Stationery card

Family Frame Christmas Card

Customize your Christmas cards this season at Shutterfly.com.

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God Can

When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean,
When you think that no one can heal you,
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

When you think that you are unforgivable
For your guilt and your shame
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

When you think that all is hidden
And no one can see within
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

And when you have reached the bottom
And you think that no one can hear
Remember my dear Friend
God Can.

And when you think that no one can love
The real person deep inside of you
Remember my dear Friend,
God Does.

School, summer break, vacation, books and everything but the kitchen sink

Over the past few months, I decided to put blogging to the side.  No particular reason.

Just wanted to take a break.

Just wanted to push away from the computer.

Just wanted to regroup.

Just wanted to enjoy being free from schedules and time constraints.

and that I did!

My Spring quarter finished out mid-June, which happened to be in the very same week our church was hosting Vacation Bible X-treme... at which I was a teacher's helper.  

The kids and I have enjoyed hanging out at some friend's community pool.

We enjoyed a vacation.

I read some books at which I need to seriously update.

And alas... here I am.  Lots to prepare for next week.  I'm game.

My Scripture Journal: Fearing the Lord {{ BOOK GIVEAWAY }}

I absolutely love free giveaways and hope to win this one!  Head on over to www.mommastime.com to enter to win.


My Scripture Journal: Fearing the Lord is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to dive deeper into the Bible. It is a 12 week study on just what it means to "fear the Lord". In the study you focus not only on what God's Word says and what it means, but you also spend time daily doing specific tasks to help you memorize Scripture - thus equipping you anywhere you are with the Word of God.

Straight from the book: "The goal of 'My Scripture Journal' is to help you to grow deeper in your walk with Christ by reading the Bible and memorizing scripture."


http://www.mommastime.com/2011/07/my-scripture-journal-fearing-lord.html?showComment=1311027448223#c5449395696722561030

Day twenty-four: a photo of what you want to be when you grow up.

When I grow up I want to be a Nurse that helps catch babies. :)

Day twenty-three: a photo of something you want to do someday.

One day in the near future I want to run a full marathon.  I want to be healthy, fit and in shape.  I want to have lightning bolt thighs instead of thunder thighs.  I want to finish in less than 6 hours and I want a pretty medal.

Day twenty-two: a photo that you associate a good memory with.

One of my most precious memories to date is the night I brought my baby girl home from the hospital.  The day was December 31, 1999.  Words cannot describe the emotions I felt that night.  It was such an exhilarating yet terrifying time.  I was a very young, brand new mom without a clue as to what I was doing, yet I felt so proud and overwhelmed with joy.  Holding that little person in my arms suddenly gave me a sense of purpose.  To know that I was her sole caregiver and it was no longer "me" but "us" was life-changing to say the least.  It's true what they say.... you never know that pure love until you have a child of your own.  I copied this from junk mail.  The words are so very true and spoken so very poignantly.


Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
 
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
  Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom 

Sign up to Win a Free Cricut Expression 2 Anniversary Edition

Head on over to FaveCrafts to enter to win a Free Cricut Expression 2 Anniversary Edition.


FaveCrafts and Provo Craft have teamed up and are giving away the newest Cricut machine, which is being released in celebration of the 5th anniversary of the first Cricut machine. The Anniversary edition is compatible with previous models’ cartridges, and it comes with four additional cartridges. It also features an LCD touch screen, a cutting area light, a longer power cord, and several upgrades for the advanced Cricut user.


Good luck!


http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Cricut-Expression-2-Anniversary-Edition-Giveaway

Day twenty-one: a photo of somebody you find attractive.

This photo challenge wasn't really a challenge at all.  The one I find most attractive is naturally my hunky husband.  This photo is my one & only just after he completed his very first half marathon.  Not only is my husband handsome but he is smart, handy, extremely mechanically inclined, good with directions, is a GREAT cook, a fantastic barista, incredible athlete, the best father around and an extraordinary husband & man of God.  So honored to be his wife & partner in life!

Room by Emma Donahue

For the month of March our bookclub selected Room by Emma Donahue.  If I could use one word to describe this book it would be: INTERESTING.  Overall, I generally liked the book.  It was pretty fast paced and kept me reading until the very end.  Although the ending was a little predictable, the writer kept me engaged and wanting to read on continually.  The entire book is told from the perspective of 5 yr old Jack which makes for a very interesting and unexpected read.

