Prayer Requests

This is a follow up on the Prayer Requests that I posted in my random thoughts on Tuesday post.

◦My friend's mother who had the surgery on Wednesday for the brain aneurysm, did not go so well.  They ended up finding a second aneurysm while they were in surgery and both of them were located in a way that they could not get to them with the procedure that they were doing.  So in three weeks she will be re-evaluated and will more then likely be rescheduled for another surgery this time it will be more invasive.  Please pray for her and her family.  My mother died 8 years ago because of an aneurysm and I cringe every time I hear of someone with one.  We never knew that my mother had one until after her death.

◦As for my my friend's custody hearing, nothing was decided after a very, very, very long day.  Her attorney was positive about the day but my friend was a bit disappointed, however she's determined and her TRUST is in the LORD!!! She has another court date set for August and her attorney says that something will be decided then.

Please, please remember these two ladies in your prayers.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love"

1 Corinthians 13:13

Blessing to all~
Carla

Blog Commenting Challenge: Day 4

As for today's topic it is: Tell us about your hobbies! What do you do in your free time? What are your favorite books, movies, music etc?

First of all.....What is FREE TIME?????  Especially when you are a mother, wife, work, involved in church, well, I don't have to keep on going because I am sure that everyone who is reading this blog right now knows what I am talking about because we all have a BUSY schedule, I am sure. 

But in the little amount of FREE time that I do have. I like to sneak away to my scrapbooking room.  I've been scrapbooking since my son was 1 1/2, so about 15 years.  I have around 50 scrapbooks, most of which is in chronicalogical order, I'm a little OCD about that.  Then I have several scrapbooks that are just of special books; baby books, school books, family vacations, anniversary trips, and our wedding album.  I hate to think how much I have spent over the years both time and money, of course it hasn't been wasted but my scrapbook buddies and I laugh to think about it and what we've spent in supplies.  SHHH!!!  Don't tell our spouses!!!!

Along with Scrapbooking I have really put this little machine to use, it's my cricut.  In fact with in the last couple of years I have probably use this machine more with cutting vinyl for decorative things then for scrapbooking.

 Below are just a few things that I have made with my cricut and vinyl.  Are these not the cutest buckets?  I made them for a birthday party for a friend.

Another one of my plates, this one of course being for valentines day.

 Talk about dressing up a cupcake holder, just a some vinyl and oh, so cute!!!!

 

 I found this idea on Pinterest.  Of course I had to tweak it.  I made mine on a piece of wood board that we had in a garage and I had everything else.  So it was a no cost project, which I love :)

This is a collection of family photos that I hung on a small wall heading up to our bonus room.  I used my cricut to cut the word "FAMILY" out of vinyl.

LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning...

Isaiah 33:2

Blessings to all~



Blog Commenting Challenge: Day 3

Today's challenge asks us about our social media.  Well, I have a facebook account, but I keep it private. I use it to keep up with friends and family and share pictures of my kiddos.  I'm truly not a BIG fan of Facebook and if it wasn't for offending some people I would probably either delete about 75% of my "friends" or get rid of the account.  Like my brother in law says "facebook's the devil" and I have to agree 9 times out of 10.  People can be to vocal on FB and the garbage that is on there, well...... let me move on.

I do have a Twitter account and honestly I read more tweets then I post,  I think I may have posted 3 times, sad I know.  I do have many Pinterest boards. I love Pinterest. I don't go on it nearly as much as I used to but I still love it. I have tried quite a few of the receipes I pinned and I have even attempted a few of the projects!

I also read several blogs.  I love blogs that have variety in them, the ones that share their secrets on how they decorate and their bargin finds as well as their family.  A few of my favorite blogs are Bless Our Nest and Kellys Korner

