Scences out the back door...

This is the scene out my back door this morning....After a little over a week of snow, snow and more snow and another snowfall that hit us last night...here is what we have so far...nine inches it says on the yardstick, yet that was in the lowest part of our yard...needless to say winter is alive and well in Ohio...personally I'm ready for a tropical vacation...LOL!!

My middle baby just turned 11 this past Friday....it's hard to believe that my babies are getting so big already...

Have I told you how much I love the gift hubby got me for Christmas....my iPod Touch??? I love this thing! Not only can I play my music on this thing, but I can play games, listen to radio and podcasts and even better I can read the Bible on it...it's wonderful!!!!

Well I thought I would have a lot to say today, but I guess all this snow has frozen my brain...LOL!

Have a great day all and stay warm!

Today I am...

...helping oldest with his first research paper...UGGHH!

...fighting a headache and my back and hip being out of place.

...organizing my bookmarked scrapbooking sites...too many of them and some of them just have to go...all a part of my year of organizing!

...looking through the Signature Homestyles catalog trying to see what I want to order. Another attempt at my year of organization!

...FREEZING!!! It's stinkin' cold in Ohio today.

...trying to be obedient and not eat too much sugar today since I kind of went a bit overboard with some tapioca pudding and a couple peanut butter cookies yesterday.

...wishing I was having another therapy lunch with my friend JoAnn...I love our new friendship and our bi-weekly therapy lunches!

...now finished with the February Church calendar! Woo-hoo!

...looking forward to a night in with my family...our usual Friday night ritual of movies. On tonights menu...Ice Age: The Meltdown and maybe No Greater Love for hubby and I later.

...tired and hoping that I can relax a bit tonight.

...going to be picking up my boys soon from school.

...despite my headache and feeling drained today, I am thankful for my God and Savior that gets me through each and every day!

...thankful for my wonderful family and friends.

What are you up to today??

On this note I leave you with a random (and maybe distrubing photo). I found this snowman in my yard after coming home from grocery shopping a couple weeks ago....I'm thinking maybe my boys have humungous imaginations or maybe they just need therapy. What do you think??? The Jedi Council may just be looking these boys up someday...LOL!

God is good...

So here I sit after going through my 21 day fast...and I am humbled and I am amazed at what God can truly do...because honestly I couldn't have done it without God's help. Going without sugar has truly been a huge stretch for me...not something I could have done on my own. And how it has changed me is amazing! First of all that I was able to do it in the first place again was a true God thing...then the fact that I feel so very much better. During the 21 days I didn't have the stomach problems I was having, no bloating and pain, no sluggish feelings during the day, no brain fog...I just have felt a ton better. And I praise God for that!

So my fast ended this past Sunday and I thought I would go off the deep end into a total sugar coma...honestly I didn't. What was the first thing I had??? Believe it or not, a simple cup of hot cocoa. After 3 weeks of drinking nothing but water or tea without sugar (which btw, is not very tasty) all I wanted was something to drink besides water...I had cocoa...and though it was just a basic Swiss Miss cup of cocoa, it tasted so good and I thanked God through the whole cup. It was amazing! Then I tried a cinnamon roll I had bought at the bake sale at the Upward basketball game...honestly...I hated it. It wasn't a bad cinnamon roll, it just wasn't what I wanted or expecting...it just didn't taste good to me anymore. I let the boys have them and they surely didn't turn them down. Today I had a half a Kit Kat bar that Colton saved just for me for after the fast and I was shocked how sweet it was. And how it just didn't do it for me anymore. The thing I noticed on this fast was how I don't really have the snacking cravings like I would have during the day. It's been nice and I'm afraid now anymore to eat anything with too much sugar because I honestly just don't want to go back...I'm looking forward and excited not only for what God has in store for me, but for a healthier and better lifestyle.

So through this fast I wasn't really sure what God wanted to show me, but I KNEW what he wanted me to give up...that was without question. And it wasn't until the very end of the fast He revealed to me what He wanted to show me...even though something may taste good, or seem good or you may think it is good, it just may not be good for YOU. And with with giving up sugar and yeast products it has truly shown me that though it may taste good and seem good, it just isn't good for me. And I have a feeling God is going to reveal many other things that really aren't good for me in the long run.

