Great Babysitter Insight

Follow this link to great babysitter insight. I remember all of this from babysitting myself and it is great to be reminded.

Chatting at the Sky She has several installments. . .check 'em all out.

Guarding your Heart

A friend reminded me today of the importance of guarding you heart.

A long time ago, I decided that movies with content that is of questionable content was just not for me. I get so uncomfortable in any rated R movie and many PG 13 movies too. It may come across as if I am, let's say. . . prudish . . .but that is not it. I am simply guarding my heart. . .it is that old adage "garbage in; garbage out." The same is true for the goodness of God. The word of God in; the word of God will come out. I would much rather spill over with God's goodness than the alternative.

Proverbs 4:23-27 says:
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of you life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don't get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

Sometimes making the decision to guard your heart isn't easy. What will your friends say/think/talk about behind your back? But in the end, it doesn't matter, because we will have pleased our Heavenly Father.

Thanks friend, I needed that!

And so it begins

PACKING that is. We have 3 weeks until we say goodbye to our house. The first house Adam and I have owned. The house that we decorated and loved, the house that we brought Bryson home to, the house that we are hoping to outgrow very soon.



I have packed 13 boxes. of. CHINA. YES, just china. Is it normal for one to own so. much. china? And I am not even done yet. This picture is just my fine and Christmas china, I haven't even gotten to my everyday stuff. Pray for me. :)

Beating the Heat. . .Waterslide Style

I bought Bryson a slide from a neighbor who was having a garage sale; I think he likes it.
You be the judge: (Prepare yourself for photo overload. . .I had a hard time picking my favorite.)

The Love-y Trifecta?

My son has an a strange attachment (and why wouldn't he? his mommy made it) to a certain pillow, pronounced pi -LL-ow (too much emphasis placed on the l's). He will not under any circumstances let anyone hold it, lay on it or be in the surrounding area of his beloved pillow. He is often found carrying it around like rappers once carried boom boxes. Let's take a look at that comparison here:

Do you see the resemblance? He also has two other love-ys. One kitty (sadly pronounced "tiddy") and one giraffe. Poor kitty has gone through some hard times. . .My friend, Lisa

so kindly pointed out to Bryson that the kitty has cataracts. You see, kitty has gone through the washer so many times now, for various reasons (namely nasty bodily fluids, say no more right?) that her eyes have gotten hazy and chipped. Therefore looking very much like cataracts. Lisa tried to get him to say "kitty has cataracts" so many times it has now stuck. Bryson doesn't let me forget it. He often stares into kitty's eyes saying "cataracts, mommy." So sad.

Also in the group is beloved giraffe. Where one is, the others are not far behind. This is how Bryson looks many times at our house. Pretty cute if you ask me.

So there you have it: The Love-y Trifecta. How sweet.

Could he be growing up?

The following (short) conversation happened this morning. . .it is wonderful for 2 reasons. . .

Me: Bryson, (pause to listen)Do you want breakfast?
B: Nope, nope, nope . . . I'm busy.
Me: (jaw dropped, can hardly believe what is happening)

Let me explain:
For as long as I can remember, Bryson does NOT turn down a morssel of food for any reason. EVER.
For as long as I can remember, Bryson does NOT play unattended for any period of time, especially not in another room where mommy cannot be seen.

The Praise poured out of my mouth. God hears even the smallest of prayers and hears them the first time they are uttered. Bryson played happily and contently for 25 minutes!!! Oh happy day!

Calling all those who pray. . .

We have just accepted an offer on our house. . .Glory be to God!! God has been good (when is he not good? NEVER!) giving us baby steps along the way, giving reason to be patient, stretching our faith to the utermost, and absolutly showing us favor. Please pray that we can continue to have the peace that passes understanding as we continue on the home selling journey. Also, pray for our first time home buyer. We would love to see this sell through to the end.

A Gift of Peace

We are juggling so much, you'd think we were clowns in a circus. Right now, Adam is contemplating a new job for which he has received an offer, our house is on the market with a contract on the table, we have put money down on land and a house to build, and we are praying for a new baby. With all that going on one would assume we are stressed beyond stressed. But, I am thanking God, for a gift that surpasses human understanding; that gift is PEACE! Amist all that is going on, Adam and I are truly experiencing a supernatral peace. Most days, I can go about my business as if nothing is changing, because I can rest in the fact that God has it in control. Worrying is not going to add one second to my day. I'm not going to lie, somedays my flesh and my spirit battle it out, but praise God, my spirit wins! John 14:27 says I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Ain't it the truth! Peace of mind is the best gift of all.

