Six Word Saturday

KNITTING LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW!!!!

Actually, there isn't.... why? I have a baby shower tomorrow & I started a baby blanket about a week ago.... so I've been knitting like CRAZY to finish it up. Coming down to the wire. I actually knitted last night for 4 hrs straight - literally & seriously... I didnt move off the couch - had my Diet coke next to me - had my TV on a movie channel & went through two movies! The first was "To Die For" with Nicole Kidman.... forgot how weird that movie was. The second - "Firestarter" with my fav, Drew Barrymore. Never saw it - but had to laugh at how stupid the movie was. WOW - the effects of the 70's were pitiful!

But the whole time - fingers didnt stop!!! I was going to try & stay up until I was finished but my hands were like claws.... & it was 1;00 am anyways....

So today - I have already knocked out about 25 rows... only have about 30 more & I'm finished!!!

Pictures will be coming - dont wanna give anything away until new momma gets it tomorrow!

Happy Saturday!!!

I'm a Great-Aunt!

Wait... you're wondering how the cute little 4 yr old twins made me a great aunt. Well, they became "mommies"... & here are their new babies....

Say hello to Madi's baby boy - Tommie (which is named after my dad - her Papaw!)

And hello to Sophia's baby boy - Charlie

They are so tiny... one is just over 3 lbs - the other just over 2 lbs.... but these girls are in LOVE! Madi saw Tommie the first time a couple of weeks ago & she was in tears to leave him. My brother video taped their conversation... I was laughing so hard at it.

Madi couldnt catch her breath as she had puffy eyes & said "He looked me right in the eyes ... & I... Love... him!!!!!" (the .... are code for sobs of breath in between words... it was pitiful!) She told her mom & dad they "just didnt understand because they didnt hold him".... yep - good ole mom & dad gave in & got Tommie for her.

& Sophia couldnt be left out either.... she got her little Puggle

I dont know if these babies have been on their feet for more then 30 minutes a day - the girls are too busy holding them. But they already know where the comfy place to sleep is at.... can we say "Spoiled puppies"? (See them both in each of their laps sleeping?... isnt that adorable!)


The dog count in our immediate family with my 4 & now my brothers 2 .... we've almost got more 4 legged family members then 2!!!!

Keep Reaching!!!

Every year for the past few years, my dad & now, along with my nieces, they come over & plant me some sun flowers. I LOVE Sunflowers! One year, I harvested all the sunflower seeds & cooked them - YUM! Plus, I just love to watch how big they grow... this is from a few years ago! & YES - those are my nieces UNDER the massive leaves... & YES - that sunflower almost is at roof level!!!!
Well, this year, we've had some MAJOR storms come through & our poor little sunflowers took a big hit. The winds have been pretty strong with these storms & knocked my poor babies down...



I came home today though & walked up the drive way & glanced over to the sunflowers..... what do I see - about 15 stems reaching STRAIGHT UP.... Reaching for the sun! Stems that are keeping on at surviving!!! (The shot doesnt really show how straight & how UP they are!)



We counted on one of the stems at least 15... on the other sun flower on the other side, the same thing... stems not giving up....buds that are going to open & take in the sun & be just as beautiful as if it were standing. (Here's an overhead view of thew new buds)




WOW.... what a reminder... when we're knocked down in the storms of life... KEEP REACHING... dont ever give up... BLOOM where you are at!!!!! You can still be the beautiful creation God created!

Where did the good stores go?

Ricky & I had a "flashback" of sorts the other day talking about stores that we used to go to all the time when we were little.... it's so funny when we would remember them.

The first one that comes to mind is TG&Y... anyone else remember that one? There used to be one down a few streets away from our house. My mom & I would go probably DAILY to just look around. It was just a normal 5 & 10 cent store... but it was just fun to shop around. When it went out of business - I think my mom & I went into mourning for quite awhile! And TG&Y wasn't playing around... I remember one time, they had ROBIN from the Batman TV show come in & sign autographs! How funny is that! I think we still have it somewhere! I can also remember getting those great Halloween costumes there that had the hard plastic faces that you couldnt breath out of .... aahh - memories!

