Nesting In Pleasant View

The next Disney princess

2012-01-26T10:24:00.000-06:00

We have slowly been recuperating from Christmas; I know, we are a month out. We managed to pass around a cold, to the entire family, had Jessica come back to visit for a few days before heading off to Australia, got glasses for Anna Claire and made a trip to Atlanta for a long weekend with family.
In the midst of the busyness, while Jessica was here, we stole away a night to see Beauty and The Beast. It was Anna Claire's (and Molly too) first movie in the theater. Mike got her a bag of popcorn and we settled in to watch the movie. I'm not exaggerating when I say that her eyes were glued to the screen and her hand was in the popcorn bag--the entire show!

Anna Claire got glasses at the beginning of the month after being diagnosed with Esotropia--something that she will hopefully grow out of in the next several years. For right now she is wearing glasses to strengthen the muscles in her eyes. She doesn't mind wearing them and loves that they are pink and match her princess dresses.

It's been nice getting back into the routine of life after such a busy season and we are all looking forward to what 2012 holds!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T07:31:00.000-06:00

Flourishing Frames Christmas

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View the entire collection of cards.

November recap...now I'm back on schedule

2011-11-30T05:54:00.000-06:00

Well, this little girl is growing, literally, before our eyes. I put her down to bed or for a nap and it seems she has grown just in that short amount of time. She is working on sitting up. She hasn't quite gotten it yet, but she is definitely almost there. She loves to watch Anna Claire move about the room while sitting in this chair so I think that is helping a lot.

Molly loves to smile and she really is a contented, well mannered baby. I am blessed to have had two very easy babies that were easy to figure out when it came to what their needs were. Molly only cries when she needs something, either to eat, when she is tired or needs her diaper changed. Other than that, she is in a good mood all the time. :)

Anna Claire, on the other hand, being almost 3, is giving us a run for our money. She has finally hit the terrible two's. I was talking to another mother the other day and I mentioned that I think she has hit that stage. The mother looked at me and said, "wait until she actually turns 3." Wow. Okay.

We are trying, very diligently, to instill in her a sense of responsibility for her actions and words and to teach her that she can control some of the emotions she is feeling. But I'm learning....NEVER TRY TO REASON WITH A TODDLER!!!! I have to give her credit though, she is realizing that there are boundaries, which ones she absolutely should not cross and which ones she tries to cross but knows she will likely get in trouble. It's just a season and I have to remember that we are not the first, nor the last parents to ever go through this with their child.

She brings us so much joy. She is funny, compassionate, she loves her sister and she has a huge imagination! Her favorite thing to do right now is to dress up. She usually puts together an ensemble that includes a princess dress, her Tinkerbell shoes, her crown and her baseball bat that serves as a wand or microphone, depending on whether she is going to sing or just walk around like a princess. She loves to dance and always wants some sort of music on.

The other day it was raining outside and she wanted to play baseball. I told her we could so this is what she put together....

See that Tinkerbell shoe popping out down there! :)

We headed to Tuscaloosa for Thanksgiving this year to visit some of Mike's family. It is always a good time with lots of laughter and fun! Santa Claus showed up to pass out some early Christmas gifts to the children. It was the first time Anna Claire has been that close to Santa. Last year she didn't want to have anything to do with him but this year, I think she warmed up a bit since he had a present for her.

We did take an afternoon to get some family pictures done. It was a beautiful afternoon at a park near the campus of University of Alabama.

We are looking forward to December and all that it holds for our family. The holidays, our wedding anniversary, Mike's birthday and visits with family. And a bonus...Jessica, my niece, flies in today to spend a couple of weeks with us!

October recap...a month late

2011-11-22T07:36:00.000-06:00

I remember feeling after Anna Claire was born that it took me a good 6 months to feel back on my game. Evidently that is true for subsequent children as well. I feel like I am just now getting back to being organized, from meal planning to cleaning, to life in general. Mike has probably been wishing it would have happened sooner, but it has been a quick 6 months since Molly was born and it seemed to go by ALOT faster this time around.

I'm sure we are not the only ones that find the end of the year months getting busier and busier as the years go by; wanting memories to made for our children, wanting to capture each and every possible thing we can either on video or camera; and with Anna Claire being old enough this year to experience some of those things, we took advantage of the activities during the fall.

At the beginning of October, I threw a baby shower, along with the other women in my church, for sweet Lauren. It was just a little over a year ago that I threw her bridal shower. I have so enjoyed getting to know Lauren over the year and was so excited to have a party in her honor, and baby Ezra too. Did you know that the way to a pregnant woman's heart is through donuts? If you are a mother, I'm sure you did :)

For fall break, we headed down to southern Alabama to visit my sister. She and her family moved from Ohio to Alabama earlier this year and it was the first chance we had to take some time to visit. They just so happened to move to a city that neighbors where Mike grew up so it was fun for him to be back on his old stomping grounds.

Christy has a HUGE love of horses and some wonderful people in their church have given her the opportunity to ride one of their horses whenever she wants. She goes out a couple of times a week to ride Bama and one day we went out with her. Anna Claire was able to ride Bree, another horse who shares the same pasture.

Christy also took a few pictures of us one day at the park.

Sweet Molly.

It was only appropriate for Anna Claire to be a cowgirl this year for Halloween. She liked her "freckles" so much that the next day she asked if she could have more "sprinkles" on her face.

Molly went as her trusty sidekick.

We also visited Owen Farm, a local pumpkin farm that puts on a festival for the fall. They had tons of stuff to do for kids, a giant slide, a petting area, pumpkin shooting, big inflatables for them to play on, a corn maze and also a corn pit. It is definitely someplace we want to make a yearly tradition.

This is exactly how I felt as the month came to a close--and now we are in the throws of November! It's been another busy month with Anna Claire showing us exactly how strong-willed a 2 year old can be and Molly continuing to grow so fast; we have visits with family coming up and the long awaited arrival of my niece, Jessica, home from Australia for Christmas!

More pictures and hopefully a bit more consistency with blogging to come!

Happy Birthday!

2011-10-27T06:54:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister, Christy!

May this year be FULL of happiness, blessings and laughter!

I love you!

{w}hole by Lisa Whittle

2011-10-24T06:44:00.000-05:00

In her book, Lisa Whittle, provides an honest look into her life and the struggles she has faced with the holes in her life. Holes that have been developed through religion, roles we play and the experiences we have. She takes a deeper look into how these three points shape us to be who we are and in turn steal the real wholeness we are to have in this life through Christ.

Along with a Barna Research study (her main resource for the book), she has identified these three areas (mentioned above) in which women tend to have holes in their life that prohibit them from experiencing true wholeness. The study, in it's condensed form, is found in the back of the book to help readers gain insight into the study.

You will be challenged by her words to find those areas in your life that need to be re-evaluted but she will walk alongside of you, offering words of encouragement and bits of her own story. You will walk away from this book having been motivated to find those holes that have identified you and challenged to fill them with the love and grace of Jesus.

Tyndale House Publishers sent me a complimentary copy of this book for review. All opinions are mine.

I'm a Mom now

2011-09-30T07:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I have been for a few years, but this past weekend I really felt like one. So much so, that I decided to take a few days off from being one, so that I could learn how to be a better one. I headed to Birmingham with a dear, dear friend of mine to attend the .MOM event. What an amazing experience it was! Anna Claire kept asking me where I was going and I would tell her that I was going to learn how to become a better Mommy. :)

Between the main speakers (Angela Thomas, Angie Smith, Vicki Courtney and Priscilla Shirer), the worship (Michelle Green) and all of the breakout sessions (which were worth the price of admission themselves), I came away with so many different things: insight into a young girl's mind, encouragement from other mothers in the same stage of life as me, areas that I need to work on, both for myself and for my family and tons of ideas on how to be the best mom I can be to my girls. They already have the event scheduled for next year so if you want to join in on the fun, I promise it is well worth it! I told Mike that even if they had charged double what they did, I would have paid it because you get your money's worth.

On a side note, I can't speak highly enough of David Thomas, Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan from Daystar Ministries here in Nashville. I know David and Sissy from meetings at my previous job before becoming a mommy and let me tell you, they are the real deal; helping children and parents in all areas of life. If you have youngins', kiddos, teenagers...all of the above, I highly recommend their books for parents of boys and girls. I sat in on the Raising Girls session at the conference and couldn't write fast enough. Oh, and the exciting thing is that they are going to be some of the main speakers next year at the conference!

After a full weekend I was ready to come home to these sweet faces!

Counting #211-212

2011-09-19T06:41:00.000-05:00

I have my list of things I have been counting this week, and even though each one is significant in and of itself, there are really just two things that I would like to list this week...

211. complete protection from a car accident I was in
212. that this little girl's car seat did it's job and kept her safe when the accident happened

Despite the damage to the car and it needing to be towed and my nerves being shaken, all is well. I've gone over in my mind how if I would have stopped at Hobby Lobby like I had planned then the accident wouldn't have happened. Or, what if I would have taken longer in the grocery store, would it have happened then? I don't know. But I know God is in control and when you experience something like this, it puts it all into perspective how things can change in a split second. So thankful for His protection on us.

I'm linking up to count....

Counting #196-210

2011-09-12T07:13:00.000-05:00

196. cooler temperatures
197. a husband who works very hard to provide for his family and makes wise decisions
198. several parties to celebrate birthdays and new babies
199. sleeping with the windows open
200. having joy on September 4th as we celebrated our daughters.

201. family and friends remembering Allison and Emily's birthday.
202. Molly's first giggle
203. an opportunity to get away for a girls weekend with a dear friend
204. another friend coming to visit for the day and watching Anna Claire so I could get some errands done
205. getting back to a normal schedule now that Molly is sleeping through the night

206. piles of books waiting to be read
207. piles of books waiting to be taken to McKay's
208. encouragement from Mike in my weight loss
209. for the many men and women who sacrifice so much so that we can be free
210. beautiful pictures of remembrance of families from 9/11

I am linking up to A Holy Experience to continue counting gifts....

We have a star in our midst

2011-09-06T09:57:00.000-05:00

Like the ensemble? Whenever she sings, she has the shoes on...

the tiara too...she prefers to have a nightgown on because it is like a dress

And the princess baseball bat that she refers to as her microphone.

Among her favorites are "The Wheels on the Bus," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," "Father Abraham," and the "Hokey Pokey."

Along with the many songs she and her father make up on their own.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to book her for your next party. She is available most nights and weekends with the exception of Wednesday because that is gymnastics night. All parties must conclude by 7:30pm to allow time for a bath, stories and bedtime prayers.

A special day

2011-09-04T06:25:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Allison and Emily!

