how many kings have stepped down from their thrones?

what a busy week we have had. i would love to say that the time has flown, but that would be a lie. this week has crawled by at slower than a slug's pace. this morning princess and i made some reindeer dust to give to all her friends in prek. they have their Christmas party this afternoon and she was very excited about having something for everyone. Doppler Dave says that we have a chance for a couple inches of snow tonight and into tomorrow morning. that's always very exciting for the kiddos. monkey has her party at school tomorrow afternoon and i am supplying the puppy chow and rice crispy treats as requested by her. had to get lil man another pair of shoes, he keeps losing one of each pair. i have tons to do, so on to the thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good music- i joined a swap group on ravelry called the odd ducks, and one of the sweet ducks saw that i love better than ezra. she sent me 2 cds. i was so excited that i jumped up and down and did the lil happy dance.

2. surprise packages- i was expecting one box last Saturday from a winter dishcloth swap i was in, but to my surprise and excitement there were 3. 1 package had the above mentioned cds and the other was a loaf of shelly's famous chocolate chip Amish friendship bread. it was sooooo good.

3. netflix- the hubby has been gone all week, so I've been enjoying watching movies instantly while i crochet presents.

4. early bedtime- for me. i require sleep, lots of it, or i just don't function well. this week has been great I've been in bed by no later than 10:15 every night.

5. the ability to be a friend- i don't often brag on myself, but i will this time. i think I'm a pretty awesome friend to have. i don't make friends easily, so i try to hold on to those that i have with all my might. i got to spend a wonderful day with a good friend from high school and it was great to catch up and cook together.

6. my friends- now this group of ladies is just amazing. they are truly God's gift to me in my times of need. it has been a rough 3 weeks and they have been awesome

7. prayer- the power of prayer is soooo amazing.

8. cooking- i love to cook and bake and make things for people.

9. giving- it is the time of year when gift giving is the norm, and i wonder why more people aren't giving the rest of the year. i don't necessarily mean money. my friend peaches gave me the prettiest coupon holder for no other reason than she can. she is an amazing woman that i am thrilled to know.

10. ravelry- seriously addicting, but the ladies i have met are AWESOME.

i am thankful for God who sent Jesus to earth, so that one day i might be saved. i hope the rest of the season is a blessing to you.

i'll be home for christmas

i know it's been forever since i have been around in the blogosphere. i've been debating getting rid of this lil drivel, but instead i think i will steal an idea from another blog. i hope to be able to take a picture a day of the kids and blog those. we have been very busy here in happy. my sweet monkey turned 11 and is becoming quite the lady. she's a little over 5 foot now and is looking less like a kid everyday. sweet princess is getting bigger by the day as well, and is definitely her own person. halloween was lots of fun here. monkey wanted to be artemis and the princess wanted to be a vampire fairy. yeah, the joys of having an older sister.

this is them at the festival our church held, they had a great time.

a close up of artemis, isn't she pretty

lil man went as the healthiest skeleton ever.

we have a family membership to the discovery center, and have been enjoying it.

monkey was highly curious about the bed of nails bit.

so was the princess


the discovery center has a kinderstudio for kids 5 and under. lil man had a great time


monkey showing off her killer roping skills.

we have had a great fall so far, and the winter is shaping up to be awesome as well. we are traveling this year for christmas, this will be the first time in the 12 years we have been married. i know 12 years of marriage. this fall has brought some very sweet babies into this world. a beautiful set of twin boys to my friend ro and sweet scout to vanilla frog. i have been busy crocheting stockings for the family and some presents too. i hope that all is well for everyone in the blogosphere. work has been good, stressful but good. did you know that mail is measured in inches. think about that for a second.... think how many letters it takes to make up 75 inches of mail. yeah, this time of year is very busy. i need to work on some crochet, so i bid you bye for now. i do hope to be back soon, but the trip south will take me away from the internet.

every new boy that she meets doesn't know the real surprise

I'm just going to jump into my thankfuls this week.


I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the crafts i do- i am thankful that God has given me a healthy way to unwind.

2. dancing with my hubby- we haven't gone out dancing in a long time, but from time to time he will spin me around our house. it's times like that when i can't believe it's been 12 years of us together.

3. crafty people- i don't mean the con artists of the world, I'm talking about the people who can take simple yarn or towels or food and make them into works of art. you people inspire me to do more and be more than i am today.

4. laughter- i went to a celebration of a life ended too soon this past weekend, and there were tears shed for a woman who touched so many lives. in the midst we found ourselves laughing about things she had said or done that touched us all.

5. innocence- the kind that when lost just can't be regained. the kind that makes every person a friend.

6. sweet songs- i love the sound of children singing. i sometimes wonder if it is the closest to angels we hear on earth.

7. friends- the picture below is the lovely gifty that my friend peaches sent me. isn't it beautiful. she is one of the most amazing people i have met. proof that you are who you choose to be, and being kind is a good thing.

8. my mail- i was not aware of all that was required to get that simple stamp or gift to where it needs to be. postal employees i salute you.

9. prayer- there have been lots going up lately, and there have been lots answered. a kind wall post when i needed encouragement. the news that a dear friend is feeling better one day at a time. the blog post that God sometimes speaks to us when we least expect it.

10. cool weather- we have been getting in the 40's for lows and there is rumor of 30's next week. i love this time of year.

so I'm curious, those of you who still read- do you take time during your busy/crazy week to be thankful. do you find yourself being thankful for the little things that you so often take for granted? i live in a tiny town that somewhat prides itself on its old fashioned way of life. i know small town living isn't for everyone, but who doesn't love watching andy griffith. did you ever dream of living in mayberry? i live there. in a town where people wave to each other, and mind everyone's business. I've known this about my lil town for the entire 6 years we have lived here, but never did i realize how far that stretches til i started training at the post office. people come by to ask how the postmaster is doing and when she'll be back. they stop to chat and ask how my training is going or to let me know that it's OK if i make a few mistakes when learning the job. this week has been long. the hubby has been traveling all week, so we haven't seen much of him. I've trained almost everyday this week, i missed Wednesday training because monkey was under the weather. just when i thought "oh yeah, i have this mail thing down" no, no, not even close. so far all i had trained on was putting the mail in the proper places, little did i realize how much goes on in the afternoon at the post office. WOW is all i can say. today was insane busy. i don't know if I'm cut out for this. i am thankful for those who still read and those who have moved on. take a minute this weekend and say thank you for something or someone that sometimes you forget to. I'm off to finish a surprise for someone who has been a beacon of hope for me for years. take care and God bless

r e s p e c t, find out what it means to me

i finished my second day of training at the p o today, and all i can say is... be nice to your postal workers. there are lots of rules, and sometimes what you want isn't within the guidelines of those rules. that being said i am enjoying myself immensely. tonight i am enjoying one of the things i love the most, time with the hubby. the hour grows late and i need sleep, so without further ado: the thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. note taking- who knew there was so much to putting mail in boxes.

