Works for Me Wednesday

I have started using those shoe organizers to store small things that normally get lost such as medicine, first aid supplies, fingernail polish, etc. Now, I just open my closet door and look through the clear pockets to spot what I need. Since I have small children, the closet has a childproof thing on the handle and the medicine is stored up high. Works for me! Check out what's working for other people at WFMW at Rocks in My Dryer!

By the way, if you read yesterday's blog, I wanted to let you know my sweet husband came home with an ice cream cake from DQ to help me feel better. It worked! And today the sun is out, so that should help too!

Have a great day!

Tuesday's Ramblings

Well, I woke up with all intentions of doing a Tackle it Tuesday project, and I did clean up my kitchen, but that's about it! I had one of those awful, terrible, no good days. Complete with random crying. You ladies have been there, right? I was upset about everyday stuff, and was beginning to lose my temper, so when I put Anna down, I put myself down too. I woke up to Mary Helen coming in my bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She had decorated herself with a sharpie. And, while she was at it, she decorated her picnic table and the carpet in the living room too.

We finally got past that, and I got Anna up and sent the two outside for a while. Then they came in and went to wash their hands. I guess the soap dried out their hands, so they needed lotion. So did the entire vanity and floor.

So, Mary Helen is now at work with Joel, and Pizza Hut is on the way with dinner.

I did manage to get a few of my goodies from the weekend out, so here are a few pictures. Keep looking, because I need some advice for Anna's room too.

The first picture is all of my random apothecary/canister jars...The big one has dog treats, then one has m&ms, one for chocolate candy, one for fruity candy, one for pasta, one for goldfish, and one for pretzels.

The next picture is in my bathroom. I LOVE these apothecary jars!! I am going to fill the big one with white bath salts.







The last pictures are of Anna's room. The growth chart and the hamper are finds from the weekend. The closet is her newly cleaned out closet that I am going to fix for her and her babies~she loves playing mommy! So, I need some ides as to how to paint/decorate the inside of her closet. The doors are going to come down and I am going to do some fabric, but you will be able to see in there all the time. I also would kind of like to paint something on her main walls, like a border around chair rail height...any suggestions there? colors? designs? Her bedspread has butterflies, lady bugs, and flowers.

Thanks! Looking forward to all of your fabulous ideas!

As Promised....

My mom and I had a GREAT time this weekend. We found lots of deals at our favorite little thrift store, and some from my aunt's house! I like to "shop" her house as much as the store. Do you remember the Beverly Hillbillies? That's kind of what we looked like coming home. Here's a picture:




That's all of our goodies plus some things from my aunt's junk room for my yard sale this weekend. Here are my finds all sitting on my dining room table:






Now, I know you can't tell a lot about them, so I'll tell you about some of my things. I did get some kind of practical type things like a tupperware tea jug that we can take in the cooler on trips (Joel is addicted to sweet tea, so he'll be glad that we can take it along). Also some cute plastic dishes for the girls, and a new table and chairs for the girls (donated by my sweet aunt!). Okay, I got some pretty white candle sticks with crystals hanging on them...they were sitting under a table in my aunt's sunroom. I'm not sure where they will live, but they will make there new home beautiful!

I also got 5 apothocary jars, leaving 3-4 behind. I came home and found soooo many ideas for them, that I have put my aunt on a mission for many more!

I started a new collection while I was away...retro ice buckets. I think they are so fun!

hmmm....got some pretty white things for my porch - a little shelf, a bird cage candle holder thing, and a wall light fixture that I plan to use for candles.

For the bathroom, I found some linen hand towel and matching soap with a C monogrammed on them!

I will keep you posted as I put my finds in their new homes, and show pictures. This is a very short list of lots more stuff!



Please tell about your weekend...anyone hit any yard sales?

I have come home with a long to-do list of things I want to get done, so I will hopefully be able to show progress along the way!

What a fun day!!

Joel took the whole day off to spend with us girls! We went to the zoo, and had a blast! Mary Helen loved all the animals and the icee, and Anna loved climbing on the fences and watching people! The weather was perfect, and everyone's moods were pretty good too!

