Two weeks in review

I am totally drawing a blank... but I so want to give thanks to God, because I know He is giving me gifts every single day... gonna have to check out the calendar and facebook pages to see what my blessings have been.

279. The sun is shining today (the calm before the coming winter storm) ... must soak up as much VitD as possible today!
280. BIG ONE... listening to my son pray for the people of Bangledesh and 2 of our college girls from church that are going there to teach this year. LOVE that he is listening and learning at church.
281. celebrating God's goodness at our church.  Reminder that the church is the PEOPLE and not the building, but we are soo thrilled to have our multi-purpose room back after 4 years!!  Awana is so much more fun!!

282. Singing some hymns... yes, I love Praise/Worship music, but I miss the hymns
283. Quiet time at Starbucks

284. Hanging curtains in our living room with my sweet husband

285. new lights in the bedroom
286. decorating some for Valentine's Day

287. Freedom in parenting ... having a day with NO veggies! :) and lots of ice cream
288. more freedom ... Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches for lunch... different day, they normally get at least one good meal each day! :)
289. Overflowing amounts of dishes and laundry... it means I have a family to care for

290. My husband snoring in the middle of the night... of all the places he could be, he is snuggled up next to ME!!
291. My 3 YO eating one dinner without any complaints... and asking for seconds!  On a day when I was at the end of my rope!
292. learning more about School Choice Week
293. receiving an application for financial scholarship from Faith First Educational Assistance for our school choice
294. drinking Hawaiian punch.... being a kid again.
295. Saturday night fellowship with church friends
296. having a friend visit on a snow day
297. selling one of my handmade cards locally

298. one on one time with my son
299. Birthday cupcakes

300. Vincenzo's Pizza... when I turned the crock pot on, but forgot to plug it in!!

not eloquent, but I am remembering that ....Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

Go see A Holy Experience for more gifts!!

Blizzard Blog Hop

Well, it has been a week since I have blogged... so I needed some incentive... The Blizzard Blog Hop was just what I needed!



I have been wasting too much time on Twitter the last few days enjoying all the tweets on #Blissdom and while I have been blogging on and off for over 6 years, I don't feel quite qualified for a blogging conference, so it's fun to just watch and learn from others!!  (and wonder how they do it!)

So my "About Me" post still isn't done, even after all this time, so I guess I will just tell you a little bit about myself.  I am thinking my blogging is struggling because I haven't found my "niche" yet... anybody wanna help me???

I started blogging over on Xanga all those years ago, before blogging was cool, as an outlet. I was a new stay-at-home mom, and I used it to share stories and pics of my baby to long distance family... over the years it has ebbed and flowed, and now I want to narrow my focus and make it a blog worth subscribing to! :)  Recently I switched to blogger and I am still trying to figure it all out!!

Here are some of the things I love.... counting my blessings, taking pictures,

crafting handmade/handstamped notecards, (and maybe someday selling them on a larger scale)

learning to enjoy my husband and children,

learning from Scripture, connecting with other moms and other crafters.

So if you are interested in helping me find my niche, or just becoming friends... feel free to subscribe!!  and hopefully I will get a chance to check out all the Blizzard Blog Hop posts over at Household 6 Diva!


PS... I also haven't figured out the best way to reply to all the nice comments I get, so know that I love and read every comment I get(and if you can help me reply, let me know!)

Karate Kid...

or People Watching (in Five Minutes)

START

So, I took my son to karate this week. Normally it's my husband's job but he wasn't feeling well... so I went.  Quite the interesting group of kids that are in his class... but my favorite of all is the tiniest little girl you ever did see!!  She has adorable brown hair up in a cute girlie hair thing (my girls hate stuff in their hair).  She swims in the uniform and it looks like the belt could go around her 3-4 times!  but she's got the moves.  Mostly they are just learning the drills at this point, but I hate to see the day she knocks my son over with a karate kick!

As adorable as she is, she is going to need some defensive moves someday... good thing she is learning young.

I am out of words... which is good because now I am out of time!

STOP

This post is in response to Lisa-Jo's Five Minute Friday Challenge...

I did better last week.

Getting to know my camera in 2011

As I said last week, I am attempting at least one photo a day for the year.  Some days it's easy and I have a hard time just picking one to post in my facebook album... other days, I am getting ready for bed and realize I haven't taken a picture yet!! :)  but I am still managing so far.  I have looked at the other settings on my camera and even taken a few shots while NOT on auto setting, but I really don't know what I am doing... do you think I can find my manual 4 years later???