2. good food- lots of good home cooking lately

3. my hubby- he has been so helpful this week and i don't know what i would do without him

4. new shoes- the hubby got me a really cute pair of shoes last week.

5. kind words- you guys have been so sweet and kind. i can't say thanks enough

6. crochet- I've been making stuff like no one's business. several projects need to be posted on my craft blog soon

7. ravelry- I've joined a group of ladies that are amazing. they are wickedly talented and compassionate to no end.

8. chocolate- I've got some awesome chocolate that is to die for, and I've been enjoying it one piece at time

9. coffee- it's really helped with my early mornings and late nights

10. fall- it's cool here, evenings are in the upper 40s and lower 50s. i LOVE this time of year

i hope that this little bit of happiness brightens your week as you have brightened mine with your kind words. thanks

have you ever seen the rain

we were blessed to have a magnificent rain yesterday. i feel the blahs starting to sneak their way into me. i feel overwhelmed this week, and i don't like it. this summer was rough and the fall isn't looking up at this point, so i think i may just be allowing myself to wallow in the self pity. i found myself struggling for a thankful list yesterday, and i have so much to be thankful for. i have to admit I'm somewhat dreading the impending move, yeah the job isn't official yet, but with 3 different ones on the table... it's a matter of time. the hubby is beyond excited about it, and i find myself dreading it.

i know it will be a new start, but I'm content where i am. the lil man is napping and the princess is playing peacefully in her room, so i think i may crochet while the washer washes and the dryer dries. i really am grateful for all the comments, sorry I've been down for so long. the normal, yes i am using that term loosely, will be back soon i promise.

i was thinking bout her

what an amazing day I've had today. i got a lunch date/play date with my friend peaches and her adorable daughter. she made us spaghetti, rolls, and this delicious iced coffee drink. we had a lovely talk too. adult conversation is so lacking in my days. i begin orientation on Monday and i am very excited about the opportunity. the services have been set for my friends mother. things continue on the usual course here at the casa de finch. rumors about a move circle overhead like buzzards. we will see what the future holds for us. I've found some really awesome groups on ravelry, the ladies are a riot. well, crochet time draws near, so on to the thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. adult conversation- i don't get to talk to adults very often, so when i do i feel like I'm in heaven.

2. wonderful comments- not only the ones I've received here on my blog, but the several i have been left on ravelry, thanks you make my day

3. eating at home- the 2 week menu is up and running again. we had yummy crock pot dinner tonight.

4. learning new things- the baby hat that i made recently had a stitch i had never done before.

5. opportunity- there are several that are opening up, and we are trying to listen to what God wants us to do.

6. jokes- i love a good joke, and some not so good ones

7. new tv season- my shows are back woohoo

8. clean sheets- i love to sleep in clean smell good sheets

9. friends- this week has been rough family wise and the friends have really pulled up the slack

10. understanding- there have been some fb and blog posts this past week that have been very disparaging to people i know or am getting to know. it makes me wonder WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

i hope that everyone has a great weekend. we will be attending a birthday party for pattylicious' oldest son. a funny sidenote when doing spell check crockpot came up as an error and one of the suggestions was crack pot. just thougt i would share.

it's so hard to say goodbye

a dear friend of mine that i have blogged about recently has lost her mother. her mother was an amazing woman, who gave others hope and happiness. they took me in for a few weeks the summer after my granny passed. i know as a christian that death is just a stop on the journey of life, but the absence of the person that you loved is still a hole. there are times i still think that my granny or grandpa would get a kick out of something and i reach for the phone. my heart aches for the loved ones left behind, and i pray that they have peace during this difficult time. if you can send up a prayer for the family.

the big giant gorilla went up the water spout

that's right sing it to the tune of the "itsy bitsy spider". the girls sang that to us as were driving home from piano last night. i am happy to report my spoilee for the swap received her package and was thrilled with it. i don't know why i worry so much, maybe it is because secretly i crave recognition and validation. my friend's mom is back in ICU, she was improving so well and then took another nosedive. i think i may rename her heiness to the princess, yeah let's do that. well, the princess missed pre-k yesterday because she was sick Wednesday, and i don't send sick kids to school. I'm so excited about being able to go to east Texas. it will be a quick trip, but I'm hoping to get to see some of my buds. there is a hotel with a 2 room suite we will be staying at when we are there, and I'm trying to talk the hubby into driving in Friday and leaving Sunday. i didn't even realize i had missed my thankful list because i didn't realize yesterday was Thursday. i began this post this morning, but right as i began to list my thankfuls i got a text from my friend, firecracker. her mom is the one in ICU. i spent today there with her and her brother as they made some very difficult choices. my love and prayers go out to them and their families tonight.



I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. good Kleenexes- otherwise my nose would be raw by now. there were many tears shed today.

2. good friends- while visiting another of our friends arrived. she was tired from her long drive, but glad that she could be there when her friend needed her.

3. changes- I'm so glad that at some point when i wasn't paying attention i became an adult, and so did the people i went to high school with.

4. hot tea- I'm feeling a bit weak tonight and the tea is helping warm me.

5. fall- there was a crisp bite to the air this morning and it whispered fall to me.

6. my hubby- he watched the kids today, so that i could be with my friend. he then took us all to dinner to get us out of the hospital. he is an amazing man

7. my kids- apparently they played very well today, and even got a big bag of dum dums for my friend.

8. my bestie- we were going to have a date tonight, but i was called elsewhere instead. she was so sweet about it and i really appreciate it.

9. crafts- they help work out some of my angst and turmoil.

10. you- that's right all of you who read this and leave me encouraging words. i can't say thank you enough to you.

11. peaches- she's my friend from Georgia. i received the sweetest package in the mail from her this week. she said that she sensed that it had been a rough summer for me and she wanted me to know that she had been thinking about me. thank you.

it is good to be thought about and prayed for. have a good night I'm going to crochet something

my baby just wrote me a letter

yes, it is the second postal centered title for my blog. the reason being, i am the new postmaster relief in our great city. it is a part time gig that will help with our move. yes you read that right. within the next three years or so we will be relocating, but i don't want to dwell on that right now. i have a sick princess who wants nothing more than to sit and snuggle all day. the lil man is getting so big and so funny. his new favorite saying, "no no". i finished a couple of projects this past week. one i'm dying to post pics of because it is sooooo cute, but it is a surprise for someone who reads this so alas no pics til it's given. i finished a pair of slippers for myself yesterday. well rainbow six starts so i'm grabbing my hooks and whipping something up. what will i make tonight?

hey mr. postman

if you want this week's thankful thursday you will need to visit my craft blog. i was tired and posted it over there, and i have no idea how to get it here. you really should look at it, i was very proud of the post.

all i've got is a photograph

or as it could be titled what i've been doing this summer

the don harrington discovery center. this place is science fun goodness.

