Monday, December 21, 2009
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to my sweet boy Levi. He is three today. I cannot believe it. Check out my friend Amber's blog post. I don't think I could have done a better job honoring my son's b-day.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
12-19-09
I just wanted to post a couple of things this morning before I got started on Jonah's room. (Yes he arrives in three days and no his room is not finished yet. It will get there.)
This interview ran yesterday morning on the the House FM about Levi's Toy Drive. Thanks Brent for doing the interview for us.
This interview ran yesterday morning on the the House FM about Levi's Toy Drive. Thanks Brent for doing the interview for us.
I did venture out to do a little shopping yesterday. Since I am 38 weeks pregnant I did not last long though. I went to Target and found this adorable soap dispenser:
to go with this adorable shower curtain for the boys bathroom.
I also found this precious onsie at Baby Gap for Jonah.
I try not to buy him clothes because we have so much for him already, but I could not pass that up.
Well I should probably get off the computer now and go get started organizing our new little guys room.
Have a great weekend!
Edit: I did get around and we did organize Jonah's room today. So I think we are now ready for his arrival.
Monday, December 14, 2009
In the past two months . . .
We have moved, been taking care of a fussy little Levi, getting ready for Christmas and a new baby, as well as all the normal stuff we do at church. We have been a little busy.
We did not close on our new home on November 17th like I said in my last post. We ended up closing on our new house on November 24th (yes two days before Thanksgiving). So we are all moved into our new home. We are still unpacking and we will probably be unpacking for a while. But, we do love this new house. It has everything we were looking for and it definitely already feels like home even though there are still boxes everywhere. We are still waiting to close on our old house. So you can pray that all that gets taken care of before Jonah's arrival.
So speaking of Jonah, we are going to be having a new baby in eight days. Yes, you read that right, eight days. I cannot believe it. I am so ready to not be pregnant anymore and to hold my new little baby, but I am anxious as well. I am sure everyone feels that way with the arrival of their second child. How do you take care of two little ones at once? I know that I will figure it out and God has proven in my life over and over again that He will always give me the strength I need.
I am sure you are wondering how Levi is taking all this. He has had a rough last couple of months. He has been very agitated and I have spent a lot of time just sitting and holding him and trying to keep him happy. He has come down with a cold of some kind now. His little nose just keeps running, but he seems to be much happier now that his nose is running. Steven and I are finally getting to sleep at night and this makes both of us much happier.
We will be celebrating Levi's third birthday next week. We cannot believe he is going to turn three. I think time moves in twice as fast once you become a parent. We are collecting toys for Levi's Toy Drive for OU Children's Hospital again this year. We will be collecting toys until this Sunday the 20th. If you would be interested in donating a toy or two you can email me at cindy.bergren@gmail.com.
Please continue praying for our family. Pray that Levi stays content and happy and doesn't become agitated and start keeping everyone awake again. Pray that Jonah's birth goes well and that he is healthy. Pray that I heal from the c-section easily and quickly. Pray for Steven as he will be the one taking care of all three of us while I heal from the surgery. Pray that we will be able to close on the sale of our old house before Jonah arrives and that it all goes smoothly.
We appreciate all of you and the way you have prayed for us and loved on us over these past few years.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
House Update
Our house has sold once again. We close on November 17th. That is exactly one month. Let the packing begin. Unfortunately I don't feel very motivated and I get really tired really easily. Please pray that this sale goes off without a hitch.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Johnny Lingo's Eight Cow Wife
Steven and I read this story a couple of weeks ago during our devotion time and I loved it. God keeps bringing it back to my hear so I wanted to share it with you.
Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife
by Patricia McGerr
Condensed from Woman's Day, November 1965
Reader's Digest pp. 138-141, February 1988
When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of flora and fauna, native customs and costumes. But the only note that still interests me is the one that says: "Johnny Lingo gave eight cows to Sarita's father." And I don't need to have it in writing. I'm reminded of it every time I see a woman belittling her husband or a wife withering under her husband's scorn. I want to say to them, "You should know why Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for his wife."
Johnny Lingo wasn't exactly his name. But that's what Shenkin, the manager of the guest house on Kiniwata called him. Shenkin was from Chicago and had a habit of Americanizing the names of the islanders. But Johnny was mentioned by many people in many connections. If I wanted to spend a few days on the neighboring island of Nurabandi, Johnny Lingo could put me up. If I wanted to fish, he could show me where the biting was best. If it was pearls I sought, he would bring me the best buys. The people of Kiniwata all spoke highly of Johnny Lingo. Yet when they spoke they smiled, and the smiles were slightly mocking.
"Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and let him do the bargaining," advised Shenkin. "Johnny knows how to make a deal."
"Johnny Lingo!" A boy seated nearby hooted the name and rocked with laughter.
"What goes on?" I demanded. "Everybody tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Let me in on the Joke."
