Abowlofcheeries

Blessings.

2011-06-21T10:55:00.004-04:00

Lately, Brian and I have had some frustrating situations and honestly, I needed to be re-inspired. Mt heart was too heavy, once again, to worship my Lord in the way I should. I learned a very important lesson before...not to ever allow myself to get in the way of being close to Him. And yet, I find that I get to this place quite often. Burdens and hurts consume me and I can't see past them to see HIM. What a weakling I can be.

So, today, I decided I needed a new song. I went on a search. Guess what the first one was???

Blessings.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Isn't the Lord a good and gracious God? Providing His children with amazing scripture over and over again...and also leading them to wonderful healing words of song.

30 Day Organize-a-thon!!!

2011-05-31T12:36:00.002-04:00

Last night, as we drove home from a day away, I realized that I did not want to go home to my messy house. I thought, "Boy Annie, that is so silly. You have the ability to change that. " So, this morning I did what any smart girl would do. I googled how to clean my house in 30 days. lol.

In my search, I came across this great program. It is free for you to download!!! Here is the link: 30 day Organize-A-Thon I snatched it up quickly!

After downloading and reading the daily tasks, I decided that I would like to change up the order a bit, just b/c I need to see some results in specific areas before day 13 or 21...or whatever day. But, I am going to print off the checklist at the end, and post it on the fridge.

Each week, I hope to get back here to log in and record what tasks I accomplished that week. There are 30 days in June, so it should be perfect. ;)

Anyone wanna join me???

A Deal Worthy of Sharing. :)

2011-05-25T14:41:00.003-04:00

So, I have a new site that I love. It is called Mammapedia. They offer special deals, normally 50% of certain websites, each day. All of these deals are for ladies who have children they love in their life! They also try to sponsor companies that are owned by moms!!!

Here is today's dealio:

Buy a $50 gift certificate to Zoolu for $25!!! Here are the outfits that I am getting Gracie Lu:

I can't decide which cow one to get. What do you think??? I love the dress...but those cow pants are AWESOME and she could wear them with another shirt as well. What do you think?

ALSO...if you wanna get this deal yourself, just go here: Mamapedia Zoolu Deal. There are plenty of great items for babies, mammas, and kids! From bottles, strollers, toys, and clothes!

4 Months! Really?

2011-05-14T09:23:00.002-04:00

My lands...my girlie is 4 months old! Hard to believe, huh? I wanted to write her accomplishments, so I don't forget them later.

Gracie's Measurements: She weighs 12lbs and is 23 inches long. 15% for her weight and 8% for her length. Little Peanut. :)

Gracie Can:

-Smile

-Say, "Ahhhh", "oooooo", "heeeeeyyyy" and bunch of other things that don't really make up words at all but are fun to hear!

-Sit and watch an entire 30 min tv show, with a smile on her face!

-Sleep 10 hours a night! This girl loves her sleep, but will not sleep if she is not swaddled. She is the best girl when it comes to sleep. No fusses. Just put her in her seat (she sleeps sitting up) and off she goes. LOVE IT!

-Eat 5 oz of bottle, every 3 hours.

Gracie Loves:
- She loves to lay on her tummy.
- She loves it when Isaac and Abbie talk to her.
- She loves it when Brian and I get her up in the morning and her arms are free of the swaddle blanket. Stretches like crazy and then smiles up at us like saying, "Thank you and good morning!"
- She loves going over hills. Well, maybe not, but we love watching her! She throws her hands up in the air and makes the "OOOHHHH" face! lol
- She LOVES baths!!!

I will have to come back and put picts up...sorry. :)

Geocaching...our new past-time!

2011-05-12T12:48:00.000-04:00

So, we have finally found a hobby that the entire family enjoys. Even Brian (although he tries to act like he doesn't) likes it! What is it, you ask...

GEOCACHING!

I know, some might be confused as to what this is. But, really, it is so simple! Basically, geocaching is like a huge, worldwide treasure hunt. People hide caches (boxes/containers) and include a log book, plus sometimes treasure, inside it. Then, using a gps, they write down the longitude and latitude coordinates of the hidden cache. The hider then brings the coordinates back to the internet and records the hidden cache on geocaching.com. They also leave information about the area and sometimes more clues! Then, the finder takes the information and goes out into the world to find the cache. Make sense???

So, with our GPS (which actually is not the best for geocaching since it only takes us on roads) we set out to find some. Our first find was literally beside our house! Not joking! Since then, we have found them at a battle ground, state parks, roadsides, cemeteries (my faves), and historic places. Lots of learning going on here as well.

If you haven't joined in on the new craze...give it a try! Many times you don't even need a GPS, just good Mapquest directions. ;) Here are some pictures of our new found love.

I don't know why, but for some reason, it seems as though Governor O'Bannon would not have minded this.

The Constitution Elm...it was under this tree that the Indiana constitution was signed!

This one was a fishing pole attached to the inside of a PVC pipe! You had to use the rod and lure to get the log book out of the bottom of the pipe. Isn't Abs hair in the wind just plain awesome?

And creatures discovered on one of the trips.

Barney...take 3.

2011-05-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

We have now entered into a new...yet old...world. For the third time in the Shaw Family history, Barney has become a child's favorite. Yes, Gracie now loves her Barney. Abbie and Isaac keep saying..."NO, don't let her watch it!" But, only b/c they don't want to!!! lol. Today, they are gone with Daddy, and Gracie is discovering what babyhood is all about. Barney.

She is giggling and talking back to the tv. Kicking her feet to Icey Creamy Ice Cream. And her eyes are bright and smiling at that big purple dinosaur.

Welcome to the world of silly songs, ABC's, manners, and PBS, little Miss Gracie Shaw. Enjoy it while you can. :)

2011-04-15T20:20:00.003-04:00

There is something so breathtaking to watch your child sit and listen intently on words of truth flowing through her heart and head. Even at the age of 3 months....and 9 years old. I put this lullaby DVD on for Gracie tonight, and sat her little "punkin" seat down in front of it so she could watch the amazing shapes and pictures. I then left to get some work done. After a few moments, I heard a sweet voice floating from the family room. Peeking in, I saw Abbie sitting beside her little sister, singing these beautiful words:

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and Hears me when I call

What an amazing gift. To see my Abbie teaching her sister how to praise THEIR Lord. Lessons learned:

1. Be Still and Praise My Lord. In the bustle of the day, stop and remember His sweetness.

2. Do not grow weary of well doing for in due season you shall reap! Abbie has been rough lately. Her mouth has not been uttering blessings, but harsh words. To see a fruit of all the hard work that we are putting into her...well...just encouraged me to press on.

3. Do not assume b/c Gracie is an infant, that she does not need to be reminded of the GREATNESS of her Lord. He is HER Lord, every bit as much as mine. I need to be reminding her of that more.

Teeny Tiny

2011-04-05T11:42:00.002-04:00

Someday, I will forget how teeny this little girl was. Someday, she will be running around...yelling her head off about how Isaac is chasing her with a bug. Someday, she will be putting on makeup and learning how to drive. When that someday comes, I want to be able to look back and remember that she was just a little Kelly Jelly Bean.

This bottle is actually a 2 oz bottle. So, think of a normal sized bottle. Cut it into 4 pieces. She is "holding" one of them. Amazing that it seems like it is the size of her head.

I love this picture because not only does it show Gracie's tininess, but it also shows her fragility. Once we got her home, we soon forgot that she was to be handled with extra care. She reminded us quickly though that she was not a normal newborn. Amazing that this child size band-aid looks like a cast on her little hand.

St Patty's Day 2011

2011-04-05T10:43:00.003-04:00

Trying to find the "Luckiest" coin.

It was above their heads hanging from a clothespin.

Lucky shot of Abbie without hair in her face. Growing bangs out...STINKS!

(above) Gracie's first hunt.

The Magical Loot

We love celebrating "fake" holidays. St Patty's Day is one of those. lol. Every year, we all make sure to dress in green. Most of the time we actually purchase new Irish shirts for the occasion. Some years we go to an Irish restaurant to celebrate. One year we went downtown to check out the festivities. Last year, we flew home from Florida...all dressed in our GREEN!

BUT, one thing that remains the same...year after year....we always have a "Luck Coin Hunt". Nothing super special, just a big bag of chocolate gold coins hidden throughout the house/yard. The kids can either keep their chocolate, or trade it in for real coins. Both of them traded this year. Another amazing sign that they are growing up. Isaac bought his new video game with his money and Abbie...well, Abbie is still saving hers.

Gracie's Story

2011-03-31T19:34:00.008-04:00

Short Story: Grace Kelly Shaw arrived in our family on January 14th, 2011 at 4:36am. She was 4lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. Labor was very long (30 hours), but totally worth it. The only complications that this little preemie had was severe jaundice (not normal baby jaundice, but preemie jaundice) and bacterial pneumonia. We are very very blessed!!!

Here is the long version:

At 31 weeks pg, we were told that something was just not right with my growth and Gracie's. We were watched closely.

At 33 weeks pg, we discovered that my amniotic fluid had dropped to 4.5 cm, but baby was doing fine. We were admitted to the hospital for a few days and then sent home on bedrest.

At 34 weeks pg, the fluid had dropped even more to 3.4cm, barely. Again, admitted to the hospital...this time to stay until delivery. Delivery was estimated at 36-37 weeks.

Here is where it all started. lol. Admitted at 2 in the afternoon on Wed, the 12th of Jan. I was having some minor contractions and was 1cm dilated. Was told that I was not allowed out of bed for anything other than going to the restroom. And needed to take in as close to 4,000 calories a day as I could!!!!! SERIOUSLY! My weight had dropped, and they were concerned that baby Grace was suffering from a lack of food. AKA slowly starving. (Horrible to be told that your disease is causing your baby to starve.)

By 7:00pm, Brian and I were all resting easily with our laptops and tv going. We were preparing our minds to 2 weeks of hospital bed rest. THEN...whamo. Our nurse came in and told us that the dr had discussed with a specialist and decided that the risk of keeping Gracie in...was greater than her risks out. And, we would be inducing in just a mere 3 hours!!!! Honestly, the Lord had already prepared my heart for whatever was going to come. I was not attached to any dreams of how labor would happen...I just wanted my daughter to be born alive.

At 10:00pm on Wed evening...the induction began. I actually asked for an Ambien so that I could sleep some. Moderate cramping in my back set in, contractions 5 min apart or so, and an ache in my hips that would not go away. Livable by all means. Starting to think that maybe this would go quickly and that by the afternoon, I would have my baby!

At 12:00 on Thursday afternoon, the contractions were every 3 min apart. They were strong...but not strong enough. I was at the maximum level of Pitocin. And, I had only dilated to 2.5 cm. By this time, my contractions were still very manageable, but the pain in my hips was causing me a lot of problems. Also, I was sick to my stomach and was needing to go to the bathroom every 20 min. I am not joking. Finally, they put a catheter in at 1, b/c I was just really struggling with the bathroom issue. We played Phase 10 for awhile...I had to finally call it quits though.

At 2:00 pm on Thursday, the nurse could tell I was starting to enter the stage of not coping with the pain as much. I still felt that the contractions were not horrible and confident that I could continue, but the catheter and hip issues were sending me over the edge. I was now dilated to 3cm...and they wanted me to consider the epidural b/c my body needed to relax. I took it, even though I felt I could have gone on more. It paralyzed one side of me and didnt effect the other side at all. Interesting.

At 5:00pm on Thursday, they broke my water. Contractions were every 2-3 min apart and getting stronger. We thought, this is it! Wrong. lol

At 10:00pm on Thursday, I had been in labor for almost 24 hours. I was quite discouraged. Still 3 cm, still no change. Still sick. Still half paralyzed. And struggling a little mentally from a lack of sleep. The dr came in and asked if I would consider a pressure point massage b/c she felt it would help push things a little faster. Baby was doing fine...so I agreed. Massage Therapist was a weird one, and we all got a kick out of her later on. Also around that time, my Dr gave me the option of a C-Section b/c she knew that I was just not ready. After all, they were trying to make a baby come...and it was just too early for her! I declined and told her that if by 10 the following morning, I was still pg, then we could discuss it.

At 2:00am on Friday, I awoke to crazy insane pain. And drenched in sweat. Epidural was no longer working. And would not work again, except for a tad bit of relief here and there. The pain was basically there to stay. BUT, my body had finally kicked in and things were moving. From there on, things went fast. From 3cm to 10cm in less than 2 hours.

At 4:00am, I told them that I felt that it was time to go. Sure enough, it was. With now no pain meds in me... I started pushing. After 12 great pushes, Grace Kelly Shaw entered into our world at 4:36 am. Alive. She did not cry at first, but looked great. Preemie everything. She weighed in at 4lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. 8 out of 10 for her apgar score!!! The ped specialist just looked over at Brian and shook his head. She was a miracle. They were floored that she was so perfect. Our nurse even cried over the fact that the Lord had done such a mighty work in this little ones life.

From that point, we have had several setbacks...Including a week on the bili blanket and a NICU stay for Pneumonia. BUT, the Lord is a good and gracious and merciful Lord, and Gracie is evidence of it. Even if things aren't always exactly perfect in my eyes.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

2011-03-07T10:57:00.008-05:00

The many Christmas's of The Shaw Family

I know, I know...it's March. Who really cares though, right??? 5 years from now, when I look back on this post, I will remember that life was so full in the end of 2010 and begining of 2011...that I didn't have time to stop and post on my blog until March. I will remember that Christmas that year was a calm before a storm...a beautiful blizzard of a storm. And I will remember that I loved this Christmas. :)

Christmas at Home

This year, we had our Christmas Morning at home...and on Christmas Eve! We wanted the kids to be able to open their gifts at home, and to have some time to enjoy them, so we decided to open one day early. There were really no complaints with this! lol We loved having Christmas in the little farm house. Hard to believe that next Christmas, we will have a little one toddling around and grabbing all the ornaments off the tree. For this year, Charlie had that job.

