My Blessed Nest

Ten Reasons to Take “The Great American Adventure”

2011-01-15T10:48:00.000-06:00

1.    We had so much fun on our last cross-country vacation!

2.    It makes My Darlin’ Person feel like a kid again!

3.    Our Favorite Older Daughter will be a senior next year…and   next summer will be filled with college-related activities.

4.    I get to take pictures of EVERYTHING along the highways!

5.    We get to see places we have never seen!

6.    Driving across our nation gives us a renewed love for it and a deep sense of patriotism.

7.    We get to spend fun, quality time with our girls and my mother!

8.    If we didn’t go, we might miss out on this…

or this…

9. Making memories is something special that can never be taken away!

10. Gran is paying for most of it!!!

The Great American Adventure…coming Summer 2011!

2011-01-14T10:18:00.001-06:00

We are planning a cross-country vacation for Summer 2011
which I am calling, “The Great American Adventure!”

It’s a daunting endeavor that will take us 5400 miles, 85 hours of driving, through about 15 states, and 3 weeks of summertime to complete.
Our main points to see include: the St. Louis Arch,
Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, San Francisco,
the Sequoia National Forest, and Route 66.

We will essentially make a huge circle in the center of the United States!!

See what I mean? A HUGE circle!!

Any advice about these places from someone who has visited them,
or any points along the way, would be greatly appreciated!

An Old Recipe Framed…and Baked–Ritz Biscuits!!

2011-01-02T22:44:00.001-06:00

We rang in the New Year at the lake! You can read about it here.

We don’t have a backsplash at the lake and that area has always looked very bare to me, so I decided to frame some old recipes in thrift store frames I had saved.

Two of the recipes came from Mrs. Conley, an elderly woman we met years ago and befriended until her death. She gave us some of her handwritten recipes as well as some other memorabilia. The other recipe was written by my grandmother…it’s not even a recipe really, just the ingredients.

I don’t really remember my grandmother making these Ritz Biscuits. Her sister, Aunt Myrt, made them often. She would call to say she had a pan of them ready for us to pick up. Her house smelled like yeast and baked bread! The biscuits would be folded over, uncooked, and lined up neatly on a baking sheet. When cooked, they were light and delicious.

I’ve had this recipe for a very long time…since my grandmother passed away in 1993…but I had never tried to make them myself. Until this past weekend, that is!

The batter was easy to mix and to roll out after rising. Mine didn’t look uniform and neat like Aunt Myrt’s, but they tasted so good…just like I remember! I will definitely continue carrying on this family tradition!

I’m not sure why they are called Ritz biscuits…I googled the name and found out that they are also called Angel biscuits.

Planned Projects

2010-09-28T20:55:00.002-05:00

We are heading to the lake this weekend...amid high school football games and voice lessons and a haircut, of course. But I am looking forward to spending some time there anyway. One reason for that is to visit with my sewing machine! Having our house for sale means that it needs to stay neat (relatively speaking) so I left any possible sewing to be done at the lakehouse. Lately though, I have been in a mood to sew so she may have to come home with me on Sunday! I am hoping to sew a little this weekend, too.

I have several projects planned. I'll only give some hints...baby gifts for two of My Darlin' Person's coworkers whose wives are having babies this week, bandana dresses, and pillows - one for our bed at the lake and others using some old bank bags that I recently found in a closet!

Hope you're intrigued and hope telling you will hold me accountable to finish them soon!

Blessings,
Robin

Thrifty Idea: From Tacky Plaque to Vintage Bird Art

2010-09-10T13:20:00.011-05:00

I’m sure everyone has seen the old plaques
that look like wood slices and that have a photo
of Jesus or a famous painting decoupaged on them…..

And many have possibly have seen this idea in Country Living magazine….

Well, I needed some inexpensive art for our newly renovated
master bathroom at the lake, so I had the idea to transform
those tacky plaques into something pretty!

I originally did an exact copy of the Country Living idea,
but it didn’t really go with anything else in my decor…

I have a bird theme going in this bathroom and knew I wanted to use
bird photos or silhouettes for this project. I searched the internet
for bird silhouettes to paint on them,
but I didn’t find any that really appealed to me.

I also thought I needed a little more color on the walls.

I painted over the flat surface of each plaque with
a cream color that we used on the master bedroom walls.

I downloaded some great vintage bird graphics from the Graphics Fairy

and after cutting them out, decoupaged them onto the plaques…

Then I used some burnt umber glaze to age them…

And although the photos don’t really show it well,
they definitely warm up the potty room wall…

For more info on our master bath renovation,
please visit the lake!

Linking this post to:

The Shabby Nest's Frugal Friday

Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party

Brag Monday at The Graphic's Fairy

Sweet Sixteen Candy Bar

2010-09-03T22:32:00.001-05:00

We celebrated our older daughter’s 16th birthday at the lake this summer!

She loves candy, so it seemed fitting to have
a Candy Bar for her Sweet Sixteen party.

I began by searching for ideas on the internet…
there are so many wonderful party ideas on blogs out there.

We started by fraying the edges of a piece of burlap fabric
to fashion a tablecloth. And yes, that is a flaw that was pulled
in the process…adds character, I guess!

I made a couple of little banners out of the burlap and painted “Sweet 16” on them. Using a container I had already bought at a thrift store, we added fake flowers, the banners and a little rope bow, and we had the centerpiece!

I found some awesome containers at Hobby Lobby for just a few dollars each,
and we filled those with different kinds of candy!

I added an antique scale for height and for its patina!

Kinda cute, huh…
and almost ALL of the candy was gone at party’s end…
in addition to birthday cake and ice cream!!

You can hear all about the party by visiting the lake!

Love and Appreciation On Our 17th!

2010-05-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

I have been blessed to have spent the last seventeen years
married to the man of my dreams…My Darlin’ Person!
There are innumerable things that I love and appreciate
about him and about our years together, but I would like
to share just one for each year we are celebrating right now.

I love and appreciate…

1. …the fact that you strive to read the Bible every morning and to live in dedication and devotion to Christ each day.

I love and appreciate…

2. …your willingness to go to thrift stores and yard sales with me even though you would probably rather do something else.

I love and appreciate…

3. …the movie and T.V. show lines that we quote to each other…that nobody else would really understand or care about!

I love and appreciate…

4. .…the way you care for your family by getting up early and working hard to provide for our needs…and our wants!

I love and appreciate…

5. …that you are a manly man who is skilled in everything from car maintenance to home repairs to sports but still loves chick flicks and tears up when feeling sentimental.

I love and appreciate…

6. …the deep love you have for our daughters – the straight talk you give them about guys, the tender way you tell them you love them, and the fact that I have to practically hog-tie you to keep you from going to get them when they are away from home, and we make the mistake of watching a movie about fathers and daughters!

I love and appreciate…

7. …the silly old sayings and jokes that you remember and tell so well, like…the little ditty, ”She’s got freckles on her butt, she’s purdy!” and “I’d rather cut my gums with a razor knife!”

I love and appreciate…

8. …your strong convictions with regard to our nation, it’s history, and it’s relationship to God.

I love and appreciate…

9. …when I observe you as you see someone who needs help (even if they just dropped something or need a door opened for them) and you rush over to offer assistance as quickly as possible.

I love and appreciate…

10. …that you never call me by my name (unless I don’t respond to anything else!) but rather by some term of endearment like “Babe!”

I love and appreciate…

11. …when you secretly pay for the meals of military personnel when we see them in restaurants…and when you get upset if they have already paid before you realize they are there!

I love and appreciate…

12. …the Semper Fidelis (Latin for “Always Faithful”) signature you have put on every card you’ve given to me since we began dating! And, more importantly, that you have indeed always been faithful to me in every way!

I love and appreciate…

13. …the fact that you really want to be with me whenever you are not working…and sometimes even when you are working and invite me to ride along. There’s nothing better than having you surprise me by showing up somewhere during the day when I don’t expect it!

I love and appreciate…

14. …your adoration for old people, widows, and orphans…your concern and compassion for Mrs. Conley (and others) has been truly awe-inspiring to me!

I love and appreciate…

15. …knowing that you HATE to read, but you’re still hanging in there to read this post!!

I love and appreciate…

16. …the way you end every phone conversation with “I love you!”

I love and appreciate…

17. …the fact that you are my Best Friend, my Boyfriend, and my Lifelong Love!!

You are a special man who has filled the last 17 years with so much joy
and happiness for me. As the songs says, “God blessed the broken road
that led me straight to you,” and I’m so glad that He did! My only regret is
that we didn’t meet each other 10 years earlier because
I could never have enough days to spend with you!

HAPPY 17TH ANNIVERSARY, BABE!!

From a Whatchamacallit to a Jewelry Holder

2010-05-20T11:44:00.004-05:00

I really don’t know what this was in its former life…maybe it held teacups or something…not sure! But when I saw it at a thrift store, I knew it would make a great holder for necklaces and stud earrings! Both of our girls love jewelry, and both of them need something for their long necklaces…but this one is going to FYD simply because she was with me when I transformed it and her sister was not! How’s that for parental fairness?!

Anyway…I forgot to take a before photo, but it was the basic brown wood
that so many thrift store items seem to be. I think it would have looked
great if painted black or bronze, but FYD wanted it to be cream
(which will fit into the future color scheme that she wants in her room…
if we ever sell our house and get to move…oh, sorry, I’m whining).

So, a quick spray with cream paint…

…a handful of embossed brown felt circles (found the pretty felt at Hobby Lobby)…

…and we have a handy jewelry holder!