Anyone else remember Zayre's? It was like the Target of the day! As a matter of fact, our Target went into the same building Zayre's was in... is it the same business with just a name change? Hmmm - gotta look into that! But look at this sales ad from there... I cracked up when I saw this because I HAVE that tree house! STILL!!! The twins will play with it at my parents house! Talk about a MAJOR flashback right there!

And who else remembers Bacon's????? This was the Kohl's of the day! My grandma would take me there every year before school & load me up for school clothes & every summer we'd go there & get EA (Etienne Aigner) Sandals - nothing else would do for her... it had to be that brand of purse & shoes for her.

And they were the store that would have a "Midnight Madness" & it truly was! It was the first time I would go shopping that late & cars would be PILED down streets & there were limits with how many people could get in due to fire codes... it was crazy shopping before crazy shopping existed! The event only happened like twice a year & I can still remember going with my parents & grandmother like it was yesterday!

Do you all remember any of these stores? What stores did you shop at when you were younger that's not around anymore?

What I learned...

So I got to teach again this week & wow... I love this story in the Bible... the story of the woman who was a "sinner" & came & anointed Jesus feet & wept & washed those precious feet with her hair...

Some of the points I shared, which I think every person can tuck into their "heart box" - that's what I've been telling the kids - they may not have the "big" sins in their lives yet being Jr. Higher's - but when that day comes - & ohhh, they will!!! - they can pull this file out of their heart box & remember....

This woman walked in & there was Simon & everyone staring at her... they knew she probably wasnt the most upstanding citizen of the area... did she care? Nope!

Did she hear Simon say to himself (Luke 7:39) that this woman is a sinner?

I put that out to the kids - what do you do if you hear someone talking about you? I aint going to lie - if I heard someone saying something about me - I'll do two things - probably leave or confront! This woman had every right to forget why she was there & get all "finger in the face" telling off right there to Simon - but it didnt deter her one bit!

And THEN... even worse - she weeped & let the tears wash Jesus' feet! I say even worse, because when someone is looking down on you or making fun of you - isnt that the LAST thing you want to do is CRY in front of them? This woman, once again just shows she is not there for anything else but to show her love for Jesus... wow!

Tears....I guess sometimes tears are the only words you have left!!!!

No talking back to anyone in that room - no making excuses for who she was - she was a woman who wanted to show Jesus how much he meant to her.

Then she gets to hear the words out of the mouth of the ONE who mattered

"Your sins are forgiven ... Your faith has saved you... go in peace" (vs 48, 50)

I want to be that person - who doesnt let anything deter me from going to Jesus feet & showing him how much I love him... so he can tell me that I'm forgiven...

Yes - sometimes tears ARE the only words you have left after a moment like that....

Me & Steven Curtis Chapman.... sorta!

So Women of Faith is over for another year.... & I am exhausted... but excited... it was another year full of awesome-ness!

Patsy Clairmont & her amazing speaking - Lisa Welchel from Facts of Life & her insight on growing up fast in a world on her own - Sheila Walsh & her honest story of her & her husbands real life situation - Mandisa & her amazing testimony & her INCREDIBLE voice (this girl just got to me...I'm totally a Mandisa fan now!)... & the other speakers were fantastic...but I know - you all want to know if I accomplished my goal...

Did I get to get my picture with Steven Curtis Chapman?

Well - let me tell you - He was playing Friday night! His wife, Mary Beth was there, along with the two little girls & I knew instantly, he was going to be going home with them & he wouldnt be staying for the next day.

So our seats were PERFECT this year - right on the floor but up slightly on the side- WONDERFUL seats.... & Steven started singing & telling his story & I knew I had to do something - SOMETHING - to get a picture with him... I leaned over to my friend Carly & asked if I ran down on the floor, would she be willing to take a picture... she was nervous, but I had to pump up her "Mischief Meter" & she's in.... so low & behold... this is what we got!!!!

Yes - that is me & Stephen Curtis Chapman in the SAME PICTURE!!! Good enough for me! HAHAHA!!!!

It was fun though because all the people down on those front rows watching me run down & do this were cracking up at me... You cant see my face, but I'm pointing & making a face like "OH MY GOSH!"... at least I made some people laugh for the day!

And I was right - Steven didnt stay after this night - & he did no autograph sessions - so I'm glad I did what I did that night... I'll take what I can get!

But the weekend was just fantastic....

