Our Halloween Surprise!!!

Look carefully at our family costume pictures:

Little Bo Peep and her Lost Sheep

Little Bo Peep

Our Lost (not really....) Sheep

AND.......below.....

Hubby and I in our costumes. He is the Chef/Baker, and I'm the oven...cooking a bun.
The bun should be ready on or around May 11, 2010!! :)

(Check my sidebar for a new addition....)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!! :)

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday - Hooky Edition

GREETINGS!! It's a beautiful fall day.....

We're having quite a different day than usual - but I'll hook it into my small successes:




1. We're playing hooky (ie?) from school today. Lovely has a cold and has been sneezy and some coughs in the night, and I felt that A) her classmates wouldn't appreciate that and B), it's a big weekend coming up! If I can let her rest well today, fluids, nap, relax - she should be back to school tomorrow and ready for a great Saturday!

2. I've put myself back on the list and rested a lot this week when I felt some ickies coming on. I wasn't sure if it was germs or some insomnia, but the rest has helped. I feel healthy. I need that to take care of everyone else (Val has a bad cold too).

3. To do all the above....I've done one more success. I've let the house go. I've rested more, taken care of the girls more, and just ignored the house. I've done the basics - but I've put other things first. Not that my house is ever perfect or spotless (HA!) but I prefer it straight. Something had to go this week to do other things, and I let go. Ummm...I think tomorrow all that will change though lol! I need to catch up!

I wish the best for you!

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm so thankful for...

1. health!
2. surprises!!
3. my kids!
4. Halloween!
5. laughter!
6. birthdays!

Much love and blessings! Gotta run.... :)

Praying for Baby Stellan

Just helping spread the word for prayers. On my side bar, you see a picture and request to pray for "Baby Stellan". Please click that picture or here for updates. Stellan went downhill very fast, and is intubated as they try to calm his heart down. This is really serious.

Please pray for him and his family. He's had a hard road since being in utero. His family has lots of faith. Let's give them a boost!

God Bless!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday

Howdy! Wow! I've posted more this week! I'm excited! I've missed it. I've been feeling better, and things have come to mind I've wanted to remember. I've got so much more churning inside, or kid milestones to jot down....and the pictures....WOW!!

Until then....what have I succeeded at?




1. We have had fabulous weekends away with friends. A birthday weekend for Lovely and me, and this past weekend an overnight with old friends. But, when you are gone every weekend in Oct - it can be hard to do little family "fall" things. I was happy to take advantage of a sunny day Tuesday, and go with Hubby and the kids to a really cool pumpkin patch at our local national park. We "could" go this weekend, but there is a chance (80%) of rain for the weekend. We got some great pictures! Most importantly, we had time together. It was great!

2. I've gotten back to cooking healthy after a lot of FUN food nights (too many fun nights....uh oh scale!) lately. It feels good. Tonight? Healthy chili. We'll be practicing for our church supper club Sat we're hosting at the house. I hope it turns out!

3. I got to volunteer finally at Lovely's school yesterday! I got to stay 2 1/2 hours after school making bows for gift baskets and wrapping the baskets for the silent auction at their fall festival this weekend. It felt GREAT to finally help out!!!


How are you doing?

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm feeling so blessed and thankful for...

1. My family.
2. My friends.
3. getting things done around the house.
4. feeling better.
5. true examples of faith, hope, and love. Check this family out for some inspiration for yourself!
6. my God who is there for me when I'm not there for Him.
7. the start of our women's small group this past Tues. It's going to be a GREAT year!!!
8. you. :)

MUCH, Much love.....

The Lowly will be on High

You remember Eliot of 99 Balloons? A precious baby born with Trisomy? Here is another story I've been following - a little boy named Jonathan, born with Trisomy 13. He miraculously lived 40 minutes. His parents are again ones with GREAT FAITH. He was born October 8th, and they just posted his picture montage. It is simply stunning. Their blog? Incredible. Their faith? Awesome.

