My New Favorite Photo!!!

In case you couldn't tell...she adores her Papa and the feeling is mutual!

Great Worship CD!

Very excited about this. I have been anxiously waiting for this new CD to be released by my favorite worship leader Travis Cottrell. It is almost time. You can go here to listen to some cuts from each of the songs or here for a chance to win a copy.

What is Sweeter...

I can't think of many things sweeter than a sleeping child. When it is nap time at Grammy's, Olivia starts collecting "friends" to toss in the pack-n-play. Yesterday she just had to sleep with our dog Annie's little teddy bear (kinda yucky I know) but what is a Grammy to do?

Spring Swing!

We did this for an hour this morning--we both loved it!

Creation Calls

My blog friend Debbie at Heart Choices posted this video Saturday and it is too good not to share. It is a little long, but worth every minute!

Finally Home!

This last month has been extra busy for us with funerals...some extended family and Monday Andy officiated at the funeral for a good friends mother. I was thinking about all the loss and this song kept coming to mind. I know this song means a great deal to my sweet hubby who still misses his dad a ton. It is a song with a beautiful vocal, but more than that it expresses so well our longing for "home."

Something to Think About

Same topic as yesterday...but it is worth posting about again. I was very moved by this post from Melissa Moore Fitzpatrick today. I think I need to print it and re-read it on a regular basis.

Compassion

If you are not reading the blogs from the Compassion blogger team that is in Inida right now, you don't know what you are missing. You can go here and here for two of many beautiful stories that will move your heart. Hopefully move it toward helping a child.

8 Things

I was tagged by Debbie at Heart Choices. I don't usually find the time to participate in these things, but here goes...

(edited to add: I started this last Tuesday and am just finding time to post on Sunday night, that's how the week has gone :-)

Here are the instructions for 8 Things:
Mention the person that tagged you
Complete the list of 8 things
Tag 8 of your wonderful bloggy friends
Go tell them you tagged them

8 Things I look forward to:
Our 30th anniversary trip in November
Mondays and Fridays with our granddaughter Olivia :-)
Meeting with my Bible study ladies
Walking every day with Shonda and Wanda
Visits from my kids
Anytime with my sweet hubby
Time for scrapping/cardmaking
My nose in a good book

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
Led a.m. Bible study
Started monthly newsletter
Worked on Sunday School lesson
Walked for an hour with friends
Made supper
Drank way too much coffee
Led p.m. Bible study
Watched the end of the Cub game :0)

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
Quit my job
Travel anywhere with my hubby
Spend more time scrapping/creating
Learn about photography/with a good camera
Read more
Meet/visit with Beth Moore
Spend more time with family
Learn to Dance

8 Shows I Watch:
24
LOST
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Smallville
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Rachel Ray (on my days off)
Cub games :-)

Not sure about 8 bloggers to tag, but if you'd like to participate I'd love to hear your 8 Things...like Debbie said, it is nice to get to know you better.

Grammy...

Someone called me by name for the first time yesterday...and it was sweet :-)

Who Knew?

I am not a big one for jumping on the bandwagon... I saw a link to this video several times before I finally watched. I have watched it four times now and been moved to tears. It will leave you feeling good--I promise.

Town Hall for Hope

If you are as tired as I am of all the fear and doom and gloom about the economy in the media you will want to particiate in the free nationwide simulcast event hosted by Dave Ramsey on April 23. It is way past time to start spreading a message of hope. For my friends who live close by, we are hosting the event at Highview Christian Church or you can click on the Town Hall for Hope link in my sidebar to find out more and find a location near you.

My Redeemer Lives!

His Wounds...My Ransom

What Good Friday Means to Me

A Hectic Week--A Random Post

This has been such a busy, hectic week. One of the longest I remember in quite a while. Several late nights at work but, I think I got everything done and the coming week looks LOTS better. My sweet hubby and I are filling in at the last minute for a Sunday School teacher who had to have surgery. We are doing a marriage series based on the Fireproof movie. Prepping this first lesson took a ton of time, but I think it will be good. My Esther Bible study has to take a one week break because our study room will be being used as a polling place Tuesday...no prep for that class will help alot. Because I needed something else to do, I just finished taking an online Photo Editing class--good stuff; can't wait to play with some new photos of my favorite little subject. I have my new kit from Freehand Scraps to play with at our church crop on Friday night. It is called Serendipity and is FULL of beautiful, fun stuff. I am also really looking forward to this coming weeks A Woman Inspired online conference.

A new blog friend linked me to this great blog candy giveaway on a fun blog called My Bucket Overfloweth Kelly does some great cards like this one Pop over there and check it out.

I'm Registered--How About You?

Three Posts in One Day...

is definitely a record of some sort for me. Just wanted to add the details about the A Woman Inspired Conference. It is an online women's conference that looks great. I think I counted 18 different speakers. You can download each session and listen on your own time. I am not registered yet, but will tomorrow. If you register before April 1 the cost is only $12.95, can't beat that. After the 1st the cost goes back to the regular $24.95 (still not bad). Check it out here.

I Made a Card...Instead of Cleaning my House!

I did another card for the Cuttlebug Challenge blog. The challenge this week was Cuttlebug Meets Cupcake. I figure if I participate every week, I would have a bunch of cards made in a years time. It would be good for me to actually make and then send cards instead of all these good intentions...and it is much more fun than vaccuming and laundry!


Now, off to the laundry :-)

What a Difference a Day Makes

A few days ago...


First thing this morning...