So here's to a corner being turned, a life being changed for the better and for whatever God may have in store.

Also...on the growing up front....Colton lost his top tooth Saturday....man...this growing up stuff is for the birds!

Have a super week!

I hate this part...

First of all many apologies for the lack of writing here on my blog...the last few months have been hectic and stressful, but things are looking up and God I know is going to do great things in our lives for 2010!

The end of 2009 was very very stressful with me going to the emergency room twice (once was an overnight stay) and Hubby having a throat scope and biopsy done. First time I went to the ER was for a supposed ovarian cyst that burst (which hurt like the dickens and I say supposed because they never really could tell me for 100% sure that that was my problem). Second time was for a very bad pain on my right side...come to find out I have gall stones and they suggested that I have it removed. However, me being a rebel and not really wanting or feeling like going through surgery (after all I AM a mom...I don't have time for a stinkin' surgery...LOL!) After seeing my doctor, they determined not only was the gall bladder a problem but again my kidneys were again infected and I had an internal yeast infection (whatever that is)....so I was put on antibiotics...which in all honesty didn't make me feel much better...so again being the rebel that I am I decided to take my health into my own hands...I threw away the antibiotics and began reading things about health....come to find out that the antibiotics I was on were probably making my symptoms worse and that it actually killed off the good bacteria in my body making the bad bacteria thrive...so I began to take action. After some help (and coconut water from my sister) I decided it was time for a life chage and a more healthy lifestyle. After the holidays I began watching what I ate and doing things a bit differently...and right now I'd have to say I feel so much better...and God has been with me all the way. Ironically our church began a 21 day fast 2 1/2 weeks ago...which really helped kick in the new healthy lifestyle I was wanting to start. So for my fast I gave up all sugars and yeast based products. Right now I am on the last week of the fast and I haven't felt this good in a very long time. So far I have lost 8 pounds (not that I'm doing this to lose weight) and I feel much better. And let me tell you when you take sugar out of your diet (even natural sugar) boy does it ever limit you on what you can eat...hubby has been doing this fast alongside me and though it's had its rough moments God has helped us through. I'm hoping that after Sunday (which is the end of the fast) that I don't go overboard :-) But I think that now that after three weeks and I'm starting to feel so good will help motivate me to watch what I eat, watch my sugar intake and hopefully take better care of me. Funny thing since starting this fast I haven't had even a smidge of stomach problems like I had before going into the hospital. And hubby hasn't had a bit of acid reflux either...hmmm. It's been good and God is good!

So the boys have been growing...maybe the better word is maturing...and I'm hating it...hating it with a passion!! I mean I know they need to and I'm glad that they are, but I miss my little guys. Tonight was a "running into the brick wall" moment for me when Brennan tells me he was too old now to do our nightly ritual...ever since I can remember Brennan and I always said goodnight by giving each other a hug, a kiss and a nosey nosey....tonight he told me he's too old for it. Broke my heart. Colton let our new dog Milo use his blanket...the blanket he's had since he was a baby....I knew that day was coming soon, but man I didn't want to see it. Golly why do they have to grow up! Colton's top tooth is about to come out at any moment and I'm hating that too....it's like all of a sudden they are on microwave mode and growing up faster than I can keep up...ugghhh!

Now I've mentioned before that I don't do New Year's resolutions...but this year I have begun organizing my life a little better...in baby steps though. LOL! It's funny how after having three kids you turn around and see your life so disorganized that you can't even find yourself...so this year I'm determined to become more organized. So I've already begun in the living room, fridge and now working on my craft desk (again!) and shelves in the dining room and so far so good. Each day I'm picking an area to work on...baby steps. Hubby already worked on the basement a bit...I think the goal is obtainable! I'm feeling so good this year and about 2010...I know God has many great things in store!

So that's life so far in a nutshell at the moment...I was sick, hubby had throat scope, which by the way there are a few spots they want to keep an eye on and he has to go back in a year and be scoped again...I've taken a bit of control on my health and eating habits...and my boys are growing up way too fast. Such is life and life will keep going even though I want it to slow down. And I'm trying to organize my life. So there you go...

How is 2010 looking for you???

Lifetime Story Challenges 2010 @ Faithsisters!