"Oh the people love to laugh," Shenkin said, shrugging. "Johnny's the brightest, the strongest young man in the islands. And for his age, the richest."
"But if he's all you say, what is there to laugh about?"
"Only one thing. Five months ago, at fall festival, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. He paid her father eight cows!"
I knew enough about island customs to be impressed. Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four of five a highly satisfactory one."Good Lord!" I said, "Eight cows! She must have beauty that takes your breath away."
"She's not ugly," he conceded, and smiled a little. "But the kindest could only call Sarita plain. Sam Karoo, her father, was afraid she'd be left on his hands."
"But then he got eight cows for her? Isn't that extraordinary?"
"Never been paid before."
"Yet you call Johnny's wife plain?"
"I said it would be kindness to call her plain. She was skinny. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked. She was scared of her own shadow."
"Well, I said, "I guess there's no accounting for love."
"True enough," agreed the man. "And that's why the villagers grin when they talk about Johnny. They get special satisfaction from the fact that the sharpest trader in the islands was bested by dull old Sam Karoo."
"But how?"
"No one knows and everyone wonders. All the cousins were urging Sam to ask for three cows and hold for two until he was sure Johnny'd pay only one. Then Johnny came to Sam Karoo and said 'Father of Sarita, I offer eight cows for your daughter.'"
"Eight cows," I murmured. "I'd like to meet this Johnny Lingo."
I wanted fish. I wanted pearls. So the next afternoon I beached my boat at Nurabandi. And I noticed as I asked directions to Johnny's house that his name brought no sly smile to the lips of his fellow Nurabandians. And when I met the slim, serious young man, when he welcomed me with grace to his home, I was glad that from his own people he had respect unmingled with mockery. We sat in his house and talked. Then he asked "You come here from Kiniwata?"
"Yes."
"They speak of me on that island?"
"They say there's nothing I might want that you can't help me get."
He smiled gently. "My wife is from Kiniwata."
"Yes, I know."
"They speak of her."
"A little."
"What do they say."
"Why, just...." The question caught me off balance. "They told me you were married at festival time."
"Nothing more?" The curve of his eyebrows told me he knew there had to be more.
"They also say the marriage settlement was eight cows." I paused. "They wonder why."
"They ask that?" His eyes lighted with pleasure. "Everyone in Kiniwata knows about the eight cows?"I nodded."And in Nurabandi everyone knows it too." His chest expanded with satisfaction. "Always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Sarita."
So that's the answer, I thought: vanity.And then I saw her. I watched her enter the room to place flowers on the table. She stood a moment to smile at the young man beside me. Then she went swiftly out again. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The lift of her shoulders, the tilt of her chin, the sparkle of here eyes all spelled a pride to which no one could deny her the right.I turned back to Johnny Lingo and found him looking at me.
"You admire her?" he murmured.
"She...she's glorious. But she's not Sarita from Kiniwata," I said.
"There's only one Sarita. Perhaps she does not look the way they say she looked in Kiniwata."
"She doesn't. I heard she was homely. They all make fun of you because you let yourself be cheated by Sam Karoo."
"You think eight cows were too many?" A smile slid over his lips.
"No. But how can she be so different?"
"Do you ever think," he asked, "what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought? An then later, when the women talk, they boast of what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two? This could not happen to my Sarita."
"Then you did this just to make your wife happy?"
"I wanted Sarita to be happy, yes. But I wanted more than that. You say she is different. This is true. Many things can change a woman. Things happen inside, things happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks of herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the islands."
"Then you wanted--"
"I wanted to marry Sarita. I loved her and no other woman."
"But--" I was close to understanding.
"But," he finished softly, "I wanted an eight-cow wife."
Johnny Lingo's Eight-Cow Wife
by Patricia McGerr
Condensed from Woman's Day, November 1965
Reader's Digest pp. 138-141, February 1988
When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of flora and fauna, native customs and costumes. But the only note that still interests me is the one that says: "Johnny Lingo gave eight cows to Sarita's father." And I don't need to have it in writing. I'm reminded of it every time I see a woman belittling her husband or a wife withering under her husband's scorn. I want to say to them, "You should know why Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for his wife."
Johnny Lingo wasn't exactly his name. But that's what Shenkin, the manager of the guest house on Kiniwata called him. Shenkin was from Chicago and had a habit of Americanizing the names of the islanders. But Johnny was mentioned by many people in many connections. If I wanted to spend a few days on the neighboring island of Nurabandi, Johnny Lingo could put me up. If I wanted to fish, he could show me where the biting was best. If it was pearls I sought, he would bring me the best buys. The people of Kiniwata all spoke highly of Johnny Lingo. Yet when they spoke they smiled, and the smiles were slightly mocking.
"Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and let him do the bargaining," advised Shenkin. "Johnny knows how to make a deal."
