Happy Graduation!!

to Lauren!

This past weekend we went to visit Mark's family and to celebrate Lauren's graduation. The graduation was very special. (It gets very personal when you are the only one in your class. Yay, homeschooling!) :)

Funny... the only group family pictures we got had a cow in them!

Lauren and Dustin both work at their local Chick-fil-a. :) The cow made a surprise (for Lauren) visit.

Lauren had quite a special ride to and from the graduation! (Thanks to a special gentleman in their church for sharing!) :)

The next day, we girls got some fun shopping in. Here we are on Sunday, stylin' our new outfits!

We also enjoyed time with the other family that is visiting. :)

What a chair is best for...

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
~Dr. Suess

Hmm... does the above quote apply to reading "The Three Little Pigs" for the 179th time (more or less...) :) It seems to be the book of choice when they visit "auntie" Chari's house.

Finished Object Friday

Last week I got picked to be in charge of the Father's Day "program" at our church. I wanted to do a fun twist on the little gifts, and I remembered something I had seen a while back. I used this tutorial to make these:

This one was one of my favorites, and it's the one my dad got. :)

Of course it wasn't just a card. Stapled to the back was a gift card for the ice cream store and a little leveling tool. (I forgot to take a picture of the back.) I just stapled them to the card before I glued the "tie" on. The best part was I used things I already had from my old scrapbooking supplies.

The dads all thought they were pretty cool. Can you tell by the grins? :)

I've also been working on some things for our VBS - in a little over a week. AHHH!! We are doing a cowboy theme. Here's my longhorn! :)

and my tall corn:

I am no artist, so I thought these turned out pretty good in spite of my lack of talent. : ) I enlarged them at church using the overhead projector, then finished them with chalk. I still need to cut them out (that will take care of the "fuzzy" horns) and get them laminated.

So what have you been crafting recently? I can't wait to see your projects! If you are new to FOF, read this post to find out what it is all about! Happy Friday, everyone!!

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1. Beach Sign

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Rainy days...

Make me so happy... :) When we've hardly had any rain, it's hard for rainy days to "get me down." My lawn was needing watered again, and nothing does it like a good rain. It's been falling softly all morning. Makes me feel like curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee. Oh, wait. I already did that this morning, during my morning quiet time. The Bible and So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore. Great book(s)! :)

I wanted to share a little of my yard work from Saturday. It was crazy hot, but I got 'er done!

I cleared out my nasty rangy pansies. (They are a winter flower down in the south. After May, they start looking really sick.) I had bought a hanging basket of petunias for $5. There were four plants in that basket, and they are so happy to have some room! They started blooming like crazy! (the fertilizer probably helped a bit as well...) :) The ducks seem happy for some pretty company, don't you think?

I also weeded this part of the bed:

I know, it doesn't really look like much, but those are my two rose bushes and they seemed to take a big breath after I got all the weeds from around them. With the weeding and the fertilizer/bug killer, maybe I'll get more blooms this year. When am I supposed to prune them again?

My garden is going nuts! Especially my cherry tomato - hmmm... it must feel right at home.

My other tomatoes aren't setting well. Maybe too hot and dry to early? Maybe the rain will help. My cucumbers seem to be starting to produce!

I know this one looks a little wonky, but it will (hopefully) still taste good! At least it didn't dry up and fall off! :) I'm hoping for lots of cucumbers - one of my favorites!! Yummy!! :) I just love fresh garden produce!

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Now for some more good news!! Our friend Sis. Connie is off the ventilator!! She is doing well! So thankful to God for His touch. Thank you for your continued prayers as she still is fighting the cancer.

See you again tomorrow for Finished Object Friday!! :)

Sunday Blessing

Let children hear the mighty deeds
Which God performed of old;
Which in our younger years we saw,
And which our fathers told.

He bids us make His glories known,
His works of power and grace;
And we’ll convey His wonders down
Through every rising race.

Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs;
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.

Thus shall they learn in God alone
Their hope securely stands,
That they may ne’er forget His works,
But practice His commands.


Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds
by Isaac Watts

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I'm so thankful for my dad - his strong Godly example, his sense of humor, his work ethic... I'm also thankful that Mark had a Godly father to show him how to be a man.

Happy Father's Day!!

Real Life

Alternate title: Where do you kick of your shoes?

Ok. so I'm getting real here once again. No pretty picture right now. Just this:

Um. yeah. that's pretty sad. I realized last night just how huge that pile had grown. There are .... wait while I count.... 6(!!) pairs of shoes right there!! Mark thought maybe I should put a shoe rack there. :)

What gets out of control fast at your house? For me it is (obviously) my shoes. They are everywhere!! hmm... maybe I need to rethink my shoe orginazation. Or weed out a few pairs. Mark has "numbered" my shoes. Not sure how accurate his count is, but when I bought two(!) pairs last Saturday, he was in the 40's. Is that good or bad? :)

I hope you all have a fun filled Friday!! and may your weekend be full of fun shoes!

PS~ This is my favorite pair from that pile - sequined goldfish flats! I'm really a kid at heart. :)

PPS~ A couple of fun pictures from yesterday: Regina stopped by for a quick breakfast. After that, I convinced her to leave the little one to play with me while she ran a few errands. (The older two girls were with their "Nana" at church camp.)

She even got a little braid - I love doing little girl's hair! :)

Isn't her hair beautiful?

Care for a Spot of Tea?

You can serve high tea around the dining room table, but afternoon tea is more of a living room occasion, with everything brought in on a tray or a cart.
Angela Hynes, The Pleasures of Afternoon Tea
(from 365 Things Every Tea Lover Should Know)

This past weekend Mark's brother and wife, Ryan and Mary, came for a visit. Mary and I had a great time chatting and shopping on Saturday. We shopped until we dropped! :) This is one of my proud finds. It was at an antique shop, but wasn't too over priced. :)

I originally intended it for the family room, but I think it looks right at home in the corner of my dining room. I'm still not sure what to put on that middle shelf. I'm glad to get my cookbooks moved over here. I was a little tired of them being so prominent in my china hutch.

Now I just need to figure out what I want to do with that space in the hutch! :)

What little things have you added to your home lately?

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A quick update on our friend Sis. Connie:
She was able to take her next round of chemo. Yesterday sounds like it was a pretty good day for her physically and she got to see her baby girl who turned one month yesterday. They are hoping she can get off the ventilator soon. Thank you all for your prayers!

Finished Object Friday

Happy Friday! Well, I did finish my project last night. (sortof. I still have a few threads to contend with...) This was my first time for ruffles!!! I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to try them - they are easy and fun! :)

This was a fun top to make - I love the ruffles!!

I picked up the shirts for a little bit of nothing at wally world. I was getting a little tired last night, so all the ruffles aren't exactly even. The jacket does a good job disguising the imperfections. :)

(although... the jacket is a little warm for this East Texas summer!

I used this tutorial here. It's a great little tutorial, but it took me a little longer to finish than I thought. Probably because of my inexperience with ruffles for one thing. Mark had to work late last night, so I didn't have to cook supper. I decided to spend my time creatively instead of vegging in front of the computer all night. :) I haven't added a flower, but I may. I still have a few ruffles left from the length of little ruffles for the top. Next time I would make the top ruffles a little looser. I have a couple more tops (pink!!) and I may try something a little more on this line for it. It was a fun project and I think turned out cute! I'm loving the ruffles!! :)

So what have you all been up to recently? Have you also become friends again with your sewing machine like I have? :) If you are new to FOF see this post. And don't forget to come back and see what others have posted!

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1. Pottery Barn Knock Offs

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An update and a hint

First an update on Sis. Connie. Her mom said that the bloodwork shows that the chemo is working, but they still need much prayer. Her husband posted this earlier today on Facebook:

"Please continue to pray for my sweet wife. She has had some expected setbacks. With the chemo doing its job, there are other battles to be fought. Without going into all the details...we need a miracle today. That Jesus might be glorified, we are praying the prayer of faith...believing.
Still clinging to Him, Steve"

Here is Bro. Steve and the sweet baby girl. Such a precious picture! (Taken by their oldest daughter.)