We love and miss you more than you will ever know.

Our hope is in that we will all be together one day--oh, how we wait for that day.

Today is about you and your sweet lives that changed us forever.

Happy Birthday sweet girls!

The number 6

2011-09-03T07:36:00.001-05:00

You know how there are times when the Lord causes you to be still, outside of your own will? It doesn't happen that often with me because I can't seem to be still for that long of a time, but night before last it happened.

Molly has been (thankfully!) sleeping through the night for about 3 weeks now. However, Thursday night, she woke up at 2:00am wide eyed and wanting to smile. This in turn causes me to smile back at her, then giggle, which causes her to giggle and then it is just downhill from there and there is no hope in going back to sleep anytime soon. I fixed her a bottle and then snuggled down with her in hopes that she would drift off.

I have learned that in these moments, especially with Molly, that they are few. I don't know if we will have any more children so these restless nights might be the last I will ever get to enjoy. I sat in the rocking chair that has been passed down through generations, listening to the squeak in the rock that has been there for as long as I can remember and just sat with my baby girl. I was still.

Then I began remembering.

Remembering these days leading up to September 4th, 4 years ago.

Then I began thinking about my life and what has happened in those 4 years.

Another year has come and gone. Another year without Allison and Emily. Another year thinking about what our house would sound like with rambunctious, funny, beautiful 4 year old girls running through it. Another year without them.

It's been different this year. I don't know if the new "normal" that we waited for for so long for has settled in to the point that it isn't a "new" normal, but rather just living our lives with the story of who we are and how we have 2 daughters in heaven. The hole in my heart where the memory of their lives seemed to take up residence doesn't have jagged edges around it anymore. The hole is still there, the edges are just a bit more smooth.

Maybe it is because Molly is here now and she completes a picture we had in our mind of having 2 children. Of course Anna Claire and Molly could never, or would never, replace their older sisters, but when you get married and dream about what your family looks like, we are there.

But we have so much more than that.

I have a house number that I bought, that sits in a place that I see everyday. I originally bought a "5" when Anna Claire was born. It was a way to acknowledge there were 5 people that made up our family; Mike, me, Allison, Emily and Anna Claire. When I found out I was pregnant last year, one of the first things I did was go and buy a "6." There is a part of me that wants so badly when people come over to ask what the "6" is for, so I can tell them about our family. Not just tell them about Molly and Anna Claire, but to speak the names of my firstborn daughters. To tell their story once again, so they will not be forgotten.

More importantly, so that their lives can continue to be a testimony to the goodness of God, the grace he gives us, the mercy he shows us and a Love that is overflowing and redemptive.

Counting #181-195

2011-08-31T07:21:00.001-05:00

A couple days late, but full of gratitude nonetheless...181. cooing from Molly--she is finding her sweet little voice!
182. beginning of another school year for Mike, at a school where he is challenged and loves to teach
183. gymnastics for Anna Claire and the time that we each get to spend with her during her class
184. cousins from Atlanta
185. laughter with those cousins

186. new recipes
187. daily reminders that it is Lord who provides what we need--not what we want!
188. conviction of sin and bad attitudes
189. a much needed night out with Mike
190. the ability to remember and be joyful in the midst of grief (you can read Allison and Emily's story here and here)

191. my daughters, all of them, and what they have each added to my life.
192. Anna Claire's interest in the potty--finally!
193. princess stickers to motivate her to go potty
194. grace
195. talks with my niece, Jessica, and being a witness to the amazing things going on in her life right now.

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Stumbling into Grace by Lisa Harper

2011-08-29T08:57:00.000-05:00

I was excited to receive this book and read Lisa's words on grace, from a viewpoint of a woman who is living life, just like the rest of us. Lisa Harper takes her everyday life and weaves in stories, lessons learned and how Jesus is changing her into a book that provides humor, scripture and guidance for those of us who need a little pick me up when it seems like life is throwing lemons our way.

She provides biblical references and questions at the end of every chapter to engage the reader to go deeper with their understanding of grace. I think she does a great job of making the reader feel like they are not alone in their quest to find the love and compassion that Jesus offers.

She receives praises and acknowledgements from many well-known authors and speakers, however, I don't know that this is a "must read for all women." It was okay, but didn't necessarily cover anything new that hasn't been written before; it was her personal stories that brought the book together to make it a good read.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program.

for the grandparents

2011-08-20T07:32:00.000-05:00

Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge

2011-08-20T07:16:00.001-05:00

I have mixed feelings about this book--although a (sometimes) funny read and a clever storyline, it definitely falls into the category of chic-lit. The story follows the life of Jessie Stone, a woman who is extremely discontent with her relationships, work and life in general. It seems she has just been coasting through life waiting for "the one" to take her away from all that is familiar to give her what she has been dreaming about.

God enters the picture in a quirky sort of way and attempts to almost coerce Jessie into a life lived for Him. I wasn't overly impressed with the way the story played out, the representation of God or that in the end Jessie didn't really learn anything about her relationship with Him. She gets the guy in the end but it still seemed that all of her hopes and expectations were wrapped up in that relationship and she never really learned how to trust and hope in the One who really writes our stories. There are better chic-lit novels out there; I'd skip this one.

I received this book as part of Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program.

The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth Jones

2011-08-12T07:22:00.000-05:00

Once again Denise Hildreth Jones has delivered on a good book. I have to say, though, that this is definitely the saddest book, to date, that she has written. Even so, Jones writes with a clarity and genuineness on grief and suffering.

Gray and Mackenzie London (TN's first family), Eugenia (Mackenzie's mother), and Jeremiah (the gardener) all suffer through a tragic loss but are brought together by the healing that takes place once we surrender ourselves to what God wants us to "go through" not "go around." The characters are real, their emotions are real and the healing process is real and Denise does an excellent job of including us in their lives.

If you are a fan of Denise, definitely add this to your collection. If you haven't yet read any of her books, now is a good time to start and then make sure you follow up with her other novels (the Savannah series is laugh out loud funny!)

I received this book as part of Tyndale Blog Networks review program.

I wonder where she gets it from?

2011-07-29T07:38:00.000-05:00

This is Anna Claire playing with her flashcards. Notice how they are all lined up. Notice how they are all facing the same direction.

This is Anna Claire drawing. Notice how all of the markers are lined up together. Notice how all of the crayons are lined up together.

If I was brave enough to take a picture of my closet you would see my clothes hanging according to short/long sleeve, then by color. Pants hang together. Skirts and dresses accordingly. And my shoes are kept in shoe boxes.

My cupboard is borderline the crazy husband from Sleeping With the Enemy, you know, where all everything is facing the same direction?

I love ziploc bags, any sort of container, box or bag. I love being organized.

In fact, I found this picture and my first thought was, "look at how pretty that is!"

So, with that being said, I think it is safe to say...in all likelihood, she gets it from me.

Counting #166-180

2011-07-25T07:40:00.000-05:00

166. four consecutive hours of sleep
167. party planning
168. air conditioning
169. a non-eventful trip to the grocery store with both girls
170. friends who offer to help

171. books in the mail for Anna Claire
172. Molly's first smile
173. a husband who takes care of his family
174. handmade and homemade goodies from a friend
175. homemade lemon curd

176. Anna Claire's love of the outdoors
177. a safe trip for my sister and her family down to their new home (read about it here)
178. walks in the late afternoon
179. Anna Claire's imagination
180. Mike's ability to fix just about anything

A Few Random Things

2011-07-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

1. Pinterest....there is nothing else to say. Except that it's addicting.

2. If you know the names Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield this might be of interest to you, Sweet Valley Confidential. Based on the reviews on amazon.com, it doesn't look like that great of a book, but it sure was nice to take a trip down memory lane in the middle of the Sam's Club last night.

3. It's hot.

4. I got my first smile from Molly yesterday. I'll remember it forever.

5. I'm sure you all know this, but Pioneer Woman's show on Food Network starts August 27th...I already have my DVR set.

6. Having just had a baby, this post is hilarious!

5. It's still hot.

8. My birthday was a couple of weeks ago and I'm still finding it ironic (or a friendly reminder) that the Living Social Deal of the Day was for Anti-Aging Therapy.

9. There is someone who owns a Smart Car here in our town. I laugh every time I see it.

10. Mike asked me if there were any songs I wanted downloaded onto his iPod. I told him the only songs I know right now are "the ABC song," "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" and "The Wheels on the Bus." I don't get out much these days.

Have a great Friday. I hope it's cool where you are.

Cousins and Build-A-Bear

2011-07-19T06:40:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in a previous post that my niece, Jessica, was going to be heading to Australia for school. Before leaving she was able to spend a few days with us in Nashville. It was the most fun we've had in a while!

Last week we all packed in the cars and drove her to the airport.

Before goodbyes were said though, fun was had! My sister, aka "Sissy," treated Anna Claire to a Build-A-Bear experience. What was so fun is that when Jessica was little, I did the same thing for her! Here she is putting the heart inside the Bunny she chose to build.

After being stitched up, Bunny got a bath and her hair brushed.

Here she is ready to go home! Notice the bare feet with painted toes. The painted toes are courtesy of Jessica; the bare feet are courtesy of being 2.

We got in as much fun time that we could fit which included Jessica taking tons of pictures on her iPhone.

I love to watch these two together. They love each other so much!

Jessica, if you are reading this, we love you so much and are so proud of you! Remember the TimTams when you come home!

Counting #151-165

2011-07-18T07:44:00.001-05:00

151. watching Tinkerbell with Anna Claire
152. sipping margaritas with a dear friend
153. 31 Ways to Pray for your Children
154. a big move for my sister and her family
155. new asics

156. the first limelights of the season blooming
157. baby fingers wrapped around my pinky finger
158. 3 am feedings in the rocking chair
159. a safe flight for my niece who is attending school in Australia
160. walks with my sister

161. wisdom and advice about marriage, relationships and parenting from my sister
162. the numbers on the scale going down
163. love and laughter between aunts and cousins
164. Build-A-Bear workshop
165. Mike's ipod

It's too quiet in here...

2011-07-06T06:34:00.000-05:00

When Molly was still sleeping in the bassinet in our room, Anna Claire was always very quick to check on her and make sure she was okay. One afternoon, it was very quiet. I went in to check on Molly, this is what I found....

Anna Claire had taken it upon herself to put one of the toys in the bassinet with Molly. While Anna Claire was proud of herself for taking care of her sister, Molly could have cared less that there was a doll on her face.

