I don’t currently find myself in a fight and for that I’m grateful.  I’ve had my seasons, that’s for sure.  I do have several friends who are in major personal battles right now and I want them to know that the Lord will fight for them.  They can rest.

One of my friends shared a story last night at our Bible study that really touched me.  One afternoon she felt the Lord telling her to rest and so she did.  In spite of the fact that she’s moving within two weeks and still has no idea exactly when, she rested.  In spite of the fact that she’s homeschooling, she rested.  In spite of a dozen other “fights” going on in her life, she rested. And even before she got the rest, the moment she decided to rest, she felt a peace fall on her spirit because she had obeyed.

After hearing her share that story, reading the scripture I mentioned above really touched me. It became a truth rather than just words on a page of an ancient book. We don’t have to fight. We need only to be still.

I have another friend in the pre-labor stages, just trying to keep Baby E in for a few more days.  This scripture can applied to her current situation.  Be still.  The Lord will fight for you.

So many people dealing with sickness, everything from cancer to sinus congestion.  Be still.  The Lord will fight for you.

Today has been a whirl-wind of a day, and I haven’t even left the house.  It started with Parker waking up in dire need of a bath.  The reason?  Poop up his back.  That doesn’t happen often, thank GOODNESS!  The morning went smoothly enough, and I decided to get my Insanity done early so that I could go visit the momma of Baby E.  Aimee and I are swapping child care so that we can each go kidless.  While I was feeding the brood, her little one finished and got angry at me for not giving her cereal instead of lunch, Parker refused to eat a single bite and decided to poke at Kayla’s shoes which really ticked Kayla off, the bigs were doing chores all around me while I sat and tried to eat my fancy-schmancy Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup. It was not quite the pleasant dining experience one would expect to have while eating a meal with such a gourmet name.

Once the bigs retreated to their rooms, I sat watching the babies play in the living room.  They were happily coloring while Thomas was on in the background.  Then Parker stood up and made the sound that all little boys pride themselves in, but it was different.  I knew.  I picked him up and held him at arms length while walking as quickly as I could to his room.  Fortunately at that time Carson came out and asked a question. I quickly put him to work starting a bath and changing the clothes in the dryer to a basket, and from the washer to the dryer.  As I worked on the mess that had, once again, gone up the back, Kayla played happily in the room.  (How in the world she managed to stay in the room, I don’t know.  I had no choice, you see.  She did!)

10 baby wipes later Parker was clean enough to enter the tub, where I once again assigned Carson a job.  ”Watch Parker.”

I then took Kayla to change her diaper, which she had pooped in, but, like a lady, she kept her gift confined to the diaper. Once done with that I put the pack-n-play together and got her all snuggly in bed with two baby-dolls. I relieved Carson and proceeded to bathe Parker.

When I removed him from the water and you would have thought I had beaten him… that kid LOVES bath time. I slathered him in lotion and dressed him, noticing that he was getting sleepy. As I turned to put him in the bed I realized I had not changed his sheets from the morning poop-out.

After I got his bed put back together and put him in it, I headed to wash this load of laundry that couldn’t wait.  It was just enough “fun” to make me feel I needed a bowl of ice cream with some Hershey’s drizzled on top.  Gotta say I think it made me feel better!

I sat down to eat my really, REALLY rare treat and turned on the TV to find absolutely nothing on.  Not only was there nothing on, on the channels I DO get were commercials.  Not real ones, of course, but the 8 minute long AFN things, so for the few minutes I wanted to VEG I was not even able to watch anything interesting.

And it was then that I heard, “Be still.”

Be still.

Turn off the TV.

Turn off FaceBook.

No, I hadn’t had to fight for my life this morning, nor had I had to worry about the status of my job or our finances.  But there was commotion in my real, everyday life that warranted the reminder, “be still.”

The past 20 minutes as I recalled and wrote the events of today have been very peaceful.  I can hear the dryer working to dry the first batch of dirty laundry, the washing machine cleaning the current batch of dirty laundry, Bailey making sound effects for whatever scenario he’s imagining, and Adventures in Odyssey pouring wholesome messages into my bigs’ hearts.

I can hear a clock ticking.  I hear no babies crying, which means their little bodies are getting the rest they need.

Be still.

I feel peaceful and thankful for the life I live.  I am thankful that I don’t have to fight.  I don’t have to fight the big battles that come occasionally or the small battles I face each day.  I’m thankful that I serve a God who loves me enough to care about each of my battles and promises to fight them for me.

