Don't bug me... I'm blogging!

Love this!!!

2012-01-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

This kid is great!!

Belle can READ!!!

2012-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

We are so proud of her!!
I know she has read that book so many times to us that she knows it by heart. I do know that she can read all those words on her own now if I show her them on a flash card. So Yay!! She can read!!!

Supporting Wikimedia today...

2012-01-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Here is what their website says today...

Why is Wikipedia blacked-out?

Wikipedia is protesting against SOPA and PIPA by blacking out the English Wikipedia for 24 hours, beginning at midnight January 18, Eastern Time. Readers who come to English Wikipedia during the blackout will not be able to read the encyclopedia. Instead, you will see messages intended to raise awareness about SOPA and PIPA, encouraging you to share your views with your representatives, and with each other on social media.

What are SOPA and PIPA?

SOPA and PIPA represent two bills in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate respectively. SOPA is short for the "Stop Online Piracy Act," and PIPA is an acronym for the "Protect IP Act." ("IP" stands for "intellectual property.") In short, these bills are efforts to stop copyright infringement committed by foreign web sites, but, in our opinion, they do so in a way that actually infringes free expression while harming the Internet. Detailed information about these bills can be found in the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act articles on Wikipedia, which are available during the blackout. GovTrack lets you follow both bills through the legislative process: SOPA on this page, and PIPA on this one. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the public interest in the digital realm, has summarized why these bills are simply unacceptable in a world that values an open, secure, and free Internet.

Why is the blackout happening?

Wikipedians have chosen to black out the English Wikipedia for the first time ever, because we are concerned that SOPA and PIPA will severely inhibit people's access to online information. This is not a problem that will solely affect people in the United States: it will affect everyone around the world.

Why? SOPA and PIPA are badly drafted legislation that won't be effective at their stated goal (to stop copyright infringement), and will cause serious damage to the free and open Internet. They put the burden on website owners to police user-contributed material and call for the unnecessary blocking of entire sites. Small sites won't have sufficient resources to defend themselves. Big media companies may seek to cut off funding sources for their foreign competitors, even if copyright isn't being infringed. Foreign sites will be blacklisted, which means they won't show up in major search engines. And, SOPA and PIPA build a framework for future restrictions and suppression.

Does this mean that Wikipedia itself is violating copyright laws, or hosting pirated content?

No, not at all. Some supporters of SOPA and PIPA characterize everyone who opposes them as cavalier about copyright, but that is not accurate. Wikipedians are knowledgeable about copyright and vigilant in protecting against violations: Wikipedians spend thousands of hours every week reviewing and removing infringing content. We are careful about it because our mission is to share knowledge freely. To that end, all Wikipedians release their contributions under a free license, and all the material we offer is freely licensed. Free licenses are incompatible with copyright infringement, and so infringement is not tolerated.

Isn't SOPA dead? Wasn't the bill shelved, and didn't the White House declare that it won't sign anything that resembles the current bill?

No, neither SOPA nor PIPA is dead. On January 17th, SOPA's sponsor said the bill will be discussed in early February. There are signs PIPA may be debated on the Senate floor next week. Moreover, SOPA and PIPA are just indicators of a much broader problem. In many jurisdictions around the world, we're seeing the development of legislation that prioritizes overly-broad copyright enforcement laws, laws promoted by power players, over the preservation of individual civil liberties.

How could SOPA and PIPA hurt Wikipedia?

SOPA and PIPA are a threat to Wikipedia in many ways. For example, in its current form, SOPA would require Wikipedia to actively monitor every site we link to, to ensure it doesn't host infringing content. Any link to an infringing site could put us in jeopardy of being forced offline.

I live in the United States. What's the best way for me to help?

The most effective action you can take is to call your representatives and tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. Type your zipcode in the locator box to find your representatives' contact information. Text-based communication is okay, but phone calls have the most impact.

I don't live in the United States. How can I help?

Contact your local State Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or similar branch of government. Tell them you oppose SOPA and PIPA, and any similar legislation. SOPA and PIPA will affect sites outside of the United States, and actions to sites inside the United States (like Wikipedia) will also affect non-American readers -- like you. Calling your own government will also let them know you don't want them to create their own bad anti-Internet legislation.

Is it still possible to access Wikipedia in any way?

Yes. During the blackout, Wikipedia is accessible on mobile devices and smart phones. You can also view Wikipedia normally by disabling JavaScript in your browser, as explained on this Technical FAQ page. Our purpose here isn't to make it completely impossible for people to read Wikipedia, and it's okay for you to circumvent the blackout. We just want to make sure you see our message.

I keep hearing that this is a fight between Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Is that true?

No. Some people are characterizing it that way, probably in an effort to imply all the participants are motivated by commercial self-interest. But it's obviously not that simple. The proof of that is Wikipedia's involvement. Wikipedia has no financial self-interest at play here: we do not benefit from copyright infringement, nor are we trying to monetize traffic or sell ads. We are protesting to raise awareness about SOPA and PIPA solely because we think they will hurt the Internet, and your ability to access information online. We are doing this for you, because we're on your side.

In carrying out this protest, is Wikipedia abandoning neutrality?

We hope you continue to trust Wikipedia to be a neutral information source. We are staging this blackout because (as Wikimedia Foundation Trustee Kat Walsh said recently), although Wikipedia’s articles are neutral, its existence is not. For over a decade, Wikipedians have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Wikipedia is a tremendously useful resource, and its existence depends upon a free, open and uncensored Internet. SOPA and PIPA (and other similar laws under discussion inside and outside the United States) will hurt you, because they will make it impossible for sites you enjoy, and benefit from, to continue to exist. That's why we're doing this.

I have a question that isn't answered here, or, I would like to send feedback to Wikipedia.

You can reach Wikipedia editors at info-en(at)wikimedia(dot)org. If you need a response, please be patient: we may have trouble keeping up with the mail.

Favorite present for Belle

2012-01-12T14:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning Belle got some great gifts!
Santa brought her a bike!
I know, what a lucky girl right?

That actually was not her favorite gift.

It was her new Victorious guitar.

May be the next Taylor Swift?

Loving all the serenades I am getting right now.

My favorites are the "Mommy I Love You" Songs.

Cutie girl!

I love you too!!

Our cake classes continue...

2012-01-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

Becca and I have been having some time together taking this cake decoration class.

She really loves it!

This is her cake up here.

Mine are a little more boring.

Oh, I still think mine is cute but her's is so bubbly and colorful just like Becca!

Here she is prepping her cake for the next class...

So we took them to class and this is how her cake looked.

Here is mine...

...and the bottom of mine.

Becca I had thought was finished but I was wrong.

She kept going.

Even cuter!!!

In class we learn how to decorate and usually do our cakes in the class.

Becca and her friend Hailey have been taking this class and doing really well.

The last class was for your "test" and this is the first class their friend Kelsie could actually go to with them.

Kelsie is really talented but the girls all put this cake together for her "tested" cake.

Becca, Hailey, Sarah (Hailey's mom) and I donated the yellow flowers to the cake.

Kelsie's mom made the purple one.

I love this cake not just because it is beautiful but because they all did it together.

These girls are truly special.

Love you girls!!

CHRISTmas munchies

2012-01-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

A little late but here are some of the munchies we made for Christmas at our house.

Here are the Santa buddies.

Those went fast!!

I love nativities.

So I gave Becca an assignment of putting one together out of stuff she found in the house.

The tricky part was it needed to be 90% edible.

She did it!

The little Mary and Joseph kind of remind me of the little guys from Despicable Me.

Traditional Gingerbread house...

Way to much sugar, I know.

That is part of the season though right?

Hey and we were creative and had the Holy Spirit flying around our gingerbread house!

Let's see if we can find even more sugar...

Oh there is some...

...there are cookies under there right???

Tons of sugar, tons of fun, made lots of memories this year!

Happy ones!

Love Greg Laurie's Message...

2011-12-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

from a friend...

2011-12-21T06:06:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this to me.

I thought it was pretty neat.

Has nothing to do with CHRISTmas but I liked it anyway.

I love it :)

What do you think?

Christmas party!!

2011-12-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Busy, busy, busy!

I have been that!

It has been happy busy though.

Our main computer is at the computer doctor again.

:0(

So that leaves us one computer for me to get school prep-work on, check on bills getting paid, having the high school-er and the jr high school-er getting their reports done on ( 8 and 3 pages respectively per topic), final shopping for stuff that needs to be sent to far away family, Aimee's business (yes we have started her photography business now. YAY!!) and for us to have fun on (Webkinz, Always Ice Cream, Nick Jr., MineCraft, Facebook, and my Blogging!!)

I thought 2 computers was hard for 6 people!!

We have had some fun too.

We had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with 3 of our favorite families.

It was really cool.

We had potluck lunch, a $5 gift exchange, crafts, story time and fellowship.

We even adopted a "baby Jesus".

