WFMW~ Traveling

Something that I enjoy a lot is traveling. I love getting to see new places and visiting friends and family. We don't travel a ton because of Ken needing to take care of his business and just because travel can cost quite a bit, but we certainly enjoy the trips we do get to take. When we have a little extra time or money travel is often one of the first things that pop into my head as how I would like to use it.

We are excited about taking a trip pretty soon to see my sister and her family in North Carolina! We have never been there before and are really looking forward to this trip. In the past I have written some posts about frugal traveling, and entertaining kids in the car so in this post I thought I would share some of the things that have worked for us when going on planes with children (or even just as adults) .

This is by no means complete, it is just ideas that have worked well for us when traveling by air.

• Find friends and family as nice as ours that are willing to let you stay with them overnight (since we live over 4 hours away from the airport that we use) and give you a ride to the airport in the morning. It is so nice not to have to stay at a hotel or take the time to park plus have to pay for parking the whole time you are gone.
• Arrive at the airport well in advance. At least one hour before your plane departs and preferably around 2 hours. When it is busy and you have to stand in a bunch of lines this can come in very handy.
• Make sure everybody wears shoes (well actually I don't dictate what Ken wears as he can put his own of and one in fairly good time) are very easy to put on and off! To me this is critical as everybody has to take off their shoes and you don't want to clog up the line forever while you help all your kids get their shoes back on.
• Carry in empty water bottles. You aren't allowed to take liquids (over 3.4 ounce size) in the secure area but if you take empty water bottles you can fill them up at the water fountain and have water to drink for the rest of your trip without have to pay an arm and a leg.
• Make sure to have your identification ready. When you are trying to hold onto your carry on bags and a couple of children and move through line at a good pace it doesn't help to need to go digging through your bag in order to find your driver's license. Thankfully only the adults need identification.
• Make sure nobody in your family is wearing anything metal. Things like heavy jewelry, belt buckles, barrettes and coins can set the detector off which then takes time while you have to be checked out. Thankfully I haven't ever set one off!
• When going through the metal detector, children need to come out of any carriers or strollers. The carrying items go through the x-ray and you then take the child through he detector with you.
• When traveling in coat wearing weather, try to leave room in your check in baggage for your coats. You don't want to haul them along with everything else everywhere through the airports and planes.
• Make sure however to have fairly warm and comfortable clothes for everyone. Planes can be a little chilly.
• Pack snacks in your carry on. Airport food is usually expensive (though we do usually splurge at some point) and sometimes you simply don't have time to get anything. I remember being on plane that was late arriving and having to run to catch our connecting flight. Airline personnel was there to help us get to the plane on time, even going as far as picking up one of our children and carrying them. They do usually give you a little snack on the airplane but it isn't much and I know that kids can get rather cranky when they are hungry.
• Have something to chew or suck for everybody (breastfeeding or a pacifier work well with an infant) while ascending and descending to prevent ear discomfort.
• Bring along a few small activities to keep the children busy after the newness of riding in a plane wears off.
• Make sure they (the kids) use the restroom before going on the plane. Though there is a toilet on the plane, you can't use it when the seat belt lights are on and when they aren't there is often a line. With young children that could pose a problem if you are not prepared.
• Prepare for the event of a bag being lost. I don't think this happens very often. The only time it happened to us was when going out to Oregon to attend Ken's sisters' weddings. The bag that got lost contained all our dress shoes (well all the shoes that weren't on our feet), our toiletries and gifts. We had to buy new toiletries the night we got in and the first wedding we attended in tennis shoes! (We didn't have any time to go shopping before it.) My suggestion is have everything you need right away in carry on bags (though as far as toiletries, you don't want your big tube of toothpaste, or bottles of shampoo and such in there- and whatever little liquids you do want to carry on be sure to put in a quart size zip lock bag and have out for them to inspect). Be prepared however that once you get to the plane they may decide they don't have space for your little rolling suitcase as a carry on and will check it in as luggage instead. (That happened on our last trip.) I think it is wise to be sure to have a change of clothes for each person in carry on bags that will fit under the seat. This is especially important for young children.

Those are some of the traveling tips that have worked for us. I would love to hear your air travel tips!

Also..... Do any of you know of neat places to see in North Carolina (Central and Eastern) that we should see while we are out there? We are hoping to do a fair amount of sight seeing. We plan on going to the coast (we have debated between going to Wilmington and the Battleship memorial, even up to Kitty Hawk -though that would be quite a drive, or down to Myrtle Beach or to some other place Martha knows about where there is a Colonial House we could visit.

