If I only had a month of Sundays....

I've spent the better part of this morning just ogling over some wonderful things on other people's blogs....

And because my camera has taken the final dirt nap, I can't show you any of my projects right now.

But here are a few that I simply LOVE to look at and can't wait to copy!

This gorgeous homemade dry erase calendar from Somewhat Simple!

Perfect for our spot in the kitchen.  And I'll be adding a corkboard above for all those school notes and papers.

Aren't these pillows just PERFECT?  I LOVE THEM!!  And for goodness sake, even I can sew a square!  You can find the whole tutorial over at The Blessed Nest.

How about this gorgeous mod-podge light cover?  So easy and yet it adds so much to a room decor.  This I can do!!  Thanks Leanne over at Organize and Decorage Everything! 

I truly love this idea!  I don't have 5 kids~~~but I do have a great family and I can picture doing this with a great Bible quote and family pics!  Great ideas over at How Does She?! 

And I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to find this tutorial!  I've been wanting to do a Lego table for the boys for a year now.....perfect idea for an old table I have in the garage!  Thanks Kate over at the Gaines Gang!

How about you?  Have you found anything wonderful on the Web lately? 

Anyone else?

I'm wondering if anyone else gets

SO. DARN. EXCITED.

for this:

photo courtesy of http://www.yorkblog.com/flipside

only to be

SO. DARN. FRUSTRATED!

when it ends because we know very little after than we did before we watched it?

Yeah....me too.

But I can't wait to be frustrated!!

WOO HOO!!

Goodbye Sweet Girl

Our dog has died.

Our girl Boxer, Lucy, passed quietly in her sleep last Monday.  She had been suffering from a very bad case of pancreatitis that did not improve with treatments.  It didn't take long.  Two weeks and she was gone.  We were terribly afraid we were going to have to make the horrendous decision to put her to sleep.  But then she saved us from that and passed that morning. 

It has been so very, very sad.  The boys have been weepy, distraught and confused.  Full of questions about death and Heaven and what she is doing with God.  We do our best to explain.  But how do explain how sweet Lucy actually gets to Heaven so she can play fetch with God?  It's not been easy.  An important life lesson, yes.  But certainly not easy.

Super Hubs has been very sad.  We realized through this whole process that he has not lost anyone close to him in many, many years.  His father, though struggling with his disease, is still here.  I've lost a friend's son and others.  But together, as a family, this was our first death of someone close.  A blessing in some ways;  other ways, not so much.  It's been hard.

Thoughts of her come to me occasionally and really catch me off guard.  I did not expect to grieve quite like this.  I grew up on a farm.  Animals die.  But I realize now that I've never had a family pet, who I lived with, slept with, cuddled and loved so greatly, die.  Growing up, our pets never entered our house.  Pets living in your house?  A different story.  A member of your family.  Most certainly.  And I miss her. 

The boys are entertaining thoughts of a new pet.  We have a male Boxer who is sad now.  They think he needs a new friend.  But hubs and I aren't ready yet.  Not quite ready for a new puppy to overtake that part of our hearts or home.  We feel like we owe it to sweet Lucy to give her a little more time to be the 'other girl' in the house.  So we'll wait.

Have you lost a pet?  Were you too, surprised at the pain of the loss? 

It works for me....

Prayer.

It's what Works For Me.

I'm happy to get back in on a WFMW post with friends over at We Are That Family.

Because we too, are one of THOSE families.

And what works for me is prayer. Prayer every. single. day. Sometimes more than once a day.

I've often really wondered about people that have no faith in Christ. Those that are not believers. It is beyond me. I don't ever remember not having faith. Not having a relationship with Christ. Not being a believer in Him, His Kingdom, His Word. I don't criticize those that aren't believers. I just simply don't understand it.

This week, because we are ONE of THOSE families, I've been challenged to stand faithful and strong. Challenged to lean on Him more. Through some of life's everyday happenings, I lean on Him. And through those not-so-everyday happenings, I lean on Him.

Prayer works. One of my favorite quotes is here on my blog. "I pray because I must...it doesn't change God. It changes me." I got it out of a movie called Shadowlands, when Anthony Hopkins portrayed C.S. Lewis. Mr. Lewis had just lost his beloved wife and was grieving terribly. His friends were trying to console him. He could not be easily consoled. If you have not seen this movie or read any works by C.S. Lewis, I would highly recommend it. His writings were and are, phenomenal. The movie was fantastic. His writings have deepened my faith and helped me explore areas of my Christianity that I had not yet looked at.

