What If.....

Twice in one day! Whoa!

I was tagged by Heidi for this meme.

What if I could meet someone in the art world to chat with?

Gosh I don't know...can I cheat and change it from art world to music world? If so I would meet Piotr Ilyitch Tschaivosky, something about his music just moves me.

What if I could have one wish granted for the benefit of all mankind?

I would like to say that all would come to know the Lord as their personal savior, but Biblically that wont happen, so I would say that everyone could learn how to be content. Content with their lives, their homes, cars whatever it is that they possess. To end this dog - eat - dog society.

What if I could travel anywhere in the world?

Alaska. Hubby really wants to go here more than anywhere else so I would take him.

What if I could live in a period other than the present, for 24 hours?

I would say several Biblical stories come to mind that I think would be awesome to have witnessed.


What if I could make over one area of my body?

My hair, unfortunately I have thin wispy hair so I can't grow it very long.

What if I could become an animal for 24 hours?

House-cat, hands down. They lead the sweet life, I'm telling you!!


What if I could bring someone back to life for 24 hours?

No

A turn in the tide?

Hubby and I have really been thinking and praying about the upcoming elections lately, our sermon this past Sunday even mentioned them as well and what may end up happening. So I should warn you that I may offend you in this post.

This election regardless of which side of the fence you stand on could seriously change the direction America could go. Everything we have stood and fought for regarding our ethics and morals could be wiped away in 24 hours. Will America quit supporting Jerusalem? Will we no longer be blessed as the nation who has helped protect Jerusalem? Will our right to homeschool taken away nationwide?

I have heard several people say "it is scary to think of what will happen should ____ win." Yes, it will be "scary" but our home sees it thru a different light. The Lord has told us already what will happen in the end times and we know that we will not be around to witness the true "scariness" of it all. I know that the Lord will return one day and when he does he will take us home and we will be secure with him.

Should you vote? ABSOLUTELY! Should you pray? ABSOLUTELY! If you know Jesus as your personal Lord and savior though, you need to trust in him that he will protect you!

More travels

Yes, seriously we have been gone again! If you think your sick of reading about us being gone just know we are sick or all the laundry that needs to get done when we come home!

We traveled "home" for a friends wedding that hubby was blessed to be a part of on Thursday. Then we spent the next 48 hours doing wedding events but it was fantastic! The rehearsal dinner was a hoot as it had a Texas theme centered around it (I will try to post pictures later today) with bbq, potato salad, beans, and peach cobbler of course! My husband is the shy, quiet and reserved groomsmen but he was put in charge of the evenings "festivities" that went off without a hitch. The wedding was beautiful and I adored the brides wedding gown. They had done something I have never seen before at a wedding...after they lit the unity candle the wedding party as well as the family gathered around them and prayed for them before they were introduced as a couple. I was moved, though something/anything about weddings moves me! On a side note I would just like to add how great my hubby looked in a tux!

Though our weekend was PACKED full of wedding events we were blessed with a few moments to catch up with our friends who moved back home. In addition to seeing them we were triple blessed by being able to see them, siblings, parents and grandparents for a great BBQ cookout. That was so great for us and hubs and I both agreed that it was a HUGE blessing to us to be able to truly reconnect with them. We are trying to convince them to come visit us here. :)

Another fantastic event was being able to stay with hubbies parents. They too recently moved back "home" and they ironically moved back into the same house that my husband lived in during high school! He loved being back in their house and he said he really felt "at home" which was great to see. And on top of all of this, we were able to attend church where we got married. Being the big cheese that I am, I asked my sister in law to take our picture so I can have a "then" and "now" she was a good sport but hubs thought I was a dork.

It was nice, yet crazy being able to drive around the city seeing how everything has changed yet hasn't changed. We really want to go back again soon and hopefully now with hubbies new job we will be able to visit much more frequently.

Blurred Vision

We have never had vision insurance I heard the collective gasps across the lands. While hubby was at his last job vision insurance hardly covered anything and it was insanley overpriced so we just nixed it. Fortunetly after we moved here we made friends with some opthamologists and they would swing us "the friend discount" on our exams as well as lenses and contacts so we never had to break our bank.

With hubbies new job we decided to sign up for the insurance because it was pennies a pay check and it covered a good variety of needs (including me getting my eyes re-zapped in a few years).

Hubs just emailed me and informed me that our new insurance is taken by our friends and that our friends even claim that we have great insurance. We are praising the Lord! Hubs is in serious need of new frames so we already scheduled everyones exam and for $40.00 for everyone to get frames and exams...I think we can swing it again!

A new addiction

A while back when I was first introduced to Pampered Chef I wasn't too impressed by anything I saw so I constantly declined parties (yes I was that person). A while later our friends moved here and that woman had EVERYTHING pampered chef, after watching her use it for 18 months my view started to soften, she drug me to my first party where I ordered one thing because hubby had been wanting our friends.