Here is an exert taken from Amazon.com - In many ways, Jack is a typical 5-year-old. He likes to read books, watch TV, and play games with his Ma. But Jack is different in a big way--he has lived his entire life in a single room, sharing the tiny space with only his mother and an unnerving nighttime visitor known as Old Nick. For Jack, Room is the only world he knows, but for Ma, it is a prison in which she has tried to craft a normal life for her son. When their insular world suddenly expands beyond the confines of their four walls, the consequences are piercing and extraordinary. Despite its profoundly disturbing premise, Emma Donoghue's Room is rife with moments of hope and beauty, and the dogged determination to live, even in the most desolate circumstances.

Day twenty: a photo of something you ate today.

So this photo challenge is a little weird and not at all interesting (to me anyway).  I mean, seriously, do you REALLY want to see a photo of something I ate today?  In an attempt to be complacent, I will just go with the flow.

Wahh... wahhhh.. wahhhhh.

Back to the grind

After a little break from the regulars of life our household is slowly getting back into the swing of things.  Spring Break FINALLY came and along with it came a break from school, laundry, studying, soccer and all the boring, mundane stuff!  With that said, let's get to blogging shall we?

Caleb @ 2yrs learning to "surf"

Day 19: A photo that makes you laugh

The things you can do with Bendaroos!

Cheesy Beef (Or Turkey) Stroganoff

A fellow blogger posted a super duper yummy recipe she took from Quickies in the Kitchen: 30 Minute Meals.  I stole the recipe and tweaked it up a bit.  Here is her post with pics: The Queen of Dilly-Dallying: Quick Dinner: "If you are interested in a quick and cheap dinner idea, just follow this simple recipe for Cheesy Beef Stroganoff. The ingredients you need ..."

Since I'm in weight loss mode (or attempting it anyway), I thought I would take the recipe and tweak it a bit. This recipe was cheap, simple and incredibly delicious!  Here's what you need:


1 lb. ground beef (I used ground turkey breast)
3 c. uncooked medium egg noodles ( I used whole grain egg noodles)
1/2 lb (8 oz.) Velveeta Cheese, cubed (I used 2% velveeta)
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup (I used fat free cream of mushroom soup).
1/4 tsp. pepper

Step 1:  Cube the cheese up pretty small to melt easier.
Cook your ground beef and drain the fat, keeping the ground beef in the skillet.  Stir in 2 cups of water and bring to a boil.

Step 2: Stir in egg noodles, reduce to low medium heat and cover.  Let it simmer for 8 minutes until noodles are tender.  (I added the 2 cups of water and 1/3 cup of Reduced Sodium chicken broth)

Step 3: Add the Velveeta cheese cubes, cream of mushroom soup and pepper.

Step 4: Stir until your cheese is melted and serve warm.

This recipe was so incredibly yummy!  I paired it with peas but you could pair it with any side you like.  My kids absolutely loved it.  Bon Appetit.

Day eighteen: a photo of your town.

Downtown Dallas.

Little Bee

Our February book selection was one that I've had on my reading list for quite a while.  To have finally chosen the book was a little exciting.  Is it possible to get excited over book selection?  If you are a book worm, it's completely acceptable.  If not, then you should probably crawl out from under that rock get to reading.  The book we chose was Little Bee by Chris Cleave.  I really liked the book with the exception of the ending.  Not quite what I was expecting.  The following description was taken from readinggroupguides.com.  

The story is about a young Nigerian refugee named Little Bee whom has just been released from the British immigration detention center where she has been held under horrific conditions for the past two years, after narrowly escaping a traumatic fate in her homeland of Nigeria. Alone in a foreign country, without a family member, friend, or pound to call her own, she seeks out the only English person she knows. Sarah is a posh young mother and magazine editor with whom Little Bee shares a dark and tumultuous past.

They first met on a beach in Nigeria, where Sarah was vacationing with her husband, Andrew, in an effort to save their marriage after an affair, and their brief encounter has haunted each woman for two years. Now together, they face a disturbing past and an uncertain future with the help of Sarah’s four-year-old son, Charlie, who refuses to take off his Batman costume. A sense of humor and an unflinching moral compass allow each woman, and the reader, to believe that even in the face of unspeakable odds, humanity can prevail.

