Writer's Workshop

Writer's Workshop is Hosted by Mama Kat over at Mama's Losin' It. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll hurl... maybe not that last one but the first two for sure. Visit there to see more of Writer's Workshop and to read about Kat's crazy game of Scrabble.

Ok... here we go... I will do this fast... because I'm tired and I want to go to bed.

So #2 because I'm tired enough to not read past that. #2... appropriate since my entire day revolves around poo. But no worries... this post is not about that.

2.) Describe in detail a person who leaves no stone unturned.

Its me... I am the one who leaves no stone unturned. Mainly when a piece of a set is missing. It drives me insane and I will turn the house upside down looking for that idiotic pony shoe, or the yellow marker, or the jellyfish card... I even go as far as to yell, "NO ONE DOES ANYTHING UNTIL THAT BLUE M IS FOUND AND STICKING TO THE FRIDGE WITH THE REST OF THE LETTERS!!!!!" Seriously it must be some kind of brain glitch because I connot relax until I find that piece. I may be somewhat of a control freak but in most areas I have learned to let it go. I mean, I will let the entire house sink into a state of utter disrepair but let that Little People polar bear go missing and I am a woman on a mission. No one eats or sleeps or plays or bathes until the bear is found! GOT IT!



Don't judge me.

Watch Me Wednesday... Giveaway Extravaganza Results

Yay!


Here it is... the result you have been waiting for!
Who won... who won... who won???

First...

I had to compile my list, type and print out all the entries, cut them all to roughly the same size, then My Love was convinced that they needed to be folded in half. Old school I know, but ya can't trust computers for everything.



























:-p

Okaaaaaaaay... now we're ready.

Congratulations!!!

Tabi @ Tabi Rambles On

I highly suggest stopping by her blog to give her some congratulatory comment love telling her she won the best dern giveaway in here-o blogosphere. While there take a look around her awesome blog, get hooked and return for more. Tabi is a super mom with a great sense of humor.

Tabi, Email me your address and I'll ship you your Super Deluxe Dinner and a Movie Plus Dessert Ultimate Autumnal Stimulus Package with the fastest shipping I can buy.

~please allow six to eight weeks for delivery ;-)~

Now, if for some reason Tabi has fallen off the face of the Earth and does not claim her winnings within, lets say, two weeks... then the prize package will go to Heidi @ Moms, Ministry, and More. Another awesome blog from a Mom dealing with the special challenges of momming and ministering overseas.

So Tabi... speak up or forever hold yer peace. ;-D

A HUGE thank you to all my friends and readers for entering the giveaway, I wish I could send something to you all (~sigh~ now I have guilt). Also, Thank you for keeping up with my dull, yawn worthy blog. At times it does act as more of a personal scrapbook of moments I want to remember rather than something that should entertain the general public, but its such a good feeling to know you're alive. Its such a happy feeling, growing inside. You make me wake up ready to say, I think I'll make a new blog post today *snap*snap* ... sorry :-/

God Bless :-)

Day 5... 100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza ~ Last Chance

It is the last day to enter!

To view Day 1 and see what you may win
click the pic above.

I couldn't drag you all here kicking a screaming for a whole week without sharing with you my testimony. I wrote it out so I could share it at church at my Pastor's request. Then I posted it to my Blog on March 12, 2007. Click on the date if you are drawn to read the complete version.

For the three minute (or less) version read on.

And me He made alive, who was dead in trespasses and sins, in which I once walked according to the course of this world... But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved me, even when I was dead in trespasses, made me alive together with Christ (by grace I have been saved), and raised me up, and made me sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus... For by grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest I should boast.

Okay, so that is a passage from Ephesians but I hope you get the picture. I am who I am because of Christ, not because of anything I have done. To God be the glory.

Now, for one of my favorite moments from January 27, 2007.


Spit Happens

So James, Eden and I (as in me) were left home to fend for ourselves as My Love went to pick up K from Awanas. We kept busy for a time by going through the toy basket and crawling around on the floor. I found Gumby and gave him a voice and with him got J to review his colors and animals and shapes and so on. However, J is three and a half so his attention span shifted, rather quickly, to wanting a video. Since Christmas, the video of choice has been Cars. If you haven’t seen it, do. It’s great for the whole fam. Just be aware that some younger kids might balk at the end of the tractor scene and Lightning’s dream sequence at the Cozy Cone afterward. Anyway, I said, “No.” much to J’s disappointment. To distract his brain from the agony of denial I started blowing spit bubbles (OK…the first one was an accident but we won’t go into that). For the next ten minutes, I kid you not, J and E took turns popping my spit bubbles with their fingers. They were laughing hysterically. Gumby even got to pop a few.

