Snow Play

Isn't it so cool that with all this technology, God still surprises us with things like snow?:) The weather guys seemed quite surprised this morning as they talked about all the white stuff.

Of course, the girls were super excited to go out asap this morning.  It was sooooo cold.  I am sure all of you know cause you were out with your own kids:)

Snow around the property...In case you are wondering, the Holleman's house is to the left and the Balts' is to the right..and the Lucas' is back there in the woods...

I think we got about an inch
Ellie belly loved the snow
They played out there for about an hour.  I could only stand it for 30 minutes:)
Pipes was liked it, but she was pretty cold like her momma.
Crazy Daddy!
My prince charming and best dad in the whole wide world
Getting our snow for snow cream
All the kids (Jeremy included in that) threw lots of snow balls at each other
Here they are building a snow man.  But this was not good snow for that, so they built a snow lump...
Here they are trying to name their pitiful creation.  I think they went with snow baby?
Inside warming up and eating snow cream...  But why do we eat something so cold after freezing our tails off outside?  That's what I asked J.  But you just have to, it's part of what we do.  And it tastes soooo yummy!

Now that we've had our little snow, I am eagerly anticipating this 60 degree weather we are supposed to get this weekend!  20-60 in three days, only in NC!  Gotta love it!

HMMMMMMM!!!!

SNOW???  Didn't they say we would get NO accumulation this time?  Didn't they say we would get 2 inches last time when we got nothing?  Hmmmm...

Oh boy!  Yes it is 4:50 and I am up.  Should I tell you I've actually been up since 3:30?  Nah, that would just be completely crazy:)  I'll just blame it on being pregnant.  Just can't miss looking out at all that white!

Oh boy, I can't wait till the girls get up!

Thank you Lord for the sweet surprise:)

We are still alive!

We are still alive here!  Just been busy moving our friends in:) Yipee:)  The Balts and the Hollemans moved in on Saturday.  Thank you Lord!

And I did make it to the Memorial Service for the Roe v. Wade Anniversary.  It was moving.

This is a picture of a statue at the corner of Trade and Tryon, where the service was held.

These pictures haven't been edited, so they aren't cropped well, but there were several of these signs that showed babies who have been saved from abortion through faithful pro life workers who are out at the clinics standing in the gap.
This sweet girl went to the clinic for an abortion a few weeks ago but God had another thing in store for her!!  She met Flip there, the guy beside her, and he shared the love of Christ with her and her baby was saved!  She came and shared her testimony.
Here is Flip, founder of Operation Save America, envisioning us.

 After the service, several of the people who were there walked a few blocks over to where Planned Parenthood was holding a luncheon to celebrate all the babies they have murdered.  Did you hear me, they were celebrating!  Disgusting!

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One last thing....I would really appreciate your prayers for my migraines.  Since I am pregnant, I can't take my normal meds.  So my migraines are lasting for 48 hours.  And I am in bed for all 48 of them.  As you can imagine, that's a chunk of life that I am missing in action. A HUGE thank you to my mom and sisters who have taken the girls EVERY time!  Literally, Jeremy drops them off one day and goes back to get them 2 days later.  I can't thank you guys enough.

I am supposed to see a neurologist soon.  My Ob is working on a referral for me.  Although, I don't know what else they can do.  They have tried Percocet and Vicodin, but neither touch it.  In case you are wondering, I can't take my Imitrex because it's a vasoconstrictor which would hinder the blood supply going to the baby.

Thank you all for caring for me.  For your prayers and your constant concern for me and my family.

More soon:)

Roe vs. Wade

This is from operationsaveamerica.org

PRESS RELEASE: 36th Memorial of Roe v. Wade

Operation Save America/Operation Rescue Press Release • 1/23/2009

36th Memorial of Roe v. Wade

Local pastors, business leaders, crisis pregnancy center directors, and Christians will join Operation Save America for a press conference and a Memorial Service, mourning 36 years of unabated child-killing.  Their purpose: to end child-killing in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, by bringing the theology of the church house into the streets – right to the doors of the three local abortion mills in this city!

It has been 36 years since that day of infamy on January 22, 1973, when our Supreme Court unleashed the floodgates of hell and murder upon this nation.  For 36 years the Church of Jesus Christ has sat silently by and tolerated a lie that is destroying our nation.  We have said, “Abortion is wrong, but it is not my calling.”  Today, over 50 million children are dead.  NO MORE!

NO MORE, will we sit passively by while little children die.  NO MORE, will we wait for the President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, or the Republican Party to save the lives of unborn children.  NO MORE, will we peacefully coexist with child-killing in our city!   WE ARE AT WAR!      

“Abortion will come to an end in Charlotte, when the Church of Jesus Christ makes up her mind it will come to an end – not one second sooner,” said Rev Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Save America.  “The responsibility for ending abortion in the city of Charlotte and in America rests squarely upon the shoulders of the Church of Jesus Christ.”

    What: Memorial Service
 Where: Corner of Trade and Tryon in downtown Charlotte
   When: Thursday morning, January 22, 2009 
     Time: 11:30 AM 
     Web: Operationsaveamerica.org
Contact: Flip Benham 980-722-4920

I plan to be there today, listening and interceding for the unborn.  Please be on your knees as well.  Flip is right, until the Christians stand up, abortion will not end!!

And please know that our new president is intent on expanding the rights of those seeking abortions, expanding the services and making it easier to get them....

On the eve of tomorrow's 36th anniversary of the Roe
v. Wade Supreme Court decision that imposed abortion
on all 50 states, news is breaking on how the new
presidential administration's attack on innocent
human life is about to begin.