You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Blessing to all~

Random Thoughts on Tuesday

• This week is VBS at our church.  Which means late nights for our family but I just love seeing all the faces of the little kids and I LOVE the songs that we sing at VBS, like the Hippo song.  The theme this year is All Aboard the Kingdom Express - Staying on Track in a Troubled World. 
• I would love to be asleep right now but instead I am waiting on clothes in the dryer.  I CAN"T STAND to leave clothes in the dryer after they are dry.
• The Big Bang Theory is on right now, yeah it's a rerun but I Luv the show.......does anyone else???? 
• My desk at work this week has been in overload.....UGH!!!!
• I'm slightly sad at how fast the summer break seams to be flying by.  I just cringe when I see a display of school supplies.
• I have massive organizing that needs to be done especially in my pantry. 
• Their predicting the highs for the end of the week to reach above 100 and no rain in sight.  For real that is hot especially with no rain, we are bone dry!!! Pretty ridiculous!!!
• It amazes me that I still have to tell my 16 year old son to put down the rubber band and eat his oatmeal when he knows that we were running short on time. 
• My second blog book (2008) came in last week. I guess the next one that I order will be a combination of 3 years combine, for some reason I am not so enthused about ordering that one.
• My 2 favorite apps on my phone right now are Sound Hound and Free Music Download
• I miss my old blog friends.  They all quit blogging and so did I for a while.....oh well, I am blogging for the memories not the comments, besides someone is reading this silly blog because it shows up number of views.
• I'm pretty burned out on Facebook and the garbage that comes across it.  My brother in law always says that Facebook is the devil and sometimes most times that is true.
• ***Prayer Requests*** 
• My friend's mother is having surgery in the morning.  She has an brain aneurysm, her second one.  Please pray for her.  
• I have another friend who is heading to custody hearing tomorrow with her close friend.  Her friend has requested that the following things specifically be lifted up in prayer: Justice, Fairness, and Truth.  Please pray for her.

Told you it was ALL random..... =)

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is GOOD. His love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

Blessing to all~

Blog Commenting Challenge: Day 2!

Today Jennas Journey's Blog Commenting Challenge is....Tell us about your blog. What do you blog about? Why do you blog? How did you start blogging? What kinds of things do you/are you willing to share with the world? Where do you find your topic inspiration?

I started blogging in April of 2007, right after I found out that we were moving from Kentucky back to our home state of Florida.  We had lived in Kentucky since 2001 and had made a lot of WONDERFUL friends.  Friends that I wanted to stay in contact with.  Several of those friends had also began blogs of their own so I thought then was as good of time as any to begin a blog of my own. Which by the way if you are confused by yesterdays post we then moved back to Kentucky in 2009, this is when I became a blog slacker and was all into Face Book.

The first couple of years I mainly blogged about family, friends and our adventures in life with an occasional recipe thrown in here or there.  Now, I try to add more variety to my blog such as recipes, decorative ideas, the crafts that I am currently making and of course I still have to keep everyone who still reads (if any) updated on the adventures of our life.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2:20

Blessings to all~

 

Blog Commenting Challenge: Day 1

I am linking up to Jennas Journey today for a Blog Commenting Challenge, in fact it's a week long challenge to get to know fellow bloggers.

If you haven't visited my blog before, then hi! I'm Carla! I am married to a great guy named Phillip and I have been blessed with two wonderful children, Jonah and Courtney. I live in the Bluegrass state, the south central part of Kentucky to be exact. I'm a transplant from Florida. We have two loving dogs. Penelope is our beagle, who we rescued from the pound 7 years ago and then there is Rascal our wanna a be a human, that we paid a $5.00 dollars for. He is an oopsie doggie, part Maltese, Pomeranian and Yorkie.

I was a stay at home mom for several years, homeschool mom for 5 years and now I am a Mortgage Underwriter, working six hours a day getting off in time to see my kids get home from school. So I love what I do even though it is not what I went to school for, which was radiology technology.

My husband and I got married in September of 1993. The same year that I was diagnosed with endometriosis and was told that I would probably never have kids. In 1995 with one year left to go in school, my husband looked at me one afternoon and told me I was pregnant. I sorta laughed at him. Being in the middle of finals I was STRESSED out enough but he insisted that I take a pregnancy test. Now let me just say that just a month early my doctor had went over the whole spill of the chances of me ever getting pregnant where very slim. I gave in to my husband’s request and took a pregnancy test and my husband was RIGHT!!! God had blessed us with a pregnancy, unplanned but it was definitely God’s timing.

