Happy Birtday!

To Me!

I have a day of babysitting planed. Hubby is working nights, so that means he will be sleeping all day and working all night:(

You got to do what you got to do right!

It's still my day anyway. I am home with my family, healthy, and very very happy!

It is my birthday all day long! I am sure I will find something fun to do (or something not to good for me to eat!).

Rachel Ray "Bubble & Brown" Stoneware Review

Lucky for us the CSN stores have been promoting like crazy. They have been sponsoring giveaways all over the net. I was one of the lucky bloggers to be picked to give away something from one of their great stores. In February I had the opportunity to give away a Skip Hop Zoo Pack.

I have been seeing other great giveaways from the CSN stores and entering all I see. I was luck enough to win the Rachel Ray "Bubble & Brown" 2-Piece Stoneware Baker Set from Melissa over at Livin' Off Love .

This is what the site had to say about the Rachel Ray "Bubble & Brown" Stoneware!

Excite your dinner guests by bringing these vibrant, fun, contemporary-shaped stoneware bakers to the table. Whether it be a roasted chicken or classic mac n' cheese, food has never looked and tasted so fabulous.

Includes:

• 1 x 1-Qt. Bubble & Brown Stoneware Baker
  




• 1 x 1.5-Qt. Bubble & Brown Stoneware Baker Features:
  




• Multiple Use Stoneware - Dishwasher, microwave, freezer safe and oven safe to 500°F for convenience and versatility. The glazed interior is nonporous so foods won't interact
  




• Contemporary Design - Contemporary, playful shape in a vibrant and fun color goes directly from oven to table. The shallow sides result in crunchy tops for each serving
  




• Easy Storage - all bakers conveniently nest together to save space in your cupboard
  




• Wide Handles - Extra wide handle holes allow you to remove the stoneware from the oven even with bulky pot holders

Specifications:

• Small Baker Dimensions: 4.5" H x 11.5" W x 7" D
  




• Medium Baker Dimensions: 4.5" H x 14" W x 9.75" D
  




• Material: Stoneware
  




• Color: Yellow
  




• Lifetime limited warranty

My Opinion:

I really like it. I had trouble deciding what to make in it because of its low sides, but I tried Shepard's Pie. It worked fabulous!! I love it. It didn't stick to the inside. It cooked even. I was still able to put foil over it when I wanted to melt the cheese, but not brown it too much. The handles are big enough to really put my hand and the pot holder in to lift it out of the oven. (I really liked that!) It was super easy to clean! Next I think I will make peach cobbler in it. The only think I would have improved on it is the color selection. You can get it in yellow, orange, green, or blue. I would have liked red or white to choose from too. I chose the yellow because I though it was the only color that wouldn't clash with my red, cream, and pink decor in my kitchen.

So, over all I give it 5 stars! It did what it was suppose to do and I am so happy to have it. I would recommend this set to anyone who is contemplating getting contemporary style bakeware that is easy to store and care for.

Our Weekend!

Our weekend was a busy one. Seams like every day around here has been busy lately!

I took Will to a birthday party at a park Saturday. He did have a blast! He played for 3 1/2 hours and didn't want to leave. The wind was picking up though and it was getting cold. He got to sleep all 60 minutes home though.

Here are a few pictures of him at the park and the party.

Ok, I have pictures but for some reason blogger is acting up and won't show them for you! Sorry!!

Sunday He had a blast at Children's Church. I am so glad he likes it. He has now been asking more questions about God and Jesus and the devil. I don't know if I am answering in a way to make him understand, but I try. He has also wanted a "God story" every night. I read to him from a children's Picture Bible. It's not the best, but it's what I have at the moment. I read it to him then try to explain it better in a way he understands. I don't think they had 3 year olds in mined when the made that Bible (which was mine when I made my First Communion).

Today has been a day spent with Mom and Dad. Hubby is off today because he is on shift work now. He starts nights tomorrow night. So, Will is having fun with both of us today! It is a beautiful day outside, so we are spending a lot of the day in the yard. We also have friends coming over later with their children.

I hope every one's week starts as well as ours has!