2010 is going to be super exciting over at Faithsisters! Come join us for an awesome year-long challenge of scrapbooking YOUR faith story...read on for details:

As the year is coming to an end we are busy planning for next year. In 2010 we are going back to the basics of leaving a legacy of faith. This years challenges are all focused on YOU and your lifetime story. When you join us in this challenge you will be creating a mini-autobiography. We are counting down the days till January 6th because we are so stinkin' excited about the My Lifetime Story challenges!!! Wouldn't you love to know what your grandma's favorite toy was as a child, how she felt when she met your grandpa, her favorite scripture and the song that expressed her heart? Your children and grandchildren will have that treasure when you join us in this challenge! We will start out with your family roots in January and move into your childhood in February. We will continue throughout the year with your teen and adult years as well. The last challenge of the year will be a letter to your future generations or anyone who reads your book. Each of our stories is important. This is a book that everyone should create about themselves. It will be the most treasured album of your family. As you create this album about your lifetime story you will be leaving YOUR LEGACY OF FAITH. This is an album that can make an impact in your life as you create it, but it will also create a major impact in the lives of your family both now and in future generations. As your children read your story in this scrapbook that YOU created, they will take your stories to heart. Your stories may have more impact on them than even Bible stories, because they are personal and from someone they know and love. When friends and neighbors pick up your storybook and look through it you will be witnessing without even saying a word. They will read your lifetime history and discover your of Jesus, and His forgiveness and faithfulness in your life! The My Lifetime story challenges will begin the first Wednesday in January. A new challenge will be posted each Wednesday all throughout 2010. The last challenge will be posted the last Wednesday of December. Just because the challenge series ends at the end of 2010 doesn't mean your lifetime story album is finished. We will continue to offer periodic challenges to continue your autobiography and keep it current. Please join us in this year long challenge! Some of these challenges may be layouts you have already completed. That is ok! We need to get these all compiled in your lifetime storybook. Everyone deserves to be the star of their own book, including and most importantly YOU! If you don't put some time aside to create your My Lifetime Story album now, you may never find the time. If something were to happen to you, would your legacy of faith be lost forever? Take action now, join us as we create our lifetime storybooks for the next generation to see the glorious work the Lord can do in the life of a woman that loves God! Begin thinking about what size album you would like to use for your My Lifetime Story challenge. Michelle started hers in an 8x8 but now has decided that she needs more space so is moving up to a 12x12. Sunny is doing hers 12x12 also because she knew she had a lot she wanted to fit into this album. What size do you prefer? Start gathering your supplies now so you will be ready to start when we kick off the first challenge January 6th! Next week we will post a Photo List so you can start gathering photos that you will need for this challenge.

Hope to see you there!

Milestones...

Happy Friday! What a crazy crazy week...we had trick or treating last night, then my Signature Home party last night, then just got back from Brennan's Harvest party at school...I tell ya I am one whipped little puppy...so glad for the weekend to almost be here.

Some random ramblings...cause it's been a long week and I can't seem to stay on a train of thought long :-) So reflecting on some milestones I've acheived lately...Hubby & I recently celebrated our 20th anniversary...Colton turned 7 not too long ago...but another milestone that will be acheived this weekend that proves to me that in fact my babies are growing up...my eldest is going on his first out-of-town Youth trip and Mommy & Daddy won't be there to monitor him...going to be interesting...for both of us. I'm so used to keeping my babies close and it's hard to believe that my first baby is old enough to be in Youth...scary! But it's true.

Things I'm thankful for:

- God's beauty in the leaves and the awesome canvas He paints for me everyday!
- The fact that daylight savings time is this weekend! I so need that extra hour sleep!
- That the puppy we found wandering around loose last night found it's owner! Thank God!

Sorry to make this short, but B & C are getting out of school early today...early dismissal day, and I need to go get them before they thik I've abandoned them.

Have a super great weekend!

Giveaway tip for ya...

Just popping in for a neat giveaway that is going on at All Scrapbook Steals.com until Nov. 2nd. Check it out...and while you're there check out their amazing scrapbooking deals...especially their American Crafts cardstock...some of the cheapest prices I've been able to find on some pretty amazing cardstock.

Also if you happen to be in my neck of the woods tomorrow night and aren't too tired from trick or treating, stop by for my Signature Home party...lots of great and darling things for your home...especially for the holidays! Hope to see ya there....starts at 7:00 p.m.