this is the planet section of the center. they were filming a commercial for cool things to do for a staycation in the area while we were there.


the albuquerque botanical gardens

the kids really dig the giant area


isn't she beautiful, she's almost 5 foot tall now.

our produce from the garden, the poor white zucchini stood out amongst his dark brothers.

the beautiful canyons not far from our house

the cool cloud machine at the discovery center

yeah, that's my name, don't wear it out.

love his curly hair

smile pretty.

check out my craft blog for all the crafty goodness i have been up to lately. the hubby should be home tomorrow, so i hope to actually get a thankful post up. take care

show me a sign, to let me know you're here

the last two weeks of summer are drawing to a close, and we have been enjoying the ability to travel once again, long story. last week we went to see the gma, and the girls stayed the weekend with her. i hope to be able to get some pics uploaded next week when school is in session again. i have been hard at work making lots of baby stuff for friends and family that are expecting. my niece was born 8-13-2010, she is quite the cutey. I'm also busy getting the house in back to school order so this post will be short, sorry. on to the thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. not being the victim- i don't need to create drama in my life so that i can play the victim to every person who will listen and give pity. i once had a good friend ask why i don't tell about my past, and i said "i don't like to be a victim".

2. cooler weather- this summer has not been nearly as hot as ones i remember in the past, at least in my lil part of Texas. it has been hot, but not east Texas hot. hope it cools down for you guys soon.

3. lessons learned- i could write several blogs on this alone. i am grateful for each lesson that i have learned this summer

4. school- the kids will be going back soon, and life will return to almost normal very soon.

5. beading- i pulled out my old bead tackle box last night and began to make some crochet stitch markers. they are beautiful.

6. air conditioning- it hasn't been above 100 but a few times this summer, but anything above 9 is too warm for me.

7. good music- i love to watch my kids dance and sing to music that they hear.

8. angel food- good food cheap.

9. fresh veggies- the garden overfloweth. we are already discussing what all we want to do next year.

10. new friends- i have made a couple of new bloggy friends this summer and it is nice to meet some new faces with new interests.

i hope this past few weeks have been as wonderful for you as they have for me. take a minute to find something to say thank you for.

the answer my friend is blowing in the wind

what a whirlwind week this has been. we traveled the state of Kansas with my hubby this week. did i mention we were a mere hour from both Nebraska and Colorado at one point. on our way home we stopped by to have lunch at the Dog with my mom, and then a quick stop to see a friend. this friend takes the best pictures, and every time we go she takes some for us.

i mean isn't he sweet. yeah, my hair is purple if you look close. i was going to post the family pic she took, but it was a little small to see all the smiling faces. I'm tired and there doesn't look to be a slow down in the near future for us, so onto the thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. facebook- say what you will about it, but a good friend of mine used it to communicate with several of us about a struggle she is facing. I'm glad she had a way to talk to me.

2. swaps- i have missed them so. i am totally stoked about the coffee/tea swap I'm in.

3. not expecting perfection- the one and only perfect person to walk this great planet had to endure an agonizing death. i don't want to be perfect and i don't expect other people to be perfect either. people will disappoint you and make mistakes, it's part of the human condition.

4. good food- I'm thrilled to be home and cooking again.

5. good long talks- it doesn't matter if they come via email, text, phone, letter, or in person. i love a good conversation.

6. my bed- the tempurpedic bed i have is amazing. i forget how amazing sometimes until i get to sleep on a hotel bed for several nights.

7. family- while traveling the amazing I-70 corridor this week, i got to see some of my family that i haven't seen in years.

8. expectations- as the gin blossoms once said "if you don't expect to much from me you might not be let down". I'm learning that some people are only capable of so much and if i don't expect more than that, then I'm not let down.

9. my hubby- he tries so hard, and sometimes he falls short of his mark. he always gets an A+ for the effort he puts into things.

10. prayer- the power of prayer is truly amazing.

i hope that everyone has had a fantastic week, and i hope your weekend is even better.

since you've been gone

i have been trying to get back into the blogosphere lately, and i have discovered and rediscovered some thrilling blogs. i found several bead blogs that are so creative. i love lamp work beads and i love to bead. several years back my wonderful hubby bought me a lamp work kit for our anniversary. when i was in college i took glassblowing as one of my electives, and it was so far beyond fun. when i graduated i was very sad that i wouldn't be able to do it anymore, and that is why my sweet thoughtful hubby got it for me. i think that i may try my hand at quilting this fall. it is something i have wanted to learn for quite so time, and as they say no better time than the present. i have several friends that are expecting this fall, and i have been hard at work making sweet baby stuff for them.

i have recently signed up for a new swap over at ravelry. if you love crafting it is the place to be. i am currently in 3 swaps. one all we do is send each other letters. you know snail mail, i love snail mail. one of them we send homemade/handmade washcloths. i am enjoying having reasons to craft. the sweet hubby is playing oblivion on the xbox, did i mention he LOVES the xbox? he works so hard to provide for us, so i can stay home, and i feel like the least i can do is to let him have some downtime. on to my thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. my life- it was a hard road to get here, but man I'm glad i did. believe me when i say but by the grace of God go i.

2. honesty- even when it hurts, it is good to hear.

3. friends- you know the ones who know they can tell you something even if it isn't what you want to hear. thanks guys.

4. learning from my mistakes- experience is a tough teacher, she's not very nice.

5. learning new stuff- this week of cooking food that is unfamiliar to me has been so nice. it is soothing to create something that I'm not completely familiar with. i have discovered most of the Greek food i have made this week has been very work and time intensive.

6. babies- there is something about new life that is...so...amazing, sorry trying to search for the right word.

7. church- we have been attending a church for a while now, and the preacher speaks on such an understandable/no nonsense kind of way that just hits you between the eyes.

8. small town living- it isn't for everyone, but there are days that it is worth any headache. it is nice to know people are looking out for each other.

9. letting go- ahhhh, to let go of the anger and hard feelings. this is hard to do when there is no recourse for the pain. this goes back to forgiveness is for the forgiver not the forgiven.

