New Blog Look

Now, if you have been around the past few days, you may have noticed that I've been changing the look of my blog.  I was ready for something new, so I tried the black and red background.  According to my poll, three people liked it, one person did not like it, and one thought I should try something different.

While I thought it was a very cute background, thanks to The Cutest Blog on the Block, it really wasn't me.  Therefore, I decided to change it!  I hope you like it!

Goodbye High-Waters!

 Before:

After: 

I noticed that my curtains were really, according to the Nester, high-waters.  I finally stopped procrastinating and purchased ring clips for them.  Ahhh...much better!

*In case you are wondering why I have a middle section consisting of two panels, it's because it's actually two seperate windows and casings.  I think it would look strange to have the narrow piece of wall showing between the two casings. 

Our One Year Anniversary!

Today, my husband and I celebrated one year of sweet wedded bliss!

November 1, 2008

Maternity Insurance

 Babypicturesphotos.com

Wanna know what one of mine and my husband's greatest fears is?  Expecting a child, without maternity insurance.  I currently have a great insurance policy for healthy young adults under 30, but it does not cover maternity care.  My husband has great insurance through his job, but it would cost SO much for me to be added to his plan.

I need your help.  What do YOU do for maternity insurance?  Do you have it at all?  Do you have a great plan with maternity coverage?  If so, please give me some information.  Feel free to post anonymously! 

Thank you!

DIY: From Easter to Useful

I took two baskets from Easter and spray painted them to make them useful!

  I now use one of the baskets to throw used handtowels in between washings :D

Yes, I see blue too!  But you know what?  I didn't see it before I got down low and took the picture...and that's okay!

Money Isn't Everything

Last night, I had a conversation with my dad.  He informed me that he lost a contract with a large company he and my mom do business with.  This was a MAJOR contract, their largest yet.  The company did a rebid, and they lost out.


With a happy tone in voice, he told me that it was okay.  He prayed about the situation and he knows that God had their best interest in mind.  He reminded me that money isn't everything, but family is more important.   I have a niece who is depending a lot on them right now, and they see this as an opportunity to really focus on her.

In the world we live in today, to have parents that tell us that money isn't everything....that's a good thing.  If they are practicing what they preach...well, that's even better.

Happy Sabbath!

Fear not, for I am with you;

      Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
      I will strengthen you,
      Yes, I will help you,
      I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10 

My nephew, Tanner.

Meet Tanner!

Tanner was born June 16th. I got to officially meet him back in September. He is a beautiful baby boy. I'm so in love!

Isn't he adorable in his John Deere? The Blanket he is sitting on belonged to my late Papa. He would have been so proud of this precious baby boy!

I know I am proud!

Pray for the Caudle's

(Click on photo to view entirely)

Please pray for this man and his family. He has joined the Army to help provide insurance for his wife who is battling ovarian cancer. I cannot imagine being in his wife's position, or the childrens' position. I admire him for what he is doing, providing for his family.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/64677772.html

In Recovery

I haven't posted in a LONG time, but there is plenty to catch-up on here in the bloggy world! I'm currently in recovery from the flu. As hard as I tried not to get it, I did! I'm starting to think that I haven't had it before because I don't remember it taking this long to get over!

In other news, I got my hair shaped today! It's very cute and healthy. I'm trying to grow it long again, but I can't stand when I need a trimming!

I hope to post some pictures soon from latest happenings. Guess what? We are about to celebrate our one year anniversary! How neat is that!?!

I've got a roast cooking and it smells so good! Yum! Happy Wednesday!

Living the Simple Life

Do you ever feel like you are a hamster in a wheel? Running and running doing the same thing, day after day?

That's how I feel. While we are on vacation, I longed for the simple life. I longed to enjoy each and every moment of the day, and not wish the day away only to stay busier than the day before.

What does it take to live the simple life? Mary Cassatt is one of my favorite painters. Many of her paintings depict women and their children living seamlessly carefree lives. They were not released from everyday chores or the burdens life can carry, but they appear content. I want that for my family, my husband and I now...and our children to come.

Do you feel overwhelmed, and want a change like me?

Or are you living the simple life? If so, how do you get to that point?

Yes, I'm Still Alive!

Just thought you'd rather see me with a couple cuties, over the same ole chicken (?) picture. :D

I hope your week is off to a WONDERFUL start!

Chicken Thigh or Breast?

So, what does chicken thighs and chicken breasts have to do with being godly? Absolutely nothing, or at least I think nothing. :P This is actually a post that fits into that "random" category I mention in my blog header. hehe!

Tonight I cooked Sticky Chicken for supper. It's my husband's new favorite chicken. I, on the other hand, like the sauce...not so much the chicken. See, I'm white meat kind of person....he likes dark meat.

Question: Is raw dark meat suppose to smell different from white meat when it's raw? The few times I've used it, it has had a peculiar smell. I'm guessing that's normal???

Which do you prefer. Dark meat, or white?

Congratulations, Michael and Cari!

Last month Michael and Cari from my church had their third child, a sweet baby girl! They have three children now, two boys and a baby girl, Bella.

Today at church she was wearing the adorable smocked dress on the left. She was so precious, and it was my pleasure to hold her for a little bit. I think her mother was trying to give me the fever! Too late! (Sigh)

How cute of these little ballet slippers?

I love side views of the baby! :D

Cari with Dana, who made the yummy cake!

Trust me, she is already spoiled by her older brothers!

Bella, what a precious gift from the Lord!

Parenting 101

I'm learning a lot about parenting by caring for my three-year-old nephews!

