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TGoF .15

Amazing Lord and Savior, today and everyday I thank you for/that...

1. my husband's dedication.
2. people that drop clothes on my doorstep (Erin) for the boys!
3. discounted or free books.
4. the motivation to do something about my weight and my health.
5. my husband doesn't give up on me.
6. Facebook. How else would I keep in touch with people?
   
7. my awesome friends (HI Adrianne!) that are on Facebook so I can keep in touch!
8. Charlotte Mason, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Susan Hunt and Martha Stewart.
9. women that might have this housecleaning thing figured out for us.
10. my beautiful baby boys that are not-so-baby anymore.

Hallelujah!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Flashback Friday 2008

This is Nikolas in April, 2008. It is amazing how fast they grow and change.

The Countdown Begins!

In honor of the much anticipated trip home I have added some great home and California tunes to the player for your enjoyment!

Things I Love Thursday

This made my day!

Questions to ponder...

Finish the Sentences...

1. Maybe I should be... cleaning or better yet sleeping.

2. I love... my family!

3. People would say that I... have a good sense of humor.

4. I don't understand... why it is so hard to lose weight.

5. When I wake up in the morning... I like to have quiet time and a cappuccino.

6. I lost... my marbles.

7. Life is full of... wonderful things!

8. My past taught me... to always look forward!

9. I get annoyed when... my husband tries to give me advice about weight loss.

10. At a party I... try to talk to everyone!

11. I wish... I could focus on the task at hand.

12. Dogs... are hairy and stinky.

13. Cats... are snobs.

14. Tomorrow... is the last day we will see the kid next door.

15. I have a low tolerance for... noise.

16. If I had a million dollars... would travel the world and go back to school.

17. I'm totally terrified of... America, right now.

Now it's your turn! Let me know if you post your finished sentences.

Wisdom For Wednesday

"We can live as a slave to the law, or as an heir to the promise of grace."
-Joyce Meyer in Seven Things That Steal Your Joy

Summer Swap Part 1

These are a few of the items we'll be including in our swap box for Michelle over at Delightful Learning's little ones. [Michelle, look away!] I need to get a few local items to include and then I'll ship it off.

This is a Pooh memory/matching game that I made with 2x2 squares of cardstock with stickers to match.
Same matching, transportation theme.
The boys painted and I used their artwork as the mat, added cardstock to the back, and printed pictures to share.
Bookmarks...
On one side I used more of the boys' paintings. And a Bible verse for good measure.

My Husband Rocks Monday!

This week is going to be a bit different (and a little late). Katy Lin over at The Great Adventure has started something wonderful that I have to share! 31 Days of Praying for our Husbands! You need to go check it out! My husband rocks and this is what I can be doing for him! If your husband could use a little help then you had better get over there, too!

Excerpt from Katy Lin at The Great Adventure:

Day 1
Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc.


2 Peter 3:18 (New Living Translation)
Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.


Proverbs 4:23 (New Living Translation)
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

Scripture Sunday

Romans 12

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Dino Activity Bag

Ready to go!
Dino books!
Dino matching. Laminated with velcro, fits in the flight book!
These mazes are laminated back to back, so they are reusable and fit in the flight book.

Plastic dinosaurs...

So, the kid next door, aka Joshua's best bud is moving next week. (the weeping continues) I love the idea of activity bags for the plane in addition to the awesome flight book. The kid next door loves dinosaurs so I threw this together for him.

Flashack Friday 2005

This was just before my friend's wedding in October 2005. I was about 5 months pregnant with Joshua. This is just about 5 months after last week's flashback... hmmm.

TGoF .14

Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I am so thankful for/that...

1. my husband puts up with my emotions.
2. you can and are changing my heart to be more like yours.
3. people that are praying for my family.
4. stamp club is this weekend!
5. friends, old and new.
6. good books.
7. the Good Book.
8. my camera.
9. my children and health and thriving.
10. we have 4.5 months to go!
    