Christmas with the Teens

I tell you, the teens in our ministry, are really just like family in many ways as well. We love them, and miss them when we are away from them. For Christmas this year, the group went downtown for light gazing, carriage rides, and the Spaghetti Factory!

Can you see the awesome shoes that Nicki and I spotted???
It is good to have a fellow shoe lover for a friend.

Hannah...not Banana

Christmas at the Shaw's

This year, all of Brian's extended family from Arkansas and Mississippi came up for an Indiana Christmas. It was a full house, but there was a lot of fun to be had! We played games non-stop, went on a "cousins" date, and really enjoyed the fellowship.

(Abbie and Isaac with one of their favorite doggies...Meater. He has been with Aunt Amanda and Uncle Justin for as long as they can remember.

Now that, is cut throat card playing.

BLING! Cory showing off his awesome Santa Bingo prize.

Out on the town...kinda. "Cousins" date. Hopefully a new tradition.

Christmas at the Pulliam's

Christmas at my Mom and Dad's house is like going to Mr and Mrs Claus's. Everything is just perfect and you have that warm fuzzy feeling like when you just come in from the snow and are drinking hot cocoa. Know what I am talking about???

Aren't my parents beautiful? (Or handsome...depending on who you look at!)

Our Christmas Eve

The very first year that Brian and I were married, we went shopping together on "our" Christmas Eve. "Our" Christmas Eve is the day before all the festivities begin. Normally, that is the 23rd of December. We love this day. Most years, we eat at Olive Garden for dinner and finish up shopping. Some years we have not been able to afford to do much, so we all just have a nice dinner at home and then go look at lights or something. But, we always try to set this day aside for us. This year, we took the kids to the Children's Museum, then to Dr Boccone's office to check out Gracie, and then to our annual Olive Garden dinner. (Which was provided via gift card from an awesome teen!!!)

December Snow

2011-03-07T10:32:00.003-05:00

December snow is a special snow. The kind of snow that makes even the old at heart, feel like a 5 year old once again. The kind of snow that you peak out of your window first thing in the morning, to see how much you got. The kind of snow that you can't wait to play in. It is the snow that holds amazing hope, anticipation, and MAGIC!

Getting Caught Up...

2011-02-09T12:05:00.003-05:00

My goodness sakes! I have been gone from the blog for a very long time. My life seems as though it is completely different from the last time that I signed in. So, here is a quick outline of what has happened in our little home since the beginning of December:

December 13th- Brian took his finals and finished up the last of his ACTUAL classes at IBC. He now only has correspondence work! YAY! Big step...graduation in MAY!

December 23rd- Dr Boccone informed me that there could be issues with Gracie b/c I was now measuring behind schedule. I went from measuring 34 weeks pg to now 29 weeks. I was 32 weeks exact. Nothing serious, and we could wait the 2 weeks till the ultrasound, he says.

December 23-29th- CHRISTMAS! Enjoyed hanging out with all of our family. :)

December 30th- Isaac goes to the Dr with an ear infection, sinus infection, pink eye, and asthma...wowsers. Also, we took the teens to Indy for Christmas. Had an awesome time. Realized that my tummy felt a lot easier to carry for some reason.

January 5th- Go in for my ultrasound and the tech, Shirley lets us know that things are not looking so hot. We go out for lunch and come back to see Dr Boccone. Guess what? Put into the hospital! I had lost all but 4 cm of Gracie's water. (You are supposed to have 15-25cm) Kind of a dangerous thing. We stayed overnight and ran enough tests to make us all feel comfortable with allowing me to go home on bedrest. Come back in a week to see if things have gotten any better.

January 12th- Go back in for a follow up ultrasound. Gracie's water had now dropped to 3cm. Dr Boccone was gone, so Dr Gentry made the call. Hospital for good until sweet girl came. He ordered strict bedrest and for me to eat as much as I possibly could. I had also lost 2 lbs...which brought my weight gain total to 5 lbs even. We believed that we were in the hospital for at least 2-3 more weeks. I was only 34 weeks pregnant at the time.

Later on Jan 12th- Our awesome nurse Clevette comes in and lets us know that Dr Gentry decided that it was too much of a risk for us to keep Gracie in. As long as she handled labor well, we would induce and try for a vaginal delivery. If she started "acting up" we would go straight to a c-section. They induced us at 9:00pm.

Jan 13th- Labored all day. Strange labor that made me very ill and hurt in places that you would not think you would hurt. Migraine like headaches, hip pain, need to go to the bathroom every 20 min (not joking), and of course the contractions. By 3 in the afternoon, I had established labor and was really not budging much from my 3cm. After discussing with the Dr and Nurse, I decided on the epidural. No such luck with it being a good one. Really stunk. 1/2 paralyzed...felt pain on the other 1/2. Weird. Come midnight, I was ready to just sleep some.

Jan 14th- Woke at 2am with the epidural gone! Extreme contractions and covered in sweat. Called down to the nurse after about 30 min. Things were moving...and they were moving FAST! Epidural would no longer work, and I would just go natural. At 4:00 am, we started getting ready for the pushing, and at 4:36, teeny Grace Kelly Shaw was born. There was major concern for her health b/c of the lack of fluid and her being a preemie. The Ped specialist was sure that she would need oxygen and possibly even be transferred on a vent to a special care hospital. As he was checking her out, he looked over to Brian and shook his head. This girl amazed him. She was perfect. A perfect bundle of 4lbs 15oz and 18 inches long. They did take her down to the NICU after we held her, and allowed her to recover over night. A little oxygen, but she came out fine. Suprisingly, she passed her carseat test and was released to go home on just the bili blanket due to extreme jaundice. Left the hospital weighing in at 4lbs 6 oz.

Jan 16th- We went home and had to return to the hospital every day for the next week...Gracie's bili levels were not going down the right way.

Jan 19th- ISAAC's 6th BIRTHDAY! We took him to Cheeseburger in Paradise. And he got a new airsoft gun. Promptly had that gun taken away only 2 hours later for shooting it without Daddy there. lol. He now knows all the rules and has done very well. Course, it is put up way high to where he can not reach it!

Jan 21st- Gracie is readmitted to the NICU. Bacterial Pneumonia. She was still not at birth weight, not eating, and sleeping close to 23 hours of the day. Poor girl had to have 2 spinal taps, chest xrays, tons of blood work...so sad. Broke our hearts, and mommy cried. Brian and I were able to stay at the hospital with her, while the kids went to Mamaw's and Papaw's. We went on a couple of dates and even went to church together. Kind of a nice time, with the exception of our sick little one. :(

Jan 26th- Released from the hospital once again. Going home felt so good this time! When we had been released before, I sobbed most of the way home!

Feb 1st- Ice storm hits...we had to evacuate home once again due to no power. STINK! Would we ever be able to stop toting a suitcase around? Back down to Corydon we went, for 2.5 more days.

Feb 5th- Brian turned a ripe old 32! Happy Birthday Baby!

Today- sitting toastie in my jammies... Little baby beside me in her papasan chair. Kids playing in the background. Life is very good.

Welcome Little One...

2011-02-01T09:48:00.004-05:00

Take a peak at Gracie's Birth Announcement on Shutterfly.
Click on Picture....more info later!

Love Package Pink Birth Announcement

Customize your own unique baby announcements with Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Need a GREAT Christmas gift???

2010-11-28T21:15:00.004-05:00

Anyone who has read my blog for awhile, will remember me talking about my friend "The Snowman Lady." My friend Niki makes these AWESOME snowman kits. Really, there is everything you need for a snowman, except snow. And, the bags come with your family name (or whatever name you want on there) printed on the front. These make a great inexpensive family gift. I know that you will not be disappointed. PLUS, you would be supporting a wonderful lady and her family. :)

If you are interested in purchasing one of these darling kits, leave a comment, and I will make sure that Niki sees it. ;)

Thanksgiving.

2010-11-20T11:31:00.002-05:00

Every year, we get to together to eat Turkey. Every year, I try to remind myself of the things I am thankful for. Every year, I am convicted over how little Thanksgiving I offer all year long. This year, some friends have done a GREAT job of reminding me to be thankful. Plus, my New Year's resolution to remember the little joys of life, has really helped too! And, I must say: "A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart." ---Ok so really, Madame Blueberry said that, but it is good. lol.

So here are my top 10 things I am thankful for. Not in any certain order mind you. They are all great gifts.

10. That my children seem to be growing in their own personal walks with the Lord. This is my favorite part of being a mother. Abbie has learned lessons of forgiveness and perseverance this year. Isaac is learning lessons of obedience and service.

9. That Brian has a job. This time last year he was laid off. We love our new ministry, and love our "kids" aka teens. Really, they are a new part of family. The church is also a treasured welcomed addition!

8. That we have a beautiful home. This time last year, we were facing the loss of our house b/c of the economy and lack of job. It is a scary place to be in when you don't know if you will have a home at Christmas time. God provided abundantly when He sent us to the Miss Country Bumpkin. She is lovely and provides for all of our shelter needs.

7. That my belly is blossoming with the growth of a dearly loved daughter. He has turned my grief into Joy and extended beautiful Grace to me. For all the struggles of this pregnancy, I am still in awe how HE has worked a miracle.

6. That He keeps teaching me lessons of humbleness, patience, and endurance. I am grateful for a loving God who prepares us before AND as we walk. He knows what is coming, and prepares us for the journey ahead. I love that. And am incredibly thankful that He gives us this gift. Otherwise, we would be miserable not knowing how to handle our trials.

5. That God placed wonderful people in our lives. Each person placed, has a purpose that He designed. I love it when we can see what purpose they play. The support of family. The encouragement of friends. Seriously, isn't that a great gift?

4. That He gave me a great husband. I may not always like him. (Hey---being honest here.) But, he is such a good man. Brian endures my hormonal state and my lazy housekeeping skills. And he always is looking for the lessons that the Lord is trying to teach him. He is a great dad. And he loves others. I am proud that he stands by my side.

3. That God gives us simple little pleasures to lighten our loads. Some of my favorites this year: Toads in a little boys hand, White sheets hanging on the line, sunrises coming up over the corn, finding a $595 coat from Bloomingdales...for $10 bucks at the Goodwill, discovering that my daughter treasures Christmas like I do... These are all little things that I don't deserve.

2. That He offers salvation to me. I am seriously one not worthy girl. But, He still loved me enough to draw me unto Him. And really, although the instant I accepted His gift and repented, I was saved... I love that He still offers ways for me to draw even closer to Him. He still offers daily grace.

1. That He has brought me out of the valleys of life and set me onto a beautiful mountaintop. Air is fresh up here...and while the trials of the valley are still very easy to see, and my hands still hurt some from the climb...I can breathe. He knew this place was coming, while I was stuck on the ledge. He knew the summer of life would be here. This year, I am so thankful for the Mountain.

Chicago!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-19T04:40:00.014-05:00

We started out our Holiday season by going to Chicago this year! ("holiday season" is actually what I call the time from Nov 1st to Jan 1st lol... Officially when I start celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving!)

Abbie's 9th birthday was on the 8th, and all she wanted was to go to The American Girl Place. I have been wanting to go to Christmas at Macy's, Isaac was craving chocolate (go figure), and Brian, well he just wanted to be near BIG buildings. lol It really was a great little last trip before we add in our little girlie, who inevitably will make little trips like this harder for awhile.

The weather was 100% perfect, 63 degrees and sunny. Super, Wonderful time.

A twist on Thanksgiving turkey

2010-11-19T04:36:00.001-05:00

A twist on Thanksgiving turkey

Guest post written by Katie Waldorf

I'm so tired of cooking the same old typical Thanksgiving bird over and over again. So I thought that I'd try and cook a different kind of turkey for my Thanksgiving dinner that I'm hosting. It seems like the week of Thanksgiving, so many different people go to so many different Thanksgiving dinners that they eat turkey several times and it's probably all prepared in the same way. Or, at least when it comes to me, I end up eating the same type of turkey over and over again. So I want to change it up at my Thanksgiving meal I'm preparing.

I started searching a while back looking for different recipes and when I was doing that I ran across this website www.clearwirelessinternet4g.com/clear-spot-4g.html and decided to change over my internet service at home to it.

So I think that what I'm going to do differently is to fix roast turkey instead of the same old turkey. Granted, i twont' be all that much of a departure, but I think that it'll be a nice little change that everybody will enjoy.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

2010-11-11T21:19:00.001-05:00

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Guest post by Homer Nielsen

Going to the aquarium with the whole family can seem like a lot of work but in the end it turns out to be an adventure of fun and learning! Normally when we go to an aquarium we like to visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium because it's a zoo and an aquarium packed in one location. The prices are good and the exhibits are pretty interesting, clean, educational, but best of all fun. Before we all pack into our twelve passenger van we make sure we lock up the house and set our home security alarm (Home Security Systems online offer). The drive is almost two hours long so we also pack plenty of drinks and entertainment. All the real fun starts when we get to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium! There we can detour right to the aquarium where we first can see a variety of beautiful, colorful, rare fish swimming in giant lighted tanks. The best part is the touch and feel area. In this area kids and adults are allowed to touch a variety of sea creatures such as starfish. When you stop by here don't forget to check out the rare and majestic manatees!

Ikea

2010-11-05T20:52:00.000-04:00

Ikea

Thanks for the article from Antone Medina

Whenever I go to the IKEA, or the wonderful land of furniture as I call it, I am giddy with delight. The designs are so contemporary, which is a word I learned last week. Of course, my hipster friend told me that anything I think is contemporary is ten years past blase, but that person isn't really my friend but just a cranky melodramatic mean spirit. I am a free spirit, and I think IKEA is on the cutting edge of furniture fashion. Whenever I go I buy a couple of new things, then head over to the return area.

