“God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.”~Ernest Boyer, Jr.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might.~Deuteronomy 6:5

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

40 Reasons I love my Husband


40 reasons I love my husband on his 40th birthday




40-he has an adventuresome spirit


39-he knows how to fix most things or figures it out


38-he believes in himself


37-he believes in me..even when I don't


38-his family is #1


37- he is a GREAT provider


36-he has a big heart


35-he is generous to others


34-he is caring


33-he can handle emergencies with calm


32-he loves the outdoors


33-he enjoys trying new things


32-he is not a picky eater


31-he is creative


30-he is resourceful


29-he is fun loving


28-he is not afraid to be silly


27-he writes poetry


26-he is a romantic


25-he enjoys the "good things" in life


24-he loves the Lord with all his heart


23-he desires to serve the Lord


22-he gives great hugs


23-he is a GREAT DAD


22-he is takes care of his family


21-he puts up with me and my craziness


20-he is great a putting things in perspective


19-he is forgiving


18-he is accepting of people and their ideas


17-he is grounded in his beliefs


16-he is honest, even when I don't want him to be;)


15-he is raising Caleb to be a man


14-he wants Ella to be a lady


13-he is dependable


12-he is not easily influenced


11-he has his own opinions


10-he's not afraid to express them


9-he is deep


8-he is intelligent


7-he has a tender heart


6-he is my best friend


5-he is my LOVE


4-he is my soul mate


3-he is the father of my sweet children


2-he truly loves me

1-He is the best husband,father, lover, friend I could ever wish for! I love him with all my heart and can't wait to see what the next 40 years have in store for us.


Happy Birthday Dano I hope I can be all the things you are to me.

Monday, January 19, 2009

No books for our Children



I am all for safety, I don't let my kids play with matches, knives or in the street and yes they wear helmets while on their bikes. But I live in America where I am free to decide what is safe and what is not I don't need the government to tell me what is safe.
Saturday I posted about the Consumer safety act that states all item for children under 12 must be tested for lead and other toxins or it is illegal to sell. I thought this only applies to clothes and toys and I am concerned for how that will affect handmade items, consignment stores. What I did not know is it applies to books too, yes now books are unsafe. All those great old books from our childhood may be deemed unsafe for our children. Because the act is unclear libraries don't know what it mean for their future but one possible outcome is children under 12 will be ban from libraries.

If you can't believe this follow this link, Congress bans kids from libraries

I can't imagine a world without libraries and books...what is our world coming to? Is this America I live in?

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Valentines has always been a favorite "holiday" of mine. I love it because it's pink, girlie, and just all around fun! Some of my favorite childhood memories are of making the Valentine box in school what is more exciting than a shoe box covered in construction paper and decorated with hearts. Then oh the excitement of watching it fill up day after day more and more cards, I LOVED IT!

Still as an adult I love Valentine's Day I still feel the excitement of the day, and try to make it great fun for the kids. I just found and signed up for a Valentine Goodie Swap at An Island Life.
A fun way to get to know a fellow blogger and send them a little gift for V-day and someone does the same for me...fun!


In order to help the person who get me learn a little more about me I am supposed to answer a few questions.

What is your idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day?
Beautiful candle lit table with fresh tulips and romantic music playing in the background

In reality, what is your Valentine’s Day really like?
Last year I believe we ate Valentine Pizza and watched Cinderella

If you could have a lifetime supply of your favorite sweet indulgence, what would it be?
Nutella...so many possiblities you can slather it on almost anything

Is there any sweet treat you absolutely do not like?
Black liquorice

If you fell into a pool of chocolate, how would you get out?
I would reach for the hand of my hubs making him think I needed his help, but really I would pull him in with me and we would live out our lives in silky goodness

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Save Handmade Toys

Chances are you haven't heard of this law going into effect in Feburary, I hadn't until I was reading a friends blog the other day. Now again today I have stumbled across it. What is it you ask here is an overview from Cool Mom Picks

We're all for strengthening the safety standards of mass-produced toys, clothes, and accessories made in China, and banning toxins like phthalates and lead. But this year, congress passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act, a law which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust. The very same ones that we often feature here and in our yearly special edition gift guides.
With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle--even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don't have a single toxic chemical in them.

It also affects the sale of clothes for children under 12, clothing that is not tested for lead and phthalates will be illegal to sell...this means consingnment sales and yard sales. If the goverment truly wants to help the economy don't put moms out of work that sell handmade products.

To get involved go to Cool Mom Picks for links

Let's not sit idly by and let goverment regulation put moms out of business and make big business stronger!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Inspiration

It happens every year so why am I surprised and even taken aback when it happens? The post holiday slump...you know that lack of motivation, creativity and imagination. Did I just use it all up during the holidays or is it just a result of grey January days?

During these times of lack of inspiration I always look for new things to inspire me in my everyday life. I have gotten better over the past few days then today I found this blog The Diaper Diaries and it helped to boost my inspiraton. Sometimes it is just good to know there are other people out there going through the same daily struggles you face.

And I know ultimately God is my inspiration and the strength I need for everyday, and if I will spend time with Him and get the exercise I need I will get over it. But sometimes we don't always do what we know is best for us.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Happy New Year

Happy New Year a little late it is already 5 days into 2009 where does time go?

Last year went by so fast, the kids have grown and changed so much sometimes I wish I could just freeze time. But since I can't I will cherish the moments and try to keep a record of our lives.

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of 2008


Caleb's beauty shop



I'm a superstar



Do it again Daddy

Like father like son

pajama time

Silly girls

Hangin with the dogs

My Hubs
I hope your year has been as wonderful as ours!