I'm Giving Into the Peer Pressure... I Guess I Will Have my Own Giveaway!!!

Everywhere I look in blog land, someone is having a giveaway. I feel the pressure to join the fun. My family will tell you, I love to buy gifts for people. It is simply one of my favorite things to do. I truly love trying to find just the right gift, for those I love. Since I have entered and won a few wonderful surprises along the way, I feel the need to return the favor.

So, here is what I am going to do...

I would like to honor all the moms and grandmas out there (Sorry Jim-Dad! You could enter on mom's behalf...) with a Mother's Day surprise. On Mother's Day, I will select two winners... one grandma and one mom, to win a special something from moi. It will be my "thank you" for all your encouragement, prayers and kind words left, as I ride through my own roller coaster world called "motherhood."

Here is what I need you to do...

1. Tell me if you are just a mother or a grandmother too.
2. Tell me how many children and grandchildren you have. (Include stepchildren, foster children, etc...)
3. Tell me what your favorite color is.
4. Tell me your favorite hobby.
5. Tell me what being a mom/grandma means to you.

What will you win? Hee! Hee! I think I will leave that a surprise. (In other words, I haven't decided yet. :) ) But I promise IT WILL BE GOOD!

I will announce the winner and the prize on Mother's Day!

Hope you join in the fun, 'cause I am so ready to shop and give back to my friends!

Hope you are having a beautiful week!

I Found a Love Note in My Purse and it Wasn't From my Hubby...

I was cleaning out my purse the other day and found this...

A note written by my sweet redheaded, blue eyed nephew, Sawyer. I had sent him something for his birthday and a little something letting him know I was praying for him. Easter weekend he gave me this. Isn't it precious? (Don't you love how he spelled my name?!!!) I almost cried when he handed it to me. My sister said he wrote it all by himself. He really is a sweetie!

Here is a picture of Sawyer with my hubby. (don't they look like they could be related?) Somehow, I don't think Kevin minded this little love note at all! :)

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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Several of you who have been praying for Sawyer have asked how he is doing. Great! He is acting like any other little boy his age... full of energy, playing ball and fighting with the brothers. He will continue to be monitored and is not allowed to play full contact sports. But for now, we are so thankful. God is good. Thanks for asking and all the prayers the last few months...

Who Said I Couldn't Bake? Just Call Me Betty Crocker...

I think I was actually the individual that said she couldn't bake. Although through the years I am getting better. In my family, my sister is the true baker... she loves to bake, but I'm more the queen of salads and appetizers. Being the wife of a Student Minister you get real good at the dips and food that looks good on the high dollar "paper" china.

However, my true passion when it comes to eating is BREAD. Love it. Every kind, shape and color. During those PMS moments growing up, I didn't grab chocolate (allergic), but rather headed for the loaf of bread. I could eat at least half a loaf without batting an eye. Needless to say, that is why there is a few extra inches around the waistline. I'm still working on the bread diet. When I perfect it, I will let you all know.

I baked a little bread last night for dinner. Something about kneading, rolling and baking that put a big smile on my face and a yummy in my tummy. Don't these babies look totally delicious?

Yep! Made them totally from scratch. I "needed" me some bread, "rolled" them right out of the can and baked for exactly 13 minutes. Just call me Betty Crocker! My kiddos even fought over their yumminess... with me! :)

Hope you are having a Delicious Day!

Oh, by the way, what's in your bread basket? All about some new ideas...

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Just so I don't totally ruin my cooking reputation, I have a gift for you. A yummy roll recipe, which I have been known to make on occasion, when this working mom has a little more time in the kitchen, that is. A friend gave me the recipe umpteen years ago, when I was first married. Love it!

6 cups of self-rising flour

1 package of yeast

1 teaspoon of baking soda

1 cup of warm water

2 cups of buttermilk

1/4 cup oil

Dissolve soda in buttermilk. Dissolve yeast in water. Mix all ingredients together. Pinch off desired amount and knead on flour surface. Cut out rolls and put in greased pan. Bake at 450 degrees until golden brown (usually about 15 minutes). Keep dough in refrigerator to use as needed.

Yummy goodness!

The Word of the Day is "AMAZING" With a Touch of GRACE.

See this young dude? The one who needs a haircut really, really bad? He would belong to me. Yes, Grandma, I know he is in need of a trim...


Anyway, this guy has decided he wants to learn to play the guitar. One more way he can be like his dad, I guess. We have a junior guitar we bought Kayla several years back that he has been playing around on... Kev has taught him a few notes and he can even play a song, ALREADY. It isn't perfect, but good enough I can tell what he is playing. (He has only been playing for a week or two.) If he keeps practicing there might just be a new guitar in his future.


This mom, who sings off key half the time and can't play an instrument to save her life, thinks her musically inclined kiddos are simply AMAZING. (His sister plays the piano and flute.)


Want to know what song he can play? It is a goodie!!!


