The most sleep -Ever!

I had a killer headache Weds.morning,had full blown Flu like symptoms by Weds. night and went to bed at 5pm! Record for me! I slept off and on all day Thursday, and have laid around most of today. It is raining outside and the overcast sky,peaceful sound and generally laid back atmosphere-have helped me feel way better. I have a lot of cleaning & laundry to do-but I must say -I have enjoyed getting 8+ hours of sleep and naps. I might just have to incorporate a nap into my day more often?. Oh no- Maybe I'm just getting Old!!! Argh!!!!!

Bummer I forgot!!

As per a previous post, I was very excited that the plumber was on his way to hook up my dishwasher and sink,however, I failed to remember that a garbage disposal and a dishwasher are not manual but-Surprise-Electrical machines, hence-no dishwasher yet. Bummer. I am now anxiously awaiting the electricians visit.

Cards 1

I realized I hadn't posted any of my cards lately,and being this is supposed to be " a crafty gal blog", I thought it was about time...

1st up -a wedding card. I used an older background stamp "Antique Background" and my new Big Shot, with a texture template, to emboss the background paper. I know you can't see it, or touch it-but I love how embossed paper feels in my hands. The smaller Best Wishes sentiment is from "Oval All".

This card was made using a new set ( A Kind Word) that reminds me of Holly Hobby.Love it.

I recently have been into retro looking images -I used "Coffee Talk" for this card and some older paper called "Sweet Always". I think I should have bought two packs of this paper!! Its retired now.Bummer.

This card makes me think of my awesome Grandma..its a retired set called "Roosting". The background stamp is called "French Script"-a stamp I could use on everything!

I spent some time figuring out how to get my camera's pics loaded onto my computer-YEAH!-so hopefully I'll post more cards.

An Exciting visitor!!!

Can not wait-guess who's coming over this morning!? The Plumber!! Yep-and I have all his little friends waiting to greet him-the garbage disposal and the sink stopper and plumbing parts. I am more excited about this-then I was in the "pretty,but cant help me do my chores" back splash!Woo Hoo! To think -I am excited to load the dishwasher tonight!!!!

Silly-but I like it

Ive been hand washing dishes for over 3 months now,and I've accidentally broke a few..when I dropped off items at the thrift store ,I saw a Strawberry Shortcake glass-1977-and bought it.Then I started looking for old glasses, and I've slowly added to my "collection". I had the Ronald McDonald glass-but unfortunately,I cracked the rim when washing it. I think it is fun at dinner time, to see the older glasses at the table.Its a little thing inexpensive thing-but I like it!

Admittedly Guilty!

Its Monday, and I woke up already dreading the coming week of my "to do's",grumbling inside about whatever's stressing me.
As sat inside,reading my online emails,and devotionals- I heard the wind rushing thru all the plants outside,and the rain starting to fall...it sounded so loud and neat-so I went outside to watch it...the rain clouds on the mountains,the view,the green vegetation -it looked B-E-A-UTIFUL.I realized how often I bypass the view, and beauty God put ALL Around me, and focus on my mundane -nitty gritty, unimportant tasks.Today-as I drink my coffee outside and read my devotionals-I will stop and Thank God,admire his handiwork and appreciate His beauty.

Biggest lunch in the World!

This is what Sawyer tried to pack in his Scooby Doo Lunch Box! All individually wrapped in Ziplock lunch bags!!!
1.Pretend chocolate cone
2.blue shovel
3.old garage door opener
4.DK little rain forest book
5.green plastic knife
6.Batman wings
7.pink Spatula
8.Pretend vanilla cone
9.Speed racer car
10.pretend chocolate milk
11.tin bowl
12.Another pretend cone!
13.blue bouncy ball
14.Guitar Hero cereal toy
15.pretend slice of cheese
16.Batman weapon
17.blue plastic knife
18.blue plastic spoon
19.blue plastic fork
20.yellow Linkin' Logs flag
21.half of a fake carrot
and finally!
22.Spy Gear lock
Im pretty sure he'll be hungry!

Princess Leia In Hawaii?

This morning,after Lily woke up, and took a bath, she came outside to sit and talk with Erinn on the phone...I was caught off guard for a moment..she had picked out her old Halloween costume, in the closet, to wear! I snapped a picture-because when she's a little older she'll want to remember this! Maybe she'll be starting a Star Wars wardrobe trend...maybe..!

Martha's Six things to do everyday...

I agree with this list -however I know when I get to tip number 2 -that will take 3 days to do..and no where on this list does it include my much needed cup of coffee and quiet/devotional time with God.So it should be 7 things to do everyday!
1. Make the Bed
Tidiness begets tidiness. A crisply made bed makes the whole room seem more orderly, which makes it less likely that you'll let other things -- such as clothes and papers -- pile up around it.

