Monday, December 24, 2012

Pomegrante

My kids love fruit. ('K. So do I).

I've always heard it said that the Baumans love fruit.  I always thought it was a joke because of the orchard. 

It's not.

We would rather have fruit than candy.

Well, most of the time.

Anyhow, after our experiece with THE COCONUT I thought it would be fun to occasionally try exotic fruits.  We don't do much for fun, so I thought it would be a cheap way to have fun entertainment.

Aldi had pomegrante on sale for 99 cents.  Seemed like a good deal.  Seemed like an even better deal for a family fun night.
My camera somehow was set on something weird.  We didn't have 16 pieces of fruit.  Although we probably could eat that many they are so yummy!

We had a blast cutting it open and eating the seeds.  They are de.lish.ous!  And excitingly messy.
 


 
 
I have no idea how to 'properly' open a pomegrante.  We just cut it in fourths and started tearing into it naking a mess that was worth it. 
 
 While we were eating them, I told the kids that Jesus probably snacked on these as a boy because they grow in Israel.  We had fun imagining Jesus as a little boy with red stained lips from the juice.
 
 




I hate to admit this, but there was one little section left.  I quickly grabbed it and hid it from the kids so I could eat it later.  This fruit is so, so, very good.

I might splurge and grab us one tomorrow while we are out and about for our Christmas Eve together. 

Who knows what exotic fruit we will try next time!





Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas Pillows

I can't remember the exact year. 

It was either 1998 or 1999 I received the Christmas Pillows. 

The date doesn't really matter.  What matters is what these pillows represent. 

They represent friendship, laughter, memories, but most of all love.

I met my friend Colette while working at a family physician's office.  It was quite the place to be, and we needed each other to work through our days. 

We soon became great friends.  The type of friend that you can give that certain look and she knows exactly what you are thinking.  The type of friend you can giggle with.  The type of friend who will do anything for you.  The type of friend who you somehow lost contact with but  when you found her ten years later and it was like a moment never passed. 

Colette made me Christmas pillows for Christmas one year.  Ever since, they have always been a part of my Christmas'.

This year fall they were packed away, tucked into storage to be moved safely.

I wasn't going to decorate at all for Christmas.  Too much work and not enough time.  But the kids convinced me to do a little bit of festivities.  Up went a teeny tiny tree and up went a bit of garland. 

I thought that would be enough; but something was missing.  It took me a moment, but then I realized: The Christmas pillows. 

I haven't celebrated a Christmas in  14 years without my pillows out for display.  I knew that I needed to dig through my storage unit and find the pillows.  I had no idea where I was going to put them.  We are in a teeny apartment without much space to put our necessities, but I wanted my pillows.

I went to the storage unit with Reagan and we dug through boxes for quite sometime.  Short of emptying the entire unit, I had to give up.  I know they are there.  I know what the box even looks like; I just think its buried. 

This Christmas feels a little bit lonely without my pillows. 

Next year they will be displayed beautfully in my New England home.  And Christmas will seem like Christmas again.

Picture from last year. 
I just love my Christmas pillows and who made them for me!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Molly and My Surprise

I found something on Pinterest (how many sentences do we start with those words?!?!). 

I thought it looked like a fun activity to do at Christmas. 

We spend almost the entire day at my moms and it looked liked something the cousins could do together throughout the day.

I asked my niece, Molly, to help me plan my surprise.

We spent a few hours shopping for our supplies (final project will be posted after Christmas!!)

Large quantities of candy always promises to bring good fun!

Leaving the store with our stash of candy.


Ran into Hobby Lobby for supplies for another project. 
Found a rose in Molly Rose's favorite color to pose with.
Had fun looking at all the different colors and types of flowers, ooing and ahhing!



Eating on at a fun table on a fun chair at Chik-Fil-A.
 
Tomorrow morning I have a 'Cousins Christmas Craft Party' planned for tomorrow morning.  It involves paint and dyes. (7 kids ages 10-2...should be interesting). 
 
Molly knows about my candy craft surprise and my painting and dye surprise.  What I think is most precious is she has kept these secrets and hasn't even told her mom!  What a sweet little honey bear!
 
 


Friday, December 14, 2012

Oglebay

I wanted to make this Christmas special in its own way. 

After moving into a small apartment, I soon realized we didn't need everything I thought we needed.  Most of the toys the kids thought they liked were soon forgotten, boxed up. 

I wasn't overly excited about buying new toys to bring in.  They soon get shoved aside and forgotten.  So this Christmas is going to be a bit slim in the gift department. 

I don't want the kids to feel that they were jipped in some sort of way, so I decided to make memories this year instead of gifts.

Last week we went to Oglebay to the Winter Festival of Lights.  I asked my friend Norma, from work, to go along and she was excited I asked her.  She has come along with me on many of my crazy adventures!

Oglebay is in Wheeling, WV.  It is about 2-2 1/2 hours from here.  Yep.  I drove 2+ hours each way in one night to see Christmas lights.

But oh my. Was it worth it.

