nelson ramblings

{Christmas 2011}

2012-02-14T23:04:00.001-05:00

Christmas morning was quite fun. We spent the night at my parents on Christmas Eve. Jennifer and I slept out in the den. I was on the love seat and she was in one of the chairs---yeah...we didn't get a lot of sleep. Now, THAT would have been a great picture, but so sorry for you that I didn't get one of those!!

Joshua had a bit of a theme this Christmas---it was a Wes Welker Christmas. He got this jersey from Aunt Jen and a fathead from my parents--so Wes---or flat Wes as I like to call him, lives in Joshua's room now. Very cool!!

This is Shannon's husband, Bill. He has a tradition of putting on every article of clothing he receives on Christmas morning---without removing any of them---seriously---it's hysterical. This cracked me up---it's crazy Bill---he's the fun uncle---do you have an uncle like that?

Hannah had a Tom's Christmas---she received THREE pair of Tom's shoes for Christmas---so we gave away three pair of Tom's as well---I love that about this company.

I was able to get Joshua an XBOX console with Kinect with my American Express points. This was such a blessing---I have had my Amex card for YEARS and have never used my points, so I had a ton of them and was able to get Joshua a Christmas gift I never could have bought him! He was TOTALLY surprised---

The immediate hug---SO sweet---yep, I was bawlin'---

so much fun to give something special!

I have no pictures of our lunch or anything else from that day---we all had a lovely day though---
I HAVE had other things happen since Christmas that I hope to share with you, but this is it for now. Thanks again for visiting!!

{Christmas Eve 2011}

2012-02-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas--yes, it's February 13th and I'm just now posting about Christmas--

Caitlin and Carson spent Christmas and the following week in Rocky Mount with Carson's family, so we celebrated Christmas with them on Christmas Eve. We had a Nelson favorite---Tacoritos-- for dinner. David's family used to eat these at a restaurant they frequented when they lived in Colorado and Barbara asked to have the recipe. It has become an "always" food when the family gets together. I've included the recipe below with my own little twist.

This will be a post full of pictures of THIS sweet girl---so sorry in advance.

Shannon and Bill gave Eve this wonderful Pottery Barn chair---she looks

SO cute in it, don't ya think?

My parents gave Carson this pistol--this was one of our favorite memories from the holiday! My Dad had owned this for years, but had only fired it once or twice. He wanted to give it to Carson, but was worried it may be loaded or something----so he took it up into his attic and fired it---just to see what would happen. IT WENT OFF---IN HIS ATTIC!!! When he told us this, we all just cracked up.

Josh never wants to smile in pictures anymore---but I LOVE this photo---

a captured moment!

When Joshua and I went to the Panther's game in October, he bought this shirt for Eve--neither of her parents care a bit about the Panthers, but her Uncle Josh does, so she can wear it for him!

Shannon and her family were here for Christmas this year---and my sister Jennifer, too.

My nephew, Nathan with Eve.

My mom with Eve

My daddy with Eve

Caitlin wanted a macro lens for her camera----which is just like my camera, so it would fit if I ever needed it......very nice!

Babies make things so much fun---what a joy to have Eve around this year---she brought joy into what could have been a hard season. It was truly beautiful. I'm so glad we were able to spend this time with them---

Here are the Tacoritos and the recipe(s). Mmmmmmmm, cheeeesy!

Nelson Family Tacoritos

meat mixture:

1 lb. ground beef (or you could use turkey)

1 T. chili powder

1/2 t. garlic powder

salt & pepper to taste

1 chopped onion

(I don't measure the spices---but these are the measurements from the original recipe)

sauce mixture:

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 can water

1/2 t. oregano, sage, cumin each

2 - 4 T. chopped chili or jalapenos

filling:

shredded lettuce

grated cheese

diced tomatoes

refried beans

Burrito sized flour tortillas

Brown onion and meat with spices until meat is tender. Simmer 30 minutes.

While the meat is simmering, mix soup, water and spices in a sauce pan. Simmer until meat is finished. Place a layer of beans & 1/2 c. meat mixture in the center of a flour tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and a bit of sauce. Close tortilla and place seam down in a casserole dish. Pour sauce over tacoritos and bake on 350 for 15-20 minutes. Top with remaining grated cheese and bake until melted.

Serve with guacamole and sour cream.

Lately, I've been changing the meat to this recipe below. I make this recipe and use it in several recipes. It's a great starter to all things Tex-Mex.

Crockpot Spicy Beef (or Chicken)

2 lb. Boneless Beef Chuck (or chicken)

1/4 c. Salsa verde

2 cloves minced garlic

1 bunch chopped cilantro

1 medium onion, chopped

1-2 fresh jalapenos, seeded & chopped

2 t. chili powder

1/2 t. cumin

1/2 t. salt

Place the meat in the crockpot. Mix all other ingredients together. Pour the mixture over the meat and toss until well coated. Cook on low 6-8 hours or high 4 hours.

I always have extra meat, so I'll make tacos one night---or put it in the freezer for another meal in the future.

YES---the kids STILL get pajamas on Christmas Eve---this is the only gift they get to open.

And then, the obligatory picture with Santa's cookies---and yes, we give him a bottled Coke---we are THOSE people. I think he must be tired of milk by the time he gets down South....and he likely needs the caffeine.

AND, of course, the silly picture---I love that my 20 year old isn't too old for this!

Thanks for checking in--I have another post in the que---I'm just going crazy! ;D Have a great day!!

{the boring stuff}

2012-02-12T17:03:00.000-05:00

"It might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."
Russell from Up, to Mr. Fredericksen

Have you seen Up? You remember, the first Pixar movie that had you bawling in the first five minutes when the love of Carl Fredricksen's life, Ellie, dies before he can take her on their dream trip to South America. WAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! I'm crying just thinking of it. Wilderness Camper Russell is a surprise stowaway on Mr. Fredericksen's adventure to fulfill his dream. At one point in the movie, he's telling Mr. Fredericksen about his experiences with his father---who is somewhat absent in his life. He tells him about sitting on the curb and eating ice cream with his dad, "It might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most."

That's where I've been----I've been doing the" boring stuff". I am so grateful to have the opportunity to treasure the boring stuff---a clarified life---that's what I'm living these days---So, below is some of the boring stuff (and not so boring stuff) I've been doing since my last post---over TWO MONTHS ago. I'd LOVE to post more often---perhaps I can make time for it---I have been asked how I posted everyday in November if I have no time for it now. I posted VERY late at night---I made a commitment to do that for one month--but I can't do that everyday! I'd love to, but I think it might be uncomfortable for my students if they had to wake me up when they came into my classroom.....

Christmas Eve---pun intended---I have a post coming out on this tomorrow

Christmas Day--working on a post for this as well

And Josh's 11th birthday---more of this, too---

BUT, all of THIS is not the "boring stuff". These are pretty major events in our lives---Below is the everyday life---the stuff I've learned to treasure. I LOVE the holidays and birthdays, but let's face it--MOST of our lives are lived in the everyday--not the special days. So I'm focusing on THOSE days....as Russell says---"the boring stuff"

Helping Josh with homework....

Keeping Eve so Caitlin & Carson can have a date night.....

Going to lunch with my mom and both girls before Hannah had to go back to school

Keeping Eve----who isn't really crazy about the carseat--bummer!

Staying home with a sick boy---he was feeling a bit better here

when we went to see the doctor and he had a funny moment.

Eve found a nerf dart and HAD to have it in her mouth

I finished Project Life---my 2011 scrapbook of everyday life. OH, and I'm almost finished with my December Daily album, where I scrapbook a page for each day in December. I'll post some of that when I'm finished.

Caitlin and Eve came over for dinner and she was graciously helping Josh with homework

ummmmm, this was in the back of someone's truck when I came out of church one Sunday morning and I HAD to put this in here---

Joshua helping with Eve---so sweet!

My messy desk---full of stuff to do, papers to sign, and a sweet picture

of my five year old boy.

These are just a few of the moments of life I've experienced in the last few weeks---I'm hoping to type up a few more posts on this cold, peaceful Sunday---but we'll see! My lesson plans are done and I have a bit of time....but that can always change! Life seems to do that--for instance, Sophie just went out to the back and started barking like crazy--a BEAUTIFUL Blue Heron was in my backyard---not even in the creek---Sophie went right for it and it took off flying----such a beautiful sight. Our gracious Heavenly Father allows us to live in such a beautiful world---It all happened too fast for a photo---too bad.

I'm so glad you stopped by---Here's hoping for a few more posts in the coming weeks!

Blessed~

{Extravagant Love}

2011-12-07T22:01:00.001-05:00

I am amazed today to be loved by SO many---how blessed am I? I walked into my classroom today---the day before the big Christmas program that so many of you know about---even if it's not mine. You've sat through "the Christmas program"--whether it was your mother's "cantata" at church growing up, the big Christmas pageant, the Children's choir program, the December PTA meeting---and musical program to try to lure the parents there so they can vote on various agenda items, the band, orchestra, choir concerts. You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about! BUT, for me---it's "MY" program! I'm the crazy teacher in the gym without a microphone screaming out instructions to 225 of the most beautiful children you'll ever see! YEP---today was THAT day. ANYWAY (the rambling, the rambling) I walked into my classroom and saw a bag in my chair from the Verizon store---seriously. So I opened an iPhone 4 box with a giftcard that said, "K-- Word reached the North Pole that your phone was out of order! Take this to my elves at Verizon and get a new one! From: Santa " WHAT? There was a giftcard to the Verizon store---

I just stood there and began to cry---it's 7:31 and the make up is BLOWN! (and no, I wasn't wearing the waterproof mascara---you'd think I have learned by now...) anyway, I couldn't even believe it. I had wanted an iPhone when my phone began acting up and then I realized---hellooooooo, it's CHRISTMAS and you have way too much to spend your money on right now. I had two different people GIVE me their old Blackberry's and I just gave up the iPhone thing---really, I was TOTALLY over it---so I was just blown away at this extravagant gift---it's not that this money is a Lexus or anything, but it's money that people--someone--just GAVE to me....to love me---just because. It's not a NEED---I HAD that need met by two kind hearted souls who gave me an old phone.

When I mentioned it to a friend---in disbelief, she just said, "you are loved"---more tears. I had a parent at school bring me dinner tonight because she knew it was a crazy week and thought it would bless me. Another colleague at school called me today while I was in rehearsal and said she was picking up a Chick-Fil-a giftcard for me to use for dinner tomorrow night so I wouldn't have to mess with it. All of this happened TODAY---within a 10 hour span of time.

It was crazy---and, as I have a tendency to do, I began to ponder this today. Each time I was met with an outpouring of love I was SO HUMBLED that someone would go out of their way for me---seriously. I'm a pretty independent person. I can get a phone, I can make a meal--or TWO---but the LORD kept reminding me today how loved I was---and that it's a GOOD thing to let others show their love to me in tangible ways. I work with the most amazing group of women. I'm SO grateful for their support and love--that in itself is a gift. I couldn't do this job without them. I could NEVER pull off a program without them. They always amaze me---I'm so thankful for them---especially this year. When your heart is tenderized---by God or man---you can either become bitter or more tender. I want to end up more tender. I don't want to become jaded and angry by my circumstances---I think the LORD is just using his sweet servants here on this earth to remind me to let the situation make me more tender.

One of the things I love about one of my dearest friends is how very tender her heart is. Repeatedly over the last year, I have watched her HURT for someone that many of us would judge. She's not "just a cryer"!!! Her HEART is tender---she's felt real pain and I think the LORD has made her more tender---not harder. Please God, let me become tender-hearted like this sweet sister. I turned to her today and just told her of this gift and she just smiled that knowing smile and said, "I KNOW"---I later had to describe this to her as an "Extravagant gift"--because that's just what it is to me. I don't need this phone---I don't need a meal, I don't need TWO MEALS! These are extravagant gifts of love to me. I looked up the word extravagant and here's what it says:

adjective

1. spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful: an extravagant shopper.

2. excessively high: extravagant expenses; extravagant prices.

3. exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or passions.

4. going beyond what is deserved or justifiable: extravagant praise.

5. Obsolete . wandering beyond bounds.

ummmm, yes, yes, and yes---on all accounts today! Extravagant love---it was shown to me today---I can't help but think of the most extravagant gift ever given---that Jesus Christ---the God of the universe would "put skin on" and come down to this earth to live among us--the wretched people that we are....to DIE. That GOD the Father would SEND his son to do such a thing---EXTRAVAGANT gifts---life changing gifts. I hope I can show my son---and my students this extravagant love this Advent season and point them to the One True Gift--Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 30}

2011-11-30T21:56:00.001-05:00

I can't believe it's been thirty days....I can't believe it's nearly December. Let the whirlwind begin! I have so much MORE to be thankful for---this is one of the reasons I did this again this year. It's been a good exercise for me to continually be aware of my blessings. I will forever be grateful for your support---via facebook, email, comments. I have been overwhelmed with those of you who have prayed for me and my family. How very blessed I am to have so many friends. So THANK YOU for all of that love---So many of my friends from "the past"---(hee) have contacted me and have been so kind. If you have called---my cell phone is on it's last leg, and often if I'm with Joshua I just don't pick up the phone. I don't want to talk about all of this in front of him---so please understand that sometimes I just think I'll call you later---then it's three weeks later all of a sudden....HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?? SO, I "end" this month with a heartfelt thank you to you--those who have put up with posts about my dog and my scrapbook! ;D This blog has always been a place for me to just share part of my life---so thank you for embracing it and me. I hope your Advent season is the best yet and that you are truly searching for the Christ in your life on a daily basis. Thanks for reading! I will be posting more this month---but much of it may be different than November--more pictures, more crafts, less talk...well I say less talk---but we'll just see about that!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 29}

2011-11-29T23:54:00.001-05:00

Oh my---I'm not going to make it by "the 29th" for my 29th day--oops! I TOLD myself I'd get to bed early tonight, but I AM a music teacher with a big program to do next week and there is much to be done. SOOOOO, I'm a little behind on posting to the blog!

I can't believe an entire month has gone by and I haven't posted about this girl:

She has been such a blessing to me---of COURSE she has---but I'm talking specifically about helping me in my single motherhoodness (yes, I just made up a new word and I LIKE it.....making up words, that is!!)~I have amazing friends who help me with Joshua as needed---but sometimes it's best to just ask a family member. Caitlin has been willing to do anything I've asked---she's driven to my house, run Joshua around, picked him up at school, etc. She has stood in the gap for me when I needed someone---and all of this with a BABY, too. Joshua LOVES hanging out with her and her family---and I love that. There aren't many 10 year olds who have the joy of being an uncle and brother in law! He likes that part of his life. It's been a family joke for sometime now that Joshua didn't know Caitlin existed for the first few years of his life---he knew Hannah---but Joshua even called Caitlin, Hannah and Caitlin has INSISTED that Joshua didn't even know she was around during those years---well, HE DOES NOW!!! She is IN his life---often at her own inconvenience. It has been a HUGE blessing to me not to mention fun for Joshua to hang out with his older sister---oh, and while he's at it, he can be a cool brother in law and uncle, too! So, thank you Caitlin---for your selfless, easy going way---for always trying to work it out so you can be available to help me. It doesn't go unnoticed--and I'm SO grateful. I love you and I'm so proud of you~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 28}

2011-11-28T23:31:00.001-05:00

Oh---the late night post---THIS is why I was posting late at night for the NEXT day's post.....so I didn't look down at 11:32 with the day almost over before I had a moment to write up a post! BUT, here I am---tonight I'm grateful for perspective. Don't you LOVE that? It's funny, Joshua has been studying the Renaissance in class and one of the things they have studied is "perspective"---looking at a "picture" of something (drawn on a flat surface) that appears to get smaller as it "moves away from" the viewer---that's definitely NOT an expert definition---but this is how Joshua and I have talked about it. I had never really THOUGHT of it in art---until he and I began to discuss it---yes, I'm a loser about the visual arts---I try, but it's not a natural inclination for me!

