~Friday Finds~

I haven't, obviously, been very consistent with the Friday Finds.  I think it's because I haven't really had a lot of surfing time lately.  But today I'm back!!! 

1. Independent Reign - This is another Etsy store and if you love all things sparkly, you'll love this.  They have great wristlets in any color you could imagine.  They also have adorable key fobs.  This would be an excellent place for bridesmaids gifts...if you're looking! 
This green and purple one is just one of my favs...

2.  Pickles - I found this pin on BAYMOONSTUDIO and I LOVE it...

I need this!!  Ha!!

3.  Subway Art - Something that is really big right now and I totally want to make is Subway Art.  The blog Tatertots and Jello had a link-up party last year and there are tons of fabulous ideas.  Here is a great one over at Then She Made... along with excellent directions.

If I get around to make one...which I will, I'll post it!! 

Have a Fabulous Friday!! 

Deals, Deals, Deals!!!

Some people may find this hard to believe (my DH) but I love a deal.  Let me clarify, I love a deal that doesn't require me to go digging through a bunch of random and unmatched items...aka Ross!!  Sorry all you Ross lovers.  I like deals that are pretty much handed to me!!  That's the best kind, right?!?!  So I have 'subscribed' to several of these Daily Deal sites and let me just say, I've gotten some really great deals!! 

My introduction into the deal world was with Groupon.  I've actually bought several deals from Groupon and never had a probelm redeeming them.  Next I tried out Living Social.  I bought todays deal...thinking about getting some 'personal' business cards!  All mom's need them, right?!?!  Well, today I ran across a new one...GroopDealz.  Since today is my first day on this site I'm not sure how good the deals are.  One more that I've started trying out is Eversave.  This is another fairly new one for me as well.  Something I really like about Groupon and Living Social is you can download an app for your phone, pull up your deal at the business, and BAM!!!  you can use the deal.  No more forgetting coupons at home or losing them.  I HEART that part!! 

There are probably a ton of other sites like these, if you know of any I'd love for you to send them to me!

Happy Saving :) !!!!

Beckah Shae's Love Snack!

Hope your Valentine's is filled with LOVE!!!

Snowed In

I love snow days...if I can stay at home cuddled up by the fire. And that's exactly how my day has been. I'm H :) PPY!! This morning I decided to try a new recipe, Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes, and they were delicious. I got this recipe from a great blog, The Idea Room.

Click HERE for recipe

I will definitely be making these again!!

Stay Warm!!  Stay Safe!!

Friday Finds

I do a lot of window shopping on the internet. I love to see what crafts people are making, room makeovers, decorating ideas...really just about anything. In honor of the great stuff I find I thought I'd start a blogment called Friday Finds. This could be anything from blog posts to store items...really anything!

So here goes...I hope you enjoy!

1. Jimmy Pickles
First, who couldn't love the name of this store, Jimmy Pickles? Too fun! I love all things bright and 'pursy'. There are too many things on this sight that I want. Let me know what your fav is...it'll probably be more then one!

2. Crafty Girls Workshop
These rolled flowers are everywhere. My m-i-l took a stab at making them and did a great job. I want to make Livie a headband and these necklaces are fabulous. Check out the instructions.

3. Lemon Tree Creations
I know several of you look at this blog already but I thought this was such a neat idea. If you're anything like me you've got a lot of empty picture frames sitting around your house with no pictures in them...I know, sad!! This is a great way to showcase art and fill a big space on a wall. I like that you can make it your own style with color and designs of frames.

4. eighteen25
I love Valentines Day. I should have made it a mandatory holiday in my house...maybe I will. I love going to Target and walking through the Valentine isle. Pink and Red together make me happy. Having 2 kiddos still in elementary school I always want to make their Valentine cards, but seldom do. Here are some great ideas. It's gonna be hard to decide which I like the best. Stay tuned to see which wins out!

I hope you enjoyed my first 'blogment' of Friday Finds.

Happy Weekend!!

Kleenex Please

CAUTION: This will tug at your heart!!