The jewelry holder on the wall was purchased at a great arts and crafts festival, Homestead Hollow, that is held in Springville, AL a few times each year.
We loved the colored papers that were used on it!

Now, I just need to find something else to transform into one for FOD!!
Hmmm…an excuse to go thrift store shopping!! Where’s my purse?

Linked to:

Southern Hospitality

The Shabby Nest

Taste of Home

2010-05-17T22:48:00.001-05:00

Have you ever looked at a Taste of Home magazine?

I bought several copies at the thrift store this weekend. They have so many recipes that not only look and sound delicious, but they are quick and easy and require only a few ingredients!

I made two of them for dinner.

I adjusted a couple of ingredients….like substituting onion instead of bell pepper (since we don’t like bell pepper too much) and Italian seasoning instead of cilantro (since I forgot to buy cilantro).

My whole family thought they were terrific!

And they were just as quick and easy as the magazine had made them sound!

Kielbasa Tortellini

Photo courtesy of Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese or spinach tortellini
1/2 pound smoked kielbasa or Polish sausage, sliced
1 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 jar (16 ounces) Alfredo sauce
1 cup chopped tomato

Directions

Cook tortellini according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the kielbasa and red pepper in oil for 3 minutes or until pepper is crisp-tender.
Drain tortellini. Stir tortellini and Alfredo sauce into skillet; heat through. Garnish with tomato. Yield: 4 servings.

Cilantro Bruschetta

Photo courtesy of Taste of Home

Ingredients

1 loaf (1 pound) French bread, cut into 1-inch slices
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Place bread on an ungreased baking sheet; brush with 1/4 cup oil. Bake at 325° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the vinegar and remaining oil. Stir in the tomatoes, onion, cilantro, salt and pepper. Spoon about 1 tablespoon onto each slice of bread. Sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.

Curtains Made from a Duvet and a Dropcloth

2010-03-23T01:21:00.005-05:00

About a year ago, I bought a Ralph Lauren duvet cover at a friend’s yard sale. It had the same floral design on a red background on both sides. The color was perfect to coordinate with some of the accessories in our den at our lake house. I knew that I wanted to make curtains out of it, but sewing stresses me, so I had to ponder about it for awhile…a long while!

I finally decided to take the plunge and begin cutting it apart and sewing panels. Everything was going fine…I had sewn the first two panels from one side of the duvet…lined them and everything. Then I cut the other side for the next two panels. Then I realized that they were shorter than the first two panels!! I had cut this side in the opposite direction! Aargh!!
See why sewing stresses me?! The pattern is so similar in all directions that I just missed it. Anyway, I had to redo the first two panels to match the others and then…they were all too short!!!!!!!!!
[When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!]

There was no way I was going to hang the curtain rods any lower or leave the panels too short …

So I bought a canvas dropcloth and made a border at the bottom of each panel. I accidentally bought the kind that has a plastic lining, but I used it anyway! I just folded wide strips, glued them closed, then glued them to the back of the curtain panels.

I have bought some thick twine trim to hot glue onto the lower part of each panel to add some texture and interest, but with the bathroom project taking most of our time last week, I decided to do that later.

I bought the curtain rods and rings at Hobby Lobby for $20/rod and $8/2 pkgs. of rings…I think I paid about $15-$20 for the duvet…I used 2 twin flat sheets ($8 each) from Wal-mart for the lining…and the dropcloth was on sale for $8…so that makes this project’s cost around $80! Not bad for two window treatments!

I have linked this post to...

Spring Break 2010 at the Lake

2010-03-22T00:47:00.001-05:00

Most of our family spent Spring Break week at the lake…fellowshipping with friends, thrifting, renovating the bathroom, and relaxing. FYD went to the beach with a friend and her family, and she had a great time with them!

And today is FYD’s 13th Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday, Teenager!

We love you!

Spring Break 2010 Is Finally Here!!

2010-03-13T07:09:00.009-06:00

This is my chalkboard at the lake...I painted chalkboard paint onto

a metal dog crate tray and hung it in the kitchen.

We need to paint the kitchen cabinets asap!!!

I am so ready for Spring Break! FOD is starting the week

off by spending Friday night with her best friend.

And right after school on Friday, FYD headed to the

beach with a good friend of hers! My Darlin' Person, Gran,

and I are enjoying the lake this week (and FOD will join us later today).

We received GREAT news yesterday evening, too...

FYD made the school football cheerleading squad again!!!

Congratulations, Sweetie Pie!!

We are so proud of you!!

Our Guests Have Left the Nest!

2010-03-12T11:46:00.001-06:00

Well, they are gone now...our new Russian friends!

I am sad to see them go...glad to have things back to normal, though!

They are so sweet and joyful!

One of them showed me videos of her daughter's kindergarten program

and photos of the whole family...she misses them!

She got the other girls to take her picture all over my house...

her house has only ONE room!!!

May God richly bless all of them as they seek to do His will!

Sharing the Nest...Tips for Hosting Foreign House Guests

2010-03-11T22:54:00.002-06:00

We have had four ladies from Russia staying in our home this week.

Our family has hosted visitors from foreign countries a handful of times over the last handful of years...one group from Uganda and several different groups from Russia. These guests visit America to connect with Christians here and to gain financial support for their churches.

There are many wonderful benefits to opening your home like this, but there are also special challenges...especially when there is not an interpreter in the house!! The following tips are things that I have learned along the way:

1. Prepare before they arrive - Decide where your guests will sleep and which bathroom they will use during their stay. Clean, declutter, and freshen linens in those rooms.

2. Make them feel welcomed - Upon their arrival and after the initial greetings, show them the room and bathroom they will be using as well as where necessary items like towels can be found. Then show them around the kitchen so they can make themselves "at home" during their stay (this also keeps you from being needed for every little thing).

3. Anticipate their needs - Think about what might be needed when traveling so far from home and try to provide as much as possible. Some ideas...

Consider spending $10-$20 on travel-sized toiletries including toothbrushes/toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, razors, etc.
Place magazines and/or books in their room. Many times they can read and understand English better than they can speak it.
Make sure there is a lamp at bedside for reading as well as an alarm clock.
Provide water bottles and even snacks in their room. Keep the water at room temperature...they don't like cold drinks!
Provide extra pillows and blankets just in case.
Offer to wash clothes for them especially if they have been here more than a week.

4. Stock up on fruit...they LOVE fruit!!!

5. Take them shopping at Wal-mart...they LOVE Wal-mart!!!

6. Consider giving them some type of real American experience -

A distinctly American meal such as BBQ, hot dogs, etc.
Let them drive your car...with the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car from theirs (if they even have a car at home, that is). You might want to find a quiet, country road first, though!!
Take them fishing or hunting or bowling or to a baseball game
Take them to the beach...many Russians have never seen the ocean!

7. Ask them about themselves and their families - Assuming the language barrier can be overcome, they will be glad to talk about their home lives, and this may ease some of their homesickness, too.

8. Let them give something to you - Your guests will probably feel obligated to give you something in gratitude for your hospitality...let them! They probably brought small gifts or candy for this very purpose, but they may choose to offer to help with a chore or to perform for your family (many of our guests have had musical talents that they want to share).

9. Pray for them and their ministry!

I am always a little nervous before our guests from another country arrive, and I am always a little glad to have our house back to ourselves. But I have never regretted opening our home to them! Each and every time they have entered as strangers and yet have left as friends. Our lives have been enriched by the experience of meeting them and sharing in the work God has led them to do.

Crafty Birds

2010-03-10T14:39:00.000-06:00

I am not a big crafter, but I LOVE thinking about things that I could easily make

...more specifically, things that I could copy!

Here are a few easy ideas that I plan to try soon...

Chalkboard Painted Tins by .The Country Chic Cottage -

I have tons of metal tins just waited to be spray painted with chalkboard paint!!!

Vintage Puzzle Piece Magnets by Inspiring Creations -

Why did I pass up those children's wooden puzzles at thrift stores?!

Guess I'll have to go thrifting again!!

Spray Painted Floral Plates by Crafter-Holic -

I love the way the flowers of the original design are still visible

at various points! The tutorial can be found here.

If I ever try these myself, I'll be sure to let you know!!!

Nest Building: Book Page Wreaths

2010-03-07T23:50:00.002-06:00

After seeing wreaths made out of book pages,

I just had to try it for myself.

It was easy to do...a glue gun was the only tool required.

And it was pretty quick, too...maybe a couple of hours.

FYD liked it so much that she asked me to hang it in her room...

pretty high praise coming from an almost-teenager!

I followed the tutorial that I found at Living With Lindsay,

but there are other great ideas out there such as this one at Trash2Treasure ...

and this one for St. Patrick's Day at lucky star lane!

For even more beautiful examples, check out the post at

apartment therapy by going here!

Seventh Grade International Day and Spring Fling 2010

2010-02-28T22:52:00.004-06:00

Internationl Day - FYD spent hours (and we spent hours and $$) getting ready for this special school event. Her group researched Spain, filmed a newscast featuring current events, commercials, etc. relating to Spain; then we prepared foods that are traditionally served there: Spanish rice, flan, almond cookies, fruit and cheeses. Each group dressed up to represent their country...FYD's group wore cute, colorful dresses and a big flower in their hair!

Spring Fling - Each year the high school has a Sadie Hawkins style dance...FOD went with a childhood friend! They had not seen each other in years, and they go to different schools. But he was so sweet to go with her, and they had a great time!! Don't they look cute together?!

