Knitting Bliss and Baby Tummy

Yesterday, Fiona was given a wonderful opportunity to learn how to knit. A lovely lady from church offered to teach her and her little girlfriend.

So I carted her off yesterday to her friend's house and she spent 1 and 1/2 hours knitting. She LOVED it and came home with two lovely little rows! I'm so proud of her and so pleased that she enjoyed it so much. I knit too, but am a beginner myself, so I have not felt capable of teaching her...this was quite a blessing.

Fiona was supposed to go back tonight for a second lesson, but this leads to the second portion of my post's title. Last night, after I got home from dropping Fiona off, my little Liam began throwing up! I'm not sure what started it. The girls have had colds..but no tummy upset that I know of. I am unaware of anyone with a tummy bug at church...but dear Little Man, just couldn't keep anything down.

I told Fiona that if he was still throwing up after noon, we would have to cancel going to her lesson tonight. Needless to say...she was not happy! But she understood and has a pretty good attitude about it.

Liam has been eating, but generally hasn't been able to keep it down. Last night and this morning, he would bring his milk right back up...but later this morning and now, he has kept down at least enough to get some sleep. Poor little dear! He was so pitiful last night, so tired and uncomfortable.

It is quite distressing to have my wee ones sick. I pray he will be feeling better very soon. I can here him stirring now, I just hope he will keep his meal down!

Blessings,

Sommer

Sunday Rest

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."

John 15:9-15

I wanted to share these words of our Lord and Saviour today. Such beautiful loving words, and yet full of power and commands. Those that follow His commandments are His friends! Oh, to be a friend to Christ! What a beautiful thing!

May you be blessed this Lord's Day and feel the Lord's presence as you worship today.

Blessings my dear friends!

Sommer

Happy Birthday Brenna!

Actually, her birthday was yesterday! My dearest Brenna...sweet helper, turned 5 years old yesterday! Where has the time gone? Just yesterday, was she not just taking her first steps, speaking her first words? Sigh....

Now she is a darling 5 year old, growing so tall and who jumps at the chance to help anytime she can. She is a loving older sister to her little brother and a good friend to her older sister(when they aren't having a disagreement ;-p). She is snuggly, and kissy and affectionate...oh how I love her!

Yesterday was a fun day! After I got Liam down for a (fitful) nap, I began to make chocolate cupcakes for Miss Brenna. Of course, little helper that she is, came by and asked to help. How could I resist?! So, she pulled up a chair and we baked cupcakes:-)

Later we wandered over to Toys R Us to take advantage of a Birthday Club coupon and special treatment. On a side note...our intentions were to take her to Build-A-Bear workshop, but this needed to be postponed because we ran out of money:-0 However, the Lord blessed us with a little coupon and Brenna thought this was a great treat! So, we headed over there and the lady at Customer Service gave her a Birthday Crown, balloon and they even announced her birthday over the intercom! So fun!

After that, we headed over to my parents for pizza, cupcakes and presents..oh, yes, and a movie! It was a lovely celebration and she was quite pleased with it all:-)

As I look at my children and see them growing swiftly before my eyes, I pray even more that I can be a good mom and give them all that I can to set the foundation for their lives to come. I pray the Lord guides me as I teach them and comfort them. There are so many things I'd like to do, things I'd like to do better and things I know would be better if I never do again. May the Lord give me wisdom and may my children be forgiving when I mess up!

Happy Birthday darling Brenna! I love you!

Share a Smile

My dear friend, Fairmaiden ,over at SeaCottage was blessed with an award. And in turn, she blessed all her companions with this same award.

I am pleased to say that I am one of her companions and I am honored to share this award with her and all her friends! She has blessed me with the "You Make Me Smile" award:-) Thank you Fairmaiden!!

Of course, when given one of these awards, it seems that the proper thing to do is to pass it on to others that you want to share it with. And so....I must make that decision. Boy do I hate that! Well, here are my friends that I'd like to share it with....

Lauren Christine, Pat, Tilly, Tracylea and Cynthia!

Thanks gals for always being such lovely ladies...filling my days with joy and encouragement!

Blessings,

Sommer

Freeing Imagination

There has been a change in our home. Long has Imagination been held prisoner in our home...by whom, you may ask? The imfamous....Television! An old enemy, to be certain, but one that is cunning and at times rather vile....

Slowly the followers of Imagination have been forming an alliance. The cause? Revolt and freedom for their leader! A week or so ago, after long months of struggle, they succeeded...their fearless leader was set free! Long live....Imagination!!

Okay, I know, that is rather silly, but, you know it is somewhat true. I grew up with TV, watching it fairly regularly as a child, not really seeing anything wrong with it. When Dan and I had Fiona, we really didn't think about it...I watched TV and then even allowed my little girl to begin watching it on a regular basis. Dan felt it was too much, but I was rather resistant to his view and didn't really do much about it. As the years have gone by, I've begun to change my attitude. I've become more submissive as a wife(thank the Lord for opening my eyes and my heart to this needed change) and also realized that things were lacking. We had Brenna and still we allowed more than was necessary. But I started feeling more concerned. Now, don't get me wrong, both my girls have always been rather creative...but when the TV is on, there is less time to use the imagination, less time to do crafts, play outside, etc....

So a year or so ago, I reduced the amount of time they watched TV, but still not enough. Then a few months ago, before we began this years school year, I really felt convicted to only allow the children a movie from time to time during the week. I still watched a bit myself and that still posed a problem. And then, I stopped! I just felt burnt out by the TV, I wanted the distraction gone, I wanted the creative outlets to be open and reachable. So, two weeks ago, we cancelled our cable. What a relief. I do let the girls watch a movie once or twice a week...but you know, they don't really seem to mind.

And the beauty of it is...I see a change in their creativity, their imagination has just begun to bloom. Fiona has always had an active imagination. Brenna has used her's but suddenly I see creativity coming from her...that I never expected! I am so glad that they are blooming.

So, the TV is still for occasional movies....but it is no longer the King in our home. Well, imagination isn't either. The Lord reigns supreme and Imagination is just one of his courtiers that my children(and I)enjoy!

The pictures throughout this post are from my children's play yesterday. They were building birds and men out of legos. This is just one way they have been spending their time. Today...they are tracing pictures and coloring them(from different books of mine and theirs).

Blessings,

Sommer