Merry Christmas

Well, as some may know, I had issues with our Christmas card this year. The one you see here, was my pride and joy however long story short, it was very pixelated (sp? if a word). This was card number 1, card number 2 which I ordered online and returned, I was displeased with...after three attempts, the third one I was happy with and a Christmas card finally made the mail and hopefully arrived before today. If you were over looked I apologized, there is a story behind the addressing of the cards also but I'll save that for another day, maybe.

Anyway, to all my friends, family and fellow bloggers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009

Blessings to all-
Carla

Halloween Goo and Costume Mania

What a face!!

(from left to right) Phillip's creation, Jonah's, mine and Courtney's

Courtney and Rascal, our little pumpkin


The fun of carving pumpkins...cleaning out the pumpkin goo!

Jonah and Carla

Lots of Goo!!


Costume Mania

This year Jonah was Father Time and Courntey was Pinocchio.

Thirteen Thanksgiving's Blessings

As Thanksgiving Day 2008 is coming to an end and my house that was full of noise early today is now quiet. I thought that I would surprise everyone with a post at the end of this Blessed Day.
So what better way then to share with you thirteen ways that I am blessed...

1. God's grace... He died for me and then saved me!


2. I have a husband that loves and supports me (married 15 years!).


3. I am blessed with 2 beautiful children that I adore.


4. I have great friends and family that I love.


5. I was raised by godly parents that loved me no matter what!


6. I have the choice to homeschool my kids (and I am loving it!).


7. I have the freedom to worship the One and Only God!


8. God has provided for all my needs.


9. God has also provided for some of my wants.


10. I have a roof over my head.


11. I am able to stay home with my kids.


12. My husband has a job that provides for all our needs.


13. God loves me and will never forsake me!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Many Blessings to everyone who visits and reads my blog.
Blessings to all,
Carla

Blog Award

I have been nominated by Beth for an "I Love (Heart) Your Blog Award." Thanks! Due to this honor, I must answer the following questions with one word answers and nominate 10 other blogs for the "I heart your blog" award.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Where is your significant other? office
3. Your hair color? Blonde
4. Your mother? heaven
5. Your father? strong
6. Your favorite thing? family
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? debt-free
9. The room you're in? family
10. Your hobby? scrapbooking
11. Your fear? Loss
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Kentucky
13. Where were you last night? church
14. What you're not? single
15. One of your wish-list items? Jeans
16. Where you grew up? Starke
17. The last thing you did? Facebook
18. What are you wearing? clothes
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pet? dog
21. Your computer? laptop
22. Your mood? sleepy
23. Missing someone? mother
24. Your car? mini-van
25. Something you're not wearing? shorts
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? short
28. Love someone? Phillip
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When is the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Tuesday

Whew - that's a challenge to only do one word!

It's Been a While

It's been a while since I have blogged...I kinda felt that there was nothing exciting to write about, but then I realized that I was just going through a time when I have tried to stay focus on what the Lord has in store for me and my family. Truth be known, I have been searching...asking God for direction as to where our life needs to take us. We have now been in Ocala for a year and even though I do not hate living here, I am ready to move tomorrow if we could. If I could only turn back time and Phillip and I knew then what we know now, we would have fought to stay in BG. With this said, I have been going through some personal issues and knew that I needed to rely on God with my whole heart. You know, saying that phrase seems easy, right? I mean, for those who call ourselves Christians, we are suppose to lean on him with everything that we have, but how often do we give it to him and then take it right back? That is sooooo my problem, I want to handle everything myself, I want to be in control, I am sooooo guilty of this. Just because it is not in OUR timing, I feel God is not aware of our situation when in reality he is aware of all and has a plan for all. With that in mind, I have memorized Philippians 4:6 " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God." I would appreciate any prayers that God would give me direction and peace at this time.

Blessings to all~
Carla

Catch a Wave

Since we live just an hour from the beach, an afternoon spent at the beach is not hard to do, just load up the cooler, make sure we have everything and head in that direction. This past weekend that is exactly what we did. We spent an afternoon at the beach, soaking up the rays, splashing in the waves, and enjoying our time together as a family. The waves were awesome, the kids enjoyed riding their boogie boards and playing in the sand. The weather was beautiful not one cloud, which this time of year it can be unpredictable.