So this week, I found Brooke McGlothlin and she is blogging about her adventures of a #PhotoNewbie!  I am linking up with her today!



I have a few to share from this past week.

This one, where I actually wasn't on auto setting... don't ask me what setting I was on, because I DON'T KNOW!!!  I am linking this photo up to Sweet Shot Tuesday, because chocolate chip muffins are so sweet! (and so are snowmen muffin cups)

and this one... just because she is SO cute... and I didn't use the flash!  I am getting a little better at holding my hands steady.

and this one... just because I like my new platter from Dayspring

and these two... because I love to make handmade cards and it isn't a post if I don't mention it somewhere!!

so what am I learning about my camera????  I hate it and I love it.  sometimes I forget to "enjoy the moment" because I am too busy trying to get the perfect picture, but other times I capture something that just makes me grin and I love it again...

Remembering the multitudes of gifts this week

Wednesday was a snow day last week... and not exactly one of my better days, so I give thanks for....
255. grace
256. forgiveness
257. second chances
258. tears
259. smiles

Thursday was our Mom's Group at church... a chance to fellowship with moms, learn from God's Word, get a little break from the kids, so I give thanks for....
260. friends
261. food and coffee
262. using my "Christmas" platter in January

263. Biblical teaching on submission in marriage
264. older women living out Titus 2
265. times of prayer

Friday was another day off school, but this one planned, and I give thanks for....
266. chocolate chip muffins for breakfast

267. lazy, pajama days
268. family movie night
269. bedtime

Sunday was Church day, and I give thanks for....
270. Adult Bible Fellowship, testimonies on our last series
271. Worship... "thank you for the cross, Lord... thank you for your nail pierced hands"
272. the start of a church series on the book of Ephesians... reading it in it's entirety!
273. quick and easy grilled sandwiches lunch
274. trying out a "new" cappuccino/espresso machine
275. sitting on my sun porch and sweating (even in January)
276. holding and snuggling my baby girl a little longer than normal... She is going to be THREE this week!!
277. Sunday evening prayer meeting
278. A special order handstamped card...

What a week of blessings... looking forward to the next one and adding more to my list of #1000gifts with Ann Voskamp.



 

I had to come back and say... you MUST go and read Ann's post today... It's always beautiful, she has such a way with words, and today was no exception!  It touched me, and I will definitely be adding her book to my wish list!!

Happy Monday... look for the gifts today!

blogging prompts

START

Typically any picture of my son-in-motion these days would be him surrounded by thousands of legos... but it snowed this week, so we got some outside time!!  He was such a help in shoveling the sidewalk... and such a cutie, too.  (he is reading over my shoulder, and wants me to cut the "cutie" part off!)

Being the oldest brother of three little girls can definitely have its challenges, but he does great...most of the time!  Like most siblings they can be best of friends, or worst of enemies ~all within a 5 minute time span.  It's easy for him to get lost in the shuffle, but I am making an effort to pray him into the Warrior God wants him to be... many thanks to the MOBsociety and #warriorprayers on Twitter.

STOP

Linking up to Boys in Motion
and 5 Minute Friday.

Project 365, Top Ten Tuesday, and Sweet Shot Tuesday

... so can I combine them all in one post????

I decided I wanted to do Project 365, where you take one picture every day for a year... I am sure there are going to be days I am going to forget, and some of the pictures might be really dumb, or I might take pictures of the same things over and over again, but hopefully it will still be fun and I will improve in my picture taking (like maybe quit using my auto setting).  but so far I am doing it,



So in honor of Top Ten Tuesday I am going to share my FIRST ten pictures of 2011...

 January 1... a gorgeous warm day, perfect for airing the bedding (in the distance are the ski slopes)

 January 2... a date with my little girl at Starbucks... her cup was full of whip cream! :)

January 3... and already it's the end of the day before I remembered to take a picture, so a shot of one of my sleeping beauties!!

January 4 ... one of my handstamped creations, a handmade notecard for any occasion, you can help me decide.

January 5 ... took my camara on the gorgeous route to pick up my kids from school and my camera battery was dying... this was the ONLY picture I took while trying to make it work!

