My Life is His Design

Going Back in Time - Catching Up!

2011-04-03T11:16:00.009-04:00

See? This is why I gave up on scrapbooking on a regular basis. I love to do it, but it gets too overwhelming and discouraging once you fall behind! The last time I posted, blogger was acting so crazy and it took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to upload photos; I think that just made me crazy enough to drop blogging for a while. But, Jay was out of town this week for a couple of nights, and the boys and I snuggled together in our bed and read old blog posts for hours on end. The LOVED it, and so did I. It was fun to re-read and re-live those memories, almost like looking through those old scrapbooks that have been put away. They begged me to post more often, so how can I resist?

I'll start with summer 2010, which is where I left off. Just a few pictures of where we spent most of our summer... King's Dominion! We definitely got our money's worth last summer; we were there at least once a week, and sometimes more often. This was the summer of the roller coaster for Reed. He conquered his fear, and rode them ALL! I was amazed, and thrilled for him!

King's Dominion with the cousins ... the photo op in front of the fountains!

Reed, Mac, and Lily ride "The Dominator" ... their first upside-down roller coaster!

The younger kids spent a lot of time on some of the tamer rides ...

More catching up later ... I have a sick little Miles to love on now ...

And, they're out!

2010-07-22T15:38:00.006-04:00

**Blogger was completely not cooperating with me... pics are obviously out of order!

Reed had his tonsils out Monday (July 19). Unfortunately, he inherited my susceptibility to strep throat, and has suffered with several bouts of strep per year for several years now. He also recently was seen by his doctor for stomach pains, which Dr. B thought may be from chronic throat infection settling in his tonsils. All of this together meant: time for a tonsillectomy!

We were referred to a wonderful ENT, Dr. Tarasidis. He is a fun, caring doctor who put Reed (and us) to ease knowing he was in such good hands. Here is a picture of the two of them, just minutes before heading into surgery. Dr. T decided to pose for the picture, since Jay said it would definitely be appearing on facebook!

The first few pictures are of Reed when I was allowed to come into the recovery room to see him. Jay had to go back to work, and had left just minutes before, so Reed called him to let him know he did great! He was sitting up eating a slushie when I got to him, and a sweet nurse (I didn't get her name) was leaning on his bed rail talking to him. When I walked in she said "Mama, I don't know what you've been doing with this one, but keep it up; he is precious". Do you even know what that does to a Mama's heart? Yes, I teared up. He had all of the nurses gushing over what a wonderful patient he was.

And here he is being wheeled out to the car by the discharge nurse, Lizette. I think he liked all of the attention!

2010-07-11T22:56:00.002-04:00

Goodbye, sweet Laci girl. We love you and will miss you!

I am Currently Loving...

2010-04-08T23:46:00.005-04:00

... Bath and Body Works "Sea Island Cotton" scented anything
Have you smelled this? Ahhhhhh... it is the best!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T19:03:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter from the Roddenberrys. Celebrate Him!

March Madness

2010-03-24T13:03:00.006-04:00

Just after getting his credentials... feeling pretty important!

If you know Reed, you know the boy loves some basketball. He entered a contest a few months back at our bank, and the winner got to be the "ball boy" for one of the rounds of the CAA Basketball Tournament that was being held at the Richmond Coliseum. Well, he didn't win the contest, but he did get to do it! In a casual conversation with a man that goes to our church, Jay mentioned the contest. The man then said that his friend is the one in charge of the CAA and he'd email him to see if Reed could be "in"... the next morning, he was "in"! Talk about excited! He even got us free tickets so we could all go and enjoy the games. We had a blast (and if you know me, you know that the fact that it was free made it extra fun!!) watching the game, but even more fun watching Reed enjoy this fun day.

Reed ran up to tell us about all of the free food in the hospitality suite... all of the Buffalo Wild Wings and free Mountain Dew he could devour! He is pumped!I took the above photo so you could see how close Reed got to enjoy the game... see him in the white shirt sitting just below the basket??? Talk about great seats!

My Goodness...

2010-03-15T19:33:00.002-04:00

... I stink at this thing called "regularly updating your blog". (Hey Jen! Thanks for the nudge!) So, I was asked if we survived the Daniel fast, since that was one of the last things I talked about on the blog. Yes, we survived and came out with a new appreciation for a few new foods, a few "keeper" recipes (but definitely not all of them!), and eyes and hearts opened wider to appreciate everything we have. I told someone recently that I'm so good at following the rules that I don't know if that qualifies as a successful fast.... simply "following the rules". It was a great experience though, and I'm still seeing the fruit of it some days. (Unfortunately, the few pounds I lost have come back to me. And I think they brought a friend or two along for the ride.)

Well, a couple of weekends ago we headed to NC to host a baby shower for my cousin Joey and his wife, Joy (yes, we took the shower to them!). It was a fun whirlwind of a day. Lots of laughter, lots of good food (recipe to follow) and lots of PINK! We are so excited to meet baby Charlotte in a few weeks! I made this punch recipe and it was a big hit... I thought I'd share the recipe here.

Frozen Cappucino Punch

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup instant coffee granules
1 cup boiling water
8 cups milk
1 qt. vanilla and 1 qt. chocolate ice cream, softened

In a small bowl, combine sugar and coffee. Stir in boiling water until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, pour coffee mixture into a one gallon punch bowl. Stir in milk. Add scoops of ice cream and stir until melted.

If you have tried a Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty from Wendy's and love it, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that this tastes almost exactly like it, minus the toffee! It's a tad addicting... I almost cried when we had to pour out the leftovers. Couldn't exactly bring them back to Virginia with us, but I did consider it. It really is that good!

I think that explains where the pounds came from!!

Miles can tie his shoes!

2010-01-30T14:44:00.004-05:00

Big happenings around here... no more tying shoes! Woohoo!

Day 2

2010-01-25T13:29:00.004-05:00

"Sometimes you are so hungry that the only way to get fed is to fast."
~Susan Gregory, The Daniel Fast Blogger

I'm chewing on this quote today, since I'm not chewing anything else!!!

Daniel Fast, Day One

2010-01-24T16:51:00.003-05:00

Today is Day One of the Daniel Fast that our church is participating in. We had lunch today at my mom's as we usually do, and now are on a liquid fast for the first 24 hours of the fast. We resume eating tomorrow night at dinnertime, when we begin the Daniel Fast which is basically fruits, vegetables, and nuts. I've never participated in a lengthy fast and I am excited to see what God shows us in the 21 days we'll be fasting.

So far I've only been without food for 3 hours. I'm sitting here with a growling stomach and thinking about the people in Haiti who haven't eaten in 3 days, perhaps. I also think of Robin, our Compassion child who eats the equivalent of our "fast" on a daily basis. He writes and lets us know that he ate rice, lentils, and beans for lunch at school. To be writing and telling us that, he must be eating well and wants us to know. I feel overindulgent today.

I'm also doing a Bible study at church... a Beth Moore study on the life of Daniel. What neat timing. The study was planned long ago, but the fast was laid suddenly on the heart of our pastor and within one week we found ourselves fasting. In her teaching, Beth tells us that our "Babylon" finds us in the midst of tremendous overindulgence. Our culture has too much, and it's so true. Too many food choices, too many t.v. channels, too much, too much, too much. As I fast from the "choice food" that Daniel also fasted from, I am hoping to let go of some of my Babylonian influences as well.

My kids are participating as well; for them, it's sugar, soft drinks, and dessert. Reed has also chosen (on his own) to fast from his favorite Xbox 360 game. They were sent home from church today with a calendar and guidelines for prayer each day. I plan to incorporate the fast into our school day, and I pray that they are significantly changed during this time as well.

So, day one has me wondering what things He'll reveal to our family and church. If you are in it with me, what has He revealed to you??

Milesisms

2010-01-13T14:14:00.005-05:00

"I am readin' words like it's nobody's business!"
(during yesterday's Phonics lesson)

"Reed, have you thrown up yet?" ("no") "Good, just remember, everything's gonna be allright."
(said through the bathroom door)

"Mom, I want Cocoa Puffs for breakfast, please. On the double!! Or, just please"
(caught himself just in time!)

"Why did I have to get cursed with these drop-dead good looks???"

(must have gotten that from something he saw on the Disney channel!!)

Guess What We're Saving For?

2010-01-01T19:57:00.001-05:00

September can't get here soon enough!!

2009 Recap

2009-12-29T18:51:00.009-05:00

Wow, it's true what they say. Time does fly by the older you get. This year seems to have really flown... didn't we just ring in 2009?

Here's a recap of our year, since I haven't been the most consistent blogger. 2009, in pictures:Miles turned 6 in January! (here he is with birthday pancakes) ... and he lost his first tooth in March!

We visited North Carolina and played kickball (Go Nannie!!) ... that was a fun day!

The boys each had a special part in the CHBC Young Voice Childrens' Musical at church:

We finished one more year of homeschooling... Reed was happy to be doing his end-of-the-year test!! We took a few day trips to some really fun places... Maymont Park:

Carter Mountain Orchard for a fun day of apple picking:

Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach:

We learned a new game, thanks to a fellow blogger, and played it. A LOT. Here we are with NC family at Shelley's house playing it... Reed turned TEN this year! Wow, what a handsome ten year old!