Looking Up by Beth Moore

Life can be hard…sometimes to the point of feeling as though your struggles will never end and God isn’t anywhere near. In Looking Up When Life is Looking Down, Beth Moore shares a prosaic message of hope and deliverance taken from Psalm 40, helping readers discover they indeed are not alone and that God’s gracious provision of love and faithfulness is at work in their circumstances.
This lovely full-color gift book is based on Beth Moore’s best selling book, Get Out of That Pit.I

If you know Beth Moore, then you know she has an amazing way with revealing God's Word.  I have never read anything from her that didn't encourage or convict me in some way.  If you haven't read Beth Moore this small gift-style book is the perfect introduction. 

At one time or another we've all felt like we're in the pit of life, unable to find a way out.  Beth's book is full of godly insight on how we can get out of that pit and stay out...with God's help!!  She has a keen sense at looking at things in a positive light!  I strongly recommend this book to everyone!! 

Happy Reading!

American Idol Season 10

AI season 10 started this week.  This is a show we all enjoy watching as a family.  I must admit I wasn't sure how they were going to pull it off without Simon, but can I just say...I LOVE STEVEN!!!  He is SO funny and sexy (can I say that?).  I'm excited to watch the rest of this season.  Oh, and JLo is actually a lot better then I expected!! I'll be blogging about our favorites in the weeks to come...stay tuned!! 

Fall to Grace by Jay Bakker

If anyone ever had a reason to leave the Christian faith, Jay Bakker did.

At the age of only 11 his parents' global PTL ministry was engulfed by scandal and undermined by Christian backbiting -all of which played out in the 24-hour news media.

Disillusioned, Bakker turned to drugs and alcohol and left his childhood beliefs behind. But along the way, an interesting thing happened: Bakker came to understand, through his personal challenges and suffering (as well as the help of some friends), what God's grace was really all about.

In this book Bakker explores the true nature of grace--what it means for everyday living and the hot-button issues of our day. With disarming humility, poignant observations, and spot-on theology, Bakker both challenges Christians to reassess their understanding of salvation and encourages non-believers to see Jesus with fresh eyes.

Fall to Grace is an eye-opener to the power and impact God's grace should have on our lives as Christians. While I don't agree with everything Jay Bakker writes I do agree with his overall message of grace. It's interesting to me that most, if not all, Christians would agree that God's grace is a gift freely given to all mankind through faith. But as soon as a controversial subject is mentioned, or someones sin is in question, grace seems to go out the window and in comes vengeance...with a vengeance!

Grace was not taught in the church much while I was growing up. I think the hush-hush of this topic has almost made it feel like it's something only given to the 'privileged'...whoever that may be. Anytime grace is mentioned the first thing I think of are two specific stories of Jesus. The first being the story of Jesus forgiving an adulterous woman (John 8:1-11) and then Jesus with the woman at the well (John 4:4-26). Jesus loved both of these women even if at the time they were considered social outcasts.

And this takes me next to the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37-39. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'

I guess I've stepped up on my 'soap-box' a little but I think what we all forget in the grand scheme of things to love people. We don't have to agree with what they do but God tells us we MUST love them. I would highly recommend this book. Grace is an amazing gift we're given but for some reason we either want to keep it all for ourselves or not even accept it at all. Fall to Grace is riddled full of scripture and sheds great light on the reality of grace.

If you decide to read this I would love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!!

Dear Tooth Fairy

Olivia lost a tooth this weekend, her 6th. She decided to leave the Tooth Fairy a note. Phil went in her room before bed, saw her note and made a copy of it. It's things like this that make parenting so fun!!


Liv was a little disappointed the Tooth Fairy didn't leave her a note, but we decided the pen was probably too heavy for the TF to lift ;)!!!
Maybe next time Liv!!

Blogger for Hire?

Ok, so I get that the title of this post could be a little misleading!! Although I would love to be able to build really cool blog designs for people and sell them that's not what this post is about. Several of my friends have decided to hire someone to design and build their blog for them. I think the time has come for me to do the same. There are, however, a few down-sides to this for me...

