It's Not My Fault. Really.

This?


This is all her fault. At least that is what I told hubby.


All because of this post, I thought I'd go looking too. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

And I found one. Half price is the same as buy one, get one. Right?

Of course with the money saved, I just had to have this cute wrought iron stand. I mean, the flowers do need somewhere to sit, don't they? At 2/3 off, really, how on earth could I pass it by. I heart wrought iron. And like I said, none of this is my fault. Really.

And you know what? I'm not sorry at all.

Thank you to Jerralea from Jerri's Journey for giving me this nice award. I'm very honored. This award is given to bloggers who continually entertain, uplift, and inspire.

And in turn I'd like to pass it to Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom because she always inspires me to be a joyful homemaker

and to Jientje from Heaven is in Belgium because she inspires me to take better and more creative pictures and her pictures on her blog are so beautiful and uplifting

and Linda from 2nd Cup of Coffee because she never fails to entertain and she has inspired people to do everything from putting themselves on video for her "I See What You're Saying" meme to showing our Ugly Mugs to getting off our duffs and getting moving to get in shape for summer with her currently running 30 x 5 program.

Jerralea also tagged for a meme a while back so here it is:

6 Unimportant Favorite Things. That's sorta like an oxymoron, no? I guess it means things that are favorites but that you could do without if you had to. Which is really ironic that I'm doing this meme right now because it is so what we are going through in the Living to Tell house.

1. Starbucks. Definitely a favorite treat. Definitely not crossing their threshold as much as I'd like. A favorite yes. In light of other things; Unimportant. For sure.

2. Purchasing Books. Reading I could never give up. Buying books, yeah I could. Although I love owning books and love being the first one to crack open a cover and smell that new book smell it is definitely unimportant when there is a great library system here where I live.

3. Salon Brand Products. Love the shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays etc. that one can purchase at a salon. A definite favorite for me. But makes the unimportant list because I can find good stuff on the drugstore shelf too.

4. Massages. Oh I love a good massage. I've always had neck and upper back issues and I loved my regular monthly massage. A favorite appointment in my life. But unimportant right now. Do I still want and crave them? You bet. Are they so important I can not go have one? Not right now.

5. New purses. Oh how I love my new purse purchases. My favorite thing to go fun shopping for. Probably because one size fits all. LOL. But unimportant.

6.

I'm having trouble coming up with a sixth one, which leads me to say this is sort of where my brain is sitting right now. And gives explanation to why my posting is not very consistent lately. Right now is a time in my Christian walk where I need to be seeking the Lord and laying things at His feet and trusting in Him and His care and plan for my family. I know there is a job out there for hubby, it's just a matter of His timing and our resting in Him and doing what we feel He is telling us. Hence the laying things at His feet. Some days are easier than others. On some days I don't even think twice about it. Some days it is a moment by moment struggle. I'm the type of gal who like my ducks all in a row and like things planned out in advance. I like to know what is going on. I guess that's a nice way of saying I like to be in control and I resisit big change. But God calls us to trust and obey. To give up "our" control and let Him have control. To live a life of joy even in the midst of struggle. To truly know what is important in this life. And I believe that is what we, as a family, are learning right now. I know there are others in much, much more harder circumstances than us and I hang onto the scripture that tells me He never gives us more than we can handle. And I say a prayer for those who are also facing hard times and letting go. He is good and He's brought us through and proven His faithfulness in this kind of thing in the past and I know He will in the future.

All that to say, forgive me if posting is sporadic. On the tougher days, I must focus myself on step by step laying my worries and stresses down before Him, and it is those days that I find it hard to think of things to post. Some weeks I feel there is lots to say, some not so much. So please bear with me as I walk through this time.

"Casting the whole of your care--

all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all--

on Him; for He cares for affectionately, and cares about you watchfully."

I Peter 5 : 7 Amplified Bible

"Cast your burden on the Lord

(releasing the weight of it)

and He will sustain you..."

