Saturday morning cartoons....

I know it's Sunday but just had to write about this today! I remember growing up and Saturday morning cartoons were always something that I looked forward to. Times have changed a lot since then, yet, most of those cartoons I loved are still on. Yes, shows like Sylvester & Tweety, the Flintstones, Scooby Doo, etc. are still on - I just don't put them on for my kiddos. I don't remember thinking about all the violence in them back then but I do now. Around Christmas I went to a church event for Children's Ministries with Mackenzie - it was movie night. Dr. Suess How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Charlie Brown's Christmas were on - funny how I squirmed listening to Lucy call people "blockheads" and hearing the word "stupid". I did take it as a great teaching opportunity! Name calling is not something my little ones have been exposed to unless it's a term of endearment.

Mackenzie and Jonas now watch things like: Sesame Street (which I did too), Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny....but I have to share with you all - their very favorite show right now is God Rocks. It's a show I stumbled upon through some "junk mail" that arrived at our home. It plays every Saturday morning (at 9am PST) on TBN and we have every episode that has been shown on Tivo. It's kind of cheesy but always has a super good message.

Their official site: http://www.godrocks.ca/godrocks_tv_series.php

The 7-UPs!!!!

A friend shared this with me a year or so ago & I just love it so am passing along...

Wake Up!
Decide to have a good day. "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
Dress up!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lords does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7

Stand Up!
...for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10

Look Up!
...to the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13

Shut Up!
Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking."He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

Reach Up!
...for something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him,and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Lift Up!
...your prayers. "Do not worry about anything, instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING"
Philippians 4:6

Flashback Friday....

I've decided since I have nothing exciting to share

today & am a behind on housework - we'll do the

whole trip down memory lane again....and since

it's beginning to feel a bit like spring, let's go back

about a year.

An eventful day....

Wow - were to start - I guess the beginning would be good...

So - I show up at church this morning to work & there's all this talk of how 3 women are supposed to be shot for a gang initiation at Wal-Mart. Yes - just wanted to throw up. I was kind of a mess over this for part the day & afraid to go anywhere - but got a tip from a friend, checked http://www.snopes.com/ and looks like these emails/texts/rumors have been going on for years. Uggg...people - don't you have anything better to do productive! I ended up going to the grocery store - but must admit - I was eyeballing everyone! Ha!

Then, I'm playing with the kiddos and hear Jonas in the next room over give out an awful scream and then cry. I knew it was something major & not just wanting a toy...I sneak thru the adjoining bathroom to take a sneak peek and he is the arms of one of the teachers - she saw me and immediately brought him over to me - my baby got bit...again! This time by a little girl and has marks from top & lower teeth (no punctures though). My poor baby. I've decided he must taste really sweet. Just two weeks ago, he was bit at church on the finger & the skin was broken. Then another time a few months back. And - my girlies - if you're reading this, you'll remember last summer how cute little Hay-Hay terrorized Jonas & bit him 3 times over our weekend get together. Ha!!!

Today's bite...

Umm...then get a call from my sister of another "family reunion" in San Jose this summer. Back to wanting to throw up - nothing to do with my sister - just having no desire to go. If you know me, you know why.

Oh - such an uplifting post for the day....

Sorry about that - I am really in a good mood.

Okay - let's change the subject & take a trip thru memory lane -
my babies - 2 years & 1 month ago
Jonas a week or 2 old - and Mackenzie was just 22 months old.
Oh - why do these days pass so quickly?
They just melt my heart!

My Men: the big one & the little one...

Just feeling the need to brag about my husband. I am so grateful for him and how hard he works to take care of us. He is willing to do just about anything - as long as it helps pay the bills. Today he worked down the hill in Upland and is now on his way to Escondido to hopefully get a toolbox that we saw on Freecycle for about 1/8th of the cost of a brand new one. And grateful that his ego isn't so big that he can't go used! Ha!

And Jonas...my little sweet heart! I just adore him! He's becoming more & more of a little lover!

His picture is on a website as a little model - ha!!!
See if you can find him - http://www.knitknacksforbaby.com/brag.htm


I just can't leave out Mackenzie....so...here's a couple more pics I'll share of what was going on last night while I was on the computer...can't a mommy get any peace! Ha!

Update on Extreme Makeover - Home Edition!!!

I just saw this on Pastor Paul's blog & thought I'd share!!!

Extreme Home Makeover Premiere

Join us after Seven on Sunday March 29th for the premiere of the Phelan Extreme Home Makeover. 8:00-10:00pm. We will be watching the show on the big screen, bring your kids, and your family and hang out with us on this night of celebration. See you there.