Hubby titled this one "A River Runs Through It"


Andy opened the blinds this morning and proclaimed it "Beautiful", I think it would have been stunning in November, at the end of March I am not a big fan. I'll take my spring back, thank you very much!

Monday Morning Smiles!

I couldn't resist taking a minute to put up a couple of pics of the little cutie who showed up this morning sporting some darling pony tails...I LOVE little girls in pony tails! Now off to get my Bible study stuff prepped for tomorrows class while she sleeps.

Pat the Bunny

It finally felt like spring today--BEAUTIFUL! So we played outside as much as we could. Olivia had a very definite opinion as to where the bunny should go this spring...she kept giving this very cuddly, concrete bunny hugs and kisses (yuck)!

I'm Still Here!

Just time for a quick post before the little sweetie gets up from her nap. I got a cute picture today that I wanted to post for Aunt Melissa to see. I think Olivia looks very "grown up". I also got a little video of the game Olivia and Papa play at lunch time when she is here. If he leaves the table she gets this grin and yells Paaapaaa...then he comes running to giggles and grins. I think she could get him to do just about anything!

A Visit from the "Greats"

Great Grandma and Grandpa Dean came for a visit today. A fun time was had by all.

Papa's Little Helper

We had a doggie toy emergency today...Annie's favorite green ball was under the china cabinet. Papa came to the rescue, but not without help. Olivia was so cute laying down beside him with her little arm underneath trying to be just like Papa.

Happy Day!

Nothing special--just a day with Olivia makes for extra smiles. She came this morning wearing a super cute sweater that Great Grandma Dean gave her for Christmas, so I took some pictures of her doing her favorite activity--feeding Annie with a spoon! Surprisingly enough, Annie loves it! Hope you are having a day with extra smiles too!

New He{art} Class

My blog friend and teacher Wilna Furstenberg has a new online class coming up in February. I took her last class and it was AWESOME! Her blog is one of my favorites with lots of creative and spiritual inspiration. Here's the link to more info or click on the pic in the sidebar. I am really looking forward to the first 14 days of February for some fun, learning new techniques and awesome inspiration.

Scripture Memory Challenge

I am participating in the Scripture Memory Challenge over at the LPM Blog. We have committed to memorizing two scriptures each month for a year. We start a new one on the 1st and 15th of each month. The first verses I chose were Psalm 119:35-37

"Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart towards your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthles things, preserve my life according to your word."

There have been many times during the last two weeks that these verses have been just what I needed to focus on.

The new verse I started on today is Isaiah 33:6

"He is your constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him."

I can't think of a better verse to put my focus on while being constantly bombarded with the world's unstability.

I haven't spent alot of time concentrating on scripture memory for a while, so this is a great challenge for me. I like that the focus of this challenge is more on understanding and using the verses, not just memorization.

One more thing...I saw this great tip on Dori's blog for making memorization easier--haven't tried it yet but plan to and thought it was worth sharing.

It's not too late to jump on the bandwagon and enjoy the accountability and encouragement of a huge number of Christian women taking God's Word into our hearts and minds.

Happy Birthday Surprise for my Sweetie!

Facebook | Terry Dean Felix

2008 News in a Musical Review

I can't say I agree with every point of view, but overall this is pretty darn funny!

Top Ten Favorite Photos for 2008

My friend Jules at the Roost is hosting a Happy New Year party linking her readers top ten favorite photos for 2008. Boy is is hard to narrow it to ten but here goes (in no specific order because I keep screwing that up).

The whole family together Christmas Day
My son and his sweet family
This was the first day Papa and I took Olivia to the park. I love the look of pure joy on her face.
Stopping to smell the flowers-- we've done that alot more this year.

We finally got a self portrait where we don't look ridiculous
Reading stories
Bed & Breakfast in Wisconsin
Meeting Great Great Grandma
Papa and Olivia--don't they look happy?
Love those chubby baby cheeks!

Guess Who Liked Her Present!

Merry Christmas!

One of my favorite artists, Travis Cottrell, singing one of the most awesome Christmas songs ever. Hope your Christmas is filled with joy and peace.

Lots of Randomness!

I really did not think we would wake up to a warm house this morning. The power was flashing before we went to bed and the storm had just begun. But we woke up snug and warm to this...
Snow day today for Olivia's mommy, so I will have to just enjoy this from last week.



Lastly for Melissa--the baking/decorating is underway...

How About Some Good Music

The following is a song by one of my all time favorites Steven Curtis Chapman from this year's Billy Graham Christmas special. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Another Good Idea

This video was made by a friend of a good friend of mine. My friend Mandy and her husband are missionaries in Malawi. The people who made the video run the orphanage down the road from them. I think it is a clever way to get the message out that we can make a big difference for starving children with a pretty small sacrifice on our part.

Here's a Good Idea

My friend Heidi from Freehand Scraps posted this link and I thought it was too good not to share.

Almost Done

No time for blogging lately...every spare minute has been spent decorating. Each year when I begin, I wonder if it is worth the time spent, then I get it all in place and am always glad I took the time. I love spending a little time in the evening with just the soft Christmas lights and some Christmas music, it is so peaceful and good for my spirit.

I changed up a few things this year, partly to move some of the Dicken's Village up a little higher because of a certain darling 16 month old's curosity, and partly because it was time to do something different to the mantle. Since we have been here, we have hung the stockings on the mantle. This year I have moved them around the corner and (thanks to blog inspiration) made a garland.



We used to have the Village all set up on either side of the fireplace, but have moved it to several locations this season.


I have a few things yet to do, but right now it is time to get off the computer and go make some supper for my sweet, hungry hubby.