Psalm 55 : 22a

30 x 5 Challenge

I know, I know. I'm a huge procrasinator. And whoever told me I would grow out of it, well, you were wrong. I'm still putting off things until the last minute. My latest thing that I let go till the very last second was this great idea that my friend Linda at Second Cup of Coffee has started called the 30 x 5 challenge. It's about pledging to move for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week for the next two weeks.

Now as per my MO I procrastinated because it was a crazy day with a meeting in the evening so I didn't get to it and then Friday found us in the big city for an appointment. After the appointment, however, we had time to hit the humungous, 2 story mall. So someone please tell me that shopping walking like a maniac in the humungous mall in the big city yesterday counts as moving. I was under time pressure so I really did hoof it and it was for more than a hour, so please tell me, all that effort counted towards the 30 x 5! Hello? Anybody? Surely there is someone out there that knows this can be an aerobic workout! And hello? Lifting and carrying those bags? That takes some effort right?

Well, if it doesn't count then I've dug my hole, made my bed, or whatever else cute saying that basically says I have procrastinated to the last minute and now I have to make sure that for the next five days I have to move.

So it's a good thing that Linda, the smart cookie that she is, has made this little challenge not just for committing to move but also that we can encourage each other. Oh yes she did. So if you're like me and procrastinated to the last second, or you haven't heard of it until now, you can still jump on the band wagon. (Hey, jumping counts as moving, right?) It's not to late, just go on over and visit Linda and she'll get you on the list. It's over 60 strong already. Surely with all that encouragement even someone like me can do it!

Now I'm off to get on the elliptical because even though the saying says that I've made my bed and now have to lie in it, that is not true in my case. I have to go make nice with that thing in the corner of my basement. Sigh. Maybe I'll lie in my bed in half an hour.

Tell Me Thursday

Yesterday I learned of a fun site called Tell Me Thursday. It's a place that two moms started because they wanted to know the stories behind some of the Wordless Wednesday pictures. Imagine my surprise when they asked me to make a post telling me the story behind my photo from yesterday. What fun!

Well, the story behind my photo basically stems back to the crazy decision we made the Christmas before last to hand a 16 year old boy his very own camera. Life has not been the same since. Nothing is sacred and no one, not even four footed, furry family members, are safe. You never know what unflattering thing you might be doing that will not be caught on camera with a well planned, stealth-like ambush. Close ups and zoom shots seem to be the feature of choice with this boy.

So in this particular shot, Muffin was just relaxing on the back of the love seat minding her own business, when in the blink of an eye, a few inches from her nose, appeared an apparently vicious piece of plastic with a missing hand known as a dinosaur. But Miss Muffin is starting to know her master well, and just gave that vicious monster the stare down while patiently waiting for the camera flash.

So that's the story behind Muffin and the Big, Scary Dino. Thanks ladies, that was fun. For more of yesterday's featured pictures and the stories behind them, you can visit TMT here. Or if you did a Wordless Wednesday and would like to join in, here are the directions on how you can participate!

A Look Back...

I found a fun little feature at Sandra's (Diary of a Stay at Home Mom) who found it at Kelli's (There's No Place Like Home). Here's the jist from Kelli:

"With the New Year right around the corner, this is the perfect time for a peek through the past year of blogging. I would love for you to join in with me! Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. You can also add a favorite picture from each month."

Sounds like fun, right? So here we go:

January

It came and it went.

February

The very first order of business.

March

Feeling very frustrated today.

April

Three women's lives intersect in small town Harper's Bay around the mystery of an ancient shipwreck offshore.

May

Well, yesterday the news came down.

June

"Better is one day in Your courts, than a thousand elsewhere"

July

Some interesting facts about Canada's flag to help celebrate Canada's birthday

August

Hello. And welcome to Friday's Fave Five.

September

Oi, I'm late with a post today, but better late than never.

October

Apparently she's got an ear. Or so I'm being told.

November

In James David Jordan's new thriller, Forsaken, a world-renowned televangelist must choose between his faith and his daughter's life.

December

Outside my window...the Christmas icicle lights are blowing in the wind.

From my family to yours, wishing you a very Happy New Year!

May all God's best be yours for 2009!