The return area has furniture that has been already been built, which is cool because I totally suck at building things. As much as I love IKEA, sometimes it's like you need an engineering degree to put some of this stuff together, and even though I have one it's not like I can do it easily with the tools they give you, which is this tiny L-shaped bar that is so easily lost. In any case, this is not to distract from the overall experience of furniture shopping, which is fun. You can go down so many routes and see so much furniture that every store is like a theme park. When I get home I am exhausted, and I like nothing more than to sit down and watch satalite tv.

Beautiful Grace.

2010-11-05T10:09:00.007-04:00

3 years ago right now, we were going for testings to check on our pregnancy. We were anxiously waiting to hear back if all was ok. Life was a rollercoaster at that time. There were so many things going on that my mind struggle to stay in a Biblical frame of mind. A few days later, we found out that my numbers would not double properly. And a few weeks later, we discovered that the little baby we called "Sparkler" would not see this side of Heaven. And a few weeks after that, we would loose little Sparkler. Trying times.

Around that same time, my grandfather (who I was very close to) passed away. This was crushing to our family. Also, at that time, we were preparing to leave New Hope and we also were grieving friends moving away and such. A serious spot of pain was forming in my heart, and I didn't know how it would be healed.

Amazing that God provided all we needed to move through that time in our life. He lead us to a church that would help teach us how to deal with the hurts in our heart, in a proper way. He sent us books out of the blue that would reveal places that needed to grow within our walk with Him. He sent amazing little blessings. His grace revealed in teeny ways.

Since that time in our lives, we have been waiting for another child...always missing our children that were lost. We also were waiting for another ministry and preparing to serve Him more faithfully than we had before. And over those three years...He continued to supply
His grace to us. Gifts that we did not deserve.

And now, we are awaiting one more beautiful gift of Grace. Recently, we went to another ultrasound to take a peek at Baby Grace. Afterward, I honestly sat for awhile thinking about the past few years, and the journey to this point. I smiled at the thought that the Lord would give us this gift, even though I know who I am in my heart, and know that I do not deserve it. I also smiled at the thought that 3 years ago, we lost "Sparkler" and my Grandfather "Leonard Kelly" ...and now we will have a Grace Kelly. To remind us of our Lord's amazing grace not only in salvation...but also of His grace to carry us through the difficult times and deliver us to the high mountain top high where we can bask in His glory. And to remind us that He places just the right people in our lives to help develop us into who He desires us to be. I started falling in love with her name. And knew that this was it.

After seeing his little girl's face, Brian agreed. Her name was Grace.

Rachel's Ribbon Candy GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!

2010-11-03T21:38:00.008-04:00

Remember me saying how much I love hairbows???? Well, even if you don't remember...I DO!!!! So, when my friend Rachel started her new business of ultimate bow making, I JUMPED at the opportunity to host a giveaway and review for her.

Who is Rachel? Rachel is a dear lady who is quite petite. She is a wife to Aaron, who is a pastor way down deep in the "Sowth" and Mamma to 4 sweet little ones. As long as I have known Rachel, she has always had this fun and contagious way of decorating everything from her house to her kids!!!! And I imagine that is how Rachel's Ribbon Candy came about.

Rachel's Ribbon Candy offers a great variety of beautiful bows. There is literally something for everyone! Rachel does a great job of creating "artwork" out of ribbons. My favorite part of Rachel's bows are the fact that they are personalized! There are few places that you can get your daughter's name on a BIG hairbow...with her favorite color! You can also choose which type of barrette/clip you would like.

I also love the holiday bows at Rachel's Ribbon Candy. They are unique and a great value. For me, I love knowing that my daughter is going to walk into a room wearing something that no one else will have...and that is what these bows are.

Here is Abbie's personalized bow that Rachel sent for us to review. I must say, Abbie fell in love with this bow VERY fast. She loved that it was made in her favorite color and she liked that it had "tails" because most bows are shorter. (These are great if your girlie has longer hair!) And, she obviously loved that her name was on it "sparkles".

I also wanted to share some of Rachel's other fun bows!

And NOW!!! THE GIVEAWAY!

Rachel has generously offered to give ONE lucky winner TWO amazing bows! These bows really are great, and Abbie was quite sad that they would not stay around for her to wear. The Christmas bow is actually 2 bows in one, and can be worn with or without the Christmas tree. And, the Harvest bow is really beautiful...one of our faves.

HOW To WIN THIS GIVEAWAY:

1st - You must visit HERE: Rachel's Ribbon Candy Website and come back to let me know which Ribbon is your FAVORITE!

After that you can get more chances to win by completing any of these:

1 entry - "Like" Rachel's Ribbon Candy on Facebook HERE, and let me know.
1 entry - Follow this blog using Google Friends, if you already follow, just tell me!
2 entries- Purchase any ribbon from Rachel's Ribbon Candy and let us know what you got.
1 entry- Share about this giveaway on facebook or your blog, let us know where to find it.
1 entry- Let Rachel know what kind of ribbon you would love to see!

GIVEAWAY WILL END AT 11:59 EST on November 12th, 2010.
Please make sure that I will be to get in touch with you, should you win. :)

The Cemetery...

2010-10-21T14:39:00.005-04:00

For years, I have been telling Brian that he needed to go to Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. He loves old structures...and we love History! I think there was something about going to a "cemetery" that made him raise his eyebrows.

Anyhow, we had a few hours to kill on Tuesday...and we were on the right side of town (technically the left...but...). So, I finally convinced him. Abbie had her Indiana history book with her, so she was tickled when she realized that many of the graves we were visiting...she could find in her book! We saw: James Whitcomb Riley, the entire Eli Lilly Family, President Harrison, Many Soldiers, and John Dillenger...to name a few.

Best of all, it was a perfect 67 degrees...sunny...and a light breeze. As we drove around (and got lost a few times) bright leaves floated into our van windows. We crunched the leaves as we walked...quite PERFECT!

Here are a few of our fave pictures:

The Gothic Chapel: AKA...where I might have Brian's funeral. lol

Abs and Isaac in the gardens....notice that she is carrying her History book with her.

Another of the Gothic Chapel...we kinda sorta liked it.

The inside of the Women's bathroom. Tell me how awesome THAT is!!!

Eli Lilly family site, this was one of our fave places within the cemetery.

Halloween Costume Shopping on a Budget

2010-10-20T09:49:00.000-04:00

Halloween Costume Shopping on a Budget

This guest post from Arlene Guthrie

Halloween is an adventure for my family. It begins with new Halloween costumes, and I love making it work because we're on a budget. For us, that means checking out what the local Walmart Supercenter has on display.

Fortunately, my children (ages 3, 7 and 10) understand the routine. After all, it's an annual event! First we prepare to leave, making sure everyone's had potty breaks and has their shoes on. I grab the minivan keys. Before locking the front door, I set my home security alarm installed by systems adt alarm FL and then we're off for a day of Halloween costume shopping!

Because I've got three kids and been doing the mom-thing for ten years, I know the first order of business is to feed my pack. Luckily for us, a Chinese buffet is down the road. Because I'm on a limited budget, the restaurant is a total treat for my kids. We don't go there but a few times yearly, so it's quite a pleasurable time.

Once the kids are full, we head to Walmart. I've had the best luck here because I can score three costumes for less than $100. The aisles are filled with Halloween goodies but we stick to a costume and possibly a wig or hat. No makeup or extras! The day is long and we're tired but...this Halloween will be the best ever!

Baby Grace 22 weeks.

2010-10-17T19:12:00.001-04:00

Little Gracie is 22 weeks (going on 23 now!)

She is as long as a piece of paper and weighs almost 1 lb. She gets the hiccups every day. A couple times a day. She loves to stand on my bladder with her head normally pushing against my diaphragm. Her favorite kicking time of the day is around 10pm. My little night owl.

Things are starting to look up a bit with the Remicade treatments, except for the fact that I seem to catch every little cold. Those are easier to deal with. Since she is a little on the little side...we will get to see her on ultrasound (3d and 4d!!!!!) in 2 weeks. Looking forward to that!

Cravings: ICE COLD MILK (can't have) and PECAN PIE (again, can't have! lol)

October Musings....

2010-10-09T22:54:00.006-04:00

A great start to a GREAT season!!!! Busy little week we have had. I will update more, tomorrow, but tonight, here are a few pictures. :)

Isaac's biggest accomplishment this month has been hitting his 75th word that he can read. Nothing toooooo impressive, but in his 5 year old mind, he has conquered the world. He can rattle off many of the short vowel words, which enables him to read some of the "Beginner Readers" books. Recently, he discovered the "Biscuit" books. I caught him reading to Lucy (our outdoor cat), and Lucy seemed to love it.

(Please ignore the AWESOME window there... Let's just say that Max likes it a bit. ;) )

Last weekend, we celebrated Brian's Granny's 75th Birthday. And, when in Richmond...YOU HAVE TO GET TIM HORTONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I craved Raspberry Timbits for a whole week. Then, I get there and found that they only carry them BEFORE Noon. Utter disappointment.

But, we did get some awesome Apple Fritter TimBits and some yummy Mocha. And Isaac got a hot chocolate, which was promptly dumped on the floor. ;) lol

I have had a few rough weeks with being sick, and we have been well taken care of by our friends at church. We are always getting some kind of goodies. For some reason, food tastes SO much better when someone else cooks it! Abbie insisted I show this puppy dog and dinner that Miss Emmadell made for us.

Watching The Young Play The Game

2010-10-07T13:27:00.000-04:00

Watching The Young Play The Game

Thanks for the post from Al Mills

Pro football is great, but many times we just want to view college games and see players that are still busy perfecting their craft. College football might contain more mistakes than pro football. The players aren't as old or seasoned at what they do. That's precisely why college football is so cool to watch. It's always a work in progress. Seeing those young athletes learning the finer aspects of the game, and struggling to do their best, is an inspiration for me and my family. That's one reason that we try to make it to a couple of college football games every season, though sometimes our schedules don't permit us all to be there. Money is an issue too.

When we can't make it to the game, we rely on satellite television from www.tvbydirect.com/directv-deal/CALIFORNIA-CA-direct-tv.html to bring us the action. It's as simple as that. We like to gather together in our living room with a few bags of chips and some pizzas and just have the time of our lives seeing the action from home. There's never a sensation of missing out on anything. We're just a bunch of guys enjoying the type of atmosphere that college football so vividly offers.

Whenever I can enjoy college football, I love doing so. There's just something about works in progress that are inspiring to me and my family. We'll continue to be big fans.

Teachers Need Your Help, Try Volunteering

2010-10-06T09:46:00.000-04:00

Teachers Need Your Help, Try Volunteering

Posted by Heriberto Fuentes

Volunteering at my son's school is so enjoyable. Doing it on a regular basis now for 4 years makes me somewhat of an expert on the subject. Volunteering at the school twice a month keeps me grounded. It's so completely satisfying and the teachers have been so grateful for my help. I really enjoy being able to see my little one in his school. Another added bonus is being able to eat lunch with him.

On a typical volunteer day I wake up and help my son get ready for school. After taking him to the bus stop, I come home and get dressed. Volunteering at the school is a great job, since I can dress very casually. Throw on some jeans and a t-shirt and out the door I go. Heading out the door I always make sure to set my home security systems. You never know what might happen right?

Arriving to the school I present my ID card and sign in at the front desk. The excitement starts to build as I approach the classroom. My day is spent cutting shapes, making copies, running in school errands, helping the kids with school work, and reading at story time. By the time I get home I am usually completely exhausted, but fulfilled.

Tailgating Tips to get the Game off to an Amazing Start

2010-09-29T09:41:00.001-04:00

Tailgating Tips to get the Game off to an Amazing Start

This guest post from Werner Rogers

Tailgating is a huge part of getting any game off to an amazing start. You want to make sure you go early so you get a great parking spot. Keep in mind that tailgating isn't just for before the game either. You can spend some time doing it after the game too. Then you don't have to fight the traffic to get out of the parking lot.

Always be well prepared for the weather when you are tailgating. It may be warm for a while but then cool off later on. Take clothing that you can put on and take off in layers. Make sure you have items in place to support your team while you are tailgating. There are plenty of articles of clothing and memorabilia that I take along.

Food and drinks are important when you are tailgating. You can take along a portable grill and make anything you like. Having extra chairs is a great idea too so that you can invite other people to come hang out with you. Make sure the drinks are cold and the food is hot and everyone will have a great time.

Before I walk out the door, I make sure I have everything I will need to make tailgating a success. Then I set myadt alert system and leave all of my worries behind. For the next several hours I am going to have a great deal of fun!

The Ike Special - Varsity Edition

2010-09-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

There is something incredibly great about a nice fall day and a good football game. But, there is even something more beautiful about a group of boys who would ban together to make another boy's dream come true. 2 opposing teams working towards one goal. Kinda wish that more churches worked together like these 2 football teams did.

Anyhow...I totally sobbed for a good 5 minutes after watching this.

Winner: Cotton Candy Bow Giveaway!

2010-09-28T08:34:00.002-04:00

We have a winner to the Cotton Candy Bows Giveaway!

Response #3

Carissa Said: Love the Purple Rain bows. I am a sucker for purple. Love to see a Purdue University Bow :D

Carissa, I will be contacting you today for your mailing information so that I can get these darling bows out to you!

Remember that Cotton Candy Bows are very reasonably priced, so if you didn't win...head over to the store and grab you up a Fall Set today! Go ahead...you know you want to!

***All winners are randomly drawn from a computerized program called Random.org***

Business Card WINNER!!!!

2010-09-26T16:52:00.002-04:00

The winner of the Uprinting.com 250 Business Cards is:

Post #6: Kristi:

"Ohhh! Another chance to win! Love these blog giveaways!

I would use them as family contact cards, too. I used to make them on the computer, but haven't done that since we moved! These cards would be great!"

Kristi, I will be contacting you shortly!

***All winners are drawn using random.org selector. ****

MEGA SWAGBUCKS DAY!

2010-09-24T10:54:00.003-04:00

Ok...so deals are just great. Gotta love getting something for FREE! Right?

Well, Swagbucks is about the easiest way to get just about anything you want for FREEEEEEE!

