Crafting

I am in the craft mode the past week or so...doesn't mean it will stay with me. I think since the bathroom remodel I have been in 'clean out and organize, craft' mode. I copied a hat I had bought and made one that I like even better! I have 5 garbage bags full for the Disabled Vets to pick up so my closet is so much cleaner and spacious.

Getting ready for Thanksgiving with family!

The hat I made on the left, the one I bought on the right!

I have much more to go but I am working hard! I am still cleaning from the construction dust as well...

Priscilla Shirer: Breathe

I went to bible study this morning at Central Church and was totally blessed. It was the final day of this particular study by Priscilla Shirer and it spoke volumes.  She challenged every one to find 14 minutes a day to STOP, CEASE, BE STILL and be with the Lord. She said you would be amazed at how difficult it is to find 14 minutes as a wife and mother, even harder if you work outside the home, but this is very important. We can be busy doing great things at church or elsewhere, but if you're too busy you're not really THERE and you're doing nothing good.  A great quote that Ellen gave us to day was  "Whatever you're doing, be all there".  Don't be thinking of what you COULD be doing, enjoy the moment of what you're doing and linger in it. She also challenged us to make 14 inches of space. She has a belt fetish so she is sifting through her collection to make room and to enjoy the gifts God has given us.  When we have too many of these gifts, we really can't appreciate what God has indulged us with. It may be purses, chocolate, shoes for others.  Mine would be books and chocolate!  I could make 14" of space by cleaning out my closet or a bookshelf.  I am doing that now since we are remodeling the bathroom. It has given me the opportunity to clean out my closet and cabinets. I don't need 35 bath towels. I have gotten rid of some shoes I haven't worn in years.

Now I will work on the 14 minutes to STOP and be with Him who loves us unconditionally and waits patiently for us to seek Him and read His word, to talk to Him, pray to Him, thank Him. It was a morning of thanksgiving to be still and listen to Priscilla preach God's word.

After the bible study a group of girls went to lunch at The Silver Caboose on the Collierville Square. We had chicken and dumplings and turnip greens and ended with chocolate chess pie; then me and Laura walked the shops and played a bit! It was 37 degrees outside but we had a great time being silly and having fun!

Past and Present Boutique...Laura said he bit her hand!!

 

 

 

I have been working on household projects so I wanted to make a patriotic wall for my guest room that matches the quilt. This is what I came up with.  Until I can find something I like better, I really like this room now. 

Lily is taking a bath/shower in the newly renovated bathroom tonight. It's still not completely done so I'm waiting to post a pic until it's mostly complete!

I am not a Cold Weather Girl...

It was freezing today...high 43...and dropping every day this week.  I met Laura at the gym then we hit Starbuck's, Kohl's and Old Navy looking for the 6th grade girls some skinny khaki pants that will follow the uniform rules but still be cute. The leaves are changing and are breathtaking!


Then I had an appointment to check this large lipoma on my left shoulder.  I saw Dr. Ver Halen at Baptist Medical Group and really felt comfortable with him. He said they will call to schedule surgery at the hospital or surgical center. He said the incision will only be half the size of the cyst itself, so that's much smaller than I originally thought.  He said I will probably be awake but loopy. I am ready to get this over with!

This new time change has me waking up so early...5 am this morning so night night!

Dr. said it was about 7 cm

A Thankful Veteran's Day

I am so proud to live in America and so very thankful for the men and women who serve our country so we may be free! My kids had the day off of school so we went to their dentist appointment (where I work) then enjoyed a relaxing day at home. I finished my laundry room project and Pyro went to Lowe's to check out the sale on kitchen appliances.

Grace spent a lot of time with Kanga on her lap and Lily was busy making Name Place Cards for our Thanksgiving dinner with her new Oil Pastels.

      Love these kids!!










As the rain came and the temperature dropped, I was really craving some hot soup, salad, and crusty bread with olive oil for dipping! So came Zuppa Toscana! Homemade Zuppa Toscana...better than Olive Garden!

