I missed it...

Missed American Idol tonight...bummer. If anyone could fill me in on the highlights and give their opinion on who is the next to go...I would greatly appreciate it. THANKS!!!

I had Women's Bible Study tonight...thus the reason I missed AI...so I guess I shouldn't complain. Only 4 of us tonight..we are studying a new book by John and Stasi Eldredge called "Captivating". Read the first chapter...seems interesting, but most of all I think it's going to be a very deep and maybe uncomfortable study as it may have to take us out of our comfort zones and be a bit transparent...we'll see. If you have read this book, let me know what you thought? OK...

Tired today...was up at 6 a.m. Had the girls part of the day today (it's difficult getting back to a 6 a.m. wake-up call when I had last week off) I then kept busy making dinner for tonight's Bible study. Now I'm just about ready to hit the hay...and it's only a little after ten....man I'm feeling old...what happened to the days when I could pull all nighters?!?!? Yikes!

Well I'm going to call it a night...have a great day!

Seeking....

Well I have to say it has been so nice to be able to take the time to create and do something I love...that is Scrapbooking. Here is what I've done for Dare # 20 on the Two Peas website.

Got the idea for this layout from a piece of junkmail I got in the mail the other day...amazing how you can inspiration just about anywhere.

Here are some lyrics to a song I heard yesterday (well I've heard it before) but it really goes with my feeling for the above layout...it's by FFH:

Lord Move or Move Me

I can't find the words to pray, I'm a little down today

Can You help me, Can You hold me?

I feel a million miles away,

And I don't know what to say

Can You hear me anyway?

What I need is for You to reach out Your hand

You have taught me no matter what You'd understand

CHOURUS:

Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before

Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore

So Lord move (move), or move me.

I've looked every where to find a simple peace of mind

But, I can't find nothing on my own

So I gotta leave myself behind, take up this cross of mine

Give away everything I hold onto

Lord I know the only way is through this

But Lord, I know I need You to help me do this

CHOURUS

Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before

Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shoreSo Lord move (move), or move me.

Out of this place of complacency

To a place of fellowship with Thee

'Cause I am weak, but Lord, You are so strong

And You know it's been way too long

It's been way too long

Lord move in the way, that I've never seen before

Cause there's a mountain in the way and a lock on the door

I'm drifting away, waves are crashing on the shore

So Lord move (move)...,CHOURUS

Just kind of how I've been feeling lately...move Lord or just move me...

Spring is still eluding us here...it was so cold today. Hoping Spring gets here soon!

Hope you had a great weekend!

The MoJo Finally Flows...

Well it's amazing how it's so much easier to create when the craft table is clean and organized (snicker-snicker)...I'm just happy to finally see the bottom of my craft table...hadn't seen that for a while. As my reward for cleaning my terrible mess...I was able to do these two layouts last night....Yesssss....it felt good to create again...the Airlie Gardens layout was a layout I had in progress before my craft table got inialated by my hectic life. So I got to finally finish it last night. Then the other is one I did for one of the Dares on Two Peas. It's a layout I did about a salt jar I inherited from my hubby's grandma. It truly is a treasure to me...hope you can read the journaling...there is a funny story that goes with this simple salt jar. If not..I'll post it later...Anyway....Felt so good to get in my space and do something that I've been needing to do for a while. Thank you Jesus! I have these layouts on Two Peas...so if your bored and would like to leave me some feedback or constructive critisism...go for it!

To answer Lu's question about the snow...how did we go without getting any of that snow this week....easy answer...it's called the valley. We live in the valley so the snow seems to go above us or below us...we do get snow...but I used to live in Cleveland...we don't get nearly the snow they get up there...it's funny...people here see a snow flake and they are literally running to the grocery store thinking they are going to be snowed in for days (I worked in a grocery store...I've seen this first hand). If there is an inch of snow on the ground they will cancel school. When I grew up in Cleveland, we had side walk plows...we always went to school. So funny.

Watched American Idol last night....OK...I may get flack for this...but I'm glad Chicken Little is finally gone! He was cute...in a 11 year old sort of way, but...well anyway. The three that I thought would be on the chopping block were there...Though I like Lisa Tucker...she may be a bit too young though. I think that is her drawback. I think it'll be between Chris, Katherine, and Mandisa...Ace is good too, but even with his cute looks, I'm not sure he'll make it all the way...I don't think he's found his niche yet.

Well I'm really tired...not sure why...hadn't had the girls all week. Haven't overdone it too much I think...just tired. Maybe I'm just gearing up for Spring...if it ever gets here :-).