I know it could seem weird I read these blogs, or follow these families, or view their pictures without concern of what I could see (I know many people do not understand pictures taken of the sick or the deceased. I don't even have to question it, and I've never lost a child or family member. To me, life IS the full circle, and especially with children who all parents want to share with the world. Not everyone's journey lasts years to show off in pictures. All these parents have is a few moments to share - that said, I know it is individual and hard for others at the same time to want to see or be able to handle viewing pictures - I'm just saying I can understand why people want to share them).

Their lives, these babies, speak to me. All babies do, but sometimes it is the ones who are the most lowly in the eyes of the world that God manifests himself most wondrously.

The pictures start with pregnancy, and end on his birthday. I found them beautiful and moving. I hope you can watch this (and listen to the song, wow!) and let a mom and dad be proud, showing off their son, their second child, as any parents love to do, all while showing what faith can really do. God IS good.

Faith, Hope, and Love. Thanks for the reminder Jonathan....

God Bless You.

Wordless Wednesday - Pumpkin Edition!

Everything's AMAZING and NOBODY is Happy

I'm not sure how many of you have seen this (I assume he is a comedian?) floating around, but it is a funny (with a few bleeps in it) but honest take on how we are so blessed and living in amazing times, and STILL, no one is happy....and we are raising a generation who is selfish. I found it to be pretty spot on and thought provoking. I'll remember this next time I want to whine about something.

We are so stinkin BLESSED today!!!! Pity we can't appreciate that enough!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday - 5am Edition :) LOL

I woke up at 4am. I can't sleep. It was not because of a child or baby. I miss my sleep. It is one of my small successes. Where did it go? I had a splitting headache yesterday lol - went to bed at 8pm....so maybe I'm just done sleeping? Is that even possible???!!!!! We'll see....lol!! If I can't go back to bed, I think today is a great pancake morning for all before school!!!

So, onto my now ONE, weekly blog post. By the way...I AM returning (ha, Kris!!). I've just had to take a little hiatus from being sick, busy, hosting company, babysitting...etc. I'm still working on blog ideas, blog additions, posts....but they are still waiting for fruition....until then....I'm living life and will have much to recount! I have a dear friend who patterns her life by living it rather than other e- methods and I'm following her lead some :)



1. This is not MY success, but Hubby's - but it will lead to more peace of mind for me, and help me do "successes" at home I need to do and feel called to do: Hubby got a fabulous performance review and a merit raise!!! In this economy? We'll take it. We feel blessed. We've always been scared to go to one income, especially since when we were both working, he was laid off once, and it was almost a whole year before getting another job. If it happened again, notice we don't have my job to keep us afloat or get benefits from, and we really cut back for me to stay home...so I worry more than ever! Another dear friend is going through that now. NOT fun, it can eat at the spirit, and drain the emotions and pocketbook. I've been there, pray for them and all who are suffering now, and totally understand. I'm so proud of Hubby, as this shows they really value him too (the review alone was worth it....knowing they wanted to keep him, extend all his workload, etc). The rest? Well, it's just a blessing we need to keep on showing responsibility for.

2. House is still "straight" from mega straightening this past Sunday. Lovely and I went to the mountains with other moms and daughters for our hostess' b-day. It was so nice, but I came home to a bachelor pad (think...ONE man and a baby) and spent the rest of Sunday cleaning lol! Now, if only I had DEEP cleaned...lol

3. Did I mention a getaway this weekend? I was able to successfully spend time with Lovely without distractions, in nature - trails, rivers, walking, talking, bonding - and it was pure joy! I think we need to spend one on one time with each of our kids. Funny how I never thought of that BEFORE the trip. Lovely just thrived and I made a mental note I need to take her out on "dates" again. Daddy does too (maybe especially Daddy as she grows up...).

So...wuz up in your life?

Thankful Thursday
This week I am MOST grateful for....

1. rivers that flow behind cabins I can open my window to and sleep to that refresh my spirit.
2. sharing a double bed with my eldest....and giggling every night night like a sleepover with her!
3. welcome home hugs from babies who missed me! Hubbies too!
4. yummy fall foods!
5. family.
6. friends.
7. blessings from above.

