What I Learned at VBS.

This week at church we had Vacation Bible School, and I was truly blessed to be able to help out with the 3 and 4-year-olds. Serving with those preschooler's the Lord gave me so much joy and laughter. I thought I was going to just be helping out with VBS, filling a need, but as it usually works out the Lord used the kids to teach me just as much as He taught them.

Here are some other things I learned from them...

"Who lives in Bethlehem?" asked the teacher. 
"Spiders!" answered Grace. 
"Giants!" said Grayson.
"The sheep!" said A.J.
"I need to wash my hands," said Elizabeth.


"Why did God give you a heart?" the teacher asked.
"To love!" Sam said.
"God is AMAZING!" said Alexis jumping up and down.
"For Jesus to build a house!" said Sophia.


"God loved us SO much that....." the teacher said.
"Jesus came down!" said Alivia.
"He sent Jesus down!" said Sam.
"Spiders!" yelled Grayson.


"Why do we have missionaries?" asked the teacher as she pointed to a photo on her computer.
"For food!" said Leah.
"To eat!" said Grayson.
"My dad has that computer," explained Chase.


"What is the most important and special thing that a missionary can bring with him?" the teacher asked.
"Mommy!" said Kate.
"Water!" said Leah.
"Money!" said Catherine.
"ME!" said Grayson.


It was such a fun, hilarious, tiresome at times (for the kids too), and purposeful week.

 

             

Just something I love.

My friend Tarah just gave me this as a little gift and I have to share. She ordered it from Vista Print and it is something so useful and thoughtful. It's just something I love and I think other people will too.

Looks pretty close right?

Isn't it so cute?!?! Personalized for our family. Sticky-notes and note pads.

And writing pens.

And even address labels.

Something I thought you needed to know about. It made my day!

Out of her Fourth of July funk

For the Fourth of July, and to scratch the surface of this craft itch I have recently gotten, I decided to make a wreath for our front door. The front door was looking a little lonely and depressed so I was hoping this would help get her out of this funk that she is in. It seems to be working, though, looks can be deceiving. What do you think?

I first saw this cute wreath on a little obsession I call Pinterest. To make these, what I am calling fireworks, you start out accordion-folding a piece of scrapbook paper, and then staple it right in the middle.

Then start by cutting an angle at each end. To get the fireworks different sizes cut the angle different distances from the center of the staple. Then fan out and tape the ends on the top and bottom together.

To cover the foam wreath, that I got from a craft store, just wrap different ribbon and attach with push pins. Every six wraps I changed color.

Then hot glue the paper fireworks, overlapping each other, and then to the wreath.

So easy.

She looks so much happier now, and that makes me happy!

Not your normal nachos....

We made homemade pizzas last night, and with the extra toppings I decided to make an appetizer because my little man was "starving"! I highly doubt he was starving, but while we were waiting on our pizzas to bake and to help him out I made some pizza nachos. Next time Simms is "starving" I will thank him and make these again. They were to die for and are so easy!

Start by layering your tortilla chips and favorite, sauteed pizza toppings on an oven proof platter. I used mushrooms, caramelized onions, sweet Italian sausage, green pepper, and pepperoni.

Then grate your cheese on top. This is aged white cheddar mixed with bits of Parmesan.

Then melt that yummy cheese till it is warmed through by placing the platter in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

 

Now be prepared to get your mind blown. Dip your chip in pizza sauce that is slightly warm.

This is so good!

Happy Is....

Happy is....

 a swing.

 a smile.

 a tickle.

 a smirk.

 a laugh.

my baby.

 my goofball.

 

my friends.

                                   

our kids.

                        

a moment.

a movie.


*Tessa Claire's Backyard*My Friend Amanda*Tickle Time with Tink*My Sweet Boy*Evie and Gabby*A Morning Laugh*Chocolate Batter Mustache*LifeGroup at the River*LifeGroup Cookout*E's First Movie*A Matinee of Madagascar 3

The Month of May

May is one of my favorite months. It's when warm days begin to emerge, and so do all the neighbors. It's graduation time and time to celebrate Mother's. It's busy, and yet restful with cookouts and friends. It's when we tend to reevaluate the year, and make sure we have been the best we can be. In some ways we have, and in some ways we haven't. It's when we ask God to help us so we can be the best for Him. And He does.

Here is what else God did for us this past month.

He gave encouragement....

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He gave rest....

He gave creativity....

He gave joy.... 

He gave love....

  

He gave thankfulness....

*Date Night at the River*Nap Time*Sleepyhead*Our Pet*Celebrating 3 Months*Night with Our Neighbors*Happy Girl*Poppy Love*Mother's Day Dessert*Soccer Champ*Graduation

A Sweet Obsession

I have been living in regret ever since my most recent trip to Trader Joe's.  Let me explain....

As I trotted down aisle after aisle, bribing my son to stay in the cart, all of sudden, out of the corner of my eye I caught a subtle glow. Sitting on a shelf was something so fabulously stupendous I wish I had thought of it myself. So simple, yet so outrageous my heart started pounding, and I had to slyly wipe the drool from the corner of my mouth. As I went to reach for the jar to examine the label; it was as if the peanut butter, lined neatly next to it, were all bowing down in reverence. I had never seen anything like it. The label read in all of it's glory....

Sounds amazing, but what would I do with it except inhale it in one sitting with a spoon? That would be crazy! 

Then I read....

I make sure no one is looking and I quickly wipe the drool off my chin now. Are you kidding me?!?! This is too good to be true. There is a war going on inside of me....I want to buy this, but really should I? I have baby weight I still want to lose....Oh well, how is this going to hurt? I may not even like it...I don't have a major sweet tooth as it is....I can handle it.

I check out and the guy scanned my Cookie Butter and said, "Whoever told you about this you are going to hate for the rest of your life because you will never be able give this stuff up!"

I think, well....I'm sure it's good, but I'm strong enough to say no. I won't have to always buy it.

On the drive home all I can think about is that stupid Cookie Butter. It's already happening! I want to spoon it on top of that French Vanilla ice cream right now! I start gritting my teeth and under my breath I say, "Matt hurry up and get home!" 

Oh no! It's already starting....I can fight this!

As soon as we pull in I run the groceries inside. I searched frantically for the jar through the paper bags; I twist the lid off as soon as I find it, and it was as if I heard a chorus of angels singing in the distance....the aroma overtook me as I breathed in!

I couldn't help myself; I did what I swore I would not do! The craziness took over; I grabbed a spoon and scooped out a huge hunk of the goodness.

I took a bite and felt my taste buds literally leap in joyous surprise! I felt a shock run through my throat as I gasped for air. They had never tasted anything like it before, and they begged me for more. I quickly got out a tub of vanilla ice cream, scooped it out in my favorite bowl, and heaped a pile of the Cookie Butter on top. 

Oh my goodness! Now I will never be able to turn back from this!

The next day I had to have more! I scooped it on every bite of my banana, trying to convince myself at least I was eating it with fruit. The same thing happened the next day. Then I surrendered, got a spoon out, and ate straight from the jar. The next thing I know....

As I stare at the empty jar with disbelief, a tear started to form in my eye. I couldn't believe what had happened! Right when I was about to stash the embarrassing remains; Matt walked in! I was caught....red-handed! There was nothing I could do, but drop the jar and put my hands up in the air, confess, and then ask him to get me another jar when he's on that end of town....

Only so he could try it this time, of course....