Weekend Happenings

This weekend was kinda my weekend at the house.  Jonah and Courtney went to Gatlinburg with the youth group for CYC and Phillip worked.  So with the scrapbook retreat just around the corner and my scrapbook room in a disarray, sorta.  I devoted my weekend to preparing for the retreat.  I sorted through alot of stuff and pulled out over two boxes of items to sell at the consignment table. 

Then I started power sorting an album for the retreat and that's what led to this mess and an aching back!!  I do apologize for the mess, but trying to pack for a retreat is a crazy process that involves lots of bags, as you can see they were everywhere.

As I was on a hunt for the right paper, I decided that it was time to sort through my patterned paper which I keep stored and sorted by colors in paper trays on this book case.  By the way, ignore the shadeless lamp on top of the book case, it's my Goodwill find that I need to buy a shade for.

I must have sat on the floor for a good hour (therefore the aching back) sorting through and getting rid of paper, most of which were already sorted by colors but a couple of the trays at the top are speciality (seasonal, holiday, speciality, etc) those trays took the longest, since I wanted to sort them back out.



Sad thing is this is the after picture and you can barely tell that I removed any paper, but I do have proof (see next picture).

This stack of printed paper, is going on the consignment table in hopes of not making it's way back to my scrapbook room and instead into the heart of someone who could use A LOT of printed paper.  It's close to 4 inches and yes, that is my pile of stuff to sell in the background.

If you are wondering where I keep my solids, here you go.... 

 I used to have all my paper in trays but I found that I liked to having my solids where I could pack them up and take them to a crop if need be.  It's still tight when I'm looking for a certain color but I'm hoping that after this scrapbook retreat I'll use some of it and it won't be as tight.  There is always someone needing a certain color so maybe I can thin out some of my solids.

By the way, I did take a break to go see the movie, Safe Haven with Phillip.  It was just as good as the book, a must see!  As for Jonah and Courtney, they had a wonderful time in Gatlinburg with their youth group and arrived home safely Sunday afternoon.  The stories they told made me wish that I had went.

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you.

Psalm 37:5

Blessings to all ~

Carla

My Baby turns 17!!!

It's hard to believe that last week, Jonah turned 17.  Wow, where does the time go???  It seems like just yesterday I was enjoying the 18 hours of labor that he was putting me through, 

then I had to have a c-section....ha!  

For Jonah's birthday every year he goes snow skiing, which this year him and his dad went to Winterplace in West Virginia.  I not a big skier so I spent the day visiting with my sister in near by Charlestown, WV. 

It's a tradition to either eat out for your birthday or I cook birthday supper, usually the later is what everyone chooses and as always, Jonah asked for a cookie cake.

Jonah taking a picture of his game to send to a friend and then he was off to play his game for the evening.  Talk about a quite evening but it was what he wanted to do.  Oh and by the way, the Sonic drink is from him and his sister stopping by there after practice and NO, they didn't bring one.

Seventeen things about my baby boy:

1. loves to run
2. he's 5'11"
3. wants to be either a engineer or an architect
4. plans on attending Western Kentucky University
5. enjoys playing video games
6. loves to be the center of attention, always has been
7. is very energetic 
8. can make the best of any situation
9. is a responsible driver
10. has strong beliefs
11. is very creative
12. has a wild imagination
13. has a sharp memory
14. has only 2 merit badges and his Eagle Scout project and he will be an Eagle Scout
15. his hair was not always as curly as it is now
16. loves to be outdoors
17. enjoys long distance bike riding, like 10 miles or more

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13

Blessings to all ~

Carla

White Chicken Chili

I have been looking for a good White Chicken Chili and I think I've found the one for our family.   It's easy, a little spicy and oh so yummy!!!

Source: Jenna Blogs

2 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
½ cup low sodium chicken broth
12 oz reduced fat cream cheese (a block and a half)
1 can of kidney beans, rinsed
1 can of black beans, rinsed
1 can of white northern beans, rinsed
1 undrained can of mild rotel
1 undrained can of sweet corn kernels
1 minced clove of garlic
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon hot Mexican chili powder

Boil raw chicken breasts in water until cooked, about 30-40 minutes. Shred.

In a dutch oven, mix all ingredients, including chicken, together over medium heat. Cook until everything is hot and well mixed, about 10-15 minutes.