Our Little Firecrackers

2011-07-05T06:23:00.000-05:00

We had a great 4th of July--every year our church puts on a fireworks show for the community and this year was the first time we were in town to be able to attend. It was also the first time that Anna Claire has been old enough to sit still and watch. We were a bit nervous because she doesn't like super loud noises, but once she realized the fireworks were colorful, she really enjoyed the show. Molly didn't seem to mind at all considering she fell asleep half way through it.

The countdown has begun for this coming weekend to get here. In the 12 years I have lived in Nashville, there has never been a time when my entire family has been here all at once. This weekend, my parents, my sister, her husband, my niece and nephews will make their way down here to spend the week.

My niece, Jessica, is headed to Australia for school and fortunately, for us, the less expensive flights were out of Nashville, so we are all gathering here to spend time together before she leaves. I am beyond excited! Plus, Molly's "Papa" and cousins have yet to meet her, so she is just as excited.

who's who?

2011-07-01T19:54:00.000-05:00

Is it just us (you can be honest), or do these girls look alike?

Counting #136-150

2011-06-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

136. rose bushes, a reminder of my grandmother
137. an encouraging and selfless husband
138. a visit from my mom
139. double strollers
140. late afternoon rainstorms

141. Mylicon drops for babies
142. a new phone that takes pictures
143. motivation to live a healthy lifestyle
144. Anna Claire singing along in the car to her worship CD's
145. a church family who provided meals for us for 2 weeks

146. Father's Day gifts and cards with scribbles instead of signatures
147. a day set aside to honor men and the role they play in their children's lives
148. books for all ages at McKay's
149. babies and toddlers who like to snuggle
150. my marriage

Counting #126-135

2011-06-13T06:29:00.000-05:00

126. birth of Molly Christine on June 3, 2011
127. a (very) quick and easy delivery with nurses who cared
128. an anesthesiologist who knew what he was doing with my epidural
129. Mike's last day of school being Thursday; Molly was born on Friday
130. family and friends, phone calls and cards, meals and congratulations

131. a content newborn
132. big sisters, both mine and Molly's
133. a summer job for Mike

134. tricycles

135. clean bathrooms and a scrubbed floor throughout the house, courtesy of my husband

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick

2011-06-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

I requested to read The Daughter's Walk because I enjoy reading historical novels. The fact that this is a true story added to my interest. The author tells the story of a mother and daughter (Helga and Clara Estby) who journey across the United States by foot in order to receive enough money to save their family farm. After returning home to find things not as they left them, the daughter chooses to walk away from the family which leads to a 20 year separation from the people who she thought knew her best.

Jane Kirkpatrick weaves women, their fight for independence, and a story about a woman who is searching to find out for herself what her purpose in life really is throughout the book. This is a great book--one that includes fact and fiction and leaves the reader wanting to know more about the Estby family.

I received this book from Waterbrook Press as part of their Blogging for Books program.

A special surprise

2011-06-10T07:15:00.000-05:00

With the arrival of Molly, we wanted to make the event special for Anna Claire too--something that would be more along the lines of what a 2 year old thinks is fun. She got to go on a Daddy date to pick it out--what could be better than your first bike?

She hasn't gotten the hang of how your feet push the pedals, but she is a fast learner so I know it won't be too long before I see her doing donuts in the driveway.

Anna Claire's newest saying is..."Molly is my best, best friend." I can't get enough of it!

Pure Joy

2011-06-07T16:56:00.000-05:00

Molly Christine

7lbs.

18 inches

6/3/2011

Big Sister is in love

Counting #111-125

2011-05-16T07:27:00.000-05:00

111. safety in the midst of storms
112. begonias and vincas growing in my window boxes
113. a relaxing Mother's Day
114. Mike being with me when our car broke down
115. having an extra car to use when the above mentioned car broke down

116. a night out with friends
117. making it to 34 weeks in this pregnancy!
118. warm weather which allowed us to be outside and swim

119. school year winding down
120. Mike being with me at our recent ultrasound and spending the day together

121. Anna Claire being mesmerized by the babies in the hospital nursery
122. lots of "stuff" to sell in our garage sale
123. having peace in the midst of chaos
124. baby girl's hiccups
125. relief from wrist pain

Counting #101-110

2011-05-02T09:38:00.001-05:00

101. sunshine on my face
102. getting my haircut
103. my brother-in-law's listening heart as he makes decisons about his ministry
104. flip flops
105. time with my sister

106. Franklin Mercantile's BLT sandwich and fruit tea
107. the rain
108. my limelight hydrangea bushes that have almost doubled in size
109. the generosity of my father (thanks for the hotel room!)
110. deciding on a name for our baby girl!

This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano

2011-05-02T07:17:00.000-05:00

It is never to early to teach your child about the importance of prayer so I was excited when I received this book. A brother and sister share their emotions, fears, joys and sorrows throughout this book as they learn how to pray and what to pray for. In addition to prayer the story teaches how to be grateful for the things that we receive every day and reiterates the message that the most important thing is to trust in the Lord and his plan for our lives.

This is one of the sweetest books on prayer for children that I have come across. The beautiful illustrations only add to the story and beauty of the book.

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Press to review as part of their blogging for books program.

Thank you God for Mommy by Amy Parker

2011-05-02T07:02:00.000-05:00

In Thank you God for Mommy by Amy Parker, the reader sees the sweet relationship between a mother and baby panda bear. The rhyming story follows the pair as the baby plays, learns to share, gets in trouble and follows the example that the mother bear has set.

This would be a great Mother's Day present for the first (or second, or third...) mother as a special way to show how thankful you are for her and the role she plays in your life. It is a tender book that is easy to read for all ages with wonderful and colorful illustrations.

I received this book as part of the Booksneeze review program.

Counting #86-100

2011-04-18T07:31:00.000-05:00

86. spending the day with dear friends I don't get to see that often
87. Nutella and strawberries on toast
88. the healing process
89. Mike being home early one day this week
90. conversations on the front porch

91. a queen size bed that fits my growing belly, my husband and Anna Claire snuggled in between
92. an upcoming visit from my sister
93. another good doctor's visit
94. Anna Claire "talking" to her little sister
95. my Kitchen Aid mixer

96. smiling babies
97. laughter
98. a fresh cut lawn
99. pretty little packages with baby booties inside
100. handmade dishcloths that came in the mail from my grandmother

Counting #71-85

2011-04-12T06:57:00.000-05:00

71. the song "Blessings" by Laura Story
72. Passing my glucose test
73. an afternoon at the ballpark
74. new recipes
75. birds singing outside my window

76. grocery lists
77. an experience of a lifetime for my nephews
78. handmade curtains for Anna Claire's room
79. the Easter aisle at the grocery store
80. pigtails

81. Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products
82. a reminder about the power of forgiveness
83. Sunday afternoons with friends
84. phone calls with my niece
85. the opportunity to serve my church and the women in it.

Counting #61-70

2011-04-04T07:03:00.000-05:00

I came off of a very busy week to being knocked off my feet for 2 weeks. Literally. Some sort of upper-respiratory flu/virus/gross thing got me good this spring. I'm still tired but do feel like I'm finally on the mend. I have to be honest, during those days it was difficult to find something to be thankful for, other than handkerchiefs, Halls cough drops and my pillow.

61. finally starting to feel better after 10 days of sickness
62. good OB appointment; she is measuring on time and heartbeat sounds great
63. family and friends who sacrificed A LOT to help us while I was sick
64. A 2 year-old who is very resilient
65. March 31--on this day 5 years ago Mike and I shared pizza on our first date.

66. Chicken pot pie from Bob and Jayne
67. Flowers from Mike
68. Rest on Sunday afternoon
69. Vegetable seeds ordered for our garden
70. Experiencing peace after battling with envy

Counting #46-60

2011-03-21T07:17:00.001-05:00

It has been an incredibly busy and beautiful week--spring break, a welcomed visit from my parents and gorgeous spring weather that has allowed us to be outside every day. So much to be thankful for, so much to take it, so much to NOT take for granted.

46. McKay's Used Book Store
47. the weatherman saying it's going to be in the 70's all week
48. hope in the midst of suffering
49. stories of family members finding each other after the earthquake and tsunami
50. a new swing set for Anna Claire

51. tutus
52. the cherry tree we planted in memory of our twin daughters--it has the most beautiful pink blooms!
53. NO sciatic nerve pain this past week!
54. Springy Shells recipe from Tasty Kitchen
55. clean sheets

56. Puffs plus tissues
57. Easter baskets at the store
58. Anna Claire's friend, Abigail, turning 2 this week.
59. MLB network--this isn't just for my hubby--it's one sport we both enjoy watching.
60. Hearing Anna Claire sing "Jesus Loves Me"

61. talking about babies with good friends
62. handmade quilts
63. blooming Bradford pear trees
64. the opportunity to bless a new family with a gift
65. my husband and the goals he sets for our family, both short and long term

Counting #21-45

2011-03-14T09:56:00.000-05:00

21. coffee out of a 50 cent white stoneware mug found at Goodwill
22. a little girl thinking her Daddy can fix anything, even a shattered mirror
23. a trustworthy pediatrician who we can talk theology and education with
24. that same pediatrician saying, "it's nothing to worry about, I'm not concerned"
25. seeing someone I love walk in obedience and rejoicing with her when she experiences joy because of it

26. baby girl clothes
27. the Hokey Pokey
28. a forgiving husband who wipes away my tears
29. Grandparents coming for a visit
30. gray cardigans

31. a drawer full of polished silverware.
32. being able to stay at home with my children
33. finding a double stroller at a great price
34. friends who are in the same stage of parenting as we are
35. someone tellling me, "it's going to be an adventure" when I say we have a 2 year old and one on the way

36. Pizza night, courtesy of my parents
37. sunglasses on and the windows rolled down on the car
38. a picnic at the park for Anna Claire with Papa and Didi
39. lessons in forgiveness and letting things go
40. handmade quilts

Plain Wisdom by Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud

2011-03-14T07:58:00.000-05:00

I was interested in Plain Wisdom because the simple life of the Amish is interesting to me--the day to day happenings, work, raising families, etc. This book definitely gave me an insight into that, but I found the actually writing and message behind the book to be somewhat dry and uninteresting.

The two authors have a valued friendship that reaches across their different lifestyles--in fact, the relationship began when Cindy Woodsmall was doing research for one of her many novels (with Amish connections). Both authors give a very simplistic view of their world, lessons learned, tragedies, celebrations, with a few recipes thrown in. The fact that these two women have collaborated on a book is interesting and their bond as sisters in Christ is heartwarming.

I had never read anything by Cindy Woodsmall (and in fact this is her first, that I know of, fiction piece) so was unfamiliar with her writing style; so that might be why I didn't love this book. If you are a fan of hers, then I would think you might like it a bit better. Overall, it was a okay, and a very easy read.

