Beautiful Day

What a great Saturday I had! The sun was shining and the grass was a beautiful shade of green from the drink the rain gave it. Oh, and the company was SPECTACULAR!!!! I had a great time with Deann and coach Carey. Thanks beautiful women! If you asked me a year ago if I would have fun running 3 miles I would have laughed in your face. Today I will tell you I would do it again right now...

Monday Multitudes 783-798

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments , and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds...I honor and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees...Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. Psalm 119:27,48,117

My morning devotional compared meditating to cows chewing their food twice. It is sort of disgusting but very applicable when thinking about how we should bring those words back into our brains to rethink about them or meditate on them. I hope you have some time today to chew on God's Word.

Today, I am thankful for;

everyone back at school/work and mostly healthy again

a fun party Saturday night with family and friends

family breakfast at Grandma Bonnie's on Sunday

morning workouts

a sister who is super organized

the hope and faith of healing for JoAnn, Robert, Gertie, Karlyn, Larry, Steve, Rosalyce

a great Dr. Seuss day in the works, my kids love Dr. Seuss day and are uber excited

coupons for "real" food that is good for you

a slight warm up outside

the light at the end of potty training, I hope

kids who love to read and read and read so much that books get wet, stained and bent because they go everywhere the kids do

recipes that my family loves and the kids will eat AND are good for you

a neighbor who loves fabric, yarn and making things as much as I do, a mentor and a friend

local grocers that work with sisters to provide quality foods for families

a new website for a dear friend and a new day to renew her design journey

Sensible Sisters Supper Club

Are you tired of hearing WHAT'S FOR SUPPER? or I'M HUNGRY?

Come and create eight healthy, low-cost, homemade 4-6 serving meals

(plus some extra homemade goodies) once a month.

First session is Friday, February 4th at 5 p.m.

You must be registered by Friday January 28th at 5 p.m.

(we need to have time to clip coupons and buy the groceries).

Prepay for your meals and take them home for the freezer the night of the event.

Average meal cost is $8.
Convenient, affordable, healthy fun!

What are you waiting for?

We buy the fresh groceries for you at the best price we can find.

You show up, assemble the meals, and take 'em home with you.

Call me, email me, or facebook me for more information and to register.

Psalm 128:2

For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. King James Bible

surprise

Seven loves...

I'm in. Tagged by my lovely blog girlfriend Karen...

Seven things I love;

1) surprises - yep I am all for not knowing what the sex of the baby is, surprise parties, surprise get out of the house days, surprise naps...if you want to visit just stop on by and surprise me - I get too stressed out trying to plan the perfect time

2)shoes - I have too many, but I love them all, slippers, boots, flip-flops, heels- I am an equal opportunity shoe buyer and that probably goes for purses, too and books and earrings and...

3)singing - I love to sing. I am always making up songs for the kiddos or humming an old tune, I have a really good poopy song I'll share with you all someday, I know you just can't wait for it

4)reading/learning - I read everything, the cereal box, the shampoo bottle, the school calendar, the paper, blogs, books, and the Bible - I should say I love vocabulary, it's the words that get me and learning - I could go back to school in minute, I love learning new things, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up

5)cooking/baking/canning - I really think it takes my stress away to work in the kitchen I love it more than I ever thought I would. I don't know what I like better, hearing the kids say,"mmmmmm" after I throw together a new recipe or looking at my cabinets full of beautiful jars... now the mess/clean up is a totally different story

6)chocolate - milk, dark, semisweet it don't matter I wuv it all

7)my awesome God - singing and praising and praying and thanking Him for his grace and mercy on my poor, miserable, sinful, life - AMEN

I miss my camera.

My camera died this week. I think it had something to do with an adorable 19 month old. But, I am not 100% positive. It was over 5 years old and I abused it a lot.

I would have posted a TON of pictures this week if I only had a camera. I missed so many wonderful photo and video opportunities I almost want to cry, these are just a few:

• 80+ children and 50+ volunteers singing and dancing and praising God at VBS
• Pastor playing Gideon at VBS, he pretended to snore so loudly I could hear him a mile away, his wife had a baby this week so he was only able to help the first half of the week, but he was AWESOME
• half of my garage full of items for the group rummage at my church
• my son helping me load the trailer full of garage sale stuff to drive across the street to the church...twice
• my son putting a HUGE box of books on his skate board (ingenious) to get it across the street for the rummage (think physics people, it was amazing!)
• Ad putting garage sale stickers all over her body
• the fellowship hall so full of treasures it could burst
• baked goods so yummy you could taste them through the photo
• the first garage sale-er at 630 am Friday morning (I didn't think we'd get one that early, but we did)
• the lemonade stand my kids sat at and made enough money to buy cameras from the church rummage
• Lou Lou up on all fours
• my buddies who helped run the rummage (you guys were great, it was so nice having adults to talk to face to face)
• Lee's tonsils that were so swollen last night they were touching her uvula

It was an awesome week, but I am glad it's the weekend. Today it's cold and rainy and my sister is coming. I can't wait to see her.

I sure hope I can keep these memories in my brain filing cabinet for awhile. I don't want to forget them any time soon.

It's the most wonderful time...

Guess what time it is?

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TIME

YIPPEE!!!!

My kids came in the door singing tonight. I could have dropped dead and been the happiest mom in the world. They had so much energy and enthusiasm about the WORD OF GOD. What else can you ask for?

I roped my Pastor into helping. His wife is 38 weeks prego and dilated to three centimeters. I told Pastor to tell her to cross her legs until Thursday. He didn't laugh. I also told her I was dilated to a three with one of my babies for two weeks. He wasn't impressed by that either.

