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free photo session

2010-12-21T21:44:00.000-08:00

want to win a free photo session for you and your family? check out this site for details!

treasure valley steals deals & discounts # 4

2010-02-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

ANYONE HERE A MANGO FAN? WELL WE SURE ARE HERE. THAT IS....RYKON AND I. WHEN THEY ARE RIPE, THEY ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE FRUITS. I COULD PROBABLY EAT 2 OR 3 A DAY. ( I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT BLUEBERRIES AND WATERMELON TOO!) WELL, IF YOU ARE A FAN TOO, HURRY OVER TO FRED MEYER BY TOMORROW EVENING. THEY HAVE LARGE, FAT, PERFECTLY RIPENED, ORGANIC MANGO'S FOR A DOLLAR. YES THAT IS $1.00 EACH!!!! IF YOU'VE BOUGHT MANGO'S BEFORE, YOU KNOW THEY DON'T GET MUCH CHEAPER THAN $1.50. ESPECIALLY NOT THE LARGE ONES AND TO BOOT, ORGANIC. IT'S LIKE HEAVEN IN MY MOUTH :o)
SO, WE STOCKED UP. (LIKE 10). YOU CAN CHOP THEM UP AND FREEZE THEM FOR SMOOTHIES OR MY FAVORITE, JUST FRESH. I THINK I'LL GO HAVE ONE NOW!

treasure valley deals, steals, and discounts 1,2,&3

2010-02-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

i've decided to starting sharing all the great deals i found around town on my blog. why? just because. i'm the kind of person who's always loved including everyone in what i'm doing. i'm known to probably be too social for my own good :O)
i'm always coming across things i think are really cool and very helpful in saving me some money. i love telling people about it but don't always get around to it. so, i will be sharing them here on my blog. it will automatically post to my facebook page so everyone can share in the information. if you come across anything great, please share w/us by leaving a comment on my post and i will post it on my blog.
#1 - a free movie.
overland park cinemas is offering a free movie tomorrow morning.
VEGGIETALES "PISTACHIO: THE LITTLE BOY THAT WOODN'T"
there are three shows to choose from.
9:45, 10:00, and 10:45am.
if you choose, you can make a donation that will go towards helping the people of Haiti. otherwise, you only pay for snacks/drinks.

#2 - Fred meyer has Kettle brank chips....the BIG bags, for $2.50.
#3 - If you're looking for a warm drink for you kiddos, check out dutch brothers.
they have a "not so hot chocolate" that comes in a great little plastic cup. it has a lid and rubber straw that bends so spills are very minimal. the bonus is it's all re-usable. all this for only about $1.50. a great deal in my opinion.

a lesson in patience

2010-01-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

today, as i sat at a stop light in a subdivision, the light did not change and we waited and waited, until finally i too was getting a little antsy. it didn't seem like we were getting our fair chance to go. finally, the guy in front of me had enough and pulled out. he was about 3/4 of the way through the intersection when the light turned green. i smirked a bit as i pulled out at how foolish he must've felt, yet i'm sure under his breath, he justified his actions all the way. if he'd just waited a few more seconds, he could have experienced doing the right thing and not giving into his impatience. i've been there. at a stop light AND in life. it brought me to think about our lives. how many times are we in situations where we are waiting? we know we've been faithful, asking God fervently, trying to do it the right way by leaving it in his hands, yet the temptation to take control and just get the job done becomes unbearable. then it wins us over and we give in. we go ahead and take action and then miss out on the blessing of waiting to see what God would have done. and of course, it usually ends up changing...just moments after we've given in. what i've learned? it will always pay to stay the course and committed to what you say you'll do. to do the right thing, when cutting a corner could seem easier and faster.
if you are asking god to do something, persevere. hang in there. be patient. i speak from experience. i am the leader of the "do it yourselfers."so romans 5:3-5 have become life verses. tribulations produce perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. choosing to persevere in patience is not usually easy, but it is always worth it. when we stay the course, then god is free to move and something wonderful happens. we SEE his hand at work in our lives and our faith is increased. so the next time you're at a light in your life that just doesn't seem to want to change, hold on, cause about the time you think you can't take any more and you want so badly to move, God will ask you again to wait and trust in him, and then he'll move his hand. then and onl then will you recieve the biggest blessing. you will grow and be sharpened and then you'll have your own story to tell. patience is a virtue because it is usually required in the moments we feel we cannot bare it any longer. but we do and our character is shaped more like christ. a worthy sacrifice if you ask me.
james 1:2-4 "my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

this year i'm in to flavor and color

2010-01-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

i think the key to staying healthy has to be flavor. and i'm NOT talking about synthetic, produced flavor in some kind of chippery. i know i'm not saying anything new, but this year i really need to implement this. i like food. i love the taste, the smell, the colors, textures. i mean really, what's not to love? the problem is food loves me and has some "detachment" issues.
we've also discovered that red 40 makes rykon hyper. at least we think. we're still observing, but we're pretty sure, based on what we've read and how he acts. that stuff is in ALOT of processed foods, not to mention popcicles. so getting him off of it will mean cutting out lots of things he loves, but it's for the best (not to mention good for my sanity :O).
i've made room in our grocery budget to kick it in to gear. there are so many delicious things out there that have great nutritional attributes. i've been taking our product "JUS" now for about 2 years, so i have the peace of mind that i'm getting my daily nutritional & antioxidants needs met each day, but that hasn't helped me shed my extra weight. i go over this and over this all the time. we've lived on such a tight budget for the past 3 1/2 years that it's held me back from cooking and eating the way i'd really like to. but now i'm in full mode to step it up. part of the sacrifice means i'll be cutting back on the coupon savings because as wonderful as they are, they really only save me money on things that aren't good for me. so our goal this year is to slowly rid our pantry of junk food and replace it with healthy options. my kids are young enough that they won't know the difference and now is as good a time as any to train their pallette, not to mention my own :O)

so if you have any great resources, ideas, recipes, and grocery options that will save me in the pocket book as well as on my calories, im all ears.

the holidays 09.....so far!

2009-12-23T07:18:00.000-08:00

why is it i'm always playing catch up with this thing? i'm really trying to stay on top of this blog, but sometimes i just can't make time.
so as of today, Christmas Eve, our december has been completely packed. aside from three birthdays so far, we've seen two school pageants, done lots of christmas shopping and baking, & we had our Hines family christmas fondue and raquelette last weekend. no pictures so far, but it was a great time as always and the food was DELISH! thanks mom & dad for all the preperation! mom hired a sitter to keep an eye on all the kiddos while we sat in privacy to chow down. after dinner and dessert, there was a little surprise......

a knock on the door & guess who walked through?
jolly saint nick w/a ho ho and jingle too!
he brought presents for good little boys and little girls
although one was afraid, most looked surreal.
we all sat on his lap to tell him our wishes,
and loaded him up with hugs, smiles, and kisses.
there were toys galore and candies and treats,
this memory we've made is endearing and sweet.
all the kids went back home with their hearts full of joy
a nice sugar high and a new christmas toy!

after the first snow fall last week we did a little playing. well, actually more like rykon played and rich and i pulled him, pretending to be his reindeer of course!

santa was spotted atop a chimney

snow icecream was made and eaten

christmas pictures have been taken (some they weren't so happy about :O)

and the 1st christmas program went great. rykon managed to get the mich (i think he had it planned the whole time :O) and i totalled it up....i had 6 neices and nephews in the program this year. lucas, presleigh, anneliese, peyton, emily, & taylor. definately the stars of the show (in a biased, auntie kind of way!)

all in all. it's been good so far. we've managed to experience all the traditions we love about this magical season and still make sure that we don't forget that Jesus is the center of all we celebrate.
merry christmas to all my fellow bloggers! can't wait to read about your holiday.

thanksgiving 09

2009-11-27T21:05:00.000-08:00

thanksgiving at our house is classified under "craziness." but it's craziness i wouldn't change for the world. our family brings life to the holiday. to every holiday for that matter. i don't think rich REALLY knew what he got himself into when he married me. but we always have a good laugh about it aftwards. it's getting a little better. not necessarily any quieter, but the kids are getting older and actually starting to find their own little groove. it's fun with them all being so close in age. they play well together and they love each other. here are a few pictures from our big hines/smith thanksgiving day.

and she hadn't even had her turkey yet

the "spread"

playin with papa's train set

rich carving the goose that he prepared and cooked ALL BY HIMSELF! i'm so proud :O)

ry enjoying the goodness of fresh whipped cream

three little chunkins layin in a row, the jovi, levi, and mason show!

anneliese entertained us all by putting on a "magic" show. of course all the kiddos assisted!
i'm greatful for a family that loves each other. that stands beside one another and would give anything for each other. for a family that loves God, loves this country, and believes in values and truth. i'm greatful for parents who've sacrificed so much so that we could have a different one than those which they endured. who chose to change their family heritage so that we could have one built upon a strong foundation of biblical truth. i'm thankful for our founding fathers who did not let intimadation change their course, but instead aloud it to become the fuel that gave us this great country. my prayer this thanksgiving is that we will go back, as a country, to our roots, to where it all started, and remember who we are. we are a great nation,"one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." a nation that provides the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you Lord that i've been raised in this great country and that i get to raise my children here too. GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE.

if your soul needs to believe.....read on

2009-11-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

sitting here writing this post, i'm reflecting on our journey over the last few years. there were days i thought i'd die from the pit in my stomach and days i wanted to die. it was hard. the season went on and on and on. the same story every month....no money. the same answer to the same question," how are you guys doing?" still no money. still hard. it seemed it'd become the theme of our lives. if it weren't for my "optimistic, the glass is half full" husband, i don't know how i would've made it. i felt like i would self-destruct some days. and seeing the weight of it even get to my husband some days was heart-breaking. the weight of it was unbearable....but there in lied the problem. i'd taken it on as my problem. it was up to me to figure out a solution, just like i did with everything. rich needed to work harder, i needed to make more money, something had to be done. but God knew this was my vice. my sin. my stronghold. and he aloud us to continue on, till i no longer looked to my own resources and instead, completely looked only to him. that time came last winter. on my knees God showed me that i didn't really trust him. i didn't really believe he loved me and wanted good for me. that i wanted to be in control. maybe because that way i could take the credit. it's an aweful place to be. please don't get me wrong, in our season, God did absolutely miraculous things. we always had money to keep the utilities on, gas in the car, and food in our bellies, but isn't that all he promises in matthew 6? i'll tell ya, that scripture is what i clung to.
BUT, we are not so far away from those days. it seems like yesterday my mom was buying us groceries because we had no money. what i do know is that God did wonderful things like that and like this. we had a large money order, anonymously taped to our front door, we had a large tax bill paid off anonymously, we were given numerous anonymous checks through wonderful giving people at church... and always in the nick of time. we have known God's hand. we've felt him carry us and we are better and stronger for it.
in june, things began to change. after 5 months of barely getting by, may came and with it another miracle. st lukes wrote off around 7000.00 of old bills, most from when i had rykon. in the 6 months prior, some how we were also able to pay off about 3000.00 in bills. we barely ate because of it, but they were gone! rich's business finally started to turn around and he began to close one house after the other. we were able to pay off a number of additional medical bills, move out of our house, and got another large bill taken care of. in the mean time, both our jeeps had a number of MAJOR problems. with in about 8 weeks, we dished out around 3000.00 in repairs. the blessing? #1...we had the money to pay for it. #2....those two jeeps had not had any problems over the last few years. God spared us. not long after the money went out for the repairs, i got a call from the insurance gal representing the lady who hit us last summer. it was a pretty minor car accident, but she proceeded to offer rykon and i 3600.00 over and beyond the coverage of our med bills. God gave us back every penny of the money we had just spent. we have not yet recieved the amount for rich, but we are keeping our heads up and expecting the best.
one of the things i've prayed for over these last few years is that God would bless us so that we could get out of debt to be more free/available to do what he wanted us to, whether that was in full time ministry or just giving to those who serve full time. three weeks ago we officially started our "financial peace university" series by dave ramsey. i've been so excited to do this. most people don't have that emotion going in to it, but i did. this was our plan to financial freedom. as i wrote out our debt snowball form, i realized how much less we actually had and how quickly we could potentially pay them off. i started thumbing through our newest medical bills from when i had jovi (we don't have good maternity coverage since we're self-employed, so we owed about a total of 6800.00) i called st. lukes to see the status of three of the largest ones. she told me there was a 0 balance. what? how can that be? she said they did an internal audit and based on the paper work i'd submitted last spring, we qualified for charitable donation and it had all been written off, 5700.00! all i could do is get on my knees and praise god. why us? we don't deserve this lord. this song came to mind. "count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessing see what God has done." so i did and now i'm sharing them with you because you need to know what God did. he gets all the glory. he's the one who gives and takes away and i've experienced both and i'm better for it. i like this side better, but i wouldn't change the experience because of what he's taught me through it all. i know it's easy to say that when you're on the other side of it. i wish i could say i always felt that way in the middle of it. some days i did, most i didn't.
so i hope your soul can believe that God IS good. that he does see your needs. be faithful. when it's tough and there's no money, keep tithing. keep giving. and do NOT loose hope. i'm not silly enough to believe that difficult seasons won't be in our future, but i know God will get us through if he chooses to allow it.
"praise God from whom all blessings flow. praise him all creatures here below. praise him above ye heavenly hosts. praise father son and holy ghost."

strange little thing

2009-10-19T05:19:00.000-07:00

i always think it's funny how little toys show up in such random places. not to mention those toys that just keep coming back....like some kind of freakish entity. take this one for instance...

this is rykon's "iwean" or alien as known to the rest of the world. this thing is like an inch and a half and practically camoflouge on our carpet, yet some how it turning up. under the bed. under some papers. under the baby's swing. it's weird. he got this little toy, if you can call it that, in one of those .25 machines. it glows in the dark and that's about all it does. but to date, we've managed to keep it around for about 5 weeks. as of now, i have no idea where it is, but i'm confident, i'll wake up one morning to find him on my kitchen counter, staring me down.

odds & ends & a little fall

2009-10-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

standing outside in the sun at this moment...i'd have to say it's the most perfect weather for fall. the smell is fresh and crisp, but the sun is warm enough that you really only need a long sleeve shirt. maybe even just a short sleeve shirt and some jeans. i love this time of year. i love the rain, the colors, oh yeah....and of course the pumpkins :O) so rykon and i did the ideal fall thing. we raked leaves. but of course, we couldn't rake with out havin a little fun. so after all the hard work, we did this....

that is what it's all about right? make work a little fun and they'll do it for life (or at least that's my wishful thinking :O)
we had a great time. we also got some pictures the other day with rykon's perfect pumpkin find. he picked it himself. the other one that has a face drawn on it is the one i surprised him with a couple weeks ago. he doesn't let either of them leave his side for very long.

sooooo, this blog post is going to be a bit random, but i wanted to share a few things before i forgot. for instance. this.

that plant is the kind you pick up like at albertsons. say, for mother's day? they are pretty and last a little longer than flowers, but i've never had one just keep going like this one. a lender rich works with gave this to us probably over 3 months ago. the thing is healthy and thriving and has a ton of flowers coming constantly. it's so beautiful. i just thought i'd share cause i'm still in shock i haven't killed it yet.
to finish things off, i'd like to at least include my baby girl in this post. so here's some of the latest pictures of my little chunky monkey.

why do i love the halloween holiday?

2009-10-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

i know, i know, i'm not supposed to love this holiday. but i've been doing some thinking and trying to figure out why i've always loved it. at first i thought it was the candy. candy has always brought a smile to my face. i love the colors, the variety, and it's fun. not to mention it's delicious. but i also think there's something young about it. that's what got me thinking. i think i like halloween because it allows you to tap into your imagination, to be something you are not. a superhero, a princess, an animal, a pumpkin, a clown, and so much more. it's the ability to keep that young at heart perspective. i don't like the gouls and gore. i hate all that. i hate the evil, scary faces. and i know that's what it's about for some people....but not most. for me it's about the trick or treating, the dressing up, carving pumpkins, corn mazes, candy, the fall colors, the crisp air. that's why i like it and i always will. i'm a kid at heart and this is one time a year, i REALLY get to show it :O) ok, so it's not just once a year. at least it's the one holiday that is not stripped of all it's spiritual meaning as most of our other holidays are. it is what it is. a chance to get out and have a little fun. so get out there and get some candy. while you're at it, remember what it was like to be a young.

seasons of change

2009-04-22T18:47:00.001-07:00

i'm always amazed at this time of year. how fast things grow & bloom. it seems like one day i don't have anything in my yard and the next it's full, green, and blossoming. like the tree in our yard. i honestly remember the last time i looked at it, which wasn't long ago, and thought, jeez...this tree is so behind all my neighbors trees. what's wrong with it? others had beautiful green leaves and were even starting to show buds of little white flowers. then today, i was walking up my drive way and went to pick something up. as i rose i saw these big green leaves. at first i thought i was in the wrong yard cause it seemed out of place. they literally grew overnight (at least from my perspective). it all of a sudden had all these leaves! i sat there for a few seconds kinda confused. i guess i didn't realize how quickly something could change. when it seems from the outside there's nothing going on or maybe that it is a late bloomer, there can still be a lot going on inside. yes, this is a metaphor. it really did make me look at myself. it kinda gave me hope. things i feel are dragging on and on, seasons that never seem to end or produce anything positive! they all just remind me that stuff is definitely going on inside. god's refining, sifting, and molding me and when the time is right, i know i'm going to see a great harvest along with some really beautiful blooms. i hope they are bright, bold, and big for everyone to see cause i don't want to forget who i am or how i got there. i want others to be able to ask me about my story. it seems i've had so many seasons of dry, lifelessness, yet, all along, god was nourishing and pruning, preparing me for a time of harvest. i can look back and see this and it's the hope that drives me to endure. i hope it does for you too. so now when you see a freshly bloomed flower, tree, bush, or maybe when it's in it's beginning phases, you'll be reminded of your own life or the lives of others.

