Busy Week / Construction Continues

What a week at the Todd's. We have been out of town with Grandma for a few days. We were at a indoor water park complete with rides and arcade and all the water fun anyone could need in a life time. We all came home tired and over stimulated.

Today the Lindahl's came over to work on the Science fair projects. The kids are having so much fun. We have lots of exciting things planned. April is going to be a very busy month. Lots of baking and lots of egg coloring and lots of Science fun. I'm thankful our family has so much to look forward too.

We are still under construction. This week we started to install the sink, shower and toilet. The kids love that they have a bathroom on the same level as the playroom. We have soul wining in the morning and a full weekend. I just wanted everyone to know we are still here. We had a great Spring Break and we are really looking forward to next week. See you all soon.

Letter of the Day

G G G G G G G G G G G

It has been another busy Monday. We are going out of town with grandma this week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so I have been very busy with laundry and packing ect. Her goes my "G" list.

God- I am thankful for all He has created and all he has given and who he is. I can't think of my life without God.

Good Leadership- since we have come to Grace Baptist we have learned so much. We love Pastor and Miss Julie with all our hearts. They are the best team any one could ask for in leadership.

Grace Baptist- the closest place to heaven you can get without going there yourself

Gina - The Bible says that a friend loveth at all times need I say more I Love you Gina

Grapes- a refreshing healthy snack

Green Grass- a little thing but without it things are barren

Gerlinda- always a sweet smile. makes your day special

Grossy- Karen I love you I need your hugs. Your are the best sweet sister in the world.

Giving- I love to give to people and I love when people give to me.

Gifts- who doesn't like gifts?

Gold- the color of the ring my wonderful husband gave me on our wedding day.

Grandparents- wonderful people that my kids think are the best

Great- I have a great God, Great friends and have a great day

A Mother's Tearful Eyes

This morning on the way to church, I was riding in the van, and quietly listening to my seven year old son in the back seat. I couldn't help but wipe the tears from my eyes as he was explaining to his two year old sister how to get to heaven. He had a children's Bible in his hands and was "reading" to her the different stories. When he got to the page about heaven he gave her his version of how to get to heaven. I believe that if she could have ,my two year daughter would have prayed. It just thrills my heart to be a part of a soul winning church. My family is soul conscience and my son has two soul winning Sunday School teachers and most of all a soul winning Preacher. I thank the Lord for all of them who have helped us to raise a soul conscience little boy who wants more than anything to know that his sister will be in heaven with him. How sweet is that. Thank You GBC for standing on the truth.

Happy Birthday Gina

We have had two full days of fun. Friday morning while the homeschoolers were on their field trip I had a full house of toddlers. We had a blast!!!! We had my daycare boy Justin (he's three) and then we had Kim and Matthew Slone. In addition we had Hannah and Jackson Woltz and of course the biggest handful of them all Paige. Five little people under three. It was so much fun everyone was good and I hated too see them all go home. I was able to get a little bit of running around done after dinner. It was a day full of fun.

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Today was Gina's birthday and I am very thankful I was able to take her out for breakfast. We again went to Nicky's Cozy Cornor. We have decided that this is what we will do for years to come. It turned out neat because we both have birthdays on Saturday this year. My wonderful husband had to work overtime today so my children went and had dinosaur pancakes at grandmas and we went to the restaurant right by grandma's house. After breakfast I came home and deeply cleaned my house. I just love my house when it's clean. It makes my want to have company. After daddy came home we ran errands and had family night. Popcorn and old movies night. The kids are in bed and the house is clean and quiet. I just LOVE it. Daddy said in a few minutes we will light the fire place and have hot tea (just the two of us) Thank you Lord for a few nice days. Another little blessing Paige said BIBLE for the first time today. I'm going to light the fireplace and some candles and end or day peaceful. Ah ah

Not Feeling Well

This week has been a little rough for me. With diabetes some weeks are like that. I'm very tired and it is a struggle just to get the basics done. My husband has worked a lot of over time and is working a full day on Saturday. My husband and I have not given my son an actual allowance yet. Quinten knows that everyday after school and before dinner the house needs to be picked up before daddy comes home. This afternoon as we were making everything tidy my sweet little seven year old says to me "Mom can I get paid tonight for picking up?" I then asked him how much he thought that today's job should be worth. Without hesitation Quinten said "I think I need $1.10." I said "that is a strange number why would you want $1.10?" and he replied "if I get $1.10 then I will already have my .10 for my tithe. Ok ,I think he kind of missed the point but I still thing he is so cute. I thank the Lord for giving me Two Wonderful Kids.