They have this program through Salvation Army where you pick an orphan and send them a gift for Christmas. We picked one little boy as a group and all of us brought gifts for him to pack together as one grand gift. One family brought a toy, we brought a cool shirt and matching beanie...you get the idea.

This is not it exactly, but you get the idea.

Anyway, we all do our own little sponsor (ours is Samaritan's Purse) kiddos too.

Our family does one boy and one girl every year.

This year it was nice to have one as a group to give as well.

We all got to go home with heartfelt forever memories.

Can't wait to post pictures!!

Belle is up.

Got to start my day.

Hope your day is blessed!!

Perfect CHRISTmas tree

2011-12-14T08:07:00.000-08:00

Fun with Friends

2011-12-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Becca and her friends have started a new club. They call themselves God's Girls. The best part is that all the girls and their families get along so well that the girls had their first meeting and the rest of us just got to hang out and catch up together!!

Michael Jr brought his lazer tag and the (brothers) boys all had so much fun together too!!

Check out my son hiding behind the trash can for a good shot!

Aimee and I hung out with Fallon :)

Belle was just having fun with everyone.

Here she just took a quick break watching the boys.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends with amazing families.

I love that we can just do a simple get together and know that everyone will be included.

We all felt so relaxed and happy when Becca's meeting was over.

Why I Admire Tim Tebow...

2011-12-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

Isn't that just the most perfect way to put it??

Some Days I Feel This Way

2011-12-01T10:18:00.000-08:00

“The longer I live, the more uninformed I feel. Only the young have an explanation for everything.”

— Isabel Allende

Seriously?
Do they purposely make phones with a button that says "Idiot Alert, do not work for this woman!"

Why is it my 10 year old daughter can work my phone better than I can and she does not even own a phone???

Just my thought for the day.

Am I really that old??

LOL!!!

Apple Farm Field Trip

2011-11-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

Took the munchkins to this cute little farm in our area.

It is a field trip that they were not looking forward to.

It was cold and looked like rain so the thought of going outside to learn about life in the late 1700's-the 1800's was not high on their list of fun things to do today.

Oh well.

So sad.

We went anyway and got to hang out with friends!

It was a great photo op for Aimee anyway.

Tons of neat things for pictures.

There are more this is just what I posted for now.

Here are some of the munchkins on a hay ride.

They look so disappointed to have to ride on a cart filled with hay right?

Here they learned how the settlers used to make apple juice.

Dang it was a ton of work!

Here is Hailey helping.

Kelsey and Brayden helped too.

Becca and Belle are just behind them getting more apples to put in the press.

Ian, Michael Jr and Bradley thought jumping off of tree trunks looked more entertaining.

Then we were so lucky we got to hang out with Johnny Appleseed and hear all about his history.

He was really a sweet boy.

Here are 3 of the little princesses that had so much fun on our cold weather adventure!

We got the best caramel apples ever at the end of the trip!

Fresh from the tree apples smothered in warm caramel on a crisp Autumn day...perfect.
Brayden loved his!!

Michael Jr even found some amazing leaves before we went to the General Store to pick up our fresh baked apple pie filled with apples just picked that morning and our fresh pressed apple juice gallons.

If you have never had fresh pressed apple juice you have no idea what you are missing.

It is more than delicious.

The Munchkins ended up having such a good day hanging out with friends, making a few new ones and learning about life in early America.

See?

Aren't you glad I made you go??

Yep, I knew it!!

Here are some pictures of the beauty we saw on our ride back home.

Not bad for Southern California.

Then the sun started to peak through the sky just as the sun was starting to set.

Beautifully, wonderful day.

Blast From the Past

2011-11-29T06:21:00.000-08:00

I know I am behind...again.

We had a bug run through our house and, well you know how that goes.

Anyway, on a happier note,

my husband was found on facebook by two of his old neighbor friends from when he was a kiddo!

How cool is that?

Pretty neat I thought.

So we had them over for dinner!

Didn't plan on the cold weather.

BRRRRR!!!

They were good sports though and hung out with me while I tried to BBQ chicken for them.

Actually, I did not do to bad.

I bundled up, faced my fear and did it!

I have been scared to go near that sucker since it puffed a big flame at me, I think 2 years ago, and burned my face! So this was a big thing for me, and I did it!!

The kids all played kinect together.

I know how hard it was for them.

Stuck with people who you don't know from Adam and to make your parents proud you have to act like you are having a good time. I think it was easier for some of the kiddos than the others.

As to be expected of coarse.

Oh and these two found my bean dip and stayed right there keeping it safe till it was all gone!

That made me happy!!

These two families were a pleasure to meet.

I loved learning new things about my husbands past from a totally different perspective.

Gave me new insight on him.

I hope we can do something with them again soon.

Belle thinks that would be fun too.

Yummy!

2011-11-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

I don't normally go to Mc Donalds.

To unhealthy for me to feed my kiddos,

but heard about their peppermint mocha's

and those are my favorite!!

Look at this little stinker!

She stole my drink!!

She is not even having a slight energy burst, in fact she is getting sleepier by the moment.

Doesn't she feel like such a big girl though drinking Mommy's drink.

Oh yeah, I ordered peppermint COCOA,

just to give it a try instead.

Some times everything just goes so right.

Night sweetie.

Thankful for...

2011-11-22T23:43:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving time I usually have the kids think about all the things they are thankful for. We say them around the table and that sort of thing.

This year I did something different.

A month ago, I had the munchkins start a thankful journal.

Everyday they have to write down one thing that they are thankful for.

It can be one word like,

Naps

Snuggling.

A sentence or phrase is good to.

warm fireplace with crackling fire

the smell of mom making homemade pumpkin pie.

I think it is a very positive way to look at your day.

There has to be at least one thing everyday you can write on the list!!

So the thought of having them do a list just for Thanksgiving seemed kind of redundant.

So we came up with the

Blessing Tree.

Wow.

I did not realize till right now how hard it is to see this tree.

Sorry.

The jist of it is that we took some cardboard and drew the trunk and sticks of a tree on it.

Then found some cute little leaves on the internet that were black and white.

Belle colored them all for us and then Becca and I cut them out.

We all came up with some of our best blessings and wrote them on the leaves.

Belle glued them down for us on the stick parts of the picture.

We even found leaves that we all wrote our names on that say each of us is

"" Fall-ing for Jesus"

Cute huh?

Well, we thought so...

and that is what we are thankful for today.

Cake Decorating Class

2011-11-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

I thought Becca and I needed some alone bonding time so I signed us up for a cake decorating class.

So then we invited friends to join us too...

I guess it is still just us time?

Our instructor is a little dry. She is going through something personal right now that requires her to be at the hospital at a moments notice and I think she just does not have her heart into teaching a bunch of strangers how to ice a cake right now.

Here is what she taught us how to do though...

This is Becca's cake.

It is such a "Becca" cake.

I love it!

Then this is mine.

My icing was dry.

Still it was fun to spend time with Becca.

Have 2 more classes to share together!!

This should be fun!!

This is what I am thankful for today.

Some Younger Girl Time...What I am thankful for.

2011-11-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for some younger girls and Mommy time!!

We have this really cute little eatery by where we live.

The sad thing is until a few weeks ago I had completely forgotten about it.

So since I had taken Aimee and Samantha out for a tea I thought it would be nice to take the younger two out for a tea with Mommy as well.

This place is great with little girl "teas"!

So we got dressed really nice and went out before the lunch time rush...

...we just made it!

Our server brought the tea and cookies out for the girls.

Belle was so cute how she took such care pouring her "tea" (it was actually chilly apple juice which the girls enjoyed so much more than hot tea).

Yummy!

Becca got a picture of her tea and cookies before they disappeared again!

We then had tuna fish sandwiches to make it a meal.

The girls really said they had a good time.

Mostly I think they enjoyed getting to spend some time doing something "big girl" just with mommy.

Think I might just have to do this again with them next month!!

Words from our first CHRISTmas card

2011-11-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD

Cleverly done!!!

T'was the Month before Christmas

T'was the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday'.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzer

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,

not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason' for the Christ-mas Season!

Thankful for...

2011-11-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for the Pro Life Fashion Show and Tea that I went to.

I took Aimee and Samantha with me.

It was really nice. We got to sit at a table with some good friends...

...the Ryan Family and ...

...the Good Family.

Yes that is Fallon she is holding :)

I am thankful that I have been given the opportunity to share with my girls how important it is to stand up for those who have no voice, and might never have the chance to have a voice if we don't educate others on the truth about "family planning" or abortions.

I know this is such a controversial subject.

I was so ignorant about it all for so many years.

I am thankful that my girls will not be.

Words to remember...

2011-11-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
... Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it."
~ Mother Teresa

Bowling Awards 2011

2011-11-10T13:51:00.000-08:00

All the Munchkins got their bowling certificates and medals the other day.

It was really cute.

They called Belle up first, probably because she was the youngest in the class, but she was sure it was because she was the best bowler in the group!!

She makes me smile!!