January 6 ... my little girl became a willing model and showed me a whole bunch of poses... apparently she has a little sass in her! This is also the one I am choosing for Sweet Shot Tuesday, because this little girl can be such a sweetie!!

January 7 ... another shot of scenery, this one a cemetery from a long ways away, with my 12x zoom!

January 8 ... SLEDDING, this is my youngest, not quite 3 YO, sledding down the hill with her arms way up in the air (I see a rollercoaster lover in my future).  We had soo much fun, one of my #1000gifts that I am counting.

January 9... I have been stamping a lot more this year (another one of my goals) so there might be a lot of pictures of my creations.  These here are adorable little Conversation Heart Valentines that would be perfect for classroom valentines... (little self promotion... you can buy them HERE)

 
January 10... another last minute, late night shot of one of my new Christmas decorations.  This year, I am choosing JOY, so I might just leave it out all year long.

So Tuesday is almost over, but here it is... Sweet Shot Tuesday and Top Ten Tuesday all wrapped up with Project 365!

Multitude Monday

 Wow, what a week... filled with 1,000s of gifts... here are a few!

234. a little date with my little Ella... her love language is quality time!
235. a cup full of whipped cream at Starbucks for my sweet girl... she had so much fun!

236. warm sunny days, that make my sun porch warmer than the rest of my house.
237. sitting on my sun porch, soaking in the sunshine, reading the Psalms ...during naptime!
238. taking part in Living Proof Ministries' Siesta Scripture Memory Team... check it out, it's not too late to join in!
239. making the time to use my stamps and craft area... having soo much fun creating new cards!
240. God's grace as we readjusted to back to school schedule!!  I had a very hard time.
241. crockpot dinners
242. Ghirardelli coffee
243. hugs and kisses from my ever-forgiving children when I make mistakes!!
244. Snow... finally some measurable snow! :)

245. clear roads when I had to pick my kids up from school!
246. sledding with my kids on Saturday... and loving it!!!  Seriously, I lasted longer than they did! :)

247. hot chocolate and candy canes
248. hand-stamping valentines

249. Sunday mornings at church
250. hearing a ministry report from on of our missionaries
251. salvation testimonies and baptisms of 5 teenagers
252. laughter... even in church!!!
253. a candlelit soaky bath!!
254. a dear husband who has done lots and lots of dishes this week!!

save the day dinner!

I finally found a Friday blog link up to participate in... this will help me post regularly, plus I will find new recipes every Friday... and I love recipes!!

Updated in 2012 with PHOTOS!!



Today I am sharing a recipe that saved my day yesterday!!  LOVE IT!!!  My favorite kitchen tool ever is the slow cooker!!  it is so wonderful for saving mealtime!!  Yes you have to think ahead a little bit, but not always... and I have A Year of Slow Cooking to thank for that!!  Now I don't think this recipe is from her website... I couldn't find the source at all, but I love it!  and even better, my kids love it (well most of them... except for the one that seems to be boycotting anything I put in front of her, which could be just because she is 2 almost 3!)  I digress!

You can call this Frozen Chicken, Cream Cheese Chicken, Salsa & Black Bean Chicken... what ever you want, just call it delicious!!

Ingredients
4 boneless chicken breasts
1 15oz can black beans (drained)
1 15oz can corn (drained)
1 15oz jar salsa, any kind
1 8oz package cream cheese

Put the frozen (Yes, FROZEN) chicken breast in crockpot

Pour in black beans, corn and salsa.

Turn the crockpot on high and walk away.
Come back in 4 hours
Toss in the cream cheese and put the lid back on for 1/2 hour.

Mix it all up and serve over rice...YUM!

I love this, because it is easily doubled if necessary, and I was going to be gone longer than 5 hours, so I just put it on low for 6+ hours!!

tonight is homemade pizza... better go get started!
also linking up to Foodie Friday
and Food on Fridays

Psalm Therapy

My three sweet little girls in the "Cherub Choir" for Christmas

Psalm 92:1-5
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, Lord hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

Psalm 103:1-5, 8
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies: who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

There is nothing like some "Psalm therapy" when you are feeling less than par!!  I have been spending most of my Bible reading time in the Psalms lately... some days it's all I have time for!!  I have been blessed by so many verses lately, but these are a few I wanted to share!!

linked up to Word Filled Wednesday with Internet Cafe

and Living Well Wednesdays with Courtney