I can cook...Really!!!

As I was up to my elbows in flour this afternoon making chicken and dumplings, I remembered the first meal I ever cooked for Jim.

Just to fill you in on how we became a couple.....we were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. Prior to seeing each other face to face we spoke on the phone every night for a week - for at least 2-3 hours per night. Then we finally met and had been going out for a few days or a week when the following occurred........

Jim had just started a new job as a car salesman and was having a stressful beginning. One evening I was going to cook supper for us so we could have an evening in. In all our conversations I learned Jim loved roast and potatoes. So, like my momma tought me, I put the roast and potatoes in the crock pot that morning. That evening Jim arrived as planned. As soon as I opened the door I new it'd been a baaaad day. We immediately sat on the sofa and started talking. (Realize at this point my small 2 bedroom apartment HAD to have been full of the aroma of the cooking roast.) We continued to talk....and talk...and talk...and talk. I never mentioned the meal because we were talking - and he'd had a really bad day so I didn't want to keep him from venting. He never mentioned the meal ( I found out YEARS later) because this was the first time I cooked for him, and he had NO IDEA if I could cook or not. He didn't want to hurt my feelings by asking about it and then me have to tell him I burned it or something.

This is a story we have laughed about for all of our 14 1/2 years of marriage.

Yep, apparently the fact that I withheld food from him was not a determent. About 1 week after this event I got a nice shiny engagement ring. :)

And just so you know...we had the roast and potatoes the very next night. EVERYONE knows roast is better as leftovers!!

It's a date!

ok...so I've done some "tweaking" to my blog. And, you know, I'm a woman, so it probably won't be the last time either. I love playing with the colors, fonts, and other elements. I've enjoyed blogging more than I thought I would. It's reminded me of writing in my diary as a kid and has made me look back over my days and find the good and important memories that I might otherwise have taken for granted. I've also found a fondness of reading other people's blogs. The different writing styles I've found have been inspiring.

In my area school starts up August 18th. Could it be that Jake's summer is almost over? He and I made a date today. Between now and the 18th hubby will be gone for a few days on a business trip, leaving Jake and I with alone time. We decided that on the day he gets registered for 7th grade and gets his schedule we are also going to purchase school supplies, then -- Red Lobster. He absolutely loves this place. A friend of his got him turned on to crab legs. Oh my can he eat the crab legs! We go in, order, eat the yummy biscuits until our meals arrive, then I finish my meal while he's still cracking legs. He has a blast...and that's the important thing. We both stink like fish and need showers from his crab crackin', but we've made memories. I made sure he knew I wrote our date in my planner in INK so it can't be erased.

The time has already passed by so quickly since Jake was born, and I know the next 6 years till he's 18 will be gone before I know it. Over the last year I can tell he's growing from boy to young man. I love it and I hate it. My little boy is disappearing, but the young man he's becoming really wow's me. Last year when he left for church camp I had to get my hug and kiss before we left the house to head to church. This year? - hubby and I both got kisses and hugs right outside the bus with all the other kids watching. I love that stuff!!!

b-b-b-b-bad to the bone...

Ok, so sometimes you wanna be bad, right? Well, I figure if I'm gonna be bad I ought to be as good as I can while I'm being bad. Totally confused???

I wanted ice cream tonight!!!! Hubby took son to youth service at church so I could eat whatever I wanted and no one would ever know. I wanted to be good, but I wanted ice cream more. So...I hopped my not-so-skinny rear into my car and drove to the closest ice cream shop - one that I knew served fat free yogurt. Thank you God! I ordered a cookie dough non-fat yogurt concrete. Ok, I know the cookie dough wasn't fat free, but the yogurt was better than eating the ice cream. All I have to say is YUMMMMM!

We've tried to drop some pounds around here, but have had no luck yet. Hubby and I both began Atkins at the beginning of June. We actually made it completely through induction with no cheating. On day 15 hubby checked his blood sugar. Fasting was 130. What?!? His remark was "why am I doing this if my sugar isn't getting better"? By day 8/9 I began having a very unwelcome side effect that a lady should only experience once a month (and it wasn't THAT time). Thanks to Google I found out that this was a not-so-uncommon side effect. Well yippee for me, huh? Needless to say, we were done! I'd rather have 50 lbs to lose than have the other issue to deal with for Lord only knows how long.