Things I Love Thursday

I love to organize. Before you get confused, I didn't say I am organized just that I like to get and be organized. I love containers and shelves and drawers. One thing I love to use to get organized is the All-In-One Organizer from Thirty-One Gifts. They have lots of patterns to choose from and you can slip a card in the pocket on the end to identify the contents or who the organizer belongs to. You can also get it embroidered on the side! They are durable canvas and lined with vinyl. I use them to organize the kids' craft supplies and I have one in the car for their toys. I usually get one every time I place an order with Thirty-One. I have talked about these great organizers before but I'll tell you again. and again. Check them out! The possibilities are endless!

Hosted by TheDiaperDiaries.net. She has some great topics, you should go check her out!

MOMS Club Ice Cream Social

BEFORE the destruction!
Delicately enjoying some ice cream...
Sitting so nicely...
Look at all the yummy toppings!
This is how it all turned out! Do you think he enjoyed it?

Flight Book

One of the benefits of living on a military base is having some items availlble that you might not see at wally world. This is my latest military treasure.
Inside the book it has 25 pages that 5x8 index cards fit in.

I made a color matching activity on one side of a page...
And some cute Bible verses on the opposite side.

We'll be using this book for when we travel. We're taking a long road trip in September through Italy to Germany and back. Then we'll be flying to Virginia and road-tripping to California in December. I'll be posting new items that I put in our flight book as I add them.

Affiliate Links: FYI

Just so you know, I have affiliate links on this blog. The links take you to amazon.com and I might make a few pennies off of your purchase. I also have a few buttons that will take you to online stores of which I am an affiliate, as well. Consider yourself informed. Don't want any FCCers to get upset...

My Husband Rocks Monday

My husband rocks because he understands that I am human and will make mistakes. He truly understands the reality of life and marriage. He knows it isn't a fairy tale, he knows it is a lot of work. He is positive and patient with me, my negativity and impatience. He accepts me for who I am and who God made me to be, his wife and helpmate. We are a team and he is the captain. We are a family and he is the leader. He is my cheerleader and my confidant. He is my best friend. He is my lover. He is my hero. He stands firm on the Rock of our Lord, Jesus Christ and holds my hand as I steady my legs there next to him.
Man, I LOVE THIS GUY!

TGoF .13

Awesome Father, Lord and Savior, today I thank you for/that...

1. my family's health.
2. craft time.
3. quiet time.
4. prayer time.
5. my awesome Bible studies and everyone that goes to them, too.
6. people that drop off clothes for the boys on my front step.
7. a/c.
8. my husband has a job.
9. my husband can go to school for free.
10. my husband.
    

Flashback Friday 2005

This is Jason and I at Disneyland in 2005. It truly captures Jason's personality.

Great Giveaway!

My Four Monkeys is having a great giveaway from Rainbow Resource Center!

Things I Love Thursday

I am not a big fan of cleaning house. I am one to get the absolute minimum done every day. Something that needs to be done every day (but doesn't always) is sweeping. With wall-to-wall tile this needs to be done a lot with two small children. I really hate when I sweep and then use the dustpan and you can't get all those little pieces of dirt, then ones that always stick to your feet! So, my husband bought me a Dirt Devil Hand Vac. I like this one because it has the little flip down tip that you can get into the corners with. It is rechargeable but really does have a great battery life. Joshua loves to use it to help me, too. Bonus! It is very easy to empty and clean out. This is probably my most used, most under appreciated gadget! So, today I am showing some love!

Long List to Read

I have a stack of books I need to get read. Here is my updated shelf...

Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Tech Savvy Kiddos!

It is almost Joshua's buddy's birthday, then shortly after they will be moving. I don't know what I'll do after they're gone! (WEEPING) Anyway (SNIFF), I made this activity for the long plane ride home.

I used a file folder and some number stickers to make a laptop! The "screen" portion is a sheet protector so you can change the picture or activity. Then I laminated it, with packing tape because I am tired of contact paper right now.

