Coming This Week

I've been loving this little tour at Kelly's Korner and decided it was time I did it myself. But of course I have to be a little different and a whole lot late. Each day I'll try to post a different room, but with Runner's Camp, house guests coming in, & organizing Theresa's pantry, I may not get to it everyday...just bear with me.

A Kitchen Remodel

Dave remodled my kitchen for me today. I got to be part of the design team, but he did all the heavy lifting.



I'm still in the same outfit, because, let's face it, there aren't very many choices when it comes to women's wear in legos, unless of course I want to wear the Princess Leah bikini outfit, but that would be just way too distracting for Sweetie when he's doing the dishes. Upon closer inspection, I saw that I'm really not pant-less, rather, it's a dress and I just happen to have the back of it tucked into my panties. Which isn't very far from reality in my life. Lovely.

more God, less Me

Something really great happened this morning, and I just have to share it with you. Do you just love it when God teaches you something so special.

About a month ago my friend Sue asked me to fill out a card with encouragement for her daughter, Jordan, for graduation from High School. She had asked a few of us to write notes to her and Sue was going to make a scrapbook for Jordan to have.

Being the procrastinator that I am, I left it till just this morning. I was suppose to have it to her a week ago, but I knew she was giving the scrap book to Jordan today. It wasn't that I just kept putting it off, it was more because I was wanting to have something profound and meaningful to say in the note. Something that would impress everyone, so they'd think I really was smart and wise. :o) I never came up with anything.

So as I sat down this morning with the note card, my Bible and pen in hand I finally caved and prayed. I asked God to please just give me words from Him that would really bless Jordan, that He would really show me what it was that He wanted for her.

As I opened my Bible and started turning to one of my favorite verses, this one jumped off the page at me. This passage, so perfect, so beautiful...

"My son (daughter), if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;
my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for
the fear of the Lord.
There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
Listen, my son (daughter), and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path."
Proverbs 23:15-19

In the middle of writing down the verses I remembered a quote from a former Pastors' wife of ours. She used to mentor me; during church one morning, she wrote this down and passed it back to me, it is still taped to the inside of my Bible and is always such a good reminder for me.

'Continue growing in the Lord,
for it's the most attractive thing a woman can do.'
-Dianne Conniry

I was so thankful that the Lord brought these to me today, just so perfect to give to Jordan, and it's all from God and not a bit from me and my 'wisdom'. Even better I was able to share with Jordan this testimony of giving even the simplest of tasks to God, it's far better than what we could do on our own and He always comes through for us.

Hope you had a blessed Friday.

Shoe Shopping

So I had to take Calvin to Kohl's today to get him some new shoes. Seriously, this guy has GOT to stop growing. He wears a bigger shoe than his dad and he's just 13...where did this Gigantor come from???

He also needed some new clothes. So while he was in trying on all his clothes, Dave and I amused ourselves by trying on shoes. (Okay, really I amused myself by trying on shoes, Dave amused himself by playing real-life mario kart with the shopping buggy, lovely.)

These were the first ones I tried. I just loved them. I asked Dave. He said they weren't my style. I told him I wanted to change my style. He said that was just too bad. I told him I wanted to start being a hoochy-mama. He said, 'wha?'. Nevermind.



What do you think? Jay will love them. My feet didn't quite like them, and I just walked 10 feet. Then when I fell over and slammed into a display I thought perhaps I should set my sights on something a little more practical.



Well, let's not go crazy! These totally remind me of something my sister would wear. (And don't try to deny it, Marcie, you know it's totally true!)

These are cute. And they are totally comfortable. I wish they had them in the brown or black in my size, but all they had was this obnoxious color, that Dave kept saying no to. Whatever!



I used to wear these types of shoes all the time in high school. Dave loved these. But I was afraid I'd give Jay flashbacks, and not in a good way. But aren't they cute? They feed my inner child that wishes my parents didn't abuse me by making me quit ballet lessons. I could've gone far.



I found some totally cute bright color beaded t-strap sandals that looked really cool with my hippie jean capris I was sportin' today, but I couldn't get my big size 8 horse toes into them, and Dave quickly grabbed them and put them back. It was really sad, kind of like Cinderella's step-sisters trying on the glass slipper, not a pretty sight. Oh well.

