Blessed

Yesterday we spent most of our day hanging out with our kids, coloring, building a haunted tree house, went to a Halloween party and had a great day!  To top off our great day my parents planned on keeping both of our kids for a sleep over...so you know what that means...date night!  A date night for a young family with 2 small children who live on a tight income is generally far & few between.  So, we were looking forward to some dinner and then I was being wild and was even going to let Bill treat me to a movie.  I like to be a cheap date so normally we pick between the two.  And let's be honest if the movie starts too late I usually fall asleep during it...I can sleep anywhere!

We made it a couple miles down the road when Bill noticed something was wrong with my car.  We were in a left hand turn lane at the intersection of Midkiff & Wadley.  Any Midlander knows that is a busy intersection!  So, we got the green arrow to make our left hand turn except that we couldn't turn...we had no steering in our car!  So, we just went straight and thankfully our car drifted to the right.  Thankfully, since it was an arrow no one in the other lanes to the right of us were going...they still had the red light.  So, we just kept going straight and we made it to the curb and stopped.  We both jumped out of the car and we noticed this...

a big metal bar broke off our car.  Our car was broken!  No steering!  Our whole back end of our car was hanging in the road so cars had to keep going around us.  We felt awful.  I quickly made a call to my dad for help so we could push it into the parking lot and get out of the road so we could think clearer and come up with a game plan.  In the meantime this gentleman pulled into the parking lot in his Lincoln Town Car and asked us if he could help us out.  I stood there kind of puzzled by his alligator boots, his dark wash, starched wranglers, his short-sleeved button up shirt and nicely combed hair.  Seriously?  This guy is going to help us push our car out of the road?  He looked to fancy to get dirty.  He started to kneel on the ground, look under our car and inform us that our steering tie rod busted.  

Bill & Mr. Martin instructed me to get in the car and push on the breaks once they get the car over the curb.  In about tears I hesitantly got into the powerless car and did just that.  We were up  over the curb, out of the way and safely in the parking lot.  It all was happening so quickly.  Before I knew it I was standing along by the side of my car and Bill & Mr. Martin were off in the Lincoln to go to the auto parts store to get what we needed.  After an unsuccessful attempt they came back to the car and instructed me to go home.  My dad took my back to the party and Bill was once again leaving with this stranger to go get the part for my car.  Seriously?  A stranger?  Don't we teach our kids not to talk to stranger but it's okay for our husbands to ride with them.  

I went back to the party and eventually dropped off at home and Bill & Mr. Martin finally found a shop that had our part.  They went back with the help of my dad and various other "strangers" to get my car fixed.  Let me just tell you this...God used a man, an ordinary man, who was broken, and carried baggage, to completely bless out our lives last night.  Mr. Martin not only pushed our car out of the road, laid on the ground with his nice clothes on, drove my husband around to get what we needed, paid for our part, sacrificed his entire evening to help a stranger.  Seriously?  

How many opportunities do I miss to bless out someone else's life...maybe even a stranger...because I am so rushed, so busied, so consumed with myself.  How selfish of me!  That night I was finishing reading Romans and this is what I read: We must not just please ourselves.  We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord....therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory!  Romans 15:1-2, 7   It just spoke to my heart!  I am so blessed that this situation wasn't worse.  Praise God Bill was driving & I wasn't.  Praise God the kids were not in the car.  Praise God we were in a turn lane with an arrow!  Praise God no one was coming when we needed to get across traffic!  Praise God our car drifted right!  Praise God we didn't get hurt!  Praise God we could fix it!  Praise God for all the selfless people who stopped to help us!  Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!

Psalm 33

		Psalm 33Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
		Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy.
		For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
		He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth.
		The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
		He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
		Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him.
		For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
		The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.
		But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.
		What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own.
		The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race.
		From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.
		He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.
		The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
		Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory-- for all its strength, it cannot save you.
		But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.
		He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.
		We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield.
		In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name.
		Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.

Pumpkin Day

I have been so consumed with orders and getting ready for my show recently that once I had my show this weekend we were going to have a much needed family day!  We would have sweet family moments here & there but not how I like them to be.  I have been so busy that I haven't been able to plan as much fun stuff this year.  So, Bill & I decided to take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch Saturday night after my show and then have a fun, family, pumpkin day today!  I got on-line and found some recipes to try out!

Here are some snap shots from the pumpkin patch!

 Today on Pumpkin Day we thought it would be fun to make some pumpkin soup...well it was gross!  But we made it anyways, check it out!

 Then we decided to make a Pumpkin Roll which was AWESOME!  We didn't eat it until after dinner but it was a big hit!  You can find the recipe here.

 While Lily took her nap we made some Pumpkin Play Dough.  It was a lot of fun!  I have the recipe here.  But then my sister-in-law gave me the idea to add in some pumpkin pie spice & color it orange on her blog!

 We made pumpkin smoothies.  These would be good if you well....had no teeth and couldn't eat a slice of pie!  Otherwise just stick to the real deal....kind of gross sipping pumpkin pie through a straw.  :-)

 Pumpkin Fluff was YUMMY!  I will be bringing some to our MOMs group this week because it made a pretty big batch!  Ingredients include, cool whip, instant vanilla pudding, tsp vanilla extract, 15 oz can pumpkin (pure pumpkin) and 1 tsp of pumpkin pie spice.  Mix & serve with graham crackers.

