Tulip Girl

How in the world did a kangaroo mommy make it into my living room? I think I will keep her and her joey. No Mommy! Its me! I'm a Kangaroo! I'm the cutest ever Daddy said. Happy Halloween!!!!!

Things move forward here in our home, but last night they just kinda stopped for Dan and me. Very dear friends of ours, excited as they have only just found out they were expecting a short time ago that this time it just wasn't to be. An ultra sound showed no heart beat. I refrain from sharing their names because really, it isn't my news to announce. I mention it because what I wouldn't share with them, I want to share here. I would never launch into my own experience with a grieving parent. Trust me, thats the last thing a person wants is to hear someone elses story, to bare another's burden amidst their own. I have been thinking lately about my own Adam and Charis. Some of you have been with this blog (or longer if you know me personally) that you remember those times, when Dan and I were super excited and then greiving all in one day as it so happens sometimes. Dan and I reminisced last night about when we lost Adam. We had just started our second trimester. The last...

Why am I showing you pictures of potting tables? Because this isDan's next DIY project for the winter so it will be ready for spring. I found some clay tiles at the Habitat for Humanity Home Store that I knew were meant for a potting bench table top. I've found tons of plans and pictures. Now I just need to decide. The last one is my favorite. Any suggestions though are always welcome. Which is your favorite? Also, click on over to a guest post Billy Coffey did at The High Calling blog. I just read it and was it was just totally awesome. I hope it inspires you as it has me. I hope you have the day just like He planned it for you. Love ya'll!

I don't know why, but I'm feeling rather unhinged lately. I'm dropping the ball constantly feeling rather tired and down. I at least can garuntee you it isn't pregnancy (not that I would have a problem with that, but an 8 month old is enough for me right now). What it is I couldn't say. Maybe its just good old over load. that I can say. Vacation with family was nice, traveling with said 8 month old though was stressful in and of its self. That followed by my hubby's car accident then him having to spend the weekend traveling to GA to get our new car which meant saying good bye to my old college car and the weekend I was looking forward too. Then there was the mad rush for the jewelry selling last week. The list goes on. That is life though isn't it? The list always goes on. Its all about time management. I've been depending a little to much on caffiene and not enough time on things like my prayer time, working out, and good eating habits. Oh ye...

The book, Roaring Lions and Cracking Rocks is a great book written by Minister Warren Baldwin a favorite blogger of mine. Above is a picture of Minister Baldwin at a book signing. He has done that a lot lately, book signings. Currently he is off at a conferance speaking to other pastors. Well here is some good bits from my good friend Warren. Enjoy! Thank you Katie for asking me to write another guest post for you. You have a very good blog and I’m honored to be part of it today. I will key off some of your questions for this post. How did you happen to write a book? This book is the product of another writing project. I do 5-minute devotionals for the local radio program. I spend hours every week writing a broadcast to be heard only once. I decided to make that writing time serve multiple purposes, and that is how the idea for this book was born. Why pick Proverbs? Because I had been studying Proverbs for a couple of years, they are so real to life that application just unfolds...

My little Ms. Wiggles loves to lay on her back and look at her books. It is so just too cute. If I could have gotten a picture of her in her pack n play with her pink blanket over her trying to sleep, I would have but Sarah moves to fast. She grabbed the blanket and roled over with it on her and put her thumb in her mouth. I tell ya' this being a mom, I have no heart left to my self, I've given it all away. Right now I am dealing with the dilemna of dueling needs right now. I need to get Sarah out and socialized but then again, its not just flue season, its a very serious flu season. I've been trying to get Sarah in for her vaccination against the H1N1 but no luck yet. The little lady is becoming stranger shy and I don't want to enforce that. What to do. We are now the proud owner of a silver Saturn View (not green, don't know where I got that). Now I must get all the proper inspections, DMV stuff done on it. Fun Fun. I am working on guest blogs for Mondays. As you ...

Just a bit of complaining, bare with me. So Dan is off this weekend getting our new car from his dad's used car dealership. It's a good deal but boy do I miss him. This car accident just stinks. I am thankful Dan is ok, that is all that matters. I have, though, been waiting for today for a while having such a very busy last couple weeks, today was to be our just spend time together today. I can't tell you how tempted I was to just pack Sarah and me up and head down to Georgia with Dan but a twelve hour drive each way in two days was not something I wanted to put her through. So here I am drowning my sorrows in a refusal to clean up after myself. My house looks like a tornado hit it. It's my rebellion. Ok, enough complaining, just needed to get that out as peddy as it is.

In my prayer time this morning God reminded me about all the different kinds of friends he puts in our lives. Someone once explained certain friends as being like silk while others are like sand paper. Both are equelly important. I expand upon that and came up with another one. Some friends are comforting like a cashmere throw blanket good for pouring your heart out to, mourning with and all around comforting, generally their love language is serving. Some friends are like a great silk blouse, they build your confidence level, great for going shopping with. Some friends are like sand paper. These friends are great for smoothing out your rough edges. Generally, these friends are the ones God chooses to put in your life simply because I don't think we would choose them ourselves. These people teach are those God steps on our toes through, stretches us to be more patient, understanding, compassionate, forgiving, merciful, considerate. I know I really rather be the silk blous...