So try it. Prayer that is. It works. For me.

Join everyone else on over at We Are THAT Family to find out what else works!!

Cleaning....otherwise known as my prescription for anxiety....

Who else cleans like Martha Stewart when faced with a difficult decision?  Who else falls in love with Mr. Clean when life deals you a deck of crummy cards? 

You?

Definitely me.

I hate to admit it but I'm most effective at cleaning when I'm anxious.  Or mad.  Or both.

When I have a situation that looks bleak, my stainless steel is screaming bright!  I can accomplish more in 30 minutes when I have a difficult situation I'm facing than I can accomplish in 3 hours when life is easy peasy.  It's just the way it is.  Beats eating chocolate.

Except for the times when chocolate goes hand-in-hand with said cleaning.  Then it's just. not. pretty.

But my friend over at Thrifty Decor Chic is asking for cleaning tips.  Cleaning shortcuts.  Genius ideas for cleaning.

Mine?  Other than cleaning my house rather than taking a massive dose of Ativan? 

It's Playlist.com

Playlist is a free site that lets you build a playlist of your favorite songs and play them on your computer.  I have several lists.  One for massive amounts of cleaning.  One for relaxing when done cleaning.  Great kids music.  A really cool set of Christian music.  All I have to do is define my mood and hit play. 

Here is one of my favorite playlists right now.  Feel free to use it next time you gotta get something done.

Works for me.  Every time!

Join all those other creative peeps on over at TDC for more great cleaning tips!!

It is THAT time of year....

Another little peek into one of my FAV-O-RITE pleasures....

It.  Is.  NFL.  PLAYOFF.  SEASON!

And in one week, these guys

will play against these guys

And that makes this house, one crazy, hyped-up, football frenzied HOT MESS!!

New Year--it is still January, right?

 It is still January so technically, ahem!  I can still say
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


I've thought many, MANY days about catching up on the blog but then doubt would interfere and I'd ask myself, "What do I really have to say right now?"


I am at a crossroads of sorts.  Not quite sure what to blog about.  My life has changed.  My focus is much different than it was six months ago.


Or is it?


I went back to recap on some of my blog entries from the past year.  They reflect a woman who was driven in many ways.  Driven to create the best home for her family.  Driven to feed her family well, AND frugally.  Driven to be a better wife, a better Mom, a much better follower of Christ.


Those things have not changed. 

My daily routine has changed.  But those goals are still there.  Still REALLY there!  With some new challenges mixed in.  As you all know, I work Monday through Friday again.  A new career focus.  New challenges professionally.

But the depth of who I am remains the same.  I struggle to make sure our marriage is growing.  I want to show my husband that he is the head of our family.  I want to get better at giving him the reins in which to lead our family and lead our marriage.  That means that I continue to learn to let go.  Let go of my selfish will.  Let go of my stubborn emotions.  Let go of my need to control!  Go out of my way to encourage him, to support him, to listen to him and to show him how much he means to me. 

I continue to work at this Mama-gig.  There are still numerous lessons to teach our sons.  Many kisses to send their way.  Hugs too.   I still want SH and I to lead their education and growth.  It helps that we absolutely love the Christian preschool that they are attending.  Every day they come home reciting a new Bible verse, talking about how they learned about Christ that day and singing songs over and over and OVER again!!  We are very comfortable that we made the right choice of schools for them to attend.  And they love it so that helps us to feel so very comfortable with the decision.   We are learning more and more every day about their personalities and how that is growing in to the young men they are.  They are set in many ways.  Big Boy continues to be emotional, very sensitive and very thoughtful.  You cannot get a single thing past that boy.  We must carefully choose our words and actions, every day.  Because he picks up on them every. single. time.  Little Guy continues to be the free spirit.  He is goofy and enjoys to be the life of the house!  We must be careful not to assume that means he is silly and reckless because he is not.  He simply does not take any part of life too seriously.  That will help our Type A driven home, A LOT! 

There are goals that I have for 2010.  Every year I try to identify things that I want to accomplish, both for myself and for our family.  This year is no different.  So in no sense of order at all:

1)  Strengthen our family bond with Christ.  SH and I have talked about this and have made some concrete measures to include God in our daily lives.  We pray every day on the way to school with the boys.  We pray at meals.  We pray at other times too.  We talk about our behaviors and how they either please God or displease Him.  We don't attend church as often as we feel like we should.  Let's face it, church is a habit.  And one I feel like we need to strengthen in our entire family.  We are somewhat torn as to what church to attend so that is a journey we must attend to.  We talk about God daily and His sacrifices for us.  We don't talk about our sacrifices for Him nearly as much.  Room for growth in this area, definitely.