I mentioned last night that we were studying for his history test and this whole concept came up---like a short answer sort of question that he'll need to know about--so we had some time to discuss it. After I put him to bed, I began to think about perspective---and how it really does change the way one sees something. Perspective---for me is often the act of "stepping back"---in my mind to get the whole picture. This has been a useful tool for me as I've walked through the last few months. I have had to "step back" and see the bigger picture at times---about numerous things---to really understand something. It's a good thing. I couldn't help but be reminded of 1 Corinthians 13 when Paul spoke of perspective or clarity in the last few verses.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

These verses reminded me that "love" to a young child is really different than what "love" is to an adult.....I think some of the reason why is perspective. Don't get me wrong---there's MUCH more to it than just perspective---but I feel like ALL of the growth that happens to us gives us perspective---it's like a mad cycle. Turning round and round until we have the proper perspective of Christ---I think my cycle will turn awhile longer---but at least it's turning, I guess. See you tomorrow, I hope!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 27}

2011-11-27T21:57:00.001-05:00

WOW! I can't believe Thanksgiving break is over and it's time for school to start back! I don't usually cook on Sundays, but tonight I had some steak that needed to be cooked, so I made a nice meal for me and Joshua. We were watching the Patriots game (he's a BIG fan of all teams Boston---who knew?) and I was wrapping garland with lights---it seems that ALL my garland needed new lights this year---ugh...that takes SOOOOOO long---but, I digress. I decided we'd eat in the den and finish the game together. After we prayed, Joshua asked, "Why are we having such a nice meal?" Sad---I know. "We are celebrating going back to school", I said. He dropped his fork and just looked at me---"....because we only have THREE WEEKS left until two more weeks off!!" I continued! WHEW!!! SCORE!!! Does this teacher/mama know kids, or what? He decided he would still eat with me since I added the second half of the sentence and we enjoyed our meal. After dinner, we cleaned up, he helped me put up my garland outside (yippee!) and then we headed upstairs to decorate his tree. Of course, when we arrived, we found that the lights on his tree don't work this year---great. So yet MORE lights had to be replaced. I just giggled and began the process of cutting off the lights---it's one of those trees that the lights come ON the tree, so they are practically HARDWIRED on! As I did the tree, he played Legos and we talked, studied for a history test, talked some more---made some decisions that needed to be made. It was an "ordinary day"---like many days I've spent with all three of my children. I treasured this day, though---I wish I could convince young mothers to do this! It's so hard when you have three young children around---you never get a moment to yourself, you never have an adult conversation between the hours of 8AM and 6PM...the ordinary can seem so mundane. But I will tell you---on the other end of parenting---that your children REALLY DO grow up too fast, they really do leave home and go to college and meet someone, fall in love, get married and move away (even if it is only a few miles.) They aren't living in your home anymore---the treasured moments come less and less often. This is the way it is supposed to be---but it's not fun. I am so grateful for some perspective as I parent my third child---I was selfish when my girls were little. Don't get me wrong---we read a lot of books, played lots of dress up, had tea parties, doll drama, played "newscaster"---and I watched MANY, MANY full on ballet productions. AND, I was engaged with them, but I think part of me just longed to be doing something else. I hope I've not just confessed what no other mother has ever felt, because I may be quite ashamed of myself if so. I think this is probably a normal response to living the life of a stay at home mom---it is the hardest job ever. I LOVED it---but I wish I had treasured all those moments more. I have always been struck by the " but Mary treasured up all these things pondering them in her heart" verse in the gospel of Luke. I have wondered why this was written---was it just for the harried mom who needs to be reminded that these are the beautiful things in life? I needed this reminder often, because now---on the other end, I realize it is gone in a blaze---and before I know it this boy will be in the CrAZY Junior year, or going off to college or meeting his bride at the end of the aisle.

WOW----again, that sounds so dramatic! But that's how fast life goes sometimes. I hope you will join me in treasuring all that happened today---perhaps your children are already gone--but you can still treasure the beautiful moments in your day. Maybe you are the mom stuck at home with three kids---or whatever random number---just find ONE thing today and "treasure it up and ponder it"---save it to remember at another time. I hope your day was a blessed one. Thanks again for stopping by!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 26}

2011-11-26T22:45:00.001-05:00

Today, I am thankful for the Body of Christ---one person in particular---who would be mortified if I publicized who he is. He has reached out to my son and thus to me several times in the last year---always at times when I wonder if the Lord didn't just prompt him to do it. He is a giver---I know of several times he has reached out to bless people/organizations who need it---monetarily. Again---it's totally confidential, so that's all I'll say. God used him in my life this week to meet a need. One that I couldn't have met---and I don't really want to say that HE did it, because I truly believe this is the Body of Christ working in the most beautiful way.....he would never want any glory, thanks, or accolades for doing what he can do. I can do other things in the Body---this is what he can do. SO, today---for this man---doing what he can do--what he's GIFTED to do--in the body of Christ to minister to another member---I am thankful. Praise the Lord.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 25}

2011-11-25T22:47:00.001-05:00

Oh my! I'm so late today---so sorry about that! I did this today:

This is actually a picture of last year's Christmas stuff---I didn't take a picture of it this year---even though this room is now a beautiful APPLE GREEN and it looks so pretty---I figured you could figure out what I was doing with any picture! Actually, most of what I did today was put lights on my garland for my deck---I had NO idea it would take me so long---THAT is why people buy garland with lights ALREADY ON-----AHHHHHH! GOT IT!

Anyway, it's done now, so that's good. I hope to get a lot done this weekend. Next week will be crazy for me, so if I don't get a lot done this weekend, it just won't happen. I'm so grateful to have a day to get started on this.

I am looking forward to this season. Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of year. I love how festive everything looks, I love my home at Christmas---I'm no Martha Stewart, but I do enjoy adding extra color and fun to my home at Christmas. I love wrapping up pretty packages (and tying them with string---had to say it). I AM using brown paper packages this Christmas---just so you know! Lots of brown paper, red ribbon and newsprint/music print. It ought to be fun!

Anyway, today I'm grateful for a few things---for the start of the Christmas season---White Christmas was officially viewed today---we didn't finish it, but we started it and that is a big deal around here! Christmas music was turned on. Garland was put up....I'm grateful.

I'm also grateful I survived yesterday---that sounds quite dramatic, I know. I don't mean for it to---but it was a hard day for me and I'm just glad to have made it through that "first" major holiday. We took pictures for my Christmas card---here's a peek---yet another thing to be thankful for. In spite of the circumstances I find myself in---I have a beautiful life---here are a few reasons why! I hope your "black friday" was a great one---I didn't go to ONE store---I usually do---but the internet called! Let me know how YOUR Thanksgiving was!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 24}

2011-11-24T08:20:00.001-05:00

Today's post is about hospitality. The following text is a sermon in itself---no need to come up with 'points'---just read this and say a prayer. DONE---

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." ²⁰To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:9-21 show

Today I'm thankful for these two people. These are my parents---Barbara & Harold O'Chester. Of course, one has to be thankful for the people who brought you into the world, cared for you, cheered for you, etc. I'm at their house today. When I was growing up, we always had "extra" people at our Thanksgiving table--not just family. We always had Thanksgiving with another family in Austin. Our extended family was far away and we weren't able to get there for Thanksgiving---they were in the same predicament, so they always had dinner with us. But my mom's house was always open to others, too. If you were alone on Thanksgiving and she heard about it, she would expect you to be around our table. We have done the same thing at our home---I love having "extras" around the table. There's always PLENTY of food---that's for sure. My mom's desire to have people over developed a strong sense of hospitality in me. I don't think this is a "giftedness" in my mom as much as it was a compassion for others---the desire that you not be alone on special days. I hope I have instilled that in my own children--I would have a table full every year at any holiday. I am so grateful for parents who instilled this in me. It wasn't something they "tried" to do---it was one of the things I absorbed. My sister Shannon has organized her neighbors to prepare a Thanksgiving feast for the police department in her town this year---the WHOLE department! A couple of years ago she did this for the fire department. Now, she does live in a smallish town and the department isn't huge, but still, it's a testament to her hospitality that she would think of these who have to work on a "family holiday" and organize this dinner. My oldest sister, Jennifer just made a HUGE fajita feast for all the administrators at her school. Her department could have ordered pizza or something simple, but she wanted to make it special. I'd like to think that the three of us have this heart because of the beautiful example of my parents. I am grateful today for numerous things about my parents, but this is the one I'm highlighting today. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with family and friends and that you take a moment to have a grateful heart today---no matter what your year has been like, there is SO much to be thankful for. Remember the words of Paul to the Romans---and show hospitality.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 23}

2011-11-23T00:06:00.001-05:00

Today's post will be short---I'm up late again and I'm sleepy! ;D I am so grateful today for my childrens' friends. All three of my children have been blessed with such amazing friends---One of the things I love about reading my kids' blogs and tweets is all the beautiful experiences they have with their friends. What a gift from the LORD that they can love well and be loved. I do know that not everyone has this experience---so I know it is a gift and often thank the Lord for the blessings of friends in their lives.

Caitlin has numerous friends, but these two have been such dear friends to her. AND, I LOVE this picture and desperately wanted to post it here!! HA~

This sweet girl is Eve Taylor's namesake and she's precious---(and I get to work with her, so that's cool, too!)

Caitlin after she had just had Eve---with some of her friends--

Hannah is so blessed. Not only does she have a SCORE of friends from "home" (that's here), but she has found some wonderful friends at Davidson as well---one that is like a soul-mate it seems. I KNOW that doesn't happen very often, so for this I am grateful. I think it has made this first semester so much easier for her---and let's face it---LOADS of fun!

Living on campus and having a rainstorm can bring out the ingenuity in a Davidson student.....here, Hannah and Maggie and Aric are sporting trash bags before they dash across campus to their dorms.

Hannah and Maggie in the mountains of NC

And THESE girls---the besties since 4th grade.....this was taken in Boston at the TBB graduation. They all flew up to be there with her---Kristin was still in finals---LOVE.....TWUE LOVE.....

And again, in Boston when the tears weren't flowing as freely!

And then there's Joshua---he is equally blessed with good friends. You've seen different posts about them---one of them is this kid----GREAT KID! I look forward to watching these boys grow up---I hope they will continue to be close---

I hope my children have the opportunity to make many more friends in their lives--- but I do hope they will maintain THESE friendships as well---there's nothing better than an "old" friend! Thank you Father, for the gift of friendship. I pray you have good friends in your life and your childrens' lives as well. Thanks for reading---I am just blown away by the fact that you stop by when you have a minute---what a treat for me to get to ramble to so many people!! Enjoy your holiday tomorrow---can you believe it's Thanksgiving? CrAZy!!!!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 22}

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful today for Connie Burnham. Connie is the friend I've known the longest here in North Carolina. (Don't you love how I avoided using the word "oldest"?) I've searched my computer for a picture of her----I KNOW I have some, but I can't find them. I met Connie when David was on staff at a church in Henderson while he was still a student. Her youngest was Caitlin's age and we became fast friends. She's one of those people that is just easy to talk to---and you KNOW I can do some talkin'!

As the years passed, we left that church when David started teaching at the Seminary and we began going to church in Raleigh. We still got together as families and Connie and I would get together whenever we could. Our friendship truly developed over lunches and the occasional trip to the lake. Before I knew it I was pregnant with Joshua---I had told her my suspicions pretty early---she understood the situation I was in: two older children and one shocking pregnancy!!! Her kids have a similar spread to mine---two older and then 8 years later ANOTHER! I've watched her parent her children and learned from her. She and her husband seek the Lord and I've been able to see His hand on their lives over these last 15 years. As I've begun to work more, we seem to have less and less time together. We did get together this evening for an early dinner. She knows me as well as anyone here---she is very encouraging, but not afraid to offer advice. She's the true friend. She is the friend that you can depend on. I love her laugh---although lately we haven't laughed as much as we used to---I know that will return. As I reflect on my relationship with Connie I am grateful for a long time friend---one you are comfortable with; you don't have to pretend to be something you're not, or feel something you don't, or like something you don't. It's just easy.....I could go on and on about my friendship with her---but let me just say this---

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik

This is the friend that Connie is to me----she has blown her fair share away after speaking with me. I am truly grateful for a friend like her. God blessed me immensely when he brought her into my life.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 21}

2011-11-21T03:00:00.000-05:00

What a difference a week makes! Last Sunday I wrote a post about my experience with "John"---it was a hard Sunday--a good one, but hard. I am thankful today for my place of worship-Providence Baptist Church. Below are some truly random ramblings that came out of my worship experience this week:

This week I had invited a new family from school to come to church. They had already been invited, but it's a pretty big place so I offered to meet them there and get their kids where they needed to go. What a beautiful thing to see the body of Christ embrace them and care for them. When I arrived I saw that they were already there in the lobby---being greeted by two other Trinity families who recognized them and were taking care of their needs. It was funny, I sat with them in another location today---I realized I had NEVER in my 12 years at Providence sat in this part of the church---isn't that funny how we get stuck sitting in the same location every week? Do you do that? Anyway, as I sat there, I noticed people I've never seen before. I usually sit on the other side of the building and I do see the same people most weeks. I think that's what makes a large church seem small---- But as I sat there in a "new environment", I realized that all of these people are experiencing life---they are in different places in their lives. I began to think about how you meet the LORD wherever you are---no matter what you're dealing with in life---the Lord meets you there. If you are in rebellion, he pursues you. If you are hurting, he holds you in his arms. If you seek wisdom, he freely gives. He is there. He is faithful---now, he's "here," too---I'm not saying that he only meets me at church---but it is good to hear his voice---to hear him speak from God's word while you ARE there. I never want to go to a church where he isn't exalted---my church isn't a perfect place---mainly because it's filled with imperfect people---but there IS no perfect church. I have been in "church" work much of my life---I KNOW that working at a church is no different than working somewhere else. There are frustrations in any job, any organization you are a part of. BUT, I think the difference is that at least people are seeking the face of the LORD---and should be willing to try to make things right when they offend.

God is a good and faithful God and he pursues us. I'm struck by this fact that he pursues me. The GOD OF THE UNIVERSE--the One who holds it all together pursues ME because he LOVES me. I always think of how I love my own children and how I pursue them and long for a relationship with them....how I long to spend time with them....then I think of myself and my time with the Lord and I'm often ashamed of the time I have for Him. But every week I can gather with other like-minded believers and be reminded of God's sweet grace that is lavished on me in Christ.

I think a beautiful picture of the family of faith happened Sunday night during the baptism service. One of the girls who was baptized tonight had the most beautiful testimony. She has down syndrome and she answered some questions that our pastor asked her. She shared her story of her walk with Christ and then she sang two verses of Jesus Paid it All---- I just sat there in tears (again---not the right mascara---yeah....apparently, lesson NOT learned). It was just a beautiful night. I was thrilled to hear her sing. I taught her siblings in Children's Choir years ago---and there was just this connection to her whole family as I heard her stand in front of the entire church and sing. What a blessing---SO glad I got to be a witness to it. All of this made me more grateful for this family of faith I'm a part of. I hope you have the same experience where you worship. I'm so grateful for the body of Christ called Providence.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 20}

2011-11-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

I had a relaxing Saturday----YEA! I did a little work when I first got up, but I got a little crafty today. This is my therapy, I've decided, and I have very little time to do it---SO, when I have an opportunity, I take advantage of it! I can't get into details about what I made today---but I will do a post about this in a couple weeks. I'm working on Advent gifts---and I'm packaging them at this point....what a lovely day of therapy. ;D I think it's healthy to just do something you want to do every now and then. I'm so thankful for some time to think, relax and play with paper! Enjoy your Sunday!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 19}

2011-11-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

WOW! I can't believe it's November 19th already. Have you done any Christmas shopping yet? I have done a little, but not much. I am so happy to see this weekend here---I have been waiting for this weekend for awhile now......I have all of next week off! YEA!! It is a beautiful thing! I have time to get some things done around my house and start getting ready for Christmas. The next two weeks after Christmas are pretty crazy, so I'm really looking forward to having some time to do this. I know that many schools don't have the entire week off, so I'm grateful that mine does. SO, TODAY, I'm thankful for my week of rest and preparation for the beautiful season in front of me. Here is a list of things I'd like to get done before I head back to school on November 28th:

Clean and rearrange Hannah's room (on a small scale---I sort of messed it up when I stole her desk to put in my room, so I'm working that out.....yeah.......)
Finish Advent gifts
Take some pictures for Christmas cards--everyone LOVES this, btw
Enjoy some family time---Hannah and Caitlin and Carson will be in for Thanksgiving, so I'm looking forward to some family time.
Start decorating for Christmas---yes, I know, Thanksgiving is next week, but I really won't have time if I wait until I go back to school, so I'm starting early. This is new for me---excited about that!
Get into the attic and make some headway rearranging, throwing out, giving away----I'd like to just take everything out and start over, but the walk in is in Hannah's room and she will be home, so this may have to be a January/February project---
Go to Goodwill with a load of items to donate---look for a few things to help in Christmas decorations---boots for the front porch are on the list........
Oh, yes and blow more leaves---I took a picture one day after I had posted about mowing and making up words to Adele's big hit---yeah, you wouldn't have known I had ever mowed---SO.MANY.LEAVES!!!