I signed up and installed the swagbucks search bar onto my computer. Completely safe, and 1/2 the time I don't even use it. I still have Google's bar up too. ;) None the less, when you search the internet, you will receive Swagbucks. Save up these Swagbucks for gift certificates all over! I use my Swagbucks to purchase Amazon.com giftcards. I earn about 2 $5.00 gift cards a month. Not bad for just doing what I normally do.

If you don't have a Swagbucks account...today is a GREAT day to open one. WHY??? B/C today is Mega Swagbucks day! You will find swagbucks all over the internet today... FUN, right? If you would like to sign up for an account, all you have to do is click on the little Swagbucks box on the right side of my blog

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------> Over There!

Added bonus!!!! I do alot of shopping on Amazon. If you pay attention, you can find some really good deals. I like to shop in the OUTLET section, and get lots of the kids Christmas gifts for nearly free. Also, most of our videos, books, and video games. Shipping can be a pain though. BUT, get this:

You can get FREE 2 DAY SHIPPING with this deal: This deal is for all who have sweet little ones in their lives. No need to be a mom, you can be a grandma, auntie, uncle, etc...

Here is one of the deals I just got for Isaac's Christmas:

It is a Nerf Dart Gun, in case you could not tell.

RETAIL Price: 20.99

Amazon Outlet Price: 5.69

2 Day Shipping: 11.87
-------------------------------------------
I used a $5.00 Swagbucks Amazon gift card

Total: 12.56

THEN... I signed up for the PRIME Amazon Mom's Membership and got FREE Shipping!

NEW Total: .69 !!!!!!

That is a 98% Savings. Seriously CHEAP Christmas...

So Go sign up today-------->

And.....

2010-09-24T08:12:00.003-04:00

Little baby showed up to play on Wednesday. At our mid term ultrasound, we learned that little baby is a girl! It felt really good to know that my intuition was right on. :)

Here are some pictures of baby girl (Who will probably be named Grace Kelly)

Uprinting Business Card Giveaway!!!!

2010-09-17T10:11:00.011-04:00

I have this thing about stationary products. I know that I am not 100% alone in this either. Something about clean paper. My poor office desk shows my love of paper products. It kind of screams, "Please find a new home for all of this, TODAY!" Ok, so maybe that was really Brian screaming, but...I digress.

Because I love love love officey stuff (Hey, it's my blog...I can make up words if I want. :P) , I have paired up with Uprinting.com to host an amazing giveaway!!!! 250 Die Cut business cards free for YOU!!!!!!!

Uprinting.com offers a great selection of interesting business cards for all occasions and sects. Whether you need them for an upcoming business launch, a nice little tract type card to hand out with your restaurant tips (add your church info and tip WELL!), or a personal card to hand out with your email and such...these cards fit the bill. Uprinting.com allows you to move past the normal rectangle card with squared off edges. They are quite impressive!!!

Here are two quick samples of cards that I just kinda threw together on their site:

(The card directly above will actually be rounded off on the entire right side!!!)

This would be used as a "family card" so that when we meet new people (which we do almost every week) we can give them our info in one quick swoop.

Isn't that fun???

GIVEAWAY:

Uprinting.com is offering

250 Die Cut Business Cards for One (1) Winner. You will be able to choose from the following:

2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)

Die cutting options available: Rounded Corners, Leaf, Rounded One-Corner, Half-Circle Side, Circle

Paper Type: 14pt Cardstock Gloss, Matte, or High Gloss; 13pt Cardstock Uncoated

Color: 4Color Front, Blank Back; 4Color Front, Black Back; 4Color Both Sides

Limited to US residents only 18 years old and above

This giveaway will end on September 25th, 2010 at 11:59 pm

Ways to enter:

1. Mandatory: Leave a comment telling me how you would like to use your free cards!

2. Become a "Google Friend Follower", and leave a comment. If you already are, just let me know!

3. Enter the Cotton Candy Bows Giveaway on my blog.

Disclaimer: I will be receiving 250 Die Cut Business Cards from UPrinting.com for hosting this giveaway.

Chocolates and Candles...

2010-09-13T19:31:00.003-04:00

These are the two things that I knew I would miss the most about Attica, IN. Of course, you can candles at every drugstore on the block...and Walmart does sell Cello's chocolate covered cherries every day of the year. BUT, they are not Wolf's and Brown's.

Today, I would love if my house was once again filled with the sweet and spicy smell of Cranberry Spice and Orange Clove. This is the smell that smells like home to me. It smells like walking into a warm house on a cold day, and your favorite person is there with a big cup of soup ready for a chat. Sigh.

And, while I am sure that it is banned from my list of things I am able to currently eat, I would give 1/2 of my stockpile for a box of chocolate covered cherries from Wolf's. They are just the best thing that I can think of to stick in my mouth. And, I am sure that they would help me gain my needed weight, right??? Wonder if I can get a prescription for them. HA!

So, when Brian told me today that there was a VERY good possibility of us going to Lafayette for 3 days in October, I decided that I would be driving down to Attica for some much needed smell and taste therapy! lol Only 3 more weeks!!!

Cotton Candy Bows Review and Giveaway!!!!

2010-09-10T22:35:00.006-04:00

I am a sucker for all things girlie. Really most moms with girls are. Pretty dresses, shoes (ummm...love shoes!), lipgloss, and BOWS...all these things yell girlie. That is why I am so excited to be hosting a giveaway for sweet little girls BOWS!

Cotton Candy Bows is a sweet little company that is ran by a great friend of mine, Michelle. Michelle adores all things girlie too, and focuses on specialty bows that others leave out. Many of Michelle's bows match Gymboree lines, but she also offers sports and holiday bows as well. One of my favorite things about Cotton Candy Bows is that they offer special orders!!! I plan on ordering a set of Colts ones soon!!!

Also, Cotton Candy Bows are very reasonable. They make a perfect little add on to a plain t-shirt and jeans, without paying a fortune.

Michelle, offered to let me try out one of her Korker bows for Abbie. It came on a nice backing and packaged securely in a little bag with it's name printed on. This hairbow is SO perfect for about 3 of the Gymboree lines that Abs loves. The bow was made with a great little plastic backing that stays in amazingly well when you put a pony holder beneath it. Abbie played at Chick-fil-a for 1 hour and it was still in afterward. This is an amazing feat!

We also reviewed the Harvest Korkers and a set of Tennis Shoes/flip flop Korkers! The harvest korkers were Abbie's all time favorite. She loved the bright colors, and said that they made her want to eat candy corn! The set of Tennis Shoe korkers are so much fun. These have adhesive velcro to the back of them, and you just choose the shoes that you wish to put them on! We put ours on flip flops, but they would be adorable on a pair of plain white keds like tennies!
Michelle has offered to graciously give away the Harvest Korker and the set of Tennis Shoes/Flip Flop Korkers to one lucky reader! Just in time for fall...I KNOW! How fun is that?

Contest will end on Sept 27th at 11:59 pm (est). Open to US/Canada residents only.

Here are the ways that you can win:

1st: You must go to Cotton Candy Bows website and tell us which bow you like the best!

Additional entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry!)

- Follow abowlofcheeries on Google Friend.
- "Like" Cotton Candy Bows on Facebook
- Leave a message stating what NEW bow you would like to see on Cotton Candy Bows.
- Order something from Cotton Candy Bows. ----> WORTH 2 entries<--------- - Blog about this giveaway, come back and leave the address of your blog. -----> Worth 2 entries<----

Frogger

2010-09-10T22:27:00.003-04:00

Brian catches some interesting things in our pond. Unfortunately, they are not all fish. lol

Today, frog was on the "line". Check out this monster! I can totally see how one could eat those legs. They are rather large. After his rather eventful journey, he did return back to the pond to eat up all of those lovely buggies and keep our ecosystem well in order. ;)

I love Isaac's face. I think he was trying to make frog eyes at me.

Share Your Love of Knitting by Teaching

2010-09-09T18:10:00.001-04:00

Share Your Love of Knitting by Teaching

The Author of this post is Rory Reilly

I have enjoyed knitting ever since the first time that I saw my grandma sit down and show me how to make my first blanket. The joy that I felt for accomplishing the task of making a blanket for the first time is something I will never forget and it is a big reason why I want to spread my love of knitting to the next generation.

I have two daughters who have both sat beside me on a cool summer night while I was knitting away on the front porch swing. I treasure those special times because I know it's only a matter of time before my daughters find something they would rather do besides spend time with mom. That's why I went online using CLEARTVBUNDLE.COM to find some new youthful patterns to teach to my children.

I started by letting each of my girls pick out a scarf pattern and then I started teaching them how they can knit them all by themselves, with just a little help from mom. Both of my girls started out slow, but now they both know how to knit and I can only hope that someday they will share their new talent with their own children.

You Look Like An Angel

2010-09-09T17:57:00.002-04:00

I saw this commercial on tv today. It is 100% Isaac. "You look like an angel. You walk like an angel. Talk like an angel. But I got wise... You're the devil in disguise."

Seriously, I could see him doing this to his cars. Too bad that the interior of the Nissan Altima doesn't shield against crazy kids. No, that is the parents job I suppose.

I need a break from my children. lol

Family Update!

2010-09-07T07:44:00.006-04:00

Brian with his brothers Justin and Jake

It's September!!! Can you believe it? The air is turning drier and cooler (PRAISE BE TO THE LORD) and the farmers are harvesting their corn. Yes, you read that right. We had such a dry and hot summer, that some corn is already down. WOWSERS. This is our first harvest on the farm, I think we are in for a treat of loud elevators for the next 3 months. I will take it though.
About us: Our ministry is really doing well. Starting to get the nuts and bolts of what makes our kids tick. Also getting to know some of the other families as well. We love the teens just a little too much at times. They become my prayer life obsession and I have to remind myself to pray about other things too. Several of them have been adopted into our family, and Abbie and Isaac always ask if they can come stay at our house. Reminding me that we do have a bed for them! This is a picture of "our" Jordan, enjoying a poke at my belly.

Abbie finished up the 4-H season well. She had 2 projects go to State Fair, so of course we had to check them out! She won a 1st place for both of them. Quite happy. She has being doing great with her new school work. 4th grade is easier than 3rd she says. Of course, she is just now starting the actual non-review of 3rd grade. lol She just had her check up and is in the 55th percentile for weight and the 35th for height. This has stayed the same for the last 8 years. lol.

Isaac: Lands Alive. Remember how stubborn Abbie was at a younger age? Isaac is just as absent minded as she was stubborn. That boy is always doing something to get into trouble, and yet, he really didn't mean to! lol I tell you, we have such issues sometimes. A lot of energy for his little 5 year old body. He started Kindergarten this year, which does seem to help. Also, Brian has been trying to keep him occupied doing physical activities. Isaac's current loves are: Star Wars, Captain America, and Adidas. Neat combination huh? He also went for his checkup last week. Got his K-5 shots, and didn't cry. In fact, he didnt even flinch for 2 of them! He did, however, use his "rifle" as his cane the rest of the day. lol. Isaac was in the 70th percentile for height and the 30th for weight. Flip Flop kids! Another love: climbing trees. See if you can see his black eye:

Little Baby ___________: Poor child, I have no idea what to call it!!! We will know what she/he is in 2 weeks, until then...it will be ____________. Together little baby and I will enter our 5th month this week. I can feel it moving at least once a day now, and I am looking quite large. Last week, we heard 2 heartbeats. It took the Dr awhile to decide if one of them was mine. He decided it was. lol. Glad that Brian was not in the room, he might have passed out. Also, my Crohn's has come out of remission as well. No wonder I felt so yucky before!!! It is making for one sick momma, and continued weight loss. Currently under my pre-pg weight. But, I am very grateful that the dr's are taking good care of us both. Little Baby is now around 5 inches long from its crown of the head to rump (bottom). About the size of a large baked potato...which coincidentally, sounds amazing at the moment!

Pop Up Displays Review!

2010-09-06T17:33:00.002-04:00

I have always had a very high interest in these things! It is so much fun going to a convention, concert, or whatever and seeing these elaborate displays set up. One of my favorite ever, is Titus' display for the Titus Justus Band. The things is just amazing. What am I talking about???
Pop up Displays!

Pop up trade show displays are used at trade shows, events, job fairs, retail stores and anywhere a large portable display wall is needed. Pop up displays come in a variety of shapes and sizes and you can add graphics to them or order them graphic ready. If graphic ready, you velcro graphics onto the fabric skin of the display.

Pop ups are easy to set up and transport. The frame opens up like a EZ UP canopy or an accordion. You then hang either fabric or graphic panels to the frame and you are all set up. Also, the case can convert to a podium stand by using either a graphic or fabric wrap to surround the case. A plastic or wood top is added to finish off the podium.

Custom pop ups are available with internal shelving, back lighting, different shapes, monitors, dye cut graphics and more.

Backlit pop ups are like a giant light box. Special panels and lights are hung behind the display and a large transparency graphic is hung on the front.

Table top pop ups are available for budget conscious end users and are built in miniature.

Graphic mural pop up trade show displays feature graphic "skins". Their fabric counterparts feature velcro receptive fabric to allow users to attach detachable graphics to the face.

Bubble kits allow back lit graphics to extend in front of the wall to give a different look.

3D pop up displays offer a unique way of displaying graphics and are the easiest to set up.

Visit a trade show and you will see tons of pop up displays being used in the various forms. The most unique ones exhibit custom designed graphics for higher impact and better results. Picture pop ups at a trade show sort of like a billboard along a freeway. It only has a fraction of an instant to attract attention.

You can check the different types of pop up displays, including pop up booths, at camelbackdisplays.com

Stone Street Soaps Winner!!!!

2010-09-01T15:26:00.003-04:00

We have a winner for our Stone Street Soaps Giveaway!!!!

It is Laura Wiese #16

Laura Wiese said...

