New Every Morning

Driving to work today, I saw the most beautiful sunrise. It was absolutely breath taking with the pinks, oranges, yellows, and reds. It just reminded me of these verses:

Leviticus 3:22,23

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

I haven't updated this blog in a while, so here are some things that have happened in the last couple weeks.

Ice Storm... no power for eight days... stayed somewhere else to stay warm... Alarm system's back-up battery only lasts 17 hours... someone breaks in to our house and steals some things... I find out I have an infection from surgery... get on antibiotics... Abby and Katy's wedding... find out wrong antibiotics for type of infection... get on another... I stay in Iowa... Seth goes back to Oklahoma for the week... Seth takes a Greyhound back up... on the same bus the whole time... they lose his luggage... we get it back on christmas eve (PTL)... get my hair cut... I finish my antibiotics with no allergic reaction (PTL)... had a nice time with nieces and nephew, brothers and sisters, my parents, and others... left on Christmas day...got home safely at 3:00am (PTL)...

So, the last couple weeks have been crazy to say the least. The sunrise this morning was such a reminder of the big picture. I need to remember the Lord's great love and continued care for us despite the little things that can go wrong. We have an opportunity to grow closer to Him and trust Him through it all. This verse also reminds me that if we don't take that opportunity, His mercies are still new every morning. He is exceedingly gracious and I am so thankful for our loving and compassionate Lord!

A Double Wedding!

This weekend my double cousins had a double wedding. I had never been to a double wedding so it was very unique. Beautiful brides and beautiful weddings. Here are a few pictures of the wedding.

The Father, Daughter, Daughter Dance...



The Get-away



Kari & Edward



Lee, Julie, Abby, & I



Seth & I

Oh Christmas Tree!

We got our first real Christmas tree the other night. We transported it via the back seat of our car! It just love the smell of a real tree. Seth also hung lights outside which look great. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

Thanksgiving pictures

Finley and Miles



Wide-eyed boy!



The three girls



Sweet Layla



Cammy & Adison



The other Cammy and Layla

Turkey Tips

Well, I have never cooked a turkey, but I got one from work this year, so here are some tips I found online... I think the advice at the end with using a turkey bag is the route I am going to go. If you have any turkey tips please do share!

It takes a full 24 hours to defrost every five pounds of frozen turkey in the refrigerator (the only safe method). A 20-pound turkey needs to defrost for a full four days. Remove the giblets and neck from the cavity as soon as they can be removed (which will be before the turkey is fully defrosted).

Use a shallow roasting pan. If you use a deep roasting pan, you wind up steaming the meat.

Do not stuff your turkey ahead of time as harmful bacteria growth could spoil the uncooked turkey. Just before roasting, stuff the body and the neck of the turkey. Do not pack in as the stuffing will expand during cooking. If packed in too tightly, it will be very dense instead of light. Sew the abdomen closed and sew the legs together close to the body so that the stuffing cooks evenly.

Roast your turkey breast-side down on a v-shaped rack until the last hour or so in the oven, then turn it to brown the breast. The result is a moister white meat.

To prevent the breast meat from drying out, loosely cover just the breast with a triple thick sheet of aluminum foil, butter on on the inside to prevent sticking. Remove after the first hour of roasting so the breast has time to brown.

Never rely on the little plastic thermometer in some turkeys to pop out. If you wait for it, the turkey will overcook. Instead stick an instant read thermometer several inches down through the skin between the thigh and the breast so the tip ends up about an inch above the joint. They turkey is ready when the thermometer reads 165 degrees.

Let the cooked turkey "rest" after it have been removed from the oven. While the turkey cooks, the juices are forced away from the heat to the middle of the turkey. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes after it is removed from the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey. A moist turkey is easier to carve.

Baste, baste, baste.

If you need your oven to reheat or cook side dishes, it's better to serve the turkey at room temperature with hot gravy than to reheat it. Reheating dries out the meat. The interior of a large turkey will stay quite hot for at least an hour.


Using A Cooking Bag: This is an easy way to cook your turkey. It keeps all the juices and flavors in the bag and the turkey is automatically basted while it cooks. You end up with more juices than cooking the conventional way because they do not evaporate during roasting. The juices also do not burn and stick to the pan.

