The Weekend has arrived......

It's Friday.....I just love the weekends, because it is time I get to spend with my family! The summer months are a break from work for me, but not for Richard. This makes the weekends even more special. I know how hard he works for our family, and he even helps others out on the weekends whether it is getting in the hay for his dad, or Wayne, or just doing work around~ on a farm. So when we get a weekend to have fun, I get excited.

Richard and I are going to the lake this weekend with some of our friends from church, Gene and Gretchen. We are going to Horse Shoe Bend and we are going to camp for a day or so. Just going to get~away for some much needed rest and relaxation! I don't even know if we are taking the boat? When I say camping I do not mean tent! We will be have all of the amenities (well most) of home. The only difference our home (camper) will be facing the lake in a wooded area. lol

I hope you all find some time over the next two days for family fun and recreation!

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend.....

XOXO

Decluttering one step at a time....

Now ladies I have been working hard, but the above picture is not my pantry! I have been on a mission ladies! I have tackled closets, drawers, cabinets and any closed off areas in my home that desperately needed my attention. I take pride in my home being clean and put together on a daily basis, but I did not realize how much work I had until I stared unloading the above mentioned areas! Wow, I had prime real estate that was being eaten up by junk! I have been throwing away, giving away and I am not finished yet! You know you are making progress when your children come in and make this comment "Wow, Mom the pantry looks great!!" If you are like me it is the little things that get pushed aside(stuffed in a junk drawer.) I have looked for gadgets and baskets and organizing tools to help me reach my goal.

Now girls I know as much as I want my work to look like I am ready for "HGTV to come to my House" I am not. I can not duplicate exactly the way the designers do their make overs, nor do I wish to. I am happy to see the hard work I have accomplished and am content that it is "My" best. I am sad to see the media, newspaper, magazines and advertising that tells us that we should try to be like this "star" or this "product" will make us slim, happy, or content! We buy right into this, because we want to be like the beautiful people, this is especially harmful to our young people, they fall for these false ideas often. The world wants us to go after what we want no matter the cost.

All of this organizing brought to mind a story from the bible. I was reminded of the story in the bible of the 1 talent man. Three men were given talents and two used them wisely to increase them, the 1 talent man "out of fear" chose to bury his talent. As the story goes, the master returned he asked of each man what he had accomplished with what he had been given. The 1st and the 2nd man he was well pleased with and rewarded them. The third man stood before him and answered that he "out of fear" had buried his talent so that he would not lose it. The master called this man a fool. The last man did not try to "copy or duplicate" the other two, he just out of fear did nothing. The moral of the story goes something like this. Recognize your own talents and what God has given you and increase it. God doesn't want us to look to our neighbor and their talent and try to "copy" or "duplicate" what he has given them, he wants us to recognize the gift he has given us and use it to his glory. The bible says "do not covet thy neighbor." We are living in a world full of "one upping others" it is hard not to be envious or take what others have and make it our own. But remember we are to be "unique and set aside from the world." God tells us in his word how to be who he created us to be.

I think God is sad when we go about trying to make ourselves like others, whether that is celebrities, or just our neighbor. We are not using what he gave us to our best. So look to others that you admire as a model to find your talent. We don't want to be fake people and he isn't pleased when we are using our energy in this way. He wants us to be who he created us to be. Recognizing the uniqueness in ourselves and go out into the world and reaching as many as we can with that gift. I know it is hard when we are young, but when we are adults we must be accountable for our actions.

I have been working on contentment, and trying to convince myself that my pantry will never look like the one in "Better Homes and Garden", but you know what my pantry is good, because two young people said "Wow, Mom the pantry looks great." I hope you realize today that you need to organize your pantry according to your taste.

My motto is "do what is right, and everything will work out OK"

God bless and have a beautiful day.

Busy as a Bee......