Ha ha Kristi! You crack me up! :-) I definitely want to try the lavender and tea tree shampoo! I SO want some body butter and some vanilla soap. I'm hungry just thinking about it! No, I won't eat any of it I promise! I also liked SSS on FB :-D

Congrats Laura!!! I will be email you this evening with the gift certificate code.

COMING SOON: Cotton Candy Bows Giveaway!!!!!!! Look for it within the next week. :)

Crsip.

2010-08-26T10:52:00.002-04:00

I have been waiting for these days since the beginning of July. Crisp, Cool Air. Air that carries the smells of the surrounding area. The smell of the sweet corn behind my house. The smell of the Persimmon Tree. The smell of the grass growing wildly around my little pond. That AIR! This summer has been so hot and humid that the air only carried heavy smells that just made me sick. Today, windows are open...and the air is here!

Days like this are clothes line hanging days. They are playing baseball barefoot in the backyard days. They are days that will likely end with a bonfire in the backyard. Days that carry children's giggles through your open windows. They are the days that you Praise the Lord for the glorious end of Summer and the transition into fall. Mmmmmm. I think change of the seasons is one of the best gifts God could give us.

Now, off to hang out the next line of laundry. Good thing we have a 3 liner and LONG line. All linens and pillows are getting washed today. Mmmmmm. Seriously no word to describe that feeling other than...MMMMMMMmmmmm.

Fresh Clean Room...

2010-08-22T19:34:00.004-04:00

You know that euphoric feeling after having a baby? The one that makes you forget all about the pains of labor and pregnancy? I can't wait for those feelings to come!!!!

I do not know if I have ever been so sick in my life. Honestly, I am not trying to complain. And, I am grateful for this little baby, I just can't get past the nasty feeling. I really wish that I could just stay in a hotel room with room service for the next few months. A nice clean room, that doesn't have any strange smells like Brian's feet, the stinky dog, leftovers in the fridge, or a glass of juice that Isaac left out. Someplace that can deliver me breadsticks or greenbeans with butter at any time of the day. A room that has fresh clean water...that I can actually drink!

Ok, enough wishing. I suppose that I will just clean up my bedroom and stay in it for awhile!!! Praying that my new GI dr and OBGYN will be able to make it all go away soon! Until then, going to dream about a nice, clean, non-smelly room. Off to take some Dramamine or Fennegren. Oh which one tonight??? :P

Stone Street Soaps Review and Giveaway!

2010-08-14T15:27:00.004-04:00

I am pretty much in love with this store. Seriously, they offer only good things that make you feel like a clean, pampered lady who is getting ready to be tucked into bed on a nice winter's eve. So, when the owner, Carissa, offered to sponsor a giveaway, I literally yelled! :)

Carissa is a long time friend of mine who suffered from skin troubles. In her search for a great soap, she came across a local crafter who sold hand made soap, and immediately fell in love. Eventually, this love caused her to research how to create her own soaps! Now, Carissa and her family run Stone Street Soaps and sell their soaps worldwide!

A little about the soaps: (Taken from Stone Street Soaps website, since I know nothing about the process of soap making!!!) All of our soaps are homemade using the Cold Process method and made with natures finest natural ingredients. Some of these ingredients come from our own backyard! Stone Street Soaps isn't just your ordinary soap. Most of our recipes have been customized to meet the needs of family, friends, and our customers. We understand that everyone has different skin care needs and take great pleasure in creating natural homemade soaps for your enjoyment and skin care needs. Our promise to you is to treat you like family.

What is the Cold Process Method and how are your soaps different: Cold Process soap has been around for quite some time, and generations upon generations have used this method to create high quality natural soaps. Now you can walk down the bath aisle at the store and find many varieties of soap. If you are like me, I was unaware of how commercial soap was made, adding the detergents and excreting the natural glycerin created when soap is made. The process is far from simple, and if you read the ingredients on the package, you will see they are far from natural. CP or Cold Processed soap is Lye, Water and Natural Oils and when combined, create a chemical reaction called saponification which creates soap! I believe in a superior natural product, which is why each of my soap recipes go through a series of tests before it makes it out to the marketplace. First PH testing to make sure the soap is at its mildest form. Secondly, it is tested on me and family because I would never sell anything to the public that I wouldn't use on myself and family. Lastly, it is tested by my advisory board because I am always looking for ways to improve and learn.

Carissa sent me 3 wonderful products to review. At first I was really just expecting some great smelling soap. Stone Street Soaps is SO MUCH MORE than that! All of the products were well packaged, which made me feel as though I was sent a luxurious gift from some fancy boutique!

The Brown Sugar Vanilla Bar Soap was by far our favorite. I am normally a liquid soap girl, but this bar soap is just so yummy. To say that the soap leaves your hands feeling soft, is an understatement. My hands were baby bottom soft for HOURS after washing them once! Also, the scent is not over powering like most scented soaps. You can't smell it in the room next door (which is a BIG plus to me), but the light and airy scent stays on your skin for quite some time. Since I can not give you a whiff right here, I will just say that the Brown Sugar Vanilla Bar puts you in the mind of warm, brand new, cushion-y socks on a cold winter's morning. Seriously comforting without making you feel like you have to go bake cookies. lol

As I said before, I LOVE body/liquid soaps. They are just incredibly practical, and make me feel feminine. No clue why that is, but it is a fact. I tried the Pink Flowers Body wash. Again, it was just the perfect blend of fragrance and I felt amazingly clean and beautiful after using it. Kind of like the feeling of fresh cut flowers sitting on your perfectly clean table. (It is a rarity in my house...flowers and clean table...so it is special!) BTW---I came back to add that this stuff is amazing to shave your legs with!!! It leaves them amazingly smooth and no nicks. ;)

Finally, I had the pleasure of experimenting with the Body Butter. This stuff is just plain amazing. If you have ever had dry skin, and wished that you could just rub a stick of chapstick all over it to make it feel soothed and smooth...then this stuff is for you. Although, the body butter is MUCH lighter than chapstick! lol. Actually it was extremely light and you barely notice it. Brian was even surprised by it's non-stickiness. (He normally despises this kind of thing and the whole chapstick scenario makes him sick. :P) I used the Midnight Raspberry, which smells quite similar to the Bath and Body Works raspberry...but totally lacks the fruity, sickening sweet smell. Again, just a complete clean experience!!!

So... Guess what? Carissa wants to offer one reader a
$20 Gift Certificate to Stone Street Soaps!

How to enter: (Mandatory)
1. Go to Stone Street Soaps and tell me the 1 item that you HAVE to try!
Good luck choosing one.

Want Extra Entries?
Leave one EXTRA comment for each entry

2. Follow abowlofcheeries using Google friends on the side. If you are already a follower, leave a comment telling me that.

3. Sign up for Stone Street Soaps Newsletter here! Again, if you already subscribe, let us know!

4. Like Stone Street Soaps on Facebook And once more...even if you already "like" SSS, leave a comment!

5. Blog about this giveaway, and make sure to send the link!

Giveaway will end on August 31st at 11:59 pm (EST).
Please remember to leave me a way to get in touch with you, if your email address is not linked to your google account.

Peachy Keen Jelly Bean...

2010-08-11T14:34:00.006-04:00

Guess what? Little one hit a major milestone in the Shaw house. It made it to the second trimester!!!! And today, little one is the size of a pretty little peach (or handsome if it is a boy!) It can suck it's thumb and likes to wiggle it's little arms around.

Also, I am feeling a lot better. There has been almost a whole week of little to no morning sickness...which is just plain wonderful. I am now starting to imagine what it will be like to actually have this baby in our lives. There are many times that I forget that I am pg, and then catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and think, "WHOA, What happened!?!?!"

Taken 2.5 weeks ago.

Just to remember...

2010-08-08T15:08:00.002-04:00

Sometimes, I have to write things down, just so I can remember them later. And, Isaac funnies are one of those things that I have to write down.

Yesterday, he just walked up to me and said, "I was thinking of taking up whistlin', but I don't think I would be 'sussessful' at it." What a silly guy.

It always amazes me at how the Lord fit that boy to his name. At times I wish that his name meant: hard worker, obedient one, or super careful. But, he fits "laughter" to a tee. I knew he would be an Isaac before I even knew I was carrying him. I had read a scripture verse on a rather low day, and it talked about the child of promise. He was mine.

Giveaways Coming Soon!!!!

2010-08-05T10:06:00.002-04:00

Abowlofcheeries is going to be hosting some super fun giveaways in August!!! Make sure to check back soon to see what giveaway will be first. :)

My little Key Lime

2010-07-30T10:33:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite desserts of all time is a REALLY good Key Lime Pie. When Brian and I were on our honeymoon, I had a Key Lime Pie at a little Bistro on Sanibel Island. The fact that I remember this little piece of pie...shows how good it really was. Limes are just plain great. They are cute, smell good, and have a great color. So, when I learned that little baby bean is the size of a LIME this week, I had to smile.

The baby is now fully formed (for the most part) and has all of it's organs essential for life. A GREAT milestone for our pregnancy. And, this week, marks the END of the yucky meds!!!! YAY! I am a free woman, for the most part. Still on moderate bedrest if cramping sets in, but otherwise...FREE! And this lime loving lady loves that.

And she won some...

2010-07-22T10:44:00.005-04:00

Life lesson learned for Abigail Shaw. Effort is credited. When you do your best, and work hard, you will succeed. These are pictures of some of Abbie's 4-H projects. She wanted me to note that some of them are missing their ribbons. This is of major importance, b/c her ribbons were very special!

This is her horse poster. I think it was her favorite, and of course...horses are her favorite! She won 1st place, Champion, and honorable mention on it.

Kind of hard to see, but it is way at the top. (And then her bigger picture below) The beekeeping poster was one of her better projects. She got Reserve Grand Champion, Champion, 1st place, and Special Merit. Oh, and it will be going to the State Fair. :)

She was required to do a dog poster b/c of being in the dog show. After the show, she really did not want to participate in the poster. But, we looked over all of the pictures of Max, and she decided that she did still love him. Her work paid off and she won Reserve Grand Champion, Champion, 1st Place, and it will be going to the State Fair too!

I think that she worked the hardest on her sewing project. She was required to take a sewing test and learn all about the machine. I was pretty impressed with how well she did. Mamaw and Aunt Kay did a great job with her! She got 1st place and Special Merit and also was chosen for the display case. :)

Here are the 2 ribbons that were missing on her posters. They are her Reserved Grand Champions. Reserve Grand Champion means that you won 2nd place out of all of the age groups and projects in that Category. She beat out several teenagers, so she was quite proud!!!

Carrots...

2010-07-22T10:25:00.002-04:00

Carrots are a dear friend right now. As are tomatoes and cucumbers. My favorite foods hands down. So, it is quite fitting that little baby is now the size of a mini-carrot! LOVE IT! If you look it up, a 10 week old baby is actually said to be the size of a prune (what a horrible thing to say about a baby!) OR, you could call the prune by it's English nickname, "Sugar Plum"! Which, sounds much sweeter to me. ;)

None the less... I will call it carrots, as I love them best. And, Abbie and I have finished our Anne of Greene Gables marathon, so carrots fits quite nicely for this time in our life.

I still have all day sickness, which is such a strange thing for me in pregnancy. I keep reminding myself to take joy in the sickies, b/c it means that all is well. But, somehow, my stomach has a way of convincing my mind that it is not a joyous thing. lol

This week, we also lost our Dr! It was quite a crazy sad thing for me, which left me leaving the office sobbing and tears. How hormonal can a woman get? Flip side (There is always one if you look for it, right?) We found a new doctor who looks quite a bit like Clark Kent says Isaac. The office and facilities are superb and I am excited about the entire experience now!

So, here is to week 10! Maybe sickies will go away this week???

Snow!!!!!

2010-07-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Well, at least it is snowing SOMEWHERE in the world! We currently have a $452 electric bill (yes you read that right), so we have our air turned to 77 degrees to help cut cost (previously set at 73). Our van doesn't have air. And I am quite pregnant.
You can imagine that I am dreaming of cooler weather. Like seriously longing for it. And then, I came across this picture of INDY in snow. AT CHRISTMAS. What is better than MY INDY in SNOW at CHRISTMAS. Nothing. lol

Praying that the Lord will bless us with a cooler day. Or maybe an air conditioned vehicle??? hehehehe.

Olives.

2010-07-13T21:32:00.002-04:00

Today, I awoke to no morning sickness...and feeling rather good. I sighed a big sigh, and then panic washed over me. Wait, no morning sickness...I wonder if something happened. I worried a little off and on for about 2 hours. Then, I ate some Reeses Puff cereal. Worry was over. LOL!

All that worrying did alert me to the fact that we have done a crummy job of celebrating this sweeties life. I am getting ready to turn 9 weeks, and I have done very little for she/he. So, we celebrated a little and went to Walmart to buy it an outfit. Isaac picked out an entire (I mean 12 piece set) of boys clothes, but I found a cute little sundress on the clearance rack. Sorry sweet one if you are a boy. I will have to save the outfit for someone else if that is the case.

I also decided that I needed to start keeping better track of the pregnancy. I mark all of Abbie and Isaac's achievements, I should be better at marking their little siblings too! So...today...sweet one is the size of a large Olive! Don't like olives, never have. But, I will say that they do have the salty effect that I crave EVERYDAY! Maybe I should try them now, who knows! The baby has darling little hands and feet with fingers and toes.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-08T13:33:00.003-04:00

On July 3rd, we went to a cookout at Nana's campground...of course all of the cousins were there, so my kids had a BLAST! We ate and ate, rode on a hayride, jumped on a bouncy thing, played some games, and watched fireworks. They were happy munchkins. :)

On the 5th of July, our church took part in a parade. Abbie was Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln is one of my chosen boy names by the way...) and Isaac was George Washington. I think he was perhaps one of the coolest George's EVER. Abbie spent plenty of time reading the Gettysburg Address, and she thought it was quite amazing. OUR FLOAT WON FIRST PRIZE out of 200!!! How about that. Remember...you win some, others you tank on. LOL

Isaac's 4- H

2010-07-08T13:29:00.004-04:00

Hard to believe that Isaac is at an age where he can do things more on his own. I recently caught him sitting up against a tree in our back yard...talking to himself. I wondered what he was saying, but thought I should just let him alone with his thoughts.