In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Colossians 2:3

Blessings to all ~
Carla

Shrimp Scampi

This has got to be one of the easiest Shrimp Scampi Recipe that there is and yes, I found it on Pinterest.  What would I ever do with out it??!!??

• 4-5 dozen shrimp (I purchased a 24 oz bag of frozen shrimp)
• stick of butter
• one lemon
• package of dry zesty Italian salad dressing

Melt a stick of butter in the pan. Slice one lemon and layer it on top of the butter.

Put down fresh or thawed shrimp, then sprinkle one pack of dried Italian seasoning. Put in the oven and bake at 350 for 15 min. Best Shrimp you will EVER taste:)

Sorry, between the three of us, Courtney doesn't like seafood, there weren't any leftovers.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you

 may know the hope to which

He has called you...

Ephesians 1:18

Blessings to all ~

Carla

Valentine's Decor

This post will mostly be pictures.  Just a few weeks after the New Year I put my Valentine's Decor out so don't ask me why the day before Vday I'm posting pictures.  I know it doesn't make sense, well nothing makes sense to me here lately. 

Of course, there is always some type of plate on my plate stand.  This one comes in second place to the Halloween plate that I made.



Dining Room

Kinda cheesy but for the holiday, I like it :)

Letters came from Hobby Lobby and then I added the

red polka dots.

The table runner came from Pottery Barn, years ago.

Kitchen Wall

I am so sorry that I can not find the link for the red Valentine print. 
It's a couple years old now.

The gray and white striped print can be found here.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.

Psalm 28:7

Blessings to all ~

Carla

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!!!!  Today is what I'm Loving wednesday!

I'm Loving... that the movie Safe Haven comes out tomorrow.  I'm a BIG fan of Nicholas Sparks, I've read the book and I hope that I'm not too disappointed by the movie.  The book was awesome, read it in 2 days.

I'm Loving... that even though my kids are 26 months apart in age and separate genders, they are best friends.  I took this picture the other day of them working on planning their schedules for next year.  I love that they get along so well.  I have truly been blessed!!!

I'm Loving... how well Jonah performed last night at the Mason Dixon qualifier for track.  He ran a 10:33 PR in the 2 mile.  He looked amazing!!! I snapped this picture of him and Rascal on the couch asleep after we had supper last night.  Since I was working the gate and it was dark when he ran, I didn't take any pictures at the track.  I know I have to get better, at one time I was, in fact I think I took too many.

I'm Loving... that tomorrow is Valentine's.  Hubby and I don't do anything elaborate but I do fix a nice dinner for the family always eating in the dinning room with the china, yes this possibly the third time during the year that we use the china.  We started this tradition when the kids were little and it was easier to stay at home then find a sitter and fight the crowed restaurants.  Here's a little sneak peak of my dinning room table decor. 

What are you Loving on this Wednesday????

  

...the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Blessings to all ~

Carla

Rainy Sunday

Have you ever had one of those productive days?

 Well yesterday, was mine.  I woke up earlier then normal to get ready for church since Courtney had a friend spend the night with her Saturday night.  Made waffles for the crew and had the kitchen clean before church, now I will admit that I got busy talking to some people after church and I forgot about a meeting that I was suppose to attend after Sunday school.....oops.

However, the afternoon just continued being productive.  The guys were able to wash my van before the afternoon rain showers came.  ALL the laundry got done even the towels that the guys used to dry the van  inside the garage when it started raining.  Rascal got a bath, coupons got clipped (I can't tell you the last time I clipped my coupons on a Sunday).  I cleaned out my purse, YIKES!!!

Phillip and I even sat down and made out a menu for the week and went grocery shopping in the rain.  Somebody pinch me PLEASE!!!!!  For once I do not have to make multiple trips to the grocery store this week to pick up items for supper, lunch, or breakfast. 

Okay.....I have decided every Sunday it needs to be a Rainy Sunday, plain and simple.  If only I would have had a nap it would have been perfect!!!!

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting...

James 1:6

Blessings to all ~

Carla

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!!! Today is what I'm Loving wednesday!

