May. 11, 2008 - Mother's Day Sunday Scrappin'

Hello.  Well I finally was able to do something for Sunday Scrappin'  LOL.  Visit Amy and join in if you do papercrafting.

My Ta-da's are:  I finished the recipe swaps for the Kid Swap I am hosting over at SCS 

I also finished the Breakfast Swap that I joined in at SCS:

And did cards for mother's day, the red things are gift certificates:

My To-Do's are to plan my the card swap that is due at the end of July and get those started or at least the papers cut.  And get my next SU party scheduled :)

God bless.

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May. 9, 2008 - All I want for Mother's Day

Okay well DH is worried because of what he can't get for me for Mother's Day and while I don't need anything there is something I'd like:

I have always had a affinity for lilac bushes and magnolia trees.  The scent they have is so light but fragrant that it is relaxing.  So this is what I told Don I'd like but since money is tight I know the liklihood of me getting it this year is slim, that's okay though, one year I will get one :) along with a magnolia tree.  I told him to go next door and ask the neighbors (no one lives there but the owners do come by to cut the grass) if he can dig up their bush and let us have it LOL.  He said he doubts that would ever happen.  I can just smell the lilacs.  They bring back such great child hood memories :)

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May. 9, 2008 - Friday Feast 190

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May. 1, 2008 - Weight confessions

I need to confess..... I HATE the way I look.  There it's out.  I feel so frumpy, DH assures me I am not and he doesn't see me that way, but I feel that way.  We all know how hard it is to overcome our own minds when we think we look a certain way.  I honestly right now see myself in such a bad light I can't understand how my DH , children, other family and even the Lord can love me.  I just feel so ugly.  I keep thinking back to when I lost that 40lbs when I was pregnant with Bethanne and how great I felt.  I felt like I could go 24 hours 7 days a week with no sleep, it was wonderful I had so much energy - I had no idea a pregnant woman could have that much energy.  Then I had Bethanne and knew I could go back to my old eating habits and realized all the wonderful, gormet food that the hospital has catered in and was in food heaven.  I gained all the weight back plus some.  It's going to be hard and I know some days I will fail, but I am going to try to start watching what I put in my mouth.  I am giving though to following an even stricter diabetes diet, like the one I was on with Bethanne, even though I am not currently pregnant so I can start to see some weight loss.  I have been drinking a lot of water this past week and trying to wean myself off the soda again so I don't get the massive migraines I was getting last month from cold turkey.  I am going to start measuring out my milk, limiting myself to 8oz cup for breakfast, along with two 8 oz cups for a snack or for lunch.  So this is my goal for the next week - keep drinking the water and limiting the soda and measuring my milk.  To some this may not seem like much but for a milk drinker like me limiting my carbs from milk is a big thing, next week I'd like to work on my Tim Horton's addiction 1) because we can't really afford it and 2) because the large iced capps are taking their toll on my body.  So here we go.  I have already had my two cups of milk with breakfast, along with a bowl of oatmeal and 4 pieces of turkey bacon.  I will have to snack later before lunch or my blood sugar will drop too much and that is a bad feeling plus then I eat everything in sight - I finished off a bag of potato chips and doritos with the children yesterday :(  Thank you for reading my little confession.  Please pray for me if you feel led.

Editing to say I actually drank tap water with lunch - wasn't too bad, not my bottle water but we were out.  I had a frozen homemade chicken burrito with some sour cream for lunch and just now I had a popsicle.  My BS after lunch was 75, a little low but at least it's in sort of range LOL.  I was getting shaky though, hence the reason I had a popsicle.

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Apr. 30, 2008 - About the Bible study and other things

Hello.  I did start my study but had no time to post until now :(  I have been very busy, or so it seems LOL.  So for now I am going to put aside hosting a online Bible study and focus on my own Bible studies and when things settle down host another one.  If you are interested let me know what you would like to study and I will look into it.  I will not study some of the 'evangelists' out there so I want things that are Biblically sound :) 

Well I go tomorrow night for my 4H volunteer training.  I won't have Cloverbud training until next spring!  But this training will allow me to teach other things than just Cloverbuds and such.  I am a bit nervous but excited.  It will be nice to be able to teach the children without having to have someone watch to make sure all is okay :)  I also had my fingerprints done this past Friday so once they get that back I only have to wait until they recieve my references :) and I will be done and once I pass the background check (okay who here has doubts?? LOL) and they recieve that news I will be an official 4H volunteer.