Letter of the Day

Grandpa worked very hard today on the tile for the new bathroom downstairs. He was tired. Maggie is doing great in school and so is Quin. By the end of the day I'm tired. It's a good tired knowing that a lot has been accomplished.

I thank the Lord for productive days.

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"P" The letter of the day

Pastor- I 'm very very thankful for my pastor who has given his life for our

church.

Popcorn- my all time favorite snack

Perseverance- the ability to keep going

Peace- something I long for in my home

Perfect- My Lord and my husband are perfect (well Sam is almost)

Purchase- I 'm thankful for the ability to buy the things we need.

Prodehel- A very sweet family in our church

Powdered Sugar- handy when you need it

Peppers I can't wait for the garden

Power-something we all need to keep going

Peanut Butter- a stable in our house

Prayer- something we can't live without

Personal Devotions- Something I treasure

Pickles- yum yum

Personality- makes you who you are

There are so many more up I hear my pillow calling me. Good night

He Did It

The entire Todd household is so excited!!!!!!! Quinten has struggled with riding a bike with out training wheels for several days. Tonight after dinner he mastered it. We are all so excited. Quinten has worked very hard on this and we are very proud because he never gave up. I know he wanted to but his dad taught him that we can't give up. Quinten now has the taste of working hard at something and having it succeed.. Sam took Quin to a hill and taught him to balance the bike going down the hill and then he could master the roads. It was so cute Quin said to my husband "Dad if it were not for you I never would have learned to ride my bike. Thanks dad I love you" That really touched my heart. I am so proud of Quin for not giving up and for riding a two wheel bike on his own. I 'm thankful to my husband who loves his son enough to take the time to help him master the task. I love my wonderful family. We had a great time celebrating and Dairy Queen.

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I found the neatest thing this week. It was only $12.67 and it will save lots of money in the long run. We are now the proud owners of a Overil Redenbocker microwave popcorn popper. This little toy is so neat because you can use regular cheap $1.00 a bag popcorn and a heathly oil and for pennies you have the same as the package popcorn. This popcorn taste better, it's cheaper and it is better for you (no trans fat). Even though I better not it makes me want to have popcorn every night.

Another Wonderful Sunday

We had a wonderful Sunday this week. Then again, every Sunday at Grace is wonderful. We had nine in our Sunday School Class. We are so excited that we are getting a new classroom and this one will be permanent. We have had to set up and tear down our classroom every week and although that has not been that bad we will be thankful when we can leave everything set up from week to week. This week was Becka Yankee's birthday and her little sister Dessiree was in our classroom for the first time. We are very excited about what the Lord is doing in our sweet little Sunday School Class.

The morning service was very very good. Pastor was using a light to illustrate the grace of God. We as Christians need to use the grace of God to enable us to serve Him effectively. The light illustrated salvation and the electricity illustrated the grace of God. The light is much more effective when it is "plugged in". Boy did I need that. As always Pastor Dave did a wonderful job on his morning service. Thank you for all you do to minister to our church.

This is cute

A friend of mine gave me a cookbook for my birthday. It is the best cookbook I have ever seen. It's called Church Suppers. It has all the homemade recipes of all the little old ladies across the country and it is the best. Here is one of the "Cute" recipes in that book.

FAVORITE QUICK SUPPER

Measure 3 cups of flour in a large bowl

Answer the phone

Take large bowl of the baby's head; sweep the floor

Measure 2 cups of flour into a large bowl; add 1/4 cup of shortening.

Answer the doorbell

Wash shortening from baby's face and head; add 1/4 cup of shortening to flour

Mix well; rock crying baby about 10 minutes

Answer telephone

Put child in the bath tub and scrub well

Scrape flour and shortening from floor

Mix just enough tears to relieve tension

Open a can of pork and beans and serve with remaining strength

This was sent in by Nell Hammett from Wellington Village Assembly of God

in Little Rock, Arkansas

I wonder is there a hidden camera set up some where in my house.

A very Busy Blessed Week

It has been a very busy week. I have had many opportunities to have people in my life that have been a blessing. Monday and Tuesday the weather so warm that our family spent every moment after dinner outside. We went to the park two nights in a row. Quinten is working hard at mastering his two wheel bike and Paige will not stay in the house when the weather is warm.