1. I like change...often.
2. Who would I hire?
3. And the obvious one...price.

The positive is that I think they look so neat when they're done up right. I also hope that a new and more personalized blog would motivate me to be more regular in posting. Here is where I ask for your help. If you run across a super-cute blog please send me a link or the name of who built it. I would also love to hear what you guys have to say about how you think my blog should look (theme, etc.) that would fit our family!!

Love ya!! :)

Christmas 2010

God is amazing!! I honestly wasn't sure how the holidays would go for us but God came through...again. I'm not sure why I ever doubt Him.
Phil went to my family Christmas with me and the kids, and Jeana, for Christmas Eve. The next day we spent most of it with Phil's family! It was a great Christmas!

This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!

Easton's 9th Birthday

For Easton's 9th Birthday he decided to have his party at the Warren Theatre to see Tron. He had a great party and the movie was just as good!!
The kids...

E blowing out the candles with Amelia!

Jared & Easton

Easton & Dad

Easton & Mom

Social Network Christmas

Happy 9th Birthday, Easton!!

Nine years ago today God brought into this world a sweetly stubborn baby boy. Easton is the kid that always keeps us guessing. He's such a little lover. We love you so much Easton. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

My Thoughts

I have been MIA from my blog and I hate that! I really enjoy writing posts, even though only a few people probably even read them. I am a big believer in journaling and this is just another outlet for me to express and share things that are going on in my life. I've been dealing with some hard things lately and that has left me with no desire to blog. Actually, I don't even feel like I have anything to post. I am slowly healing, thanks to an amazing and faithful God. He is teaching me so much about myself and other people. I have the most amazing friends and parents (x2). I truly cannot comprehend how people make it through the valleys of life without Him. He makes so many promises to us that He WILL keep, we just have to have faith and a willing heart. I am amazed to look back and see all the ways God had blessed me and my family. Sometimes I don't even realize they are blessings until I move past them.

Last night a great friend, Becky, called me up and said she had cooked a roast and asked if I wanted half of it. Heck yeah!! We were seriously planning on eating leftovers, no one was happy about that. My kids were so excited to have roast. So Parker peeled potatoes while me and Liv picked up the roast. My boys devoured that roast. It was tender, like butta ;)! There was just a little bit left but both boys made sure to tell me not to throw it away!! It was a good night. Thanks Becky! God is looking over us.

I am so blessed by genuine friendships. It's times like this when you find out who your true friends are. I love that I can tell any of them about my day and how I'm really feeling and they will still love me ;)! I love that I can ask them to pray for me and I know prayers will go up. I love that I can talk with them about our Saviour. What a blessing.

Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me. Psalm 54:4

I want this time of my life to have purpose. I don't want to go through all of this in vain and with nothing to show. I know God will redeem this entire situation...I just need to be patient.

One of my favorite verses that has given me a lot of strength throughout is Exodus 14:14, The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. It's such an uncomplicated verse and has brought me so much peace.

If you are struggling with ANYTHING in your life, look to God. He alone is the great Transformer and Redeemer. Seek Him with all your heart and He will always be faithful.

In love,
Kelly :)

My Name is Pride

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you are wrong.
I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...

If you stick with me

You'll never know.

Praying God's Word~Beth Moore

Spontaneous Singing

I think this is amazing...just wish I could have been there to experience it live.

Rock or Sand

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7:25-27

Things seldom turn out like we want. Thank God He is a god of promises and lately I can see how real those promises are. Hebrews 13:5 promises that God will never leave us nor forsake us. I know that to be true even in the darkest places of this world.

Please don't ever discount Satan either. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, 1 Peter 5:8.
It isn't enough to know Satan is real, we are told to be alert. He's sneaky and unless you are watching you're liable to fall victim.

I will probably make some changes to this blog soon...possibly starting another one. I will keep you informed of those changes but please keep praying!! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to 'pray continually'.

I WILL NOT BE BLOWN OVER!!

I love you!

Little Reader

Olivia loves to read, especially out loud, like she has an audience. She'll ask us a lot of times if she can read to us. I try to embrace these times because I know one day she won't want to sit and read to me...she's growing quickly!!
Last night Phil went in her room and listened to her for awhile. I thought that was so sweet!!

Keep reading Livie...it's such a blessing!! Love you!!