Remember

We will always remember. God Bless the USA!

Beautiful

So, in between having lunch with my hubby and picking up the kiddos from school, I decided to stop at Goodwill. I was getting discouraged with the lack of discoveries when I spotted this box of word cards. My heart skipped a beat. I know some of you won't "get" it, but to me this was a wonderful find! 1957. 230 cards. Perfect condition. $2.
Imagine how much fun these cards will be to use on journals, cards, etc. The problem? Will I be able to use them without feeling guilty for "breaking up" a perfect set of word cards. They've been together for 50 years. Is it right to separate them? Such a dilema.... Here is a thrift store find from last week. $1.50 for this beautiful skirt. Had to have it. Is it my size? Uhhhhhh....no! Not even very close. Might this skirt be my motivation to lose weight? We'll see. It is hanging in my room where I can see it every day. I want to wear it. Some day...
Wow! It has been a crazy week. I don't think I have cooked an actual meal. The laundry is piled up (again). I'm tired. Glad it is the weekend. I need to make some time to do something creative. That always makes me feel better.

I hope you have a good weekend.

Being Real

I think that often we fail to be real with each other....afraid to show our hurts and imperfections. I think it is important to let others see where we might be failing or hurting. I don't mean that we should always be grumbling and complaining....just let someone see your tears now and then so they might be an encouragement to you. Last Sunday I was a mess, so I set off by myself with Bible, journal, MP3 player and camera. I ended up at Mt. Petit Jean where I hiked a little ways and then found a beautiful place to just sit and reflect. I made these cards from some of the journaling I did. I was so refreshed and renewed after spending the morning with my Father. This week has been so much better. I needed to spend time alone and with Him!
Maybe this journaling will be an encouragement to someone else going through some rough times. It's just my rambling, some scriptures and some song lyrics....things that spoke to me on the mountain.
Speaking of mountains, I realize this picture isn't a mountain, but it sure is a cool rock formation! Bebo Norman is one of my favorite singers. A favorite song is I Will Lift My Eyes. These lyrics have been going through my head all week: "I will lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains I can't climb." Isn't that a wonderful reminder when we are facing obstacles?

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

WinGS

WinGS.....Women in God's Service....This is a Bible study at our church. I have been asked to be one of the small group co-leaders this year. I am honored and blessed. I'm not sure I have much to offer, but I know I have much to gain. The women I am serving with are wonderful, Godly women. The study we are doing, For the Greater Glory: A Study of Job, was actually written by one of these women. I could write a lot about her, but I don't know that she would want me to do that. I will just tell you that she has had some heartache fairly recently. Instead of being bitter she is glorifying God. Thank you, sweet friend.

Each of our small groups is named for a woman of the Bible. Our group is Elizabeth. I created this (I don't know what to call it) to identify our classroom. I have this stack of round, metal trays that my mom picked up at an auction. She figured I could find a use for them. I've found a use for one of them anyway.

My hubby takes his comps (comprehensive exams) starting tomorrow. He has from 10:00 a.m. Thursday until 10:00 a.m. Sunday to complete them. You might say a prayer for him. It will be a long three days. I know he will do great! Then it is on to writing his dissertation. Won't be long now and he will be Dr. Phil! Woohoo!

I guess I should go back to bed and try to get some sleep. It wasn't happening earlier, so I figured I might as well get up for a while. Good night.

Anniversary Card

Sorry this isn't the greatest picture. If you click on it you will be able to see a bigger version. I made this card for our anniversary back in May. I wasn't blogging then, so I thought I would share it now. The verse says, "Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away." Song of Solomon 8:7 The paper in the center is actually copied from the inside of an antique Sherlock Holmes book of mine. I just thought it was perfect with the river scene in the middle. The waterfall photo is one I took while we were on an anniversary trip in New England a couple years ago. It is one of the very few photos I have of that wonderful trip. I took a few digital pictures (didn't have a great camera back then) and about four rolls of film. I sent the film in to Snapfish and it never arrived. I am still heartbroken over all those lost photos. That is really the only trip my hubby and I have ever taken since before kids. There probably won't be another one in a loooong time. I just wish I had pictures!