Isaac entered into mini 4-H this year. He chose to make a Star Wars model for his project. He does amazingly well at putting these together. He was quite proud of his ribbon, but embarrassed that I wanted to take a picture. Told him he had to get over it. lol

You win some...and others you tank on.

2010-07-08T13:23:00.003-04:00

Abbie was in her first 4-H show this past weekend. It was the Dog Show. Let's just say that Max, an 8 month old Chocholate Lab, had WAY too much puppy in him that day. The competition was split into 2 different sections. The first section, Max did GREAT! The second one, he barked and had his points for that round almost eliminated. He came in last place. Abbie was so upset and cried all the way home. We had to help her see that sometimes you don't win first. Sometimes you do. But you have to keep trying. I think next year, we are showing pigs. Seriously. :P

Oreo-gami

2010-07-08T13:20:00.004-04:00

Quietly, they played upstairs for 30 min. Actually, that is becoming a regular thing in this house lately. Nice...very nice.

Then, the little munchkins appear with their self proclaimed masterpieces: Oreo-gami. lol

Guess Who???

2010-06-30T20:27:00.002-04:00

We saw this sweet little baby yesterday. The kids went with us and Isaac just totally talked it up. Asked a million questions and wanted to know what he was looking at. Little Flicker just flicked it's heartbeat away at 129 bmp. Looking as content and snuggly as a 6-7 week old baby can look in it's Mamma's tummy.

Yes, I am praising the Lord for His goodness to me.

Praise you in the storm...

2010-06-28T21:40:00.003-04:00

I have always loved this picture. The beauty of God's power. Also, the vulnerability of mankind. See that man standing in the doorway? Looking like he is getting ready to be swallowed up in the raging waves? I am feeling the same way tonight. Worry is starting to settle in my heart, thinking that tomorrow's ultrasound of our little one might not show a result that I deem favorable.

But, I have to remember that what I deem favorable, is not always God's favorable. His favorable is whatever is going to mold and make me in to the child that He wants me to be. His favorable is whatever is going glorify Him and draw men unto Him. That might very well be a sweet live baby in my arms. But, I must know by now in my life...that might not be as well.

What I do know is that my Lord is the same Lord to me...as He was to David. He gave David the strength to stand in some turbulent times. Just as this lighthouse stands in the midst of the storm. My devotions today were:

Psalm 107: 29-31
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Beautiful promises from a beautiful Lord. He will make the storm calm. And I will praise Him.

Bright Grayish Haze on the Meadow...

2010-06-26T11:08:00.003-04:00

Each Morning this week, I have awoken to the crazy haze over the corn and around the tree line. The sunrises and sunsets are phenomenal here, but there is something magical about the haze that comes in.

It makes me break out into song: "There's a bright grayish haze on the meadow....there's a bright grayish haze on the meadow. The corn is as high as an elephant's eye...and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky!"

And while I am sitting here today missing the city (garage sales and chickfila), God is reminding me to be thankful for what He has placed in my life. An opportunity to live out the Oklahoma musical. lol

(P.S.---this picture came from Flickr, but it REALLY looks like it could have been taken in our back yard!!!)

2010-06-16T15:19:00.001-04:00

Well...I had to go in to the ER today to have a few things checked out.

I really don't like our new hospital. It is old and unprofessional. I think I could have ran the tests better myself. lol

That being said, here is what they found:

1. Dr came in and looked at my belly. Asked if I was 5 months pg. I told him not even 5 weeks. lol. He said that was a problem.

2. High blood pressure and high pulse which lead them to do an EKG...came back slightly abnormal but within range. Dr also thought he heard some fluid in/around lungs?

3. I have gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks.

4. My HCG more than doubled! YAY!

5. Did an ultrasound and they would not show me the screen. Do you know how incredibly torturous this is to someone who has had multiple early losses??? When the tech left the room...I was half tempted to grab the wand and look myself. I didn't...but was sooooo tempted. The result of the ultrasound was mild ohss and 1 beautiful sac with forming yolk. The dr thought the tech said there might be a second one, but he could not confirm. Seriously????

So...14 viles of blood later and several hours...I am told that baby seems well. Stay off my feet as much as possible. Drink a lot. And check in with my OBGYN next week or sooner if things worsen. I could have told myself almost all of that. lol.

Good news though: Baby is GREAT so far!

A sweet one on the way...

2010-06-14T09:24:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday of last week (June 9th), we found out that we are expecting baby #3!

We have already had a preliminary blood work, and everything is coming back DOUBLE what it should be! Praise the Lord! Our nurse said that this was a beautiful - better than perfect pregnancy so far. Some of my levels are so high, that she said I should feel like I am almost 4 months pg, even though I am just 4 weeks.

We are loving every day that we have with this Sweet One (Naming it that b/c it is due near Valentines Day!) and praying that God will prepare us for whatever lays ahead. Whether it be rejoicing or grieving.

PS...we should have an ultrasound next week to see the heartbeat. Praying for this milestone.

Our New Kiddos...

2010-06-07T23:13:00.005-04:00

They would so not like being called Kiddos. But, we love them. A LOT! We have just fallen for our teens. Brian has spent quite a bit of time hanging with the guys...and I have some great time planned with the girls. We had 18 in our class on Sunday! Sweetness!!!!!!!!!! (We had 6 our first week there. ;) ) Tripled.

I Am

2010-05-28T21:17:00.003-04:00

I love how this song describes our relationship with God throughout the stages of life. I can remember calling out to Him in each way at each age. Every time I listen to this, I sob. How beautiful our Creator is at revealing Himself to not only a 5 year old, but a 16 year old, and a young wife at 25, and a mature lady. He is amazing like that.

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed,
You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose,
You watched when my bicycle went down again,

CHORUS:
And When I was weak unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,
come if You can,” and You said “I am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

CHORUS:
When I was weak, unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,
be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight,
I said forever to what lies ahead
two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream
too much it might seem when it’s two AM

CHORUS:
when I am weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name.
“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker,
hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

The winds of change,
And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar,
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer
Life had begun, I was woven and spun,
You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when,
But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

CHORUS:
I will be weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name
“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer,
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,
Lord and King, Beginning and
the End, I am, yes, I am.”

A Snake.

2010-05-25T18:21:00.003-04:00

Don't worry Grandma's...it was dead. :)

No good, terrible, rotten, horrible, stinky, yucky...

2010-05-24T09:59:00.000-04:00

HEADACHE.

Remembering the small things is the theme. I just want to remember that Clomid causes Migranes in me. lol.

MP3 Players and Little Boys.

2010-05-20T12:05:00.003-04:00

Isaac has a new little passion for MP3 players. Before we left for Florida, we bought him an "Elcheepo" from Ebay. It is from Pirates of the Caribbean and he thinks he is something else while listing to it. He also stays busy and we don't hear much from him...until he starts to sing.

PS...It was a waterpark. ;)

Simple Things...

2010-05-20T11:17:00.003-04:00

I hate that I can look back on my life, and there are parts of it that I really can't remember well. Isn't that a horrid feeling? It was probably b/c there was not anything major going on at the time. Life was either filled with simple, quiet beauties...or we were failing to see the simple, quiet beauties. So, I am going to try to remember these beauties a little better.

At our new house, everything is so unfamiliar. This time in our lives, our days are filled with explorations of new sights, smells, sounds, and feelings. Smells are a huge thing for me. I think a big reason for that is b/c Brian can't smell, and I am always trying to come up with a new way to explain the smell to him. Thus, making me think more about why something smells a certain way to me. Anyhow, I love the new smells and experiences of living somewhere different. I have never REALLY lived in the country, and I am amazed by the differences. Especially here. Everyone is fairly laid back (which can cause Brian insanity issues at times) and friendly (which causes Brian's issues to dissolve quickly). Here are some of the things that I have noticed here:

1. There are different bird sounds, and they are a lot louder. I heard a bird singing. Yes, it sounded like it was singing...and it was as sweet as strawberries on the 4th of July.

2. We have monster toads here. And turtles. And bugs. And Mountain Lions. Yes...you read that right. We have mountain lions in our woods. One was spotted only 4 miles from our house. How weird is that? You here such interesting sounds at night. Coyotes howling is scary and actually causes bad dreams. Toads sometimes sound like the dryer humming b/c they are so constant and loud. Turtles don't make noise.

3. Having your yard mown by a church member is one of the best gifts given. Everytime someone mows for us, the entire house smells like eating cold watermelon for the very first time of the summer. Ahhhh... Who needs a candle, when you have that smell for 2 days?

4. Fried Pickles are pretty awesome. As is Fried Macaroni.

5. Don't discount the "Discount Grocery". The store is as big as our garage, but houses the BEST cheese and milk. Possibly other things as well, just have not ventured past the cheese and milk.

He has made me glad.

2010-05-03T12:14:00.003-04:00

I remember singing Psalm 42 when we were back at New Hope. It had a verse in it that was always a little stirring to me. It said, "Why do I mourn and toil within? When it is mine to hope in God? I shall again sing praise to Him. He is my help, He is my God"

At that time, I did not see how I would ever be able to sing praise to Him with all my heart. My heart was dark, and torn. I felt that I had all that I could bear. Honestly. But, God is an amazing faithful God. He is one of Hope. When I felt that I had little, He took that little and turned it into a beautiful thing.

Yesterday, at church, I was struggling a bit. For some reason, the thought of a little girl at the age of 18 months popped into my mind. She was wearing a cute little spring dress and had darling bows in her hair. All of the ladies in the church were loving on her. She was mine. She should have been mine at least. Struggle in the heart set in. I was a bit sad on the way home as I sat in the seat of the van. I thought, I need to just forget about it. Think on pretty things. After all, that is what the Bible says to do...think on "these" things. And then, My God who is the God of ABUNDANT mercy showed Himself to me again. Natalie Grant's new song popped on the radio. Funny that it was Natalie Grant, as her song "Held" was a song that God used to remind me of my relationship with Him as I was walking THROUGH the valley. Now, He used her once more. The song was called Our Hope Endures, and it is playing in the background of my blog right now. Here are the words:

You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here
Oh, but sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear?

But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our Hope is unchanged

How do we comprehend peace within pain?
Or joy at a good man's wake?
Walk a mile with the woman whose body is racked
With illness, oh how can she laugh?
Oh, 'cause sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear?

But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our Hope is unchanged

Emmanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
And this is our hope

Amazing huh? I love the lyrics: Let the earth quake...our hope is unchanged!

Funny how 3 years can totally change you. The Lord has graciously carried me to the point in my life that I can now say, "I will NOW sing praise to Him." He has made my hope endure, when I felt that I could not take one more trial. He has made me GLAD.

Miss Country Bumpkin

2010-04-16T14:56:00.003-04:00

Welcome to our new home.

Miss Country Bumpkin.

She is such a fun house to live in. And has everything that we ever really asked for! Please forgive that I do not have more pictures. Somewhere along the way, I lost my Camera Charger...awaiting a new one.

3200 sqft if you include basement and garage
3 bedroom
2 bath
Eat in Kitchen
Huge Laundry Room
Dining Room
Office
Rec Room/Fireplace Room w/ Fireplace of course.
Family Room
Florida Room
Back Porch
2 Fire pits
4 acres
Serious Cabinet Space
Dishwasher <----Do you know how long I have waited for this???
Lake/Pond

Will be posting pictures as we update each room. How good is God to bless us with this home? The best part??? Rent is crazy crazy cheap. (like almost 1/2 of our Mortgage at the former house!) Another God thing.

BTW, I am happy to be living a country life. Miss my Meijer (which was still 45 min away), but I love having land and privacy.

Here and Happy!

2010-04-16T14:47:00.003-04:00

Oh how good it feels to write that! We are finally here at the new church, new town, new house. Brian is very happy and so excited about his new ministry. He is a different kind of pastor this time around, which is refreshing to me. We are much free-er to minister, if that makes any sense at all. This past week, he kept saying, "I feel like I am looking at our new environment through rose colored glasses and that it is all going to come crashing down soon." I told him that I felt that the Lord was allowing our hearts to fall in love with the area that HE sent us to. Amazing gift from Him.

So, here are the highlights of this past few weeks, since I am sure you don't want to read a book.

1. The church paid for all of our moving expenses and then plenty extra.

2. My in-laws came to move all the boxes!!

3. The church came to help us move all the furniture and everything else. 9 men, 6 teens, and 1 woman showed up to help. We were shocked. It took them all of 1 hour to move our little bitty house.

4. One of the men that came to help us move, did not even go to our church. He just wanted to show us he cared. How cool is that???????

5. After we moved in, a church member...who is also a neighbor...showed up with goodies! We have a cattle farm across the street from us, and he brought us a huge box of beef! We laugh everytime we eat some of it, that we are eating Bessie from next door. He also gave Brian a handful of cash to help with anything we might need.

6. On our first Sunday at the church, we had a teenager accept Christ! Her grandfather was so excited that he called us Sunday afternoon to tell us! The church was pumped. We are the first associate pastor that they have ever had, and they are excited to see what God is going to do. (Oh, and the church doubled their attendance in the past week! CRAZY!)

7. Brian got his paycheck from the church on Friday. On the front was a cute little hand stamped smiley sun. The treasurer wanted to make sure that the pastors knew she supports them. I told her how much that meant to us. She told me that she will do her best to make sure Brian NEVER feels like the church is not behind him financially. Do you know how big that is to us? Seriously HUGE! Made me cry.

So. There is my. We love country life, love our new house like mad, and are so excited to be in the ministry again!

And Finally...A GoodBye.

2010-03-30T13:59:00.003-04:00

The part that I dreaded. The part where I have to say good bye to my little house.