Becca and Hailey are just realizing the medals are made of metal not plastic...

AND THEY ARE ENGRAVED!!!

This is so cool Mama!!

Group picture!!

Pizza party was a big hit with Miss Belle!

Thank you Miss Jennifer for teaching my munchkins how to be better bowlers!!

Had fun and will see you next semester!!

Thankful for...

2011-11-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

Oh Darn!

I got behind again!!

So I have a few thankfuls to post...

I am thankful that I did not just go to bed this morning after I sent my husband off to work. I was really tired and was being tempted to just go back to bed skipping my morning prayer time on my knees and jump back into my warm bed. Instead I knelt on the carpet in front of my bedroom slider looked up at the stars peeking out from behind the clouds that were creeping in silent waves and began my thanks and requests with the Lord. Suddenly a star shot out of the sky!

How beautiful!!

A shooting star!!

I am so blessed to have seen that!! I love them!!

Thank you Lord for such a gift! Oh my!! Was that another??

It was!!

As I prayed this morning I was blessed to see 4 shooting stars. What a wonderful gift! I am so glad I waited to cuddle up in my bed with a book.

Yesterdays thankful was for time. I am always worried about how much time I have to get things done. There is never enough of it. Yesterday though, I just let things go. It took more time to get school finished...almost all day really, left a few things for today like finishing the laundry, vacuuming the house, getting the mirrors in the bathroom clean.

You know what?

The world did not end.

My house was not as clean as it usually is when I get up, but I was not stressed when I went to bed and slept better than I had in quite a while.

That was quite a blessing.

Not that I plan on letting all my responsibilities slide like that every day, but once in a while...its nice to just enjoy my family.

Maybe I should try that again on CHRISTmas day??

Ha ha!! Like that could ever happen!!

Wonder what I will be thankful for tomorrow??

The Littlest Angel Trailer

2011-11-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

I think this would be a cute thing to watch at our Happy Birthday Jesus Party this year!

The girls and I are already talking about inviting a few families to join us and some of the activities we can do together. One of our ideas is a White Elephant gift exchange. Maybe have a cookie exchange too? We are thinking a few crafts or maybe bring food that we can then donate to a shelter as a gift from us all...

Just starting the thoughts. Let you know more of what we come up with as the time gets closer but we are starting to get excited!!

Went to another zoo

2011-11-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Took the kiddos to another zoo.

Went with some of out friends and it was nice.

The top picture is really bright but I posted it anyway. We had actually seen something I had never seen before. When we pulled up and parked we noticed zoo keepers walking around with nets. Not one or two zoo keepers, like 30! There were keepers in trucks, electric carts, on foot, just everywhere!!! I am so not exaggerating!

Anyway, told the kids to stay in the van since I was not sure what they were looking for.

You know an animal would have to escape from the zoo when I went there right???

Yeppers!!

Anyway, we saw all the zoo keepers start circling around one spot and closing in on something.

Hmmm?? A fox maybe?? No the nets were bigger than that.

A snake maybe?? A gazelle? A warthog?

Whoosh! A flurry of giant nets went sailing to cover something! The keepers all rushed in to the center spot.

What was it??

Oh my...it was a big and ugly brown pelican.

Didn't I just stop having nightmares about that pterodactyl size one at the San Diego Zoo?? Great.

One of the passing security guys told us that they had just clipped its wings but apparently not enough. Problem solved. I asked if they were going to clip any other birds today. He laughed and said "not after this one!"

So we all got out and went in the zoo after the pelican.

Can't be to safe after that one man a few weeks ago let all his wild life rescues loose.

Never know if he started something...

So anyway... here are the kiddos learning about armadillos.
I was surprised how tiny this one was.

Saw a meercat.

Camera faded then. That is okay though. We covered the entire zoo in just a few hours. It was really sad to see after going to the wild animal park. There the animals had room and seemed content. Here the animals all just had small spaces and looked miserable. I felt mean just being there. Like I was forcing them to stay in their bedroom. What a sad existence.

We had a nice time with our friends though.

Great chit chats and such.

Think we are done with our zoo trips for quite a while though.

Thankful for...

2011-11-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

Today I am so thankful for my morning quiet time with the Bible.

It was like God opened the pages to exactly what I needed to read. It started my day off just right!!

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16
Thank you Lord for having the most inspiring words!!

Someone surprised me!!!

2011-11-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

Usually Belle just traces the letters I have printed for her.
She has been working on her sight recognition of letters and small words.
She was not interested in writing letters.

She did these all by herself.

Just up and out of the blue, she decided to write the words in the spaces I always leave empty below, hoping one day she would want to fill them out!

On both of her papers even!!!

I am so proud of my big girl!!!

You go Belle!!!

Thankful for...

2011-11-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for...

getting to spend time with friends. I am going to a fashion show and tea that will help earn money for Pro-Life groups. I am lucky enough to be sharing a table with friends and my eldest daughter. This is going to be quite an event!

Thankful for...

2011-11-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am trying to put down something that I am thankful for every day this month.

I know I am going to be busy and miss a few, but if the thought is in my heart then maybe it will make me notice the good that much more every day.

So since I am behind by a few here are 5 things I am thankful for:

1~ My amazing, loving, handsome, intelligent, funny, inspiring, heart holding husband. I love you so much honey!!

2~ I am thankful for my amazing children that teach me so much every single day!

3~ I am thankful for the pumpkins we had for Halloween that made the best pumpkin pie and made my home smell so good on Wednesday!!

4~I am thankful for the time my husband and I spend together in the morning having coffee and chit chatting before he goes to work. So thankful that he HAS a job too. We are blessed!

5~Today I am thankful for the early morning chill that was in the air. I cuddled up with my hot cup of coffee and a good book while the kiddos were still sleeping and the husband was out on a bike ride. The quiet before the chaos. It was lovely.

Now what to write tomorrow???

The latest book I have finished

2011-11-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work by Michelle Duggar

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Duggar's....so this book is a fun read for me. Love how much love they all share in EVERYTHING THEY DO!! It is a very old school way to raise your family and a way that has been accepted by many until recent decades. I am glad they are bringing God back to the family.

View all my reviews

19 Kids & Counting Hoodie | 19 Kids & Counting I Heart Duggars Hoodie - Navy, 19 Kids & Counting Sweatshirt, 19 Kids & Counting Jacket | Discovery Channel Store

2011-11-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

19 Kids & Counting Hoodie | 19 Kids & Counting I Heart Duggars Hoodie - Navy, 19 Kids & Counting Sweatshirt, 19 Kids & Counting Jacket | Discovery Channel Store

Oh, I so want this!!! I am such a Dugger fan!!! I love the show!!! I want Aimee to marry a John David!! Jinger could be their chaperon!!

I am not quite at stalker status (haha) ...yet...LOL!!!

So here is what I want for CHRISTmas Santa :) The sweatshirt or the latest season of 19 Kids and counting!!!

What we did for Halloween.

2011-11-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness!

We forgot to write about our Halloween!!

Belle was a cowgirl with her faithful stead.

Becca was a Candy Corn Witch.

Cutie girlies for sure!!

YIKES!!

Michael Jr!

You scared me!!

We went to a bowling party.

Cosmic bowling baby!!

Belle won a painting set in the raffle!

There was a parade.

Michael Jr was not so happy about that.

Neither were any of the other older boys, but they got over it!!

When we went to the Harvest Festival for church Belle wanted to be an angel instead.

It was going to be chilly so we thought it would be a better idea anyway.

Check out how much she loved wearing this costume in her high heels!!

Strike a pose!!

Cutest angel ever right here!!

Yes, my wings are so soft and beautiful.

I am blessed.

Oh yes, we did pumpkins too.

This year though I really wanted good EATING pumpkins to make great pies with.

They are not so great for carving though so...

We painted them!!

Yup, Belle's rocked it.

Totally cute.

Loved the fact that she did a pattern all by herself.

I guess she is learning during her lessons!

Today we just took it pretty much like this....

Had to take Aimee to class.

So my little bumblebee just kicked it with me in the front seat chit chatting.

( while the others did math in the back)

It was really nice.

Hope your Halloween was happy too!!

Cake Decoration Contest 2011

2011-11-01T20:57:00.000-07:00

We prepped with tons of little candies.

Made some chocolate cakes and...

...a few yellow cakes.

Then let the girls go for it!!

Made by Belle.

Most Original Cake...also won by Belle.

Becca won the Scariest Cake.

Becca's friend Hailey won the Prettiest Cake.

Becca and Hailey had fun with this one.

Becca made this one too.

This is the one she was actually planning on making from the beginning.

The girls all got prizes for their cakes and their brothers did to for leaving them be so they could make their delicious desserts.

Then we took the cakes that Hailey and Becca decorated down to our church to use for the Harvest Festival Cake Walk.

Belle's cakes were so over the top amazing we just had to jump right in and eat those delectable desserts!!

Great tradition we started!

Love the yearly contest!!

Now that Halloween is over...

