Shower Organization

One of the projects I worked on while I Facebook Fasted throughout December was organizing the shower. I saw this idea on the Nate Berkus Show, (which I LOOOVE by the way!) Jamie Lee Curtis was visiting his show and showed this is what she does to organize liquids. So I decided I wanted to try it...I bought clear ketchup bottles in the Kitchen utensil isle at Wal-Mart and cut out vinyl letters on my Cricut. I labeled the bottom of the bottles with "S" for Shampoo, "C" for Conditioner, "SO" for Soap and "KL" for Kevin's soap (must be nice to be a man, they can use one liquid for shampoo, soap, AND shaving creme!)

So... Here is what the shower looked like before:
And this is what it looks like now:

The morning after I did this Kevin got in the shower and said, "Okay, I guess I'll use a condiment to wash my hair!!"

Sing-Off

Good Morning!!!
Who's watching Sing-Off???? When we heard it was coming on again this year we did back-flips! Well, not literally...but if we could DO back-flips, I bet we would have! We watched it last year, and was bummed it didn't have more than one season a year! But, it's back! There's even a group from Huntsville called COMMITTED. They are a group from Oakwood University that have been together since high-school and let me just say, THEY ROCK!!! Last night they made it to the finals, which followed 20 phone call votes from our two cell phones! Good Luck Committed!! May God be Glorified!!!

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a Tree

What a wonderful time of year it is! A time to celebrate our Dear Saviors Birth!!!! Thank the good Lord that we don't have to find Christmas under a tree... but remember that this time of year is to celebrate our dear Lord Jesus. When I saw Thrifty Decor Chick requesting Christmas tree pictures, I thought it was the perfect excuse to take some pictures of ours! The first year I lived on my own, I bought a real tree from Marvin's for less than $20...it was a beautiful tree! I bought a few very cheap sets of lights, and put them on there. I couldn't afford ornaments, so every Christmas card I got I put it on the tree....I did that again the 2nd Christmas I lived on my own, finally the 3rd year I was engaged, inherited some ornaments from family and friends, and was actually able to buy a few! Then when I graduated college Kevin's aunt and cousin generously gave me LOTS of Green ornaments.... So, we've collected ornaments over a period of several years... put still put SOME cards on the tree! Our tree isn't anything special (we always get a real one, and this year is the first year it hasn't been TOO fat!) but it's ours... and we love it! So...here it is: (note the overgrowth that we didn't cut off from under the angel! ;) )
This is one of my favorite ornaments, I made it last year at a church function:
Well... That's all I have for tonight! Hope everyone is having a joyous Holiday season!

DIY Wall Art

About 2 months ago I changed the colors in our bedroom (again!) We went with a stark white duvet cover, giant teal blue pillows (from Target on clearance $4.98) and teal curtains ($5 a piece at Freds!) Well, ever since I have been at a lost for Wall Art....until yesterday! I knew I wanted trees... I always want trees! So I started researching "blue tree paintings" and I found this that I just loved....
But, I found it on a blog that a man had painted it for his sister (darn! He wasn't selling them!! I thought!) Then the bright idea popped into my head "Well I can just make it!" So... I did!
I already had my paint from a previous project, I just had to mix it to make the teal color I wanted:
I found some silhouette clip art of trees I liked and just traced them onto a piece of cardstock and cut them out, taped those to my 2 for $10 canvas' from Wal-Mart...

And here's how they turned out:I still have to mat and frame them... but for under $15 for 2 prints I think they turned out pretty well!

This is an update on this post:
I got these home and they were WAY too blue! So... Here are the new (more Green ones!)

Facebook Fast

Okay, so today is December 1st, 2010.... After reading on a friends Facebook that she fasted from it the whole month of November, I felt God telling me I needed to do the same. I prayed about the situation, and felt the urge to devote my time this Christmas season to remembering the sacrifice he made for me, and celebrate His birth! So, I am fasting from Facebook until December 25th! I logged on last night about 7:30 and posted that I was taking a break.... it hasn't been too awful bad this morning because I had meetings, I will post every now and again telling how it goes.... I'm thinking that maybe God is going to use this time to reveal something very important to me... I told my hubby that everytime I felt the urge to get on Facebook I was going to open my Bible... My how much better off we would all be if each of us would do that.
Anyways, Happy December!!!! Here's to going Facebooklessness!