10. knowing the truth- there is tremendous power in knowing the truth about a person. knowing who and what they really are. i think this is why people who have known you for so long are so wonderful, yet so dangerous.

i hope that this weekend is wonderful for everyone. thank you for all of the support and kind words lately. it is so good to know we are not alone in this world. thanks again for reading

blinded by the light

i have spent the last several weeks in discussion with my hubby over many things. it has been a time of reflection for me. my bestie deleted her blog, turns out a lot of "well meaning" people are nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing. yeah you're surprised i know. i will miss her witty banter.

the fam has been thoroughly enjoying Greek week. the baklava was very tasty. truth be told everything has been very delicious. the garden is doing great. you should see all of the pumpkins we have. everyday we gather zucchini and cucumbers. the cumbers have come in handy all week for all the tasty Greek goodness. i will be posting thankfuls tomorrow, so until then...

do you know what i know?

it's Greek week at the house of finch. we had a great first day, and we thoroughly enjoyed our first day of food. we didn't get to study anything due to a shopping excursion to the big city. i got a pasta machine, a mortar and pestle, and an olive oil bottle. i love getting goodies for my kitchen. if you want to know see the yummy food we are enjoying you're going to need to head over to the cooking blog. things could not be better here in the kingdom of the birds. sometimes it is good to know that others have been through the same tough times you are going through. i was looking through and deleting some blogs that are no longer... up my alley and/or are not being updated. i found one of my favorite blogs had moved. while catching up on all of her awesomeness i realized how much i REALLY miss cake decorating. did i mention the sweet hubby finally got an xbox? he has wanted one for 2 years now, but I'm not a big gamer and it is easy for me to say no to a new game system. he got an AWESOME bonus, so i conceded to the xbox. he is loving it and i am finding plenty of time to crochet. i hope everyone has an awesome week, and remember to check out all the yummies that Greek week is bringing to our house.

tell me lies tell me sweet little lies

i love fleetwood mac and was listening to them when typing this. i hope this week has been as wonderful for you as it has been for me. i can hardly believe that another week has gone by. we have our menu set up for our "Greece discovery week", and I'm planning some cool events for the kids. monkey is super stoked about learning the Greek alphabet. her heiness is excited about olives lots of olives. i have realized this past week how easy it is for words to hurt someone, but words also have an amazing healing power. for example the words "they're yours", made a friends day today. we have been grilling out lots this week, and we've been enjoying the fruits of our labors from the garden. we have several tiny melons that will hopefully be ready before our first freeze. i can't believe that summer only has a month left, sorry to all the teachers who didn't want that tidbit of knowledge. both the girls are looking forward to heading back to school.



there has been some thought and discussion about the deleting of blogs recently. I've been thinking about it some since the main purpose of this endeavor was for my friends and fam to keep up with us, and they don't seem to be doing that. anyway on to my thankfuls and i do have lots of them.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. Christ- He is the solid rock upon which i stand.

2. friends- you guys are amazing no matter what anybody else may tell you, YOU GUYS ROCK.

3. my hubby- what can i say he's an amazing, funny, intelligent, loyal, and sexy man.

4. memes- i had so forgotten how much i enjoy these. so fun so fun

5. swaps- I'm doing a couple on ravelry and so enjoying it.

6. my kids- what would i do without you and your amazing loving selves.

7. my garden- the radishes were so yummy, the zucchini is so delicious, and i haven't tried the cucumbers yet, but I'm sure they are yummy too.

8. good people- i think too often we get caught up on how horrible some people are, and we don't take time to think of all the good people there are in the world. thank you to all of those that never ask for thanks.

9. my mom- she's looking at a house here local. the kids are bouncing off the walls excited.

10. the truth- it will always come out. I've been working on less brutal honesty lately.

i noticed as i was about to begin this post that this is number 240. looks like i need to figure out something cool for number 300, it will be here before i know it. i hope that this weekend finds you well and happy. we have some big plans coming up in the near future, and i will share as soon as i can. until then have a blessed week.

one is the loneliest number

i got this meme in an email, so i share it with you my fellow readers. i tag all who want to participate.

USING ONLY ONE WORD change the answers to suit you better. please share with the rest of us.

where is your cell phone? table
significant other? amazing
your hair? blond
your mother? retired
your father? veteran
your favorite thing? love
your dream last night? kinky
your favorite drink? tea
what room are you in? living
your hobby? crafts
your fear? spiders
where do you want to be in 6 years? debtless
where were you last night? tara's
something that you aren't? dishonest
muffins? yummy
wish list item? date
last thing you did? worry
what are you wearing? glasses
TV? backyardigans
pet? plenty
friends? ROCK
your life? better
your mood? relieved
missing someone? desperately
drinking? coffee
your car? van
something you're not wearing? shoes
your favorite store? hobbylobby
your favorite color? yellow
when was the last time you cried? earlier
who will resend this? someone
where do you go to over and over? potty
my favorite place to eat? home
favorite place I'd like to be right now? arms
four people i think will respond? anyone




OK now it's your turn. let me know if you do, thanks.

Jesus loves the little children

who knew weeks could be so busy? we are planning a Greek week in our house. what is Greek week you ask? well, it is a week dedicated to studying Greece. why Greece? monkey got WAY into the Percy Jackson books this past year. the books are based on/retelling Greek myths. i thought that a good way to get more out of the books would be a week long study of ancient Greece. i found the alphabet and a bunch of other interesting info. we are also going to do some Greek cooking, not just ancient Greek food. monkey loves to cook and i thought this would be a cool way to expose her to different food than she might be use to. her heiness will also take part in the festivities because she desires nothing more than t be like her sister. if anyone has a suggestion for Greek food please leave me a comment. i will be covering all food made over on my cooking blog. we also have "adopted" a little boy from compassion international. we are very excited about the positive things this could do for him and for us. there are many more exciting things happening in our little world. here is my thankful list:

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1 my health- i figure this one i regularly say thank you in my prayers for, but realized i rarely put it on my blog.

2. my life- it may not be what everyone wants, but man I LOVE my life.

3. my church- we have been attending a nondenominational church and we are loving it. this past Wednesday the kids went to jump in jive again. the kids had a blast and it is nice to see the members outside of church.

4. freedom- thank you to all who have fought for it and those that still do. thank you to the families that are left behind.

5. crafting- so loving being busy with my hands.

6. reruns- we have been watching tons of reruns on netflix.

7. love- how great it is to be loved.

8. my mom- she has been so willing to come and help with the kids this summer. she has been amazing and i can't be thankful enough.

9. downtime- oh how i long for a moment to myself.

10. date night- the hubby and i are in serious need of one of these.

i hope this has been a blessed week for all of you. have a great weekend

it's good to have you with us, even if it's just for today

just when i was longing for a meme or question blog, i find this over at hot cup's. enjoy and play along, you know you want to.



20 questions:



1. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing that you thought?



glad i did the roots.



2. do you miss anyone right now?



several people. i miss my friends from the middle and high school. i wish they lived closer, so we could see how well we turned out.



3. if you could move anywhere else, would you?



i love where i live, but sometimes i do wish i lived closer to my friends.



4. if you could choose, what would your last meal be?



hmmmm, not really sure. i love some good tamales, but i can't choose just one or two things.



5. what famous person, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with?



again i just don't know if i could choose. maybe john bon jovi, maybe stephen king, or someone like thomas jefferson. i don't do well with choices.



6. what was the last book you read?



it's been so long i don't remember. i think it was a dean koontz, but it might have been charlaine harris. no i remember it was a book on crochet, yeah I'm a big nerd.



7. what was the last movie you watched?



fly me to the moon



8. what was the last song you heard?



theme to phineas and ferb on tv



9. what's your dream vacation?



traveling the british isles with my family.



