I'm Glad

to have a few things home...

I'm glad my girls are home...

And I'm glad my camera's home (left it at mom's and dad's for a week.)

I can now show off the girls lovely art work they've created on their walls.

(Atleast Taylor's practicing her letters... right?)

Every available space on their walls is covered in pencil.

I have yet to clean it because I don't have anymore Mr. Clean Magic Erasers... I'm gonna have to go shopping today.  Hopefully cleaning them won't really mess up the paint on the walls... it's weird paint.

Isn't it Ironic

Yesterday I took my girls up to my mom's and dad's to spend the night.  I really needed a break.  I was so excited at first to have 24 hours of peace and quiet. 

Then last night, when it was time for bed... I started crying... All I wanted was to hold my babies.  I even asked chris at one point if we could go pick the girls up...  CRAZY, I know!!!! 

I don't understand it.  They drive me nuts.  I can't get ANYTHING done.  I wish so badly at times that they'd disappear so that I could get 1 thing on my to do completed! 

Then the second they're gone, I miss them, their laughter, their funny comments, their smiles, their spirits.

I can't wait to go pick them up this evening.  I miss my girls.

He Lives

I don't often listen to Christian music... There's a few bands I know about, and some other songs I've heard over the years... But I maybe turn on the Christian station once in a blue moon.

My mom however does listen to Christian music.  As a seminary teacher, alot of those songs come in handy with teenagers who don't really enjoy hymns on Sundays, let alone at 6:30 on a weekday morning.

There is one song my mom got me HOOKED on a few years ago and yesterday (a day from HELL) while I was driving home... Finally... This song came on.  

I can be a HUGE baby at times, and this was one of those times.  I balled my eyes out in the car on my way home.  I just couldn't hold it in.  It was like the Savior wrapped his arms around me and gave me the biggest hug.  

My new motto is a phrase from the song... Not really even part of the lyrics but a phrase the singer sings at the end while the choir is in the background singing the chorus.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow."

I'm sure there are some of you out there thinking, "Alright, It's official.  Keaven's lost it."  But I don't mind.

I have to share this beautiful, inspired song.  So here it is.

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And Who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

 I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives

The very same God that spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer, He lives

To take away my shame
And He lives, forever I'll proclaim
That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life He gave
But now He's alive and
There's an empty grave

And I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer,

I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know that I know that I know that I know that I know my Redeemer lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
I Know I know
He lives He lives 

I spoke with him this morning
He lives He lives, 

the tomb is empty,
He lives 

I've got to tell everybody 

Still Kickin, kinda

The past 2 days I've hardly gotten off my rump to do much of anything, let alone take pictures and blog about it. But there is lots to blog about.  Maddie is still without diapers.  Yes, there have been a few accidents, including Nursery on Sunday... But I really think she's getting the hang of it.  She did go this morning without any encouragement from anyone... Just walked over to the potty and went on her own!

I've sewn my last project for a while, but they were cute, and I'll show them off soon... there were a few other things I've made and not posted, but will post as soon as I get my camera back (left it at mom's and dad's.)

We all went to see Shrek 4 last night in the $1.50 theater.  It was great fun, and Isaac and John came with.  It was an awesome FHE.

Tonight there is a Clothing/Toy/Household Item exchange at church.  I'm so excited to get rid of some stuff that's been taking up closet space, and also excited to see what fun stuff I can find for me and the girls.  Kinda nervous in the clothing department though.  We'll see how it goes... and i think Krystin may come with me... I hope.

Anyways - That's what's been going on sorta.  There's more, but the girls are fighting.  Later!

Potty Talk

After a couple months of semi potty training - some days a bit more hard core than others - I think Maddie finally has it down.  She has been diaper free for about 36 hours now (which is convenient cause we only have 3 diapers left).  She slept with just a shirt on last night, with her potty chair right outside her door so when she woke up needing to go, she could go pee, then get right back into bed.  And SUCCESS! No accidents.