"Johnny Lingo!" A boy seated nearby hooted the name and rocked with laughter.
"What goes on?" I demanded. "Everybody tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Let me in on the Joke."
"Oh the people love to laugh," Shenkin said, shrugging. "Johnny's the brightest, the strongest young man in the islands. And for his age, the richest."
"But if he's all you say, what is there to laugh about?"
"Only one thing. Five months ago, at fall festival, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. He paid her father eight cows!"
I knew enough about island customs to be impressed. Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four of five a highly satisfactory one."Good Lord!" I said, "Eight cows! She must have beauty that takes your breath away."
"She's not ugly," he conceded, and smiled a little. "But the kindest could only call Sarita plain. Sam Karoo, her father, was afraid she'd be left on his hands."
"But then he got eight cows for her? Isn't that extraordinary?"
"Never been paid before."
"Yet you call Johnny's wife plain?"
"I said it would be kindness to call her plain. She was skinny. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked. She was scared of her own shadow."
"Well, I said, "I guess there's no accounting for love."
"True enough," agreed the man. "And that's why the villagers grin when they talk about Johnny. They get special satisfaction from the fact that the sharpest trader in the islands was bested by dull old Sam Karoo."
"But how?"
"No one knows and everyone wonders. All the cousins were urging Sam to ask for three cows and hold for two until he was sure Johnny'd pay only one. Then Johnny came to Sam Karoo and said 'Father of Sarita, I offer eight cows for your daughter.'"
"Eight cows," I murmured. "I'd like to meet this Johnny Lingo."
I wanted fish. I wanted pearls. So the next afternoon I beached my boat at Nurabandi. And I noticed as I asked directions to Johnny's house that his name brought no sly smile to the lips of his fellow Nurabandians. And when I met the slim, serious young man, when he welcomed me with grace to his home, I was glad that from his own people he had respect unmingled with mockery. We sat in his house and talked. Then he asked "You come here from Kiniwata?"
"Yes."
"They speak of me on that island?"
"They say there's nothing I might want that you can't help me get."
He smiled gently. "My wife is from Kiniwata."
"Yes, I know."
"They speak of her."
"A little."
"What do they say."
"Why, just...." The question caught me off balance. "They told me you were married at festival time."
"Nothing more?" The curve of his eyebrows told me he knew there had to be more.
"They also say the marriage settlement was eight cows." I paused. "They wonder why."
"They ask that?" His eyes lighted with pleasure. "Everyone in Kiniwata knows about the eight cows?"I nodded."And in Nurabandi everyone knows it too." His chest expanded with satisfaction. "Always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Sarita."
So that's the answer, I thought: vanity.And then I saw her. I watched her enter the room to place flowers on the table. She stood a moment to smile at the young man beside me. Then she went swiftly out again. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The lift of her shoulders, the tilt of her chin, the sparkle of here eyes all spelled a pride to which no one could deny her the right.I turned back to Johnny Lingo and found him looking at me.
"You admire her?" he murmured.
"She...she's glorious. But she's not Sarita from Kiniwata," I said.
"There's only one Sarita. Perhaps she does not look the way they say she looked in Kiniwata."
"She doesn't. I heard she was homely. They all make fun of you because you let yourself be cheated by Sam Karoo."
"You think eight cows were too many?" A smile slid over his lips.
"No. But how can she be so different?"
"Do you ever think," he asked, "what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought? An then later, when the women talk, they boast of what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two? This could not happen to my Sarita."
"Then you did this just to make your wife happy?"
"I wanted Sarita to be happy, yes. But I wanted more than that. You say she is different. This is true. Many things can change a woman. Things happen inside, things happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks of herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the islands."
"Then you wanted--"
"I wanted to marry Sarita. I loved her and no other woman."
"But--" I was close to understanding.
"But," he finished softly, "I wanted an eight-cow wife."
This story just shows how much we can affect our spouses with how we value them. Wives this also goes for our husbands. When we value them it can really make a difference. It also reminds me of our value in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says we are "bought at a price". This price was the blood shed by Jesus. How much better is that than eight cows.
That is just something I have been thinking about lately.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Yes I do still blog
There has been so much going on around our house since my last blog post. Which is why I haven't updated you guys since May. Here are the highlights.
1. We found out we are expecting again. We are scheduled to have another little boy on December 22. His name will be Jonah Preston. So far all of our ultrasounds have been normal. We are so thankful and excited for Jonah's arrival. Here is our latest ultrasound pic.
1. We found out we are expecting again. We are scheduled to have another little boy on December 22. His name will be Jonah Preston. So far all of our ultrasounds have been normal. We are so thankful and excited for Jonah's arrival. Here is our latest ultrasound pic.
This was the biggest reason I haven't made a post in so long. I was sick my entire first trimester and then I got sick from a cold after I got over the pregnancy sickness. So I felt horrible for a good part of the spring and first part of the summer.