2. Manage Clutter
Whenever you leave a room, take a quick look around for anything that isn't where it should be. Pick it up and put it where it belongs. Insist that everyone in the household do the same.

3. Sort the Mail
Take a few minutes to open, read, and sort mail as soon as you bring it inside. Keep a trash bin near your sorting area for junk mail. Drop other mail into one of four in-boxes: personal correspondence, bills, catalogs, and filing.

4. Clean as You Cook
Instead of filling the sink with pots and dishes, wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal.

5. Wipe Up Spills While They're Fresh
Whether it's tomato sauce on the cook top or makeup on the bathroom counter, almost anything is faster and easier to remove if you attend to it immediately.

6. Sweep the Kitchen Floor
Every evening once you've finished washing up after dinner, sweep the floor. This will keep tough-to-clean dirt and grime from building up, which will make the weekly mopping much quicker.

4 yr old Fashion

I was folding clothes while Sawyer was playing with his favorite backpack.I asked Him take his pile of clothes to his room and he grabbed a pair of his undershorts,stuck them on his head and said Hat! Wow -I don't think this will be in fashion anytime soon.

Come on Smile!

I can not help but smile when I look at this! Love him!Check out those two beautiful teeth!

Kitchen Update!

Brian got the back splash tiled and the faucet in..next up sink,garbage disposal and dishwasher!!!!!

Eating Yogurt Pee Wee style

Sawyer got his own spoon this morning, to eat his favorite "Key Lime" yogurt.He kept saying "big spoon" and I thought it was one of the tablespoons-but he picked a serving spoon! Took a long time to eat yogurt!

Ryan Update

Heres the cute pic I got on my email today..he was saying "Ma" and "da" today and they say he looks like me! Id take him! What a happy face.

Outdoor Space

I've been wanting outdoor furniture for awhile. My neighbor had a set, without cushions for sale-only $25! I brought them home,primed then painted them black,got a thrift store table,painted it black,then bought material and foam,sewed cushion covers and "Voila!" Patio set complete! (Only it wasn't that fast...)

Sawyers Surprize.

I sent Sawyer into the bathroom to wash and get ready for bedtime-he came running out and said,"Come Mom,come" and I followed him into the bath room,where he preceded to throw up his hands and said loudly,"Prize!Prize" (surprise,surprise),quite proud of his decorations. My first thought was "woo-look at how much toilet paper you just wasted!" But then I realized he was trying to hang it up and say surprise like a birthday party-with crepe paper. I think, he thought, it was like the same material?Anyways I told him-this is different paper -only used in the bathroom. I took some pics to remember his "creativity" then we cleaned it up.Who knew birthday in a bathroom?
(Sawyer has chocolate on his nose)

Happy Monday

I woke up to a light rain this morning-it was nice to see the gray clouds and rain on the driveway...My devotionals(Streams in the Desert, Girlfriends in God ) were all so good and encouraging this morning. They all talked about having our security and confidence in God..here's the verse from one devotional...hope it brightens your day as well.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:5-8

"Teach me your ways, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever." Psalm 86:1112

God Bless America!!!

I should been doing laundry because its been a couple days and the pile is huge!Instead Ive been crafting a sign for my door!Happy 4Th!

Kitchen Progress!

My house has been in limbo because the kitchen has been going through changes...but today Brian started on the back splash ..!!!
It's Ann Saks Bamboo tile and I love it!! It looks great with the cabinets and granite. I'm really looking forward to the sink and dishwasher going in!!!

Life and clutter

I haven't been blogging much-I've been lost in the land of remodeling,beaches, cleaning,summer and kids! I think the computer/blogging world becomes addicting,and distracts me from spending time with my kids, and living life (kind of like "new soap operas"),so I've been cutting back on the computer time. I cant wait to post pictures of the kitchen-it is coming along-my dishes and laundry,however,have not!
Have a great Sunday-day of rest! And Happy Fathers Day! Love you dad!

A New Morning..

I don't know 'bout you -but I wake up with my mind racing with a To do list..."finish laundry,don't forget to mail that,take kids to park,spend some time with God,don't eat that!,figure out something for dinner',etc....before I'm, technically up,-I'm already somewhat stressed out!
What I have been learning is how important it is to spend time on all four parts of our "makeup "-such as physical,mental,emotional & spiritual. Like a little table -each leg helps support me and if not strengthen..I get unbalanced,or Wobbly.
..I'm trying to be mindful of what I'm eating,doing,thinking on,anxious about,putting in my head and going to God for the "strength to do it all".
..going to my daily verse first ,then devotional...this was SO appropriate!
"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34
If you're thinking about the future more than you're living in the moment, reconsider. Yes, planning and strategy has its place, but so does being aware of what God has for you right now. Work toward balance in this area and embrace what He's placed before you for today."
Amen!

Borders Books

I ran into Borders to see if there were any new stamping mags-craft books I "needed"-no.....but I did find this lovely postcard!