Happy Valentine’s Day and A Giveaway

2010-02-12T22:13:00.001-06:00

We are enjoying a little bit of the cold, white, flaky stuff here in the South today, and Favorite Older Daughter made this heart with her own little feet! You can see more photos and read about our day by checking this out.

You might also want to check out Patina Soul for an amazing giveaway…actually a LOT of amazing giveaways, but I REALLY want to win this one! So head over there and compete against me!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!

Feeling Rejuvenated!!

2010-01-06T00:14:00.007-06:00

Happy New Year!!

I was checking in on a few of my favorite blogs today and found myself admiring the blog header at Clover Lane, as usual! Sarah is a terrific photographer, and she is frequently changing her blog header to showcase her latest masterpieces which are primarily of her beautiful children! I happened to come across a tutorial she has done about making blog headers using Picasa...and I couldn't try it quickly enough!

I already had Picasa downloaded on my computer, so I was able to begin following Sarah's instructions right away. And they were so easy to follow, too!

In addition to the header you see at the top of this blog, I made this one for my lake house blog...

And I may use this one some other time (it needs something more, though, I think)...

In addition to just being fun, this has helped to rejuvenate my interest in my blogs. For several months, I have thought about posting to my blogs...have even felt a little guilty for not posting to them...but I just couldn't muster the motivation to do it until now. Maybe I will be able to maintain that motivation now!

In my absence, I worked on something else that may interest the one or two of you who read this. :) I made a photo book of our summer vacation using Picaboo and gave a copy of it to my mother and the girls for Christmas. I was very pleased with the quality of the books when they arrived. And Picaboo is very easy to learn to navigate, too. I will definitely be making more books like it in the future!

Merry Christmas 2009

2009-12-22T23:48:00.001-06:00

“The true light that gives light

to every man was coming into the world.”

John 1:9

Merry Christmas to All of You!

She’s 15 Today!!

2009-08-19T21:41:00.000-05:00

Our Favorite Older Daughter is 15 years old today!! She is an awesome young lady, and we are so proud of her! As I did for her sister, I want to share things that I love about her…one for each year of age (in no particular order): Born 8/19/94 at 2:08 pm

1. Her deep love for the Lord…a love that began when she was very young and has grown since then. When she was little, she “had” to be told a Bible story each night at bedtime. One of her favorites was “Samson and Delilah!” Dressed as Delilah for “Bible Character Day” in kindergarten

2. The fact that she is an excellent student and her responsibility with regard to her school work…she has always done her homework and studying on her own without much need for my supervision!

3. The way she giggles when watching something funny on T.V. Her favorite shows right now are NCIS and Reba. The sound of her laugh always makes me smile!

4. Her self-confidence and ability to just be herself. She knows who she is and what she likes (or doesn’t like) and she doesn’t compromise to be part of any group. And others love her for it!!

5. Her love of music and singing. She loves many different types of music…Christian, rock, Broadway tunes, country, etc. When she was little, she would use a small flashlight as a microphone and sing as loudly as she could off-key…thankfully, she has learned to sing on-key now!! :)

6. When we are out shopping or somewhere else and she reaches out to hold my hand…pure heaven!! Her dad loves it when she walks arm-in-arm with him, too!!

7. She loves to be tickled…I think it’s one of her “love languages!”

8. Her love of animals and children…she is longing for a Golden Retriever, and she wants to have a large family one day. Posing with “Webster” the duck

9. Her love of all things “country” like farm houses, country music, and country boys!!

10. The way she “mothers” everyone by reminding us of details and making sure we know when we don’t do something right…this one can be somewhat annoying at times!! :)

11. Her OCD tendencies…the silliest things bug her and she is very detail oriented!

12. Her beautiful hazel-colored eyes…sometimes they look brown and sometimes green!

13. Her ability to handle tough things…she has always had a good attitude about doing whatever is necessary: from taking medicine to changing schools!

14. Her love of watching movies and reading…and the fact that she wants to watch movies with us!

15. The way she is being so responsible in learning to drive. She aced her permit test this afternoon then drove home and to church tonight!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE

WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Day of School 2009-2010

2009-08-18T13:44:00.002-05:00

First day of school for the girls today: FOD – 10th grade and FYD – 7th grade

HAVE A GREAT YEAR, GIRLS!!!!!!

Climbing Out of a Rut by Re-feathering My Nest A Little

2009-08-05T13:20:00.001-05:00

After showing our home to a prospective buyer recently (they liked it but won’t make a purchase until October), I have been in a “nesting” mood…you know, wanting to rearrange and warm up rooms in my home.

A decorator friend helped me arrange furniture and accessories when we moved in three years ago, and most things have remained the exact same way since then!! I've been in a rut, don’t you think?! It’s time to crawl out!

I don’t want to invest any big bucks into adding anything inside because we do hope to sell soon, so I’m trying to use what I already own! You can see the “before” photos of these rooms in the left sidebar.

I moved the leather chair and ottoman from the living room to the office, and brought in a floor lamp from the guest room. I’m going to buy or make a pillow to go in the chair…one that has black/red/brown and maybe zebra in it! This fills up an otherwise empty corner of the office as well as providing the opportunity to open up the living room space (after rearranging the chairs in there). I think it makes the living room look more inviting and even a little larger.

The screened porch needed some cleaning, so I took that opportunity to move things around out there also. The seating area had been at an angle, and the table had been turned longways. I simply squared up the seating area at one end and turned the table 90 degrees. Again, I think this makes the space look larger.

I bought some pillows at Home Goods to brighten up the living room (the green ones) and the keeping room (the small rust ones)…

If you ever need pillows, Home Goods has some nice ones at good prices. I found a couple at Hobby Lobby that I liked, but they were way too expensive!

An Award and A Teaser

2009-07-25T23:55:00.001-05:00

I’ve been such a bad blogger lately…I check into my favorite blogs often, but don’t comment and I have not been posting much on mine! So, it’s the perfect timing to receive this award from Missy at Little Things in Life!!! Thank you, Missy! ;)

Anyway, check out Missy’s blog…and don’t miss her professional blog…she’s an awesome photographer!!

She has asked me to pass this award along, so who better to receive it than those of you who are always so sweet to keep in touch with me…

Joanna at This Southern Girl’s Nest – formerly from my “neck of the woods” and an awesome blog designer

April at Straight From The Heart – another fellow Southerner whose blog shows how much she loves her family and being a mom

I don’t have too many comments left for me, but I cherish each and every one…they brighten my day each time I receive one. Thank you, Ladies!

I have found some great treasures at the thrift store recently and I am working on some transformations…I will post about them as soon as I finish!

“Should-Have-Been” Easy Vacation Collection Idea #2 and The Thing

2009-07-18T00:14:00.001-05:00

About 1/3 of the way through our trip, we decided to begin collecting stickers from each state and some of our favorite sights to put on our cargo carrier. We thought this would be an easy and relatively inexpensive thing to do…we were wrong!

These stickers ARE inexpensive…ranging between about $1 and $3…but they are NOT always easy to find!! We never did find a state of Texas sticker…even though we stopped at WAY too many convenience stores and trading posts looking for one!

We did, however, get a sticker at “The Thing!”

Did I tell you about that? Well, we began seeing these billboards advertising “The Thing” and so we HAD to stop at the trading post that housed it.

We knew, of course, that it would be something hokey, but it only cost $1 each for the experience, so…

We walked from building….

to building…

…to see a strange museum of artifacts like…

old machinery and vehicles…

and strange historical scenes and objects…

After 2 or 3 buildings of this strangeness and at the doorway of yet another one, FYD’s facial expression and body language summed it all up…

And that last building contained the most strange object yet…some kind of mummified body…don’t know if it was real…don’t WANT to know either…

MDP actually asked the employees about where they got all of this stuff. They said it had been there since the 1940’s!!

In San Antonio, a man saw FYD’s “The Thing” t-shirt and asked about it saying, “I’ve been past those signs a zillion times, but I never thought to actually stop there to check it out!” No, only WE would be dumb enough…I mean, adventurous enough…to do THAT!!!!

Now, YOU never have to stop there either…

YOU’RE WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!

An Awesome Giveaway!

2009-07-15T20:03:00.001-05:00

Check out the awesome giveaway at Thoughts from Alice…hurry, entries will only be accepted through tomorrow night!

Blessings,

Robin

Easy Vacation Collection Idea #1

2009-07-15T00:33:00.001-05:00

During our recent road trip out West, I collected the soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc from each hotel room.

I already have some in a glass jar in my bathroom at home (I used the more elegant-looking ones there), but I put most of the ones I brought from vacation into 2 glass jars (from Wal-mart) with silver lids. One holds all of the shampoo/conditioner/lotion and the other holds the soaps.

I have put them in the guest bathroom at the lake. Now if our guests forget their shampoo or need more soap, it’s very handy for them!

Nesting Blessings,

Robin

A Re-decorating Mood

2009-07-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

I am in a re-decorating mood right now…thoughts of decorating projects and plans keep twirling in my mind. We decided to take our home off the real estate market last week, so I started thinking about re-decorating my girls’ rooms. I know that sounds crazy, but the paint colors really should be toned down, and FYD really needs a little more sophisticated room, so why not?!

Then today, a realtor called and wants to show the house this Wednesday!! We are really hoping that God has decided to sell it now! We are so ready!