Well, life is getting crazy here! After Labor Day my six year old will start piano lessons on Monday evenings. He will also start soccer (practice and game nights unknown at this time). Sweet girl has hippotherapy (horse riding) on Tuesday's from 4:15-5:15. The 10 year old has football practice at 5:30. The problem is that these two things are 20 miles apart. Hubby and I are gonna have to tag team on that one! No idea what we will do if soccer practice or soccer games are on Tuesdays. Wednesday night is church and I have a feeling there will be some sort of soccer going on on Thursday evenings. Yikes!

I guess that is all for now. I need to go fold some laundry so my kids will have something to wear tomorrow. Good night!

SlimFast

Here are some profound thoughts for the day....Where did the name SlimFast come from? Is it because if you eat them you will get slim fast? Probably not. Or maybe it is that you will get slim because you are basically fasting. Maybe. Okay, it is an undisputable fact that I need to lose weight, but I know better than to think that eating "meal-on-the-go" bars is going to transform me back into my size 3 self that I was so many years ago. I wish! Slim fast or even slim slow for that matter, is just a distant dream right now. The real truth? Eating a SlimFast bar is a great excuse to have chocolate for breakfast. Truly! Okay, and it is easier to eat than a bowl of cereal as I drive my kids to school....

Last fall I found these vintage flashcards at the thrift store. I love them! I created this mini "album" with them, but never completely finished it or did anything with it. I think it would make a great teacher gift. What do you think? Should I finish it or put it in the "It was a nice idea, but...." file? That's a strange idea for a file, I know. Do you ever have projects that you make and then think, "Why exactly did I do that?" Surely I am not the only one.

Anyway, I guess I will leave you with all those strange thoughts. I need to go be productive for a while. Unfortunately, not creative productivity - boring stuff like laundry, dishes, etc. Yuck!

Longing....

Last night I was thinking about what I was going to post today. Thoughts of fall crossed my mind. Then this morning I read a couple blogs and they were talking about fall. I guess I am not the only one longing for autumn. It is 103 degrees outside and I am looking at my stack of sweaters in the closet and wishing it was cool enough to wear them. It happens every year about this time. I'm ready for a new wardrobe....ready to smell soup simmering in the crockpot....ready to watch the kids jump in a pile of leaves....I wish fall could just come a little bit earlier. The sad thing is, we live in the south and it will be a looooong time before I can actually wear those sweaters without having heat stroke! Right now it is too hot to cook much of anything - especially soup! We have a few falling leaves, but only because they are shriveled from the heat and lack of rain. I miss you, fall, and can't wait for your arrival!

First Day of School

The cool 5th grader who also turned 10 today!
The excited 1st grader who has the same teacher as last year - she moved up from K to 1st!
The sweet girl heading off to kindergarten!

More Colorado Pictures

I was taking a picture of the bee in the flower. I didn't realize until later that there was also a grasshopper near by. By the way, have you seen the grasshoppers in eastern Colorado? Huge, I tell ya! The one in the picture must be a baby. The boys caught some that were probably at least 3 inches long. Nasty! You walk through the grass and hundreds of these things fly up around you. One day it was raining. As the raindrops hit the ground, the grasshoppers would pop up. I thought it was hailing. No kidding! "He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number" Psalm 105:34
This rainbow appeared shortly after my sweet girl's tea party. "Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." Ezekial 1:28
"The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing." Psalm 65:13
"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?" Job 36:27-29
"The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets." Psalm 50:1

God's blessings are all around us! Thank you, Lord.

Buttons, Rick Rack and Lace, Oh my!

Beautiful lace and a unique wooden box...
Fun button cards....
Needle cases...(love the black felt one!)
Buttons, buttons, buttons!
Tons of rick rack!

Going to mom's house is like going on a treasure hunt! I just never know what I might find. My dad is an auctioneer so mom has had lots of opportunities for fabulous bargains. The night we arrived she had just purchased this whole stash of rick rack for $4. I felt like she had won the lottery. All the things in the pictures above are things I brought home from mom's this time. Some of the buttons were my grandmas and the others were just from auction stash. Love it all!

I know I have a couple cousins who read this blog. Corene and Julia, I set aside a little bag of buttons for each of you. I can't guarantee they are all from Grandma because I just mixed them all together, but I thought you would like to have some. It might be a while before I get them sent. I need to get through the first week of school craziness. Remind me if you haven't heard from me in a couple weeks.

Craziness!