This week I have been given the opportunity to help a friend study for her driving test and with lots of studying , I'm so excited to let you know she passed the test today and is now a licenced driver. How exciting to be a part of her success.

The Lord has also given me the chance to do more teaching . Anyone that knows me very well knows, I LOVE TO TEACH. I have a dear sweet little girl coming to my house three times a week to work on her school work. She is very eager to learn and I love to teach her. I 'm also blessed by the sweet smile on her mom's face when she comes to pick her up. I feel very honored that I am able to teach her. Quinten also loves to see her come I can reinforce the basics with Quinten and she is learning so much. We are working on our vowel sounds , basic math, the value of money, and how to count by 2-10. It is lots of fun for everyone.

Paige went to the doctor today and she is in perfect health after her surgery. PRAISE THE LORD. The Lord has very good to me and my family this week it has been a very busy but rewarding week. Tomorrow is Ladies Bible Study and I am ready to be filled. I look forward to recharging by battery so I can face another busy week. Thank You Lord for busy weeks.

I'm still Here

I have been very busy this week and the Lord has filled my "blog time" with something else. By night fall I'm too tired to blog. I have pictures to down load and lots of catching up to do. Hopefully I will redo my routine and be back with all my dear bloggers soon.

Letter of the Day "J"

I 'am thankful for:

Jesus- the Son of God

Julie- the best Pastor's wife in the whole world

Jayne- a very sweet lady who doesn't love Jayne

Justin- the little guy I babysit

Jeremy- everyone loves him

James, Josh and Jenna- friends of my son

Joy- we need the Joy of the Lord

Jingle Bells- they sound so pretty

Justification- the Just shall live by faith

Jelly beans yum yum

Jelly Bellies-super yum yum

Juniper- smells pretty

Jasmine- more pretty smells

Jay Bird-pretty to watch

June-pretty nice weather

July- Happy Birthday U.S.A

Joyful- what I need to be

Juice-my daughter's favorite

Jelly- think and sweet

Jam- real real sweet

What a busy and productive day. At 3:30 the ladies of our singing group came over to practice. Then the boys had piano lessons. The Broils stayed for dinner (my favorite part of Monday night) and then it was off to the Home school Meeting. The meeting was excellent and the fellowship was a blessing. It has been a busy day. Tomorrow we have school and then the Woltzs and the Lindahls are coming over to play for a little while. I just love having lots of kids over. Of course after school.

What a Wonderful Sunday

WHAT A SWEET FAMILY

WHAT A CUTE LITTLE

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

WHAT A SWEET HOSTESS

WHAT A FUN PARTY

It was a wonderful day at the Grace Baptist Church. We have such a sweet Sunday School class. I remember when we were in the nursery with just a few kids. We had seven wonderful kids in our classroom and two were missing. NINE !!!!! PRAISE THE LORD we are so excited. Next week is going to be so much fun Becka is turning four and her little sister is turning three so she also will be joining us as well. We just love to watch our class grow.

We then had a wonderful time in Children's church with a full house at 29 kids. The Lord is blessing us again with more and more kids.

For lunch we went to the Gidley's home. We had a wonderful time with other families of the church. The kids loved to play and the ladies were "SPOILED" playing beauty salon in Darlene's basement. We put our hand in paraffin wax and made them very soft. Then we all got our eyebrows waxed. The food was great and the fellowship was awesome. Than k you Darlene for the great afternoon.

The evening service was a blessing as well the wonderful Billquest were a real blessing to everyone with their music. Pastor had another convicting message about who we feel about the Bible, how often do we read it and let it speak to your heart. WOW I needed to push the reset button tonight. I had a wonderful week end all the way around. Thank you to everyone who helped make me feel special for my birthday every thing was wonderful. What a blessing. I can't say this enough I LOVE GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The End of Perfect Birthday