I am so thankful for my friends and village people who have set aside their evenings this week. You are some of the most amazing and wonderful creatures. My kids thank you, I thank you and the Lord is using you to do some awesome things this week.

Some prayer requests...

I am learning (thank you Beth M.)to use a Bible verse as a prayer. Several members of my extended family and friends are currently suffering health issues and I need to spend some time praying for them. I chose the following verses to help form my prayers.

If you have a moment, please pray for;

Callie Jane; my three year old niece who has been hospitalized (she's home now) for mono and strep. She is recovering.

Larry; Ryan's uncle has been hospitalized. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy and now has some complications that are pretty serious. We had the pleasure of visiting him on Thursday evening at his home. He is beginning dialysis tonight. Please pray for his wife, Donna, and his four children and their families. Pray also for his two sisters(one is my mother in law, Judy) and his brother, as they are very concerned.

Kris; a friend, who has been hospitalized for more than a week. She is having some complications from surgery. She is in the ICU.

My children; Maleah is feeling better, now the Gavinator is coughing and complaining of a sore throat. Both Addi and Nora are teething, OUCH!

Grandpa Geno; has a cold and needs to rest so he can get better.

Grandpa Tom; has a hernia that is pretty stubborn and won't get better. Pray that it heals and right quick. Pray that Grandpa will see a doctor if it gets much worse(speaking of stubborn:))

Jeff; my baby brothers' wife's brother in law. That is a mouthful. Jeff has lymphoma. Things are not going well right now. He is married with three small children and he could really use some healing prayers.

Great Grandma Rosalyce; She is in the hospital. It seems she fell and has the bruises to prove it, but she cannot remember it, or much of anything right now. Pray that the doctors and nurses can help her and that her children will be able to help decide how to best care for her now.

Exodus 15:26

He said, "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you."

Exodus 23:25

You shall worship the Lord your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from among you.

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are whole.

Psalm 103:2-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits--who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 91:3-4

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Blessings to you!

Belated birthday blessings for my beautiful Bible and blogger buddy and a pretty awesome friend, too.

a GREAT day in the village...

Dancing in the dark.


Two years ago this month I had just started chemotherapy and was recovering from a major surgery. I felt extremely blessed to be alive but afraid that my life may be cut short by cancer.

For one beautiful sunny day in August all my fears were put on the back burner when my village came together like they had never done before. It was amazing. I cannot use words to describe what those 9 hours on August, 26, 2006 meant to my family.

Last year, the event continued with a new respect for the beautiful richness and amazing benefit of togetherness that we received from just spending the day together with our neighbors. It was wonderful. Instead of one family, the whole community reaped the rewards.

This year at the 2nd annual Spud Fest, we actually improved upon a good thing. I didn't think that was even possible.

It began early in the morning with a good healthy run/walk and some potato digging. The kids rode bikes and lawnmowers for prizes and the parade entertained us and satisfied our sweet tooth beyond belief. There was a horse drawn trailer and kiddie train rides all afternoon. There was inflatables and cotton candy. The kids could bob for potatoes, get temporary tattoos or toss a potato in a bucket for prizes. There was a bean bag tourney and kickball games. There was a concession stand with yummies and booths selling treasures and a silent auction to peruse. There was a dunk tank and a cow pie bingo game. There was an evening catered meal, car show and live band. There was enough to keep a family busy all day and into the night dancing and singing and eating and drinking to our soul's delight. All these amazing coordinated events couldn't even touch the most amazing part of the whole day. Fellowship with your neighbors, family and friends. You can't put a price on the value of that. I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Did you miss out? Put it on your calendar for next year.com Last weekend in August, 2009. Come on over, we'd love to have you. It is too valuable an experience to miss. Maybe next year I won't be pregnant or going through chemotherapy. I can't even imagine how much more fun it could possibly be.
Daddy in the dunk tank.Taking a chance to dunk daddy.
BULLSEYE!

August 2008 - cancer free and two babies later WE are the ones who are ridiculously blessed.

Thank you, GOD!

I've worn them and you've noticed...

Well, now you can buy your own.

Introducing FLATWEAR.

You can buy it here!

I love it. I think you will, too.

I am who I am

I know what I want to be. I wish I was who I want to be. But, I am not. I am me. This is me. Imperfect, sinful, crazy, me. Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and your love.

Just visited with an old friend of my fathers. It was an amazing visit. They brought gifts of old memories and strong faith. We talked about God and his unknown plan for all of us. Thank you Lord for friends old and new.

LOVE this song by Superchick...

Some people bring you gifts
Some bring you bricks to weigh you down
So they can swim a little higher while you drown
Some people mean so well
Their way was the best way that they found
But any other way you choose is a brick that weighs you down

So tell me what do I do with this backpack full of bricks
Of sticks and stones and words that stuck to me like ticks

Let it go, let it be, brick by brick we can be free
Of all the words we saved till we were our own enemies
Let it go, let it be, brick by brick we can believe
In the person God intended us to be
Let it be

Some people give themselves a brick
I know most people do
When we compare we fall short somewhere
It's always true
If all we see is where we fall we've bricked a prison wall
Instead of trying to learn to fly we've taught ourselves to Crawl

We could believe in ourselves more
we could try for unique Instead of trying to conform
We could defy what they tell us don't buy the lies they sell us
If we're brave we can believe in what we are

Lyrics provided by: Christian Music

For the love of shoes...

Especially for Carey!

LifeStride Women's Susan Boot
Price: $24.98 - $50.99

Diba Women's Gill Boot
Price: $34.98

Just for giggles...

Luichiny Women's Annabel Sweater Boot
Price: $29.98 - $99.95