Can't get enough..

Cannot get enough of this song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY

Words to live by...

Recently while searching the internet, I ran across this blog called The Non-Consumer Advocate (thenonconsumeradvocate.wordpress.com) and while running the risk of sounding dramatic, I learned a phrase there that has completely changed my life.  The phrase is "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."  Well, my family and I have taken those words and have completely run with them.  I was constantly on the search in my house for things to use up and get rid of and wear the life out of.  And here is what happened. 

First I set off to attack USE IT UP.  And I love to knit.  And it has always been on my heart to use the gifts that the Lord has given me to bless others.  And mostly, preemie babies have been on my heart because I was so fortunate to give birth to strapping and healthy babies while others have not been as fortunate as me.  So, I first attacked my knitting basket.  And I found many small balls of yarn that really wouldn't have been able to used for anything other than hats for these precious angels.  So, I set my hands to work and here is where I am at:

Okay, next scenario: My husband was really struggling to fix this cabinet in our kitchen.  He usually can fix ANYTHING but for some reason he just couldn't get this particular cabinet to work properly.  So, I came up with the brilliant idea of taking the doors completely off and hanging a cute little curtain instead.  So, I sewed a little curtain and I excitedly said to my husband, "I can go to Target tomorrow and buy a tension rod to hang it so we won't have to worry about hardware."  So, he then said to me, "Wife, you don't even have to because I have a dowel that I have been wanting to use!"  As I was a little disappointed that I couldn't stroll the aisles of my beloved Target I knew staying home would SAVE MONEY.  And then I thought with one fail swoop we tackled USE IT UP (extra material from my fabric stash) and MAKE IT DO (dowel instead of tension rod!)  Here is a picture of our beautiful handiwork:

So proud.  So thank you Katy Wolk-Stanley, I don't know where you live (except on the internet) but you reached into our little home and you changed this little family in Connecticut!!!! 

Living Proof

Here is living proof that I can actually make something grow (besides my children).  I actually bought the pot and the seeds and this is the fruits of my labor.  I realize you may look at this and think, "It's just a marigold."  But, I once killed an evergreen.  Enough said.

AND HE'S OFF!

There he goes off to conquer the world..or at least Kindergarten!!

But, how sweet it is to come home!

Dead in my tracks..

Somedays the Lord teaches me a lesson and the other day He used my John to teach me.  It was a particularly stressful moment and I spoke too harshly to John.  He looked at me straight in the eye and said to me, "Momma, you don't have to talk to me like that."  It just about nearly took my breath away.   I immediately apologized to him and he again looked me straight in the eye and said, "that's okay, Momma."  How has a four year old (five in 11 days!) managed to find that delicate balance between lovingly standing up for himself and granting immediate and genuine forgiveness when I have not found that in all my 38 years? 

Sometimes I think I have to show so much grace to people that I end up being a doormat and then  I end up not defending myself in a calm and loving manner like John and then kicking myself for it in the process.  And sometimes I think John could teach seminars.... :)