Desiring To Be A Godly Woman

32 Weeks!

2011-12-20T19:57:00.001-05:00

I'm 32 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 32 Weeks

Size of baby: Fundal Height measures 30 weeks @ 31 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 25 lbs (as of 31 weeks)

Maternity Clothes: I pretty much wear maternity clothes all the time. I do have some tops that I can wear that were loose fitting and still fit.

Gender: It's a boy!! Jacob Raleigh!

Movement: He moves around a good bit. Instead of kicking as much, he is rolling and sticking his hiney up!

Sleep: I mostly sleep through the night right now. But I have to wake up in the night to go to the bathroom two or three times.

What I miss: Being able to pick up heavy things without thinking twice. Jonathan keeps an eye on me to make sure I don't lift anything heavy.

Cravings: Orange Juice! I finally got smart and bought two at a time.

Symptoms: I've been having some rib pain for weeks now. I'm starting to get tired a lot easier. I'm starting to experience sciatic nerve back...but I'm glad it's just now beginning. I have that to be thankful for.

Best Moment this week: Feeling Jacob roll around and push his hiney and heels out. I wish I could see him in there because sometimes I just can't figure out what he is doing in there!

31 Weeks!

2011-12-19T15:20:00.003-05:00

I really meant to do this from the beginning of my pregnancy, but I failed miserably. However, I will keep up with it for now. My first post is from 31 weeks (as of 12/13).

I'm 31 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Size of baby: Fundal Height measures 30 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 25 lbs

Maternity Clothes: I pretty much wear maternity clothes all the time. I do have some tops that I can wear that were loose fitting and still fit.

Gender: It's a boy!! Jacob Raleigh!

Movement: He moves around a good bit. Instead of kicking as much, he is rolling and sticking his hiney up!

Sleep: I mostly sleep through the night right now. But I have to wake up in the night to go to the bathroom two or three times.

What I miss: Being able to pick up heavy things without thinking twice. Jonathan keeps an eye on me to make sure I don't lift anything heavy.

Cravings: Orange Juice! I finally got smart and bought two at a time.

Symptoms: I've been having some rib pain for weeks now. It started with the later part of the second trimester and still continues. I'm starting to get tired a lot easier. My BIL pointed out to me this weekend that he can tell the pregnancy is starting to wear on me. I didn't take offense to this. He didn't mean it being ugly and he is right! I have enjoyed pregnancy, but I think there always comes a point when it wears on a woman.

Best Moment this week: Well last week (30 weeks) my family in KY got to see me pregnant for the first time. We all treasured that time. I got plenty of belly rubs that didn't bother me a bit! My mom really loved feeling Jacob move. At one point my niece wasn't feel well so I had her climb up in my lap and snuggle on the couch with me. Before she fell asleep, she got to feel Jacob nudging at her. While she wasn't laying on my belly, but beside it, he was being a little protective of his Momma. hehe!

At 31 weeks what I have loved is when Jonathan talks to Jacob. He is such a sweet husband and a sweet father. I love hearing him make plans concerning Jacob. It's so cute and gets me even more excited about meeting him!

Watch Baby Grow!! (updated 12/19)

2011-11-19T23:23:00.003-05:00

15 weeks

17 weeks!

18 weeks!

21 weeks

23 weeks

25 weeks!

27 weeks!

28 weeks


29 weeks

14 Weeks!

2011-08-26T18:27:00.000-04:00

Sorry this is a little late. You know how I am about blogging, hehe. Always behind or not at all. Baby is doing wonderful, growing every day. I'm pretty sure I woke up one morning with an even bigger belly than in this photo.

My next appointment is Sept. 6th. I will be 17 weeks then and really hope to find out what we are having!

Second Trimester

2011-08-16T22:05:00.000-04:00

Me at 12.5 weeks

Today I officially entered the second trimester of pregnancy...14 weeks! I am very excited about what this trimester holds. I look forward to being sick less, finally feeling Baby's movements (Baby has been kicking and moving around for a while, with tiny arms and legs too small for me to feel), and having a more pregnant belly versus a bulge. :D

My most asked question is: Do you want to find out what you are having? YES! I want to be as prepared as possible for this first one. Though I think being surprised at birth could be fun, but maybe down the road after we have had one of each and will be prepared for either.

The next question is: When will you find out what you are having? My first appointment is the first part of September. It is with a new doctor, so I'm not sure if he will try to determine the gender or not. I sure hope so!

I have to say, entering this second trimester provides such a relief for me. I have been anxious about the baby's health nearly the whole pregnancy. I had a couple scares, but I am amazed at the mercy the Lord has shown us with the baby. Please keep us in your prayers! They are much appreciated.

The Big News About the Little

2011-08-04T22:01:00.000-04:00

Due February 2012!

How Do YOU Get Rid of the "Blahs?"

2011-03-29T22:00:00.003-04:00

This evening I have been feelings so "blah." You know the feeling. Not sick, just "blah." What tends to help me is some hot tea with honey!

What helps you get rid of the "blahs?"

photo credit: amazon

Happy Birthday, Mrs. U!

2011-01-03T20:07:00.001-05:00

My very dearest friend, Mrs. U. from Making a House a Home, is celebrating her birthday today!

I am VERY blessed to call her my friend and I am so thankful God put her in my life! Please go over to her blog and wish her a "Happy Birthday!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. U!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Happy New Year and Eleven Years with the Lord!

2011-01-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday made eleven years since the Lord saved me! Every year that passes by, I am more and more in awe how great His presence is in my life. Every day I want to grow to be more and more like Christ. This year, I am committing myself to being in His Word everyday using my Masterlife Bible Study to help me start and memorizing 24 scriptures.

If you would like to read my testimony, you can find it here.

Happy New Year!

Cheetos Puffs: White Cheddar

2011-01-02T00:16:00.001-05:00

While visiting my sister during Christmas, she had me try this white cheddar Cheetos puffs. The bag says they contain "No preservatives, no artificial flavors, no artificial colors!" Her family didn't care for them, but I LOVED them! I was happy to take a full bag and a half off her hands!

I think they taste much like the original Cheetos, but better! Try them and let me know what you think!

Consider Willow House!

2010-11-29T20:29:00.003-05:00

When it comes to buying Christmas gifts, please consider Willow House and me, as your Willow House Design Consultant! Willow House is currently having the Very Merry Markdown, 23 items on sale for 23 days!

Visit my webpage today to order! It will be shipped straight to you!

www.melissaspell.willowhouse.com

Click on: Shop My Online Store

Did I mention we also have a Brand New Outlet Store??

Order by December 2nd and you'll be entered in my Christmas giveaway for a $30 Willow House gift certificate! Every $20 you spend gets you one entry!

An Update

2010-11-21T17:01:00.003-05:00

*Uncle Gary (my dad's brother) passed away on September 22. I was already planning on leaving on Wednesday morning to be there to see him one last time and attend the funeral that was to come; he passed away early that morning. I spent the weekend with my family and that was much needed for all of us.

Uncle Gary suffered greatly, but his spirits were always high. My family was exhausted physically from being by his side for months and emotionally from seeing him suffer. Praise the Lord that he is no longer suffering!

*Jonathan and I joined my married family for Fall adventures at The Rock Ranch, which is owned by ChicK-Fil-A founder, Truett Cathy! We had such a wonderful time roaming around the ranch. I had never been to this sort of thing and I was ready to have fun! I was especially excited about the corn maze, but my camera battery died before we got started in it. :(

*Jonathan and celebrated our TWO year anniversary. I am overcome with emotion when I think of how the Lord has blessed me with a great marriage. I definitely married by best friend.

Since our anniversary was on a Monday, we celebrated our marriage the weekend we were out-of-town at The Rock Ranch by spending the night in a beautiful hotel and going out for dinner. The next morning, we went to outlet stores and spent the day shopping together! I love shopping with Jonathan because he shows me what he likes for me and I'll try it on and show him. I love buying some that we BOTH love! Every woman loves for her husband to say, "You look cute!" Of course, I do the same for him and it's so fun!

On Monday, November 1 (the actual day of our anniversary) Jonathan took me to one of my favorite restaurants around here, Steeplechase. It was a wonderful anniversary!

I learned a lesson from a child today

2010-09-15T19:56:00.005-04:00

I saw a little boy from church at the grocery store.

Our eyes met and he said, "Don't you go to Southside? Will you be there tonight?"

So many times I'll see someone in the store that I know, but I look the other way because "I don't have time." It really doesn't take that much time to speak to someone and even ask them about church. I love God's little lessons!

Update on Uncle Gary!

2010-09-11T22:52:00.000-04:00

Uncle Gary got to come home today. He was hardly able to talk, but I got to talk to him a little bit. My dad said Uncle Gary was grinning the entire time! Oh I love it!

Today is my Mamaw's birthday, on 9-11. A bittersweet day in my opinion. Mamaw is my uncle's primary caregiver. As his mother, it has been hard on her to see him suffer as of late. What a wonderful birthday present it was for Uncle Gary to come home! The Lord knew she needed that today!

I had to work today so we can meet a deadline on Tuesday. I was afraid the day was spent, but as soon I got home I worked in the yard. Rain interrupted my work, so I came in and cooked supper. Afterward, I washed FIVE loads of clothes/bedding!