10. what is the next trip you'll take?




we went to borger with the hubby yesterday. it was just a quick drop off something at an office and head home kind of trip.


11. did you ever go to camp?

when i lived at the children's home in elementary school it was mandatory.

12. have you ever been in love?

still am

13. what do you want to know about the future?

will my children be happy?

14. where is your best friend?

well, i am blessed enough to have several, so let's see: pattylicious is at home with her fam. shellybabes is probably at home with her family. my sweet snow white, i don't know where specifically she is, but she's in austin somewhere. my sweet hubby is walking around looking for the stereo remote.

15. how is your best friend?

pattylicious is a bit bummed about being without her hubby this evening. shellybabes is probably busy and good with her amazing family. snow white is missing her beautiful girls and anxious about what the future holds. the hubby seems good, he has coffee and d & d this cool morning in July.

16. who is the biggest gossiper you know?

the little ladies and men in town that all get together for coffee.

17. what does your last text message say?

waving back- i got a text that someone was waving at my casa.

18. what are 3 things you've always wanted to do, that you still plan to accomplish?

1. go visit Ireland and Scotland. 2. being debt free. 3. own a convertible vw bug.

19. what is one thing you've learned from your parents?

insanity is hereditary, communication is key, love your kids and love yourself. most of these were lessons taught looking back. the most important lesson learned: forgiveness is for the forgiver not the forgiven.

20. what is one thing you hope to teach your own children?

believe in yourself and respect yourself because if you respect yourself no one will ever make you do something you don't want to. learn from others mistakes, so that you don't have to make the same ones.

i think we're alone now

this week has been... busy. we had some serious fun for July 4th. amazon and crew made it to the party, so did pattylicious and crew. there was tons of food and other goodness to be consumed. we popped fireworks and confetti poppers. the kids had tons of fun. the weather has been rainy and cool here for the past couple of weeks. the hubby had Monday off for the holiday, so we made fruit leather from the apricots that my mom brought. then Tuesday the hubby had a meeting in lewisville, so we loaded up and headed east. my mom kept the kids, so it was just the hubby and i. i was so lucky, i got to hang with ro and her beautiful daughter. nothing beats looking at photos from middle and high school to make one not want to eat. i was looking at past blog posts and was surprised that i have over 200 posts. i also noticed that i used to do tons of posts and memes. i miss memes, so i may repost some of them. while the lil man sleeps i will post my thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the rain- it has kept the temp down and watered the garden for me.

2. nap time- i love the little bit of quiet this time allows. now if i could only get her heiness to take a nap.

3. friends- it was nice to spend time with someone who knew me from back when.

4. sleep- I'm running on less than enough, and oh how i miss sleep.

5. crochet- i just finished a baby blanket for my brother's daughter who is due next month.

6. communication- it is what makes relationships of any kind possible.

7. coffee- I've been enjoying lots of coffee this past week

8. cars- they make it possible to visit people who live in a different area of the greatest state ever, by the way that fact is not open for discussion.

9. my kids- they remind me of how God must feel about me when i am openly defiant.

10. date night- i am in serious need of date night.

it appears as though nap time is drawing to a close, so i must dash to the liquor cabinet, i meant to get the kids. hope everyone has a great weekend.

our house is a very, very, very fine house

another amazing week has come to an end. i am busy making plans for the 4th of July. this week has brought some deep contemplation to our household and some closure. i have an interview for the job at the post office next Friday. my FIL is in the hospital with heart problems. we love pappy and this has been hard on the family. he is a christian, so i know where he will spend eternity. this knowledge doesn't ease the concern for his health and future. i was hoping to get my thankfuls posted yesterday, but i was to busy hanging at my besties. here they are for this lovely week in July.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the ability to crochet- i love to make stuff for myself and my loved ones. below is a picture of some of the things I've made so far.

2. cooler weather- the last week has been cool and beautiful here.

3. sharing- i love when one of the lessons i try to teach my kids finally sinks in. q was sharing his animal crackers with the geese.

4. the beauty of nature- what great work God did when creating the world that i live in.

5. love- especially the love of children. the capacity they have to care and give amazes me. at what point do we loose the wonder that children hold for the world? i see my children and the way they view the world, and it makes me step back and thank God for all he has given me.

6. the garden- we officially have wee little zucchini and radishes.

7. disposable diapers- with what comes out of my son they are truly a blessing.

8. knowing oneself- learning who i am, and accepting that person is so freeing.

9. friends- one major upside of this summer is the amount of time I've been able to spend with my pattylicious.

10. my health- sometimes i don't say thanks for my health out loud, but i am so grateful for it.

11. our veterans- without them i wouldn't have the freedoms i love and enjoy. THANK YOU.

the pictures above were mostly taken at a local park where you can feed the fowl. the kids had an absolute blast. thanks for reading and i hope this holiday weekend finds you happy and blessed.

paranoia, paranoia everybody's coming to get me, just say you never met me

what an awesome week this has been for my little family. we got to travel to midland with daddy for work, and that is always a good time. we played in the pool, play putt putt, and ping pong. then home we headed to get the house picked up in time for a grandma visit. i got an invite to a friend's wedding reception in the piney woods area, and I'm really hoping we can go. i haven't seen most of these friends in almost 15 years. i have found so much to be thankful for this week. i am so blessed. i have actually had time to post on both my craft blog and my cooking blog, so if you wonder what I'm doing in either of those areas check it out. i am hoping to post more goodness on both soon. on to my thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. my friends- i have some of the most awesome friends in the world. seriously my friends ROCK. I LOVE YOU GUYS.

2. my hubby- i can't say how much i appreciate his goodness and kindness.

3. quotes- i do love a good quote. want some good ones watch tombstone.

4. ac- this isn't the hottest summer ever, not even close, but it is summer.

5. thunder boomers- what an amazing storm we had last night. tons of rain and lightening. i love the storms that are fierce without being deadly. i have no need for tornadoes or giant hail, but a good thunder boomer with lots of rain is amazing to behold.

6. my garden- i will try to take some pictures of it soon. we have tons of tiny zucchini blossoms, and that means tons of zucchini.

7. my kids- they are so wonderful.

8. frozen burritos- yummy quick food.

9. learning something new- love learning.

