skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Tis the season to plant!
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." II Corinthians 9:6 NIV
On Friday, the Doc walked in the room as I was notifying the winner of the E.W. McCall giveaway. I explained to him how it was my small way to help Lois, the sweet lady who owns E.W.
No sooner than I hit send, an email appeared from Melanie at My Sweet Savannah saying I won her giveaway! It was more than double the amount of my giveaway. That had to be the quickest returned blessing I've ever received! The timing was amazing. Glad Doc was there to witness what I call a "God moment."
We will order his graduation party invitations from this wonderful company, Minted. Woo hoo! They have beautiful stationery.
I planted some petunias in my window boxes this weekend. I want to add more plants for a variety and lush look like the ones above. This is a start.
Can't wait for my lilies to start blooming!
I also refilled my bird feeder. I kept noticing how fast the seeds were disappearing. We gathered around the window thinking we'd see a flock of birds any moment.
Surprise! Look who is having a field day with the bird seed!
Guess it's his time of reaping.
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26 NIV
A good spouse will read between the lines. It's the unspoken that holds the key to our hearts isn't it?
Some time last year, I scribbled down a long list of a blogger's recommended design books. (Sorry I can't remember the source.) I'd love to start a collection. For an awesome list and reviews currently posted, check out Amy's recommendations at Maison Decor.
These are 3 on my list of many.
Style and Substance- The Best of Elle Decor by Margaret Russell
Home Rules by Nate Berkus
French Essence by Vicki Archer
Somehow in all of the clutter on my desk, the doc found the list. He chose the above 3 to give to me for Christmas. Yay! Maybe I should leave more lists lying around.
I love the smell of crisp pages opened up for the first time. Photos of beautiful design are like pure candy to me!
These are some of the images in this book.
And from French Essence-
Somehow my stacked books and papers never look this artistic.
I once heard a man say he studied his wife like a book and after 40 years of marriage felt he hadn't even graduated college yet. Paying attention to little details, like comments made in passing or scribbled lists, is one of the best ways to "study" our mates, our children and friends.
One of my goals this year is to hear the unspoken from those I love.
Thanksgiving is over but I'm grateful each and every day for my family. This past weekend a favorite uncle of mine passed away. Yesterday sitting in the middle of church, a wave of grief swallowed me up. It was so overwhelming I almost bolted outside. But then my little boy climbed in my lap and squeezed me real tight. A gentle reminder that life goes on, it's short and I must make the most of it.
To save money this year, I decided to be my own photographer. I'm known to cut important parts out of pictures. Like a head (see above.)
Let's just say this one was making a game out of it but we didn't care as long as he was happy. He is so proud of his first missing tooth on the bottom.
You probably already know that 13 year old boys do not care about taking pictures.
Smiles from Mr. Handsome only come when not posing.
And the princess. Isn't her hair amazing? Not only is it an unusual color, it will do just about anything. She loves to twist it in all kinds of crazy ways. I think she should have been born in the 30's or 40's. She loves everything about that era.
Somewhere in the batch of 100 + photos, we'll select one for our Christmas card.
I really do have 555 reasons (and then some) to be thankful.
Fall back plans. Always nice to have them.
Unfortunately, we did not have one with our computer. We just bought a new hard drive. It was sitting in the box next to our old one.
The doc ordered some study books for his boards and has been anxiously awaiting their arrival. He received an email from "Fed Ex" saying we tried to deliver your package, please respond.
He has never opened a virus. In fact, he is always cleaning up the messes my son and I make. But in one click of the mouse, poof. Our whole computer was wiped out. I had some very important photos on there which I hadn't backed up yet. It made me want to cry.
Thankfully, we have a computer whiz friend who is coming over to try to retrieve things. In the grand scheme of life, I couldn't stay upset for long. These things happen. Lesson learned. Always back up your files.
It made me think how there are no back up plans for some things. Like losing those you love. In the past few weeks, several of our friends have lost spouses and loved ones. Gone.
Think I'll go wrap my arms around my hubby and tell him how blessed I am to have him, pictures or no pictures.
Life is sweet.
I'm hitting the road. Going to help Mrs. T with her house again. We are secretly planning our decor execution plans while the Mr. is at work. hehe (They both read this blog so just had to say that.)
I'll be away from the computer but will catch up with you when I return.
Have a great week and don't forget to to have a "Fall Back" plan!
When is the last time you baked cookies for no reason? Recently, my friend Tracey @Raggy Girl Vintage posted about her chocolate chip cookies.
Of course, my mouth watered when I saw them. I couldn't even remember the last time I baked cookies from scratch. Christmas, Valentines? That night I asked the doc if he would like some chocolate chip cookies. He answered, "if you're going to make some, sure." (whew! Figured he'd say "not really.") So there I was baking cookies in the middle of the week, late in the evening for no reason.
(Recipe is on back of Toll House semi sweet choc chip package.)
In the midst of some stressful situations, there we sat like two kids with a glass of milk and warm cookies.
Comforting.
The next day, we shared the cookies with the neighbors, bus driver and school teachers, which surely added a bright spot to their day as well.
