Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Our traditions...
I love to try and have traditions in our family. One thing that we have enjoyed over the past few years has been to take a creative dessert to Thanksgiving with our extended families. Last year we made sugar cookies and decorated them with Fall colored icing. They were a great hit and the family loved them.
This year we are taking Pilgrim Hats. We found the recipe on Family Fun Magazine's website. It was fun to make them and to lick our fingers!
Here is the recipe (really we didn't cook anything so I guess it is more of an assembly)
You need a package of Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies, a bag of marshmallows, yellow icing, and wax paper for allowing to dry.
1. Dip large marshmallows in melted chocolate.
2. Place marshmallows on top of fudge stripe cookie
3. add a buckle to the hat with yellow icing when the chocolate dries.
4. transfer off of wax paper when dry.
5. add joke below to card and place in front of platter.
This is David's fave holiday joke:
Why did the Pilgrim's pants always fall down?
Because they wear their belt buckle on their hats!
Happy Thanksgiving from
Ryan, Danielle, David, Sally and John
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Good Books
Here are some good books that I have read lately. I don't have time to give all of the details for the reasons that I love them but I wanted to pass on the titles and some thoughts...
Can you see that I have a baby coming in a few days? I am trying to get all of the blogging in that I have missed all summer. :)
And one of the main reasons that I wanted to share more books is because the last time I was in Tennessee to visit my parents my mom had the book Elizabeth Prentiss, by Sharon James. It shocked me to see it in the kitchen. So I asked her where she got it and how she heard about it. Her response was that my aunt Mary Sue had heard about it on my blog and bought for them to read as sisters... I love it! :)
1. Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper. A must read. Very easy and quick. All chapters are about different women so this is easy to put down and not be lost when you pick it up again. Our women's group study will go thru this beginning at the end of this month.
2. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I know that most of you have probably already read this but I had not. I bought it while on vacation and could not put it down. I was so struck when the Ten Boom family was taken to a concentration camp and her father was told that he could be released if he would change his ways. And his response was you can let me go but I will do it again. (Referring to housing Jews during the Holocaust.) They were not Jews themselves but Dutch Reformed.
3. Free Grace and Dying Love by Susannah Spurgeon. A small book of devotionals that are excellent. So encouraging and thoughtful. The end of the book has a biography of Mrs Spurgeon. She led an amazing life. She was very sick at times yet she set up book funds for poor pastors and ministered to her husband and twin sons thoughtfully. This is a very fast and enjoyable read.
Can you see that I have a baby coming in a few days? I am trying to get all of the blogging in that I have missed all summer. :)
And one of the main reasons that I wanted to share more books is because the last time I was in Tennessee to visit my parents my mom had the book Elizabeth Prentiss, by Sharon James. It shocked me to see it in the kitchen. So I asked her where she got it and how she heard about it. Her response was that my aunt Mary Sue had heard about it on my blog and bought for them to read as sisters... I love it! :)
1. Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper. A must read. Very easy and quick. All chapters are about different women so this is easy to put down and not be lost when you pick it up again. Our women's group study will go thru this beginning at the end of this month.
2. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. I know that most of you have probably already read this but I had not. I bought it while on vacation and could not put it down. I was so struck when the Ten Boom family was taken to a concentration camp and her father was told that he could be released if he would change his ways. And his response was you can let me go but I will do it again. (Referring to housing Jews during the Holocaust.) They were not Jews themselves but Dutch Reformed.
3. Free Grace and Dying Love by Susannah Spurgeon. A small book of devotionals that are excellent. So encouraging and thoughtful. The end of the book has a biography of Mrs Spurgeon. She led an amazing life. She was very sick at times yet she set up book funds for poor pastors and ministered to her husband and twin sons thoughtfully. This is a very fast and enjoyable read.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
I Failed!
I am expecting my third child on Monday by scheduled c-section. I am a little anxious about the process of knowing when this child will arrive. But I am thankful that I do know the time and the place!