10. teachers- ah the unsung hero of the future. to all of my friends who have this profession, WAY TO GO- YOU ROCK. no really i don't think they hear that often enough.

thank you for all who read. what are you thankful for this week? the kind word of a friend when you were down, a much needed family vacation, new life, new hope, a new chance, the hug of a friend, the love of a child. i hope this weekend finds you blessed with love. i will be trying my hand at a couple of new recipes this weekend and you will be able to find them on my cooking blog.

i love you, i honestly love you

what an amazing week this has been. i thought i would include some pictures this go round. my love has been working close to home, so we have gotten to spend tons of time together as a family. the church took the kids to jump and jive and the kids had such a great time. below is lefty, he is a lab mutt. his left arm is the only limb that doesn't have spots of some form on it. he has a sleeve on his right arm and capped toes on his back legs. when he rolls on his belly it looks like he is wearing a holster. he is such a good boy.

below is a pick of her heiness and her new friend. her friend is the daughter of my friend, who will be known as peaches. peaches was the school librarian when monkey was in kindergarten. i met her again in my crochet class. what an amazing lady she is.

this was the last day of pre-k. all the kids surrounded the teacher to hug her and tell her how much they would miss her.

this is the q man. monkey did his hair in a Mohawk after playing in the water. isn't he the sweetest thing ever.

i am currently making a set of booties and hat for our music minister and his wife, well their baby. i hope to post pics, i know I'm so bad at posting pics. on to my thankfuls.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. netflix- we really enjoy the instant play movies. they have tons of scoobydoo and veggie tales available for the kids, and the hubby and i are catching all of the dead zone series.

2. love- it is so good to be loved, and to love others.

3. God- without Him and His guidance i would be lost. literally i would be doomed to a terrible life and afterlife.

4. rain- love the summer rain, how it cools things off and makes everything seem new again.

5. idiots- without whom i wouldn't realize how special teachers truly are.

6. teachers- i don't know how you guys do it, but thank you for all you do.

7. answered prayers- there have been several of these lately, thanks God

8. good food- we had kabobs and homemade pudding tonight. love good food

9. angel food- seriously i don't know how we would make it without it.

10. my home- we have lived in our current dwelling for a little over 6 years now, and i love it more everyday.

what are you thankful for this week? your ac working again, your spouse, your friends, your family. take time to tell those you care about what they mean to you. thanks again for reading, and i have actually posted on both of my other blogs this week. have a great week and God bless

i'm so unworthy, but still you love me

i realize what an amazing gift salvation is, and i can't believe some people don't want it. while at church this past Saturday i came to an amazing decision- i will treat people the way God would want me to treat them. regardless of how they behave i will be the better person. this week looks to be a better week because of this decision. it will still be busy and people will still act the way they choose, but i do not have to give into it. thank you readers for the prayers and warm thoughts.

i'm going home

i have really pondered about this blog post. mainly because i don't want it to be taken out of context. i do not proclaim to be a nice person, i do not proclaim to be the most christian person, and i surely do not claim to be the end all or the be all. if you need help, more often than not i will help. i do however expect a certain level of.... decorum to be upheld. i have had a really hard time this week being grateful. it seems like everywhere i look i find cruelty. i don't understand. so i haven't posted a thankful list, to those who still read i do apologize. this week has brought me to a very dark place. i am praying to be through this soon. here are my thankfuls, a day late, but not a dollar short.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. pattylicious- sometimes i don't understand why she is so loyal a friend, but weeks like this i sure am glad she is.

2. my hubby- i don't understand his logic sometimes. i don't understand why he insists on me being level headed, but I'm glad that he sticks with me.

3. old friends- some of my friends from middle and high school have really cheered me up this week on facebook

4. pizza night- this has been a family tradition for a little over a decade. i love the good food and good times.

5. honesty- i can't stress how much i appreciate this. if you can't be honest with me then don't be around me.

6. crafting- i crocheted a market bag this week and i don't care for the design, but i love the color.

7. my mom- she came to visit this week and she was a definite uplift to the crap week I've had.

8. cooking- have i mentioned we are only eating at home now. the food is awesome, if you don't mind me bragging on me.

9. understanding- this only covers so much before it flies out the door and gets demolished by a passing semi.

10. truly knowing someone- i have learned a very important lesson this week.

11. the ability to help others- this too has been exploited and i find myself hardening against it in the future. i HATE being used.

12. good upbringing- i don't assume that i had a normal childhood, in fact most of you would call me a liar if i ever decided to post my whole story, i was raised to be caring, honest, and kind. i appreciate those characteristics in others.

13. my kids- have i mentioned how much i love them.

14. hornsby- sipping a cold one and calming down currently.

15. the sunshine- i hate the heat, but love the sun. i know it sounds strange, but i love the way the sun feels when I'm feeling down.

16. the garden- my how it grows

17. puppies- have i mentioned lefty?

18. blogs- I'm so glad to be able to read blogs again.

19. my ac- have i mentioned it has been hot

20. snow cones- we are thinking of opening one.

i am thankful for second chances those i have given and those that have been given to me. i hope to not let down those who have given friendship another go. so what are you thankful for? thanks again to those of you who still read and have a great weekend.

some fools never learn

i had every intention of blogging last Thursday, but something else to be grateful for came along. things are good around here. i have come to the realization that other people's desire for drama doesn't have to drag me down. a blogger friend reached out for help, and i offered a hand. she and her fiance are now residents of my beloved town. we have been enjoying showing off the local food and scenery. the fiance who was renamed ted by her heiness has become a constant friend to the kids. well Thursday ted got an interview for a job, this was super awesome and we were all very excited. on Thursday afternoon he got a call that he got the job, he started on Friday. talk about answered prayer. did i mention her heiness cut her hair, again.

yeah, it is that short all over. it was a bit heartbreaking for me and her once she realized she was in trouble.

isn't this cool. we got it as a birthday gift for q and a summer toy for all the kids. they love it.

those are the booties i made for my brother. his daughter is expected in august.

the kiddos in the lil kiddy pool. they are all getting so big. q loves the water.

now on to the thankfuls:

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. air conditioning- it is so hot already. we are expecting 100s all week.

2. my hubby- he helps keep me calm when i really want to punch somebody upside their head.

3. crafts- it feels so good to be crafting.

4. my friends- what an amazing group of people. you help keep me grounded and remind me that maybe i am a good person.

5. good food- I've been doing lots of cooking lately, and i am loving it.

6. ice- loving cold drinks in the hot weather

7. my kids- q is officially walking. he has been taking steps for a little over month now, but this morning he was walking all over the living room.

8. prayer- i heard that if you pray for someone it is hard to stay angry with them, and amen it is true.

9. netflix- currently the kids are watching veggie tales on instant watch.

10. a sense of humor- someone once said "if you can't laugh at yourself you maybe missing out on the joke of the century", learning to laugh at myself and the silliness that surrounds me has really helped with the insanity.

i am thankful for all the sweet comments. i am thankful for people who understand that there is more to life than meets the mere eye. what are you thankful for? perhaps a kind word when you were down, the chance to be a grandma for the first time, or maybe a job when the job hunt seemed hopeless? i hope this week finds you in a blessed place.

where've you been?

so much has happened since my last post and i do hope to blog about it in the very near future. for the short list school's out, we have new people in our lovely town, q is 1, and the list could go on for days. i wanted to say thanks for those of you who still find the time to stop by and see if anything new has appeared here lately. i would also like to say sorry that it hasn't. i admit i have been spending my spare time doing things like farmville, laugh if you want, it provides excellent brain dead time for me at the end of the day. i have been busy crocheting up a storm of baby goods. if possible i will get a bit of time tomorrow to blog, and i will try to brighten the blogosphere once again with my wit and charm. until then a short list of thankfuls

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1 the ability to remember: this is sometimes a blessing and a curse. the ability to remember where i came from and what I've overcome helps me to be focused on the future.