Anyway, I’ve been searching for ideas for the girls’ rooms. FYD wants to use black and white toile in her room…I haven’t really found any photos of toile rooms that seem like something we would want to do. However, FOD wants a country feel in her room and I found a few rooms that have some ideas we may want to use:

I like the bench at the foot of the bed and the dresser in this room…

I think the combination of fabrics in this room is interesting, and that painted branch hung over the bed looks really cool…

And we could possibly use rustic clocks as wall decor like in this room…

Blessings,

Robin

Experiencing Technical Difficulties

2009-07-01T23:57:00.001-05:00

I have a post full of photos ready to show you, but Live Writer is not cooperating! After receiving help from people at Windows, I have finally installed IE7 on my computer. But now I am having problems posting through Live Writer!

So this is not only an explanation of missing posts, but also a test post. So, let’s see what happens!

test…test…test

2009-07-01T01:09:00.001-05:00

Been There, Done That, Got the T-Shirts to Prove It!!

2009-06-29T22:07:00.001-05:00

When you start to think we are crazy, just remember that there are 4 of us who got these T-shirts as souvenirs. Oh yeah, there are more but I just couldn’t take any more pictures!!

We were on Route 66 for a very LONG time!! So long, in fact, that MDP actually forgot that he had bought a Route 66 shirt and bought another one…both black!!!

Santa Fe had lots of great shops! We all bought T-shirts there!!

As soon as we got to Santa Fe, we went into the historic district to look around, and the first shop we went in was a jewelry store. The sales clerk was a jovial guy with great people skills…I was immediately skeptical! We ended up buying this pendant and a ring for FYD. I was sure we had been duped until we began shopping around at the other shops and the Indian craft booths…we got such a great deal!!

This shirt looks like a black and white drawing until sunlight hits it…then it becomes colored!!

The Hermit’s Rest is the oldest building
at the Grand Canyon which was designed by Mary Colter in the 1800’s…and the ravens hang out there to get an easy handout from the tourists!

There were so many great Grand Canyon shirts from which to choose!!

Since we stayed in the New York New York hotel in Vegas, most of us got a shirt that had that name on it, but FYD got the one with that famous saying in bright pink! Since I’m totally addicted, I had to have the Diet Coke shirt from the Coke store!

One of the funniest shirts we saw was this ATM one…very appropriate since MDP was definitely doling out the cash on this trip!!!

This shirt was actually dyed with money! They had other shirts in the store that had been dyed with various things like chocolate, wine, etc…the shirts had funny sayings relating to the substance in which they had been dyed…they even smelled like the things in which they had been dyed! Too funny!

In Sedona, they dye shirts…and bags…and hats…in the red dirt that is so common in that area! And the sayings all relate to dirt!!! I personally couldn’t resist buying a “Dirt Bag!!” :)

FOD got the blue shirt from the restaurant where we ate dinner…and fried cactus…in Sedona!!

We ate at the Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio, so of course, we had to have shirts from there! I would have bought a shirt designed by Bono that said “Fish Can Fly” and had a Christian fish on it, but they didn’t have my size. Bono is a Christian now, you know! I got this one instead…

We have hats to prove where we’ve been, too!!

I know, I know…we’re a little T-shirt crazy!! In our defense, though, we do wear T-shirts a lot…I usually buy them at local thrift stores! I think we’re set for awhile now…hmmm, that means I can spend more on other thrifty treasures, huh?!

Trip Totals

2009-06-29T00:24:00.001-05:00

Here is a quick look at some specifics
about our 2009 family vacation, “Crossing America”:

Itinerary – Birmingham, AL to Santa Fe, NM to Grand Canyon, AZ to Las Vegas, NV to San Antonio, TX to Birmingham, AL againTravel Time - 13 days from 8 a.m. on 6/13/09 to 2 a.m. on 6/27/09

Distance Traveled – 4475.5 miles

Driving Time – 84 hours 25 minutes

I could tell you that MDP was affected by all of those hours driving or that he was hyped up on chocolate-covered raisins, but he’s this crazy most of the time…

Amount of Fuel Used – 261.3 gallons

Gas Mileage Average – 17.2 mpg

Number of States Entered – 11…Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Louisiana

Number of Hotels – 10…in Oklahoma; Amarillo, TX; Santa Fe, NM; Flagstaff, AZ; Grand Canyon, AZ; Las Vegas, NV; Sedona, AZ; Las Cruces, NM; San Antonio, TX

Number of Movies Watched in Car – 17

Amount of Family Fun – Immeasurable!!

Crossing America: The Home Stretch…San Antonio to Sweet Home Alabama in One Day!!!!

2009-06-28T00:42:00.001-05:00

Well, I didn’t mean to leave you hanging so long, but we decided to drive ALL the way home yesterday…about 15 hours from San Antonio, TX to Alabama!! We got home around 2 a.m. and were exhausted! I don’t know how MDP did that much driving, but he did a great job!

It is so great to be home! Our furry babies were so excited to see us…we missed them so much, too!!

Thank you to all who have followed along with us on this journey, and I hope you will keep checking in this week as I continue to post about some of the people, places, and sights that we saw! There are some amazing and quirky things in America…the Southern part, anyway!!

Believe it or not, these Longhorns are the only ones we saw on the whole trip except for a couple of stuffed ones! They are so majestic-looking, aren’t they? We actually stopped on the side of the interstate, and I stood up (and out) of the sunroof to take this photo!! :)

If you are interested, I have also posted some pictures on Facebook…I think you can see them by clicking on the Facebook box in the right-hand column!

Crossing America: Day 13…San Antonio Riverwalk…Remember the Alamo!

2009-06-25T23:39:00.001-05:00

It took us about an hour to reach San Antonio this morning. We checked into our hotel, then headed a few blocks to do some sightseeing. First stop was the Alamo…an interesting piece of Texan history.

We walked a few blocks more to one of the oldest restaurants in the city…the Buckhorn…a somewhat quirky saloon-like restaurant and museum. We ate sandwiches while being serenaded by two cowboys singing country tunes. The walls were filled with heads of animals…of all kinds but mostly horned ones like deer and cows and buffalo…some normal, and some not-so-normal!!

Upstairs was a museum filled with more stuffed animals and oddities as well as some displays of Texas history. **WARNING…if photos of animals that have been killed
and stuffed bothers you, don’t continue down this page!!**

Although grossly overpriced, we had fun looking through the museum together…

After lunch, we toured the Riverwalk…a horseshoe shaped river surrounded by restaurants, shops, and hotels. We took a riverboat tour, too, which was very informative. However, it is HOT, HOT, HOT here…close to 100 degrees today…to say we were melting would be an understatement!!

We cooled off at the hotel for a little while (and learned of Michael Jackson’s death) then braved the heat one more time to eat dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe on the Riverwalk…had fun shopping, too…

We’re heading out tomorrow toward home…will probably get as far as Lousiana. Although we’ve had a blast, we are all ready to get home to rest up from our vacation…and to shower in our own bathrooms…and to sleep in our own beds!!

Crossing America: Day 12…Zooming Across Texas!

2009-06-24T22:55:00.001-05:00

We left Las Cruces, NM early this morning and spent the next 10 hours driving toward San Antonio, Texas. This state is HUGE!!!!!!! Thank goodness for the 80 mph speed limit on most of I-10!

I wish I could tell you how exciting the scenery is here in South Texas, but it’s pretty repetitive after passing through El Paso…a pretty large city on the border of Mexico…we had to pass through a Border Patrol checkpoint just outside of the city. We also saw a cattle yard…thousands and thousands of cows in large pens and huge amounts of feed stored nearby.

As for the rest of the drive…land for as far as you can see, a few windmills and oil wells, and the occasional rest area or small town…for hours and hours!!

We have stopped in Kerrville, TX for the night and will go on into San Antonio tomorrow morning…about an hour or so away.

Crossing America: Day 11…Sedona to Las Cruces

2009-06-24T00:02:00.001-05:00

We left Sedona this morning and drove almost 500 miles to Las Cruces, New Mexico! We will spend the night here then set out again tomorrow morning! It’s late and I am soooooo tired, so more info to come later!!

Crossing America: Day 10…From Las Vegas to Sedona

2009-06-23T01:28:00.001-05:00

Today we officially began our return journey to Alabama! Although Las Vegas is really something to see, I was ready to leave the hustle and bustle of it. We stopped at the famous sign to take a family photo…

As we drove past the suburbs of Las Vegas, the neutrality is unbelievable. Now I like neutral colors and use them in decorating our home, but this is ridiculous…

We could have traveled to our next destination (Sedona, AZ) via the same route we took to come to Las Vegas, but we wanted to go into California so the girls (and we) could say we have been there! So we just clipped the tip of California then returned to Arizona.

We passed through a whole lot of nothing but desert, the Mohave Desert, for much of the drive. The GPS actually looked like this…

…a straight road with no other roads…or anything else…for 78 miles!! The scenery looked like this…

We stopped somewhere in CA to have lunch at the Wagon Wheel restaurant…

Good food and great atmosphere…and they had the most adorable metal cowgirl/cowboy sculptures…but I resisted since they were about $100 each and we have no room in the car!!

Have you ever seen this house on HGTV…Extreme Homes, I think? We have and today we actually passed by it!!

As we neared Sedona, the landscape changed to forest…it was so nice to see pine trees again…any trees, for that matter!

Then as we drove down the canyon road toward Sedona, the scenery was beautiful…a rocky creek bed under a wooded forest with craggy canyon walls looming above.

Sedona…

As we entered town, we found a Best Western hotel and rented a 2-bedroom cottage that faces the mountains. It is the nicest place we have stayed yet and the view is breathtaking!

The Cottage…

The View…

The Shopping…

The Food…

The Fun…

If only we had more time here…but we will have to leave tomorrow!!

Crossing America: Day 9…Vegas Lights…Highlights, That Is!!