I guess my point is if you need to distract someone, kill some time, or even if you find yourself in an awkward situation, try blowing a spit bubble. I bet who ever you’re with will smile…even if it is in disgust.

Day 2..... Giveaway guidelines

Day 3

Day 4


Come back for Watch Me Wednesday to see who won the 100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza!

Whew! I'm exhausted :-p

Day 4... 100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza

Remember, you gotta comment to be entered into the Giveaway extravaganza!

To view Day 1 and see what you may win
click the pic above.

So Mama Kat is the hostess with the mostest for Writer's Workshop, where you pick a prompt and write and share. I chose ...choose... have chosen ??? BLARG! I picked #4.

One thing I love to do with my spare brain power (albeit in low amounts) is create new words to common songs so they fit my life. I do it for my kids, inserting their names and characteristics when I can. It always makes them laugh. Often, I create new lyrics for my own pleasure as sort of a stress relief. Because even though my brain is continuously sucked dry by the activities of the day there are still those little voices that are never quieted. This one entered (and exited) my mind on September 25, 2007. The situation was not as dire as some of the words would lead you to believe but I think every Mommy of young children can relate.

A Housewife's Song

Sung to the tune of I Can See Clearly Now

I can see dust now the blinds are drawn.
I can see little hand prints everywhere.
Gone are the clean panes, the stains have come.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.

I can see pet hair all over the floor.
I'd use the vacuum but it don't work no more.
Cobwebs are hanging from everywhere.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.

Look all around there's nothing but clothes to fold.
Look under the bed there's dust bunnies to scold.....

The sink is full again and I have no soap.
The cupboards empty and there is no hope,
Cuz there's sticky kids runnin' everywhere.

Its gonna be a long, hard working day.
Its gonna be a long (long), hard (hard) working day.


Maybe it'll be sung for the next "I See What You're Saying" :-0

Maybe not ;-)

Day 2..... Giveaway guidelines

Day 3

For another awesome 100th post celebration giveaway go visit
Sandy Toes at A Shell in your Pocket.

Day 3...100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza ~ Watch Me Wednesday

To view Day 1 and see what you may win
click the pic above.

Once upon a time in a land I wish was faaaaaar away there were two dinosaurs, a unicorn, a bunny, a meadow, and a baby who all lived in the land of Crib. One time, as the long day reached dusk.....





.....and they all lived very crankily ever after.

THE END

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program. :-p This is my third post from April 20, 2006. I didn't intend to go in order but after the first week or so I started to bore even myself. LOL!

Privacy, Please

So, privacy and personal space is a big deal to me. I am not a real touchy feely person. I hate crying in front of people which often keeps me from reading scripture, prayers, hymns or spiritual thoughts out loud. Inevitably, when I do any of these I begin to blubber uncontrollably and I am not one of those talented types who can talk and cry at the same time.

Anyway, I am not big on sharing personal info. My husband, on the other hand (hi, My Love), doesn't seem to mind. When he found out I had started a blog he says, "Ya know what's cool? Now you can post pictures of the kids and the new baby and our family and friends can see them whenever they want."

PANIC - PANIC!

First of all, the thought of complete strangers being able to look at pictures of our kids makes me feel icky, and second, I didn't realize that people I know might be reading this! I don't know what I thought...perhaps strangers from another galaxy would begin reading my blog so there would be no danger of discussing my entries face to face. It didn't occur to me that people I know would be reading this or wanting to discuss something I wrote. Oh, the pain and anguish of accountability!

Not that the things I write are going to be off color in any sense of the phrase, but when I write I am in a completely different zone. Writing, for me, utilizes a totally different part of my brain that isn't always available in face to face combat situations. When writing I feel as if I am in complete control of myself. I do not stutter or repeat or make snarky comments that no one gets...ok, maybe I do that last one when I write, but at least I don't have to see the blank stares and hear the courtesy laughs.

I guess the real issue is that I have a fear of being a big, fat, hypocrite and not knowing it. Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise to know that if anyone reads this it will most likely be someone I know. Be gentle. I am still trying to figure out what I want to do here.


Its funny, looking back I can honestly say... MAN I'm wordy. :-p AND I don't feel "icky" about any of my regulars ;-)

To visit day two of the Giveaway Extravaganza and catch up on the guidelines click here.

Day 2 ...100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza

To view Day 1 and see what you may win
click the pic below.
Don't forget to leave a comment!
WooHoo!!!