2011-11-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

My baby is 16

2011-10-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Good morning birthday princess!

We know you said don't do anything but...

the munchkins got up at 4:30 am to decorate and surprise you!!

Becca and Belle made you cupcakes.

Michael Jr made you a cake.

Everything is black and white polka dot.

Some yummy black colored foods...

More black snacks and white polka dot gift bags. We screwed up the color or the envelopes though... sorry Aimee.

Belle was so excited to share her gift!

She painted it herself just for her big sister!!

Awwhhh!

Boots!

From brother :)

Whooo hooo!

Books!

That should last her the weekend!

Becca used her own money and bought this one just for Aimee.

Mom?

Dad?

What????

You got me a camera?

Really?

We can't afford that!

Really?

Happy birthday sweetie!

We know this will get you going down the path you are meant to follow.

Our budding professional photographer.

Love you sweetheart!

Went to the Zoo

2011-10-26T07:11:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while...

You know how some times you just need to slow down?
Life is just so busy?

Well so was our life.

I just had to cut something to make more time for other things.

So sadly, my blogging time got the boot. So now I will have lots to catch up on! Many friends blogs to read and post to do!! I just need to find a way to get this time in as well :) Where there is a will there is a way right?

Right!!

So here is my post...we went to the zoo!

Look at that HUGE pelican behind my daughter! I swear that thing must be related to the pterodactyl! I am still having nightmares because of that....creepy thing!

Much safer, Belle just fed some interesting looking ducks.

Those I can handle.

Wow.

This dude was big.

I really felt intimidated by this big guy too.

Don't know who was worse the bird or the gorilla.

This is so how all zoo's should be.

Just open space for them to live together.

Maybe a little like back when Jesus walked the earth?

We all loved it either way.

Here was the cutest little rhino.

She is endangered.

I believe they said there are only 7 left on the planet.

Closer look at the giraffe.

Check out this cheetah running!

Amazing speed!!

Yeah, I don't really get the point of this bird.

It totally wanted its picture taken though, total ham for the camera!

Great family trip.

Went with our homeschool group as a field trip.

That made it nice to be surrounded by other people with similar reasons for being there.

Education and family time...priceless :)

My little boy is growing up!

2011-09-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

We let him do the bbq-ing today!

Yup we have a new king of the grill in our house!!

Don't eat the stuff myself...but they look pretty good!

Since they are all gone, I am gonna go out on a limb and say they were fantastic!!

Great job little man!!

Whoo hoo!

Good job Michael Jr!!

Michael Jr. got himself a new toy

2011-08-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Michael Jr saved his money and bought himself a new airsoft pellet gun.

He is so excited!! He has gone through his whole thing of pellets already!!

Before I had kiddos I swore I would never buy my son a gun.

I was scared that it would promote violence.

Yeah,

now I have a son and I see that they are born violent.

LOL!!

He loves to knock stuff down, stunt man tricks, tear stuff apart, punch weight bags (we are not promoting the sister hitting), play army, hunt critters in the yard...

He is just a boy.

So I have learned.

So much for my hippie way of thinking,

but I am going to have an amazing soldier in the army one day.

I will stand next to him, his real weapon, and be so proud of the man that he has become.

Life Coach/Certified Professional Coach: More about me

2011-08-22T23:51:00.000-07:00

My friend Pam is starting her new page in life as a Professional Life Coach.
Here is a little bit about her from her new blog.
She is a really wonderful person if you are in need of someone in this industry I would recommend her highly.

You can find her here Http://lifecoachPam.blogspot.com/
She is located in Southern California, near La Mirada.

Life Coach/Certified Professional Coach: More about me: My desire, as a Certified Professional Life Coach, is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams through motivation, encourageme...
and ongoing support. My passion is in health, wellness and nutrition, which I’ve been drawn to because of specific health circumstances of my own. Health is not just about diet, or how you eat, it includes many other aspects of your life: relationships, spirituality, emotional well-being, finances, and your professional life. I will help you create the balance you want in your life, working with any or all area(s) of your choice. I work with women, men and children, individually, or in a group setting. My wish is for everyone to live a more fulfilled life, loving every moment. I want you to be whoever you want to be!

Would you like guidance and support in achieving your goals and dreams?

Are you having trouble getting where you want to go?

I’m here to guide you towards your dreams, providing you with the tools you need for your personal and physical wellness, in an honest and safe environment.

How do you see the rest of your life? I will help you determine your goals, put together a plan to reach them, maintain your focus on them, and root for your success in realizing them!

I am here for YOU!

American Explorers project

2011-08-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, since we are looking at some of the "first" explorers of America in history right now, I had the kids make some boats to explore our pool.

The trick was we had to use only stuff that is from the recycling.

This is Belle's boat complete with bow and a Polly Pocket to guide the boat.

Becca went for the Viking style.

She put spoon ores on each side.

Belle and I did one together first.

Kinda to get the idea across of what we were doing for the lesson.

Plain but to the point.

Michael was the first ship at sea.

Oh no!!

The Army man on the front tasted the water!!

Hope he made it to shore in time!!

Belle was next.

Away Polly sailed into the blue.

Simple boat with simple lines made its way across the "ocean".

Three of the 4 boat made it!

Success!

We can discover the New World!!

On to the adventure fellow sailors!!!

Morning Musings

2011-08-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

Today...the sun is rising right now casting a golden glow over all the houses. You can feel the cool evening air leaving and the humid heat starting to creep up and into the house.

Outside...the traffic is picking up. The cars are moving like cattle in straight processions up and down the boulevard. No birds singing this morning. I wonder why? No dogs barking at the pedestrians either...hmmm. Rather odd for the morning.

I can smell...the exhaust from the big trucks that just past. Gross, nothing like gagging on your life giving air first thing in the morning. Ahh, there the stench has passed and we are back to my delicious coffee with cream smells. I think I am going to close the windows.

In the oven for dinner...I have some leftover chicken from last nights taco dinner. I am kinda thinking if it is really hot today I will just make cold chicken sandwiches otherwise I have been craving enchiladas! Yum!! Then I can reheat the leftover beans, add a few more and instant dinner!!

What I have been thinking about...how the world is just so in the enemy's hands right now. We all need Jesus so much. The enemy is everywhere. The advertisements on television are getting racier. The whole marriage issue, planned parenthood, junk and fast foods, television shows, clothing fads... It just never ends all that has just enough evil to be tempting or look like there is just minimal damage from. You take just a little from one evil, then another, then another, before you know it the bigger evils just don't seem like such a big deal. It is so hard to live here and try to raise your children in the way of the Lord when every corner has tagging from the enemy. Some days, more often than not, my husband and I think about leaving California. Maybe other states have less temptation, less needing to be as good as or better than the Jones. We call it "Jones-ing" (insert snicker here). Maybe in other states it is easier to be a Christian. I don't know...just what we have been thinking about.

The project I am working on...my husband is making me a closet for all my homeschool stuff!! Now all my books and papers won't have to be hidden all over the house. Well at least that is the plan. So excited!!!

My mood today...I am kinda tired but ready to start the day. Got my workout clothes on, coffee half way drunk, school stuff almost ready....Whoo hoo Me!!!

What I am reading...textbooks. Yay. I am waiting for my new Hillary Duff book though. I should get it today. Well, she wrote it last year. It is called Eclipse. It is new to me. She has a follow up to that one coming out tomorrow. I had no idea she was an author. I just want to read it because I like her. She was one of the few from her generation who stayed true to herself and did not go raunchy with fame and fortune. She stayed classy. I appreciate that. So I am going to support her and continue to be a fan.

School stuff...we are doing great! Got Michael's state grades...not awesome but way better than last year. We still have a ways to go to get him caught up to his grade level (except in english, amazed me entirely. There he is almost a year ahead!!) but Becca (we got her CAT test results too) is overly advanced in math apparently so I have to bump her up from the math I had planned for her this year. I guess it is a good thing I thought ahead and bought the next years math books early!!

Picture to share...this is the tree we bought and are still waiting to have installed in our front yard.

I tried...but where is Ferb???

2011-08-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, the sandwiches I posted before looked so cute to make. They were a bit harder than I thought.

I did not use the parsley because my munchkins hate them so that would just be a waste.

I used curly red lettuce instead.

The lunch meat was hard to cut in a design for a sandwich.

The eyes in the original were olives and my munchkins really were against that so I used...chocolate chips. The cheese for the whites of the eyes I just took a cheese stick and sliced it thin but I think the original had used a small circular cookie cutter on a slice of cheese, only because those seem larger. Either that or they used smaller bread. The sad part if that is true is that I went to the store and actually bought bread so that it would be smaller than the bread that I usually make.

Here is how they turned out though.

Kinda look like big ostrich heads huh?

Maybe dinosaur heads??

It was an experience.

I will try it again, but not today.

gonna make this for lunch today

2011-08-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Aimee found this picture online we thought it would be fun to make for lunch.

It is so cute huh??