2)  Remove ourselves from $50,000 of debt, which will include remaining credit card debt, home equity, student loan and mortgage.  We won't be debt free but we can be closer to the prize!  Definitely something we can do if we really focus.  REALLY focus!

3)  Take charge of my health.  Let's face it.  I'm almost 42 years old.  42 folks.  That is, ahhhhhhh, close to middle age?!  No matter how young I feel.  No matter how late I started with the whole parenting gig (so I feel like I'm 30 with preschoolers, when in reality I'm almost 42 with preschoolers!).  The body is just not gonna hold up like it did 12 years ago.  Time to really start looking at ensuring those healthcare dollars are well spent on prevention!

4)  And as always, there is a smattering of decorating projects, garden plans, weekend trips to plan.  Little things to make family memories.  Those change every other week so I'll keep those on the back burner.

5)  Keep up with the blog.  Even the mundane, inconsequential things.  Because someone may find them mildly entertaining.  And I love going back to read where life has taken us in the past year. 

HAPPY 2010 EVERYONE!

Letters to Santa

We worked really hard on our letters to Santa this morning!

Little Guy concentrating....

Big Boy sure had a long list!

I'm SO proud of Big Boy!!  He wrote his entire letter by himself and never gave up!!  Little Guy decorated his with a picture of Santa (that happened to look a whole like a head on sticks....sorry Santa!).

I just love the Christmas Season!!!

The harsh truth revealed itself this week.

It is the beginning of the end.  We must all deal.  We must all face it.  We must all have Faith.

Pappa's time is nearing.  The awful disease that racks his body has taken control, once and for all.  It robs him of his dignity.  It robs him of control.  It robs him of moments, breathes, smiles.

It robs us all.

For Big Boy, it has taken the lessons he was to learn.  He started many lessons only to have them cut short.  Many truths about the pride, the role, the job he has inherited as the first grandson.  He will not be learning those lessons from his Appachan.  He will have to search uncles and Daddy for those.  He will most certainly lose out on something in the gap.  He will have a few memories, vague, distant and foggy.  Maybe some that have clarity, though likely those will be the funeral, the emotion, watching the pain his family has to endure.  It etches into your mind.  I have those memories from his age and sadly, fewer before it.

For Little Man, he may not remember at all.  He may have few memories of the smile, the laughter, the pride and love.  For Little Man, there is just not enough time.

For my precious husband, it is the stark pain on his face that is so very hard to bear.  It is the recognition that the time is nearing.  That he will soon become a son without a father here on Earth.  It is so hard to watch.  Because words cannot comfort.  Touch does not connect.  It is a reality we must all endure and he is the first of us. 

I want to wrap them all in my arms, to ease the pain and wipe away the tears.  I pray that God, and it is always God, that lends his strength to us all.  That He comforts Pappa in his time here and shortens the time of suffering.  That He leads us through this process.  He opens His Doors. 

We are confident where Pappa will be.  His Faith is strong.  He has the Knowledge.  He knows.  The sadness we endure is only momentarily, before we remember the glory in knowing where he is.  God will be there to meet him.  God will take him home.  Too soon. 

But he will be Home.

In the busy-ness of the Season

In the busy-ness of the Season, I hope that you all take time to breathe and enjoy the wonder of it all.

These are the favorite ways that I like to spend my time during the holiday season

I would LOVE to host a Christmas breakfast for friends and family this year!!  Doesn't that look yummy?

LOVE these burlap wrapped gifts and the chocolate brown ribbon!

I've already filled bowls full of ornaments, fruit and bling! 

So inviting...

Photos courtesy of Southern Living.com.  Full of great ideas for the holiday season!!  What are you doing to decorate for the Season this year?

Works for me Wednesday

Need a tip on how to bathe your little ones?  What REALLY works?

I can't take credit for it.  My Super Hubs actually thought of this one.

We outfitted the boys' shower with this beauty:

Works like a dream!  I just pull it off the holder, spray them down, soap 'em up and rinse 'em off!!  Simple!  Easy!  Genuis!! 

Great idea HONEY!! 

Join some other genuis peoples on over at We Are THAT Family for more Works for Me Wednesday!  Have Fun!!

Get that Crockpot Going!!

What sounds good this week?  It is fall, y'all!  My favorite time of year!!!