Saturday's Giveaways

Here it is Saturday and I totally forgot that today is Giveaway Saturday! Please forgive me I have been busy and lost track of what day it is with Hubby going on shift work and all.

So I have a few giveaways to pass on. I enter a ton and this is only a few of them. I hope someone wins!!!!



Kiddies Corner Deals is giving away a Baking Life Sweeter prize pack!-Ends 3/30

Money Saving Mama in Michigan is giving away your choice of a Kidorable Umbrella-Ends 3/31(I have been trying to win this for Will for a long time!)

On the Search For Hidden Treasure is giving away Scripture Memory Cards -Ends 4/2 (She has some really great giveaways going on with lots of ways to enter!!)

Blaze 'N' Crochet is giving away an Exergen Temporal Scanner Thermometer!!!-Ends 4/1

Minnesota Mama's Must Haves is giving away an Air-O-Swiss Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier-Ends 4/7

The Toy Box Years is giving away a Rachel Ray 10" Skillet-Ends 4/3 (She has a few other great giveaways with low entries! Check her out!!)

Good Luck everyone! I won two giveaways this week. I won the Gaddy Nipper Crayons and some coupons for free snacks. I also got 2 Thomas the Train DVDs in I won 2 months ago!

Do You Need Something?

Apparently some people feel that I am only worth anything when I am useful to them.

Do you have those friends or people in your family that only call you when they need you to do something for them? I do! It always bothers me when they call. As soon as I see their number come up on my phone I think "I wonder what they need from me now!" or "What do you want now!" I hate thinking that way, but I am always right.

I want to know why they don't call me to just see how I'm doing? I call them occasionally to make sure they are still ok! Is their lives just to hectic to fit me in anymore? I don't know what to do. I want to just write them off and never speak to them again, but my Christan side is screaming "No Don't Write Them Off!" So, like a good little slave girl I do what they ask. Let me tell you it makes me HOT inside though!!!

As Hubby so well explained it to me, he said "Joshlin, do you really think they are just doing it to you?" My answer, "Well......I didn't think about it before, but no. They are probably doing it to almost everyone they know." Does this make me feel any better. Not really, but now I know it's not about me. They are just users and do it to others to. I am not being targeted.

This still bothers me though. Today I will be going to a birthday party so that my son can play with the other kids, not just because I was invited out of shame because they haven't called or seen us since the early December! I am sure I was only invited because my sister-in-law suggested that they text us and invite us or they would hurt our feelings.

By the way I think of a text invite as a "I just invited everyone in my phone book! If you don't come I will not really care or I would have personally called!"

I am in such a bad and unthankful mood today. This is the second call I got form on of my "I only call when I need something" family!

Time to go do some Bible studying!!!!

Eyes, Teeth, and Trucks oh my!

Yesterday was a busy day for us. I had a dental appointment for Will. He was referred to a new dentist for the cavities on the outside of some of his teeth. Well that was a wast of time. I didn't like this dentist from the moment we walked in. First they gave us the wrong address (you would think they knew their own address). Then the placed smelled so bad. Like chemicals you would use to clean a nursing home. When we got in the office and filled out the paperwork I looked at the cartoon they had playing in the lobby. My word, it was not age appropriate at all!!! Hubby enjoyed it though. (Boys and jokes about bathrooms and such! I will never understand!) We waited forever! They even took kids in that came after us!!! When we finally go in a room the nurses where soooooo not children people. Will is only 3! You can't make him sit in a big crazy looking chair then tell him his Mommy couldn't be with him! They told him to be a big boy! Oh no!!! Mommy ended up in the chair with him. Then they had the same cartoon on in the room, and ignored me when I mentioned that I am sure they could change it! What really got to me was how quickly they referred me to a pediatric dentist when my 3 year old didn't willingly let them touch him!

I am hot just thinking about it!!!

At least Hubby and I got to go to the eye doctor that day and find out everything was good with us. I am still almost legally blind, but contacts can still help. Hubby found out his eyes are now equal and only needs one prescription on contacts for both eyes.

We where nervous about this eye doctor because he was new to us too. Our old one doesn't take our new insurance. But, this doctor was great!