Fast forward to a few months ago and a friend kept begging asking me to host a cooking show and I finally conceeded. I invited some people and just hoped that I would have enough people to "make a show" and my expectations were blown away! Most of the people I invited brought others and we had a full house, it was awesome.

Because I had such a great show I got lots of money to use for my family. Hubby got his pick on things and we are loving our new products. I almost hate to admit it.....but I think I am getting addicted and crossing over to the other side.

Do you do Pampered Chef? Have you been procrastinating on order anything?

Decisions, Decisions

Texans get out and vote today, your vote CAN make a difference!

The Other Side Of War

An American Flag will be draped over the coffin of a young man,

A brave young solider will be lowered into the ground with grace and dignity,

A 21 gun salute will be given in his honor,

His parents will weep,

His wife will weep,

His daughter of a young age will not understand what is happening,

A flag will be folded with perfection then placed in the arms of his widow,

His family will have an empty chair at Easter,

And our country will have one less warrior standing tall and proud defending her.

The Final Leg of Our Vacation

I will spare you the mundane details, but I will tell you that the rest of our trip was spent doing this


Even baby got a turn sledding.

This child LOVED eating the snow. At first I wouldn't let her because I thought it was nasty, and then I decided to give in, she was thrilled.



They all looked like this immediately after we got in the car.


We had a great time, and we thought being gone well over a week would be too long but it flew by. We also had the joy/privilege to go with her to her first ob appointment where we found out she wasn't 8 weeks pregnant but rather 12 weeks!! Even though baby isn't that old I had forgotten how great it is to see your babies picture on the sonogram. We are looking forward to their visit this summer and we may return again when she has the baby, we will see only the Lord knows what is going to happen so why stress about it?!


The girls had fun flying like this, it didn't last too to long but it did last a little while!

Our Trip Part II

We got off the plane and made our way towards baggage claim, we saw our friends and I am not sure who walked quicker the girls or the mommies. For all of us it was as though distance has not been between us, which made me cry of course. Her hubby followed them there so he could leave from there go to work, so we all headed for lunch, since my bags would not arrive for another two hours. Before we left the airport I spoke with the baggage claim representative and he informed me that if luggage goes around more than once they pull it off and keep it behind the counter (which is good to know for future reference). I described my bags to him, and he told me he would go ahead and pull them in case we weren't back in time. Again this airline is VERY helpful!

After lunch we headed back to the airport, where indeed he held my luggage behind the counter. After getting everything loaded we headed for home. The drive was just beautiful and unlike anything Texas has!!

Our day was spent with the girls playing and the mommies talking. It was great seeing the girls interact with each other, and it was amazing to see how big their youngest child had gotten (she was 9 months when they moved 9 months ago).

The next day we decided to venture out and I got to go to my first Fred Mayer, holy smokes can I just say I would shop there daily if we had them here in Texas. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Fred Mayer it is very similar to a Wal Mart with the exception that they sell name brand clothes and furniture, as well as more upscale things. Think Dillards or Macy's combined with an HEB and a Target. My poor friend had to practically drag me out of store when it was time to check out. We also ventured to Costco, which is just like any other Costco except it isn't in Texas! Hehe.

The next day.......

Our Trip Part I

I ended up buying this stroller, it was a good mix of what we both wanted. Here is where I rave about it....I really did love it and I highly recommend it.

I didn't get everything into one suitcase like I had hoped. I had one large one and a smaller one. My carry on items were my diaper bag, bottle bag, snugli, and my backpack with entertainment for Claire.

The first flight was a breeze because both of them took about 30 minute naps in the midst of the 2+ hour flight. The airline was FANTASTIC and gave Claire extra special treatment which was greatly appreciated. We were the first ones on the plane and I was the first one off the plane, when we got off the stroller was there waiting for us.

I exited the runway only to find out that our next terminal we needed to be at was right in front of us, I panicked when I saw the sign saying that it was boarding for the city we were heading to so I made a mad dash for it, handed the lady my ticket and started down the runway. The entire time I was freaking out because I was supposed to have almost a two hour layover yet I was somehow late anyways. I got on the plane put my stuff away and there were people in my seat, the stewardess asked to see my tickets only to inform me I WAS ON THE WRONG PLANE! I wigged out, and told her I was getting off, she told me we had already boarded and they would make it work somehow.

I kept telling her I would happily get off but she insisted that I stay, so we sat down in the isle across from where we were supposed to be and I called my friend and hubby to let them know I was on a earlier flight. She came back and told me it was too late to get my luggage for me and that it would arrive later, I didn't have any other choice than to say okay. After we had taken off I found out they ended up bumping two people for us, which made me feel even worse.

Again the staff was very accommodating to us and they (Frontier) will get my business again and again. When I had told people who I was taking not one single person had anything positive to say about them, which made me really nervous, but other than me getting on the wrong plane which was MY fault everything was terrific. Our second plane landed and.......to be continued.