So that means it is CROCKPOT season! 

This week I'm busting out the crockpot and getting going on this recipe for Tuesday!  Think of us all fat and happy around the dinner table tonite.....OK...let's go for happy, minus the fat! ;)

White Chili with Turkey

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

2 (4 ounce) cans canned green chile peppers, chopped

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

ground cayenne pepper to taste

ground white pepper to taste

3 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans

5 cups chicken broth

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack

Combine the onion, garlic and ground turkey and saute for 10 minutes, or until turkey is well browned.  Add to the crockpot and toss in all the other ingredients, except cheese.  Stir well and cook for 6 hours on low setting.   Top with cheese and ENJOY!!

Join the rest of us on over at Blessed With Grace for another wonderful TMTT!!  Happy Fall Y'ALL!

Fitting it all in....

I'm loving this right now.....

it just....

fits.

Everyone needs a little Super Hero

We had a little Halloween celebration down town last weekend.  LOVED it!  The boys really enjoyed themselves.  It was safe and so much fun!!

Batman AKA Big Boy enjoys a little treat!

Super Heroes awaiting the bouncy house!  By far, their favorite part of the street festival!

Pony rides came in a close second for favorite things to do!

Train rides were definitely a huge hit!!

Before & After PARTAY!!!!!!!!!!

I promised and yes, I eventually deliver!!

I told you all about a little paintin' party fixin'-up Super Hubs & I took on, right?  Well..... HERE IT IS!!

I'll admit that most everyone is a better decorator than I.  But sometimes, just a few times, I really get it right.  And this time, I got it right.

A quick before:

Note the plain white backgrounds...

Kitchen area

Family Room

Kitchen

Our kitchenette office corner

Family Area

The gold color is Bungalow Gold and the darker color is Cayenne.  Both are from Valspar.  We did use the same primer for both, which was tinted with the gold color. 

Honestly, it is SO warm and inviting now!  I'm not sure if you can tell from the pictures but we have a very large open kitchen and family area.  The darker colors have helped to bring them together and it is very cozy. 

I did re-do the top of the entertainment center.  I just got the two vases, added some more greenery and dried arrangements.  I still don't like the clock next to the other round thing-y but it'll do for now.  And yes, I have a lot more decorating on the walls but it takes me FOREVER!  I hate to confess it but this is the first paint job in these rooms in SEVEN years!  It's been "custom builder rather flat off white" for years now folks....give me some time for those decorations huh?! 

I finally think I have a little something worthy of Sarah's Before & After Party over at Thrifty Decor Chick!  Join me and a bunch of other thrifty decorating chicks....just don't compare me with Sarah because that lady is a Decorating Goddess!! 

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

Just a couple of weeks ago, we had a wonderful little baby shower for my sister-in-law.  Baby Joshua is due to come to us around Christmas so we celebrated a little!!

I made this fantastic fall dip for the occasion.  It is SO.  VERY.  YUMMY!!  It looks great on any harvest table and I guarantee it'll be the hit of any party!  We're having a little Pre-Hallow's Eve party with the boys and their friends on Friday and you can be certain I'll be serving this one! 

Pumpkin Harvest Dip

1 can pumpkin
1 tub whipped cream
2 Cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 pkg. softened cream cheese

Mix well and serve with graham crackers or gingersnaps.  OH YUMMY!

Enjoy this great recipe and many more over at Blessed With Grace! 

Happy Fall Y'ALL!

A little research is needed...

Oh my bloggy friends....

I NEED you!

I need help with my new work routine.  My new life routine.  My new life.

ACK!

So we've been at this for about 3 weeks now.  Boys are doing really well in school.  Of course, Big Boy is the overchiever that he is.  Straight Gold Stars.  Nothing else is acceptable.  In fact, yesterday he had continuous meltdowns because he wasn't allowed to be the leader.  You know.  Because he is...The Leader.  (his words...not mine!).  So it is even more apparent that our little A-type personality continues to develop.  Our parenting challenge continues to be teaching him to let go and just be.  It is a challenge.  He doesn't let go easily.

Little Man on the other hand....umm....not so much into pleasing others, let's just say.  Not straight Gold Stars.  I'm not saying that's bad....just waaayyy different than Big Boy.  He doesn't mind doing things his own way and certainly, if that doesn't fit what the teacher wants that day, well then.....so be it!  So we're trying to figure out how to keep him motivated in a much different way. 

No matter, they are both doing great in such very different ways.  I really thought it would be this way.