On the way home, Joel stopped by Target (if you know him at all you know that's because he REALLY loves me!). I found some pretty good deals! I got a beautiful apothecary jar on clearance...I'm talking 75% off!! I also got some ice cream - I mean cereal - bowls for 48 cents...four of them. That's only 12 cents a bowl! I got a few things from the dollar spot, but the buckets I really wanted were mostly gone or broken, so I skipped on that. If you have any at your target,here are some good ideas.

So, back th the apothecary jar...I have been wanting one and finally found one. When I got home, and checked my regular blogs, I found that my dear blogging friend got an apothecary set too! She got three (I won't covet, I'll just try to find a better deal on two small ones!). Check her's out and see suggestions for how to use these beauties! http://mrs-b-blog.blogspot.com/

I also got a new bike! We ordered one a bit ago, but for some reason they couldn't ship it, so we got one today. I won't tell you how bad it hurt going up the mountains in our subdivision pulling a trailer with two girls in it. Okay, so they don't look like mountains when your going up them in a car, but on a bike, they take on a whole new feel!

I am going to go out of town this weekend with my mom. We are going to see my aunt in North Carolina. We are going to do our favorite thing: goin' junkin'! I will have a budget (will have that discussion with Joel in a few, probably afte I rub his back), and I will let you know what good deals I find!

Check back Monday for zoo pictures and weekend treasure pictures!

My first MeMe!

I am so excited...I feel like an official blogger now!! Thanks, Jen for tagging me (come see Jen here http://jenjahromi.typepad.com/visionsverses/ )!

Okay, here are the rules:
1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

So, my memoir:
1. Child of God
2. Wife
3. Mother
4. Friend
5. Sinner (I know not fun, but true)
6. Prideful...I know even less fun! But it's what I've learned about myself this week!

My tags:
http://theboysquad.blogspot.com/ - The Peterson's Go Public...I've never posted on her blog, but she has amazing faith even through tough trials. What a witness!

http://whatsoeverispure.blogspot.com/ - another blog I've been lurking on!

http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/ - okay, so I'm obviously not good at posting comments, BUT I am good at reading! Here's another good one!

http://angietolpin.blogspot.com/ - another good one, and I've actually commented on this one!!

http://www.preschoolersandpeace.com/ - another one I've enjoyed. I'm pretty sure I haven't commented on this one either!

Man, I feel so rude! I read all of these (they are all in my favorites menu), and yet I've never introduced myself! So, I'm off to comment on these blogs, and the others in my favorites!

Thanks again, Jen, and I really like your stuff!

works for me wednesday!

aaaahhhh! I was finally ready to post my works for me Wednesday, and the page with the code isn't pulling up. I promise I will fix it later, but for now, here is the link to check out what works for everyone else http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/. Okay, now I am realizing that I just typed all of this in vain, because I was looking at the wrong day's topic. So, here are some random works for me topics. I will try to do better next time, but I hope this helps someone out there in blogland!

Today's topic is Birtday Parties...

Instead of ordering birthday cakes, I order cupcakes and they put them all together and decorate it like a cake...very easy to serve. This year (thanks to Family Fun magazine) I am going to scoop ice cream ahead of time and put each scoop into a cupcake paper, then put on a cookie sheet in the freezer. With these two ideas, cake and ice cream serving will be a piece of cake (pun intended!).

And, I know goody bags are contoversial, but I like them. I like to fix bags with stuff that can actually be used, not total junk. When school supplies are dirt cheap before school, I stock up on crayola crayons (yes, I am a crayon snob!), you get 24 for 20 cents a box. That's cheap. I also like stickers, small magna doodle things (dollar tree 2/$1), may be some playdough...these are the types of things I use for entertainment in the car or when we go out to eat.

So, that's my birthday post, but I also wanted to answer last week's topic about traveling. I made these for my girls, and a few for some family members:







They are just cookie sheets that I painted...the otherside is painted with chalkboard paint. So, they will have these that can hold snacks or drive through, paper for coloring, write on them with chalk, play with magnets, etc.

I also have a box in the back of my car with various toys (Happy meal toys, books, crayons, magna doodles, etc) and back packs. When we go somewhere to eat or where there aren't any toys, we can throw a few things in the back pack and go!