Hope you are having a good week....

Coffee, Tea and Me

Yes, again it has been over a month since my last post....Wow I feel like I've just been to a Catholic confession (no offense to Catholics) but wow...yes it's me and yes it's been over a month since my last blog post...Yikes....yes life is very much in full swing in this household...still!

To sum up the last 6 weeks...we had our annual County Fair...though I didn't have time this year to enter nearly as much as I usually do, I did manage to put in a few photographs and my scrapbooks. I received 2 third places and 1 first place in photography and a second place in my scrapbooks. I was happy with that. I made just enough to pay for my fair ticket, which is usually the goal anyway. It's funny though how the older I get, the less I enjoy the fair...it's just not the same when you are a kid. :-)

Had our family pictures taken...finally...by an amazing girl (who I actually used to babysit as a teenager...yes I feel old!)...check out her work here. I'm hoping to have pics soon to post here. The photos were my Christmas present this year and I couldn't be happier!

The weather here in Ohio has gotten much chillier...and I've been trying to not drink so much coffee, cause it was getting a bit obsessive...yeah...a bit...but now I have found a new found love to tea...thing is I have to watch how much I drink cause it causes havoc to my kidneys, but I'm doing my best to drink it in moderation...I like to drink my Twining's English Breakfast tea in the morning and then Numi's Honeybush tea at night...YUM! And I've learned to drink my tea without cream and find it quite tasty! So as long as I drink only a couple cups a day, so far I've been fine...which is a blessing!

On another note...homeschooling...is going...well, we have our good days and bad days still...Monday was a good day, we went on a field trip to New Concord and visited the National Road Museum and John & Annie Glenn's house....and of course got to visit my favorite "sister" Chelle at school where she works....it was a good day....yesterday...not so good day...tough test....Austin didn't do well at all...made for depressing day...though I like this idea of homeschooling, I'm still debating in my head whether I've done the right thing for Austin or not...not only that, I'm still debating whether I'm really cut out to teach....I didn't get bad grades in school, but I wasn't an A student either. Just not sure I'm believing in myself enough to really pull this off and the last thing I want to do is harm Austin's academic career...but today is a new day and I'm trying to look at it with new eyes for today and not think about yesterday...God will get us through, I know He will.

On a more religious note...I've been reading the Old Testament lately...mainly the journey of the Isrealites to the Promised Land. I have been feeling a lot like the Isrealites lately...wandering in the desert...mainly because of disobedience...and trying to find my way to the Promised Land. I am searching...I am walking...and yes I am stumbling along the way, but I'm coming to realize that no matter what, God is always there for me. He never, ever leaves me...He may not like what I do, but He is always there and loves me. So right now I'm currently trying to seek Him more, to learn how to fight battles that I finally need to bury once and for all, and realizing that these fights are from the enemy and not just some flukey thing I'm going through...believe me, when I finally get around this mountain in my life, there WILL be much rejoicing! But until then, I pray, I read, and I'm learning to rely on God more and trying to rely on me less. Hard to do when you like to control things :-)

So I also took another online class from Big Picture Scrapbooking from Cathy Zielske called "An Encyclopedia of Me"...let me tell you, if you are a scrapbooker and you love to laugh...you MUST take one of Cathy's classes...she is a hoot and she rocks with the scrapbooking let me tell ya! I'm just about done with my album, and I had so much fun writing and creating this one...hopefully I can post some pages on here soon. I know Cathy is teaching her "Designing My Life" class sometime in early 2010 and if you are just beginning scrapbooking or like me, just want to hone your skills and learn from a genuine pro...run to Big Picture and sign up for her class...you will definitely not be disappointed! She is truly amazing.

Well I really need to get busy and get something accomplished today, but I just felt the need to update this, whether anyone actually reads this or not, at least for posterity purposes.

For now, have a good day...or should I say month since it will probably be that long before I post again? ...Anyway...blessings and hugs to you all!

I can't believe it!!

Has it seriously been since May since I posted last?? Wow...all I can say is that life has been super super busy and no chance of letting up anytime soon.

Summer was a blur...June came and went pretty quickly...not really sure what happened with June....seems like forever ago.