We also celebrated our 14th Anniversary on September 9th with a special dinner out with some sweet friends...This year also brought some devastating news about our dear friend, Steve. He was diagnosed in early 2009 with cancer, underwent surgery, only to discover that the cancer had returned in September. We were able to be part of two really neat fundraising events for Steve and his family. In September, we helped out with the first annual Steve Freeman Ministries Golf Tournament. It was a great day, and we were so glad that Steve felt well enough to come out.
In late October, I organized a fundraiser at our local Chick-fil-A for Steve. It was a huge success, and again, we were thrilled that Steve was able to attend. There were so many more memories, happy and sad... these were just a few highlights. I realize now since I've been uploading pictures for this post (for the past three days) that it might take me all of 2010 to recap '09 at this rate! So, we'll call it a year. Last night we rang in the new year with Steve and Lisa. We are hoping and praying for a happier, healthier 2010. Happy New Year!

White Christmas

2009-12-19T15:09:00.003-05:00

Ok, so it isn't Christmas yet, but I can't remember the last time it snowed so close to the big day! And, they're calling for snow on Christmas Eve too!

Try this!

2009-12-09T19:28:00.005-05:00

If you need an easy (REALLY easy), and inexpensive gift to give this year, try these cute monogram ornaments.

I found the idea on Kelly's blog and tweaked it according to what I could find at Wal-Mart this week. I debated going across town to Michael's, but I think they turned out adorable, and so do the ladies I gave them to as gifts! (I gave them to each of our staff wives... just a little something that says "Merry Christmas" without spending a fortune! It can get expensive buying for 12!) If you want to try making them, just buy some silver glass ornaments (Kelly uses clear, but WM didn't have any). Use a sticker for the monogram and add some cute Christmas ribbon... there you go! How easy could it be, yet so cute? I made one for myself, too and just love it on my tree!

This is Blog GOLD... a must-read!!!

2009-09-03T12:36:00.002-04:00

If you don't read Boomama yet, you just must. Here is a recent post that she did, and it's a perfect introduction to her kind of funny. I just love her... hope you do, too!

http://boomama.net/2009/09/02/needing-some-closure/#comments

By the way, you'll want to read through the comments too... they are just as funny!!!

Evercleanse Is Dead To me

2009-09-02T14:29:00.001-04:00

I'm just sayin'.

Don't waste your money.

Beth Moore @ CHBC!

2009-08-29T15:23:00.006-04:00

Our church hosted the Beth Moore simulcast this weekend, and as always, she delivered a GOOD WORD! (Actually, several!) Here are some pics:

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

On turning ten

2009-08-07T22:40:00.003-04:00

Oh my goodness, I just kissed my 9 year old goodnight for the last time. Wow, 10 years old. Already??

Ten years ago tonight, Jay and I had been to dinner with friends (Captain Tom's), and then to see a movie (Runaway Bride). I couldn't concentrate on the movie because my contractions were coming almost one right after the other. Braxton-Hicks contractions, as I had been having regularly almost my entire pregnancy, but something about these were different. My first mother's intuition. It was going to happen soon.

And here we are ten years later.

I don't always get the mothering thing down right, so believe me when I say it is only by God's grace that we've been blessed with him. With the kind of kid that he is. We point him to Him, and even with all of our faults, he sees Him. He sees Jesus in us. That is grace. I read just the other day that "Mercy is when we don't get what we deserve, but grace is when we get what we don't deserve." I don't deserve this gift, but God saw fit to allow me to be his mother. Wow, what a thought.

Reed, in you we see a kind heart, a dependable friend, a forgiving spirit, an eagerness to do right. We see Jesus in you, too. We love you so much and we are so proud that you belong to us. Happy tenth birthday...

Love,

Mama

Day Two

2009-08-05T15:50:00.002-04:00

Surprisingly, not much to report on day two. If anything, I'd say this stuff works more like a diuretic. Not sure if it's supposed to, but that's how it seems to me.

At this rate, there's no way I'll be able to do a daily update. Pretty boring. But, if I happen to wake up 10 pounds lighter, I'll be SURE to let you know!

Day One

2009-08-04T18:15:00.004-04:00

Have you ever heard this commercial?

"Do you have 10-20 pounds to lose? Ladies, do you ever feel bloated? Do you ever say 'I feel fat today'?"

Actually ~ yes, yes, and YES!

I hear this almost every morning on the radio. The commercial is for a product called Ever Cleanse. The company promises weight loss, along with increased energy and beautiful skin. That's all I need to hear ~ sign me up! I always consider it for a few seconds when I hear the ad, and then never think about it again during the course of my day.

Last night during a Wal-Mart run, I saw some Ever Cleanse on the shelf and decided to give it a try. Today is Day One. So far, so good. (It has only been 2 hours or so... I may change my mind later!) At the risk of TMI, (who really reads this besides my mom and Lisa anyway?? Oh yeah, and Jen; I'm ok with her knowing about this!) I plan to blog about my experience and hopefully by the end of the program will have some fabulous results to share. Did I mention "belly fat" is supposed to disappear?!?

Here's to a healthy colon!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

Our Summer So Far, in Pictures

2009-07-09T13:47:00.004-04:00

Celebrated Father's Day by the pool...

Enjoyed a mini-vacation to Nags Head... Miles caught his first fish... saw the wild horses at Corolla for the first time... lazy days fishing on the beach...

... and hanging out in the hammock... ahhh, summer!

A must-try recipe

2009-06-11T12:38:00.002-04:00

If you love banana bread like I do, this recipe is a must-try. I found it from another blogger, who had found it in a magazine. Supposedly it's Amy Grant's Grandma's recipe.

Grandma Grant's Banana Bread
1 cup sugar
1 stick softened butter
2 eggs
3 bananas, sliced
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream sugar and butter. Mix in remaining ingredients, and pour into a greased loaf pan. Place pan in a cold oven. Set oven to 300*F and bake 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely.

Easy, easy, easy, and soooo good! I should have taken a picture, but honestly, it didn't last very long! Reed loved it as much as I did. We both agree that next time we'll have to add chocolate chips. Enjoy!

What We've Been Up to

2009-05-27T12:28:00.008-04:00

I haven't written lately, but that doesn't mean we haven't been doing anything worth sharing. Here's a sample of what we've been doing:

Our neighborhood had a yard sale... Reed and Miles had both chosen some toys to sell, so they both made a little money. Since it was immediately burning a hole in their pockets (they don't get that from me!), they walked down the street to check out some other yard sales. Miles bought a super cool metal detector! He has had lots of fun with this... and is looking forward to taking it to the beach!

Had lunch with my friend Corliss and her daughter Codi, and my mom. I had mentioned to Corliss recently that I wanted an old school desk for my front porch. She loves yard sales & antique stores, and I knew if I mentioned it, she'd deliver. Her neighbor just happened to call and ask if she needed an old school desk that was just taking up space at her house! Corliss snatched that thing up and brought it to me - all the way from the rivah - so she literally did deliver! Miles thought it was so cool, and just had to "do school" in it the first day. Then I made it into what I had in mind all along. What do you think? I happen to love it! (so don't answer that if you think it's tacky!)

Made this yummy lunch! Yes, taking a picture of my lunch is weird - but I couldn't resist. It was so pretty! Spinach, strawberries, chicken, and poppy seed dressing, wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla... yummy almost-summer lunch! It's so good, I make it almost every day now!

Went on a field trip with some fellow homeschool friends to the river walk canal in Richmond. Learned lots of interesting Richond history, and enjoyed the company. Look at all of those kids! And there are the moms... I don't think we look like homeschool moms, do you? You won't find any ankle- length denim skirts in this group :)

And now we're almost done with school... planning on doing our end of the year testing tomorrow and then we're all finished! Woohoo! Look for pictures to come celebrating that summer is here!

Best.Game.Ever

2009-05-11T12:03:00.006-04:00

My family loves to play games together. When my Mema and Aunt Laura come up to visit, or when we head down to Kinston, one of our very favorite things to do is sit down for a good game of cards or a fun new board game. I read about this new game recently on Heth's blog and knew we had to try it. I won't even attempt to explain it... Heth does a good job explaining it on her original post. Basically, it's like a game of "telephone" (you know, everyone sits in a circle and passes a secret to the next person until it reaches the original person and it ends up nothing like it started as) but with sentences and drawing. We played it this weekend when Mema, Papa, and Aunt Laura came up to visit. So much fun! And just like Heth, I am showing you a couple of examples that had us either laughing 'til we cried or on the verge of wetting our pants. These are from the Friday night games. Enjoy...

This was my original sentence. I passed it to the left to Reed and this is what he drew:

Reed then passed it left to my mom, who wrote this sentence.

"The eighth boy put something in the mailbox." Alrighty then. So, she passed it to Mema who drew this. Brace yourself.

Ok, so we aren't a family of artists. Mema passed it to Aunt Laura who wrote this sentence:

And that was the end of that round. Funny, huh? Check this one out...

Original sentence, written by me and passed to Reed on my left, who drew this:

Who then passed it to my mom, and - again, brace yourself, people - she wrote this:

Who then passed it to Mema and, let me just say right here... everyone should play with my Mema at least once in their lifetime. Here is her interpretation of above sentence:

And of course, Aunt Laura wrote this:

Well, of course it was. Makes perfect sense.