OH, check out these! These were totally comfy and reminded me of the shoes I used to wear when I taught pre-school and wore denim jumpers. Talk about torturing Jay with flashbacks. I'll never forget the day he begged me to PLEASE get rid of all those horrible dresses. The man has no style.



These, these are gorgeous. I loved these. Very comfy. Very cute. Passed the Dave test. (very important) They might find themselves in my closet very soon.



And then.... hello friend.... like butter between my toes. Ah!!! And they were on sale!



Let me just say, I didn't buy any shoes for myself today, but please don't ask me tomorrow, as Sweetie is leaving town for a week and you know there is nothing that comforts like a new pair of shoes.

Can I get an Amen?

Warning

Just a bit of information I've learned recently. If you find one of your ear plugs laying on the floor, and the dog has been in the house, you may not want to re-use that plug. Believe me, I know.

Stacey over at all stace all the time gave me this award, she's so nice. I met her right after moving here, she worked at our little hometown homeschool store where the boys were signed up to take some classes even before we got into town. I liked her right off the bat, she's hilarious and down to earth real. We haven't been in classes this year, so I've missed seeing her, except for the occasional run in at Target. Thanks Stacey, you're the best!

Rules:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Oh my gosh, I just read the rules. Seriously 15? I mean, I have 15 that I love. I have a lot more than 15, but do you realize what it takes to make all those linky things. Geeze! Okay, I'll stop whining and get to it.

These are not neccessarily new to me but they are great, and they aren't in any kind of order so don't be thinking that I'm playing any kind of favorites...

1. Jennifer over at All Things Henderson, she's the cousin of a new friend at church, she cracks me up and apparently I'm her new BBF.

2. Sylvia of Sylvia Basham, I met her through football. She's the one that ratted me out on facebook with the police report. But she's great.

3. Amy at The Johnson Family, she's actually my cousin. She has always had the most amazingly funny stories, they are short and so pickin' sweet and funny. Go forth and pee your pants.

4. This is Big Mama , she's wildly popular and you probably already know about her, but just in case you don't OH MY GOODNESS, she's' the type that I totally wish I could live by her and go to her house and have coffee with her. She's hilarious.

(are you getting the common thread here? i read blogs that make me laugh, it's my replacement since the guys don't like me watching daytime tv)

5. Crayola Lady, her husband used to be the music guy at our church in CA. They are funny people. I love being able to keep in touch with her. But I love her blog because she is honest and is sharing at times the difficulties that this life has thrown at her, she is such an encouragement & blessing to me.

6. This lady over at Homespun Living, I just found her blog about a month ago, but I just love it. She's all crafty and I'm not. I love to sit down with a cup of coffee and scroll through all her pictures, just so cute.

7. Kelly at Kelly's Korner, this is a new blog for me too. I found her on the day that she had gone into labor, I read her whole blog and then prayed for her sweet little baby. She's too much fun with all her bows and monograms and big southern smile. I absolutely love the home tours that she does every Friday. She's another one that I want to sit down with and have some diet coke, um I mean Crystal Light.

8. Lisa at It's the Little Things,I've shared about her blog before. She's great with a photograph and makes the cutest jewelry. I got my mama a necklace one year that says "mimi" on it. And Sweetie and the boys have gotten me a couple...one especially that says "happily ever after" on a heart that he got me for our anniversary...isn't he sweet? Anyway, I love her simplistic way for inspiring and encouraging us.

9. Lori at Livin' in a Fishbowl, she's going through adoption hell right now, but for the time being has a very precious little baby boy to be the little brother in their sweet family. She was at our wedding. She was in the youth when Jay and I used to help out. She was Calvin's first babysitter. She married our Pastor's son in CA. She's a great writer, a funny pastor's wife, a bit of a drama queen, throws up a lot, is strong & faithful under pressure, and is teaching us a lot through this rough patch.

10. Heidi at nothingbutbluesky, she JUST had her second baby this week. She's been through the ringer this pregnancy with a really bad accident, but we are praising God for her safety, health and the health and strength of little Samuel. Her husband has been a friend of ours for years and he works for our little company in CA.

11. Sarah at In the Midst of It, this is where it all started. I used to read Lisa Whelchel's site all the time for encouragement with homeschoolin' and when she quit she sent us all over to Sarah's one day. I've been hooked ever since. I'm lovin' that they now live on a ranch/farm type place and all their shenanigans...too fun! :o) And her little daughter is so yummy.