July went just as quick...and cumulated in a 3 week vacation, a week spent cleaning and making some extra $$, over a week of that spent camping in Kentucky then the rest of the vacation cleaning up after the vacation....and needless to say after we got back home I wanted to go back on vacation...I LOVE camping! (There was a LOT going on as soon as we pulled into the drive it seemed...funny how life works that way...though it wasn't funny at the time let me tell you!) We went to Kentucky to see my baby brother get married...it was so sweet. Never thought he would do it...and they have such a pretty area where they live!

August consisted of pretty much getting things ready for school and just trying to get back on track sort of...I've decided to homeschool my oldest...it's going OK...we have our good moments and we've had a couple meltdowns, but overall I think it is working well...just trying to get into a routine that works for both of us. The other two boys are enjoying school. Brennan seems to be doing really well this year...and Colton...he's of course in his element with his friends and enjoying being the class clown :-)

I of course have come down with a cold...and not that I'm surprised...I've had a very awful time sleeping lately and I know I let my body get run down a bit...I've kind of gotten away from my workouts this summer..but I've been able to maintain my weight so I'm OK with it for now...but I do want to get back into a routine once life gets back into a routine...and I get over this blasted cold of course!

I know this is short for being away so long, but I have to help Austin with his Social Studies.

Have a good week!

Here I am...barely breathing...

If you hear a huge sigh...that would be me...after the month of May pretty much whomped my sorry tushkuss...May is usually a busy month for me, but this year takes the cake by far hands down...looking at my calendar...I had a total of three days...count them...3....that I had nothing planned...I was one busy busy momma. Considering the month of May was field trip central for all my boys...it was like "Hey let's cram as many field trips as possible in one month"...Craziness! But we all had fun and weather for all the field trips were good, thank God...but I am one worn out woman...my busy month is about over...today is the boys last day of school YIPPPEEE!!! So happy about that...bring on summer! Then tomorrow my parents are taking me to Columbus to see Joyce Meyer for my birthday...probably a BD's Monogolian Grill trip in there somewhere as well I imagine ;-)

So yes I've been busy...house is a wreck so please don't visit me until at least mid-June :-) Kids are good which is a GOOD thing. Brennan and Colton have had straight A's the past nine weeks and this nine weeks. Austin is not far behind with only 2 B's. I'm highly considering homeschooling Austin though next year because I just don't feel comfortable sending him to the Junior High just yet...I just don't feel that he's ready for that...but I'm getting a little slack from some people saying that it's not the right thing to do...so if you have any experiance with homeschooling and can give me some pointers or tips or just some support...I sure would appreciate that.

My baby brother FINALLY popped the question to his now fiance and will be getting married this July...so sounds like a camping trip to Kentucky is in the works this summer! My baby sister just moved to the Westerville area in Columbus to find a better school suited for my nephew Treyce...I admire her dedication to him and all that she does to make sure he's got the best he can get...amazing!

Went to celebrate hubby's birthday this past Saturday with a trip to Easton Mall in Columbus and of course a trip to BD's Mongolian Grill. Lots of fun and great food of course! My dad got to cook behind the grill...unfortunately I missed seeing that or I would have had pictures...I'm sure he was like kid in a candy store though! Then we did a little shopping ending with a trip to the Apple Store to drool all over their equipment...Is it wrong to pray specifically for an iMac??? I want one...heck I need one since my computer is down again with another nasty virus, just had the mother board replaced...now I'm using Austin's computer again...ughh....come one money tree...grow already!

Well need to clean a little bit of house at least and do some laundry...going out to lunch soon with Kevin and his father and step-mom for an early birthday lunch at English Ivy....YUM! Maybe I can have a birthday week like hubby did last week :-)

Hope all is well with everyone and I hope to post more often than once a month now that summer for me will officially start at 3:15 p.m. today! Yeah for the last day of school!!!!!!!! Later peeps!

For what it's worth...

Silly me has been dealing with a cold off and on for the last three weeks...one day I'll feel great, next day lousy...and it just will NOT go away....I'm so sick of it...come on Spring officially get here already so I can get these germs out of my house!