Day seventeen: a photo of something that has changed your life

You are probably reading my blog thinking... wow these daily photo challenges are really neato and quite profound.  Then you stumble across this post and think... what tha what?  Yes, my bloggy readers my ASICS Women's GEL-Cumulus 12 Running Shoes have changed my life.  When I gently unlace and slip my feet in, I feel a little empowered.  Okay... a lot!  I feel like I could run for miles and miles.  I'm not your typical gal that gets a thrill out of cutie patootie pumps.  No sir, I get a thrill, a jolt... an electrifying sensation when I slip into my running shoes.  I run... they help... a lot.  Kind of like running on rubber cushions.  You know you want a pair. 

Day sixteen: a photo from your childhood

My cousin, Jess and I sitting in her front yard.  Growing up, we were two peas in a pod... she was the peanut butter and I was the jelly.

Oh Glorious Day!

I love to listen to music.  I love all kinds of music provided the lyrics are clean and the beat makes me want to raise my hands, belt out loud,  rock my head or shake my tush.  Music inspires me and keeps me going.  I listen to music with the hubs and kiddos, I listen when I'm going places, I listen when surfing the net and almost always listen while I exercise.  While working out the other day my I-pod shuffle mix played one song that I just can't get out of my head.  The lyrics are so beautifully poignant and capture my soul as I listen.  This song is my praise to my heavenly Father.  The song is called Oh Glorious Day by Casting Crowns.

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He’s coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He’s ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Day fifteen: a photo of you and a family member

My little pumpkin head and I

How does your garden grow?

I'm an avid follower of an awesome blog called Skip to My Lou which shares info and tips on anything from hosting a shrimp boil to celebrating holidays, making homemade scratch art paper, sewing gifts and throwing parties to cooking delicious food. The site is full of free patterns, downloads and lots of inspiration on cute, fun and novel ideas.

Although it's March and Valentine's Day was a month ago, I just happened to stumble across one of the cutest and quite simple Valentine's gift ideas, a Lollipop Lily Valentine.  Is this not precious?  I know what I will be making next year for my kid's Valentine's.  For the free download info click here: Lollipop Lily Valentine.

 

Day fourteen: a photo of your best friend (s)

Okay so this one is a little tricky because I've only a couple of best friends in my lifetime.  I know... I know... but who is your BEST friend is what the photo challenge is specifying.  One special friend, in particular, has been in my life since the year 2000 when we both began working for a major corporate insurance company.  We were in training at the same time and pretty much were inseparable for many years.  When we were both struggling as single mothers, we banded together with our kiddos and lived our lives the best way we knew how... as best friends.  This friend is Kim B. Growing up my daughter called her Na-na.  Over the years our season of lives have separated us but that has not kept the bond we share from wavering.  Kim is one of the most loyal, loving, warm, devoted and kind persons I have ever known.  She is one of those types of people that you can depend on for anything.  Kim has a beautiful and magnetic personality and never have I seen her not make a friend wherever she goes!  She works hard for her family and has a heart the size of Texas.  Kim and I have gone through so much together.  We've laughed, we've cried, we've argued, we have ticked each other off but always made up later.  To say we have had some wild and crazy adventures is an understatement.  Kim has always had my back and supported me through the thickest of thick and the thinnest of thin.  She's even witnessed the birth of my son Caleb.  We've celebrated birthdays, weddings, holidays, and even sharing in the sadness for the loss of friends and loved ones.  This gal definitely holds a special place in my heart.  I love you Kim and although we are miles apart, God has placed you in my life for a reason.

Day thirteen: a photo of one of your favorite movies.

One of my all-time favorite movies is Gladiator with Russell Crowe.  I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly from Ancient Greece and Rome.  From the love story to the fierce fighting, this movie most definitely keeps me captivated.

Day twelve: a photo of when you were happy.

While I know this isn't the best picture, it personifies a time in my life when my emotions ran the gamut.  From joy to excitement, from anticipation to happiness and elation.  I married the love of my life.  One of the happiest days of my life.