Have a great day!

No snow yet...

Well at least nothing to get excited about. Though it is the first official day of Spring and we have a spitting of snow. That's Ohio weather for ya. Was so hoping for a snow day....still hoping since we haven't had one yet this year. The boys want one bad. And I don't have the girls tomorrow so it sure would be nice to just have a day together.

Watched about half of American Idol tonight...missed Chris, but what I saw seemed good. So far he's still my favorite. I still think Kevin (Chicken Little) needs to go. Bucky and Kellie are my next least favs. We shall see tomorrow night. Still didn't get the 50's/Barry Manilow connection. What did he have to do with the 50's anyway? Don't get me wrong...Barry is a great artist...just not sure what he had to do with 50's music.

Today was a good day that ended kind of on the down side....stinks when the person who supposed to support you most thinks that you aren't doing your job. Long story ....won't go into it. Just stinks that's all.

Got my craft area cleaned up...so nice to see my table again....maybe I can scrapbook something soon! Need that outlet....it's been too long.

Well hope all is well with you and that it's not snowing where you are :-)

Go with what you know....

Had a nice weekend. Went to the Chonda Pierce concert Saturday night. It was nice to spend time with friends and have a good time. Not sure my mom enjoyed it...she came with my sister...but I hope that she did. We really didn't get to sit together much. Only got to talk a little during the intermission of the concert and a teensy at dinner.

The concert was funny...Chonda was funny...her opening act Ken (forget his last name) was funny too. The major thing though that I go out of her concert was when she talked about going through depression...she mentioned about how Satan wants nothing moreto get us down so we do nothing...feel nothing...do nothing. That God spoke to her and told her, "Go with what you know...not what you feel." A lot of what I have been going through the last few months, though I'm not sure that it's depression....but I have had some depressing days. And it's true...Satan wants us to be ineffective. And a lot of what I have been dealing with is how I've been feeling instead of what I know...that God is in control and He has a plan for everything...He has everything planned out. Instead of getting up in the morning and feeling bad about myself...I need to go with what I know and that is that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. It was like a lightbulb turned on in my head. Like a cloud had been lifted...like the sun was peeking through the clouds....you know I can't remember a single joke that Chonda said Saturday night, but that statement she made was worth the trip plus $ 16.50 admission price. Go with what you know....

May you as you go through your day...if you find yourself feeling down...go with what you know...not how you feel. God is in control!

Feeling much better...

Thanks for those who prayed...I'm feeling much better. Must have been something I ate or something.

I'll be having a girl's day out with some fellow church ladies to a Chonda Pierce concert. Will fill you in tomorrow how that went. I have to drive, so pray that we get there OK ;-)

Hope you have an awesome weekend!

ICK...

Getting over a stomach virus...

sick...

ick...

yesterday was bad...

today is a bit better though...

hoping I'll be able to make it for the Chonda Pierce concert tomorrow.

Pray for me.

100th Post!!!

Hard to believe that this is my 100th post...unreal...but I always seem to have something to type about...

On to some randomness...

I'll be glad when spring gets here and these sick bugs (germs) will leave my house. Today was a nice day until the rain came...we currently are under a flood watch. Saw the river today and it was cresting...can't believe that already! Had to do my weekly trip to the doctor again...OK maybe not weekly, but close enough to it...I think I have currently begun to fund my doctor's 6th umpcoming child's education....Bren has an ear infection and sore throat. He has his play at school tomorrow...I'm hoping he's well enough for it.

Colton was a bit of a bear today...think he was tired. Today is usually OUR day and things didn't quite go as planned...obviously.

Today is my oldest, Austin's 9th Birthday!! I can't believe that it's already been nine years since this little...or shall I say not so little anymore...blessing entered my life and my whole world changed. Though being a mom has its aggravating moments...I love these little guys with all my heart. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!!

Having a weird pain in my left side tonight...I've had it since this afternoon...Kevin wants me to go see the doctor...but I'M TIRED OF SEEING THE DOCTOR!!! I'll see what happens tomorrow...too late to do anything now.

Wish I could find a way to make some extra money...some good extra money...that would allow me to stay home still with the kids and wasn't eBay or babysitting. I need some extra $$$....these doctor bills killed us this year.

Because of that I don't think I'll be going to Scrap Camp this year. Actually haven't been able to save any for it anyway...and I haven't had the time to get things gatthered up in order to go either. In fact I'mm lucky to get TO my craft table....maybe I'll wait until the Fall Scrap Camp...might work out better anyway. Fall is usually better anyhow.