Our goals for what we want to see are: The Atlantic Ocean. The kids have never seen this ocean before. Historical places. The early history of our country fascinates me and I would love to find places that tell about that. I especially love Living History Museums where they have people acting out the parts and you can see how life was then. South Carolina. While we are there we also want to take a little jog down to the next state as none of us have ever been there and we are trying to go to as many states as possible. Do you know of any neat things to see on the North/ Eastern border of South Carolina?

I sing the mighty power of God

As always I have so much to be thankful for! Often my thanks to God is expressed in song- one song that I have been enjoying singing lately has been "I sing the mighty power of God". It has in it so many things that I am thankful for. I thought I would share it with you today.

"I sing the mighty power of God,

That makes the Mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad,

and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained

The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,

And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,

that filled the earth with food;

He formed the creatures with His word,

And then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,

Where'er I turn my eye:

If I survey the ground I tread,

Or gaze upon the sky!

There's not a plant or flower below,

But makes Thy glories known;

And clouds arise, and tempests blow,

By order from Thy thrown;

While all that borrows life from Thee

Is ever in Thy care,And everywhere that man can be,

Thou, God, art present there.

Amen.
by Isaac Watts

Words in bold are numbers 120-140 in my gratitude list.

Sharing...

Lately I have been teaching Sunday school classes out of the book of Acts. I really enjoy that book as in it is the records of how the church began. I think it is important to study it carefully and learn from it so that we too can be part of a church that is pleasing to God and following the plan He set up.
Today our lesson was from Acts 2:42 -47, it says:

"And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching

and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;

and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

And all those who had believed were together,

and had all things in common; and they began selling their property

and possessions, and were sharing them with all,

as anyone might have need.

And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house,

they were taking their meals together with gladness

and sincerity of heart, praising God,

and having favor with all the people.

And the Lord was add to their number day by day

those who were being saved."

What really stood out to me this time when I was reading this (I think it is neat how different parts will really stand out every time I study) was: "And where sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." Now I know that we are in a different situation right now and we are not necessarily called upon to sell everything we have and split it up among all other Christians but I do know that God has blessed us very much and I want to learn from the early Christians something about sharing.

We have way more then we need and though we do try to share with others when we see a need, it is my goal to be looking more for ways I can help. Many times I am not able to help by giving money, but I can often help by a gift of food, or clothing, or friendship, or time. I want to be more alert to the needs around me.

Here are some more verses that inspire me in this area......

2 Corinthians 8:1-5
Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given
in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy
and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their
own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the
support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave
themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God."

2 Corinthians 9:6 & 7
"Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly;
and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart;
not grudgingly or under compulsion;
for God loves a cheerful giver."

I want to be a cheerful giver!

Making a normal supper into a special event

Last night we had a special supper at our house. It wasn't going to be. It was just a normal night where we were going to eat a normal supper together as a family when Ken got home from work.

But....

I had put a tablecloth on earlier in the day (to look nicer when I had a bride over to talk about wedding flowers) and I just left it on. So I decided maybe it would be fun to add some silk flowers too. So I stuck some in a vase and set them in the table. We also decided to add a couple of candles.

Then the usual happened whenever I vary the routine a little- the kids got excited. "Mom can we use special plates?" "Mom can the kids have glass glasses?" "Mom can we dress up?" ~ "Sure, that would be fine!"

So we had very elegantly dressed fellow diners!
Ken and I looked rather frumpy in comparison. :-)

If we were going to have a fancy meal, Jonathan thought we better have a dessert too. I already had a nice meal planned but dessert wasn't on the menu but after all how could we have a fancy meal and no dessert?

So we came up with a quick impromptu dessert: Bananas with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Jonathan whipped the cream and I made the sauce. This was a simple and new dessert for us but we all liked it.

One of the neat things about doing something different for an evening is we tend to sit around and just visit a little longer and enjoy our time together a little more. In the summer we enjoyed doing that around the campfire but now that it is colder and gets dark sooner indoor candlelit dinners will get to take the place of the campfire.

After supper we also got the privilege to watch a play put on by our favorite performers.

I am so thankful to God for the family He has blessed me with. How wonderful it is to be able to have fun times just doing simple things together.

Handmade Christmas~ Week 2

My girls enjoy wearing pretty things in their hair. I have seen a bunch of neat ideas on blogs for making hair things (Check out those links at the bottom of this post) and I also got a neat book (Heirloom Ribbon Work by Helen Gibb) from the library on ribbon flowers. That book was the inspiration for today's project.