That's probably more than I'll get done, but it's a worthy list! Oh and we'll eat some and watch some football and probably do some other things. I'm just looking forward to being together. And if nothing gets done except cleaning Hannah's room, I'm OK with that, too. I will have rested and had a week of family time, and I'm always thankful for that---God is good.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 18}

2011-11-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful that we have children when we are young! I kept this beautiful child Thursday night--not a great picture---but, still beautiful! She WORE ME OUT!!! I only had her for a couple hours and I was EXHAUSTED! HA!!! She is busy, busy, busy! I think the Lord definitely knew we needed to have our children when we had the energy to keep up----ugh! Perhaps I'll do better Friday when she comes over to see me....prayers are coveted!!!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 17}

2011-11-17T03:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful for waterproof mascara---seriously. I cry alot.....and it seems that on the days that I tend to cry, I have on the old pink and green Maybelline mascara and it goes everywhere---it's NOT pretty.

SO, I'm thankful for the waterproof stuff that I can pull out for "special occasions"---

Please don't be concerned that I cry alot---I've always been an easy target for tears---I cry at Kleenex commercials, YouTube videos, when a friend tells me any story about her kids---yeah, that's me.

What are you thankful for today?

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 16}

2011-11-16T03:00:00.000-05:00

My sister Shannon sent me this beautiful video on Facebook the other day---I think every parent. should watch it. It's a bit long, I'll admit, but it is really lovely. I have already posted about my Project Life scrapbook that has really helped me focus my perspective in 2011. This video is about that very thing---about not just remembering the "big moments"---those seem to stick in our minds. The things we miss when our children are gone aren't the birthdays or holidays---we likely still celebrate those with our children---for now at least. What we miss are the ordinary days---snuggling with your kids first thing in the morning, laughing hysterically at the dinner table, watching the favorite movie for the 22nd time----THIS MONTH, cleaning up the skinned knee for the 3rd day this week, sitting at the table doing homework---AGAIN.....the ordinary days.
I have not read this book by Katrina Kenison, but this video is from her blog--and about her book. She is reading a portion of her book to some friends---I loved it---it's a beautiful reminder of how I want to live my life. I wish I had been more deliberate about this with my girls---ugh. You have to just let some stuff go---my girls aren't GONE though---and I can still cherish every bit of time with them. I can still have many "ordinary moments" to share with them and treasure the ones I shared with them in my home. I hope you'll take the time to watch the video--even if it takes you a few days to get back to it. It's worth it. Today, I'm thankful for an ordinary day---Joshua and I played football for about 40 minutes before it got too dark, we had a simple spaghetti meal, studied for a test, hung out, read and went to bed. An ordinary day--for this, I am thankful!&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;gt;This vidoe&amp;amp;amp;lt;b

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 15}

2011-11-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for your kind words about my last post---I fear I was misunderstood and I wanted to clarify it. I'm not "hiding" at church because I feel ashamed or embarrassed---well, I'm sure there's something to that---but, I'm "hiding" because I just hate the look on people's faces when I tell them the news. I don't want to see that look, so I just try to talk to people that I know already know. There are numerous people who know---but the one's who don't always want to hear how everything is, and I'd rather not tell. SOOO, please don't think that people at my church are judging me, or being unkind or uncaring---quite the opposite is true. People have been extremely kind and supportive---but their initial reaction is one of deep sadness and shock and I just hate producing that in people, so I'd rather let someone else tell them!

So, today's "thanks" is pretty different than yesterday. I was going to head in another direction, but I have some work to do for school and I'm moving toward the sleepy place---SO, here it is: I'm grateful this day for a sense of humor! I LOVE to laugh---one of my favorite things to do is sit around the dinner table and visit and end up just laughing uncontrollably.

This was brought to my mind today as I was mowing the lawn---now, I know you Texans and Oklahomans who are reading this are thinking---WHAT? MOWING YOUR LAWN IN NOVEMBER? yeah, welcome to my own personal hell! NOT REALLY----I really never mind mowing---it's just getting out of the house to do it, ya know? Anyway, Tall Fescue grass is a cool season grass and we start mowing here in late February, early March and don't finish until around Thanksgiving. It's at least 9 months a year---and in growing seasons---yes, SEASONS, fall and spring---you have to mow about every 5 days or it's so long it drives you crazy. (ahhhhh, the rambling!) Some of you may remember last years' post on leaves here---leaves are a huge part of my November! EVERY YEAR. This picture is from last year, but I didn't get one today!

Anywhooo----I was out mowing and I was running out of light. If you've been a friend on my fb page for long, you've seen numerous "mowing in the dark" posts in the last year. Well, it gets dark SO early now that I really didn't have much time. I was having to empty my bag after one walk up my side yard---and then again at the back because of the PILES of leaves---it was CrAZy! By 5:30, my tree covered lot was pretty dark---the street lights are on---people are driving by with their lights in my eyes---I got so tickled at what my neighbors must have thought---"there she is again, mowing in the dark." I just began to laugh out loud. NOW, don't get me wrong--I've cried many a tear over all that has to be done around here and I've felt pretty sorry for myself at times---(just keeping it real), but you know, I didn't have to mow today---so, no one was twisting my arm to make me stay out there---I'm just stubborn that way, I guess. BUT TODAY---I just made the conscious choice to laugh and not cry. I think we often have choices like this. I am grateful for the laughter today.

I actually began singing "Rollin' in the Deep" with new words---about my leaves---yeah, Adele has NOTHING on me. It was quite moving, I'll tell ya. I was TRULY cracking myself up---SOOOO, laughter----it's good for you. I always hear that Steve Green kid's song, "A joyful heart is good medicine, good medicine a joyful heart." Anyone else raise their kids in the 90's and remember these? I can still sing all the words---but I'll spare you....oh, and I'll spare you the stupid lyrics to my "Rollin' in the Leaves", too---be glad. Be VERY, VERY glad. Oh, and be happy---laughing is fun!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 14}

2011-11-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

This year as I embarked on my Thirty days, I began writing the posts the night before and scheduling them to post the next day. I have continued that just because it's been convenient---so, as you are reading my "thanks for Monday", it's actually ABOUT my Sunday---you didn't really need to know that, but it made me feel better to say it!

Since I have "worn the t-shirt" and told everyone about my situation, I may as well tell you about today. It's not pretty, but it's real life---and I am so grateful in the midst of it for God's gift of grace and compassion that I HAVE to tell you. SOOO, today was Sunday---I dread Sundays----seriously. Just don't like 'em. But, I have a ten year old, and he needs to go to church. Again, I KNOW I NEED to go to church, too, but frankly, I don't really want to most weeks. It's not because I don't enjoy "being with God's people"---even though I sit alone most Sundays---or because I don't hear from the Lord on these days, or that I am not lifted up by being in the presence of the Almighty with his people---it's none of those things. It's the experience I am about to tell you about that make me want to stay at home.

I have told several people over the last couple of months that I just try to hide on Sundays---they are my least favorite days. We were a high profile couple in our church----David taught a Sunday School class, was an elder, etc. Many people knew who we were. The problem with Sundays is that people really don't know about our situation---I mean it. I spoke with two STAFF WIVES in the last month who had NO IDEA what was going on. Now, please don't get me wrong---I'm not mad that they didn't know---just quite shocked. It is a beautiful thing that people aren't gossiping about my family---but I told one of these ladies recently, "It's not gossip anymore---it's the facts. And I'd love it if you'd tell everyone you know so I don't have to." This has been the hardest part of Sundays. I go to church while Joshua is in Sunday School right now, so I have to wait for him to get out of class before I can leave. A Sunday doesn't go by that someone doesn't ask me about David and how everything is going. Or I get the "You're still here? When are you moving?" I have tried to find someone who knows to talk to so I don't have to tell anyone else at church. I figure if I can just keep carrying on a conversation then perhaps no one else will come talk to me---it hasn't typically worked, but it has been easier on me this way.

Why is the telling so bad? It's not really the humiliation---even though that is part of it---it's just.....well, frankly---no one can believe it. I have had ALL SORTS OF REACTIONS---I have had someone truly freak out---and tell me it wasn't true and that I had to be joking---and almost get angry with me for saying it; I've had someone nearly faint---really; someone went off on ALL MEN and became almost hostile to be around; some just want to hear what happened--how did it happen, did we go to counseling, how long has this been going on, tell me, tell me, tell me. It's awful--honestly. It's so bad that I end up comforting these people much of the time, which isn't a bad thing, but can be pretty awkward considering the circumstances.

But today, today was the day I was dreading---I saw "John" today (name has been changed---just in case you know him). I have been trying to avoid John---I know that's awful---but it wasn't because I didn't want to see him, but because I didn't want to TELL him. I didn't even mind him knowing, but I didn't want to do it. You see, John LOVES my husband. He just felt like he had learned SO much under his teaching and couldn't ever remember learning this much. David and I watched his precious wife of 50+ years die of cancer and went to the funeral and wept and rejoiced all at the same time. He felt a kinship with David--he had shared several meals with him and time talking about life and God's word and numerous things. Every time he saw me he'd politely ask me how I was and then the question would come, "How's David?" The last time he asked me, I should have told him, but I just couldn't do it---I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news---I wanted David to tell him---NOT ME. I didn't really care WHO told him, but just NOT ME!!

I've avoided him off and on---and felt terrible, because I love this man, too. And today, I kept hiding, moving, trying to turn just in time to not be seen....and in my desire to be invisible, I turned around and there he was---right in my face. And he said, "you turned the wrong way". It was time, I decided---"Dear Lord, please prepare his precious heart." And he politely asked about me and the kids and then the dreaded words, "How's David?" So, I said it---"David has left me, John". And the reaction that I KNEW I would get, happened---he questioned me---hoping he had misheard. But after I clarified it, he began to weep and just buried his head in my shoulder---it was awful. I stood there in the middle of the church lobby trying to comfort this hurting man. He just couldn't believe it. Really---his reaction was more of shock than anything else.....that's what most people are dealing with when they hear it. But as I held him several times over the next few minutes, I wept with him---not for me, really, but for him. Because he was hurting. I could understand his pain---his shock, his bewilderment at this horrible news. And as I stood there---with my boy watching in the background, I remembered that there is grace given to me for THIS day---not for the entire ordeal at once, but for today. And as I pondered the whole thing this afternoon I have been taken back to a passage in 2 Corinthians 12 -

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Now, please, don't get me wrong---I have no idea if this situation is "a thorn"---and I've always been a bit squeamish when people try to tell me of their own 'thorn'---I'm quite sure I've never suffered like Paul--even on my very worst day. BUT, I can tell you, that as I stood there with John, feeling quite vulnerable---not only with him, but to any onlookers, I was able to let it all go to provide comfort to a brother and friend. This is just God's sweet grace in my life. This wasn't me. I wanted to run, I HAD run when I would see him coming over the last month or so. I'm a coward---but GRACE abounded in my life. I didn't DO anything...God did. I really had no choice but to talk to him---he totally surprised me as I turned around. God blessed me in several ways---first to be able to just be honest and TELL John what was up and then to honestly hurt with him as he dealt with his grief---that I was able to be honest with Joshua as we got into the car and he was curious what that was all about. That I was able to reflect on this today---a day of rest---and be grateful for the moment to "wear the t-shirt" one more time---to be transparent with someone who loves me and only wants God's best for me. This was such a gift. I am grateful today for His grace in my life---it's not the way I would have wanted to see it manifested in me, but I'll take it.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 13}

2011-11-13T03:00:00.000-05:00

Today I'm thankful that boys are SO easy! (well, most of the time!) My mother in law once told me that she'd take a house FULL of boys before one more girl. (Sorry, sweet sister-in-law Pam). She was right! SO EASY! If you can stand the energy of the boys, it's a breeze.

So, Joshua had a friend over Friday night to spend the night. I made an easy crockpot meal for dinner---a simple chicken dish. You would have thought I was the best cook in the south according to Joshua's friend---

For breakfast, I was the QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!! I made these:

Yeah, Star Wars pancakes---Yoda's ears got a little done, but guess what--BOYS DON'T CARE!!! I MADE STAR WARS PANCAKES!!! heee~ I bought these Pancake molds a couple of years ago when Joshua was really into Star Wars. They are still at Williams Sonoma if you are interested--

This is Joshua's plate---butter, syrup and powdered sugar---ick! There was bacon, too---and again, bacon made me the queen of the world----

Then there was lunch---Joshua's request---please don't call Social Services on me---cheese sticks (the breaded ones), macaroni and cheese and chocolate milk....and, at my insistence they ate some mandarin oranges! Whew---so there was SOME fruit served today. Again--you would have thought I had won a "Chopped" competition to hear the compliments! Hysterical!

So, the old saying, "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach" must early. Boys are all about food----well, food and shooting things---but that's for another post. I'm so thankful for a happy son, with happy friends, and that I can still, for a few hours be the hero---even if I don't deserve it.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 12}

2011-11-12T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for some time at home today. I don't ~~work~~ TEACH on Fridays, but usually I have to go to school to work. There's just too much to do and not enough time to do it, so I work on Fridays. At least when I do work, I have the freedom to work from home. That is always a blessing. Today, however, I didn't do school work. It was a nice respite. I DID LOTS of work at my house---some serious cleaning took place, but I SO enjoyed myself. I long to be home more. That's all I ever wanted to do. I am grateful for the ability to do my job and my job has blessed my family. I love my students and am so grateful for my time with them, but I LOVE being at home more. My children couldn't have attended Trinity Academy had I not worked, but I never wanted a career---I still don't. Well, perhaps I should rephrase---the only career I've ever truly wanted was wife/mom. SO, being at home fulfills me---it FEEDS my soul. I am praying for a day soon that I will be able to be at home again--even if I need to work, hopefully I will be able to work from home. The school keeps growing, so my hours keep growing. When I first began I worked about 12 hours a week----no more!

So, I have rambled on about work, when what I'm thankful for today is time at home---THIS is the greatest blessing---to have a quiet day at home to catch up on some things. I could work this way everyday for a week and I'd still have plenty of projects in my house, but at least I made some headway today. It was a good day---and I am grateful.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 11}

2011-11-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of all of you---those who have taken a moment to read my ramblings; who have taken a moment to write a comment or an email or a fb message to encourage me. It has been precious to me---and something I will not soon forget. I was talking with a dear friend a couple days ago and the blog came up. He asked me how I really was because when he was writing his blog no one ever knew when he was down because he could keep it from his audience. I giggled at that later because I thought---oh my---I am SO transparent---there is NO WAY I could keep anything from anyone! Transparency isn't always a good thing, of course. I think however, it is who God made me---I'm sure I could use a filter occasionally! HA~There are a few bloggers that I used to read who seem to have the perfect life. They NEVER talk about anything going wrong on their blog---that's certainly their choice---BUT, I just couldn't read them anymore---my house will never be that clean, my children's clothes will never be that cute, my awesome thing that I make will NEVER look that good...you get the picture. I have tried to be real on this blog---for the first couple years it was just a place to share the crafty stuff I had made. Occasionally I go back and see all sorts of things I'd change now, but it's where I was at the time.