I feel accomplished. Thank you, Lord! Lastly, I'm praying for those still suffering from 9-11-01. I cannot imagine the hurt they experience day after day.

Please Pray!

2010-09-07T21:03:00.000-04:00

Please pray for my uncle, Gary. He is battling cancer right now and it's really taking it's toll. After a week in the hospital for a blood clot, he had to be taken back by ambulance early the following morning. He was vomiting blood and was gasping for breath. I talked with my dad on the phone and he said Uncle Gary is stable right now, but still critical.

My heart is torn. I want to be there so bad but have entered a very busy season at work and if it got worse after I went and came back, I would have to travel back again. It's a nine hour drive to Kentucky. My dad has advised that I wait....I trust him.

Please pray for my uncle and our family during this time. It breaks my heart. I love my uncle so much.

I Can Be THAT Godly Woman!

2010-07-27T21:30:00.000-04:00

Before I got married, I was blessed to get to see the godly woman in my life (the one I was the most closest to and had learned so much from) at least a couple times a week. When I got married and moved away I began feeling sorry for myself because my godly friend was too far away to see as often I as I would like.

What would I do without her? I needed her! But then God spoke to my heart, "You know, YOU can be that godly woman!" All along, here I was reaping the blessings of having a godly woman in my life, that I never thought about being that very thing to someone else.

Listen to this recording by Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts as she talks about being a mature Christian woman and training younger women. It really spoke to me and I'd like to share with you more about this subject in the near future.

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/roh/today.php?pid=10595#

Under Construction

2010-07-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

I'm about at my wits end when it comes to the look of my blog. Therefore, please over look it for now! I know it looks crazy! hehe!

My Clean Sink! Before and After!

2010-07-15T15:34:00.000-04:00

When we first moved into our "new-to-us" home, I wasn't so thrilled about the sink. It is white porcelain and shows stains BADLY. I was really afraid that I would have to replace it or deal with it! The later most likely going to happen.

Then I remember Flylady! This is how she recommends we clean our sinks:

Make sure you rinse well in between each step!

1.) Take all the dishes out of the sink.

2.) Run some very hot water into the sink. Fill to the rim. Only do one side at a time. Then, pour a cup of household bleach into the hot water. Let it sit for 1 hour. Now, pull the plug with a pair of tongs. If you don't have tongs, then scoop some of the water out of the sink into the other sink and use your hand to pull the plug (wear gloves and don't get the bleach-water on your clothes).

3.) Rinse your sink well.

4.) Use some cleanser (Comet, Ajax, or Baking Soda) and scrub your sink. Ensure you rinse ALL of the cleanser from the sink.

5.) Take a sharp edge and clean around the rim of the sink, just like you would clean dirt out from under your fingernails.

6.) Clean around the faucets too. You may need an old toothbrush or dental floss.

7.) Now, get out your window cleaner, I use Windex, and give it a good shine.

8.) If you still don't like the way it looks, then you could try some car wax. Just know in your heart that you have cleaned it very well now and it doesn't have to be perfect. Our perfectionism is what got us in this situation in the first place.

*Flylady goes on to encourage us to wipe out the sink with a clean cloth each time it is used. I don't do this because I don't want to go crazy when someone else doesn't do it! hehe!

Before:

After:

Now I LOVE my sink!

Your Rugs Will Thank Me!

2010-07-11T22:47:00.001-04:00

I have a confession. Jonathan and I have been married for over 18 months and I have NEVER washed the rugs in our home! I have shaken them out and swept them, but never washed them. My real life friend, Mrs. U is having a heart attack as she reads this!

See, here's the thing, I didn't remember seeing my mom wash rugs. It doesn't mean she didn't, I just never saw her. Here I am, in my mid-twenties (that sounds weird) and have never washed my own rugs. I knew I was suppose to because of people like my friend, Mrs. U and Martha Stewart, but I was always afraid they would get destroyed in the washing machine! Not only that, most of my rugs are chocolate brown and I just knew they would fade in the wash. I just couldn't afford to go out and buy new ones if that were to happen.

Finally though, I came to my senses....they needed to be washed, plain and simple. Do you know what I found? Not only did they survive the wash, but they even dried nice and fluffy. When I walk across my accent rugs, they feel so silky. Oh, and the color? Even more brillant than the day they were put down!

Moral to the story? Wash your rugs, TODAY! Play it safe if you are concerned like I was and wash them on a shorter, more gentle cycle in cold water....let me know how they turn out!

What I'm Craving...

2010-07-08T17:44:00.002-04:00

Is it Fall yet?

You Know You Are Becoming a Southern Lady When...........

2010-07-07T16:46:00.000-04:00

....you can't wait for your monthly Southern Living magazine to arrive and you proceed to read it cover to cover!

One of my favorite pastimes is reading Southern Living magazine. I love everything southern including gardening, dishes and southern homes!

What magazine suits your fancy?

Beanie Babies in the Attic

2010-05-19T17:34:00.001-04:00

The other day while working at our new home, I found a trash bag full of Beanie Babies in the attic. Later that evening I told my husband and he joked that we could sell them on Ebay or something like that.

Today while at work, I had a visitor. Let me catch you up, The man who lived in our home before we bought it had divorced from his second wife. His first wife died of Ovarian Cancer at 28. Left behind in the home was some photos and toys that belonged to the son of the man and the young woman who had passed. I had already planned on packing up those treasures and giving them to her family, some were even photos of the young woman before she passed away at Disney World, possibly her last trip.

Today the woman's mother came to me at work and sweetly asked if the man (her former son-in-law) had left anything behind that might have belonged to her daughter. I proceeded to tell her everything I could think of, however, it only belonged to the son (he was five or six when his mother passed).

Then it hit me, "There are some Beanie Babies in the attic. Do they belong to the little boy?"

She smiled and said, "Those were his mothers, she collected one every place she visited....for him."

___________________________________________________

You know the saying, "Your trash, is someone's treasure." This gave new meaning to that phrase, this is one of the few treasures she has to hang onto that came out of that home....where her daughter drew her last breath. That might weird some people out, but it makes me want to feel my home with as much love as we can stand.

Great News!

2010-05-17T22:58:00.000-04:00

Remember this post about the house we liked?

We bought it! It's OURS! Come back for updates as we make it our home!

Easter Pictures

2010-04-05T17:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Resurrection Day!

2010-04-04T17:09:00.003-04:00

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Free Monthly SLAH Newsletter!

2010-03-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

Hey Y'all! Some have asked and now I'm making it happen! If you would like to receive Southern Living at Home's monthly newsletter, the Insider, please e-mail me your e-mail address to stilldesiring@gmail.com.

The Insider contains the current month's Customer Specials and Hostess Specials. Also, included are Easy Recipes and Product Ideas! I am sure that you will LOVE our monthly newsletter!

southernlivingathome.com/melissaspell

My Laundry Schedule

2010-03-15T17:34:00.002-04:00

One of the things that I look forward to on Mondays is beginning my weekly laundry routine. I haven't always enjoyed this, until I came up with a schedule. Here it is:

Monday: Towels/Kitchen Linens

Tuesday: Lights (socks, undershirts)

Gentle Lights (Usually our dress clothes)

Wednesday: Handwashables (Washed in sink)

Brights

Thursday: Gentle Darks (Dress clothes)

Darks (jeans, casuals)

Friday: Bed Linens

Some days I may only have a couple articles of a certain load to wash, so I skip it until the next week to save on water and energy. If I have anything leftover that didn't get washed due to time restraints, I wash it the next day, or on Saturday. I do not wash on Sunday as I try to rest more on that day (although I do like to organize on Sundays).

Do you have a laundry schedule? Do you wash all in one day, or certain days?

Belated Birthday Celebration

2010-03-14T00:21:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrated mine and my brother-in-law's birthday. Our birthdays were February 10th, and we married twins, isn't that neat?

I absolutely love the gifts that were given to me by my family! My sister-in-law is a Thirty-One Gifts consultant and this was one of my gifts:

I just love it! It's a Skirt Purse. The Patten, Mod Dot, actually comes off and I can switch it out with another "skirt!" All weekend I've been threatening to "steal" my sister-in-law's purse....boy did they surprise me with my very own!

Update on My Uncle

2010-03-11T22:55:00.002-05:00

I just got an e-mail from my Uncle Bill on my Uncle Gary.

Here is what he wrote:

"He had mini-stroke this morning, found spot on one lung, doing bone scan tomorrow as they think cancer in bones. Looking bad Melissa."

Please Pray, y'all!

Praise and Prayer Request

2010-03-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Praise: My friend that had a miscarriage is expecting again. She just went in for a check-up and the baby is doing great! She is over 8 weeks along and the baby's heart beat is so strong! Thank you for praying for my friend. Please continue praying for her, as I am sure her worries are not over.

Prayer request: Please pray for my Uncle Gary (my dad's brother). It looks as though he may have Pancreatic Cancer; they are still unsure. They will have results from a biopsy on Monday as well as having more MRI's ran. This afternoon my uncle was taken by ambulance to the ER because he could not move his left leg, or grip with his left hand. They have ruled out a stroke.

Please, please pray for my uncle. I love him very much and I just wish I could be there during this (he is in Kentucky).

When Your Youngest Sister Goes to College....

2010-03-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

it's a true reality check! Yes, my youngest sister is to begin her college career this coming Fall. This evening she is signing to play college softball in Alabama. While I am very proud of her hard work in school and in a sport she loves, my baby sister is growing up!