As a first payback to the abortion industry that
helped get him elected, President Obama is reportedly
preparing to issue an executive order TOMORROW to
strike down the "Mexico City policy" -- a lifesaving
measure that currently prohibits U.S. taxpayer
dollars from funding international abortion groups.

See the CNN story at: http://snipurl.com/ah1wn

And the abortion industry has mapped out marching
orders for Obama to radically expand abortion during
his first 100 days in office -- at a cost of $4.6
BILLION to American taxpayers.

Read the abortion plans: http://snipurl.com/ah2em

As 1 Timothy 2 exhorts us, we must pray for our new
American president.

And, in the midst of these challenges, we remember
the words of Isaiah 9:2... "The people walking in
darkness have seen a great light; on those living in
the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

This latter part was taken from the 40 days for Life campaign.

What a Day!

Update****- Well, the inspection office is closed today.  So, no COs:(  Really this is par for the course for what we have been through.  God is still good and He is still in control.  We will get the COs in his perfect timing and not a moment sooner.

  If we needed a miracle before, we really need one now.  Hopefully they will inspect tomorrow.  They will probably fail and be reinspected hopefully on Friday.  BUT that means it would have to work just beautifully so that the heat and electricity can be turned on before businesses leave for the weekend.  Oh we are close, so close.

It's be so fun teaching Gracie about the inauguration today.  We have a book about the presidents and we went through it and talked about the huge job of the president.  And that God ordains them.  Then to be able to go and watch what you read about-awesome!

What a BIG day today is!  I am currently glued to the TV watching the inauguration coverage.  What a piece of history.

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Then there is the snow.  Hmmmm, a slight little dusting.  But it is still snowing at my house so at least we get to enjoy it falling:)  It is beautiful.

Actually it is a blessing that we didn't get the 2-4 inches of snow.  It's a big day around here too.  Today we are getting the CO (certificate of occupancy) inspections on the houses.  It would be a complete miracle for them to pass today, they never pass them the first time.  But we are hopeful they will pass by this weekend so our friends can move in!  Pray for all of us.  We sure would appreciate it.  We have two families to move in this weekend, Lord willing.

Well, I am off to my OB appointment.  Then back home to watch the snow and the inauguration and pray for these houses to get done.

It's a big day indeed.

Stains

*****Update****- Marge had a good point that I meant to talk about earlier.  It's of course best to get stains out when they are fresh, but in reality that rarely happens.  So these products have helped me get these stains out even after setting for days.  Even after I have washed and dryed them, when I really forget.

 Some say I have a knack for getting stains out.  It's genetic.  My mom and Meemaw can get anything out!  I have gotten a few calls for help and some friends even bring me their stuff:)

So I thought a post was in order on what I use.  

Actually, I have quite an arsenal.  No product will get every stain out!

The latest and greatest thing I just found is shout advanced for GREASE stains!  Yes, you heard that right folks, there is finally a product out there for grease stains that actually works!!!  Just spray some of this bad boy right on that grease and throw it in the wash....Voila, the stain is gone!  Seriously!

The next is just good ole Shout Advanced.  Lots of people say they don't have luck with Shout, but I always have.  I use this for most everyday stains.  So unless you read me pointing out a specific product for a certain stain, use this one.  It works well on blood too.
This is hand cleaner that many shops use.  Mechanics, etc that get really greasy and grimey.  My Dad taught me this one.  He's and oil man and he came in the house one day and got grease all over Mom's rug.  I was in horror but he said, just go get some Go-Joe and it will come right out.  And he was right!  I stood in amazement.  I just wiped it on with a rag and wiped the grease right up!  It doesn't always work on clothes but it does many times.  It can work on general stains too, I just usually use the Shout Advanced Gel.

This one I am showing you is a generic brand.  I prefer Go-Joe but they started making it with pumice in it.  Makes total sense for men's hands, but not for my clothes.  Dad says if you go to an auto supply place you can get Go-Joe without the pumice in it.  I just go steal some of his:)
And another favorite...Spot Shot!  This is carpet cleaner.  I do use it for that but more importantly, I use it to get ink stains out.  Just spray it on and watch the ink disappear. Clothes, couches, whatever.
  So there you have it.  My dryer just beeped, it's laundry day!

  If you are in a laundry quandry, just call me! 

 Or you can just bring me the clothing:)

Really?

Seriously?  Are we going to get to use them?

 For all you non-news watchers, Steve Udelson has promised me that indeed tonight, I will get snow!  Glad to know this ridiculously cold weather is good for something!  Well, I guess ridiculous is relative given the fact that it's -22 degrees in Minnesota!!  Anyway, it's supposed to start raining at 4 this afternoon, switch to a wintery mix at 9 tonight and be full snow by midnight and blisfully snow until mid morning tomorrow!  Can you tell I am excited?  And I have two very excited little girls:)  They were so bummed when it started snowing yesterday morning (yes most of you were in church but we have been home battling the stomach bug) and I had to tell them that it wasn't going to stick.  

  Well girls, this one is going to stick!  Steve says 2-5 inches!  I'll take it.  Brings back memories for me.  Does it for you?  My parents have some great hills to sled down.  Have to call mom later today and see if she knows where the sleds are!  And my Dad is an oil man, so we had those huge inner tubes from the truck tires to use.  Ahhh, that was super fun. And 4-wheelers, we would pull each other behind that thing for hours.

  Expect tons of pictures of my snow babies tomorrow:)