Update on Jennifer

Thank you all so much for praying. It means so much to Jennifer and our family.

Jennifer's surgery went great and they were able to get the tumor successfully. Praise the Lord!!!! She is not completely out of the danger zone. They are working to treat her staph infections, at least eight places on her body are active with this infection (she had before entering the hospital). Also, so battles high blood pressure and diabetes.

Jennifer MAY be released Monday after the results come in from blood tests for the hormone cortisol, which has been way too high. The doctor will not release her until the levels have lowered.

Please continue praying for her. She is in a lot of pain in her throat from intubation. Her throat is very scratched and she is having a hard time swallowing and talking. God is still working, and may He receive glory for all that is to come!

To God be the glory, great things He has done!!!!!

Please Pray!

UPDATE (Evening): Thank you to those who are praying. Jennifer came through surgery and things went great. She is in recovery now. Our family is waiting to hear from the surgeon. She should be in recovery for the next two hours. I'll update as soon as I get more information.

UPDATE (Afternoon): Jennifer is currently in an isolated room due to MRSA being very active in her body. She has battled against this staph infection for MONTHS. She is about to be visited by the anesthesia team, and then should go into surgery. She has been there since 8:30 AM, it's 12:15 now. Please keep praying.

Please pray for my sister-in-law Jennifer (my husband's twin sister). She was diagnosed with C ushing's Disease a few months ago. There is a tumor that has formed on her pituitary gland that will be removed tomorrow, July 30th.

Jennifer has battled with this disease for a while, we wonder if it has even been for three years since her three-year-old twins were born.

Please Pray:

1) That God's will is done. We know God can heal her, but we want it in accordance with His will.

2) Her husband. He loves Jennifer very much and I am sure it is hard for him to see her go through this. She is a very organized and together person. It will be different seeing her in recovery.

3) Her three-year-old boys. I will be caring for them, along with my husband for the rest of this week at my in-laws home. On Saturday, my other sister-in-law, along with her child, will come and stay in town and care for them while I work. We will all work together to give them the best care. This could go on for a couple weeks or more. I know the boys will miss their mom and dad, but given the recovery time from brain surgery, it is best they are cared for away from their small home.

Last night, C ameron was crying and C arson said, "He just wants his daddy!" That just breaks my heart! Please pray for those little boys, they don't understand what is going on, and they love their mommy dearly.

4) Her quick recovery. As I mentioned above, she is a very organized and together person. She gets up early to get things going. She is always packed ahead, home is always clean.....she is just always on top of things. I'm not that kind of person, but I can imagine that it would be hard to be that kind of person and have to rest and be confined for awhile when there is so much other things you realize need to be done.

Her mother (Mrs. LS) will be caring for her at Jennifer's home as long is necessarily. Please pray for Mrs. LS as well. She will be away from our work (of which she is Director over). She has a lot already on her plate, but her daughter is her #1 priority.

Thank you for praying. God is good and His will is perfect!

Magnatized to Personalized!!! DYI

Ever thrown away a few of these? This is one of those magnetic calenders businesses use to advertise on phone books, pamphlets, etc. This one came on my phone book at work. I think they are neat...but I really don't want to use them to advertise on my refrigerator!

***LIGHT BULB!****

• I used a regular 4x6 photo of my husband and I.

• Double Stick Tape

• Trimmed up the sides to fit

AND......Voila! Here it is on my refrigerator! (yes, I realize my picture taking is horrible....the lighting was just bad in my kitchen!)

Try it for yourself, it is SUPER easy and I think it's cute!

What do YOU think?

We Have A Winner!

Thank you to those who participated in my baby bracelet giveaway! I am so excited to be able to giveaway something so precious that can be treasured for years!

If you did not win this time, I will be posting a link soon for my Etsy shop filled with these little bracelets. Please stop by and browse sometime! Also, I do plan on having another giveaway in August, but the gift is more for you this time :D

The winner of the bracelet is...... Kim O. (aka TK) "Now that is what I call "danty!" Any little girl will love that!"

Isn't she sweet??? Congratulations Kim! E-mail me at stilldesiring@gmail.com and I'll get your bracelet packaged and sent wherever you wish!

Don't Forget to Enter for the Giveaway!

You have until tomorrow at 4 PM to enter for this sweet little bracelet! But why wait until then? Enter now!

**Please remember, you don't have to have a little girl to register to win, it would make a great gift for a babyshower, a birthday or Just Because!**

Jute Trash Can and a Giveaway!

With all of the Jute projects floating around blogland, I thought I could put some jute to work on my own project. So...I made a jute trash can for my living room. Have you priced little trashcans lately? My goodness!!!

What began as a cheap tin (think Christmas popcorn tin) with Hot Wheels race cars all over it, became something I am quite proud of. I got this tin/can/bucket at Wal-Mart during a 75% off Easter sale. The Wal-Mart in my town had WAY too much inventory and had their already-put-together Easter baskets SUPER cheap, so I bought several (for the candy of course), including this tin filled with candy. Oh how I wished I had a true before picture.

First, I covered up the racecars with gray spray paint primer(what I had available):

Next, I began hot-gluing the jute (from Wal-mart) around the bottom of the tin working my way up to the top (or bottom since I had it upside down):


Like Kimba, I had all of my tools: Table protecting sheets, glue gun, sweet tea, and popcorn!

When I had FINALLY finished (yeah, this took a little time, but was worth it) I played around with a couple places to show it off (I mean, make use of it :P ):

A little too short for this.

So...what do you think?

OH!! Don't forget to checkout my GIVEAWAY!