2009-06-22T00:30:00.001-05:00

We’ve had a full day of sightseeing in Las Vegas…did a whole lot of walking! So, tonight’s post is a simple photo album of today’s highlights…ENJOY!!

View Full Album

Crossing America: Day 8…Speeding to Vegas, Baby!

2009-06-21T01:34:00.001-05:00

We said “goodbye” to the Grand Canyon early this morning and headed toward the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas, NV.

The speed limit on many of these roads is !!

We stopped briefly in Williams, AZ…home of the Grand Canyon Railway and just an all-around quaint, western town…

As we moved westward, the scenery gradually changed from…

grassy ranges to…

shrub-covered rock to…

cacti-covered desert to…

mountains of dirt

until we finally reached…

The Hoover Dam and…

Lake Mead!

We moved from Mountain Time Zone…

to Pacific Time Zone…

Another 30 miles brought us to Las Vegas! It is so strange to see its tall buildings in the distance after the vast nothingness and low buildings surrounding it.

Then as we reached Las Vegas Blvd, the sheer size of the casinos and billboards is just astounding!

We are staying at the NewYorkNewYork Hotel…

Yep, that’s a roller coaster running in and out of the hotel!

Maybe you’re wondering why we would bring our children to “Sin City.” Let me assure you that we don’t gamble or drink, so those are not the reasons we are here. We simply wanted to see this famous city since we were so close to it from Hoover Dam. We also believe that it offers us opportunities to talk to our girls about the dangers and the evil that is in this world and how we are to react to it as Christians.

No, I’m not too happy about them seeing some of the debauchery that is openly displayed on the ads around here, but I’m convinced that they can handle it and learn from it. FYD has already thanked me for not dressing inappropriately like some of the moms she saw tonight!

We are also trying to find the good in this city. One good thing we’ve found so far is a huge 3-dimensional map of the U.S. in the America restaurant where we ate dinner tonight…

a Another is a memorial to the 911 NYC firemen outside our hotel which contains some awesome quotes about freedom…

May we never forget!!

Crossing America: Day 7…Every Grand Nook & Cranny!

2009-06-20T00:32:00.001-05:00

This was our one full day at the Grand Canyon, so we tried to see every nook and cranny of it!! We had breakfast in our lodge’s cafeteria…a very expensive breakfast, too! They know you can’t go anywhere else to eat, I guess! Then we jumped on the shuttle bus and went from one scenic point to another…

We saw wildlife up close and personal, too…

Ravens…they are everywhere here but these two were photographed at Hermits Rest where we sat outside to eat lunch. They look like crows but are larger and make very unusual noises…

A Squirrel…someone…who shall remain nameless…fed him some Cheetos even though they weren’t supposed to do so…

Elk…When we saw the first Elk Crossing sign yesterday, I prayed that God would allow us to see one. We have seen several in the park since then but were never in the right position to get a photo…until this evening! MDP and I went to the eastern end of the South Rim to watch the sunset (Gran and the girls didn’t want to go), and this big fella was on the side of the road being photographed by a woman who was right beside him! I’m not quite that brave…or stupid…depending on how you view it…but I got a few nice pictures of him. Notice how big he is in relation to the car that stopped to let him cross the road…

We also saw a herd of mountain sheep down in the Canyon, but I somehow deleted those along with a whole group of other photos…I’m just sick about that, too!

I’ll say “good night” with the sunset we saw tonight and a scripture verse that is posted outside Hermits Rest…

Praise You, Father,
for the wondrous works
of Your hands!

Crossing America: Day 6…From All Washed Up to Really Grand!

2009-06-19T01:53:00.001-05:00

After a delicious breakfast at Hog’s Family Restaurant this morning, we went to the Coin-op Laundry in Flagstaff to wash up all of our dirty clothes…

At 75 cents a washer-load and 25 cents to dry for 1o minutes, we used a lot of these…

FYD and Dad played a little Pac-Man while we waited for the clothes to dry!

As soon as the washing and drying and folding were done, we headed toward the Grand Canyon through the National Parks north of Flagstaff. The terrain is so diverse here: changing from pine forest to birch forest to a combination of the two trees to burned out remains to young post-fire regrowth…

We stopped in a small town just outside of the Grand Canyon National Park to see the IMAX movie about the Canyon and its history…pretty interesting!

The girls are standing beside a boat that was used by early canyon explorers just after the Civil War…

Almost as soon as we checked in at the Yavapai Lodge, we got on a bus for a sunset tour. We stopped at a number of points to take pictures during the hour or so before sunset then stopped at a strategic point to see the sun set over the horizon of the canyon. It is truly breathtaking!! The pictures that we took could never do justice to the splendor and majesty and general HUGEness of this wonderful marvel that God created, but here are a few of them anyway…

The elevation here is 7000 feet (it’s 600 feet at home), so we all are experiencing burning in our noses and throats at times but we’re staying well hydrated and using lots of chap-stick!

Crossing America: Day 5…On the Road Again!

2009-06-18T10:55:00.001-05:00

We left Santa Fe yesterday morning and drove toward Flagstaff, AZ. We saw some beautiful mesas, mountains, and open range on the way…we also saw a whole lot of nothing…and people actually live in that nothingness!! I don’t know how, but they do! Here are some of the sights we saw as we drove through…

We stopped on the way to drive through the Petrified Forest National Park…the park also includes the Painted Desert. MDP and I were amazed by all of the petrified wood and beautiful vistas of the land (God can surely paint well!!!)…Gran didn’t like all of the wind…lots of wind here…and the girls were bored out of their minds!!! We did spend about 4 hours though!

We also stopped to see the meteorite crater…it’s HUGE!

Then we saw awesome clouds and sky on our drive into Flagstaff! We are now on Pacific time (2 hrs earlier than home). We are were all so tired last night…so tired that I didn’t blog until this morning!

We are going to wash some clothes this morning then head up to the Grand Canyon this afternoon…will go on a sunset tour which should be great!

Crossing America: Day 4 Staying Put in Santa Fe Today

2009-06-16T23:18:00.001-05:00

No long drive today…staying in Santa Fe, NM another night! After continental breakfast at our hotel, the Sage Inn, we set out to see the sights.

First stop…the San Miguel Mission…

The city of Santa Fe was founded in 1610, and El San Miguel (St. Michael's) Mission Church was built between 1610 and and 1628. Foundations of the first church remain observable under the sanctuary of the present structure. Archaeological investigations beneath these foundations reveal evidence of Native American occupation of the site as early and 1300 A.D. In 1680, during the pueblo rebellion, the church vigas in the ceiling were burned, and in 1692 De Vargas ordered the church rebuilt. In 1710 the church was reconstructed and a sacristy was added to its south side in 1714. Repairs to the structure were made between 1798 and 1805 and again in 1830. (nosfarchives.org)

The “Oldest House” is next door to the Mission, but is no longer open to the public. We thought it was funny that the sign indicated that the “Oldest House” has an ATM!

Next stop…the Loretto Chapel and the Miraculous Staircase...

At the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail stands the Loretto Chapel. Inside the Gothic structure is the staircase referred to as miraculous, inexplicable, marvelous and is sometimes called St. Joseph’s Staircase. The stairway confounds archiects, engineers and master craftsmen. It makes over two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20’ tall and has no center support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails.

To read about the legend of the staircase, go here!

After a great lunch at the Railyard Restaurant, we drove up the mountain behind Santa Fe through Hyde State Park…not much there if you don’t hike or camp…which we don’t, but a very pretty drive anyway…

We spent our evening strolling around the Plaza, eating dinner, then goofing off in a park across the street from our hotel. It was good, fun family time!

Crossing America: Day 3…Amarillo to Sante Fe

2009-06-16T00:27:00.001-05:00

The drive today was considerably shorter than previous days, but it seemed just as long or longer because it was so BORING!!!!!!!!!! Miles and miles and miles of flat, ranch pasture land sprinkled with short, stocky shrubs!! See what I mean…

There were some highlights, though…in Texas…

…in New Mexico…

WWe took a short detour in Tucumcari, NM to drive on the historic Route 66 for awhile. It looks a lot like Radiator Springs…but Mater was no where to be found!

After finally arriving in Sante Fe, we shopped around The Plaza…bought some turquoise jewelry…listened to musical entertainers in the square…walked the labyrinth at The Cathedral Basilica…and ate dinner at the Ore House restaurant!

Sante Fe is a pretty city (although we are missing the tall trees that we see at home!) full of adobe buildings…all of the buildings are one shade of brown or another! We plan to tour the Mission tomorrow…the oldest church in America. We will be here through tomorrow night…glad to stay put for a little while. I’m so tired of riding in the car!

Crossing America: Day 2…OK to the Lone Star State

2009-06-14T23:39:00.001-05:00

Early this morning, we set out across Oklahoma toward Amarillo, Texas…about 400 miles. Oklahoma and Texas are flat, flat, flat with farms and ranches as far as the eye can see! Here are some of the roadside sights that we passed…

View Full Album

We stopped in Oklahoma City and tried to find the memorial of the shootings at the federal building there. After driving around the capitol without seeing anything that looked like it, we gave up and got back on the interstate! We stopped at this restaurant and trading post. MDP got a buffalo burger for lunch…tasted like beef, only much leaner! The girls got some souvenirs and fed the donkeys and the llama!

We also stopped at the Route 66 Museum…

We spent the night at The Big Texan motel…looks like an Old West town on the outside…swinging doors lead to the bathroom area, the shower curtain is the state flag, and the pool is shaped like the state of Texas…there’s even a horse motel in back! Next door, was the Big Texan restaurant…home of the free 72-oz steak (have to eat the steak, salad, potato, and 2 drinks in an hour…a 20 yr. old boy did it while we were there!)