I know...I know...It's just a house. Behold All things will perish.

BUT, this little house has been an amazing shelter and refuge for my family. God blessed us with all that we needed, and graciously provided for us even when we complained.

Last night, I laid in bed talking to the little lady house. I thanked her for withstanding the storms that blew her way. I thought back on all that her cracked walls saw in the almost 9 years that we lived here. And told her that I hoped she would have great owners that loved her as much as we did.

In our 9 years here, little lady house watched as we poured tears over the people of our church. Sobbed as we had to discipline some from our congregation. She was warm as I sat in my pink chair...awaiting the birth of Abbie and Isaac and then she watched us bring home 2 of our precious children. She held steady as puppies and little feet ran through the rooms...gleefully yelling and shouting. She creaked and moaned a little when we wept over 11 sweet ones that past on to Heaven, never for us to see their faces. Little Lady House was best friends with the Red Tree who made my heart sore with pleasure of God's splendid handiwork. And she endured all the renovations that we lovingly poured into her as well.

Thank you Lord for giving us such wonderful memories of a Little Lady House. She will forever be our home. And I am so happy that my kids will remember their wonderful times in her.

And We Move On...

2010-03-30T13:54:00.003-04:00

On March 21st, we accepted the position of Associate Pastor to Youth and Families at a great little church in Southern Indiana. After several years in limbo, and following a very hard ministry in Attica, we are excited to see what God has for us here. Nervous, yes. Excited, OF COURSE. Sad, deeply.

I will miss Attica. I will miss my awesome Faith. I will miss my friends. (Ok, so we are only moving 2 hrs away...but still!)

I want to write more on this later. I don't have much time to pour out my emotions right now. BECAUSE----> We are packing. See post above for more details on that!

FLORIDA!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-30T13:19:00.010-04:00

Ok, it is absolutely no secret that we love Disney World and the beach. It is really one of our favorite places in the whole entire world. So, when we got the opportunity to take our business on the road, we made sure to swing into Disney again. It was a crazy week and a half, a bit tiring, but totally worth it.

Please forgive the mess of pictures. I might come back later to comment, but for now, I just wanted to get them up for grandparents to see. :)

COUPON CLASSES GALORE!

2010-03-30T13:12:00.003-04:00

We had a whirlwind of classes scheduled for March. 4 completely different ones. Different meaning, different topics...different locations...different stores! The class above was done in Monticello, In. We also had 2 classes Mobile, AL and one at the Louisville Seminary. So much fun!

WOW!

2010-03-30T13:07:00.002-04:00

A whole month and no posts. That might just be a record for me.

What a busy, beautiful, wonderful month was March.

So much happened, that I can't fit it all into one post. And, some big things happened that should not be crammed into a small space as well.

In attempt to pour it out, there might be miss-spellings...missing commas...and run on sentences. Who really cares though? 5 years from now, the fact that a whole month of my life is missing on my blog will stand out more than the mistakes.

Yummies...

2010-03-01T22:08:00.003-05:00

Seriously, this is heaven in a fried cheesy form. Who would have guessed that FRIED MACARONI AND CHEESE would be so awesome? Yet, it is. In fact, so it was so wonderful that the next time we venture to "Glory Days", I am going to try their highly recommended fried pickles! I have been converted to the beautiful world of fried foods. How is that going to help me loose weight?

A Possible Step.

2010-02-18T23:41:00.004-05:00

Not sure of our steps. We are not guiding them. Strange feeling to walk and not know where your feet will land.

We are taking a possible step tomorrow. A possible big one. The kind that you jump off a rock and land into water that is a little dark...wondering how deep it really is.

Praying tonight that God takes our little silly feet...and tells them where to tread. And praising Him for making my heart happy with wherever my feet end up. He is so good like that.

PS...I can't wait to post pictures on Saturday! I have some cool ones!<---- It is Saturday, and I am tired and cold. I am rebelling against going out to the van to get my camera. Most picts I will post these 2, just because they were cool. And I don't have to move to do it. lol

Practically Perfect In Every Way.

2010-02-16T19:20:00.002-05:00

This dress is just darling. Wee Share and Glamorous Baby is giving one away this week. Can I tell you how much I want to win it??? Because I really really do!!! I can just imagine watching Abs walking down Main Street USA with it on. Cute little "puff balls" in her hair. And a huge smile. Go on over and check out the other things that Glamorous Baby has! Fun Stuff.

Smiles.

2010-02-15T09:14:00.002-05:00

Top Ten Things That Made Me Smile Last Week:

10. How excited Isaac was when after 3 days, he FINALLY got his Room Clean! lol.
9. It snowed. Alot.
8. We leave for down South/Florida in 25 days. No snow. lol.
7. I won a really awesome backpack from CSNstores!!! Will post pictures when it comes.
6. Got some amazing coupon deals.
5. Brian splurged and bought me Harry Connick Jr and Cheesecake for Valentines Day!
4. We got a GREAT phone call that we had been waiting on. You will have to guess.
3. Isaac pretended to be a runaway slave on the Underground Railroad, after a museum trip.
2. Abbie is in love with her devotions.
1. I have been studying an amazing passage in Jeremiah that is touching my heart!

Thank You Lord for the little things in life that make me smile.

This Made Me Laugh!!!

2010-02-11T09:46:00.004-05:00

There is a giveaway over at Sugar Pop Ribbons for your choice of a Snorg T-shirt. Although some of the Snorg t-shirts are kinda naughty...some are really funny too! Here are a few that I thought were cute, and thought I would pass it along.

(I must add...We don't use the word "butt" in our home. BUT<---lol, this shirt is hilarious!! :P)

Wonderful, Merciful, Savior.

2010-02-08T13:21:00.003-05:00

This was my devotion for the day today. Simply beautiful. I love it when things are not complicated. Just so simple that you can see the beauty!

Zephaniah 3:17 (seriously, when was the last time you read Zephaniah???)

The Lord your God in your midst The MIGHTY ONE, will save: He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing!

Tell me, doesn't that make your heart a little lighter? Doesn't it make you long to be closer to THE MIGHTY ONE??? sigh.

One Super Guy.

2010-02-05T00:31:00.003-05:00

With Superbowl gearing up, I have been thinking alot about why I love the Colts. Sounds cheesy, I know. But, I will have to say that one of the reasons is because of the impeccable character of some of the major members of the Colts organization. I know that all of them are human. They are all going to fail at times. But, it is so awesome to have a team full of believers. And have a team that is so incredibly dedicated to our city. That doesn't happen every where. Here is an article that I was recently written by Baptist Press:

MIAMI (BP)--With a full beard and a decade-plus of NFL aches and pains, Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday is one of team's veteran leaders as they go for their second Super Bowl title in four years Sunday.

Saturday, whose pro career is much closer to the end than the beginning, said he's encouraged by seeing new Christians enter the league, energized by their boldness to serve Jesus Christ.

Saturday was given one of the individual risers at Tuesday's media day at Sun Life Stadium, reserved for the teams' star players, but he said his experience on the field pales in comparison to his passion for Christ off the field.

"Everything I have is because of Him," Saturday said before an international media contingent of nearly 3,000 people at the site of Super Bowl XLIV.

"This is a huge platform [but] without a purpose it really means nothing. Christianity is what defines me. My life hopefully glorifies Him and I give Him all the credit and honor."

In the Colts' AFC Championship victory over the New Year Jets, Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning played in a team record 17th playoff game.

While Saturday was not ready to issue a retirement announcement at media day, he said he is happy that high-profile Christian players like quarterbacks Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford and Tim Tebow will be entering the league via the 2010 draft.

"God is never going to have a shortfall of men who are going to put His message out there," Saturday said.

"Guys like Tebow and McCoy who are stepping up for their faith in Christ, it's powerful, man, because kids see that and know it's not all about what they see on TV or the movies. We are all fathers and husbands and locker room leaders. I love watching those guys play and share their faith."

Tight end Dallas Clark, at age 30, has been with the Colts for seven years, but like Saturday is considered one of the team leaders. He said he has grown "a lot" spiritually in the past two years.

"It's special to have so many guys that care and we're just a special team to be a part of," Clark said. "There are a lot of great men in the locker room to turn to and it's special to be a part of that."

Clark can also appreciate the value of his team's allegiance to former head coach Tony Dungy.

Considering head coach Jim Caldwell's leadership, Clark said the two head coaches share a faith that transcends style and -- sometimes -- understanding.

"There are just a lot of different ways to do a lot of different things," Clark said of Dungy and Caldwell.

"There are a lot of different philosophies, some people agree and some people disagree, and there are a lot of different feelings, but there are a lot of different ways to be a man in football, to be a man of faith, to be a coach."

Colts kicker Matt Stover, in his first year with the team, signing as an injury fill-in last fall, is in his 20th year in the NFL, making him one of the league's oldest players. After a long career with Cleveland, then moving with the team to Baltimore, he was looking for a new team for the 2009 season.

Stover said he feels as though God delivered him to a team so heavily favored with fellow Christians like Indianapolis.

"It's just a God thing for me to be here. I had some other chances with the Jets and others," Stover said, "but being here with these guys is just an investment in my career." Like any kicker, Stover could be the Super Bowl hero with a winning kick late Sunday night, or the goat with a missed opportunity.

But Stover learned long ago to work his hardest and leave the results up to God.

"I've applied Christ in my life for a long time and I am never at a loss for what happens. I know a lot of Christian kickers and it's just huge to have a faith and to believe in something bigger than myself.

"God had a plan for me when the Ravens didn't re-sign me and He has a plan for me on Sunday," Stover said.

Colts defensive tackle Daniel Muir has only been with the team for two years after spending his first season with Green Bay, but he's learned that maturing as a Christian in the NFL takes time even on a team of fellow believers.

"What you do, really, is pray about it and let God handle it; trust God to handle it," Muir said. "A lot of people want God to bless them now, they want help now. But if you pray and let God take care of it and trust that He will take care of it, He will."

With the possible loss of Colts star defensive tackle Dwight Freeney due to an ankle injury, Muir knows he could find himself more in the spotlight in Sunday's game. But he is content to leave the results of his increased Super Bowl exposure up to God.

"Really, I'm ready because God shows me so much favor on my life. To see where I came from and see how hard of a struggle it's been to get here, and then the success that He keeps giving me, it's tremendous."

Tight end Jacob Tamme finds himself in a similar situation, never knowing if he is going to catch the ball in the Colts dynamic offense.

With only three catches in 2008 and three catches in all of 2009, Tamme said he's learned to be ready at any time for whatever happens in his life.

"The Colts are known for having the reputation of a godly Christian example. That is because the coaches here set the Christian example.

"I define my life as a man centered around God, not centered around football."

Tamme said he grew up with a Baptist mother and a Catholic father and considered himself a "Catholist" early in life but is glad to be God's servant in the brightest of sports spotlights.

Colts defensive back Jerraud Powers makes no apologies for his youth or his humble beginnings, yet he delivered a stirring testimony on media day about what God has done in his life.

Born in Decatur, Ala., Powers said his mother was a single parent who expected -- but did not force -- him or his three sisters to go to church.

"I just started asking my mom a ton of questions about God, about Jesus, about sin, about everything," Powers recalled. "And when I was 12 I ended up getting saved."

From that time on, Powers told Baptist Press he has been influenced and mentored by "great people" who have come into his life.

A third-round draft pick for the Colts in 2009, Powers said he was "blessed just to be drafted by the Colts with such strong believers on this team and this staff. I thought it was just God working His miracles. I could have just as easily went somewhere else with non-believers....

"I just feel like God's putting me around people each and every year just to help me stay on that path as I help others."

Powers, also commenting on Tim Tebow, said he admires the famed collegian's leadership, tenacity, skill and courage and would like "to meet him outside the football field and just talk it up with him."

"Tebow gets a lot of criticism," Powers said. "I think Tebow's a great guy. He's on a pedestal in college football; he took that platform and did it all in God's name."
--30--

I also came across this wonderful video of Tony Dungy at the Superbowl Breakfast in 2006. It is a must watch! Make sure you go on to the second video as well, and turn off the music on the side. ;)

---Be blessed and GO BLUE!---

Happy February!

2010-02-02T23:05:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Isaac at Nana's!!!

Cheat Day Cheesecake!!!!

Absorbed in Planning...

2010-02-02T19:53:00.002-05:00

Currently, we are absorbed. IN PLANNING!

Not such a bad thing to be absorbed in, but I could totally use some motivation in the diet and exercise area as well. Anyhow, I am finding myself spending all spare time planning.

For what?---You say.

For a lovely little trip down to the Southern Hospitality States. YAY!

We have several classes that we are working on down south (Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, maybe South Carolina) and we are just working working working on them. I can not believe that God would use COUPONS in such an amazing way in my life. I mean, I love coupons...always have...but I never would have imagined that God would allow me to have the opportunities to teach about them. I am excited, nervous, and a million other emotions that I have no idea how to label them. We have recently finished up our 23rd class, and have #24 and #25 already scheduled. How cool is that?

I am so grateful for this little life that I have right now, even if it is not what I imagined it would be. And Tonight, I shall dream of sugar white beaches and flying elephants (Dumbo). Did I mention that I am getting Disney tickets for free...Seriously, how cool is that?

Cheat Day...

2010-01-28T22:11:00.002-05:00

I must admit. I have a love affair going on. Unfortunately, it is not one that is healthy either. Man, why do we do this to ourselves? BUT, with the Lord's help, I have been able to really work hard on this "affair". What is the affair, you say?

Cheesecake and Chicken.

Plain and simple. I love it.

So, Brian and I have been on a 12 week health challenge. We are doing well for the most part. I have lost over 6% body weight and am on a roll with exercise like I have never been before. I love the feeling of working out. Even though we are disciplined with our diets Sat-Thursday...we take a cheat day every Friday. Is it horrible that I see this as "My date with food" day? Seriously, I do. But, it has been fun that Brian and I plan our Friday meals and look forward to them all week. Come Wednesday, we are having to give ourselves the pep talk...2 more days till _________________ fill in the blank.