As we have prepared for the arrival of the next West child, we have completed many projects around the house. You see, we went on vacation at the beginning of August and while we were away we began to discuss how we could make our home look better and be more beautiful. We knew that when we arrived home we would have 30 days to complete these jobs. Here is a small list of the goals: paint our kitchen cabinets, take down a chain link fence, replace fence with a picket fence, re-do flower beds, make new flower bed, order new twin beds for David and Sally, switch rooms with them, and POTTY TRAIN SALLY.
Many of you know that we used the book Toilet Training in a Day, to potty train David. He was a champ. I read the book and told him what it said and he did it!!! It was great. He was trained in a day, had a few accidents that week and we have never looked back! Wonderful experience. He was 22 months old at the time.
Well, Sally was 19 months old and we decided it was time to try, right? She is old enough and girls train faster, right??? and we have another child on the way, so we don't need 2 in diapers, right???
NO! I re-read the book and did all of the little things needed to teach her and encourage her to potty train. And she looked at me like I was speaking another language! She just turned her head to the side and did what I said for the most part... and then she had an accident. So I repeated the process to her and she tried and then she had an accident. This is how it went all day long! She could have cared less! She had accident after accident. When it was time for her nap, I put her down and I sat on the couch and CRIED!
It was awful. I tried to think of things to blame it on, like Ryan called 2 times while I was trying to teach her, she is teething, she... she...
Well, really all I could chalk it up to was that she was too young. It just wasn't time. And she did not have to accomplish this for me to be a successful mom.
It was a complete day of pouting for me. I had the worst attitude. It was terrible! I felt like such a complete failure. Many of our friends call us for advice on how to potty train, how to get your child on a schedule, how to discipline and the list goes on. Most of the advice we pass on is from faithful older parents that we trust who use Godly wisdom and instruction to train their children. BUT now I have to tell others that I FAILED!
I must say that this has been a true lesson in seeing the pride of my own heart. I am so humbled by the fact that I tried something with my child and it was an utter failure and that it is okay. She is normal and loving and whinny and all girl but she is just not potty trained. And that is okay. I had to repent and pray that I would have a humble heart when it comes to children. I know that I don't have all of the answers. I am supposed to look to older women and seek their advice, be faithful with what Christ has given me and realize that I will fail.
As we have prepared for the arrival of the next West child, we have completed many projects around the house. You see, we went on vacation at the beginning of August and while we were away we began to discuss how we could make our home look better and be more beautiful. We knew that when we arrived home we would have 30 days to complete these jobs. Here is a small list of the goals: paint our kitchen cabinets, take down a chain link fence, replace fence with a picket fence, re-do flower beds, make new flower bed, order new twin beds for David and Sally, switch rooms with them, and POTTY TRAIN SALLY.
Many of you know that we used the book Toilet Training in a Day, to potty train David. He was a champ. I read the book and told him what it said and he did it!!! It was great. He was trained in a day, had a few accidents that week and we have never looked back! Wonderful experience. He was 22 months old at the time.
Well, Sally was 19 months old and we decided it was time to try, right? She is old enough and girls train faster, right??? and we have another child on the way, so we don't need 2 in diapers, right???
NO! I re-read the book and did all of the little things needed to teach her and encourage her to potty train. And she looked at me like I was speaking another language! She just turned her head to the side and did what I said for the most part... and then she had an accident. So I repeated the process to her and she tried and then she had an accident. This is how it went all day long! She could have cared less! She had accident after accident. When it was time for her nap, I put her down and I sat on the couch and CRIED!
It was awful. I tried to think of things to blame it on, like Ryan called 2 times while I was trying to teach her, she is teething, she... she...
Well, really all I could chalk it up to was that she was too young. It just wasn't time. And she did not have to accomplish this for me to be a successful mom.
It was a complete day of pouting for me. I had the worst attitude. It was terrible! I felt like such a complete failure. Many of our friends call us for advice on how to potty train, how to get your child on a schedule, how to discipline and the list goes on. Most of the advice we pass on is from faithful older parents that we trust who use Godly wisdom and instruction to train their children. BUT now I have to tell others that I FAILED!