We left around 4:30 stopping at Mickey D's for dinner (part of the fun night out).  We made it to Oglebay around 7:30 after stopping multiple times for potty breaks.  (I don't get it.  We have to stop twice for potty breaks on a 2 hour drive.  We have to stop twice for potty breaks on our 9 hour drives.  Must be some rule about stopping twice).

The kids thought I was crazy for doing this.  I went there once as a child, vaguely remembering it, but remembering it was awesome.  I hoped it was worth it. 

Memories are easy to pack and last a lifetime, a toy needs picked up, put away, and is easily broken.

We pulled in and immediately went under a long tunnel of lights.  The kids sat up and took notice.

It was incredible.  I tried to take pictures but they came out fuzzy in the dark. 

We drove around for a little over an hour, laughing and pointing at all the amazing light displays.  Some were perched up on a hillside, while others looked like they were moving. 

We headed home around 9 and made it home in 2 hours, just a little past 11. 

We woke up a little groggy the next morning for school, but it was so worth it.  I'm hoping that the kids remember this crazy trip. 

I'd recommend it to anyone!

*Here's the link to their website so you can see the amazing displays: Oglebay Winter Festival of Lights

Thursday, December 13, 2012

So you say you're Pro-Life. What are you gonna do about it?

I try not get too political on this blog.  Its just not me to do that.  But one serious concern I have for this country is the escalating rate of abortions and how common it has become.  How many don't give the thought of killing a baby a second thought.

I have to think of the Old Testament when God would pour out His rage on Judah and Israel when they would start worshiping idols and other gods.  During this time they would sacrifice their babies and children in hopes they will gain help from these false gods.  It clearly states in the Bible to not kill our babies.

Yet here we are, killing them.  It may not seem so barbaric as burning them alive, but is there much difference? 

Maybe this has more to do with the horrid economy than we think.  After all, isn't it only God who blesses a nation? 



I digress.

My point here is that so many of us are pro-life.  Yet we do nothing about it. 

Would you do something to quietly support pro-life if you could in a very simple and easy way?

I have joined hands with a friend in gathering diapers and wipes for families who recently adopted a child.  The amount of money spent on an adoption is astronomical and this would be one very simple way to support them. 

I would love to adopt.  But honestly, there are some days I can barely keep my head above water with my situation. 

For the moment, adoption is not an option. 

But creating a way to help families who have adopted is something I can do.  And we did.

We are starting to collect diapers (of all sizes, preferrably newborn-3) and will be sorting and delivering them next Thursday. 

I realize this doesn't give you much time to get your diapers and get them to me.

But I have a solution to that.

I also understand I have readers all across the globe who would love to donate a package or two of diapers but can't get them to me. 

But I have a solution for that.

I have created a registry especially for this on diapers.com  They are a fabulous website that ships diapers quickly and are extrememly reasonably priced.  You can order from there and it will be shipped to me and I will distribute to those who could use our support.  This will also allow this to be an ongoing effort in quietly supporting pro-life and the adoption process.

The registry is under (first name) Diapers For (last name) Babies
You can also call 1-800-342-7377 and order over the phone.

It is set up to directly ship me the diapers/wipes/formula.

Please share this post with anyone and everyone you know who is pro-life and/or supports adoption.  If we all give a little, we can make a big difference.

Thank you in advance and God bless.   

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

One Need


But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink nor yet for your body…..your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 625-32

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened….If ye then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:7-11

But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 40:17 

I read and reread these verses.  Knowing there is a promise but still waiting on this one need to be filled. 

I need a job.  I need a job where I can support my kids.  This market is so tough. It’s a game and one  that I’m learning as I go.  I know so many people have been looking much longer than I have.   I can’t imagine how much more I can stand of this.

I spend hours every night, late into the night after schoolwork, applying and applying.   To network with people you know and try and find some ray of light.  To every day get rejection emails saying “you aren’t what we are looking for” and you start to believe that maybe you aren’t what anyone is looking for. 

Then to finally land an interview and seconds into it realize it was set up to fail, that she never looked at your resume and just needed to stack the numbers of interviews so she could hire the person she already had in mind. 

There were three things standing in the way of us moving to Connecticut.  One is the final court hearing.  Maybe I should be more concerned, but I’m not at all.  In fact, I often forget it even needs to happen.  Just waiting on final word of the date set.  Should be soon.  Hoping it’s very soon.

There was another obstacle that was there.  When I would stare it down I didn’t see how it could be removed.  But with events that took over 4 days the wall was toppled to the ground.  That is gone too.

The final complication is finding a job.  I am too afraid to take that leap of moving without a job secured. 

The job market is next to impossible.  I have heard it said that finding a job is a full-time job and I am starting to believe it. 

There is a tiny ray of hope.  I’ve had a referral into a hospital.  But there is the realization that it will be a miracle if I get it.  Someone has to talk to someone who has to connect with someone in hopes they accept the referral and look over the resume.  Even then they could trash it and move on to the next. 

I’m getting really discouraged. 

I beg God to provide a job.  I don’t need a high-ranking job or one of importance; I just want a job that I can support my children with. 

Can you pray with me, that this will work out?  That God really will supply my need?