If you'd like to participate you can go here.

Thank you, thank you to Tammy at Lattes and Lollypops formerly known as Family Doins and Barbara at Stray Thoughts. These lovely bloggers have given me the Billante Weblog Award. You guys totally made my day!

I'd like to pass it along to two bloggers who I think are brilliant writers. First, Beck at Frog and Toad are Friends. She has such an intelligent and poetic way of writing she never fails to grip my heart no matter her topic. Next, to Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee. Linda also is a wonderful writer. Her humor and honesty will have you laughing right out loud, giggling under your breath, and smirking at your computer so that your husband keeps asking you why you're always doing that while on the computer.

And onto a meme I was tagged to do by the very same Barbara. I think I've done something like this before but it'll take me longer to find it and link than to just do it again. So on we go.

1) Link to the person who tagged me.2) Mention the rules.3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.4) Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

~I cannot stand it when someone cleans their fingernail with the fingernail of their other hand. The sound almost sends me through the ceiling.

~Although nervous when I first go to the dentist, I can almost fall asleep while he's doing my fillings.

~My daughter says I laugh at my own jokes. Very loudly. So she says.

~I'm not a cake fan. Cheesecake yes. Regular cake? Not so much.

~I always turn my pillow over first thing when I get into bed. Usually from top to bottom.

~I hate walking on concrete with bare feet

Quirky, I am. And I'm quirky because I'm going to cheat and say you're all tagged because I want to know all about your quirkiness. Let me know in the comments if you're doing it.

"Wow"! An Incredible Giveaway!

Wow Hits 1, a music staple in our home, is offering an incredible giveaway over at Shannon's place. Head on over there. And while you have a second, check out Wowonline.com. They've got pretty interesting stuff over there!

Basket Love

My friend Laura, over at I'm an Organizing Junkie , is holding a basket carnival today. Now I don't know how much of a basket lover I am, but Laura is doing her best to work on me. I don't even know if this really qualifies for her carnival or not, but, it is what it is. LOL.

The other day I was at a store and I saw a set of 3 seagrass baskets on sale for 60% off. With Laura, in the back of my mind and the pull of a great sale, I bought them. Regular $24.99 and I got them for $9.99. Who can resist that? I had an idea what I would do with one of them, but three? But I bought them anyway, 'cause did I mention they were 60% off?

So the first one, the one I did have a plan for, went on my dresser. I have a horrible habit of dropping papers, cards, paraphenelia on my dresser top. It's an awful catch all for everything I don't have time to file. A real mess. So a while back Laura suggested I get a basket for that and then when it was full, that would be my cue that it needed to be put away. That way it contained it, yet didn't pressure me to have to file four times a day. So now I only had to decide whether I wanted to use the smaller basket and be forced to put things away a little more often or the biggest basket and really be able to let things build up before I had to put them away. Hmmm, decisions, decisions. So I finally went witht the smaller one, because knowing me I would leave that great big one forever before I cleared it out. So voila, the smaller basket:

Now what to do with the other two? I looked down at my bedroom floor by the bed and saw this:

my overflowing book bag. My books were spilling over and getting bent, which was making me crazy. In my world, books that are brand new are never bent and develop a bow. So let's just say had been nagging at me for awhile. A light bulb moment struck and seeing that wall to wall book shelves or any book shelves for that matter are not in my immediate future, voila, here's the bigger basket:

And look, there's space for a couple more new books! Bonus! And, oh dear, not a bonus. I need to wipe the dusty baseboards that the taller book bag was hiding. Ugh.

Okay middle sized basket. What to do? What to do? Ta da. All those little bottles of bath stuff, and the magazines in the bathroom, nicely contained. I've got to play with it a bit more and put in another towel or two to make it all pretty, but now all the bathroom's little things are contained nicely and accessible.

There you go, Laura, that's my basket story and I'm sticking to it.

For great basket organizing ideas, visit our hostess, Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

A Chance to Help and I've Been Hugged!

Book giveaway here.