This book was provided to me by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing for review

1000 Gifts

2011-03-07T08:05:00.000-06:00

After being challenged, encouraged and gently nudged, I've started reading and counting.

Counting the gifts I don't normally see. Counting the moments that can take my breath away if I'm not careful. I was in tune to some of those moments before; I think it comes when you have lost, loved and the Lord has redeemed areas in your life.

But the day to day? The washing machine making a funny noise and you still have 3 more loads to do. The can opener that won't work and you need to open some black beans. And the 2 year old....who is not by nature a snuggler but then all of a sudden you feel her arms around your legs while you are trying to fix dinner. I have to sit down for those. Dinner can wait.

"Life is not an emergency," so says Ann Voskamp. Wow, did I need to hear that (despite the fact that my husband has been telling me that for 4 years in so many words).

Breathe. Deeply. Calm. Look. Listen...and feel. The counting has begun.

1. the quietness of the house in the afternoon
2. extra lasagna noodles in the cabinet to improvise with when the manicotti shells got broken
3. softball season
4. consignment sales
5. approaching storms

6. the almost constant kicking of the baby girl in my belly
7. "If You Give A Pig a Party." Read by Mike on a late night to Anna Claire
8. Mike getting out his tools to fix a Dollar Store necklace for Anna Claire
9. the smell of fresh paint in the baby's room
10.Christy Knockels' Life Light Up CD

11. time in the car alone
12. the scribbles I found on the cover of one of my journals
13. a husband who likes to spend his extra money on woodworking tools
14. resting in His protection rather than my fear
15. learning that thanksgiving always precedes the miracle

16. strawberries
17. income tax returns
18. His sweet voice on Sunday morning telling me to slow down
19. making it to 24 weeks in this pregnancy with no complications
20. late night and early morning conversations about sin and grace

Family Rules

2011-02-22T08:29:00.000-06:00

I think all of us have seen some version or another of a "Family Rules" sign out in blogland. There are variations of signs, using scrapbook paper, handwriting them, but when I saw this sign, I knew I had found just what I wanted. All I needed was someone to do it for me :)

Enter, my sister. Despite the fact that she works, keeps her home in order, is raising 3 teenagers, is a pastor's wife, leads Bible studies and talks to me for at least an hour on the phone each day, she graciously agreed to make it for me (with a tad bit of coaxing).

Oh, I love it!

It will have a special place of honor in our kitchen where our girls can always be reminded of what it means to be a part of our family. Thank you Christy--you are the best evah!

If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn

2011-02-17T13:50:00.001-06:00

click on the image to go to Christianbook.com

Randy Alcorn gives us a glimpse into a topic that can be very difficult to understand. His wisdom and insight into suffering, offers believers and unbelievers answers we search for in times of distress, trauma and simply when we ask, "Why God?"

Through stories and testimonies from individuals and families, the author simplifies possible confusion about suffering by peeling away the layers of our faith, or if you are not a Christian, gives you the opportunity to peek inside what God is truly doing in our lives when we feel we have nothing left to hang onto. He continually takes you back to the Cross and challenges the reader to not ask "Why did you do this to me?" but "Why did you do that for me?"

While this is certainly not a "light" read, the author encourages us to determine what our state of mind is, because it is there where it will be determined whether the doctrine of God's sovereignty comforts us or threatens us. Keeping and/or restoring your faith in the midst of the suffering and evil that is in the world can and is a difficult thing to hold onto but Randy Alcorn does a great job dissecting it to help bring an explanation to the whys and how's of it all.

a copy of this book was provided to me by Waterbrook/Multnomah Press (Blogging for Books Program)

We don't really have that much stuff

2011-02-17T12:20:00.000-06:00

I feel like I am on an episode of Hoarders. We are having carpet put in our master bedroom today. One thing our house lacks is storage space so every nook and cranny, corner and closet is packed, stuffed and piled full of our things.

When you have to pull out everything from one room, you realize how much stuff you have. To top it off, we are also getting a new dresser this weekend, so everything that was in our old one is now in luggage and bags until we get our new bedroom set.

This room will eventually be the nursery. Notice the guitar in the crib. Nice.

Spring is Around the Corner

2011-02-16T05:38:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure which corner, but these are a reminder that Spring always comes!

PS. Thank you sweetie for the flowers!

the 2 year old

2011-02-11T07:49:00.000-06:00

We couldn't have asked for a better day than yesterday. We got more snow, so Mike ended up being home for the day; which was a treat for this birthday girl!

Because I don't have enough patience to wait until later in the day for her open her presents, we went ahead and did them after breakfast. A T-Ball set for Daddy's girl. She loves anything that has to do with balls.

We are working on the backwards bat technique. If you look closely, she is using her Disney princess bat to hit with. She might be becoming a bit of a tomboy, but she'll look pretty!

Her Aunt, Uncle and cousins know her well. An Elmo card arrived in the mail!

I finished her cake around lunch time and I would catch her wandering into the kitchen and climbing up on the chairs to look at it.

We enjoyed a nice dinner, I think we ate faster than we ever had, just so we could dig into the cake!

The partying has just begun...over the course of the next month we will see extended family so the birthday celebrations will continue!

Happy Birthday Anna Claire!

2011-02-10T06:43:00.000-06:00

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet girl! It is hard to believe that 2 years has gone by. It feels like only yesterday that I was holding you in the NICU praying and wondering when we would be able to bring you home.

You have taught us so much--more than we ever thought we would learn from a little person. There isn't a night that doesn't go by that we don't sit in bed and talk about how much we love you and what you did that day to make us laugh.

Within the past year, your personality has come out...strong! You are an independent little girl who likes to read, sing and play outside. You have learned your alphabet, your numbers, various songs, animals and their sounds and so many other things this past year. You are so good at picking up your toys and are sure to put them back exactly where they belong. You love to tell stories and you have a memory that is like a steel trap.

"Lovey," Elmo, Big Bird, Raggedy Ann, "Nellie," and Olivia (the pig), are your favorite companions and I often times find you telling them stories, or showing them something new. Just yesterday I heard you telling Big Bird about the snow in the backyard.

You bring nothing but joy into our lives and to those who love you. This year will be a big year in your life as you welcome a baby sister. I know you will be wonderful with her and I can't wait to see the relationship develop over the years. I can only hope that your relationship with her will be like the one I have with Sissy--there is nothing better than having your sister as your best friend.

We pray, that as this next year of your life approaches and as you are exposed to many and new different things, that you would begin to see and understand Jesus more. You have a tender heart towards praying for those that love you and that need prayer. My hope is that it would only grow as you mature. I pray, that as your parents, we would do our best to be an example of Christ's love in your life--extending grace, mercy and love.

Happy Birthday Anna Claire!
Love,
Mommy and Daddy

I Love the UPS Man

2011-02-09T06:43:00.000-06:00

For Christmas, my mom got me a gift certificate to TasteBook. It's a great site where you can keep track of your recipes that you collect online. You can also add in your family favorites so that you don't have to keep looking for that long lost 3x5 recipe card.

My cookbook came in the mail yesterday.

You are able to give your cookbook a title, pick out a cover and essentially add anything you want to the book. It is totally custom made and can hold up to 100 recipes (if you don't have 100, you get credits to add the pages as you get the recipes).

I spent the better part of a day going through recipes I have collected over the years. Ones that are favorites at our table, and ones that I hope one day will be my daughter's favorites too. I have recipes in here from 2 generations back, including the famous Buckeye recipe from my grandmother.

It turned out perfect and it is already a treasure!

I knew it was going to be a....

2011-02-02T07:05:00.000-06:00

GIRL! I think everybody pretty much did. I had thoughts that maybe it would be a boy, but then it would quickly be pushed to the back of my mind and I would think, there's no way, it's got to be a girl.

We saw our sweet girl on Monday at the doctor's office; she is measuring perfectly, was moving nonstop and seems to like hummus. Who knew? June 28th seems just right around the corner, if I am able to go that long. My doctor seems to think that I will be fortunate if I even make it to June. So we are praying that even if she decides to come early, that it won't be too early and she will need a NICU stay like her sister.

I told some friends that I am so thankful I saved Anna Claire's clothes because hopefully they will work out perfectly since she was in preemie clothes for about a month or two. I figure the money we can save now on clothes can be put towards prom dresses, makeup and purses that will need to be bought in a few short years.

So, here's to another girl, another niece, another grand-daughter, another "girl" cousin! We can't wait to meet her!

In the meantime, we had some beautiful 60 degree weather here this past weekend. Which was a total tease because it's 17 degrees out now. We got out and enjoyed the sun while we could. This soon to be big sister was chillin' like a villain.

4 1/2 inches

2011-01-26T11:02:00.000-06:00

We are snowed in. Again. Now that we are 3 days over the alloted days built into the school calendar, it looks like our summer vacation will be affected. It's worth it though to see Anna Claire in the snow!

Slave by John MacArthur

2011-01-24T08:55:00.000-06:00

My husband, Mike, read and reviewed this book.

John MacArthur writes in Slave, his newest book, that we are called as Christians to be slaves of Christ. The idea and word "slave" is the exact interpretation from the Greek and the one Paul uses over and over again in the NT. Paul identifies himself with this word in several opening statements including the opening of Romans; "I Paul a slave of Christ Jesus." This to me is a much more powerful statement than “servant”, especially after reading the true meaning of slave during this period of time.

The word is doulos from the Greek and translates exactly as “slave”. The original translators, including those of the Geneva Bible, used the word servant instead of slave for 1) the negative association with slave and 2) coupled with the Latin word “servus,” it usually depicted a person in prison or in chains…also, not an accurate description of what Paul was saying.

Paul’s idea was this, we are not hired (servant) but owned (slave). This is the image that the Bible portrays 124 times in the original text.

Of course MacArthur moves through the book describing in great detail what it meant to be a slave in Roman times and how that applies to Christians today. He takes us through the history, through the writers who used the word, and the idea of if we are slaves, who is the master.

There are notations at the bottom of the book so it feels much like a term paper from college. Don’t allow this to dissuade you from reading though. For me, it read much better than any paper I ever wrote in college or read otherwise. This is a fantastic book that doesn’t read like other theology books I have read. It’s a couple of hundred pages of what one word should mean in every Christian’s life.

Thomas Nelson provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through the booksneeze blogging program.

The Great Reveal

2011-01-18T07:32:00.000-06:00

Did you think I was going to share about the baby? Not yet, we go in two weeks to find out!

Remember when I shared this post with you? It was about our master bathroom, complete with textured turquoise walls and a black floor.