Well that's all I can think of for now. Have a great day and may God's love shine upon you!

Idol, Top Model & Runway oh my!!

I know I've been a bit serious in my entries lately so I thought I'd lighten things up a bit...

Last night was the night for TV!! I'm not much of a huge TV watcher, but I was glued to the TV from 8 p.m. - 12 a.m.! Last night was of course American Idol...the first show of the new season of Top Model, plus the finale of Project Runway...then I tried Top Chef.

American Idol...which I caught tonight also...I was so surprised to see Gedeon go...and that Kevin and Bucky are still in the race...confused by that one. But my Chris is still there as well as Ace so I's a happy girl. Since I finally got to see the girls for a change this week...here is my pick for the female side... MANDISA...she blew the female competition away in my opinion.






Then was Top Model...some of these girls are so full of themselves...I felt bad for Gina...she has no confidence when it comes right down to it...I don't see her to last long. My pick so far for Top Model... Nnenna...for a woman of color...she is breathtaking...simply and utterly amazing! She just exudes that model quality.





Then of course was the finale of Project Runway...going into last nights show all I wanted to see that Santino didn't win...and he didn't...I thought his runway show was bland and boring...nothing like what we saw on previous shows. Disappointing, but glad he didn't make it. Daniel's line was wonderful I thought...but the winner and well deserving of it was Chloe . Her runway show was wonderful. She does some great work...even if she may be a bit flustered at times. Congrats Chloe!

I watched Top Chef...not sure if I'm going to stick around for this one...just didn't grab me much.

Well that's about it for now...I'm off tomorrow...no babysitting...I'm hopefully going to get my haircut tomorrow. Haven't had a haircut since before Christmas and I'm way overdue...though I think I'm going to keep it a bit longer....not going to go super short anymore...makes me look old I think. Anyway I'm liking this longer look...took me long enough to get it there..not sure I want to hack it off now.

Later folks...have a great day!

Awakening....

Yesterday was hard...harder than I thought. After going to the smallest funeral home I've ever been to and standing an hour and a half out in the frigid cold before I was even able to reach the door and then stood another hour inside before I got to see Peggy. I would have stood out there even longer if need be though to be honest. Though I hadn't seen her in about 3 years when I saw her I just started crying and told her how sorry I was and she just hugged me and cried...it was just so hard. I apologized for not seeing her sooner. I walked away and on the ride home I just felt so guilty...guilty for letting our friendship go by the wayside just because we didn't work together anymore. Allowing life to get in the way. I felt so bad and so selfish. I need to change...my life needs to change...I need to quit allowing life to happen to me and start living it with a purpose...not sail through it...take it by the horns and say this is the way I'm going...with God's direction of course. No more mediocre. No more staying in my cocoon...It's time for me to get out of my box and face life head on. It's time to become that butterfly! Time to unclutter my life with the meaningless things. Talk about a wake up call...

On another note, nothing like a funeral to see how much someone touched people's lives. Never saw so many people at a set of calling hours in my life. Unbelieveable.

So...I'm drawing the line in the sand today...hold me accountable...it's time for a change and that change is NOW!

Hearing it for the first time....

Have you ever listened to a song and though you had heard it hundreds of times one day you finally just 'listen' to the lyrics and you get it...and it just hits you right at the right moment. There is this song by Third Day called Cry Out To Jesus that I finally really listened to the lyrics while driving to the doctor's office today. I got teary eyed cause it's just what I and many people in my life (see last post) are going through right now.

Cry Out To JesusWords by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
(c) 2005 Consuming Fire Music / ASCAP. All rights administered by EMICMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Sometimes all you can do is cry out to Jesus...so simple, yet sometimes so difficult. Calling hours tonight...not going to be easy. But I know God will get all of us through.

Questions...and confusion...

First of all we had the boys b-day party yesterday...pictures are forthcoming. All went relatively well.

You know...2006 just hasn't been our year and it continues to be a struggle. Got news yesterday that my sister Wendy is taking her youngest daughter Shayna to the doctor tomorrow...they think she may have Diabetes. She's the same age Wendy was when she got it...and right now she's beating herself up over it thinking it's her fault and everything. Just be in prayer that she doesn't have Diabetes and that they can figure out why her blood sugar is high.