When we got home Hubby started working on his truck. He is going to get off work early today and finish fixing it (hopefully!). Our day was long yesterday and I have a feeling it will be a long one today too. I have some bills to pay and grocery shopping to do now:( I hate knowing how much money we don't have!

On the up side: Charlot was left in the house for about 8 1/2 hours yesterday and didn't have any accidents or tear anything up!!! Progress!!!!

I hope everyone else has a great day though!

Thankful Thursday~Helpful People

I have found it so hard to find people who are willing to help others with no payment attached. Isn't it horrible to imagine a world without that good Samaritan. The one person that knew it or not, but just did the one thing for you that turned your day around.



So, today I am saluting all those people who help others out of the goodness of their heart.



Thank you to the man who held the door for me when my arms where full and my son was hanging on my purse straps while whining about the candy he didn't get.



Thank you to the neighbor who commented about how good the food I was cooking smelled. If he only new how hot I was making that darn roux and how much I didn't want to be doing it.



Thank you to the friends that let me hold their 7 month old babies. It helps me get the baby feelings under control. (They are so cute and tempting when they are someone else's! Sometimes I just need to hold one to remember why I don't need any more months of getting a total of 4 hours of sleep in 7 days.)



Thank you to all my blogger friends who leave me comments. Sometimes I feel alone in my little blogging world.



And a BIG thank you to The Cutest Blog on the Block for your helpful and very easy to understand blog secrets and backgrounds. People like me just can't do these things on our own and you understand our language!



But I will never forget that all of this is made possible by God's grace. He has been looking out for me when no one else has. He will never leave me or give me anything I can't handle!!! I trust in Him!



Happy Thursday everyone! Hop on over to Women Taking A Stand and Frugal Reality to link up and tell us what you are thankful for today!!!

So.......

What do you think? Do you like it? Is my new blog design to "pink"?

I am in like with it. I will let it sit a few days and see how it goes. I am not to good with change, but I wanted something better than just plain blue. If it takes too long to download please let me know. I don't want something that will make my page too hard to see either. I don't like flashy and overwhelming.

OK! Let me have it! Tell me exactly what you think. Really, I can take it!

Warm?

Is anyone out there feeling the warmth of spring? I am!! I let Will play outside the last few days! He loved it! He is getting back into the groove of playing outside again and asks to go outside not long after he gets up in the morning. LOL!

He even learned something new about his John Deer Tractor. He can make it pop a wheelie! We where all amazed when he did it the first time! He made that thing come off the ground about 2 feet or so. Once he even made it go strait up. I thought it would fall over backwards. The only thing that saved it was the hitch on the back for the wagon. He is way more cautious now. I am too! It was a little scary for the both of us. Hubby was so proud! Boys!!!!

I am also trying to make my blog a little different. I have been looking for new layouts. I tried to do some yesterday, but I am not to computer literate. I am actually surprised I didn't mess it up so bad that it was lost in cyber space. (I heard that could happen!)

Hopefully I will have a little more to look at on my blog soon. Cross my fingers I don't loose it all!

Blessed!

Isn't it amazing when you view your life through someone else's eyes. I always knew we where blessed to have the things we have. Every day I thank God for blessing us with our health, our home, Hubby's job, and a close family. I also thank him for the struggles with our finances so that I can better appreciate each dollar we have. I also thank him for carrying us through all the hard times. But, not until we had a visit form one of Hubby's uncles this weekend did I look at all we have through someone else's eyes.

He has a kind of gypsy sole. He travels mostly by walking from one state to another, for as long as I have know of him. He does odd jobs here and there to make some money as he goes. He never graduated high school and can't even remember what grade he was in when he dropped out. He has no wife or children and none of his brothers or sisters want him (including Hubby's Mom). He has been known for some bad things he has done in the past, but is now back here because he has bad health and the doctors gave him 3 years to live about 2 years ago.

His story puts a lump in your thought as you think of your own life. He had a girlfriend when he got the news about his health. So, he stayed with her. Not long ago she found out she had brain cancer and six months later died. He decided to come home and emptied his bank account and made it from Road Island to some place in Florida. Then walked the rest of the way to Louisiana not knowing if anyone he knew in our town was even still here.