For more info try this site.

Under Contruction

I am in the middle of trying out different templates, so my blog will be changing until I find one I like. If any of you happen to see one that you like, let me know! I need help. April will be proud once I get a new one, she's been saying I need to change it for months...

Finding out!

I had an ultrasound while I was at the ultrasound conference I went to last weekend and... What do you think?

Thank you!

I just wanted to thank you all for all of your prayers and encouragement. The Lord truly answered them!

We were able to go home from the hospital last night. They said once I could keep something down I could go home, and since breakfast and lunch didn't stay around... I was thankful that dinner did! It is so nice to sleep in your own bed. Although I do miss the ability to push a button to raise the bed up for you and help you get out. There are three places that they cut me to do the laparoscopy - through my belly button then on my right and left sides. The pain right now is very similar to c-section pain, so don't make me laugh! My mom came down last night and has been a huge help, I am so thankful to have her here.

Thanks again for your prayers, they have been and are greatly appreciated.

P.S. I just posted some pictures of our little one at 12 weeks on the baby blog if your interested.

In His Hands

As many of you heard, I had a crazy day today... I have been keeping up another blog and you can read the update there. Here is my other blog: In His Hands.

A Nice Weekend

I wrote this last week, but since I've been having problems just got to posting it...

First, I wanted to thank you all for your prayers last weekend as it was the one year mark of Samuel's home-going. The Lord was very good to us through it all. The headstone was laid when we went out there on Sunday which was a praise! We also were able to see where Seth's sister, Beverly, was laid to rest. It was a bitter-sweet day. Since we've crossed the date, the Lord has given us both an incredible peace that I can't explain. We still miss him so much, but we both know that this is what the Lord had in mind from the beginning. Again, thank you all for your prayers, the Lord has heard them and has been gracious to us!

We are in recovery mode from our trip to Iowa this past weekend. Seth, Wesley, Trevor and I went up. The boys went to the ISU vs. OU game on Saturday while I spent time with the family. It was so nice to be with them all. I miss them so much and can't wait to go back for Thanksgiving when we can hopefully spend a little more time together!

We had a nice time at a picnic in the park with Clayton and Halle. It was such a beautiful day at 75 degrees and sunny!

We also got to spend time with my brother and his wife's girls, Nora and one month old, Gillian. Little Gillian slept most the time, she was just so sweet and precious! Nora was a little shy and didn't talk much (I know she can, but she was just a little intimidated by everyone or stubborn one of the two!). They are just so sweet.

Hope you all had a nice weekend as well!

Problems formatting!

I am having the worst trouble with my blog. It won't let me start a new paragraph. It just ends up being one big clump! I write in the compose tab, I use Firefox - nothing works. Has anyone else had problems with this.

This is why I haven't been posting much, I just can't stand it looking like a clump. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If I have to start a new blog I just may...

Walking with Him in Glory

Click on Image below to read poem:

An answer to prayer!

About a month ago, we finally ordered a tombstone for Samuel. It was through a friend and he gave it to us for less than cost. He said that it would take a good month to get here. When I did the math, it was not going to get here by the anniversary of Samuel's home going. So I have been praying that it could somehow get here before this weekend. I was just thinking it would be hard to go to the cemetery without something to look at and remember our little one by.

Well, the Lord is so good and it came in today! He truly answers prayer. Thank you for those who prayed that this would come, it means so much. Here is a picture of the stone.

Fun with Layla and Finn

Happy girl!





Sweet Finn



Layla giving uncle Seth a kiss!



Daddy and baby Finn

Sweet Phone Call

Today I got the sweetest phone call. My sister was showing my 4 year old nephew, Clayton, my blog. He saw all the pics of our Sunday School party a few weeks ago and I guess he got really upset and wanted to call me. Here was our conversation:

Clayton (in a sad tone) - "Hi Maymee..."

Me - "Hi, Clayton, why do you sound so sad?"

Clayton - "I want to make pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries"

Me - "Oh really?"

Clayton - "...and crafts"

Me (it clicked) - "Oh, did you see the pictures on my blog?"

