What I've been doing

I have been thinking about how simplicity makes me feel calm, relaxed and ultimately happier in general. This picture is a kitchen that says to me "I'm simple but rich in experience and detail, I may not be showy but I am efficient, relaxed, easy going. I can handle hustle and bustle of rush time or I can sit back with a warm cup of joe." I like that in a kitchen. I also like those qualities in life.

Our days have gone like this: (not so simple and relaxed)
During the week Bobby is at work and most days comes to the house to work after that as well as some side work. Our weekends are always at the house working.
My day looks like this......
7am~ wake up, feed the kids, get dressed, change over some laundry, take out the trash, pack lunch, fill water containers
9am~go to Home Depot, bank, pay a few bills, swing by McDonald's for a Caramel Iced Coffee, go to 'the property' (that is still what the kids call it)
10am~work on tile, prime, paint, rethink and plan on kitchen layout because I'm never satisfied with it, referee the girls, check up on the girls because they are curiously quiet, make time for tic tac toe, listen to LadyBug's newest book-now second grade level :0), throw LuLu up in the air until my arms feel like they are going to break, talk about colors and sing the alphabet song.
12:30~ eat a sandwich, some carrot sticks, a V8, a Powerade
12:45~get back to work, being a referee, scrape the tile down again because I made a huge mess with the adhesive, reinstall the corner caddy thingy that LuLu used as a step before the adhesive dried. Scrape off the adhesive that LuLu iced the tile with while I was gone to cut a trim piece.
5pm~ eat a few Fig Newtons, drink another Powerade, get back to work. Check out LadyBug's newest invention outside in the dirt, push LuLu around on the bike.
7pm~ go home
8pm~ bathe the girls, cook and eat dinner, clean up, put the girls to bed
10:30pm~shower
11:30pm~sleep, glorious sleep

This is the color LadyBug picked for her room. Orange Slice by Glidden, we used Behr paint. The ceiling is about 2 shades lighter. Far from the previous description of relaxing simplicity, but you are only a child once. LuLu's color is Pink Peony also a Glidden color. I will post some pics of it soon. It is dusty pink with a lilac undertone.




With the help of my little sister I have been tiling my master bath shower. The opening you see here will be a solid piece of tempered glass. I finished laying he tile and cleaned it up for grout yesterday. As soon as it is grouted I'll post the pictures. I'll have to get a better picture. You can't see it here but a rain can is in the center of the shower ceiling and a handheld is on the wall. The clawfoot will sit right in front of that.

My two little sweet girls get as dirty as humanly possible every single day that we are there! But again, you are only a child once.

Jumbled Mess

I hope my readers will forgive me for not posting much lately. I've just had so much going on that it would look like a jumbled mess if I tried to update or put together something in a hurry. When I'm this busy it is really hard to sound intelligent because my brain is a jumbled mess.
But here are the latest goings-ons.....

Heating and Air - DONE (at least until drywall is up and painted)

LadyBug's Library reading - 504 pages so far for June!!

Plumbing - DONE (at least until drywall is up and painted)

Insulation and wiring - mostly done, will be finished this weekend

Drywall - waiting on us to finish this weekend

Grocery shopping - I am learning how to shop cheap and feed my family well.

Laundry - Uhmm, washed, mostly

LuLu's potty training - Depends on the day

You get the picture....

I did buy this really cool kitchen faucet today marked down from $247 to $92 wah hoo for me!
I am determined to get great products and great final quality as cheap as possible, for a couple reasons. ONE: I truly feel it necessary to refurbish and reuse when possible and get a deal when you can. And TWO: I need $4400 after the house is finished.....for something(s) a little more personal.

Father's Day was fantabulous. Hope yours was too.

This is why I love him Thursday and Trina

It is Thursday and time to shout from the mountain tops, my reasons for loving the love of my life!
If I never have time for anything else, I want to be sure to make time to: Pray thanks to my God, Hug my girls, and Honor my husband. Those are things that must be done no matter what else is going on.
For better or for worse
In sickness and in health
For richer or for poorer
Till death do we part
I made a promise to him and to God, to honor and cherish, to love and yes, even obey, so long as we both shall live.
I plan to hold up my end of the deal as I know he feels the same.
God has planned our lives together. Whether things are good or bad we are in it together. I am thankful that because of our promise to one another and because of the stubbornness born in us both, that we will make good on that promise.

