Moving Day!

I do not have everything up and going, no blog roll yet or sitemeter etc, however, I am moving to my new blog site!

Meet Me In The Garden

I will have a grand opening when I finish, but for now come join me as I figure this wordpress out, get my template situated and add all the gizmos.

Please come Meet Me In The Garden!

Frugal Book Finds

I have talked about reading to your baby in a previous post, but today I would like to share a cheap place to get those books. I use paperbackswap for my books as well as kids books.

You sign up by clicking on the logo and then add any unwanted books you have (kids or adults) and when someone asks for them you get points. You get points for putting up your first books as well as points when people ask for your books. I love it, I get rid of unwanted books and get all kinds of books that I do want!

Another place I find cheap books is Salvation Army stores, other thrift stores and yard sales.

One caution, when getting books a little one might chew on either wash it if washable or use a disinfecting spray made for kids toys etc.

For more frugal ideas go to Biblical Womanhood and follow the links. I would recommend looking over her site as you do, she has good ideas!

Read to your baby.

Do you read to your child? I have a fifteen month old granddaughter that I babysit every day. She has been pretty sick this week and crying a lot, something so unlike her. This baby is one of the happiest kids around and so much fun to watch normally.

I have a number of kids books here as she loves me to read to her. One book that was my all time favorite when my kids were little was "Are You My Mother".

I had hunted for this book at yard sales and in the stores and could not find it. About a month ago I found it on paperbackswap.com

Monday, my poor little granddaughter was so sick and all she wanted to do was go in the car, so we went to the post office. The book had come! I was hoping that this would make her happy.

It is now Wednesday and I could not tell you how many times I have read the book over and over. She loves it too! In fact, I took her out on the porch and she pointed to a spot where a bird was building a nest in a can. I told her it was a bird's nest, not even thinking about the book. Scout, put her finger to her mouth ans said "shhh baby birdie". She had made the connection with the book!

Read to your baby! even when you think they are too young, they are learning. It works for me and my granddaughter!

This Weekend

It is coming. I am officially the owner of three new domains. I will only be using two of them. Had to buy the third one to get the one I wanted as he would only sell me the two together.

My blog will be moving as soon as I get my templates set up as I want them and I am excited. I plan on a little bit of a new direction, a whole different look and hopefully get to be a better blog.

I have been with blogger now and this will be all different, but I want more control over my blog and the look of it. I want to add pages, be able to eventually have a newsletter and have more interaction with my readers. I am nervous about the move, but think it will be better.

Since I am working around a toddler it may take me a bit of time to get it set up, but I am hoping that it will be up in a week. I may be slow at posting, so please be patient with me.

When the big move comes I will let you know, post my url and look for you there!

A Free Gift

For more Frugal finds go to Biblical Womanhood.

Wake up and Smell the Baby

I have had five kids of my own, babysat numerous grandkids as well as other kids but it never ceases to amaze me what kids will get into.

You bring home that sweet little bundle of joy. Nothing could be cuddlier or more of a tug on your heart. You really love that little one. You bathe them, feed them, cuddle them. You talk to them, play with them and take cute pictures after you have dressed them all up.

Ohhhhhhhh how lovable!

They grow, play more by themselves and get more and more creative. What a nice time, you can watch them instead of having to entertain them. More time for you.

You put them down for that nap, look at them and wonder how God could have blessed you so with that sweet, wonderful, smart and creative child. Ahhhhhhh.

You lay down on the couch to catch a shut eye and wake up to the sounds coming from the back room. Cute sounds. Happy sounds.

You think, isn't it nice that they wake up happy and playing now instead of screaming?

Or is it nice?

You open the door and the odor hits you. Then you look at the face smiling a big grin at you? What is that brown stuff? The odor tells you, but you do not want to believe it.

Yes, your sweet, cuddly, wonderful little one has discovered how to remove a diaper and have lots of fun! The only clean place is her hair. The netting on the pack-n-play is brown, as is the pillow, sheet, blankets and top of the pack-n-play.

She is standing there so innocent and smiling, you need to hunt for a place to grab her and pick her up without wearing it all yourself.

But... you still love her!

Good thing God feels the same about our messes, I am sure they look as bad to Him. But He loves us, takes us and cleans us.

igoogle To My Internet rescue

It is Works for Me Wednesday ant Rocks in My Dryer. I enjoy Wednesdays as I am able to hunt our what other people do and what works for them.