2. the ability to forget: there is so much of my past that i keep pushed to the far back of my mind. it only creeps out at night when my guard is down. my demons find me at night.

3. my hubby: he usually keeps the aforementioned demons at bay even at night.

4. my friends: i can never say thank you enough to this vigilant group. your stanch defense of me is awesome, and i mean that in the fact that it truly creates a feeling of awe in me.

5. my kids: i don't know what i did that was so right to deserve the amazing kids that i have, but i am so grateful. they may not be perfect, but they are perfectly wonderful for me

6. the blogosphere: i love to blog, but i am hesitant to put myself out where others can so easily be cruel. i love the ability to write what i think and feel, but i have become somewhat hesitant for fear of the cruelty that flows so easily from some people.

7. my laptop: love to use the puter while watching TV

8. cooking: it has been great to get back to the kitchen again.

9. crafting: i can not begin to describe how nice it has been to be back in the swing of crafting, rumor has it that an etsy shop may be on its way

10. letting go: i am not perfect nor have i ever claimed to be. i use humor to take the edge off the hurt. i am so thankful for the ability to let go of the anger that ate me alive for years.

the realization that blogging is for me is very freeing. i don't do this for approval. i do it for the ability to connect to others and myself. if anyone is still out there let me know, i would love to hear from you

do you believe in magic?

every spring the daffodils peek their leaves out of the ground to herald the beginning of the most magical time of the year. well, i think it is magical. it is easy to see God's work everywhere in the spring. this spring has been very busy for us. we made a trip to see the fam in central Texas. we made a stop in kileen to see shellybabes. i can't believe how big her kids are getting. we got to see her house, and she whipped up a wonderful dinner for us. the kids have been begging to go back, so we will see what summer allows. things are picking up around here. lil man is doing all kinds of amazing things. he has been waving "hi" and "bye" for about a month now. i will try to post pics soon, but i just wanted to let everyone know we are still alive.

silence is golden

ah the peace of nap time. the lil man has been particularly cranky this morning, i blame it on the four teeth that are breaking through. I'm not sure how long nap time will last due to the nature of cranky babies. i finished my first intermediate pattern for crochet. it was a washcloth that was made up of v-stitches and shells. it is more of a rhombus and less of a square than i care for, but her heiness squealed "it's so pretty can i have it?" it now resides in her kingdom. my little princess will be four this Sunday, how does time go by so quickly? i hear the beginnings of fuss from the lil man's room, so here goes thankful Thursday.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the ability to work things out- well i don't want to air dirty laundry so that's the best you get for a description. sometimes the ability to say "sorry, i was an idiot" goes a long ways.

2. my kids- they have the ability to make a day amazing. there is nothing like hearing "you're the best mom ever" or "wow, mom you know everything" to make a girl feel good.

3. good shampoo- i have never been a lover of my hair. it has always seemed somewhat...blah to me. i have to admit i love my hair when it is all shiny and soft.

4. good makeup- the hubby got me a ton of ulta makeup for my bday, love it. her heiness decided our 100 pound lab wanted to be a vampire, so she used my good makeup to help him. argh

5. cake decorating- i forget how much i enjoy it, and then i see how awesome one of my old students is doing with her skills.

6. the birds- the hubby wanted some finches. we now have three. did i mention they are laying eggs.

7. flowers- there is still snow on the ground here and according to Doppler Dave more is on its way next week. it is nice to know that all that pretty white stuff is melting and watering my daffodils and tulips.

8. snow- LOVE the snow. i really love it when the hubby and kids are all home and we make hot chocolate and sit around the fire.

9. my hubby- he works so hard so that we can have the life that we do.

10. church family- talk about you don't know what you've got til its gone. well, somewhat. we are still searching for a new church home.

thanks for reading all comments are greatly appreciated, and the really good ones are saved in my email, so i can use them as a pick me up when i get down.

just an old fashioned love song

most of you know i don't care for valentine's day. i hold to the belief that if you truly care about someone, then you won't need a special day to tell them that. that being said the hubby got each of us a lil something to snuggle with. he has been gone all week, and he will not be back until this evening. my friend shelly is talking of restarting her sock swap on her blog. when this happens i will put a link to it. i am thinking of doing 2 swaps. these will repeat monthly. I'm thinking of a bookmark swap and a book swap. the rules are simple if you commit please see it through.

bookmark swap-these are minimums anything extra is fine, but realize they might not send extra to you.
1 homemade bookmark- this does not have to be filet crochet mind you. a simple paper cut out that is decorated will be sufficient. keep in mind don't send something you wouldn't want to get in return. there will be themes for the months
1 recipe- it doesn't have to be anything super fancy, but something you enjoy would be nice.
1 special treat- candy bar, soap, anything special that the other person would enjoy.
none of this has to be expensive.

book swap- again just minimums.
1 book- again there will be themes. find a used bookstore to get your books from, they are way cheaper.
1 homemade item- this could be anything. a bookmark, crayons that you have remelted into a cool shape, anything your lil heart desires that the recipient would enjoy.
1 treat- same as above, this could be anything.

things are very busy around our house. q is walking around holding furniture. his top two teeth, butter scrapers, cut last night. it is Thursday so on to a thankful list

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. adult company- it is one thing that i really miss being a SAHM.

2. friendship- can you ever have too many friends?

3. nap time- its the only time anything gets done.

4. swaps- i miss them. getting goodies from someone you might not have ever met before. so fun

5. mail- i love opening the mail box to find something that doesn't require a check.

6. my bed- it still takes my breath away. it is so pretty and so very comfy.

7. laughter- the girls have the ability to make q laugh almost constantly, so our house is filled with laughter.

8. change- it truly is the only constant in the world.

9. salvation- the loss of my friend would be so much worse if he wasn't saved. i know it's not popular to talk about it.

10. the new heater in the bathroom- so warm and toasty.

11. the light at the end of the debt tunnel- all we have left are the car, the van and the house. the car will be paid off this year, the van in the next 1 1/2 years, then its just the house.

12. good hot chocolate- i love a good cup of hot chocolate. if i can brag, i make some great hot chocolate.

13. homemade bread- getting ready to make some today.

14. blogs- it makes it easier to keep up with how my friends lives are going.

