Taking Care of Business...

In Past News:
For those of you that read my blog entry about the Mini Me Blogger and were utterly confused?? Well, I fixed the blog entry and you can read it here. Somehow the pictures did not post the first time and it is now displayed in all its glory. Check it out! (I do love my little blogger)

In "New" News:
There are some of you out there yet to know the EXCITING news in our lives. I have been waiting for a specific friend to call me anytime now to celebrate in shouting "Woo Hoos" together in this fabulous news. (So after you are done reading this my dear friend, I will be awaiting the phone call)
Yes, yes....Ric and I are blessed again once more....and yes, yes...my tummy is expanding rapidly. No, I am not getting fat (per say)...but rather I am gaining weight for the blessing of a baby.
Yes, yes, yes. We are pregnant, expecting....Whoot whoot!
So, now that the news is officially out there in blog world, I have the official right to write all about it. So bewares to all that my pregnancy mind could deliver unexpected entries beyond your comprehension to my sanity. Did that make sense? No, probably not. But, that is okay because I am with excuse! PTL!

So.....I have discovered today Why my tummy is getting uncomfortable and my pants are no longer fitting right....to this I am comforted to know. Here is what I am experiencing now...

"You may be feeling extra gassy or bloated now, too. That's primarily because the major doses of progesterone your body produces early in pregnancy relax smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, and that includes your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation slows your digestive processes, which can cause more gas, bloating, burping, flatulence, and generally miserable sensations in your gut, especially after a big meal."

Don't say I did not warn you!
Now off to bed for me....it is time to rest and allow my digestive processes to process!

Warming my heart

I would love to have my home feel like the warmth displayed in this poem below....but, I realize that it just doesn't happen all the time and lately it has not felt clean and warm. However, today I was blessed by a dear friend. Understanding my current circumstances, she called and asked me if I would bless her by letting her come clean my floors and laundry. Wow! Bless her? I think that it would bless me/ family too! At first, I was a little reluctant because I am not one that usually accepts help easily. I love to offer my help to others, but rarely do I accept someone else's help. Sure enough, I accepted her kind offer and within an hour she was here busily cleaning. I was able to rest a little with Lydia (which was a great time for when she was mopping). My floors were beautiful and my kitchen was sparkling!
I am so thankful! It truly does make you feel better when your house is somewhat clean and back to order. I do feel a sense of warmth today. I am so thankful and drawn into Worship the Lord today!


Meditations Of A Homemaker

Five yellow rosebuds, in a blue vase,
Perfectly molded, gentle in grace.
Fresh-laundered curtains here by my sink.
There 'neath my window birds pause to drink!
Seven red apples in a glass bowl;
Why do they bless and strengthen my soul?

Clean clothes are hanging here in the sun,
Smelling of pure suds-washing is done!
Draining the tubs, scrubbing the floor,
Dusting the table, answering the door,
Digging the garden, hoeing the weeds;
Why do these duties care for my needs?

Lord, mold me gently, just like the rose,
Cleanse me and keep me clean like my clothes;
Empty my soul of every gross thing,
Clear now my life of habits that cling:
Weed out all error. Lord, let me be
A good-hearted homemaker worshiping Thee!

Lydia Stoner

Mini Me Blogger

Warning: You should know that these pics were taken when Mommy was without shower, make-up and wearing a Cat in the Hat reading sweatshirt...

Important business! Blog, blog, blog

I would love to have a pink laptop too!

Blogging is a lot of work...need our water to quench our thirst!

Cheers to Blog!

It has hit me!

It has hit me. It has really hit me hard.
The last few weeks I was tired....and had a few trips to the throne....
BUT,
this week is even worse...it is terrible. I have lost count of the trips. I don't like going on trips. I no longer consideration my quiet "sanctuary" peaceful anymore.