 Then we finally got the part Gabe was waiting for all day.  Pumpkin Carving!

 Lily wouldn't stick her hand in it...she just wanted to cut.  So, I let her go over where I already cut!

Round 2 of the play dough

Then for dessert...pumpkin roll!  

We also made toasted pumpkin seeds.  One original batch with salt only.  Then I wanted to try something new and we did one with butter, worcestershire sauce, & season salt.  They came out good too!  Hope you try some of the recipes I posted and I suggest avoiding the pumpkin soup...we had a fun, pumpkin day with just 1.5 big cans of pumpkin & some household ingredients!

Parent Teacher Conference

I had my first official parent teacher conference for kindergarten today.  I was a little nervous.  Well, I soon found out that I had nothing to be nervous about.  God has answered our prayers and heard our pleas for Gabe's education.  He is not just doing good....he is doing GREAT!  He scored high on all of his academic testing, one of the highest in his class.  I am so proud of him and over-joyed for the blessings God has given us.  Gabe is reading & ready to increase his reading level so that means I have some homework to do.  :-)  He loves centers...just not the alphabet one because he gets bored.  I am super excited that he is doing great at school & that God has blessed him!

It is time!

Lily has been obsessed with the potty these days so a few weeks ago I bought her the official princess potty.  Every little girl needs her pink throne I mean potty to sit on...don't judge me!  :-)  So, the first week we just kind of sat on it and haven't done too much.

This week we have been going at least 2 times a day!  We even pooped once!  The little things we get excited over.  She loves that its plays music when she goes and that we all parade into the bathroom when it chimes to praise her for her bowel movement, haha.  So, today I was brave enough to put on some big girl panties.  We will see how she does around the house this morning with them on!

A Purse Full of Cheerios: Fun and Healthy Lunchbox Ideas

A Purse Full of Cheerios: Fun and Healthy Lunchbox Ideas: "I have to admit that one of the things I love about Ace being in school is packing his lunch. I know, I sound crazy but I love finding new ..."

Weekend Fun

We had a great weekend.  Kind of chill, not too much going on.  I kind of wish we went to he airshow.  We have never been and after seeing all the planes it looked like so much fun!  Maybe next year!  We  just did some small little things around the house.  I worked on a bunch of stuff for Papercutz.  I think our kids had so much fun playing with this stuff...

 I saw this link on my sister in law's blog for chasing cheerios and I was intrigued by the name.  They had this fun activity posted for your kids so we did it and Lily LOVED it!

 A Halloween Sensory Box!

 It got a little messy but big deal...nothing s broom wouldn;t sweep up!  She had fun & I got to get dinner all cooked and ready while she did it!  

On Saturday we hung out in the driveway for a good portion of our evening.  I was painting some wooden blocks for Papercutz and the kids played in the driveway with the chalk.  They played for a LOONG time.  It was GREAT!

We ended our night with some pizza and then heading back out with the girl next door to color the driveway a little more!

Once we got home from church today Gabe was so kind and let his sister hang out with him while he played games on the computer!  She didn't want to just share the chair she had ti sit on his lap!  He's such a good big brother!

I hope y'all had a great, family weekend too!

Door Project

So a few weeks ago I posted about this great website I found and she had done a few projects with some doors she had purchased at Habitat for Humanity.  So I picked up a few the last time I was there and I haven't done much with the yet.  Well, I've started them but not finished them...seems like I am good at that lately.  Well, this past week I decided to paint our living room and take on this project one afternoon.

This is what you need to get started.  A door or piece of wood, an old frame would work even with some thin wood in place of the glass.  I also had some spray paint, wooden numbers (the year we got married), liquid nails, hammer, hanger, 2 small nails.

Then I painted my numbers with the spray paint a couple of times and let them dry completely.   While drying add the hanger to the back of your door with your nails.

Apply liquid nail to the back of your wooden numbers and press firmly onto your door.

Voila, hang up in your room.  I think it cost less than $4 to do the whole project!

Great Friend

We had a fun play date last week with my great, sweet, caring, and ever so thoughtful friend Shawna and her crew!  I say crew because she watches her nephew's and another little baby so she carts 5 kids around with her each day!  Pure craziness.  The noise alone would drive me to...well you know....drink!  She is so kind and thoughtful and is always thinking of others before herself.  When we had our play date she brought all of her polish to do my toes!  What a treat!  (for me)  If you have ever seen my nasty, cracked, rough feet...it's true friendship let me just tell you that!  It was so kind of her to think of me in such a little way and it made me feel so special!  She is so full of joy & the love of God...with 5 kids!  I wouldn't be that's for sure, ha!  She's one of those friends who are real with you, tell you to suck it up when that's not what you want to hear, but then can also make you laugh 'til your belly hurts!  I love her dearly!  Here's a few snapshots of our fun afternoon.  (she also painted Lily's nails too)

This is me and my sweet friend Shawna...this is an old picture from this summer.

Lily's nail's with a flower!  Okay so I never took any of my toes but they were a fun kelly green color with yellow flowers!  SO FUN!  I have a FABULOUS friend!