DON'T TAILGATE THIS VEHICLE...

or you might just get a mouthful of kayaks!

Just had to share this picture my daughter uploaded on facebook of her activities with friends on the warmest day in January!!! As far as I know, everyone and all the kayaks got to and from safely. So the next time you see a crazy group of college kids like this, just smile and remember...we were all there once!

READ THIS BOOK...

This may be my favorite gift this Christmas. Besides my hot chocolate mix, of course. No, really. My daughter recommended this book for me and my son bought it. Awesome book. It could really change your thinking about the incredible God we serve! Some of the chapter titles:

Crazy Love

Profile of the Lukewarm

Serving Leftovers to Holy God


Aren't the titles convicting? I promise you, it's an excellent book filled with lots of scripture and comparisons with the parables of Jesus told and our lives today.

WATCH YOUR STEP...

I know, I went from a pretty post to a PUTRID one.

I about hurt myself, getting out of my car, as I almost stepped on this in a store parking lot the other day!!! EEEK. Yes, it's a squished mouse. Or rat. NASTY. Anyway, I survived. Aren't you glad I had my camera there to document it? (I don't have a fancy phone with a camera)

The moral of the story is to watch where you're stepping...don't get yourself into messes!

Instead, "Whatever is lovely, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phil. 4:8

Maybe I'm taking the scripture out of context a bit, but we can fill our minds with nasty thoughts and if we continue it can really "mess up" our lives. We need to avoid those things and fill our minds and hearts with HIS WORD. (Wanted to end with something lovely!)

VINTAGE VALENTINES DECOR...

I joined a Valentine Mantel party, so I had to get busy and decorate! Nothin' fancy, just what I've collected thru the years!
Entry table
Vintage valentines of my Great Aunt's from 1940's


Formal dining room table

Shelf in dining room

Are you doing any special decorating for Valentine's Day?

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS...

Sometimes as a wife and mother, it's just better to keep your mouth shut...

Today my husband and son #2 bought a car from a relative, who will remain unnamed, for $300. Yes, $300. Needs just a little work. Uh-huh. Yeah. Only took them 4 times to jump it to get it going and bring it over here. Yay.
Father and son checking everything out.
A standard transmission...this kid will love that!
Radio stolen and dash messed up...
interior door parts missing...
speaker ripped out...
just a missing door handle, no problem...and those are just the cosmetic things to be done!
Somehow this makes him extremely happy! Check in a few months and we'll see how happy he is about this PROJECT. As for me, I'm just keeping my mouth shut.

CHURCH...WITH A SIDE OF CORNBREAD, PLEASE...

Our church is working towards a gospel meeting in April, and to prepare for it, the elders asked several classes at our congregation to visit some of the smaller churches in the metro area to promote unity. They, in turn, are invited to visit us on a Sunday evening soon. So we visited a small black congregation Sunday night. It was a true blessing to sing hymns with them! Only one other time have I been to a black church, and that was in Jackson, Mississippi. This service wasn't quite the experience that was, but their singing was loud, spirited, and most times didn't follow the notes in the book at all. We loved it! They had an "Old Testament reading" and also a "New Testament reading" and several song leaders. Also, the minister let us know that if we didn't say "AMEN," that he wouldn't know if we were really listening. So even tho it wasn't exactly the norm for us, I think several of our class members let out an "AMEN." We were truly uplifted by getting out of our comfort zones and worshipping along with them!

Afterwards, someone suggested we eat at a BBQ place not too far from there. We went and ate at "Spencer's Smokehouse." It was delicious and had a lot of good things on the menu! They are also known for their Cinnamon Rolls.

I got the BBQ Cornbread. It was a huge piece of cornbread with pulled pork and jalapenos baked right into it! Pretty good with a little BBQ sauce. A little warm for my taste, but really interesting...


Anyway, we all enjoyed the worship service and meal so much, several suggested we make it a regular event!

Let me know if you need directions...

FLUTTERBY...

While my DD was home on break, she created this out of a previously painted canvas:

Those are butterflies, if you can't tell. They are fluttering above the artwork on tiny pieces of wire. She cut the butterflies out of
computer paper. Not sure how she did the wire, but I think it's gorgeous.
A better look!

I should give credit to stumbleupon for the idea about the butterflies. But she executes an idea beautifully! Love that girl. I think it would probably be even more beautiful on a solid color canvas and sold as modern art!

CONCERT OVERLOAD...

and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Saturday was spent going to 2 wonderful concerts that our kids were blessed to be a part of -
All State and the Christian College Choral Festival.

We started off with our youngest after he spent 2 intensive days of practice with other kids from around the state for OCDA, or Jr. High All-State Vocal Music. They performed some beautiful music, along with the High School All-State Jazz Choir and Jr. High All-State Treble Choir (all girls). It's a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun, since these kids get excused from school for 2 days to participate. They also get to do other fun things, like shop at Penn Square and do the conga through the Abercrombie & Fitch store...which he said was only natural with the loud music, but the store manager asked them to leave after the conga line reached 22 people. Ahhh...teenage memories!
Our youngest with his 3 yr. All-State medal - this means he made the choir in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades- SWEET!
Nice that his older brother and sister were here to attend!
Gram was there too!
Then we went home for a brief respite from all the hullabaloo of song descriptions, recognitions, and medals to take a 2 hour break before heading to the next event. At OC, our local Christian college, a Christian College Choral Festival was held, and 6 college choruses performed individually, then collectively as a group. Another awesome concert, and I really did believe it was probably the most beautiful music I'll ever get to hear this side of HEAVEN!
My daughter and her roommate who stayed in our home this weekend preparing to go to the Christian College Choral Festival
300+ college kids fill Hardeman auditorium's stage for the final songs!