There is a wonderful thing happening over at Boomama's today. Today, April 25, is World Malaria Day. Every year 750,000 children die from malaria, a mosquito spread disease. 750,000! It's hard to even fathom that here in North America. And through the Bite Back campaign, people can give a one-time donation of $10 and provide a mosquito net for a child or a family, who otherwise would have no protection from this completely preventable disease. That $10 will also provide education and treatment for people who are already sick with malaria. Over at Boomama's they are trying to get 50 nets pledged in 50 hours. So go, click on over to Boomama's and get all the information to help save a child's life. It's such a small amount to help with such life saving thing.

Yesterday I answered the door to the postman who handed me a package. I love to get packages in the mail, don't you? It was adorable burp cloths I had ordered from Barb. Now, no, I am not making an announcement. One doctor would be in very big trouble if that happened. I ordered them for a lady in church having a baby. So just get that thought out of your minds. Anyway. Look how cute they come.

I'm telling you, it took everything in me not to rip that pretty little ribbon off to spread out those burp cloths and just ooh and aah. Barb does such beautiful work, I can hardly wait to give these to that special mom. These will definitely be a staple in a any baby gifts I'll be giving. And if you didn't know, Barb is a having a monkey invasion over at her house. One of those little guys will be making their way to Canada very soon I tell you.

And Barb, being my sweet friend that she is, tucked in a couple little extra things for me that she's been meaning to send since I broke my hand but life happened at her house. And she still sent them. What a sweet friend. Take a look what she sent me. Four packs so now I can make a huuuuge pot of this.

Now if you know Barb at all you would totally be smiling because who else would tie a pretty tulle ribbon around four packets of stew seasoning. Really, who else would think to send such a creative gifts as stew packets to a friend who has broken her hand, to help her out when you live so far apart. Well, her sister Bev did, too. Sisterly minds think alike. Their momma raised them good. So my guys are doing the happy dance at the thought of all this mouth watering stew that will be coming their way.

And just to make sure I stayed close to the Lord during this time she sent me this lovely Beth Moore prayer book/devotional. What a blessing as I know this particular devotional has really touched Barb's heart. Thank you so much Barb for your lovely package.

And to Bev for the stew packets. And to everyone who emailed me, prayed for me and sent me cards, thank you, thank you, thank you. I want you to know that my heart was totally touched and I am humbled that I have met such gracious, kind and loving people through this thing called blogging. I really felt like I had been hugged by the Lord.

And now that I have tears in my eyes, can I just end this post by telling you IT. IS. SNOWING. AGAIN!

The very first order of business. The winner from by Bloggy Giveaway contest. Are you ready? Is your mouth watering in anticipation, your chocolate addiction crying out, your caffienne craving saying "Pick me, pick me!"? Well drumroll, please. The winner is #13 - Taya from "Pure Joy". Congratulations, Taya. Please contact me within a week and I'll get them luscious chocolate coffee beans out to you!


And in other things that happened this week, and yes, there actually was life beyond the 900 (900!!!!) or so prizes to win in the giveaway, a couple of wonderful ladies awarded me with a couple pretty nice blog awards.


From Faith at Gold in the Clouds. Faith, this one very much humbles me that you would give this to me. Thank you.

I'd like to pass this on to a couple of ladies. Chris from Come to the Table. Ever since I have met Chris in the blogging world, she has consistently been an encouragement to me with posts that are sincere and from the heart and pointing to the Lord.

Katherine at Raising Five. If you have kids and you don't know Katherine you need to get over to her site and read away. Katherine is absolutely refreshing in her honesty as she writes about raising a Godly family. As she teaches us principles of raising a family, she is not afraid to laugh at herself or to admit her mistakes.

And this award from Jen at My 3 Boys and I. What a cute award. Thanks Jen! I want to pass this one on to a couple of ladies whom I've felt have truly become a blog friend forever. This group of ladies has been there for me in one way or another beyond our blogs.