I clearly remember when she was born. I was seven and had no idea what I was going to say to this tiny little person. Now, there are a ton of things I wish I could say...and very little I've actually said (in light of it all). I just pray God's wisdom and protection over her every step. I pray that she would put God's will first in her life and let Him guide her.

I love you, Michelle!

Southern Living at Home

2010-03-09T20:38:00.004-05:00

Recently, I became a Southern Living at Home consultant. I absolutely LOVE Southern Living at Home products. It is my dream to quit my public job and stay at home with my children, to raise them and train them, and make homemaking a top priority.

However, our income needs to grow a little more before that dream can become a reality. Enter: Southern Living at Home. I instantly fell in love with SLAH while admiring a beautiful casserole dish at my in-law's. While no one was looking, I flipped it over to see what company produced it (it was empty, no worries) and there it was "Southern Living at Home." November of the next year, I decided after talking it over with my husband, to become a consultant.

I LOVE IT! I love selling great products that I love and others love as well. I feel at ease and very comfortable talking about and sharing such a great, quality product that lives up to it's beauty.

If you would like to know more about what I do, or would be interested in being a hostess and earning free product for your home....please let me know. I'd love to share it with you!

Please visit my webpage!

Hostess Specials for March

Customer Specials for March

What Happened on Monday.

2010-02-11T16:57:00.001-05:00

As you read in the previous post, I had a visit scheduled with the doctor on Monday to read the results from my blood work and my Xrays.

My blood work came back just fine. Other than having high BAD cholesterol, I'm in good shape. My Xrays came back fine as well. I know this is a blessing, but I really struggled with this good news. I still didn't have an answer for what was causing the pain in my back. My doctor suggested physical therapy.

My first appointment was yesterday, followed by another appointment today. The PT found my back to have many spasms and knots all over. All those are going to be worked out. The PTs are also working along with a massage therapist to work the muscle that is causing me pain, most likely the subscapularis muscle. I will be going to the doctor three times a week, for four weeks.

There is one thing that I have learned through all of this: Do not judge for yourself how much pain someone else is in. Or how unbearable it becomes to them emotionally. If you've ever dealt with this, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Anxious for Monday!

2010-02-03T20:50:00.000-05:00

Anxious for Monday? Who says that in real life? I'm ready for Monday to come because Monday morning I will get results from a blood test and Xrays to see what is going on with this crazy body of mine. For at least a year and a half I've had pain in my back. It's been hard to locate, but it's near my top, right ribs. It's been putting physical and emotional distress on me. Physical because it hurts, and emotionally because I don't know what is going on, and I'm too young for this!

Other than that, Jonathan and I started "looking" at a house we both love. Every day I would drive past it going into town and think, "I love that house." Then it came up for sale. I was excited, but I knew we could never afford it. Recently, we actually looked at the realtor's website and found the price was reasonable, it was a foreclosure. However, it's STILL out of our price-range. {Sigh}. As the saying goes, if it's meant to be, it'll be there when you're ready.

2010-01-11T23:41:00.002-05:00

A friend and I were talking several years ago about one day becoming mommies. Don't most women do that at some point in their early years? My friend said that she would never want to be pregnant at the same time as her close friend, or her sister. She pointed out that if one of them lost their baby, how hard it would be to see her friend continue through pregnancy and have a healthy baby.

Today, my friend had a miscarriage. My heart aches for her. How quickly joy can turn into sorrow. Though I am not currently pregnant, what do I do the day I have a big announcement to make? I have wondered lately what the best way would be to share good news when someone else's heart is broken.

Please pray for my friend and her husband. It doesn't seem real to me, and I'm sure not to them either. They are trusting the Lord and that amazes me to see.

"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." ~ Ecclesiastes 11:5

New Year's Resolutions

2010-01-09T01:17:00.000-05:00

Here are my top New Year's Resolutions:

1) Drink more water
2) Get in the Word DAILY
3) Pray throughout the day
4) Eat better/exercise ~~more~~
5) Brush teeth for TWO whole minutes each time
6) Take vitamins regulary, again...
7) Be in bed by eleven PM on weeknights!

Did you make any New Year's Resolutions?

New Blog Look

2009-11-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

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!

2009-11-06T18:58:00.005-05:00

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!

2009-11-01T22:49:00.003-05:00

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

November 1, 2008

Maternity Insurance

2009-10-29T23:28:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-26T21:29:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-26T15:56:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-10-25T13:47:00.000-04:00

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.

2009-10-24T16:59:00.008-04:00

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

2009-10-19T20:49:00.006-04:00

(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

2009-10-14T16:01:00.003-04:00

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

2009-09-13T21:02:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-08-25T22:58:00.005-04:00

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?

2009-08-10T20:55:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-08-09T23:47:00.010-04:00

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

2009-08-08T23:17:00.006-04:00

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

Update on Jennifer

2009-08-01T00:35:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-07-29T09:54:00.009-04:00

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

2009-07-22T22:22:00.006-04:00

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!

2009-07-19T16:09:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-07-18T15:18:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-07-15T23:00:00.015-04:00

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!

Baby Bracelet GIVEAWAY!!!

2009-07-15T17:01:00.009-04:00

For my very first giveaway, I have a sweet baby bracelet! My heart just melts as I make these little bracelets.
Would anyone happen to have a baby I can borrow?

Maybe my little ceramic bird will work for now :D

The bracelet measures 5 inches long without extender. Perfect for a one year old!

With the extender it can fit up to an 11 year old!

Here's how to enter, there are two chances:

First Chance: Leave a comment for me :D You can always e-mail me at stilldesiring@gmail.com.

Second Chance: Put a link on your blog for this giveaway.

You can enter up until 4 PM (EST) on Sunday (July 19) afternoon. The drawing will be held on Sunday evening at 8 PM (EST).

*You do not have to have a little girl to win this. It would make a great gift! The winner can choose to have it mailed to themselves, or sent to a gift recipient.

It's a Giveaway...Starting tomorrow!

2009-07-14T21:34:00.002-04:00

Hey Ladies!!

Tomorrow I will have a giveaway up and running! I will post a picture of the prize tomorrow afternoon when I "officially" announce the giveaway. I am SUPER excited because this is my first giveaway!

You will have up to two chances to win. For the first chance, you must leave me a comment and enter yourself. If you blog about my giveaway, I'll give you two entries! Yay! How fun!

See you tomorrow!

Wooden Mail Organizer

2009-07-09T15:04:00.008-04:00

I bought this from TJ Maxx or Marshalls a couple of years ago, before I was even engaged to be married. I fell in love when I saw it. I was so tempted to buy each matching piece. I absolutely LOVED the color, but found when I got married that it really didn't suit our home. It's kind of a minty green.

So I spray painted it red (Cherry Red in gloss by Red Devil - Big Lots)! My husband REALLY loves it and so do I! It matches our decor perfectly and sits on the kitchen counter to hold our mail. I will eventually go back and distress it, but for now I'm just enjoying the color and usefulness of it!

Of course, if I ever wanted to change it back or to a different color, all I have to do is paint it!

Snake!!!

2009-07-08T19:51:00.008-04:00

Every morning on my way out to work, I look down on our cement porch to make sure there is nothing that I could step on. Baby bird, snake, big bug, etc. There are large bushes on either side of our porch, surrounded by pinestraw...so I never know what might be there.

All clear! I thought to myself, what would I do if there was a snake on my porch? I reasoned that I would go back inside and call my husband and have him, or our landlord come and "get rid" it. After all, who wants a snake around in the bushes?

While getting into my car, I turned and looked back towards our apartment to spy something above our porch...it almost looked like a vine growing up the brick. I looked closer....A SNAKE!!!!

A snake was weaved around several bricks and just hanging out near our bedroom window. So, I called my husband very quickly. While I was on the phone with him, a neighbor was driving past. My neighbor saw me looking up and had stopped when suddenly the snake *jumped* backward! I quickly pointed up to the snake so my neighbor could see what had scared me.

In the end, my neighbor (who happens to be the landlord's son who lives in the complex) offered to get a pole to get the snake down. I really appreciate him being such a gentleman. Even though the snake probably wasn't dangerous...a snake is a snake in my book.

By the way: My Prince Charming was preparing to come rescue me :D

Lights Out!

2009-07-07T21:33:00.008-04:00

This evening our electricity was out for five hours. It's not the first time our power has been out since we've been married....maybe the fourth or fifth time. This time was definitely the longest. Tonight we decided eating out would be the best thing, so we drove over to Huddle House :D

It seems like every time our power goes out we realize all of the things we take for granted. We spend that time talking by candlelight and just enjoying being together. Now that the electricity is back on, I'm on the computer and he is playing video games. That's how we relax. Would we have survived in the days before electricity? Of course we would have. Things are just different now.

Other than everyday convenience, what would you miss most if you didn't have electricity?

Do you FLY?

2009-07-06T20:49:00.006-04:00

I am sitting here contemplating what to do next. Finally I can do something I really want to do....or something I have been needing to do, but too busy with normal housework to do. (Wow, lots of "to do's!"

Today I have:

*Washed all the dishes and shined my sink.
*Completed my zone cleaning for the day, scrubbing my counter tops
*Decluttered our office for 15 minutes
*And washed two loads of laundry amongst many other FlyLady tasks.