Of course he makes that easy on my end. I found yesterday that I am terribly spoiled! I had to take the trailer with me to the house so the HVAC guys would have the lumber they needed when I got there.....
I soon found out that not only does it take me a considerable amount of time to back up said trailer, I also had no clue as to how it should be reattached to my Jeep after the nice gentlemen removed it for me so I could go to lunch minus the extra 14 feet of trailer! Thank goodness for my very self sufficient sister who went with me! By the way I think we will start drywall in 2 weeks or less!!!!
Anyway..... I found out by that experience that with out Bobby I would be lost. He just does so much that I look over and take for granted everyday. Things that I didn't even realize that he did. I wish there was some grand way that I could express my devotion, adoration, and appreciation to him on Father's Day. Nothing seems to say THANK YOU enough.

So to wrap up a very wordy post.... He is great!
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It is very important that I recognize Trina. She is such a sweet lady. Her love for peacocks isn't her only unique expression. She loves color and style. But more than that, she loves her family and God. She is involved in youth in a radical and awesome way. I always look forward to her posts. She is the type, you feel like you know her even if you haven't met. I appreciate that. Too many people wear masks when the real person is always so much more interesting to know. She was so kind to mention me in her blog and give me this wonderful gift. It means a lot that someone gets me.

Jason Upton speaks about Adoption

please watch this. It speaks volumes!

art and stuff like it

Please click on the pictures to enlarge the view, you will not want to miss the details...





















I believe art to be a product formed through many mediums. I believe nature, ink,paint, crayon, chalk, voice, motion, instrument, concrete, machine, tools and clay are all different mediums to reach the ultimate goal of art. My children are artists, My God is an artist, Tattoo professionals are artists, dancers are artists, painters are artists, I am an artist, my husband is an artist, a builder is an artist, a musician is an artist, a teacher is an artist. The question then is, What is art? My answer, Anything created. No matter, professional or novice. Anything can be art.

So now lets eat granola and hug some trees ;)

OK. Here is the scoop.... My HVAC guy will be at the house early in the morning. HIP HIP HOORAY!
Through God all things are possible.

natural and bare not recycled or green

I have been encouraged to tap into my creativity by the LIFT worship summit classes and let me warn you now...... If you've no patience for elementary or rusty poetry...... you will not be held accountable if you leave now. That said, let me tell you that I've not 'written' in quite some time. But I opened my spirit to flow out as best as my mind could communicate my experience and lesson I learned this weekend. Please bare with me but I have to push away the enemy by not being fearful that I will receive judgement and know that the inevitable judgement of others can not and should not hold up or shut up my creativity. So in very basic, back to the beginning poetry I have laid out my heart. I am confident that this early piece will grow into more of what I was created for....

So, ahem, OK, ......... without further ado........ here goes:

Broken and down
brown suit and frown
head too heavy to wear this crown

wander through streets
wander through town
looking for peace
still unfound

to the end of the rainbow
to the break of the sun
ends are frayed
knots undone

eyelashes on cheeks
with mascara runs
feet bare
spirit shunned
pebbles turned stones
arteries moan
under flesh, blood, bone
and image shown

eyes can not see
ears can not hear
spirit rising
done with fear

pick up the cross
where lay a crown
much too heavy
put it back down

for broken for weak
for lost for found
one strong and certain
savior abounds

forgiven and loved
place now found
at the feet of the One
who wears the crown
~mary

What Was I Supposed To Be - Ray Boltz

this is why I love him Thursday

Because...... why not?!
That is why!

Oh and since he didn't have side work last night.......

He came in, ate dinner, talked to us, played with the girls........

And DID NOT turn on the TV!!!

What a man~
What a man~
What mighty, mighty, Good man!


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This has nothing to do with today's post but I am so excited I wanted to share anyway.
My baby sister went for her very first prenatal check up today.
She has a beautiful 1 cm long sweety that will be spoiled, like nobody's business! I can't wait ('cept I have to, for nine months) to be the aunt. Since Bobby and I are both the oldest we don't have nieces or nephews.