Well, this afternoon I had something happen that just totally threw me--it brought up SUCH sadness, grief, anger, pain, etc. I just cried and cried---everyone has days like this---I know this, but I'd rather not! As I began to think about what I would write in my post tonight I wondered what---after that---I could be thankful for. Now, please don't write me the list of 1,000 things----I already know them. I just wasn't feeling it. I sat down and wrote a friend a quick email to share the yucky thing and awhile later I received this beautiful, beautiful note from her. As I read it, I cried more than I had over my pain. It was just what I needed. She encouraged me, she cried with me, she HEARD ME.

But then she pointed me to Jesus. She encouraged me to "crawl in His lap and tell Him how much it stinks, and He will sing over you and comfort you in a way none of us can. He's just such a beautiful, forgiving, all-consumed-with-love-for Kathleen kind of God." She pointed me to Jesus.

Oh, how I need a friend like this in my life--especially now. One who will point me to Jesus. And I will say, she always does. Last year I did a post of my friends here. These friends are still part of my life. These are the ladies who have walked me through the darkness. These are the ladies who have loved me and prayed me through many other things in the last few years. I LOVE them. I love their families. I love their pets! ;D I am SO grateful that God, in his rich providence, saw fit to knit my heart together with women who love Christ and want me to love Him, too. WHAT A TREASURE. SO, today--I'm thankful for my sweet friends. I have other friends---some of them "old" friends who have known me for so long and do the same things with me---we just don't have as much occasion to see one another. THIS is for my Raleigh friends: Anita, Susan, Robin & Kristin.

I long to be a friend who will point my friends to Christ. What a gift this is to others---Lord, may this be true in my life.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 10}

2011-11-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 55

“Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

hand I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 “For you shall go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall make a name for the Lord,

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

This passage has come to me several times over the last months as I pondered what was going on in my life. The thought that keeps coming back to me as I think of the changes in my life is that God knew we'd need this boy:

I had no way of knowing even a year ago that I'd be in this place---that we all would. Carson has provided quiet stability to all three of my children. It's amazing that God saw, God knew, God provided. Joshua LOVES Carson, Hannah does too. (oh, and Caitlin likes him OK, too!) When they came to us and wanted to marry so young, I had no idea what the Father knew----but He did.

And God knew we'd need HER:

A dear friend of mine and I often talk about how holding a baby is just free therapy---(in a good way!!) especially for those who don't have "a baby" anymore. There's just nothing better than snuggling up with a little one....and when that little one belongs to one of YOUR babies----oh my! THE BEST! WHO KNEW that this precious gift would grace the world last February 28th? Our loving Father did. I often think I owe Caitlin and Carson an apology that they didn't have long to be married without kids because the Lord knew I'd need a baby to bring such JOY into my life!!! (Yeah, it's all about me!)

I had planned for this post to be this beautiful treatise on the way of the LORD----yeah, that hasn't happened. It's bedtime and my brain isn't really awake. BUT, today I'm thankful that the LORD SEES! He KNOWS. He loves. He KNEW what my life would be like during these days and that these two (among MANY OTHERS) would make me smile just to think about them. For THIS I am grateful~I hope you have a lovely day today.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 9}

2011-11-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Tonight's post is entirely different than most I have posted---part of the reason is it's coming up on midnight and I'm exhausted and I'm just starting this. I had another post in the works, but I think it will take awhile.

Today I am thankful for Pinterest---yes, I said it.

"I'm Kathleen and I'm addicted to Pinterest."

"Hi Kathleen"

What is Pinterest? Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where you can organize things that you find on the web. You can see other peoples pins/boards and be inspired by them as well.

I've been known to call Pinterest my favorite time waster. I don't have much time to waste lately, but occasionally I'll go on a Pinterest binge and I'll get on there several days in a row---I can't ever just look for a minute---it takes awhile for me to "browse" all my friend's boards.

This isn't something I couldn't live without---but it's inspiring---fun, and it's a good way to get to know someone as well--you can see what they pin to their boards and figure a little out about them. LOVE THAT! It's like peeking into their house without the arrest warrant!

It's been a nice escape when I needed one---and, OK, a time waster when I didn't. But either way, go look around. You don't have to be a "member" to look around! But, if you ask for an invitation---don't say I didn't warn you!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 8}

2011-11-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Today's post may seem a bit silly to some of you, but I believe it was what God used to pull me out of the darker places I was in early in the year. Christmas had been especially hard for me and it wasn't long afterward that I saw this blog post by Becky Higgins. It was instructions on how to use her Project Life scrapbooking system. This is a system that ends the idea of the 12 hour scrapbook page---instead you get everything in a box to complete a scrapbook for an entire year except your pictures and words. WHAT? AND you don't just capture the "big events" in life---birthdays, holidays, graduations, etc. You document YOUR LIFE----you take a picture a day and document it. So, I purchased the entire kit for $54 (I think) and I began. For that money I received a binder, page protectors, journaling cards, a stamp for the day, month & year, truly everything I needed to get started except for pictures. I have actually kept up with this during the year and it really has been an amazing blessing. Many of the photos are just from my phone---a dated blackberry, but I let go of that perfectionism and realized that sometimes a memory is worth capturing even if the picture is bad!

With all of the sadness going on in my life this year, as I mentioned before, I began to change my perspective on my life and look for God's beauty in everyday. In a way, this system forced me to look at all the blessings in my life---the little ones and the big---and capture them for this book. I have been so encouraged as I've looked back through the pages and been able to smile at how great my life is ~even in 2011~

Below are just a few pictures of some of my pages--I really don't have a way to photograph them well to do them justice, but I think you'll be able to "get the picture". Becky has revamped her kits this year. I have a bunch of stuff already in my cart on Amazon----soon I'll hit the "Checkout" button and I'll be starting another year of remembering God's blessings in a tangible way. If you are a scrapbooker who feels like you can never get it done, why don't you check this out? It has changed my crafty life! Many great scrapbookers use this system now. For me, it was what it took to take my eyes off of myself and put them on the blessings from the Lord's hand. For this reason alone, it was worth every penny.

I have added pages in for special events---this is Joshua's class Valentine's Party this year.

I took just a FEW pictures of Eve's birth----I have enjoyed adding in extra pages as the event warrants. I ended up buying another binder and have almost filled it. So, for 2012, I'm going to purchase 2 binders from the beginning.

Here's an example of a more "everyday" page---not such a momentous occasion---even though it was my first ceiling to scrape!

One week in the summer---

random pictures from a week in April

another page with 5x7 inserts added~

That's it! Again, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "a scrapbook changed your life"---and I can truly say---YES---GOD used this crafty project to change my perspective on my life and for this I'm SO grateful~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 7}

2011-11-07T03:00:00.000-05:00

WOW! I was working on another post for today, but something interrupted me and now this HAS to be today's post! That one can wait for another day!

One of the saddest parts to me about all the changes in my family is not my own personal sadness, but grieving for my children. I have amazing children, who all seem to be "Okay"---as one of them recently told me, "whatever that means now.....you have a new 'Okay' now". But, I know this affects them---obviously I'm with my son more than my daughters, so I see the affects on him more than they. He has a lot of trouble sleeping these days. There are likely several reasons for this, but suffice it to say, it's a major struggle for him to get to sleep at night.

Tonight (Sunday, 11/6) was another such night and he came into my room very anxious. As we began to talk about things I just felt prompted to ask him again about his relationship with Christ. He "said a prayer to ask Jesus into his heart" at a camp one time, but I know he didn't understand even the basics of what that meant. I'm not in his head or heart, but I just felt like he needed to trust Christ. As we began to talk it out it was one of those beautiful moments in parenting when you wish it was being recorded so you'd never forget any of it, but recording it would just be wrong---you know what I mean? We had a sweet conversation about his heart and where he was with Christ. As he began to talk through it all, I could see him resisting and the LORD was pursuing him so hard. Finally, I asked what was keeping him from trusting Christ tonight; He said he KNEW he would just weep and lose control and this pride was keeping him from coming to the LORD. He finally said he wanted to trust Christ and give his life to him. We went into his room and knelt at his bed and he prayed the most beautiful prayer---honestly---just beautiful---full of his desire to KNOW God and walk with him. He was thoughtful and purposeful in his prayer and I was convicted that my prayers are not this thoughtful most days. OUCH~

There is NO GREATER PRIVILEGE than leading your child to Christ---I have been fortunate to be with all my children at this sweet time and I am SO grateful. SO, now, my entire family is sealed in Christ. This day, uh, yesterday for you!---November 6, 2011 is a blessed day. Praise the LORD with me!

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 6}

2011-11-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm thankful for a day to rest. Now, I don't mean sleep----just to NOT WORK! This school year, I am working long days and spending quite a bit of time working at night---I think most teachers probably do this. It is exhausting---and you never feel like you can catch up, so it's just depressing! (dramatic, much?) Yesterday I was home alone for much of the day and I just played with my paper! If you have visited this blog very often, you know I like to create things with paper and stamps and ink. That's what I did yesterday. I have had very little time to do this---and when I have had time, I didn't have the creative energy. I didn't do much stamping, but I began some special things for my kids for Advent---what fun that was. I'll show them to you later in the month when I finish them. I think it's healthy to have a hobby--even if you don't get to do it very often. Whatever yours is, you should take the time to do it every now and then. I hope you have some time to play today. Thanks so much for stopping by~

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 5}

2011-11-05T03:00:00.000-04:00

I have so much to be thankful for---and this is SUCH an obvious one---but it's not JUST Joshua---even though I'm SO thankful for him. BUT, what I'm really thankful for today is the true privilege I have to be such an intimate part of his life. Stay with me, now---when both parents are in the home they share the duties/privileges of parenting-one parent will take the kids out to play, another will do something else--then vice versa. And, of course, you do lots together as a family, too, but you don't do EVERYTHING together. But when you are alone, you "have" to do it all---hanging out, throwing the ball, doing the homework, running him around to activities, etc. For awhile after "the craziness" started I was so overwhelmed with doing everything with Joshua----I didn't really mind, it was just so, well, ALL THE TIME. And here's the grateful part: I have just turned those weary, frustrated, scared thoughts on their heads. I began to look at the entire situation as a blessing---not that I had the "duty" to be with my son 24/7, but that I GOT THE PRIVILEGE to be with this amazing boy 24/7. Now, I am not naive; I know there will be plenty of times in my future that I will be wishing for a moment alone---BUT, I have also raised two daughters already and realized that the time went by TOO fast. So I am capturing those rogue pity party thoughts and remembering how blessed I am to be able to be this sweet companion to this amazing 10 year old.

In early 2011 I began to realize that I had to be more engaged in Joshua's life. I was trying to come up with things to do together that we both enjoyed. We read all 7 of the Harry Potter books together while he was in 4th grade---his first time! After we finished each book we'd watch the movie---(this was a VERY BIG DEAL because we Nelson's are just a little bit freaky about Harry Potter. If you don't believe me, see this post, and this post, and this one. You get the point.) He taught me how to play chess (I'm really awful---which is quite fun for him), we play a lot of Uno or Go Fish, etc. But, thanks to the Madden 2011 game for PSP, my son is now a HUGE----dare I say, OBSESSED NFL fan.

Now, I grew up watching Staubach, Ed Too Tall Jones, Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Randy White---yep, I watched football EVERY Sunday---I KNEW football, I knew Professional football. I hated the Steelers. And the Redskins---I was die hard. THEN came Jerry Jones---he fired my coach and it was ALL OVER. I'm serious---I probably hadn't watched an entire pro game that wasn't the Super Bowl (commercials---you know?) since that fateful day in February of '89. We filled our football void with a much more satisfying football scene---college ball. SO exciting---fun, more unpredictable--did I say FUN....Vince Young's amazing performance at the Rose Bowl in 2006---you get the picture. So, it happened to be a pretty bitter pill to swallow when my son became obsessed with the NFL---I was over them---I was DONE---Sundays are nap days.....but there was this little thing called "engaging".

I had printed out a free printable from one of my favorite bloggers, Becky Higgins that says this: The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship. SO, whatever the task---homework, lego building, reading together, yard work, the PURPOSE is to STRENGTHEN the relationship. This was a little quote that just stuck in my head. And whenever I found myself wanting to run to my room and hide when my boy wanted to go throw the ball or play chess, I would remind myself of this. It began to change me--It changed the way I looked at each "task"---not just with Joshua, but with my girls, my friends, my co-workers. This quiet little quote became a screaming mantra.

SOOOOOOO-(I warned you I was a rambler) two weeks ago, I found myself driving up to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC and hiking up to our seats at my first NFL football game.

We were 3 rows from the top---NEVER AGAIN will we sit so high---I nearly had a heart attack the third time we went up----but, Joshua and I went to a Panthers game....we were there.

We saw Cam Newton's dance upclose and PERSONAL---well, not really "close", but you know what I mean---LIVE, in person! We spent 6 hours in the car together---what a privilege!

We picked up Hannah for dinner and had such fun----we got to see her new ink (I feel so cool just typing that---HA!) We made a memory that will NOT be forgotten (except the 32nd row part---I'm trying to forget that!)

SO, my grateful heart today is so glad to have the opportunity to develop a deep relationship with my son. I would LOVE to have his sisters back at home and have that much time with them. That's not possible---so I will appreciate the unique opportunity before me and be thankful.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 4}

2011-11-04T03:00:00.000-04:00

Today I must say, I am most grateful for peace. It has been remarkable how the LORD has given me such peace in 2011. I can truly say this has been a year full of anxiety---and yet the peace of God which surpasses all understanding has guarded my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Isn't it interesting that this peace OF GOD guards our HEARTS and our MINDS in Christ Jesus. These are the TWO PLACES anxiety loves to live---in our hearts and in our minds. I think in my circumstances this is EXACTLY where anxiety lives---now, don't get me wrong--I've had my share of anxiety this year---just ask some of my confidants! ---but I'm so grateful that I can walk in peace; that I can be FREE of anxiety.

I remember watching my sister go through cancer and marveling at her ability to be at peace. Now, my head knew that she was at peace because the Father GAVE her that peace, but I think somewhere in my mind-----way back in the back----I thought she MUST be "conjuring up" this peace. Well, now I know---that it's just THERE for you---and it's amazing. Why don't I walk in his peace ALL THE TIME? Why do I fret over every little thing---things that just don't matter?

In my class at school I teach a hymn of the month---I choose them all in the summer. Our hymn for November is Like a River Glorious. As I was introducing it to them this week, I was reminded that God's peace is a gift freely given in Christ and I should NEVER take that for granted. I love the refrain of this hymn--"Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed. Finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest." I hope I can learn to live in peace in all of life's circumstances---not just those that overwhelm me. This is a daily exercise for me---to trust EVERYTHING to him---not just the big stuff.

I have some posts coming up with LOTS of pictures (if I can find the time this weekend to put them together-). These are the posts I love---words, words, words=blah, blah, blah! ;D Pictures=1000 words...or so "they" say! I'll close with the text to the hymn---kinda like a pastor---but I didn't have three points.....oh, and I'm a woman.....but we won't go there! HA~ Thanks so much for stopping by today---I hope you are thankful today for the peace of Christ. If you don't KNOW the peace of Christ---I can tell you how you can. Email me!

Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. Refrain

Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. Refrain

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 3}

2011-11-03T03:00:00.000-04:00

Well, this post should be a little lighter than the last two. It's is definitely something I'm thankful for---but it probably doesn't have the eternal significance of yesterday's post or the gravity of Day 1. BUT, I am happy to say I'm so thankful for my dog.(Please excuse the photo above---this was our summer arrangement in the den---full of stuff---summer is for fun and all the mess that the fun brings!) Sophie is an 8 year old lab/shepherd mix. We adopted her after she had been abandoned. I have always loved her---I mean, really loved having a dog---except for the crazy amount of shedding; she kept me company when I was home during the day, she had a serious bark when people approached the house and she's a very loving dog. Now, let me say, I'm not the girl who pampers a dog---she's a great dog----but she isn't my child.