26 months after we were blessed with a healthy bouncing baby boy, God blessed us again on his own time, with our precious sweet loving Courtney. I love having them just two years apart. They have always gotten along so well together. It is such a joy to watch them play and interact with one another even in their teen years. God definitely has a blessed me!

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Isaiah 40:31

Blessings to all~

Weed Killer

Let me just tell you this is stuff works!   I've been using this since I first started tackling the weeds in my flower beds at the beginning of the season.  It will kill your weeds within a couple hours.  This morning I sprayed some weeds that had came up in my flower beds and this afternoon the weeds were dead.  I love it because it's inexpensive, you can see the results within hours and no harsh chemicals,  the only downfall is your flower beds will smell like pickles (ha! ha!).

Simply mix:

• 2 cups vinegar
• 1 tbs table salt
• 1 tbs dishwashing liquid

Spray on your weeds and only your weeds because this will kill other things, except for daylillies. Ha! Ha!

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

Psalm 139:23

Blessings to all~

e cards.....funny

Just a few random e cards that I thought I would share.  

Hope everyone haves a great weekend!!

So true.....some days.

 Can't say that I've every splashed my face to the point of my bathroom
being sopping wet but I'll say that it's not easy to do.

 I really wonder if Hoarders is staged like some of the other Reality shows. 

I was crushed when I heard that House Hunters was staged. 
I love that show!!!

 Oh, this is a lesson to be learn!

I LUV Sheldon and Penny from the BIG Bang Theory!!!

A cheerful heart is good medicine...

Proverbs 17:22

Blessings to all~

Orange Juice Cake and Cake Carrier

Here we go again.....this is what you get when you mix creativeness, vinyl and a cricut machine.  I made this cake carrier two years ago and use it all the time.  I have since made several for gifts and for friends including the rectangle ones that holds cupcakes, the possibilities are endless.  By the way the reason mine looks like it does right now is because of what is inside it......

.....a fresh out of the oven Orange Juice Cake.  This is one of those cakes that my family can not wait until it comes out of the oven.

 Here's the recipe, just in case you're interested:

• 1 butter cake mix  (just the mix)
• 1 regular size box vanilla pudding (just the mix)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup oil
• 4 eggs

Mix all ingredients, pour into a bundt pan that has been sprayed with flour baking spray.  Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  Once cake is done poke holes in cake (I use a large serving fork) and pour the glaze over top and let cake set in the pan for 30 minutes. (no longer)

Glaze (boil for 2 minutes):

• stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1 cup of sugar

Hope you and everyone that indulges in your cake, enjoys it. 

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens."

Psalm 8:1

Blessings to all~

Holiday World

Yesterday we took a day and headed to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, for a little roller coaster excitement and to try out the newest water slide, the Mammoth.  Which was AWESOME!! It just opened this year and it is the World's largest water roller coaster, it was so much fun!!!  Phillip went down the entire ride backwards since you are sitting in a raft that holds six people.  It was definitely a thrill.  While waiting in line for the Mammoth I'll say that I saw my fellow blogger and friend Tiffany and her family in line also.  I knew through facebook that she was heading to Holiday World but was surprised to see among so many people.  Hope she and her family had as good of time as we did.

It 's a tradition every time that we go, to get the kids picture with santa and the Holiday World sign.  Of course they fussed but you don't monkey with tradition, Ha! Oh, I made Jonah's girlfriend Morgan get in the picture, too!!

 I snapped this picture right after we finished the Raven, which was and usually is the first thing we ride when we get inside the park.  I just love the wooden roller coasters but they sure can jerk you around more then a regular coaster, at least I think they can.

 I got in TROUBLE for the next picture....ooops!!!  We were heading up to the drop off on the Voyage and I told Phillip and Courtney to turn so I could snap this picture. WELL, just about that time over the loud speaker the guy or should I say kid said, " lady with the camera, put your camera away."  I'm such a rebel. Ha! Ha!  Needless to say when we got off of the Voyage, nothing was said to me but the kids wanted to ride it again, especially Courtney.  Phillip opted out and the four of us rode it again.  Well right before we got back on there was a sign that clearly said no cameras on the ride....ooops!!!!