Oh, but the times are a changin'! Now I get to hold them without fear of dreaded spoilage, (even though some might accuse me of doing that with my own angels)
I do feel it is necessary to help out parents by following their house rules even when the little stinker is at your own house... I have learned that only grandparents are afforded the right to contribute to the dreaded spoilage.... because after all they raised our butts, they deserve it!
So, DD, I solemnly swear -'cept, I don't believe in swearing- to abide by your house rules when I am watching over your little angel. Because my time will come to contribute to spoilage. So long as you allow me to: kiss, hug, transport ~ in an approved car seat that is fastened so snug in the car that hurricane force winds could not move it, feed, nurture, and pamper them while they are in my care.

So now I spoke my peace, Everett. And I done counted to three.


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One more thing and then I promise I'll be done.....

I am going to be part of a Supernatural Worship Summit called LIFT starting tonight. It will take up most of my weekend but I can't wait to tell you how it goes!

Life Liberty and Justice for All?

I want to get personal for a minute.I found out yesterday that my baby sister (20 yrs old) is pregnant! She is due Jan. 18 2009. I am thrilled. My parents and grandparents are thrilled. My sister and her husband are thrilled. My middle sister is thrilled. My middle sister has had two miscarriages. She cries often for her losses and suffers a condition making it very difficult to conceive. I have two beautiful daughters. Our baby sister is now expecting. My middle sister is still empty handed. I can't begin to understand why she is faced with this emptiness. I don't understand. I do know however, that there are babies killed daily in the name of 'choice' while my wonderful loving sister has an empty womb and a heavy heart. I want nothing more than to put a stop to legal abortion. But I want to uplift adoption. Make adoption less expensive and less painful. Make adoption well known, not a closed door. I am sad. I feel like freedom can go too far. When we tear apart sleeping infants in the womb in the name of freedom, we have given our soldiers who fight for freedom a bad name. I don't want my tax dollars to fund abortion. I don't want my flag to stand for abortion tolerance. What happened to Life, Liberty, and Justice for All?

Feelin' like HS

I've been on facebook for quite a while and have become kinda sick and tired of it. Maybe it's just the people I am in contact with on there but it just seems so childish like high school! I have a teacher from 9th grade history class on there and he is the most frustrating man I know!

Really, how come someone in a position such as that can publicly preach christianity while tearing christians down!!

I mean seriously, it is very heard to be what you are called to be and stand your ground. I understand that. It is much, much easier to be what the majority finds popular. But, come on, if you are a teacher and call yourself christian, (a follower of Christ) how can you in good faith cram free-for-all ideas into young minds?

It breaks my heart that my babies will be faced with this when they are in school. All I can do is teach them the best I can and pray that they will be equipped to handle these people in their lives. Our world is changing at a very fast pace. It seems like we will be facing criminal charges for standing our ground in America of all places. Where everything is ok except moral responsibility.

Hardened hearts are only softened by God. How many modern day Pharaohs are there?
God lead me with a pillar of fire in the night!

Oh and the phone just rang....Daddy has Cancer.....

I wanted to post about some light hearted my silly kids did..... kinda post but, my heart is heavy and I feel like I'm in spiritual warfare against weapons I don't always understand.

Yes, I changed it again.....and this is why I love him Thursday!

I know this must be like playing musical chairs, the way I change my background so much! I want a three column, but not all the busy background to go with it. If only I knew how to manage that. Although the ones I've had are really cute, they are just a little busier than me.
LadyBug will look at something in the stores and say "mom look isn't this.... oh, never mind it has too much accessories, right?" Yep, she is five and yep, she knows that is just what I am...
I'm not sure if basic or plain would be the right descriptions, but that's who I am, really. I wear my wedding band, no diamonds, no earrings, no necklace most of the time, no polish on my finger nails, no mousse or hairspray, just me, my t-shirt and jeans, and flip-flops. I am complicated enough with out all the 'accessories' as she would say, so in a way it balances.

So for now I am happy with this background.

Now for the real business:

I can't leave out my sweetheart. So, here are this week's reasons why I love him:

He tries to stay awake when I take too long in the shower at night.

He always kisses me and the girls before he leaves for work.

He never fails to include me in whatever he has done that day, even when I don't know what he is talking about.

He loves being a family man.