Again,, since my life has turned upside down, I have found myself much more grateful for Sophie. She truly is always under my feet. She sleeps in my bedroom, or right outside my bedroom door. She is home during the day when my driveway sits empty. She is a companion to my son on our nightly football outings (more about these later in the month!) She is a constant watchdog to alert me to anyone outside our house (or down the street for that matter---I didn't say she was perfect!)

This has brought a sense of security to me---and to Josh during these changes. I have watched my son relax because he knows that Sophie is our "first line of defense" at the door. She is calming down in her old age and is a good reading buddy for Joshua. She is his playmate, too when mom HAS to do something else.

It's just interesting to me how my perspective of her has changed---like I said, I have always been grateful for her, but I am now somehow comforted by her very presence in the room. I know she'll die someday---I'm not attached in a pitiful way---just grateful that I have this dog around to help me sleep better, or help entertain my boy, or be a quiet companion.....

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 2}

2011-11-02T03:00:00.000-04:00

Back again for Day 2---I can't thank you enough for your kind comments on yesterday's post, here and on Facebook to encourage me. I certainly don't need sympathy, but I will never turn down a prayer! God has been SO good to me and has just walked me through this year. When I look back on this time last year, it's remarkable to see his sovereign hand in my life. For this I am grateful. I don't have to understand it---but I can trust Him and this is a comfort.

Today---and everyday, I'm thankful for God's word. I'm not sure I have ever been so moved by the truth of God's word as I have lately. It's like everything I read, everything I hear speaks directly to me. I'm sure this is because of the state I find myself in---the vulnerable, totally dependent place I am in. Of course, this is where I should live everyday of my life, but I don't. I tend to think I can do life on my own---not that I'd ever say it that way---but this is the reality of my behavior. Not anymore. I am wholly dependent on a Holy God---and how blessed I am to have a relationship with him. Do you ever just ponder that this holy God loves us in the midst of our mess? It's one of the most humbling things I've ever wrestled with. I have learned to love His word---to trust his word---to hear his word in a fresh way....and, I am changed.

{Thirty Days of Thanks~Day 1}

2011-11-01T03:00:00.000-04:00

photo credit

I can't believe it's already November 2011. I so enjoyed having a heart of gratitude and SAYING IT OUT LOUD (on this blog) last November that I decided I HAD to do it again. I struggled with whether or not to do this because of life's circumstances, but I just decided this: Life's circumstances are what they are and I can't run from them, but they REALLY influence EVERY part of my life---even my gratitude, so to not be honest with someone reading this wouldn't be fair.

You know my blog is titled, "Nelson Ramblings" for a reason! I've long admired the wordsmiths in this world---the one who can say such lovely ditties off the cuff, or write something so lovely it brings a tear to your eye. Well, that's not me---I'm a rambler---I hop back and forth between subjects, go on all sorts of tangents and take HUNDREDS of words to say what far fewer could say. But, that is who I am. I've embraced this part of my life---it drives some crazy, I'm sure, but those who love me are OK with it! So, as I embark on this 30 days I invite you to join me---but just be aware (or beware!) I'm a rambler---so I will ramble through them!

SO, Thirty Days of Thanks-I have SOOOOO much to be thankful for this year. 2011 will likely go down as the longest year of my life---I went back and read last years' posts---many of these will probably be about similar things and yet everything in my life has changed this year. In June 2011, my husband of 26 years told our children that he was leaving me and wanted a divorce. Now, don't be scared---this won't be a month of moaning or griping about men. This will likely be the only mention of my husband, but I think in order for you to know how God is working in my life you have to know what is going on. I haven't really gone "public" with this in any way....I mean, people know, but I haven't changed my facebook status or worn the "I'm a single mom" t-shirt. SO, I'm walking through unforaged landscape at this point. My son hasn't told his friends, so for this reason, I don't say much about it in a public way. This change in my life caught me totally off guard. I'm sure people think "how could you not know?", but I really didn't. Details will not be provided here, but I will just say this: I NEVER dreamed this would happen to me, nor did I EVER WANT this to happen to me. But, it did. This is my new reality and I'm learning to cope. I have honestly gotten through this year because I decided that my ten year old deserved to have at least one happy parent and it had to be me---so I have truly been FOCUSED on how beautiful my life is inspite of the really horrible reality of my marriage. God's grace has never been more tangible in my life; the beauty of the smallest things in life have loomed large over me. God has provided me with the most amazing family, and set of girlfriends---I could NEVER repay them for their gift of friendship. You will hear many of these simple realitites this month---most of what I'm thankful for aren't grand---just the beauty of God's blessings in my life. I have SO much to be thankful for---so, thanks for stopping by today---tomorrow will not be so general in nature---I'll try to give one thing I'm thankful for everyday of this month. I have come to love Psalm 116---God has used it in my life to lift my heart when it is heavy. So, I leave you with that.

Psalm 116

1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful .

6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke: "I am greatly afflicted";

11 I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."

12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,

14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

16 O LORD, I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,

19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!

{A bird in the house}

2011-10-02T22:32:00.001-04:00

No apologies for not posting---life is too crazy to post! BUT, I have to post this. No, this isn't part of my early Christmas decorations! There's a story behind the garland, but that will have to wait for another post. I came home from the grocery store tonight and left the door open because my hands were full of groceries. Joshua went out to grab some more bags and came running in to tell me that a bird had flown into the house---NOW, my son has a tendency to exaggerate to see my reaction---but, this was no exaggeration. We left both doors open but this poor bird just couldn't get to one! He was inside for 20 minutes---really. SOOOO, I had a chance to take some pictures of the various places where he landed. This is probably only a third of all the places. It definitely will make for a fun story for Joshua to share tomorrow at school! AND we both had a chance to see a beautiful creature created by an awesome God! I hope you'll look for some of God's beauty this week! Some days we just have to make the choice to open our eyes to see it!

This place was so funny--it's the mirror on my mantle and this bird landed here numerous times---he looked like he was part of the fall display!

He was on every curtain rod in the den---more than once.

This brings a new meaning to the cuckoo clock---or, at least it did to me---hee!

yeah, like I said............

A candle on the mantle (not the water--for you Pete's Dragon fans---boy the Disney movies in the '70s were awful!)

This was his favorite place---he KEPT coming back to the Ruffles bag. I have these for Hannah's return this weekend, so I'm grateful the bird didn't try to make a run for it with them---it could have gotten ugly!

I finally opened the tops of some of my windows in the kitchen and he found his way out---whew! I thought we might have to stay up all night waiting!

{Have I Ever Mentioned I Have a Grandaughter?}

2011-09-05T16:02:00.001-04:00

UGH~ she's amazing!

{Did I mention we love Chick-fil-A?}

2011-09-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

SOOOOO late posting this---BUT sweet Lindsey Danforth put together a "Going to College party" for Hannah before she left for school. Lindsey is a Marketing Director at the Falls Village Chick-fil-A (go there instead of another one) which is RIGHT up the street from our house. We can walk there in minutes! We do crazy things for Chick-fil-A....remember our dressing up like cows this summer for free meals? Anyway, Lindsey gave a free sundae to any of Hannah's friends who came to say goodbye! She's so sweet--here are a few pics of the fun night!

The cow came to visit and brought Hannah a bunch of goodies for her dorm room!

Aunt Hannah and Eve---her look alike!

Joshua and the cow---

sweet friends~

Grandy (great grandmommy) and Eve

My sister Shannon was here doing some work and was able to come! What a treat~

Thank you Lindsey and Chick-fil-A for the sweet send off! Now, go get a peach milkshake before they are gone! Summer is over tomorrow, right?

{Another kid at college.......waaaaaaaaaah!}

2011-09-04T09:53:00.000-04:00

One of the truths about children: they grow up. This is a beautiful and awful thing. I don't know how the daddy feels---because I am not a daddy, but the mama---or perhaps I should say THIS mama has a love/hate relationship with college! I'm SOOOOO happy my kids go to college and I'm SOOOOO sad my kids go to college.

I took Hannah to Davidson College in mid August. She was SO ready---yea! That made it so much easier for me....and let's face it---it's all about me! ;D Honestly, after her cRAzY trip around the world last year with Thinking Beyond Borders , leaving for college is just NOT a big deal....until you have to hug her 'goodbye' and walk away. UGH! (You can read about her trip here, here, here, here, here and here for starters!!) At least this year I can talk to her and don't have to wait seven months to see her!

On Tuesday night we had our "last dinner" with Hannah-one of the things we have enjoyed this summer is ordering our own pizzas from Amante pizza. So we had one last hurrah before Hannah left.

Hannah and Joshua put together some of her shelving that we took....ummm, WHILE watching Disney's Pocohantas.....gotta LOVE that~

Since my car is a tiny Ford Focus, we drove to Davidson in Grandy's CADDY---oh my! I think it gets about 4 miles to the gallon, but it has TONS of storage space!

Getting ready to go!

Caitlin was so sweet to keep Joshua while I was gone---what beautiful kids I have!

We arrived at Davidson in the early afternoon

Hannah met her roommate that day---pardon the phone photo!

Again---phone photo, but LOOK HOW BIG HER ROOM IS! A.MAZ.ING!

David put together one monster of a bookshelf!

The college girl~

So, as I was out in Mooresville at a local Target picking up a few last minute items for Hannah's room, I happened upon THIS----Bluebell is in Davidson....all is right with the world

I never got a picture of the finished dorm room---perhaps at Family Weekend! We'll see~ Davidson is a great place for Hannah. She says she is studying all the time---but I've noticed on twitter and facebook she's not studying ALL THE TIME---so, that's nice!

I'm grateful for the opportunity for child number two to go to school---as much as I miss her being home---I wouldn't have it any other way. And, I will say, if she has the wonderful experience that her sister had---meeting amazing friends, growing into a beautiful woman of God, meeting the most amazing man (it's FINE if this part doesn't happen there!) then it is MORE than worth the hole I feel in my heart. It's the way it's supposed to be.

{Museum fun}

2011-08-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, we also went to two museums when we went to the DC area for our all things boy weekend. I'll tell ya, the museums in our nation's capitol are amazing. Since my sister does live there, I've had the opportunity to go to quite a few---and many of them more than once. None were better than the two we visited on this trip. We first went to the National Air & Space Museum Annex near Dulles airport. WOW----it's HUGE! And it has SO much cool stuff. The museum is free---most of them in the area are---but this one has a $15 parking fee. My cool Dave Ramseyfied friend found out that if you go after 4pm, the parking is free! So after we went to the Brick Fair we headed to the museum and walked in at 4:05 for nothing!

This plane was enormous--of course, the boys recognized it and called it by name---this is the SR-71, but you knew that, right?

Isn't that amazing? And yes, those are REAL PLANES hanging from the ceiling--not models! Here are a few more pictures of things this museum has--

ummmm, yeah, Apollo Command module---very cool

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? THEEEEEEEEE Enola Gay--

what a great history lesson---and the boys didn't even know they were learning!

What the boys enjoyed most was this flight simulator---they were practicing here to go into the simulator and fight the enemy! They turned themselves upside down over and over once they were in there---they SO enjoyed it! TOTALLY worth the money!

This is what they looked like right after the ride!

SOOOOOO fun!

On Sunday we headed to the National US Marine Corps museum---best.museum.ever.....it truly is the best museum I've been to in years. We ended up staying there for HOURS--

I had admired this building from I-95 for years and never knew what it was--it's reminescent of the flag raisers at Iwo Jima.

Justin & Joshua in front of Iron Mike

Some of the exhibits we saw while we were there--the entire history of the Corp is in the museum organized through the conflicts and wars they have served in---really fascinating.

The boys were able to go into the shooting range and fire an M-4 they had made into laser guns---

Then they were given a print out of their shots---Joshua was labeled "Marksman"--he was excited about that!

In the Making Marines exhibit, there was a backpack that was the weight that marines have to wear/carry/run in---it's on the floor when you enter and you are encouraged to put it on and try to stand with it---it's REALLY heavy--- The boys were glad just to get it off the floor and on their backs!

This collage shows different "costumes" you can don when you enter to see what the marines wore over the years in existence.

Before we left we went to the bookstore--the boys found some fun items and I had to take their picture in front of this amazing Lego display---it's the Iwo Jima monument in legos---WOW! We'd come full circle----legos legos legos~

And here we are on the way home--decked out in Marine shirts and dogtags!

What an amazing weekend! Thanks so much to Susan and Justin for inviting us to be part of this fabulous birthday adventure! It was awesome!

{A LEGOxtravaganza}

2011-08-27T09:26:00.000-04:00

Early in the summer a friend asked me if Joshua and I wanted to go to a Brick Fair in the Washington DC area with her and her son in August. I was THRILLED to go hang out with my son AND my friend, thrilled for Joshua to get to go to a 'LEGO convention' and hang out with his friend. AND, my sweet sister Shannon lives in DC, so we got to see her, too. THIS was the "EPIC weekend of the summer" (according to Joshua) but I've already used the word "epic" in a recent post title, so I decided not to go there again.

The simple way to do this post is to just DO IT---this has been sitting here for WEEKS, so I'll just put up the pictures and tell you what was up. It was truly a fabulous weekend!

We got to the brick fair about 10 minutes before the door opened and there were HUNDREDS of people already there. Fortunately when the doors opened we moved pretty quickly.

One of the reasons the boys were so excited about this was the opportunity to buy

BrickArms products. BrickArms is a company that creates cool weapons to fit LEGO brand products. The line was INSANE~

Here the boys are looking through little cups of tiny little guns and helmets for their mini figures---did I mention they were tiny?

Here's Astronaut Josh!

Astronaut Justin

I LOVE this idea. It looks like they are in the newspaper.

Here are some of the creations we were able to see at the Brick Fair. Some of them were so creative. My favorite of the day was the Apocalego area.

WOW---

Look at this---if you've never built a lego set, you may not appreciate this---I REALLY appreciate it---;D I've helped build a few and I can't imagine doing this---it's really cool.

We also went to a couple museums while we were in town---I'll put that post up tomorrow! This trip was so fun---really, it was one of the most enjoyable weekends I've had in a long time! I'd love to make it an annual affair---

{Epic Year}

2011-08-10T11:19:00.000-04:00

Noooooooooo, this isn't a recap of my last year---just a card! HA! I know a few of you were QUITE interested in THAT post, but you can just go somewhere else! It's a card post~

Joshua had another friend with a birthday last week, so I put this card together. I used that same $5 stamp set I've shown before---Boy Basics: Game On. I think this was a good purchase---

Anyway, not much talk today. I did use this card as a template for mine---I like hers better, but I didn't have time to redo it, so there it is! 11 year old boys really don't care about the cards! I also stamped the inside of the card.

The details are below if you're interested---I do have some amazing pictures of Joshua's Lego extravaganza weekend to share. Hopefully this week---we'll see if I can get it together---school is looming and I'm trying to get my room ready for students.....oh, and get Hannah ready for school---have I mentioned that she's leaving me on Wednesday the 17th--yeah, she is. Happy for her.....not for me!

Epic Year~
Stamps: Boy Basics: Game On, Grunge Me
Paper: Enchanted Evening, SS White, New Leaf
Ink: New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise
Accessories/Tools: Mat Stack 5, Limitless Labels dies, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Cuttlebug, Corner punch

{A Summer Wedding}

2011-08-04T13:37:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending a wedding of a sweet girl our family has known for years. I have a few pictures to share. The wedding was so sweet! What a blessing to see two kids who love each other and love the Lord get married! They had a beautiful, personal wedding--I LOVED it!

Not a great picture, but I had to show it. The mother of the bride with her son. This family has a similar age spread in their children (two older girls, one son eight years later) as our family. It's been so fun to watch them grow up!

Sister of the bride! So beautiful~

Ring bearer---the birthday boy from this post

Here comes the bride!!! (corny, I know!)

Prayer time---this was so sweet and encouraging!

sweet~

YEA!!! Mr. & Mrs!!

PARTY TIME!!

The reception was at the home of the groom's family in a tent---yes, that's Justin and Joshua marching into the reception----they have their dancing shoes on....what a pair!