Ribbon Rose Pony tail (or Megan will want them for pig tails I am sure) holders.

Here are the basic instructions for making a ribbon rose:

1. Fold the ribbon over as picture above. (Folding the ribbon forward)
2. Fold the folded down portion in half.
3. Then roll in a cylinder. (Several rolls) Secure at the bottom with thread.

4. Now fold the ribbon back as shown.

5. This next part is a little bit tricky, pull the cylinder part in front of the folded part keeping everything the same level. Now roll until you reach the end of the fold. Secure with thread at the bottom.

6. Keep repeating steps 4 and 5.

7. Shape the ribbon rose as you go, stitching it in place.

8. Add leaves. (sorry for the blurry picture) Fold the ribbon as pictured and stitch the ends to the bottom part of the rose.

9. You can add as many leaves as desired. You can cut off unnecessary length below where you stitched. Try to pull the ribbon over loose ends and stitch in place.

10. Now connect it to you pony tail holder or to a barrette, a brooch, a choker, sewn items, etc. You can use ribbon roses in lots of places. I have quite a few other plans for making and using these and some other ribbon flowers. Hopefully I will be able to share them with you before too long. :-)

Here are the links to other fun ideas that I mentioned above:

• This pinwheel bobby pin (or actually I think I will use an alligator clip) is next on my list to make. It is so sweet and looks very easy to make.
• I think these butterflies would be cute on a barrette (or the flowers would too).
• I love the idea of using up little scraps especially when they are turned into a sweet little tiara for a little girl to have fun using for dress up.
• Or if you want something for the boy's head- check out this manly little cap!
• A cute floral hair bow using fabric scraps. I think this looks very cute as an embellishment for clothes too.
• Easy hair things we made for Christmas last year.

Now it is your turn! Please share what handmade fun you have been having!

To link up~

• Write a post about anything you are doing that is handmade for Christmas. (Gifts, decorations, food, etc.).
• In that post please link back to here.
• Then using MckLinky, add your link to the list. Please make sure it is linking to your specific post (not just your blog).
• Then have fun following the links to see other's great ideas!

Thanks for joining me!

The winner to last weeks gift tag giveaway is Sherri who blogs at "Design to Shine". She linked up her very neat idea for jar candle holders. I encourage you to visit her blog, she has lots of neat posts!

In Honor of Our Veterans

Today is Veterans day. Many thanks to all of you who have served, who have been willing to give up so much in order that others can experience freedom. We appreciate you!

Last night we had a special Event in honor of Veterans day. I was honored to sit by a Veteran from WWII. He had served all over Europe (in the 87th division I believe) and now he has a son over in Afghanistan serving. It was a privilege to be able to hear a little of his story. He was willing to give a lot for our country (including getting shrapnel through his arm and getting a portion blown off) and I want him and all the rest to know how much I appreciate them!



I don't know about you but often I don't know quite what to do to show my appreciation for those that are serving. Lately we have felt we need to do more so I have done a little research on what can be done and I thought I would share it with you.

Here are a few things that we as normal civilians can do:

• Pray! Pray for them when they are overseas but don't stop there. I was reminded in the event we attended how hard it can be for some when they come back, pray for them as they readjust to normal life too!


• Say "Thank-you". When we see those that have served, saying thank-you can mean a lot to them.
• For those of us who know men and women stationed overseas we can send boxes of fun stuff to cheer them up and let them know we are thinking about them. Send stuff that they can share too.
• And even if you don't know anybody there are several programs that you can get involved with where you can send boxes (or just contribute to boxes) that are sent to soldiers that don't normally get boxes from home. This is not something we have done yet but Ken and I are thinking that we would like to.
• Just be there for those serving and for their family at home. Be their friend even when you don't understand what they are going through.

Please understand as I am writing this, that actually I don't think I have done a very good job in this area of supporting our troops, but I would like to do better and these are things that I have learned will help.

Here are some good resources that I have found for more information on what you can do:

• Operation Minnesota Nice ~ A friend of mine is involved in this and I think I will be getting involved too. You make a commitment to send a box once a month. This is mainly for Minnesotans but it looked like Colorado might be involved as well.
• Any Soldier ~ This sounds like another neat program for matching you up with soldiers overseas.
• Ideas of what to send.
• The value of a letter.
• A young woman's blog with ideas and inspiration for sending boxes.
• Good information on sending care packages.

A moving video....

Honoring the veterans works for me.