I also went in to tour our CPC (Crisis Pregnancy Center) aka PRC (Pregnancy Resource Center) to start the volunteer process there.  I am not sure how much time I will put in - I know I don't want it to interfere with home life.  It will take 20 hours of training to actually be able to meet with clients so I may just work behind the scenes for now washing donated clothing, sorting the clothing into gender and seasons, mailing out flyers/brochures, etc.  I am allowed to do the 20 hours of training in spurts when I can but it will take me awhile - but AWANAS will be ending in May.  4H meetings will be over after the fair.  So that will free up some time.

Hannah finished her soccer season.  Her team didn't win one game, but that is okay, they tried and that is what matters.  I told her that I will let her take a tennis camp which runs from June 2 to June 5 and is a half an hour in the evening.  Basically it just teaches the basics of tennis and such and of course she can wear her skorts and dresses :)  She does want to do soccer in the fall which actually begins in August, the most hottest month in Ohio.  Then of course she wants to sign up for the basketball team she was on in January again as well.  I'd like to make some culottes for her this time around to keep with the modesty issue.  At least I should have time to learn LOL.

I have found some good deals on our curriculum this year.  For Bethanne I am going to do Saxon Math K which a lady agreed to let me have for free just pay for shipping I just had to buy the meeting book, and some other basic skills.  Hannah will be doing Alphabet Island Level 2, Saxon Math 2 which I will be recieving the teacher's manual for $15 I did have to buy the workbooks and meeting book but it was still cheaper than buying everything brand new, I also picked up an ABEKA history program for $5.00, and we will be continuing with our Five In A Row studies which Bethanne can join in and Christian can listen to the stories.  I have been buying the books with some good deals on ebay, which is nice not having to wait for weeks on end to get the books at the library.  So this is our homeschool year thus far.  I have been blessed buy such good deals and am glad that I have had the resources to sell to get the money to buy our curriculum.  It's so much fun getting the curriculum and shopping for the best deals.

Today marks one year since my Grandpa passed and my brother, children and I are going to stop by the cemetary today.

Thank you to all who left comments regarding my Grandma.  My brothers and I have been told that we are not invited to her memorial service, so while it hurts to be told that by our Aunts, we will stay away.  My mom is not attending either since we are not welcome.  I don't know why families feel the need to tear each other apart for?

Well I think that is it.  I will update as I can.

God bless.

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Apr. 17, 2008 - Watching this case.

I have been watching this case on the FLDS and the removal of children from their parents since it broke in the news.  I am in no way affiliated with the FLDS or even just regular Mormons but I do worry about these children and these moms in this case.  Over 400 were herded from the only home they knew, that was surrounded by family, including numerous siblings and half siblings, dad and moms.  While I in no way recognize polygamy as a way of life and I am not here to berate that belief, even if I do disagree strongly :)  I must say I disagree in the way that CPS and the legal system handled this.  I have a distrust of CPS even before I became a mom and that is because my major in college was social work and we learned about CPS.  While I know there are caring and loving CPS workers there are those who are overworked, burned out and no longer live for the people they are supposed to protect, the children.   I understand that  yes the children need protection but what about investigating first before removing over 400 children from their homes?  Doesn't the CPS usually investigate a case before removing other children from the house?  Usually, yes.  I really think this is a case of these people living a life different from the world and someone who doesn't like them making false claims.  Many homeschooling, Christian families have been on the other end of false claims so this is nothing new.  I say false claims because there is no sign of the girl who alledgely made the claim that set of this fire storm.  Where is she?  Surely she would have been removed along with the rest of the children since CPS removed all children 18 years and younger.  Did she exist at all?  These children are now awaiting a court trial  to decide where they will be living.  They are not taking the cases one by one but as a group - what's good for one is good for all apparently.  Will they be put with families who will do even more harm?  Could happen.  Will they be put with people who don't share any similarity in faith, wether it's of God, modest dressing, etc?  Definitely.  I doubt the judges or CPS workers will take into account wether these children will be allowed to follow their faith in God, be allowed to dress how they are used to among other things.  Not to mention as a mom I would be furious if my children were ripped from me - nursing infants included - and the court were to decide where they are too live.  I fear that this will send off a tidal wave that will reach to Bible believing Christians and have wide reaching effects for those of us who do seperate ourselves from the world.  Just like the California case has blown open the world of home schooling this will blow open those of us who feel the need to seperate ourselves from the worldly word for the sake of our Saviour.