2009-03-29T10:21:00.001-07:00

so you wanna see something really interesting? in our quest for the perfect name for our little girl to come, i came upon a website that provided full names of hollywood stars...actresses, actors, writers, musicians, etc... the really interesting thing is that to the right is their birthname. most of the people we know one way were born with a completely different name. now obviously, sting was not born with his name. i can usually tell when someone's name is a stage name, but i guess i had no idea how many stars changed their names completely or at least in part. maybe you'll find it as interesting as i did. of course, i totally supported their decision to changed their name :O)
here's the link
http://www.babynames.com/Names/Celebrities/

so what's new with me?

2009-03-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

sometimes i feel like the answer to this question is "well, not much at all. actually, the same as always." but that just isn't true. such as, in the last week, i've made mini peach pies, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin bread. i normally love to bake (and most of it goes to work with my hubby) but ever since i got pregnant, the last thing i've wanted is to smell baked goods. i can't say my appetite has necessarily come back for them as strongly as before (a good thing), but they do taste better than they were.
my stomach has also changed tremendously. it is now evident i'm pregnant and not just getting fat. i'm also feeling the little bugger move around alot, mostly in the early evenings. this thursday we will find out if it's a he or she making all that noise :O). we are excited to know and to start preparing.
i've got a # of large tasks ahead of me in the next 4 1/2 months, between potty training, big boy bed training, cleaning out and moving the office to make room for ry's new big boy room, and any other preperations that need to happen between now and baby being born.
i'm constantly trying to adjust to the idea of having two munchkins. i can't say i'm embracing it yet, but i know that will come.
then there's my son. if nothing else, every day it seems he's doing something new. for instance. i've realized that he has an inate need to be right all the time. HE'S TWO! (i wonder where he gets that?) i'm not exagerating. for example, this morning he came up to me and saw my mug and said hot tea! i said no, this is hot coffee. he said, "no it's not. it's hot tea." i looked at him puzzled. i said, no, it's coffee. from there we went back & forth till it dawned on me that he was arguing with me. hmmmmm. so, i began to try and explain that what he's doing is arguing and i won't tolerate it. it was interesting to say the least. next thing i know he's no longer saying it, just shaking his head back and forth as if to silently say "nope." yeah, i have a little battle ahead of me on this one. he's started doing it lately, i guess ever since he started to understand how to say "no it's not."
he also reacts to every emotion he sees. if someone is sad on a show, he'll turn to me and say, "oh....sad!" or in his books he'll look at the expression, sad, happy, mad, scared, and say to me the emotion as he immitates it on his own face. adorable!
another funny trait he has is the need to immitate/act out things he sees. he can't just tell you about it, he's got to act it out too. that is soooo me!
he has so many other funny, entertaining things he does, but i won't share all those. all i know is that when i really think about it, there are many things new in my life. new, exciting, interesting things. they just happen to mostly be centered around ry. he's a dear, sweet, funny, loving, stubborn, boy who knows exactly what he wants and he always figures out a way to get it. i love the reasoning going on in his head! and i love him.
you are my "new" little boy. i love watching you change everyday!

pay it forward

2009-03-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

I got this off of my friend nicole's blog and thought that it was a great idea. It is fun to spoil the people that you love and instill these values into your everyday life. thankyou for the chance to do this girl!

Pay It Forward …..So, here’s how it works: the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, some homemade goodies from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you’re going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your goodies! Please submit in an e-mail or on the comment, your address, if I don’t have it already. Remember that only the first 3 comments will receive a gift from me, so be quick! Have fun!
(disclaimer :O)...picture not to reflect actual package you will recieve. as much as i'd love to do that...but you never know.)

time for change...again

2009-03-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

i've been doin a lot of soul searching the last month or so. (if you know me very well, you know this is not something new.) more like a personal evaluation. how am i doing? am i measuring up to god's standards? to be honest, i feel like i've lost myself over the last couple years, but not for any good reasons. mostly cause i've had a hard time acclamating myself to this new "calling" of motherhood, not to mention many trials that have worked very hard to steal any joy i could possibly muster and loosing your joy is a fast way to loose yourself. after reading an amazing christian fictional book last month, it really got me thinking. more like relating to the character in a way that made me yearn for what she had found. regardless of whether it was real or not, i could relate.
so now i'm on this journey of sort of disecting everything in my life. the way i serve at church and outside of the church. my priorities in the home, to my hubby, and son. the way i am when i'm with my friends. the things i think about...am i worldly minded or eternally minded? where's my focus? is it on increase, survival, appearances? all the things that will put distance between me and god. all i know is that i'm happiest, most content, and feel the most like my true self when i'm diligently trying to focus on god's agenda, when i listen to his conviction and obey it, when i spend time with people who love god and want to talk about him and what he's doing in their life, when i'm serving in my ministry with the right heart, when i'm spending intimate time with god in his word and on my face before him, and when i'm focused on serving my husband and son. so, it's time for a change, cause i've lost myself in many of these areas. i've gotten out of sync.
if this is you, you can start to change today too. sometimes i feel i'm a bit intimadated by these changes cause i know it may not sit well with some, especially the enemy. But i have to....cause i'm a miserable person when i'm not. i need to live up to god's calling my life.
god reminded me a wonderful scripture today. i hope it will serve you the way it did me.
I john 2:15-17
do not love the world or anything in the world. if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. for everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the father but from the world. the world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of god lives forever.
i take these words for granted. i say, think, watch, listen, and behave in ways that show my love for the world. do you? if i'm honest, i spend more time than i'd like to, thinking on things that are worldly, instead of godly, eternal things. this verse is serious business and if we wonder why we can't feel content, like there's not direction, why we're unsatisfied, angry, frustrated, and we find ourselves complaining, maybe we do love the world. hard to digest? well maybe that's why most of us don't. as beth moore said, we are actually so hungry that we are chewing up the seeds instead of planting, watering, and letting them grow up in us in time. we have to be patient. one thing at a time. one repentance at a time. take this verse and plant it in your heart and mind. give it time to take root.
i'm giving any/all of you permission to ask me how i'm doing. the only way to stay on the narrow road is to walk with others. distancing ourselves pridefully, telling ourselves we can do it alone, will only lead us astray. so please do. hold me accountable and if you need it to, i'll make sure to ask you how you're doing.
I john 2:3-6
we know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. the man who saysj i know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him (OUCH!) but if anyone obeys his word, god's love is truly made complete in him. (thank you jesus) this is how we know we are in him: whoever claims to live in him must walk as jesus did.
omgosh. are you reading that last line? really? cause if you see what i see, your heart might be all broken and twisted right now. am i living as jesus did? he said that's the ONLY way to know we are truely in Him. i'm convicted. are you? i hope you are. i think i'll just let jesus do the rest of the talking to our hearts. i love you, whoever you are, whatever you've done, are doing, and i'll be praying for you as i do for myself.

25 random things about me

2009-03-01T19:51:00.001-08:00

1. as random as i am, i find stuff like this really hard to do
2. i would be a charasmatic in another life
3. i think i'm as good a judge as simon...suprise surprise
4. someday i want to live in italy. ilove the pace of lifestyle, the people, the food, history, scenery, weather, and architecture.
5. i have a list of about 10+ countries i must see before i die
6. so far i've been to 13 countries outside the us
7. i'm a very messy cook
8. i tend to want my outfit/accessories to match, but not my furniture. i'm very eclectic in that arena
9. i'm terrible at keeping routines
10. i would love to have a big breakfast, the works, with my hubby and son every morning.
11. i have 6 magazine subscriptions that i only paid a total of 40.00 for
12. public hottubs freak me out. all i can think about are the germs and potential things that have been done in them...yuck!
13. i want to be a proffesional country singer
14. i thought i'd grow up to be an architect. i've drawn floor plans since i was 10 or younger
15. i used to make up cookie recipes when i was like 5! then make my family try them. :O)
16. i'd love to be able to bake and decorate a cake like a professional
17. if i wasn't wound so tight or such a control freak, i'd LOVE to have 6 children.
18. i hated country music till i was 13, then a certain boy i liked played garth brooks "the dance" and nitty gritty dirt band "fishin in the dark" for me and i was hooked.
19. i'm severely afraid of swimming in the ocean, because i'm severly afraid of sharks (and really any other fishy thing touching me), because when i was very little, a friends mom let us watch jaws. i've never been the same.
20. i've eaten zebra, crocodile, & shark fin soup. the zebra was great!
21. i've been on a safari. it was one of the highlights of my life.
22. when i was going into the fourth grade, i cut the top of my foot clean open, severing an arterie and two tendons.
23. i called my brother jake the "f " word (but didn't say it, just said..."you f word")
and i got spanked practically the whole day for it. some clarification would've been nice. maybe the punishment wouldn't have been so bad.
24. once my dad had us put books in our pants when he was spanking us and we had to fake a cry.
25. i consider myself to be extrememly blessed to have the most wonderful parents ever that still love each other, two brothers that i adore, an amazing husband who's faithful, kind, generous, and trustworthy, and the most unique, beautiful, special child a mother could ask for. (not to mention fantastic extended family and in-laws). AND the best part is that they are all believers.

last night

2009-02-26T12:41:00.000-08:00

well jen beat me to the punch, but i always figure that's cause she doesn't have anyone under the age of 6 in her house :O)

so this is where we were last night. as many of you know, we had tickets given to us for valentine's day. for starters, we went to dinner at a new shindig in town called tusconos....i think. i can't remember the exact spelling. it's brazilian style cuisine where they bring a variety of fish, beef, chicken, veges, and fruit on skewers to your table. you can pick and choose what and how much you want to try. well, don't let the terrible/cafeteria style decor fool you. they do not disappoint on the main event. the food was fantastic. although, it's really not a place for a girl like me who can't eat her money's worth, but i definitely gave it my best shot. it was a great experience and the salad was bar was killer.
we got to the concert, just before it started, and got to our seats. just around 10 rows from the front of the stage. perfect~ as jen eluded to, jessica simpson is a less than average entertainer. i won't go into the details so as to not bore you, but if you want them, i'll be happy to fill you in! not too mention her tiny shorts and rump shakin...all while she reminds us to pray to god & that her dad used to be a minister! that's a good christian girl. wonder if she was "prayin out loud" on the set of dukes of hazard when she was slathered all over that car. hmmmm
rascal flats started their concert off with a bang. and i mean a bang...literally. fireworks, rumbling, lowered stage from the ceiling. awesome. just what you'd expect from the pros'. i'd say they know how to interact and entertain a crowd like nobody else. it was soooo good. i wouldn't be able to describe it and do it justice if i tried, so i won't. i'll just say it was worth every penny of my hubby's very hard earned money :O)
one last little detail. some of the "couples" around us gave rascal a run for their money in the entertainment section. ugh...seriously! keep it at home. the groping is enough to make you sick. well, anyway. the music was good enough to keep me distracted so i wasn't too damaged but what i saw.
so if you get the chance, and you haven't before, i recommend them...highly. it's a good concert with no worries that something inappropriate will happen.
thank you rob and rich for putting this together. you are thoughtful, wonderful husbands.
love you babe!!!!

ok ok ok

2009-02-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

after numerous requests from others and a little harassment and the fact that all three of my sister in laws are blogging, i've decided to get with it. feeling very sick this pregnancy has kept me with a complete loss of motivation to do ANYTHING. and i mean anything. you should see my house.
but the sun is on the rise and i'm beginning to sense a new day so i'll do my best to catch you up.
so far, i'm 15 weeks along. feeling a little better FINALLY. can't seem to rid myself of the headaches and nausea after i eat, but all in all, doing better. and besides...the sun is shining. that's all i needed. one more day of inversion and i was gonna throw myself in front of a train. no good at all.
my hubby and i had our 6th anniversary. with a serious shortage of funds, we made the best of the night. dinner at mai tai and a movie. it was great to be out with no child...time to talk and enjoy each other. a two year old and long work hours makes it hard to find alot of those moments.
i spent 5 days in texas with my mom visiting family. the sun was warm and i was so thankful for that. unfortunately, i felt completely awful the whole time, totally exhausted, and not to mention my son was bored out of his mind, so he was acting up alot. we did get to a dinosaur park and a cowgirl museum that i really enjoyed. but it was good to get home too.
i spent a wonderful evening out with all my best friends that was the refreshment my soul needed.
for valentine's day...my stud husband surprised me with rascal flatts ticks and the best part of it all is that my son is staying the night at his tatti and papa's house so we can stay out late and sleep in the next day. i honestly don't remember the last time that happened. i'm thinking a year ago at least. but it may be before i had ry!
i got to sing at the married life live event. i was sooo excited to do it. i don't ever have any chances to sing country which is my favorite genre. it was so much fun and the band were such sports to put the whole thing together in 3 weeks time. i've also been asked to sing alicia key's song, "if i ain't got you" for a wedding. isn't that a great song choice? should be fun.
the next fews weeks will hold 5 birthday parties, a praise team party, a concert, 2 weddings, a baby shower for a good friend, and ummmm, ok, i think that's it. i'm looking forward to it all. especially since i'm feeling much better. i'm ready to do some partying.
anyway. that's my life in a nut shell. ry and i are getting along so much better now that i'm feeling better and that is the biggest blessing of them all. i was ready to throw in the towel a couple weeks ago, but now we are good terms again. it's really only cause i'm feeling better and feel capable to take care of him again.
can't wait to read up on all of your blogs. i've been doing my best to catch up.

blueberries for me!

2009-01-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

i've always liked blueberries, but only fresh and not really as an ingredient, but just chilled and fresh. and when i say like, i am actually saying obsessed! love! for instance, i will purchase the container at costco, i'm thinking it's about a 32oz? it's not terribly expensive at 5.99. the problem is that i can eat the whole thing in a bout two days and that is no exaggeration. i bought a container yesterday morning and have maybe 1/3 of it left. this is not good for me as far as our budget is concerned. and in my "delicate condition" :O) they are one of the few things that actually sound good! i cannot get enough and i can feel good about eating them cause they're low in calories and high in anti-oxidants. perfect for pregnancy and with the constant nausea, you gotta eat what sounds good when you can you know???? well, tell that to my pocket book. there's also the possible problem of "you are what you eat!" don't you remember the girl on charlie and the chocolate factory? oh well, i'll take my chances.

time to break the news

2008-12-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

if you've read my sister-in-law's blog, you have heard the news. a baby on the way. well, i guess we'll jump on the band wagon. we too are expecting in august. august 1st to be exact! we are just a month a part and it will be wonderful to have someone to share the ups and downs with who can actually relate! we're on our way to being a fuller family. yikes. what have i done??? just kidding. we are excited and feel so blessed. we surprised both families seperatly. mine on christmas day and rich's last night. we wrapped this picture up and gave it to our parents.

on the gift tag of my parents we signed it from my aunt and uncle. this completely confused them for about a minute or two. they finally got it, with the hinting of the rest of the family. it was too fun. rich's mom opened hers as a "birthday "gift." it took her a minute or two too. all in all it was worth the wait. with the boy, we waited till i was 10 weeks. i was soooo sick, tired, and just plain out of it with no one to tell. torture! it was sooo hard to hide it. by the time we surprised the family my sickness passed. dang! no sympathy! i'm takin full advantage this time! and don't worry, i've been plenty sick and tired. i'm a sleeping champ!
so now i'm on to preperations. we're working on potty training the boy, gotta start thinking about a big boy bed/room, and that means we have to clean out the office! yuck. now that's a project i DON'T want to tackle. well anyway. now everyone knows and there's no reason to have to put on an act anymore.
so merry christmas everyone and a happy new year!!!!

2008-12-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

ugh. you know...i have no excuse to not post. we've been indoors moor than every lately. i just seem to still be busy. not to mention tired. this weather makes me want to sleep.
anyway. just thought i'd let you all know a fun little excursion for your family, if you don't already know about it. alisha told us about it last year and we have had a great time both years. there's a house down off state street that puts on an entire light show to music. it's very good and they have a radio station you can tune in to to hear the whole thing. very well thought out and lots of fun. so here's the directions
from state street head north on piere park (which is east of glenwood about a mile or so)
go just past hill road & look for parapet st. you'll go right on parapet. drive to the end of the street and it'll curve to the right and you can see the show going on. you just need to park in the middle of the culdesac so as not to block anyone from getting into their driveway. i think it goes from 6 - 10 or so on a loop. like every 15-20 mins or so. there's narrrations, jokes, singing, and music. i believe it is every night cause we went tuesday and it was going on.
so have a fun with your kiddos and let us know what you think

thirsty yet?