Did I say already how much I love this game? Round up some of your favorite people and play it today! And if you do, let me know how fun your game was!

Brag On Your Kids Day

2009-04-08T19:16:00.004-04:00

I came across a blogger today who had a great idea. She gave us permission to brag on our kids! Too often we try so hard not to be "that mom" who tells anyone within earshot how wonderful her kids are, that we don't brag on them at all. Or worse, we only share the "bad and the ugly" (not the good) in hopes of being relatable. So today, let me tell you how wonderful my kids are:

Reed is best defined by his athletic ability. He amazes me with the natural talent that he has at many sports, but especially basketball. He is so fun to watch on the court! He has never shown interest in playing any organized sport other than basketball (and homeschool soccer), but I am pretty sure that if he gave football or baseball a try he'd excel at those sports also. (Yep, I said it. I'm allowed to brag on him, remember??)

Reed is funny. He's learning quick come-backs and one-liners just like his Dad, and is getting pretty good at them. Lord, help me!

I'm sorry, (no, I'm really not) but Reed is handsome. So handsome. I adore his flawless skin (envy it, really), deep baby blues, those lips... I could go on and on. Let's just say I think he's gonna turn a few heads in the next couple of years. And I won't like it... just being honest.

Miles is an entertainer. Loves the spotlight. Keeps us in stitches. He is in his element when he has the attention of everyone in the room. This year he was the only Kindergardener who tried out for a part for the children's musical at church. And he got a little part that is right up his alley.

Miles has a beautiful singing voice. Perfect pitch, right on key. Often after we've put him to bed at night we'll hear him in there singing to himself. Love those moments.

Miles is a good friend, and everyone wants to be his friend. On any given Sunday in Kids Worship, there are 4 or 5 boys his age fighting - literally pushing and shoving - over who is going to sit beside Miles that day. And he eats it up.

There you have it... my kids rock. To participate or to read about someone else's awesome kids, visit It's Almost Naptime.

Forgiveness

2009-04-04T19:56:00.003-04:00

We were sitting at the dining room table one recent morning, ready to begin another school day. As we always do, we read out of our devotional book before starting our school day with prayers. The story that day was about a boy who had broken one of his mother's favorite vases. He was too afraid to tell his mom, so he took the broken pieces and buried them in the yard. His father later bought a shrub for the mother and - you guessed it - planted it in the exact spot where the broken pieces of pottery lay. His sin discovered, the boy apologized to his mother, who reminded him that she would have forgiven him the day it happened, if he had only come to her.

The application questions asked: Are you hiding some sins, thinking they will never be found out? Do you think you are getting away with something? God knows all about it. Confess your sins, take the consequences, and receive forgiveness.

After reading the questions, Reed looked over at me with a trembling lip and tears welling up in his eyes. "Mom, I did something", he said. Worried about what kind of confession I might hear, I asked anyway. He came to me and buried his head in my chest, sobbing with guilt and shame.

"You know how at CiCi's they will give you a quarter if one of the machines doesn't work and it takes yours? I told them that had happened and it didn't really... I just wanted to play another game."

Tears - confession -forgiveness -relief. He had been hiding that secret sin for months. He told me that as I read the story and asked the questions, his heart was beating out of his chest and he knew he had to confess that very day. The Holy Spirit was working in his little 9 year old heart.

Thank you, Father, that Your Word promises forgiveness when we come to you.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Photo Shoot

2009-04-03T20:36:00.002-04:00

We had a girl from our church come out and take some professional pictures the other day. Actually, it was a birthday gift for my mom from my sister - a photo shoot of Nannie and all of her grandkids. She took us aside and shot a few of just me and my boys. I love them...

We did it!

2009-03-28T20:32:00.004-04:00

Without a doubt, if you had told me in high school that one day I'd be interested in a 10k race, I would have told you "No way"! How things change! Today my best friend, Lisa, and I walked with about 32,000 others in the Ukrops Monument Ave. 10k in Richmond. It was fun, and we actually did it! I'm pretty proud of us! Here are just a few pics:

Before the race begins... lining up at the start line.
We were so excited to see this! Only .2 miles to go!

Lisa signing for Steve, her husband, who is currently facing a cancer scare. If we walk the 10k again next year, we'll walk it in his honor... after he beats this cancer!

Another first...

2009-03-26T22:27:00.001-04:00

I wasn't sure it was possible...

2009-03-25T12:27:00.004-04:00

... to find a better deal on some awesome jeans, but I did! Check out my Kohl's deal from last night:

In case you can't see it, I paid $5.15 (with tax!) for new trouser-style jeans. Crazy! These jeans were originally $49.50! Have I ever mentioned how much I love finding a bargain?!?!?

What Happens When Miles Gets Bored and Has a Little Time on His Hands

2009-03-08T15:14:00.004-04:00

Snow Day!

2009-03-02T21:07:00.005-05:00

It's March 2, and we have SNOW! Lots and lots of beautiful snow! Our principal (um... Jay) declared today a snow day, so we played in the snow and lazed the day away. **Let me clarify that... "we" = everyone except me** Miles' best bud, Kevin spent the night last night, so he was here for the festivities! (and you'll notice Reed is absent from the pictures... he stayed inside with a fever today) Here are some pictures of the fun:

Fun With Money

2009-02-27T15:29:00.004-05:00

Wow, that post title gets me all excited. I love having fun with money, as in seeing how much I can get for just a little bit of $$; but, that isn't what this post is about. Miles is learning all about money in school right now. In one of our Math books, this cute little game was introduced yesterday. We actually did this when Reed was in Kindergarten also, and it was fun (at least one day's worth of fun... I'll take it). It's so simple you'll wish you had thought of it. The lesson was about following directions as well, so here are the directions:

Toss The Penny

Put a muffin tin near a wall. Stand 1o steps away. Toss a penny. Try to make it go into a hole. How many pennies can you get into the hole?

We of course had to add a little competition to the game, so we made each hole worth a certain number of points. It was Miles' idea to have that bonus 50 point hole... with stars and all.

As you can see, we also stepped it up a notch and put the muffin tin on the recliner, so the judge could swivel the chair and make it just that much more difficult. (Again, Miles' idea) And we did a few rounds blind-folded. We are all about the difficulty level here. (**you might notice that Miles isn't exactly standing 10 steps away in these pictures. This was our 115th round, so we're starting to get a little lax here.)

Another way we are reinforcing the money lessons is with this cute video I found at the library. Dancing and singing pennies, nickels, and dimes...dollar bills with electric guitars??? What more could you want in a lesson? Miles liked it alot and learned some new things. Reed mostly rolled his eyes, although it wasn't intended for him anyway. He chose to sit in and watch though, and I think secretly he was entertained. It was definitely a cute way to review your money skills.

If only we could find some videos on a 4th grade level with dancing parallelograms and quadrilaterals with guitars. Then we'd have it made!

Basketball Star

2009-02-23T12:37:00.005-05:00

Apparently this was the year of humility for Reed in the Upwards program. Last year his team was undefeated, and this year, they were mostly... defeated. He had a great team; they worked well together as a team and all got along well. They were supportive of one another and had so much fun out there, win or lose.

We've been so proud of Reed this year. He really is a great basketball player (he gets it honest), but more than that, he is a great person out on that court. I can see in him a humble spirit, a caring heart, honesty (even when it means the other team gets the ball), a fun-loving attitude that is contagious... and these are the things we are most proud of in him.

We love you, our basketball star! You are such fun to watch! We will always cheer you on, win or lose. Love, Mom and Dad (Coach)

Pizza Casserole

2009-02-17T14:05:00.004-05:00

I made this last night for dinner, and it was a hit, so I thought I'd share. Easy, tasty, and the kids especially loved it. Reed just polished off the leftovers for lunch.

Pizza Casserole

2 cans refrigerated biscuits (I used Grands)

1 jar pizza sauce

1 package pepperoni slices

mozzarella cheese

This recipe is so easy, that it almost doesn't need explaining. Basically, layer and bake. First, you'll want to cut your biscuits into quarters and toss them with the pizza sauce. Layer the biscuits in the bottom of a 9 x 13 dish. Top with pepperoni slices and then top with the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until done.**

Enjoy! Let me know if you try it!

**here's the only tricky part... the recipe calls for baking for only 25 minutes, which definitely wasn't enough time. You'll notice a little bit missing from the bottom left corner, which is from testing to see if they were done. The edges were definitely done, but the middle (from which I dipped Jay's portion was a bit, um, doughy... let's just say he wasn't a fan of doughy) was not. Note to self: test from the middle next time, and bake longer... maybe 45 minutes? Even with this issue, it was still very tasty and I will make it again.

Homeschooling: How We Roll

2009-02-05T12:45:00.003-05:00

This is what a normal school day looks like:

Some days I walk into the room and discover I'm not teaching my kids, but someone else altogether, like this:

And some mornings (like today), something like this is all it takes to turn our school day into a bad case of the giggles. Like every time the word is uttered.

Ahhh... boys.