2. My nephew spent two weeks with us this summer once I got over being sick. That was so much fun and I wish I had taken some pictures. It was so good to just get to hang out with him. It was really different having a second kid around our house though. Who knew one extra person could make that many more dishes and laundry.
3. We decided to sell our house and move. So last month we put our house on the market.
This has been such a rollarcoaster. Two weeks after we put it on the market we had a contract on it. We were so excited and then we found a house we loved and put a contract on that as well. The next week all those plans fell through. The person buying our house didn't get his loan so therefore our house wasn't sold and we couldn't purchase the house we had found. So now we are back to showing our house again. And for those of you who know me this is difficult for me. I am not very good at keeping my house neat and tidy.
As for Levi he has seemed to not notice all the new things that are going on in our lives. He just keeps trucking along and growing like a weed. I can't hardly keep him in clothes. Thank goodness for Grandma Debbie and GG Juanita who just stocked us up on clothes.
So those are the major things that have kept me from this blog. Sorry to those of you who have been checking in and wondering what was going on (Kristen and Angie). I will try to keep up a little better now that I know there are people who actually read what is going on in our lives.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
5-5-09
We had such a busy fun weekend I was worn out. I just sat around yesterday and watched TV and took it easy. Saturday I had a Pampered Chef show and then I went to scrapbook. This is one of the pages I got done. I can't take much credit for it. I completely lifted from this blog. I just loved the layout though and how springy it is. If you love it too you can still grab some of these papers at Just4Keeps.
Journaling reads: We keep you home during the fall and winter to keep you from getting sick. So we are always so glad when it is finally spring.
And we are so glad it is finally spring. I just wish it looked like spring outside. It has been raining for a week.
Sunday we celebrated Steven's grandma's birthday. One of her gifts was a scrabble card game. I was not very good at it, but she and Steven were definitely enjoying themselves. I just thought this picture of the two of them spending time together was just precious.
I hope you all had an equally fun weekend. Now I am off to get some stuff done around the house since I didn't get anything done yesterday.
I will leave you with a verse from my quiet time this morning.
Hopefully you will be strengthened by those words as well and have a fabulous day.
Journaling reads: We keep you home during the fall and winter to keep you from getting sick. So we are always so glad when it is finally spring.And we are so glad it is finally spring. I just wish it looked like spring outside. It has been raining for a week.
Sunday we celebrated Steven's grandma's birthday. One of her gifts was a scrabble card game. I was not very good at it, but she and Steven were definitely enjoying themselves. I just thought this picture of the two of them spending time together was just precious.
I hope you all had an equally fun weekend. Now I am off to get some stuff done around the house since I didn't get anything done yesterday.I will leave you with a verse from my quiet time this morning.
"Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed . . . with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:7&8
Hopefully you will be strengthened by those words as well and have a fabulous day.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
4-28-09
I took a little crafty time this weekend. Here is a card I made using Sketch #81 from the Got Sketch blog. There are some really great sketches on this blog that will really get your creativity flowing. Love it.
I know you are thinking that this doesn't look much like a baby card. I don't buy a lot of theme paper anymore so I was going for the green and cream color scheme to match this box that I made to put the baby gift in. Plus, I have just been digging on vintage lately.
Well thanks for peeking in to see what we have been up to. Hope you have a fabulous day.
Monday, April 20, 2009
4-20-09
I had a little creative streak this weekend. I found this great vintage image at http://www.scrapologie.blogs.com/ and I love it. She has some fun images on her blog. I am loving vintage images lately. I also used the CPS sketch for this week.
I created these two items for challenges at the Just4Keeps forum. Amber and I took that picture of ourselves on the ferry when we were going to Disney World when I visited her in December. We had so much fun.
Now for those of you who read my blog to see what is going on with Levi and not just to see what creative exploits I have been up to. Levi had a rough week last week. He was really fussy and would get himself worked up and start breathing funny. I was not very excited about this and we had to have a couple extra visits from his nurse. But after getting some medicine in him and a little extra loving he was back to normal by the weekend. Thank goodness. He still is getting me up a couple times during the night, but I think I can learn to live with that. Here is a sweet pic of him Sunday at church. He is wearing an adorable t-shirt my friend Peta made him. I think he looks rather dapper and I can't wait to scrapbook that picture.
I created these two items for challenges at the Just4Keeps forum. Amber and I took that picture of ourselves on the ferry when we were going to Disney World when I visited her in December. We had so much fun.
I love using orange if you haven't been able to tell. This card was fun and fast. Except for the buttons it was completely made out of scraps. Even the white cardstock I used to make the card base was a scrap that was laying on my desk.