Clayton - "yeah, and I really want to make pancakes and crafts with you"

Me - "Well, we will just have to do that when I come back in a few weeks!"

Clayton (still sad) - "ok, lub you..."

My sister got on and said he's been so sad and hadn't stopped talking about it since he looked at those pics.

This was just heart breaking for me to hear! For two years, I lived with my sister, Heidi, BIL Nate, Clayton, and Halle (she was actually born while I was there!). I used to take him in the jogger stroller, we would go to the park and play basketball or go get ice cream. It's just so sad that we live so far away and can't do the little things anymore. Oh well, we just have to make the most of those times we can spend together! Love you Clayton & Halle!

The Art of Couponing

For the past 9 months or so I have been working on perfecting the art of couponing. It truly is an art: combining the correct coupons, organizing your coupons, and waiting on the sales to use them.

Here are some deals that I got from Walgreens this week:

• 2 Mom's Best Oatmeal - on sale for $1, used $1 coupon = Free

• Advil Liqui-gels - $3.99 used $2 coupon plus get a RR (Registers Reward to use on next purchase) of $4.00 = Made $2.00!

• Advil PM - $3.00 used $2 coupon plus get $2 RR = Made $1.00!

• 3 Robitussin cough syrups - $4.00 each, used $3.00 coupon on each plus get $5.00 by rebate when you buy 3 = Made $2.00!

• 2 bags Robitussin cough drops - $1.99 each, used Walgreen coupon for 2/$1, then there was a coupon where you got a free bag when you bought two Robitussin cough syrups (which I did above) and I also used a $.35 coupon = Made $.35 I think...
• 2 17 sticks of Wrigley's gum - $1.00 each, used walgreen coupon of 2/$1 plus a coupon I had for BOGO (buy on get on free) and it took off $1.00 = FREE
• Clear Care contact solution $6.99 - $6.99 rebate = FREE
• Pantene Product $4.99 - $4.99 Rebate = FREE
• Glade candle $1.99 - $1.00 rebate, used $1.00 coupon = FREE
  
• I checked the sale rack near the back and found a USB for $4.00! Always check there, you never know what you will find.

So, basically I got a lot of things for free and some I made money on! They may not be things I need now, but I put them in my cupboard, and instead of running out and buying them when we need them, I go shopping in my cupboard! I am so thankful to those girls that have shown me how to do this and ultimately thankful to the Lord for providing these great deals!

Pics of Finley

Last night we went out to Justin and April's to watch the OU vs. TU game. Josh and Brooke came as well. We had a lot of fun with little Layla and Finley. Here are some pics of the little guy...

What a cutie! This pic isn't the best, but I love how he's puckering his little lips!



Me and Finn, I am such a proud aunt!



Touchdown OU!!!



More cheering...

Sunday School Party

I have recently taken over the 1-3 grade Sunday school. We had our first party last weekend. Here are some pictures of the event.

We started our with pancakes any way they wanted them - shape & toppings.




Then we decorated our paper bag puppets for a puppet show




We then played games outside until the parents came.




Here are all the girls...



And all the boys...

Lee & Brad's Wedding

Here are a few pictures of the wedding I went to last weekend. They aren't very good, but at least it gives you a glimpse.

The Bride & Groom

The Bridesmaids

Rachel, Ragen, & I

The next Bride & Groom, Abby & Josh - they will be having a double wedding with her sister, Katy, and her fiance, Caleb.

Their first dance!

Sorry!

I just wanted to appologize to all my readers for not posting in so long. I want to get better at this, but life just gets busy, and it seems it gets busy with things that aren't interesting to post.

Quick update/reasons why I haven't posted:

• Last weekend I went to a wedding in Iowa and I was the primary piano player for the ceremony (eek!). So, in the past few weeks I have been busily preparing for that. It is over now though, and whew it feels good to have that off my back!
• Since I got back, I have been trying catch up with our house. That back room is still our junk room, but I've been able to unpack a few more boxes.
• I've also had to play catch up as far as sleep goes. Those weekends away wear me out!
• One of the biggest things I think is that it's hard to get back into the groove after being out of it for so long.

So, no more excuses. I will be posting soon. Don't give up on me!