After meeting him for the second time in my life and hearing his story I was reminded of a verse I had read not but a few days before during my bible time.

"Give, and gifts will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into your lap. For with the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."Luke 6:38

I have taken some time to think about this. I have decided to pray for him and if there is anything I find that I can do in the future I will do my best to help him. I will still be on my guard though. I don't know him to well and don't want to judge him, but I will still pray all the while.

As for what I learned about how blessed I truly am is beyond measurable. My eyes have been opened a little more to all the wonders God has given me. Every time I look at my home, my family, my car, my food in my pantry, or my whatever it is to make my life a little easier, I will thank God for each one. Don't get me wrong. We have worked and saved and still owe on so much, but it is only by God's grace that we have what we have. We do not go hungry no matter how it may seam when I figure out our grocery money for the week. We do not freeze in winter or get wet in summer rain because of our house, no matter that it's not a two story Victorian style mansion. We are so blessed! Thank You God!!!!!!!!

I Want This For Charlot!

My weekend has been crazy! I have had such a hard time with Charlot's potty training. I think it is harder to train her than it was to potty train Will! On top of that my carpet shampooer is not working right. This has made me so upset. The time I really need it. It is about 6 or so years old though.




What put it all over the top is that I think I may be just a little allergic to her. I haven't broke out in hives or anything, but every time she touches my skin on my face or arms (which is exposed) I start to itch. My allergies are already in overdrive with the pollen and crazy weather we have been having anyway. I won't let this keep me from playing with her though.





I just hope the potty training gets done soon!!! I am overreacting a little. You have to understand I am very OCD about my floors and house being clean. She is doing very well compared to some. For having her a week yesterday, she only uses it in the house once or twice a day. She did get in the trash one day and totally destroyed our cell phone charger yesterday. She was almost shipped off for the last one by Hubby when he found out. LOL! He cooled off now! She isn't going anywhere!

I would LOVE to win this for her though!

On The Search For Hidden Treasures is giving away a package of toys that are all handmade and machine washable from Pittadorpets. It ends March 25. I think she would really like them. I hope I win!!!!

This is the only toys she has now. She likes the purple one, but not so much the hamburger one. Will picked that one out and he plays with it more than she does.

Quotable Sunday

Today on Quotable Sunday I am featuring quotes that have patience in them. I always need to remind myself to be patient with things. They don't happen when I want them to, but rather when God wants them to. I have to remind myself often to trust in Him.

How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young? ~Paul Sweeney





You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones





One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life. ~Chinese Proverb





"Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it."Psalm 37:34 (KJV)











For more Quotable Sunday's or to add you own visit Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni.

Saturday's Giveaways

Here are some more of the great giveaways I have entered this week! Good Luck everyone! I hope I win, but if I don't then I hope I loss to one of my great readers!!





Mommy Loves Stilettos is giving away a $50.00 CSN gift card - Ends 3/26.





Helenes Dreams is giving away a pair of 6mm Genuine London Blue Topaz Gemstones set in 14k Gold Filled Studs or Post Earrings-Ends 4/18

Wild and Precious is giving away a pair of Bonnie signature sterling silver wrapped pearl earrings - Ends 3/22

Minnesota Mama's Must Haves is giving away 3 pairs of Seamless socks-Ends 3/31-------(She has lots of other great baby and mommy giveaways!)

The Adventures of Paul & Natalie are giving away a 17 Pc. Measure and Prep Gift Set form Curious Chef!!!!-Ends 3/21-------(I am so excited about this one!! I want to win it for Will sooooooo bad!!! She has some other great giveaways going on too!)




Shelley's Swag is giving away a complete Easy Lunchbox system in your choice of colors-Ends 4/3-------(Check out her other great giveaways!)

Bless Their Hearts Mom is giving away Three Comunity Coffees and one Tumbler-Ends 4/1

Minnesota Mama's Must Haves is giving away a Powermat-Ends 3/31--------(It is one of her great giveaways! See her Birthday Bash button on the left of my blog!)



Hurry and enter all the giveaways you can each day! You never know when you will win one. I won two more just yesterday!!!!(If you have a giveaway you want me to put on next weeks Saturday's Giveaways leave me a comment!)