 I was pretty good about not taking a lot of pictures yesterday in fact what you see is pretty much what I took.  Of course with all the water rides, I value my camera a little more then to risk a picture for my camera plus it was about having fun and I did get a picture with a story behind it (the roller coaster picture).  I did however think to have my daughter take this picture of me and hubby before we ALL got soaked on the Raging Rapids.

 Let me just say for the record that I love my baby girl!!!! Courtney used to HATE roller coasters, now yesterday, we could not keep her off of them.  She and I out rode everyone, in fact we rode the Voyage three times.  The last time we rode the Voyage we kept our hands up in the air the whole entire time and that is not an easy roller coaster to do that on.  She's definitely got roller coaster fever!!!

It made for a long day but we had a BLAST!!  The lines were not long at all except for the Mammoth and then it wasn't that long of a line. 

Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us...

Psalm 80:7

Blessings to all~

Father's Day 2012

It is amazing how fast our little ones grow up.  This picture was taken in 1999, Phillip's 2nd father's day as a daddy of two kiddos.  The tie that Phillip is wearing has Jonah's little feet on it and it says "my sons walks all over me".  A father's day gift that I made for him in 1997.  I love little Courtney's expression in picture she looks so bored by my taking her picture.

 Then we have 13 years later....oh and one little furry Rascal, my how they have grown.  I am so thankful for my family especially Phillip, the father of my wonderful children. 

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His

riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Blessings to all~

Vinyl and my cricut

Spent some time this morning in my scrapbook room working on a couple of projects with my cricut machine and some vinyl.  Let me just say one thing if you have a cricut machine and have not tried using vinyl then you have no idea what you are missing out on.

The first thing that I added my decorative touches to was this tin utensil holder for a friend.   She said that she purchased it on clearance last season at Dillards and thinks it was for holding glass bottles not knives, spoons and forks, which is what she has been using it for.  It really turned out cute.  If you're wondering it is brown not black dots with the white.  I wouldn't mind having one for myself.  too cute!!!

My second project and the rest of my morning projects were for me.  I've decorated lots of buckets over the years but this one is going to be kept on the covered patio so that sunscreen and bug spray is within reach outside and no one has to run inside for that stuff.

Now this project I did not do this morning but thought I would share it since tomorrow is Father's day.  I did this back in the winter.  The plate is from the dollar store.  I made several of them , one for almost every occasion to switch out on this cookbook stand in my kitchen.  That is were my next project comes into play.

This white plate I picked up at TJ Maxx last summer and I've been wanting to do something with it but wasn't sure what.  I thought about using it as a dry erase board but wasn't too crazy about the idea. Then I was coming into the problem of having nothing to put on my stand during the occasions when I didn't have a plate, so this is what I came up with.  I'm pleased with it.  Not to sure if I love the font, haven't used this cricut font too much.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday and a wonderful weekend.

God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true.

Psalm 18:30

Blessing to all~

Jonah's First Set of Wheels

Jonah's first set of wheels and I don't mean hot wheels this time.  It is hard for me to imagine my son driving on his own but in just over 2 short months and a couple of days Jonah will be able to take his permanent test and if he passes you may very well pass him on the highways.  In our state you have to wait 6 months after you turn 16 before you can take your permanent test, so we really haven't been looking for Jonah a car until he was at camp last week.  That was when Phillip came upon a car and test drove it.  It was nice but not really what we were looking for.  It was that car that got Phillip and I in the car shopping mood and of course we thought it would be easier to narrow down the options without Jonah.  By Thursday evening we spotted this Lexus, sporty and reasonably priced.  Phillip and I test drove it and liked it.    We picked Jonah up from camp on Friday and said nothing about the car until we were almost home that's when we spilled the beans and of course, he wanted to go immediately and drive it.

Long story short, Tuesday at lunch him and his dad picked it up and he spent all afternoon with the help of his dad washing and waxing it.  Then, not even an hour later a bird messed on it.  Needless to say he immediately clean it off.   Got love that kid!!!!  Hope he continues to take care of the car that way.

He does look sharp in front of his new wheels.  

And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You,
O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 9:10

Blessing to all~

Blog Book

Remember back in my post Ten Things on the Tenth item #9, where I mentioned that I had ordered something and I was sitting on the edge of my seat until it came in, well........it's HERE!!!!! I just received my 2007 blog book from blog2print and I love it!