A Frugal Find

2009-02-04T15:49:00.002-05:00

I was reading some blogs this morning and noticed a trend... they were mentioning what a no-brainer it was to contact your telephone and/or cable company and simply ask for a better deal. These ladies were reporting some good savings just by asking, so, I gave it a try and here are my results:

Verizon - the telephone portion is already basically as low as it can go, since we don't have long distance service. Everyone we know is either local or we communicate on facebook! But, we also have internet service with Verizon. We pay $37.95/month currently, and by agreeing to stay with Verizon for one more year, we were able to drop the bill to $31.99/month.
Dish Network - Our monthly bill is $57 with Dish Network. I asked the guy if there was anything we could do to lower our monthly bill and he suggested dropping the dish protection plan, to save $5.99 per bill. Then he asked if that sounded good... well, yes, but if you're asking, that must mean you can go lower! Duh. I said "can you go any lower?"... to which he responded "well, if you stay with us for 24 months I can lower your bill to $39.99 for the first 12 months". Bingo! After those 12 months, our bill will go to $49.99, which is still a savings of $8/month. And, our service isn't changing at all. We are a bit spoiled with the DVR (one of man's best inventions, we both agree), so I knew we didn't want anything interfering with that.

So, to make a long post short, I am now going to save $13 a month between the two, and even more during those promotional periods. It doesn't sound like much, but every bit helps. And it only took a few minutes of my day. Really, I wasn't on hold for hours! AND, I spoke with two Americans... yay for Dish Network and Verizon for not contracting out to India!!

Things I Love Thursday - The Wii Fit

2009-01-22T12:50:00.000-05:00

I am new to Things I love Thursdays, and my first "thing" I'll tell you about is our new Wii Fit. You may remember that I vowed to be more disciplined at exercising. Walking, specifically. I love to walk, especially with some music or good talk radio in my ears. But in reality... it is cooooold here in the mornings. I sucked it up through November and most of December and bundled up, but then my sweet Jay surprised me with a Wii Fit for Christmas. Aha! I can exercise indoors now. Love it!

For the first week or so, I tried things out. I got to know which exercises were my favorites (hula hoop, step aerobics) and which ones there's no way I'm trying again (umm, most of the Strength exercises)! But, for the past 28 days (I know because they keep track of it for me) I have exercised every day and I love it! I have gotten into the routine of waking up and doing 30 minutes of step aerobics in the morning before I do anything else. Once I "unlocked" free step, I am now able to change the channel and watch the news (or more likely, catch up on DVR'd episodes of Rachael Ray) while I step. I also do another 30 minutes of step either in the late afternoon or in the evening before bed. In addition, I like to do some of the strength exercises, and the Super Hula Hoop (6 minutes of hula hooping - 3 minutes each direction) is a workout!

I wish I could say I've dropped those 10 pounds already. I haven't, but I can tell a difference in the way my clothes are fitting, and that's a good start. Hopefully this is an exercise routine I can stick to... check back with me in March and see how I'm holding up!

The Final Bargain of 2008

2008-12-31T16:37:00.004-05:00

Ok, I never thought I'd be one of those bloggers who takes pictures of her clothes. Like I need another reason for Jay to think I've lost it. BUT, I can't even believe the deal I just got and I had to share it with all of bloggyville.

I've been searching for dark jeans. Not too dark. Not too long (which is always a challenge). And most importantly, not too expensive. I am always up for a good challenge, and while I've seen some jeans I could have settled with, I have refused to give up until I found the perfect combination of good color, good fit, and good price. The boys and I stopped in Cato this afternoon and, I can finally check "the perfect dark jeans" off my list... behold the $7.99 jeans:

Seven dollars and ninety nine cents. And they came with a cute belt! Score! I also found a really cute top ($7.99) and some sassy black shoes ($9.99)... so I bought an entire outfit for $27.27!!! And if that wasn't awesome enough, I had a gift card that had a remaining balance, so I only paid $7.30 for my super sweet new outfit. Here is a picture of the whole outfit:

And, a close up shot of the price tag, in case you don't believe the sweet deal:

The marked down prices aren't showing up great in the picture, so I'll let you know that the jeans started out at $24.99 (most people consider that a pretty good price for jeans), then they were marked down to $17.99, then to $11.99, and finally the low, low price of $7.99. Crazy. I know my sister is rolling with laughter as she reads this. What can I say? I love a bargain and I am so proud of myself for this one! Woohoo! Here's to good bargains in 2009... Happy New Year!

Eight Things About Me

2008-12-16T22:56:00.002-05:00

I just saw this over at Amanda's, and even though she didn't tag me, I've been wanting to do one of these, so here we go:

8 t.v. shows I watch:
1. Jon & Kate Plus 8
2. Rachael Ray
3. House
4. sometimes Oprah
5. The Office
6. most anything on Food Network
7. QVC
8. lots of Disney channel & Nickelodeon when the boys are in charge of the remote

8 restaurants that I love:
1. Don Papa Grande
2. Olive Garden
3. O'Charleys
4. Five Guys (Jay just recently introduced me to their awesome burgers)
5. Don Papa Grande
6. Sibley's BBQ
7. Chick-Fil-A
8. Don Papa Grande

8 Things I did today:
1. Got a wake up call from the lady at the pet groomers'... we were 30 minutes late dropping Laci off, b/c we all overslept
2. Took Miles for an xray of his finger (not broken)
3. Had lunch with Mom at Don Papa Grande
4. Shopped a little after lunch
5. Got a haircut at Mom's
6. Made a brownie trifle
7. Went to the staff Christmas party at church
8. Watched a little of "The Polar Express" with the boys before bed

8 Things I Look Forward to:
1. Christmas
2. Our next Disney vacation
3. Buying a new mattress
4. seeing some snow, hopefully
5. Christmas party this Friday night
6. leftover brownie trifle in the fridge (if Reed doesn't get to it first)
7. the end of 4th grade and Kindergarten
8. going to church on Sundays

8 Things I am Wishing for:
1. a white Christmas
2. a full jewelry show calendar for 2009
3. to one day go on a cruise
4. a new mattress
5. good health for our family and friends
6. a car fairy to come and clean out my car in the middle of the night
7. that my boys might stay little forever
8. that I'll be a good example for them and the Lord will erase from their minds when I am not

8 People I'm tagging to do this:
1. My mom
2. Jen K.
3. Jen B.
4. Joy
5. anyone
6. else
7. reading
8. this

What Christmas is really all about...

2008-12-11T11:56:00.001-05:00

http://

I dare you not to laugh at this...

2008-12-04T16:34:00.002-05:00

http://
Tim Hawkins on Corporate Worship Songs

Thankful

2008-11-26T14:08:00.004-05:00

Our pastor reminded us Sunday that we, as Christians, are commanded to be thankful. We acknowledge that all that we have comes from God's hand, and we are to consciously be mindful of all that we have because of Him. I've been thinking on all of my blessings, and here is my list:

My family - Jay, Reed and Miles. Especially this time of year when we don't necessarily see a whole lot of Daddy, because he's at church working extra long hours on the pageant. I am thankful that God has given me those 3 precious guys to spend my life with. I'm also thankful for my extended family; my parents, my sister and her family, my in-laws... we are blessed to have each other and to love spending time together.
Homeschooling - although I am the first to admit that it is a JOB, I acknowledge also what a tremendous blessing it is to be able to homeschool my boys. I'm thankful also for a church filled with homeschool families, and for the freedom to teach them at home because we feel that God has called us to do so.
My church - spend one hour there and you will know why I am thankful for it. Not just the new building, although it has certainly been a huge blessing to us this year. I'm thankful for the people who make up our church; for our Pastor and our staff. For godly teachers and volunteers. For the unity we have. It is a blessing. I'm also thankful for the Christmas pageant, and what a tremendous ministry it is. I'm thankful to be a part of it, regardless of how it interrupts our lives! It is worth the effort we put into it, a million times over.
My jewelry business - God has blessed my business this year, and especially this fall. I enjoy so much the opportunity to meet these ladies and give them a fun night out. I have met some really neat ladies and have seen my business grow. I'm thankful that Premier is run by two godly people, Andy and Joan Horner. I'm thankful that I'm a part of a company that gives money to support missions. I get to have fun, get paid, and share Jesus' love with people around the world... what a job!
Blogging - I am thankful for the many people who I "know" now because of reading their blogs. So many of them inspire me to be a better wife, mom, and follower of Jesus. If you haven't already, you need to head over to these blogs and check them out: BigMama, BooMama, Stephanie (and her sweet sister, Courtney... get updated on Stephanie's story here), Angie, Amanda, etc., etc., etc. These are just a few to get you addicted!

There are so many other things to list... the obvious - good health, our home, our country (which is a blessing, no matter who lives in the White House). And of course, there are the everyday things that just make life a little better... Diet Coke, dark chocolate, Christmas lights, sleeping children, good friends, Mexican food, laughing until you cry, the DVR (best invention in a long time!), gas prices that have fallen so low that I can fill up my car for under $30 - woo hoo!... you get the idea. Look around you and realize all the good things that God has given you. And don't forget to thank Him.

"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing Him psalms of praise." Psalm 95:2

Pumpkin Dip

2008-11-07T16:57:00.006-05:00

If you know me, you know that especially this time of year I love all things pumpkin. I got this recipe from my sweet friend Corliss, way back when I was a newlywed, and when we would sit at work and talk recipes. Corliss had been married almost 20 years when I met her, so she had lots of experience in the kitchen cooking for her hubby. I love, love, love Corliss and her friendship, and I love everytime I'm looking through my recipes and find some with her handwriting. This recipe reminds me of her.