THREE GREEN SHIRTS...

My son needed a green shirt for Follies auditions. Well, you know how many kinds of green shirts are out there?!?!?

Shirt #1 came from TJ Maxx, $13. He said it was too blue...so the Mom heads out shopping again.

Shirt #2 came from Stein Mart, $29. He said it was too light...so the Mom heads out shopping again.

Shirt #3 came from GOODWILL, $3! It's a winner! Why didn't I think of that to begin with???

TRAVEL BLANKIES...

at least that's what we USED to call them...I caught my daughter sewing a patch on her "travel blankie" today! She just got back from skiing in Breckenridge and got a neat patch there. Did my heart good to see that she was doing that; I've sewn so many patches on my kids blankets! They are just about full, too. This was an idea from Family Fun magazine way back in the 90's- to collect patches wherever you go and sew them on a blanket to be used for car travel. It's one of the few traditions we've stuck with while traveling, along with getting some kind of Christmas ornament. Sometimes they're hard to find, but sometimes, they're plentiful. Anyway, a fun thing to do if you're into traveling with your kids!
Sewing on the 84th patch!
Looking at it is a trip!
The first patches, I think from about 1993 - when we went to Family Encampment in Colorado
Her favorite patch from Florence, Italy, called a "Giglio"- the symbol of Florence.

So, I just calculated that with an average cost of $4 per patch, that blanket is worth $336! WoW! Multiply that by 3 kids...now I can't believe we've spent almost $1000 on patches!!! Of course the boys don't have quite as many as she does, but they're not far behind. Mind boggling!

A GOOD READ...

One of our ministers recently quoted from this book in a sermon recently. This is a quick read, and really hits home for me. The Land Between is about life and transitions. It takes you back to Old Testament times and how Abraham and the Israelites reacted to their time in the "land between" and helps us focus on how we've reacted in our lives and can prepare for the difficult transitions. "The land we least desire may produce the fruit we most desire-if we will let it, if we can turn toward God with open hearts as Moses did rather than turn away from God in bitterness as the Israelites did."

I've been interested in this for several years, since my first born left for college - even thought about renaming my blog, since I technically only have one teen left at home now. I've thought about calling it "Transitions" as we are all really in that state. We'll see. For now, check this book out! You'll thank me.

CHEESY ITALIAN SOUVENIRS...

is the theme I chose for Bunko tonight! When we were in Italy last summer, I thought if my suitcase would hold them, I would buy the 5 Bunko prizes there for the next time I would be hosting my Bunko group. We are a really cheap group; our prizes cost $2, $4, $6, $8, and $10. So... what can you get in Italy for that kind of money? CHEAP SOUVENIRS. And here they are:
Pop-up umbrella with scenes of Italy was the top prize!
Scarf, Venetian glass heart necklace, Apron, Pinocchio pencil
But the food was top rate! With my husband's help, we made Zucchini and Peccorino Ravioli, along with salad, pasta salad, bruschetta, bread with peccorino and balsamic vinegar, and a Chocolate Tiramisu! We made Melanie (our cooking class teacher in Florence) proud!
My friends just like having a night off from doing the cooking!
They can tell you our Bunko group is more about food and chat rather than dice!

Now that I've done my hosting for the year, I can start my DIET!

A NEW MEANING TO FEATHERED HAIR...

In the late 70's everyone had "feathered" hair or wanted it. Think Farrah Fawcett. Even guys wanted feathered bangs! Now my daughter has started a new trend! She came home from college with a blue feather woven into her hair and did it herself. She's now woven feathers and beads with embroidery floss into 2 other friends hair, so the feathered hair decoration will go back to OSU and Belmont!





I'm all for this fashion statement if we can avoid tattoos and body piercing!

THE HOMEMADE GIFT EXCHANGE...

tradition keeps on going! What started as a joke at Thanksgiving many years ago has become one of our (or at least my) favorite traditions! My husband has 5 siblings, so the only gifts we exchange are the home-made type. Here's the goodies from Christmas, 2010:
Here we are holding what our respective families made this year - my mother-in-law and niece, included. One of his sisters is not pictured, as she insisted her gifts weren't finished...I think she's been too busy with her first grandchild this year!
Close up view - Snowman decoration, Christmas card holder, Tennis ball stress reliever (the poem tells you what to do with it), cutting board, refrigerator magnet, jolly rancher star Christmas ornament, and button Christmas ornament.

Even though all I did was wrap our gifts this year, most years I am the one making the gifts, so it was nice to have a break this time! I hope we continue this tradition for many years to come!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!