I don't like perfect cookies. I never measure it out with a scooper, just grab a dollop with a spoon and plop it on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Look at that little chocolate goodness peering from the edge.
I'll be doing some baking tomorrow for a total different reason- my son's birthday party. I probably won't enjoy the cookies nearly as much as I did these.
If you need a little pick me up today, don't wait for an occasion. Keep this going and bake some cookies!
This may be one of the most controversial posts I will ever write.
I don't like pets in my house. Please don't go hating me. Most every single one of my friends have pet(s) in their houses. It's a personal choice. I love dogs and always had one growing up. My mom did not allow us to bring them inside except for puppies to nurture. I'd climb out of bed at night and sneak the puppy into bed with me because I could not stand to hear one cry. So let me assure you, I do like pets.
I just prefer they have their own space. Not to ignore, but somewhere to run and play and make all the messes they want. We'd never leave one out in inclement weather, etc. either.
For those of you who keep yours inside, I'll happily pet them, play with them and let them sit in my lap when I come to visit. I enjoy that. Although, I do not allow my children to continually bother an adult guest in my house and think the same rule should go for pets.
I'm highly allergic to cats. Not the "sneezing and watery eyes" but the "absolutely can't breathe" kind. Without treatment, cats are lethal to me. I once became so ill, it lasted 3 months, all from one encounter with a cat.
Hard to imagine how something so adorable can make me so sick, but it does.
Not sure why some people find this amusing. We were once invited to dinner at a friend's house and this is exactly what was happening in the kitchen. The cats were on the counter eating out of the very bowl meant to serve us. I didn't eat and my visit was short. Maybe the only time I was grateful for being allergic to cats.
Nothing sweeter than puppy dog eyes. It would be hard for me to say no or scold something so cute. I really have a big soft heart for pets.
Here's the reason for this post. In my last post, I told you how our house was not as we left it. Turns out the tenants had at least 8 dogs maybe 12 inside. The house was a dog house, not a people house. I can't begin to tell you of the filth that was awaiting us. So much damage has been done. I can't fathom how people lived in that type of mess. The smell alone was enough to make me sick. And for the first time, I had an allergic reaction to dog hair in the same way I've had to cats. Everything from the plumbing to the a/c unit has been damaged. I could go on and on but, I really desire for this blog to be a fun and positive place so details will be spared. In the upcoming weeks, we'll be replacing all the flooring, etc. Therefore, you'll know why we are remodeling.
Each time I relay this story, my friends feel compelled to tell me how clean his/her pets are and how his/her house is not affected. I know that. I'd be the same way about mine. Unfortunately not everyone is so clean. What's even more sad is some do not realize how unclean they are. So if you have pets and you lease now or in the future, do not be upset at rules, pet deposits, etc. I pray you never have to live on this side of the fence.
When I drove away from my house, I cried a little but then remembered things are only things... and things cost money, which made me cry a tad more.
Later that day, I saw my little buddy Gavin, the 3 year old who was diagnosed with cancer 2 weeks ago.
Nope. I really don't have a single thing to complain about.
Some of you have asked how he is. Perfect way to end on a positive note! The chemo has made him really sick but it only lasted for a couple of days. The best news is that it's working better than expected. His lab work came back great! The tumor is shrinking! We are praying for less chemo and a quicker surgery. Gavin has the prettiest dark hair and the longest dark eyelashes you've ever seen. The next round of chemo will probably take that so his mommy was going to get pictures made this week.
He was rather droopy when I saw him and this made me cry on the inside. It's hard to see a 3 year old who doesn't feel like running and playing. But we are so grateful he is still with us and all the good reports thus far! His parents are in great spirits and have a beautiful attitude. A lesson for us all.
God is good!
Mother's Day is a cupcake kind of day.
Wishing all the moms a sweet day!
The first thing I learned about being a mom is-
if there's only one cupcake, you don't get it.
Yesterday, I had a little pity party in honor of myself.
Should have celebrated with cupcakes but didn't think of it.
I was thinking of the "sacrifices" I'm making for my family.
That sounds greedy, just like hogging an entire plate of cupcakes to myself.
I can't say I've completely snapped out if yet, but the guilt is there.
I guess sometimes guilt is pleasurable.
It helps to remind yourself that life is not all about you. If you look hard enough, you'll find little sprinkles of joy all around you.
My wonderful hubby has been reminding the kids that it's Mother's Day weekend. So, early this morning my 5 year old climbed into bed, snuggled next to me and began to sing, "Happy Mother's Day to you.." to the tune of the birthday song. Talking about melting my heart and making me feel small all in one moment!
This little cupcake could not contain all the sprinkles.
Being a mom has those moments of unexpected happiness. Small sweet surprises that fill my heart, just like a nice pop of delicious cupcake filling.
Today, I'll have my motherhood with a cherry on the top, please.
Speaking of sweets, I just won a very sweet giveaway by Stacy's Shabby Shoppe! Two Mary Englebreit flags.
She also sent me a vintage ballerina cupcake topper! I love it. Thank you Stacy!
According to Stacy, I can have my cake and it eat it too!
I think I will.
Posts
.JPG)
.JPG)