Cant help it!

Every morning-I love to start out with spending time -hearing/reading what God has to say-and let me tell you-I need to think like Him! My verse for the day always speaks something to me, and well,cant help it -have to pass it on to you!

Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalm 116:7
I tend to get all riled up over sometimes, the smallest things. If things are getting under your skin, take a second to step back from everything and look at the big picture. God, indeed, has dealt bountifully with you. Take the time to ponder that. As you dig up example after example of that in your life, it will indeed give rest to an anxious soul.

A little daily verse for you

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits...who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy...
Psalm 103:2,4
Perhaps you feel like you've been thrown into a pit. Perhaps you feel like you've dug a pit for yourself and thrown yourself into it. Regardless, if you feel like you're low, the only way to look is up. Even more comforting, God will redeem your life from the pit, AND crown you with steadfast love and mercy. Put your situation in His hands today. It will be OK.

Builder in the future?

A few pics of Ryan with his new teeth and possibly new career-architect?

Getting ready for Preschool!

Sawyer is my only child that has attended preschool.Because he has a speech disorder,(Verbal Dyspraxia)and after he started working with Easter seals,he started going to preschool his 3rd birthday.I am blessed to say his teachers love him and he has loves to go. This past year I can see how many words he says and how many he attempts to say. I'm very thankful God gave them the extra special patience and wisdom to motivate him to practice his motor skills and talk.



For more technical info..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developmental_dyspraxia

Stress be gone!

Pictures Of Stress..


Because we've been remodeling the kitchen, and I had company (E) I hadn't been in the garage much. I had stamp class and it was the motivation to start cleaning my room..
At 8am I went out and slowly started on just my tables-making piles of trash,put away,& get rid of stuff.Then I tackled the toys,bikes and kids stuff ,then Brian's tools and supplies.By 1pm I was done and could start cutting card stock.I felt so much better last night.I cant believe I got it done-and how many times I procrastinate-instead of working a little bit at a time. If I work on each room for 15 Min's I can get alot of it cleaned...and as the "Fly lady" (online) says "Imperfect cleaning still blesses your family".I definitely feel blessed to have my craft space and garage clean.
Pictures of Stress-gone!

I cleaned and was wiped out-then read this...

A Very Present Help
"Why standest thou afar off, O Lord?" (Psalm 10:1.)

God is "a very present help in trouble." But He permits trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, that we may be brought to the end of ourselves, and led to discover the treasure of darkness, the unmeasurable gains of tribulation. We may be sure that He who permits the suffering is with us in it. It may be that we shall see Him only when the trial is passing; but we must dare to believe that He never leaves the crucible. Our eyes are holden; and we cannot behold Him whom our soul loveth. It is dark--the bandages blind us so that we cannot see the form of our High Priest; but He is there, deeply touched. Let us not rely on feeling, but on faith in His unswerving fidelity; and though we see Him not, let us talk to Him. Directly we begin to speak to Jesus, as being literally present, though His presence is veiled, there comes an answering voice which shows that He is in the shadow, keeping watch upon His own. Your Father is as near when you journey through the dark tunnel as when under the open heaven!

--Daily Devotional Commentary

"What though the path be all unknown?
What though the way be drear?
Its shades I traverse not alone
When steps of Thine are near."

Field Trip

Sawyer's preschool class went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and we got to go along at a discounted rate. I was so glad I remembered to grab my camera!However,I did not grab battery's! I snapped a couple pictures of them standing in line,and walking to the Fiji village and then it went dead!We had a great day-it was hot,but fun for all!

Streams in the Desert...(my favorite devotional)

May 29
Impossible Flowers
"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

Far up in the Alpine hollows, year by year God works one of His marvels. The snow-patches lie there, frozen with ice at their edge from the strife of sunny days and frosty nights; and through that ice-crust come, unscathed, flowers that bloom.
Back in the days of the by-gone summer, the little soldanelle plant spread its leaves wide and flat on the ground, to drink in the sun-rays, and it kept them stored in the root through the winter. Then spring came, and stirred the pulses even below the snow-shroud, and as it sprouted, warmth was given out in such strange measure that it thawed a little dome in the snow above its head.

Higher and higher it grew and always above it rose the bell of air, till the flower-bud formed safely within it: and at last the icy covering of the air-bell gave way and let the blossom through into the sunshine, the crystalline texture of its mauve petals sparkling like snow itself as if it bore the traces of the flight through which it had come.
And the fragile thing rings an echo in our hearts that none of the jewel-like flowers nestled in the warm turf on the slopes below could waken. We love to see the impossible done. And so does God.

Face it out to the end, cast away every shadow of hope on the human side as an absolute hindrance to the Divine, heap up all the difficulties together recklessly, and pile as many more on as you can find; you cannot get beyond the blessed climax of impossibility. Let faith swing out to Him. He is the God of the impossible. --Selected