ABC meme from facebook

ABC meme from facebook. Adapted from The Mommy Diaries. Tag you are it. Let's see what you've got!? Here are my answers:


A - Age: 28
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: MOP, window washing
D - Dog's name: Buddy
E - Essential start your day item:green tea
F - Favorite color: robin's egg,white
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'7"
I - Instruments you played: clarinet
J - Job title: mom,wife,bookkeeper
K-Kids: Alexandria 5, Kaylee Grace 1 1/2
L - Living arrangements: family of 4
M - Mom's name: Donna
N - Nicknames: Beth, Pooh, BethyPooh, Mom, Mommy, Momma, MaryBeth
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None!
P - Pet Peeve: dishonesty
Q - Quote from a movie:"You lean against me, and I'll lean against you, that way we don't have to sleep with our heads in the mud" Oh and "Shake and Bake, yeah, that just happened" Oh and one more "give me some of your tots. No way, man, I'm freakin starving."
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: Jess, DD
T - Time you wake up: Alarm goes off at 6:30, but I usually get out of bed around 6:50 (me too)
U- Underwear: mostly, haha.
V - Vegetable you dislike: those nasty green Lima beans, but that is it.
W - Ways you run late: last minute diaper or potty and empty already sippy cup
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, back, stomach
Y - Yummy food you make: Homemade potato soup and carrot cake
Z - Zoo Favorites: hippos, giraffes

Today

Today Stellan is on my mind again (his surgery is this morning).
Today my girls are sleeping in.
Today my husband's hobby is taking over my yard.
Today I realized that God is only labeled once on my list of blog labels.
Today I am feeling creative.
Today I am emotional.
Today is a new day.
Today my kids will be my priority.
Today I will paint my kitchen.
Today I will mop the floors.
Today I will do whatever I darn well please because a woman should have that right when she gets her 'visit' monthly.... I mean if they took away our huts that we were banished to in the old days then we should at least get a 'free day' in return!

Monday, Monday- How blessed are we?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!
We spent the day at Granny and Popaw's house. It was so nice having everyone together, we don't do it often enough. The only two missing were my Sis-in-law and my Jess (my sister/best friend). The kids had so many eggs to hunt all the baskets were filled! The food was great, I'd give you a run down on what I ate but it's too embarrassing! The girlies accumulated far too much chocolate, and it was wonderful!
We are so blessed as a people to be able to come together, eat what we want, talk about what we want, enjoy a Christian celebration because we want, watch our children laugh and play because we want, and complain about whatever our government is doing or not doing, without fear because we want. What else could we want?

quiet gentle sound, still small voice

NCV calls it a quiet gentle sound. King James calls it a still small voice.
What sound? What voice? It was God!

1Kings 19: 11-13
11)The LORD said to Elijah, " Go, stand in front of me on the mountain and I will pass by you."
Then a very strong wind blew until it caused mountains to fall apart and large rocks to break in front of the LORD. But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12)After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle sound. 13)When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his coat and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. Then a voice said to him, "Elijah! Why are you here?"

So the mountains are falling apart, rocks are breaking, the earth is shaking, and fire breaks out! God could have chosen any of these things to show his power as he spoke to Elijah. HE chose to speak to Elijah quietly, gently. Like a mother speaks to her child after a nightmare. That is just how Elijah was feeling. Scared and alone. Elijah was frightened. God doesn't have to be loud, HE doesn't have to be seen or heard. HE can and will be but, The LORD is content to be quiet and gentle when HE needs to be.
God doesn't stop at being quiet and gentle, HE then asks Elijah ..why are you here? God wants to hear us, and quiet our fears, answer our prayers, and just love us.
In my calling, though loud and active may be necessary, I should never forget that quiet and gentle can be more powerful.
Please share your thoughts if you can.

random heart moments

It has been a while guys, so you have to hear it today!
Do a little research. Take some time from your day and pray for the unborn. Pray for the adults who conceive these gifts and those who can't. Pray for God's forgiveness. Hug your children. Take time out today to talk to your children. What are they thinking about? What do they like to do? What are they studying in school? Who are they hanging out with? What is their favorite color? Why? You might be surprised at some of their answers! Thank God for your precious children. Thank God for His will in your life. Remember those who have no children and are filled with sorrow. Have a fun and wonderful weekend. But take some quiet time to talk to God and express your thanks. Pray for healing in the lives of those effected by the tragedy of losing a child by health, accidents, war, or abortion.

Thought for the day:

A moment of silence for God to listen to your heart is worth more than the most eloquent of words. God hears us differently than we hear others. He can hear what we are 'really' saying. Sometimes words can't describe what our hearts are saying. He can hear that too! Just be in His presence. Talk or not. He WILL hear you.