Crossing America: Day 1…5 States

2009-06-13T21:21:00.001-05:00

We left home at 7:30 this morning on our road trip out West! We covered 600 miles and 5 states today…

We passed through this one…

We clipped the tip of this state…

Then we drove ALL the way ACROSS this one…

Now, I’m sure Arkansas has some wonderful sites and people, but mostly we just saw…trees…and trees…and more trees! BORING!!!!!!!!!!

The only other highlights were…

…rice fields and …

…a crop duster who flew right over our car!

Look what the boredom did to Gran and the girls…

Just kidding…they’re watching one of half-a- dozen movies!!

FYD was stylin’ in her pony tails and earphones!

And FOD entertained herself by brushing her retainer!

Anyway, we finally made it to this state…and our final destination for today!

After eating dinner, we FINALLY got showers and goofed off at the hotel…

Better rest up now for another long drive tomorrow!

Blessings,

Robin

Pack, Stuff, Load, Cram…Ah, Vacation!

2009-06-12T22:35:00.001-05:00

Well, we got these…Then we did this…

Then we loaded them in the car something like this… Tomorrow morning, we will look like this… Let vacation begin!!!!!!!!!

Westward Bound…Very Soon!

2009-06-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

This Saturday our family will head westward for a two-week vacation…to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas…then we’ll come home via lower Texas through San Antonio! I’ve spent a lot of hours on the internet trying to plan out our itinerary and driving schedule. It will be interesting to see how well we follow all of my plans!

It’s been a very busy week, but I think we’ll get everything done that has to be done before we leave! We’ve just about finished packing, our nephew is taking care of my furry babies while we’re away, and we’ve got plenty of movies to entertain the girls and Gran during the long hours of driving (wish I could watch from the front seat)! So, all that’s left to do is load the car…we got one of those sleek cargo carriers for the top of the Tahoe and we are packing as lightly as possible, but I’m still a little worried about fitting everything! Wish me luck!!

Test…Test…Test

2009-06-11T23:10:00.001-05:00

Just learned about Windows LiveWriter for publishing blog posts, and since Blogger is so frustrating, I thought I would try it! Thanks to Kim at Today’s Creative Blog for letting me know about it. So far, it seems easy to use!

Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

2009-06-08T21:54:00.001-05:00

Several weeks ago, I helped lead a Purity Retreat at our lake house for the girls in our youth group. As part of the retreat, we had a tea party in which we gave each of the girls their own unique tea cup and saucer...please read more here.

Afterward, the girls wanted to have tea parties on a regular basis and bring their tea cups each time. So I got these sturdy boxes at Hallmark for each of them, and we planned to have a party soon. This past weekend was our first one!
I asked that the girls take turns planning these get-togethers, so two of the girls helped with this one. They chose an Alice in Wonderland theme! We decided to have it at my home, so I did do most of the decorating. Each of the girls brought a finger food to share, and we served tea in their cups, of course!

I covered our dining room table with a quilt then made a centerpiece using a rabbit lawn statue, a Mad Hatter hat that my husband happened to find the week before the party, some stuffed flowers and a mushroom tea set belonging to one of the girls, and finally, tissue paper flowers and a deck of cards! Everything looked so bright and colorful!
The girls played a card game called "Tongue" which is similar to "Spoons," we enjoyed our refreshments, and had a short time of girl talk, too!

I couldn't resist giving each of them one of these sweet little mirrors that I found on Etsy...find out who makes them by reading this!

Super Cool Etsy Purchase!

2009-06-08T21:43:00.000-05:00

As I was snooping around at Jane's Apron a few weeks ago, I found something that I had to have...sweet little pocket mirrors...

I bought 11 of them for our youth girls...a very affordable little gift to just say that I care about them. I gave them to the girls at our Tea Party...please read about it here.

They arrived neatly packaged and cleverly wrapped in old sewing pattern tissue! Julie had also included this card with a vintage image on it and the nicest thank you note.

The girls really seemed to like them, and since a few of the girls have a tatoo, they were especially impressed with the tatoo on the arm of the girl on the mirror!! Thanks, Julie, for being so creative!!

Flaggin' You Down for a Giveaway

2009-06-02T00:00:00.004-05:00

Who wouldn't want to win a wonderful piece of art like this flag?! I don't know either! Visit Lipstick Ranch for your chance to win! You can also enter to win a $300 shopping spree if you go here. Make sure you visit Collage Camp, too, to join in on the fun of learning this art style!

Creative Photo Display Idea...Can You Guess What It Is?

2009-05-29T21:29:00.004-05:00

A good friend of mine who is the queen of yard sales recently gave me something that I had wanted for awhile...a creative way to display photos, postcards, or notes...with just the right amount of rustic charm. Can you guess what it is?How about now?Surely you know what it is by now!

That's right, an old, rusty crib mattress spring! I had these old postcards that my grandmother had collected or received back in the 1950's and 60's. So I bought some tiny wooden clothes pins at Michael's and attached them to the wires. Now they hang in our master bedroom at the lake and fill up an otherwise empty space with character and color...

You've Gotta Read This Book!!

2009-05-29T16:24:00.005-05:00

If I am recommending a book to read, it MUST be a good one! I am not usually a reader! But a friend told me about this one, and it sounded very good, so I bought it! And I was not disappointed!

It is an interesting story told from the perspectives of each of the two men who authored it, and it totally glorifies God and His providence. After just finishing the Beth Moore Bible study on the book of Esther in which God's providence is key, I am struck by this current-day example of how His providence is at work in our lives as well. It is also a testimony to the fact that one person who allows God to work in and through them CAN make a difference in the lives of others!

For more information, visit the official website where you will read this description and more: It begins outside a burning plantation hut in Louisiana... and an East Texas honky-tonk... and, without a doubt, in the heart of God. It unfolds in a Hollywood hacienda... an upscale New York Gallery... a downtown dumpster... a Texas ranch.Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.

There's A Game of Tag Going On and I'm It!

2009-05-28T20:25:00.003-05:00

There is a game of Tag going on around here, and I have been tagged by Toni at the Tattered Cottage. The rules of the game are pretty simple: The person who has been tagged lists 6 things about herself then tags 6 other people who do the same.

Okay, here goes...

I am a Christian - raised Baptist but attending a charismatic church for the past 10 years. I believe God has called me to help women grow in His Word, so I am privileged to lead women's Bible studies in my church.
I am an only child who always longed for siblings but now realizes that there are advantages to being the only one!
I love the fact that my husband is my best friend, and I love being the mother to my two girls even when the hormones are flying and the drama is intense!
I am a breast cancer survivor of 12 years now, and I believe that God has told me that I am healed of it completely (if interested, you can read about my cancer experiences starting here).
I have a melancholy personality which means that I need order and organization to function and have to constantly resist depression and feelings of failure no matter how many compliments I receive from others. It also means that I often procrastinate doing things because I might not do them perfectly.
I love to shop at thrift stores and yard sales (although I don't like getting up early on Saturday mornings to go). I love the thrill of finding something great at a great bargain.

Here are the 6 others that I am tagging...

Now, go get to know them and those whom they tag!!!

Blessings,

Robin

Thrifty Treasures: How to Choose Which Books to Buy

2009-05-27T14:54:00.019-05:00

If you are visiting from The Shabby Nest Frugal Friday Party or from Hooked on Fridays, WELCOME!! If you haven't been to these awesome parties yet, read my post, then get on over there for some awesome ideas! :)

I am "hooked" on the "frugal" idea of buying old books at thrift stores...see how smoothly I'm crashing both of these great parties?!

Books, books, and more books! Most thrift stores have so many great ones to choose! So how should you choose which thrift store books to buy?

Choose thrift store books for their age and/or patina. I have found books dated as early as 1903. Sometimes, though, just looking old is enough.

Choose thrift store books for their content. I love words and spelling and grammar, so the Gregg shorthand book and the grammar book appealed to me for that reason. I learned shorthand in high school, but unfortunately, I have forgotten all of it. I think the grammar book might even come in handy this summer when FOD tutors FYD in English (I've hired her to do that!)...

Choose thrift store books to use as art in your home. This large book would have made a great coffee table book if the cover had been in good shape, but the paper cover was torn and the hardcover was too plain (and a little dirty). But the ink drawings and prints inside would look great framed as art...

Choose thrift store books because the colors of the binding match your decor. I just loved the colors on these old library books about travel. The soft teals, greens, and neutrals look great in our living room at the lake...

Choose thrift store books because their subject matter follows along with the theme of a particular room. The den in our lake house has a water-related theme with a focus on fishing. The seashore subject matter of these books as well as the colors on the cover make these books perfect for that room...

Choose thrift store books because the subject matter will enhance your home. Although I haven't read this one yet, I know it will have at least a few ideas that I can use...And finally, choose thrift store books just because they're pretty....

For more thrifty ideas, visit Southern Hospitality each Monday!

The Down Side of Thrifting and A Thrifting Secret

2009-05-22T14:58:00.006-05:00

Now that school is out for summer, our family is staying at the lake for a few days. I went thrift store shopping today, and boy, they had tons of "new" old stuff! I just kept finding decorative glassware that I couldn't resist! I also found some old books...from early 1900's...that were both full of character and about interesting subjects! One of my favorite finds today is the old metal file tray below...I love the soft green color of it!