I am going to have to figure out how to make Phineas to go with this Ferb sandwich!! I think they will be a hit though!!

Fun times!!

taking the challenge

2011-08-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

I think this is a great idea!
Totally affordable and a good experiment for the kiddos!!

Okay the challenge is to try washing your face for two weeks with honey. That is it. It should make your face softer and clearer. I already use just natural bee silk that you can get at hardlotion.com. That stuff is awesome!! So since she is trying this I figured I might too.

I copied this from Crunchy Betty, who is running the challenge but don't forget to run over there and see the rest of the information. She has videos on her challenge and stuff. Anyway sounds like fun and gonna start it with the teen today!!

Why You Want to Wash Your Face With Honey

It is antibacterial and antimicrobial. It will get off any lingering nastiness that’s thinking about setting up camp on your face and creating pimples.
It is slightly drying which means it helps soak up any pimples or oiliness.
It is also incredibly moisturizing. Seems like a double standard, doesn’t it? But it’s true. Honey sinks into your skin and moisturizes like you wouldn’t believe. (Remember Cleopatra and her honey baths to look young?)
It imparts all kinds of beneficial enzymes that work at scrubbing your face for you, as well as perform a little anti-aging action.
It’s great for acne, aging skin, normal skin, dry skin … honey loves EVERY SKIN TYPE.
It is healing and helps repair acneic sores and scars.
It’s 100%, absolutely, positively natural, great for your skin, and such a SIMPLE addition to your routine!

How to Wash Your Face With Honey

We’re going to get into all the different types of honey there are to choose from on Wednesday, but for now just know that if your honey says “raw” and “pure” on it, it’s fine.
So here’s what you need to get started:

Honey, water, and a towel for patting dry.

How to Wash Your Face With Honey

First, remember that these directions are for washing a face that doesn’t have makeup on it. Honey alone doesn’t take off all the goopy gunk, so next Monday I’ll show you the three little (natural) additions you can make to get all the makeup off – and still enjoy the benefits of a honey wash.
For now, if you wear makeup, just continue to take it off the way you normally do, and incorporate the honey wash into your morning, pre-makeup routine.
Here are your wash instructions:

Tie your hair back or get it out of your face. (Honey makes hair really sticky.)
Pour 1/2-ish teaspoon of honey into the palm of your hands and rub your hands together for 2-3 seconds, just to warm up the honey.
Place the honey on your face and massage it in for a minute or two – all around, don’t forget an inch of face.
Optional – leave the honey sitting there on your face for 5 or 10 minutes, just so your skin can drink the goodness in.
Rinse a few times with water. You’ll be surprised at how quickly and easily it rinses off!
Bask in the beauty that is your face now.

That’s it!
If you want visual directions, here’s a silly little video I made (I was a bit loopy). Yes, that’s me singing, acting silly, and annoying my cat.

spent the day at Bass Pro Shop

2011-08-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

It was hot so we headed down to Bass Pro Shop at Victoria Gardens.

It is so cool there!

The kids love when we go and everyone else is at work or school and they can have the shooting range all to themselves.

Becca rocked it!!

Belle was pretending to shoot too and then

"Please Mommy, Please Daddy can I shoot too??"

Yes, we let Belle shoot.

She actually got a few!!

All by herself!!

Michael Jr is in heaven!

Look at that concentration!!!

If we could afford it (only by money falling out of the sky from an anonymous airplane that no one else saw or this mysterious money fall from and into our yard. I know I dream good huh??) he would so love to have one of these in our house, heck he would love to have it in his room!!!

When it was time to go we grabbed a few Moon Pies to snack on before we left.

The girls ran into this poor guy who just would not smile for a picture no matter what we tried.

This was the best part.

When we left Michael Jr was so bummed. He really wanted to stay there all day long and look at the guns, archery stuff, ATC's you know all the boy stuff. So he did not want a Moon Pie, he was just sulking. Belle finally got him to have a bite of her Moon Pie and made him smile. He was much more chipper after that. Ahhh a little sister's love.

RIP Navy Seals 8-6-2011

2011-08-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

The good Husbandman may pluck His roses and gather His lilies at midsummer, and, for ought I dare say, in the beginning of the first summer month; and he may transplant young trees out of the lower ground to the higher, where they may have more of the sun and a more free air, at any season of the year. The goods are His own. The Creator of time and winds did a merciful injury to nature in landing the passenger so early. Letters of Samuel Rutherford (1600-1661)

Thank you for serving our country and keeping my family safe and free.

4 days ago
4 days ago

Morning Musings

2011-08-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Today... I am actually doing this at night because I am to crazy in the mornings this week!!!

Outside it is...is quiet. Hardly any cars going by and the family is all asleep in their little beds.

I can smell...the coffee I warmed up believe it or not to help me sleep tonight.

In the oven for dinner...we had chicken fingers, spinach and pear salad and garlic bread! Yummmmm! I may be stinky but that garlic will keep me healthy now that fall is around the corner. I think tomorrow I will serve taquitos and beans. I better start soaking those beans tonight!!

What I have been thinking about...I can see prayers being answered. I pray the same prayers quite often because they are things close to my heart or for people in situations close to my heart. I love seeing little bits of change in life that are pointing things toward the direction of my prayers and their answers. I love when the good things that are starting to happen and I have been praying about seem to be coming around. It gives me faith that the things that are bigger and deeper that I pray for are in the works. Things that I may not even fathom being done in those situations are coming together hopefully in a positive way. I know only God knows what is best and I have to have faith that He will do things, amazing things in the lives I pray for. My BIG PRAYER this week is for my friend's baby who is due soon! Lord may that sweet soul just bloom with joy and happiness in her parents arms in the very near future. Precious little Fallon is getting ready to come and meet us all. I pray that her mother has a safe and uneventful delivery. May she heal quickly and raise her little bundle of sunshine in God's wonderful glory....I just can't wait to see her little face!!

The project I am working on...I am making pajama pants for the girls. Cute material and I will post pictures when they are done. They are so easy it should be done tonight or tomorrow.

My mood today...I feel like I'm happily busy. I just started homeschooling again and I am loving this year so far. The kids have not wanted to start. They want more summer vacation time. I would rather take that time at CHRISTmas. When everyone else is stressing, take an extra week to either prep for the holiday or to recover from it. When it comes I am sure they will agree with me!!

What I am reading...I am reading to many books at one time again. I have been reading Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. The Robert Langdon books. I liked the movies so I figured the books would be better and I am right, of coarse. The books usually are. Still reading the Duggars too.

School stuff...we started off not so bad till I realized as I was preparing for Aimee's Biology that I forgot to purchase her lab notebook from BJU Press. Ugh. I got the teacher manual so I can fake it this week but that really stinks that I completely forgot to purchase it. Then Aimee's math teacher said that they all needed a specific math book for their class this year only to change it today. I just got an email that the book was changed and hope it is not a big issue but they need it by the 20th. I had so smugly thought I was prepared for this year early. My bad. Other than that it has been lovely. We had the best discussion about dinosaurs today. My 15 minute lecture ended up a 65 minute discussion and a son who has decided that it is his job to tell the world the true story about the dinosaurs that they are thousands of years old not millions. He wants to go to Africa and find the mysterious creatures that have been seen on their beaches in the jungles that might be ancient dinos. So proud of his passion!! This is why I homeschool :)

A picture to share...

The girls made my husband's birthday cake yesterday. They used his favorite candy and cookies to make our family on his cake!! It was such a sweet idea, and tasty!!

Today is our Anniversary!!

2011-08-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Wow!

15 years ago today my husband put a band of gold around my finger and in front of God and our families took me as his wife. I in turn pledged my heart, soul and life to him.

I can remember every detail about that day.

Not because I knew the pictures would be incredible or the dress I had found was perfect for me but because it was the day that my best friend took my heart and promised to hold it for me.

He has made me so proud to be his wife.

Through all my learning to be one he has eaten my burned dinners and said they were delicious. He has found a way to let me be at home and care for our children and our home. He has stood behind me as we took the plunge into homeschooling. He has looked at me way heavier and droopier after 4 pregnancies and still tells me I am beautiful and turn him on. He comes home to me every night. He chooses to take a job with less money to bless us with his presence instead of just being a paycheck. He goes with me to church, when it is his only day off and would rather sleep in because he knows it is important to me.

He is amazing.

He is wonderful.

He is my everything.

Without him I would not be me...the true me...the me I am with him is the me I like to be.

Happy anniversary my love.

May God bless us with many more!

I love you from the depths of my soul!

Song of Solomon 7:10-12 I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me. Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom- there I will give you my love.

Sunday Service

2011-07-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky.

I attend a great church now.

The best part is that whatever seems to be going on in our house and our Bible studies somehow ends up being part of our Sunday service. I just love that!!

This weekend my husband had to work on Sunday. We even waited till the last service just in case he could get home in time but it did not work out. My son was very unhappy. He did not feel that it was fair that Dad got to "skip" church and he did not.