So it's been a while since I've posted and a while since I've commented on American Idol. Since this is pretty much the only thing I watch on TV of course I have to comment. I have to say this has been an OK season. The judges are driving me nuts personally with their "You really need to change the song and make it your own" and then comments like "You shouldn't change that song, it's great the way it is"...it's no wonder some of these guys seem frustrated.
But beyond that...I honestly think the first two spots are pretty much cinched at this point...that being Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert. These guys have been solid since day 1 and if I were a betting woman I'd say the final show will be between these two. Danny though being the front runner, because for one I LOVE him and his heart in his music. But I love Adam too because he's so different, which I feel will be the reason why he won't win...because it seems that with Adam it's an either "you love him or you hate him" thing...but either way you know both of them are going to end up with a contract somewhere.
So about the last results...I wasn't totally shocked about Scott going, though to be honest, I thought that Lil would have been the one to go this time. She's got an amazing voice, but has yet to wow the people...she's great for karaoke, but not much for originality or showing us who she really is. I knew Scott would be on the chopping block soon, and his song this week was probably the worst he's done yet. I have to say I did admire his heart and how he has not allowed his disability to squelch his dream. Anoop...I haven't been a huge Anoop fan (sorry Jackie)...but there is just something about him I don't like...his attitude at times for one. Though his rendition of "True Colors" was very nice, but not overly original.
Ans though Lil managed to escape being chopped this week, I think she's really going to have to step up her game in a huge way to avoid being chopped next week.
So here are my predictions: Top two: Danny & Adam
Third spot is a toss up between Allison and Kris.
Next to go: Probably Lil.

Well I'm off to take some more meds and hopefully kick this cold before Easter Sunday...I have to lead worship...YIKES!

Have a great week!

God keeps blessing...

Just found out that I got 2 more layouts published in the March issue of Scrapbook News & Review. The issue comes out at the end of the month so I'm soooo excited...God has been good.

Brennan was sick yesterday with a cold....Yesterday was a busy day!

So far today has been a good day....had to work today...which was hectic as usual, but good cause it went fast...Scrapbooking tonight at the church...oh and it's St. Patty's day....corned beef and kraut for dinner...YUM!!!

Hope you are having a blarney good day!

How has time past this quickly??

I'm sitting here wondering how time has past this quickly...today is my oldest son's birthday...he's 12 today! How is this possible?!?!? Where is my little baby?!?!? How did he go from this little bundle.,...

to this handsome young man??

God only knows...

Happy Birthday Austin...We love you!

Slice Giveaway

Just a quick note...a sweet lady that I've met at Faithsisters.com and fellow blogger is doing a sweet giveaway on her blog...please go check it out here...HINT HINT...if you have ever wanted one of those new Making Memories Slice Die Cutting Machines...then you definitely want to check it out.

Hope you are having a good week!

Say it with me...God is good...all the time...

I know by now I shouldn't be amazed or should I say shocked at what God can do, but every time I pray a specific prayer, God amazes me and comes through in ways that astound me. First of all by blessing me with people who watch out for me and are God's hands in my answer to prayer. Let me regress for a moment...

Back in October I may had mentioned I was praying for a job or a way to make some extra $$ to help with the family income. The job had to be something I could do while the boys were in school...well a friend of ours at church just out of the blue asked me if I was looking for a part-time job working in the cafeteria in the school system...I said I was indeed interested in a job and filled out the application. The day after I did this was when Pastor Rod had asked me about filling in for our church secretary while she was out on medical leave. Needless to say, I took that job, LOVED IT, and it was perfect...working during the time the boys went to school. As you all know, Shirley has come back and working great like nothing had happened to her (PTL God is good!!) and that found me unemployed again...not that I was overly complaining cause my house was needing me. But that extra $$ was coming in handy. So now fast forward to now...

I was just praying a week or so ago that God would help me again to find another job where I could work while the boys are in school. I kind of forgot about the job with the school cause I never did hear anything...well the same friend asked me last week if I was still was interested in the cafeteria job that the lady who was doing the hiring was looking for someone to fill in while 3 of her regulars went on medical leave. I said sure...placed the call telling this lady I was still interested in the job. I went and got my TB test today (I guess it's required to work in the school system) and this afternoon I got the call that I start on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. at the high school (A little nervous about that...but oh well God will get me through). Anyway I am so amazed how God blesses, in an economy that isn't that great...and granted this is only a sub position...I'd only work when someone calls off or something, but I have a feeling that something good is going to come of this. I'm excited, I'm humbled because God answers so perfectly...He is so good.
So in honor of what is happening in my life thus far...I think I should make this week's blessing...