She is still trying to hold it sometimes, not wanting to stop playing or whatever... But she knows when she can't hold it anymore and she'll finally sit and go.  We're going to attempt wearing panties to church, which will not be a first for going out in panties... but a first for going to church.  I'm not sure how she'll do in nursery with her panties.  We'll see.  But we're sticking to it.  NO MORE DIAPERS.

It's also kinda convenient because the girls wear the same size panties... Taylor has no butt and Maddie has a BIG butt, so it works out nicely.


On a side note... It has REALLY hit me the past couple days that my girls are growing up.  I can't believe some of the conversations me and Taylor have had lately.  Where did this kid come from?  How did she get so smart? Where did she learn all these things?  And why does she already act like she's 16?  And Maddie is no longer a baby.  The potty training confirms it.  I'm missing the little baby stages, nursing a newborn, swaddling a tiny baby and holding her throughout nap time, baths in the sink... I'm slightly baby hungry.  But this is HORRIBLE timing. And I have no doubt in my mind that a baby is the LAST thing we need right now.  It'll just have to wait a bit longer.  And I need my sister-in-laws to step up their game and get some more babies coming. ;)  That way I can enjoy the tiny toes and fingers... but not have to deal with the late night feedings and crying and gas and spit up, etc.  Carrie's doing her part, but come on Krystin, Candace, LeeAnn... Heck even Cayce!  Step up to the plate and help me out!

My Sunday Fight

For the past few weeks, when I wake up on Sunday morning, I begin the fight.

I go back and forth, back and forth, trying to decide if I'm going to church or not.

Yes I should go, but no I don't feel like it.

Going would help me to "feel like it" in a sense that it will uplift my mood and spirit.

But at the same time, I would much rather lounge around at home, all alone, getting things done in the peace and quiet that exists in a childless home.

This past Sunday was HARD.  

Even after I got to church, I didn't want to be there.  

Even after I felt the spirit, I wanted to go back to my home, to my seclusion.

With all my struggling and fighting I've done recently, I get tired easily.  

It would be so easy to give up and give in.  

I'm sick of the fight.  The fight to be happy.  The fight to be normal (whatever that is.)

There is a reason for it all though.  It is making me stronger... for what, I have no idea yet.  

But I do know why I needed to be at church this past Sunday.

There was a lesson I needed to learn, some reassurance from my Father in Heaven.

2 Chronicles 20:15

...Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

 What a relief it is to know that the fight and battle is not mine.  What a weight off my shoulders.  I love the tender mercies of the Lord.  This one was for me!

WOOHOO

I'm sitting here at my computer trying hard to navigate through stuff without a keyboard because it quit working during all my moving yesterday...  I looked down, and the number lock light on the keyboard was on.  Could it be true, did my keyboard somehow simply start working again on it own???  YES!  IT DID!  HALLELUJAH!

I can blog again.  I can search on google.  I can email whoever I want!  YAY.  I've never been so excited to type in my life.

Today is an off day though.  A lack of sleep and crazy dreams when I did sleep will do that to me every time.  Trying to figure out how to get back into the swing of it is hard.  Prayer helps though.  I need to go do that now.
So I will.  And enjoy the peace and quiet that exists during nap time.

I'm going to go thank my father in heaven for my keyboard.  Even the little things can be miracles.  And this one was for me!

Hope you all have little miracles pop up today too ;)

I am redoing the office for the final time. I have been working on it straight since 10 which means 7 hours of lifting, moving, arranging, organizing, tossing, and repurposing. My back aches, my hands hurt. I`m bumped, bruised, scratched, cut and sore. But I'm happy. Almost. Just a couple 3 things to do and it'll be done. Yay!

Oh yeah. Almost forgot.  I'm having to text this from my phone because my keyboard broke during the rearranging <:'(

Bring on the Rain

It is raining... And I love it.

First, I love the sound.  Sitting here in my office, I can here the drip and plop of all the little rain drops into the puddle outside the window.  It's a beautiful sound, and very relaxing.  One of my favorite things in the world is sitting next to an open window during a real good hard rain.  The sound, the breeze... it's magic.

