Spin Cycle – Page 53 – Lemon Drop Pie

Before Ed and I were married, before we were even engaged, actually, we talked about children. I was so afraid that after going through chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and then surgery to have uterine fibroids removed, that I would be unable to have kids. I wanted a family, and I wanted the man I married to want a family too. At that point in my life, I was in my 30’s and had already dated men that would have made good father, would have been lousy fathers, and men who didn’t want kids at all. I had to make sure that Ed wanted the same things in life that I did, including having children.

Here we are, over twelve years later. My fears over infertility didn’t come to fruition. Our two little girls are fast asleep and Ed and I are sitting in the living room in our pajama pants. He’s playing Angry Birds and I’m trying to write.

Yup, it must seem like we don’t live a very exciting life.

Less than two hours ago, I kissed two chubby little cheeks goodnight. Having those two little girls in our lives is a miracle. Some nights I lie awake and am amazed that through God’s grace Ed and I are the parents to two beautiful little girls. I’m not going to gush too much, I promise.

I’m just so grateful for these two little girls who brighten my life every day.

What are you thankful for? Join Gretchen and me for the Spin Cycle this week, and link up your thankful posts below!

A couple weeks ago, I joined the Illinois Field Moms for a day out. Part of our day included a visit to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The food bank is located in Geneva, IL, and is a large distribution building in the middle of an industrial area. The Field Moms were able to take a tour of the new building, which includes a clean room to repackage bulk food donations, and also a freezer docking area, which keeps frozen donations from thawing during the unloading process. Northern Illinois Food Bank distributes food, which is mostly donated, to network partners including soup kitchens and food pantries in thirteen Illinois counties. They also have a mobile pantry program, which brings food to areas that need it.

This truck is part of the Mobile Pantry Program and brings the food pantry to hungry neighbors.

After our tour, it was time for the Field Moms to get to work. The profits from our Field Moms’ Acre and Pen provided 780 pounds of ground pork for the food bank! Presenting the pork to the Food Bank was the easy part. Then we were put to work sorting various frozen meats into 20 pound boxes. Natasha from Houseful of Nicholes and I assembled boxes like maniacs while other field moms sorted, relabeled and weighed the meat.

frozen pork — We donated 780 pounds of pork!

One of the things I learned while at the food bank is that protein can be difficult to get at a food pantry. Our local high school had a food drive last week, and so I kept this in mind and included some cans of chicken in my donation.

I’m so grateful that the IL Field Moms program ended on such a high note! If you are in the Chicago area and have children under the age of 18, now is the time to apply to be a 2014 Field Mom! Find out more on the website, Watch Us Grow.