Linda at Second Cup of Coffee

Shalee at Shalee's Diner

Barb at A Chelsea Morning

Gibee at Kisses of Sunshine

Momrn2 at My Quiet Corner

Beck at Frog and Toad Are Friends

Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie

Because I missed doing up a Thursday Thanks Tank yesterday I'm making this my thanks for this week. I truly am grateful for these particular friendships which the Lord has given me through this medium of blogging and I am very thankful for each and every one of you whose blogs I may visit and every one of you who leave me comments. You bring me much joy, smiles, prayers, conviction, teaching, encouragement and friendship.

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival - Winter '08 Edition

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all of you who came by and especially for those of you who left fun comments. Please drop by again. The lucky winner is announced here.


It's the Winter Editon of Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. Yup, it's another blogland wide giveaway! Exactly what I need to get my mind off the -28* Celcius day. Folks, that -18.4* in Farenheit. Oh and it get's better. We have a wind chill warning. An artic wind chill warning which is making the temperature feel like, are you ready? -44* Celcius. That would be -47.2* F. Brrrr.


So to make me feel better, I'm giving away a little something that makes me smile and gives me warm fuzzies when someone gives it to me. I mentioned it here and so many of you commented on it I thought I'd make someone else smile by getting their chocolate and coffee fix all in one delicious little bite. I'm giving away a box of Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Coated Coffee Beans.


If you love chocolate and you love coffee and you'd like a little explosion of the two together on your taste buds, leave me a comment. I'll close the comments at midnight, MST, Thursday, and will post the winner on this Friday's post. Now make sure I can get ahold of you with an email address or blog or I'll have to draw again. The winner will have a week to respond back with a mailing adress. One comment per person, please.


Now go, leave a comment. C'mon I know you want to win this! And don't forget to go visit Bloggy Giveaways to link your prize and to get in on all the giveaways.

Find a Kidney for Kelli

Do you remember last year when blogland came together and gave a helping hand monetarily to this wonderful lady named Kelli who is suffering from kidney disease? The last year has been a real struggle for Kelli and the time has come to make a request. And it's a big request. Please go here to this post at Kelli's site. Go with a prayerful heart. And if the request is not upon your heart, there are several ways to help. See what the Lord would say to your heart. And maybe leave a little love, cyberhugs and encouragement or prayers for Kelli while you are there.





So now this is the new button for this mission of finding a kidney for Kelli. Please go read at Kelli's site and consider posting a link and the button. The button code is available here at Karla's who designed it. You never know. It could be one of your readers who is the one on who's heart it is to give in this way.

Don't forget! Today is the day Momrn2 is hosting "Christmas Traditions". A relaxing place where we can grab a mug of our favorite hot beverage and share the traditions we have for celebrating this wonderful time of year called Christmas. All are welcome. The more the merrier. So tell us about your traditions and link up at My Quiet Corner. And if you haven't yet developed any traditions, here's a wonderful place to get some ideas.

As usual, I'm a bit behind so I'll be posting mine later today. And then tomorrow you have to make sure you come back as I'll be giving away a couple of books!

The prizes were posted, over 600! There was great flurry in blogland as comments were made and sitemeters went off the charts. And today is draw day here at Living to Tell. Using the handy dandy random number generator at Random.org, We have a winner!

And who might #2 be? None other than Anna Willet.

Congratulations Anna from Hannahskillet-books and life. I'll be contacting you for the mailing particulars.

What fun was this! Thanks again, Shannon, for hosting another huge event.

Fall Y'all Giveaway

** This giveaway is now closed. Thanks so much for coming by and entering. I'll announce the winner on Monday!**

It's here. The Fall, Y'all Bloggy Giveaway. It's being hosted by the very creative Shannon at her bloggy givewaways site. You can head there to add your giveaway to the Mr. Linky and to link to all the giveaways going on this week around blogland. And who doesn't like to win something?

So here's my little giveaway for this fun carnival. So many of you, during my recent book review and giveaway, stated how much you really liked Amy Grant and how some of her songs really spoke to you throughout her career or how you've followed her career from the beginning. Well, how would you like to have a signed black and white print of her? Yes, yes, yes, you say? Well, you came to the right place. Voila:

If this would really bless you and you'd like to be entered, please leave a comment and make sure I can reach you either by a link to your site or an email address. If I can't get a hold of you, I can't let you know you've won, right? One comment per person please. I'll leave it open until Friday, November 2 midnight, and will post the winner Monday, November 5. Giveaway is open to Canadian & U.S. addresses.