Rode up with my buddy Lynn & her daughters, Carly & Rachel & Chandra... had to make a lunch stop at Micky D's & picked up a new friend, Pico... (Hey - if any of you get the Beanie Baby Lamb - remember your knitting friend Rebecca Jo! I'm trying to get him! My Sister-friend Lynn even went up & asked if she could trade her's for a lamb... sigh... no lamb!)

Going into the conference with Lynn & her girls - love all these sweet souls in this picture!

Friday was awesome with Patsy & Steven - then we got to go out to eat at Cheeseburger Paradise... Look at my cute little mini burgers next to a regular size burger... I said it makes it look like a MONSTER BURGER!

Saturday was just full of great speakers, music & God's Spirit filling the room... & it was full of exactly what I knew it would be - laughter, tears, laughter, tears, laughter... Its crazy how you can be laughing at something & immediately be touched where your heart just sobs... that just reflects how these ladies do such a good job at reaching out to others with their words...

Another wonderful year.... the exhaustion is all worth it.... Lauren, you are going to LOVE it - Heather, you HAVE to go with us next year... & all you other ladies, I totally recommend if Women of Faith ever comes around - take the time for yourself... you'll leave blessed & refreshed...

Steven Curtis Chapman... here I come!!!

So I had to stop in the middle of packing to wish you all a great weekend!

Where am I headed off to? With over thousands of women to worship God & to laugh & to cry & to laugh again....

Headed out with friends to shop at outlet malls on the way & then so excited that Women of Faith is FINALLY here!!!

And yep - my mission.... I want to get my picture with Steven Curtis Chapman!!!! They come out to a booth at certain times for autographs & pictures... I'll go out an hour early if I have too! I just want to tell him how much he's meant to me over the YEARS..... & I mean YEARS!!!!!

So wish me luck!!!

Home Made Detergent!

OK - so Julie is the "Natural Queen"... she has been having Isaac in cloth diapers since he was born - she had pureed his food & made all natural food for him since he could eat... she is a scientist & knows all the results of chemicals in products. So just the small amount she's told me - I can only handle small amounts because my freak out level is high - has me intrigued.

So she sent me the "ingredients" to make your own detergent at home.

And let me tell you - it was SIMPLE!!!! I'm going to copy exactly what she sent me so you can see how simple it is....

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Laundry Detergent - Only 3 ingredients!! See the link I added below for pictures of the ingredients so you know what to look for.
http://aikoarts.blogspot.com/2009/02/cloth-diaper-laundry-soap-recipe.html (the second recipe, after the cloth diaper one)

1 bar of soap - I use Dr. Bronner's castille soap bar (Target carries this near beauty products - look for organic stuff like Burt's Bees, it will be near that), but you can find laundry soap bars sometimes in the laundry aisle if you look really hard, not all stores carry it. Popular brands are Fels-Naptha (I found this at Kroger) and Zote (our Target used to carry this but they don't anymore). This was the hardest thing for me to find. But I'm starting to see Dr. Bronner's bar soap most places. You can also use plain Ivory or Dove.

1/2 Cup Borax - I had never heard of this before, but turns out they carry it nearly everywhere in the laundry section. It's in a box, the only brand I've seen is 20-Mule Team. I've seen it at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target, and Home Depot.

1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (this is not baking soda) - this was a bit harder to find. Our grocery carries it and I've seen it at Kroger too in the laundry aisle usually next to the Borax.

1/4 cup Oxiclean Free (Optional) - This is just for extra cleaning power. There are other cheaper store brands too. All stores carry this in laundry aisle.

Use a cheese grater to grate the entire bar of soap, or you can slice it thinly and process in a food processor to get a fine powder. Mix with the borax and washing soda and Oxiclean, if using. Use ONLY 1 tablespoon per load! It seems like so little, but it works. And it will last forever. You can use up to 2 tablespoons for really large loads or really dirty loads.

Now, with this recipe, your clothes are not going to have that strong fragrance smell you are used to from store bought detergents. They will just smell clean, not fragrant. They are very clean, just not strong smells. That may bother some people who love strong fragrances and assoiciate that with cleanliness, but not me. Also, this recipe is so good for your washer. Also works with high-efficiency washers. It will clean out calcium deposits and detergent scum in your washing machine.