This pumpkin dip is a great thing to make and have in the kitchen to snack on while everyone's preparing the big Thanksgiving day meal. Or, a great thing to bring to a get-together this time of year. Hope you try it... let me know if you do so I can pass on the rave reviews to Corliss!

Pumpkin Dip

1 small can packed pumpkin
1 8 oz. block cream cheese, softened
1/2 - 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar (Corliss's recipes aren't always exact!)
Cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg
Gingersnaps for dipping

Mix together the cream cheese and sugar, add pumpkin and spices to taste. Serve with gingersnaps cookies.

There you have it... simple but yummy! If you'd like to see more holiday recipes, click here!

Will you be my partner?

2008-11-01T16:34:00.003-04:00

Can you help me? I need an accountability partner, and I'm thinking the more, the better! I am going to start walking again. I AM going to start walking again. I am going to start WALKING again. (I just needed to convince myself) I used to get up before anyone else was awake, grab the MP3 player and take a nice, long walk with Rick and Bubba. When I did, my whole day seemed to go better. I had more energy, I got more accomplished, I felt better, we started school on time and got finished earlier... good stuff all around. I haven't walked regularly in a few months, and it's catching up with me. I couldn't resist the weather outside today, so I went for a walk just a while ago and noticed that I was getting short of breath about halfway through! It's ridiculous that I'm so out of shape, and I intend to do something about it!

So here is where you come in. If you are reading this, please leave me a comment and let me know. If you aren't sure how, you can do so anonymously (without all of the google/blogger sign in stuff) and sign your name at the end of your comment. If I know someone... anyone... has read this, I feel like I will stick to it better, so please help me out!

Thanks!

Trick or Treat!

2008-10-31T23:03:00.002-04:00

Crock Pot Chicken Chili

2008-10-31T12:14:00.003-04:00

http://

Boomama is hosting a "Souptacular Crockpotalooza", and even though I'm a day late, this recipe is worth sharing. It is one of my favorite recipes to make in the crock pot because it is super easy, super yummy, and super healthy! And it's perfect to make in this fabulous fall weather! Hope you try it and love it like we do!

Crock Pot Chicken Chili

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 envelope chili seasoning mix
28 oz. canned tomatoes (I use diced)
15 oz. canned corn
15 oz. kidney beans
1/2 onion, chopped
salt, pepper, and sugar to taste

Basically, you just add all of the ingredients to your crock pot and cook on Low for 6-8 hours. You'll want to stir it every now and then; I find my crock pot gets really hot, even on Low. We usually serve this with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, and with cornbread as a side. Yum... enjoy!

Haiku is cool

2008-10-21T17:08:00.002-04:00

Reed is learning how to write Haiku poems in his 4th grade language arts class. Today we had some fun writing a few... thought I'd share, because I thought they were great!

Silly, smiling Miles
drawing pictures in notebook
Kindergardener

Swishing in the net
shot after shot after shot
He gets the high score

White, soft, fast puppy
fun to play with in backyard
she is a good dog

Cheesy, orangey
I could eat it ev'ry day
I love mac and cheese

and my favorite...

Spicy, brown cookies
crunchy, hard to bite into
I hate gingersnaps

Palin Power

2008-10-13T17:03:00.005-04:00

My guys and I drove to Richmond this afternoon to attend a rally where Sarah Palin was speaking. Just wanted to share a couple of pictures. You go, girl!!!

Aren't I Cute?

2008-10-09T22:31:00.002-04:00

How adorable is this new blog template? It was FREE (my love language), and it was relatively easy to do. There are several fall designs to choose from. If you want one for yourself, click on that little box on the top left hand side of my blog. Enjoy!

What happens with the staff wives...

2008-10-06T14:06:00.003-04:00

I bet you are able to finish that sentence! We had our annual retreat at the beach last weekend, and we had a blast. Frankie and Shelley are soooo generous to allow us to stay at their beach house, and we do appreciate them so much for it. Lots of laughter, a counter and cabinets FULL of goodies, a fridge full of Diet Cokes, fun games, a good movie, a few tears, lots of shopping, hunting for sea glass, taking pictures, tattoos, wearing our shirts again, practical jokes... did I miss anything??? No, that pretty much sums up our time away together. Well, except for the things that are only between us... you know, because what happens with the staff wives STAYS with the staff wives! Or at least we hope so! Looking forward to next year already!

I am mad...

2008-09-25T18:35:00.002-04:00

...that I literally just heard these words from Oprah's mouth:
"I believe our society will be held accountable for how we treat the least of these". Sounds good? Sounds noble? Y'all, she was talking about DOGS. I am all for kindness to animals, but please. She is so utterly clueless. She is right, we will be held accountable for how we treat the least of these... Jesus said that in the Bible. But, he was talking about human life. Babies. Not animals.

Pray for Oprah.

Disney '08

2008-09-17T16:25:00.012-04:00

Well, as always, Disney World did not disappoint. We were blessed with good weather 4 out of our 6 days, and the days that it did rain, we were finishing up the parks when it started. I have so many (200+!) pictures that I'd love to share, but have to choose just a few favorites. I am also considering starting a separate blog all about WDW... more to come on that if it ever happens.

My favorite day, I think, was Tuesday (our 13th anniversary, by the way) when we spent the day at Epcot. We headed straight to the Soarin' ride first, since it is one of our favorites. Then, we stood in a long line to see Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip and Dale... it was worth the wait to see all of them at once!

We had read of a place called "Club Cool" where you can sample Coke products from several different countries, so we set out to find it. Needless to say from the pictures, a few of them were n-a-s-t-y!! It was fun, though!

We headed to Mexico for some yummy lunch (although not nearly as good as my fave Don Papa Grande)... and then into the Mexico pavillion for the new boat ride.

As we're looking around "Mexico", I spotted a familiar face. I wasn't positive that it was him, so I asked Jay, who confirmed that he thought it was. What to do? We were standing about two feet away, and he was taking some video of his kids playing. Bother him? Not bother him? I begged Jay to speak to him, since I wasn't about to approach him first and at about that time they caught each other's eyes. Jay asked if he was who we thought he was, and he said yes!

Just in case you don't know his face, you will know his voice... or at least this song:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70gwFcSK9k

Yes! It was Bart Millard, the lead singer of the group Mercy Me. Awesome. It's so cool to run into famous people when you least expect it. He was super nice and gracious with all the picture taking. Reed tried about 6 times to take our picture, and the camera wasn't cooperating. He took a look at it, snapped a picture of Reed which came out great, and then we finally got a good shot. We said our "goodbyes" and "thanks" and again, "we love your music"s, and totally felt like stalkers as we ended up behind his family on the boat ride. We realized that we hadn't asked for an autograph, but opted not to approach him again. I am sure he had had enough of us!

After Epcot we headed to the Wilderness Lodge for dinner at "Whispering Canyon"; a fun restaurant with delicious food. Our waitress had us stand in front of the entire restaurant and reenact our wedding kiss... embarrasing? I'm so glad Reed was there to get the picture. Happy #13 to us!

Reed and Miles also rode a few "firsts"... they both rode Space Mountain

and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for the first time.

And, all three of us braved Expedition Everest! Yikes... I'm glad I did it, but not sure that I'll be doing it ever again. Jay was so proud of us!

We stayed on site at Pop Century Resort this time and we loved it. The boys loved the pools, and the Goofy Geysers. And, we had mugs that were refillable... slushies every day, anyone? Slushies for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you want? And as a bedtime snack? They LOVED it!

Well, those were just a few highlights... here's to next time!

The Jonas Brothers, the beach, and a new school year

2008-09-03T12:18:00.008-04:00

What do these things have in common? They're all things that I haven't written about yet!

Jay and I surprised the boys with tickets to see the Jonas Brothers in August. The concert was in Va. Beach, and Jay was able to take the day off from work so we could drive down early and spend the whole day there. We had never been there, so we took our time and enjoyed the beach and the sights. The concert was FABULOUS, and we all had a great time! No cameras were allowed, so unfortunately I don't have any pictures of that to share. My sister took her kids, too, as well as some friends, so we all sang and danced the night away together. Good times, and very sweet memories.

We spent Labor Day weekend at the beach with Jay's family. We drove down to Corolla for the day with my sister and her family, where Reed got to try his hand at fishing. No luck that day, but they had a blast! At one point all 10 of us were in the water together, jumping the waves and having fun. Corolla is where the wild horses live, and they can usually be seen roaming the beach. We didn't see any horses, but plenty of evidence that they had been there! More fun memories that I hope they'll remember.

And, yesterday was the first day of the school year for us. Miles started Kindergarten! He did a great job, although 30 minutes into it was wanting and needing a break. Actually, his exact quote was "this is torture!"... drama much? He perked up when it was time for the crayons to come out. Reed is in 4th grade this year, and so far, so good! He's an old pro at this school thing, as he reminded Miles of yesterday. "Just wait until you get in the 4th grade, Miles!"

That's what we've been up to lately. We are heading out this Sunday for a week in Disney World, as long as hurricanes Hannah, Ike, and Josephine cooperate with our vacation plans! More pictures to come soon...

Birthday fun

2008-08-13T13:15:00.003-04:00

A few pictures of Reed's birthday pool party/sleepover. The weather was perfect, everyone had a great time, and the party was a success! Happy 9th birthday to my sweet Reed!