Chris Tomlin's "Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone."


SIMPLY AMAZING...



Hope you and yours are having an AMAZING day!

Keeping it simple this week...

As you know, if you read any of my stuff, the last few weeks have been pretty rough on my kiddos. Therefore it has been so very rough on this mommy's heart. But as the old quote goes; "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger," or something like that. Anyhoodle, I believe that. I believe we have walked through some fire lately, but you know what? I think we are stronger, closer and more in love with our God, then ever before. I am happy to report that I have two very happy kiddos, who are doing just fine. God is good.

I said all of that to say, that if you don't mind, I think I will keep things simple this week. (Unless something BIG happens, of course.) No deep soul searching posts, just simplicity. Finding pure joy in the little things...


To start?

Beautiful, huh? This was our beautiful blue sky, taken the day after the storms... How something so beautiful could have been so dark and angry the night before. There might not be a rainbow present in this picture, but I believe it still proves there is beauty "after" the storms of life...

Oops! And I said I would keep it simple and not go to the "deep" side of things. Guess I just can't help myself sometimes.

Here is hoping and praying you and yours have a beautiful week, filled with BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKIES.

The Storms Rage...

I have NEVER liked storms. As a very young child, I was scared. As a teenager, I was scared. As an adult, I have been scared. Although, I have come a long way. Every now and then I will have found that I slept through a little bit of thunder and lightening, something that once upon a time would NEVER happen. I don't panic when they call for the BIG BOOMS and CRACKLING FLASHES OF LIGHT, anymore. I try my best to act nonchalant when facing a storm these days, because of my son. I'm afraid he takes a little bit after me in this department. :(

YES, I have come a long way...

BUT, then we will have a weekend like this one. The kind where EVERY weatherperson is declaring it to be one of the WORST weekends for STORMS, including HAIL, HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING, STRONG WINDS AND TORNADOES.

As I have stated, my fear of the thunder and lightening has lightened up. As long as I am safe in my home or in another building, I'm fine. I guess you can say I've grown up a little and gotten through a BIG childhood fear. No, I now sleep fine. I am able to remain calm.

UNLESS, the word TORNADO is mentioned. Panic sets in on a very high setting. I KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF, SEEN WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF and basically I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF THE WINDY THINGS!!!

So guess who didn't sleep much last night? Guess who woke up and turned on the TV every time she heard a little thunder? Guess who was up at 5:00a.m. this morning tracking a tornado headed her way, only for the warning and rotating clouds to head 7 miles south of our little town? (Thank you, Lord!) Guess who went back to bed, when the warnings had pasted at 9:00a.m. and slept until 2:00p.m. this afternoon?

Yep, that would be me!

I'm sitting here at the computer, THANKFUL, for another escape from the raging storms outside. Praying for those in neighboring states, feeling the brunt of the storm that pasted my way earlier. On the TV, one reporter just announced damaged homes just across the River from our state. Scary stuff. In a matter of seconds the BIG BAD WOLF can BLOW A HOUSE AND HOME DOWN. In seconds...

As I left for work yesterday morning, the Lord knew my heart. HE knew that I was worried. HE knew that I knew storms were headed our way, and that my mommy heart was having a hard time letting her babies go to two different schools to wait for the raging winds to hit. HE knew I was worried about the hubby, who had been gone on a trip all week, who was driving across the state of Arkansas, possibly in bad weather. He knew that the responsibility I have to take care of my babies, all eight of them during storms that could go very wrong, scares the life out of me... HE KNEW I NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF HIS PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

So, you know what song HE dedicated just for me on the radio yesterday morning? Oh, I know the DJ didn't personally say this "song goes out to Mich, from the Heavenly Father himself." But, I DO NOT believe it was an accident, that it was playing as I made my way to work. The good Lord was sending me a message LOUD AND CLEAR. He wanted me to know that what ever happened, HE WAS STILL THERE, STILL GOD, STILL IN CONTROL AND TOTALLY WORTHY OF MY PRAISE. Totally.

Truth is, that it doesn't have to be a physical storm that comes roaring our way, for God to care. He is there for us through every storm in life. Sickness, broken hearts, financial problems, death of a loved one, even dealing with the "mean kids" at school. He is there and ALWAYS WORTHY OF MY PRAISE.

So, as I'm sitting here, reminded of all the storms of the past, that the Lord as seen me through, I'm praying that He will help me to continue to "grow up" in His WORD, His LOVE and KNOW His PERFECT PEACE, so that I can remain calm when in the eye of the storms, this world will constantly throw my way. May, I let Him help me build a safety net of HIS BRICKS (surrounding my heart and home in prayer and His word), so the BIG BAD WOLF can't blow me and mine down within seconds.

Want to know what song was playing?










Here is praying that you will find reasons to PRAISE HIM in your storms of life. And if you are going through a weekend of rough weather like I was, I'm praying for you and HIS PERFECT PEACE.

Blessings and prayers...