Happy giveaway travelling around blogland!

Monday Mish Mash

Wow, lots going on today. After a very busy weekend, Monday is off with a bang at my house. It's busy in blongland too, so we'll get right to it.

First and most important, our friend Kelli, was in the hospital last week. She's had a very rough month so we're requesting that you please remember her in your prayers this week. It was pretty scary last week. Please feel free to grab the button and spread the word. Prayer warriors, it's time to get to work.

Katrina's Fall into Reading will be kicking off on the 23rd this month. That's this Sunday ladies. Get your list together and join Katrina for a great kickoff. Go here for all the info. If you've never joined in before now is a great time to get on board for a no pressure reading challenge. There'll be great giveaways too! Who doesn't love winning a book!?

Jules is also having something exciting happening. She's doing her first ever read along and the book that is going to be read is Kay Arthur's "Our Covenant God". It's an introduction to the role convenant plays in scripture. There will be chapters read together and then discussion of what we learn each week. To get all the information head over to here.

Also, over at Everyday Mommy she's having a shoe giveaway. Yup, you heard right. Easy Spirit has given Jules two pairs of Wedge Clogs to give away so go check it out.

Whew, I think that's it. Nope, I was wrong. Bev at Scratching the Surface is giving away a beautiful set of cookbooks. If you'd love an international set of cookbooks head over here for the giveaway.

And now finally my Menu Plan Monday. I really need to get consistent with this. I'm trying Laura!

Monday: potato soup, sausages

Tuesday: spaghetti with meat sauce, cucumber salad

Wednesday: spiced beef pot roast, rice, cooked carrots

Thursday: lemon garlic chicken drums, whipped potatoes, brocolli/cauliflower mix

Friday: sloppy joes, homes fries, mixed veggies.

Saturday: scrounge day

Sunday: chicken burgers, perogies, bean medley

Thanks again Laura for hosting this. Head on over for more menus and recipes.

Surprise!

SURPRISE! Yes you are at Living to tell the Story! Isn't it beautiful? Jules has created a brand new look for my humble little place. I just love, love, love it. Thank you Jules. You are one very talented lady and thank you for putting up with one woman who has a hard time making choices. You walked me through it very patiently and I'm sitting here grinning ear to ear looking at my lovely new place.

If you're thinking of a new look head over to Everyday Design and have a chat with Jules. You won't be sorry.

And please be patient with me and my sidebar. I'll be getting all my links back into it slooowly.

Treats in the Mailbox

Update at bottom of post!

My mailman had a couple surprises for me the last couple weeks. But between a vacation, trying to get 3 teens organized to take a look at what they have for back to school and what they need, and being sick, my brain, I think, has turned to mush. So I am just getting around to showing you.

Remember the great big giveaway hosted by Shannon back in July? Well, I won a few of the wonderful prizes. I'm still awed at how huge that giveaway became.

The first was from Ann at It's Always A Production . She gave away three prizes that day and I won the her lovely pysanky egg! I love those lovely Russian painted eggshells. And this one is ultra special to me because Ann made it herself and it's just beautiful. And she sent me a postcard with one of my all time favoritest things on it which is a hot air balloon! Thank you, Ann! I treasure both!

The other was the Glory Revealed CD from Jenny over at Home is Where You Start From. I was excited to listen to this CD because so many of you have raved about it. And it's wonderful. Thank you Jenny, it really ministers to me.

Both of these are quite special to me because they were from ladies who started blogging about the same time I did and we've sort of gone on this blogging journey together. Thanks ladies! Now there is one more thing but I'll save that for later. And I hear rumor hath it that there just might be another giveaway this fall.