Much love!!!!!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday! Still around Edition

Well - still here! My energy seems to be returning, so maybe I will too! Also, our company is gone, and though it was a FUN visit, getting some more sleep and everyday routine will be nice as well. I can't wait for them to come back though - its truly having family visit. I wish I had more pics of their visit (I have some) but it was a busy stay for them especially, so not as much time to take shots.

With that though, comes a week with some successes! YAY!!!




1. Last night I made myself go to bed by 9pm, and when my alarm went off this morning at 6:30am - I felt like a MILLION dollars!!!!

2. Because of feeling SO good, I have already started all the laundry that piled up during the last few days, emptied and put out the trash, and straightened (not cleaned though) the downstairs, all before my goddaughter arrived at 8:30am!!!!!!!

3. I cooked dinners again this week! I had fallen away from cooking the past few weeks from illness, but I came back strong!

Empower Yourself....what have you done awesome??

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm most thankful for...

1. 34 year old b-days where the person can say as their "birthday wisdom" to keep on being playful in life....we'll all age, but having fun as we do it and living the life given to us is the way to go!
2. Goddaughter babies who sit in my lap cooing as I type, while 15 month old daughters snack in their high chair across from me and both giggle at each other.
3. 6 year old daughters who are not crabby in the morning (finally!!). I missed her smile and jokes!
4. weekend girl escapes - Lovely and I get to travel this weekend for bonding - YAY!!
5. incredible family.
6. my hubby. Love you!!!

And...love to you.....

Just wanted to share...

I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired.
I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy, I'm sleepy.

I think I'll read a good book (or one for book club - maybe it will be good) for a while then head to bed when I'm done.

So, goodnight!

Did I mention bed sounds good? :) hehe!

Small Successes and Thankful Thursday! MIA Edition

Hey Friends!

Man - has it been an interesting last few weeks. I'm posting like once a week these days, and I'm not happy about it lol. I'm vowing to myself I will create some more "me" time to better record things here so I don't forget (and we've had some moments and milestones!) but I have barely had time or energy for the computer! I will get it back. We've been prepping the house to organize it with the great weather we're NOW having (post rains) with the windows open, and we've been prepping for out of town guests starting Saturday, my dad's 86th b-day here TONIGHT, and some past busy evenings at Lovely's school, church, etc. I have been running out of time!! I will say I'm LIVING life, even if I'm not blogging about it - and that is the important thing, right? What did we do before blogging? I also have been reading some great Daily Word stuff, and great quote books I want to remember and share, so I hope to do that soon!

But today is the on day I can connect!! It's Small Successes Day!!!!



1. I have caught up on laundry for the most part. I was behind for WEEKS. I snuck it on my past success lists by rationalizing what I had done, but now I can say FOR SURE it's caught up....for now lol!

2. I helped secure some Daddy/Lovely time this week. We've had incredible weather, and Lovely wanted to spend some time outside with her Daddy. Now, Daddy works A LOT for us, and works from home a ton. He sees us that way, but it isn't always outside with us etc. The other day I took over some of his "chores" so he could spend time with Lovely before evening work and a school picnic. It was great!! I did some work, and made some mini strawberry shortcakes for their "tea party" date they had :) Lovely was so excited, and Daddy loved it too. See the pics below:




3. Today is my Dad's 86th BIRTHDAY!!! Happy Birthday Daddy! Where is my success here? His B-day dinner is already cooking in the crockpot! I'm slow cooking ribs today, with chopped red onion, salt and pepper, old fashioned BBQ sauce, along with corn on the cob, baked beans, salad, bread, and for his b-day cakes - more mini strawberry shortcakes! lol And, I'd doing all this now cause we have a 15 month old checkup and shots today, and Good Shepherd class till 5:30 with all the driving, so we WILL have everything ready before they come over. HAHA! I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Surprise me....what have you succeeded at?

Thankful Thursday
This week I'm extremely grateful for....

1. my dad's b-day.
2. understanding friends.
3. E, our God daughter.
4. tiny babies everywhere.
5. FALL!!!!!
6. my family.
7. My God, who is always there for me when I'm not always there for Him....
8. for those reading this when I have not proofread before posting...so busy!!! LOL!!

Much Love!!!!