2008-12-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

what is it about coke in a glass bottle? it just tastes different. better. more refreshing. better carbonation. better taste. there's just something about drinking coke in a glass bottle.

so much, so little time

2008-11-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

holidays with the smith and hines crew is, i'm quite sure, something that could be made into a mini-series. we do so much in such a short amount of time. sometimes i'm amazed we don't all pass out from lack of breathing. but it's all wonderful and full of memories that i don't mind. besides, i'm used to it. it's always been this way.
so i'd say our holiday weekend actually started weds night. we finished putting our lights up and i put just a couple more decorations up to seal the deal. thursday morn rich got up bright and early to get in some hunting. around 1pm we headed to rich's grandparents for a late lunch, full of good food and good company. then afterwards, his parents, jen, rob, and the kids in tow, all headed to our house. we mostly just chatted and tried to watch a movie. we eventually ate dinner. black friday i had plans of getting out to shop EARLY, but due to numerous coughing attacks throughout the night and a hour and 45 minute "break from sleeping" with my son, i opted to sleep in. we ended up heading out around 10am. we picked up the all the cousins' gifts at target. they are all getting the same thing, thanks to my hubby. he actually had something specific in mind to get all of them and it just happened to be about 35% off. it's a great idea for them and i'm glad he pushed me to do it :O) they'll love it. we stopped off at costplus and then picked up a burger to head home for a late lunch.
friday evening my parents had planned a really special night for they grandkids. they had scheduled with santa for a quick stop on his way back to the north pole. he came in with a big red bag of presents. each of the kids took their turn sitting on santa's lap telling him what they wanted for christmas. then he gave them each a gift and some goodies as a little taste of what was to come christmas morning :O)
they were precious. here are a few photos. as you can see, two of the kiddos just weren't too sure about the whole thing. that is of course until santa gave them their gifts :O) (one of our wonderful friends who's an amazing photographer came over to take pics so i will post those when i get them. till then, these will have to do)

saturday rich got a little more hunting in and i got to meet up with my sister in law and an old friend who was in town. we had coffee, talked, and then went shopping at a great little store on chinden. never would've known that place was there. that evening we had rich's cousin and his wife over for a long & overdue dinner. we had sooo much fun with them. i swear that guy makes me laugh till i split. we just love hanging out with them and it seems like it happens too rarely.
today...well, this is about it. church, naps, browse the web, work on my advent calendar and enjoy a true "rest day."
so, as bing crosby so beautifully sings in the movie "holiday inn,"... "i've got plenty to be thankful for!" no, i won't make another list but i AM gonna mention one. i'm SOOOOOOO thankful for the drop in gas prices. aren't you?? with as much driving as rich has to do w/his job, we are saving about 200.00/month now. praise god! now that IS something to be thankful for.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! AND THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL, FREE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN!

birthday celebration #1

2008-11-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

i have to back a bit cause before my birthday was ry's. this post is a bit late i know, but i did not have picture to show yet. out little boy had his second birthday two weeks ago...so hard to believe. we did a jungle animal theme. so we had jungle juice, snake cake, and a project for the kids to work on. they all got to decorate their own toilet paper roll binoculars. too funny. especially the part when the boys got done, about 6 minutes after they started and the girls kept working and working, perfecting their art! adorable.
they got to put their "paw" print on the back of a little work book i constructed for them to take home. i'm sure most of it went in the trash, but it made it fun for them and kept them out of trouble for a bit :O) always a plus with my family!
i wanted to share some pictures of our sweet boy as he opened his gifts and had some dessert. the pic with his dad is the work bench that rich made for him. he and his dad built the entire thing from wood. he loves it and plays with it all the time. especially when he's having an urge to hit something!

2008-11-24T14:18:00.000-08:00

the lights are up and just in time. we like to get our's up by the middle of november. we're a few days off, but not too bad. as i said earlier, i've had my decor up since about two weeks ago. you may think it's a little much but you have no idea. we hold back. if my hubby had it his way, just one christmas, he'd love to deck out the house like the grizwalds! so we opt for getting everything up early. i like to enjoy it all as long as possible. there's soooo much crammed into one little month that i feel the need to get as many "to do's" out of the way as possible before the first of dec.
this last weekend was my bday and it was wonderful. thanks to many wonderful friends and family, the celebration lasted three days! i'm a firm believer that you should get as many days of celebration as you possibly can. BUT, the real reason it gets extended so long is cause it's hard for us to get both families together being that they are so large. we do it, every once in a while, but not too often. i wouldn't mind if i had a better set up at home. in fact, i'd love to have them both over every week! don't freak family. not gonna do it. not at least until i get a better facilitating house :O) so friday, a dear friend took me to lunch. then i spent the afternoon with my mom and aunt just visiting. that night rich took me to a wonderful dinner where i feasted on crab legs! thanks again honey. you are the very best!!! afterwards we walked down to a wonderful candy shop and bought some really fun stocking stuffers for the boy.
on saturday my mom and aunt and cousin took me to lunch, then we went shopping for 2 hours at tjmaxx! ah, heaven! that evening we went to my parents for my mom's famous shnitzel birthday dinner! mmmm. it was so delicious. words can not express. after dinner the rest of the family came over for dessert.
sunday after church, rich's side of the fam came over for a bbq and dessert.
all in all. perfect! i couldn't ask for a better birthday. just being with my family was enough gift for me! i adore my family, kin and extended. they are amazing, fun, entertaining, god loving people and i admire each of them soooo much!
there's one more dinner party that my girlfriends I always have to celebrate mine and another's bdays, but that will be this week. then it will FINALLY end :O)
lastly, i want to say that due to some unwanted germs, i spent weds-sunday fighting a cold. with lots of sleep, double jus shots, and airborne, i thought i'd kicked it. to my wondeful surprise, it still made it's way to my chest and as of last night, i have no voice.
.....now before you all start cheering, you may want to hold your applause! i'm feeling much better today and although i can not speak yet, i'm sensing the light at the end of the tunnel. so don't get your hopes up. besides, i always have the internet to let my voice be heard! :O)
needless to say, don't bother calling me in the next day or so. try email.
so thanks to all you sweet folks who wished me a happy birthday! it certainly was!

2008-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

ok...is anyone else totally in to this show? actually. i'm a bit fanatical! i just can't get enough. i won't miss one. love the premis, love the story, love the what if? LOVE the characters. OH! and totally love the ever so often dance/song routines that make it in to eli's visions. it's uplifting, hopeful, happy, and 95% clean! could you ask for a better show on primetime? i strongly encourage you to take me up on my suggestion and watch it. you can go online to catch up on all this seasons episodes and i believe you can even view last season if you want to really know the whole story. if not, of course i'd be happy to tell you too!
i will publicly denounce ever posting this if the show should turn bad (innappropriate :O) the fact that it has hardly any filth or immoral subjects is one huge reason i kept coming back for more. oh and of course the fantastic main characters!!!
anyone else out there stone fans? (no, not rolling stones! yuck!)

a few happenins and a greatful heart

2008-11-18T05:17:00.000-08:00

couple quick things before i go back to bed (been up with sleepless boy).
thanks to those of you who stopped by the townhomes. the turn out was incredible. i'm sure they'll be gone before we know it!
also, i have a confession to make. wth all you folks talkin about wanting to get christmas decor up and not sure if it's too early? i've had mine up for a week now. yep. i did it and it feels great. now i get to enjoy all the beautiful things till january! so go ahead. get going. you'll feel better when it's done and it will be one less thing you have to do after thanksgiving.
oh, and i'm turning 33! does it sound as boring as i think it does?? anyone else had a 33rd bday and didn't even realize it had come and gone? mmmmmm. that's just sad. actually, i'm totally cool with it. as long as i have a little time with my family and friends, i'm happy. (and a specific request to my hubby. i want to stay up late and sleep in late just once this weekend :O) guess that's what it is about. just celebrating life. and i have a good one i might add. is everything the way i'd like it to be? heck no. do i have trials i'm in still? heck yes. is God refining me daily??? oh yeah baby. but i'm content and i REALLY want to stay that way. it's such a peacful hopeful place to be.
with that said, i'd like to say my "thanksgivings" just a little early. maybe to help one of you remember all the things you have to be thankful and greatful for.
so here it goes...to the one who gives all and takes all away!
LORD, i'm thankful for:
my savior and eternity with you
a god who loves me the way i am
for friends and family that love me the way i am
for a compassion, considerate, hard working, enthusiastic, loyal husband
for a healthy, happy, engergetic, kind hearted son
for a mom that is my best friend, my encourager, my ear, and my cheerleader
for a dad who adores me, supports me, encourages me, and just plain likes me :O)
for friends that are constistant, dependable, god fearing, and loyal
for a roof over my head
for food in my pantry and fridge
for two vehicles in good working order
for money in the bank enough to cover bills
for fall
for beautiful things in my home
for the colors of fall
the smell of winter in the air
for health
for the fact that my husband has a steady job in this market and even as hard as it is, he keeps on keepin on
for bible studies that challenge, teach, and encourage me in th Word
for accountability
for my church (the people of course)
for a warm bed and warm water to shower in
for peppermint mocha creamer :O)
for a God who is always and will always be in control and have complete victory over this life!
i could go on forever...i'm pretty sure, but i'll stop there. feel free to add your thankfulness. i'd love to hear all about it.

HEY YOU GUYS!!!

2008-11-15T07:35:00.001-08:00

this is chathame towne. it's a townhome subdivision my husband and two other agents have listed. it's built by ted mason homes. i must say, it's got to be THE best home for the price in boise! they have tons of woodwork, built in flat screens, incredible kitchens with built in dining table! 1/2 bath on the main levels. balcony from the master suite. pottery barn lights and awesome painted cabinets. they actually look like something straight out of pottery barn magazine and they are all under 200k!!! pottery barn completely furnished two of them for staging and they are available to buy with all the furnishings also! still, under 200k!
so, i'm posting about this because this weekend is their grand opening and they had the brilliant idea of bringing in vendors to sell stuff, like a bazaar. so two of the houses are filled with beautiful crafts, kitchen stuff, candles, and jewelry all made by people locally. i'm talking very talented, "etsy" kind of quality & great prices (i made a few purchases...personally and for christmas gifts.) they have lots of wonderful goodies for sale AND the house on the end has free pie and cider. so i encourage you to stop by. it's today from 9am to 6pm. they are located on five mile, east side, between ustick and mcmillan. you can't miss them. look for fall colored baloons!
it will be a great chance to do some shopping and support our local economy! AND most of all to check out these beautiful homes. that way if you or someone you know is looking to buy in this price range, you can pass the word along!

they are open each weekend so if you can't make it to see them today, they'll be open fri - sun till they're sold. if you need specific hours let me know!
thanks for checking them out and please tell us what you think if you get the chance to go by!!!! although i already know what you'll say! :O)

panic

2008-11-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

ugh! not a word i like at all. you know that word and the feeling it brings with it? your stomach turns into a knot, your heart pounds, something bad has just happened and it usually carries a large dose of uncertainty? well, thankfully i've only had a handful of times when i felt this feeling of panic. one being a realestate transaction gone bad and a very angry client's phone call with it. another being a brief moment in time when i could not see my 18month old son in dillards and my heart began to beat out of my chest. oh, and there's the time my son grabbed a knife out of the dishwasher and took off running, not looking where he was going, me screaming for him to stop, and wham, right into the armoir....luckily no injury occurred except for the minor heart attack i suffered. but really, this post is about the most recent situation. this one was just the other day. ry and i were doing some shopping at winco. we went through the line, bagged our groceries, got in the car, and made our way home. about a mile down the road..if that, i realized i did not have my purse. the strang thing about it was i did not even remember using it at the register. i had the cash in my pocket so i never dug into my purse. at least i thought. before i knew it i'd ripped a uturn and headed back. i thought for sure it'd been snagged when i wasn't looking. "oh no! how could this happen. please lord no! please come through. please let it be in the store. please let it be in my cart." i pulled around the corner to see if my cart was still in the same place. it was, but no purse. i grabbed ry and headed for the register where we checked out. i politely, but firmly interrupted the cashier. with a regretful, half guilty look i asked, "did i happen to leave a black purse here?" "this one?" she asked as she pulled it out from under the counter. of course she said this with a look that said a million words like "moron, how could you be so thoughtless." i know. i was wondering the same thing. i mean my purse! the one with my life in it???? well it happened, but it also happens that i have a very understanding, compassionate God who very often rescues me out of such similar situations. i'm scatter brained. what can i say? well, need less to say, ry and i took the opportunity to praise jesus...out loud...all the way to the car.

temporal victory

2008-11-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

DEFEAT is a matter of perspective. it all depends on where you set your gaze. where are you eyes focused? i'll quote beth moore. where i look affects what i hear which affects what i feel which affects what i expect. if we cannot see the final victory then we loose hope. and as much as obama tried to make people believe HE is their hope...he cannot fulfil that role. no one can. only god alone. please know....i'm soooo battling this myself and if you woke this morning with a bit of a pit in your stomach and a feeling of frustration, you are not alone. BUT we must now submit to the authority appointed by God. God has a purpose and our hope is in eternity and our ultimate victory is not in this lifetime! this win is not a victory in the perspective of eternity...it is only temporal. trust me...i'm preachin to the choir.
again, to quote b.moore, "nothing operates outside God's sovereign rule, including any prince or principality of earth or air..." need i say more?

did you say what i think you said?

2008-11-02T19:35:00.002-08:00

that's what i was thinking when a close friend of mine told me she was going down to help campaign with a friend for obama. you know, i could except that from some people i know that are NOT christians, but not this gal. not one who is a born again christian and very active in church. now, i'm a fair human being. i can acknowledge that obama may have some good policies in his pocket, but all in all, he does not represent biblical principles and values. i say that because some of my core values do not line up with his and i base my world view and values on what the bible teaches. one of the major ones is his pro-choice stand. he is not just pro choice in rape/incest situations. he supports partial birth abortion and voted against a bill that supports providing care for babies that survive abortions. there are many unhealthy/negative changes that could come about IF he is elected (i'd be happy to explain in more detail if you're curious). but right now, i'm not going to talk about that. what i am going to do is give you something else to chew on.
when i was thinking about the fact that some of my christian friends were voting for him and thinking about why it is i don't feel comfortable with this man being our president, these scriptures came to mind:
II timothy 3:1-9
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
AND 4:3-4
for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.

is this what's happening? are people giving into their own fleshly reasoning? are we "reasoning, justifying" our actions? are we just listening to what makes us feel good instead of the Word of God, which is "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit" (heb. 4:12)? we need a little dividing if you ask me. it's time for christians to decide who they will serve. we have to acknowledge the truth of what obama stands for and what he could potentially bring into this country if he is elected. if you believe that what he represents sits ok with you, then show me where in the bible we can compromise in who we choose to follow. try to find support for his views in the bible and then tell me you could still vote for him. we cannot support a candidate that does not even respect the very basic value and rights of human life. the shedding of innocent blood is murder and sin. defending the right for same sex marriages goes completely against biblical teaching. just so you know, obama recently commented that if his daughter were to become pregnant at a young age, he would not want her to be punished for her mistake. what? what kind of jacked up reasoning is that? well, i'm not standing for it. i've cast my vote and proudly. i voted on thursday last week and felt such a sense of patriotism! i LOVE this country and i will fight for our right to stand on what this country was founded on! the WORD OF GOD. i am proud to say i was able to leave the voter's booth with good conscience & i hope that you will to!
i will end on a bit of a lighter note just for all of you who hate these kinds of posts.:O) when you vote, keep your "i voted" sticker and you can go to krispy kreme for a free star shaped doughnut, then walk next door to starbucks and grab a free coffee.

now go do the right thing! (dr. laura)

tradition

2008-10-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

(picture above is from last year)
for the second year, rich, ry, and i hosted a pumpkin carving party for our families. both sides come together, we carve, heckle each other a bit, the kids run in and out playing and screaming, and we laugh alot. then after carving we stop for some dinner. usually we have to kill a little time so that the sun can set so we get into some good discussion like politics (the election to be specific :O) or hunting (boy topic). not long after that we dive into some dessert. inevitably everyone ends up outside while the boys throw the football in the street. the kids love it. (and so do all the cars trying to get by) as soon as the sun has disappeared over the houses, we light up all the pumpkins. i think that part is everyone's favorite because it's where we get to see all our creations come to life! we had lot's of different pumpkins. some with funny faces, some with spiders, flowers, owls...and a few i'm still trying to figure out. my parents went all out and bought a drummel this year and some how a competition began between all the adult males to outdo one another. all in all, it was just as wonderful as we'd hoped.
i'd share all the adorable pictures, but our camera has pooped out. SO you will have to visit my sisterinlaw's blogs to see them. (hint hint girls. get those pics up :O)
click on their links down below. jen, beth, or nicole.
so a special thank you to all of my wonderful extended family. you are all amazing, special, fantastic people and you make all occassions wonderful! rich and i feel soooo blessed to have not only godly, giving, loyal family members, but great friends. there is no one in the world we'd rather spend time with than you all!
our only regret is that megan, ben, matt, and cole could not be with us. some day you all have to fly in for it :O)
so thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making it a perfect evening! LOVE YOU

i love pretty

2008-10-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

i love this place. no, i mean...LOVE! if you know me in the least you know i'm a sucker for color and pattern. i think i get it from my mom. we both love stationary, journals, paper products, and wrapping paper. but not just any kind. the kind that makes you feel like you're looking at a piece of art. i'm not a "hallmark" card kind of gal. i really hate to buy those. BUT a beautiful work of art, that just so happens to be on a card...i'm all in. the sad thing is i won't usually buy much of it cause i also happen to be a little bit of a tightwad. so when i first went to this store i realized i'd either have to make a mad dash for the door or change my ways.
i'm going to warn you. paisley roberts is terribly tempting and can breed discontent like no other. i can't hardly keep my hands off. for instance, their superfabulous collection of wrapping paper. the gorgeous choices of napkins. (yes, napkins) their beautiful christmas cards. their great selection of journals and books and invitations. i could go on and on, but i won't. i'll just say it's all completely to die for. but let me tell you. you will pay for that beauty. it comes with a hefty price and in my secret little world where i daydream about how i'd like to live, i'd lay that cash down faster than you could say cardstock!
so...i dare you to check it out. but be sure to leave your credit cards at home or go prepared to drop some dough and not think twice about it. i'm going to give you a bit of preview just to wet your appetite...

address:
237 N 9th street
downtown boise
(you know....i really should get paid for this :O)
ok! HAVE FUN SHOPPING

swoosh...gone in a second.