But here is the down side of thrifting...THE PRICE STICKERS! It took me quite a while to get all of them off so my treasures could be cleaned and displayed. If you haven't thought about it yet or if you are new to thrifting, here is a tip for removing price stickers from ceramic or glass...WD40! Just spray it on the sticker, wait a little while, then rub off! Soaking the items in hot water works well, too!

Here they are all laid out after being sprayed...see the secret weapon there with them? Of course, anything that could be washed in the dishwasher went in there as soon as the price tag was removed!

The thrift stores that I frequent do something with their price tags that is SO frustrating and annoying, though...they put them on the FRONT or SPINE of the books!!!! I can't use WD40 on them and it is almost impossible to get all of the sticky residue off of the books! WHY DO THEY DO THAT?! They could at least put them on the BACK of the book, for crying out loud!!!!!

The only book I bought that did NOT have one on the front or spine? A paperback that I won't be displaying!! HOW DO YA LIKE THAT?!

Does your thrift store do this? If not, what do they do? I would love to pass a suggestion along to our local stores for a better way to price books!

Thanks for letting me vent...I feel better now!! Blessings!

Jr. High, Here She Comes!

2009-05-21T23:22:00.003-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS

ON A JOB WELL DONE, FYD!!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!

A Proud Papa

2009-05-19T14:19:00.007-05:00

You know, our children can do many things in life that make us parents proud: good grades, displaying a talent or athletic ability, doing something of high moral character, etc. But little is sweeter than an exhortation from them that is especially for you!

When My Darlin' Person went on a business trip (without us) recently, our daughters wrote notes for him and put them in his car...he was leaving very early the next morning before we got up, so they would be a surprise.

He, of course, read them before leaving and woke me up to show them to me!

FYD had written a sweet little sticky note of love and affection, complete with hand-drawn hearts!

FOD had written out 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 which read: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." She followed the Scripture with an exhortation to "work as unto the Lord" and "don't sweat the small stuff!"

This proud daddy was blown away by these simple notes...and rightly so! He mentioned several times about framing them. Then last week, he went to the framing shop (by himself...without me) to have them framed. Now we have had several things framed at this shop before, so I knew they had good taste and did quality work, but I was still a little nervous that he had done this decorating task without my input! :) But then he told me how much he spent, and again...I knew how much things cost to be framed there, but I still suffered from a little sticker shock!

It turned out beautifully...

I think this is a lesson regarding the love of our heavenly Father, too! He isn't as interested in how complex our acts of service are to Him (simple notes) or even how perfectly we do them (simple notebook paper and a sticky note)...it's the heart we put into them and our devotion behind them!! When love for Him and devotion to Christ is our motivation, He frames those things up in finery for all to see (Malachi 3:16 "Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.") ...being the proud Papa that He is!!

Being the OCD person that I am, I have since asked our daughters to use pretty stationery the next time they write Dad a note!! :)

Thrifty Loot

2009-05-18T22:24:00.004-05:00

I wanted to join in on the thrifty fun party over at Southern Hospitality, but unfortunately I have forgotten to take pictures of my latest thrift store treasures! So I'm showing you the ones I found over Spring Break and the ones I wrote about here.

I always look for old and/or interesting-looking books...not for reading necessarily, but for decorating...
I have begun collecting old globes to put in the living room at the lake...

I just liked the look of this cheese ball server thingy...the base is marble. I like the look of simple cream-colored dishes. I plan to use a set of 4 of these to make a house number project for the lakehouse...if I ever find a plate holder for 4 plates (most of them hold 3 plates)...

I hope to go thrifting again this next week...until then I will be living vicariously through the party guests at Southern Hospitality. Won't you join us?!

Shore Things

2009-05-14T20:47:00.010-05:00

Our family had an opportunity to go on an early mini-vacation to Orange Beach, Alabama last week. My Darlin' Person had to work down there for just 4 hours on Thursday, so we stayed for a long weekend! After days and days of rain at home, we were so happy to enjoy the beautiful beach weather for awhile. It was very windy, but also warm and sunny!

The girls had a great time searching for sea shells and drift wood with their dad. Our Favorite Younger Daughter especially loved doing this...got up every morning at 5:30 am just to find the best shells!! I, on the other hand, stayed in bed until they got back each morning!! Although there weren't too many whole ones, they did find a lot of tiny ones and pretty pieces.
The girls had fun swimming, too, even though the water was freezing! I think my big toe touched the water once...and it refused to lead the rest of my body into that torture!
We ate lots of delicious seafood at The Hangout, Live Bait, and Lulu's...our favorite restaurants there!
My Darlin' Person wants to try to build one of these Adirondack chairs that we saw at Lulu's...
We saw these cool flowers growing near the pool...don't know what they are called...see the bee down in there? We also saw a gorgeous full moon every night!
Here is the way we displayed most of our shells when we got back home...

I have plans to make drift wood and shell mirrors one day...when I do, I'll be sure to show them to you!

Spring, Sprang, Sprung!

2009-05-13T07:17:00.002-05:00

I know most people in our society live in a continual rush-rush mode...I am not one of those people! I don't function well under stress...I can't handle it well...I admit it!

Our Spring has been a busy one, so something had to be put on the back burner...and my blog was one of those things. I get on the computer almost every night, but I just haven't been able to make myself "think" enough to write blog posts. And then, of course, I want it to be perfect...with photos and witty titles and interesting content...and if it can't be perfect, why bother?

I am in the last few weeks of the Beth Moore Bible study, Esther, and a couple of quotes from the lesson that I did yesterday were specifically for me...and maybe for you...

"Perfectionists always lose." See, no one can be perfect! Only Jesus had that ability!

"Do you have to do something great? Can you be happy to do something really good? Think about it, Sister. Couldn't the craving to do something great keep us from doing something good?" I am often stopped by the belief that if I can't do something great, I shouldn't do it at all. The reality is that doing that same something would be good...and that would be enough!

So, this blog post isn't great but maybe it's good enough to encourage one of you to do a good thing today even if it won't be a great thing! At the very least, I have sprung back into blogging for awhile!

Blessings for a good day,

Robin

What's It Gonna Take to Get You to the Lake?

2009-04-03T22:12:00.003-05:00

I spent Spring Break getting the lake house ready for your visit, then I wrote down easy-to-follow directions and put them in an easy-to-find place (see the top right corner...yeah, right up there).

I posted and I posted and I posted some more.

But you haven't shown up yet! Where are you? Are you lost?

Is a trip to the lake not appealing to you? The weather is warming up, the screened porch is almost mosquito-proof, and the water is almost at full pool...so? What's keeping you?

I'm looking forward to your visit! Hope to see you there very soon!!

Robin :)

First Etsy Purchase and Our Russian Friends Go Home

2009-03-31T13:28:00.000-05:00

I recently ordered my very first Etsy item...from Kari & Kijsa!

If you are not familiar with Etsy, let me tell you...it is an online community of crafters/artisans who have handmade items for sale. If you are not familiar with Kari & Kijsa, let me introduce you...they are sisters and the coolest decorating/crafting bloggers around! Plus, they are fellow Diet Coke lovers...just like me! Please visit their Etsy shop here!

I started small with this first purchase...a simple frame that has been spruced up with scrapbook paper (that can be changed on a whim) and a metal memo board. Also included were 5 bubble magnets. Just as I suspected, Favorite Younger Daughter took one look at it and said, "Can I have this, Mom?" She's a sucker for girly stuff especially if it has pink and green on it! I love the fact that these ladies took something simple and made something cute out of it...it would be so easy to make, yet it took them to show me that!! Now, if they would just let us in on their secret for cutting that metal piece, I could make some for girly birthday gifts!! How about it, girls? Hint! Hint!

It's a rainy day in the South today, so I spent some time at Kari & Kijsa's Trash to Treasure Party. It's a come as you are, stay for awhile affair...and the Diet Coke is served in abundance! I don't have any trash to treasure project photos to share, so I was just checking out what all the other girls have done...they've been busy! Plenty of inspiration to be found, for sure!

Head over there and see for yourself...take some Diet Cokes with you...don't want to run out of those!!

Our Russian friends performed at our church on Sunday, and Pastor Eugene (who we met about 5 years ago on his first visit to the U.S.) preached an awesome message of encouragement. They flew out of Atlanta yesterday on their way home to Moscow then Podolsk. They are so sweet, and we feel honored to know them!

Blessings on this wet Tuesday...stay dry!!

Robin

I ♥ Faces Week 12 - Pouting and Anything Pets

2009-03-30T08:51:00.001-05:00

Week 12 Entries

There are two categories this week – Kids and Pets

This is my first time to enter the weekly photo contests at I ♥ Faces...

Kids Theme – Pouting

This photo was taken a few years ago on a Spring Break trip to Destin, Florida! Favorite Younger Daughter was just being silly, but what a pouty face!! I used this photo recently in a post for her 12th birthday...you can see it here!

Pets Theme – Anything Goes

I just took this photo last week during our Spring Break at the lake. Thelma Lou was running across the lawn to the pier where I was sitting.

I love this picture of her because she looks so joyful and free and because I was able to catch her in mid air!!

To learn more about Thelma Lou and her big brother, Barney, please visit Roemen Holiday and check out yesterday's post about them.

Then go check out the other awesome entries at I ♥ Faces!!

Blessings,
Robin

Slumber Partay!!

2009-03-28T00:18:00.006-05:00

Last week, Favorite Younger Daughter turned 12 years old. It was Spring Break, so we had a family party at the lake...