I wrote this post yesterday afternoon during the boys’ rest time.  This morning as I read through it I was reminded of this picture I had taken while I was going through the photography class.  If you look closely at the clock above, you can see the passing of time.  This was during the week I was learning about shutter speeds and I thought I’d try out a very slow shutter one.  I think it was about 10 seconds or so, judging by the second hand which is very faint.  

And all for me!

Why all for me?  Because no one else in my house will eat it.  And I’m cool with that and actually planned to serve a box of mac and cheese to the boys on the night I scheduled this meal.  AND, I planned this meal to be served on a night Matt wasn’t going to be home for dinner!

I started first thing in the morning by setting out all that I would need and then began with the chopping.  (Not sure why I chose to focus on the basil…  maybe because any recipe that uses fresh basil must be simply amazing.  Do you see the half-bay leaf in the picture?  I think I was supposed to remove that before puréeing.  I didn’t.  It had broken into small pieces and so I just left it.)

I love my Prock-Pot!

Seven hours later I made a roux.  I didn’t even know what a roux was until yesterday!  Anything with a half a cup of melted butter must be wonderful.

After returning the roux to the Crock-Pot I did what all great chefs do.  I went and took a nap.  Really!  It was a Tuesday and therefore my day off of Insanity so I actually got in my bed, turned the phone off, and went to SLEEP!

When I woke up it was time to purée the soup because the version of this recipe that I have suggested it.  (Apparently the original recipe doesn’t mention this step.)

Here’s the version I used, found at The Sisters Café.
Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

Submitted by Mindy ~www.www.thesisterscafe.com
Adapted from: 365daysofcrockpot.com  (Here again is the link to the original recipe that didn’t mention puréeing the soup.)

2 (14oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup finely diced onions
1/2 bay leaf
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 Tbsp fresh oregano
1 Tbsp dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups half and half, warmed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

In a large slow cooker, combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and basil (if using fresh oregano and basil; if using dried oregano and basil add those two ingredients in the last hour of cook time). Cover and cook on low for 5 to 7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.

About an hour before serving prepare a roux: Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour; stir constantly with a whisk for 5 to 7 minutes.  Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup from the slow cooker.  Add another 3 cups soup and stir until smooth.

Add all back into the slow cooker.  Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper.  Cover and cook on low for another hour until ready to serve.  I like to purée the soup in the blender at this point for a smoother consistency.  Garnish with Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Parker was just Parker… content to be there.

When a train finally did come by, it was going about half-a-mile an hour.  It eventually came to a compete stop in front of us and Parker got a good, up-close view.

It wasn’t quite as exciting as the ICE train but I guess the trains don’t always run on our schedule.

Here is a short video that shows a bit of Carson’s weekend.

At one point Carson opens a gift from his Grammy.  It was an adorable sock monkey that Parker wanted to hold.  We let him, but as soon as he got it he freaked out.  We had to get his reaction on video so we showed it to him one more time, and then hid it.  The poor monkey has been banished until I can take the time to show Parker that there is nothing to be afraid of.  Poor kid.

I think my favorite part of the weekend was the trip to Rüdesheim.  It was just a very relaxing time and all four boys enjoyed it.  They especially loved playing by the water and watching the boats.  I’d have to guess that Carson’s favorite part was having a sleep-over with Nathan, who lives a few hours away now.  I’m so happy sweet Carson felt special and loved this weekend.  Today I am going to compile all his online birthday wishes into one document.  I’ll print a copy for him to have in hand and then use them in our 2012 scrapbook.

Good question. See, I had this secret desire to write something every day.  I wanted to go 366 days without missing a post, but as it turns out, I might not have 366 things to write about.

So, I guess this post is because I have to say something, not because I have something to say.

But while I’m here… today I had a funny thing happen.  I was accused of stealing crayons from church.  Not only was I accused of it, I was guilty.  See, my friend sent me a message last night asking if I could check the chapel for her brand new box of crayons that she had left there after Co-Op on Monday.

I replied that I’d check and promptly set an alarm in my phone to remind me this morning before I left for church.

As an old-school back-up I wrote “Crayons” on my hand.

As soon as worship started I glanced down and saw the reminder on my hand.  Before I could forget I stepped out of church and went to find my friend’s box of crayons.  Sure enough, right where she said they’d be was a box of brand new crayons.  I grabbed them, took the back to church, and placed them under my seat.

Worship was great, and the sermon was fantastic.  (I’m not biased.  Not at all.)  After church I spoke to a few friends and was about to leave when our fabulous children’s church director came up and asked where I got those crayons.  I explained to her that they were my friend’s and she had left them here earlier this week.

She said that that wasn’t right and that these were her crayons; she had purchased them for Children’s Church.