Another reason I'm excited for the rain... Chris can't do yardwork today!  :D  He's stuck in the apartment all day with me!  BWA HA HA!  Wonder what awesome fun things we'll do today!

Seriously... Last post of the day

Maddie fell asleep on the potty tonight.  

She did leave a couple turds in there before she passed out though!

SUCCESS!!!

Goodwill Finds

I went to goodwill today looking for a new desk/table for my craft room... yes I'm redoing it YET AGAIN.

Moving on... I didn't find anything in that department, but I didn't realize it was Wednesday.

At the local Goodwill, there is a different colored tag on sale 1/2 off every week.  

Every Wednesday, shirts and shoes with that color are only $.99.  

Taylor is really lacking on 3t stuff, so I figured I'd check out some clothes for her... and also for me.  

Here's what all I got!

For Taylor

2 pairs of pants

1 pair of shorts - store tag still on it

1 dress

2 t-shirts

1 hoodie - looks brand new

For Me

2 t-shirts

2 cami's (1 still has the store tag on it)

1 sweater vest (from kohls, store tag still on it... was $30!)

1 more shirt... scroll down further to see it.

In all I spent just over $15!

That's 1/2 what that one shirt cost originally! 

GO ME!

I also got this shirt

and with a little help from the sewing machine 

turned it into this

I wrote about it on our other blog.

Check it out here!

On My Mind

Forgive me for posting so much today... but alot is on my mind.

I love this song by Band of Horses

No One's Gonna Love You

I've got it stuck in my head right now... Thinking about Chris.  I can't wait for him to be home from work and for us to enjoy an evening at home with our girls.

Nights like this tend to be an absolute blast and so I'm excited.  

If you haven't heard this song yet, or even Band of Horses, you should check them out!

Heres the LYRICS:

It's looking like a limb torn off

Or altogether just taken apart

We're reeling through an endless fall

We are the ever-living ghost of what once was

But no one is ever gonna love you more than I do

No one's gonna love you more than I do

Give anything to make you smile

It is a better side of you to admire

The day should never take so long

Just to be over then back to another one

But no one is ever gonna love you more than I do

No one's gonna love you more than I do

But someone,

They could have warned you

When things start splitting at the seams and now

The whole thing's tumbling down

Things start splitting at the seams and now

If things start splitting at the seams and now,

It's tumbling down

Hard.

Give anything to make you smile

You are the ever-living ghost of what once was

I never want to hear you say

That you'd be better off

Or you liked it that way

But no one is ever gonna love you more than I do

No one's gonna love you more than I do

But someone

They should have warned you

When things start splitting at the seams and now

The whole thing's tumbling down

Things start splitting at the seams and now

If things start splitting at the seams and now,

It's tumbling down

Hard

One of those days

COUPONS 7/27

Where?  Publix

What?  

4 Pkgs Crest Toothpaste

6 Hamburger Helpers

1 Publix Apple Juice

Trix

Honey Nut Chex

Cocoa Puffs

Cheerios

Cinnamon Toast Crunch

4 Campbells Chunky Soup Cans

Total? $54.00

Paid? $15.48

Here's How!!!

Crest Toothpaste - Regular 2.69

on sale 10 for $10, .50 off coupon (doubled)

all 4 pkgs of toothpaste were free!

Hamburger Helpers - Regular 1.59

on sale BOGO, .75 off 3 coupon

were .55 each

Apple Juice - Reg 2.49

On sale BOGO

was 1.25

Cereals - Reg 3.49

On sale BOGO, .75 off 2 coupon

was 1.40 ish each

Except Cheerios - Reg 3.49

On Sale 1.99, .50 off coupon (doubled)

was 1.00

Campbells Chunky Soup - Regular 2.39

on sale BOGO, 1.00 off 2 coupon

were .70 each

Mila's Daydreams

This mom is AMAZING.

While her newborn is sleeping, she tries to imagine what she is dreaming about, then creates a photo shoot around her sleeping baby, and snaps away.  They are SO CRAZY CUTE.

Here's a few samples:

I LOVE IT.  Check out more here

http://milasdaydreams.blogspot.com/