2008-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

jeez. seriously. does time have to go so freakin fast? may i be honest? oh, yeah, it's my blog. ok, i don't like this whole growin up thing my son seems to be doing. every day as a mommy, i do my best to instil things in my son that i think he'll need later in life when it really counts. then, all of sudden, he is actually starting to put those things into practice. one of the joys of my boy is that he is incredibly considerate of others (so much like his daddy.) he is always looking out for others, sharing everything with everyone, he's affecitionate, and very outgoing. i love those things about him because those are the things that come naturally. now, what i'm beginning to see, is him saying and doing all the little things his dad and i have said a million times. my confirmation is that he uses them in the right context. for instance, when he wants your attention or wants to get by something/someone, he says excuse me (may not sound exactly like the word). when you give him something he says thankyou. he has even picked up on the whole "bless you" thing when someone sneezes (thanks to dad). i think he struggles a bit with remembering to say please because of his natural, selfish two year old self. but give him a second and ask him what he's supposed to say and a please will fly out of his mouth with the sign language and everything. hmmmm, a mother's pride. now, i'm not saying he's perfect. oh no, far from (ok, not that far :O) he's all about testing me. i'm pretty sure there has never been a more stubborn, independent child. don't argue, this is my blog!) i just want to clarify that because i don't want you to be surprised if he goes off and hits or kicks your child :O( he is a boy. and sooooo very boy, loaded with as much testosterone as god could give, so he's liable to act out in that nature (my apologies go out up front for any offenses :O) but all in all, he's sweet, kind, happy, full of energy and wonder and imagination, and very loving.
so with that said, right now i'm in the process of preparing for his second birthday and i'm cringing and fighting all the way. i'm doing it, i'm planning his party cause that's the kind of mommy i am, but i'm not happy about it. i'm having a hard time with him growing up. it seems too fast. i mean he walks around with his hands in his pockets, going on and on about who knows what, like he's 25! ugh. too fast. just way too fast. he's even been telling me he wants to go sit on the potty to go pee pee, cause he wants to be big you know, and i'm sitting here thinking, you are too dang little to be out of diapers! (as much as my budget would welcome the relief) i just can't wrap my head around him being old enough. well, i guess you gotta love it. it's all part of the territory. so, i either embrace it or be miserable all the way to his 18th birthday. god help me i will choose embrace. let's hope the next year slows down just a pace or two. that would be helpful. in the process, i'll do my best to be "present" AND maybe go ahead with the whole potty training thing :O)

history of halloween

2008-10-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

(the following picture and article were taken from www.history.com)

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

*********SO, did any of you know this history? i certainly did not. i thought to look it up, because to be honest, i really love this holiday (and not for the reasons associated with it's origin...obviously, i'm not celtic :O) and i wanted to know it's origin personally. i've heard it's a holiday for devil worshippers, etc...but as you can see, that's not quite how it came about. i was please to see that the church got hold of it and actually tried to turn it into a holiday of honoring martyrs and saints. i also am quite positive, at one time or another, i've gotten some looks because of my enjoyment of it. so i thought...hey, i'll use my blog to talk about it. what a novel idea?
in regards to my love of this time of year, i must admit, i just cannot help it. i'm a party girl by nature i guess. i love the idea of celebration. especially when it involves dressing up, carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, sweet, yummy, wonderful candy, and trick or treating. i know this is an area MANY christians have diverse and no doubt strong feelings about. so because of my love of jesus and wanting to impart spiritual,godly things into my family and especially my son's life, i made the decision years ago to be very careful how i'd participate. my negotiations with myself and the holy spirit of course, lead me to the following conclusions. i have NO and never have had any desire to celebrate death, gore, fear, demonic, or scary. we don't go to haunted houses. we don't watch halloween themed movies. we don't listen to scary music or decorate in anything that has a dark connotation. period. i don't allow that stuff through movies or any other means into my life or home. i do, however celebrate the idea of fall and harvest. therefore, myself (on rare occasion these days) and my son get dressed up in favorable, not evil, costumes. rich and i go to fall festivals, take hay rides, go to pumpkin patches, go through corn mazes, decorate our home with black and orange, pumpkins, and fall foliage, and we throw a pumpkin carving party for our entire family each year. we also participate in trunk or treat and yes....trick or treating. if there's a place to be (boo at the zoo for instance) where we can engage in these types of things, then we go. and i can say, i've never felt convicted about this. this is one are to remind me of how thankful i am for the portion of our bible study we are doing right now, that talked about not judging and realizing that we all can have different convictions when it comes to grey areas. i needed to hear that to remember to extend grace to others, just as i would like it extended to me.
so, there you have it. i just though i'd share. i'm sure some of you are thankful because it's exactly where you are. others may totally disagree & i'm ok with that. let's just agree to love one another and cut each other a little slack. this will come in handy when it comes to the trunk or treat our church puts on. regardless of whether you celebrate or not, we can all participate in order be a blessing to our community. it's an AWESOME outreach that is fun and safe for kids AND has lead many to our church and ultimately to the lord! praise god. he CAN be glorified through any and all things. so get out there and help or just show up and be sure to invite a family you know to come. it will be worth it...i promise.

country bumpkins

2008-10-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

so, i may be the first to put this info out there, or like usual, i'm the last to know, thinking i'm the first. if you are a lover of country, then i have a radio station for you. i ran across it yesterday while looking for something else. on my dial, it's 90.9. it's called God's country. it's all uplifting/spiritual country music from today's country artist, secular and christian. they share verses and encouragment and just play some down right good music. it's a lot like "the rise up show" on sunday mornings. if you like that sort of thing, you'll love this station. a lot of songs i've never heard which is fun AND heck, if it's god's station, then i should probably listen huh? so get patriotic or spiritual or somethin and tune in to 90.9 !!!!

t time

2008-10-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

nope, not golf. more like tea time. let's pretend we're sitting down for tea, just the two of us, on a beautiful, crisp fall morning, fireplace crackling in the background and we begin to "tell all." (that is actually what the t stands for.) this is just something i'm starting on my blog and i'd love for you to join me. i don't know about you, but i just love when someone tells me some juicy info about themselves. something i would never have guessed. it can be something completely random like a phobia, something you totally love but never really tell people about, or maybe a dark secret that you just need to shout from the mountain tops so that maybe people will be able to understand you a little better.
i'll start with a few. if you do decide to join in, either leave it on my comments OR do your own on your web page and let me know so i can check it out.
sooooo. what do you say we get intimate? here goes....
1. so when i was a freshman at LU, we were given the opportunity to go on a fully paid 8 day, 7 night tour of Israel. the whole thing paid for!!!!! and i chose not to go because the guy i was dating at the time did not want to go! can you believe how stupid that was? i mean, Israel, the country that is getting harder and harder to get in to. the one where Jesus, Paul, and soooo many others have gone before me. one of the country that i most desire to visit! oh, i could beat the crud out of myself all over again for that one.
2. i underline like crazy in my bible, any time i see a verse that speaks to me. this is so that i can find it again when i need it because i stink at memorizing scripture. i think i've let it become a crutch and replace the real thing. i can usually find a scripture on a subject that i need, but only if it's underlined. this is a weakness god and i are working on right now. i've been challenged by my mentor to memorize a whole chapter in psalms. so far, not so great. i've gotten only three down, but am working diligently to overcome and tear down this "barrier" i've allowed to be built in my life.
3. i used to have no vibrato. i took voice lessons from a woman in Virginia who was one of the first black opera singers in new york and she said she'd never seen anyone with that "problem." (yes she thought it was a problem:O) but she believed it was directly linked to my self confidence. she said, she'd work with me vocally to strengthen my muscles, but that as i worked through some stuff, i'd begin to see a change in my voice. she was right. very right in fact. my voice completely changed as i began to exercise my vocal chords and seek healing from the lord. before i knew it, i too had a vibrato. and on the note of singing, i still get terribly nervous EVERY time i sing a solo. like sick to my stomach. but she helped me to see that we need that adrenaline. it actually can boost the quality of our voice if understood.
4. i have a funny idiosyncrasy. when i sit to eat at a restaurant, i line everything up (glass, plate, silverware) evenly so as to be symmetrical (or at least my idea of symmetrical). when i drive, i constantly adjust my hands to be even on the steering wheel. i can obsess for hours over the way i want my decor "staged." for instance; my mantel and the thing that stinks is in the end, i still don't like it cause i don't think i'm very good at it. i guess it's like i can't quite get the "symmetry" of it right or something.
ok....so now it's your turn. spill the beans.

6 things about me

2008-10-11T21:50:00.000-07:00

tagged by erin...so here goes. (i'll admit, i'm not always the best at these cause i tend to have a brain fart when i need my brain the most)

1. in a life with unlimited resources i'm completely organic everything! i have a growing conviction about what i'm putting in my mouth that is gnawing at me every day to make changes. going to the grocery store is torture.

2. in a life soon to come (i hope) my dream would be to live on 5 acres, just far enough to "feel" like the country, but still close to all the things i love, with a beautiful country/cottage house that MUST include a huge front porch and back porch that is screened in. it must also have large trees surrounding, one of which needs to include a tire swing that my son can play for hours on.

3. i love to cook, create, make things. i just don't have enough time or resources to do most of it. so for now, i'm resorting to those i can do. sewing, knitting, canning, dehydrating, baking, and many other things. they bring me a sense of who i am and a peace knowing that i'm capable.

4. if there was one dream that i could make happen, i'd be a country singer, singing on the stage with all the great ones, faith, reba, kenney, shania, maybe even tim?

5. most know, but many do not, that my husband and i met when we were 14 and 15. he saw me and said he told himself he'd marry me someday. 11 years, and many bad relationships later and he still cared for me and asked my hand in marriiage. he's my best friend and the most incredible father and husband anyone could ever want and i am a truely blessed person because of him.

6. i cannot stand dirty, although my home does not always reflect this belief. nothing makes me feel better than a home that is clean (down to the toilet rims), dusted, vacuumed, organized, and picked up. it gives me a sense of calm that i need.

ok, one more for kicks. i love copper! i wish to have all copper pots/pans/kitchen aid/you name it, if it CAN be copper, then i want it!

ok, so i think i'll tag:
lorilu
hot potato
kit kat
AND
nicole wyke

ryisms...

2008-10-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

just thought i'd share, more like document, some of ry's little words that he "thinks" he's saying....i just love that only me and rich know what he's says most of the times. it's like we all share our own little private language. i'm savoring it while i can before the rest of the world is let in on our little secret.

no - mo
ok - otay
you are? - i are
this - dish
dinasour - eeore
truck - but
fish - beesh
baby einstein - einei
please - eeeesh
thank you - taintchu
motorcycle - (this one is a doozie) dadadahtycle...or something like that
horse - orsh
airplane - airmane
lion - nion
emily - ehveevee
dad - dada, daddy, rich
mom - mama, mommy, rich :O)
more - mAr
peyton - nuhtnun
anneliese - aveeveese
husker - uh-ter
ramsey - memeen
whats that? - uh dat?
football - bootball
taylor - ayter
cracker - tahter
juice and shoes - boof (???)
that's all i could get him to say. he was done perfoming.
well, at least i have it written down now.

a little deal just around the corner

2008-10-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

just thought all you creamer lovers like me might be glad to know that coffee mate has a nice little coupon for you. when you buy two, you get 1.50 off. one; you can get a 1.00 off . not bad eh? especially those of us addicted to the peppermint mocha.....ahh, total heaven.
oh, and just wanted to do one more plug (man...coffee mate should totally pay me for this :O) i absolutely LOVE...almost as much as the peppermint mocha... the new "Italian sweet cream."

seriously. it's so good. i can't describe the flavor, it's in a league of it's own. i just know it's perfect and if they even think of getting rid of it, they'll be receiving some serious harassment from me :O)
http://www.coffee-mate.com
(btw...sorry i don't have a direct link, but for some reason my pc won't let me)

you won't believe

2008-09-21T21:12:00.001-07:00

ok so i just posted but i came across a blog tonight via kimberly (thanks girl :O) and i just had to share. i am going to show you a few pictures from the blog then you can check it out yourself. i was so intrigued, gasping in disbelief and in the same breath laughing...so what is it you ask? it's a blog about cake disasters . seriously, if you are as intrigued as me, you'll go from one page to the next, eyes wide with wonder and amazement. so here is a sneak peak at the horrific adventure you will embark...

did you see the cake that was to be a mimic of p diddy? yep that one was actually a cake at his party! then there is the all innappropriate baby one. yuck. i mean who wants to eat that? i just love the two cakes that brides had made to look like themselves. creepy!!!! um yeah, not sure about the whole "poo" cake. to each his own!
yep, these are just the tip of the iceberg. have fun checking them out www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com

from jen, to me , to you

2008-09-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

thought i'd share this recipe. makes mornings easy and thanks to my wonderful sister in law whom i love sooooo much and who is a great cook, i have it to share with you guys! she may have beat me to it, but here it is anyway
6 english muffins, split to make 12 halves (whole wheat is a good choice)
1 lb of turkey sausage or low fat pork sausage
1 jar bacon cheese (it's in the aisle with cheese spread, it's one of those processed cheese things)
1/3 cup shredded cheese
6 eggs
1 T milled flax seed (just for a bit of nutrition)
1/4 cup diced mushrooms and or olives - OPTIONAL!!! (i don't use, jen does :O)

so cook the sausage on med-high till cooked through. if using mushrooms or olives, add now to saute. add the six eggs to scramble in. remove from heat and add the rest of the ingredients. stir to combine well. lay 12 english muffin halves on cookie sheet. spoon sausage mixture on. freeze. when ready to use, bake at 400 for 12 minutes till cooked through and muffin is crunchy!
easy for mornings when things are a little busy!

makin up time

2008-09-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

i don't blame any of you if you never check my blog anymore. i haven't been the best about posting. so, as just a catch up, this is my past ten days in thumbnail view.
last friday we ended up going to the sara evans concert. it was good, but i was disappointed a bit. i have saw her live a long time ago, more in the beginning of her career. she opened for kenny chesney. i think i remember her having a bit of difficulty staying on pitch and i was confirmed this time around too. she's a good singer with a unique style, but that girl can't stay on pitch. it's kind of a pet peeve of mine. i will say though, to her defense, i am a little hard on people in this arena (including myself). so, i'll just bring it back around and say that she did entertain me thoroughly and i love her music, so i could sing along to most of the songs she sang. her sisters sing back up for her so it was fun to see them and hear them sing along.
moving on....
well, i can't remember many details about my week except to say it flew by. i will say,this week and a few weeks past, i've been getting with my sister in law, jen, and just going back to the basics, you know, like home ec? yep, homemade sauce/salsa, canning, knitting, baking, etc.... i'm just had a desire lately to get in touch with my more creative, capable side (i know it's in there somewhere). so i'm taking advantage of the fact that i'm a stay at home mom and taking on some projects i've been thinking to tackle for years.
on the list to come...well more of what i've been doing...
more knitting (based on what i've done so far, this could take months to master)
sewing
more canning
decor projects
christmas projects
mastering the art of baking bread (is there a trick or am i just bread baking impaired?)
cake decorating class
and who knows what else
i'll post pics of the stuff we end up creating with how to's just in case you are interested in them...that is IF they turn out perfect and adorable as i hope they will!
oh and by the way...fall is in the air!!! finally!

particular

2008-09-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

do any of you shop at fred meyer? ok, so i'm slowly, but surely being converted. the ONLY thing stopping me at this point is that my grocery budget does not permit me to shop there. SO, i'm always scouring for coupons and discounts. i think it's because of my age. you know they say that you get more set in your ways as you get older? i'm begginning to see how! i guess i just know what i like and like convenience and ease and i nice, clean, healthy, friendly enviroment.
here are a few of the things i about it...the "customer perks" as i like to call em;
the race car shopping cart
the optional children drop area (not that i'd ever use it, but it's nice to have)
the amazing meats
the great bakery
their beautiful, perfectly stacked produce aisles
the clean atmosphere,
the open check out lanes
the one stop shop possibility
and the organic/all natural section.
that one is my favorite part.
as i've said before, i'm all organic at heart, just can't justify it on the books.
silly or not, i've put it down on my "goals" list...to shop at fred meyer. i know. sounds totally ridiculous, but hey, i know what i like. and there's nothing like a good grocery shopping experience with your 22 month old. it's almost worth the cost right there!

get me some girl time!