I must say that this has been a true lesson in seeing the pride of my own heart. I am so humbled by the fact that I tried something with my child and it was an utter failure and that it is okay. She is normal and loving and whinny and all girl but she is just not potty trained. And that is okay. I had to repent and pray that I would have a humble heart when it comes to children. I know that I don't have all of the answers. I am supposed to look to older women and seek their advice, be faithful with what Christ has given me and realize that I will fail.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
A Great Purchase for Boys ( and their Dad!)
Hey guys! I just found out about this book and I wanted to pass on the good news. As many of you know we have a 5 year old boy that is all boy so I am always looking for things to keep him from breaking windows just to see what happens to the glass.
Just yesterday he found an old disposable camera and he used a screwdriver and a hammer to completely demolish it. There are pieces of it here and there in the yard and in the house. But he was very excited to see the wires and the batteries and the "lecticity" that the film that unrolls!! ( I guess the film will never be developed :))
So all of that to say i think that this book is a GREAT find. And I am not the only one! Dr Mohler reviewed the book a few weeks ago and so did Dr. VanNeste http://childrenshourbooks.blogspot.com/ from Union Universtiy on his children's book blog.
Buy it for your boys, young and old. I did and I think it will be a great addition to our collection!
Just yesterday he found an old disposable camera and he used a screwdriver and a hammer to completely demolish it. There are pieces of it here and there in the yard and in the house. But he was very excited to see the wires and the batteries and the "lecticity" that the film that unrolls!! ( I guess the film will never be developed :))
So all of that to say i think that this book is a GREAT find. And I am not the only one! Dr Mohler reviewed the book a few weeks ago and so did Dr. VanNeste http://childrenshourbooks.blogspot.com/ from Union Universtiy on his children's book blog.
Buy it for your boys, young and old. I did and I think it will be a great addition to our collection!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Mother's Day
As we approach the day that Mother's are celebrated I was sobered by the thoughts of many of my peers and friends as they wrote about life and suffering as a mother.
You can see those stories here http://www.girltalk.blogs.com and herehttp://www.lisaelaine.wordpress.com. One other recommendation that I have is the sermon from John Piper entitled To Be a Mother is a Call to Suffer.
And another sobering thought is that my family and I are in the midst of packing to attend a funeral. One of Ryan's best friends from childhood is Luke. His sister, Kelly, died yesterday of unknown causes. She was at home with their youngest child, a daughter, and planning to leave for a baseball game. She never made it to the came and her husband, Lee called their home to find out what was going on. Their young daughter answered and she told him that her mother was on the floor and she could not get her to wake up.
So we do see that God numbers our days. That he knows when our children and mothers and fathers will be born and when they will die. We are to live everyday in the light of eternity praying for His return.
Life is not easy and especially not easy when you lose someone tragically. But we know that God is in control of all things and He is working them out for our good and His glory.
You can see those stories here http://www.girltalk.blogs.com and herehttp://www.lisaelaine.wordpress.com. One other recommendation that I have is the sermon from John Piper entitled To Be a Mother is a Call to Suffer.
And another sobering thought is that my family and I are in the midst of packing to attend a funeral. One of Ryan's best friends from childhood is Luke. His sister, Kelly, died yesterday of unknown causes. She was at home with their youngest child, a daughter, and planning to leave for a baseball game. She never made it to the came and her husband, Lee called their home to find out what was going on. Their young daughter answered and she told him that her mother was on the floor and she could not get her to wake up.
So we do see that God numbers our days. That he knows when our children and mothers and fathers will be born and when they will die. We are to live everyday in the light of eternity praying for His return.
Life is not easy and especially not easy when you lose someone tragically. But we know that God is in control of all things and He is working them out for our good and His glory.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Sally's Party
I know that I posted a pic of Sally on her birthday but I never put up a picture of her cake or party and I said that I would. So for those of you who asked... here it is.