I can't believe myself. Ladies I have eaten like a pig all weekend. My wonderful, thoughtful, handsome ,caring husband out did himself tonight. We went to RockWell Inn for dinner (just the two of us). This is one of the most romantic places I have ever been in. Every thing is decked out in Norman Rockwell items from the paintings to the glasses and coffee mugs. The food is the best and the company that I was with was even better. I had lobster (I know I should be ashamed of my self but my husband insisted). The coffee was perfect and the French onion soup was homemade. The salad bar and the hot bread made the meal complete. After dinner we went to Barnes and Nobles to relax and look at books. As I came around the corner and a little arm was around my leg, it was Tanner Borgers. They had gone to Chuckie Cheese for Bother Larry's birthday (how cute is that?) and stopped to look at books as well. We had coffee and Cheesecake Factory cheese cake and visited with them for a little while. That was a fun extra little bonus added to the evening. (we split the cheese cake and coffee so I only had half ) I just needed to tell you that. After we left Barnes and Nobles we came home and because of the time change and church tomorrow I guess I better head of bed. I had a perfect day and a perfect evening. Thank you to everyone who made my birthday special and thank you to Sam for being such a GREAT husband. And I really don't think I ever need to eat again. Tomorrow we are going to the Gidley's after church for dinner.. Oh NO

A VERY BLESSED BIRTHDAY

Last night my husband's family celebrated my Birthday. The dinner was wonderful. We had chicken wellington, herbed potatoes, and green bean almondine with strawberry pretzel salad (my favorite). The cake was homemade oatmeal cake and coffee. The whole evening was beautiful. I got a meditation book, flowers and money. I am so blessed.

This morning my very dear friend Gina took me out for breakfast. I had stuffed French Toast. That is cream cheese and powder sugar filled with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and bananas topped with chopped pecans. We went to Nick's Cozy Corner in north Plainfield it was wonderful. After breakfast I went to the Aldi and Wal-mart (by myself) when I got home my wonderful friend Trish had dropped off a sweet gift. My plan for this afternoon is to read for a while and take a nap. My husband and I have a date tonight. I don't know where we are going for dinner, but after dinner we are going to Barns and Nobles (another one of my favorite places). It has been a wonderful birthday and I'm looking forward to the rest of it.

Construction Continues

MOVING RIGHT ALONG

GRANDPA HARD AT WORK
HE IS SO PROUD

Today Grandpa came with a tool belt just Quinten's size. He is so excited. He feels so important. We are so blessed not only to have a wonderful grandpa to work on the basement but also to have a grandpa that loves our kids so much to bring special things to make us feel special. Of course mommy thinks he is very handsome in his new tool belt.

I was able to show Todd from the heating and cooling company the Who is God video on the web. I 'm praying he and his family will come to the Spring Conference.

Very Blessed

This morning after my Bible reading . I was praying and I was reminded of how blessed my husband are to have our daughter. Just before Paige was born we had gone to the pastor and told him he would like to expand our family. With my health conditions it is very hard for me to get pregnant and have the baby be normal. He told us he would keep his eyes open and that we would pray.

Meanwhile my mom had a housekeeper that wanted a baby from a adoption agency. (That sweet little lady STILL does not have her baby). As the housekeeper was coming in the house her cell phone rang and they told her that they had found her a birth mom. My mom started telling her how I could not have a child of my own and it would be nice to have another baby in the family. The house keeper went back to her social worker and told her about us. One week later the phone rang and it was the agency and they said that if we would give them $15,000.00 they would market us for healthy babies. I know we did not have that kind of money but that if they would send us the paper work we would take a look at it. I hung up the phone so excited and called Miss Julie telling her that we MIGHT adopt a baby. Miss Julie asked me if my husband was on board with this. She told me at that time I was to wait and when the paper came I was not to touch it. This was very hard but I agreed.

One week later the phone rang and they had found us a baby (even though we had not filled out any paperwork). The agency also said that we did not have to pay any fees for this baby because the fees had already been paid. I could not believe my ears. God was going to send us a baby. We were told that we had 24 hours to make a decision as to weather not not we wanted the baby. My husband went straight to our wonderful pastor. Pastor told him to put out a fleece just like Gideon did. After all three of my husband fleece were answered we knew to tell them we wanted our daughter.

The social worker came over and my husband was witnessing to her and we found out on the first meeting that she was a born again Christian. Every thing was perfect. The Lord's hand was written all over this. Paige's birth mom used drugs when Paige was born but the Lord saved her from that as well. She is a perfect gift sent from God. We are so blessed to have such a sweet little girl. I could go on and on with the circumstances around Paige's birth but lets just say it is a modern day miracle. Life is good and the Lord is on his throne. Thank You Lord for our SWEET BABY GIRL.

Please Pray

Please pray for Marcus. Marcus works for U.S. Waterproofing and today he came to fix some cracks in our foundation. Marcus has three kids and lives in the area. He is a very nice man and he said that he and his family will be coming to the Spring Conference. Pray that Marcus and his family will come to know the Lord as their personal Savior.