I'm just curious....are you a FLYing?

Happy Father's Day!!!

2009-06-21T14:28:00.009-04:00

I am very thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me so much, that He put is own Son on the cross to die for me, the sinner that I am. I am also thankful for the earthly father He gave me.

My dad is the sweetest man. He is kind, sensitive, strong, and funny! He is not closed-up, he tells me he loves me and gives the BIGGEST bear hugs ever!

We like to eat Peeps together and an hour can pass quickly when we talk on the phone. Even though we are hundreds of miles apart, I am always thinking of him, and cannot imagine my life without him. God has brought my family through so many things in life, and having my dad as my dad, has made it so much easier. My dad often worked two jobs to support our family. He is always going out of the way along with my mom, to make holidays extra special as a family.

When I got married, my Dad was determined to give me the wedding of my dreams....and he did. He worked so hard from decorating dozens of cookies with "S's" on them, to helping set-up the reception tent the day of the wedding. My dad is also so wonderful with his grandchildren. They light up his life, as I know he does theirs'. He would do anything for them, and has proven that in recent times.

Oh how I love my Dad!

Happy Father's Day to all the the great father's out there!

Why We Should Not Drive Through Water Covered Roads!

2009-06-19T08:36:00.003-04:00

Please watch video in its entirety. It is amazing to see the power and danger of water.

I Present to you......

2009-06-18T19:31:00.006-04:00

Tanner D ean!!!! He was born Tuesday, June 16th at 2:58 PM CST, weighing 7lbs 10.8oz. He is 20.75 inches long.

Be still my heart, for this child is a gift from God! How I long to see him in person!

A Baby is Coming!

2009-06-16T08:38:00.003-04:00

Please pray for my sister, Kristy. She is in the hospital preparing to give birth to her sweet baby boy, Tanner. Pray that everything goes alright and that Tanner enters the world safety.

Thank you!

Pharaoh: Why God hardened his heart

2009-06-10T14:53:00.003-04:00

If you have read in Exodus of the many plagues the Lord placed over the Egyptians, you have to wonder why it took so many plagues for Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go out of Egypt. Plague after plague, Pharaoh's heart continued to be hardened and he wouldn't let the children of Israel go to worship God . If you are like me, if you were Pharaoh, you would have let the people go as soon as the waters turned to blood!

My husband and I had been reading this part of Exodus when coincidentally, my co-worker mentioned Pharaoh. She asked us why we thought Pharaoh's heart was being hardened over and over, she then told me what her pastor suspected. I really wasn't sure why God allowed Pharaoh's heart to be hardened, so I didn't answer, until I read Chapter 10 that same night.

"Now the LORD said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son’s son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the LORD.” Verses 1&2 (also, 7:3)

"AH HA!" I said out loud! "That's why!" After I explained my outburst to Jonathan, he agreed, there was our answer.

God hardened Pharaoh's heart over and over because He wanted to finish out the plagues He was bringing before Egypt. He did not want anyone to forget those signs which He had brought to free the Israelites. He didn't want the Egyptians to forget, nor the children of Israel. He wanted it so that generation after generation, after generation would remember.

Do you think the Egyptians would have forgotten the first plague of water turned to blood? Or what about the second plague where frogs were everywhere, even on people's beds? Maybe they wouldn't have forgotten, but in Exodus 1:8, there came a day when the new king didn't remember Joseph, or how he had gotten Egypt through seven years of famine! God knew that just has Joseph (Israel) was forgotten, so would the plagues if they were not carried out.

We must remember that God is in control, and is full of power. We need to love Him with much fear and reverence for He is a powerful, holy God.

Day at the Pool!

2009-06-09T15:55:00.013-04:00

Our nephews just love playing in the pool with Uncle Jonathan :D

They play so sweet!

I love this picture. It looks like C arson is having a serious conversation with Jonathan. C ameron looks like he's about to do a back flip!

Of course.....

Sarah A

When your aunt tells you not to wet her....we'll, you'd better listen!

Da-Da didn't want to get too close to a wet baby! :D

Although I miss my family...I do love my new family.

Why You Should Clean Out Your Beauty Stash!

2009-06-05T22:45:00.004-04:00

I just put up a new post on my blog, Lady Beautiful!

Check it out! It's quite amazing what one can find sometimes! :P

My Sweet Little Niece!

2009-06-02T23:02:00.010-04:00

I am so amazed at how a sweet child can touch our hearts. My sweet little niece, SA, has definitely touched mine. We are about to celebrate her first Birthday!

She makes the funniest little faces....that just make me laugh so hard!

This is her "fish face."

I'm not sure what these faces are :P

She is so loving and so easy going.

I love her SO much!

Prayer is always the answer

2009-05-28T19:05:00.003-04:00

Today, a conversation I had with someone really got to me. It wasn't only WHAT the person said...but also HOW it was said. I called up my husband just to vent. He, of course, assured me not to let it get to me, that it was okay and that the person was wrong (he knows them all to well :D). What I'm getting at is that I could not let it go, it just got to me so badly that I couldn't stop thinking about it. It plays over and over in my head.

Turns out, prayer really is the only way I can get past the frustration of that conversation. God knows me, He knows that person, and He knows our hearts. I can always talk to Him about it and I'll feel better.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

God's Chisel

2009-05-15T16:58:00.001-04:00

I needed this today....

Gossip: It Rears its Ugly Head!

2009-05-13T16:03:00.003-04:00

I wrote this post in August of last year, but thought it was time to bring it up again. Gossip not only effects those who it's about, or those who say it...but those who have to hear it. The update at the bottom was from last year as well. Are you confronted with gossip? Where? And how do you deal with it?
_______________________________________________________

Top Places to Gossip:
1)Work
2)School
3)Home
4)Church

Can these places be avoided? Mostly, yes. Should they? Absolutely not!

Work: If you work outside of the home, you know well enough that the best place to find gossip is at the work place. So what do you do when you find yourself around gossip? A friend of mine told me about a co-worker she worked with years ago who would leave the breakroom if gossip came up. What a great example! It was VERY convicting to my friend who witnessed this. Gossip can be avoided by watching out for the areas where it takes place, and the people who start it. This may mean that you have your morning break by yourself, or pass up the copy machine when there is a line of gossipers waiting.

School: When I was a freshman in college, I had an hour break between my afternoon classes. Instead of studying or doing homework, my friend and I would watch everyone. We would pick out people, some we knew and some we didn't, and talk about them. We did not necessarily talk bad talk, but just wasteful chat, like how cute someone was, or how someones skirt was a little too....almost not there.

A lot of time was spent wasted by concerning myself with other people. The following semesters I spent in the library by myself, or running errands around town. Idleness is a quick route to gossip, it was for me.

Home: Gossip happens A LOT at home. If you don't think that it happens in your home....pay careful attention. I know that I often have this notion that home is the "okay" place to gossip, after all....it's just my family I am talking to. I cannot allow my attitudes towards someone else affect the way that my family sees that person. How hard is that? VERY! We want to trust our family with our secrets and the things we share about others, but it can be very dangerous. I have allowed members of my family to affect my feelings about others...even though I got along with the person just fine.

Church: Eek! When I was a child I had the idea that if you were going to lie, just make sure it wasn't in church, even though it was wrong, PERIOD! Same with gossip, if you're going to talk bad about someone, just don't do it in the church, it makes God unhappy. However, suddenly, gossip in church crept up on me. Back in the day, when I was little, I thought that every lady in the church was sweet and the best Christian women you could find. Then I got older and learned more about others via gossip. I can never look at the same women with the admiration I had had before, even though they had done nothing to me to make me feel differently.

Gossip taking place in church can soon seem "needful". Everything that is said on the church grounds seems safe....add the word "prayer" and suddenly telling everyone that you saw Mike talking to another woman really does not seem like gossip, but like a prayer request. Hmmmm.....
________________________________________________

UPDATE: How many times do you unintentionally make a comment and suddenly, you're talking about somebody? Whew....I did that today. I offhandedly brought up a silly remark and words begin to fly from my co-workers...and me. I quickly put it back to rest. This reminded me of a fire that is dwindling done to tiny glowing ashes, then throwing dry straw on it, and suddenly you have a raging fire. This is the way gossip is.

The Lord showed me today the effects on my little remarks, and how they can fuel a fire. I also put into practice not allowing being alone with someone as this could open a window to gossip. If gossip starts, it should be turned quickly around. One thing to help, say, "I got to go to the restroom!" Maybe the person will forget what they were saying. Baby steps..... hehe!

A Catfish Date!

2009-05-11T17:33:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday my husband and I celebrated our first six months of marriage with dinner out! We went to a place my husband loves for their "all you can eat" catfish, called....."The Catfish House!" How appropriate!

This place has the BEST hushpuppies and the sweetest tea. We both ordered the catfish, and 15 fish later we were stuffed!

I am very grateful for the time we spent together, especially enjoying something we both love! When I was growing up, my grandparents had a pond and loved to go fishing just as much as they loved eating them! It brought back fond memories of summers with my grandparents and my brother. I wouldn't trade those days....or these days with my sweet husband for anything!