May God bless you.

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Apr. 14, 2008 - Sads news from yesterday

Hello.  My mom called yesterday after I arrived home from church to tell me my Grandma had passed away.  This is my mom's mom.  It was not sudden but it was expected either.  I haven't talked to her since about 5 years ago unless you count the time a couple months ago that I called the hospital to leave a message for her, specifically that we love her.  I think my mom told me she was 75 years old.  She was living in Florida.  Once her obituary is posted I will leave it here.  This was almost a year to the day we lost my Grandpa (my dad's dad) who died April 30, 2007.  Please pray for my mom, my two aunts and uncle.

Also I was told on Sunday that a man that I graduated high school with was killed while leaving a bar with his brother.  I was never friends with this man but he was always nice enough and everyone who saw him would says he always had a smile.  I hadn't seen him but once since graduation and that was only from a distance.  His dad had me for my sophmore CP English class, and was always a very kind and caring teacher.  The authorities are treating this like a murder and are looking for information.  The link to the story is here: Newspaper article

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Apr. 8, 2008 - AWANA Awards Sunday

  Sunday was the 3rd quarter awards for AWANA

and we went  to the awards ceremony.  The church was

very nice, we hadn't been there before except for AWANA.  Bethanne is

a Cubby and Hannah is a Sparky.  They have both been working very

hard on their verses and it has paid off.  Not only do they have Scripture memorized 

both have finished their main books, had perfect attendance and were

named Cubby and Sparky of the quarter.  Bethanne recieved a new Max Lucado Hermie

and Friends movie called Milo the Mantis who Couldn't Pray  (very good) and Hannah was given

a button that recites the verse John 3:16 along with their 'jewels' and other patches.  I wasn't able to take

pictures :( .

Images were copied from the www.awana.org website.

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Apr. 5, 2008 - Easter Pictures

Here are the pictures from Easter.  Well the night before Easter :)

The first ones are the girls making and preparing our Ressurection Rolls.  Christian was already asleep while making these.

These are the rolls ready to go in the oven.

Finished rolls and upclose of finished rolls

Here are the finished Resurrection Cookies:

Both of these were hollow when finished baking, the Resurrection rolls went over better but the cookies are something we have done for two years now and the girls have enjoyed doing them.

God bless.

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Apr. 5, 2008 - The Saturday Special

Well I have just a moment to write off another meme.  We are going to have a busy Saturday and try to get the dying bushes out of our front yard along with the decorative white rocks that aren't so decorative anymore so we can put some flowers out and make the yard look nicer :)

So here is my Saturday Special.

Senses Favorites~
1. Favorite Smell?:  Flowers I love the soft scent

of flowers and of course a new born baby is a wonderful smell too.

2. Favorite Landscape View?:  Country, I am not a beach person,

I'd love to have a country scene with an old barn and farm house with trees.

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Apr. 2, 2008 - Christians and boycotting

