Alabama Tornado Devastation

A bloggy friend, Lisa McKay got to feel first hand the threat of the Alabama tornado whip through her neighborhood the other day.  Huddled in the crawl space with her husband and children, they could hear the tornado blasting through their neighborhood. 

Georgia Jan, another bloggy friend has talked with Lisa and her and her family are ok.  Please go here to read Lisa's story. 

Please pray for Lisa's family and so many other's that have been touched by this tragedy.

Good Deals 04.30.2011

I had a good day at the Mom to Mom Sales today.  I spent $15.75 today and this is what I got.  Not bad.

2 pairs of size 10 slim jeans for Abbi with adjustable waist.  Old Navy for 25 cents and Arizona 50 cents.

Shirt for Abbi $1

Tank for Abbi brand new $1

Girls Rock t-shirt for Abbi $1

Brand new yellow shirt $2

Plain black t-shirt $1

Cute pink tank $1

Brady's assortment of shoes. $7

Brady shopping with her new kitty boots.

Brady also got a cute summer dress for $1 and a Dora Scavenger Hunt hardcover book  for free (thrown in with her dress).

I can't wait, garage sale season is starting up!!  Have you gotten any good deals this weekend?  Have a glorious weekend.

Z is for Zoo

Zoo.  I don't mean the place you travel to with all the cute cuddly animals you visit.  I mean my house.  That's right.  I am saying my house is like a zoo.  Here it is: 

• Wild animals that travel in packs = 4 kiddos that are "playing" together
• Waiting in line for the bathroom = 6 people 1 bathroom, need I say more
• Weird smells are always found at the zoo = 1 kid in diapers, 1 potty training
• Concession area = 4 kids and and an open refrigerator
• Monkeys slinging poo= a 3 yr old that is a little weird
• Wild animals in cages = an 18 month old in his crib
• Whiny, tired, crying kids = whiny, tired, crying kids
• Trying to fit it all in before the end of the day = isn't that being a mom??
• Spending time together as a family = love that part the most

Well, I did it.  The very last post of the challenge.  It was fun and I enjoyed meeting new people.  Thanks for taking the time to read my posts and God Bless.

Y is for YOU Never Let Go!!

I know he is always with me.  A song to remind us that he never leaves us alone in the world. You Never Let Go!!

X is for X ray

All in a days work.

Collage

Multicolored Photo Challenge at the Paper Mama

Brady Mermaid

W is for Water

I love the water.  I love living by the water.  Lake Huron being the water.  I love taking pictures of the water.  The water evokes a calm tranquility that resides within me.  If I am having a bad day, I like to take a walk to the beach and just sit by the water.  I love when the sun reflects on the water and the light just sparkles.  Many days have been spent with me and the kids playing by the water.  Oh, how I love the water and I think my pictures reflect that love of the water.



Pink Sunrise



Bridge sunrise

Shane at the pond

Overcast day



Freighter passing




Golden sunrise




Reflected water




Choppy water




Flowing water




Tranquil water



Shutter Love Tuesday 04.26.2011

Brady with Colored Eggs

V is for Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh, Post Impressionist painter. 1853-1890.  My favorite of all painters.  These are some of my favorite paintings by Van Gogh.  I loved the strokes he used and the thickness of the paint.  The beauty and the detail is what fascinates my eyes. I hope you enjoy.

Irises, 1889



photo credit





Still Life: Vase with 12 Sunflowers, August 1888



photo credit

 

The Starry Night, June 1889

The Cafe' Terrace on the Place du Forum 1888
 

photo credit



One thousand gifts 04.25.2011

Thankful for so many things God has given me today and everyday.  Being able to share them is such a joy:


31.  Shane praying before a meal without having to remind him.

32.  A beautiful Easter brunch with our family celebrating the Resurrection of our Savior.

33.  Finding all of the hidden Easter eggs.

34.  A fun day at the park with the kids.

35.  Abbi and John making such a beautiful Easter brunch meal in a loaf.

36.  My loaf of bread turning out perfectly (for once).

 37.  Glorious colors that no editing program could match.  Something only God can create.  Beauty.

38.  My husband hugging me and whispering to me about the wonderful job I did for Easter with the kids.  The baskets, the bible lesson, the egg hunt and brunch with his help was all for them.  I am glad they enjoyed it and my husband appreciating it makes it that much sweeter.

39.  Laundry caught up for once.

40.  Loving this life God has created for me, good and bad.  Making the most of all I have received from Him.  Finding the beauty in the simple.  Loving the moments I am given here on this earth.

U is for Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns

An anthem of all Christians spreading the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Sing it until the whole world hears!  I want to be His hands and feet.  Trying to live the words of this song...everyday.

Easter Day 2011

We had a fun-filled Easter Day at our house today.  This is what the kids Easter baskets looked like this morning.  My husband wrote out a schedule the night before of how the day was going to go (this is so unlike him), but it was very nice.  And, I kept saying, "Refer to the schedule."  when they asked if they could do this or that.

. 

Abbi with her overexaggerated look for her bubbles.  She loved her basket.  She loves blowing bubbles with Brady and Cullen, so I got her a bottle for herself.  She got colored pens, a sleeping mask, pencils, girly note pages, Easter socks, sidewalk chalk, candy and wildflower mix for her garden.

Cullen loved his Easter rubber ducky complete with blue ears and a bunny tail.  He got a spiderman bowl and plate, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, sunglasses with froggies, stuffed animal PetCake and a squishy bee.

Oh, the princess, Brady.  In full attire you see.  Loved her basket too.  Raccoon PetCake, butterfly sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sunglasses, elegant white gloves, a strawberry shortcake ring, and Dora pencils.

Shane loved his goodies too.  He got his panda PetCake, pencils, Lightning McQueen activity book, easy readers about bugs (that I found out he doesn't like anymore, mom he says they creep me out!!), bubbles, sidewalk chalk with a holder, and sponge bob note paper.

Cullen loving his glasses.

Brady with her glasses and her elegant gloves.

Then we had an Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn (back has dogie land mines).  I hid the eggs this am while the kids looked through their baskets. The rules: No big kids get the eggs on the ground.  Only one golden egg per kid (they had money in them, just a buck). 

Cullen didn't know what to do.  He only ended up with one egg. He just wanted to run around, especially down the street.

Brady did pretty good.  She wanted to open each one as she found them and eat the candy inside.

The kids looking for more eggs.  It didn't take them long to get 37 eggs.

Then we had a beautiful Easter Brunch.  We made a meal in a loaf.  I found this recipe on my Art of Breadmaking DVD from Homestead Blessings (love, love, love them).  It turned out so yummy.  Abbi and daddy made this one.

This is it before it went in the oven.  I didn't get a final picture.  We ate it too fast. 

I had dough left over from the recipe.  So, here is my first perfect loaf.  My other loaves have turned out less than perfect.  So I needed to take a picture and it was just as good as it looks.

Shane being silly with whipped cream.  We had such a nice menu for brunch.  Breakfast loaf, ham, bagels and cream cheese, lemon poppy seed muffins, blueberry muffins, and strawberry shortcake to top it off.

What an awesome day.  We are so blessed.  Praise Jesus.  He is Risen.