Me on the other hand?  Not as great!  I caught a lousy cold this week and have been ExHauSTeD!  It's been awful.  The new job is great though.  Huge.  Enormous.  A LOT different than life one month ago!  But a good different. 

I sat down at the computer this morning though to catch up and do a little research.  My bloggy friends, y'all ROCK when it comes to organizing and getting the proverbial shiiiitte together!  And I need your advisement!!  So I'm searching for ways to organize this house and home for two full-time working parents.  What works.  How to get ourselves prepped for the week, and how to keep it going all week long.  Five days is a millenia sometimes, ya know?! 

I'm starting with meal plans.  Gotta get that going.  Otherwise, KFC stock will increase dramatically, thank you.  And how to get these clothing issues sorted through.  Boys have uniforms.  I have a uniform.  Super Hubs has a uniform.  So how do we have 7 loads of laundry to do?  UGH!!

Any ideas my friends?  Can you help me out??

Trash to Treasure

I have been working on a few projects and here is one.

LOVE this treasure!! 

I took a wide black frame, purchased at Michael's on sale for $4 my friends.  SaWEET!!!  Added a little bit of fabric to the back with a bit o' Mod Podge....that stuff ROCKS my friends!!!  It goes on beautifully and that lovely green fabric is going nowhere folks!  Then spray painted the letter J for our last name and glued that on. 

Easy peasy!!  My idea of craftin'!! 

Hook on up over at Reinvented with my friend Kimm.  She's got so many more wonderful little trashy treasures!  ENJOY!!!

Are you wondering?

If you read my blog....and ahem, obviously.....

Anyhoo....y'all are probably wondering what's going on around here?  I've been a bit more than absent these past few days. 

Sorry folks.

Major life change.

I said MAJOR life change!

I got a job.  Another job.  And not just another job.  But a Monday through Friday kinda job.  Replaced all those other jobs I've been doing. 

What was I thinking? 

Actually, I was approached a few weeks ago by the hospital where I work, asking if I would take a nurse manager position.  Then they made it worthwhile, if yaknowwhatImean....  And I thought about it.  And we prayed about it.  A lot.  And decided in these economic times, we would do it.  I say we because it is such a HUGE change in our family that it truly had to be a family decision. 

We looked at schools for the boys and have found a fantastic Christian school in which we enrolled them.  They've been there for two weeks now and LOVE IT!  Really love it!!  And they are learning a lot, and having a ball with the other kids.  I kinda feel bad they haven't had that.  We have playdates but honestly, they are such social little guys that this is really fitting for them.  And I'm still in mourning over not being able to homeschool at this time.  I really wanted to.  But alas, we decided not to at this time.  It is always there if we want it and we may take advantage of it at another time in our lives.

We made this decision for many reasons, one is the financial aspect of it all.  Let's face it.  These are lean times and nursing is a great profession.  But also, in our grand master plan (our plan, not God's and we fully understand that....)  we may move again to be closer to family.  They live several states away.  And this opportunity would make me much more marketable in that endeavor, should we ever do it.  Always nice to have options.

And mostly, we prayed and truly felt that God put this into our lives at this time for a reason, His reason.  I'm not quite sure what that it is.  It may not be for me.  It may be for someone else.  Who knows?  He knows.  I fully trust that.  I fully trust that He will lead me through and that I will do my best to follow. 

I will be continuing the blog but maybe not quite as often as before.  I may not participate in as many carnivals and memes as I have.  But I'll keep y'all up to date on what is happening in our little world.  And I do have some terrific new pictures coming soon on the painting we've been doing and some of the cute little things I've gotten together.  I PROMISE!!  Coming soon!!! 

Works for Me Wednesday!

Today's WFMW is all about our favorite cleaning products.  Or favorite ways to clean. 

Me?  I use a variety of products.  This is by far, my favorite:

Smells WONDERFUL!  Cleans great! 

If I'm feeling a little environmentally conscience....and sorry folks, but sometimes convenience just outweighs my desire to save a plastic bottle.....then I just simply use vinegar and water.  Or vinegar and baking soda.  Or vinegar.  You get the point.

If you want to see my favorite ways to use vinegar, you can go here. 

But mostly, if I just get myself in the mood, I can clean like a mad woman.  But I gotta be in the mood.  This always helps me get in the mood! 

How about you?  What gets you in the mood to clean?  What works for you?

Let me know and then head on over to We Are THAT Family for more great cleaning tips on this edition of WFMW!!