God Answer's Prayer

God is good all the time and He always answers...granted in His time, but He answers. I am amazed that the secretary job came about at just the right time, that when that ended God knew I needed a little bit of a break (and that my house needed some TLC) at just the right time, and now this cafeteria job came as an answer to prayer...at just the right time. God is amazing...God is powerful...God IS good! I praise God for His faithfulness to me, even though I truly don't deserve it!

Have we reached the bottom of the barrel on America's talent?

Ok...as many of you know I'm not one to sit and watch a lot of TV...just so many other more interesting things to do in my opinion...but I always seem to get sucked in like millions of other people by...yes...American Idol. Everytime one of my favorites gets bumped off I swear I'm never going to watch again, but find myself every season glued to my TV. And now with the glorious invention of DVR...I can watch it whenever I want to...awww technology.

But with that being said...I have to say how sorely I'm disappointed with AI this year. If you are a watcher too, then I think you'll agree...these folks are just not getting it! Though there are those VERY few rays of sunshine so far have to say this year is just alll out puzzling me...I mean after the laughing hyena Tatiana...and the Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle or whatever his name is...(Though I have to admit he is HILARIOUS and I really did like his performance this week...but seriously did he really think he would get through on that...but truthfully...he HAS now made a name for hmself and I guarantee we'll see him in Vegas somewhere...) I always said I would never want to WIN AI...just get far enough along to make my name known and go from there...after all...how many winners besides Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are really making a name for themselves?? After all I bet if I were to check Chris Daughtry has probably sold as many or maybe even more albums than any of those that won...but I will set bitterness aside and move on...

This season is just one of those season's where you wonder where the talent is...again, how did Tatiana make it through to the top 36 other than for her annoying laugh?? And can we mention Stevie Wright's awful performance...sweet girl she seems...just totally hacked her moment. And it all seems to be based on song choice...come on people...you for one don't pick a song recorded by a megastar unless you are cocky enough to say that even come close...you are taking a risk picking songs by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and the like...also for the most part a girl shouldn't sing a guy's song and vice versa unless you can really change it up...with the except of Danny Gokey...He right now is my fav and I loved his rendition of Hero by Mariah Carey...beautiful...he was the exception. And AI is more than about singing the song...it's about performing as well. How painful was it to watch Matt Breitkze's performance...he pretty much just stood there...I thought I was at a club watching karaoke...not that he sung that badly...just no life in his performance.

So here are my top three thus far:

Danny Gokey: To me the forerunner and I just LOVE this guy!

Alexis Grace: Not only a cutie...but she can truly sing! I like her a lot!

Adam Lambert: He's raw and edgy....he's definitely marketable and has a cool voice.

So just my two cents for what it's worth...my first choice of course is Danny...he blows everyone away. Alexis and Adam I feel are going to go far in this competition...After all never have I seen such a gap between good mediocre singers and great amazing singers...I think these three alone have it wrapped up...so the question is...has America finally reached the bottom on singing talent?? Hmm...we still have one more group to go I know, but so far I'm not holding my breath...they couldn't have saved all the great singers for the last round after all right??

Congrats Brennie!

First I want to start off with the busy weekend we had...Brennan and Colton had their Father/Son Cake Bake and Blue & Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts this weekend. I have to say that Kevin was a real trooper as though he likes to bake, doing it with the boys can sometimes be a challenge for him since he has that Type A perfectionistic quality about him, but he stuck it out...even with the fact that they didn't get started baking until around 7:00 p.m. and after making and decorating 3 cakes (it was supposed to be 2, but more on that later)...by 12:30 a.m. they were done and after already working a 9 hour day I was proud of him! Here are some pics of their evening:

Brennan's was a camp scene cake that he totally designed pretty much on his own. He even sketched his idea on a piece of paper first before he decorated it. Colton's was a sunflower cake made with yellow Peeps and chocolate chips in the middle. We also made a baseball cake because Kevin had initially thought of making a 4 layer popcorn bucket cake, but it got so late that we ended up doing the sunflower and baseball instead. Brennan ended up getting best camp scene cake at the banquet and we indeed got to keep all three cakes...we brought the camping one and sunflower home...the baseball we gave away...and the camping cake was enjoyed by our Junior Church kids for snack yesterday...and boy did they enjoy that!