Now for those of you who read my blog to see what is going on with Levi and not just to see what creative exploits I have been up to. Levi had a rough week last week. He was really fussy and would get himself worked up and start breathing funny. I was not very excited about this and we had to have a couple extra visits from his nurse. But after getting some medicine in him and a little extra loving he was back to normal by the weekend. Thank goodness. He still is getting me up a couple times during the night, but I think I can learn to live with that. Here is a sweet pic of him Sunday at church. He is wearing an adorable t-shirt my friend Peta made him. I think he looks rather dapper and I can't wait to scrapbook that picture.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Fresh Strawberry Cake
With spring starting strawberry prices are great and this makes me happy because I love strawberries. With that in mind Steven and I made this amazing cake last night for our friends Brent and Marybeth. It was so stinkin good I just had to share. I found the recipe in a church cookbook from Arkoma First Baptist Church. It is my friend Sarah's grandma's recipe. Got love recipes that get their start like that.
Fresh Strawberry Cake
1 box white cake mix
1 box strawberry jello
1 cup oil (we used applesauce)
4 eggs
1 big cup crushed fresh strawberries
Mix all ingredients well and bake at 350 for time said on cake box. (I actually had to cook the cake for 45 minutes)
Icing
1 lb powdered sugar
3/4 of a stick of butter
1/2 cup of crushed fresh strawberries
Mix icing ingredients well. Pour over cake while cake is still hot. Take fork and punch holes in cake and let icing soak in.
This recipe actually takes a pound of strawberries between the cake and the icing. We capped the strawberries and then mashed them with my potato masher.
This was so yummy. I am pretty sure they might serve this cake in heaven.
Enjoy!
Fresh Strawberry Cake
1 box white cake mix
1 box strawberry jello
1 cup oil (we used applesauce)
4 eggs
1 big cup crushed fresh strawberries
Mix all ingredients well and bake at 350 for time said on cake box. (I actually had to cook the cake for 45 minutes)
Icing
1 lb powdered sugar
3/4 of a stick of butter
1/2 cup of crushed fresh strawberries
Mix icing ingredients well. Pour over cake while cake is still hot. Take fork and punch holes in cake and let icing soak in.
This recipe actually takes a pound of strawberries between the cake and the icing. We capped the strawberries and then mashed them with my potato masher.
This was so yummy. I am pretty sure they might serve this cake in heaven.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Happy Easter
Well, I hope everyone had a great Easter. We had a lot of fun. My parents came up to visit and brought my nephew Logan. Unfortunately, they did not get here in time to go to the Easter Egg hunt at church so Logan had his own personal egg hunt in our front yard. Uncle Steven hid the eggs and then Logan went to town hunting. He is so sweet, he took all the candy and put it in my candy dish so he could share. He isn't really much of a candy eater. He prefers tomatoes (I am not joking).
Sunday morning we all went to church together. Levi wore his overalls Miss Marie got him for Christmas and his new cowboy boots. He did not wear the cowboy had to church. It would have been hard to get that hat in his car seat. We just borrowed it for the picture. He is pretty stinkin cute isn't he.
Here is a close up of the boots.
Hope everyone else had an equally great weekend. I should be off to pick up my house. We are having company for dinner this evening.
Sunday morning we all went to church together. Levi wore his overalls Miss Marie got him for Christmas and his new cowboy boots. He did not wear the cowboy had to church. It would have been hard to get that hat in his car seat. We just borrowed it for the picture. He is pretty stinkin cute isn't he.
Here is a close up of the boots.
Hope everyone else had an equally great weekend. I should be off to pick up my house. We are having company for dinner this evening.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
4-1-09
Well we are busy busy busy around here. Can't wait for Easter. That is our coming out date, by that I mean when Levi and I start getting to come out of the house. I still don't take him out tons of places because it is hard and he is getting heavy to lug around, but we will get to start going to church on Sunday mornings again. I am so excited about that. He has a super cute little overall outfit our friend Marie gave Levi for Christmas that he is going to wear with his new cowboy boots. Yes I will definitely take some pictures so everyone can see how super cute he is. He is starting to look like a little boy and not a baby anymore. :(
I have been doing a little crafty stuff here and there as usual. I finally finished the cart cover I was making for my niece so I feel free to do other projects now. I haven't figured out a good way to photograph the cart cover yet, when I do I will post a picture. I have been working on that thing forever it feels like.
Here is one of the cards I made for the Hippity Hop Easter class from Lisa Pace's blog
Around Christmas I picked up a new hobby, making jewelry. I wanted to make a few pieces for Christmas gifts. Now I am hooked. I have decided I like doing just about any craft project that I can finish in a couple hours. This is a bracelet I made for a friend's birthday. I am loving the pink and green color combo lately, as you can tell from my current blog colors.
I have been doing a little crafty stuff here and there as usual. I finally finished the cart cover I was making for my niece so I feel free to do other projects now. I haven't figured out a good way to photograph the cart cover yet, when I do I will post a picture. I have been working on that thing forever it feels like.