2008-09-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

for all of you who read this and were at retreat... i love you and thank you for making my weekend so wonderful. becky and kay did such a wonderful job at giving us an opportunity to hear from the lord through their transparency and love. i know they wanted so badly for us to feel filled up and ready to face life as we came home and i'd say they were successful. i was challenged and encouraged in the word and know that i met with my savior up there.
the fellowship itself was almost as nourishing as the messages :O) and i was needing it! so often i feel like i don't get enough time to spend with women i'd really like to get to know. it seems like most of my time is wrapped up with family, ministry, and a few outings here and there with my best friends, which i'm soooo grateful for, but rarely do i seem to have time with girls i really adore, admire, respect, and just plain enjoy. i guess that's because there are too many of you! if only i could multiply myself about 10 times, then i could do it! i could spend time with all of you. and oh how much wiser i would be for it! i will say, i'm very thankful for these blogs! otherwise i feel like i'd never get to know some of you at all. so for now, and i'm sure i'll leave a few out, i just want to tell kimberly, stacey, sheila, chanda, aubrey, nicole, amanda, debbie, cindy, cheryl, heather, katie, laurel, (laurel's friend whom i cannot remember your name right now) and some that i'm sure i'm just plain forgetting, just how much i enjoyed talking, laughing, & sharing with you. and for some of you....getting to see a different side of you that i'd never had the pleasure of knowing :O)!
what a joy you all are. you are uniquely gifted and special daughters of the king. i hope as the years go by, we'll grow in our love for jesus together. we ARE better together and even though i'm not necessarily intimately involved with each of your lives, i AM committed to you and being here for you. so may i close with saying.....
GIRLS ROCK! (and that goes to and for all of my other beautiful friends who were unable to join us! you know who you are and i adore and love each of you too!!!! you were truly missed)

in loving memory of

2008-08-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

ISAAC JAMES WHEELER

on saturday morning we went to a memorial service for a stillborn baby named isaac james. his parents are friends of ours. we have suffered, sorrowed, sobbed, and prayed through this with them. the service was absolutely wonderful. it was filled with peace, hope, and so much love. i know it may sound strange, but i just kept thinking how much i felt like worshipping god. in human terms, one void of god, that would sound almost sacreligious, but to a believer, there is understanding and empathy. it was absolutely the undeniable presence of the holy spirit that i was sensing. not a joy over the circumstances, but joy in the hope god gives. i've been so overwhelmed with the entire families strength and felt such pride as ethan got up to talk about his son and this circumstance they've found themselves in. please continue to pray for their healing. as things get back to normal and they are forced to move forward, there will definately be obstacles and they will need prayer and support.
i wanted to share the poem i read at the service, in case you were not able to make it. maybe you do not know the family but know someone else who's gone through a similar tragedy. i hope it can be a blessing and comfort.

beautiful

beautiful you are, a gift from god
a treasure in deed to keep
we planned for your arrival each day
anticipation stole our sleep
god's plans were different than those we had
for he gives and he takes away
his plans were for you to take residence up
in eternity's angelic place

the pain endured was like nothing i've felt
and the grief overcame like death
but a loving savior with plans unknown
set my heart and mind at rest
he took my pain and every tear
and he gave me new eyes to see
and in the shadow of his wings
his grace was enough for me

today the heaven's shout praises aloud
for all the world to hear
for a saint has received his inheritance
one void of suffering and tears
and though i do not understand your plans
or grasp your sovereign will
my father, savior, Shepherd, and king
for your glory i will learn to be still
may i let this journey speak words of life
to grow closer in love with you
for it all be in vain if i cannot see
all things beautiful alone are in you
SSS

family time

2008-08-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

i know it's been like...three weeks since i last posted. i'm ashamed to say it, but i have actually been too busy. and you how it is, like when you haven't talked to a friend for a long time and you keep thinking you need to make the call, but then it's that much harder to do it cause there's too much to say? it's a bit like that. i haven't been on vacation or anything, we have just been VERY busy spending time with rich's family. his sister, brother-in-law, brother, and nephew were all in town and we basically planned out the week accordingly so that not a minute was spared. there were many a family dinners, not excluding great desserts, smores and bonfire one night. and we can't forget trainwreck. we also went up past idaho city one afternoon to do some panning for gold. it was a fun experience, but no, we did not come back loaded. the only thing we found were a couple leaches that had attached themselves to emily and i. yeah...yummy. i almost threw up. i've never had one on me and don't plan to make a habit of it. then we did some shopping, the guys went shooting, played golf, and just got in lots of good family time. we don't get to see his brother and sister, but maybe once a year, twice if we're lucky, so this was certainly a treat.
this last weekend rich, ry, and i tried to lay low at the house, but we did end up going fishing with rich's bro rob and his three kids.we had a good time for the exception of the horribly hot weather. it was sunday, the day it hit like 105 or something? not to mention we were fishing in lake lowell, which is not exactly a lake i like to get in...it felt like bath water and there was a nice thick green algae in the water. yummy. BUT the fishing was good. rob, rich, and i all caught large mouth bass, about 14 inches in length, and austin caught about a 7 incher. ry on the other hand did not catch anything, he just kept us busy running from here and there, asking for food, drink, juice, and trying to run as fast as he could along the shore. he did, however, enjoy touching and seeing the fish we caught.
here are just a couple pictures capturing his excitement. he was just thrilled to see the fish...he loves them.

after all that, we opted to stay in as much as possible this weekend. we did spend fri night at rich's parents for a goodbye bbq for matt and cole.
i know one thing for sure, the 80's have been a god send. i love the summer, but i'm very ready for a bit cooler weather...anyone else? (besides jen....) :O) hope all your summers have been wonderful with lots of great memories.

chef smith

2008-08-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

today we had the chance to go pick fresh blackberries at a home my husband has listed (he's a realtor:O). the owners don't live there anymore and so the bush has just been sitting there, getting very overgrown. all those berries going to waste, we just couldn't have that. so we stopped over and gathered as many as we could...at least a couple pounds. when i was young, my family would take day trips and go pick wild blackberries. i remember that so clearly. we did alot of that kind of stuff and i love the memories i have from those experiences. it's something i want my kids to have memories of too. so anyway....back on track. the one thing i didn't remember about picking berries is how prickly they are. i'm talkin, thorns everywhere! they were catching my hair, shirt, pants, and not to mention a bunch of my skin. ugh. i didn't bring gloves so i tried to be very careful, but i wasn't very successful. but our persistance and sacrifice paid off in the form of plump, sweet berries. a few for snacking, some for cereal, maybe for some muffins, and definately some for cobbler!

when we got home, i did not have anything planned for dinner. i'd picked up a couple tenderloin steaks the other day so i knew i wanted to do something with those. i skimmed my "cooking pleasures" magazine and i came across a recipe for beef skewers. they were so easy to whip up and delicious too so i thought i'd share it. if you try them out, pleast let me know what you think.
enjoy!!!

1/2 c mayo
1 T cider vinegar
1 T lemon juice
dash of ancho chili powder (regular is fine) plus 1/2 teaspoon, divided

1 T smoked paprika (i used regular)
1 T packed brown sugar
1 t ground cumin
3/4 t garlic salt
1 1/4 lb beef sirloin steak (1 inch thick)
6-10 wooden skewers (12 in long)

soak wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes
- combine mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, and dash of chile powder (i used more than a dash to get the flavor i liked) in a small bowl. cover and refrigerate (sauce can be made 1 day ahead)
- combine paprika, brown sugar, cumin, garlic salt, and remaining 1/2 t chili powder
in another small bowl. rub mixture onto steak, pressing to make it stick
- heat grill. cut steak into 1/4 in thick strips. thread steak onto wooden skewers. grill, covered, over medium high heat or coals 4-6 minutes for med-rare, turning once. (we cooked longer cause our pieces were thicker and we like MED :O)
serve with sauce.
throw in some corn on the cob and roasted potatoes and you got yourself a yummy meal!

wish away

2008-08-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

wish you were here? hey. me too! i'm not actually positive where "here" is, i just know it would be anywhere away from boise. don't get me wrong. i love my home town. my stompin grounds. there's something wonderful about knowing this city backwards and forwards, about being able to recall when eagle road was more like being out in melba than a fast paced thorough-fair, or when the winters brought us "feet" of snow that would linger for weeks. yep, i like that. BUT i dont like the inversions. no-sir-eee. hate them. i've had a permenant post-nasal drip and cough that feels like i've got hay in my chest for about a week now and i've had it. anyone with me? now, i'll stop here. i'm not up for complaining, cause a little inversion isn't bad when it's the largest of our concerns. take for example earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados...i'm very thankful to not have to be worried about those. but still, the inversion is gettin in my head. sooo, if i had a choice, i'd like to pick right up and head where it's clear. to a lake or a nice beach. (btw where my brother and his family are right now! so jealous) i guess for now i'll have to settle for living vicariously through others (preferably those on the life style's of the rich and famous!) at least until it's my turn. we haven't had an official vacation (official meaning at least a 5 day minimum) in over two years. and let me tell you...we need it.
so now you know what to pray for :O) thanks, i'll take all i can get. till then, i'll be at the pool, with my eyes closed, imagining i'm on the beautiful shores of maui! it could happen!

food for thought

2008-07-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

is it me, or does it seem that god's always trying to teach us something. even if you think you are not in the trenches of a battle, he is always giving us opportunity to learn. well, i can say for myself, that He's ALWAYS working on something in my life. over the last two years, one of the big ones was faith. or should i say my lack of it. i tried to corner it into a couple different categories, one being control and the other worry, but they both really came down to a hard truth, that i lacked faith. when you do not have faith or trust in the Lord, you will ultimately feel a need to control things. this control comes out of fear because you don't know what is going to happen so you get worried, you try to control, and then it all just falls apart and you find you've taken the long, hard road back to the Lord. ok, so maybe this is just me. but he's been teaching me about my faith - putting full dependence on him, trusting that he loves me and he'll meet my needs in every way. it goes beyond just food and drink and clothing. there are so many other needs i have to have met by him or i will just go back to my old friends "control and worry" and trust me, they are always there, as faithful as they come, just waiting to find a place back in my life. so by providing my daily manna, literally, i've really been forced in to trusting him. we've watched god provide moment by moment for us in the most exciting, amazing ways. he always comes through. now, i'm not claiming all our bills were met, but we did not starve and we had gas to get us where we needed to go and clothes on our backs. but i will say that where we did not have money one month, it would come back around the next to get us caught up.
the cool thing about manna is that it was a picture of the true manna god would provide for the children of israel, the eternal life giving manna...jesus. so as he's provided my physical needs, i've been reminded how much more he's provided me through christ.
i figure i'm not alone in this great challenge and so i wanted to share with you what my bible says about worry. it's given me some much needed insight and wisdom.
if you read matthew 6:25-34 you'll find jesus telling his disciples not to worry. these verses followed his instruction to not put faith and dependence in worldly treasures (6:19-24). what i want to share is one of the "word wealth's" my bible gave as a tool to understanding this portion of scripture

"the word WORRY means to divide into parts. it suggests a distraction, preoccupation with things that cause anxiety, stress, and pressure. jesus speaks against worry & anxiety because of the watchful care of a heavenly father who is ever mindful of our daily needs. the words of this portion of scripture teach us how to live in uncertain financial times without stress or fear. financial fear is
1. unreasonable: we are not to become distracted from the substantial issues of life over less important matters like what we will eat or wear
2. unnatural: we're the only creation who worries. god provides for birds and we're more valuable. we are outside of God's natural design when we worry
3. unhelpful: worry and fear do not produce anything worthwhile
4. unnecessary: god provides for his own and promises to take care of our needs
5. unbelieving: we are acting as if god did not exist when we live in financial fear. our heavenly father knows our needs and he WILL provide."

good stuff? i thought so. especially that last one. that one really convicted me. i don't ever want to be accused of being unbelieving. so i have only one choice. to trust him. i really hope you are encouraged today to know you're not alone. it doesn't have to be finances. there are many kinds of worries and anxieties. the point is that daily we have to submit these fears to God and choose to trust him. his blessings awaits those who are faithful and obedient.
all my love to those of you hurting. please let me know if i can pray for you.

2008-07-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

most mornings, as long as the weather is nice, ry and i go out on the porch. i just love to do my devotions out in nature. just seems right you know? and i can actually get a bit of reading in cause ry entertains himself with the plants, his truck, rocks, dirt, just about anything he can get his hands on.
the other day i was sitting there reading and i heard him hitting something with a little toy he had. i didn't pay much attn seeing as how this is normal for him to hit stuff. (he is a boy you know!) he kept smacking and smacking. having himself a good ole time. after a while, he made his way back to me. he kept reaching down and slapping his legs. i looked down and there were ants crawling all over them. yuck. i stripped him down and dusted them off then went over to see what he'd been doing. he had been sitting there smacking ants with his toy. there's no telling how many ants had to die for his childhood pleasures...priceless. i guess that is what little boys do right? nothing like a little ants in the pants to spice up your day.

how much?

2008-07-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

how much suffering can one man take?
will he give it his all or turn and forsake
the life he was given from one who died
He was perfection, not a sin, not one lie
and yet to Calvary He carried His cross
as He took His last breath, many thought all was lost
but three days later He rose from the dead
He kept His promise, He did what He said
so how much suffering do you think you can bare?
His suffering to yours can't even compare
will you trust Him or hate Him, can you give Him your heart?
His purpose is greater and he has not forgot
His promise of new life, one void of all pain
these trials you go through will not be in vain
so again, how much suffering can one man take?
just enough to prepare for a glorious fate
so when you think you can't take anymore
just cling to the cross & swim for the shore
as peter had faith to step out of the boat
the same gift offered you, wrapped in peace and hope
SSS

i have a friend who is going through much more than my two year season could ever bring. she is strong, faithful, consistent, loving, caring, and absolutely unique. she is about to battle the enemy on his territory and i would ask you to pray for her. she faces the threat of loosing her daughter. i do not believe this is God's plan. i believe there's something greater at stake that he will accomplish through her and this situation. if you will, pray today for her strength, peace, clarity of mind, and empowering faith. i know we all go through hard times and we'd like to believe there are people on their knees for us. so, please go to yours for her.
thank you so much.

through goals i find renewed peace of mind

2008-07-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

i think i would be safe in speaking for all my broadway bloggers that yesterday's message by pastor thorpe was quite life changing. that is if you let it be....(oh and if you were there of course :O) pastor thorpe has a special place in my family's heart. he's a been a family friend for years and a special person to my father in ministry. he is solid, dedicated, consistent, and absolutely loves the Lord. a man after my own heart. and i love that his favorite bible character is paul. he's mine too. oh wait, isn't he everyones'?
well, i don't want to give a second sermon or anything, but just wanted to share how perfectly timed this sermon was in my life. having direction can be life giving. setting goals gives peace because they set you up for purpose. this is something that i had lost site of. the reason? well, rich and i have endured a "season" that has lasted almost two years now. one that i don't mind saying, has almost made me loose my religion over (thankfully i don't rely on my religion.) but it's also sifted me and drawn me so much closer to my savior. i was thinking, even before his message, during the music part of the service, how much god loves me. even if we lived in a car and ate bread to survive, i really trust and feel that god loves me so much and that he'd never allow such things if it wasn't to sharpen my character & draw me closer to Him. and really, i should be thanking Him for trusting me with such trials. for wanting more from me so badly, that he'd allow circumstances to get me there. through all of this, it's been easy to get my eyes on me and the situation we're in and off my dreams and goals. when you're going through something difficult and you feel you're in a desert, it's easy to feel tired, weary, dry, and just void of all energy. but pastor thorpe reminded me that our dreams are what keep us alive. our why controls our what, when, how, and who. so even in a season that doesn't make sense, where there is no end in site, i can still have a reason to keep going. i had let my dreams go and it's time i got them back in focus.
he really challenged me to re-think what i want out of every area of life. hard times have pushed me into a dangerous habit of doing the same old, same old. i've felt out of control of my life and it's spinning so fast i don't know how to stop it. that's exactly what satan wants. he puts something out there, watches our reaction and if he gets what he wants, he does it again. so then i find myself making the same mistakes day in, day out, punishing myself for weakness, and never finding the strengh to stop the vicious cycle. well, the lord and i have been doing lots of talking and i can tell you, this message was straight from His heart to mine.
i really hope you felt as empowered as it was supposed to make you feel. if we know our value in christ and really believe we have a destiny of greatness, then we have healthy perspective and can move forward in His plans for us. if you feel weak and helpless, it's only because you are not "leaning your ladder against the right building" (taken from message). you'll find hope in His word. i encourage you to pray over psalm 84. God gave this portion of scripture to me thursday morning and it has blessed me so much. dissect it and pour over it till you find meaning and peace. it has been nourishment to my hungry soul and i know it can do the same for you.

sizzlin hot

2008-07-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

if you want to find us most days this summer, you'll have to leave south boise and head west. THIS is where our trail will lead. the pool at settler's bridge subdivision. admittedly, one of the nicest around the area. i must give the developer props on this one. my parents live in the sub so we get to frequent as "guests." the free entertainment can't be beat. my son is just now where he can appreciate the "beach style" walk in, that the pool offers. it's set up perfectly for little ones. a gradual decline, three little spouting water fountains, a palm tree with dumping coconuts, and a post that spews water out the top. he's still a bit more interested in the surrounding landscape, but the more confident he gets with the water, the more he likes it. he's come to the realization that he can lay himself down and keep his head up and that he can kick his legs in the water. he really likes this!
i'm glad his confidence is building, but i will admit i am looking forward to next summer when "mommy" feels a little more confident. in general, i try to keep a healthy balance of allowing him to explore, discover, and even get a little banged up with out getting nervous and fidgety, BUT the whole water thing is a different story. you can't necessarily get a way with a broken arm or a gash to the head....as much as those are terrible, they are not a loss of life. soooo, i tend to be on pins and needles a bit when he's near the water. i follow him around obnoxiously like a little puppy, nipping at his heels, but i just can't help myself. this is where swimming lessons are such a good investment. they will be a must this coming year. i will have to figure out a way to budget them, cause i cannot go another summer with him having no clue and thinking he's invincible. it will be worth it when i can let him run around splashing and falling and i don't have to be there to catch him every time.
well, happy summer days. hope all of you are out enjoying this nice hot weather just like we are and finding a place to cool your head and kick up your feet. i look forward to hearing all about it.