Well, I am happy, actually thrilled, to tell you that 2011 brought more than just a turn of the page on my calendar. It brought this! A finished bathroom!

I have to give a huge shout out to my husband who did the entire project himself, tiling, painting, installation, everything!

The green looks kind of limeish in these pictures, it's not, I assure you. I wouldn't go from turquoise to lime green. It is a nice, soft green that compliments some fabric we have in our bedroom.

To replace the old vanity, which offered very little storage, Mike built this shelves and the new vanity. He bought raw wood and made the top out of walnut. The only thing I can say I did was paint the bottom of the vanity.

We found this piece from an old rocking chair at the flea market. We thought it would be something different instead of your standard towel bar.

And because I'm not afraid to show you the inside of my shower...here is more of Mike's handiwork.

I'm so happy with the results and I love it when something you have envisioned turns out exactly the way you wanted!

War Eagle!

2011-01-10T10:51:00.000-06:00

We'll be cheering for our Auburn Tigers tonight!

Anna Claire is calling the game....Auburn will be #1!

The "Better Late Than Never" Post

2011-01-05T12:01:00.000-06:00

I am still here. Just recovering from a busy few weeks. We had a wonderful Christmas with family and were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate not one, not two, but three times! That may have contributed to making the weeks felt like were never going to end.

We started our holidays with Mike's parents visiting the weekend before Christmas. All I can say is that the Little People by Fisher Price are too cute. She received the fairy tree house. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of her actually playing with it--all of the shots were taken from behind.

We made the decision earlier in the year that we would spend Christmas morning at home, just the three of us. We woke up to snow! For the first time in 17 years, Nashville had snow for Christmas! Despite the disheveled hair, Anna Claire woke up with a smile on her face.

Olivia by Ian Falconer is one of her favorites and I couldn't resist getting her the Olivia doll.

The crayons and coloring books had to be the hit. When she opened up the package she said, "Oh My Goodness."

Mike wanted to make something special for her, so he built her this child's table. There are 4 chairs that go with it. It is a perfect size for her and for her room and will be nice to have for her to sit and color, draw and play with play dough!

We traveled to Ohio to visit my family 2 days after Christmas. Anna Claire came back a cowgirl! Isn't she the cutest thing? She loves the boots and asks to wear them when she goes outside!

It was a wonderful few weeks. For a few days before school started back up I was able to convince my husband to take a break. This is hard for him to do honestly because he just stays busy. He had been working nonstop on this bookshelf for my parents for Christmas. Isn't it gorgeous? I finally convinced him after we returned from Ohio to rest--which he did for a day before he was back at it again!

In pregnancy news....everything is going great. I've had insomnia for several weeks so I am exhausted but hopefully the little pill I got from my doctor will help relieve that :) We went to the doctor yesterday for my 15 week appointment and heard the heartbeat. 165. That's high. Girl? I think so. Mike is convinced that it is. We go back the end of the month to find out for sure!

4 years

2010-12-22T09:06:00.000-06:00

Happy Anniversary to my sweet husband.

There is no one I would rather spend my days and years with, than you.

I love you!

Snow Day

2010-12-13T18:16:00.000-06:00

We got about 1-2 inches of snow here yesterday and overnight. Around these parts, that means a trip to the grocery to get milk and bread because you will be what is considered "snowed in." Now, I'm originally from Ohio. We laugh at 1-2 inches because up north, it is just considered "flurries." But down here, schools were closed today and they just called them off for tomorrow too. It looks like Mike's Christmas vacay might be a bit extended, especially since they are expecting a wintry mix for Wednesday morning. The benefits of being a teacher!

It was bitterly cold outside, so Mike started a fire at 8:00 this morning and it is still burning. I got to busy in the kitchen and made these.

Homemade Peppermint Patties. If you like peppermint, or what something festive and different for your Christmas cookie collection this year, this could possibly be what you have been looking for.

Yes, that is peanut butter in the middle. These are Buckeye Bars from a recipe my mom gave me when I got married.

Between these two desserts and leftover gingerbread pudding cake I made this weekend, we might be eating sweets for dinner tonight.

Friday's Random Thoughts

2010-12-10T05:17:00.000-06:00

1. ALL of my Christmas shopping is done. Besides a few itty bitty things for stockings, the gifts are bought, some of them wrapped even. I know, impressive right?

2. Because I've been living in a hole for the past several months; well, it could actually be because I don't live near a Target, I was unaware of all of the things Giada De Laurentiis had in her cooking line at Target. I. Want. Everything.

3. I like the fact that I was able to wrap Anna Claire's presents with her right next to me. She has no idea what they are for, or even that they are for her. Next year will be a different story and I'll have to be holed up in a room at 11:00 at night wrapping gifts. Let's just hope it's not because she didn't find the gifts interesting.

4. Our 4th anniversary is next week and I'm excited. Someone gave us a fabulous gift card so we will be able to indulge!

5. Orange juice...I can't get enough of it. Does that mean it's a boy or a girl?

6. I made these at the recommendation of my sister. They were yummy. They were wonderful. They are all gone. And you would never know they were from a box mix. I promise. There are so many variations you could do, German chocolate cake...Strawberry Cake with vanilla icing...Carrot cake with cream cheese icing...

7. I have totally lost the taste for my morning cup of a coffee. What I have found though is that Maxwell House makes a very good Vanilla Caramel (instant) latte.

8. With the exception of our honeymoon (we were married on the 22nd and were on our honeymoon for a week), this will be only the 2nd time in my entire life I have NOT spent Christmas Eve or Christmas morning with my family. It will be weird, but I am so excited to begin new traditions with our little (growing) family. I have a feeling though that if you popped into any our houses, whether in VA, TN or OH, you would find the same thing. Our favorite appetizers for dinner on Christmas Eve, singing Silent Night at church, new Christmas PJ's, the question..."can't we just open one present tonight?" and of course Monkey bread for breakfast on Christmas morning.

9. Thanks for celebrating with us about our pregnancy! We are absolutely thrilled and are so thankful there are others who are praying and rejoicing with us!

10. Happy Weekend!

The "I've Been Waiting" Post

2010-12-08T05:49:00.000-06:00

It's been a while I know, but I am hoping you, my faithful readers, family and friends will forgive me after I tell you why.

Actually, I'll let Anna Claire tell you why....

Anna Claire is going to be a big sister in June! I am almost in my 2nd trimester and other than nausea and sciatic nerve problems (any suggestions on pain relief?) in my back, I'm finally feeling a little more like myself.

Here are just a few more shots from the day. I promise she is excited. In fact when we ask her what she wants to have, a brother or a sister, she always answers brother. I'm leaning more towards girl because my cravings have been the exact same as they were with Anna Claire.

My mornings have been kind of rough and that is when I usually have time to sit and be on the computer, so I'm hoping now I'll be a bit more regular in posting. Thanks for reading!

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie

2010-12-02T07:35:00.000-06:00

Nancy Guthrie, in her new book, challenges us to partake in the Advent season. It is not uncommon for families to look back and reflect on this season and wish they would have focused more on Christ rather than the hustle and bustle of gifts and decorating. In her daily devotional, she invites readers to reflect on simple principles that help lead your heart and mind back to Jesus.

I think this is a great book for families with children ages 6-12. At the end of every daily reading, there are discussion starters that get you talking about the reading and hopefully will lead you and your family into a deeper conversation. I don’t feel that there was anything that stood out that made this book extra special, but if you are looking for a family devotional to use during the holiday season, one that will allow you to sit down as a family for a few minutes each night; to sit and rest and reflect on what the verses we read, the stories we tell and the hymns we sing during this time of year really mean, then this is a good choice. It would also make a good gift book.

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

My Christmas budget just got a little bit bigger

2010-11-28T15:25:00.000-06:00

Prior to getting married, I debated every year on whether to send out Christmas cards. It seemed so difficult finding the perfect card that said what I wanted it to say, had the right colors and wasn't over sized to the point that I would have to pay double postage. And every year I would receive a handful of Christmas photo cards from friends and family and I always thought, "when I get married and have children, that is the kind of card I am going to send out."

Mike and I were married on December 22nd--wouldn't this have been a fun card to send out?

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

I started using Shutterfly several years ago to save all of the pictures we have taken of Anna Claire. Although we have an external hard drive, my OCD tendencies lead me to save the pictures in several places...you know...just in case. I've bought my Christmas cards through them the past 2 years and am in the process of putting together our 2010 card. In fact, my favorite card of all time is the one we sent out in 2008 to announce that Anna Claire was a girl. I don't have the picture saved anymore (boo-hoo), but Mike and I were holding a card that said, "It's a Girl!"

When I heard that Shutterfly was giving away 50 FREE CHRISTMAS PHOTO CARDS to bloggers, well...need I say more. All you have to do is share about the offer and you've got yourself 50 free cards! Just click on this link to register: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/. They have tons of layouts for Christmas cards (http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards) and for other gifts like desk calendars(http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars). In fact, my sister gave our parents calendars last year for Christmas and they loved them.

Everything they have is at a great price--plus, everyone loves to receive gifts that include pictures!

Whisk up a shower

2010-11-15T06:54:00.000-06:00

This weekend I had the privilege to help throw a bridal shower for this beautiful girl (the one on the left). Lauren and Arthur are getting married next month before Christmas. We wanted to make sure this was an extra special party for Lauren since not only is she planning a wedding, but she is also in school full time! Since setting up house for the first time can be a bit overwhelming so we thought a kitchen shower would be the best way to bless her!

It was all things kitchen! The centerpieces were Kitchen Aid mixers (collected from the many cooks in our church) with gorgeous red roses in the mixing bowl!

I put together a garland out of vintage aprons, dishcloths, napkins and potholders to serve as the backdrop for the gift and cake table.

For the bride-to-be, all of the guests brought their favorite recipe to share.

And the cake....there is little to say except WOW! We have a professional cake baker/decorator/maker :) who attends our church and she graciously made the cake to go along with our kitchen theme.

Everything was edible, including this part of the cake that resembles the utensil holder Lauren registered for.

We all had such a wonderful time celebrating Lauren and all that her future holds with her new hubby!

Daddy, I want a pony.

2010-11-03T06:48:00.000-05:00

This past year my sister has been reunited with one of her first loves, horses. On our recent trip to celebrate Christy's birthday, we were able to meet Elvis, the horse she rides.

Elvis is a retired Thoroughbred race horse and despite his racing background, he is extremely gentle and seemed to want nothing more than to be loved on. That included Anna Claire.

I was nervous that she would be nervous about not only being around such a big animal, but actually being on top of him.

Once again, my little girl amazed me with how fearless she is. She laughed and smiled the entire time and kept asking for one more time around. It was when she had to get off that she upset.