Oops.

I gave them right to her, still totally confused.  I went back to the classroom to discover another box of new crayons…  Yep.  Convicted and found guilty of theft while standing in the sanctuary.  Not a good thing for a Chaplain’s wife.

I thought it was pretty funny!  Fortunately she did, too!

First, we went to Rudesheim to a store Carson had really enjoyed when we went there during the Christmas Market season.

There he picked out three knights that he can use with his castle set.

We then went across the street to see the water up close.  I finally got a picture of all 4 of my boys together!

As soon as we returned home the boys and I went on a search for Nathan.  When they saw him they took off and hugged him!

A group of hungry boys devoured baskets full of chips and several bowls of cheese dip.  While waiting, Carson enjoyed playing with his new knights.

At home we got Skype working (barely) and let Nana watch the festivities.

Carson was happy with his Knight on a Horse cake!!!

Tomorrow I hope to get the videos edited and posted.  Carson really had a nice birthday!

He was born with the cutest cheeks ever and a little pug nose.

Carson had a sweet big brother who was not yet two.

The cheeks got chubbier and so did the rest of Carson.

He wore this adorable froggy overalls outfit and later, his two younger brothers did as well. 

(Here’s Parker in the same outfit.)

Carson was not the baby for long.  By the time he was four months old he was already a big brother to Bailey, who was on his way sooner than we ever expected! 

Carson is a very friendly kid who is easily pleased.  He’s not having a party this year but is, instead, having Nathan come and spend the night.  He’s really into knights and books, and has started piano lessons.  He gets compliments from his teacher each week and is improving daily.

I love my sweet little Carson.

Last year I wrote this about Carson.   

He took a deck of cards that we’ve played with for a while, sanded them down to make them have a little character, and then meticulously printed out on alternating colored backgrounds 52 things he loves about me.  It is absolutely adorable and I’m so thankful I get to be the recipient of his love.  Not just the cute gifts he gives, but all the little things he does to love me.

(In case you can’t read that one on the center-left it says, “The way you beat me at cards and talk trash.)  

He leaves them around the house for me to find when he goes on trips or even on just random days.  I have one that he left me before he deployed that I decided to leave permanently where he left it.  It was on my Power of a Praying Wife book and it says, “Thank you for praying for me.”  I covered the front of that book with clear packing tape to make sure it stays put forever.

For our 17th Dating Anniversary I plastered our living spaces with Post-It Notes for him, letting him know just how much I love and appreciate him.  While I was making those for him I realized just how much the notes he’s left me over the years have meant to me.  Because of that, I decided to let this Valentine’s Day be filled with Post-Its.

I wanted to make something out of Post-Its.  I did a google search for post-it art and found that there are world-wide Post-It wars going on.  Pretty amazing stuff that people way more talented and creative than I have made.  (Here and here are some examples… blew my mind.)  I knew immediately I was looking for a guitar shape.  I found only two, with this one being my favorite:

A bit more detailed than I had the time to create, and a lot larger than I have room to display.

So, I bought my Post-It notes and got started.  You will now laugh and think mine is horribly juvenile after seeing the real one above but eh… it was for Matt and he liked it! And Parker even knew what it even before I finished it!

I also used an idea I saw on a friend’s Facebook page and bought several types of candy, putting little notes on them using the name of the candy in the note.  Instead of putting them on black cardstock, I used Post-It Notes, in keeping with my theme.  I had it all set up so nice and pretty on the table but never got a picture of it.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!

Oh well.

To round out the Post-It theme I found a small notebook on our shelf and walked around the house, collecting all the Post-It Notes for safe keeping.  We can now add to this book and have it forever.  The pink one has been on our washing machine for two years, thus the bleach stains.

My sweet Valentine started the day off by giving me a message in a bottle.  When Matt was deployed I’d send him the Starbucks Frappuccinos in the glass bottles for a little taste of home.  He would then use the bottles to send me sweet notes.

After lunch I got a call from him asking if I was home.  I told him I was but that I was hanging out with Aimee and we were Skyping with Jessica.  I thought he might have stopped by had there not been chaos going on, but that he was just going to skip it.  Nope. He came anyway!  He brought me a beautiful rose, a White Chocolate coffee, and some chocolate chip cookies!

Overall, we did way more for each other than we had originally intended.  We did the whole, “We’re not celebrating Valentine’s Day since we just celebrated our half-our-lives anniversary, right?!?”   We’re not big Valentine’s Day people, but little nothings go a long way.

I am truly blessed.

I am my Valentine’s, and my Valentine is mine.   (Roughly taken from Song of Solomon 6:3.)