pieces of my heart II

2008-07-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

you fight the good fight
try to do what's right
and still you get knocked down

you try till you strain
yet it feels so in vain
and you're left sitting there with a frown

how much can you do?
is it really up to you?
is there someone to take your place?

you've given it all
and yet you still fall
seems it's time that you called on His grace

He promises His best
and all He requests
is your heart, soul, strength, and mind

but even more, in return,
you will learn
that peace is what you'll find

a worthy exchange
for to die is to gain
a life of eternity

so humble yourself
give up power & wealth
and in His safe arms you will be

this is my story
one day told in glory
how Jesus has rescued me

i once was blind
a soul of a different kind
but through his shed blood now i see...

the promises you read
are not just for me
they were given for all who recieve
your salvation is here
in His word he's made clear
all who come to Him will be free
take hold of this hope
so that you will know
where you'll spend your eternity
live & breath in this truth
that He's written for you
and you too will finally believe
SSS

pieces of my heart I

2008-07-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

my heart discerns a day is coming, one just like the last
i've laid my troubles at his feet & my pain to Him i've cast
i long for freedom from this trial, from all i've endured so far
but my day of redemption has not yet come & my wounds have turned to scars
i trust that something greater, is in process in my life
for when i'm through this fiery trial, i'll be sifted and refined
my suffering will not be in vain, he holds my tears in his hands
and one day i'll return to him, glorified in beulah land
till then oh lord, help my unbelief as i cling to eternity
for your kingdom come your will be done, is the hope inside of me
SSS

love me some food

2008-07-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

i am an avid supporter of trying new recipes. i'm always searching for the perfect one. you know...the ones that are easy, yummy, and nutritious! well, i came across this at kraftfoods.com thanks to my mother-in-law. you can go online and sign up to recieve it. they put out a new magazine with recipe ideas every season plus one special holiday edition (5 total) and the best part is it's free. if you don't like to get stuff in the mail then you can view the entire thing online if you choose. just go to their website, create an account, and you'll be set up. then you can go to "food and family archives" if you want to view any past editions.

here's an example of a recipe i found. it's great for kids on these super hot summer days:

cookies 'n creme pudding pops

2 cups milk
1 pkg (4oz) jell-o vanilla flavor instant pudding & pie filling
1/2 cup thawed cool whip
6 oreos
9 - 6oz small plastic cups
9 - wooden pop sticks

pour milk into med bowl, add pudding mix. beat with wire whisk 2 minutes.
crush oreos (put in ziplock bag and crush with rolling pin).
gently stir cool whip and crushed cookies into pudding mixture.
scoop pudding mixture into cups using a 1/3 cup dry measuring cup.
place cups in a 13x9 inch pan.
insert pop stick into each for handle.
freeze 5 hours or until firm.
unmold when ready to eat. place bottom of each cup in medium bowl with warm water for 15 sec. press bottom of cup firmly to release pop (do not twist or pull pop stick).

flowers

2008-06-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

last night was long. the two days prior were even longer and this morning i was very tired. i'd just put my sick little boy to bed and i caught a glimpse of my patio. i peered through the window to take in the beautiful potted flowers the ones in the flower beds and i thought, "thank you so much lord for those flowers. they bring me so much joy and i'm blessed to have them." it may seem like a funny thing to stop and thank him for, but i've been trying to be conscious of the little things. to live in daily gratitude instead of thinking on things i think i want or need which lead to discontent. it is NOT an easy task. i trust that he knows my needs and that he's got it under control and for me to think on such is a waste of energy. so i try to stop and thank him for things as i notice them throughout the day. such as flowers. or maybe it will be a pantry and fridge full of food. maybe it's my tv one day. it might be my bed another and my family the next. all i now is that it's a much better way to live.
honestly from the world's perspective, i could probably look at my life and feel overlooked, disappointed, stressed, worried, fearful, or just plain weary. but thanks to a good god, who keeps promises, i have his eyes to see my life and the world around me through and i have to tell you...i like the view from up here and the way of living it leads me to.
you should give it a try. maybe it's been a while since you did. maybe today you need to just stop and smell the flowers or find something else not so obvious to give thanks for.
you won't regret it. when we live in praise we unleash supernatural power over our life. so in exchange for feelings of being overlooked you get love. for disappointment you get gratitude. for stress, peace. for worry, provision. for fear, courage. and for weariness he gives you rest. not a bad deal i'd say. i think i'll take it.
speaking of being greatful, thank the lord my baby is still asleep. i think i'll go take a nap!
have a wonderful afternoon.

hangers...and some other stuff

2008-06-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

you wanna know somethin interesting? no? well, i'm tellin ya anyway. today, after i pulled all of my son's clothes out of the dryer i went to get hangers to hang them up. i began to put one little piece on at a time and before i knew it, i'd hung them all with no hangers left to spare. a perfect distribution! i think stuff like that's amusing. it's even more amusing because it happens alot. i'd say 8 out of 10 times i'm either right on or with in a few hangers of what i need. now, i'm not cheating by doing a brief count, i just go get them, grab what i think will be enough, and go hang. maybe it's silly chance, but it's amusing none the less. if i am off by quite a bit, it's usually when i do rich's white t-shirts.
i'd like to know if there is anyone else who has something like that. something that always seems to happen the same way or a number that comes up a lot (i know my sister-in-law does...)so spill the beans.

here are a couple of pictures of the newly hatched baby birds. as i said, they are NOT pretty. amazing they'll turn out to look like their mom knowing this is how they started. i wanted to get a couple shots when they first hatched, but each time i'd think to take a picture, the mother would be in the nest. well anyway. now i have it documented, in case i don't have the pleasure of another nest again.

yesterday was the start of a bible study i'm doing with the beth moore siestas! i'm so excited to be a part of it. it looks like all 50 states are in and thousands of women. we are going through a book called "no other gods" by kelly minter (who doesn't need to read something with THAT title?) myself and three others are taking the journed together. i know that it will be challenging, convicting, refreshing, and an opportunity to grow which is what i'm all about these days. just draw me closer to jesus! i don't know about you, but i've got plenty enough distractions pulling my attn away from him. so i always love something that keeps me thinking, pondering, meditating, and stirring up my heart. it's not too late to join if this is the first time you're hearing about it and think you might be interested. you can go through the book yourself. you don't have to have a group to do it. go to her site to get details (you'll see my link to her site labeled "beth moore" on the right side of my blog when you scroll down)

oh, and since i'm at it (writing about random things in one post that have no connection what-so-ever) my sweet husband showed up a few minutes ago with a delicious dessert he brought back from cottonwood grill. every month, his broker takes the realtors who've gotten "threes or better" (a little contest thing they always have going on...well more like a recognition type of thing)... ANYWAY. he's made it quite a few times since the beginning of the year, which i'm soooo proud of him for. not many realtors qualify to start with and when they do, it's not very often. so, i'd say it's something to be proud of. he typically gets lunch and dessert and then calls to tell me all about it :O) (it IS one of my favorite restaurants in town you know.) this time, he brought his dessert home to me just to say thanks, that he loves me, and that he wanted to recognize me for all i do. very thoughtful wouldn't you say? those "just because" gifts are definately the best and he's good at thinking them up.
thank so much babe. you made my day and it is D-lish. i'm saving the rest to share with you later.

we have a visitor at our door

2008-06-13T08:50:00.000-07:00

we discovered a couple of weeks ago this little surprise....

i had gone to water this plant which is actually my moms (i was plant sitting while she was gone) and as i poured, water just trickled out the sides of the plant, as though it wasn't being absorbed at all. so i pulled it down to see what was going on and found this nest inside (the bird was not in it at the time.) i gasped as i realized i'd been flooding the nest with water. i'll tell ya though, that thing is indestructable. it just held that water like a bowl. i couldn't see the nest in the plant because it hangs so high on our front patio (and as we know, i'm a bit vertically challenged). so i ran inside, got papertowels and began trying to soak up all the water. i will be honest, i dumped ALOT of water into that plant before realizing something wasn't right, so there was a lot to soak up. i must have gone through 20 paper towels by the time i was finished. well we managed to get it all out thankfully. soon after we met our guest taking up residency at our little "smith inn."

a few days later we discovered that she had finally laid these beautiful blue eggs.

since taking this picture she has laid two more eggs and i believe they may have hatched. but i can't be positive. she's been bringing in stuff that looks like food, but it may be more materials to patch up the nest. not sure. i have not heard little chirps or anything yet so i won't know till i pull it down. we have to wait until she flies off to take a peak. i'll make sure to grab a couple pictures to share. of course, if you have not ever seen baby birds up close, they are nothing like that of a child's imagination. they are quite ugly and freaky looking to be honest. but i'll post them anyway :O)
i almost forgot a couple more details about that day. previously in the afternoon i had seen two robins on my fence. i believe they may have been trying to mate :O) i'm not sure what exactly was going on, but it seemed quite flirtatious to me. it seemed there was a lot of "bird" activity going on out on our porch that day cause soon after that i heard a loud bang on my dining room door. i'd heard that noise before
and was sure i knew what it was. when i opened the door i found this little guy....

he was stunned as he could be. can't you see the hollow look in his eyes? he stayed in that exact position for about 10 minutes, quivering every once in a while. i thought for sure he was a gonner. this had happened before, but the bird eventually flew off so i was keeping hope alive. i gave him a little pet, but nothing. we waited a little longer. eventually he snapped out of it and flew away. i hope he was ok. i felt terrible. i'm not a huge bird fan, but i did feel bad for this little one. guess i need to get some drapes or blinds on that thing. hopefully this is the end of our little visitors for a while.
T.G.I.F.

the prodigal blogger

2008-06-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

i'd like to introduce you to a new blogger....ok, so he's not new, just re-birthed. he was once one of us, then wondered into the big dark world, now he has returned. let us except him back with gracious open arms. he has repented of his ways and has even posted 5 times to make up for it. i urge you to check his site out. there are some good posts to catch up on!
www.innerarmor.blogspot.com

judgement vs grace

2008-06-08T11:27:00.000-07:00

our pastors message today was about the prodigal son. if you are alive and breathing, there is a good chance you've heard this story. as he said, it's one of the most famous parables. personally, being the prodigal myself, i'm quite familiar with this story. he spoke about receiving the prodigal with open arms, as christ does. i'd say, if we are looking through the right eyes, we too can accept those who've strayed with open arms. it's all about perspective. do you see others through your own wisdom, understanding, and experiences, or through god's? i think if you can see yourself, in some form, at some time, as a prodigal, then you can more willingly extend grace. it's all about gratitude for what you've been given. a gift we do not deserve.
i don't pretend that this is an easy task. believe it or not, i tend to lean toward the judgemental side. i really believe that my own personal experience as that prodigal child has given me an ability to extend grace. my personality tends to be black and white, type a, what you sew you reap, realist! nice huh? but the love of god has penetrated my heart and shaped me into something much more forgiving, accepting, empathetic, and gracious. thank you lord! everyone deserves this grace and forgiveness.
my mom at one time was writing a book about our journey. she has not felt it is the right time to finish it, but it's essentially the same idea as this message. finding joy in the return of the prodigal. letting the lessons be learned, letting the healing come, and allowing grace to fill in the gaps and cracks, re-creating a beautiful, strong, healthy relationship. once the healing has taken place these restored relationships can sometimes be even better than they were before. that's how my story ended.
so if this message hit home with you and there is someone you are just having a very hard time with, please allow God to re-shape your view. you're not alone. i have my own little situation that god's working out with me. i will pray with you and you can pray with me and god willing, we will be like the father in this story, not the brother. lord knows when we are the one needing grace and forgiveness we will certainly hope for the same thing.

hum drum

2008-06-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

today feels quiet, disconnected. ever get that feeling about a day? i can see the wind blowing the leaves on the trees, i can hear the garbage truck, an airplane flying overhead, and every once in a while, the chirp of my dog wanting in, but still, it feels quiet. it's not like i haven't seen my friends and family lately. i totally have. quite a bit in fact. it's not a depressed feeling or anything, it just feels quiet. hard to explain. almost like there's not much going on around me. (man, could i be more off on that one!) but like i said, it's just a feeling.
maybe it's the weather. in fact, i'm 98% sure that's it. it's overcast and cool. typical indoor weather which i think can give that sort of quiet, disconnected feeling i'm talking about. i guess this will just have to be a day to get out and do something with my son. even if we just go to a store to browse, we WILL go immerse ourselves into society. then we shall see if i still feel the same way!

a picture says a thousand words

2008-06-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to take a moment to support a new aquaintance of mine. mostly because she honestly does some of the most fantastic photography i've seen and her prices are killer. you need to do yourself a favor and check out her site. it will only take a moment (unless like me, you are mesmerized by her brilliant shots and models and then you'll be there a while.) if you have ANY plans of getting pictures done, you have to check her out. you won't regret it. her site is called melissa niu photography.

www.melissaniu.typepad.com

privacy please

2008-06-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

ok...so here's the deal. for some reason, everytime i need to use the ladies room, my son freaks. he is not ok with the idea of my being behind that door where he cannot see me. i'm actually not completely sure what the problem is, i just know he is not ok with it. so, what i usually have to do is wait until he's occupied and then make a run for it. IF he hears even the slightest creek of sound from the door, i'll hear a whine followed by little feet, "pitter patter" across the tile. before i know it, he's at the door yelling at me, pounding with all his might with whatever instrument he can find. if there is nothing near by, it's his hand. sometimes he'll get down on the floor on his belly and try to put his little fingers under the door as if to say, "you can't hide mama, i know you're in there." i know. he's crazy huh? he will not relent. he is determined to get through that door. he cannot stand to not know what is going on. guess he feels left out. well, maybe this is just another window of opportunity to begin the potty training, seeing as how he's so interested. actually, i think it's more that he can't see methan it is an infatuation with the toilet. not sure. he does take every opportunity he can to put his hands in the toilet (just a warning, if you are watching him, be sure you close your bathroom doors :O). i hope he'll grow out of it, soon. until then, i guess there will be no privacy.

s'more for me

2008-05-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

i think everyone likes a good smore sometimes. there's nothing like the perfect roasted marshmallow. add some chocolate and graham and wallaw! the american treat. i have fond memories of the oh so familiar dialogue about the smore on one of our favorite movies, "sandlot." it's a must have at any campfire. do you know they have toasted coconut marshmallows? oh yes! it's true. and they are D-lish. talk about sprucin it up a bit.
well, for those of you who do not get out for a good camping trip or bonfire often enough, i have a little recipe i found that just might fulfill any possible cravings you may have. i made them yesterday and they turned out great!
so here you go. your kids will love them.

BROWNIE SMORES

9 whole cinnamon or plain graham crackers, halved crosswise
3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut up (to make melting easier)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped (to make melting easier)
1 c sugar
1 c packed light brown sugar
2 t vanilla extract
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c semisweet or milk chocolate chips - optional
35 regular sized marshmallows

heat oven to 350. spray 13x9 in baking pan with cooking spray. arrange graham crackers over bottom of pan, overlapping slightly or breaking to fit, if necessary.
melt butter and chocolate in a med saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. remove from heat, stir in both sugars and vanilla till blended. stir in eggs. stir in flour (batter will be smooth and shiny) stir in chips. spoon and gently spread over graham crackers (carefully so as not to move grahams)
bake 35-40 minutes til top is just set and toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached.
heat broiler. place marshmallows on their sides evenly over top of brownies. broil 30sec to 2 minutes....just until mallow is puffed and tops are golden brown.
serve warm or room temp.

it's the law

2008-05-29T20:44:00.001-07:00

i can say i'd have a really hard time obeying the law on this one. i mean...is it even possible to go 5 1/2 mph? i tend to have a bit of a lead foot. i have a few tickets to show for it too. it's not as much of a speed thing as it is a multi-tasking issue. i always seem to be doing more than one thing, even when i'm driving. the result? speedster. so, after a couple tickets and a slight elevation of my insurance, i knew i had to do something. of course it wouldn't be the most practical thing; don't multi-task and pay attn to my speed. no, i figured out the best way to control this problem is to remove it from the peddle all together. this is where cruise control comes into play. must be the best invention for a vehicle ever! the minute i'm on the road i accelerate to my desired speed, turn it on, hit the set button, remove my foot, and just pay attn to where i'm going and... maybe the lipgloss i'm applying :O) so for those of you that thought CC was only for long trips, give it a whirl. besides, the speed limit is the law right?

2008-05-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

this may not be news to some of you or maybe you get this catalogue, but if not, if you've never heard of this company, i highly recommend checking it out. especially for father's day. they've got unique gift ideas for your man. i don't know about you, but my husband is usually the hardest to buy for. girls are easy, guys on the other hand, unless i get specifics, sometimes i get stumped. i'll be honest, it is a bit pricey, but there are some gifts that might be worth a few extra bucks this year...just to do something a little different.
so have funny ladies. let me know what you think.
here's the web address
www.redenvelope.com

saltimbanco!!!