Wow, if you are like me, you are beginning to wonder where the Spring is going! I have been busy the last week and it has been hard to come up for air! We had our Vacation Bible School last week. I help Richard teach the 5th-8th grade class! The Kids were great, and we had a really successful VBS. Saturday, I also attended our Junior Auxiliary Brunch at Harvest Farms, we had a blast. Such great "girl time" Susan and Jennifer really worked hard to make it a great event and I think everyone enjoy it. After the brunch Richard and I went to the lake for some down time. It was so nice to be with my sweetheart and spend some time just having fun. We went out for dinner afterward. Sunday is usually a quite time around our home, but this Sunday we had some drama. Belle and Czar were playing tag with a tiny baby kitten, and I think Ethan came to the rescue in the nick of time. I am socializing this little feline creature and a couple from church are adopting her/him! I think the Momma Cat had abandon it and it was truly terrified. She/He is doing well and thinks I am now it's caretaker/mother. lol Isn't it funny how we mother in so many ways! I have been faithful to my exercise program (water aerobics and walking) and the only downside to this is, after I drive to town, attend class, and make it home, and shower it is lunchtime. Needless to say I am not accomplishing much around the house, but with the beautiful weather we are having it is hard to stay inside and work!
I am beginning to feel like one of the worker Bee's in a colony, time to take on the role of Queen Bee. lol
So today as you go about your day, add a little fun, drama and just enjoy the beauty that Spring brings with it.
May you each have a blessed and beautiful day!

This is a pic. of the Inn at Harvest Farms, isn't it just beautiful. The food was fabulous and it was such a good location to kick back and relax.

I feel like these little guys!!
Our VBS theme, we decorated our room like the show Survivor, the door was decorated with the theme and then we had our class name as "Soul Survivors" aim to Outwit, Outlast, Outplay Sin! All the kids had a great time we made tye ~dyed shirts...sorry I didn't have my camera for pics.

I saw this and it made me think of our little orphaned feline kitten, I bet she could really give detail descriptions of those mean dogs!

I am finding after this week that a morning, afternoon, and have even considered late night walk and it's therapy for my soul.

Through the eyes of a child.....

This was the fun part of my day!!
I agree with Maxine, I trying really hard!!

Today has been very rewarding day! I woke up this morning and was so happy because my sweet Brittney was off from work today..yeah!! I did not get to go to my water aerobics class today due to other commitments I had made, so off Brittney I go to walk! We walked 2 miles in 30 minutes. I had a hard time keeping up with her "she had to slow down for me." Walking 2 miles in 30 minutes is not done by walking leisurely I assure you. We came home and enjoyed some great tasting water. I am trying to add water to my exercise plan, I am staying on top of it to make sure I get at least 8 glasses a day but my goal is 12 glasses a day.

After a quick shower I headed next door to pick up my sweet little 5 year old nephew, Jensen.His brother, Jalen is attending YSI for the next two weeks so he could not go with us. We buckled up and headed for town. Thursday will be our day to visit the Children's Library. I can not put into words how happy this time spent with my little guy made me. When we arrived we signed up for the summer program, the theme will be Outer Space!! How much fun is that going to be!! We also signed Jalen and Karigan up for later. Ladies if you have a little one, or a little friend, this is so much fun. I did not get to participate with Brittney and Ethan when they were younger, because I was a full time working mother. Anywho back to our Library visit. I thought today was the kickoff, but it is next Thursday. They did have story time scheduled and they had a special guest, Justin, he played his guitar and sang. The children really enjoyed it, I wish I had my camera with me, oh well maybe next time. We will definitely be back next Thursday for the kick off of the summer program. Of course, Jalen and Karigan (when she can make it) will come along too. By this time my heart is full of happy. I promised Jensen a happy meal and/or Ice Cream, if he would be nice enough to let me do a little shopping for Vacation Bible School (I had a plan ladies.) What 5 year old turns down Ice Cream. I must admit, Jensen is a very helpful and patient shopper.

We did finish our VBS shopping, our theme this year is "Castaway Bay". I am helping Richard teach the 5th-8th graders, so we needed some serious decorations!!! We found everything we needed and last but not least we head out for a Happy Meal including a Frosty! Yummy.....I did at one point ask Jensen if he had fun, all the while praying that he was not burnt out on his first day, to my surprise he said YES!!!

Life is good when all it takes is some music, reading a book, and the promise of Ice Cream to make your day. I took him home for a nap, and seriously considered one myself! lol

Thursdays may turn out to be my favorite day of the week. Jensen may have had a good day, but right now my cup is running over with happy.....
I must run we have a homemade tent to put up in our classroom at church (I will post on that later)......hope you all have a blessed and beautiful day......