Also got a message late last night that a wonderful lady I used to work with (we all called her 'Ma', because she was like a grandma to all of us) that her only child, her son was killed in a tragic trucking accident on Friday. I'm so brokenhearted for her. She's had a rough life. She was adopted cause her family didn't want her, her husband died of cancer about 20 years ago, and countless other things, now she's lost her only child. He leaves behind 6 kids I believe...two that still live at home. It just breaks my heart. And she's such a wonderful, sweet, would do anything for you type of person. I feel guilty for not seeing her more often (she lives about 20 minutes out of town) I haven't seen here in about 2 years. It's just so sad. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. Be in prayer for the Bill Rice family...they are going to need the love and support of prayer. Thanks a bunch.

Tragedies like this my humaness can't just help but ask the question "Why, Lord???" Why do the good people seem to suffer so much and those who should don't? I know I asked this in an earlier post...These are the times to lean on Jesus I know (we sang that in church today BTW), but times and situations like this make it so hard to go and say to someone "God has a plan and this all happened for a reason." I'm just searching...wondering...confused...leaning...still leaning...needing some holding up after this year thus far...

So if you could please pray for my sis Wendy, her daughter Shayna and my friend Peggy Rice and her family...it would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

Randomness....

Just some random things today....

Here is a scrapbook layout I did last night as a challenge to one of those dares on
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com. Really was great to finally scrapbook again...haven't done much of anything in months and it felt good to do this. If you get a chance...take time to stop by two peas and comment on it...constructive critisism is fine...I don't get alot of comments anyway so anything that will help improve my scrapbooking is much appreciated. Go here to see it on the Two Peas site. http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=791724

Was glad that Chris made it through on American Idol last night. Not that I was worried or anything. Was glad to see "Sway" and David go...they didn't impress me much. Though I have friends who like Kevin (at whom I had to chuckle with the whole Chicken Little comparison)...I think it won't be long till he's gone. Not that he sings bad...he just looks like my 9 year old...no offense...and I think my son is adorable...get my point. Still can't comment on the girls though by what I heard last night, I guess I'm OK with who people chose to go on the girl front. Can't believe I'm getting into this show...YIKES...the planets are going to crash or something....help!




My boys (Austin& Brennan) birthday party is tomorrow....it's an Incredibles party....took them forever to decide on a theme for their party...got one nailed down and this is it. Should be fun...hard to believe that my babies are 9 & 7 already...where does the time go. It's so scary! They grow up way too fast. While I type this my cheesecakes that Brennan wants for his birthday are in the oven baking...otherwise I'd probably be in bed. Just so you know...Austin's with the paint cans...Brennan is in the pumpkin patch. Austin was only 6 months in that picture...Brennan was 18 months.

A lady from our church invited me, my neighbors (the lady I babysit for and her sister), and another lady from our church over to her house to have a ladies game night. We played dominoes. I love playing dominoes. I lost though, but I enjoy playing. We had fun...Teresa is a riot...we were all laughing and having a good time. It was nice...even though I seem to not like to go out or seem like I want to...once I'm there I have fun.

The men from our church who went down to Kenner, LA to help rebuild some homes down there are supposed to be back tonight...praying all goes well and traveling was OK.

Glad today is Friday...not really much of a movie night tonight...boys were kind of grounded...hasn't been the best week in the behavior dept. Though they did watch Shark Tales (from our personal collection) when the twins came over.

Well I think that's it for now...better go check on my cheesecake. Want to get to bed at somewhat of a decent hour. Long day tomorrow.

Later~

Blown Away!

As much as I hate to admit it...I'm getting sucked in by American Idol...I always thought the show had this somewhat cheesy quality to it...but I've been officially sucked into this season. Why and how you may ask....it's because of this guy...

Oh my goodness!!! How has this guy gotten through without getting a record deal?!?!!? His performance last night literally blew me away...about as much as Bo's accapella performance last year did...and that is saying A LOT! As soon as he started singing that Fuel song...which he NAILED I pretty much said...the competition is over...he's it. If he doesn't get a record deal there is just something wrong with America! WOW! That's about all I can say...Wow...

I missed Chris's performance last week and was told he was good....now I know for sure. Ace was my pick last week...but I wasn't as impressed with him this week...wrong song I think and he just wasn't as comfortable in front of the camera as last week. Now I know why they saved Chris for last. If you haven't watched AI yet this season...as much as I hate to say it...catch it. Now I can't say anything about the girls yet since I have yet to watch them...I'm usually busy Tuesday nights...so I guess I'll have to wait and see on that front.

Well that's enough of my chessy shameless pluggin' today. Have a great day!