Tonight, we are having a party with her friends...a slumber partay!! She and eight other sixth grade girls have taken over our house...they did cheer stunts in the yard, jumped on the trampoline, walked to the park, rode in the back of the truck, opened gifts, ate pizza and cake, signed pillowcases for each other, watched movies, laughed, screamed, ate some more, stomped around upstairs, laughed and screamed some more...and right now they are watching another movie!! Favorite Older Daughter and her friend are sort of supervising them for me...and for money!! It's worth it!

Here is the table decorated to look like a bed...got this idea online somewhere but don't remember where..FYD wanted a cookie cake for this party...

She wanted everbody to help her blow out the candles...

She loved all of her gifts and some of the bows, too...They had fun signing each other's pillowcases...This is the picture I will put on the other side of the pillowcase (by using iron-on transfer paper)...We also took lots of silly pictures like this one...I was a little worried about keeping them entertained and avoiding boredom, but they seem to enjoy just being together! Hopefully we will get a little sleep at least!

When I finish the pillowcases in the morning, I will be sure to show you! By the way, FOD and her friend wrote Bible verses on each other's pillowcases. And since they learned Hebrew letters this week, they also wrote words in Hebrew on theirs...

A Lesson in Patience

2009-03-26T21:09:00.003-05:00

Don't you hate it when God teaches you about having patience?! Well, I do! My Darlin' Person and I worked on getting the house ready for our showing this afternoon, we left well beforehand with two dogs in tow, then...much to our disappointment...we found out that the family who was coming to look at our house got caught in heavy traffic and would not have enough time to come before their son's game!! They are going to reschedule for another time, but we don't know exactly when that will be. Boo hoo! I'm still trusting God's providence...just impatiently trusting!!
Thanks for your prayers...keep 'em coming...or rather going!!

House Hunters and the Russians Are Coming!

2009-03-24T21:12:00.003-05:00

Well, ya'll are some awesome prayer warriors!! The family who came to our Open House is coming again for a second look on Thursday afternoon! And, interestingly enough, their son goes to school with FOD!! He recognized her pictures around the house and told her about it on Monday. He also told her that another couple was walking around our house holding a crucifix...don't know what that was all about!

So anyway, pray hard between now and Thursday!

I worked really hard today getting ready for our houseguests...three Russian women from a church near Moscow that is affiliated with our church. This is our third time to host Russians in our home during their stay in the U.S. with the Barnabas Foundation. We have also hosted Ugandans once. I always end up really enjoying them and getting to know them, but I am also always stressed before they arrive!

Anyway, I got things ready and they got here this evening...but they were only here a little while before leaving again to attend The Basement tonight (a local youth worship event). They want to go to Wal-mart tomorrow...I told them I would be glad to drop them off, but I went today and have no desire to go again tomorrow! One of them is an interpreter, so they will be just fine without me!

I'm headin' over to Roemen Holiday to add a post...hope you'll follow me there!

Blessings,
Robin

Quick Post Requesting Prayer

2009-03-23T09:48:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone!

I really missed you while we were gone last week! I have a lot of catching up to do in Blogland! Please check out Roemen Holiday to see what we have been doing on Spring Break...I'll be doing several posts to get it all in!

We had our third Open House yesterday...and 4 families came...that's a lot considering that no one came to the other two!! The weather was beautiful and the guard gate was cooperating...finally!

Anyway, one woman stayed a little late to show our house to her son. And afterward, our realtor said she and her husband were deciding between our house and another one that is MUCH more expensive...she likes ours and he likes the other one!! Probably has a super-duper media room or something!! ;)

Please pray that this woman gets what she wants!!!!!! Remember..."The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants." (My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

Let her turn his head, Lord!!

I'm really kidding about that...we want to be smack dab in the middle of God's will for us even if that means continuing to wait!!

Also, we will be hosting 3 Russian ladies in our home this week, and although I love doing this, it is stressing me out a little! Please pray that they will feel welcome and at ease with us!

Thank you in advance for lifting us up in these matters!! Bless you!

Robin

She's A Dozen Years Old Now!!

2009-03-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

A dozen years ago, our Favorite Younger Daughter was born on March 21, 1997...sometimes it seems like only yesterday, though! She has been a joy and a blessing to us, and she is growing into a lovely young lady! In honor of her birthday, I would like to share 12 things that I love about her...in no particular order! There are many more than 12, but I know you all have other things to do today, so I will restrain myself!

I love...

1. The fact that she was such an easy-going baby. She was content unless she was hungry or sleepy...what a blessing this was when I was undergoing my breast cancer treatments during her first six months!

2. The way she preferred "Mommy" to everybody else when she was little...Favorite Older Daughter had preferred Grandad, so this was fun for me!

3. Her vivacious personality...she loves to laugh and have fun...even when she should be doing homework!

4. Her "blonde-ness" even though she is a brunette...sometimes jokes just fly right over her!

5. Her contrite heart and quick repentance when scolded...she immediately seeks forgiveness and tries to make amends.

6. The way she comforts me when I am sad or upset about something...always quick to put her arm around my shoulders and ask what is wrong!

7. Her hair...it's thick and long, with just the right amount of wave!

8. Her God-given talents for dance and tumbling...she sure didn't get those moves from her parents!!

9. The love and loyalty she has for her family and friends!

10. Her deep compassion for anyone who is disabled or hurting...even as a little girl, she would pray for people like this! When she about 5 years old, we saw a man who only had one leg...she wanted to pray for God to give him a leg...I believe God did although we never saw the man again!

11. The fact that she is a girly-girl...she has always loved clothes, makeup, jewelry, "doing" hair, etc...when she was 3 years old, she could put on lipstick better than most women can!

12. Those times when she wants to sit close to me and snuggle with me...there's nothing better!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, E!!

WE LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!

Jr. High Cheerleading Saga

2009-03-13T20:08:00.006-05:00

As you know, Favorite Younger Daughter (FYD) had cheerleading tryouts yesterday. I headed to the school at 2:30 pm to pick up Favorite Older Daughter (FOD) who gets out at 2:40 pm. About a mile from the school, all traffic was at a standstill due to what I found out later was an overturned tractor trailer. I sat in practically the same spot for the next hour and a half until the road was cleared!! Tryouts were started late but went on as planned.

FOD and I killed time until 5:30 pm when tryouts should just about be over. There was already a group of moms waiting outside the gym. As each girl finished her individual cheer, they came out and left...there were a few girls, however, whose poor moms waited and waited to find out later that their little darling had finished much earlier but stayed to find out how their friends had done!!

Finally, one mom came over to me and half whispered that her daughter had texted her to say that FYD was crying because she had messed up on her individual cheer! Oh, my heart just sank!! I just knew that this would keep her from being chosen which would be devastating to her...and honestly, to me, too!! FOD and I immediately went to the gym door to wait for her to come out. Sure enough, she was crying! We gave her big hugs and reassured her. Several of her friends came out with her doing the same! Boy, was it hard walking through all of those other moms and girls to go to the car!

Of course, when we got to the comfort of the car, I reassured her that the judges would understand that the girls were nervous and mess ups would not count against them, but I was not at all sure that what I was saying would be the case. I wasn't trying to lie...just speaking in faith and trying to convince myself, too! I knew FYD would be okay when, as we drove out of the parking lot, she said, "I think some ice cream would make me feel better!" Do you think the kid got ice cream?! You bet she did! Birthday cake ice cream from Bruster's! We did hear later that mess ups don't count against the girls as long as they eventually complete the cheer...somewhat a relief to hear!

Okay, fast forward to today...results were not posted until 6:00 pm, so we checked the computer at 5:50 then 6:00! Both the football and basketball squads were listed with 12 girls on each squad. And guess what? FYD was on the football squad list just like she wanted!!!! What a relief!! She was so happy....at first...

Very quickly she realized that a few of her best friends had not made either squad...many of her friends had...FYD has LOTS of best friends!! Pretty soon the congratulatory texts began coming in from the friends who had NOT made it! FYD was actually crying because she had made it and they had not! They sent the sweetest messages of love and encouragement back and forth to each other! :) It's enough to make a momma proud!!

I am so proud of her for making the cheering squad, but I am much more proud of the love and compassion she has for people who are hurting! She truly exhibited the love of Christ...placing the needs of her friends above herself!! I am thanking the Lord for her, for the spiritual growth I have seen through this experience, and most of all, that tryouts are OVER!!

Blogging Friends Are the Best!!

2009-03-12T23:42:00.006-05:00

Thank you very much for all of the encouragement and offers to help during my blogging header crisis! First of all, I am so honored that you are reading what I write. Second, I am so blessed by the offers to give freely of your time and effort to help me.

Fellow Southerner, Joanna and I have been emailing info about my blogging problems, and I sent her the header I had purchased as well as the two photos I wanted to use. She fixed them in her photo editor and used a transparent background. Then, I used my saved blog template (always save your blog template before making any changes to the html) to change back some of my header settings and there you have it...up there at the top of your screen...See it?...Isn't it cute?!

I bought the pre-made header at Shabby Princess along with other adorable digiscrapbooking items. Now I need a good photo editing program so that I can learn more!

Joanna has been a huge support to me. We really just met when I began sharing about my blog problems in recent posts, but she did not hesitate to go above and beyond to help me! Along with her personal blog, she has a blog design business called Southern Girl Blog Design...check it out here.

Here are some examples of her work...

If you would like to spruce up your blog but don't know how or don't want to take the time to do it yourself, ask Joanna to do it...I think you'll be thrilled with the results! Even if you're not in the market for any blog design, go to her personal blog and compliment her for being so generous and selfless!!

Bless You,

Robin