Do you have a memory of the past similar to mine? I'd love to hear it!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

2009-05-09T23:33:00.003-04:00

Oh, how I love my mother! The love and thoughtfulness she possess makes life so wonderful! There are so many wonderful things about her....I'm glad God gave me her as a mother!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

The above photo is of her and my daddy decorating the dozens of cookies I simply had to have as my wedding favors! They were so helpful!

And Happy Mother's Day to all my blogging friends!

Six Month Celebration

2009-05-05T15:57:00.011-04:00

Last Friday, my husband and I hit our first six months of marriage. It has been such an amazing adventure since we have gotten married. The things that we have learned about one another are incredible. Just when I thought I knew it all :D

I have loved being Jonathan's wife these past six months. Has it been easy? No. But has it been wonderful? YES! The times it has been hard is when I'm having to learn more about MYSELF. It is very easy to get offended when I cook something he doesn't care much for. Or get tired of doing things around the house. Truth of the matter is, sometimes I don't even like some of the things I cook! I'm learning what dishes we like, and don't like. And when it comes to working around the house, I like to do it myself...the way I like to do it. It's just so easy for me to get the, "I do all the work around here" attitude, even though he offers. Don't worry. I don't get that way often...but it has crept up a couple times. The Holy Spirit quickly convicts me and I must ask for forgiveness from my husband. I love taking care of the home, so it's really my joy to do it!

The Lord has incredibly blessed Jonathan and I. He has provided so many things and wonderful opportunities for us. He as blessed us with a great church and church family. Even though we currently rent an apartment, we enjoy our home so much. It is our first home together and we know that God has richly blessed our home...even though we don't deserve it. Our friends and family were so generous to us in the gifts they gave us. I look around our home and so much of this we would not have if it weren't for them.

I love that I married my best friend. I love being at home from work before he gets home. I love cooking his favorite meals for him. I love how he says, "YES!" when he hears we are having pork chops!

I love our Bible Studies together every night. After we got back from our honeymoon, we began reading in the book of Genesis. I'll never forget giggling as he would read. I know that sounds so bad....but it was a happy giggle. He would read aloud and as he would read, "And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament," I could not control myself. It was just so new and hearing him read, I was like a little giddy teenager. We have come a long way :D It is so amazing to grow together...and to pray together.

I love how we sit at the table together even after supper and just talk. We talk about one another's day, and what we have planned for the rest of the evening at home. We definitely spend a lot of time laughing at the table as well. Our grandparents would send us to bed early for sure for "snickering" at the supper table :P

I love that even though Jonathan is head of the finances, he always wants my input on what I think. Sometimes I don't know, so he'll explain to me the situation and how it could work best for us. I think sometimes he just wants to talk about it, and I'm obliged to listen. :D

Being the "grown-ups" in our home, often means still being kids. We race each other up the stairs. We see who can find a book in the Bible first (we do this at church too....he gets a Texas-sized grin when he finds it first). And sometimes, just sometimes, we have cinnamon rolls for supper...or candy for breakfast.

Even after six months, I will look at my dear Husband and say to him, "Can you believe we are married?" He always says, "Yes," and grins. He is a wonderful husband. :D

The great thing about it, I know that the best is yet to come!

One year ago....

2009-05-03T12:43:00.008-04:00

....Jonathan proposed! What a wonderful day that was!

Spiritual Discernment

2009-04-21T15:57:00.004-04:00

Over the past several years, the Lord has shown me spiritual discernment in many areas. Some of these are about modesty, false doctrine, my actions.

What are some things God has given you spiritual discernment about, recently or in the past? It may even be something you are still working out...

Remember the Titanic

2009-04-14T15:19:00.002-04:00

I came across this great post at Blessed Femina, honoring those who lost their lives that fateful, cold night when the Titanic sunk. Please read her post in its entirety. It is truly remarkable what one man did in those freezing waters......

What if he went to your church?

2009-04-09T15:04:00.001-04:00

Spring is Here!

2009-03-22T20:42:00.002-04:00

I am so excited that Spring is here! There is just something about Spring that gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It just puts a huge smile on my face and makes me want to run down a hill! Okay, I know that was random....but truly, it puts me in a mood to do something random and spontaneous, like run down a grassy hill.....barefoot! :D
With the coming of Spring my husband and I already have so many plans laid out for us already. We are helping my sister-in-law and brother-in-law move from Charlotte to Atlanta. They are sad to be leaving Charlotte (I'm sad too), but due to his job going to Mexico, he has taken a new job in Atlanta. I'm excited for them to be together again because they have had to live apart for a few weeks while he lived in a hotel near his new job. I can't imagine having to be away from my husband that long. I know they cried every weekend when he had to go back to ATL. They have a sweet home for sale in Charlotte, great for a starter family, completely renovated that they really need to sale. (If you are interested, e-mail me and I'll get you the hook-up :D ).

Next weekend we are working to help my grandmother move. Indeed, she is selling her recently purchased (3 years) home and moving to a home more out in the country. The saying is true, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." :D

She is wonderful and is so excited to move and to be able to "go fishing anytime I want to and go outside without the neighbors staring at me." Ask anyone who knows her, she is not one for settling down anytime soon. :D

But God is good and I am so excited for what this Spring has in store for me and my household. We are happy, happy, HAPPY and enjoying God's rich blessings while keeping Him first in our marriage and home.

What are your plans for this Spring? What can't you wait to do first?

I'm ready for some spray-painting action!!!

So.....I won!!!

2009-03-17T23:00:00.004-04:00

Whoo hoo!!! I'm so excited! As MOST of you know, I'm a newly-wed, another WHOO HOO! I love being married, and that means I love fulfilling my God-given duties....feeding my sweet husband!

Another blogging friend posted on her blog about Kendra's "My First Kitchen" spice giveaway when you participate in her survey. I participated, and I won!!! YAY!

Below is a picture of what I have won! I am so excited and so is my husband. He said, "So we NEVER have to by taco seasoning again?!?!" Well, at least not for a little while.....lol!

Thanks Kendra for making my week.....and teaching me lots of things about cooking!!

Oh, and apparently she sells these, so you can purchase them at a very reasonable price!! YAY!

St. Patrick...a Saint, but not Catholic.

2009-03-16T16:55:00.002-04:00

Read about it here. You may find it very surprising.

I'm 24!

2009-02-18T16:08:00.003-05:00

Just a quick "checking in" just to say "HI!" There has been so much going on since I've been "gone!" I just want you to know that I miss you! Thanks for those who have commented while I've been gone! True friends you are indeed!

This month I celebrated my 24th birthday! I can't believe it! Where has time gone!?!

This is me with my brother-in-law, Kevin. Our spouses are twins, and WE share the same birthday. Imagine that?!? It was meant to be :D

Of course here is me and my sweet HUSBAND! (AHH, still in shock!) :D

Miss you all and see you next week!!!

Taking Some Time Off

2009-01-29T15:43:00.003-05:00

I will be taking some much needed time off from blogging.

I've thought and prayed about these for the past few days and I've finally decided that it's best to take some time off.

I really enjoying blogging. I love reading other ladies' blogs and writing on my own blog. I do not write on my blog nearly as much as I read your blogs. Therefore, you may not miss me being at my blog, but you may not see my comments on yours for a little bit.

I really dislike feeling disconnected from you, but it is a must. Last night I had my final breakdown, emotional moment of "I've going in circles and have no time for anything!" My poor husband, he does not yet know how to handle these intense crying episodes. I generally don't cry...as I try to hold it all in, but when I do...WATCH OUT! lol

Here is the short list of things I need to get done before I will begin blogging (reading and writing on Blogger) again:

1) Finish writing the 130 thank-you notes that remain from my "new town" shower.
2) Catch up on all of the laundry and ironing that has been piling up.
3) Finish creating jewelry for salon #1 inventory.
4) Clean and organize our home office.
5) Establish a workout plan and make a habit to follow it.
6) Be in bed by 10:30 (this will come by force turned habit :D )
7) Continue my weekday streak of getting up by 6 and have time with God before starting
my day.
8) Catch up with family and friends via telephone.
9) Strive to "make my house a home" that my husband feels stress-free and cozy in.
10) Spend quality time with my favorite person in the world, my sweet husband, Jonathan.

I will miss you all. Please remember, if I haven't been commenting on your blog for while....it's not you.....it's me :D I will be back before you know it with some interesting posts and a GIVEAWAY! I'm so excited!

May the Lord be honored in this time.

Speaking of my sweet husband......

Homeschooling Essay: Part 2

2009-01-25T12:53:00.006-05:00

Part 2 of "Home Schooling Benefits and Stereotyping"

Although an anti-homeschooler might come to light on what the benefits of home schooling are, there is still much stereotyping that people cannot seem to get past in order to accept home schooling as being a successful means for education. Dr. Ray put it wonderfully in his article “Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us.” He states, “Recognize that you may hold biases and prejudices you do not recognize. After all, about five American generations have been attending age-segregated, institutional places of learning for 12 years of our lives…” Ray concludes that the very persons reading his article probably have spent 16 years in public institutions (Ray 2004). He is right on target because, in general, people do not like things they are unfamiliar with. If it is different, then the people who practice it must be different, leading to negative stereotypes.