Prayer

Prayer is a powerful tool in reaching out to God and having a private conversation with Him.  Even if you have never prayed or you pray daily, know that your prayers are heard by our Heavenly Father.  The bible tells us the following:  

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8(NKJV)

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and listen to the cry of my supplications. Psalm 86: 6

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Colossians 4: 2

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4: 1(NKJV)

The bible tells us many times in the bible that prayer changes lives, changes people, can change circumstances and can change things.  Someone forwarded an email with a prayer that I absolutely love.  I have even printed this one out and posted it to my wall.  It's beautiful and says all that I want to say when I don't know what to say.  Prayer has changed my life in so many ways.  My prayer is that is changes your life as well.  Be well and blessed!

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. Thank you for the person reading this right now.  I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to You. I ask now for Your forgiveness. 

Please keep me safe  from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God. 

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. 

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak.. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are  misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank You that I believe. 

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. 

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.    I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name,  

Amen.

Day eleven: a photo of a night you loved.

This is a photo of four special ladies I love dearly.  They are my Scrappy Chics.  On this day, one of our fellow chics got married.  Not only did we all get to fly to the BEAUTIFUL San Marco, FL but we stood as witnesses to such a beautiful and breathtaking wedding.  These ladies are so very special to me and I feel honored to have been a part of such a special day for one of them.  I love this photo because of the joy I feel when I am with my friends.  Great friends + Great times = Priceless Memories!

Book Club Pick for January

Our book club selection for the month of January was The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell.  This was a story of motherhood, determination, love and loss.  Overall I really enjoyed this read.  The author delicately portrayed the lives of two very different women set in different time periods and intricately intertwined their lives together in a pretty amazing story.  Not too many authors are able to pull that off effectively.   Here is a description taken from www.readinggroupguides.com

Lexie Sinclair cannot stay. Enclosed within her parents’ genteel country lawn, she yearns for more. She makes her way to the city, and meets a magazine editor, Innes, a man unlike any she has ever imagined. He introduces her to the thrilling world of bohemian postwar London, and she learns to be a reporter, to know art and artists, to live her life fully and with a deep love at the center of it. She creates many lives --- all of them unconventional. And when she finds herself pregnant by a man wholly unsuitable for marriage or fatherhood, she doesn’t hesitate for a minute to have the baby on her own.

Later, in present-day London, a young painter named Elina dizzily navigates the first weeks of motherhood. Her boyfriend, Ted, traumatized by nearly losing her in labor, begins to recover lost memories. He cannot place them. But as they become more disconcerting and return more frequently, we discover that something connects these two stories --- these two women --- something that becomes all the more heartbreaking and beautiful as they all hurtle toward its revelation.

A stunning portrait of motherhood and the artist’s life in all their terror and glory, Maggie O’Farrell’s newest novel is a gorgeous inquiry into the ways we make and unmake our lives, who we know ourselves to be, and how even our most accidental legacies connect us.

What's your word?

Over the past few months a few of my lovely friends have been sharing their "word" for the year.  What I mean by their "word" is this... a word you will claim as your mission to live out through the rest of the year.  One friend's word is "intention" and I think another friend's word is "peace".  So what exactly is my "word" and how can I live out my word.  Being a woman of Christ, I feel it necessary to always try to live intentionally but what does that really mean?  Day in and day out we live our lives.  We wake up, go about our day and basically go through the motions.  Being intentional does not come naturally.  It's a conscience effort to be the best you can be according to God's plan and purpose.  Along the way, we all have shortfalls and shortcomings.  We stumble, we fall, we get back up and move about our merry way.  It's often hard to live each day by what God called us to do.  Just a few weeks ago I went through a somewhat difficult situation.  My first instinct was to react in a way that is not pleasing to my Holy Father.  Isn't reacting in a negative way the natural thing to do?  I say YES, but God says NO.  Immediately following the situation, I began to pray and before I could get two statements out of my brain, the word Grace was uttered.  I felt this strong sense that God wanted me to handle the entire situation with Grace.  So I did.  I retreated and continued to pray.  I had to let the situation go.  It was an extremely difficult thing to do.  Ten years ago, I would have probably put on my sassy pants, gone into the war zone with my sharp words and quick temper as my ammo.  Ten years ago I would have said some not so nice things and severed that relationship.  I would have allowed the enemy to control my emotions and all cool would have been lost.  For me personally, it was an incredible gain.  Not only did I feel better but I got something that I needed most.  Peace and calm.  While I cannot say what will come from the situation later on down the road, what I can say is this... if you allow God to take control of your life you will remain victorious.  Just letting go and letting God is no easy task but with time and lots of prayer it gets so much easier.  Thank you heavenly father for this one small victory in the constant battles I face each and every day.  Today and each day after my "word" is Grace.  What's your word?