(of kids---not shoes!)

First Dance

I'm a sucker for the father/daughter dance---LOVE!

Here are some pictures of people at the reception!

Ring bearer & Dad---who also performed the ceremony! BUT, this is really just a set up for this next one---

WHAT IS A FOUR YEAR OLD DOING LOOKING LIKE A GROWN MAN? sorry for the screaming--- but this just cracked me up---except for the fact that he's on his dad's shoulders, he looks like a grown up with his glasses in his mouth.....too funny!

I was so disappointed in this picture---the other one I took that was SO GREAT of both of them wasn't focused----ugh! BUT, aren't these two amazing looking 5th graders? Good friends!

The Cupid Shuffle---before Joshua saw me taking pictures....things changed after that! Joshua also caught the garter----AGAIN....but I wasn't there to capture the picture. I didn't make him wear it like a headband like last time!

Mothers and sons----I was far away and using my long lens......need that external flash, no?

Amy & Donnas---LOVE these women! Cheerwine---it's the drink of choice apparently!

When the bride and groom left they had a balloon release----it reminded me of another wedding reception from not too long ago!

Annetta & Mitch after the festivities!

Thanks for coming by---I have big plans this weekend---a road trip with those two 5th graders and a Lego convention.....now THAT'S FUN! You can BET I'll have the camera out for this one!

2011-08-02T00:03:00.000-04:00

I don't remember when I had to make so many cards for boys---I'll tell you, it's tough to make a card for a 10 or 11 year old boy. BUT, I just refuse to buy cards when I have so much "stuff" to make one. I did buy a couple sets in the spring to make some "boy" cards and they have certainly come in handy lately. Joshua is at a birthday party sleepover tonight for a good friend. This is a friend who loves Legos so Joshua typically wants to give him a gift card to the Lego store---it's the perfect gift to Joshua, so he figures his friend would like it, too! I was going to make a separate giftcard holder, but I decided to just put it in the card---

I used the library Pocket die to make the pocket for the gift card--

Joshua and I attended a beautiful wedding this past Saturday and I'll have a post up about that soon---I love a wedding! And I have yet ANOTHER card for a boy, too---three in two weeks? CrAZy!!!

Thanks for stopping by today---

Happy 10th~
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening, Stamper's Select White cardstock, & Bitty Dots patterned paper
Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black
Dies: Library Pocket, Wonderful Words, Mat Stack 4, By the Numbers
Tools/Accessories: By the Numbers impression plate, Cuttlebug

{A quick tag for a dear friend}

2011-07-30T08:43:00.000-04:00

I had a gift for a friend, but of course, I hadn't wrapped it up until the last minute. I love wrapping things in bags and adding a tag, so I put together this quick tag combo from pieces I had already die cut. I just keep these extra pieces in an envelope for times like these! I love what dies have done for my craft time.....I can do things so much more quickly now---and since I never seem to have enough time, "quick" is good!

Well, Hannah is on a service trip with Davidson, Caitlin and Carson have a wedding here in Raleigh and I'm headed to a wedding in Greensboro with Joshua---the Dancing King. ;D You can check out two of his dancing debuts here and here! I'm hoping for some more dancing pictures for you soon~Thanks for the visit! Happy Saturday!

4you: (all products Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Stamper's Select White, & Kraft cardstock
Dies: Mat Stack 4 , Limitless Labels, By the Numbers, Wonderful Words
Accessories/Tools: Orange Zest twill, Cuttlebug (Provocraft), 1 3/4"circle punch (EK Success)

{A Birthday party}

2011-07-25T23:58:00.000-04:00

Sunday night we went to a party for a favorite four year old boy we know. His mom made this cake---isn't it amazing? I LOVE it! It's Mater from Cars fame. I have some pictures from the party and of the gift/card we gave.....but I have NO pictures of the birthday boy. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? Oh my---I have a few pictures of his parents but none of them are any good---bad photography---it had nothing to do with the subjects! ANYWAY, there is nothing like a child's birthday party to make someone happy! I have had a tough weekend and it was so great to laugh and enjoy the kids at the party.

Hannah with a balloon head---and of course, the thumbs up sign---she has NO idea what this does to a Longhorn. I have failed her..... I must explain it to her......

Kristin, Sarah Beth, Mary Grace & Hannah--LOVE these girls

We got Ian some Legos---and so did everyone else! Oh well, Legos are amazing and he can build all sorts of things with them long after he takes the original thing apart...trust me---I KNOW this personally.

I made a card and tag to match....I must confess, I used orange and green because I have TONS of orange and green tissue paper left over from the wedding and I really need to use it. I may use it on every gift for the next two years and still have some left---yes, I have that much!

Here's Ian's card. He loves to play video games, so I thought this Boy Basics: Game On set was perfect for his card. This set is so cute and it's only $5! You have to love that! I must say, I totally CASED this card (Copy And Steal Everything) from this post on Nichole Heady's blog. I didn't have much creative energy, so I used her layout almost exactly and just changed up the colors to match my huge supply of tissue paper!

If you have any questions about the card or tag I'd be happy to answer them, I'm not going to do a detailed list tonight---I'm going to sleep. Joshua isn't feeling well and I may have a long night in front of me. He's already been in my room three times. Thanks for the visit---I have been working on my dining room and will have some posts on that soon---well, I hope I will.

{I heart Harry Potter}

2011-07-15T22:43:00.000-04:00

It's here---the end. I saw the final Harry Potter movie today and was thrilled and sad---all at once. This movie and the book it portrays are in the top five on my entertainment list. I am not a reader---there, I said it. I have always admired them, readers that is. I read to my children often when they were young---picture books, chapter books, read alouds---everything. I wanted to produce reading children, but I just never was encouraged to read much as a child. My daughters DEVOUR books and so does their dad---but I have never been a good reader. I have actually learned to love reading through my children---my girl's would talk about a great classic they had read and I would open it up and read it for the first time.

I actually started reading the Harry Potter series when Caitlin was young and she needed some more reading material. Caitlin and I went to a little independent book store that was in Wake Forest at the time and talked to the owner about the books. Some people had said they were "bad" because they were about witchcraft and David and I didn't really see the big deal. Our children had read the Narnia series and as far as we knew they hadn't ended up hiding in wardrobes and playing with Prince Caspian. So we decided we would read the first one and make sure it was appropriate for her before we let her read it---as usual, Caitlin finished the first one before I did....and then, so did Hannah! BUT, I did finish it and I LOVED IT! I was totally hooked after the first book. We went to our first midnight release party when the third book was released---our girls NEVER got to stay up that late---they were in 6th grade and 3rd grade and we just didn't stay out that late WITH our kids! I remember there was a girl dressed as Moaning Myrtle with a toilet cover around her head---it was hysterical! WE WERE HOOKED! The girls would fight over the books when they first got them and thus the tradition began to purchase TWO of each book at the midnight release---they would stay up all night reading and then I would have one to read during the daytime! It worked out beautifully! And so the fun began every book release! My most memorable was the last book release---David and Caitlin were in Thailand and Caitlin bought a copy there. Joshua went to spend the night with my parents and Hannah and I left and headed to Barnes & Noble for the midnight release......we got there at 2:00pm---yes, we are losers! BUT, we were out of there by 12:03 with our TWO books in hand! Hannah had read the book in 7 hours and then slept awhile.....and then started it again!

This past school year, Joshua began reading through the series. I read a lot of it to him--which was SO fun! I was able to read back through the entire series right along with Joshua. We were able to share these characters together and I had yet another bonding experience with my child over a great piece of literature. I'm no literature expert, BUT, any book that gets kids THIS excited about reading is a special book---and J.K.Rowling wrote 7 of them!

SOOOOOOO, enough about that---the last 24 hours we have had a bit of a Harry Potter fest! We made some Butterbeer. This is a drink in the books and we have made it a few times---There are all sorts of recipes online. We found a few we liked here and adapted them. Here's the recipe we used last night---warning---it's REALLY sweet, so next time we won't use as much cream soda! We doubled this recipe. This makes about 4 -6 servings.

Butterbeer

2- 12oz. bottles IBC Cream Soda

2 T butter

1/3 c. butterscotch chips

10-12 Werther's caramel filled candies

2 c. whipping cream

(1/2 c. whipping cream for recipe

1&1/2 c. whipping cream--whipped up for topping)

dash cinnamon (and nutmeg if you like it)

Over medium heat, melt butter, butterscotch chips, and candies in a saucepan with whipping cream. When fully combined, add cream soda. Be careful to only cook soda long enough to warm it---you want it to still have some fizz. After warming, pour into a coffee mug and top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon & nutmeg-Serve. YUMMMMY!

Then we watched the Deathly Hallows part one together. Hannah went to the midnight showing last night with some friends. This picture was taken with her iPhone and used her Instagram app. SO.WANT.ONE.OF.THOSE!! She took the picture at the very top of this post as well. Joshua had set up the Harry Potter stuff last night and we took pictures of it---it looks pretty cool, don't you think?

Joshua really wanted to dress up today---so he and I did. Hannah wore her time turner, but that's about it. Joshua was full blown Harry Potter and I dressed like Professor Umbridge---everyone HATES Umbridge, but I didn't really have clothes for other characters. All you have to do to dress like Umbridge is wear pink---LOTS of pink and a bow in your hair. I could do that! So, I purchased a horcrux locket at Barnes and Noble and put together lots of pink and I was set!

We had fun----one of Joshua's best friends and his mom came , too.

I'm sorry the glare is so bad on the glasses---I'm sure I could take that off, but I haven't mastered that in my editing software.

Caitlin and Carson joined us, too--but they had to get home to Eve before we got a picture of them. It was sweet to get to share this with everyone---such a great way to end this fun series in our lives. I was looking at the book series at Barnes and Noble yesterday and thinking it wouldn't be long before I purchased them for my grandbabies and I get to start this all over again! That's the beauty of a good book!

{Summer Card Camp Week 3}

2011-07-14T20:28:00.000-04:00

This has been my favorite color combo since the challenge started and I have had NO time to play! WAAAAAAHHHHHH! I finally had a little time yesterday and put this card together. I hadn't used this stamp set yet---I'm so anxious to use it on some scrapbook pages someday---but for today, a card.

I used the Road Trip stamp set. I really love this set and I see so many possibilities for it---scrapbooking pages on travel and adventure, US geography stuff---I really like it.

I added the key with the word "journey" because it worked for this card---and the "adventure awaits" worked for the recipient, too.

I used Distressed Dots paper and the Background Basics: Newsprint on the mat behind the focal point. I love this card---I think mainly because I love this color combo---a little less "wild" than the last two! Details about the card are below---thanks for stopping by---Off to watch Harry Potter 7 in preparation for the final movie tomorrow---butterbeer is waiting! ;D

Adventure Awaits (all PTI products unless noted)
Stamps: Road Trip, Background Basics: Newsprint,
Paper: Kraft, Fine Linen, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy. cardstock, Distressed Dots patterned paper
Ink: Chai & Chamomile Vintage Touch tea dye, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate
Accessories/Embellishments/Tools: Word Keys (Tim Holtz), Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Postage, Double Ended Banners Dies, Pure Poppy Baker's twine, Fine Linen twill

{We Love Chick-fil-A}

2011-07-09T08:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day. We live just minutes from several Chick-fil-A restaurants. One is so close we can walk to in about 5 minutes, so when we eat fast food this is a definite possibility. I have NO reason to talk about this company other than the fact that I love it---they don't know who I am---they don't give me any incentive to do anything for them---and let's face it....the three readers I have already know about the company! ;D (Photo from Chick-fil-A website)

On Cow Appreciation Day if you dress like a cow, you'll get a free meal or entree. WE GOT FREE MEALS---SERIOUSLY! ALL OF US! So, here are a few pictures of our day---So fun!

I wish I had thought of this idea earlier, I would have made Eve and Caitlin a shirt/onesie, too (the onesie would be for Eve---just in case you were wondering.) BUT, this is typical for me---GREAT IDEAS come to me......but they just come REALLY late in the game---like at 9:30 before you're supposed to be at the restaurant at 11:00am.....LATE. BUT, I did manage to get three shirts made----thanks to Heat 'n Bond.

I had some felt I used for Joshua's shirt and some black and white polka dotted material for mine and Hannah's. Heat 'n Bond is the NON-SEWER'S dream---and sadly, that would be me---the non-sewer! You iron the heat n bond paper onto your material, cut it out into cow spot shapes and then peel the paper off and iron it onto your shirt. REALLY simple!

OK--onto the pictures---

(photo from Amazon)

Joshua loves Chick-fil-A---just not having his picture taken!

Me and Caitlin---a friend of hers who works at this location affectionately called Caitlin the "ghetto cow"---she looks beautiful whether she's in a trash bag or a real cow costume.

Eve was so sleepy---so we didn't pull her out of her carseat....there ARE spots under there!

Joshua enjoyed spinning the wheel---you spin and win SOMETHING from Chick-fil-A. EVERY SPIN WINS!!! Whoohoo!

SOOOOOO---keep your eyes peeled for the next Cow Appreciation Day...you could get a free lunch, too....

{Week 2 Card(s) 3}

2011-07-08T21:03:00.001-04:00

I have been in the mini card mood this week. I have no idea why. I have not made many of these, but I just love to include them with a gift or in a lunch box or under a pillow. I made a set of 8 3" square minis all using the same stamp set and paper---simple to put together and lots of fun because they are so small it happens very quickly. I was grateful to have some time to finish these up this morning. I used the same color combo from earlier this week. You can see it below. There are six more color combos up for my class now, but I had already started these. I doubt I'll have much time to stamp over the weekend, but if I do---I'll be sure to show you! I'm getting my card stash built up again and I'm so glad.

Here's the other pear card. All of these cards use one of the Fruit Fusion sets designed for Papertrey Ink by Melissa Bickford. I love her stamps!

Cherry Card #1--I used the Limitless Layers Collection on all of these little cards as well. Dies just make cards happen so much faster--

Cherry Cards together. I must not have gotten a picture of the "Sweet on you" card alone.

Here are the two Strawberry cards---I wasn't as crazy about these---but--truth in stamping....you just don't always like the results!

Apple card 1---I love how you can make the inside or outside of the apples. I used the inside on this one and added a button to the middle with some twine.

Apple card 2---not a great photo. We've had SO much rain (YIPPEE---I LOVE rain), that I haven't had much natural light to take photos of my cards. Anyway, this is one of my favorites, but you really can't see the details of the stamping on this one.

Well, that's it for today. I hope your weekend looks bright! I have quite a few family posts to do---hopefully soon! Enjoy some family time this weekend~ Kathleen

{Week 2 Card 2}

2011-07-07T22:04:00.000-04:00

I had some time to play this morning because Joshua was in Rocky Mount with Caitlin and Carson (and Eve). He spend the night with them at Carson's parent's house and they came home tonight and had dinner with us----THUS the later post. I am working on a little card set, but it's not ready to be photographed yet---hopefully in the morning.

I made a little mini card today---it's a 3" x 3" square. I scored it at 1/2" increments vertically and horizontally. Then I added two pieces of patterned paper , a couple stars, a button and a tag---simple, simple!

I hope to be back tomorrow with another post--I also have some family posts to do....so much to talk about, so little time! ;D

Thoughtful mini-card: (All items PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Flower Fusion 2
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Bitty Box patterned paper in Ripe Avocado & Spring Moss, SS White
Accessories: Score-pal, Rustic cream button twine, Orange Zest vintage button
Tools: Star punches (EK Success)

{Summer Card Camp Week 2}

2011-07-07T00:49:00.000-04:00

I had hoped to get some stamping done before now, but there's this thing called motherhood that sort of took priority over my play time! I did get a card made earlier today---

Here's my card~

I love this stamp set that I used. It's a favorite of mine from Papertrey Ink (surprise!) Friends 'til the End. The flowers are beautiful and it has some of my favorite sentiments. I stamped a bunch of flowers and leaves using versamark ink and then embossed them with white embossing powder. I love to emboss, but I just never do it---I pulled in the second green a little more with the sentiment. I cut them out with scissors.....no die yet....I just keep hoping! I used the dies from Wonderful Words Additions for the "you". That is the greatest die! I love these dies that produce the beautiful cursive words! I've thought of so many words that I'd love to have in "die" form! I hope to have some time to make another card or two tomorrow, but we'll just see. I have some scrapbooking to do too. I'm trying to figure out how to photograph my Project Life pages....I have kept up with it for half a year now and I'm COMMITTED! Hoping to do that before the school year begins! I need to run--thanks for stopping by....I'm so glad you did!

