I Admit It... I Have An Addiction

To making these.... checkbook covers!
The cool thing about these covers is that there is a little pocket for your pen on the front.
No more digging around in your purse or asking the cashier for a pen...
it's right there.... handy, isn't it?

I got the free pattern and instructions from here.
This one is going to someone special for a gift.

Here are the other 2 I've made.

They are so quick and easy!

The bottom one is for a friend and the other one....... well, of course, it's for my checkbook!

I also sewed up some scrappy bookmarks yesterday. Just for the fun of it.

Narnia-Like, Good Reads

SEVEN SLEEPERS... THE LOST CHRONICLES BY GILBERT MORRIS

If you and/or your children enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia, you would probably like this series.
I came across them at the Goodwill outlet and snatched them up. I have read other books by Gilbert Morris and really like him as an author.

This series is alot like the Narnia series in that they are fantasy. With strange creatures, battles, fight between good and evil, morals and values throughout.

The recommendation is for 10-14 year olds. I believe that boys and girls would like this series.
Excellent read-aloud material. My boys and I have been going through these books and they love them. (I have to admit that I have a hard time putting it down at bed time, also.)

We didn't know it when I bought this series, but there is the original Seven Sleepers series that came before The Lost Chronicles. I'm sure we will eventually read the first series also. But the nice thing is that the Lost Chronicles stands on its own without having to read the first set. Does that make sense?

Some other Gilbert Morris series for kids that we want to find....
--Dixie Morris Animal Adventures
--Bonnets and Bugles Series

I've personally been reading an old Nancy Drew Mystery from 1960. Why are our kids reading the garbage that is in school libraries today when there are wholesome, fun to read, exciting books available?
I mean, really, Nancy Drew, finds herself in some precarious situations. She doesn't cuss, she has morals, she dresses and acts like a lady, and she respects adults.
Hmmmm.... maybe our kids should be reading these type of books instead of books that exalt witches, voodoo, disrespectful children, broken families, boyfriend/girlfriends in inappropriate relationships, vampires............
In my opinion.

So pick up a good book today. Read to your children. Find a book or series that is exciting and good for the whole family.
It's fun!

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are admirable, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things."---- Philippians 4:8

Random Thoughts from the Week

It's been a week since I last posted. That doesn't mean that there hasn't been anything going on around here.......





We've been preparing for an upcoming 4-H photography contest that the boys are entering. So we have spent some time sorting through photo files to choose which ones they would like to enter.
This is one that Bear has chosen to enter into the animal category.........

Ryan has yet to decide. He has some great shots of Lindsey that he'll probably enter in the people category. Still deciding.

The boys have also been completing the Foods and Nutrition Unit for 4-H. They both love to cook and bake.

I believe it is so important to teach these "life" skills to our children.

Here is Ryan preparing a sausage and egg breakfast casserole........

We have had some beautiful weather mixed in with rainy days. The minute the sun peeks it's face out from behind clouds, we head outside to enjoy it.
Kyle, Lindsey and I took a hike (about 3 or 3.5 mile round trip) up the logging road near our house. I didn't think that Lindsey's little legs would be able to make it up the steep hill to the very top.
But with a few rest stops, she did it!!!!


I'll be so sad when those chubby baby dimples are gone...........
(she was showing me the quartz rock she found)

This was on the way up........... a little break.......

Check it out!!!!!!! At the very top!....................

Relaxing in the setting sun before heading back down the hill.............

Then yesterday, Bear and I took a 5 mile hike. It felt so good to be out and to visit with him one on one.

It sprinkled on us a bit, but that was ok.

Other news from our house..........

I attended the school board meeting last week. Our principal/administrator is retiring and I was curious about how they would be hiring a new one.

As some of you know, I've not been happy with our current principal. I've been praying alot about what to do with my kids' education.

Well, I was chosen as 1 of 10 people to be on the Applicant Screening Committee to hire our next principal. I'm excited to be a part of this and to have a say in who is hired!

And of course, basketball, basketball, and more basketball.

There is always some kind of sport mixed into our weekly activities.

So, that's what we've been up to.

God bless you all!

Changes

Ken and I were looking through our high school yearbooks the other day and it suddenly dawned on me that I don't look like I did when I was 16! Imagine that!
I've changed.......... Ok, I'll admit......
I've AGED!

So I thought I'd go back in time and see the changes that have occured.

Here I am at 5 months old with my Grandma...........

And then at 2 years old (I look like I was caught doing something I wasn't supposed to)..........

My baptism at age 12................

15 years old with my little sister, Jordan (who will be 20 years old in a couple of weeks!!)........

Had to throw one in of my handsome football player back in 1991 (can you see why I married him?).............

1992, High School graduation................

A big family group picture. I'm holding the baby (Ryan was 1 month old).. Ken is right behind me............

Our 10th anniversary cruise to Mexico in 2004................

And me only a year ago holding my niece....................

WOW!!! I've changed (aged) just a tad bit!

But, you know, I'm ok with that. I've had a blessed life so far.

Raised by wonderful, Christian parents.

I've always known that I'm loved.

I've never gone to bed hungry or scared.

God has blessed me beyond compare. He has provided all my needs.

Yes, I've messed up (plenty of times!) but He has always been a constant in my life.

And, sure, I have wrinkles and sags and rolls and other tell-tale signs of being 35.