                   

Olive oil with Tuscan seasoning

Zuppa Toscana

1 lb. ground mild sausage

1/4 to 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (I do 1/4 tsp)

1 med-lrg chopped onion

2 tsp minced garlic

10 cups water

5-6 bouillon cubes

1 cup cream, half & half, or milk

4 large potatoes, cubed or sliced

1/2 bunch of kale torn in bite size pieces

In a large stock pot, brown sausage with red pepper, onion, & garlic. Add water & bouillon and bring to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until soft about 15-20 min. Add cream and kale, heat through but do not boil. Serve with fresh parmesan cheese, salad and bread!!

We had a great day!

A Fond Farewell ~ Auf Wiedersehen Julian!

Tonight we said goodbye to a very special, unique and unforgettable friend we made a year ago.  Julian is from Germany and has been living in the U.S. as an au pair, pronounced [oh pair]. He moved to the Memphis area last year to take care of 4 children whose parents are doctors, divorced, remarried and work long hours. The official definition of an au pair is a person, usually a young foreign visitor, employed to take care of children, do housework, etc. in exchange for room and board. These young people are matched with a family they believe to be suitable, they are able to learn American language and culture. They are able to explore, study, travel and make new friends. The minimum time is 12 months then they can extend their time if it's something the family asks them to do and both are willing.

We met Julian when he brought Emily to Lily's 9th birthday party.  Since then, we spend many summer days with him and the twins, Ben and Emily. We have swam, had dinners, birthdays, and many hours of long talks sitting by the pool with the Tucker family.  He has been such a blessing, showing us that Americans can be really too uptight!!   It is refreshing to listen to him talk! His accent is definitely fun, he has taught us about the European culture, and we have helped him learn many words! Since Pyro is extremely fluent in German, they got along quiet well.

He has ended his commitment to his host family and will fly back to Germany in a couple of days. We will see him again for sure! We will miss him!

Lauren, Rachel, Julian, Me

Happy Happy Happy

I love weekends! Last night my kids wanted to watch Little House on the Prairie which makes my heart happy because that was a childhood favorite! It's the Disney movie (rated PG) released in 2005 I believe. It is a 2 disc DVD with approximate run time of 255 minutes.  It is one of our family's favorite movies of all time along with The Sound of Music! Lily was working the whole movie on something that she revealed at bedtime.....a covered wagon! This movie has made an impression on my children and it shows hard times and real work, family and prayer, and struggles between people (then it was the Indians and White Man).  This was such a sweet project she worked so hard on!

I was also working on a project of my own!! We have lived here in Collierville, TN just outside of Memphis for 7 years. We are in the end of our master bathroom construction which I will post when it's complete (should be in a few days from now.)  In the meantime I have been trying to figure out a valance for my laundry room. I wanted something with burlap, not too tailored, something do-it-yourself!  I found some covered boards in the attic that were previously hung but we had removed when we moved in.  They turned out to be just what I needed....so I took some chocolate burlap and covered the board (I used Pyro's staple gun to secure them) and added a burnt orange piece of burlap and a natural piece I twisted around, added some raffia and I was super excited about how it turned out! I can't believe it was better than I imagined! EEEEEKK!!

Old valance found in the attic

The three colors of burlap I chose to use

From the dirty old board in the attic to a newly furbished/recycled DIY laundry room valance!  Ooo la la!! I will hit Hobby Lobby tomorrow to get more chocolate burlap to finish the other window. I love my laundry room now and keep walking by just so I can look at it!

New November!!

Okay I am determined to begin again...and blog more often...I like to think of it as a journal my kids will enjoy reading and looking through.  I've always kept a written journal over the years. I have written down prayer needs and answered prayers, things my kids have said, struggles and triumphs and vacations.  At this time in my life I am making many changes.  Some will not be revealed until January 2015 so wait for it!!

I love cooking! Of course I like traditional southern foods because that's who I am, but I love experimenting with foods around the world!  Now that Fall is in full swing with winter on it's way, we eat LOTS of soup because that is what Pyro loves!  I will post some of my favorite recipes because my children are beginning to cook with me (and sometimes when I'm not looking but I won't say any names (Lily)!!