One common stereotype is that children who are home schooled are unsocialized. If being socialized means that one must spend seven hours a day with twenty-five other students at his or her same maturity level, then I would say, yes, home schooled children are unsocialized, but that’s not what that “unsocialized” means. In fact, what age group one socializes with is irrelevant in determining if one is socialized or not. Home schooling children tend to spend more time with people of all different ages. Patricia Lines states that most participate in church groups, clubs, and associations. Many volunteer within their communities. Lines also includes that parents who home school their children are very involved in politics, volunteering, and attending public meetings and events (Lines 2001). Linda Montgomery (1989) adds in Ray’s article that home schoolers are also involved in music lessons, sports, jobs, and other activities. She feels that home schooling nurtures leadership just as well, if not better, than the conventional system, that being public schooling (Ray 2004).

Home schoolers not only face the stereotype of being unsocialized, but also face the question “are you really educated?” Many people believe that a student not taught by a college graduate cannot be successful academically. Researches show that children in home school families with low income and with parents with little education, on average score higher than state-school averages (Ray 2000, 2004). Keeping in mind that state-schools are being taught by professionals, and home school students are often not taught by professionals, the results from this study go against the belief that students educated by their low-educated parents are set up for failure.

Not only did these researchers find results defying the stereotype, but ACT and SAT scores also illustrated these same results defying the stereotype. A study done by researchers Galloway (1998), Gray (1998), and Jenkins (1998) found that the average first-year GPAs, credits earned in the first year, ACT Composite test scores, and ACT English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science and Reasoning test scores were all higher than traditional high school graduates (Jones and Gloeckner, 2004). The three studies also found that those educated at home performed as well or better than institutional-school graduates at college level. As it turns out, studies actually prove those who oppose home schooling based on academic concerns are wrong.

Now that we have established that home schooled students perform just as well as traditionally schooled students academically, what about the stereotype that home schoolers are emotionally unsound. Numerous studies show that home schooled students are developing very well emotionally and psychologically. The idea that home schooled students are weird is often wrongly prejudging a home schooled student. If one is said to be weird, who is he or she being compared to that makes them weird? After all, what one person thinks is normal, another thinks is weird and vise versa. In our country, we encourage children to be themselves, yet when it comes to home schooling we automatically want to isolate them and say, “Oh that’s right, you were home schooled.”

Meredith, a 14-year old in Susannah Sheffer’s (1995) study, as reported by Ray (2004) said:

I was worried that I would become a typical teenager if I went to school,” and “I think
that people would have seen school as an opportunity for me to ‘be like everyone else.’
But I didn’t want to be like everybody else. (p. 7)

For the most part, home schooling students do have self-confidence and the desire to strive to develop and grow as a person. J. Gary Knowles found that adults that were home-educated tended to be involved in entrepreneurial and professional businesses. The home schooling students he studied were very independent and strongly emphasized the importance of family life (Ray 2004). There is so much concern with whether or not students who are home schooled can actually take on the real world. Responsibility often comes from being around the home and taking on personal responsibilities that are necessary in keeping a home functioning properly.

To say that all home schoolers will fall short academically, socially, emotionally and psychologically, is quite arbitrary. With the growing number of students being home-educated, it is very important for people to stop prejudging home schooled students and look at the facts. Fighting the stereotypes of home schoolers should constantly be on the minds of parents who home school. Parents need to nurture and grow their children into self-confident individuals with values that are important to them. To home school a child means that one gets to work closely with his or her child and watch them grow, learn, and develop into a wonderful contribution to this world. Home schooling a child also means being set apart and often ridiculed. However, to see the “ah-ha” effect on your child’s face, and to see that they “get” something and they will grow from that, is very rewarding. The benefits are numerous, but to see those benefits, the stereotypes must be eliminated.

Bibliography*

Ensigh, Jacque (April 1998). Defying the Stereotypes of Special Education: Homeschool
Students. Southern Connecticut University: American Educational Research Association, 4-8

Jones, Dr. Paul and Gloeckener, Dr. Gene (Spring 2004). First-Year College Performance: A
Study of Home School Graduates and Traditional School Graduates. The Journal of College
and Admission, 17-19.

Lines, Patricia M. (2001). Homeschooling. Eric Development Team, 1-7. Eugene, OR: Eric
Clearinghouse on Educational Management.

Ray, Dr. Brian D. (Fall 2004). Homeschoolers Onto College: What Research Shows Us. The
Journal of College Admission, 5-10.

Please excuse my Bibliography formatting, it's hard to fix in Blogger :D

Homeschooling Essay: Part 1

2009-01-23T22:32:00.005-05:00

For one of my Education courses at the state university I attended, I wrote an essay defending "Homeschooling." I'd like to share this essay with you. I'm going to divide it into a couple of parts, since it is pretty long. Feel free to leave comments for discussion!
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Home Schooling: The Benefits and Fighting the Stereotypes

Mention the word “home schooling” and one will get a lot of eye-rolling and under-breath laughs. “Home schooling” is a dirty word. Do not say it, do not even think about it, and everyone gets along wonderfully. What is so wrong with the word “home schooling?” An average middle-school child can mouth every “cuss” word at length and merely get a shoulder shrug from a nearby adult. However, mention the idea of home schooling and people get nervous. If a pro-home schooler can get a word in edgewise, perhaps one who opposes it can be enlightened to its benefits while being persuaded away from the stereotypes that haunt the home schooling organization as a whole.

In an educational society that emphasizes multiculturalism and accepting others without prejudice, we are overtly against parents educating their children in their homes, even well organized parents with successful home schooling students. Even as this paper was being discussed verbally between myself and classmates, many of my classmates assumed that my position would be anti-home school. Upon stating my topic for my paper, my statement was met by “oh, yeahs,” as if saying, slam it (the idea of home schooling)! To their dismay, my confident smile was met with their dropped-faces to suggest, “you’ve got to be kidding me? You’re in favor?”

The average student in the education department would be quick to admit that the proper choice for education is public or private schooling. Professors in the education department will be honest and admit that the public education system in the United States is in serious trouble, not for closing, but in trouble with properly succeeding to educate. In fact, due to this concern of students succeeding, the No Child Left Behind Act has been put into play as a way of boosting the education system. If there is not an increase in student productively, the NCLB Act will see to it that money given to the school is stopped. Suddenly administrators are seeing dollar signs and scramble to make the best possible decisions in effort to stretch their budgets.

One has to question where the money is going and how we have lost sight of educating students without the main concern being money. Meanwhile, students in the public education system are being cheated out of learning some amazing things. This brings me to the first benefit of home schooling, if parents do not have $10,000 per child, per year, they can still afford to educate their children. As public education educates more and more children the tax payers pay more and more money to go to an unknown source. Parents who home school know exactly how much money goes into their children’s education to provide them with the best resources possible.

A study was done by Brian D. Ray in 2004 which concluded that the total annual household income for home schooling families was eighteen percent, making under $25,000; forty-four percent making $25,000 to $49,000; twenty-five percent making $50,000 to $74,000 , and thirteen percent making $75,000 or more (Ray, 2004). If the average home schooling household makes an annual $25,000 to $49,000, the parents are going to be aware of how their educational dollars are spent. This should help enforce the need for every resource possible to be used to better educate the children. It does not work that way though.

Let us put this into perspective: If the government gives $10,000 per student, per year, then a family with three children should get an extra $30,000 per year. What could a family of three making under $49,000 do with an extra $30,000 a year? A lot! Even though parents who home school never see the kind of money public schools are rewarded, their resources far exceed the public school system. The home schooling student gets immediate benefits when money is put into the educational resources, as opposed the public educated students who rarely sees the thousands of dollars the school receives on their behalf. Even parents who fit into the lower percentage, making under $25,000, take advantage of the resources available including libraries, museums, colleges, parks, churches, local businesses, and free literature materials (Lines, 2001).

Another benefit of home schooling is curriculum enrichment. Imagine the things a teacher can do with her class if only she had more time with the students without a set of rules on what to test; notably, the standardized test. A teacher with time to take her students outside for science, or to a museum for history would help stop boredom in its tracks while engaging the students in discussion and deep interest; that is what home schooling parents get to do. Without a set schedule, parents can involve children’s touch and sights into the lessons. For example, taking children outside when discussing the seasons and involves children in the change of nature helping them accept change as it takes place. As a child, I never liked Autumn; this season meant things were dying, which was very depressing. A parent could take their child outside and explain to them why Autumn exists. Sure leaves change color due to the absence of chlorophyll, but why? Children will always be asking, “why?” Parents can go beyond what a teacher takes time to teach and explain to their children about ideas and concepts not normally taken into depth. Leaves die so trees can rest in Winter due to less water and sunlight, helping them to be ready for Spring time again.

Teaching children at home offers flexibility not allowed in the schools so children can grow and learn at their own pace with far less limitations. Suppose a child is very advanced academically and strives for more information; or what about the child that is further behind academically and needs more time for understanding concepts? Parents can tailor to each of their children’s needs, unlike a teacher would be able to. Teachers have many limitations that they simply cannot avoid. Parents of publicly educated children are expected to make up for those limitations at home, or the child misses out completely. Often the latter most likely takes place. Parents are better able to use the proper learning styles that suit their children, rather the one-style-fits all method of teaching. Understanding a child’s learning style is important in insuring they get the most out of their education.

When it comes to children with disabilities, many public school teachers find themselves out of their comfort zones as schools move to all inclusive classrooms. My professor recently proposed the question, how many classes does an education graduate leave with that will prepare him or her to work in a classroom with a student with a learning disability? One is the answer. Suddenly a teacher goes from having “normal” students to having one with a learning disability: what happens then? The teacher will most likely have a hard time including the student and be more likely to fail to educate the student properly.