Here are a few pictures that I thought I would share.



What a pose!
I like the sailboat in the background.
I am surprised that I captured this one on camera.

Courtney crossed right over the back over Jonah, he barely felt her.

Our 15th Anniversary

On this day, fifteen years ago, Phillip and I said, "I Do." Where does the time go? And how the styles changes? I think there was more dress there, then there was me.

A Week in Review

This week has flew by and I am ready for the three day weekend. Here’s a few things that has been going on around our house…..

• Last Saturday my Cricut died - I was heartbroken until I found out that luckily it was still under warranty. So, I am waiting for a replacement to arrive any day now. Okay for any non-scrapbookers, it is not a bug or a critter, it is the most cleaver die cutting tool around and mine kicked the bucket last weekend. :(

• Monday night was Jonah’s Court of Honor for Boy Scouts and he did it again, he advanced in rank to First Class Scout. Way to go!!! He totally surprised me on this one.

• I have fallen back into the routine of having weekly migraines this week I think a small piece of banana caused it. It lasted a little over two days.

• I turned 35 this week. It is soooo hard to believe that I am 35. I started the day out battling the remains of a migraine and ended the day with no migraine so HBTM. Over all it was a great day. I received a large number of calls, went out for dinner and tonight I am enjoying the house to myself. So guess what I am doing? SCRAPBOOKING!!!

• Phillip and Courtney is heading out for dinner and a movie tonight.

• Jonah is heading to Sonquest in Orlando, this weekend, with the youth group from our church. So, I pray that the youth group has a safe trip and a wonderful time.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!! Enjoy the three day weekend, I sure plan on it!!!
Blessings to all~
Carla

You Gotta Love Them!!

Saturday and Sunday was again rainy days for us even though Fay had departed from our area. On Staurday, the kids were outside playing with their friends in between the rain showers, which I was aware of. Just like I was aware of the fact that Fay had turned the lot next to our house into a large mud pit but I never expected this when Phillip called me to the door after the kids rang the doorbell. Needless to say I stayed calm, I hosed them off in the backyard and into the showers they went. What a muddy mess!!!!

Fay, Fay, Go Away

It has been a long week. Over a week now we have been dealing with Tropical Storm Fay. Wondering.... where and when she would hit, it has been crazy. The schools has been out all week except for Monday, church was cancelled Wednesday night, the stores has been busy. Tropical Storm Fay never made hurricane status but she sure left a wet mess and has hung around the state for a long time and is still here. Never did I imagine that she would drop so much ran and last sooooooo long and chose to mark its path through our county, days after she was initially suppose to hit the state. Luckily, all we have seen is just some down tree limbs and heavy rains, no major flooding, known in our area as of right now. Praise God! As of this post, the wind is still whipping around outside and the bands of rain are still very strong, but there has not been any power outages or lightening. With all that said the kids have enjoyed this afternoon outside playing in the rain.........

Singing and dancing in the rain

Heavy rains can come really quick, but that does not stop the kids.

Courtney shows how strong the wind is!

Courtney gave up on the umbrella and decided to tube down our street, not really, but she tried. The water was not quite deep enough.

Jonah and Courtney
My two wet kiddos

Back to School

It's official....yesterday was the Starling's first day of school for the 2008-2009 school year, which seems odd since most of my friend's children have already been in school for almost two weeks. But since Florida passed a "save our summer" bill a couple of years a ago, schools do not start now until around the 20th of August, so we chose to do the same.

Where does time go? It seems like just yesterday, Jonah was starting kindergarten and now he is starting the 7th grade. Four of his classes he is taking online this year through Florida Virtual, which has him sooooo excited that he is already working ahead in his classes, let's hope he keeps it up! The program is a really neat program and will help him in many ways, plus he thinks it cool that he gets to work on a laptop. I can not believe that this year marks the 5th year that we have been home schooling, WOW, which means that my little girl is now in the 5th grade. She is growing up so fast. We had an awesome first day. Everyone woke up on time, the four of us had a nice breakfast together and by 8 we had started school. Monday is usually Phillip's office day so he was home all day and since most kids do not get to wear pj's to school on the first day, I did not insist that the kids get dress at a certain time like I had in the past. There will be plenty of other days for that. Courtney, in her pj's, reading Anne of Green Gables
My favorite 5th grader
Teacher's pet!

