Monday, June 30, 2008

I got Ty Pennington on SALE!!!

I WISH.....but it is only the dishes he designs. I absolutely love Ty Pennington Style items but they are pricey for our budget. Brian and I were "window" shopping at the mall since our AC is out and has been for two days now when we happened upon these wonderful dishes...



We bought the color HAZE (it is the grey color shown above in the same style. It is a 20 piece 4 place setting. The regular price was $99.99. Guess how much we paid for it????



Did ya guess yet????




ok, here is a picture to prove it.

YEP, that reads $24.87.....pretty cool huh!!!
We also bought a large serving bowl and platter that matches the set for $9.87 (reg. $39.99). Brian and I were discussing that we have never bought dishes before. We have been married for almost 12 years (August 2nd) and we have always used dishes given to us (hand-me-downs) and the sets we rec'd at our wedding . Thanks Mandy, Nancy and Melanie for the great set you gave us, it has suited it's purpose and then some (I think we only have two pieces missing due to breakage). Thanks to Mrs. Irene for the fun Coke-Cola dish set we also rec'd at our wedding and are still using.
We enjoyed the clearance aisles at Sears but I also found these same deals at Sears.com if you are interested.
We would have decorated our whole living room if we weren't worried about how to get the stuff packed and to AR without breaking it.
I LOVE A GREAT BARGAIN!!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Dangerous Surrender- Chapter 3 Gloriously Ruined

I have been finished with Chapter 3 for a long while but have not posted on it yet. It is about time I start letting you in on how this book has changed my life and I hope the life of others. This chapter has been the best chapter for me yet (I am now on chapter 6 so my thoughts may change later....a woman always holds the right to change her mind).

My first initial thought when I saw the title Gloriously Ruined was, is there more??? I thought that Seriously Disturbed was enough but now Gloriously Ruined. This book is often read in the bath tub while I have no distraction from the everyday responsibilities of having two small children and a husband to take care of. I also feel like I can cry if I want and there is no one there to see or ask questions (as if that has ever stopped me from crying before but it sounds good anyway).

While sitting in the tub reading this wonderful chapter I started to believe that this is the life I want for me and my family. I want us to be exactly where God wants us to be....location and in our hearts and minds. This is not going to be an easy task. I have found that when I search for what is right, many things come up in our lives that is not right and have to be changed.

When I started this journey to what God wants from me, I thought I would help other people do what they are already doing (whatever charity or organization that needs me, I would HELP). But now that I am getting more involved with many charities I see the need for SO many things to change in this world. I am seeing how in many cases a little bit of money or the cost of a coke or coffee can change someones life for a year (Don't Drink the Water???).

I believe that I am getting closer and closer to becoming a Seriously Disturbed Gloriously Ruined servant of the King. I can only explain this transformation through how I am starting to be aware of many things I never even thought of before. When our water was not safe to drink a few weeks ago it lead to this post (Don't Drink the Water???). I can't drink a coke without thinking of how much money we need to give to a clean water charity this month. Every time I go grocery shopping I think of all the children who are hungry and we have access to whatever we want at our fingertips. When I hug my girls many times a day, everyday, my heart breaks for the children in the world who don't have a family to embrace them and be their cheerleaders. When I tell my children I love them, I think of all the children who have never heard those words or who have only heard them so that someone can get what they want from them. This may seem a bit morbid to some of you and you think that it would only make you sad but it has made me DRIVEN. Driven to do something about all of these thing and not just sit back and hope that someone else will take care of it. If you are a child of the King then YOU are the person that God expects to do it too.

God never promised our life would be easy after becoming Christians...in fact it becomes harder to face many of the things we must do but the outcome is so priceless and the JOY is unexplainable. Try it.....find something you are passionate about and get involved. Help someone this week or month. Leave me a comment and tell me what kind of organizations you like to give to....time or money.

If you don't know what to get involved in but have a desire then there is plenty you can do.