We were all sick this weekend. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up with everybody. I am sooo sorry for everyone who has had to endure this horrid stomach virus!!!! YUK!! Hope you are all doing well.
Bobby stayed home yesterday to take care of me and the girls but he got sick too. So Granny and Popaw came and picked up Gracie. She was the only one well since she got the yuckies first. Me, Bob, and Alex lay in the bed all day. As bad as it was and as much as we all missed Grace it was nice to spend some 'time' with Alex. We haven't done that since before Grace. The hug that I got from Gracie when I picked her up this morning was priceless.... How I miss her when she isn't around!!

On another note, have you ever read the whole Bible? I started to about six months ago. I read the new testament first then the old. I have gotten as far as 1Samuel and I realize there is so much more to the story than what you get from reciting verses and taking what you will from those verses. It is waaay more complicated than I ever thought! My goal was to understand Jesus in a way that would direct me into the path to be more like him. Then I realized to understand him I had to understand his past. I can not say that I understand everything I've read so far. But God gives you what you need when you need it and He will do the same with understanding.

We must Choose

My heart is heavy today. I read an article I will not soon forget. I spent the day with my sister, my heart is burdened often with thoughts of her. I am so thankful that she is in my life. I find myself calling her daily just to hear her voice. I also got an update on Search for the Cure. I now have been informed of inflammatory breast cancer. I am thankful for the information. Most everyone has had a close encounter with cancer whether it be yourself or someone close to you. I sat with my Aunt as she took her last breath, my sister has a constant battle with pre-cancer cells, my mother in law battled breast cancer. We must find a cure! We must cherish every moment with each person in our lives! We must Choose to value the life of our infants no matter the prognosis! We must Choose to love! We must Choose to live each moment as our last! We must Choose to share hope! We must Choose to have faith!

Thought for the day:

God loves you just the way you are. But He refuses to leave you that way. -Max Lucado

We are all born sinners, tried and true. God loves us anyway. He loves us enough to place us in 'our spot' in 'our time' to become who we can be.

Also, please take the time to pray today for all the women who are facing pregnancies. Whether they are planned, unplanned, or faced with a grim prognosis for their pregnancies. Pray for God's healing touch on the people who research cancer. That their eyes be opened to a cure and our government makes swift movements to allow the cures to be used. Thank you! Today I fight. Today I pray! Not all wars happen in a battle field. This is my fight! Our babies deserve the same opportunities we have. Our families deserve a life without cancer.

the fight what fight

A clarification is in order for the name of this blog. Don't think I enjoy fighting or strife. I simply acknowledge the truth that we all fight a battle of some kind in our lives. Small ones daily... will I have that other doughnut, I just lost my cool again, if my face breaks out in one more spot there will be no face left, that sorta thing. But sometimes the battles are much bigger. I think if we share and lean on each other with the small daily battles we will be more connected to help with the bigger battles. That is all.

Thought for the day:
Truth is not determined by a majority vote. Pope Benedict XVI Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

When we are facing a decision in life do we follow the crowd? Or do we look to our God for direction? God has equipped us with decision making skills, we need simply to hide his word in our hearts and never forget to ASK HIM FIRST!

follow up and dress hunting

OK... follow up from yesterday.... after a 'show down' last night our family came to the realization that at some point we fell off the wagon. Thank God it was brought to our attention in a timely manner as to not drag out hard feelings!! Now after a few smart remarks here and there we are on the same page again!!! When all cards are drawn the fact remains that we all love each other deeply. Again, thank God.
Today we went shopping for Easter/spring picture dresses. Now this typically would not be such a hard task but my girls think it is fascinating to match for special occasions! Matching a 17 month old and a 5 year old is not an easy feat considering the older one is big for her age and the other is sort of small. In a funny sort of way it's like a line backer and a pixie..... I may be exaggerating a little but not by much. Any way when I finally did find the perfect ones I couldn't afford them. ARRGGG! That was frustrating! I still may go back -I don't know. Not that I care what other people think about their little dresses- I want them to feel special. I tell myself that your inner self is what makes you special and beautiful and that is absolutely with out a doubt the truth...but every little girl and big girl alike love to dress up special once in a while. But alas we are trying to build a home right now and at some point you have to decide expensive outfits or save, save, save. The little girl in me says go back and get those dresses. I probably will.

My thought for the day:
God rewards those who seek Him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. -Max Lucado (Just like Jesus)