Courtney's Trip to Tn

A little late but I thought that I would share a few of the pictures from Courtney's trip to Tn with her friend Ashley. Yes, my wonderful friend Minta gave me a CD full of pictures to document Courtney's first trip without mom and dad. She had a blast and I really think she would have stayed longer if that was an option. The week was full of exciting things including a trip to Dollywood, the Fun Factory, Flyaway (an indoor skydiving), the Applebarn, a day of horseback riding, and tubing down a river, not to mention the things that they did around Ashley's grandparent's house. Overall, she had an awesome time. Courtney and Ashely - Like "Two Peas in a Pod"
This creek runs beside Ashley's Grandparents place.

It is where the kids waded, fished and just were able to be kids.

Ashley's grandfather took the girls riding through the mountains in his Jeep
Tubing down deep creek
Courtney and Ashley posing in front of a bear

in downtown Cherokee on the way to Dollywood.
Courtney and her horse Savannah

Praise God!

Let me just say THANK YOU to everyone out there that has said a prayer for me over the last several months. I just realized that it has been 17 days since I have had a MAJOR migraine,one that has put me in bed for three days. I am still on a very strict diet, exercising daily, taking several preventative medicines and trying to get an adequate amount of sleep. I have learned to live without an ice cold Pepsi (it has been 4 months) and even though I still crave that Hawaiian Pizza, I am dealing with it, however it was hard a couple weeks ago when at the youth lock-in, Phillip and I was asked to stay for supper they were ordering pizza and I heard several of the kids and adults say order plenty of Hawaiian Pizza, needless to say we did not stay for supper. Phillip did take me to Carrabba's Italian Grill instead, what a great husband! Eating out has become a challenge for me, I am pretty safe to stick with a salad or pasta with a white sauce nothing with aged cheese (of course the good stuff) or MSG. It does have me eating healthier, though. I am eating more organic, which means yes, I have lost weight and Courtney and I are spending some time shopping in the same section together, which is kinda fun for now. Thanks again for all the prayers. I see the neurologist again September 18, but for now I am on the right track, I think! Happy Friday!

Blessings to all~
Carla

MAMMA MIA!

I have to say that when my friend Minta called and asked if I wanted to go and see it with her I was a little hesitant. She wanted to see it, I wanted the girls night out! But once I started watching it I loved it! The only slightly painful part was listening to Pierce Brosnan sing!!! He is adorably cute but his singing is horrible. However, the movie ROCKS and if you go to see it make sure you sit through the credits at the end........ We laughed so hard!!! Let me know if you've seen it.

An Uplifting Weekend

This past weekend was the Spiritual Growth Workshop in Orlando, Phillip, Jonah, Courtney and myself as well as about 20 other families from our church attended this uplifting event. Courtney attended the Teen classes with Jonah and several of the teens from our church and absorbed just as much as they did, if not more. The schedule was jam pack from 8a.m. until 10 p.m. both Friday and Saturday but the speakers were AWESOME!! Since it was a workshop you were able to choose the classes that you wanted to attend, Phillip and I ended up in several of Dr. Randy Lowry's classes, who is the president Lipscomp University and let me just say he is a wonderful, speaker/teacher. Another very interesting class that we took in a room that ended up being standing room only, was taught by John Clayton, The new Atheism: Intelligent Design & Evolution, needless to say, my head was spinning after that class, this man was an atheist until in his early 20's, at which he learned about Christ and when he was baptized. I wish everyone could have attended this weekend, there was a class for everyone, classes on how we got the Bible to teaching faith to our children and the great thing was if you could not attend a classes b/c of another class then you could request a CD of the class. Like I said it was a very uplifting weekend, Keith Lancaster was there to lead the Praise & Worship. Oh, and I ran into a guy that I had not seen since Bible camp 18 years ago, he taught one of the teen classes that Jonah and Courtney attended. I would have never recognized who he was, sad to say, but he knew me. Have I not change like I thought I have................