It is an amazing moment when you see your child experience something for the first time, something they find pure joy in. I will never forget this look on her face as she rode Elvis.

On This Day In Christian History by Robert J. Morgan

2010-11-03T06:33:00.000-05:00

It always amazes me how God uses people from different places, different times with different stories to impact the world for His glory. From the Roman Empire to modern day theologians, this book gives us a glimpse into not only how He works, but WHO he works through—many times the most unlikely people.

It is through these daily readings that Robert Morgan (Then Sings My Soul) exposes us to individuals, that many of us have never heard of, who have significantly impacted the way we, as believers, live today. This would be a great gift book for those who love history and more importantly want to learn about our Christian heritage. Even though it is set up as a 365 daily read book, there are stories that you will want to revisit time and time again to be challenged and encouraged by. There is a topical index in the back to use as a help for pastors and teachers as well.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

2010-10-28T06:50:00.000-05:00

Chris Fabry continues, in Almost Heaven, to invite us into the lives of those who live Dogwood, West Virginia. In this beautiful and well written story, Billy Allman is a kind and gentle man who lives a very simple life. He suffers many tragedies, including the death of his parents, but through it all he rests in the comfort and peace of knowing there is a Someone else who is control of it all. As he begins to live his life on his own, his past begins to affect his future and Billy struggles with living his life the way he is used to. A dark secret is exposed that ultimately changes Billy. There is a beautiful side story told by an angel who has been sent to protect Billy throughout his life and through this, Chris Fabry gives us a glimpse into the protection the Lord provides to those He loves. Although he weaves in a character from June Bug, Almost Heaven stands on its own.

Chris Fabry is a master at fiction and I'm happy to add this to my collection of his books!

I received this book free from the publisher through the Tyndale House Publishers book review blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Partay!

2010-10-27T05:40:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my sister!

Happy Birthday to a woman who loves well (really well!)

Happy Birthday to someone who likes to laugh!

Happy Birthday to Sissy!

(I love this picture!)

Happy Birthday to my bestie!

Christy, I'm not quite sure I could make it through this life without you. I pray this coming year brings so much more than you have even imagined! We can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend!

Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart - oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape - of your sister.

-- Katherine Mansfield

Please hop over to Christy's blog and send some blogging birthday wishes!

Overnight Camping 2010

2010-10-25T06:21:00.001-05:00

Since Mike was on fall break this past week, we decided to give it a go with introducing Anna Claire to car camping. We talked about where we would go--there are tons of state parks within a few hours from where we live. Mike had initially wanted to go to Fall Creek Falls, which is a considerable distance away. My ~~suggestion~~ intuition was to go to Montgomery Bell, which is only an hour away. My thinking was this, if Anna Claire ends up being miserable, then we can pack up the car and be home within an hour, no matter what time, day or night. Let's just say there is a TON to be said for intuition.

We loaded up the car with the tent, food, sleeping bags, chairs and of course, marshmallows. The day couldn't have been more beautiful on Thursday. I even thought to myself, I'm going to have these great pictures and a great story to share on my blog! We arrived at the park, picked out a site and proceeded to set up camp for the night. We met the families who were in the sites next to us and during the conversations, Mike and I jokingly said, "if you hear our car start up in the middle of the night, you'll know it didn't work out and we apologize in advance." We took a walk, Anna Claire played in the leaves, all was good and right with the world.

We ate some dinner and then met up with some friends of ours from church who happened to be there as well. We headed back to our site, made some s'mores and put Anna Claire down to bed around 8:30. So far so good.

12:22 am. She wakes up.

For the next 4 hours, she proceeds to talk. Thankfully she isn't crying, she just wants to talk. "Mommy?" "Daddy?" "ABC's?" "Pray?" "Mommy?" "Daddy?" "Pray?" "Outside?" and on and on and on. She would be quiet for 5-10 minutes, then back at it again. She asked me so many times to pray that towards the middle of the night I was pleading with the Lord to just let her sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

Mike turned over and said he was sure she was a super-hero baby and no longer needed sleep. I laughed because if I didn't do that, I would have cried.

Finally around 4:45 she fell asleep.

5:15 am. Screaming. Mike and I trying to figure out what is wrong. She isn't able to be consoled. "Get her into the car so she doesn't wake up the other campers." Screaming. "Mommy's here baby." I get her into the car, she finally settles down once I have her wrapped up against me. She then proceeds to begin talking again. Mike, in the mean time, is throwing everything we brought into the car with no rhyme or reason. It no longer looks like we went car camping, it now looks like we live out of our car.

We are out of the park by 5:30 am. She finally fell asleep as we were turning into our neighborhood at 6:15 am.

She slept until 11:00, ate some lunch, then went back to bed until 4:30 pm.

Despite it being the worse never EVER (Anna Claire has been sleeping through the night since she was 10 weeks old so even during her newborn stage, it was easier than this), we're not ready to give up on family camping. We'll give it another try in the next few months, probably once it begins to warm up a bit.

We have to catch up on our sleep first.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo (with Lynn Vincent)

2010-10-21T06:54:00.000-05:00

This sweet story is told by Todd Burpo, Colten's father. After a series of medical issues, including an emergency apendectomy, at 3 years old, Colten begins sharing stories of heaven. Stories that include events that happened before Colten was even born. Over the course of the following years, without pressure from his parents to share, Colten begins revealing more and more about his time in heaven; about meeting his great-grandfather (who passed away before he was born) and about meeting his sister (a baby his mother miscarried before Colten was born).

Descriptive details about heaven, the people who are there, the things that happen, even a glimpse into the constant battle against Satan, make this an interesting, enjoyable and thought-provoking book. I think it would be easy for someone to be skeptical about this book, but I found the story of Colten's experiences to bring hope and comfort to those of us who long for heaven, or even for those who just wonder, "what is it going to be like?" One thing I appreciated was that Todd Burpo is very careful to provide scripture as a point of reference for the stories Colten shares.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The "you have to show pictures of your child picking out their pumpkin" post

2010-10-18T04:32:00.000-05:00

It's fall break in these parts...looking forward to spending the week with my husband...and (hopefully) finishing the bathroom.

Random Thought (s)

2010-10-15T05:34:00.000-05:00

Just one thought this week...everything else seems insignificant.

1. My sweet girl woke up in the middle of the night on Wednesday. I went in to check on her. She looked up at me and said, "pray?" I prayed for her and she went right back to sleep.

Dear Jesus, may she always have a strong desire to talk to you, knowing that no matter where she is, or what she is doing, you are there, and you are able.

I'm a Big Kid Now and a bathroom update

2010-10-14T06:19:00.000-05:00

She is sitting at the grown-up table now. Sniff-sniff. The highchair has been put away.

She was getting frustrated that I kept taking pictures.

On the same trip to get the booster seat, I decided to pick this up too. She has shown no interest whatsoever in potty training, but I thought this might peak her interest a bit.

Clearly Elmo likes it better than she does.

I found her teapot and teacups in it last night.

And now for a bathroom update..because I know you have been anxiously waiting...we were put into a holding pattern for a couple of weeks but we are back on track now. We decided to opt out of a free standing cabinet when we realized there was some space behind this wall. Mike cut into it and there is just enough room for us to have a built in. There will be a door on the bottom two shelves to hide those things that you don't want guests to see...like my ginormous stash of soap that I bought when I had several coupons. I wouldn't want anyone to think I hoard.

C'Mon Fall

2010-10-11T05:59:00.000-05:00

Pansies have replaced the geraniums.

The shorts and tank tops have been put away.

My weekly menu already has more casseroles than sandwiches.

A trip to the pumpkin farm is on the calendar.

Now all I need is some cool temperatures so I can put away my flip-flops. C'Mon Fall, we're ready and waiting!

Random Thoughts

2010-10-08T05:56:00.000-05:00

1. This past week we picked 7 POUNDS of jalapeno peppers. Yes, that is right, 7 POUNDS! That is what happens when you neglect your garden for 2 weeks and assume that because you haven't gone out to check on it, nothing is growing. That assumption would be wrong. I made some of these. They turned out really, really good. You can't go wrong with something that has both "cowboy" and "candy" in the name.

2. We picked the same amount of cherry tomatoes. Again, the assumption was wrong. I now have enough oven dried tomatoes to last me for several months. You can throw them in any dish and they make it yummy.

3. Why do I always run out of shampoo before conditioner? Every time.

4. Did you know that Trader Joe's has an honor system for their returns? If you are not satisfied with a product, all you have to do the next time you shop there is pick up a replacement of the item, take it to the register and tell them it's a replacement for a previous purchase. No receipt needed. No questions asked.

5. Do you watch Parenthood? We do. We love it.

6. Speaking of TV, we usually watch the local ABC channel for local news. Mike turned on the TV yesterday morning and it was turned on to the NBC station. He said, "I feel like I'm cheating on Jeff Ray, I need to turn the channel." I think we have a co-dependent relationship with our weather man.

7. Can someone answer this for me...what is it with the skinny jean craze?

8. Mike was working on the drains for the bathroom. He found a snake carcass. There isn't enough space in blogland to share with you the horrific scenarios that went through my mind thinking that the snake could have slithered up the drain, into the toilet...you can imagine the rest.

9. It's fall and that means pumpkin recipes. I already have a few picked out that I'm excited to try.

10. Speaking of food, if you like Chicken Noodle Soup, please try the Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup. I promise it will make you happy. It's a fall/winter menu staple in our house. I leave out the cream and don't miss it one bit.

11. Someone special has a BIG birthday coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm so excited that I get to share in the celebration with her.

12. I don't have any more thoughts. I just don't like to end with an odd number. Have a wonderful weekend!

Tea anyone?

2010-10-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've been contemplating the simple life recently. Sounds profound right? Not really. Just trying to get my perspective focused on what is really important. This little girl helps me a lot!

She enjoys her tea time. Interestingly enough, she only invites her Daddy to the party. Seriously.

We've been enjoying the beautiful weather the past couple of weeks. Gone are the days of 90% humidity and temperatures reaching even higher. Anna Claire is the happiest when she is outside and she is at the age now where she can run, have fun and explore.

She loves nothing more than to see an airplane in the sky. "Mommy, Mommy? Airpane...airpane...airpane!"

She loves playing with all of the different balls we have around the house. It's an answer to her Daddy's prayers I'm sure. She would much rather be outside with the balls than inside with her dolls.

She has recently starting showing an interest in numbers and the alphabet. I saw this tutorial here several months ago and knew that when the time came I wanted to make them for Anna Claire.

Some of the letters have fabric that corresponds with the letter (B has butterflies, the R is red, the T has toys on it, etc.).

