'Immune' to cancer: The astonishing dwarf community in Ecuador who could hold the key to a cure

Silent Sunday's (a day late)

Count Your Blessings Monday

As I sit here looking around my messy house I am so blessed to have these wonderful children to make this mess. I know in the coming years this mess will be less and less. They will get older and want to hang out with their friends. Josh will want to work on cars, motorcycles because he has his dad's awesome ability to fix almost anything. He has the most awesome imagination. He will come up with some of the oddest ways to get around something he may be missing that is needed.

I see on my kitchen table a great line up of animals. Chelsea organized a petting zoo. She asked everyone to draw a picture of themselves with their favorite petting zoo animal and write why we like them the best. I will scan them into the computer later today. She has such an active imagination with her dolls and animals. I am so proud of her. Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. " Thank you Patty at Morning Ramble for that awesome quote.

Wyatt is such a sweetheart. Yes he is only 3 but he takes care of my mom. Just as my dad would have if he was still here. He gets her tissues, "tookies" (cookies), her remote, helps her cross stitch, tucks her in at night, runs to me if he can't get what she wants....He is a sweetheart. I hope I have grandbabies as awesome as my babies.

My oldest baby Audrey has a heart of gold. She is telling me how much fun it is to decorate her home for Christmas. She tells me of all the shopping and great deals she has found. I am so proud of her to be shopping for deals and not buying the most expensive first things she finds. I do miss her so much. I cannot wait till she comes for a visit for the holidays.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month.

Dedicated to the

More than half a million babies

Who are born too soon,

Fighting for their lives,

And to their families,

Who pray for their survival.

I am the parent of a preemie. He is now 6 years old.

It seems so long since the worry, the stress. The Days of him in the NICU hooked up to a vent. The days before I was able to hold him. The worry, the wait. Waiting to see how he would do. Waiting for him to be able to come home.

So this month, I'm supporting the families who sit in the NICU and hold hands with baited breath. Families who's baby stays far from home for far too long. Or worse...never gets to come home at all.

Between 1981 and 2003, the rate of premature births rose from 9.4 percent to 12.3, an increase of almost 31 percent. Every year nearly 500,000 infants are born prematurely. That's roughly comparable to the population of Cleveland.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns. Those premature babies who do survive are often disabled for life.

And his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant near to giving birth, and got to hear the report that the ark of the true God was captured and that her father-in law and her husband had died. At that she bowed herself and began giving birth, because her pangs came unexpectedly upon her.

1 Samuel 4:19

Premature birth has been recognized as a problem since Biblical times.

Remember premature babies and their families in your prayers.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns and babies who survive may be disabled for life. Even the best of care cannot always spare a premature baby from lasting disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, developmental delays, chronic lung disease or vision and hearing problems.

The March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care. As part of that effort, the March of Dimes wants women to know there are steps they can take to reduce their risk of premature birth. You can learn more by going to the web site, marchofdimes.Com, and clicking on “I want my 9 months.”

Interesting Information

Windshield Wiper Frost Free Fluid: When you have to leave your car outside overnight in the winter, mix 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water and coat the windows with this solution. This vinegar and water combination will keep windshields ice and frost-free.

To keep cut flowers fresher longer by mixing up a homemade formula. Mix 1 pint warm water, 1 pint lemonade or a lemon-lime soft drink. Pour enough into the vase to cover the lower three to four inches of the stem. Here's how this formula works: the sugar in the mixture supplies energy to the flowers and the citric acid in the lemon helps preserve them.

To keep buttons from dropping off: Dab a drop of clear nail polish onto the thread the secures the buttons. This will harden and make it more difficult for thread to break off.

To help new or just cleaned drapes stay fresh and crisp looking, spray them with a few coats of unscented hair spay before hanging them up. Allow the hair spray to dry between applications.

To speed drying time of big bulky items and jeans, add a dry towel to the wet items you're placing in the dryer. The towel will help absorb some of the excess moisture.

When you need to touch up a scratch or other type of blemish on a painted wall use a drop of paint on a cotton swab to fix the problem. You won't waste a bunch of paint and you won't have to waste time cleaning a paintbrush.

For sharper scissors simply take your dull scissors and cut through three layers of tin foil ten times. Cut some paper to test. Repeat if not sharp enough for you. Or...cut a sheet of medium-grade sand paper into small pieces!

Make giant ice cubes in muffin tins or plastic margarine bowls. These are perfect for using in picnic coolers or punch bowls. They look pretty and keep your drinks or food cold longer.

Get rid of tarnish on silver the easy way, place a piece of aluminum foil (shiny side up) on the bottom of a glass bowl or pan. Fill the container with a solution made of 2 cups boiling water and 3 teaspoons of baking soda, and you've made an inexpensive "bath" to soak your silver in. Your silver will shine like new in no time!

To keep lint and dust off glass top tables, wash them in a solution of warm water and fabric softener. Add one tablespoon of liquid fabric softener to one quart of warm water. The fabric softener will clean the glass inexpensively and will help keep lint from gathering on the glass. Also great for computer screens and TVs.

Fresh Vegetables Wilted?
To bring them back, make a solution of 1 quart of water with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and then soak them in the refrigerator. They should regain their crunch factor.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

Outside my Window...There is a light wind. And very dark :(

I am thinking...

I am proud of myself I unclogged a major clog in the drain pipe, brought in two loads of wood and got the supper dishes done and all the kiddos bathed and they are tucked in their beds

I am thankful for...a fire in the woodstove giving us a warm home on a cold night.

From the kitchen...I hear the dishwasher going and smell the coffee pot going Mmmm

I am wearing... a flowered nightie, purple lamb pants and bare feet

I am reading...Women of Faith Devotional Bible

I am hoping...to get my 3yo in bed very soon so I can have a peaceful time till hubby gets home from work

I am creating...oyster shell Christmas ornaments

I am hearing...Little Bill

Around the house...Josh is finishing up his homework, Chelsea is tucked in bed, Wyatt is watching Noggin, and my mom is watching a movie

One of my favorite things...is hearing the doorknob turn at 12:05 at night when my hubby finally gets home from work!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Fill my store with Christmas goodies, Cleaning, baking, and organizing to get my sewing/storage room started

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Countdown till Christmas