SO now that some of you are interested, allow me to clarify some of the guidelines (I'll try and stay away from the word rules - blech, who needs 'em ) Hmmm... let me make this as painless as possible. A comment on the current post of the day is all you need to enter the giveaway. You can earn one entry each day you visit and comment. An extra entry will be given to anyone who mentions the Giveaway Extravaganza on their own blog with a link. You can mention it more than once (really I don't mind ::eye flutter::) But you will only get one entry for the mention(s).

I'm sort of wingin' it here... is it getting too complicated?

Now, to make a link all you need to do is highlight the title of my blog then go up and click on the little globe icon (it has a little chain link over it...get it :-p ) It is next to where you choose the font color.

Then enter my little blog address in the box then click OK. Piece of pie! Who doesn't like pie?

A maximum of six entries will be given to any one person. If you want to go back and enter for each day (homework :-p) I will provide links on the current post to assist those of you who are scroll bar impaired.

Now onto the fun stuff... I hope ;-)

I believe this was my second post from April 17, 2006. A little presumptuous I think. And who was I talking to anyway? Besides myself :-p

A Random Intro

Resurrection Day! What a great day to start something new and life giving. What is this little blog of mine giving life to you ask? Why, to my Christian walk, my dreams, my personality, my individuality, my sanity for crying out loud! Before it all slips away into obscurity and gets buried beneath a pile of smelly Pampers.

My dream is to have an 'audience' of people who visit my blog regularly and are actually entertained by what they read. My husband says this is a perfect outlet for me to write without the pressure of having to actually say anything. I'm sure he will be my biggest fan (After all, he already is).

I feel like writing is my native tongue. I like myself better on paper (or screen, as the case may be). I can form my thoughts, write them, edit them, re-edit them, and re-edit them. I tend to be a perfectionist in some areas. What can a mother of three, with one on the way, possibly have to say that anyone would want to read? I don't know, that is a good question. One thing I am sure of is that I have a lot of random thoughts that I simply need to get out of my head. As it is I find it difficult to hold a conversation and complete a coherent sentence because everything has been pent up so long that it all tries to come out at once.

Anyway, I'm hoping that at least a fraction of these thoughts will be valuable to someone. If not at least I can go back and read them and see what in the world I was thinking. I can guarantee that the majority of my random thoughts are not political. My Knowledge of politics is minimal and shallow at best and consists of what I hear on the news, read in the comics, and listen to my husband rant about (no offense, My Love). However, I do have a close friend who is very knowledgeable and keeps herself very well informed and involved. She lets me know what is going on and why it should interest me. Why does she hang with me if I can't talk politics? Well, I think it has to do with a love of God, life, and gardening...among other things I'm sure. Okay, Lets get random.

• I love God.
• I love my husband.
• I love my kids.
• I am not a desperate housewife, although, I am a house wife and occasionally I get desperate.
• I am alone most of the day with my three kids, the oldest of which is four.
• I home school.
• I didn't get to take a nap today because I was working on this blog.

Tah-Dahhhhh!

P.S. Resurrection Day = Easter.

My 100th Post Giveaway Extravaganza!

Post a comment
and you may win a prize!

Yippee Skippee!!! That's right this is post #100 right here, right now! The reason this is such a momentous occasion for me is that I rarely stick to anything long enough for it to reach 100 of anything. This is the first journal of any kind that has lived past its first week of entries. Sure there have been a few rough spots, lengthy absences, and pointless posts but all in all I believe it is shaping up to be something I can be proud of in a modest, embarrassed, please read it but don't read it kind of way. :-p

**YAWN**

:-0 Well that's not a good sign. Lets pep this thing up a little.

Here is how this week of my 100th post will play out. Each day I will pull up a post from the past... one which recieved no comments. It won't be that difficult to find them since I only just started to recieve comments about fifty posts ago. Then you leave a comment and I will enter your name into a drawing to win a Super Delux Dinner and a Movie Plus Dessert Ultimate Autumnal Stimulous Package Giveaway.

Wait! Hold on! There's more! If you act now and mention my Giveaway on your blog with a link to my blog then you will recieve an extra entry free of charge (you must mention in your comment that you did this so I can check it out ;-) ).

Now here is the kicker! heehee I'll be making post and taking entries every day this week (Monday - Friday)... all you have to do is leave a comment to enter. SO, if you stop by every day AND mention the Giveaway with a link on your blog you could earn up to six entries!!! WOW!!! :-D

I will be revealing the winner on Wednesday, October 22nd.

Now what exactly is this Super Delux Dinner and a Movie Plus Dessert Ultimate Autumnal Stimulous Package Giveaway.

It is exactly...