I know I am not the only one with a lot going on. It is just a crazy time of year with wrapping up summer vacations, getting ready for school, etc. I'm really dragging today and I have tons of things to do. I think this heat is exhausting - it is 102 degrees right now. Yuck! That's all I have to say about that.

First, I thought I would share a card I made for my brother and SIL's anniversary. If I remember correctly, I saw a card from Melissa that incorporated the gift tags tied together. She does absolutely beautiful work.

I also thought I would share a couple pictures from the Rett Syndrome Strollathon we participated in on Saturday. The event raised over $100,000! I want to thank all of our family who came out to support us. I think we may have had the biggest team there. It was a long, hot day, but definitely worth it.

Hope everyone has a good evening. Stay cool!

Tea Party Pictures

I know this isn't a great picture, but I wanted you to see the girls in their party hats. They had such a fun time making them and wearing them. Aren't they cute?
Here is the birthday girl! Can you tell that she is excited about her tea party? We all had a great time. Both of her Grandmas were there and also Great Grandma. Two Great Aunts and two second cousins made it and then there were two more Aunts and six more cousins! We ate chai tea mini biscuits, jelly cutout sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, chocolate cupcakes with pink icing and sprinkles, strawberries and mock devonshire cream....It was all quite yummy! Thank you to everyone who helped make the tea party a success. It is so hard to believe that my baby is 5 years old! Well, she's not really 5 yet. The 17th is the official birthday. Wow! Our lives have sure changed a lot since August 17, 2002. What a blessing our sweet girl is to our family.

Home Again!

Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know we are back home from Colorado. We had a good (but very busy) trip. I haven't uploaded any photos yet, but I will share some soon. I met my newest niece, visited my Grandma, went through Grandma's old button stash (fun!), put up sweet corn (yum!), had homemade icecream (twice), hosted my sweet girl's tea party and particpated in the Rett Syndrome strollathon....The kids had a blast playing with cousins. We enjoyed the cool night air, beautiful sunsets, amazing lightning displays and even a rainbow! There was some sadness to the trip (not gonna go there on this blog) but for the most part we had a terrific time. I did miss my blogging, though. So glad to be back! Will share more soon. For now, the suitcases and piles of laundry are waiting for me.

Party Hats

From this.....

....to this!

I am supposed to be packing so we can leave for Colorado in the morning. Instead, I decided to work on some party hats for the sweet girl's tea party. I picked up these hats/crowns from a thrift store for 25 cents/package. Since they are slightly outdated I thought it would be cute to "foof" them up a bit. I really kep this one pretty simple. We'll use this for an example and let the little girls at the party do their own.

See that silver ric rac? It was in my stash that I'm sure I picked up at a thrift store somewhere. When I opened it today I realized that it is self-adhesive! It is Wright's from 1986. I'd love to come across some more of that. It sure makes projects go a lot quicker when I don't have to mess with glue.

We leave in the morning so this will be my last post for a little over a week. Well, I might manage to post while we are gone. I'll just wait and see. I am getting excited about the tea party and the Rett Syndrome Strollathon. If you would, please say a prayer for our safe travel and good health. Thank you!

Tuesday Tip #3

Yes, I know it is Wednesday. I haven't been doing a very good job of keeping up with the Tuesday Tip. I think today's tip is a good mommy tip. Did you know that you can somtimes call your local newspaper and get "end rolls" of newsprint? These rolls are about 28" long and there is usually quite a big of paper left on them. Sometimes I've had them just give them to me and other times I have had to pay a very small amount. Here are some things I have used this paper for:

• table covering when doing crafts


• gift wrap that the kiddos decorate


• party banners


• drawing paper for the kiddos


• packing breakables


• have a child lay down and trace their entire body


• tracing sewing patterns

I remember my mom having these rolls of paper when I was a kid. Now I use it all the time. All you have to do is call and ask. Just so you know, if you live here in Russellville, I called and they said they use all of the paper and don't have "end rolls" left. Sorry. If you live elsewhere, give it a try.

I'll share a quick little project with you. I found this letter on clearance at Hobby Lobby (imagine that) and decorated it. I have it sitting on the mantle. Last week my boys each decorated their own letter for their room. They turned out really cute.

I need to get some things done around here. We leave for Colorado in two days! I'll try to post once more before we take off.