Letter of the Day "S"

HANDSOME
SAM SR.

"S" the letter of the day. The best letter in our house is S because we have three Sams in our house. Samuel Wayne Todd Sr. (my father -in-law) Samuel Wayne Todd JR. (my husband) and Samuel Quinten Todd (my son). We have a wonderful family full of "S".

Salvation- I'm very thankful for my salvation

Straw- I'm thankful for a straw when I'm sick

Spelling- if we could not do it we would not be able to read

Soup- great on a cold day

Sunshine- makes a day beautiful

Singing- makes me feel good when I'm down

Sledding - fun in the winter

Sandwiches-great at lunch time

Standing - some thing we take for grated

Sitting - love to do it my the fireplace

Sewing- something I wish I did more of

Suckers- great with chocolate in the middle

Submission-something we all need to practice

Have a SUPER DEE DUPER day

A Happy Celebration

Look at that Cake

What girl doesn't love Flowers

It has been a very nice weekend. Even through my birthday is not until Saturday my family needed to celebrate my birthday today. There is always so many things going on that it is hard to get all of us together at the same time . So lucky for me I get to have a early birthday and drag it out for almost a week. Today my mom made a wonderful meal complete with all the fixings. We had roast beef and potatoes, veggies, jello, all my favorite comfort foods and of course birthday cake. My brother gave me Two dozen long stem roses, and my mom gave me what every girl loves CASH. Then tonight as a church family we celebrated all the March birthdays. I don't know why but I really enjoyed myself at the fellowship tonight.

This weekend has been just one blessing after another. Beginning with the Ladies Conference (and my husband watching five kids by himself). Followed by a wonderful message this morning about who you have stripes for. Followed by a wonderful Birthday lunch and gifts. Followed by a wonderful message tonight on walking the narrow road. I'm thankful that I have a pastor that is used by God to preach such convicting messages. The weekend concluded with a very nice fellowship for March Birthdays . I have had a wonderful blessed and full weekend. Tomorrow is also full with Diane coming to study for her driving test. Then the water proofing people coming to fix the crack in the foundation. Our music group coming to practice and then Trish coming to teach the boys piano and having dinner with us I have a full day tomorrow. I think I'll call it a day. Thank You Lord for giving such a full , blessed and complete life and for a great weekend.

More Ladies Conference

WoW who is that????
Some one is having fun


I almost forgot something else that Mrs.Lapina said "Ladies we are the thermostat in our homes . We regulate the mood. I want to make sure I have a even temperature in my home at all times.

It has been a very expensive week for my dear husband. I'm thankful that he has financially prepared for things like this. This week our sub pump went out and with all the rain and construction in our basement it had to be replaced on the spot. As well as when my father-in-law was dry walling he found a crack in our foundation. I guess they will be out here to fix that on Monday. We need our furnace checked on Wednesday. I am praying that the Lord will protect us for any thing else to go wrong this week. I am very blessed to have a husband to saves money for these kinds of things so that when they happen we are prepared. I wanted to paint my bedroom this winter but I think that is going to have to wait. Oh Well the Lord knows what He is doing and that a good thing.

Ladies Conference

THE AUTHOR OF IT ALL

ISN'T SHE CUTE

WE ARE HAVING SO MUCH FUN

HOW SWEET

The Ladies Conference was so nice. The skits were great. The speakers were fabulous and even the line for the bathroom was short. I was impressed someone must have cleaned in between visits ( hey that's important). I think that it would be impossible to tell you all the things that the conference was about. The thing that spoke to most to me was Mrs. Lapina she shared her heart with us about how she was saved after her husband was in the ministry. That was so sweet . She then talked about our hearts. We need to have a heart for God. We need a heart of submission and a heart of holiness. We also need a heart for honor. ( I really need to work on that one). I learned to be my husband's cheerleader and to help him reach his fullest potential. Sometimes I tend to loose patience with my husband because I feel he should know what he is supposed to be doing. If I learn to trust and respect his abilities then he can be the man God has called him to be. I also love to look in peoples windows you know, for decorating ideas, and paint colors or furniture arrangement. I thought I was the only one that did that. I also learned to have a plan to get things done. I know that I have lots of places to improve and I'm thankful for conferences that I can attend to learn more about being the wife and mother that I need to be. THANK YOU Pastor and Miss Julie for loving us enough to put something like this together.

P.S. Julie you look great even when your sick WOW