Here is one of the cards I made for the Hippity Hop Easter class from Lisa Pace's blog
Steven thought I was silly with my sentiment, but I thought it was clever. Her stuff is so cute and fun to make.
This is a gift box I made. It is so simple and turns out so cute. You can get the template at the Got Crafts blog. I will definitely be making more of these. This one had a gift card in it for Steven's grandpa. His birthday was last week.
Around Christmas I picked up a new hobby, making jewelry. I wanted to make a few pieces for Christmas gifts. Now I am hooked. I have decided I like doing just about any craft project that I can finish in a couple hours. This is a bracelet I made for a friend's birthday. I am loving the pink and green color combo lately, as you can tell from my current blog colors.
I have a couple other things I have worked on, but they are either not finished or I just haven't taken a picture yet. We'll save those for another blog post. I did want to share a cool site I found the other day. It is called Simple Mom and she has some cool stuff on there. I was really impressed with her menu for the entire month of April and loved the discussion she posted about Facebook. Cool stuff, you should check it out.
I feel bad for leaving Steven out of my posts, but he is just up to his normal this time of year, getting ready for the Easter program at church. They always do such a great job with this program and I love that it is broken up in parts. It is kind of like a mini-series. Levi and I will be there with bells on. You should come too!
Well I should go get around and get started on the things I need to get done today.
Hope you have a fabulous day!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Baby's First Shoes
I did it! I finally found a pair of shoes I think Levi can wear. You have no idea how hard it has been for me to not be able to buy my baby shoes. I love shoes, but they are so rigid usually that you can't get them on his crooked little feet. So this week I orderd these for him this week from the Curious Workmanship Etsy shop I found.
Aren't they adorable. I love Etsy. You can find just about anything there. You can see on the right some of the things I have seen there that I think are super cool.
Other happenings at our house. I signed up to take another online crafting class. Lisa Pace is teaching one called Hippity Hop Easter Workshop. You should check out her blog. There is some cute stinkin stuff on there. I will post some of the projects I do as soon as I get some time to work on them.
As for Steven. I know I rarely talk about what is going on with him. Right now he is out in the living room playing Burnout Paradise and listening to the basketball games. Our internet has been acting up lately and so he has been spending some time getting that fixed. So here is to hoping the internet doesn't shut down in the middle of me posting this.
Well I guess I am off now. I am hosting a Scentsy party this evening so I should go finish getting ready for that.
Hope you are having a great weekend.
Aren't they adorable. I love Etsy. You can find just about anything there. You can see on the right some of the things I have seen there that I think are super cool.Other happenings at our house. I signed up to take another online crafting class. Lisa Pace is teaching one called Hippity Hop Easter Workshop. You should check out her blog. There is some cute stinkin stuff on there. I will post some of the projects I do as soon as I get some time to work on them.
As for Steven. I know I rarely talk about what is going on with him. Right now he is out in the living room playing Burnout Paradise and listening to the basketball games. Our internet has been acting up lately and so he has been spending some time getting that fixed. So here is to hoping the internet doesn't shut down in the middle of me posting this.
Well I guess I am off now. I am hosting a Scentsy party this evening so I should go finish getting ready for that.
Hope you are having a great weekend.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day
OK so just a quick post before I go hit the shower and get my day started. (Yes I know what time it is.) My friend Brent posted this hilarious song on his blog this morning . You have got to go check it out. I was laughing so hard.
Well, I am off. I have tons of phone calls to make and a house in terrible need of a good cleaning.
Have a great day.
Well, I am off. I have tons of phone calls to make and a house in terrible need of a good cleaning.
Have a great day.
Monday, March 16, 2009
I know! I am going to have to start updating my blog more than once a month. I did update my header banner.
Let's see, what have I been up to the past few weeks.
I made these muffins for a friend's birthday. They were so good and I substituted applesauce for the oil and that makes them really healthy as well.
Orange Almond Streusel Muffins
Streusel Topping
1 tablespoon Original Bisquick® mix
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Muffins
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with shortening or cooking spray, or line muffin cups with paper baking cups. In medium bowl, mix 1 tablespoon Bisquick mix, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 tablespoons almonds. With fork, cut in butter until crumbly. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, mix orange peel, orange juice, 1/3 cup brown sugar, the oil, almond extract and egg. Stir in 2 cups Bisquick mix just until moistened. Stir in 1/4 cup almonds. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle with streusel topping.
3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase orange juice to 3/4 cup; decrease oil to 2 tablespoons. Bake 14 to 16 minutes.
I have done a few cards here and there and I made my friend Lisa a bracelet. Unfortunately I don't have time to post pics of everything right now because I have to to go run and take care of some Pampered Chef stuff. That is what I have been the most busy working on lately is Pampered Chef. I feel like I have shows all the time. Luckily none this week just stuff to deliver.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Let's see, what have I been up to the past few weeks.