Updated: Speaking of getting something in your mailbox, how would you like the postman delivering a brand new HP PhotoSmart Printer to your door? Ya? You like? Well, if you'd like a chance at that, head over to Janice and Susan's 5 Minutes for Mom where they are giving one away. Yup, you read that right!

On Blessings, Breaks and Dandelions

Heather at The Roller Coaster Ride of My Life has really honored me by passing the Creative Blogger Award to me. This is what she said:

Susanne because
she always shows how important it is to lean on God even for the smallest
things. I have gone by her blog and been convicted more than once.

I have never ever thought of myself as a creative person and have in fact, desired creativeness in my life. So that Heather would give me this award for being creative enough to be able to show in some small way how important leaning on God in this life is, is truly very humbling. Thank you, Heather.

I'm supposed to pass it on now, but I want to really think on it. So it will have to wait a week or so. I'm going to take a little break from blogging. Summer is almost over and my family and I hear the pool and the lake calling our name, and a picnic basket or two has our name written all over it. I want to give them my full attention and focus this week. They grow up so fast and I just am craving solid time with them.

So I will post tomorrow at Faith Lifts. Please join me there to talk about dandelions. Yes dandelions. The beautiful yellow flower. Or is it the pesky weed? We'll talk about it tomorrow. And I'll post Word for the Weekend. Because that just builds me up to do it so I don't want to miss it. And then I'll be back next week.

Now I'm off to look for that peice of torturous fabric known as the swim suit. I know it's around here somewhere.

Mish Mash Monday continued to Tuesday

Welcome back if you had the courage to read through another mish mash of my thoughts. That week of working on my home really threw my blogging groove into chaos. My little routine of when I wake, when I work and when I blog just got all mixed up. I forgot to blog about things I had in my mind to blog about and some days, horrors, I didn't blog at all. So therefore, it all caught up this weekend and why it is that you are being treated to two days of mish mashed thoughts. So on we trudge with part II.

This past weekend I was blessed to find a couple of blogging friends had given me a couple awards. I am always very humbled and honored when someone thinks of me when one of these awards go around.

First from Flip Flop Mom the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award. Thank you so much Flip Flop Mom. She loves when I talk about my teens, life and doesn't care that I mentioned my toes.

This is the second time some graciously gave me this and the rule is I'm to pass it on to 5 people. I had such a hard time picking only five the first time that I'm going to majorly cheat and not name five but say that all my regular friends who take the time to come by here are Rockin' Girls. That you would take the time out of your busy days to read my ramblings and leave your nice comments truly humbles me. You all Rock!

And from DCR Mom (Musings of a Housewife) I recieved the Thoughtful Blogger Award. It is defined in this way:

“For those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous.”
I am very humbled, DCR Mom, this means alot to me. Thank you that I was able to make you feel at home.

Now I need to pass that one on. Again I am going to cheat. I am going to pass it first to Barb. Barb has got to be the most gracious lady in blogland. Visiting with her is truly like being welcomed into her home.

But because I know Barb has already been given this award from someone, and deservedly so, I am cheating and giving it to one more person. To Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie. Laura always makes me feel at home on her blog, answering my comments and emails.

So thank you ladies, I am truly humbled and grateful.

And speaking of Barb, she graciously offered to let me be an member of her "Day Late Club". See what I mean about her being thoughtful? Because lately I have been a day late in posting things. So as my first official post as a member of the Day Late Club I am putting up my Menu Plan Monday. On Tuesday. And I'm sure there will be more Day Late enteries to come.

Monday: already done but I'll let you know we had baked spaghetti and sliced garden cukes & onions with plain yogurt and dill.

Tuesday: crockpot coffee roast beef, mashed potatoes, honey carrots

Wednesday: shrimp stir fry

Thursday: Firecracker Fried Chicken Drumsticks, pasta salad

Friday: Sour Cream pork chops, rice, mixed veggies

Saturday: scrounge day

And just to round out this mish mash post, I have a question. Does anyone know why sometimes out of the blue I get double spacing when I hit the enter button once rather than single spacing. For example above in the menu plan monday, I didn't really want double spacing but that's what I all of a sudden got. Any ideas, ladies?