My response was, "too bad son. You are going and you are going to look nice! So go comb your hair." Grumbling he left to clean up, grab his Bible and get out to the van. On the way down to church I pointed out that God had given us so much all week long. We are so blessed! We have food, shelter, the freedom to worship the Lord with no worries of persecution or death. We had been blessed all week with beautiful weather, friends stopping by, family sharing gifts and fun moments. We had been given so much is it really so bad to give up a few hours for God one day a week? Still grumbling he agreed.

We parked the van, found where everyone needed to be, started singing with the worship band and got ready to be inspired by our Pastor. Part of our message this week was toward our children that even though they might not want to go to church because it is an inconvenience to their day that they live under their parents roof and if their parents say they are to go they need to obey!! They are to go with no complaints too!! Ha ha!! That was hilarious to me!! You are so on target Pastor Jack!!

Then there was more of God's wonderful word he was discussing, pointing out just how blessed we are and that we should go to church to offer thanks with others. How in the Bible we are to gather together in worship, sing joyful praises to Him together, and wherever two or more of us are gathered in His name He is there.

Loving it!!!

That was so God.

Next week shouldn't be a problem!!!!

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching
Luke 4:16
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom."

So pretty much even Jesus went to church...
if its good enough for Jesus then it should be for us as well. :)

Aimee got bored...

2011-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

This girl amazes me.
She still feels that she has no talent.
These pictures are still with our little cheap camera and before she will "fix them up" as she puts it.

She has talent if she believes it or not.

That is why I just signed her up for digital photography classes at our community college.
She is about to see just how much talent she actually has!

We got Lady Bugs!

2011-07-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

We have an apple tree in our back yard.
We have had this tree for 10 years and it is still sooooooo small.
This is the first year it really started to take off.
It has given us a few apples through out the years but we can see the actual tree growing this year.
Growing tree is good but it brings aphids and that's bad.
I try to not use pesticides any where near my house.
So I went online and bought ladybugs. For some reason you can't buy them at the garden centers anymore around here and none of the employees seem to know why, or just don't want to tell me.

We still got them and that is the most important part.
1500 ladybugs for like $15.
The munchkins loved it!
We put them not only all over the apple tree but on the other plants as well.

The little ladies crawled up and down everything, even our legs!
Belle loved catching them and giving each one a name!

Then this is so cute. The bugs started crawling into the birdhouse Belle painted and put in the apple tree. You cant really see them in the picture but there are about 10 just loving the little house!

$15 and I have no more aphids, I don't have to worry about poison around my family or pets and it gave joy to my children for the whole afternoon! Money well spent in my opinion.

Morning Musings

2011-07-20T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today... I am still tired but awake? Yeah, I am confused on that too.

Outside it is...is gonna be a hot one!! I have the house all watered and opened up trying to capture all the cooler air in the house before it becomes heavy with heat.

I can smell...the coffee in the pot. It just finished perking and has that warming of the soul smell to it. That is how you start a day!

In the oven for dinner...think we will be having Tostadas tonight. I have left over chicken, so no hot oven on tonight, warm up some beans, put out the cheese, salsa, and corn. I can make some guacamole really quick and we are good. That actually sounds really good!! Yup that is what we are having for dinner tonight!

What I have been thinking about...how lucky I am to have a homeschool group as wonderful as Western Christian is for me. We just had a Mom's Appreciation night the other evening. Our principal was so sweet. She and her daughter made us all a wonderful Santa Fe chicken salad for dinner. They decorated her home so beautifully and classy. We all had some time of fellowship and then she had speakers who just lifted us up with words. One speaker really spoke to my heart. I had to go and give her a hug after her speech. Then just after dessert, (which was wonderful, cheesecake, brownies, cookies, ice cream cake...there was not one calorie there that I just did not love!!!) our sweet leader/mentor/principal went on to praise our husbands. She told us just how blessed we are to have such amazing men in our lives and that we should be so thankful. She was full of wonderful things to say about our incredible husbands. I love that. I love being around people like that who just love and appreciate and find joy. So yes, I have been thinking about how wondrous and heart warming that night was for me.

The project I am working on...I just picked up some "junk" furniture that Becca and I are gonna restore. Totally looking forward to that!!

My mood today...I feel like I'm ready, for what I have no idea. I just feel like I am starting to get my ducks all in a row. I know I have my school year just around the corner and it is going to be hard, challenging even, but I am ready. Maybe that is what I feel ready for?

What I am reading...I am still going through the 100 Minute Bible. Trying to make it like a devotional. I am actually loving that. I am almost finished with Dance of the Gods this book is slow. Maybe that is why I have been supplementing with my new Love That Multiplies book by the Duggars? I so love the Duggars!!! That book I am more than enjoying!!!

School stuff...well I got my English texts in the mail yesterday. They are from Rod and Staff. Nothing fun there, just basic sentence structure and grammar. Don't get me wrong, they are great books, just nothing fun for me to share about them. Oh but I did run out to Dollar Tree with Aimee the other day and we picked up a few things for the younger kiddos to surprise the younger kids with on the first day of school. Little things like new pens, composition books for journal and handwriting. Still need to pick up a cute snack or something to make the day special not dreaded!!

A picture to share...

love my son :)

Summer project 2011

2011-07-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

This is going to be my "new" kitchen table.
I know it is kinda ugly right now but this bad boy is from the 1940's and is still going strong!1
Someone had put this old kitchen table in their garage and started using it as a work table. It has marks on it from clamps being tightened on it, some oops drilling marks and a few hammer taggings. That stuff is worth big cha-ching now days. To buy a new table that looks like an old farm table is expensive!! LOL!!! This one is pretty neat though. The sides pull out and you can add two leaves to the table to make it even bigger. For us that works out perfect. A small table to eat at in the kitchen just on a daily basis but a larger table if we have guests over for a bigger meal.
This means...summer project found.

Let the sanding begin!!!

I am going to have quite a bit of it too!!

We also found in that garage there was an old chiffonier? Not a dresser because it is so far off the ground but some type of serving/storing piece of furniture. Took that too. It deserves a better life than the dump.

The painting is nice but not original.

Becca is going to work on this one by herself.

She is amazing!!

I love that she has so much get up and try it attitude.

Watch my baby go!!

This project may take us a while (because I will only go out when there is shade.)but that is okay. Great time spent together just me and my middle girl!

Just a thought...fasting & life

2011-07-18T06:52:00.000-07:00

Fasting is soooooo hard for me.

I really love to eat food.

No I REALLY LOVE food.
Depriving myself of something that brings pleasure, and usually extra girth, is just a major challenge.

When I was a kid, we never had any flavor in out cardboard food. It was all about the color. We ate yellow meals, orange, green or brown meals. Every thing you ate had to match color wise. Yeah...poor me. The pathetic part was as a kid I had to cook the meals 3 nights a week at least and that was how I was taught to cook. I was the sassy chef though and would make taco salad (gasp). Yes, I would mix colors in my meals. I was such the rebel. I made things like mac-n-cheese and would have a side dish of (again gasp) green salad!! I know. I was over the top.

As I began my life in my own home I learned the joy of cooking.

The love of spices grabbed onto my taste buds and has never let go!

I have found garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, cinnamon, ginger, oregano, cumin, and so many other wonderful herbs and natural additives to my homemade dishes.

Yummy, yummy for my tummy!!

Now the bland food made not eating very easy back in the day. Fasting was not a challenge. I was underweight. Now...well let's just say all that missing weight from my youth has found its way back to me. I am not huge but you can tell I have a well stocked pantry in my home.

So any way back to my thought this morning about fasting. Fasting is, as I said, hard for me. When I do fast it is not for weight reduction but usually as prayer for something or someone. My last fast was on the 3rd with quite a few members of our church. We were fasting and praying for our country. For me in particular it was difficult because on the 2nd we had just had a birthday party for Michael Jr and Belle so there was lots of good leftovers to pick at. Then I was prepping things for the 4th of July on the 3rd. So I was surrounded by wonderful food the whole time. Temptation was abundant. Man, the cake icing was even calling out to have a finger full. Ugh. It was tough but I did it. I ate nothing.

I started thinking about that and life.

You know we are only here on earth for such a small amount of time really. When you think of it in the grand scheme of things. We really are here just for the blink of an eye. As I think about how quickly time has gone just with my oldest child. She was an infant in the hospital just the other day and now she is checking out colleges. Wow...wow.

Follow me with this, it will all come together in a second. Jesus died the most excruciating and humiliating death for you and me. He took the punishment for all the stupid, mean, thoughtless and selfish things I have done so that I could be with Him in heaven right? Of coarse right. We all know this yet we continue to screw up. Kind of like "thank you Lord for taking the nails for me but I am gonna keep being selfish and doing whatever the heck I want because I have accepted you (to a degree) into my life and so I know I am going to heaven. So thanks again and this Bud is for you!!"