Learning Time

I find it so amazing when I can fit in a lesson in the middle of the day with no work involved. Since walking our new dog is new to Will, we have been doing it together. In the process we have seen many different kinds of flowers in our own yard Will has never noticed before.

We talked about the colors and shapes of each flower. He had to smell each one! He is so cute!!

Before I had a child I never stoped to wonder about all the things hidden in my own yard that could be used to teach someone about the world. How things grow is one valuable lesson! It makes me wonder how many other lessons can I pull out of my very own yard. He has already discovered how to mix dirt and water to make mud! LOL!!!

Thankful Thursday~Busyness

This week has been filled with lots to be thankful for. We have been able to spend time with so many of our family members this past week. I am thankful to even live around some of our family. I am also thankful for new friends. We are all healthy and happy. That is something to always be thankful for. And the most resent thing I have to be thankful for is an answer to my prayers on a new pet. We have the sweetest and most amazing pet that fits in with our family.


All this has made me so busy this week. Without busyness my life would be very dull. I have been running around potty training a new dog, visiting with family and friends, cleaning everything in our home to keep us healthy, cooking, keeping up with my Bible studying, and soooo much more. Being busy has made me thankful when I get time to myself to just relax and reflect on the day and week.


Thank you Lord for the best kind of busyness I could ever ask for!


What are you thankful for? Go on over to Women Taking A Stand and Frugal Reality to link up!

Our New Pet is.....

As I promised I am letting everyone see our new pet!

• Did we get a fish? No. For some reason they just don't live all that long at our house.
  


• Did we get a Pig? No. Hubby didn't like that idea as much as I did. What do I know. The only pig I ever had was outside and we later butchered it. I've never even seen a potbellied pig.



• Did we get a bird? No. They are way to loud for me and the ones I have been around bite!



• Did we get a cat? No. Hubby said no more cats. He didn't get along with my cat very well.



• Did we get a hamster? No! I don't need rats in my house! That goes for snakes too!!!!



• Did we get a dog?

Yes, we got a dog!!! If you know us that was not a hard decision. Hubby has wanted a dog for some time. I have been the hesitant one. I am not much of a pet person. I like my own and very few others. I don't know why. I was always that way. It could have something to do with a friends bird attacking me, or dogs I have seen attacking small children. Plus animals smell. I am a little OCD about my home being clean and smelling....well not like animals! So, you can imagine what I have been going through the last few days. I also didn't want to potty train a pup in the winter time.

This is why I haven't been posting. I have been trying not to loos my mind about potty training and shedding. Thank goodness she doesn't smell as bad as most dogs (unless she's wet).

She is a female (which we intend to have her fixed very soon) that is half basset hound and half beagle. She is so good. I prayed so hard. I worried a lot too, but she is not high strung at all and she doesn't chew up any thing. I was worried about all Will's toys, but she hasn't even noticed them. She is as sweet as pie. We tested her with about 4 kids from 1 to 3 years old. She did spectacular. She let them jump on her, pull her around, lay on her, and she only looked at them like...why are you doing this to me? The only problem now is Will. He is so ruff with her. I have to fuss him for hitting her and squeezing her. He is the one I worry about hurting her. She just takes it.

We don't know how old she is exactly. We are guessing she is under a year. She has that puppy look to her still. We know she is not full grown. As far as we know she has not had her shots either. We are planing that soon. First I wanted her to get her stomach right. They where feeding her half scraps and half dog food. Now she is on all dog food. We got her from a lady who volunteers for the humane society. She said an older lady had her and her husband had a hart attack. She couldn't look after the dog anymore and take care of her husband. They gave her to the lady we got her from. She put the dog in the paper where I found her. They didn't want any money for her because she was about to be brought to the pound and put to sleep. We saved her! (I feel the tears swelling up. Yes I am already attached!) I will be bring donations to the lady who works for the humane society though. She resales things that people donate for the cost to keep the animals. She had a garage full of doves, a horse, some dogs, and 9 cats with three that were pregnant.