Cute Gift Idea

So I found a cute gift idea for friends for Christmas! I found this on another blog, but just had to share it! It's a cover for a composition notebook... I thought these would be great for friends to take to Bible study, use as a Prayer journal or anything else they might see fits...

Nothing's ever Done!

It seems that I often think, "Okay, If I can just get through the 28 things I have to get done this week, I will be home free and won't take on so much from now on".... well, that never seems to happen! I get those 28 things finished this week, and next week there will be 30 more things to do! I guess that's just life, but boy it sure can be frustrating when you feel like you'll never get a break! Oh wait, we WON'T ever get a break!!! My brother always says, "I will sleep plenty when I die" I guess that's just the world we live in today!
I am anxiously awaiting YAC 69 this weekend! Kevin and I were both off for Memorial Day yesterday, and we will be off Friday for YAC. I am so very anxious to see what Christ has to offer these young ladies, including unconditional love and grace. It never fails that I return home refreshed after a YAC weekend, even when it IS to service the Caterpillars! I receive such a blessing out of seeing the lives changed!
Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Fly with Christ!

Sermon's you never Forget

Kevin and I were talking the other day about how we've listened to many, many sermons in our lives--and the ones that we really remember, apply to our life, and will never forget are those delivered from God through our current Pastor--Junior Plunkett.
So, for those of you that are our family from OBC you may remember some these couple of recent sermons:

"Honey and Vinegar" We learned that when we get upset, irritated, frustrated, mad, etc., etc...to make sure what comes out of our mouths (and through our brains at that) needs to be sweet, like honey. We are to make sure that whatever comes out of our mouths makes others KNOW we are Christians--no matter what kind of situation we are in. Non-Christians will be quick to judge us as 'hypocrites' if we say we are Christians, yet once they see us get mad and are not acting like Christians (which means 'Christ-Like'!) So, the breakdown is this: When something bothers us... ANYTHING... we can either choose to let the Honey Flow... or the Vinegar... Which will you choose?

"Get Over It!" So many of us Christians (me, included) want to blow small things out of proportion, especially dealing with the Church or other believers. We want to hold grudges, quickly judge, and only like "who we feel like liking"--when God tells us ALL of those things are wrong. The just of this one was JUST GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!! GET OVER being judgmental, GET OVER being critical, GET OVER being cynical, GET OVER stereotyping others, GET OVER OURSELVES........ and Get to living the life God has CALLED us to live... One of fulfillment!!!!! After all, all those negative feelings and thoughts are planted by Satan--John 10:10 says "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the FULL." Hear that? To live life to it's FULLEST!

Please, if your reading this and attend OBC... Comment on this post and add any of the sermons your thinking about that you won't forget!

God Bless you all--and may we always listen to what the One and Only is telling us--through whoever it may be!

Umbrellas

Originally posted on: March 10, 2010

So…we have endured an extremely cold, wet winter. It seems like it’s rained more days than it hasn’t in the last 6 months or so–when it STARTED raining, it was very much welcomed–because here in North Alabama we had had about a 3 year drought….a SEVERE drought!!!! But now after so much of it–it’s become more of a burden then anything else. Just like our human nature—always want something, until we finally get it–then we don’t want it anymore. My how confusing is the human mind!

Anyways–Back to the rain–I’m in the middle of going in and out of four schools for meetings today, and it’s windy and rainy (has been all day-and WIll be the REST of the day) so I’m equipped with one of many umbrellas. I have them stored in my car, my house, my office–you name it I probably have an umbrella there. Which got me to thinking…. who INVENTED the umbrella? After going a little research (and skipping the article that said they had been around more than 4,000 years) I found it interesting that the early European umbrellas were made of wood or whalebone covered with alpaca or oiled canvas. It also said the artisans made the curved handles out of hard woods like ebony… and more importantly were WELL PAID for their efforts.

So maybe I’m in the wrong business—-hmmm….. to become an Umbrella Artisan…………………………..

A Japenese Christian in the Olympics?