Set your Tivos if you're not local or watch it as it's on! So excited to see it after being a part of it and am interested if we'll see J.T. - he was filmed a few times - once was putting a log up on a roof....so we shall see!!! Ooo - and we definitely won't be at the church watching it since the kiddos are in bed my 8! Ooo - and actually since JT and I will both be at Surrender until *:30 or so....yay for Tivo!

So out of my element!

Ha - that's exactly where I am. With hubby being laid off and around the house more, I am sooo out of my element. Funny how I've just always had a certain "flow" going and now when he is home, it just throws me off. That's where I've been and finding the time to get on the computer just isn't as easy. My quiet time, is not so quiet anymore. We should be hearing back from the state hopefully this week about his contractor's license - it'll be nice to get moving forward with that. I am amazed of how God works - just Sunday J.T. asked people to pray at Surrender for the whole job & money deal and wouldn't you know it, he got quite a few calls yesterday for people needing things done. God is so good - especially when you trust in Him and are faithful.

I'm finishing up sewing blanket #3 today and the kids & I just vacuumed the house - I have the real deal, Mackenzie has her play vacuum that makes noise and Jonas uses a dust buster - we are quite the team!

The kiddos are eating lunch right now and I'm working on Mackenzie's party - getting invites out and figuring out just exactly what to do and how to incorporate boys into the whole Tinkerbell theme! Ha! That'll be interesting! I can't believe my baby girl will be 4 in just under 3 weeks! She'll always be my baby girl.

OOo - and I almost forgot - Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I am part Irish but really don't do anything to celebrate other than a sign that goes on my door annually - I honestly don't think any of us are even wearing green! And, we're no fan of corned beef or cabbage. Yuk....

Have a blessed day!

Layers....

I finished the book - finally - and feel the need to share a little from the last chapter....

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17

Luci Swindoll asked the speakers before a Woman of Faith conference: "If you had to design a button that described your life using only 5 words, what would it say?"

Anita's answer: "Everyday is my birthday!"

Sandi did a lot of reflecting on her answer - first thinking it was shallow, then embraced it!

Here's something Sandi wrote that I love:
"And since every day is my birthday, and every day is a new start, that means there's no end in sight. My life, like this book, is a work in progress. Every day I learn something new. Every morning is a fresh start, a second chance, a rebirth. And because I am a Christian and plan to live forever, I know that even death itself isn't the end. Instead we simply go from life....to eternal life."

I love that....

and, the final verse of the book:

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don;t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eyes on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward - to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
-Phillipeans 3:12-14 MSG

Amen!

Green AND Handmade......

Not only do I try to find new ways of going green, I also love to buy handmade things! I use wool dryer balls in my dryer, rather than dryer sheets or the plastic balls. I love to buy handmade clothing for the kids - or even if it's not handmade, I am very good at making outfits last longer - like if Jonas' pants get too short - I have a cuff of cute fabric sewn on the bottom to make them longer and I must say - way cuter! Right now I am trying to replace all Mackenzie's play kitchen food from the plastic to all felt or crochet. She has some but I've been working on some trades for more! Jonas has wooden cars - handmade - not store bought - they both have little animal friends that are handmade. We use handmade all purpose cleaner, laundry soap, lotions, bar soap, lip balm, bubble bath, hair detangler, eczema cream, diaper rash cream, shaving cream...hmmm..what else? I'm sure there's more and if not, I'll find some! Ooo- most of Jonas' diapers are made by stay at home moms (WAHMS) rather than coming from big companies.

I think the handmade thing is just more special - less chemicals touching our skin and wayyyyy less "Made in China" stuff around this house.

I'm working on blanket #2 today and will be done in a couple hours with the sewing...so off I go!

Have a blessed Saturday!

So busy!!!

I feel like I'm neglecting this place!

With JT being out of work, he's around more and I'm helping him do some things. He'll be teaching at Surrender this Sunday and is gearing up for another trip back to the Mississippi with our Katrina Missions team. He only has about half the money he needs so I typed his letter for him today to hopefully find some more people to help fund the trip for him. He is so passionate about helping the people there and the need for these teams to go is so neccessary. I get so sad every time he returns with pictures of the devastation still there. I can't believe how bad it is...still. It truly looks like a war zone.