They are soft and quilted so I'm not concerned about what will happen to them. If they get dirty, just throw them in the washer. It's something fun and different that Anna Claire can do on her own and with our help.

Random thoughts coming tomorrow!

Country Living Fair Recap

2010-09-28T08:07:00.000-05:00

This is how excited we were driving to the fair!

We had so much fun walking around Ohio Historical Village looking at all of the goods and vendors that were there for the fair. There was a mixed bag of things--cottage decor, vintage, primitive, food, woodworking--a little something for everyone. These are some of my favorite pics from the weekend.

Owls are the new thing, we saw them everywhere!

I saw this bike and thought it was so cute. How much fun would it be to ride this bike around town?

We saw this and thought it was really cool--priced at $75--but because my sister is crafty, we know it can be made for a lot less.

I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I had hoped. It was so overwhelming looking at everything from the fair decor to the hundreds of things that were being sold. I could have gone back for another day just to take pictures. The things that I didn't get a picture of where the things we bought. Christy found an old chicken feeder and a basket. I walked away with a wooden tray and an old well bucket (to use in our new bathroom!) and my mom found a wooden white dove that reminds her of one she saw in her backyard. We all came away with goodies and can't wait to go back next year!

A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker, Illustrated by Marijan Pamljak

2010-09-21T06:53:00.001-05:00

As a mother who enjoys collecting seasonal books for her family, I am happy to add this one to our collection. A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker is a sweet story of a little girl who has chosen to be thankful for all of the gifts God gave us through Christ's birth rather than desire toys and dolls under the Christmas tree.

This colorful and family oriented book uses a poem to introduce Gabriel, the animals, Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The little girl uses her own toys to recreate the manger scene as you work your way through the book, while it teaches that we should not only be thankful for the season and for Christ's birth, but for everyone who was there when Christ was born and the role they played. The soft illustrations are very sweet and inviting and the padded cover and board pages make it a book that will last for many years. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has small children.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

On another note, someone asked about my Top Ten 10 for books. Here they are, in no particular order, with the exception of the first one, which is my favorite all time book...

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
A Chance to Die by Amy Carmichael
Abba's Child by Brennan Manning
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
A Grace Disguised by Gerald Sittser
Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
The Shack by William Young
Christy and Julie by Catherine Marshall
Savannah Series by Denise Hildreth
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

I have to offer a disclaimer here....I read these books at different times in my life....over the course of the last 18 years or so. Some of them are fun reads, some serious, some are "learning books," some are chick books (that will make you laugh out loud). With that being said, they impacted me because of where I was in life at the time. They each provided something that I needed at the time and I can honestly say that each book changed my life. If you have read any of them, I would love to hear what you have to say...

A Post about Reading

2010-09-20T07:21:00.001-05:00

I have been working through my summer reading list and am finally down to the last 4. It may not sound like a triumph, but when you consider that at the beginning of the summer, I ordered 4 books from Amazon and already had 3 in my pile to read. Add that to the 4 or 5 my sister lent me and I am well on my way. Needless to say, I love to read.

In any free time that comes my way—early in the morning, on the treadmill (no, I don’t get sick), free minutes in the afternoon, and especially before bed every night—I am reading. For as long as I can remember I have always had a book I was reading; The Babysitters Club series and Sweet Valley High books took up the majority of my bookshelf growing up, and then as I got older I began reading books like Christy and Julie by Catherine Marshall. When I started blogging, it opened up a new arena for me to learn about books from all genres and as I came to love the writing of certain blogs, I found that their reading selections/recommendations were not to be missed (Chatting at the Sky and Flower Patch Farm Girl). I have my all time top 10 books that if anyone asks for a recommendation, those are the ones I am quick to refer.

Thankfully my husband shares a love of reading (although he tends to read more theology and apologetics, then switches to Louis L’Amour) and we have, since we decided to start a family, been growing Anna Claire’s library as well. She has caught the book bug as well and we are thrilled!

Okay, now on to the point of this post, I came across a blog somewhere (I have no idea where, who, what….) and she was reviewing a book. She explained that she received FREE books from publishers and in exchange, because she had a blog, they requested a short review of the book. In addition to posting it on her blog, they also require you to post it on another order site (amazon, Christianbook.com, etc.).

Now, for me FREE + BOOKS = an opportunity to not pass up as we build our family and personal libraries. And with having a blog…well that works out perfectly. I began thinking about what books I might like to read and review and I think this will give me a great opportunity to read outside of my comfort zone. I don’t read a ton of non-fiction and I will be honest when I say, I do judge a book by its cover, it has to be pretty for me to read (anyone? anyone?), so I think this will be good for me to read and expand my reading repertoire (I don’t think I’ve ever used that word). Rest assured, Nesting in Pleasant View isn’t going to become all books, all the time, I just figured that since I already read, I’ll just share what I’ve been reading. So, if you enjoy reading, and I’m kinda under the assumption that you do on some level since you are reading this, there might be something that I come across that interests you as well.

I received my first book over the weekend and will be reviewing it tomorrow. Head’s up…it’s a children’s holiday book.

A Good Mail Day

2010-09-14T07:41:00.000-05:00

Every day Mike comes home from work, and asks, "did we get any good mail today?" What that means is, did he get the newest issue of This Old House? Did someone take a peek at our wish list on Amazon and send us a package? Did we get a handwritten note from someone? Did we get our winnings from Publishers Clearinghouse?

A bad mail day consists of bills, those flyer things that are full of pizza coupons, and a piece of mail that belongs to the person that lived in this house 10 years ago.

Yesterday was a good mail day for ME! I'm about ready to come out of my skin I'm so excited!

Friday's Random Thoughts

2010-09-10T06:47:00.000-05:00

1. It's been a whirlwind of a week. Anna Claire's Papa and Didi (my parents) came for a visit this past weekend.

2. This weekend, her Granny and Granpa are coming for a visit. I'm not sure there is another little girl out there who has so many people that love her.

3. My sister sent me these flowers this past week. Via email. She's nice like that.

4. Auburn played last night. They won. My husband is happy.

5. Have you seen the new HGTV show, The All-American Handyman? My husband would have ROCKED on that show.

6. Anna Claire had her first time-out yesterday. She sat for 1 minute. Well, maybe 40 seconds...probably more like 30. I'll be honest, it was closer to 20. We're working on it.

7. I'm headed to the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio in a couple of weeks. I'm can't stand it. I'm so excited!

8. I'm ready for soups and chili's to replace my pasta salads and sandwiches on my menu planning.

9. Ahhhh....it's Friday!

3 Years

2010-09-04T07:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Allison and Emily, my sweet girls.

I woke up with tears ready to fall from my eyes, not sure if I was dreaming or just woke up anticipating today. 3 years old--I say it every year---it seems like forever ago that I held you but in the same breath and moment it feels like just yesterday. What would a birthday party for 3 year old girls look like? Only Jesus knows as I am sure you are celebrating in heaven.

There are so many things going through my mind. Things that I want to say and share about you. But I will keep it simple because it comes down to just a few things...

You are loved. You are missed. I can't wait to hold you again.

This is what happens...

2010-08-30T07:53:00.000-05:00

when your daughter is eating her lunch and you step outside for a minute, literally a minute, and your husband is supposed to be watching her while she is eating, but instead there is a baseball game on.

And by the way, I couldn't eat my sushi fast enough on Friday. It tasted better than I remembered.

Friday's Random Thoughts

2010-08-27T07:44:00.000-05:00

1. My friend Marilyn is coming to visit today. She is bringing sushi from my favorite sushi restaurant in Nashville. I can't wait. I woke up thinking about it. There is no sushi to be found in the small town where I live; unless you count some innovative experiment someone might do with catfish.

2. We are slowly working on our bathroom. Our toilet is in the garage. Our sink is in our bedroom and we have toilet paper rolls randomly stashed around the house.

3. Anna Claire LOVES Elmo. I think he is her first crush--now that I think about it, does Elmo have a gender?

4. I'm growing out my bangs. For those of you who have had bangs...you know what I'm talking about. Argh.

5. The temperature finally dropped to below 95 degrees. Isn't it funny how 88 degrees feels like the middle of winter when you've had days of the heat?

6. My new blog friend, Catherine, noticed a couple of weeks ago that my random thoughts were numbered. We laughed that our OCD tendencies come out in our randomness. I'm going to choose to embrace my control issues.

7. Do you get Southern Living Magazine? If so, please, please, please try the Tomato Corn Pizza from the July issue. Use fresh ingredients if you can get your hands on them.

8. We lost 6 pumpkins to squash bugs this year. In lieu of flowers, please send pumpkin seeds.

9. Lady Antebellum is on Good Morning America, they are my favorite so I'm going to watch.

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Joy

2010-08-25T06:45:00.000-05:00

If you live in or around Dayton, OH--call Kim at Flickers of a Dream. She was able to capture some sweet moments for us.

The Oh. My. Goodness Muffins

2010-08-19T13:55:00.000-05:00

Remember a few weeks back when I shared this recipe using blueberries? Well, go getcha some more my friends!

I was recently told about the blog For The Love of Cooking and have used many of the recipes! I decided to bite the bullet and spend the $4 on the lemon curd to make these. I'm so glad I did!

Go here to view the recipe...I like the last line of the directions; "Slather with butter and enjoy."

Ode to the bathroom

2010-08-18T07:33:00.000-05:00

We knew you had to go the minute we saw you.

Your claim to fame, the turquoise painted walls and black linoleum, are going to be a thing of the past and will be replaced with beautiful bead board and a wonderful color called Prairie Brush. On the floor will be beautiful tile with hints of off whites and light browns.

Daddy is getting a little bit of help. She has his camping headlight around her neck.

Your tub and surround has been cut up, broken down and is already at the county dump. What will emerge will be a beautiful tiled shower with a glass door and built in shelves.

Your vanity, withtheshelvesthatweretooskinnyandshorttostoreanythingin, is sitting in the garage where one lucky homeowner might take a chance on you. In it's place is going to be a handmade vanity, complete with a walnut top that is going to look sooo good against the creamy white bead board.

The standard builder mirror that once graced the wall, that took up the whole wall, is going to be cut down to size and placed in a barn wood frame, painted with a little bit of character added.

A small hutch is going to be built in honor of the fact that you offered no storage.

New hardware, faucets and accessories will enable you to the be the best bathroom you can be.

In the end, we will marvel at your transformation, knowing that you had it in you the whole time. All you needed was someone who didn't like turquoise.