Encouragement
What do we do to encourage one another?? How do we take part in the building up of the saints? Where can we find help and hopeful words? I think the answer is simple. We can find these things in the Word and in the words of our friends and family who are in the Word.
Who has been an encouragement to you this week or in the last few weeks? I can think of many of you who have faithfully prayed for me because you know that morning (all day) sickness is especially hard for me. You have called or emailed with thoughtful words and help for my soul. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.
I can also think of the books that I read. These books written by faithful men and women who have gone before me in life and in faith have strengthened me.
I am thankful for the Word of God. I have been so sick lately that I would often eat and go straight from the dinner table to the couch. Ryan was faithful during this hard time to read the Word out loud to our family and I was able to listen from the couch too sick to hold my head up and read for myself.
I am also thankful for the hopeful words from Ryan. This weekend he shared with me that he was so encouraged to take part in the Sabbath. He told me of how his life almost seems despairing on Saturday and then Sunday comes and the Word is preached and his soul feels revived and refreshed. I was so thankful for this reminder of God's grace to us thru His preached Word. It was an encouragement to me to hear that the Word is fresh to him and it is changing his life as he sits under it.
Today I was also encouraged to hear of a good family friends recovery in the hospital. We thought that he was facing eternity just days ago and now he seems to be recovering well. But we know that his eternity would be spent in Hell so I am encouraged that the Lord spared his life so that we might share the Gospel with him.
A few days ago I was so discouraged about my situation of all day sickness. Now it seems to have passed and I have tried to think all day of encouraging things in the Lord that will allow my delight to be in Him and not my temporary circumstances. I am thankful for the things mentioned above. I am thankful for these things...
PS If you would like a good laugh you should read my husbands blog : www.redeemedson.blogspot.com
Who has been an encouragement to you this week or in the last few weeks? I can think of many of you who have faithfully prayed for me because you know that morning (all day) sickness is especially hard for me. You have called or emailed with thoughtful words and help for my soul. I appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers.
I can also think of the books that I read. These books written by faithful men and women who have gone before me in life and in faith have strengthened me.
I am thankful for the Word of God. I have been so sick lately that I would often eat and go straight from the dinner table to the couch. Ryan was faithful during this hard time to read the Word out loud to our family and I was able to listen from the couch too sick to hold my head up and read for myself.
I am also thankful for the hopeful words from Ryan. This weekend he shared with me that he was so encouraged to take part in the Sabbath. He told me of how his life almost seems despairing on Saturday and then Sunday comes and the Word is preached and his soul feels revived and refreshed. I was so thankful for this reminder of God's grace to us thru His preached Word. It was an encouragement to me to hear that the Word is fresh to him and it is changing his life as he sits under it.
Today I was also encouraged to hear of a good family friends recovery in the hospital. We thought that he was facing eternity just days ago and now he seems to be recovering well. But we know that his eternity would be spent in Hell so I am encouraged that the Lord spared his life so that we might share the Gospel with him.
A few days ago I was so discouraged about my situation of all day sickness. Now it seems to have passed and I have tried to think all day of encouraging things in the Lord that will allow my delight to be in Him and not my temporary circumstances. I am thankful for the things mentioned above. I am thankful for these things...
PS If you would like a good laugh you should read my husbands blog : www.redeemedson.blogspot.com
Friday, January 26, 2007
SALLY IS ONE!!!
Our daughter, Sally is one TODAY! I can't believe that is has been only a year. Sometimes is seems that it has been much longer and other times I think that she has grown too quickly! She still seems like such a baby to me. Tomorrow she will eat her first cake (actually a cupcake). We are having a ladybug themed party.
She has been such a blessing to us in such hard times. We had such a difficult year last year and the Lord allowed us to have Sally and enjoy her as a blessing and not a hardship.
Praise to the Lord for Sally Elisabeth!
Read the following quote from Carolyn Mahaney,
As mothers, we have a choice. We can either resent the challenges and demands that accompany motherhood and persist in our selfishness, or we can draw from God's grace and receive His help to cheerfully lay down our lives for our children. Let us choose the latter.