The kids are sleeping, I've gotten a little sewing in today and received a phone call from a dear friend this morning reminding me of the concert at church tonight. Steve Wilmert, our lead worship pastor, is amazing! He has a CD coming out today and is doing a live show. Last minute, I found a sitter, actually two - Serena and Makayla! We are going to meet Jesse and Bernadette for dinner before the concert and have a little "double date"! Fun! Adult time!

So...now that it's 2pm, I'm thinking I better go get in the shower! Ha!!!

Steve's site: http://stevewilmert.com/
The title of the CD is: You Are

Here's one of Steve's songs & Steve is the bald guy singing...
Just something quick I found on Youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEZdVKps1Ak

Happy Birthday Robert!

Tonight we went to a surprise party for Robert. It was fun and a beautiful house up in Apple Valley. We are blessed to be surrounded by so many great friends and just have to say how proud I am of my little ones. They are really great, well behaved kids!

Wonderful Wednesday!!!!

His grace is sufficient for me....

Yep - that's how I'm feeling today. I've had so many things happen lately that are truly bringing God's grace into light for me. Things to bring closure...things to help me see how really far I've come since turning my life over to Him. I do still have very far to go and know that's life....it's a journey!


My trip to Joann's today.....yummy fabric!!!


Here's how I store my fabric....these are the underbed
plastic storage containers - I have 6 & I cut up all my fabric
into 5" squares so they are all ready to go! I'm guessing about
15 yards of fabric can fit into each box at least! The small
plastic shoe boxes have 4" squares in them. Ooo - and I
finished the 1st of 6 blankets I have to make today!


And the surprise I can back with for the kiddos -
they both love doing these - while Jonas was
sleeping today, I sewed while Mackenzie did her beads...


And...more dress up - they call these their
safari hats (umm...they are girly hats)

Good Morning!!!!

I missed doing a post yesterday - things have been so busy - I have gotten orders for 6 I-spy blankets in the past couple days & had 3 to do before that - I am caught up on the 3 and now have the 6 to do! I think donating the blankets for Amanda gave me some exposure that I hadn't even thought about! The fundrasiser for Amanda is now I think over & I am interested in the final numbers. I myself have 5 things coming from it. I got some good stuff and am excited!

JT is now home & I think pretty much caught up on his sleep. He has turned in his paperwork to get his Contractor's License and now is in the mode for studying for the test. So - please, ay prayers for that would be awesome!

Surrender switched from Spiritual Warfare to the roles and he will be teaching one of the weeks to all the men. I am so proud of him! He has come so far and has a huge heart for the Lord!

Yesterday I cleaned Mackenzie's entire room - it is amazing the amount of things kids accumulate - and having a mother that loves spoiling her doesn't help. We do alot of giving to others so it's fun to see that she has a heart that easily can give things up to others. We are blessed to have 2 different families that hand their clothes down to her and love passing them all on once she grows out of them.

Well - off to get busy and start sewing! I may be back to check in and add a picture or two for the day!

Isn't she lovely! Ha! The girl loves to dress up!

Daddy's Home!!!!

We missed him and he missed us.

Being that it's Sunday, J.T.'s been gone a week, we have bible study tonight, I've been sewing all morning.....I'll share a tidbit of my ancestry today.... :o)

4 generations for females

(that's my grandma, my mom, me & Mackenzie)

And...not sure if you can read this...

my great-great grandfather started Kindergarten

in Germany - I think that's the right amount of great' - ha!!!

Have a happy Sunday!!!

Jonas has a new word!!!

I have no idea why this is double spacing!

Any of you that know Jonas...you know he hardly says a thing.

He calles everyone mama, can say dada if told to, other words..hmm....

ya (for yes)

nana (for banana)

uh oh (self explanitory)

uh uh (his way of saying no & usually has a very mean look on his face)

He can say some letters of the alphabet, yet knows them all by

sight and can make a lot of cute animal noises.

Well, when I picked Jonas up from preschool at church tonight he had

added a word to his vocabulary & thought I'd share with you all!

(If the music is playing at the bottom of the page, you'll need to pause it)

Okay - so is the fact that he can say that before "no" a good sign??? Hee!!!!

The fruit of the Spirit...

is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Today I am really feeling the Spirit in me.

Today I connected with two people from my past that I have not spoken to or seen in 10+ years and while their lives are no where near what I would want for either of them, I have love for them and I have peace with those relationships. I may not speak to either one of them again, who knows, I'm glad I took the step and feel I have some closure.

I am reminded just how precious life is and that makes me want to live by life by the Spirit.

God is so good!