We're trying to make better food choices and eat less now. At least neither of us gained back the 8 or so pounds we lost during induction. Unfortunately we both love to eat. That really stinks when you're trying to lose weight. I know it's a matter of will power and discipline. Trust me, both of these things have been made a matter of prayer.

Hey, in case I haven't said it lately - thanks for taking time out of your day to read my stuff here. I appreciate you stopping by for a moment in time...

one casualty---

We have officially owned our house for 5 years and 4 days.

When we moved in and decorated our rooms Jake was 7 years old. His room was painted cream with a wallpaper border up top of labrador retreivers. Well, Jake is now 12 and has outgrown the border. So this weekend we made a change. As you can tell from the pics above Jake wanted something different. Originally he wanted the tan color with a big black stripe around the room. Yesterday we decided that the stripe might look better if it was "moving". The room is still not put back together completely, but the pics show how the stripe turned out. We all like it...I like it more every time I go in his room.

In all the work we've done since Friday night we have only had one casualty. The first picture shows how severe the accident. Jake and Jim were in charge of the placement and painting of the stripe. Let's just say Jake got a little too close to the paint tray with his foot. :)

An important lesson we learned?....Jim and I are NOT great painters! It's all good in theory...until we put it into action. We do not like to do the prep work (taping, covering furniture, etc. Of course, we pay for it in the end. We've got some scraping to do of windows and baseboards. You can rest assured neither of us will ever be hired as professional painters!

But, now my baby has a big boy room - and I'm adjusting. He's growing up, and I can't stop it. I can only pray that he turns into the awesome man of God that his daddy is...and he's off to a great start!

Reservations are made!!!

God spoke and I listened...

It's been a few years since I have been able to go to the Joyce Meyer Women's Conference, but I'm going in October! I had accepted the fact that I wouldn't be going this year because Jake will have a little league football game the Saturday of the conference. I've never missed one of his games, so I can't start now - right??

Well, the conference kept coming to mind. I asked Jake if he would be upset if I missed one of the games. His response?..."Mom, I wouldn't mind if I missed one of the games". hehehe. Gotta love him. So, my reservations are made, and my registration is paid for. I'll be worshipping with Darlene Szchech, listening to Yolanda Adams sing, and hearing the Word from Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, and Lisa Bevere.

I am excited - can you tell? This will be my second time going completely alone. My husband thinks I'm kind of nuts and being a recluse, but this is MY time. It's a retreat for me and time for me to hear from God. In the past it's been a healing time for me. I realize Jim thinks I go and speak to no one, but that's not what happens. I sit with other women and meet them and converse with them. I love it.

So, I'm gonna soon be on countdown for St Louis. Bear with me!

Roses are red...

A simple, unexpected gift of roses.

My sciatic nerve decided to be inflamed when I got up Sunday morning. So, I stayed home from church to pop ibuprofen and apply ice. When my guys returned, they brought me the roses.

My husband feels bad that he doesn't do this more frequently. While I love the gift, I don't like the $40-60 you have to give to the florist for them. I remember a recent conversation with hubby advising him that one of the local grocery stores carries fresh flowers that could be picked up for much less than our favorite florist charges. Little did I know that Sunday I would be the proud recipient of the aromatic beauties. Needless to say, I felt blessed.

While I dream for "date nights" we hardly ever really do them. I long for extended conversation over candlelit dinners; however, the conversation usually turns to work or Jake. Little things, like the flowers, fill this void and remind me of the days before we were married. I did realize months ago that we are at a point where we have to carve out time in our schedules for couple time, but I've failed to make it happen. My goal for the rest of the year and forward is to do better. Please let me know if you have any tips, thoughts, or ideas.

Christmas in July

Well, not really...just PREPARING for Christmas in July.

Every year I think about how terrific it would be to give home made gifts at Christmas time. However, I think about this in November around Thanksgiving. THIS year is going to be different! I've begun one of five cross stitch pieces that I'm doing as gifts for family members. I also have half-way completed 6 "bed buddies" (rice-filled tube socks with a removable cover made of a sewn hand towel). Today I pulled out the supplies that I purchased LAST year to make these. I got the socks filled, sewn, and trimmed. Now all that's left is turning the hand towel into the cover.