Unfortunately, a teacher might unknowingly present underachievement to a child in order to avoid challenge without even realizing he or she is doing so. However, when the parent is home schooling her child with a learning disability, it goes beyond statistics and learning on a conceived one-size-fits-all time table. However, the parent recognizes that her child is special and that for the child to make achievements at her own timing, that itself is rewarding and demonstrates success. Jacque Ensign wrote, “Defying the Stereotypes of Special Education: Home School Students.”

Ensign gives great examples in her work that wonderfully illustrates the benefits of a child with learning disabilities being home schooled. She contends (1998):

The hallmarks of the educational philosophies and pedagogies of the homeschoolers are: 1)focus on the whole child rather than primarily on the child’s disability or extreme ability, 2)Individualized attention, and 3)care, patience, and respect for the child to lead the teacher in both the timing and the content of what the child is ready to be taught. (p. 7-8)

This simply cannot take place within the public school system.

One of the biggest reasons parents choose to home school is for religious purposes. Parents who want a certain religion instilled into their child’s life should consider how public education plays a part in his or her religious experience. The negative implications would be more apparent given that approximately seven hours a day is spent with peers and authority with different religious backgrounds. While there is nothing wrong with working along side someone with a different religious background, if a parent is working to foster their child’s spiritually, time spent outside of that religion can be crucial. For example, I want my children to be brought up under strong Christian values. To teach my children about living a Christian life, that lifestyle would need to be nurtured under my close supervision, most would call this “sheltering”. This is another “dirty word”.

The next post will contain the "Sterotypes of Homeschooling" and the references.

A New President: Finding True Victory

2009-01-20T14:57:00.005-05:00

Today our country has come a long way since the civil rights movement. I'm sure that many people never would have thought that a black man would become President in their lifetime. Today it has happened. Congratulations, President Obama.

Although today is a proud day for many, I am nervous about what the future of our country holds. "Change" is about to take a place. Still I cannot get out of my head the issues that mean the most to me....sanctity of HUMAN life and sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman.

I pray that the Lord would save President Obama. I pray today and every day that President Obama will find his true victory in Jesus Christ.

For the Christians that are reading this, if support President Obama or not....pray for his salvation. Don't be as concerned with the promises he has made to "change" things, than you are his salvation. President Obama needs the Lord....as we all do.

I Feel Old: My time to vent

2009-01-13T16:50:00.009-05:00

Next month I will celebrate my 24th birthday. I know, I'm still a babe. However, I certainly don't feel young, I feel old, very old. I don't know exactly what it is. I just know that something needs to change.

All of my life I couldn't even mention "exercise" or "eating right" without someone piping up, "You're skinny enough, you don't need to exercise" or "You need to put some meat on those bones!"

Sigh. Did you know that it's hard being "skinny" sometimes? Please let me speak honestly here, I let you....now please let me.

I get tired of people looking at my plate and saying, "Is that all you're going to eat?" I like to get a little now and return later if I still feel hungry and get more. I don't look at other people's plates and say, "Oh my word, are you going to eat ALL of that?!?!"

I get tired of people (especially women) assuming I don't need to exercise because I am "skinny". Or that I don't need to eat right because I'm "thin" and can "eat whatever I want and not gain an ounce."

It's hard being "skinny" because others think that your life is just easier. I'm sure that overweight people get made fun of and are talked about much more. But please be aware, I've had my share of being talked about and poked at, especially in the ribs (which hurts).

I think the most common misconception is that people who are "skinny", men and women alike, are healthy. Did you know that even "skinny" people can drop dead of a heart attack?

The reason why I am writing all of this is to say that I'm going to change my unhealthy lifestyle, today.

I am tired of waking up feeling like I've been hit by a truck. I hate (strong word, but I think I can use it here) that I can't stretch without pulling something. Seriously, I have pulled muscles several times just by reaching in the back seat of my car, washing my back in the shower, or stretching my legs when I wake up in the morning. I have a constant pain in my rotator cuff that just won't go away......and I have.no.energy. Everyday I feel like I have run a marathon.

This is about to change. Onto the fun stuff!

Every Tuesday, I've going to have "Think Healthy Tuesday." A lot of people are jumping into "Think Thin Thursdays," I need my own version of this since I can hear it now.......

So anyways, every Tuesday I'm going to report back to you how I'm improved towards a healthy lifestyle.

My first plans are to:

Go to bed by 10, so I can get up easily at 7 (I'd eventually like to join the 6 o'clock club)
Eat breakfast every morning (a healthy one)
Drink water all day, limit to one "sweet" drink a day. I can drink milk anytime (Fat free).
Exercise three days a week for at least ten minutes each (I'm starting small so I'll stay with it).

Thank you for letting me vent. I need to tell my friends how I feel, I know you will understand AND help keep me accountable. I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings. E-mail me if I did, and we'll work it out :D I just really need some support right now :D

Let me know if you're interesting in joining in with me every Tuesday!

Honeymoon pictures Part 2!

2009-01-12T15:43:00.018-05:00

Husband and Wife!
(By the way, I was determined that all throughout our honeymoon, we would take our own pictures of us together. Thank you, Camera Timer!)

The back of the beautiful historic hotel where we stayed our first night together!

Enjoying the hotel grounds before we left for Daytona.

What we woke up to every morning.

The condo consisted of three walls made up of windows. Beautiful!

Jonathan brought up my flowers from the car like this. The one of the left was my wedding bouquet. The one of the right was waiting on me at our honeymoon suite.

We thought we would spend a great deal of money here. We actually didn't :(
Our first day there was Election Day. I had knots in my stomach all day, especially when I saw signs like this. There are so many random/interesting things about this photo. I wasn't able to get the McCain campaigner in the picture. He and the Obama campaigner had been chatting. Isn't that sweet?
In 2005, when Jonathan and I met, we went to the mall and I took a crazy picture of him wearing a funny hat....it was customary that we do it again. :D
Being the "submissive" wife I am, :D, I had to have my crazy picture taken too :D
I expected this in Kentucky....but I guess anywhere in the South is fair game.
What I longed for in Daytona....time with my new husband and SLURPEES
(only available at 711's)!

More honeymoon photos to come!

Honeymoon pictures Part 1!

2009-01-09T23:37:00.015-05:00

The beautiful trees at Fort Mantanza, St. Augustine. I loved these trees. This picture really does not capture the true beauty of these trees.

Me with the trees. (By the way, this is Jonathan's favorite shirt...he gave it to me, so I just had to wear it during our honeymoon :D)

Fort Mantanza....BEAUTIFUL!

The St. Augustine Lighthouse, in all her glory!

The VERY high spiral staircase. Look closely and you can follow it near the top!

The lighthouse "home". This is where the families who managed the lighthouse lived.

View from the top.
The beautiful bay from the top of the lighthouse. Notice the shadow of the lighthouse in the trees.

I wasn't so sure about being up there......

kinda frightened me....

....a little.

I discovered this gem in the museum....I loved it!

Like a Mutt....

2009-01-08T16:25:00.005-05:00

Across from my office lives a dog. I don't know the dog's name, I just know he's a Mutt dog. You know, the kind of dog that has funny looking fur (the kind of dog that reminds you that brown and black STILL don't go good together)...and black all the way up his nose?

The dog lives at the feed and seed store across the street. I often wonder if he was dropped off and the store owners took him in, or if he belonged to them from the start.

I like to think that he "found" them, and they saw he could benefit them as a security dog. So, he wears a collar and runs up to greet customers. He stops sometimes and sniffs the chickens, and often makes sure the ponies are where they are suppose to be.

Often, VERY often, I look out my office window across the street to find Mutt dog, and see what he's into. This morning he did something that really made me think.

This morning, Mutt dog took off running towards the nearby gas station's garbage dumpster. He sniffed around the dumpster very happily, stuck his nose in some boxes.

It made me think, that dog probably lives a very happy life. He is good with people. He probably gets food when he wants it, and he gets a place to live at night. Why would he return to the garbage...maybe where he once got his meals.

But we are like Mutt dog. Mutt dog was saved from starvation and possibly death. So were we, as Christians.

Just like Mutt dog, we sometimes return to our past. If we are not careful, we find ourselves wanting, desiring, our past.

We are like the dog, we have security now....hope....food (God's word)...yet, we go back to that old sin....that garbage........

Why?

"As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly" Proverbs 26:11

5 Things I REALLY Enjoy!

2009-01-05T19:32:00.003-05:00

Jennifer, from Her Southern Charm, tagged me....isn't that sweet?

Here are five of my "addictions" (or shall I say, things I REALLY enjoy):

1)Hot tea in the morning and at night
2)Checking my blog and Facebook for comments :D
3)Won Ton soup (hold the "won ton") from New China in town
4)Reading on the couch curled up in my favorite throw
5)Making jewelry

Yesterday was my birthday....I'm 9!

2009-01-02T16:33:00.003-05:00

Actually, nine years ago yesterday, my life was set up for eternity with Jesus Christ...Hallelujah!

It was New Years 1999, I was ringing in the New Year in Atlanta, Georgia. This was the year of the Y2K fear. I was there with my friend's youth group for Youthlink 2000. A big New Years Conference featuring Christian bands, comedians and speakers. To me it was really the perfect way to ring in the New Year...celebrating with thousands of other youth my age.