Ouch. True to a point right? How many times have I done that to Him without really thinking about it? I pray "Lord make me a better Christian" then skip church because I was out to late the night before or it would take to much time out of my day. I have a life. I just could go to a movie or go shopping or sleep instead. Hmmm....let's see what if Jesus had said "you know, I could save the people but I would really rather just kick it here by the sea and have a picnic with John and my mother. I really don't wanna get beat up today. Maybe next week." Yeah, that would definitely have stunk for me.

So what if I looked at my life as a fast.

Really. What if I did?

What if, I am now of enough mind, and I have truly accepted Jesus as my Savior, I could "fast" with all of the things that I might enjoy but are wrong for me or not of pleasure to my Lord?

Could I do that?

When I fast and give up cake, left over barbecue chicken, jello salad and all the other good stuff, I know it is hard but for a good purpose. It is to really promote my petition to the Lord. It is to show this is something that is vitally important to me. Important enough that I will pray every time I feel hunger instead of giving in to my needs of the flesh.

Hmmm again. Could I give up everything that is not of pleasure to my Lord? Could I be that Christian that every one recognizes as a good Christian? People might not know me but know me as the good Christian woman down the street, be known for my actions not for my attire, home or name? Could I be that selfless? Could I do a life fast?

If our life, however long it seems to us today is but a moments thought to God, would I be able to "fast" that long? Intentionally I would love to say yes. Can I though? I am so fallible. I am constantly slipping up. Example: This van pulls up in front of my house the other day. The passenger opens the door, vomits and then they take off. My first thought was :"Cow. Thanks a ton. I just love cleaning up other peoples vomit from in front of my house. Why don't I come and vomit in front of your house? You couldn't even pour a soda over it or something? Errrggghhh!" Now had I been a good Christian I would have just had my second thought "maybe she was pregnant. I know how yucky that feels when every car ride is just torture to your stomach. Poor girl. I hope she is not sick. Man what if she just left her chemo appointment. God bless that girl. May she feel better soon. I better clean this up right now, don't want my husband to have to come home to this." Yeah my first thought is not always the kindest, but the second thought is usually better and the one I go with.

If I fast I need to learn to skip the first thought all together for God. Does not seem as easy now huh?

I am half way through the average woman's lifespan. The first 20 years seemed to go on forever. The second 20 have sped by filled with love and happy memories. I hope the next 20 will go by even faster and have much joy and laughter in them as well. Can I live them as a fast? The enemy makes it difficult just like the cake icing calling out to me during my fast on the 3rd. It is hard. The ways of anger and selfishness are just so easy to fall into. Rude comments toward the driver who cut me off and almost hit me on the freeway is like a knee jerk response.Can I be stronger? The graffiti artist who thinks my wall is a canvas for words that I can't even figure out and is not even pretty, can I find something positive to say there? What about the person/people who broke into our truck while I was shopping and it ended up costing a small fortune to fix? Can I let it go with a blessing?

Jesus was such a good man.

I feel that is an understatement.

I was thinking that just as I learned to add spices to my meals to really enjoy them and see the true amazing flavor you can have with foods with spice, I have learned to do the same with Jesus.

People can be sustained on life with the enemy much like my life with bland food. It is a way of life. It will get you through the day. Man, even plain vanilla ice cream is good some times. Bland diets can make your body look rock star good! You will get complements on how rockin your body is visually. The opposite sex will hit on you more, temptation to sin in other ways is then that much more. The enemy is wining that way.

But...if I choose Jesus and life fasting from situations that can be tempting maybe I will be filled with the spices of life for eternity.

Fasting with my salt...Jesus.

So true Mr. Franklin

2011-07-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

There are two ways of being happy: We must either diminish our wants or augment our means - either may do - the result is the same and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier.

Benjamin Franklin

Potluck and Pool Party #2

2011-07-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

My husband had some friends from work over for a potluck and pool party #2 the other night.
Wow, these guys brought some great food to share. I made my beans by request. I guess they are a favorite with the guys :) The other food was great too. One guy brought cerveche, another brought carne asada, there was salsa and chips all sorts of choices. It was byob, bring your own beverage too but I put out this great strawberry leomonade that was sucked down without haste. Darn it. That would have been a great leftover!!

The guys had a really nice time together though. It was nice for them to see each other outside of work and just relax together. So they played pool and darts.

I have no idea who won anything. They were just having fun.

Here are some of the late night bunch.
Most of the guys left by 11:00 to go home to their wives.
The single guys stayed a bit longer.

They want to do it again.
We will see...

Glad to be a Martha

2011-07-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking during my time with God in the morning about how wonderful it will be to meet Him in heaven. How I look forward to the day when my husband and I will be together at the table of our Lord just praising Him.

Just thinking of that makes me smile.

Then I started thinking again of how I would praise Him.

Would I sit there gushing?

He deserves my gushing! An eternity of gushing would barely put a nick in the amount of gush He should have poured on Him.

I am sure I will gush but I just think I would want to do more.

I should say I would want to "do" something for Him.

That is my personality.

I would want to serve Him.

"Can I get you water Lord?"

"Would you like some more bread my Savior?"

"Could you use more anything sweet Jesus?"

Those would be my first thought.

To serve the one who has served me in the most ultimate way.

He took the punishment for my sins so that I could enjoy the sweetness of heaven with Him.

Yes, that is what I would want to do.

Serve Him.

I love the story of Mary and Martha.

I so understand Mary.

That is who we all would love to be.

The one who just sits at the feet of Jesus and worships Him.

What an awesome thought.

Yet I can relate more to Martha.

She served the Lord and others while Martha worshiped.

I have the heart of serving the comforts of others.

I would want to make Jesus the best meal I could to fill His stomach.

I would want to be sure His cup of wine stayed full, that He would not thirst.

I would want to be sure He had pillows to make Him more comfortable.

Would the home temperature be alright would He be in need of a bigger fire in the hearth or a fan to cool His skin.

Would He enjoy a dessert after His meal? Maybe one of sweetness or would coffee be a better choice.

Yes, I would want to serve Him.

Then I realized I even ask of that every day.

I ask to be a vessel to serve Him.

I ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me in the path He has chosen for me.

Let me help those who I can help in the name of the Lord.

Some days I think it means serving my husband.

Some days it means serving my family.

Some days it means serving with donations to good Christian organizations.

Some days it means seeing the homeless man out there all cold and alone and buying him a hot coffee and a sandwich, remembering to look him in the eye, smile and give him some dignity.

Some days it is remembering my elderly neighbors, and bringing them an unexpected dinner or flowers.

Some days it is being in line for fast food or a coffee and paying for the strangers meal behind me. Knowing full well they have no idea who I am or why I might do something like that.

Some days it is helping my daughter make blankets for the mother's who chose to keep their unborn babies. Hopefully giving a bit of strength to the mothers and teaching my daughter to serve.

So many ways to serve my Lord here.

I hope I am a Martha.

I am glad there are Mary's out there doing their service too...

...but I so love serving my Lord as Martha did.

Dolphin Tale - Trailer

2011-07-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

gonna take the munchkins to see this one!!

The Beauty Of Mathematics!!.mp4

2011-07-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

I am not a big fan of Math but this video is great!!!

Morning Musings

2011-07-14T06:07:00.000-07:00

Today... I think I will take the munchkins to the library.

Outside it is...overcast. I so love it!! I went out and gardened and did not have to wear a hat or sunglasses!! It was wonderful!!!

I can smell...the laundry. I love the smell of Gain fabric softener in the wash and in the dryer. It just smells homey.

In the oven for dinner...thawing out some meat. I think I am gonna make some spaghetti and a nice salad for the evening meal tonight.

What I have been thinking about...God has really been on my mind a bunch. He and I have been having dialog all week. I have a friend who needs my prayers on something I see as having only one positive outcome. ( The results of this situation are entirely up to a person of legal authority.) The situation is not going the way "I want". I know in my mind God is the only one in control and knows how to handle the problem. I just wish it was "my" way. I just keep having to tell my self that I am fallible. I can only see so far. I can only see my wants. He sees all. He knows all. He is in control. Heart wrenching but I am sure in the future, hopefully not the to distant future I will see his wisdom and be glad for it. (hopefully my way will be the right way too!!)

The project I am working on...I just bought some really cute material and I think I am going to make myself a nightie/tank top with one yard and a 70's tank top for me and Belle...or maybe Becca.

My mood today...I feel really relaxed. I am getting things accomplished. Having a bit of time to read books just for my pleasure, no school themed books. I am having a bit more time to blog which I enjoy. It is not to hot nor to bright. Just seems like things are nice today.

What I am reading...I just finished Morrigan's Cross this morning. I know I am still into some of the vampire books. This one is nothing like Twilight though, more the battle of good versus evil. I have been reading the 100 minute Bible too. It is a kind of Cliff's Notes of the Bible. Nice refresher book. So tomorrow, or maybe later I will start reading the next Morrigan's Cross book, The Dance of the gods, the battle will continue.