Here are some pictures from last night's St. Mary's Marketplace. This is my Jacqualine from the Damsels in Shiny Armor collection (yes, I have a collection) ~excited giggle~ This is the 23" Romance at Midnight necklace and Grapes of Va Va Voom bracelet I may own IM139 but Chloe's the boss. I'd say, "You're not the boss of me!" ...but really she is. And her is me, my booth and behind me is a lady that also makes jewelry, a different kind that I think is kick butt cool. Intricately Made 139 IM 139 Well, I did it! I was a vendor at the St. Mary's Marketplace last night. I sold several of my jewelry pieces including the one below, "Overnight to New York" (periwinkle pearls with blue glass beads). A big, gargantuan thanks to Chloe for all her help and my hubby Dan as well. Big thanks to Sarah 'cause her smiles and cuteness are my encouragement. The whole starting a new business has been so awesome and nerve racking. You know anxiou...

As some of you know, I recently started my own business, Intricately Made 139 or IM139. (if you click on the name you can see at least two of my pieces up on my new Etsy account. I've got about thirty pieces right now and will be selling them tonight at the St. Mary's Marketplace. I share this partly just to let you know and for selling purposes but mostly to tell you about my prayer time this morning. I am and always have been pretty fearful of failure especially when I'm financially invested. I realize that is probably pretty typical. Sometimes though fear of failure keeps me from trying. Well, this time I jumped and I am pretty excited about that. This morning as nerves threatoned to fray, God reminded me "So what if I fail, what then? I still have my plan for you, I still plan to spend eternity with you, I still love you, I still am with you." For me, that is the most important thing. Pictures are still to come. I lost the battery charger to my digita...

Where to begin.... First, Sarah did great on the plane. She napped very little because she doesn't generally sleep on us anyway. She is a strict car seat or crib sleeper so that frustrated her. She kept throwing herself backwards hoping she would land in a crib I guess. Its what she does when she is tired and I am standing next to the crib. "Lay me down already lady! Can't you see I'm tired?" My SIL, Julie made the quilt in these pictures for Sarah. Different squares have a single word with a corresponding Bible Verse with it. How cool is that?! Dan is going to make a hope chest to put all the incredibly special things Sarah has recieved. I absolutely love this quilt. It was great seeing my family and friend, Theresa. I didn't get to see everyone I hoped to, but the time I had with the ones I did was just so wonderful and precious. At one point I stood between my brother's Brandon and Scott. All I could do was just thank God for the them. I had taken a...

I could not have done the flight with out this awesome man. My hubby rocks! Looks like Miss Wiggles agrees. We flew to Arizona last April but vowed it would be a long time until we did it again without Daddy. Miss Wiggles had her very own seat for the first flight (it was just empty, no we didn't pay for it). She looked so grown up all buckled in...for about two minutes until she spent the rest of the flight sleeping on Mommy. We are safe here at Grammy and Papas and there are plenty of cousins around to play with. We are hoping for lots of good play time with them. Miss Wiggles has started calling me Dada and is starting to call her daddy Dada sometimes. Yesterday Daddy was the lone witness of Miss Sarah Wiggles sitting up on her own for the first time. Aunt Laura saw it once. I've yet to see it. I'm ok with that 'cause I am Dadadadada. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Today I remember Adam and Charis, Sarah's brother and sister. They are never far from my mind an...

Last night was the first night we turned on the heater. We wouldn't have but poor Miss Wiggles doesn't get the benifit of flannel sheets and a cozy comforter. It was quite nice I must say. I'm going to start working on an Etsy account today with my good friend Chloe. I'm so excited about that. My high school reunion is this weekend, 10 years. Should be very interesting. My SIL Laura and my brother Scott will be there so I am excited to see the whole thing through their eyes. I've got a rockin' dress. I wore it as my going away dress at my wedding. Its a White House Black Market halter style ivory and sequined dress. I haven't had a place to wear it and it still fits so this will be perfect I think, as long as it doesn't get to cold. Don't know what I would us as a cover up. Well, off to pack. I will of course be keeping in contact during my vacation. Lots of pictures I hope. Sorry there haven't been many of those. I haven't switch...

Please welcome Kristen from Beautifully Imperfect as she shares with us. Her words have inspired me and touched my heart many times. I hope they do the same for you. This Restless Heart I feel like I practically live in a church. My life's work is ministry, spending eight hours a day pointing the world - in color and graphic and word - to community and connection that truly satisfies. Then one night a week I gather with women who share struggles and victories and try to walk together through this thing called life. And on weekends, we return yet again to whisper prayers and raise hands and nod in agreement as the pastor shouts truth. And yet, for one who claims to know the way, I often find myself desperately grasping at frayed threads of quiet and peace. I've come to mistake closeness to the people of God and closeness to the house of God for closeness to God Himself. And I've convinced myself that doing things for His purpose and to His glory are a suitable substitute f...