Our new dog didn't have a name, so we decided to name her Charlot. That was the name of the lady who's husband had the hart attack. As soon as we herd her name we liked it. So, Charlot our new dog became. Here are a few pictures of her. She is so pretty and soft. I will tell you all more about her in time to come I'm sure.

Saturday

A New Family Member

This weekend was a busy one for us. We had so much to do Saturday that at the end of the day I felt like we lived three days in one.

We had planed on getting a pet for Will for some time. I have been thinking and praying on it. To Hubby there was no question. He wanted a dog. I on the other hand have had fish, hamsters, cats, and dogs. (not to mention all the farm animals I could think of.) So, I didn't know if I was ready for an animal. Pets are a big responsibility. You can't just get one and forget about it. They have to be trained, they need lots of attention, and they could turn out to be a nightmare if they don't fit into the family. I didn't know if I was ready for a 3 year old, his toys on the floor ready to be chewed on my a pup, and potty training the pup! I was thinking on a fish. I even considered a pig.

On the maintenance scale of 1 to 10, my cat was a 1. I really didn't want a 10. So, what kind of pet did we get? What do you think? You will have to wait till later. I am not revealing it today. Sorry, we need time to settle in and I wanted to keep you all guessing:)

Quotable Sunday-Pets

Today's quotes are all about pets because we are at a point in our lives where we think it may just be time for a new pet. As many of you know our dear cat died a few months back. Hubby and I have been thinking that it is time Will had a pet of his own. (The cat was mine before I even met Hubby.) So, keep on the lookout! I may have a new pet very soon in the house. I blogging family will be one of the first to find out and see the pictures!

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. ~Robert Brault

Ever consider what pets must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! ~Anne Tyler, The Accidental Tourist

I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. ~Winston Churchill

And the one that my Hubby can really relate to is............

You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets. ~Nora Ephron

For more quotable Sunday quotes or to add your own visit Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni! I hope everyone has a Blessed Sunday!!!

Saturday's Giveaways!

It's Saturday, and you know what that means! I am sharing some of my favorite giveaways I entered of the week with you. I don't list any giveaways that say you must be a follower of their blog to enter, so everyone should gave a chance at these giveaways! Good luck to you all. If you win any of these please let me know! I wonder sometimes if anyone even looks at this post much less enters any of the giveaways.







Win a beautiful hand made necklace that incorporates green amethyst, fire polished crystal beads, garnets and an assortment of colorful pearls from Got A Lot to Give-Ends 3/22


(She has other giveaways on her blog worth your time to enter!)

Win a beautiful Gray Freshwater Pearl Necklace from Adore By Nat-Ends 3/13 (That's Today So Hurry!!!)

Ohhh! Win a dozen chocolate covered oreos from Life, Love, Yarn-Ends 3/17

Win a $25.00 Krogar Gift Card form Yellow Tennessee-Ends 3/26

(She has some other great giveaways you can enter too!)

You can win a #25.00 Krogar Gift Card from Second Time Around also-Ends 3/26

(Don't miss any of her other great giveaways!)

Win some handmade Scented Easter Egg Soaps from Preparing For Our Children's Future-Ends 3/28

OK! I have been trying to win my own Flirty Apron for some time! Everything Up Close is giving one away-Ends 3/21

(I so want one! The only apron I have I made in high school home economics.)

Just to let everyone know I won one of the Soft Lip giveaways and Rainbow Brite CD giveaways that I entered a few weeks ago! I also won a Rachel Ray bubble and brown set (a review is coming). The only way you win is to enter! So, keep on entering as many as you can!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for our little man. God has blessed us with a health child. He is so smart and loving. I can't imagine my life now without him. He is the greatest joy in our lives. We do everything we do for him. Our lives revolves around him.

I am thankful....

• that he was born as perfect as he was.



• that he is growing even though it does make me a little sad at the same time.



• for the love he gives us.



• for his imagination.

• for the way he pronounces words that are hard to say. (Its so stinken cute!)



• that he is growing to know the Lord.



• the way he has learned to play with other children even though (as we have been repeatedly told) he is an only child.



• that he can find a million ways to play with a card board box.



• that he know what love is and wants to be married to us for ever. (too cute!)



• and most of all.....that he is our little Will!