12. Ree over at The Pioneer Woman, we all know her, she's absolutely famous. But let me just say that her love for her husband and her ability to get distracted by his forearms...I understand, I completely understand...have I ever showed you Sweetie's forearms, remind me to...you'll swoon.

13. The Pleated Poppy blog, another crafty one, funky and fun. Her stuff inspires me so much. I wanna be just like her when I grow up. I just found her blog and haven't even read all her stuff yet, but check out her little shop, her stuff is too cute.

14. This is a guy's blog, but I knew him when he was a goober of a jr. higher, so it's okay. And he's like 20 years my junior, so whatever. But he's the brother of Lori Fishbowl and his writing is awesome too. And I really don't think his blog is 'lovely', I'd call it 'cool'. And no, I don't really think he's going to post this 'lovely' blog award on his blog.

15. Tracy, the coupon lady. She was great. She'd help us all find some awesome deals in our area. She had just shown me how to do her little coupon game, how to use her website, and then she went and got all spiritual on me and stopped. But she's great and funny and I'm thankful that I get to call her friend.

Whew, that took a long time, but it was really worth it and fun. Thanks guys!

I'm Just Here To Help You Feel Better About Yourself

It's confession time. Your welcome.

Tuesday, May 12th, I'm driving Jay's truck down Capitol Blvd and a cop nabs me and pulls me over. Yes sir? No sir. I'm so sorry sir. My that's a nice hat you're wearing. No sir. I'm so sorry sir. Thank you for my lovely pink ticket. You have a nice day too.

...

Monday, May 18th, I'm driving Jay's truck (anyone see the problem here?) down the street by the college and a cop nabs again and pulls me over. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!! No mam. I'm sorry mam. Yes mam. I'm so sorry I'm crying. Thank you for another lovely pink ticket. Oh lookie there, my court dates are on the same day, that's convenient. No, mam. Thank you very much. You have a nice day too.

I drive the rest of the way home a blubbering mess. I am completely mortified, feeling like a total loser. How can I face Jay? What do I tell him? How can I blame this on his truck? What kind of example am I setting for the boys?

Jay doesn't believe me and then gets real quiet and then tells me that I should slow down (thanks Einstein) and then tells me there is no sense cryin' over spilt milk (that's when I start crying harder). Calvin is very sympathetic. Dave gives me a good laugh and then is looking around not quite sure what to do.

It takes me two whole days until I finally can laugh about it and look anyone in the eye.

I have my hair done by my friend Kathleen three days later and she's apologizing that she didn't warn me about the cops in our town. I'm thinking I can blame this whole thing on her now. She calls me later to tell me that her husband said I could do my community service hours at his Boys & Girls Club. Thanks Jason, you're the best!

I'm totally fearful they are going to take my license away. When we moved here to NC I remember some sort of traffic ticket rule on the driver's test that said something about three tickets in three years and license being taken away. I mean really, I'm not THAT kind of person, so I didn't need to remember THAT rule.

We now honk and wave at all the nice cops in town, hoping they won't see the bumper sticker on my car that says 'pull this one over, she's probably done something illegal lately'.

I leave days later for my trip to CA feeling better and able to laugh about it.

...

You'd think the story ended there, but it doesn't, it just gets better.

A week later I get a comment on my facebook page from a friend that says she saw my name in the local paper...twice...that my parents would be so proud and would i like her to cut it out and save it for me? I'm all flattered, thinking I'm famous, they probably caught me at the National Day of Prayer ceremony in town, how fun. I ask her what I'm in there for. She replies back... ' um, police report. '

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!

Then follows several comments back and forth of her telling me the details. Not only is all of facebook world now privy to this lovely information but apparently my local sweet small town newspaper thinks its a great idea and wouldn't people enjoy some slow news day reading with a posting of all the speeders and their tickets. Yep, my full name, my address, what I did is listed in my paper. Thanks Sylvia for pointing this out to me, I was needing to be humbled, yet again.

I was wondering why people were looking at me with smirks on their faces at church on Sunday. Lovely.

I posted this for anyone who wrongly thinks I may have it all together, or even thinks my life is a bowl of cherries.

Hope you enjoyed! :o)

oh and this is just a little added bonus...since Calvin was gone this past week at camp I had to take up the role as the 'cat-sitter-uponer'....this is him...massaging my fluff till he could get it just right so he could lay down upon it. It took him FOREVER!



Have a great weekend!