Originally posted on: February 25, 2010

Did anyone else see the female Japanese Figure Skater, Mao Asada– last night wearing a Silver studded cross on her outfit along with a Cross pendant on her necklace? When I saw the cross on her outfit I thought, “Oh that’s just a coincidence–just part of her costume” but then when she sat down and waited for her scores they showed her up close and she also had a Cross pendant on. All I can say is Wow! Japanese are known for following Shinto or Buddhism . I read that in 1873, freedom of Religion was promulgated, although State Shinto was enforced–it also said that the number of Christians in Japan has slowly risen since WWII. I thought this was very refreshing to see on National television–A young Japanese woman proclaiming her faith in the Mighty One. (I sure HOPE that’s what she was doing anyways!) Glory to God!

Although I wasn’t able to find a picture of her with the outfit on from last night here she is:

Out with the old...Malfunctioning Gallbladder

Originally posted on: February 22, 2010

Well finally after four months of being anywhere from completely to semi-miserable– I’m having my gallbladder removed Thursday! It’s unreal to me that the doctors checked EVERYTHING in my body–even though my symptoms were common of gallbladder dysfunction/disease they tested everything else first. After a Hida Scan reading of 34% it was decided that having my gallbladder removed would most likely solve the problem. The Surgeon told me that at my age (24) my Gallbladder should be functioning at about 80%. On a lighter note, I just praise the Good Lord that He is always in control, and that I’m finally going to get some relief.

We had a very busy weekend this weekend–and how absolutely beautiful the weather was! It was 65 degrees and Sunny both days with a light breeze…after 3 inches of snow here in North Alabama last week, and an unseasonably cold winter, the weather this weekend was very much welcomed! It is a gloomy Monday morning here, so it is an especially good day to have to be back at work!

Thursday evening we took Scott and Luther down to Emmaus at Camp Sumatanga, and returned Saturday and Sunday. After being away from Camp for a little over 2 months, it was so refreshing to step foot back on the grounds. Camp Sumatanga is a place that has made me a closer follower of Christ, a “harder” prayer (I think I may be coining this phrase as I’m sure it’s never been used before), a better person, a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister and a better wife. I am eternally Thankful to God to have the opportunity every time I step foot on the grounds of Sumatanga. He is TRULY in ‘this place’ at Sumatanga. (Picture from Sumatanga’s Facebook)

Well in the last 3 days, I have heard four times about the importance of planting the seed to bring others to Christ…so I sense that God must be trying to tell me something! I am obviously not doing a very good job in this area–so I am resolving to do better–be a better Servant of Christ.

Hope everyone has a good Monday!!!!!

In A Daze

Originally posted on: March 19, 2009

Why does life oftentimes seem so meaningless after we lose a loved one? My great-uncle died Monday, and was buried yesterday. He was my great-uncle, but he was just like a Grandpa to me since both of mine were gone before I was 3. We were very close to each other. Now all I can think about is “I wonder how many times he drove this road” or “I wonder how many times he ate at this restaurant” I can’t think about anything else but him and his life (a wonderful 92 years might I add!) I’ve just been in a daze, going through the motions ever since it happened.

While thinking about crazy things while on my lunch break today, I stepped out of my car to come back into the building and heard a bird singing and wondered, “How long do birds live?” and “What happens to birds when they die?” You know, sometimes you’ll hear on the news that someone found a dead bird, but usually that just warrants an investigation into West Nile Virus. Do birds just go into the woods to die? Morbid I know, but death has all I’ve been able to think about for the last 3 days.

So anyways, I looked up the life-span of birds. Mainly just wild song-birds, you know, the ones we hear outside everyday, and I was actually very surprised that they live much longer than I expected! The very first bird listed was a house sparrow, (all these birds had been banded by the government) and it was listed as being more than 15 years old! I thought maybe 2 years, 3 at the most. Well… I guess we learn something new everyday!

Please keep our family in your prayers at this difficult time. Uncle Wallace will be very much missed

Moving

I've decided to move my blog over here to Blogger as it seems much simpler to use than Wordpress. I use this site for my work Blog--why not use it for my personal one too. I have only posted a few blogs on my wordpress blog so I will move those over here.