited until after Christmas.

We have had a busy few weeks.  The kids and I were getting ready to head to Iowa to spend Christmas with my family while Seth had to stay here to work.  In the process of getting ready, we were in a car accident.  In our new car.  Which isn't registered yet.  With new insurance.  Suddenly, everything I thought I had to do no longer seemed necessary.  No one was hurt.  We thank the Lord for that.

After the car was fixed, we headed up to Iowa.  And we brought an illness that we didn't even know we were carrying.  J and A both had coughs, but J's developed into something more.  He ended up getting a fever and getting sick.  Then K got a fever.  My sister got a fever.  My cousin's son got a fever.  The day we came back to Wichita, A had a fever and I was feeling dizzy.  Later I learned that my mom, grandma, and bro-in-law all came down with it as well.  Ooops.  I did not mean to bring this flu to Iowa and pass it around!  I'm so sorry, Iowa family.

Once we returned, I knew I had a lot to do before I could rest and let this sickness take me down.  On the long drive home, I was fighting chills and sweats, but still no fever.  The day after, I had to finish getting stuff ready for our own family Christmas.  On Saturday, we had our Christmas.  We were mostly feeling ok.

Then, I had to get ready for Little A's birthday on Sunday.  I spent 2 1/2 hours running around Wichita, and not completely well.  I was completely spent when I made it back home.

Sunday was the big day!  Seth went to church while us sickies got some rest at home.  Little A requested chicken alfredo for lunch - the frozen kind.  No complaints here!  We enjoyed lunch and at some point, we all took a nap.

Little A was getting worse throughout the day.  Her fever returned and she was feeling awful.  I brought her presents to her and she opened them, showing little excitement as she was miserable.  She gave a hint of a smile for things she liked.

(Apologies for the poor picture quality.  I need a new camera.)

She also received a gift from our friends at church.  It was so sweet of them to think of her and they were sad they didn't get to see her at church on her birthday.  She loves the clothes.

Oreo pie and enchiladas were on the menu, but Little A ended up getting sick so we decided to hold off on the rest of her birthday.

Yesterday, she seemed to be feeling better.  We enjoyed the enchildas for supper and had pie and ice cream afterwards.  But, Little A still couldn't keep it all down.  :(  It was a bummer of a birthday for her, but we did our best to celebrate her turning 7.

We're feeling a little better today.  Little A and I slept on the couches last night.  I doubt we will be ringing in the New Year tonight with a bunch of finger foods.  Perhaps a family movie and our Christmas goodies we got in our stockings.  And maybe we will all feel better in time for school to start up again.

It's hard to believe our baby is 7 years old now.  That is the age I accepted Jesus' gift of salvation for myself.  I do not know where Little A stands with the Lord.  She can answer all the questions correctly and say the right things, but I don't know if she has made a personal choice to follow Him.  I pray that she has or will very soon.

Happy birthday, Little A!  I hope this year is a great one for you!  I love you!!!

Thanksgiving to Christmas

Time sure flies by when you're busy!

Thanksgiving was a little different this year.  We used to visit my family in Iowa, but Seth's employer stated that no one was allowed to have the Friday after Thanksgiving off.  So, we were forced to stay home for Thanksgiving the last few years.  This year, however, Seth was on-call the week of Thanksgiving which automatically gave him Friday off.  Hmmm, what could we do?

First, we thought we should go to Branson.  We bought a Branson trip at the Kansas State Fair.  We have been wanting to go since our friends moved there, but could never find the time or money.  Since it was somewhat paid for, and our son was off from school, we called to book our room.  But, we thought up this idea too late and the hotels were all booked.  Another time we will make that trip.

So, we decided to head up to Iowa.  Since Seth was on-call, however, we would not make it up for Thanksgiving dinner.  We had our Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday evening instead.  Seth found someone to cover for him Thursday evening and we left as soon as we could.  We arrived in time for games with my cousins and all the kids got along fairly well.  Grandpa and Seth actually took them all to the park.

I had a surprise.  A couple of years ago, Seth had made the comment that his mom used to make pumpkin pie from a real pumpkin.  My grandma kinda laughed and said that nobody does that.  Well, I decided to prove her wrong.  I had made a butternut squash pie so I thought it must be pretty similar to that.  So, I looked up recipes online and this year, I did it.

My mistake last year was not buying the pumpkin soon enough.  Stores don't sell pumpkins after Halloween but only for a couple of days.  Not even pie pumpkins which I thought was odd.  So this year, I made sure to buy the pie pumpkin around Halloween.

Because of having to buy the pumpkin early, I had to cook it before it went bad.  First, I cut it in half and scooped out the seeds.

Then, I baked it for about an hour.  I think a little longer.

I scooped the pulp into my Ninja blender.

And pureed.

Then I put it into ziplock bags and in the freezer until I was ready to make the pies.  I did it one-half at a time so there are 2 bags for 2 pies.

Then, it came time to make a pie.  I let the mush sit out to thaw.

Then I added the rest of the ingredients and mixed.  I forgot to take a picture of it with the ingredients not mixed in.

I poured it into a pie crust.  Store bought crust.  I thought I was being adventurous enough and didn't want to risk it with a bad attempt on the crust.

And walla!!  A pumpkin pie made from a real pumpkin.

I decided to bring it up to Iowa for my family, specifically my grandma to try.  Come to think of it, though, I think Grandma had left by the time we got out leftovers for supper.  She may not have even tried any!  But, she did see that I made it.  :)

Everyone who tried the pie said it was good.  I guess that makes it a success!!!  The other half I am saving for Christmas, but just for our family.  Next year I may have to buy 4 pumpkins and make 8 pies so I have plenty for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  One pie for each holiday just wasn't enough.

Now, Christmas is upon us!  My shopping is basically finished.  Presents need to be wrapped still.  For the past couple of years, we've bought a real tree.  We always decorate it on Seth's birthday as was his tradition growing up.

There could potentially be one more blog before Christmas, but it won't be holiday related.  So...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!