I made these muffins for a friend's birthday. They were so good and I substituted applesauce for the oil and that makes them really healthy as well.
Orange Almond Streusel Muffins
Streusel Topping
1 tablespoon Original Bisquick® mix
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
Muffins
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 egg
2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottoms only of 12 regular-size muffin cups with shortening or cooking spray, or line muffin cups with paper baking cups. In medium bowl, mix 1 tablespoon Bisquick mix, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 tablespoons almonds. With fork, cut in butter until crumbly. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, mix orange peel, orange juice, 1/3 cup brown sugar, the oil, almond extract and egg. Stir in 2 cups Bisquick mix just until moistened. Stir in 1/4 cup almonds. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Sprinkle with streusel topping.
3. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan to cooling rack. Serve warm.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase orange juice to 3/4 cup; decrease oil to 2 tablespoons. Bake 14 to 16 minutes.
I have done a few cards here and there and I made my friend Lisa a bracelet. Unfortunately I don't have time to post pics of everything right now because I have to to go run and take care of some Pampered Chef stuff. That is what I have been the most busy working on lately is Pampered Chef. I feel like I have shows all the time. Luckily none this week just stuff to deliver.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I'm still here
I just looked at the date of my last post, and I can't believe that much time has passed. Sorry! I have been trying to get my life more organized, so I have been trying to spend less time on the computer. It is amazing how much time the Internet can suck out of my day.
Well, Levi's cold did go away. He is doing great right now. He is currently hanging out in his room and we haven't heard a word out of him all day.
There really hasn't been very much going on lately. I have a lot of Pampered Chef shows this month so that is taking up a lot of my time right now.
I have also been helping with the Esther Bible study at church. That is a lot of fun and I am really enjoying meeting some new ladies and learning some new stuff out of the book of Esther.
I did find a blog and e-zine that I really like. It is called Sheetload. Once a month they publish a sketch and give you the cutting guide so you can make eight cards out of just a few pieces of paper and cardstock. I really like the versatility of their sketches. This is a card I did using their February sketch.
Well, Levi's cold did go away. He is doing great right now. He is currently hanging out in his room and we haven't heard a word out of him all day.
There really hasn't been very much going on lately. I have a lot of Pampered Chef shows this month so that is taking up a lot of my time right now.
I have also been helping with the Esther Bible study at church. That is a lot of fun and I am really enjoying meeting some new ladies and learning some new stuff out of the book of Esther.
I did find a blog and e-zine that I really like. It is called Sheetload. Once a month they publish a sketch and give you the cutting guide so you can make eight cards out of just a few pieces of paper and cardstock. I really like the versatility of their sketches. This is a card I did using their February sketch.
I haven't gotten much time to scrapbook or do much of anything crafty lately. I am still working on my niece's Christmas present. It is a good thing she is only five months old and doesn't know the difference. I will post pics when I finish it.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
1-29-09
Well it has been a while since I have had anything to write on here. Mostly because my life is just not that exciting. I still haven't gotten caught back up since Christmas. Crazy isn't it.
Levi has a cold right now. I am amazed at the incredible amount of snot coming out of his nose. Right now it is just a cold and not too big a deal. Say lots of prayers that it doesn't get any worse.
Today is mine and Steven's fourth wedding anniversary. So in honor of the day here is layout I did with one of our engagement pics a while back. It has definitely been a crazy four years.
Well I better put this computer away. We are going to go to dinner this evening to celebrate our anniversary. Charleston's - yum!
Levi has a cold right now. I am amazed at the incredible amount of snot coming out of his nose. Right now it is just a cold and not too big a deal. Say lots of prayers that it doesn't get any worse.
Today is mine and Steven's fourth wedding anniversary. So in honor of the day here is layout I did with one of our engagement pics a while back. It has definitely been a crazy four years.
Well I better put this computer away. We are going to go to dinner this evening to celebrate our anniversary. Charleston's - yum!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Big Buck Contest
Yes that is right, I am here to tell you about a Big Buck contest. My friend Sarah's husband shot a really big buck the week of Thanksgiving. He is now in a Big Buck contest and needs lots of votes. So go here http://www.4are.com/bigbuck/index2.php?g2_itemId=7 and vote for Ashley's deer. You just click on the stars to vote. He will be so excited if he wins so please help him out! He is very proud of that deer.
Doctor Appointment and Recipe
Levi had a check-up yesterday with his pediatrician. Everything was just fine. He gained two pounds and grew an inch in the last three months. That hasn't happened for a very long time. I guess the new food he is on is really agreeing with me. So thankful for no news.
Here is a recipe I wanted to share with you. I found this in the little cookbook that came with my crock pot.