Tomorrow, I get my cheesecake and chicken. I can't wait. And then, on Saturday, I will have to work extra hard to make up for it. lol.

A New Bloggy Friend

2010-01-28T19:32:00.002-05:00

I came across this darling girl...and I think you need to meet her!

She is also hosting a Paula Dean Giveaway you might want to join in on. :)

Here is a link to Life Is Beautiful ... Hope you enjoy her as much as I have!

SURPRISE!

2010-01-27T11:01:00.003-05:00

Last week, our little family had the Stomach Flu. After not eating for several days, we were STARVING...and BORED!

So, because I have the bestest hubby in the whole world, we took off for Lafayette to get a Steak N Shake treat. Don't ask why, but it was what we were craving! The Surprise part of it? It was at 10:30 at night. Lafayette is a 45 min drive. How is that for spontaneous?

I love times like these. I know that these simple memories will be ones that the kids will think on when their kids come around. They will also jump in the car...late at night...for a chili!

Forest Was Wrong.

2010-01-21T19:45:00.004-05:00

Forest Gump was incorrect. Life is not like a box of Chocolates. lol.

Life is like A Game of Candy Land!

Some days I feel like these happy little boys. On a mission to finish the game well. A smile plastered to my face. Prepared to face all that stands in front of me. Waving my little hand to tell the world, "I have the Lord on my side. I am going to win. Nothins gonna stop me now!" I like these boys.

Somedays, I feel like sweet little Princess Lolly. Those days are blissful and few and far between. They are the days that I just let life float on. The days I indulge in a second piece of chocolate cheesecake. The days I kick my little foot up and paint my nails. I am sure that God is more honored in the fact that these days are not that often. I should be more like the little boys. lol.

Somedays, I can not deny it, I am Grandma Nut. Unfortunately, I spend a lot of my days in the "Nut House". I often feel as though I have those amazing slides running all the way through my little domain. Shooting all discipline out the window, along with sanity. Even though Grandma Nut has some issues of discipline and craziness, she looks perfectly content and seems to be a servant of those around her. A little craziness is ok I suppose, as long as I remember to stick with the little boys...and keep marching towards the FINISH LINE!

Oh man. This is a place I feel like I have gotten stuck at way too many times in my life. You know the swampy land of sugar that you can land on...and stay at...while seemingly everyone else passes you by? I seriously don't like this place. Many great little plastic boys loose the game here. Why does Mr Gloppy look so happy? Seriously. But, for some reason, I must believe that God gets the most glory when we are stuck. When we can't move without His hand. Those are the times that the little happy boys...become men. All we can do when we are stuck with Gloppy, is trust in God's beautiful plan and keep pushing forward. I am here now.

And finally... King Candy! While Im not sure that Heaven is going to be like King Candy's house...nor will our next step in life ...I am sure that it going to be a beautiful thing to behold. King Candy's place is the place that those happy little men persevered for. Making it out of the Nut House and Through the Gloppy Swamp...and onto the place that their Creator designed for them! Doesn't it just make you giddy? I am praying that God is glorified in my Gloppy Swamp right now...and that He gives me the perfect "cards" to finish out this particular game. And that the Candy Castle is just right around the corner!!!!!

Are you hungry now?

Promises...

2010-01-20T18:41:00.002-05:00

Isn't it funny how we often make promises that we fully intend on keeping, and then fall through? Did you know that God says something about that? "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." Conviction.

I always have full intentions of keeping up with my promises. Really, I do. But I have this problem of forgetting! So, now, I am keeping a detailed schedule keeper. I actually sold a few books on Ebay so that I could purchase this great little planner called "The Busy Body Book". I love it. It is pretty, well arranged for an ADD girl like me, sturdy, lots of note taking places, and did I mention it is pretty? I have worked hard at trying to write everything down that I need to do...and then doing it!

One of my promises to myself, is to blog more this year. I miss my blog. Poor little thing got left behind when the business came into my life. Brian reminded me this week of how much he enjoys it, when he told me that he spent the better part of an evening re-reading our life. I look forward to keeping this promise to my family. :) Praying that God will help me stay focused and disciplined as I keep up with all the promises in my life!!!!

And the boy turns 5!

2010-01-20T12:56:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet little boy. Isaac is our laughter. Everytime we turn around he makes us smile with some silliness of his. On the morning of his 5th birthday, we awoke to him standing on his "measure me" wall. He was asking Abbie if he had grown any overnight, because now he was 5! Such a magical age for a little boy. He wanted a camping party theme, and that is what he got. We went to the Bass Pro Shop, Chick-Fil-A, and followed by a night inside his brand new tent at Mamaws! (Ok...so Papa was there too, as well as others! lol) The gift he wanted most from us was a book. It was called, "The Boys Book: How to be the Best at Everything." We now know how to make our heads disappear and how to fight off a bear. lol. Life with a boy is beautiful. I am so thankful for the opportunity to experience it.

Christmas Take....I don't know how many!

2010-01-07T22:20:00.003-05:00

Welcoming Felicity

2009-12-30T15:57:00.000-05:00

So This is Christmas...

2009-12-30T14:12:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas from The Shaw Family!

2009-12-23T18:23:00.005-05:00

Well, the 1 week of Christmas was a success! We had a great week and made some great new family memories!

Last Wednesday, we had our family picture taken. I sent out our Christmas Card via email this year, to help save on stamps. I am sure that there were some who did not think this was such a great idea and thought it was impersonal and cold...but the 50.00 that it would have taken to mail out the 100 cards I emailed, was just not in our budget!

I thought I would post our card, and our picture here on my blog as well...It was so much fun to design the cards, and I have really enjoyed digital scrapbooking. What a fun hobby. :)

So, Merry Christmas from The Shaw Family!

If you click on the cards, you can see the larger version of them.

Meet Max...

2009-12-19T00:08:00.004-05:00

Attempting to muster up a BIG Christmas spirit. For some reason, it just feels like any other time of the year. BAD... REALLY BAD! I, yes me, have only wrapped 3 gifts. Normally, they are all done by now. What is wrong with me?

So, Brian and I decided that we would do a 1 week of Christmas. Each day, we are purposely doing SOMETHING that is Christmasy.

Today, it was homade puppy treats. Instead of Christmas cookies, we are making doggie cookies for our dog loving friends.

Max, really liked the process ---thus the flour on his head! (Not quite ready for the treats yet...he is only 7.5 weeks old). So did the kids.

Loss yet Gain.

2009-12-03T22:06:00.002-05:00

I really love that God always provides us with exactly what we need...at exactly the right time.

Today, was our 2 year anniversary of loosing sparkler.

I am forever reminded that I am a mommy to 13 children. It is just that 11 of them reside in Heaven instead of Earth. I share my earthly birthday with my sparkler's heavenly one. While in my finite mind, I see loosing a child as just that... a loss. BUT, through God's loving goodness, I can see my child as a gift. A gift that has drawn me closer to my mighty Lord. Through darkness...we see His light.

Today was my 31st birthday.

I am grateful for a very non-eventful year. Ok, so it was eventful in some ways. lol. I mean, Brian was laid off...and we have been interviewing everywhere under the sun. And I started my coupon business... What was I saying again? Non-eventful. Never mind. :P Seriously. These events have been so small, because God has provided all that I need to handle the situation! Exciting to see how that works!

Saturday we lost our precious Maggie dog. She was hit by a car, and it truly crushed us. But, once again...we drew closer to the Lord. I know it sounds corny thinking of a puppy dying drawing you closer to the Lord, but it did. Anytime that you are willing to allow God to teach you in situations...He will. We learned some big lessons, and I plan on adding them (as well as a few pictures of Mags).

Monday we adopted Mighty Max. He has captured our hearts beyond words. God gave us a wonderful gift by allowing Max to be apart of our life. He started healing our hurts. Max is a 5 week old Chocolate Lab. It doesn't get much cuter than that. I will add pictures of him as well.

Over all lesson learned...When we feel as though we have lost something, God gives us gain. We may so not like the gain at first. We may not see the justification of the gain. But that is just us being "human". Once you look back on that picture that God is painting, you can count your loss as gain. Simply Beautiful how He makes all things good. His good that is.

Man of Sorrows...

2009-11-25T10:59:00.002-05:00

This week has been a rough week for some of my closest friends. I hurt for them in deepest parts of my soul. So, I chose to study this particular Glory of Christ for this weekend.

Man of Sorrows... Bittersweet beautiful.

Here is an article that I thought I would add to my own current thoughts.

Written by: Ray C. Stedman

He was truly "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." There is no record in Scripture that Jesus ever laughed. I think he did laugh, for you cannot read some of his parables, or some of the things he said to his disciples, without sensing a smile on his face or hearing a chuckle in his voice. But there is no account that he ever laughed. He was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."

We must remember that all through his boyhood, and even into his manhood, he was pursued by nasty cracks about his birth, inferring that he was an illegitimate son, born to a faithless maiden who had broken her vow of betrothal. His brothers misunderstood him and did not believe in him. They were embarrassed at some of the things he said and did. It was not until after the resurrection that they believed in him. He was called a drunkard and a glutton, and was said to be possessed by a devil. He was called a Samaritan, a disparaging term. He had no home to go to. He said himself, "Foxes have holes, birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head," (Matt 8:20, Luke 9:50). Sometimes his disciples left him alone to go about their business, but he had to go out to the Garden of Gethsemane and sleep alone beneath the o lives trees. He became at one point "Public Enemy No. 1." In the weeks before his crucifixion the Pharisees offered a reward to anyone who would turn him in. Surely he was rejected of men!

The thought that God himself, would manifest himself as a human, so that HE could carry our sorrow. What love. He held all the beauties of the world in the palm of His had, but because of His never ending love for us, He came to Earth to carry our hurts. When I think of this, I am forever grateful. I can lean on a Savior, because He has been there.

You know how a friend tries to offer advice when you are hurting, and it just doesn't feel right...b/c they have never been there? We can never say that with Christ. He has endured every bit of pain that we could possibly imagine. He has carried all of the hurts of the world inside of His heart. All of the sins that we have committed, He bore in His innermost parts. Imagine that yucky feeling. Shivers.

Man of Sorrows...may I never loose the gratefulness that I am experiencing right now. May I never forget that HE knows my pain, He bore my pain, and He has risen so that my pain becomes gain! Praise Him!

He is...

2009-11-23T08:40:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Pastor Trey (along with several others), shared a reading type performance for us. It was beautiful. Very different than what our normal service is like, and somewhat on the dramatic flare, but impacting to my heart. The reading was based on the Glories of Christ, taken from the John MacArthur NKJV study Bible. I have been desiring to start a study on the Glories of Christ for the Christmas season. This reading helped me kick it in gear! So, I am posting the original list on here, and will be coming back to write some of my thoughts on individual glories...

-Compiled by Steven Camp-

• Jesus Christ is completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4)
• Sufficient for creation (Colossians 1:16-17)
• He is our salvation (Hebrews 10:10-12)
• He is our sanctification (Ephesians 5:26-27)
• He is our glorification (1 John 3:2)
• So pure is He that there is no blemish, stain, spot of sin, defilement, lying, deception, corruption, error or imperfection in Him (1 Peter 1:18-20)
• There is no other God besides Him (Isaiah 45:5)
• He is the only begotten Son (John 1:14,18)
• All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him (Colossians 2:3)
• All the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Him (Colossians 2:9)
• He is heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2)
• He created all things and all things were made by Him, through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16-17)
• He upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3)
• He is the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15)
• He is the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3)
• He is the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 1:5)
• He is the Son that enlightens (Hebrews 1:3)
• the Physician that heals (Luke 4:23-24; 5:31)
• the Wall of Fire that defends (Exodus 13:21)
• the Friend that comforts (John 15:14-15)
• the Pearl that enriches (Matthew 13:45-46)
• the Ark that supports (Genesis 6:18; Revelation 11:19)
• and the Rock to sustain under the heaviest of pressures (Deuteronomy 32:18; 1 Corinthians 10:4)
• He is the Deliverer (Romans 11:26)
• He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high (Acts 2:34; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1)
• He is better than the angels (Hebrews 1:4-14)
• He is better than Moses (Hebrews 3:3); better than Aaron (5:1-10); better than Joshua (4:8); better than Melchizedek (7:1-3); better than all the prophets (Ephesians 2:20; Hebrews 1:1)
• He is greater than Satan (Luke 4:1-12; John 14:30)
• He is stronger than death (1 Corinthians 15:55; Hebrews 2:14)
• He is the First and the Last (Revelation 1:17-18)
• He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14)
• He is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1)
• He is our Life (Colossians.3:4)
• He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
• He is the Strength of Israel (1Samuel 15:29)
• He is the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
• He is Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
• He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)
• He is the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10)
• He is the Champion (Isaiah 19:20)
• He is the Elect One (Isaiah 42:1)
• He is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1)
• He is the Righteous Servant (Isaiah 53:11)
• He is the Lord of Hosts, the Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth (Isaiah 54:5)
• He is the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3)
• He is the Light (John 1:7; 1 John 1:5)
• He is the Son of Man (Matthew 20:28)
• He is the Vine (John 15:5)
• He is the Bread of Life (John 6:48)
• He is the Door (John 10:7)
• He is Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:10-13)
• He is Prophet, Priest and King (Hebrews 1:1-3)
• He is our Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9)
• He is our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30) people
• He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
• He is the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
• He is Lord God of hosts (Isaiah 47:4)
• He is King of the nations (Jeremiah 10:7; Revelation 15:3)
• He is the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
• The Word of God (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13)
• the Rock of Salvation (Psalm 62:2; 89:26; 95:1)
• the Rock of Israel (Isaiah 30:29)
• the Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14)
• He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9)
• Creator and Comforter (1 Peter 4:19; Isaiah 43:1; John 16:7)
• Messiah (John 1:41)
• and He is the great I AM (John 8:58)