***as a side note - if you've never tried one of these rice-filled bags - you are nissing out!!! heat them in the microwave for 2 minutes, then apply to achey muscles, neck, or forehead if you have a headache. awesome!

So this year I am more prepared in the home made gift arena, and I feel good about it. I decided this morning that each person who receives a gift or gifts from us will receive at least one home made item. I've got five plus months before these items must be wrapped and under the tree...I'm in good shape here! Yea me! :-)

"bassoon"er or later......

We knew it was coming, but I wasn't sure what exactly to expect.

My son began band classes this week. In our school district you either begin band in 7th grade or you never get in. So, we're giving it a try. Jake chose the bassoon. We didn't have a bassoon in our school band when I was growing up. The instrument itself is pretty cool. Watching Jake learn about it and how to play has turned out to be pretty cool, too. He has been SO excited. There's supposed to be two other kids in his bassoon class, but so far he's the only one to show. One of the kids is on vacation, and heaven only knows about the other. Jake has VERY much enjoyed being the only one. I'm thinking that a week's worth of private music lessons for FREE isn't to shabby either!

Jake's dad and I both enjoyed being band "geeks" in school, however, we didn't play any sports. Jake anticipates playing football all through school and into college. It'll be interesting to see how well being in music and football goes together as he progresses through school.

bummed today...

Today has been a bag of mixed emotions for me. This morning my mom has been on my mind a lot. My good days outnumber my bad days now. But when I have a bad day, I'm very down.

***My mom died in 2004, four months to the day from when she was diagnosed with very rare adrenal cancer.***

There's just been something in my core today that has simply deflated me and kind of left me in a fog. I know it will pass, but I'd like to ask that those of you who are reading to say a quick prayer for me regarding my state of "bummed-ness".

On a lighter note, we did go to a family lunch today to celebrate my nephew's 3rd birthday. I love it when (especially little boys) kids reach that age when their baby image/toddler image seems to fade away and the little boy/man look come on them. Well, that's where my nephew is. Over the last few months he's lost the baby face that he had, and it's been replaced with the boy he is becoming. Love it, love it, love it!

I got to spend some one on one time with my mom-in-law this afternoon. That was overdue. We got to talk about when she and dad-in-law were beginning to raise their family, build a house, and when she went to work when the kids were all in school. I really like just sitting and visiting with her. I know there are millions of women who despise their MIL, but I am not one of them. God blessed me beyond measure with mine. If I can't have my own mom to be with, my MIL is definitely the next best thing!

Thank you for taking time out of your day to see what's happening with me. Until next the next moment......

Happy 4th!

Well, for some reason the first time I typed this and tried to post it vanished. Obviously the devil didn't want my words getting out there. Too bad - 'cause here I go again....

Today is the day out country celebrates our independence. We are blessed to live in the most free country in the world, but do you know we have other freedoms to enjoy? Freedom in Christ!

I've learned over the last few years how to be more free then I ever knew I could. Through Christ I have experienced the freedom to be who He created me to be, the freedom to love others through Him, and the freedom to forgive and experience forgiveness. God created each of us differently, so it's more than ok if we're not as pretty, skinny, talented, etc as the person we keep comparing ourselves to. It's my job to be the best "me" I can, and you the best "you" you can. That's what God wants. God showers His grace and mercy on us because He knows that it's a difficult task in our eyes.

So, remember, enjoy the freedoms of our country, but LIVE and GROW in the freedom of Christ!


I was afraid today would turn into one of those "hang out in my gown all day" days. However, it's been way more productive than that. By 9am I had done two loads of laundry, boiled and deviled about two dozen eggs, and baked an 11x15 cake to decorate. Whew!

This afternoon I decorated the cake...I've taken a couple Wilton classes, so I got nominated to do the cake. My cousin and his wife are expecting their first baby in August. We're having a family get-together/shower for them tomorrow. (the blocks on the cake spell BABY in case it doesn't show in the pic)

My biggest accomplishment for the day?...I FINALLY tagged and organized all my pictures in Photoshop. Yea me! :-) Now I'll be better prepared when I begin scrapbooking again.

For now, I'm just waiting till dark...hubby and son bought me sparklers and a 61-shot fountain that I can wait to fire off.

Enjoy your fireworks, stay safe, and be blessed!