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Easy enough - huh? So I went to the our local, little grocery & they had all the ingredients! Here they are... & I am even more ready to go natural on other products. I picked up with White Vinegar - Julie told me I can use 1/2 cup for fabric softner!!! & to make cleaning products with that too... & Arm & Hammer... I've heard that stuff does miracles too...

And all the products didnt even cost that much - the most expensive was the OxyClean - but Kroger or Wal-mart has a generic brand that works just as good... if they had a generic brand, I would have used it...

The hardest thing for me was grating the soap.... I'll probably invest in a cheap grader so I dont have to do it by hand...

But I went ahead & made up two batches & filled up a container - & immediately went & did a load of laundry.... just needed the one Tablespoon... isnt' that cool! That container should last such a long time! And I have all the ingredients to whip up some more... just need to pick up another bar of soap....

I know that the savings is going to add up QUICK with this!!!! And for it to be natural - & good for your clothes, the machine & no chemicals added - SWEETNESS!!!!!

Give it a try....let me know what you think... & remember, if I can do it - ANYBODY can do it!

& if Julie has any more good stuff - I'll pass it on.....

What I learned...

I got to do the same lesson twice - once for the Jr. Highers & once for the Sr. Highers.... I could tell God's hand was on top of this both times... the lesson - "Do others see Christ in you?"

I started out talking about the Magic Mirror in Snow White - after all, who would I be without bringing in a Princess into the story? Its my style... but what was the unique thing about the mirror - it told the truth - no matter what! It told the queen she was the fairest & she was happy... but when Snow White came along, what happened - the queen found out the TRUTH - she was NOT the fairest anymore... & she was TICKED!!!! And that's the point - the mirror can show the TRUTH & the truth is not always fun.

When we accept Christ, there should be a change in your life. Something that shows that you now are a follower of Jesus - & in doing that - you should show LESS earthly things & MORE fruits of the Spirit. There are TONS of scriptures in the Bible that talks about how we are to act - how we are to behave - how we are to BE more Christ-like. And yes, we will NEVER be perfect & we should never act like we are - because that just causes hypocrisies - but we can be loving, joyful, honest, caring, giving, peaceful - things that draw people in to wanting to know where we get the source of these things.

Dont you know those people you have crossed that just SHINE Jesus? You can see Jesus all over them? You know the difference then in what I'm talking about - you know they are not perfect - but you can feel the love they exude... & these kids need to know that they can have that same effect... the differences they can make NOW by making a change in their life & showing Christ to others....

Do actions speak louder then words? If your actions are not portraying something that others want - then you'll never get a chance to SHARE your WORDS!!!! So actions & words really go together...

And we talked about about the statement - "You may be the only Jesus others may ever see"... but how about this statement - "You may be the only Bible people ever read".... & let me ask you - can you "read" people? Oh mercy - I can totally read people... there is a discernment that is involved - but yes, people CAN read others... what are they "reading" when they see you?

So yes, this is one of the reasons I feel like God was on this message... I went out & bought mirrors for the class - Jr. High first... I just went in & bought all the mirrors the store had... I bought 11 mirrors... get into class - how many students? ELEVEN!!!

And again - the next week, went into the store, bought all the mirrors they had - 16... guess how many students I had... yep - SIXTEEN!!!! It literally made me laugh at things God does to once again show me He's with me in these lessons...

But they all got a mirror & I had them right Jesus on the top & their name on the bottom... the goal - to just look in the mirror every morning & start your day off by asking

"Who will they see today - me or Jesus?"... what a way to start a morning...

And again - to throw my own style... I had to throw in Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror"... some good words in that song if you get a chance to listen...

I have my own mirror... I want to leave this world with people not remembering the earthly things I messed up at .... but I want them to see Christ in me more each day...how about you? Who do they see?

Look alikes?

Yes, I told you all that I look like Rachel McAdams... (Are you STILL laughing about that?)... oh well.. maybe not... but a friend sent me some of these & some of them are pretty funny... so have a good laugh! Which one do you think most looks alike?

See - Its not really offensive to be called a TROLL! Its a DOLL afterall!

Is this the 5th Beatle? Can Yassar ROCK OUT?

AAAHHH - I even like the names - Dalai Lama - Happy Llama... he may not look so much like a Sad or Mad Llama...