As Revival is officially over this Sunday, I am reminded in my morning prayer time that the time for intense prayer is only beginning. I have been so excited to be a part of my church, even more so through this Revival. I want so much to continue this forward motion, mutually supporting, strengthening and encouraging each other. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Something I am bummed about though, a good friend of mine who just had a baby a few months ago had her military husband called away suddenly and was expected to be away for only three weeks. Well that was the week before labor day. At this point he still isn't expected home until mid November. Please keep my good friend in your prayers. She is quite a strong person and I am thankful to have her in my life. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I will have pictures soon of the jewelry I am making. The pink, perriwinkle, copper, orange, turquoise pearls are just too sweet for words. I've made some necklaces that just get me ...

As our church focuses our Revival on Spiritual Warfare, I am so encouraged as I move forward in my walk with God. It has been so great to hear wonderful men after God's own heart speaking about following Jesus. I was on such a high last night, I imagine it was some what like when soldiers pump each other up before the go out to fight a major battle. I think about the armor of God and how it applies to my everyday life. I think about how I can apply it to fighting Satan, keeping moving forward, running the race and not getting caught up. I mentioned my pastor's red truck that with a broken speedometer, it gives you false reading that when it says 90 miles an hour you could be going only twenty. Sometimes life is like that. I've known times when I thought I was growing for God at a good clip only to realize I was stagnate. So how does it look to apply the armor of God? I've learned recently that there are three main weapons to fight against Satan's attacks; yo...

I know this guy who deserves some praise. My pastor! Brother Todd. Not just because it is pastor appreciation month but...well also because last week Beth Moore wrote a letter to her pastor and she didn't even know it was Pastor Appreciation Month. I want to write a letter to my pastor too. Dear Brother Todd, Thank you for being my pastor first off, thank you for being all of us's pastor. Having been to many churches where the pastor was more a celebrity, it has been a priceless blessing to call you and Lisa friends. Not just any kind of friend, but a friend we can call any time no matter what (I do promise to save 2am for emergencies though). You have been so real and honest. Your willingness not to cover up your weaknesses and ability to tap into God's power to disarm Satan's power over the weaknesses is just so stinkin' cool. I knew when God brought Dan and I to Richmond that He had a special purpose in that and I am glad our church is a huge part of that and you...

As an aspiring work at home mom, struggling to find a balance seems to be a major effort at times. I am excited today to have author and speaker Nicole O'Dell guest blog and share her experience as the author of the new Scenerios series for preteens as well as mom to six, three of which are one year old triplets as she will share with us today. I hope you find her own individual experience as encouraging and insightful as I have. Grab your morning cup of joe, kick back and enjoy. As Nicole has been so awesome to encourage us today, I hope you will pass be the comment section on your way out and leave Nicole an encouraging word also. :) Life as a Work-at-Home Mom Who? I’m Nicole O’Dell , wife, church youth leader, author and mother of six—the youngest of which are one-year-old triplets. I work at home as a writer of fiction for girls ages 10-15. I’m currently working on my sixth book in the Scenarios for Girls series, Barbour Publishing. What? First of all, I’ll define what I ...

Those word verifications seem to be words ready for their own definitions. I'm always tempted to write out the word verification in my comment and make up a definition. I just left a comment and the word verification was agula. I think that is a guacamole based dip with lemon, pecans and apple bits. I just made that up, never actually had a dip like that but sounds interesting. I'll have to make it and tell you if it is edible. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Miss Wiggles has decided, it seems, she is mobile enough when I am carrying her. She seemed so excited to get the crawling thing down, but seems to have decided she is content where she is at. Maybe since we decided not to move, she decided that sounded like a good idea too. Ok, not likely, but she is up on all fours rocking back and forth but really only moves backwards. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm thinking naming the jewelry is as much fun as designing and making them. So far my favorite line is Damsel in Shiny Armor w...

Update: It seems that our youth pastor may not have the H1N1. His doctor said he had it but didn't test for it. I'm praying he doesn't actually have it. His baby girl is staying at her grandma and grandpa's for now. My dear young friend, C, does not have H1N1 but does have very bad pneumonia on top of her asthma and is currently in the hospital. Please pray for this sweet girl. Pneumonia + asthma= very bad. I am a bit concerned that people I know have the H1N1 Virus. I'm going to get Sarah and me vaccinated. Dan is already doing it. Gosh, having a baby is scary sometimes. I don't know what I would do if Sarah caught something like this. Freak out I suppose. Has anybody else dealt with something like this? What did you do? I'm stocked up on baby Tylenol, Motrin, and Pedialite. I am most definitely praying for those who are sick and praying those around them don't get sick. Yikes, flue season has started.