So now that my weekend is over...the boys are now in school...I've been thinking about something that God has been layong on my heart for a week or so now...and I'm using it as my blessing word for this week...and that is:

Quiet Time

If there is something that God has been convicting me about is spending quiet time with Him, which is sometimes really hard for me because I am one who is always doing something, working on something...there is always SOMETHING to do or needs done. To just sit and be still is a struggle...but that verse in the Bible has been speaking in my head all week...Be still and know that I am God...and also the verse Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. So this morning for the first time in a while, after I dropped the boys off at school, I got out my Bible...read a little...prayed a little...and just reamained still and listened. And it was nice. I made it through a half hour, not that time is important, but considering unless I'm in front of the computer or scrapbooking...for me to be still for 10 minutes is hard. So I want to remember the blessing of having just those few moments to BE STILL and just enjoy God's presence....may this be a reminder to me.

Well off to do what mommy's do best....have a good week!

This Week...

Again..a little behind, but hey...what's a girl to do. So this past week's blessing for me is

Kindness

And no one shows kindness better than my son Brennan...he is the sweetest, kindest and gentlest kid I know. And boy can he pray...he is a true prayer warrior...he always is willing to pray for anyone who needs it...and he does it straight from his heart.

Speaking of Brennan...my Brennie Gene celebrated his 10th birthday this week...Happy Birthday Brennan!

Been another busy week with birthdays, Valentine's Day parties at school, going to the Chocolate Extravaganza in town for Valentine's day and eating some decadent wonderful chocolate...I was in heaven!

Then another busy week ahead...of course. Cub Scouts tonight, Scrapbooking at church on Tuesday, Wednesday is Prayer Meeting, Thursday is our Couples Group (we are doing a Bible Study on the movie Fireproof...BTW if you haven't seen this movie yet...GO...Go and rent it now!) Friday I will be watching hubby and boys making cakes for their Blue and Gold Banquet which will be Saturday for Cub Scouts....could be interesting. So full week.

Hope you have a great week yourself.

This week...and Blessings

It seems no matter how hard I try I can never seem to get on top of things, but maybe that's OK...maybe I just need to take time to take things in instead of tryng so hard to get things done...for in my busyness I miss on those little blessings that God tries to give to me each day.

This weeks blessing (I know I'm late on getting to it...oh well.) is:

God's creation

This past weekend I went to Columbus to go to Winter Jam with our Youth group (great time btw) and on the way over the sun was shining and of course everything was still ice covered...especially the trees...I just couldn't help staring in awe at the tress as we drove by (thank goodness I wasn't driving LOL)...as the sunlight hit the trees it looked as if they were covered in diamonds...they just glistened and sparkled. It was a truly amazing sight! And I know that I've done my share of complaining about all the ice and snow we've had the past few weeks...but here God was trying to show me just how beautiful this stuff really was and how HE sees it...I was truly humbled and again in awe at His creation. God is good!

Stumbled across an amazing video that was on Cathy Zielske's website...please take a moment to check it out...it is somewhat long (16 minutes) but I swear you won't regret it...it's sweet and touching and may just be what you needed today ;-)

Hope you are having a great week.

Blessings for this week

Though honestly I haven't done my blessing layout for this week for FaithSisters...I have a good excuse...I have been down with the flu and cold since Thursday night and I'm having a tough time making it completely go away...I think I start feeling better then BAM, I'm sniffling, achy and exhausted again...so if and when I get a chance to do a layout my blessing layout is going to be about

Health

Don't realize how you can take your health for granted until you aren't healthy anymore...and not only that as many of you Mommies know that when mommy is down the house goes down with it...though hubby is being nice and taking care of me, there are just those things that only a mommy can do....so I'm doing what I can and letting some things go.

Speaking of health...I did go to the doctor on Thursday cause I was concerned about a spot on the bottom of my left leg and since skin cancer runs in my family I wasn't going to take any chances. Come to find out it was nothing...just dermatofibroma...which is basically scar tissue from a hair follicle that keeps scaring over I guess...so I'm thankful and praise God for that!

So until I feel better...here is to Health and hopes that I get back to 100% soon!

Have a great week!