Grateful for you card (all items PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Friends 'til the End
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Simply Chartreuse, & New Leaf
Ink: Versamark Ink (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: Vintage Buttons in Pure Poppy & Summer Sunrise, White Filigree embossing powder, embroidery thread
Tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Wonderful words additions dies,

{Happy 4th of July}

2011-07-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

I hope you are enjoying your day. I hope you don't have to work. I hope you are grateful to live here---even if you don't love everything about America, it's a great place to live and raise a family. I hope you aren't alone today. I hope your surrounded by people you love..........or your family!!! hee! Here are some pictures of my favorite people! Enjoy~these were all taken at beautiful Gulf Shores, AL by my nephew, Jeff Nelson. He is a photographer in the area and I'm sure he'd be happy to take your family photos if you are ever down there. Check out his studio website. He has lots of beautiful photos---not just people!

{One last card from week 1}

2011-07-03T22:13:00.000-04:00

I have one more card I made from my week one in the Summer Card Camp. I meant to post this sooner, but just didn't get it done. Not a lot of talk tonight---just a card!

I used the last color combo on the list and there was a sketch to follow as well---that's the easiest way to make a card! Just pick out some papers and go crazy! I'm trying to use up what I have, so I went WAY BACK to some old paper-Basic Gray's Sultry 6x6 paper pack.

Look at my handsome boy! I had to have a picture today---he looked so handsome for church today and he let me take his picture! What a precious gift he is! Thanks for stopping by~

HB2U card
Paper: Smokey Shadow cardstock (PTI), Basic Grey Sultry patterned papers
Accessories: Basic Grey letter stickers, Foo-fa-la buttons, rustic twine, brown rhinestones (PTI)

{Things I've done so far...part 3}

2011-06-30T00:01:00.001-04:00

Summer Mantle--

In this post I showed you pictures of my spring mantle. I have this very long and not very deep mantle. It has been SO hard for me to make it look "decorated" except at Christmas---I have lived in this house for 11 years and I never have been happy with how it's been decorated. SO, I decided to decorate it seasonally and I am finally satisfied! Now, be warned---it's a bit gaudy! ;D But it's MY mantle, not yours, so no worries. I made a summer banner, too. I hope to finish my fall and Christmas banners this summer so they will be ready to go. The banner is what takes me so long to make!

Here are most of the letters in my banner. It says "Welcome Summer"---I am usually excited for summer to get here, but THIS year I was just plain grateful for summer to finally come. I needed some time to slow down and regroup---thus the "Welcome Summer". I used the Papertrey Banner Builders dies and a bunch of random paper I had. I had such fun making this~

I put up pictures of the kids at the beach in frames that I found on clearance at Target. I'm not usually a blue person---decorating in blue I mean---but there was a lot of blue this year and I had already purchased the red, white and blue buckets from the dollar spot--so I picked up a couple blue frames and then added other blue I had around the house.

One of the things I have done is kept lights out on the mantle every season---my den is pretty dark, so this helps to brighten things up a bit. I bought those little grapevine ball lights that you use on your patio umbrellas and used them on my mantle this year. This would look even better if I had lit all of my candles---I'm a little crazy when it comes to candles....I like them........a lot. (Don't tell my 9th grade English teacher that I used that---she hated it when we used "a lot"--or "alot" as we usually wrote it....but I digress.) Now you understand why my blog is titled "nelson ramblings"....I tend to do this.

I'm done---! Mantle is done---I'm starting my next project today.....crossing fingers that it works like it looks in my mind.....we'll see!

{Summer Card Camp 2}

2011-06-29T17:47:00.000-04:00

One of the techniques that was used in Card camp this week was making a die cut window. I immediately thought of this card, but I didn't have the star dies that I needed.....I tend to buy a lot of what Papertrey presents me every month but when I saw these star dies I didn't get them.....twice since then I have thought how great they would be on a card.....oh well. NEXT MONTH!

Anyway, I did have star punches, so I used those to make this quick window card. I punched stars in the blue layer and then traced them on the white cardstock beneath. Leaving a little bit of white around the edge, I used my Fiskars craft knife and cut out the stars. I ran the blue layer through my Cuttlebug using the Linen & Canvas impression plate. I put red on the inside of the card to tie it all together. I added a little banner strip with the sentiment and then put some buttons on. I didn't go with the Summer Card Camp color combo this time---but I did use the technique....and I made a card for a friend who always has us over for July 4th! SCORE!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! It's nice to get crafty again after so long! I have a few more "Things I've done so far" posts coming up! And I'm starting on a new project tomorrow....this one could go terribly wrong! Hopefully not---but it does have the potential to be a total disaster! Do I have your interest piqued? :D

July 4th Card (all products Papertrey Ink unless noted)
Stamps: Vintage Picnic
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Pure Poppy, White & Cream mix Vintage Buttons, Enchanted Evening baker's twine, Cuttlebug (Provocraft), Linen & Canvas Impression plate, Star Punches (EK Success), Double-Ended Banners

{Summer Card Camp card}

2011-06-28T17:21:00.000-04:00

I have had very little motivation to stamp/create lately---well, cards anyway. But I am SERIOUSLY low on cards and I'm sorry---I just can't spend $4 on a card when I have thousands (yes, probably thousands) of dollars invested in card making paraphanalia! SOOOOO, I decided I needed to make a bunch of cards this summer so I'd have some in stock when the crazy school year rolled around. I signed up for a card class---I've never done this. Frankly, there's just so much inspiration out there on blogs that is free, I've never been able to fork over the money for a class---until I saw THIS CLASS!!!

It's going to be great! I've had two days so far and I love it--The mojo is slow to arrive, but I did finally get a card made! I don't have a lot of time to talk about it--- so I'll just show it to you and you can see the details below! It's way simple---but hey, it's a start! And, I apologize for the photos---right when I was about to photograph the card, "there come up a storm"---as some people around NC say!!! So all is dark. Since I don't have a light box---this is about the best I could do! Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for stopping by!

~Kathleen

Thanks so Much! (all items Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #1Paper: Stamper's Select White, 2008 Bitty Box, Bitty Dot, & Bitty Star Basics, and In Bloom patterned paper, Clearly Creative CardstockInk: Jet Black StazOnAccessories: 1 1/4" circle punch (EK Success), Raspberry Fizz & Spring Rain vintage buttons, Enchanted Evening Baker's Twine, pinking shears, Pop dots

{Eve's First Beach Trip}

2011-06-27T22:46:00.000-04:00

Look at this beautiful family! I love this picture!! Carson and Caitlin took Eve to Gulf Shores, AL for a Nelson family reunion a couple weeks ago. I love these pictures of Eve putting her feet in the water for the first time---enjoy!

Hmmmmm, not sure what to do with this!

I love her thighs....I wish those were as cute when you get older...yeah, they're not....

I think she likes it.....

ummmmm, well, I'm not sure

yeah, DEFINITELY NOT.....get me out of here!

Daddy comforting her---feeling better....

love this one---how sweet is that?

Eve is four months old tomorrow---hard to believe! What a precious gift she is to our family!

{Things I've done so far....part 2}

2011-06-26T07:22:00.000-04:00

A quick post before I head to worship! Another project I've tackled this summer is my side porch-- I had a couple of these planters before I started, so all I had to purchase was the plants! YEA! This only took a little while to hang the planters and toss some soil and plants into the pots, but what a difference it makes. I found a black bench at my local Ace Hardware store, but when I went back to purchase it, it was gone----WAAAAAHHHH! It would look perfect here---a couple red pillows and I'd be SET! Do you have an Ace near you with a black bench for me? OHHHHHHH, I wish I had purchased it when I first saw it----but long bench and Ford Focus just don't go together!

I appologize for the pictures---the sun wasn't my friend on this day---but I'm obviously not the serious blogger, or I'd have taken them again.....and again if necessary! Oh well---

Do you love caladiums? I truly do---I'm so happy to have a place full of shade to put them in!

I found this on clearance at Lowes----$5.48......I had to have it! I had a gift card anyway, but I sure love finding a bargain!

I hope this basket won't get too much sun---it's on the corner and it may get too much for my caladiums to survive---we'll see!

Thanks for stopping by today---off to get ready for church---

{Things I've done so far...part 1}

2011-06-25T08:42:00.000-04:00

One of the things I love about summer is the extra time I have to catch up on long neglected projects. Here's the beginning of some of the things I have gotten done this summer----lots more on my list......I hope this will be a regular post title until the insanity of the school year begins!

I received some birthday money this year---in April---and I had several ideas of how I wanted to spend it. I decided to buy this deck set. When I saw the whole thing half price at Target, I decided it was time to make the purchase. WHY, OH WHY, did I not get a picture of the old set before it was removed? It was pitiful---the glass had broken in it a couple of years ago before we had our new deck built. So we had a piece of plywood on top of it with a table cloth over it---classy! The frame of the table had also broken, so it sat a little wonky (nice choice of words, don't you think?) and the chairs were nasty and spat out rusty water when you first sat down in them....yeah, I definitely should have taken pictures!

Here's a picture, but it really doesn't do the "tacky" justice! I probably moved the chairs out of the picture because I didn't want them in it! Anyway, NOW I have this beautiful dinner table that seats six. Two of the chairs are in other corners of the deck, but can easily be moved to the table. NOW----"Why is this post titled, 'Things I've done so far' " you ask? Because I put all of this together with my own two hands---one allen wrench, two other wrenches, and a screwdriver later and voila! A new deck set....

Oh, and the boxes provided all sorts of fun for Joshua as well---gotta love bulding hideaways in your own living room! Of course, most of the time the box was closed. He just let me peek in here to take a couple pictures.

A little lunch and a movie in the hideaway---he was set for HOURS!

{a party for the traveler}

2011-06-07T00:01:00.001-04:00

We had a little party for Hannah to welcome her home from her time abroad. Many of her friends from high school were able to come. It was great to see them after their first year of college! SO much has happened in their lives in the last year.

I had to show this picture---I need to get a close up, but check out Hannah's jeans---she had everyone from the team sign them and many of her home stay family members, too. They will have to be framed someday!

Daniel and Annetta

Kristin and Kelsey---beautiful girls!

Caitlin and Lauren---here with Anna, Lauren's youngest

Susan--holding Eve who is OUT! and Kristin---dear friends

the food---mama's brownies, hummus and veggies/pita chips, strawberries/grapes and fruit dip, corn dip (still in the oven), and these beautiful cookies!

How CUTE are these? I ordered them from Allison's cookies. I highly recommend them---they not only look good--but they TASTE good, too! I had her make some cookies for a wedding shower a couple weeks ago and they were beautiful. Such talent!

{Please Come to Boston for the springtime...}

2011-06-06T00:01:00.001-04:00

........sorry, I couldn't resist that!!!

Hannah had a graduation celebration from Thinking Beyond Borders (TBB) in Boston on Mother's Day weekend. Caitlin, Carson and Eve didn't make this trip, but Joshua and I flew out to meet David at the Boston airport and then rent a car to travel out to Babson College where the graduation festivities took place.

We talked to Hannah after we picked up the car and she was near Harvard Square, so we decided to meet her there. Todd Moore had accompanied Sarah Beth and met Annetta Kinton and Kristin Martin in Boston, too. What a sweet thing for these friends to come to see Hannah and celebrate this experience with her---anyway, they were in the Harvard area, too, so we decided that the girls would all meet there.

THIS was the sweetest moment of the weekend.

or maybe this....

....or maybe this

....ummmm, this

We had several events that weekend and the TBB students presented their Presentations of Learning to family and friends who were there. Friday night there was a more formal event and Robin Pendoley, one of the founders of TBB asked Hannah to present part of her South Africa media project with the group. It was a very personal, raw piece of journaling that she had put together in South Africa. She read several entries to the group and people were moved to tears---she told of her own struggles on this trip---very personal struggles and how she was trying to reconcile these struggles and those of the people she was serving there in South Africa with her faith. She read to us what she had written from her heart and it was beautiful. Vulnerability is a beautiful thing, I've decided.

She decided to take her shoes off so she would be more comfortable---I love that about Hannah! She's always been comfortable with who she is.

This is a picture of her "Raleigh friends", Todd, David and me at the Friday night event.

Saturday was the actual graduation and it was bittersweet. Sweet to be going "home"--sleeping in her own bed---however humble that may be. But, how do you say goodbye to these friends---your "nomadic family" as they called themselves---after so many months together? Here are a few pictures of the goodbyes.

Hannah and the boys

girl band---

Hannah with Kasha & Mckinley--I love this picture of all of them!

the group

This isn't great---some people are covered up, but I didn't really get a great picture of the group all together---I'm sure someone did and hopefully I can get a copy of it someday.

Hannah is now home and adjusting to this "normal" life again---whatever normal is. She is questioning many things and pondering all that she's learned. There is a lot for her to process. She's thinking of which courses she'll take in school in the fall and sleeping alot! I think she'll make me---and our whole family more aware of Christ's goodness in our lives and ways we can serve those around us. So glad to have her home!

{Good Friends}

2011-06-05T09:37:00.000-04:00

I'm not a philosopher---TRUST ME! This is one thing I know FOR SURE---but, I have read some---emphasis on SOME philosophy and I find myself truly grateful for God's wisdom from notable philosophers. I haven't actually found this quote in a primary source, so I suppose I shouldn't put it here, but hey, I'm not trying to write a thesis---just a mom blog---SO, here it is:

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit~

Aristotle

In April (yes, I know, I'm SERIOUSLY behind on blogging), some of my dearest friends and I had a chance to get together for breakfast. It was a sweet time of catching up---life goes by so fast. These women have been the dearest friends to me. It was such a treat to get together and visit---even if it was only for a couple hours. Some of these women I have known for a long time---not 20 years---but enough years to know I love them. Enough years to see the fruit of friendship grow in our lives.

Joshua had a sleepover (again in April) with one of his closest friends and they graciously allowed me to snap these two pictures (well, I took a ton, but these two were priceless~). They were just out in the yard playing football and I took my camera out. I love that I was able to catch a natural smile---I had to print these for myself and Justin's mom---these are the pictures that go in the graduation picture pile!! I hope for these two boys that the Lord will continue to knit their hearts together to develop a deep, rich friendship.

They were about to watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail----popcorn was a must! I LOVE 10 year old boys---to hear them quoting parts of The Holy Grail already---such a proud moment!!!

Hannah's three best friends flew up to Boston to be with her at her Thinking Beyond Borders graduation. I have an upcoming post about that weekend---it was very sweet. These girls have been together since 4th grade. God has blessed them with very different personalities and interests, but one thing they do have in common---they genuinely love each other. Their friendship "tree" has seen great joys and genuine hardship---much fruit has been developed on this tree and I hope much more will come in their future~

These are some of Caitlin's best friends---(doesn't Cait look amazing? She had just had a baby, you know!) Since Caitlin doesn't live here anymore, I don't have as many opportunities to take pictures of her friends. There are many other pictures on her blog. Check it out!

What a sweet gift from the Lord to have good friends---I am SO grateful that I--and my children--have the opportunity to grow into friendship with such amazing people.

{Congratulations Carson}

2011-05-17T22:57:00.000-04:00

Saturday---exactly one year after he married my Caitlin, Carson graduated from the MAC program at State. We attended graduation---my first public university graduation in a really long time.....oh my---it was long and irreverent----are YOU a screamer at graduations? REALLY? I can just tell you ONE thing---the girls behind us were VERY excited for Ashley----or as she was often called in the extreme screams: ASH.A.LEY!

SOOOOOOO funny---ok, really irritating, but I decided to let it go and laugh (aren't you proud of me?) Here's Carson walking across the stage---these pictures aren't great, but they are the best I have---

Carson and his Dad---Randy is a State alum, too.