15. facebook- brain dead time is so nice at the end of the day.

i hope that everyone has a great weekend. i hope that it is filled with love and kindness.

but i know who holds tomorrow

things have been very busy around our house lately. q has learned to pull up and walk holding the tables. her heiness has her good days as far as the poop issues go. the hubby has been doing a lot of traveling lately. he is in Kansas all of this week. we have been enjoying the snow, and hear that we are expecting more tomorrow. monkey is doing well with her piano. the teacher told us "she is such a pleasure to talk to. she talks just like an adult." I'm so proud that she is turning out to be such an amazing girl. we had a birthday party to go to this past weekend. the parents of the little boy were missionaries in Tanzania and south africa. we had a blast talking about Kenya. the lil man calls, so i must go. i wanted to ask if you could please keep some friends of mine in your prayers. they were commissioned into the missionary field in September and he passed this morning from pancreatic cancer. we rejoice that he is with Jesus, but we mourn the loss of such a great man. please keep his kids and widow in your prayers.

but you're just a boy

i have discovered that q is an avid beyonce fan. no really its kind of creepy. his favorite is "all the single ladies". he can be in the worst grump and all i have to do is put that video on and he gets this hilarious grin on his face and starts to coo. he's getting so big so fast. monkey starts piano lessons tonight, and i think she's excited about it. last week was rough. the hubby was in Orlando for training, and all the kids got sick. the night he gets back, i get sick, where is the justice? I've been working hard on the baby blanket, although it's going to be more of a coverlet than a blanket. i still need to get some buttons, so i can finish my owl. q is napping, so time is short. on to the thankfuls. I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the diaper genie- seriously q is eating a lot of solids, and the smell is horrible. the genie keeps all the gross locked away.

2. the capacity for kindness: some people have such an overflowing of love and kindness that it catches on to you and won't let go.

3. real friends- while driving to town i heard the country song "you find out who you're friends are". it is easy to be a friend when the road is smooth and the sun is shining brightly. i am truly grateful to have several friends that have been and will be there when i need them.

4. good coffee- i love a good cup of coffee, and lately i have been enjoying more than usual.

5. the internet- what an amazing thing it allow us to communicate with family far away without spending a fortune.

6. good food- yeah i didn't get looking like this because i don't like food.

7. my kids- weeks without the hubby are always difficult, but the kids are so helpful and loving.

8. hot tea- it was the only thing that helped my cough this past week.

9. free crochet patterns- so many awesome cute things i want to make.

10. nap time- ah peace and quiet for a little while anyway.

i want to thank those of you who held my friend up in prayer last week. she has found a way to make a new start, and the sun is shining in her world again. i ask for you to keep my mil in your prayers, her older sister passed away this week. please keep the family in your prayers. i hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. i hope to update on my other blogs this weekend so check in and see.

calling all angels

i have a friend who needs help desperately. she is in norfolk, va. she needs some luggage to borrow and a ride to the bus station. please i beg for your help.

it could've been love

i hope this blog finds you in good spirits. we here at the finch house are doing well.

maybe a bit crazy, but not too bad. her heiness loves to snuggle with her brother. she actually just loves to snuggle and he does it so well, that he is her person of choice for now.

my models for the cookbook picture for my cooking blog. can you believe how big the kids are getting.

cvc1 thought it would be fun to snuggle with q, so she climbed into his ride. he thought this was great and began to hug and kiss her, yeah already.

when she tried to get down he didn't want her to go, so he held on as tight as he could. she did escape from his clutches no fear.

cvc2 flashed a big grin and squealed cheese because i had the camera out. isn't she cute. i can't believe how big the twins are getting. we had a great time over at the house of pattylicous. another yummy pizza night. i realize i have missed several thankful Thursdays this past year, so i will do my best this year to do a better job. I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. the snow- we don't get a lot, but man do the kids love what we get.

2. my salvation- i know it isn't the popular thing to do, but when have i ever done what was popular

3. the people who love me- i don't know how you do it, but I'm sure glad you do

4. the people who don't- you have taught me that no matter how hard i try, there will always be those that live to bring others down

5. adult time- i don't get much of it, so i cherish what i do get. i know there will come a time when i miss all the business, so i am doing my best to enjoy it as much as i can

6. my husband- last year was a very...growing experience for us. a new child, a new job, and a few setbacks. we have come out stronger, tighter and more in love.

7. God- without whom i would not be here. i can honestly say "but by the grace of God go i"

8. my family- you have taught me that no matter how right i think my choices are, you will always "know better" even if you don't, and i don't have to listen

9. prayer- i don't know where i would be without it. thanks for all of you who have helped get me where i am

10. the ability to let go- of hurt and anger, love that is poison, friends who are bad for you, and sometimes those you are bad for.

thanks to those of you who still stop by here. i have amazing things planned for the coming years. God is working. there are discussions of a new house, a new town, a new child, and a new job. we will see what the decade ahead will hold. this last one brought so many changes that have helped strengthen me and my faith. it's late and i have a busy week ahead so have a good one, thanks for reading and God bless.

help me believe in anything, cause i wanna be someone who believes

as promised some pics. thank you to those who have already taken a peek at my new blogs. things around here are busy as usual. school has started back, the hubby is going to be in Orlando next week for national sales training. last year was a bit trying for us as a family, but anytime you add a new member things change a bit. i took a crochet class from September through December and i really enjoyed it. i would like to say that they taught me how to do amazing things, but it was a self paced and by default self taught class. most of the other students had been crocheting for years, so if i needed help i could ask. this spring will bring a new nephew and a new niece to the family. my mom has retired and i wonder what changes for her and us that will bring.

monkey is getting so tall. she is really beginning to look more mature everyday. her heiness is still pooping in her panties, argh. she loves preschool and is learning all kinds of fun things. q is getting big. he is officially scooting and nearly crawling. he has two teeth on the bottom, and has tons of teeth bumps on top.

Christmas was wonderful. we have a spending cap on gifts, so the gift giving is never extravagant at our house. we try to keep the focus on Christ and family. the tamales were unbelievably good as usual. we made up three different salsas this year because we have discovered my eczema is aggravated by tomatoes. my father is highly allergic to them, so i guess i should be grateful. we have had more snow so far than we did all of last year. nothing like the east coast is getting, but we don't have the same moisture they do. below is q with her heiness in his first snow. he was very curious about the cold stuff on the ground.





this is our tree. the girls decorated it this year. the gold ornaments are the same age as monkey. we got them for our tree her first Christmas.


the family picture that i always take at Christmas. aren't they the sweetest things ever. her heiness is at the age where making faces for the camera is tons of fun. if you check out the food blog you will notice she is modeling in most of the pics. she is my picture lover.


i hope that this year brings tons of joy, love and happiness to everyone. did i mention we went to see my dad? we had a great time and the kids were completely enamored with him. i hope to be able to blog every evening, but we'll see what next week brings as a solo parent.

o bring us some figgy pudding

i wanted to let anyone who still reads this know that i am doin an exlporation of my vast cookbooks on another blog. i plan to blog on my personal, cooking and craft blogs daily. the only way i will be able to do this is to do it in the evening when the wee finches are sleeping. i hope everyone had an amazing christmas. we had a semi-white christmas. i will blog about it and post pics this evening.