I haven't really posted anything of value lately, well yes my children are valuable, but in terms of giving someone something to think about.  I really enjoy getting the updates from the AFA or American Family Association so I can learn about what is going on from a Christian perspective but I can't say I agree with every email (this goes for any Christian org. that sends outs these emails) such as calling for boycotting of companies because they support non-Christian ideals.  I'd love to boycott Proctor and Gamble (but they do make a superior product and switching to a store brand personal hygiene product isn't good because they are made inferior to P&G's product), Walmart (if only the tennis shoes weren't $10 and soccer shin gaurds were $9.00, Target (not allowing Salvation Army ringers), Ford (that is easy because it's not like I am buying a new van every couple weeks and we will never own another Ford anyway), and now it's McDonalds!  If I had to boycott every store and manufacturer that went against Christian values I'd have to move to a homestead have a garden, my husband would hunt our meat, I would be growing cotton and sheep for clothing, we would be living from the land and be self sufficient.  We are the reason to blame for some many corporations embracing un-Christian values-we let non-Christians get elected into office instead of electing only Christian men to offices and allowing men with integrity to run a business we have become over run with non-Christian values.  Yes, I agree if we could boycott every non-Christian company it would send a message but how do we do it?  Until we start living and holding people accountable for their un-Christian actions and beliefs we won't get back to a Christian society.  Should we look to our ancestors, the Puritans, Pligrims, etc to see that if one did not attend church on a Sunday except for major exceptions they were punished.  Patrons would not support a non-Christian place of business thereby forcing them out of business.  This is the same as the Bible command that any who cannot abide will not be allowed within the community until repentance is made and if needed and applicable restitution.  I will have to find the exact Scripture later.  I already boycott the Girl Scout cookie sales and that is hard in and of itself, small step but I also don't depend on the Girl Scouts to supply my family cookies either.  So if you feel led by the Spirit to boycott said stores then praise the Lord!  Great.  I'd love to know how to boycott all these stores but still be able to live in a city where one cannot be self sufficient like, for the sake of example, the Ingalls family.  No, they weren't totally self sufficient but by some meaure the Olsen's were Christian (if you get away from Harriet's gossipyness and anger and bossing her DH) so by buying a tea kettle from their store  you weren't actually supporting the devil himself.  The Amish buy at Walmart, they are just as far in this as we are.  Walmart has almost rid the cities of small homegrown honest business people, but we need them, or do we?  My DH and I went almost 3 months not shopping at Wally world but they had the best prices on tennis shoes and shin gaurds.  I HATE going into a store that I know supports un-Christian causes, the inner turmoil that exists in me when I step into any of these stores is so great it could make one sick.  How do we boycott and still get a quality product.  If we boycott one then we need to boycott all.  What do stores like Kroger, Meijer, Jo Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, Bed Bath and Beyond and other support?  What do restaurants like your local Chinese buffet, local Indian buffet, White Castle, Olive Garden, etc support?  If anyone has any idea how I can boycott stores, restaurants, businesses etc and still be able to get needed items for living I would be interested in hearing them.  I would need cotton for clothing, water (see utitlity company), seeds (which are usually bought from a store) among other things to be a homesteader.  How does one not support those who support euthanasia, abortion, birth control devices, gay 'right's, terrorism, etc?  I am signing off and opening this up for comments and probably a lot of nasty comments, those will be deleted though :)

God bless.

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Mar. 26, 2008 - Updates in pictures

I finally loaded some of the pictures off my camera.  I need to do Easter pictures yet but I will try to get those up this weekend. 

The first picture is of the molten chocolate cupcakes I made for Hannah's birthday.  These are great and are in the shape of flowers.

The next is of Hannah with her Kaya doll.

Here is Hannah and Bethanne.

Bethanne fell asleep next to our dog, Wes, it made for a cute picture.

This is Bethanne all ready to go to her Cubbies at AWANAs for Crazy Hair night.  Can you tell we like to get crazy LOL.

And lastly this is a book that Hannah made out of playdough I thought it was so creative.

God bless

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Mar. 25, 2008 - Soccer Begins

Well after the many days of snow, rain, rain, rain, and more rain the fields were finally dry enough to have a soccer practice.  Nevermind the flurries yesterday morning or the fact that it was only 37 degrees out, the children had practice and us moms froze while standing out there for an hour.  I had to run to a store I loathe to shop at, if you know me you know which one I am talking about, to get Hannah a sweatshirt and a pair of sweat pants so she could stay warm.  I don't know know how to sew culottes and at $15.00 plus shipping, they are too expensive to buy.  So I broke down and let her wear sweat pants.  She looked different and I know why I will only allow dresses.  I am hoping it will warm up so she can wear a skort at next practice and at the games.  It was fun watching her and the others running after the ball.  The oldest on the team is 7 but he acts like he is five so I guess it's okay.  I wish the teams weren't co-ed, UGH.  For now it will do and of course she isn't by herself.  I wish I would have taken pictures of her first practice, maybe Wednesday.

Well that is it for now, will post more later :)

God bless.

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Mar. 22, 2008 - Serving a Risen Saviour

I am so happy that I serve a risen Saviour!!!!!!  Isn't it great to know that because of Christ dying and rising that we can live with Him forever if we accept His gift and live for Him?  If you want someone to pray with or have questions feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will get back with you.  Jesus is just waiting to wrap His arms around you, all you need to do is let Him in and give Him your life.  He never promised life would be easy but His yoke is easy!!!!! 