I'm Loving...   a good trip to Home Goods, unfortunate for me, the closest one is about an hour and a half, not very convenient.  So a couple weeks ago while visiting my sister in W.V. I made it a point to stop at Home Goods.  That's where I found this adorable owl tea towel and picked up a couple white plates for my dining room wall.  I also bought this clear apothecary jar for my cotton balls since Phillip broke the lid to ours back last summer and I found this white porcelain jar on clearance (gotta love that).

I'm Loving... that I don't drink carbonated drinks but I love sweet tea (decaffeinated) and now I am hooked on cranberry juice and cranberry grape juice, trying to buy the kind with the least amount of sugar.

I'm Loving... this Jade plant that I recently bought, I'm so ready for SPRING!!! 

I'm Loving... this lantern that I bought at Hobby Lobby with the gift card that my MIL gave me for Christmas.  I've been eyeing them since last summer but couldn't bring myself to spend the money on it, so when I received a gift card to Hobby Lobby at Christmas, I knew exactly what I was going to buy.

I'm Loving... Rascal....of course!!!!  Everyday when I come home from work he wants to play ball.  He'll bring you his ball until you cave and play with him. 

What are you LOVING this Wednesday???  Hope you have a great day.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.

Psalm 62:5

Blessings to all ~

Carla

Ratchet Wednesday

This week is homecoming week at the kids school and today is Ratchet Wednesday.  Let me just start by explaining what Ratchet Wednesday is because I had to ask for a definition of it myself.  Ratchet Wednesday is when you wear something that you normal would not be caught dead it, hence the pictures below of Jonah and Courtney.

I will say that I laughed so hard when she pulled these pants out of the bag. 

It's hard to see Jonah's hat but it's one of those little straw tourist hat that you would buy in Mexico and his tie has Jesus on it. 

If you wondering where you may pick up such attire, I hate to say it, but the kids hit up the local GW with their friends and you know that supply is limited.  So, I'm sorry and Courtney's pants even though she bought them new with tags are still probably still no where to be found unles you go back in time to the 70's.

Hope everyone had a good laugh and has a wonderful Wednesday.

It's rainy here but not cold so I can't complain too much, I'll take the rain over the cold any day.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others...

1 Peter 4:10

Blessings to all ~

Carla

Wildcat Invitational

Last weekend Jonah ran the Wildcat Invitational at Nutter field in Lexington, KY.  This is the first race of the track season and is considered to be one of the largest, with the top schools from all over the state competing. 

Jonah competed in the mile, two mile and the 4 x 8 relay.  He PR in the mile with a time of 4:57:80 and also PR in the two mile with a time of 10:46:90. 

He makes me one proud momma!!  I love this picture of the two of us.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 23:7

Blessings to all~

Carla

Chess Pie for National Pie Day

***Wednesday, January 23rd is National Pie Day***

Confession... I will choose a pie over a piece of cake any day of the week... another confession I grew up in the south attended MANY church potlucks but never heard of a Chess Pie until moving to Kentucky.  With that said it's a revered southern classic dessert that I now see at every potluck and it's become my favorite behind a good old coconut cream.....yum!!!!

Chess Pie

3 eggs
1 1/2 C sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp corn meal
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick butter (8 Tbsp), melted

1. Beat eggs, add sugar, flour and cornmeal, mix well with spoon or spatula.
2. Mix in vinegar, milk and vanilla.
3. Add the butter last, mix well.
4. Pour into unbaked 9" pie crust.
5. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until firm in the middle. I baked mine for 60 minutes, turned the oven off, opened the door to look at it, then I left it in the oven with the door closed for another 60 minutes.

A few helpful hints
•Just stir this together with a spoon/spatula, no kitchen electrics.

•I've read the addition of flour in this recipe helps set the custard.

•Many folks call for leaving the pie in the oven to cool after the 50 minutes are up, I've read that helps set the custard too. I chose to do that.

•The corn meal is supposed to rise and get brown, it's makes a great crust.

•I used 2% milk, I have no doubt you could use anything: buttermilk, evaporated milk, any type of cream or half and half.

Hope you enjoy!!!

...the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Blessings to all ~
Carla

Vitamin D Deficiency

Vit. D deficiency can lead to a variety of health problems - fatigue, muscle pain, MIGRAINES, etc. Who would have thought???? It also can lead to other diseases such as Crohns and Thyroid.....Any how...