WE. ARE. FAMILY. . .(sing with me!)

So, my family had a reunion. . .probably not your typical family reunion. . .because, . . .um. . .ours had a "Light Saber Themed Dinner Dance." Yes, you read correctly. . .costumes and all. (And would you believe someone came in my costume? What are the chances?) Please don't judge, and I know you are totally thinking, "my family doesn't do cool stuff like that!" So let's let the pictures do the talking, shall we?

Dancing in the Rain

I was desperate today. . .we have been home most of the week during the day. I had just gotten Bryson dressed and ready for a bike ride when. . .it started sprinkling. . . no biggie. . .I let him walk around in the small sprinkles with his lawn mower. Then, the BIG rain came. . .and I figured why not. Bryson had a GREAT time playing in the rain, while I stayed under the shelter of the garage.

Look what I made. . .

I made these for my precious new niece Samantha. They are fun little burp cloths in girly prints. I loved using fancy burp cloths with Bryson. I don't know why exactly. . .I guess it was because it made something so icky a little nicer.


I also decoupaged a notebook for my sister in law, Christa in coordinating fabric. It was fun to make. She could use it to record Samantha's feedings, notes from sermons, or even a gift notebook. A friend of mine keeps a notebook listing all the gifts she ever gets. She has used it for her baby showers, birthdays, and Christmas'. With the notebook she is not forever searching for that scrap of paper that she used to record the gifts she received in order to write the thank you notes. In addition, it is a nice way to remember just who got you those cute precious baby burp cloths!

It truly doesn't matter if Christa uses the notebook, what matters is that I enjoyed making it and thinking of her. Here is a before and after shot of the notebook.

Babysitter Rate Calculator??

Check this out. Do you think it is accurate for your city?

One Year Ago, Today

One year ago today, my family arrived in Chadds Ford, PA. After hours and hours and hours and hours in the car we pulled into our new apt. furnished by Adam's company. It was smaller than I hoped, and not beautiful by any stretch of the imagination. I remember my thoughts as I walked in. . ."I cannot live here. . .there is NO COLOR, everything is brown."

7 months later, I was sad to leave. We made so many friends, found a church and became familiar with the parks, shopping, festivals. I am so happy I had the experience. I do love PA and would visit if I could.

Here are some pics from our days up north.

My friend Cilla

I just gotta give a shout out to my friend, Cilla. She and her husband came over for the 4th and we had lots of laughs. She then came over while both of our husbands were either working or at the race on Saturday night. We had fun eating out, shopping at Target and LAUGING at least twice! I tell you what, she introduced me to a product that has changed my life. THANK YOU, if you are interested, email me and I will tell you what it is. . .just can't allow myself to post it on this blog. :) Thanks for all the laughs. Let's do it again real soon, girl!! I hope she doesn't hate me for posting this pic. I couldn't resit!

Working at the Car Wash

Bryson's recent obsession is car washes "tar washes." Here are some pics of him washing Mommy's "tar" with daddy.

Is there anything better?

Sunday afternoon. Thunderstorms a'brewin. 2 year old sleeping. Me. . .out. cold. for 3 hours, on the couch without a care in the world.

This repeats every week. . .same time, same couch, (always in church clothes. . .NICE!)

so much going on . . .

Here is a short recap since last post. . .I won't bore you with the details.

We put our house on the market. (nerve wracking and exciting)
We get an offer 3 weeks later. (totally excited, giving all glory to God)
We have our house inspected, with the buyers present. All while our neighbors were being evicted from their rental house. . .2 cops cars, a tow truck and lots of yelling. . .thought it might just scare the buyers away. . .it didn't, they thought it was a good show. . .(WHEW!)
We searched for a new home. Decided to build a new house. . .the house of our dreams. (tentative, but fun and ready to go)
The offer fell through. . .my buyers couldn't get financing since they had NO CREDIT. (sad for half an hour. . .over it now. . .moving on)
We may loose the new house we were building, but I just know God has a plan for us. (hopeful)
House back on the market. (back to the grind of keeping a spotless house with a 2 year old. (just lovely)
Know anyone looking for a 3/2 in Mandarin, let me know!

So there you have it . . . for all my loyal readers. . . um, I think that includes Cilla and Emily! All two of my fans :)

Cool Tot Site

Check out this new site. . .cool videos for kids to enjoy. I can't wait to show Bryson in the morning. I just know this will be his favorite one. ENJOY!