Go to Children's Hopechest and donate to get things started in Ethiopia orphanages (get your church, business, organization or club interested in sponsoring an entire orphanage click on programs and then sponsorship to find out more or go on a mission trip....any time you leave your comfort zone and live in someone elses world it is life changing.

Go to my Don't Drink the Water?? post and donate to one of the many charities that provide clean water to people all over the world. $1 can provide clean water for one African for one year!!

Go to Nothing but Nets to donate bed nets to help prevent Malaria. Malaria kills 1 million people every year (mostly children). Donate $10 for a net and save a life!!!

Please remember that while these charities are great things to give to God still expects your tithe of 10% to your local church. These things should be above your tithe. If your budget is tight (I totally understand that) then find creative ways to give. God will bless you with the money to give and your heart will be blessed more than you could imagine.

If you haven't watched the Cardboard Testimonies then go here and see what I want my cardboard to say.

My blog started out being a way for our families and friends from home to see our children grow up and know what is going on in our lives here while we live away from everyone. Now I hope my blog is more about what God wants for our family and what He wants for your family too. You will still see many picture of the children here but between all of that you will see many more posts like this. I will start reading the book Red Letters by Tom Davis soon (you can see a video about Red Letters here).

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Great Day at the Playground!

This morning I got out of the house early to go grocery shopping and then when I came home Mili Bear was ready to go to the playground for some fun.

Mili LOVES "walkside" chalk!!!


While Mommy played with Mili on the sidewalk, Daddy had some fun on the swings with Sadie Beth. She LOVED it!!!








Mommy's turn on the swing with Sadie Beth. I think she likes swinging with Daddy better.




Mili is learning the "swing pump" to keep herself going.


Lovin' the wind blowing her hair.






The windblown look!


Sadie Beth about to take her first plunge on the slide.


I am not sure she enjoyed it but Mommy LOVED it!



Sadie Beth's first time sitting in the grass. Lots of pictures to come on this one. Watch the progression of her feet and facial expressions.


What is this stuff????


Don't think I want it on my feet!



What am I suppose to do with this stuff????


Guess I will wave at Mili since I am stuck in this position.


No so bad, maybe I like it a little bit but still don't want my feet on it!



Mili does some fantastic stunts so I have to clap for her but don't think I am letting my feet down on this stuff!!


OK, I am getting tired of this now!!!


Exercising my abs since my feet didn't touch the entire time I was "sitting" or balancing (she never fell over or touched the ground with her hands, she balances like this all the time) there.


OK!!! My abs have had it!!! Come and get me, Mommy!!!



Mili LOVES playing here. We will miss it when we move.



Mili makes a go at the rock wall. Something she has always been afraid of without help.



Getting HIGHER!



Almost There!



WhoooHooo!!! I mastered the mountain!!! Go Mili Go!!!


Mommy teaching Mili how to hopscotch.


Mili did great for her first time.



Look what I can do!!!


Look Mommy, one foot!


Too Cute!!



I feel so refreshed and rejuvenated after some good family time. It always does my heart good and makes me appreciate my precious children and wonderful husband. I heart the fam!!!!
Hope you enjoyed the family play day, I sure did!!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

UPDATE: Raniey/Mutz Families

Little Molly is with Jesus. You can read more about it here. You can leave a comment for the family here (they plan to make a book of the comments for Rebecca and Jacob).

I can not imagine the hearts of of these two families right now. So many emotions. Please continue to pray for them weeks, months and years to come.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Pray for the Rainey/Mutz families

I am posting this because I know many of my readers are Christians and believe in the power of prayer. Many of you are also familiar with the Dennis Rainey family from Family Life Today. Brian and I went to school with Ashley and Ben, their son and daughter.

Rebecca is another Rainey girl and is now married and just had her first child. While this should be an exciting time for them, they are grieving. I am not sure about all the details but you can read an email that Dennis wrote and is posted on this blog here there is also another blog about it here.

If you will go to the two links you will get all the information about their new baby girl, Molly Ann Mutz. Please pray for the Raniey and the Mutz families as they go through this terrible time in their lives. My heart is breaking for them.