Today, I want to encourage all of you stay at home moms (and even those who aren't) to have an open door at your house. Hospitality is a lost art. Now, we make plans in advance, clean, plan an impressive menu, and entertain. I am guilty too. But, I am trying to be available for a spur of the moment cup of coffee. Joel and I seem to have a revolving door of company since we've moved. It is wonderful! I used to worry that my house wasn't perfect, or my cooking is not gourmet. Finally, I had the revelation that the places I enjoy being are not those that are the cleanest, best decorated, or most unique food. The best places to be are the places people sit and talk and don't worry about making things perfect.

For most women, the simplicity of not having to cook is enough! I like to have something yummy in the freezer to pull our spur of the moment and something in the pantry to whip up a quick dessert. Then, when the occasion arrives, you have enough on hand to invite someone over (or deliver a meal).

So what are some ways that you like to show hospitality?

...stay tuned for works for me Wednesday!...

tackle it tuesday!

Okay, I am joining in with many other bloggers for Tackle it Tuesday! Tackle it Tuesday is hosted by 5minutesformom, and you can click on the link below to see what all the other bloggers are tackling today!


For me, it was our t-shirt drawer. The first picture shows what it looked like this morning. The second picture shows what needed to be put away. The third picture shows what is going to the rag pile, and finally the new organized drawer!










So, there you have it! It feels good...we'll see what Joel rescues from the rag pile when he gets home. Join me tomorrow for Works for me Wednesday!

What I love about Sundays

I love going to church. I used to not love it, but that's because I didn't have a relationship with the Lord, so it was nothing more than a religious habit. I went because my grandparents liked seeing me there and because I at least looked like a good girl. I was really just a wretched sinner in need of God's grace. Thankfully, God loves sinners, and he loved me enough to get me to a church (in a most unusual way) that spoke not only God's love, but His truth. It was there that my life began to change. When I made a commitment to give my life to God, my heart began to change immediately, and my actions would slowly follow.



Because of things going on in my life at the time, I left that church, and there are so many people there who really have no idea the impact they had on my life by living the truth.



All of those events happened about 6 years ago, and God in His goodness continues to grow me each day. I now have a wonderful church family who knows how to worship the Lord and who truly loves him. I love going to the nursing home each week and singing the same hymns every Sunday. Listening to men and women in their 70s, 80s, and 90s sing about God's goodness and grace is just overwhelming sometimes. Then I get to go to church and hear our wonderful praise team and choir and listen to the truth of God's Word all at the same time!



I pray that my desire to be in church will always remain and that Joel and I will pass that on to our children.

For the past several weeks, I have not been sleeping well. I have been having hot flashes and night sweats. I don't know what's wrong with me, but it's driving me crazy! I went to bed last night about 11:30 and then finally around 12:30, I got up and went to watch tv in the playroom. Sometime around two I finally fell asleep, but had myself in a horrible position and woke up terribly sore. Joel ended up taking the girls to church and going to the nursing home without me. I met up with them at church at 11:00. So, as you can guess, my day feels incomplete! Anyways, I have an appointment with my doctor Friday to see what's going on. (And I KNOW I am neither pregnant nor going through menopause!)

Friday's Random Thoughts

I wanted to start this post off giving you something to smile about. Yesterday, I sent Mary Helen to her room to get dressed so we could go to Wal Mart. She went and after a few minutes came back ready to go. Now, we have gone out with her in her full princess attire, sweat suits and Sunday shoes, Sunday clothes and "work" (rubber) boots, and generally mis-matched. BUT today, I drew the line when she came out dressed like this.







Last night I was blessed to be able to have an amazing group of women in our home to celebrate a new baby. There is nothing more amazing than a new life growing inside of a woman. It is especially easy to celebrate when you know that the new baby will be raised in a loving, godly home. Joel was kind enough (as usual) to take Mary Helen and Anna to McDonalds to eat and play and then to the park to play while we "bunch of hens" enjoyed a bunch of girl talk!

I want to give one more plug for the devotion book I'm reading, Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God by Mary DeMuth (and I promise I don't get any money ~ this is a free advertisement!). I can't tell you how encouraging and challenging this book has been to me. If I write a summary here everytime I read something I'd like to pass along, I would probably be facing a lawsuit for plagarism!

Anyways, next time you're book shopping, be sure this one is on your list!So, what are you reading these days? Leave a comment so I'll know what to pick up the next time I hit the bookstore!