Summer Exercise Program....

This pic is not of our class! We had approximately 14 in attendance.

I smiled when I saw this pic.

I spent the past two mornings at the Gilley Pool (local pool) participating in water aerobics class! I must admit this is one of the things I have missed most the past two summers. It felt so good to be able to go and work out, and have a little social time with other women. Our instructor is Jilleen and she is just fabulous. The classes are held Mon-Thur @ 9:00 am. If you live close come join the fun, great way to get into shape and also fun summer exercise.

I am adding an hour of walking to this exercise program! By far the water aerobics will be much more fun especially when it is 90 degrees outside!!
After class I ran a few errands and then I came home and have been contemplating where to begin on my "to do list!"
Have fun today whether you spend it indoors or out.

Tuesday Tip

June is here, and as we all know this is the season of weddings. There is so much that goes into planning and preparing for that wonderful day. Young ladies spend most of their childhood years planning the type of wedding she wants, the dress design, the cake and or caterer. The gift registry is one of the important steps in the process. So when I thought of a tip and how I could help the bride (groom) keep it simple, and they would also not only receive a very valuable gift, but it would also be a practical gift.

Tip: See below

If fuel prices continue to soar this wouldn't be a bad idea! Gift cards/Gas Cards...hmmm lol
Go out and have some fun today!

They started it all.....

(Sam and Betty aka Papa and Granny)

Our family story goes something like this......41 years ago this union was made. If ever there was a match made in heaven, then this couple is the one God chose! This is my sweet in~ laws and they are celebrating 41 wonderful years of marriage today. They have set the greatest example for us (their children) an others who know them. They dedicated their lives to God, to each other. They both are retired educators. He was teacher, coach, and principal. She was best known for her many years teaching 1st grade. They have relentlessly given of their time and energy to make a difference not only to their chosen profession, but first and foremost to God and their family. Calling them grandparents just does not do justice to this couple! They are the most loving, giving, self sacrificing parents and grandparents ever! We love and appreciate their Christian example in our lives!

We love you Granny and Papa, you are our rock! Happy Anniversary and many, many more happy years to come.....

(Brittney, Ethan, Jalen and Jensen)

This is the third generation of these two love birds.....the very last grandchild is not in this picture but she is below.......

(Our family, Richard, Ethan, Brittney and me)

thank you Granny and Papa for raising this amazing man and teaching him how to be a christian husband and father........

(JB, Jalen, Jensen, Karigan, and Sherri)

I know that Richard and Sherri were blessed to be born unto this union....Now they have their own families.....

(Karigan on her first family vacation)

Finally......Karigan Rae she is the last of the third generation...guess what she was born on their 39th anniversary....what a gift from God to all of us. We love her and she is so lucky to share her birthday on their anniversary......Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl....

Our family is blessed beyond measure and we are so thankful for it all...from the beginning to the end......

Happy birthday Karigan....

These pictures were taken last summer, she has grown quite a bit since then, but she will always be our sweet baby...We love her so much and today is her birthday and I wanted to share her with you.

She is always posing and such a good model..don't you agree....
one of my favorite...all I had to do was promise ice cream.....lol
Oh NO! Better get that ice cream soon.......................
I love her from the tip of her nose down to her chubby little toes.....Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday......

Menu Plan Monday

I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend! Do you realize it is only 3 weeks aways until summer....YEAH!!! I love the spring and summer seasons. I usually have to work a little harder on menu planning to incorporate healthy eating...but really we should do this no matter what the season. I do have a couple of carry over from last week. I hope you enjoy!

I must not fail to mention the new Menu Plan banner! Go Green, yeah!! Thanks to Laura at Orgjunkie for all the neat and fun banners, not to mention wonderful menu ideas! So visit her and check out all the other Menus too.

Mon: Lemon Pepper Chicken, salad, bread

Tue: Chicken stir fry, salad (carry over)

Wed: Sloppy Joes, Garden Salad, Baked Lays chips

Thur: Baked Fish, Oven baked Fries, salad

Fri: Eat out or take out!

Sat: Steak, Potatoes, Salad

Sun: Dinner at MIL...yum!