This is a good place to be.

Raising my family.

Married to my love.

Trusting in God every day.

Looking forward to the next 35 years.

She's The Cutest!

My niece turned One last week! She is absolutely the cutest, sweetest little thing you've ever seen!
Here she is with her mommy and daddy.........

Check out those soft curls!.......

Cover Girl's next model!.......

Happy Birthday Amaris! We love you, Sweetie!

One Nation........ UNDER GOD

If you have even one single patriotic bone in your body....... read this.

If you want to teach your kids about how our country actually began....... read this.

If you are tired of school history books leaving out the truth..... read this.

If you are interested in stories of God's provisions in this land.... read this.

"We have this day restored the Sovereign,

to Whom alone men ought to be obedient.

He reigns in heaven and...

from the rising to the setting sun,

may His Kingdom come."

-- from a speech to the Continental Congress, July 4, 1776........ Samuel Adams.

"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."------------ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Perky Penguin Pillow & Party Planning

Isn't it cute!?
In the Feb. 2010 issue of Quilter's World magazine is this pattern. The second I saw this, I knew I would have to make it for Lindsey.
She loves penguins!!

So the plan.......
Her birthday is in May, which gives me plenty of time to make this and possibly some things to go with it (blanket, stuffed penguin toy).
This also has decided the birthday party theme for me.........PENGUINS, IGLOOS, ICE FISHING.........
I have all kinds of ideas about how to incorporate this theme for her 3rd birthday.

Did I just say "3rd birthday"!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my, my baby will be 3!!

From this:

To this:

The Downhill Stretch

Warning: Rambling post follows..............................


I think I finally made some progress on getting my house back in order since Christmas.
The last of the inside decorations were packed away and some of the outside lights were taken down today (in between rain showers).

In a way it feels nice to have things back to normal but it also makes me a bit sad too.
The kids returned to school this week. I'm struggling some with the school and the administration. It's a hard situation to send your kiddos off and trust the staff to teach them.
I have prayerfully considered homeschool but my husband is not on board with that. So in the meantime, I pray and pray and pray for the kids. For the staff. For the other students.
It's a war-zone out there!!

I'm also dealing with some issues with our church (personal issues). Love the adult Sunday School class but not so much the sermon time. It's alot of "milk" and not much "meat".
I'm a carnivore....... I NEED meat!! ha ha
I want to be challenged. I want to take something with me for the week. I want to desire to be in the Word more.
Maybe it's just me. not sure.
Why I'm thinking about it, I have a question. For those of you who are Christians and know the Bible (or for that matter, maybe you are just learning).....
Do you believe in "Once saved, always saved"? or
Do you think we can accept the gift of salvation and then deny it later on, turning our back on Jesus?
If you have a thought on this, I'd love to hear. Please give scripture references if you have them.
There are a few of you out there ,that I know read my blog, that I'm hoping give me some thoughts on this subject.


On another note, tomorrow is the end of Ryan's basketball season and the start of Bear's.
So we will be in town all day for tournaments. I'll be packing a bunch of toys, books and snacks to keep Lindsey entertained for all of 15 minutes! She is so busy!

Not much else going on around here.
I'm off to bed now, I'm tired.
My brain doesn't seem to want to turn off tonight but my body shut down an hour ago!

Good night to you all!

For a 1st Birthday

This is what I worked on today.
My niece turns 1 year old on Sunday!
Since it is right after Christmas and I know she is bombarded with new toys, I wanted to make something that would be useful.
So she is getting her very 1st big-girl pillow case, complete with her initial appliqued on it......
and
........A matching little quilt and pillow for her baby dolls.

And now I need to go build a fire.. my feet are cold!

New Year, New Projects

I already have a couple of projects going for the New Year.

We finally found some sturdy, wood bunk beds for the girls! (After months of searching for what we wanted at a good bargain). Come to find out, a guy that works with Ken had this set. They have been sanded down so all we need to do is prime and paint!
So now we need to get another twin mattress and the girls have new beds.
Lindsey was so excited as Daddy was putting them together in the family room to dry out. It has been so wet and rainy that being out in the shop made them damp.

And I actually knitted something!!! A little hat for the girls to use for toys and baby dolls. It's the very first thing I've ever knitted and it has some flaws but I'm still pleased with it.

(Ok, I'll admit I cheated a little bit.... I used the Knifty Knitter round loom that Kaycie got for Christmas.... so it's not knitting with needles but still fun to do) Kaycie has been working on a larger hat for her so it's not completed yet.

Once she gets the hang of it, she wants to make up some baby size hats to donate to the hospital.

I've also decided to start on homemade gifts to give during the year for birthdays, anniversaries, and even for next Christmas. Christmas sneaks up on me every year and I want to have a head start on a simpler, handmade Christmas.

I've already been looking through craft books from the library and getting ideas of things to create!

(Not sure how this will go, but at least I'm making an effort).

This verse has nothing to do with what I've posted but I read it this morning and thought it was a nice thought about how God controls our earth and nature.

"The sun also rises, and the sun goes down,

And hastens to the place where it arose.

The wind goes toward the south,

And turns around to the north;

The wind whirls about continually,

And comes again on its circuit.

All the rivers run into the sea,

Yet the sea is not full;

To the place from which the rivers come,

There they return again."

-- Ecclesiastes 1: 5-7