"Morning sickness" is really a misnomer. (In fact, the technical medical term is "nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.")
The nausea usually starts around six weeks of pregnancy, but it can begin as early as four weeks. It tends to get worse over the next month or so. (Sarcasm --Lovely, just lovely)!
About half of the women who get it feel complete relief by about 14 weeks. (Thank you Lord) For most of the rest, it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up, though it may return later and come and go throughout pregnancy. (Okay, please don't let me be this statistic!)
What can I do to get relief?
• Try to avoid foods and smells that trigger your nausea
Right now, almost everything. Broccoli is not cutting it anymore. Oranges, I like oranges.
• Keep simple snacks, such as crackers, by your bed.
I do love snacking. Not a good habit for me. But, I can do that! Crackers are my friend!
• Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day so that your stomach is never empty.
small...small...frequent....frequent....snack! Okay, I can snack!
• Avoid fatty foods, which take longer to digest. Also steer clear of rich, spicy, acidic, and fried foods, which can irritate your digestive system.
Goodbye French Fries?? Curry? Bummer.
• Try drinking fluids mostly between meals
I am good at this! Hooray for me! Good Girl!
• Give yourself time to relax and take naps if you can
Okay, sweet girls...please let Mama sleep! Naptime. Naptime. We love to have Naptime!
• Try ginger, an alternative remedy thought to settle the stomach and help quell queasiness.
Ginger tea...sounds good. Anything to help me feel better.

Butt Dust

A friend sent this to me in an email and I thought it was too funny not to post. Kids do say the darnest things...

What, you ask, is "Butt dust?" Read on and you'll discover the joy in
it! These have to be original and genuine. No adult is this creative!!

JACK (age 3) was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister.
After a while he asked: "Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and
one for cold milk?"

MELANIE (age 5) asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she
was so old she didn't remember any more. Melanie said, "If you don't
remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."

STEVEN (age 3) hugged and kissed his Mom good night. "I love you so
much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."

BRITTA NY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a pain killer. She tried in
vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom
explained it was a child-proof cap and she'd have to open it for her.
Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's
me?"

SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups.
"Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth
cough."

DJ (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I
cost?"

MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and
kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his
dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"

CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked
what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with
this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read:
"The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city
but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James
asked:
"What happened to the flea?"

TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather
wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then
asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget.... this particular
Sunday sermon..."Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward
heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are
but dust." He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient
daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in
her shrill little four year old girl voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?"

Aunt Bonnie's Chocolate Cake

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Bonnie, CWO's monthly columnist for Bonnie's Kitchen.

Before I share with you the recipe, it is important to tell you how this recipe was developed and how I now am baking this scrumptious cake and going to be passing it along to you!
The following recipe is a very special recipe to me as it was passed down for a few generations and I will definitely be teaching my daughters how to make this extraordinary cake! My mom taught me this recipe when I was a little girl. In fact, it was one of the first recipes I had done when I was learning to cook and bake! I grew up eating this cake a lot! I had many birthdays where I ate Aunt Bonnie's Chocolate Cake! Yummo!
A little note about my mom: She is a WONDERFUL cook and baker! She used to bake pies professionally for a local restaurant in her town. She is that good! I have had the honor of learning some traits of her baking skills! I asked my mom the history behind this cake. After reading what my mom had written, I was even more blessed by this recipe. And, I think I am ready to go make some cake!
History:

When Aunt Bonnie Regan Sanders was a little girl, she had the mumps and lost her hearing. She loved to bake. (Cakes and pies) She made a chocolate cake from a recipe she had found, but later lost. She made up her own recipe for Chocolate Cake and baked that cake for our birthdays. We called it "Aunt Bonnie's Chocolate Cake"

When I was around 12 years old, she taught me how to bake cakes and pies.

"Aunt Bonnie's Chocolate Cake"

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 egg

1/2 cup oil

1 1/2 teasp. vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup hot coffee

(sour milk:-1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar plus sweet milk to make 1/2 cup-let stand 5 minutes)

Combine first three ingredients. Make a well in the center. Add egg, oil and vanilla. Have hot coffee made and measured. Add soda to buttermilk (sour milk) mix--pour into well--add hot coffee and stir quickly until there is no dry ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees in 8X8 pan for 30 minutes. Recipe is easily doubled for 13X9X2 pan. Can also place in layer pans to make a layer cake. (Bake for 25 minutes) Frost when cake is cool.

Butter Frosting:

6 tablespoons butter

1 1-pound package confectioners' sugar, sifted (about 4 3/4 cups)

Light cream or milk (about 1/4 cup)

1 1/2 teasp vanilla

Cream butter; gradually add about half the sugar, blending well. Beat in 2 tablesopoons cream (milk) and vanilla. Gradually blend in remaining sugar. Add enough cream to make of spreading consistency. Frosts two 9 or 9-inch layers.