Even if he seems all grown up

2008-07-30T15:36:00.002-04:00

Reminder to self: he's still my baby.

We're gonna miss this

2008-07-24T23:38:00.002-04:00

Lately I've been thinking about how very fast time is flying by, especially since Reed will be 9 in just two weeks. How? When did it happen?

That being said, I cannot for the life of me listen to this Trace Adkins song without losing it. Just read these words:

"You're gonna miss this/ you're gonna want this back
you're gonna wish these days/ hadn't gone by so fast,
these are some good times/ so take a good look around
you may not know it now/ but you're gonna miss this"

It's so easy to speed through each day, each week, each month without really enjoying these good times. My boys will never be 8 and 5 again. And I will miss it one day.

Pictures of the 4th on the 19th

2008-07-19T22:49:00.005-04:00

I'm not sure why, but I just realized that I never posted about our trip to the beach for the 4th of July. We went to Nags Head, where Jay's parents recently bought a beach house! It is so beautiful; Linda has done a great job decorating it. We had a wonderful time, relaxing and hanging out as a family. Shelley and her family were down for the 4th, too, so it was neat to meet them on the beach for a few hours each day. We watched a few fireworks from their deck and then drove the 2 miles back to our place to watch the rest. Here is our trip in photos...

VBS '08

2008-07-16T17:01:00.004-04:00

I thought I'd share a few pictures from VBS this year. The theme was "Power Lab", and Jay was "Professor Wilmer"... the crazy scientist who messed up all of the experiments and made the kids laugh. I wish I had pictures of the toilet paperlauncher that he made; the kids loved it! Reed and Brad having fun at VBS

Quiet

2008-07-15T20:50:00.002-04:00

It's quiet in our house right now. Both of the boys have gone to spend the night with friends; it's Miles' first sleepover! Jay has gone to help out with VBS at a church about 45 minutes away. He'll be home soon, but for now, it's just crazy quiet around here. For a homeschooling mama who is always with her kids, it feels weird to not have them around.

But I never said I didn't like the quiet.

Every now and then.

WFMW - free samples!

2008-07-09T15:14:00.002-04:00

Ok, so for those of you who know me well, this won't come as a surprise... I am frugal. With a capital "F". Jay says I'm cheap, but that just sounds so wrong. I am definitely frugal, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it! And for the frugal, you can't beat FREE!!! So, for this week's "Works for me Wednesday", I'm sharing a link that will get you free samples of all kinds of products. WalMart.com/samples is an easy site to use, the samples arrive in just a few short weeks, and best of all, it's free! Of course, a sample is a sample, so it isn't like we're getting a huge box of cereal or an entire bottle of lotion for free. However, most of the products are for new items and I always like to try something to see if I like it before shelling out the cash.

Works for me! For more "Works for me Wednesday" ideas, go here.

Quick Energy Pick-Ups

2008-07-02T14:38:00.003-04:00

Today over at Shannon's, she is asking for our favorite recipes with 5 ingredients or less. I'll be honest and tell you that I haven't made these in years, but that may change soon because I remember these being very yummy. I actually got this recipe in the 7th grade from a home ec. class. Let me know if you've ever heard of them.

Quick Energy Pick-Ups

3-4 squares graham crackers (can substitute quick oats)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
3 Tb. milk

Mix together first four ingredients. Place mixture in refrigerator for 20-30 minutes until firm. Using a 1/4 tsp., scoop mixture and form a small ball. Roll balls into crushed graham crackers (or oats) and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Refrigerate 20 minutes until firm. Enjoy!

Weeds

2008-06-30T21:30:00.004-04:00

I hate weeds. I hate everything about them. I don't like pulling them, but I can't stand looking at them, so it has to be done. My flowerbeds look so nice without the weeds.

A couple of weeks ago I was outside in the hot June sun pulling weeds. The boys were inside, so it was quiet, and I had plenty of time to think as I was busily working. I started thinking about those hateful weeds, and how much they are like the sin in our lives.

There is one flower bed on the side of our house that has very shallow weeds. They are very easy to pull out and I can get that job done pretty quickly. Those weeds reminded me of the shallow, or more superficial sins. I know that in God's eyes, sin is sin, but let's face it. As humans, we do see different sins on different levels. These sins tend to pop up quickly and perhaps they are always just under the surface. Jealousy, bitterness, gossip, pride. Always there, and the enemy knows it. He waits for the perfect opportunity to tempt us with them.

There is another flower bed that has huge weeds with deep roots, and these are very difficult to pull out. I am reminded of those deeper, secret sins that we all have but want desperately to keep hidden. Deep, deep down, the memory of them is there, and if we aren't careful they may slowly come creeping back. Before we know it, we could be tangled up.

Of course, the key is staying on top of those weeds, or sins. Either way, if you want to have a nice, clean flower bed or a nice, clean life, we must be diligent to stay in God's Word. We must resist the temptation when it comes... it will come, you know.

We hung out with some friends last night, and the subject of weeds came up. As we were talking a storm was passing over, and they mentioned that the best time to pull weeds is right after a good rain. They were absolutely right... I tried it today. So, you could say that the "living water" is the absolute best thing for a heart full of sinful weeds. They're much easier to get rid of when doused with a good soaking.

Cardboard Testimony

2008-06-28T10:03:00.004-04:00

When you have a few minutes to spare, go here and watch this video. It is a little long, but so worth it. I promise you'll be blessed. If you watch it, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Rick & Bubba in the house!

2008-06-19T22:08:00.003-04:00

Tonight I got to meet Rick and Bubba!! They were here in Chester for a book signing for their new book, Rick and Bubba for President. I can't tell you how much I love listening to these guys. I've tried writing this a few times, and I'm not able to adequately tell you how great they are. Basically, they

Love the Lord, and boldly stand up for him, and

Make me laugh. Out loud. Often.

They are on a secular country/rock station here in VA, but they broadcast from Alabama. If you're in the Richmond area, they're on 93.1 (mornings from 7 a.m.-10 a.m.). Do yourself a favor and listen... they are the real deal. You'll love 'em.

33

2008-06-13T16:11:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to my Jay... you make 33 look GOOD!
(racing with the boys on the sand dunes at Nags Head)

Officially...

2008-06-05T10:06:00.003-04:00

... "School's Out for Summer"! These pictures show Reed happily playing that song on Guitar Hero just as soon as we finished his end-of-the-year test on Monday. (and it also shows that he got 100% of the notes, by the way!)

You've done a great job this year in 3rd grade, Reed. Here's to 4th!

Making an Impact

2008-05-26T17:24:00.003-04:00

Some time ago, our church created a new logo, with a tagline underneath that reads "Impacting our World for Christ". You see this everywhere at our church, from the sign out front, to the bulletins each week... it is even etched into the beautiful new pulpit that our pastor stands behind.

About a month or so ago, we were saying our bedtime prayers and Miles added a little tagline of his own. The prayer was the usual: "Thank you, God, for Daddy and Mommy and Reedy. Thank you for this fun day we had. Thank you for Grandma and Grandpa and Stephanie and Daisy. Thank you for Nannie and Pop." (and on and on until he has named almost everyone he knows - and their pets) And then at the end he said "and please help us to impact our world for Christ". Wow. It isn't like he has heard us say it, and he can't read yet, so although he sees it repeatedly, he isn't reading it. He obviously heard it at church, and it stuck.

So now, it has become our family's prayer. At breakfast or lunch or dinner, whoever is praying adds on the tagline. When we say our bedtime prayers, we all pray it. I pray that it isn't just something we say. I pray that it becomes who we are.

May we all impact our world for Christ. And let the little children lead us.

Maria Chapman

2008-05-22T13:29:00.003-04:00

Simply praying for comfort for the Chapman family, as they have suffered a terrible loss. You can go here to read the full story, as well as watch some sweet home videos of Maria and her daddy taken just recently.

Also, if you aren't familiar with the tragedy earlier this year of the death of Bronner Burgess, please click here to read more. You can also watch video of his memorial service. I promise you will be blessed.

Both of these families need our continued prayers.

When I look into the mirror...

2008-05-10T21:53:00.003-04:00

...these days, I see more and more of my mom... and I love what I see. Happy Mother's Day, to my sweet mom. I adore being your daughter!

The following I received in an email this week, and I thought I'd share it here. This is my prayer as a mama to my two sweet boys:

Despite my many mistakes, perhaps my children will some day arise and call me blessed. The next time you need encouragement, let God whisper to your heart: "I hear when you pray for your children, and I'm there when you teach them about who I am. I watch you love, care, and sacrifice for them. You're not perfect, but hang in there. You're doing better than you think."

Dear Lord, help me to be the mother my children deserve. Encourage my heart when I feel like a failure. Erase my errors from the hearts and minds of my children. Instead, help them to see Jesus in me, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Finally

2008-04-14T20:55:00.005-04:00

This is our new church... isn't it beautiful?? Our services yesterday were unbelievably moving. It was a surreal experience; something we had talked about and planned for and worked toward for 4+ years. And there we were, in this breathtaking building, praising God for this place and for the many blessings that occurred along the way. He is so good.

Psalm 13:6 I will sing to the Lord because He has been so good to me.

Goodbye...