***On a side note it does amaze me though how the TSA made us take off our shoes and go thru an extensive screening process only for them to allow me to get on the wrong plane without checking.***

Home Sweet Home

We are home from our trip! You didn't even know we were gone did you? That is because my husband did a wonderful job filling in for me while I was gone! I posted Friday but that was it, thanks babe!

I am going to spend today and tomorrow regrouping but come back Tuesday for travel details!!

Hair Bows

I love hair bows! I think they are adorable and a must have for all little girls. Hubby agrees but has a hard time with me spending $8 and up for just one hair bow. I decided that it was high time I learn how to make my own, and I have and it has been GREAT! I googled making hair bows and found this website. Praise the Lord for these lovely ladies because they have saved me lots and lots of money. I drove to my local Hobby Lobby and spent $20.00 on fabric and clips, and here are my results so far.

I still have tons of ribbon to use up, but the price difference has been fantastic and my hubby has given me the green light to go back and buy more ribbon if I would like. Next time hopefully the ribbon will be on sale or I can print a 40% off coupon online (this week was for Wilton products). If you have girls I encourage you to go to this website and learn to make them yourself. I have no creative gene in my body, but I can twist, tie, sew, and use a glue gun.

Once you are done making your bows they even give you ideas on how to make bow holders. I made the girls one like this and I am going to make one like this for a friends daughter.





This bow came courtesy of Crate and Barrel, I just cut it down to make it more reasonable for a four year olds head.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my sweet and wonderful husband, you are the best.

We had bunny hopping around the yard getting his excercise when the cat decided she needed to come outside and view the prey. After Gabby smelled bunny, bunny hopped and the cat took off as though she were under attack.

The Michelin Girl

We got babies coat for our vacation and it apparently is just a bit big for her!

Dilema Solved

well kind of. Thanks to everyone who gave me their input on this. I had it all planned out in my head how I would solve this...if everything went according to plan this was how it was all going to go down:

I would volunteer to take Blake to story time and then somewhere else fun afterwards, so mom could have a break. When I would get to her house,I would mention that we had an extra one at our house if her mom needed it for her car for when she had the grandparents. Depending on what she would say we would go from there.

How did it really go down?

I went to pick him up, I asked her for her booster seat for him (because I had forgotten mine)....she informed me he "really didn't need one." My jaw dropped and I must have looked horrified because she said "oh calm down I will get you mine." Again I was speechless and didn't say anything close to what I thought I was going to say, but I left feeling that regardless car seat safety maybe was not necessarily #1 in their book. I am left with praying, and God can move mountains!!!

On a lighter note, he was HILARIOUS!! We are used to girly girls around our house, and Blake informed me of pokemon, star wars, and all kinds of other things we are not typically exposed too!!! He told me he LOVESSSS the lieberry and that they are the funniest places to go to. I asked him if we could run an errand or too and he happily obliged. When we got to said store, he asked why we couldn't use the "drive thru", my sides hurt when I was done laughing!!

Book Meme

I got tagged by Heidi.

Here are the rules:

Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
Open the book to page 123.
Find the 5th sentence.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Tag 5 people.

My nearest book was Amish Grace by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt, and Davic L. Weaver-Zercher.

I opened the book to page 123 and it doesn't have any sentences because it is the begining of part three! No fair!!!! Thanks for the tag anyways Heidi!!

I am going to tag (with no pressure attached):

Hannah
Tamara
Janeen
Nicole
Overwhelmed with Joy

Electic

Claire has really been into eclectic dressing lately. Sometimes the outfit works and other times it doesn't. We pick our battles and this is one that I have given up on. Her style has now carried over to evening wear as well.

Happy Valentines Day!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8



We made these for the kids in Claires Mom's Day Out class.


Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 3:3

Mind Your Own Business

This post is for my husband (quasi). I lost it over a incident and he thinks I am hilarious about it, so he told me I had to blog on it and see what everyone else thought, so here it goes.

Yesterday we were in a store for ladies (perhaps with the letters V and S in it), and I was standing at a table looking for my size of a particular item when a man standing next to me holds up a pair and says "I don't know what color you are looking for but I think this is your size". I was speechless for perhaps the second time in my life and I know I went white. I just pretended to ignore him and prayed that he would go away, he didn't but a sales associate walked over and gave him assistance.

I gathered what I needed and raced for the check out line, all the while my husband was laughing hysterically at me. Typically he gets embarassed easily and I am the one laughing at him. It really bothered me, and I don't know why. I know he wasn't hitting on me, but I also didn't find it appropriate that he would offer to help me, isn't that why my husband was with me? I tend to be pretty sheepish in these stores to begin with, maybe it is how I grew up but I do know that the last thing I need is for someone else to give me their vote, especially a complete MALE stranger.