For chocolate butter frosting: Prepare butter frosting adding two 1-ounce squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled with the vanilla OR substitute chocolate squares with 3 Tablespoons cocoa and 1 Tablespoon melted butter for each square. (6 Tblsp cocoa/2Tblsp melted butter)

Growing....

Legacy: Painting on a cloud

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Darlene Schacht , Author of The Mom Complex.

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Art Bookbindery, "Empowering Writers to Self Publish."

Valera Mae Marshall
Born Dec 1, 1920
Died Mar 15, 2007

Her hair was snow white, and her weathered hands told
the stories of lifelong, hard work. She left a legacy by sharing the deep convictions of her heart. She shared courage, His hope, dignity, and grace.
Her recent death challenged me to consider the legacy I am living as well as the legacy I am leaving my Children and future Grandchildren.

Grammie said to Grandaddy that one day they would each be up on a cloud in Heaven painting side by side. ....I believe they will be painting a legacy. A legacy that they have left behind. I am so thankful to be a part of the legacy that Grammie has sewn...that she has so dearly painted with her life. She is beauty to me. She has given me such insight and precious pearls of wisdom. I am thankful for all those moments that I have breathed with her. Gleaned from her.
There are so many memories I have and many special moments that I shared with her. She continues to live on in my heart. Here is my letter to Grammie about some things I remember of her...

Oh, Grammie, how I love you! I can still hear your voice and your laughter. “Hi Sugar Babe!”

I can still feel your soft time-worn hands. The smell of your coffee laced breath. I think I may even have some clothes with a trademark of visiting with you---cat hair!

You have lived a life of rich experiences.

You made me feel special when I came for overnights by myself. You taught me to sew a pillow and crochet.

Meatloaf. Lemon drop Candies, Punkie Pie, Coffee, ice-cream sandwiches

Taking my driving test in your Toyota Celica car

Reader's Digest magazine, Bible on Tape, History Channel, Western Movies, Vaseline Intensive Care Hand Lotion, Rummy Card Games

Your love of animals (and boy, did you have a crew!)

Your love of history.

You loved growing flowers and having them in your yard.

You were a master painter, writer, seamstress (Little Cricket), crocheter, storyteller....

God saw you were getting tired. You were ready to go home to see your Maker and Lord!

So he put his arms around you and whispered, “Come to me.”

A golden heart stopped beating. Hard working hands at rest. Peace. Beauty. Home.

I believe that God sent us you
As our legacy from above,
To share the moments of our life,
As extra measures of His love.

Until then, I want the whole world to know how blessed our family was to have such a wonderful person in our lives. Your legacy lives on....paint Grammie! And, I will paint too!

BIG Spring Clean

Yes, it is that time again! Spring. Yes, Spring began several weeks ago...but, nonetheless it is still Spring until June 21st. So, I have decided that my home needs a scrub. So, I am going through each room of my home and going to thoroughly clean that room from top to bottom! And, I don't know about your houses, but mine is in great need of a deep clean!

So, here is what I have planned :

April 4th: Kitchen
April 5th: Dining Room/Family Room
April 6th: Laundry Room
April 7th: Guest Room
April 8th: Master Bedroom/ Bath
April12th: Living Room
April 13th: Hall Bath
April 14th: Girl's Room
April 16th: Office
April 18th: Car & Porch

I plan to take before & after pictures to let you see the progress. And, for those of you that know me well....you can hold me in your prayers as I step into this process. I am not one that does well with organizing and cleaning. But, by God's grace and strength nothing is impossible! So here I go...

If you like you can join along with me!

Pickn' up Dirt!

I love contests and I love games:
However, I am not "one of those" people that seem to win everything. You know, the name that is always read on the ticket whenever there is a raffle of any kind. I remember a lady named Vrenda Kellems who is "one of those" people. I think she one several raffles in elementary school and high school fundraisers. And, I do believe she was a big winner on the Price is Right too. :-)
But, I never can resist the opportunity or competition of contests or games....so, here is one that I am pickn' up dirt on!

5 minutes for Mom, a website I frequently visit is giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum!

Click on over to their place, read the instructions, and sign the Mr. Linky to enter. You must have a US shipping address to win.