2008-04-12T20:12:00.003-04:00

... "old" church. You have served our church family well. While we're a little sad to say goodbye to you, tomorrow is our first Sunday in our brand new building, and we are ecstatic to be there, finally!

Catching up

2008-04-03T16:14:00.005-04:00

I'm pretty sure I promised myself that I'd get better at this blogging thing. Nope. And no good excuses, really. So, sorry... but really, I think I am the only person who reads it anyway! And since it's mainly my way of recording family memories, let me just catch up since I last wrote.

Easter came early this year, and for us it was especially memorable. Jay's little sister, Stephanie, was baptized at her church. We had a long day, starting at our church for the 8:00 service, then we headed across town to Mt. Pleasant Baptist, where Stephanie is a member. It was sweet to be there and celebrate with her. She is 18 years old and will be leaving in the fall for college. The year that Jay and I met is the year she was born! She was five years old when she was the flower girl in our wedding. Wow.

After church, we all headed out to Jay's parents' house for a huge family lunch and Easter egg hunt for the kids. Full bellies, full baskets and full hearts... it was a great day.

I've mentioned before that our church is on the move... literally, we are moving a few miles down the road to a brand new building. Jay has been working extremely long hours for the past few months, preparing for the move, and now it's almost here. Only 10 more days before we have our first service in the new building... it's "crunch time" now, and the hours are getting longer and longer. Last night he wasn't home until 1:00 a.m.! Whew; I know he is exhausted and we'll all be so glad when all of the hard work is done. But for now, we know the work is totally worth it. This Sunday is our last Sunday in the old building. Better grab a few tissues on the way into the sanctuary; it's going to be an emotional one, for sure. Our sweet Reed was baptized in that building a few summers ago. Both of our boys have grown up and out of the nursery there. It was the site of my surprise Anniversary vow renewal 2 years ago (I'll have to write about that one day). Jay has portrayed Jesus in the last 3 Christmas pageants there, and Reed was on stage for his first "real part" in the pageant this past year. So many wonderful memories attached to that building. But, the church is more than the building... and we will make so many more memories in this new place. We are so very excited about the move. More to come later about that!

I'll write again soon(er)!

Happy Birthday, January babies!

2008-01-31T14:23:00.000-05:00

So, in our family, we have to start saving some serious money right after Christmas, because there are eight birthdays from December 31st-January 28th! That is alot of cake and ice cream, not to mention gifts to buy! Included in that list are my sister (Jan. 3rd), my dad (Jan. 12th), my mom (Jan. 20th), and our youngest, Miles (Jan. 28th). We had a Sponge Bob birthday party here Sunday night for sweet Miles, who is now 5! In honor of him, a few things about Miles at age 5:

One word: hilarious

Energy, energy, energy... and one volume: loud!

Generous, kind-hearted, a good friend

Sweet, on-key singing voice

Always up for a game of hide & seek

Loves grandma's homemade mac & cheese, pizza, and strawberries

Is well loved by his Sunday School teachers, Miss Dawn and Miss Marsha, who spoil him rotten on a weekly basis

I could go on and on about this sweet little one. God has blessed us with another fun boy to love, and I am so very glad he chose me to be Miles' mama. Happy birthday, sweet Miles!

Update

2008-01-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

Number of us who caught the stomach "bug" : 3
Number of us who did not: 1
Number of us who slept in the master bedroom, quarantined: 3
Number of us who slept on the couch, to avoid above 3 of us : 1

There is good reason, I guess, why I can count on one hand the times he has been sick since we've been married. Lucky? Smart? He says he wills himself not to get sick. I tried pretty hard to will myself not to throw up just before I did Wednesday night, and every 30 minutes after, until 4:30 a.m. Didn't work so well. Yuk.

Here's to a vomit-free Sunday! Hope yours is great!

Pitiful

2008-01-16T18:58:00.000-05:00

Ok, I really am just a pitiful blogger. I admit it. I have such good intentions of writing a cute post, along with great pictures, on a regular basis. Life just gets in the way, and before I know it, it's been almost a month since I've posted anything. Perhaps I have a New Year's resolution after all! Well, to catch up a little, here are a few thoughts from lately, and an update from my last post..

Santa came through for the boys, big time. Reed got the Nintendo DS that he dreamed of, even though I had no intentions of getting it for him. Yeah for Nanny Judy! And Miles... remember that off-the-wall request for a toy robot, that I had never heard before he sat on Santa's lap? Without knowing he had asked for one, his Uncle Nick bought him a cool robot for Christmas. Score!

I took Miles to the doctor this morning. He has been vomiting since yesterday at 4 a.m. Even though I was pretty positive it was only the same virus that has been circling our church, I wanted to be sure he wasn't getting dehydrated, since he hadn't been able to keep anything down in over 24 hrs. Well, surprise to me: he has strep. Again. No sore throat, but strep nonetheless. I remember getting strep throat pretty often as a teenager, and I recall a throat that felt like razor blades. So, it seems both of my boys have unfortunately inherited my susceptibility to strep, since Reed had it several times in 2007 as well. Anyway, Reed started complaining a little bit about his stomach hurting at about 6:00 this evening. It is now 7:09 and he has thrown up 5 times. Fun times here at our house. Pray for us. Pray that I can steer clear of that, even though I am smack dab in the middle of it all. Yuk.

Reed has become quite the little chess player! I don't have any idea why he became interested in chess in the first place, but he has been learning with his Pop, and is very good. They love to play on Wednesdays when the boys are at Nannie and Pop's for the morning, and, shhhh! Reed wins. A lot. Pop has skills, though, and won today. Go Pop!

Miles will be 5 at the end of this month. I'm afraid we're going to have to have a SpongeBob birthday party. He loves that stupid sponge, and I can't figure out why. Oh well, he is kinda cute. Last year we were in Disney World for his birthday, so I think we may have ruined him, as far as the celebrations go. How do you top Disney World? He did mention Hawaii, but did I mention Miles says some crazy stuff? He is funny.

Well, that's a rundown on our little corner of the world. I'll try to do better with posting, and hopefully it won't be February before I write again! Until next time...

Thanks, Santa

2007-12-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

Dear Santa,

Thank you for saying just the right things yesterday when my boys and I visited you at the mall. Even though Miles talked non-stop in the line, boldly announcing to all within earshot that he was asking you for a Nintendo DS for Christmas, he froze once he finally got to sit on your lap and blurted out that he wanted a "toy robot". Huh? Never heard anything about a robot until that moment. Oops.

And Reed, who clearly does not believe in you, was trying to be very cool and stay with me while Miles made up things to ask you for. But you didn't take "no" for an answer and Reed ended up on your lap, confidently asking for his own DS.

I'm writing to thank you for your answer to them. You said it was awfully close to Christmas, and if you couldn't find those presents, would it be o.k. with them if you left a few surprises? Well, yes! Yes, it would be! Thanks for bailing me out, Santa. You rock.

Love,
Reed and Miles' mom

Christmas Tour of Homes

2007-12-17T12:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our home! If by some small chance you aren't here by way of BooMama, then let me explain what this open house is all about. BooMama is hosting, for the second year, a virtual tour of bloggers' homes, all decked out for Christmas. I wasn't blogging last year at this time, but I enjoyed peeking into the beautiful homes of many of her blogging friends. So, this year, I'm welcoming you into my home. This first picture is the snowman wreath on my front door. He's the first one who will greet you when you come to the door. My friend, Syndi gave him to me a couple of years ago and I think he's cute, with his hat, mittens and scarf. Come on in!

Next is my dining room... you might guess that I really like snowmen! You will fiind them all over my home this time of year. This is a picture of my buffet with some of my collection of cute snowmen. This red wall of crosses in my dining room is also one of my favorite things in our home. The framed print directly below the largest cross in the middle says "Wise Men Still Adore Him"... love that one, too. The snowman picture frames have photos of our boys thru the years at Christmastime, and one of Jay and me from last Christmas.

Finally, we come into the family room and you'll see the Christmas tree. I have a smaller one with white lights in the dining room, but this one has colored lights. Jay and I agreed when we first got married that we would alternate lights, from colored to white every other year. My family always had white lights, his family always had multi-colored, so we thought we'd compromise and make it the best of both worlds. We've been married 12 years and this tree has always had multi-colored... oh well, the kids love it, and it does look pretty when it's all lit up, even though you can't see any lights in this picture! There is a mix of many different ornaments on this tree. Lots of snowmen, of course! One of my favorites is our newest addition to the tree. It is a beautiful sketch of our church building, on a pewter ornament. This is our last Christmas in our current building, as we are building a new church and should be in it by Spring of '08. We have so many good memories of the "old" building, and I love that we'll always have this special ornament to hang on our tree and remember with.

Well, our tour has come to an end... hope you'll stop by BooMama's and tour some other homes as well. Merry Christmas, everyone!

You've still got it, baby

2007-11-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

Miles is 4 1/2. Miles is hilarious. Since this blog is mostly for me, I really wanted to write down some of his funny moments so I won't forget just how funny he is at this age.

For example, this past Sunday morning I asked both boys to go ahead and get in the car so we could leave for church. When I got in the car, Miles was up in the front seat, leaning forward and looking into the mirror. I asked what he was doing and he said he was making sure his hair looked good. I assured him that, yes, it looked good and told him to sit in his car seat. As he leaned back into his seat he said "Yep, I still got it". Oh yeah, baby, you've still got it.