Random things on a Friday

2010-08-13T07:42:00.000-05:00

1. It's hot. When I say hot, I don't mean "summer" hot, I mean "blazing hot, I'm going to burst into flames" hot.

2. Mike is racing in a triathlon. I want to wear a t-shirt that says "My husband can swim, bike and run faster than your husband can."

3. Anna Claire insists on climbing up onto everything and wants to brush her teeth all the time.

4. Her hair is blonde and she doesn't like peanut butter. It may seem that those two don't go together but because of those two things, we're not sure whose kid she is.

5. I made sundried tomatoes in the oven day before yesterday. They are soooo good but make the house smell sooo bad.

6. The renovation of our master bath is fully underway. Thankfully this time, when Mike had to work with the plumbing, he is invested in a real blow torch and didn't have to use my Creme Brulee torch set. Yes, there is a story behind that.

7. I bought a gallon of the infamous Ralph Lauren Glaze that everyone talks about on their decorating blogs. Seriously, it is the best $30 I've spent in a long time. I'm not kidding. I want to glaze everything.

8. I love Facebook. Last year I reconnected with my best friend from high school. After 16 years, we fell back into our friendship instantly. This past week/weekend, I was in Ohio because her mom passed away. I couldn't be more thankful for a social networking site.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Because of Basil

2010-07-23T06:39:00.001-05:00

Because I have enough room in my freezer.

Because my basil finally decided to grow.

Because I went to Trader Joe's and bought a vat of EVOO.

Because I'm pretty confident I'll be craving pesto in December.

Because walnuts are cheaper than pine nuts.

Because the last time these ice cube trays were used, it was for baby food.

Because I love parmesan cheese.

Because it smells good.

Because this way I won't eat it all in one sitting.

And mostly because pesto is so pretty, I made a load of this today.

Pesto

3 cups fresh basil leaves

1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (I promise you can't taste the difference)

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

In food processor, blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic and cheese. Pour oil in slowly while still mixing. Stir in salt and pepper. **you might need to add more oil depending on the consistency you prefer**

By freezing it in ice cube trays, they are premeasured to 2T servings. Perfect to grab a couple when you need them!

This recipe filled one ice cube tray, so essentially 16 T which =8 oz.=1 cup. Watch out, I've got my math on today! Not really, my math teacher hubby gave me an cooking/baking equivalency chart for Christmas.

My Tinker Bell

2010-07-21T06:52:00.000-05:00

I received an enormous amount of clothes from a dear friend of mine whose daughters had outgrown them. She was incredibly generous sharing everything from 18 months all the way up to size 5. While I was going through some of them, I came across a bag full of princess costumes and shoes to match. Included was a Tinker Bell outfit. The sparkles caught Anna Claire's attention and while the rest of the clothes were packed away for a few more years, the shoes have stayed out. It doesn't even phase her that they are 4 sizes too big.

I wasn't really familiar with the story of Tinker Bell, only that she is in Peter Pan and then shows up randomly in other Disney movies so I thought I would find out more about her.

I found a description of her personality...."though sometimes ill-tempered....at other times she is helpful and kind to Peter. The extremes in her personality are explained in the story by the fact that a fairy's size prevents her from holding more than one feeling at a time, so when she is angry she has no counterbalancing compassion."

Who knew fairies and 18 month olds were so much alike?

Becoming Part of Something

2010-07-19T09:19:00.001-05:00

There is a desire in each of us to become a part of something. That something might bring us joy or excitement. Or it might mean entering into someone else's something; their pain and heartache. I've experienced both.

I've been a member of things in my life...I'm a member of my family. I was a member the cheerleading squad and the track team, a member of fan clubs, of Bible studies, and sadly, even a member of cliques. I've joined organizations and causes I believed in and in 2007 when our daughters were born and then again in 2009 when Anna Claire was born, I became a member of the unofficial "parenting club."

There have been two churches where I was an official member. The first church was one of the first I visited when I moved to Tennessee from Ohio in 1999. It came as a recommendation from a family friend who said it was a growing church and had something amazing to offer. From the first time I attended I knew it was something special and I wanted to be a part of it. Little did I know that 5 years from that time, I would be on staff working in the counseling department.

Fast forward to May 2008 when we made the decision to move north of the city. The commute was too long to continue going to FBC, so we began the very tiring search for a new church. It was exhausting to say the least. There were Sundays after Sundays where we would go to a church, sit and listen and look at each and think, "we will never get this hour back." Some, I'm sorry to say, were just awful. Until December. Mike drove by this church almost every day on his way to work. He had mentioned it to me several times and as we were slowly making our way through the churches we wanted to visit, we decided to skip some of them and try Calvary out. We walked in, were greeted by countless welcomes, smiles and handshakes. The music started, we worshipped, the pastor began to teach, the message ended, we headed out, got into our cars and knew. This was our new church home.

We became members of this church this weekend. This church that welcomed us and has loved us. This church that provided meals to a family they didn't even know when their daughter was in the NICU. This church where I have made friends that have added so much to my life in so little time. This church where, every week, never fails to shed light on the Word of God. This church where the Bible is taught, word for word and where we don't just sit and listen, we sit and learn. This church that loves well, but also calls us to repentance. This church whose pastor speaks truth at every opportunity and loves his congregation so well...to the point of tears.

I was reminded this weekend that being a member of something doesn't just mean that you get to partake in the rewards and the celebrations, but it is a calling of responsibility. A call to serve, to love and to sacrifice. To enter in, regardless of if it is comfortable or not and not sit on the sidelines.

I am so thankful to be a part, an "official" part, of this community, this family of believers. To be a member of something that is bigger than myself. Something that has the potential to change lives...to change mine.

Joy on Thursday

2010-07-15T09:44:00.000-05:00

A perfect gift, made by a sweet friend.

Oh. My. Goodness

2010-07-13T16:50:00.000-05:00

Go get some blueberries...fast! And while you are at it get some zucchini! And make this!

I made it and Anna Claire ate it. Thankfully she shared with her mother.

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vegetable oil (I used canola)
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup white sugar
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 T. ground cinnamon
1 pint fresh blueberries (I added more!)
1 T. white sugar
1 T. brown sugar.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 loaf pans
In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar together. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to loaf pans. Mix 1 T. white sugar and 1 T. brown sugar together and sprinkle on top of batter.
Bake approx. 1 hr. and then check for doneness (mine took about 1 hr. 10 minutes, but I think it depends on the loaf pan). It's done when a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.

I adapted this recipe from allrecipes.com

Cukes and Limelights

2010-07-09T07:08:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when you go away for 4 days and leave your garden unattended. Oh, but let me tell you, there are some amazing refrigerator pickles marinating in my fridge.

For my birthday this year, Mike bought me 2 limelight hydrangea bushes. I was so excited when, on my Wednesday, my actual birthday, I went outside and the blooms had started popping open.

Have a wonderful Weekend!

A New Do

2010-07-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

We spent the holiday weekend in Ohio visiting my family. We managed to pack into the weekend a trip to the swimming pool, a visit to Young's Jersey Dairy, wonderful meals prepared by my sister, a BBQ, walks through the neighborhood, fireworks, a visit with my grandmother and Anna Claire's first haircut.

Thank goodness for popsicles.

Thanks Steve and Christy for a wonderful weekend!

New Shoes

2010-06-30T07:47:00.000-05:00

She got a new pair of shoes yesterday.

She wore them until she went to bed last night.

She wanted them on when she woke up this morning

She is her mother's daughter.

Summertime Memories

2010-06-29T06:53:00.000-05:00

My mind was flooded with memories of my childhood this past weekend. Summertime memories to be exact...running through the sprinkler, eating corn from my grandfather's garden, the feel of clean, cool sheets for an afternoon nap after you have been in the pool all day and on and on.

We visited with a friend who lives out in the country this weekend. Anna Claire was a bit restless, given the fact she that she hadn't had any naps that day and it was boiling hot. To bring some relief, a tub was filled with water straight out of the hose and a tin cup was offered as a toy.

These are the memories that I hope she can unwrap years from now.

I am linking this up to Tuesdays Unwrapped at Chatting at the Sky

It's HOT!

2010-06-23T06:47:00.000-05:00

98 degrees to be exact. I'm thankful for air conditioning this week for sure. Despite the heat, the garden is growing.

We have 3 of these right now and they keep on growing. We are a real life advertisement for Miracle Gro!

My herbs on the other hand...not doing so well. They look absolutely pitiful. I'm not sure if the heat is getting to them, or I'm overly cautious and watering them too much. I won't even show you a picture of the cilantro. It's just sad. Does anyone have any suggestions on growing herbs?

Anybody have any good tomato based recipes? Thank goodness we love salsa! We're gonna have a ton!

I can't wait for this watermelon, this and the other dozen that are growing. It's been so fun to watch the process of all of these plants take root, flower and then produce fruit. We are already planning for next year on what we want to plant.

And finally...this! Corn! A tribute to my grandfather who would plant enough corn to get the entire family through the winter! I can still remember opening the freezer in the garage and seeing stacks of frozen cut corn in Ziploc bags. I'm hoping we get a few ears before the 4th of July; because what is a 4th of July BBQ without corn on the cob?

My Garden

2010-06-22T07:12:00.000-05:00

I am enjoying the fruits of my husband's labor for sure. He put a lot of time and hard work into carving this out of our backyard. More pics to come as to what we are growing. I have already counted 5 watermelons and we have a zucchini that is enormous. Waiting to pick it for when my sister comes tomorrow!!!

Mike built a sitting bench. Now I need a fun garden hat and basket!

My garden gate

Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day Dad! I couldn't ask for a better man to be the example in my life that you have been. You have loved me, taught me and guided me so well throughout my life. Because of you, I knew what to look for in a husband.

Happy Father's Day Mike! I believe that being a father is one of your greatest gifts. Next to me, your daughter is your biggest fan. ALL of your girls love you so much!

To all of the other fathers in my life--Happy Father's Day to you too!

Face to Face Meeting

2010-06-18T07:13:00.000-05:00

With the driveway

The first of many, I'm sure.

Tybee Island, GA

2010-06-17T06:22:00.000-05:00

After about 9 months of planning of going to Orange Beach, FL for vacation this year, our plans came to an a standstill when, on the Saturday before we were to leave, oil balls were washing ashore 20 minutes from where we were to be headed to.

So with a few quick changes we found ourselves headed to Tybee Island, GA 2 days later. We had a wonderful time with 2 other families. The weather was perfect, the food was great and the beach, as always, never fails to make me wish we lived in a coastal town.

Turkey Dinner Anyone?

2010-05-19T08:29:00.001-05:00

The bag on the bird seed did say it was for "wild birds."

Large birds freak me out. It's a good thing the feeder is at the back of the property. Country life at it's best!