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). James 4: 6

Day ten: any photo you like for any reason

This is probably the sweetest picture taken on the face of the earth.  The moment when big sister first meets her baby brother.  So very precious and so very priceless.

Day nine: a photo of yourself when you were a baby.

Day eight: a photo of something you enjoy doing.

Most that know me know that I love to scrapbook.  It's my way of preserving memories for my family for generations to come.  I often get together with several girlfriends so that we can scrapbook, talk, laugh and have some "me" time.  I love it!

Photo of our tables at a Crop Retreat

My quote: Been there, done that, scrapped a page about it!

Day seven: a photo of something you stand for

I stand for the unborn.  Life begins at conception, not birth.

 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16).

Day six: a photo of someone you love

I love this man with every inch of my being.

Day five photo challenge: A photo that makes you laugh

This photo was taken one day on a random passing through the sunglasses and hats aisle at a local Walmart.  Caleb grabbed a hat and the sunglasses and told me to take his picture.  I told him to throw up his deuces and make a duck face.  Oh em gee... we laughed so hard.  Notice his sideways Spongebob sticker.  Gangsta

Day four: A photo of a place you would like to visit

Sonaisali Resort in Fiji.  Nuff said.

Day three: a photo that makes you happy.

Making memories with our children.  This makes me happy!

Day two: a photo of yourself at least a year ago.

The photo challenge for day two is not that exciting.  Well... it kinda is because you get to see my beautiful face once again.  This photo was taken of me right after my very first 5k (unedited!).  It's really the only picture taken of me and only me this time last year.  Oh well.  It'll do for now!

31 Day Picture Challenge

I stole this idea from a fellow blogger, http://thequeenofdillydallying.blogspot.com/,  and really loved the idea so I decided to take this challenge myself.  The challenge is you have to post a picture every day for 30 days and there are certain topics for each individual day.

Here are all the topics.

1. Day one: a photo of you today.
2. Day two: a photo of yourself at least a year ago.
3. Day three: a photo that makes you happy.
4. Day four: a photo of a place you’d like to visit.
5. Day five: a photo that makes you laugh.
6. Day six: a photo of someone you love.
7. Day seven: a photo of something you stand for.
8. Day eight: a photo of something you enjoy doing.
9. Day nine: a photo of yourself when you were a baby.
10. Day ten: any photo you like for any reason.
11. Day eleven: a photo of a night you loved.
12. Day twelve: a photo of when you were happy.
13. Day thirteen: a photo of one of your favorite movies.
14. Day fourteen: a photo of your best friend (s)
15. Day fifteen: a photo of you and a family member
16. Day sixteen: a photo from your childhood
17. Day seventeen: a photo of something that has changed your life
18. Day eighteen: a photo of your town.
19. Day nineteen: a photo that makes you laugh.
20. Day twenty: a photo of something you ate today.
21. Day twenty-one: a photo of somebody you find attractive.
22. Day twenty-two: a photo that you associate a good memory with.
23. Day twenty-three: a photo of something you want to do someday.
24. Day twenty-four: a photo of what you want to be when you grow up.
25. Day twenty-five: a photo that inspires you.
26. Day twenty-six: a photo of your favorite subject in school.
27. Day twenty-seven: a photo of something you are looking forward to.
28. Day twenty-eight: a photo of something/somebody that made your day.
29. Day twenty-nine: a photo of your favorite person from history.
30. Day thirty: a photo you find beautiful.
31. Day thirty-one: a photo of your favorite character from your favorite tv show

Without further ado, here is my Day One Challenge: A photo of myself

My legs are growing treads....