Carson with his family

Carson with our family---Joshua is getting so tall I won't be able to hide behind him much longer! ;D

The happy family! So sweet!

I'm so proud of Carson---he is such a gift to my family. He has shown us unconditional love and kindness. He is a blessing, and I am grateful~

{Dying Easter Eggs}

2011-05-02T05:00:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is dye Easter eggs---I didn't know if Joshua would still be willing to indulge me this year since he's "so grown up"--but he did....just don't tell any of his friends! The beautiful thing about this is that my son may be too old to indulge me in the next few years, but I DO have a beautiful grandbaby who will LOVE playing with dye and making sugar cookies and eating peeps and participating in all that makes up the crafty fun of Easter!

Yeah, we had a few eggs to dye.....

On some of the eggs Joshua just poured dye over the eggs--they looked really cool.

~love this boy!

Thanks for stopping by to visit....it makes me smile to know you've come by!

{a visit to DC}

2011-05-01T16:19:00.000-04:00

On Friday, April 15, Joshua and I headed to my sister's house in Falls Church, VA.....not only did we have a chance to spend time with my sister and her family, but we got to spend the weekend with Hannah! It was so great to spend so much time with her. We had only one thing on our agenda---other than that we just hung out. Joshua spent much of his time down in the basement with the HUGE TV watching old recordings of the Get Smart TV Show....he LOVES those and gets to watch them when he goes to his cousins' house. They own the whole series, so he just chooses a season and pushes a button to watch it~I didn't have to work too hard though to get him up the stairs to hang out with Hannah. We bring her home in a week...and we are SO ready!

The "thing" on our agenda while we were there was a fundraiser on Saturday afternoon for my sister's new ministry, Chosen Families. I have mentioned this before in a thanksgiving post about Shannon. Chosen Families is a place to find hope and encouragement and to help the church reach out to families with loved ones who have "hidden disabilities". I think we all know someone and many of us have family members with these disabilities: anxiety, asperger, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, learning disabilities, tourette syndrome among others. Her fundraiser was so lovely---it was at the home of a friend who was an amazing hostess. Here are some pictures of the lovely spread that she laid out for those attending.

Little ham sandwiches---hmmmm

This was SOOOO beautiful to me---and one of my favorite appetizers ever.

tiny carrot cake muffins---so beautiful and tasty

.....those little sandwiches were so pretty---can you see the ones that look like calla lilies--WHAT? I just admire someone who can make food just as beautiful as it is tasty! Love that.

The speaker that day was Emily Colson, daughter of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship & Breakpoint. She has just written a new book called Dancing with Max that chronicles her life with her 20 year old son who has autism. What a sweet story she shared. It was encouraging to hear from someone who has lived this life for 20 years now and is joyful and grateful for what God is doing in her life through this treasure that is her son.

Sunday was my birthday and I had a lovely day. We went to church with my sister's family. It was a special treat to be next to Hannah in worship. She has had very little opportunity to attend worship since she's been on this journey and I know she will never again take church attendance for granted. We went home and had a restful afternoon. My nephew, Nathan made me---yes, MADE WITH HIS OWN HANDS a special dessert for my birthday---chocolate mousse. The only sad part to the day was having to take Hannah back to where she was staying with the TBB group. On our way, we saw the most beautiful moon---I mean this HUGE full moon over the Capitol---oh my it was amazing. As I dropped her off I couldn't help but be reminded of God's strong hand. HE placed that moon in the sky. He holds me in his STRONG and mighty hand. And HE will sustain me and all of his children in the life he GIVES us to lead. All of that from a moon! GOD is so much bigger than any problems we may have and HE is so faithful to sustain us.

Here's a picture of Joshua and Hannah with their cousins--Caleb & Nathan.

~oh, and one more---of course.

{Easter 2011}

2011-04-28T22:24:00.001-04:00

Easter 2011 was a sweet one! Praise the Lord for sweet days~

Easter came at the end of my spring break. I had spent the first weekend in DC with my sister and her family and had gotten to see Hannah, too. I'll post about that later this week, but I had to put my Easter pictures up first! I had anxiously awaited Easter so I could hang out with Caitlin and Carson, and of course sweet Eve. They had gone to Rocky Mount to visit Daisy (Carson's mom's grandmother name...........oh and the rest of the family) most of my spring break, so I was SO excited to get to see them. [And, can I just say "YEA! for loving in-laws"? I don't know how many people you know who have issues with inlaws, but I KNOW, personally how great it is to wonderful in-laws. AND I'm SO grateful to the Lord for the gift he gave Caitlin when she married into the Guy clan. What a blessing to have a sweet family on "the other side"!]
OK---back to the post at hand! A post in pictures, I think!

TABLE!!!

I went a little casual this year---I found this tablecloth at Target in the Easter section, but it was out of place and I just happened upon it---I LOVE a nice tablecloth for $12.99!

And, of course, everyone needs a placecard at a party table....and EVERYONE needs a chocolate bunny on Easter. I didn't have time to make much for this celebration, so I went to Lindt and picked up a tasty "placecard" and then made a quick tag---

I had a combination of flowers from Caitlin and Carson for my birthday and then a fresh bouquet of roses from Fresh Market. I just wanted the table to be happy and bright and it was!

FOOD!!!

Appetizers---healthy---well, the fruit and veggies were healthy....not necessarily the dips! BUT THERE WAS HUMMUS---a healthy alternative!

Here is a close up of the appetizers---that fruit dip up above---DIVINE! Recipe will follow in another post! I didn't get a picture of all the food, so I'm just not going to post the rest---but, it was yummy----capped off with a Key Lime Pie from Winston's Grille---one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. You can read more about it in this post.

A few things were left at my house for Eve---I have NO idea how this happened...

Joshua got a few different things in his Easter basket--one of them was this basketball hoop and NUMEROUS games of horse have already been played....a fun indoor activity! He's having so much fun with this! (Of course it helps that he's generally playing with me and I'm REALLY AWFUL!)

PEOPLE!!!

Carson has one of Eve's gifts in his pocket---this little bunny was from Hannah. She picked it up on her trip---maybe in India? I'm not sure---it's a quirky little bunny!

I thought this picture was so sweet of them! Eve was getting pretty hungry at this point, so she was getting fussy.

My mom---"Grandy" with Eve---how sweet is this?

The Guy family!

I love this picture! I was just able to catch them trying to settle Eve down--sweet!

Taylor joined us for lunch---YEA!!! She's holding Eve here---her namesake!

I have several posts to type up---we'll see how much I get done in the next few days---tomorrow is yard day---SO. MUCH. TO. DO! We'll see if I get it all done! I hope your weekend is a great one~

{Something crafty....finally}

2011-04-21T15:20:00.000-04:00

{HAPPY}

{SPRING}

My mantle is REALLY long and really shallow, so I have a hard time decorating it. Just recently, I decided that I needed to make it a seasonal thing instead of just a year round, one time only ordeal. I always LOVE my mantle at Christmas, so I decided to do something similar several times a year---seasonally, to make it look like I want it. I have had the dies to make these banners for several months, but I haven't had the opportunity to use them until now. I wish these photos were better, but I've included pictures of the individual letters since they aren't-- I so enjoyed making this. It's been so long since I've had the time or creative energy to make anything. I started these almost 6 weeks ago, but didn't get them finished until a week or two ago---just NO TIME! I will put the details at the bottom if you are interested in any of these products---they weren't hard to make since I had the dies that cut the shapes out---it was really a matter of cutting things out and then putting the pieces together. Great products really save time---anyway, here are the individual pictures of the banner pieces for your springtime enjoyment! ;D

{---I used these brackets to separate the words

}

{

}

{Happy Spring} Banner Details:
Dies: Boxy Banners, Banner Borders, Mat Stack 1, 4 & 5
Limitless Layers, Doily Details Collection, Butterfly, Love Lives Here Collection, Flower Fusion
Ink: Chamomile & Chai Blend Vintage Touch Inking System
Accessories: Vintage Buttons , Twine, Bookprint, Rhinestones, Thickers, Cuttlebug

{I heart NYC!!!}

2011-04-19T23:20:00.000-04:00

There is so much to love about New York---the shows, the art, the museums, the numerous languages you hear as you walk down a street, the busy streets and sidewalks....and so much more. But this post is about food! NEW YORK HAS GREAT FOOD!!! I didn't even get pictures of everything because I didn't want to totally embarrass my family. I would have taken pictures of every bit of food that each one of us had---but I used some restraint! Here are some pictures of SOME of the food we ate and some SERIOUS endorsements of our restaurants!

After we picked up Hannah, we went back to the hotel and dropped her luggage off and then headed out for a walk and an early lunch. We went to Ray's pizza for lunch....we had heard about Rays---we prefer John's, but we were hungry and the sign said, "75 cents a slice"---so we thought, "SCORE"----yeah, we're suckers that way. Don't get me wrong---the pizza was good and HUGE slices---BUT, it cost us $69....and no, we didn't eat 92 pieces of pizza between the 6 of us!!!! Uh, some of our pieces apparently cost $5....so that "75 cent" thing---it worked for Ray that day! Oh well, it's New York and Hannah was with us and we just didn't care. Can I just say, one piece of Ray's pizza is probably enough, or one and a half at most---here, Joshua is living with the reality of two pieces of Ray's pizza....

We had to have Starbucks break after our pizza....I think there is a Starbucks ON EVERY CORNER in New York, so you sort of feel obligated to go to at least ONE! Yeah, this picture isn't great----but it does show that we went there....it was raining and we were waiting inside while David and Joshua hailed a cab for us....I promise Caitlin and Carson really aren't mad at me....or I didn't think so!

Friday night we went to a little Italian Restaurant near our hotel---we wanted something affordable, but not fast food. Our concierge recommended a family friendly little place around the corner called Amarone. We had a good meal in a quaint little place--linen table cloths, but not linen prices! David had mussels. He really likes them and these were good. This is one place where I only got one picture and it's this one.....yes, next time I'll just take whatever pictures I want....yeah, I probably won't, but I like to talk tough!

Saturday morning we went to my favorite little place in NYC for breakfast: Le Pain Quotidian! They have the BEST CAPPUCCINO in NYC! And, I must add, I think they have the best oatmeal I have EVER eaten, too. David loves their bread and meat plate....he's not a breakfast fan, so this is right up his alley. There are others around the country, you should try it if you ever find one.....honestly......LOVE the cappuccino! Everything is organic and fresh---it's really a great breakfast (and they serve other meals as well, we just love their breakfast)! They have a communal table where you sit right next to someone you've never seen---there's something wonderful about that! It's a HAVE to for me when I go to New York!

We went to a show Saturday night, so we ate dinner really late. We just went to a little restaurant on the corner of 48th right in the middle of the theater district, Sombrero. The Nelson's will always try a mexican food place---and it was pretty good.

Sunday morning we had a quick breakfast in the room and then headed out for an early lunch. We went to my favorite deli in New York-- Carnegie Deli. The Pastrami is A.MAZ.ING! Honestly, it's so good. Hannah LOVES a turkey sandwich----and THIS is a turkey sandwich!

She took half of the meat out so she could get her mouth around the sandwich, and still took half of the sandwich back to the hotel and had it for dinner that night!

This is a picture of the pastrami sandwich, (photo courtesy of Carnegie Deli website) but we had it made with swiss on rye bread. David and I split it and there was still pastrami on both of our plates when we finished. Caitlin and Carson had a roast beef sandwich, but I didn't get a picture of it.

Joshua is not a deli sandwich fan, so he ordered a hamburger----OH.MY.GOSH!!!

I couldn't resist taking several pictures of this burger and the progress he made.

I did use my phone instead of my big camera....just to keep my family happy!

And finally---as if you aren't FULL ENOUGH after that sandwich, you HAVE to at least try a bite of their world famous cheesecake! We only got one piece to share because we were just too full. They actually have their Cheesecake recipe on their website if you are interested.

So, there it is---the food we had in New York on this trip. We really didn't plan our meals for this trip because we knew we just wanted to hang out and didn't really care where we ate....but we still were able to get to two of our favorites while we were there.

So, what are your favorite places to eat in New York? I'd love to know so I can try them the next time I'm there! More NYC stuff to come......thanks for stopping by!

{A visit with the traveler!}

2011-04-18T12:01:00.007-04:00

Oh my---it finally happened! On April 1st, we rose early and headed to New York City to see Hannah for the first time since September 8, 2010. She had the entire weekend off and we got to hang out with her all weekend. Her group arrived at JFK from South Africa at 7:30 that morning. We were at the hotel by 10:00 AM and they arrived around 10:30---it was a sweet reunion. Most of the families were there and they greeted their children with squeals and screams and tears. We did a lot of fun things while we were in New York---but here is the initial reunion. I'll share some other pictures of the weekend later.

Meeting Eve (who looks just like Hannah's baby pictures) for the first time!

I love this picture of Hannah and Carson. So sweet~

Poor Hannah---just off of a really long flight and mom is flashing pictures.

Sweet!

.....ummmm, yeah, this is what happens when you send your child overseas for a really long time---she wears socks with her rainbows and thinks it's OK........NOT OK! ;D

{Grandy's Birthday}

2011-04-17T14:41:00.000-04:00

Oh my----I feel like I say this every time I blog lately, BUT.....I can't believe it's been SO long since my last post. I just wish I had more time! Almost a month ago, I had a little birthday party for my mom. Caitlin and Carson and Joshua and I had her and daddy over to celebrate her birthday. They were headed out to Austin on her actual birthday, so we got together the Sunday before. Here are a few pictures of our celebration--nothing fancy, just a time to be grateful for and celebrate my mom, Barbara Jean Hostetter O'Chester.

We started out with a cake from Christie Haas---I picked it up at church and smashed the front up a bit on the way home---nice....fortunately messing up the icing doesn't effect the taste---

On the way home, "someone"---who shall remain nameless, but according to the laws of North Carolina has to remain in the backseat out of the watchful eye of his mother---managed to eat two of the "polka dots" OFF THE FRONT OF THE CAKE.....so I moved two from the back to the front....isn't being 10 the best?

The composition of this picture isn't good, but I wanted to capture the table, so here it is.

Sweet Eve, just after being removed from the carseat----I love that little sweaty head and scrunched up face.....not to mention the tutu!

The Birthday Girl---just before dessert!

A picture with Carson---love that young man!

Grandy with her first great grandbaby....and her only one for awhile, I assume!

Grandy & Papa with Eve

Four generations! Me, Caitlin, Barbara & Eve---what a blessing!

Thanks for stopping by today. It's spring break at the Nelson house, so hopefully I can catch up on my blogging---forgive me for being so long in between posts! LOTS has happened--but priorities don't leave me any time to blog!

{eve's first bath!}

2011-03-17T22:32:00.000-04:00

Oh my.....it's happened---I will apologize right now for the blatantly sappy and overly obnoxious "my grandchild is the most wonderful grandchild in the world" post. YEP---it's below---SOOOOOO, if you don't want to read this---move on....it won't hurt my feelings----well, it probably would, but I won't really know!

Joshua and I went over to Caitlin's today after he got out of school. We just hung out and had dinner. While I was changing Eve's diaper we saw her WHOLE belly button....YEA!!!! The umbilical cord had finally fallen off and she could have a real bath! I was SOOOOO excited that I got to be there for this sweet moment---yes, I know that there will be HUNDREDS more of these, but there's something sweet about the first bath---mostly, I just love a just washed baby in a towel, don't you? Here are a few pictures from our night! (ok, a lot of pictures!)

Just before her bath---don't they look GREAT ;D

She never cried! I think all three of mine cried like crazy in the tub for the first time---but not Eve---I'm POSITIVE it's superior parenting--I wish I could have been this comfortable with my babies!

Almost done!

LOVE THAT WRAPPED UP BABY!!!

BEAUTIFUL---love that boy!

SO, if you're still here, you are either a grandparent or you are quite indulgent...thanks either way! My mom's birthday is coming up and we are celebrating this weekend--hopefully I can post some pictures of that sweet event!