Well, I'm off to do some much needed laundry, and finish up a birthday present for a very special birthday boy (you can see him and his adorable little sister here)!

Have a great weekend!

Will I praise Him in the desert?

Why is it that even when we know how badly we need God's word every day, we let ourselves get out of the habit? This is the place the enemy gets me most often and most easily. I am in enough of a habit of my quiet time that Mary Helen knows that I fix her chocolate milk, fix myself coffee, she watches tv (or otherwise plays in the playroom), and mommy has quiet time with God. Well, Sunday I slept late and had 40 minutes to shower, dress, and get out of the door (thankfully Joel handled the girls). Then, Monday I got up just in time to get everything ready to get to the hospital for Anna's surgery. On Tuesday (this is the lamest of all) my Bible was in the other room still from church, and I went to get it and got distracted and never went back. Thankfully, we serve a forgiving Lord, who I believe is just happy to have me back this morning. How about you? How's your quiet time?

Today, I read again in my Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God by Mary Demuth (if you haven't gotten this book, I highly reccomend it!). She wrote about being in a desert. I have been raised in a Christian home, and truly surrendered my life to Christ about 5 years ago. I have been through dry spells, but nothing horrible. I sing "Jesus Bring the Rain" with gusto with the radio. Then, I read the what's going on with the lead singer of Selah (who sings Jesus Bring the Rain) at www.audreycaroline.com and it challenges me to think, what would I do if it rained like that in my life? Would I praise His name even when going through a trial such as this? Presently, I feel like I am the most blessed woman alive. . . and it's easy to give glory to God for all I have. Joel and I know we couldn't have the things we do without Him.

He has given us this amazing house (you won't be seeing it in Southern Living, but it's our dream house!), that we believe He allowed us to have it to bring glory to His name. I am learning about hospitality, and just this week alone I get to help a mom to be celebrate new life with a baby shower, and we get to grow our marriage and others as we host a couple's Bible study. I enjoy having drop in company for coffee (if you don't mind a mess ~ I am hospitable, but not June Cleaver!). I enjoy having a few teenage girls every other week for Bible study and game night.

I have two little girls who are healthy and loving. I have a husband who has a heart for the Lord, and who loves us so much I can hardly wrap my mind around it. I have 4 living grandparents who support us and are an amazing encouragement to me. We have a church family who prays for us, who loves on us, and who encourages us.

So, what will I do when God brings me to the desert or brings the rain? I hope I will claim the following verses:

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

2 Corinthians 7-12

Surgery's over!

We made it through rather painlessly. Anna was great, and all of the staff was very good! They all seemed to be very at ease with what they were doing, and that made Anna more at ease, which of course made us more at ease! She has a little bandage that has to stay on until our appointment May 1. Her surgery began about 10, and we were headed home around 12!

Here are a couple of pictures from before the surgery.

Update

Just wanted to give a quick update on Anna. She is home and doing great!

Everyone at the Children's Medical Center was wonderful, and we were all at ease the whole time. Anna didn't enjoy getting the medicine, but everything else went great.

I am headed to Walmart for motrin and tylenol and she is snoozing away. Thanks for all your prayers!

Lazy Saturdays

Since I don't get to really take off from my job, I try to do very little on Saturdays so I feel like I've had a break! Of course, on Sundays, I feel it is my duty to rest from my normal activities, and let Joel take care of the kids as much as possible!

Anyway, I did feed the kids (I don't take completely off - DFACS wouldn't appreciate adding me to their caseload!). I did a little laundry, because I enjoy listening to broadcasts online (Family Life Today, Focus on the Family, and Homemakers by Choice) while I fold.

Then I planned my next two weeks menus this afternoon. This is probably the best thing I do for my sanity. I can make a shopping list and stick to it (I don't need that box of cookies - it's not on the menu!), I don't have to think for two more weeks about what's for dinner, and I save money! Those "quick" trips to the store cost me a lot of money!

I also took a nap, and although I couldn't fall asleep really hard, I stayed there for a good 2 hours while Anna napped and Mary Helen watched movies.

So, this is going to be a busy week. On Monday, Anna has her hernia surgery. That should be a pretty quick day surgery and we should be home Monday afternoon. On Thursday, I am hosting a baby shower; and on Friday, we are hosting our couple's Bible study. Luckily I have casseroles in the freezer for the shower and meat in the freezer for the tacos for Friday. I am also working to have a yard sale the first Saturday in May. Luckily my grandma owes me, and will be coming to help me sort for my yard sale!