Look at the names on this one too - cracked me up.... that is one funky looking picture!

This one makes me sad... I love Clay Aiken & all this singing chops. Now, I just have images of him killing Rueben to take the title.... or maybe even Simon Cowell....



Its even missing its nose too!

Yipee - a DWTS alumni!!! Holy Cow - they do look alike! I like how it has to be the "Malibu" Ken... is the spray tanning Derek does have anything to do with that?


...I feel the need to go get some collagan injections in my lips....right now....


I just wonder if John Kerry has that same great laugh at Herman did! Does he flap his arms like that when he laughs too? Wouldnt that be great if he did!!!

OK - I have a problem with this one... I gotta add someone else in this mix...



NO - Not Julie... RICKY! My Husband!!!! I have ALWAYS said he looks like James Hetfield from Metallica... He seriously does... Ricky doesnt like his picture taken, but if you could see the close up of Ricky's face, even his facial features are similar!

And my mom - being the Wizard of Oz freak she is - ALWAYS has said Ricky is her own Cowardly Lion... at a WOZ play one time, Ricky got his picture taken with the lion - its great - their hair was exactly the same.... so yep - that's my favorite look - alike!

Who do you look like?

THE VIGIL

I got an email the other day from the nicest lady at Simon & Shuster, the publishing company, asking me about looking at a book & discussing it. So of course, I'm all up for a good story & Ester immediately put it in the mail for me.

Now I'll admit, I was a little nervous because I'm sorta picky about my books. I'm not a Danielle Steele type of reader - I do like a love story, but not the "gushy" or "unreal" sorta stuff - the kind where the man dies in a horrible accident, she remarries, he dies, they she finds the true love of her life... no thank you...& no offense if you do like her stuff... its just not for me....

And I really like to read stories that are just good, clean stories - stories that seem possible - stories that can take me in - make me feel the emotions of the characters.... this book did ALL of that!

The book was "The Vigil" by Cecilia Samartin. I had never read any of her books before - but after this story, I think I'll have to check her out.

The story is about a young lady named Ana. The story finds her sitting at the side of her husbands death bed. Ana reflects over her life - & wow, what a life she had. The story goes from her childhood & the terrifying years she lived in El Salvador, to her call to be a nun & her life in the convent, to her direction of being a nanny for a family, to the sacrifices she makes for the well being of everyone else.

I will say too - the story moves so quickly too - there were no "slow" periods - it was constantly moving enough to keep you interested & to see the next phase of Ana's life.

The relationship Ana has with a special Sister in her life - to the relationship she has with the kids that she is the nanny of - to the relationships she has with the children's parents... its all so believable & real & I just appreciated Ana's character in this book. And by "character" - I mean, the person she's made out to be.... her values & the character of who she is...

I will say - & you all know this about me - I am a sap & there were times I did tear up.... times I did laugh & times I was surprised... the end totally had me GASP... but not giving anything away here....

So do I recommend the book.... Yep - would totally recommend it. Especially if you just like good story telling & just an easy, relaxed reading. I think you too would love Ana....

Six Word Saturday

GOD SPEAKING ONCE AGAIN THROUGH YARN!!!!

I'm sitting here trying to unravel a skein of yarn that I got... wanna get started on my Hermione Hat...

Well, this is coming together nice & neat....

But then, it gets tangled... & its a mess!!!!

I've been sitting here trying to find the knots, trying to unravel all the loops - its taking TIME & is pain staking, & frustrating...

But then I found the other end...

I figure that I can pull that end out & maneuver it around the knots a lot easier.... I'm making progress...

WOW - as I sat & looked at the nicely wrapped part on the "spinner" (not the knitting technical term by the way) - I thought of how life can go so smoothly, just spin perfectly & knot-free...

But then, it can get raveled up - especially because I was doing this on my own...

If someone was there to hold my yarn out, like the old pictures always show - with someone holding their arms out & the yarn wrapped around their arms - then it would have rolled must easier - it wouldn't have knotted so much....

And finding the end piece & starting that way is going to be my savior in this mess...

WOW - for me, as a Christian, I believe God is the end result - spending Eternity with Him.... & how going to Him can get me out of a mess...

Love when God speaks to my heart through yarn!