Right now she needs special prayer that her blood platelets to come up so her treatment can continue on schedule. She is still in the critical care unit. Please also continue in prayer for her family - husband, kids and parents. Thank you all for your prayers, even though some of you have never even met this lady.

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Here's a glimpse of what I'm working on tonight:

Come back tomorrow for Finished Object Friday!!! (hopefully I finish this!) :)

The Chair Collection

I can be anything
any person
anywhere
if I just have my book and chair.
~Karla Kuskin

But of all the cheap treasures that garnish my nest,

There’s one that I love and I cherish the best:

For the finest of couches that’s padded with hair

I never would change thee, my cane-bottom’d chair.
~William Makepeace Thackeray

“A house that does not have one warm, comfy chair in it is soulless”
May Sarton



To sit in an old rocking chair
That's a pleasure I really like to do,
It soothes the soul and relaxes the mind
This is a fact that has been proved to be true.
~ Adine Cathey



“Every chair should be a throne and hold a king”
Ralph Waldo Emerson



I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dare
To chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?
~Eliza Cook


Ummm... see? I told you I loved old chairs.

and that last one... yeah, I rescued it from the side of the road. No, it wasn't quite that bad when I got it. Maybe I can repair it? a little bit?? :) It's an old platform rocker and I just love the shape of the back and the arms!

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The Lord is helping Sis. Connie. Last night she requested for her husband to sing this song for her. Thank you all for your prayers!

Sunday Blessing

The lady in the picture above is a very dear lady and friend, Connie S. Just a couple of weeks ago she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Today she is in the hospital battling cancer. She was just diagnosed on Wednesday with choriocarcinoma. Yesterday was a hard day for her, she coded twice. Today she has been stable. Churches all over the nation held special prayer services for her, including ours. We had a very special time of prayer for Sis. Connie. I hope you will help us pray for Sis. Connie that God would heal her so that she can go home to her family - her husband and three dear girls. This song is for her and the family.

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God picked up a sparrow that could no longer fly
He brushed off its wounds and then watched it soar into the sky
If He’s mindful of creation, on this I can depend
I am His child and I can place all my trust in Him

Chorus
I can trust Jesus, I can trust Jesus
He never once has failed to meet my needs
He is my strong tower, the strength in my weakest hour
I can trust Jesus, He takes care of me


I have prayed some prayers and felt they never were heard
But I held to God’s hand and kept right on trusting in His word
My wants and God’s desires don’t always agree
But I lean on His will for He always knows what’s best for me.

I Can Trust Jesus
by Gerald Crabb and Christian Taylor

(Click here to listen to the song.)

Texas History Part ???

What happens when two history buffs decide to have a little anniversary getaway? They end up visiting historical sites, of course! Seriously, it is great to have a husband that enjoys history as much as I do - sometimes even a little more! :)

Sadly, we didn't get any pictures on our actual anniversary. Strange, huh? We did a little shopping and after supper we watched our wedding dvd. (Wow. A lot has changed in 5 years!) :)

Saturday was our fun day - starting with some Blue Bell (for Mark - a little early in the day for me.)

Gotta love the self timer! :)

We saw some absolutely beautiful countryside!!

The picture doesn't do it justice - especially through a car window!

Here are a few more pictures of the church you got a peek at on Monday:
Outside:

Inside:

Sam Houston's initials carved in the pew in front of his:

And in the museum part:
Sam Houston's table - the top was worn very smooth.

These were done by a local painter - Heroes of Texas independence. He is going to try to get them hung in the Alamo.

(There were a few more as well.)

After Independence, we went on to College Station to visit the Bush Library and Museum. Mark's first time to see it. (This was my second visit - to see a few more pictures of the inside check out this post from last year.)

So nice of Mr. Bush to stop for a little chat!

This is the little family cemetery out back of the museum - the Bush's daughter is buried there. She died of Leukemia at age 3.

Hope you enjoyed our little trip. We sure enjoyed getting away together for a couple of days.