What would I do with out him? I don't want to know! What are you thankful for today? You can link up at Women Taking A Stand or Frugal Reality.

I am addicted!

How did I know I had a problem? Well let me tell you, I never would have said I was addicted until yesterday! I understand now that I truly have a problem. But do I really want help? I'm not to sure. I don't think I am ready to just give it up!

It all started yesterday when I was making Hubby some tea. I make a gallon at a time. He likes his tea! That is when I made the comment that even shocked me. I said "I wish I could just make Dr. Pepper like this." What? Did I really just say that? Yeap.

I am addicted to Dr. Pepper! I usually drink two a day. One with my noon meal and one with my evening meal. I cut back about 6 months or more ago to one a day. I have recently started running low on my Dr. Pepper and thought I would go a day with out it. I ate my noon meal with water like I do my evening meal now. The whole time I ate I was wanting something to drink and the water just wasn't doing it. About an hour later I had to break a can open. I couldn't help myself.

I know one a day is not going to kill me (I hope!), but now that I know I have a problem I feel like a crack addict. I don't want to give up my Dr. Pepper just yet! I guess just knowing I have a problem is one step in the right direction. I don't know what the future holds for my drinking habit. On the up side though is knowing I don't give Will any. He is a strictly juice, kool-aid, and sometimes milk man! (That's how I make myself feel better!)

I Did It!!

I told you about the blanket I wanted to make Will last week. Well, I finally did it! It didn't come out as perfect as I wanted it to, but when does something turn out as perfect as I think it should?

I found this material at Walmart. I have never seen it before anywhere else, and it was on sale. (A sale on material at Walmart never happens!! They are doing away with the fabric department at this particular Walmart:( I hope they don't do it to all the Walmarts though. I live too far from a real fabric store!)

Yesterday I finally had the time and the want to do this blanket.

Will LOVES it, but we are now calling it the crazy blanket. I quilted it with the craziest pattern. I pretty much just let the fabric do whatever it wanted to do. No real pattern, just craziness!

Quotable Sunday~Flowers

Are you all waiting for the flowers too? I am so ready! I found the first little wild flower in my yard yesterday and just had to dance. Yes I danced right there! I can't wait for Easter either. It is my favorite time of year!!!

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us, and here we are to comfort you. ~Edward Payson Rod

If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn. ~Andrew Mason

And my favorite....

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

If you have a quote you would like to share visit Toni at A Daily Dose of Toni.

Giveaway Saterday!

Here are some of the giveaways that I have entered and hope to win! Each blog may have more than one giveaway going even though I only listed one!!! Good Luck everyone!

Win a Cross Plaque from Burkett Blessings-Ends 3/8

(I sooooo want to win this!!!!)





Win a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe from Silver Savings, Freebies and Giveaways-Ends 3/18

(This would be so cool to win!)




Win your choice of twin or crib size mattress protector form Protect-A-Bed from Minnesota Momma's Must Haves -Ends 3/17

(She will be having a birthday bash in honor of her daughter's 2nd birthday starting April 1st! Go on over and find out how you can earn extra entries into the giveaways!!!)




Win a $25.00 gift card to Kroger from Frugally Thrifty-Ends 3/10
(Who couldn't use this?)

Win a Disney Beauty Must-Have Kit from STL Mommy-Ends 3/20

(What a great giveaway for Moms!)

If you have a giveaway that you want listed for next Saturday's Giveaways let me know!

Better?

I changed a few things! Please let me know if you like it better.

I changed the settings for my comments. Now you can leave on under anonymous and you don't have to enter all those crazy words just to have you comment published anymore. Try it out and let me know if it works!

I am not all that computer savvy, so more changes will be few and far between for me. I would like to have a nice pretty little header, but don't know how to do it. I would also like a cute little button to go with it. Oh well! For now I have just the plain old template that came with my blog. At least it all works!!!

Don't think I'm going to put music on my blog. I don't like that. Hubby usually has the volume all the way up when he listens to YouTube, so when I get on and start reading other blogs that have music it either scares the crap out of me, or if it's late at night, wakes up Will. So no music for me!!!!