I will post as soon as I can how Anna's surgery goes, and I am hoping to add some of my favorite blogs on here this week!

A Quick Challenge

Today, during my quiet time, I read from my new devotion book, Ordindary Mom, Extraordinary God by Mary Demuth. I have only read a few, and they've all been great; but today's was particularly challenging to me. The author begins by telling us a question her daughter asked of her recently, "Do you want me to be Cinderella or wicked?" Of course, she answers as any of us would, she wants her daughter to be Cinderella: kind, grateful, selfless and hardworking. So, she was challenging us to see which one we were. A few things she asked that got me thinking:

-Do I envy what others have?
-Do I expect others to do everything for me?
-Am I mean?
-Do I treat strangers better than I treat my husband and kids?
-Would I be horrified if my life were filmed on hidden camera and played back for me?

I am praying God will search my life and show me what I need to change to better serve Him.

Well, I will write more soon, but for now I'm off for a fun day - I get to have a ladies only afternoon! 3 cheers for great babysitters and wonderful friends!!

Spring is in the Air!

I love spring, and today is like the best of the best! So, I'm taking a break here in my overalls (makes me feel like a real gardener!). I have begun to put out all the seeds I've been collecting since about January. I would tell you how many, but Joel may read this and have a stroke!

I've been pulling weeds, raking old leaves, and breaking up the dirt in the various flower beds and places soon to be flower beds. I have way more seeds than I have plans of where to put flowers, but I am confident they will all find a home! There is something miraculous about seeing all the new green popping out during spring!

Mary Helen has been enjoying doing "school" (preschool workbooks). She asks for them at least once a day, and is really very good at them! She will do page after page as long as I tear them out and read the directions to her.

I gave Anna a coloring sheet this morning when Mary Helen was doing her stuff, and she made about two marks and said, "down." So she got a book and looked at it for almost as long as Mary Helen did worksheets! It is amazing how they are so different, but so precious in their own ways.

Joel got to come home a little early last night, so we ate an early dinner and then went for a walk. We came home and still had some daylight, so we built a small fire in our new fire pit and toasted marshmallows with the girls. They really enjoyed it. They both had chocolatey marshmallow goo all over themselves when we finished!

Well, that' us for now. Back to starting a load of laundry then back to the great sunshine!

So, here I am!

In the blogging world!

I love reading other people's blogs, even people I don't know. Especially moms.

I guess the best place to start is to tell you about my family and myself.

I am married to a wonderful man. After 5 years of marriage, (which I know is not very long in the grand scheme of things) I still sometimes find myself in awe that God has blessed me with such an incredible husband. He is the most unselfish, loving person I know! Add to that a great daddy, and I tell ya, he's wonderful!

We have to amazing daughters, Mary Helen, who is 3 1/2, and Anna who is 1 1/2. Mary Helen loves cows, riding her bicycle, puzzles, and drinking milk! Anna enjoys doing anything her big sister is doing, playing in the sand, eating, and going for walks.

I am so blessed to be able to stay home. When Joel and I were talking about getting married and having children, he told me that he would love for me to be able to stay home and take care of our kids. Honestly, I had never considered the option until then. I was going to be a teacher. I decided when I was 4 years old that I was going to be a teacher, and I never looked back until that day. But of course, then I was in college, and figured we would get married in a couple of years (or in 4 months!), I would work a couple of years, and then we would have kids. Well, God certainly has a sense of humor!

After much prayer together, Joel and I knew that we were meant to be married, and decided to get married right away (another prayerful decision). I continued to go to school, but got pregnant the fall after we married. We decided that I should take a year off from school, then go back when Mary Helen was a year old. So I did, and in November after I started school in August, I found out I was pregant again. We decided to do the same thing - stay home a year and return for my last year of school. Of course, by now we know that I wouldn't teach for some time, may be not even until our kids were out of school. As time came for me to register for school again, I knew I could not do it. I knew my place was in our home. I don't regret my decision.

I am so passionate about being a mother and wife, and staying home to take care of them. It is, in my opion, the most high calling.