 
I know, it's 2012 right? Ha! Ha! I’ve wanted to publish my blog for some time now and I even attempted to once before but “chicken out”. Then I stumbled upon this company through a fellow blogger. She has used them for several years and has been pleased. So I gave it a try and I am so glad that I did.



Some may say it looks plain but I like the clean and simple layout design. There are a few options for your pages, but I like this look out of all the others that I have found. I chose to include by comments in this book but I’m not so sure that I will do that in my next book. (click on the pictures for a better view)

It's amazing to look back and read the stories especially with this book being from 2007.   All the changes we've been through and all the experiences we've faced, some of which has been forgotten and some of which will never be forgotten.  There is something about my blog being in print that just makes it more special. This book has certainly been a HOT item in our house since it arrived and I can't wait to order my 2008, especially since they sent me a coupon.  Whooo Hooo!!!

You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

James 4:14

Blessings to all~

"Rascalisms"

Is he not the cutest dog on the block, well he is until he wakes me up at 1:00 a.m. to go outside. Ha! Ha! Rascal celebrated his 5th birthday this past May, it's hard to believe that he's been with us for five years. 

A few interesting things about Rascal, that you'll probably find funny.   I know this post sounds like I'm talking about my child, well he is kinda like one of the kids.

• He loves to play with his toys especially his Dr. Seuss ball a.k.a "kitty cat ball"
• He loves to snuggle under the covers with me at night time, I'm not sure what keeps him from suffocating
• His favorite spot to sit is on the left side of the recliner squeezed in between the arm of the chair and the person sitting in the chair
• He loves to go "bye-bye"
• He rings a bell that hangs on the back door when he needs to go outside, Courtney taught him that trick when we lived in Florida
• He loves the broccoli stem but not the floret
• He senses whenever someone is ill and will stay by their side especially if they are lying in bed
• He knows the alarm on the waffle maker and he knows that I always make him a waffle.  So Rascal will sit and watch me while I am making the waffles until I fix him one. 
• If the window is open he will jump up on the window seal like a cat and sit there look out

We are very blessed to have him as part of our family!

The Spirit is the One who gives life.

John 6:63

Blessings to all~
Carla

Track Season.....so glad it is over

Well, I am not ashamed to say that I do not have a heart for track and field I enjoy it but the season just seams like it lasts forever!!  Jonah and Courtney runs track for the conditioning that they receive for cross country, but with track the meets are usually long, the weather is usually cold and well, it's usually very disorganized and you know me I can't stand that.  My heart just goes out for cross country. 

One thing that I do like about track and cross country is that the kids set their own goals and try to beat them.  This year BOTH Jonah and Courtney lettered so another bar goes on the Letterman jacket,

WHOOO HOO!!!!  I am so very proud of both of them.

Here are a few pictures to summarize the season along with the kids PR's for the season.

 Courtney's personal best for the 2012 track season

2012-04-14   800m      2:59.55PR       Hopkinsville Invitational  

2012-04-17   1600m    6:39.17PR       Sky Conference  

2012-05-01   3200m    15:20.07PR    Bowling GreenCity-County Meet  

2012-05-26   400m      1:16.36PR       KTCCCA Middle School State Championship

 Look at those legs of Jonah,

I don't think  he has an inch of fat anywhere on his body.

Jonah's personal best for the 2012 track season

2012-01-21   1 mile     5:11.86PR      Wildcat Classic

2012-01-21   800m     2:21.33PR      Wildcat Classic

2012-04-17  1600m    4:58.50PR      Sky Conference

2012-05-01   3200m   10:54.82PR     Bowling Green City-County Meet Track Banquet Pictures ~ Coach Winquist and Courtney Coach Eaton and Courtney Courtney and Katherine I think the picture is funny because all the girls except for Emily on the far left had lettered before so they were given this little bar to go on there letter.  It was cute the way they were holding it.  :) Academic All Stars for the high school team. Way to go, guys and girls!!! Courtney and Wade ~ We're going to miss this guy  as he goes off to college next year.  He's a great kid! Jonah with his bar for his letter :) Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Luke 13:35 Blessings to all~ Carla