.....................I guess I haven't change like I thought I have. Sunday night was Super Sunday for the Teens at church, meaning Jonah (I know it is still hard to believe). Anyway, since Jonah was at Super Sunday, Phillip, Courtney and I decided to attend the Central C of C, before church an Elder introduced himself to me and I immediately recognized his last name as some one that went to camp with, not him but his daughter. Long story short, Terri and I meet at Bible camp when we were about Courtney's age and every year we would meet back at camp. Then throughout the year we would write (yes that was the days of pen and paper) back and forth to each other. But what was so funny, I don't think I would have recognized her, but as soon as I said her name and gave her a little hint, she knew who I was. Maybe its my memory? Anyway What an amazing weekend, to be uplifted to the Lord and to run across to old friends from camp all in the same weekend.

Blessings to all~
Carla

Easy Recipe Thursday

Pasta with Chicken and Basil

6 ounces dried linguine, fettuccine or plain penne pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup fresh snipped basil
finely shredded Parmesan Cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return pasta to pan; keep warm

Meanwhile, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 15 seconds. Add chicken and salt; cook 3 miutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently.

Add chicken mixture to the hot pasta along with the tomato and basil. Add remaining oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle each serving with cheese (if using) and fresh pepper. Makes 4 servings

You can switch out the chicken for shrimp or you can leave out the meat all together and go for a vegetarian dish.

I 've been tagged

I was tagged actually via email but I thought it was time for a new tag, so here goes...

A- Available or Single: Well, I am very and happily TAKEN, married that is for almost 15 years!
B- Beach or Lake: Beach
C- Cake or Pie? Pie--coconut & key lime!
D- Drink of Choice: H20
E- Essential Item you use every day- since H2O is my drink of choice I guess it should be that, but I say my toothbrush and toothpaste
F- Favorite Color: Pink and black
G- gummy bears or Worms: either especially the sour ones
H- Hometown: Starke, Florida
I- Indulgence: a day of scrapbooking with friends!
J- January or February: February - Winterfest with friends
K- Kids & Names: Jonah and Courtney
L- Life is Incomplete without: My children, My family, My faith, & My Friends!
M- Marriage Date: Sept. 4th
N- Number of Siblings- I am the youngest of 3
O- Oranges or apples: Oranges
P- Phobias: snakes
Q- Fave Quote: I really hate this quote but "whatever"
R- Reason to Smile: Watching my children and the silly things that they do
S- Season: Fall- sweaters, jeans, pumpkins, hayrides and falling leaves!
T- Tag 3 or 4 people... Terri, Elaina, Valerie & Tiffany
U- Unknown fact about me: I was in the National Spanish Honor Society in HS. (What a NERD!)
V- Vegetable you don't like: cauliflower
W- Worst Habit: Worrying
X- Xrays: WAY too many to count... plus I went to xray school and don't tell anyone but we practiced on each other a couple of times during clinicals... I could possibly glow in the dark one day
Y- Your favorite food: I love pasta and fruit, not together though!
Z- Zodiac Sign: Virgo- scary enough my sister, mom and I were all virgos

Camp Photos

A little late, but here are a few of my favorite photos from church camp.

The Staff

The Campers

I really took more action photos then anything else and I surprised myself with how little photos I did take, which kinda makes me feel good! Less to stress about developing and scrapbooking!!! Lisa, Diane and I were the Craft Chicks - Monday was FlipFlop day for the girls

We even made a pair of flip flops for Kerry that he sported around Monday night at mail call when he showed off his new "do"
I love this picture, just as much as I love these girls! On Tuesday, I was awaken from an afternoon nap and told to grab my camera the Johnson girls were being baptized at the creek. Tears immediately came!
Courntey can be pretty laid back but when it comes to Family Feud watch out Trajan.
Emily and Jonah in Sweetheart Kickball
Courtney picks her brother the next time they play and I am not sure that Jonah was too happy, I think he was hoping Emily would pick him again, which probably would have happen.

Jonah and Emily in Family Feud
I never thought that I would see Courtney use her teeth to pull a sock off someone else foot.

Her cabin played truth or dare for their skit.
A few of staff members, including myself, put together a skit, can you tell who I was.
Let me just say, I had the BEST time at camp. It was great. The weather was awesome, the staff, the campers, you could have not asked for a better week. Diane, Lisa, and myself, did the crafts, cook grilled cheese for the senior high at midnight almost every night, did cabin inspections in the mornings and helped out wherever we were needed any other time. Kathy was the nurse and hung out with us when she wasn't pulled in every other direction.
Megan and Courtney - Clowning Around on Friday!