Walk two moons in someones moccasins

I've been pondering some things lately.  

We Canadians and Americans have sooo much!

We say "we are so blessed"  humm...

I was pondering that this morning.  

My family sits down to breakfast and has

more than one option of cold cereal, as well as muffins, fruit, milk..... and more.

Or instead of blessed are we "spoiled" ?  

I ask the question, but really I'm coming to believe that is the truth.  

We have too much!  God help us!  

So as we talked together over the breakfast table we remembered Daddy's trip to Haiti.

The kids were remembering the things Jeff told them about eating rice and beans all the time.

Could we do that? Are we willing to give up our comforts to not be "spoiled"  and ungrateful?  

As hard as that is to answer, I have to think about it.  

The more we have the less grateful we are for what we do have! 

That reminds me of Jungle Jam and Friends story and song..

"The more you have, the more you have to take care of the things you have..."

A Lady in Haiti selling fruit to make money for her family

Jeff said, " in Haiti, they didn't have much, but they seemed to have joy"

At least I see this in my life.  When we have too much we don't take care of what we do have.

That led me to thinking about my Grandparents and what they have lived through with the Great Depression.  We can learn so much from them if we take the time to listen to their stories.

Jeff's Great Grandpa Dan Yoder Jeff and Mike

Jeff's Maternal Grandpa Gingerich

Wendy's Maternal Grandpa Phares and Edna Rutt

Phares and Edna Rutt

Wendy's Step Grandparents  Roy and Catherine Messner

So then I think Oh dear I have really let this life of Materialism take over my world, unwanted!

I try to do my best to live with less, until I go shopping and think "oh we need______"  

Our rescources or Credit cards allow us to buy for the most part whatever we think we need.

Oh and the "cheap" toys and Bargains that you think you are doing a great thing saving money...
Don't let them waste your money!   And Time!

I have a little story to tell you. 

We just bought Trevor a Monster truck for his birthday. 

He really wanted one and after looking around I found one at True Value.  

I knew it might be a cheaply made one, but I reasoned that if he takes care of it it should last.

I was wrong.  I am convinced that the toy makers in China are just laughing at us Americans and Canadians who keep buying junk! 

 I am telling you, his birthday was November 27.  This is December 15. 

 It is broken already and HE TOOK CARE OF IT!  

You probably are saying, oh you know little boys, they just wreck their toys.. 

No, we told him that if he didn't take care of it it would break.  

He was so diligent at putting it away every time he was done playing with it.  He even put it in our bedroom so his little brother wouldn't play with it while he was in school.  

One day, a friend was over and took the truck and somehow it got placed behind the door of the bedroom and it took one person to swing the door open and broke the little wheel off.  

Jeff tried to fix it for him, but said it's no use, it was made so cheaply I can't even fix it!  

What a shame....  

Just maybe this is the issue with our Garbage dump being almost full.!

We keep  buying cheap junk!  That doesn't last!  

Our Grandparents might have some wisdom for us don't you think? 

Good quality, hand-made gifts, that we don't have time to make anymore.  

That we don't want to spend money to make, because you can buy it cheaper.....

As I think about how we get to the places in our lives where we have too much stuff,  I was pondering  how do we react when we see someone else who is stuck in their stuff? What do we say to ourselves or others?  Have you ever watched the show Hoarders? 

We think to ourselves

If only they would.....

If only they wouldn't........

I would never do that......

Can you believe that person does that???

Really?  What if you walked two moons in their shoes?  

This post is a window into my thoughts, scary, Somehow I am going out on a limb and sharing my heart here.  I hope it is a safe place.... what am I thinking this is not a safe place! It's the internet for pete's sake!

You need to Walk two moons in someones moccasins before you can even think about judging them.

It doesn't just go for people caught in the materialism trap, but so many other traps we find ourselves in.

Sometimes we are unaware, sometimes we know we are in a trap, but don't know how to get out of it.

Let's be gracious to each other.  Life is a journey!
How can we make this world a brighter place this Christmas season?

Last years pictures...

Mom decorates cakes everyday!  This is one she made

I was just looking back over our last years pictures.  As the year 2010 came to a close we were able to be with my mom on her birthday, unfortunately it was the day we were leaving Pennsylvania to come back home.  Grandma treated the kids to a yummy cone of ice cream.
Happy birthday once again Mom!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to all my family!

FlyLady TV

FlyLady TV

This is something I've been working on. I really appreciate the Flylady!

I am a flybaby and proud of it!

Halloween 07

Just found these videos that my brother in law has on youtube.
It has my little family in it and many cousins!
Enjoy

Merry Christmas!

Well, it really has been a long time since I've written anything, but for those of you who may stillcheck this these are for you!  We enjoyed celebrating Trevor's 3rd birthday this year.  He was so into it!  

I also posted a picture of our new curtains, baking cookies and decorating the tree!

Have a wonderful Christmas season.

Merry Christmas to you!

Alabama's 4th

Here is Tori Alabama and Logan.