Speaking of love....(taken with cell phone)


Be sure to read today's M4M:
3/7/2009 - Never forget to tell your children you’re proud of them. Don’t assume that they already know how you feel.

Oh so true!

Motivations for Moms...

Not sure if anyone pays attention to the daily Motivations for Moms on here...I do! (It's in a pink box in the right hand column of this blog)

I really like todays: (well, I really like every days)
3/6/2009 - Set standards for your children as you teach them the importance of modest dress. They should represent themselves as holy and acceptable unto God.

Jonas isn't really an issue for me with this, except I do think about the tons of graffic tees that are out there in society today, most of which I would not dare put on my child. I find it really sad to see some of the shirts that kids, even 2 year olds like my Jonas, wear. And I have to say that it's not just in the retail stores - it's huge in the WAHM community. But, to each their own - it's just not me.

Mackenzie, she loves dresses! That's really all she ever wants to wear and luckily there is no issue - yet. Everything she wears is modest. I even have her wear bloomers under her dresses is she does not have tights on. Sometimes just shopping for things for her makes me sad. So many clothing items are just adult styled clothes made smaller. Kids are exposed to things that I really don't think they should be at such an early age. Things like Hannah Montana - I don't have anything against her - I just have a problem with young girls being exposed to her so young. She's a teenager. I want Mackenzie to be more grounded in who she is as a girl before being put in the position of idolizing anyone - especially a teenage girl, unless of course it's one of our fabulous babysitters! Although I really don't want her to idolize anyone. Ever. I do have to say that I love all of our babysitters we have had - all homeschooled, all beautiful young ladies from the inside out: Emily, Taylor, Madison, Katie, Serena & Mackayla (sorry if I butchered any of the spellings & know they are not listed in any particular order). And in my eyes, they all represent themselves as holy and acceptable unto God. I pray that when Mackenzie is a teen that people are in awe of her as I am of each of those girls I named. I just love them! Their parents, especially the moms, are all my heros and all people I would go to in a heartbeat when it comes to needing help in raising my kids - yep, you: Cassie, Peggy & Marcia!

Ta-da!!!!

Boys will be boys....

I decided to take Jonas for his first haircut today...oh what fun that was...NOT! He hated every second of it...screamed...fought...it was just so not fun! Mackenzie got a haircut too (her 2nd ever) & was the sunshine of the experience!

But....I will say - the outcome of my little man is adorable!!! He looks so grown up.

Before - just getting settled:


then the lady had the nerve to put the cape on....

No more pics of him during the process - I had no free hands! Ha!

A straight jacket would've came in handy!

My sweet girl


Just a trim - all done!!

No more curls.....

Back home...happy & so stinkin cute!

Wacky Wednesday....

Yep! That about sums it up! I'm feeling a bit wacky! With J.T. out of town, I always stay up wayyyy too late. It's 4pm and I could honestly fall asleep right now.....

I have so much to do yet I don't feel like doing anything...I'm sure my second wind will hit shortly though!!!

The verse that has been talking to me today is Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Yep.....FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND is the key for me. There is so much there and it paralyzes me at times. My focus is today and what is ahead for me.

I'm also learning that the closer I get the the Lord, relationships change. At times this is tough but I have a great support group and family through church and my online friends - I am so grateful!

Time to go love on my kids...but I won't leave you without cute pics for the day!!!

Mackenzie in Barbieland...ooooo what a mess!

Ooo - and here's a good one - Jonas thought the

plant in our bedroom was a sand box the other

day! Look at those eyes - he KNEW he did a no-no!

Ha!!! But, of course, I could not even think of

cleaning it up before a picture was taken!

Simply precious - my messy kids and all!!!

His perfect timing....

that's what's been on the brain and in my heart so far today. Just seems like the perfect answer to everything I have come across so far - whether it be an answer I need or someone else. God's timing is always perfect - even if we don't see it in the moment, don't understand why, it just is.

I think to how long J.T. and I tried to have a baby after we got married - it took a few years - at the time, I felt so discouraged...BUT, in looking back - I can see exactly why and the timing she was concieved was actually completely perfect - jobless, no insurance and all!

So, I pray that for anyone that is struggling with anything today can rest in knowing that God does have absolute perfect timing - maybe not ours, but His - which will be yours. And....that "anyone" includes me.

Hope I make sense.......sometimes I struggle getting my thoughts to come out just right.


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Came back to share what I made today...I love digiscrapping but haven;t been keeping up on it...my baby girl is going to be 4 in just a month - this is her party invitation (I left out all the "private" info):