Seriously though I think this past year has been my healthiest year since I was a teenager.  I lost weight, I started working out and most important ... if not the most exciting - I started running.  When I run I know my heart is getting stronger with each pump.  I know my lungs are expanding and working for the better of my body.  I know that my blood is flowing and pumping and going to all the right places.  I love it.  When I run my legs hurt, my chest is tight and I can't carry on a conversation and that is just the way I like it.  Am I crazy?  Who knows, and honestly who cares.  All I know is I have been a running for one year!  One year ago this month I ran my very first 5k race.  One year ago I began a new journey that I never in a million years imagined I would love so very much.  After I run I feel refreshed and renewed.  I feel rejuvenated and unstressed so to speak.  The proud feeling of accomplishment creeps through my veins and it sure feels good.  Thank you God I have a mind to set on running, lungs to take in that fresh air, a healthy heart to pump that blood and legs to get me where I need to go.

Adult Truths

On occasion I will post something totally random and off-kilter from my normal daily ramblings of a housewife & mom.  Someone recently sent me an email with these rather truthful and comical adult truths.  I hope you get as much of a kick out of reading them as I did.  Enjoy!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font. (My personal favorite)

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey -- but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

My Cleaning Prayer

With the new year well under way I thought I would take a look back on some of my older posts.  I came across my cleaning prayer and loved reading it so much I thought I would share it again.  Day in and day out the daily duties of a part-time or full-time stay-at-home mom become quite mundane and very mechanical.  I share this in hopes it can give you a breath of fresh air or a new perspective on the importance of being the woman of your home.  Enjoy!

Dear Lord Jesus

As I go about my housework
Let me see each job I do,
As a service for my King
And a way of loving You.

Let me wash away my judgments
Of others right or wrong,
As I wash up the dishes
Place within my heart a song.

As I clean up little fingerprints
And lots of muddy shoes,
May I remember how you cleaned the feet
Of the loved ones you did choose.

As I mend up torn pajamas
And sew a button on,
Show me where I need to mend a breech
That's gone on far too long.

Let me tidy up my thoughts
As I tidy up the toys,
Let me sweep away my fears
Like the dirt from little boys.

May I be just as quick with my forgiveness
As I am with mop and broom,
Sweeping up the clutter
In my heart and living room.

May I rinse out pride and ego
As I rinse the bathtub out,
And while we are at it Lord
Let's take care of anger, hate and doubt.

Please remind me often Lord
That the way I'm called to serve,
Is an honor given me
And not below what I deserve.

You know Lord, as I look
At all the work we need to do,
I think we'd better house clean
At least each day or two.

-- Author Unknown

Reader Reader... Bookmark Eater

Those that follow my blog know that I love love love to read!  At present I read mostly Christian fiction as well as secular fiction.  A while back, our book club selection was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  This book is in a trilogy and by far one of the most terrific & suspenseful novels I have read... BAR NONE!  The book is chock full of twists and turns that kept me turning the pages, eagerly anticipating the next twist or surprise.  This novel was a mix of "Survivor" meets "The Gladiator".  Here is a brief description from amazon.com -  In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcast throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing.  - I absolutely -hands down - LOVED reading this book.  A DEFINITE recommended read for those action & suspense seekers out there!

Since I loved The Hunger Games so very much I decided to jump right in to the second book in series.  Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  This book basically jumped right in to where the first book left off.  Boy was this novel INSANE (in a good way, of course)!  Once again, the writer left me enthralled in the never ending suspense as the twists and turn of events left me eagerly anticipating what would happen next.  Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark outsmarted the Gamemakers & won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol. Catching Fire maintains the adrenaline rush of Suzanne Collins's series launch.

I am currently reading the last & final book in the series called Mockingjay.  Reviews coming soon! 

The next selection for our book club was Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon. This book was very suspenseful but a little raunchy for my taste.  Containing sexual content, violence and bits of vulgarity.  Introduction taken from goodreads.com - Henry, Tess, Winnie, and Suz banded together in college to form a group they called the Compassionate Dismantlers. Following the first rule of their manifesto—"To understand the nature of a thing, it must be taken apart"—these daring misfits spend the summer after graduation in a remote cabin in the Vermont woods committing acts of meaningful vandalism and plotting elaborate, often dangerous, pranks. But everything changes when one particularly twisted experiment ends in Suz's death and the others decide to cover it up.
Nearly a decade later, Henry and Tess are living just an hour's drive from the old cabin. Each is desperate to move on from the summer of the Dismantlers, but their guilt isn't ready to let them go. When a victim of their past pranks commits suicide—apparently triggered by a mysterious Dismantler-style postcard—it sets off a chain of eerie events that threatens to engulf Henry, Tess, and their inquisitive nine-year-old daughter, Emma.
Is there someone who wants to reveal their secrets? Is it possible that Suz did not really die—or has she somehow found a way back to seek revenge?  Full of white-knuckle tension with deeply human characters caught in circumstances beyond their control, Jennifer McMahon's gripping story and spine-tingling plot prove that she is a master at weaving the fear of the supernatural with the stark realities of life.