God bless you all on this Easter weekend.........

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Mar. 21, 2008 - Friday Feast 184

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Mar. 14, 2008 - Friday Feast 183

Hop on over to Friday Feast  to do your own :)

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Mar. 11, 2008 - Bread

My family and I enjoy homemade bread.  DH especially likes the French bread I make, it gets so toasty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside YUMMY!  Well I made just plain white bread yesterday to go with our Herby Beef Roast.  I called a friend of mine about putting the bread in the fridge after the 1st rise as neither I or her were sure about how the bread would turn out.  I was visiting another friend and didn't have time to bake it so what I did is after the first rise and splitting the dough in half and formed them into loaves I put them in the pans, covered them with foil and put them in the fridge.  When I got home later, they had risen slightly.  I uncovered them and let them sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes to an hour and then baked them....guess what????  They turned out just as delicious as they would have had I not put them in the fridge.  So for any who wonder....yes you can put your bread in the fridge after the first rise and it will be okay.  I have done this for dinner rolls but never for an actual bread loaf. 

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Mar. 9, 2008 - It's melting

I am happy to say that the snow is melting!!!!!  I was able to go back out and it's getting much better, the main streets are almost completely clear except for some snow along the curb area.  The snow plow just came down our street and plowed it twice!!!!  That was a shock and DH actually got up to watch as they never plow it twice at once.  I am going out shortly for gas in the van as it is somewhere around $3.20 a gallon.  I cannot believe this.  Craziness.  Okay thats all just wanted to share my happiness at the melting snow.  Thursday is supposed to get up to near 60 degrees  WooHoo!!!!

God bless.

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Mar. 9, 2008 - Sunday Scrappin #17

Okay well all churches in our area have been closed so we are staying in this morning.  I did get out to Schuler's to buy doughnuts for Don's bday, yep it's DH bday today- he is almost over the hill LOL at 38 years old. 

**Post your TA-DA's (accomplishments) for the week, your TO-DO's (plans/goals) for this coming week, and share pictures if you have any.  My todos are to get out my cutter and start cutting my recipe swap cards, yes Amy I am behind, I drew out my sketches last night and may even put a few together so I can post them here, we'll see.  Will you be mad Amy?  I haven't done much this week except sign up for the two swaps.  You can view my friends, site at:  http://sundayscrappin.blogspot.com/  or here:  http://amy-tinyblessings.blogspot.com/   (my formatting is back except the link one won't work UGH)   I am doing the 5 ingredient swap and also a dip swap :)  I also want to finish covering my mailboxes.
**Answer this week's "bonus questions" in your post: What's on your craft supply wishlist right now? Please tell us what you'd like to have and why. Links or photos would be great, too!  Bad Amy for asking this of me LOL  I have several things on my wish list like the Cuttle bug, but given that cartridges and the cuttle is so expensive it's a dream.  There are some SU punches and stamp sets along with their dazzling diamonds, and felt flowers, so many to choose from.  So for now that is it :)

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Mar. 7, 2008 - Book Giveaway at Overwhelmed with Joy. **More News**

I found a great blog today at http://overwhelmedwithjoy.blogspot.com sorry still no formatting tools so I can't creat a link UGH!! There is supposed to be a button but with no formatting I can't add it here either :( So go here: http://overwhelmedwithjoy.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-pay-it-forward-book-exchange.html to enter into her Pay it Forward book exchange she is giving away two books. Okay I am adding a few things to this post. (1) I have added a new blog roll for family friendly blogs, check them out. (2) I am in the process of adding a homeschool blog roll at the very bottom but right now it's now showing up (3) here is a link to another great blog that is also having a giveaway: http://praiseandcoffee.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-giveaway-and-few-words.html isn't that a pretty blog (4) I added a button under my section of groups I belong to for the Homeschool Lounge. (5) Don't forget to sign up for my notify list which will notify you of all the exciting things I blog about, you could be the first blogger to know when I become pregnant, what new book I am reading, what body part Christian got stuck where or more exciting than those LOL what I am feeling about politically ROTFL!!!!!!

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