Thankful...

2007-11-21T22:33:00.000-05:00

...that's how I feel tonight. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we have so much to be thankful for. There are so many hurting around us, so much sadness and suffering just in our little corner of the world. We know personally of several marriages in crises, an unborn baby with a frightening diagnosis, a suicide attempt, death of a parent, bankruptcy. I almost feel guilty that our family and extended family are well, healthy, happy. Instead I give praise to Whom it is due:

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." (Psalm 28:7)

And, I know that in a split second our good health and happiness can be taken away. So, I thank Him for the blessings of today and pray for strength and wisdom to face the days when I don't feel so very thankful.

Hope your Thanksgiving Day is fun and filled with all the good things you love!

Pumpkin Crisp

2007-10-08T13:58:00.000-04:00

This is another one of my favorite fall recipes. This one though, is not so low-fat. But, it is crazy delicious, and I always get lots of compliments whenever I bring it somewhere to share. I found it in a Southern Living magazine a couple of years ago. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Crisp

1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin
1 (5 oz. ) can evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup melted butter

Stir together first five ingredients. Pour into 13 x 9" dish. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over pumpkin mixture; sprinkle with pecans. Drizzle melted butter over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until golden brown.

As you can see, I'm into yummy recipes that are also easy. This couldn't be much easier, and so good! Look for more yummy recipes at the Holiday Recipe Exchange at Overwhelmed with Joy's place. Happy holiday cooking!

Praise

2007-09-29T00:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever come face to face with the reality that the Lord had spared you from some terrible event? How often does this happen and we have no idea? Praise God, we were spared this week.

We have had some problems with our oven. About a month ago, we had to call Sears to come out because it was not heating up at all. The young man who came couldn't quite figure out the problem, but by the time he left, assured me all was well. Ever since that day, I noticed a burning smell every time I turned on the oven. I finally stopped using the oven and called Sears again to come out. The sweet man who came out this time informed me that there had been a fire in our recepticle at some point. He showed me the burned cord and recepticle cover, melted and charred. He mentioned that this is the kind of thing that will start a fire - the kind of fire that you don't realize is happening until it is way too late. If you know me, you know that I have been afraid of fire since I was small. Well, who isn't afraid of fire, really? I really am a little paranoid though, a little over the top afraid. So, this realization about a fire... even a fire that did not amount to anything, but the realization that it COULD have... it did something to me. I am just so incredibly grateful to the Lord that nothing happened. Praise Him with me, won't you? He is so good. All the time.

Low fat Pumpkin Spice Cake

2007-09-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

This is one of my favorite and easiest recipes ever. It only has 3 ingredients, which is why it's so easy! It is also super low in fat; I think it only counts as a couple of points if you're doing Weight Watchers. It is also versatile; I've made this in a bundt pan, as cupcakes, and it can also be made as a loaf. And it is yummy, which is the only thing that counts, really!

Low Fat Pumpkin Spice Cake

1 box spice cake mix
1 can pumpkin (15 oz)
1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients well. It will seem like you'll need to add more liquid, but it will eventually mix together! Bake according to cake mix directions.

If you'd like to see more yummy recipes, visit Overwhelmed With Joy's Favorite Ingredient Fridays. By the way, this is my first time participating, so I hope I got all of the links right!

~Holly

Favorites

2007-09-25T15:41:00.000-04:00

Fall is here! My favorite time of the year... as much fun as summer is, I start to long for cooler days near the end of August. The rebel in me decorates for fall at the beginning of September, even if the temperatures are still summer-like. I love putting away the shorts and capris and bringing out the jeans and hoodies. This is quite a change for me; as a kid I loathed fall with every part of me, because it meant the beginning of school. Remember that knot in your stomach the night before the first day of school? I remember it so well. Now that I'm a Mama and we are a homeschooling family, we don't really experience that, but I empathize with the neighborhood kids every year on Labor Day.

So, in honor of my favorite season, a list of my favorite things about fall...

- pumpkin pie scented candles, especially Yankee

- the "Welcome" wreath on my door (I won it last year at a Ladies Night Out for our Sunday School class... isn't it pretty?)

- getting back into a routine after a very lazy summer

- catching up with friends at homeschool soccer games

- pumpkin anything : currently loving Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer made by International Delight... have an awesome recipe from Southern Living for "Pumpkin Crisp"... and an old favorite "Low fat pumpkin spice cake" - 3 ingredients, so what's not to love?

- annual girlfriends' getaway shopping trip with Lisa and Syndi

- of course, the leaves when they change... not even close yet, but it is beautiful in VA!

- hayrides and pumpkin patches with the kids

- bonfires and the smell of burning leaves

I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but that's a pretty good start.

Happy Fall, y'all!

12 years

2007-09-09T14:07:00.000-04:00

A few days late, but... Happy Anniversary, my love!

Eight

2007-08-12T15:03:00.000-04:00

Dear Reed,

How can it be that you are eight years old? When did you grow up? It seems like yesterday, driving to the hospital on the night before you were born. We had been there already, several times in fact, only to be sent home because it just wasn't time. But the morning of the 8th was the perfect time; it was scheduled for you to come into this world on August 8th long before we even dreamed of you. My doctor even said it was a great day to have a baby, but then, he probably says that every day! Turns out he was right.

In honor of your 8th birthday, a list of things about you... (and even in your favorite color)

-you are almost as tall as me; just a few more inches to go

-your feet are already bigger than mine!

-you are a good friend, and everyone likes to be around you

-you are a natural athlete, especially on the basketball court - you are so fun to watch!

-you went tubing for the first time this weekend and loved it

-you love your dog, Laci, and are good at taking care of her and making sure she doesn't escape from the back yard

-your favorite foods are "cheese hamburgers", macaroni and cheese, and pizza, among many others... favorite dessert? carrot cake, which we served at your party, and fondue!

-you love to collect Pokemon cards, and you have hundreds of them - all over the house

-your favorite pasttimes? Xbox, swimming, going to Mac's house (which also involves xbox and swimming)

-YOU ARE SO MUCH LIKE YOUR DADDY... as evidenced by the first 4 items on this list!

- YOU ARE LOVED MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW (until you have a boy one day of your own, who is bound to be just like you!

Here's to being eight years old! Let's enjoy it together, all year long.

I love you sweet boy,

Mama

Coffee, anyone?

2007-07-31T21:48:00.000-04:00

Here's another fun giveaway that I found over at Scratchin' The Surface. Click on the link here for some free Folgers coffee. I chose Vanilla Biscotti. Yum!

Crossing my fingers...

2007-07-29T16:51:00.000-04:00

... that I might be the big winner! The ladies over at 5 Minutes for Mom are giving away a flat screen TV, compliments of Best Buy . If you click on the Best Buy link it will give you all of the details. If anyone besides my husband is reading this, go on over and enter to win, too!

Jay

2007-07-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

Why I love this man...

He is a fun daddy

He makes me laugh

He is very handsome

... and he knows it...

He is a friend to everyone

He works hard to provide for us

and... He loves me...

Good times and good friends

2007-07-02T16:39:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful vacation... lots of fun memories and lots of yummy food. (Thanks, Lisa!!) We played cards, lounged around, watched our kids build sandcastles and brave the chilly water, laughed alot and just enjoyed the time away and time together. It's so good to have good friends. Good friends that you don't even have to put makeup on for. Now those are good friends! I just love this picture of our kids together, and one day I'll use it as a scrapbook page titled "Growing up Together".

Here are the four of us, on our last day ready to head back home to VA. Lisa was our Phase 10 winner for this trip ( as well as the only reason any of us had a decent meal), Steve was our Wii master, and Jay was our expert tent putter-upper. Here's to next year's trip!

Rosy cheeks

2007-06-27T18:39:00.000-04:00

We are supposed to leave tomorrow morning for a mini-vacation with our sweet friends, Steve and Lisa (and their kids). Wouldn't you know it, our youngest has been sick all day. High fever + vomiting = not a productive packing day. Feel better, Miles!

(and by the way, you know you're sick when it's 92 degrees outside, your temperature is 104, and all you want to do is wrap up in a fleece snowman throw... poor sweet Miles)

The beginning

2007-06-07T15:50:00.000-04:00

So, I've been reading several blogs now for about a year, I guess. It all started when Lisa Whelchel directed us (those who read her weekly journal) to support her good friend, Sarah, as she began a new blog. I have been hooked ever since! My husband thinks it's sad, the time I spend reading up on all of these strangers' lives. I count it a blessing to "know" these ladies, most of them Christian, most of them young moms, all of them funny and so likeable. I've prayed with them as a daughter underwent heart surgery, as one found out she has cancer, as one buried a parent too early... and I've also rejoiced with them at the birth of new babies, baptisms, fun vacations. Too many times to count I've laughed out loud and sometimes even laughed through tears streaming down my face. So, as I begin my very own blog, let me introduce you to some of my very favorites....

Boomama (trust me... you will love her... go see!)
Bigmama (again with the name thing... trust me)
Sarah, at In The Midst of It
Heth, at From Under the Laundry Pile
Beth and Amanda, at The LPM Blog (what's NOT to love about her???)
Amanda, at Baby Bangs

These are just a few of the blogs I read regularly. Hope you take the time to check them out. You will be blessed, I promise!