2008-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

since i was 19, i've wanted to go see cirque du soleil in vegas. i remember getting off the plane, walking out the corridor and seeing these large screens. an advertisement was playing for this fantastic, eclectic, circus type of act with amazing artists, acrobats, colors, and music. i was hooked. i knew i had to see it. well, it has only been 13 years since then... no biggie. thanks to someone very dear to me... my husband and i got to go see it saturday night when it came through town. my husband did not know what to expect, but was hooked after the first act. there probably are not words to describe what we saw. if anyone has seen any cirque du soleil performance then you know what i'm talking about. the things these people do with their bodies, their strength, flexibility, rhythm, and even their voices. there was juggling, cycling, acrobats, contortionists, clowns, dancers, fliers, and more that i wouldn't know how to describe. even as i'm filtering through my mind, i cannot remember all the wonders we saw. i just know it was fabulous and i cannot wait to see another.

i do however have one disclaimer. there were a couple characters, maybe just one, that was very provocative. they always seem to work it in don't they? she was only out a couple times and the emphasis was not on her, she was more like filler. but i'd say all in all, this one is probably one of their cleanest. i can't say they all are. i know of one that is borderline pornographic, if you do get to see a show just be careful which one you choose. they are probably for a bit of an older audience too because of that.
one last thing about the evening. it has to do with our babysitter. she's a good friend of my mom's and now mine and she loves my son. she was thrilled when we asked her to watch him. when i went to pick him up that night, she thanked ME for letting her and her daughter watch him. did i hear that right? talk about icing on the cake. there's just nothing better than being able to leave your child in a safe, loving enviroment knowing that the person adores your child almost as much as you do and protects them with the same kind of passion as you. this gift is priceless. so thank you my friend. you are a true treasure and blessing to our family. we love you and your daughter so much! you made a great evening even better.

moving on

2008-05-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

thanks for all your kind words regarding our lack of health around here. oddly, i'm still feeling a bit yuck but i personally thing it's the lack of sunshine :O) who's with me? this weather has GOT TO GO!!! don't get me wrong, i'm an avid supporter of some good rainy days, but not so much of the cold rainy days, that linger, on and on and on...
so yesterday, i believe i reached another milestone with my son. i am constantly talking him through everything we do, see, touch, experience. making sure he hears plenty of words to associate the things he sees so he can begin to form words. he's doing well, in terms of what he knows, but he's not always the best about actually saying the word itself. don't let that fool you. he knows what your saying, he just has a harder time communicating back. all that to say yesterday he was standing near our coffee table and i see him reach up to get a grip, something was going down if you know what i mean. i looked at him and said "what are you doing?" he looked down and said "poo." my eyes lit with such pride! he told me he was going poo! what a little stud. at 18 months i'm very happy about that. maybe that's nothing to you moms, typical of his age. but what do i know? he's my first and i thought it was pretty great. all i could think was...yes, now he knows, therefore maybe we can start to potty train when he turns two. that's sort of been my goal, but i know my son. if he decides he doesnt' want to, he could be five before he goes poop in the potty :O) (i may have just marked my path)
so anyway, cheers my son. good job. let's keep up the good work and keep on talkin!

may i venture to another subject?. i'm so happy david cook won! i definately casted a few votes for him. i think he was destined to win this and he's got a much higher hope of a future in the world he's entering than archuletta would have. not that archuletta can's sing, that's just plain obvious. he's an amazing singer and is actually more accurate and flawless, not to mention incredibly gracious. he will have a succesessful career, it will just be interesting to see in what genre of music. i think cook fits the profile of "american idol" a little better and can probably handle what's ahead for him. we shall see? do we have another daughtry in our midst? hmmmm.

colorful

2008-05-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

that's how i've decided to lable the last 8 days. it all began with lots of variety of colors and textures as my son started the week last monday with the flu. it's especially wonderful when they are 18 months and can't tell you they are going to be sick :O)
i know i've already told you about that...but that was just the beginning. he proceeded to continue being sick (from the other side) and picked up some nice congestion along the way. the congestion caused him to continue with the throwing up well into sunday. he gets himself so worked up and then it happens. i have two not so fond memories of last week. the first was when i was driving to church weds night. i'd literally turned the corner and hear "oohh, ehe, aahhh, barf!" he threw up all over himself and the car seat. so, i flipped around, rushed him home, cleaned him up, hosed off the car seat, and called dad to make sure he could watch him. well....daddy was beginning to feel fluish himself. he had planned to come home and go to bed, but ended up being quite the sport and taking care of the boy while i headed back to praise practice.
thursday proved to be the dreaded follow up and dad got the full blown version. that afternoon i decided to run to the store with ry to get out of the house. not but 1/2 a mile down the road...yep...he threw up. so i took my disillusions and went home. who was i to think i could go anywhere! :O) the funny thing is that i had felt quite fluish myself the night before. i mean, my skin felt like it was aching. by the time i went to bed, i thought for sure it was beginning of the end, but miraculously i woke up feeling great.
friday came along and dad was feeling just well enough to make it through a couple hours with ry. thank goodness because i had a date with beth moore.
i didn't think i was going to, but a dear sweet friend insisted i take one of the tickets she'd bought and go with her. i couldn't be more greatful. if i didn't know better, i would have thought beth came just for me. every word, every point, the whole shabang, aimed straight at my heart. i was emotional with gratitude. HE knew i needed to be there. i've seen her in salt lake and done many bible studies, but there has only been one other that felt so true to where i was in my life as this conference. LORD, thank you thank you thank you.
sidenote: there is a LPL boise video on their blog www.livingproofministries.blogspot.com. check it out, you'll see one of our pastor's wives jimmy and our good friend nikki about a 1/3 of the way through it.
well, because i was at the conference AND agreed to be at my sis in law's for her garage sale AND had to lead worship sat night, daddy had ry from 6:15am (when he decided to wake up that morning) till 6:45pm. again, such a trooper. he took him to ride the paddle boats that afternoon. they had a blast. believe it or not, my little 18 month wiggle worm did really well.
sunday, since i was leading again and rich had to lock up, we didnt' get home till after 12. baby took a nice long nap, mommy got a nice long nap, then we all got up and headed to my parents to meet up with my siblings for a nice dip in the pool and bbq. the food was great, the time with my family, better. it's always fun to watch the boys (of course we're talking about the husbands) play some silly game they created with a ball and bat.
so i thought i'd made it through, sick free, only to wake up monday morning to a girgling stomach. oh no my friends, not from hunger. this puppy was something much bigger and it took me down with a force. i was keeping my neice for the day, so i called rich and begged him to come home for the afternoon (again honey, you really are amazing). i could barely get out of bed. it cleaned me out and left me zapped of all my energy.
today, i'm recovering, but i'm just so exhausted. my back hurts soooo badly. it's crazy what this stuff does to you. i took ry to the dr. because he just isn't 100% and i could tell he was loosing weight. i was right. 2 lbs! that's a lot at his age. we're getting some things checked out, but after the dr took a listen to his lungs, he finally confirmed our concerns, that he did indeed have asthma. SO now we too are proud owners of a nebulizer. hopefully we can gain some ground with him now. poor sweet little boy. he's been such a trooper.
so as i've been writing this, the whether has just taken a turn for the worst. i could hear the thunder in the distance, which i was expecting (staying up on the weather reports like a good girl) and then wham, the hail came. now that was NOT expected. it was about the size of a marble. i went outside to put up some smaller pots and got pelted by a few. those suckers hurt! oh how i love idaho! through it all, my son did not even blink an eye. he slept right through it. now that is god's graciousness to me :O)
so, needless to say, the past few days have almost been more colorful than i tend to like. but in it all, we're on our way up. thanks for your prayers. i know some of you have kept us in your prayers and i really appreciate it.
can't wait to catch up on all your blogs. hopefully things have been a bit better for you!

when does the madness end?

2008-05-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

yep, you guessed it. the last 48 hours were full of cleaning, more cleaning, washing, steaming, and cleaning again. it's a little thing i like to call puke. the little guy picked up a bug (probably nursery) and spent monday and part of tuesday throwing up and, well, i'll let you figure out the rest. he's such a trooper because he's been sick a lot this winter. we kept him out of nursery for a month to try to build up his immune system a little. it seemed to work, until monday of course. who knows where he actually picked it up though. he also has very bad allergies so he's been congested with a runny nose and itchy eyes for a few months now.
hopefully the rest of the week will prove to be healthier for him less messy for mom :O)

happy mother's day

2008-05-11T19:45:00.000-07:00

thanks. i'll take that kind gesture. when asked what i wanted this year, the only thing that really came to mind was, time off. let me relax a bit and just let me have a day where i don't have to cook, clean up messes, or anything in the nature of "mommy duties." of course that doesn't mean time away from baby duties. i love my little one. and i'd say, yeah, happy mother. not just today, but most days. he brings me so much joy. he's my buddy. it's hard to believe this little guy was in my belly just 18 short months ago.

now, don't get me wrong, the unfortunate part about "breeding" is that your kids get the best and worst of you both. in our case, mine got all our stubborness, independence, and the "i can do it myself" attitude. but i get that about him. so when i'm at my wits, i just grab a mirror, take a look, assume some responsibility, say a desperate prayer with a quick "i'm so sorry lord for what you put up with in all my imperfections", and then get on my way.
SO i guess in celebration of all the madness of raising this little wonder and the wonderful man that gave him to me, i really just wanted to spend some time enjoying them both. i kissed and loved on my little one and just watched his curiosity grow as he investigated the entire front patio and lawn area. we worked this afternoon to get it all put together and cleaned up. we've been wanting to put some furniture out there (because i have a fabulous, huge, covered front patio) and we finally have it looking ready to use and entertain with.

we ended the full afternoon with a delicious bbq meal. i'd say not bad for my second mother's day. can't wait for more to come. hope your day was just as happy as mine.

2008-05-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

FEEDING THE BIRDS

2008-05-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

FIRST TIME FISHING

much ado about nothing

2008-05-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

i'm just posting to say....well, nothing really. just a few random thoughts like
* i really hate it that when i'm typing, if i don't lock my mouse pad on my lap top, it jumps my curser around and even at times causes havoc on whatever i'm doing.
* i got an early mother's day present, a hydrangea from my son. my favorite flower
* got taken to lunch today by a very sweet, new friend
* picked up a wooden bead bracelet that i really love (even though it has a big wooden heart charm hanging from it...not a huge fan of heart stuff)
* spending as much possible time outside of my house while i can (till the heat comes anyway, then it's off to the pool)
* i have a wonderful, kind, considerate, hard working, devoted, loving husband
* i have the sweetest, funniest, most outgoing child in the world
* got to know a neighbor a little better yesterday
* visited a very cool coffee house for the first time yesterday "big city coffee" on grove st. amazing pastries.
* took my son to feed the ducks, officially, for the first time. he loved it of course. i loved it....except for the one hissing goose and all the poop
* flowersitting for my mom's hanging basket - fuschia! it's my husband's favorite flower
* saw one of the prettiest hanging baskets at victory greens, but can't stinkin remember the name of the flower. hoping to purchase soon. yeah right :O) not unless it's going on sale. those things are expensive.
well, that's all i have to say about that. good day

parade of homes - 08

2008-05-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

an aquaintance of mine from highschool who is a builder here in the treasure valley always produces the most beautiful, high grade quality, and just overall excellence in every home he builds. a couple years ago his parade home was was next door to the home my sister-in-law and i did. luckily he was not in the same price category :O) that home was so great though. i remember alot of interesting, beautiful details about it. this year he has a parade home in bridgetower and in hazelwood village. i have yet to see the home in hazelwood, but let me tell you, the home in bridgetower is fantastic. in fact, i'd have to say it was one of my favorites, even over all the homes in eagle. it's classy, sexy, masculine, and contemporary, but yet warm and completely livable. i could see myself getting comfy in that home. if you have tickets, you must make it over there to see his house. his company name is zach evans construction. his website is www.zachevansconstruction.com.
you will not regret taking the time to see his amazing craftmanship. his wife amy does all the interior design and finishes. she's very gifted and always leaves my jaw dropped with a bit of a sigh. be sure to pay attention to the little details in every corner of his home.
so if you take the time to check out his house, linger a little. you just might catch him there. he's very approachable and personable and definately let me know what you think.

no need for mr clean

2008-05-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

need to freshen up your insinkerator? i recommend taking the peel from your orange and grinding it up. it will eliminate any nasty odors (most of the time) and will do a little cleaning too.
and who doesn't like the smell of fresh citrus!

details shmetails

2008-05-02T08:44:00.001-07:00

everyday i realize more and more how particular my son is. and he's only 18 months. oh yeah. he's got his opinions about the way he wants things done. such as.......
this morning he got his empty sippie cup off the counter and brought it to me requesting...bhoo bhoo (juice). i handed him, or should say i tried to hand him his other cup that already had juice in it. oh no, he wasn't satisfied. he wanted that juice in the cup he decided he wanted. so i poured the juice into the cup he'd chosen and he went on his way. i looked over and he had the cup upside down resulting in a lack of liquid intake. i turned it around and told him it was not the right side up. he looked at me, turned it upside down again and started trying to drink it with a bit of a smirk on his face. i shook my head and just smiled at this little wonder of mine. oh yes, he knows exactly what he wants, how, where, and when. there's no denying that. but it's not his fault. he's just following in his mother's footsteps. what i don't know is if it's a learned behavior or if it's in his dna? who knows. i just know the little independent, stubborn, yet sensitive, sweet, and happy child has so much of his daddy and mommy in him it scares me. but so far so good. and all i know is i'm crazy about him!

the ever clever catch and release

2008-05-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

traditionally, mornings are a bit of a blur in our home. a morning ba ba, maybe a little today show and some coffee for mom, re-discovering the toys, and possibly a little breakfast for the boy. many mornings though, it just may consist of a little game i like to call "catch and release." there is nothing my son loves more than to be chased. i mean, talk about pullin a smile out when i thought there was none to be found. it will lift his little spirits in about 5.5 seconds, just the amount of time i need to let out a ferocious roar and begin toward him with wild and animated gestures. pure uninhibited joy, with shouts and squeels of glee! the catch is wonderful, it's what he lives for, but then the release to let the whole thing begin again? priceless! it IS the hightlight of the morning and it always makes me giggle at how much he loves it. he'll literally get himself so worked up that he almost becomes immobile with excitement. i must admit, it's a pretty good time.
i mean, who in their heart of hearts doesn't like to be pursued.

for your little darlings

2008-04-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

this is an apron made by a little girl named andra. she's an amazing seamstress just like her mom who designs wedding gowns. my mom and her are in business together (www.dacianadesigns.com) and daci's daughter just so happens to have the sewing touch as well.

Andra is raising money for a laptop so she began making these adorable aprons. we'd love to see many orders come in so if you or anyone you know might be interested, please pass this on. they are for little girls so keep that in mind when you order. i am sure that if one of you mommies would like one, she'd be happy to custom make one for you. price to be adjusted of course.

To place am order...here is the information you will need.

sizes are 2-4 for Smalls and 4-6 for Mediums
Each apron sells for $10
They can be mailed, picked up or delivered

Please contact Daci by email at www.daci74@yahoo.com

political drama

2008-04-29T08:05:00.001-07:00

i'm sitting here watching the today show special report with the president. i just love how the news tries to undermind what the president does or does not do. i've heard question after question in regards to oil prices and answer after answer president bush tells them he has tried to pass legislation to begin looking for oil on our own soil, of which could potentially produce 28,000,000 gallons of gas a day. but no one seems to be acknowledging the fact that congress is shutting it down. he was also, as usual, heavily questioned on the iraq issue. i personally support him. i think that if we had not gone over there to defeat this enemy, who knows what kind of war we would've experienced on our own soil. of course, there's no way to know that so people can be skeptical and critical because they are not satisfied that this war did not begin and end quickly. our "hollywood" is definately not helping.
the other day oprah had a movie star on that was encouraging people to feed the world. the idea is when people are fed, they are healthy, which enables them to educate themselves, and the hope is therefore that the world will change as a result. i agree! but then oprah went on to take a quick jab at our "interferance" in iraq...in regards to the amount of money we are spending on the war, eluding to the idea that the same money could go to feed people. SO it's ok to take on the world's hunger problem, but not the worlds terrorism problem. hmmm. that is interesting. so we should but our nose into other countries hunger issues, but not the issues of countries living in oppression and abuse. something doesn't line up to me. how about you???? if we take a stand to help others, then we help others! whether that's through food, medical care, education, or intervention on a tirant leader to free people who deserve the same freedoms we do!
pres. bush did of course get questioned heavily about the economic status. i liked one of his suggestions in regards to the food scarcity fear, he recommends people purchase fruits, veges, and meat from farmers as much as possible.

i like that. i agree with supporting local farmers. so this is maybe the "small" part you can take to help our economy. buy produce from the local farmer's markets around town. you know...the one on the corner with all the great looking stuff? this small step, made by many, can make great change. and if you have the money or maybe you can get a couple people to join up, go buy a cow. you can purchase one for about 800.00. you get organic, healthy, range fed meat that will last you for a year at least AND again, you support our local farmers.
just my thoughts. that's all. but i hope we'll all do what we can. i believe, like my father says, that history will look well upon president bush. i hope so. i think he's done a pretty good job with all the issues he's been dealt. nobody's perfect but i'm glad to know he's consulting the ONE who is.

a whole lotta nothin

2008-04-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

right now, my son is sitting on the floor, literally at my feet, eating his caramel mini rice cakes, pushing my feet with his. so far we're off to a good start. baby's belly is full (which means he's happy,) mommy got to sleep by 9:30 (9 1/2 hours of sleep!!!) i've got my coffee, it's going to be 78 today, the windows will be open soon as fresh air rushes in, and all in all, i'm feeling good.

i got up this morning thinking, "i'm not gonna do a lot today." monday's actually tend to be that for us. i play many roles during the week (as most of you mommies can relate) and weekends are so full that by the time monday roles around, i like to just stay home. i usually fill it with some much needed cleaning, maybe do some laundry or ironing, let my boy play outside while i catch up on a good magazine, take a bath and watch my show while he's napping, and maybe run an errond to the store for some groceries. the day will end with a good meal (usually bbq) and some fun family time.

truthfully, these tend to be some of my favorite days. as the week progresses it always gets fuller and busier. so by the time monday roles around, i need some down time and don't feel guilty about it one bit. i know most people pick back up on monday, but for this family, it's put back down, lay around, take the day, to relax and play.

and that's how we do things around here. so happy monday to you all and go do something nice for yourself! mommies orders!

tub anyone?