Recently I was tested for Vitamin D Deficiency. The doctor I go to recommended that 'normal' levels are around 40-50 units of Vit. D.  My level was 9 :(

As a result, I am currently taking, once a week, a 50,000 IU Vit. D pill, which is a Rx and then 2,000 IU Vit . D everyday. For ten weeks, then I'll go in for a new blood test to ensure that my Vit. D levels are boosted.

I am now two weeks into the large dosage of vitamin D and so far not feeling any different.  I know, I know!!! It's going to take some time, but it is a hard struggle for me right now with the migraines and now this.  We don't feel like this is the culprit of my migraines but we sure hope this is the reason why I have been feeling HORRIBLE since the middle of December.  Horrible as in "feel like I've been hit my a mack truck," kind of horrible but not really sure what the issue is, just feeling overly tired, sluggish, out of sorts, lots of aches and pains, can't focus and sometimes can't tell you what you just told me.  CRAZY!!!

I pray for strength and patience to get through this and that the doctors can come up with some answers soon.  I have an appointment with my Neurologist next week as well as a follow up appointment with my Cardiologists and a stress echo test.

I ask for prayers from all who reads my blog.  Right now, everyday is a struggle for me.  I struggle with focusing on my work pretty much anything, I fight fatigue on a daily basis and the word  frustrated, is so me, right now.

He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 40:28

Blessings to all,
Carla

My Mema Would Say

I remember when I was a little girl my "mema" would always say, "however you spend NewYear's Day is how you'll spend the rest of the year."  Well, I know it's an "old wise tale," but if it was true, the rest of my year will look like this.

• spent a late morning in bed with my hubby
• nice hot bath (undisturbed)
• got all the laundry done 
• Christmas decorations completely put away
• quick trip to Walmart and Lowes (they had exactly what we needed...scary)
• nice dinner with leftovers for lunch this week :)
• proof read Jonah's GSP application
• another nice long bath, this time I turned on the music and lit some candles
• plucked my eyebrows
• painted my nails
• posting on my blog before 10 p.m. and then heading to bed

Just a few of my highlights on this first day of 2013.  Now if my "Mema" is correct, the rest of my year should be smooth sailing.  Ha!!!  Love that lady, God rest her soul.  Hope that everyone had a wonderful first day of the New Year.  May God Bless each and everyone of you throughout  the upcoming year.  Really is it......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Blessings to all~

Carla

Looking Back

12 Things in 2012

1. Jonah got his driver's permit
2. Carla went back to work for Meyer Mortgage Corporation
3. Carla lost her gallbladder :(
4. Both kids lettered in track
5. We built a cement pond in our back yard, like the Clampetts
6. Jonah got his first car
7. Courtney made it to high school :)
8. Jonah enrolled in his first college class
9. Phillip transferred to BG from Franklin
10. Enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our special neighbors Rick and Jackie
11. Courtney auditioned for the high school musical, Beauty and the Beast and MADE IT!!!!
12. Jonah lettered in cross country

..whatever is true...whatever is pure...think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Blessings to all~
Carla

A Few Pictures of Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful day.  We truly enjoyed our day together as a family.  I think the kids stayed in their pj's all day and with living 3 states away from family we didn't venture out of the house all day.  Even though it was sad not being with our family for the holidays. 

Every year Rascal gets a Christmas present... a gift bag of dingo bones and every year, he takes one bone out of the bag at a time until he has every bone out of the bag and they are all nice and neat in a little pile.  Then he guards them for the rest of the day, slowly chewing on then.  It's hilarious!!!  It's the first gift that we do just because it's so much fun to watch.

The kids went shopping for Phillip and I this year, they thought it would be neat for Phillip to have a electronic dart board for the bonus room.

The kids dressed in their Christmas pj's, of course always a tradition to open the night before Christmas.

I told Phillip that the only thing I wanted this year was a camcorder,

we haven't had one since the movers stole ours in 2007.

I can't get over the fact that these BIG BULKY headphones are back in style.  They were in style when I was in like middle school and that seems like forever ago.

We surprised Courtney this year with an iphone.  As she was unwrapping her present I called the new phone, which was in the box, the phone started ringing and her face was PRICELESS!!!!!  She needed a new phone, her other phone was a piece of junk!!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Blessings to all ~

Carla