Following Dismantled, our book club selection was The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  Description taken from goodreads.com - On the eve of her ninth birthday, unassuming Rose Edelstein, a girl at the periphery of schoolyard games and her distracted parents’ attention, bites into her mother’s homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother’s emotions in the cake. She discovers this gift to her horror, for her mother—her cheerful, good-with-crafts, can-do mother—tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes a peril and a threat to Rose.
The curse her gift has bestowed is the secret knowledge all families keep hidden—her mother’s life outside the home, her father’s detachment, her brother’s clash with the world. Yet as Rose grows up she learns to harness her gift and becomes aware that there are secrets even her taste buds cannot discern.

The book overall was okay.  It was a little boring and left me a little bewildered.  Needless to say, not one of my favorites.

Our December book club selection was Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum.  Overall I thought this book was very good.  Set during the days of WW II and the Holocaust, the plot is written through the eyes of a German.  It gives a glimpse into the life of those that weren't persecuted rather those that were of the same race of those that did the persecuting.  The book left me sad, astonished and longing for understanding.  My one word for this book - PROFOUND.  Description taken from readinggroupguides.com - For fifty years, Anna Schlemmer has refused to talk about her life in Germany during World War II. Her daughter, Trudy, was only three when she and her mother were liberated by an American soldier and went to live with him in Minnesota. Trudy's sole evidence of the past is an old photograph: a family portrait showing Anna, Trudy, and a Nazi officer, the Obersturmführer of Buchenwald.

Driven by the guilt of her heritage, Trudy, now a professor of German history, begins investigating the past and finally unearths the heartbreaking truth of her mother's life.

Combining a passionate, doomed love story, a vivid evocation of life during the war, and a poignant mother-daughter drama, Those Who Save Us is a profound exploration of what we endure to survive and the legacy of shame

Hello, anybody there?

The past few months have been a whirlwind to say the least.  I, once again, and without plan decided to take another break from blogging.  Bible studies, soccer, school activities (and everything in between) were once again coming to a break and with that I decided my computer break needed a little break as well.

Our December was spent, in part, celebrating life.  We celebrated the birth of our savior Jesus Christ as well as the birth of our children.  I often wonder and ask God why he gave me my children in the same month and same week as my birthday and Christmas.  It can be a really scary thought!  Three birthdays in the same month... in the same week...on top of Christmas.  YIKES!  Normally I am consumed with planning the perfect party for my children.  I am enveloped in my thoughts ... gotta get the right present, gotta get the right invitation, gotta get the perfect cake.. gotta find the perfect party venue.  But this time I wanted everything to be different.  I decided I would not focus solely on having the perfect party... rather having the right frame of mind.  This time I decided to thank God and give Him all the praise for my children.  So many try so very hard to have children and cannot.  So many pray fervently to get pregnant and are unable to conceive.  So many spend countless hours consumed with getting pregnant only to lose their baby.  Then there are those that spend thousands of dollars on in vitro fertilization or adoption.  I look as those and my heart breaks.  It makes me realize how much I take take for granted when it comes to my children.  The bible tells us Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17.  How so very true!  I look at my children and think... WOW!  I carried them in my womb and God created them for me to mother.  Before you were formed in the body of your mother I had knowledge of you, and before your birth I made you holy; I have given you the work of being a prophet to the nations.  Jeremiah 1:5.  He gave me those precious gifts and I need not worry about the timing of when God gave them to me.  I need not worry with the "how" or "why".  I just need to let go and let God handle everything.  God's timing may not be my timing nor His purpose be my purpose but He did have the perfect plan for me.  God knew I would have my children and when I would have my children.  This is the perfect gift.  My children are GOOD and PERFECT!  They are beautiful and precious.  Thank you Heavenly Father for allowing me the honor of raising two of your finest creations.