Corn and Beans
1 tbs olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, diced (I used 2, we like spicy)
1 clove of garlic, minced (bust out your Pampered Chef garlic press)
2 cans (16 oz) light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag (16 oz) frozen corn
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
2 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
Heat oil in medium skillet. Add onion jalapeno peppers and garlic. Cook 5 minutes or until onion begins to soften. Add all ingredients (including onion mixture) to crock-pot. Cover and cook on low 7 to 8 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours.
Yummy! And you gotta love a good crock pot recipe. We had this as a side dish last night with meatloaf. But it would be super yummy served over rice as a vegetarian main dish. It makes a bunch too so it would also make a great pot luck dish.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Omnipresence
I was just reading a passage in the Bible (yes I read it) that reminded me of the omnipresence (I know that is a big word, but I do know a couple of those) of God. I was reading 2 Kings 5. In this passage Elisha heals Naaman of leprosy. Naaman tries to give Elisha a gift in return but Elisha refuses. Gehazi, Elisha's little helper, decides to make up a story and get Naaman to give him the gift. But, Elisha knows what he did and confronts him. Gehazi lies and said he didn't do anything and Elisha curses him with Naaman's leprosy. I was reminded that God always knows what we are doing, saying, and even thinking. Do I always want Him know those things about me? I really didn't want Him to know last week when I was cranky and acted ugly to Steven, or the times I skipped my quiet time, or when I called that guy a name when he was driving stupidly on the highway. But God does know those things. (Whoops!) He is omnipresent, always there. This is something I need to remember next time I am in a bad mood, lazy, or irritable. Do I want God to know what I am doing, saying, and thinking during those times. Makes me stop and think. It also makes me thank God for mercy and forgiveness.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
1-3-2008
Oh my head is still spinning from all the activity the last couple of weeks. Or maybe that is the head cold I have. Either way life has been busy.
Christmas was great this year. I don't have the finger strength to list out all the great things we received. Levi got tons of little outfits and diapers. You can never have too many diapers. Steven got enough Starbucks gift cards to last him the entire year. He also got a couple of games we can't wait to play, The Office trivia game and Star Wars Monopoly. Those could make for some fun family time around our house. A couple of my favorites are my Ott Lite and my new Viva Pinata game.
I went to Arkansas to see my family on Christmas Day. It was so good to see everyone. I had not been back since Levi was born. All the kids were so big and there were a few new ones (kids that is). Then Christmas night I took my nephew, Logan, to see Bedtime Stories. We had a great time and the movie was super cute. It had all the crazy Adam Sandler humor without the profanity or crude jokes that are in a lot of his movies. I totally recommend it.
Then of course I started coming down with something while I was there. So sure enough when I got home I started throwing up. So I was totally missing Levi and I had to steer clear of him until my stomach bug cleared up. As soon as I was better though I spent some time cuddling my little booger bear. He is such a good cuddler.
New Year's Day Steven stayed home with Levi and watched football while I went to Just 4 Keeps to scrapbook all day. (As well as scrapbooking with one of the ladies from my church on Friday night). Here are a few of the things I got done.
Christmas was great this year. I don't have the finger strength to list out all the great things we received. Levi got tons of little outfits and diapers. You can never have too many diapers. Steven got enough Starbucks gift cards to last him the entire year. He also got a couple of games we can't wait to play, The Office trivia game and Star Wars Monopoly. Those could make for some fun family time around our house. A couple of my favorites are my Ott Lite and my new Viva Pinata game.
I went to Arkansas to see my family on Christmas Day. It was so good to see everyone. I had not been back since Levi was born. All the kids were so big and there were a few new ones (kids that is). Then Christmas night I took my nephew, Logan, to see Bedtime Stories. We had a great time and the movie was super cute. It had all the crazy Adam Sandler humor without the profanity or crude jokes that are in a lot of his movies. I totally recommend it.
Then of course I started coming down with something while I was there. So sure enough when I got home I started throwing up. So I was totally missing Levi and I had to steer clear of him until my stomach bug cleared up. As soon as I was better though I spent some time cuddling my little booger bear. He is such a good cuddler.
New Year's Day Steven stayed home with Levi and watched football while I went to Just 4 Keeps to scrapbook all day. (As well as scrapbooking with one of the ladies from my church on Friday night). Here are a few of the things I got done.
This is a layout I did from when my friend Sarah and her family came up right before Thanksgiving. Her daughter Hannah was so sweet with Levi. She was like a little mama. The journaling on the layout reads "Hannah would have taken care of Levi all day. She would talk to him, cuddle him, and give him little kisses on his head. When she wasn't holding him she would make sure to go check on him in his room every few minutes. It was so sweet."
Here is one of the birthday cars I made. I got all my cards done for January, so now I just need to remember to send them out on time.
This is the calendar I made to hang in our kitchen. The wording on the top reads "Lucky to have each other."
Well that is just a few of the things we have been up to lately. So much for starting off 2009 at a slower pace than 2008.
Hope your New Year has started off great.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
