SWEET REMINDER...

Today I was in the grocery store, in the soup aisle. Now when I'm shopping I am usually on a mission. I'm all about efficiency, getting my coupons together,etc. But I was taken aback when another woman about my age approached two men in blue in the same aisle. Don't know if they were firemen or policemen, but she said to them, "I just want to thank you for your work." She began to ask them where they were from and then offered to bring them some home-baked food sometime. One of them motioned to the soup, and said, "just picking up a little lunch, but that would be great!"

I smiled and fought back the tears. I'd already had a tearful morning (I have a senior in high school, remember!) and for some reason that just really touched me. I'm challenging myself and you to get over the shyness, never mind that you don't usually talk to strange men, and just go up and say the same thing.

NEW RECIPE NIGHT...

Maybe I mentioned before that my DH and I are finding ourselves with more time on the weekends now... and one of our low budget forms of entertainment is "NEW RECIPE NIGHT."


So last night we gave the pasta maker he received for his birthday a try!


Aren't those just beautiful?


So he made two different kinds: Pasta with shrimp and fresh veggies and Pasta with meat sauce!


I'm the one searching for the perfect dessert...tried PW's Creamy Lemon Crumb Squares.

The results? Thumbs up on the pasta, and well, I have to give PW's recipe a thumbs down. Sorry, PW fans. Just wasn't lemony enough for me. Tasted like...Eagle Brand. Loved the crust though!

FUN TIMES!

TODAY, I ENTERTAINED...

or rather, fed:

MISS EMHS

ONE OF OKLAHOMA'S TOP RUNNERS

THE LEAD IN THE PLAY

"MOST COMEDIC" GIRL

SWINE WEEK ROYALTY

and many other great teens that are our future! I'm glad my son has so many friends that are willing to work hard and give so much. I will MISS these kiddos as they head off to college this fall! I will be eagerly following their progress to see how God plans to use them.

What kind of kids will yours grow up to be? Mothering is an exhausting work, but give it all you've got, then give some more! It's worth it!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

THIS WILL MAKE YOU SMILE...

It's just one of the many acts from the ACT II Swine Week concert recently...ENJOY!

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW...

for the new accomodations in our side yard! I can't believe how huge this thing is looking but the boys seem to be having fun with it!

YES, THEY'RE MADE FROM DOMINOES...

This past week was our daughter's Spring Break. She came home and just chilled out. Sewed a little, slept a lot, made no-bake cookies, slept a lot, got caught up on her favorite shows, slept a lot...you get the idea!

Here's a pic of some domino crafts we made! Thanks to my friend Connie, who had a craft night at her house this past week, we made a domino key chain and some necklaces. Learned some new skills and had a lot of fun!

MY SMALL & MIGHTY EXPERIMENT...

I know you were getting excited, but it's about ALL. As in, DETERGENT. I couldn't imagine that I could really get 32 loads of laundry out of this little bottle, so I decided to test it to be sure. Everytime I used it I marked it on the bottle. How many loads did I get out of it? EXACTLY 32!!!

Now, the most important thing about this is reading the back of the bottle and knowing how much ALL 1 load of laundry requires. Would you believe the 1 load measurement is ONE HALF of a capful? Maybe everyone else already knew that, but I don't know how long I've been putting a whole capful or 3/4 capful into the washer without ever really paying attention. So basically, I've been getting 16 loads out of a 32 load bottle of detergent.

FRUGAL MOMS UNITE AND GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT DETERGENT! NO MORE OVER-CLEANING! CHECK YOUR DETERGENT BOTTLES NOW!

KINDA SCARY...

these two keep getting cast together as leads...glad they're seniors! If this girl wasn't the sweetest around, I might have some trouble with the familiarity!


John and Goody Proctor in the "Crucible" last fall...

J. B. Biggley and Hedy LaRue in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" last weekend!

CAKE ARTISTRY...

Is that cake not incredible? Made free, by another "musical" parent(that sweet redhead in the last pic)! She's a nurse by day, and her hobby is cake decorating! What a joy to be in a school system where volunteerism is alive and well!

ON THE MENU...

Lots and lots of no-bake cookies! Notice I do have fruit included!


Some friend of my son that I've never seen before...nice smile, tho!



A little something fizzy...



Friends eating and playing together...


LOVE THIS TIME! SENIOR PARENT WITHDRAWAL IS ALREADY STARTING...

NEW BEGINNINGS...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Moms need a life outside of their kids! An organized Bible study is one way I have found to keep me studying the Word, with side benefits of making new friends. I mentioned a week or so ago, about a former prisoner who has been coming to our study with the woman she is living with right now.

WHAT A BLESSING SHE HAS BEEN TO ALL OF US!

Totally out of her comfort zone, I'm sure. She came to church and Bible study with the family she has been with for several months. She talked of "holy boldness" last week, as she recanted a story from prison. She is a Christian because this woman made contact with her in prison and studied with her years ago. Now, she is ready for a new beginning. Her host family mentioned she needed any good used household items for her new apartment, and our group responded by showering her with new and used household things. Others in the church responded as well. She cherished everything (even the used items)! She was extremely thankful. Kinda gives you warm fuzzies and makes you want to give some more, doesn't it?



I have to tell you a story about the Christmas cactus she is receiving in this photo. A while back, a member of our group told how long ago they were given a start off of a family member's plant. When they went overseas for a time to work, the Christmas cactus dwindled to a stub from lack of care. She gave it to her mother to revive. Her mother was able to bring it back to life, so to speak, so it has special meaning for her. The plant is now several feet wide, and takes up a large space in her kitchen. She occasionaly prunes it and re-roots it to give away. She gave a start of this to our new friend, and retold the story, as she starts her new life. What an awesome symbol for this sweet sister in Christ!


And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus! Phil. 4:19