Also, for you ladies with girls or hope for a girl, isn't her dress too cute. It has a birthday cake and balloons smocked in the neck. Her bloomers have a cake with one candle, too!
She has been such a blessing to us in such hard times. We had such a difficult year last year and the Lord allowed us to have Sally and enjoy her as a blessing and not a hardship.
Praise to the Lord for Sally Elisabeth!
Read the following quote from Carolyn Mahaney,
As mothers, we have a choice. We can either resent the challenges and demands that accompany motherhood and persist in our selfishness, or we can draw from God's grace and receive His help to cheerfully lay down our lives for our children. Let us choose the latter.
Also, for you ladies with girls or hope for a girl, isn't her dress too cute. It has a birthday cake and balloons smocked in the neck. Her bloomers have a cake with one candle, too!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Check out this blog
I think you should all read my husband's blog :
www.redeemedson.blogspot.com
If I were smart enough I would post it as a link on the side of my page but after many attempts to do so I have failed!! :) So add his to your favorites.
My husband is the one on the left holding the cup, not to be mistaken with the crazy man on the right!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Children are a blessing from the Lord
We are excited to share the news with you... We are expecting our 3rd child sometime in September!!
I am just a few weeks along but we have never been good at keeping the news of pregnancy to ourselves! Ryan is really excited and so is David. They daily chant, "We want a BOY!" while marching around the house. Ryan is scared that David will leave for college and family and he will be stuck in a house full of girls! :)
And of course, Sally has no idea what is going on! She will be one on January 26 so she is a bit young to understand the chants and excitement.
WARNING: When morning sickness sets in there will be fewer and fewer blogs!
(Ryan made the sign!)
Friday, January 05, 2007
Have you seen her? Tell me have you seen her?
Here are some pics of our little girl, Sally Beth, posted on my brother's blog. Take a look. My dad, mom and brother came to Brunswick for Christmas with us. It was nice to eat lots of seafood and spend time on the beach. The weather was a bit rainy but we managed! Hope that you all enjoy!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Happy New Year!
The new year is always a fun time for the West family. There is never a dull moment and that is not due to the fact that a new year is ringing in but due to our son's birthday. You see he was born on December 31, 2001 at 11:07 p.m. Yes! That is right! He was our big tax break for the year and he squeaked that in by 53 minutes!! I was in the OR while he was being delievered by c-section and the shift changed at 11p.m and all of the nurses walked right out and the new shift walked in and he was born a few minutes later.
We had a great time this year. I had more goals in celebrating his birthday this time around. I wanted to make more memories, to make this a special time of worship (of God, not of David!), and to enjoy our son and all that God had given us thru him during the last five years.
David wanted to have a Pirate themed birthday party. We used much of the Pirates of the Caribeean themed plates and cups although he has never seen the movie. I also made a Pirate cake for him. He LOVED it!! We got a great pic of his face when he saw it for the first time. We played pin the X on the treasure chest, we made hook hands and we hunted for buried treasure with clues leading to a treasure chest hidden in David's closet. We had clues for outside but it rained! I painted a styrofoam cooler gold and filled it with Rolos, Kisses, Gold Coins, and fake jewelry. We also ate gummy worms and gold fish and black licorice and drank black cherry Koolaid.
I made part of David's costume ( part was from grandparents) for the party and all of the kids came dressed as pirates or princesses. It was great! I really went the extra mile to have a great and memorable party. I did not throw an expensive party but I tried to put a ton of thought into every aspect.
We also have spent so much time teaching David about the gospel and what it means to be a Christian. We do that normally but I feel a real need to share with him more and more. To think that he is 5 blows me away. It is easy to think of him as a baby but I also know that he is growing everyday and I want him to grow in grace and knowledge and learn to worship in spirit and truth.
We praise God for the gifts of our children. Even though I complain about being a mom sometimes and how hard it is, and it is hard, I am so thankful for my kidos!
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