If you have any suggestions about my blog PLEASE let me know!!! I welcome all comments and criticism. Just remember I'm not all that computer savvy. Any help in that department would be welcomed also!

Thankful Thursdays~Doctors

I have been doing Thankful Thursday for some time know and every time I try to link up with someone else who is also doing it, they stop! Why? I think that Thankful Thursday is a very important post for me each week. It makes me stop and remember to be thankful for something in my life. Something that we take for granted most of the time.

Well, I few days ago I found out a group of women where taking turns hosting their own Thankful Thursday groups. So, today I linked up and my host is Lauri from Women Taking A Stand .

Today I am thankful for Doctors! I don't need doctors that much, but now that I have a child I have found that doctors are on my list of things to be thankful for. Especially his doctor! She is the best pediatric doctor in the area!! Not just because she is Will's doctor, but because she has proven herself time and time again to many of her patients. You will never here one of the mothers of her patients complain. She is truly that great! Just Tuesday I had to bring Will, and she had an emergency at the hospital. We waited for 2 and 1/2 hours to see her. She had about 10 other children after us and 2 before us. Not a one was complaining! She always knows just what our children need. I will never switch his doctor!

Doctors are one thing that we all need from time to time. I thank the Good Lord that he put people on this earth who found the need and have the knowledge to help others as doctors. From those that are pediatricians (it can't be easy to work with sick kids) to heart surgeons and those who specialize in cancer. Our lives would be very different if all we had where those old remedies that didn't work half the time. Many of us wouldn't be here today. Me included!

Today is the day I solute all the doctors out there and say Thank You!

What are you thankful for today?

Did He Really Just Say That?

Children say really funny things at odd times. My son has picked up a few new "big" words, and amazingly knows how to use them.

Will had a dentist appointment Monday. He had his teeth "tickled" and cleaned. Know he has been referred to another dentist for the deterioration on two of his top teeth. We have that appointment at the end of this month.

After they cleaned his teeth he looks at me and says "PeePaw is going to be so jealous of my sparkly clean teeth!" His PeePaw just had all his teeth taken out so he could have dentures put in soon.

After we left the dentist I had to make a trip to walmart. I am making him a quilt and needed some more fabric. They didn't have exactly what I was looking for. This is when Will looks at me all serious like and says "Mommy, why don't you try something different. Variety is the spice of life." What? Did my 3 year old just say this? (This goes to show he has watched too many Olivia cartoons!)

WOW! He is getting so big. His vocabulary is getting even bigger than mine! I will have pictures later of his quilt after it's done. I was hoping to have it done soon, but I had to take Will to the doctor yesterday. Apparently he caught a (hopefully 24 hour) stomach virus. He is doing really well with it. He through up around 3:00 am yesterday, but since then he is just tired and hardly eating anything. My poor little man. He is taking it so well!

Miss Match~Review

The book: Miss Match


The Author: Sara Mills

The company: Moody Publishers

This book is what I would definitely call a page turner. I really enjoyed it! Here's what it's about.




The story starts in New York when Allie Fortune, a private investigator, helps her best friend Jack O'Connor,who is an FBI agent, with a case that will prove to bring her face to face with her own past.





Maggie wrote to Jack for help. She had no one else she could trust her life and the life of her little girl with. She only hoped that Jack would come to the destroyed and military ran Berlin to help her. She knew her letter was unexpected after all these years, but she wouldn't give up hope that there was some way to save her little girl, the orphan that was now her own.





Jack would do anything to help Maggie, the woman he gave his heart to all those years ago. Allie was determined to keep Jack safe, but understood exactly how Jack felt. She had given her heart away years ago too, only to know that he was out there somewhere. But where?







I found this book to be so much more interesting than I expected. I have not read a real mystery book in some time. This book was a mystery book, but not the kind I was use to. It's not a who dun it book, but it's still what I would consider a mystery book. Then I found out that there is a second book called Miss Fortune. This made me so happy. I love finding a good series! I didn't expect it to lead to another book, so I was totally surprised. I don't know if more books are to come really making it a series, but I sure hope so!!!




I won a giveaway from Moody Fiction and received this book. I was not asked to do a review, but I really liked the book and wanted to tell the blogging world about it!