My Husband Rocks Monday!

My husband is random. The other night after the kids had gone to bed, he was on his laptop and I figured he was doing homework but he was shopping on eBay. He called me over to show me something and said "What do you think of this?". It was a lot of retired Stampin' Up stamps. It was 20 sets, including two alphabet sets. I said "Nice set." He said "It only has three minutes left, what do you think?" He was asking me if I wanted it. Uh, duh. He bid and ended up winning the lot for $91! I am such a lucky girl! What a great no-strings attached gift! I'll post pictures when I get them! YAY! My husband rocks!

Someone else's trash...

I got this awesome FisherPrice table for FREE! The top comes off and you can do sand & water or whatever activities under it!
This cost me $3! Nikolas loves this and when any other kids come over it is the first toy the go to!
A desk... for free! It opens and has activities on the other side.
An easel... Yep! FREE! White board on one side, chalk board on the other.
Another free find! (Excuse our jungle of a yard!)
This one I am especially proud of. It was my first dumpster treasure. Everything else I have gotten from friends or other moms. This was sitting by a dumpster! It needs a bath and an alignment and it will be good to go! Complete with an ice chest and cupholders!

4th of July Crafts with MOMS Club

Joshua used coffee filters and cupcake liners to make fireworks. We used glitter glue (which I highly recommend over glitter and glue) to decorate them and scissors to, um, make them look more like fireworks.

Then the kids got bored and played with toys while the moms made pinwheels!

This was Nikolas' drawing of fireworks.

TGoF .12

Extraordinary God, today and every day I pray for/that...

1. my husband. You know why!
2. our adorable, healthy and oh-so-smart boys.
3. good friends.
4. the people that fixed the internet and got it back up and running.
5. we have had three (July 4th) wonderful years of marriage. What a blessing!
6. free movie tickets!
7. two dates in a row! Movies on Friday, dinner on Saturday!
8. Wall-E, my electronic babysitter.
9. finding a real life babysitter!
10. books; what an amazing source of information!
    

Flashback Friday 1984

I was six in this picture. I'm guessing it was 1984, maybe 1985.

Things I Love Thursday!

I have two boys. At least once a day there is a crash and burn, usually on the cement. When I found Neosporin To Go I was so ecstatic! It is a small, purse size SPRAY Neosporin! I have carried the ointment with me but this spray makes life that much easier! There is no screaming involved either. I call it the magic spray and I love it!

From amazon.com:

Product Features

• Neosporin To Go Sprayer .26 fl oz
• Over 140 Sprays
• Infection Protection, Anytime, Anywhere
• One Handed Sprayer
• Hard Plastic resists crushing and squeezing

An Article I Had To Share

Crosswalk.com is a wonderful Christian website full of articles, advice and other resources. I found an article entitled "Confessions of a Former Housework Hater." Could that be more me? I have been struggling the last few weeks with housecleaning, and, honestly, any kind of responsibilities. I've just been in a funk. I hate it, my husband hates it and I know the kids do, too. I've been waiting for this magic motivation to suddenly appear from nowhere but after reading this article I realized that I can only do what I can do. And more importantly that I can only do what God enables me to do and those things I need to do for the GLORY OF GOD!

Excerpt from the article by Cindy Puhek:
Perhaps I had fallen into the trap of separating the secular and the sacred. Praying, Bible study, and ministry had eternal worth, but keeping my closet clean, I mistakenly thought, was unimportant in view of eternity. Whatever the reason for my dislike of housework, God has changed my heart, and I now work to maintain my home with joy.

Are you a housework hater? Would you rather spend your time, I don't know... blogging? or drinking cappuccinos? While I don't love housework and I am (SLOWLY) realizing that doing it for God glory will make it easier. Starting with the right attitude will also help it go by faster and less painfully.

• Proverbs 31:27
  

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

• 1 Corinthians 14:33
  

³³For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

• 1 Corinthians 14:40
  

⁴⁰But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.