School stuff...well I thought I had all the stuff I needed for the kiddos to start school next month and as I was checking this morning I realized I am missing a few things. So I had to order a couple of them and I will have to order the rest later. Bummer. I can still start on the first. The stuff I need is just an extra book for Bible lessons and I forgot 7th grade English text book. Some how I ordered everything else but the text book. Duh. Great I can give him a test but no daily lessons. Oh I have the teacher's addition so he can still learn just not follow along.

A picture to share...

Belle got some money for her birthday and had really wanted to get a Baby Alive doll. She has wanted one for so long. The fact that she got to go buy it for herself made this baby even more special for her. She is so happy!!!

Have a blessed day friend!

Ridiculous...borrowed from "American Perspective" blog

2011-07-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Plant a vegetable garden, go to jail?

A woman in Michigan faces 93 days of jail time for replanting her front yard with vegetable planting beds after it was torn up for a sewer replacement project. She is standing up for her property rights, demanding a jury trial, and the city of Oak Park is throwing the book at her.

I used to watch the show Victory Garden on PBS on weekend morning. The traditional Victory Garden was planted in WWI or WWII in back and front yards as a way to ease pressure on the food supply and to help the war effort. Is it me or is the boot of government falling too heavily on our necks nowadays.
One commenter recommended that she should plant bamboo if forced to replant her yard. That'll teach those complaining neighbors!
Another thing. With all the blight in Detroit nowadays, the city spends their time harassing THIS WOMAN?

Check out this blog American Perspective to read more. This story is insane!!!

Unexpected gift

2011-07-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

What an amazing gift I had last night.

I sent the munchkins off to bed around 9:30 but told them they could stay up another half hour if they wanted to read or practice math.

The two middle ones then asked if they could camp out together that night.

"Sure" I told them "just be planning on being asleep by 10:01."

They agreed and I being tired, to tired to read but to hot to sleep clicked on the tv to watch a little movie about a polygamist woman and her children escaping their compound. Nothing to mind demanding and hopefully would help me fall asleep faster.

I looked at the clock and 10:00 was closely aproaching.

I could hear the chit chats still going on in my son's bedroom.

Something told me to just let it go.

They were getting along and were probably just getting a head start on their math assignments for the next day (yes we are in summer school).

Aimee came out at 10:15 and said "Mom, do you hear Michael and Becca?"

"Yeah, I know they are still up. I just kinda like that they are trying so hard in their math. So I thought I would give them a few more minutes before lights out." I replied.

"No Mom, they aren't doing math. Listen..."

I turned down the tv and listened.

They were discussing something.

I looked at Aimee quizzically. " What are..."

"They are reading the Bible Mom" she answered. "They are teaching each other."

Who would have thought, on a night when I was least expecting it, God would answer my prayer of getting that fire started in their hearts for the Word of the Lord.

I know they love God.

That was not my prayer.

I just wanted the fire of needing his word for them.

This morning I know from the bottom of my feet to the tip of my soul that I am a proud mother of some serious Jesus Freaks!!!

Praise God!!

How we celebrated Michael Jr's day

2011-07-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

Had to start with the traditional door decoration...

...took it to his room too.

Kinda "tied" him into his bed.

Then the breakfast of champions.

Even bought him the gross margarine instead of our homemade butter.

Don't know how he can eat that stuff!

His favorite Big Daddy Dogs for lunch.

Best bud over to play for a little while.

He and Belle got a new Kinect game, Carnival, and the boys played that together.

My son played really LOUDLY!!!

Then a quick water balloon fight!

That is what my son really wanted to do for his birthday so...have at him Austin!!!

As Michael's friends drove away down the street his sisters cornered him with silly string!

Fun, fun!

After that grumpy bug Belle needed a 2 1/2 hour nap!!

So a pause on the festivities...

Off to In-N-Out for his favorite dinner as soon as she woke up.

That is one big burger!!

It has been really hot so even though Becca wanted to make Michael Jr's cake we decided to buy him an ice cream pie instead. He was okay with that.

All in all I think he had a really great day :)

Happy Birthday Son!!

2011-07-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

My son is 12 today!!

My little 8 pound bundle of joy is growing into a little man!!

Over the weekend we celebrated his birthday with one of his bestest friends who got him the most awesome gift...Halo dudes!!!

Michael Jr loves them!!

What a lucky kid to have a friend who knows him so well :)

Happy Birthday little man!!
May the Lord bless you this year with more knowledge of how much He loves you!
May you continue to see just how amazing you are and that God has so much planned for you!!
I can not wait to see where He will guide you this year. I am sure we will be learning quite a bit and start heading you in a wonderful direction for your future!!

Many birthday blessings son!!

I love you!!

Our July 4th :)

2011-07-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

The day started out HOT but beautiful.

Our traditional decoration of the door.

Only thing was Belle came in Mommy and Daddy's room earlier and fell asleep on the floor.

She still loved all her balloons!

Sprout had sent her a message for her birthday...

...they sang her happy birthday!

Becca got up and made her another birthday cake,

with her favorite Chica on it!!

Great job Becca!!

We surprised her with a Barbie house.

I think she liked it.

We took her to Chili's for lunch.

It was great!

There was nobody there.

We had a coupon for the 3 younger ones to eat for free

and Belle got 2 HUGE ice cream floats!

They gave her one to eat at the table and one to take home!!

It is her favorite restaurant now.

Came home watched a little AFV then had some cake and opened presents.

Becca's...

...she made her this dress herself.

Brother's...

...a cute dress!!

Sissy's...

...a new tea set!!

Daddy...

...more cute dresses!!

Now the modeling begins!

As it was getting dark Daddy BBQ'd and we had a picnic waiting for the fireworks to begin.

Put my cheerleading skills to work.

Then we sat back and watched the sky light up in celebration of Belle and our amazing country!!

Happy birthday Belle!

Happy birthday America!!

Happy Birthday Belle!! Four on the 4th of July!!!!

2011-07-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

Our baby is 4 today!!!

Our little firecracker!!!

We threw her a small party with her best friends!

Here is the invitations she sent.

Here is her cake.

Yes we watch Sprout.

Did you see her name run across the tv this morning???

We made her a "Chica ball".

It was a hit!

She wants another one :)

We made houses for Chica.

Here is the birthday girl blowing out her candles in one shot!!

Now opening presents from friends.

Glamoricious!!!

Whoo hoo!

She is looking so cute and loving all of her gifts.

She was so happy!!

Perfect day!!

Perfect friends!!

Perfect party!!

May God bless her with a perfect year as well!!

Love you so much my little sparkler!!

Happy Birthday Belle!!!

Oh and Happy 4th of July everyone else :)

Don't bug me... I'm blogging!

Love this!!!

Belle can READ!!!

Supporting Wikimedia today...

Favorite present for Belle

Our cake classes continue...

CHRISTmas munchies

Love Greg Laurie's Message...

from a friend...

Christmas party!!

Perfect CHRISTmas tree

Fun with Friends

Why I Admire Tim Tebow...

Some Days I Feel This Way

Apple Farm Field Trip

Blast From the Past

Yummy!

Thankful for...

Cake Decorating Class

Some Younger Girl Time...What I am thankful for.

Words from our first CHRISTmas card

Thankful for...

Words to remember...

Bowling Awards 2011

Thankful for...

The Littlest Angel Trailer

Went to another zoo

Thankful for...

Someone surprised me!!!

Thankful for...

Thankful for...

The latest book I have finished

19 Kids & Counting Hoodie | 19 Kids & Counting I Heart Duggars Hoodie - Navy, 19 Kids & Counting Sweatshirt, 19 Kids & Counting Jacket | Discovery Channel Store

What we did for Halloween.

Cake Decoration Contest 2011

Now that Halloween is over...

My baby is 16

Went to the Zoo

My little boy is growing up!

Michael Jr. got himself a new toy

Life Coach/Certified Professional Coach: More about me

American Explorers project

Morning Musings

I tried...but where is Ferb???

gonna make this for lunch today

taking the challenge

Why You Want to Wash Your Face With Honey

How to Wash Your Face With Honey

How to Wash Your Face With Honey

spent the day at Bass Pro Shop

RIP Navy Seals 8-6-2011

Thank you for serving our country and keeping my family safe and free.

4 days ago4 days ago

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Morning Musings

Today is our Anniversary!!

Sunday Service

Aimee got bored...

We got Lady Bugs!

Morning Musings

Summer project 2011

Just a thought...fasting & life

So true Mr. Franklin

Potluck and Pool Party #2

Glad to be a Martha

Dolphin Tale - Trailer

The Beauty Of Mathematics!!.mp4

Morning Musings

Ridiculous...borrowed from "American Perspective" blog

Plant a vegetable garden, go to jail?

Unexpected gift

How we celebrated Michael Jr's day

Happy Birthday Son!!

Our July 4th :)

Happy Birthday Belle!! Four on the 4th of July!!!!

4 days ago
4 days ago

4 days ago
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