We had a nice day yesterday celebrating Alabama's day!  Jeff didn't have and work so it was pretty relaxing here.  About 3 in the afternoon Chloe and Logan came to play and Tori and Sienna were here too.  Then later Scotty and his family came and Grandma and Grandpa Yutzy.

She got some nice presents.  

Today Grandma took her and Tia shopping to spend their birthday money.  It was cute, they both came home with some pretty neat finds from the Bargian shop!

Jeff and Trevor are outside skiddoing.  We have two guys staying here that are with Teen Challenge.  One is from the Bahamas, so he is enjoying this weather!  They were out ice fishing, now he is getting to ride the skidoo.  Well, Dylan is calling for mommy's attention, I'd better go.

Trevor's Two! And Tia's 7!

Well we are back from our trip and we do have water now!!  I'm finally getting caught up on putting laundry away from being backed up from the trip and no water.  Dru even did some wash for me.  I guess laundry is just one of those never ending jobs.

We celebrated Trevor's second Birthday on November 27th.  He is really starting to talk lots. It is so fun to see him grow and change.  I see the most change in him since Dylan's born.  He has really begun being gentle with him and saying in a sweet sing song voice "Hi Dylan"  and kisses him on the cheek now instead of bite!!

We just celebrated Tia's 7th birthday on Saturday.  I don't have those down loaded yet, I'll share them later. I think she really enjoyed it.  Jeff and I took her out for lunch.  something she has been asking for .  Grandpa and Grandma kept the others for us.  I think we'd like to make that a tradition!! We enjoyed that one on one time with her too!  

I'm in the process of getting ready for the big shabang at our house this weekend.  All the Yutzy/Slaubaugh family is coming. (Except Matthew's)  Jeff got the carpet on the steps laid.  He is doing the basement tomorrow!! Yeah the carpet came in!! It will be so much cleaner down there.   He is looking forward to some time around the house.  He has been so busy since we got back.  Christmas tree finally made it up.  Cookies are made, now wrap some presents and hopefully sit back and relax!  (If that's possible when you have four little ones?)

Well, hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season!  Enjoy each moment!

Love ya!

Alabama's 3rd Birthday

Caleb and Logan were here for Alabama's birthday party!












Trevor in front of the gate Daddy made to keep him off the stairs.
He has a bruise on his cheek from meeting the floor too fast.!





Here is Grandma Dru and Alabama getting ready to blow her candle out!!

Well today I had my ultrasound. I guess my dates were pretty close. She gave me a due date of August 13th. I had guessed August 9th. It was awesome to see the little heart beating even at 13 weeks old!! Jeff said too, we've been so busy we haven't even really realized that there is a baby growing inside of me!! When I saw the little thump thump, I just said awe...... it is real!!! Amazing at 13 weeks you can already see the legs and arms and head, backbone!!
I actually felt pretty good today. Maybe now as I head into the second trimester things will get better!!
Jeff is outside cutting firewood. My kids are running around somewhere in this house, that is the scary thing about 3 stories, If they aren't right here, who knows what they are into!! Amazing though I've found they play so much nicer here. They chase each other up and down the steps.
That's what they were doing. Trevor was trying to find the girls. Well good night!

Tia's 6th birthday

Tia when she was 3!

Brenna and Tia
Today is Tia's 6th birthday! Jamie Herr stayed overnight last night. Party is from 2-4.

The pine is here! Jeff and Dad put several pieces up yesterday and today. I'm anxious to see it. I'm trying to decide on a stain. I'll try to keep you posted and try to get some pictures. Have a good day!

My paint palette

http://www.voiceofcolor.com/en/inspicafe/voc/harmony/voc_inspi_content.asp?harmony_id=7&swatch_id=38

This is the color swatch I have that I am chosing my color theme throughout the house- the blue. Hopefully by clicking on this link it will take you directly to it. Choco Eclair will be the kitchen, Spiced vinegar will be hallways and I have to chose one or both of the other beige for the other walls. I may add a olive, sage, grayish green to the palette. Half the walls will be pine with clear varnish and some will have just a light stain. I have to look at linoleum colors too now and carpet for the living room.
We spent the day over at the new house. It was so nice. Jeff shoveled off a skating rink for the kids. Alabama's first time skating, she did pretty good. Trevor loved being pulled around on the sled. The kids all took a nap in the basement while Jeff and I enjoyed the quiet and time to talk with the view out our Master bedroom. I wish I could find my camera to take pictures to show you!! Please pray that it will be found soon! Trevor's birthday party is this week. Derek's, Mike's and Jenni's are all coming for a " Thanksgiving supper" And Trevors bday.
Tomorrow is the last swimming lesson/play day then we are going to Jenni's after for lunch. Caleb and Tia are in the same class.
Well Jeff and Mikey started taping the drywall on Sat. So it looks like this week my goal is to pack the unneccessary things around the house, and to buy the paint to paint the guest room in the basement.
Well no pictures today, sorry. Have a great week and remember to speak the truth and only the truth about yourself and others.