Two days into the three day conference my friend, who had bought me along, confessed that she didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I...was...shocked. I thought for sure she was a Christian. After all, she and I were both very involved in our youth groups, and we were really good little teenagers. I even went forward in church when I was nine.
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I remember my Sunday School teacher had prayed for me, and I thought she had made me "saved". So when I went forward the pastor of the church said aloud, "Who saved you?"

I started, "My Sunday...."

"That's right," he said, "Jesus saved you!"

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Walking through the parking lot of the hotel on the way to the nightly meeting in Atlanta everyone was embracing my friend and acting all giddy, but I held back...just taking it all in. She and I were the same....good girls....I thought.

I had arrived back in Kentucky (praise the Lord Y2K was hoax(?)) and had gotten to work cleaning my closet (my favorite pastime...no...really). It was a quite New Years evening and from inside my closet I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me. The Holy Spirit dealt with my heart and showed me that I had never committed my life to Christ...I was just being "good". I needed Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I stopped what I was doing and stood in silence, I knew what I had to do, I had to answer His call.

I prayed to the Lord and confessed that I needed Him and that I was so lost without Him and that I had just been going through the motions. I begged God on my knees to forgive me and to change my life. I fell to the floor as a lost soul bound for Hell, and I stood to my feet as a new Creation....I was HIS! Praise the Lord, He saved me!
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In Summer 2005, I went to Daytona Beach with Campus Outreach and the Lord really dealt with my heart there. I was in my second year of college and had just broken up with my boyfriend back in Kentucky (praise the Lord for that, it was a bad relationship to be in). Although I was a Christian, I had really gotten away from the Lord. Once at Beach Project in Daytona, the Lord really started working on humbling me on how much I needed to depend on Him every day. He showed me that part of being a Christian was living my life to honor Him in all things, relationships, school, work....EVERYTHING. He showed me discernment and what the world around me was really like.

Once I got back from there, things took off. My pastor's wife and I became great friends and she began to mentor me. She showed me what a godly homemaker looked like. The Lord really used her to teach me many things, including things about myself, as we are so much alike.

Since 2000, God really has done amazing things in my life. I am so blessed, far more than I deserve, because HE saved me. I didn't save myself, I was lost, beaten and tormented by sin. But He choose me and gave me Life. Praise God.

Have you been living your life, calling yourself a Christian, but having never really made that commitment to Him? Do you think back on the days when you went "forward" at the church, but don't remember why? Maybe you remember someone tugging you, are urging you to go forward...it happens a lot. Do you REALLY know if you were to die right now, where you would spend eternity? Please know, you've done nothing on your own to get to Heaven. Going to church everyday of your life is not getting you there. If you're thinking, "I haven't drank, done drugs, or had sex....I'm good" is going to get you to Heaven...you need to confess to the Lord.

You must admit that you need Jesus Christ in your life. You need to believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that He died on the cross for you. Many people "love" God, but do you love His Son? You need to confess that you are a sinner and that only through Christ can you find, peace, joy, and forgiveness.

Please know, you may have it all, family, friends, money....but until you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...you will not truly feel a purpose, ultimate security, or fulfillment in your life. I know that I really didn't. When I look back.....even though I was a "good" girl...there was no purpose, but making others happy, while I was left feeling empty.

I am so thankful that the Lord saved me. I don't deserve it. My heart is ugly at times. My attitude is nasty. But Christ gives me hope. I am new every morning because of Him.

Many times when I think upon my salvation through Christ Jesus, I think as Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I am FREE at last!" Thank you Lord, for saving a wretch like me!

Help!!! I need a meal plan!

2008-12-30T22:30:00.006-05:00

I must admit part of my 9-2 job outside of home is monitoring meal plans for children, but when it comes to my own meal plan at home...well, it still ceases to exist. This evening I am sitting down with some of my cook books and going through and choosing "good" recipes. I'll write down what I need and go to the grocery tomorrow.

I know, I know, I KNOW that many of you have great, hard working meal plans that you are very devoted to every week...please share those with me...and all of my readers (the few of you that are there, hehe!). We REALLY would appreciate it. I love learning from all of you!

Link up any of your existing posts on meal plans or blog your meal plan that you've kept to yourself all this time...it'll be fun!!!!

Christmas with the S's!

2008-12-29T19:25:00.008-05:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got to spend plenty of time with their families making wonderful memories!

Here are some snapshots from my first official Christmas with the S's!

Our First Christmas

Listening very well to the Christmas Story
First "family" Christmas

He will melt your heart!

Baby's first Christmas, and first baby doll!

Geez, how many pictures are you going to take? :D

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T21:43:00.014-05:00

Yesterday.....was my 100th Post.

2008-12-18T21:36:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was my 100th post, and at this point I'm really not concerned with that. My heart is very sad right now as my mother-in-law sits by her dying sister's bed at a hospital in Chattanooga.

Christmas time is my new Aunt Betty's favorite time of year. She was diagnosed this past Spring with ovarian cancer. She worked for a doctor who conducted an ultrasound and discovered the cancerous tumor.....it was large....and hidden.

Today she has several infections which have taken over her body, including having entered her bloodstream. Today the cancer is all over her body. Today she says, "It's almost over," as she witnesses to her lost brother-in-law. Today Charlie's eyes fill with tears as he realizes that the dying woman laying before him will soon wake up before Jesus. Today she would want women everywhere to know about this cancer.

Ovarian cancer....it's not nearly as advertised as breast cancer, but it's just as important that women know the signs.

Many symptoms for ovarian cancer are (according to MayoClinic.com):

Abdominal pressure, fullness, swelling or bloating (my mother-in-law heavily recalls my Aunt Betty, just a few months before being diagnosed, complaining of being bloated a lot).
Urinary urgency
Pelvic discomfort or pain

Additional signs and symptoms that women with ovarian cancer may experience include:

Persistent indigestion, gas or nausea
Unexplained changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
Changes in bladder habits, including a frequent need to urinate
Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full
Increased abdominal girth or clothes fitting tighter around your waist
Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
A persistent lack of energy
Low back pain
Changes in menstruation

MayoClinic.com concludes that you should see your doctor if you have swelling, bloating, pain or pressure that lasts more than a few weeks.

Ovarian cancer is becoming well-known as the "silent killer". It is often not detected by an annual pelvic examination.

Please, look into this deadly cancer before it could be too late for you, or someone you love.

And please, pray for Aunt Betty's comfort...that she won't be in much pain. Also, pray for her two adult sons, grandchildren, and her husband....and then her eight siblings as the watch one of the youngest of the children pass on.

Christmas Meme!

2008-12-17T21:21:00.008-05:00

I've been playing opossum since my Honeymoon, so I'll kick off my new re-commitment (hehe) to blogging with a Christmas Meme hosted by Charree at "Held in His Hands".

Come on, join in the fun!

Christmas Favorites!

Christmas Tree: Real or Fake?

Fake: I love it because the lights are already in it and once Christmas is over, the tree comes apart and goes in storage. No worries about where to dump it legally after Christmas.

I love real trees though, I grew up with them. Fakes are more convenient.

Ornament: I have two favorite ornaments this year.

The first one is one that my mother-in-love gave me. I love it because it describes what I enjoy.....baking.

This next one was a gift from a former employer, and friend for our wedding shower. They are painted chocolate covered strawberries dressed as a bride and groom! Too cute! As funny has it looks, they MUST be next to one another on the tree! MUST! :D

Christmas Song:

I love so many of the church Christmas hymns. I really can't choose my favorite there. I love "Carol of the Bells." I really love "Christmas Cannon" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Check out a video here!

Christmas Tradition:

Every Thanksgiving evening my family would put up the Christmas tree, and each of us kids would take our own box full of ornaments and put them on the tree. Every year my parents buy us each an ornament to go on the tree, often symbolizing what has happened that year in our lives. Next, our parents would put theirs on. Afterward the kids would draw names, spouses included, for the coming Christmas.

This year my family had to do it without me, although I did call and they passed the phone around so everyone could say "hello". I miss that very much but will look forward to starting a new tradition with my little family in the coming years.

Favorite Gift as a Child?

My all time favorite Christmas gift was my stuffed dog, Ruff, that I got when I was three. My sister and I both got one for Christmas, mine was brown and white, and hers was gray and white. I have slept with mine every single night, until just recently when I got married....at 23 years old.

He sits up in my closet now in mine and my husbands bedroom, so every time I open the closet door...I see him. *sigh*

Christmas Meal:

Christmas meal is usually spent in Kentucky at my grandmothers for dinner, and then supper at my aunt's. It very much like Thanksgiving meal.

Cookie:

I have many favorites! Every year my parents make batches of cookies and candies for my three siblings and I to enjoy with our families. My parents enjoying spending this time together and it's a real treat to get full to the brim, canisters from our parents. They are so good to us.

Place to be:

With family, of course!

Favorite Memory:

One year my brother went our in the woods when we lived in the hills of Kentucky and cut done a tree with a hammer and tiny, tiny....saw. The tree was so heavy and they had to pull it up big hills. They said they would pull the tree so far, then go back and get their bikes, then go back for the tree again....until they reached home. I love that!

Christmas Movie:

The Grinch! LOVE IT!