2008-04-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

anyone a bath person? i know my sis-in-law is. she swears by them. i've only recently converted. not 100% but i definitely take my share. before the home we are currently in, our previous home had only one bathroom with one small tub. yuck. i could not stand laying in that thing. something about being in such close quarters with my filth just grossed me out. but the tub i have now....well that's a different story. it's a soaker and surrounded by about 10 inches of tile so i feel i'm in an oasis. but i only soak. i'm not a shaver or hair washer in the tub. unless i can do it as i'm practically stepping out. again, the filth thing? i know. just another one of my idiosyncrasies. but on a day when it's cloudy out and the house is just a little cool, there's nothing better than running a hot bath, my laptop on the ledge, watching one of my shows on abc.com and just enjoying the quiet, stillness of my home. (yes, this is happening when my son's down for his nap). i'm sure there are many fellow bloggers that soak too. so who are you?

with out further a do....

2008-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

i give you (drum role please)..............................

www.liveloudnow.blogspot.com

ok ok. i know what you're thinking. "ANOTHER blog? isn't there a rule out there against one person having more than one? it's not like i haven't got anything to do for crying out loud!"
and to this i say, i completely understand. honestly, this one's for me and anyone that wants to tag along to hear what i have to say. of course i'd love to have some company. truthfully, it's just my outlet. i needed a place to write. to put my thoughts down. since having my son i've had an unfortunate "wrist" issue that keeps me from writing very much so i've decided to use the web as my outlet.
i hope you'll join me. i'd love to hear from you. besides, now i can keep this blog just to the basic happenins of life here at brownnstone and then those of you not interested in my "strong opinions" or "thoughts on god and spirituality" don't have to tune in.
i'm up and running. i've even got a post waitin for those of you interested.
so thanks and i hope to hear from some of you soon over there and here.

A+

2008-04-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

i like to give props to things when i can and today is one of those days. thanks to my sister in law, jen, i was turned on to these wonderful, delicious, finger lickin good chips. if you haven't had them they are an absolute must. you'll never go back to anything else. they taste like they are home made, straight from the fryin pan. i don't even think that my description is really doing them justice. you will just have to trust me and try them out. plus, they are only about 2 bucks a bag. as far as i know, here in the valley, you can only get them at winco. but here's the website if you want to see if they are in a store near you and to check out their other products. www.juanitasfinefoods.com
of course it's always good to have a great dip to go with them too. i'd post my brother's salsa recipe but it's a big no, no. family secret you know. i could post my sister in law's bean dip (which i happen to be eating right now), but i can't do that either. i'm workin on it though. i have to pursuade permission first. and let me tell you. you will thank me up and down for that one.
so let me know if you try the chips. i don't think you'll be let down.

2008-04-20T15:38:00.001-07:00

this weekend, the company we are involved with hosted a huge pre launch at the linen building. if you hadn't heard about it, you might've been in a hole :O) it's called jus international and it was advirtised all over the radio and tv. friday's event was beautiful. first class, nothing less. that's how they do it. as my beautiful sister in law said, the product is the best in the world. but there is something to be said about working with a company that is in the same category. to have highly ethical, intelligent, compassionate people as your corporate team is very uncommon. can anybody give me an amen? i've had enough jobs to know, it hardly exsists. but knowing the standards of these men and their desire to see us suceed, was the hook, line, and sinker for me and my husband. thanks to my brother who got in the company from day one and brought us in the next, we've had the wonderful opportunity of doing and building business with our family. boths sides in fact. i mean, what could be better? (some of you might be thinking...you don't know my family, it would be torture:O) well for us, it's a blessing. and i know god has amazing things planned for us in this. it's not an accident this opportunity came when it did. God's in control of all things and nothing happens with out his hand in it.
on saturday all of the gentlemen on our corporate team shared something from their heart and expertise in the business to help us grow not only corporately, but as individuals. our ceo made an amazing comment. he said, (paraphrased from memory of course) "don't let anyone tell you that our product is some magical drink. that it's the most powerful thing in the world. because that's just not true. your body is the most important thing. IT is the most powerful thing on the earth and it deserves attention and care. that is why drinking jus is so important because it IS the most powerful anti-oxidant product in the world and your body deserves it." perfect. i mean, need i say more? that made so much sense to me. in order for my life to continue on, to be affective, i must be present. therefore, i need to do whatever it takes to keep myself in the best condition i can to achieve that affectiveness.
this is why we are jumping on board. i love to be part of something that i can be passionate about and that can change people's life and this company is exactly that. i hope you are motivated to do something too.
if you are, our website is www.myjus23.com/rnssmith.

"now go do the right thing!" dr. laura

calling all mommies

2008-04-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

just thought i'd take full advantage of the internet to ask you mommies what activities you know of going on through out the summer that maybe you and your kiddos participate in. our normal routine consists of the park, pool, and now the zoo (and occasionally feeding the ducks). but does anyone else know of fun, relatively inexpensive things to do with kids? keep in mind mines 17 months. he's up an running & climbing just fine, but there may be a few limitations on what things i let him do (not him of course. he thinks he can do anything :O).) so i'm all ears.

new life is the sweetest thing

2008-04-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."
- Arabian Proverb
i have a friend like this. she's amazing. she's constant, considerate, non-judgmental, honest, forgiving, and she is a servant.
at approximately 9am this morning this friend had her first child. just like she was there for me, day in and day out, by my side those first few weeks, i will be for her. she's going to be a great mom. 7 lbs, 14 oz of pure adorableness. it seems like just yesterday they were announcing the news. heck, seems like just yesterday I was in that hospital with my first. ah how the world turns.
i cannot post a picture yet but i will be on it very soon. till then... congratulations skye and mark. love you guys!

Praise You In This Storm

2008-04-12T12:57:00.001-07:00

this is the song scott is singing this weekend. i have the privaledge of singing back up on it. when we started to practice weds night, i admit, i'd come in from having a bad day. one that in all honesty, just left me wanting to be angry. angry at some things that have been going on for what seems forever. i've felt overcome and at times forsaken. as we began to sing, i started to really look at the words. my eyes filled with tears and my heart broke. this is exactly where i've felt in regards to some circumstances in my life lately. but i found hope in that God would see fit to give me this song this week. he's gracious and powerful and loving and eternal. and i know he cares for me and he will bring us through our storm. so Lord, thank you and i want the world to know that i choose you... no matter what and you alone deserve all glory, honor, and praise. so i'll "praise you in this storm."

this is in addition to hot potatoe's post...

2008-04-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

CBNNews.com - Hillsong Church leaders say they are thrilled that their song "Shout to the Lord," was chosen for American Idol's Give Back broadcast that aired Wednesday.

But they also said they were not asked about the removal of the name Jesus in the broadcast performance.

"Hillsong Church was thrilled to see the song "Shout To The Lord" performed recently on American Idol," officials with the Australian church said in a statement issued late Friday.

"It received an incredible response and was the fifth most downloaded song in this week's U.S. iTunes charts," a church spokesperson said.

The show's eight final contestants from season seven first sang the song during American Idol's second annual charity drive Idol Gives Back. But during the broadcast, the opening line of the song was changed to remove the name of Jesus. The word 'shepherd' was inserted instead.

But in a reprisal of the song Thursday night, and in the downloaded version, "Jesus" was left in.

"Darlene Zschech and Hillsong Church were not asked, nor approved, of the name of Jesus being replaced," the spokesperson said. "We were pleased to see that the song was performed again with the correct lyrics."

Wednesday night's performance became the number one download from that night in the United States.

"Wow. I've never heard this song until they played it on Idol Gives Back," said one reviewer of the downloaded performance. "I really liked how it was giving praise to the Lord and was full of hope. It was beautiful."

On Wednesday, millions tuned in to the charity show to see the needs spread across the globe -- everything from hungry children to AIDS victims.

Numerous celebrities participated in the event to encourage viewers to donate, including Bono, Miley Cyrus, Brad Pitt, Billy Crystal, and Peyton and Eli Manning -- just to name a few.

Producers expect the event to raise $100 million.

***so there you have it. some of you could say..."see sparky, no reason to get upset."
i know. but hey. that's how i got my nickname in the first place. i'll still always feel a little sideways about it, but as i said on hot potatoes blog, i can move past it and see what god's doing. thank goodness it's not up to me :O) thanks again for all your feeback. love all of your passion and honesty. come visit again soon. i'm sure i'll find something else to "discuss" :O)

you take forever to say nothing

2008-04-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

i heard this quote on....don't laugh...the simpsons. it just stood out to me. i started giggling cause i've certainly known and still know my share of people that this quote describes perfectly! actually i have to admit i may have been this person a time or two in my life. just ask my husband :O)

the final word

2008-04-10T21:27:00.000-07:00

that's right. this is my final word on this subject. don't be sad :O) yes, i get the final word cause it's my blog. just teasin. in all seriousness, thanks to my mom's dvr i was able to skip through the full program of "idol gives back" and i want to make one last comment. i'm proud of their efforts. i'm glad they use their stage to do something for so many in need. 25million raised! that's incredible! it's a good cause and with or without the final performance, the money goes to help others and that is exactly what christ called us to. to help the poor. to give of ourselves. so in spite of what i may have thought of them singing "shout to the lord," the message of the song rings true and the fact remains that lives were changed. i'm confident that many of those lives touched will result in coming to know the lord personally. i'm also confident that god will be and always is glorified and i'm proud of our country because we always step up and reach out. we willingly take on the burdens of the suffering because we are the greatest country in the world. why? because we were founded on the word of god. so there you go.
and THAT my fellow bloggers is MY soapbox!

thank you

2008-04-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

i just read all of your comments on my recent post about the song on american idol (i hope there is more dialogue to come) and i wanted to thank you for sharing your opinions and thoughts. so i am taking the chance to respond to all of you. i agree with pieces of all your comments and this is my conclusion after sleeping on it...
my frustration with the choice of song and them has mostly to do with a very long lasting conviction i've had about christians being christians. actually standing up for our lord and not shying away from the personal contact with those who need to hear. a large % of christians i know do nothing. they never share their faith, they don't stand up for what they believe and so their christianity is questionable, dumbed down. I tim 4:3,4 says "the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine instead to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." this is exactly what we've been talking about in our twisted series at church. the enemey is all about twisting the truth and dumbing down our savior in the world's eyes. SO when i hear a song like that with so much doctrinal truth and substance, sung by hollywood, i get angry.
ok...on that note though, i do agree with many of you that it can and will be used to glorify god. i couldn't find the verse, but i know there is a portion of scripture that talks about prophets teaching for their own agenda and even though they are false, god can still produce something good out of it. this is what i cling to when things like this come about. i do have to take into consideration what melissa said, that the writers have to give permission for the song to be used SO to end, darlene must have known, prayed about it, and believed that something great could come from this song being sung to millions of people all over the world. she's an amazing spirit filled believer who walks the talk.
i guess that's all for my soap box. as plumbly said, it really doesn't matter in the long run. god's in control and no thing is too big for him.
thanks again for all your great feedback. always makes for a good conversation and just something for us all to think about.

a bit annoyed

2008-04-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

i just got home and turned on the tv to catch the end of american idol. i'm gonna be straight up with you. i was in shock. there they were, the final 8, singing a song called "shout to the Lord." i'm not sure what exactly i felt but an emotion came over me. i know it was not because of the song or the singers. granted, it was beautiful with the choir back up and all, but this was an emotion of deep frustration. i felt like they were taking a song that is sacred to the christian believer and turning it into just another performance. Yes it was for their "give back" campaign which i'm all for, but why that song? here are the words...

My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord
All the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work
Of Your hand
Forever I'll love You
Forever I'll stand
Nothing compares
To the promise I have
In You

can you imagine the american idols singing this? it doesn't seem right. now i don't know if darlene zschech, the writer and singer of the song, was in on it, but the darlene i've known about,the gal who has this to say on her website....

" If we can get up on the platform and if we can praise Him with our glorious song but we can't serve Him with extravagant lives then something is wrong with our message."

...would absolutlely disapprove. you cannot tell me that all those people are christ followers. living for him daily and pursuing his will. now, i cannot speak for them and there just may be a few, but i just felt disappointed. yeah, i'm sure i'm overreacting but i feel strongly that a person should live what they say they believe and to me, singing a song like this should be in accordance with how you live your life. (not that there aren't many people in many churches all over the world that have sang this not meaning one word.) i don't know. just had to get it off my chest. i just know that something did not feel right about it. what do you think. please, i'd love your feedback, whether you agree or disagree.

priceless

2008-04-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

yesterday, ry and i were playing. i got to laughing and then so did he. before i knew it, he'd laughed himself into a hick-up frenzy. next thing i know he's doing this sort of hick up, gergle thing, almost like he's about to puke. he kept laughing which made his hick ups worse, which was making him sort of choke on his spit. before i could get us under control, he's on to burping, then farting. yes...all of them at the same time. it was like a "hick a burp a fart". i was laughing so hard. i'm lauging now just thinking about it. oh....those are the things that bond, are they not? i believe their are great things in this little talented one's future!

video to follow-see below

2008-04-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

are they going too far? the "church of oprah?" well by def. church means:
a building, esp. for christian public worship. the whole body of Christians. denomination. congregation. public divine worship.
so based on the latter part of the def i guess you could say there might be a "church" so to speak of "oprah." but let's not forget the first part of the def. let's not give that up to anyone who does not profess jesus christ as their lord and savior, that he was, is, and always will be god. that by definition christianity is "the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the bible as sacred scripture, and professed by christians." does this really mean anything to us? then we will not forfeit it to anyone. WE are the church. not those who listen to oprah. you know what i love? that the def of a christian and the def of church are only one page away in the dictionary. some of us are worlds away from the other.
i think what makes me sad about this video is that people wouldn't be so easily lead astray if they really new their shepherd. as a wise friend pointed out the other day, sheep KNOW their shepherd's' voice. if two shepherds where to go to the field and the one they don't know called for them, they would not go. they would not respond. they literally only come to the call of their shepherd's voice. SO if we really knew our shepherd's voice, we'd recognize that the callings of all these others were not true. you MUST study the truth so that when counterfeit appears, you'll know immediately.
oprah doesn't get that. she never let the truth of God's word permeate into her soul. she did not take the time to get to know her shepherd. just like so many so called "christians" she played religion. she went to church and relied on someone else to tell her about god. we become perfect prey when this is all we have.
i am pleading with you dear fellow bloggers because my heart is aching. the tears are swelling, because i see the enemy and he's having a feast. you know he desires to kill you right? then take caution. defend your life. know the only One who can defeat the enemy and know him with all your heart. stand with me and take up your sword. god's given us all we need. it just takes a bit of discipline. many of us are great at our routines. our houses are perfect, our children are in order, and our relationship with god is almost non-existent except on sundays, weds, and home team night. what are we doing? don't let this be all you have of him. he's the best priority you'll ever make. talk about a good investment of time.
i hope you're angry when you watch this video. and i hope you choose to do something about it! i know i'm trying to.
synergy: agents or conditions such that the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects.

The Church of Oprah Exposed

2008-04-06T09:35:00.001-07:00

2008-04-05T12:15:00.001-07:00

i think it's so funny how everytime i ask my son if he wants something, he just repeats what i've said. he rarely just uses those word himself to tell me what he wants, i have to use the guessing game and go through his small vocabulary options. his answers are one word with eyebrows raised, nodding his head yes, but repeating each word as if it's his question to me...
for examply... i say "do you want your book?"
his answer - boo?
bottle?
r - ba ba
puppy?
r - pu pu
balloon?
r - bawoo
num num's?
r - na na
or as it happens more often than not, he comes to me with repeated attempts of "uh?uh?" then points. then i follow him around till i've figured out what it is he is asking me for.
i will say, he is a smart little booger, he just hasn't taken the time to master his words. he's getting there. he's more interested on figuring out what heights he can reach, what he can climb on, and what he can turn off and on. not to mention how many things he can get into and throw on the floor before i catch up to him.
all in all, he's such a joy. he runs me ragged, especially at such an inquisitive time in his life. he's very active, loves to be outside, and is highly social, SO i spend a lot more time with him, playing, going for walks, letting him lead me to something he wants to show me. yes, it's constant interruption so things get a little behind, but i just tell myself to let it go, the work will be there tomarrow, but these brief moments with my son won't. i'm trying my best to cherish them. to log them in my memory and sometimes just top and watch. he's an amazing little boy and i'm soo blessed.