• One box of Archer Farms Four Cheese Flourintine. Actually just fancy mac and cheese... AKA... dinner ;-)
• One Blockbuster gift card worth $5.35. Movie.
• One coupon for a free 12 pack of any Pepsi-Cola product. Share the love, thats my motto. Whatsamottoforyou? LOL! ~sorry~
• One bag of Act II Butter Lover's microwave pop corn. MMMmmm my favorite :-)
• One sizable bag of Brach's chocholate caramel candy corn...AKA... Triple dyed high fructose corn syrup poured into cute little molds until hardened... AKA... dessert.
• Also for dessert is a selection of chocolatey delights. Five bite size Snickers, five bite size Heath bars, and five Hershey special dark chocolate truffles.
• One leaf shaped candy dish to hold the chocolatey delights. :-)
• A cute little leafy pad of sticky notes
• And rounding out the Autumnal part of the prize package is a magnetic shopping list pad.

BUT WAIT! PREPARE TO BE STIMULATED!

Included is a copy of Motherhood The Second Oldest Profession by Erma Bombeck AND last but not least, a biography of Martin Luther ( The German Theologian) by Mike Fearon. Because my family doesn't celebrate Halloween, we celebrate Reformation Day!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll think, you'll pig out. Too much you say? Well, I am not known for showing restraint :-p I just wanted the prize celebrating my 100th post to be something I would enjoy getting (just in case no one comments).






For my first blast from the past I present to you my very first post (in pink) from April 17th, 2006.


I'm going to be cranky tomorrow. All I was trying to do was leave a comment on a friends blog (thanks a lot Skretch GO!...Hey, I have to blame someone.) and now, here I am, a new, proud owner of a blog I don't want.

What do I do with it?

I like romantic dinners, movies, and long walks on the beach...Oh wait, thats something different.

Hmmm...I'm sure I'll figure this out. It's too late to be creative now...or maybe its just too early.


Let the games begin ;-)

Off They Go... Went

On September 8th my parents started their third mission trip to Kisumu Kenya in Africa. That is the little orange one under Ethiopia, which is light blue. They will be spending most of their time in a rental house near Lake Victoria, the small dark blue circle. While there they will assist churches, orphanages, and schools start food and evangelical programs. They also spread the gospel door to door.

So in the mean time I get to gather their mail, tend to their bills, and entertain Moses, their chocolate Lab mix. He is a good dog and very well behaved considering he is only six months old. He is already two inches taller than Flip. Marli shouts "No Mo! OUT!" To ensure that she will not receive any huge, sloppy wet puppy kisses.

So without my go to babysitters I am even more adult deprived than usual. If you see me drooling and babbling incoherently don't worry I'll be better some time around November 10th. ;-)

Sunday Songbook

Not many feelings can surpass the love of a mother for her children. All of my kids hold a special place in my heart that is all their own, but at the same time I love them each with my whole heart. I don't love any one of them more than the others because I adore them all for the unique qualities they possess. Their individual quirks make me smile and cause old ladies in the grocery store to say, "Oh, isn't that precious, what a little darling."

My little Eden loves oatmeal, cold, uncooked, and it must be eaten at the counter. I know, maybe it's not the grossest thing a kid could love, but c'mon :-p However, I have decided that this is one of those battles best left unfaught. Besides, the air surrounding the breakfast table can be somewhat noisy and whiny depending on which side of the bed her siblings woke up on. There are times when I won't even sit with them ;-) So she eats at the counter most mornings. I love her... my Little Chipmunk. Her unique preference causes me only to love her more. She is an individual, her own personality in training ;-)




I too am a personality in training. I have my quirks... BIG ones, but somehow I know that Christ will work in me to use those quirks to the glory of His Father. I am an individual in His eyes and He paid for me with His whole life... not just a small part of it. He loves me despite my ...ahem... unique character traits and has promised to stand by me forever.


Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Refrain

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! Loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.

Refrain

Anna B. Warner, 1860

Cyber Hymnal

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Ephsians 3:15-19

Friday Fix Up

It was the...

First Week of Fall Decorating Frenzy!

Yee-Haw!!!

This project was purely mom. ;-) The gourds and corns were calling my name... and, of course, birdhouses go with everything :-)



















I did pick out some extra pumpkins for the kids to paint.








They became the precariously perched pile of painted petite pumpkins. Phew!




I loves me some Indian corns and me loves it evens more when they are made from me kiddles' hand prints. And no, I have no idea why I typed that sentence that way :-)


We made leaf rubbings, pressed and painted real leaves, painted leaf tracings. I sort of ran out of things to do with leaves. :-p

I found the leaf rubbings were easier when I used double stick tape to secure the leaves to the table.





















Don't forget a simple centerpiece for the table (too much goes on there for anything more) and some more Indian corn to hang on the wall (and yes, that is Flip's bandanna) .