I love to read other blogs, as well as some web sites and was having a hard time keeping up with all of them. One thing I have found that works for me is igoogle. igoogle is the personalized google homepage that you can add what you want to. My igoogle home page has my rss feeds from the places I want to keep up with reading.

What is great with igoogle is you have tabs so you can put different things on the pages and have them organized. I have my first tab with my weather, blogs that I read and news. I also have a game on there for when I get bored.

My second tab has more blogs, a few web pages and some funny blogs/videos etc feeds.

My third tab is my google reader and more info places and my fourth tab is blog helps. This is where I have blogs like problogger, blogging 101 and other blogs that help bloggers.

This way I can see right away what my daughter is writing about at Beauty from Chaos, what her husband is writing about, what Natural Mommy is writing , Families against Feminism, Real Life and other blogs.

When I find a blog that gives info and support to what I am writing about I also put that on one of the tabs.

I love my igoogle homepage and it works for me, give it a try!


For more ideas head over to Rocks in My Dryer!

My husband is singing my praises

It is not my birthday. Not our anniversary. Not his birthday. I did not make his favorite meal. Did not let him have the remote (well, I did, but he always has it). So why is he praising me?

My life is lived in prayer asking God to make me the woman I am meant to be. The wife fit for him.

So, why today? He is always loving, kind, affectionate. He always brags about me. Why more today? Why more hugs? More praises? What brought this on?

We went to church. Rick is the building administrator for a church and this means we need to be there early. Part of his job is getting everything ready, making sure everything is working, heat/air is right and no one has made a mess that requires last minute clean-up. He needs to clean the pulpit as it is a Plexiglas and shows every finger print so this is always a last minute job.

My part on Sunday is to make the coffee that is out for everyone and to set out the communion.

We were both busy at work when a man came in. He works with the video equipment and always comes shortly after we do. He went to do his work and about 20 minutes later his wife came in. She plays the piano and comes early for the praise team practice.

What does all this have to do with my husband? Why did he suddenly come in the kitchen loving me and praising me to others?

Mr. X was told by Mrs. X that he did not do his job that morning before he left and he had to go home and make the bed. Rick heard that, I heard Mr. X come in the kitchen for coffee and announce he had to run home to do his husbandly duty and he was just told about it. Later my husband told me what happened, and announced that he was so glad I was his wife!

Any of you that read my blog know that I promote the husband is the head of the home and wives are to not be the ones wearing the pants. We have no right to order our husbands to do anything. Husbands are to be loving, wives to submit when there is a difference of opinion.

This incident reminded me of how messed up our Christian marriages have become . I am not going to repeat previous posts about husband/ wife relationships, but I want to add to what has been written.

My husband was praising me, being affectionate, bragging about me "in the gates" all because I was letting God work in me. He appreciates me. He does things for me. He lets me have say in things and often agrees with me. Not because I make him, but out of love.

Wives, if we ask God and seek Him to make us into the wives we are to be with a meek and quiet spirit, honoring our husband and respecting him it will make a difference. He will brag about you in a good way, be more loving than you can imagine and want to be with you.

Treat him with disrespect. bossy, controlling and dishonoring and you will not only have a husband who wants to do his own thing, but you will also have to face God for not being what He intended for you to be. One other thing, it will also make your husband have to stand before God and explain why he was not the man of the house and did not rule his family well. In the end, it will fall back on you.

Pray today, that God will make you the wife He intended. Get out your Bible and find all that is in there for wives. We can all improve, but it takes relying on HIM.

Showing love 20 frugal ways

How often do you show your husband you love him and are glad he is there? How about your kids?

I used to think I did not have the money to really show them, or him. I would see things I knew that he would like but did not have resources. Sometimes it would be a way to decorate, or a special gift etc. However, it does not take money, or very little, to show your love and give reminders everyday of your love. We need it and so do they!

I would like to list special ways you can show your man you are there for him and you are still in love with him.

• leave little notes, in the shower, his lunch (kids lunch) under his pillow. You can make cards on the computer or by hand or just a quick "I love you" on a scrap of paper shoved in by his book mark in the book he is reading, at his computer etc.
• On the same note, (hehe, not literally, pun there) you can leave something you like about him, appreciate or thank him for. ( I appreciate how much you tell me you like my cooking, or how hard your work for us, etc)
  
• If he usually comes home from work and wants something to drink, have it ready for him.
• Have his socks, underwear etc dug out of the laundry basket so he does not have to dig when he is getting dressed. ( my kids are grown now, but I remember how it was getting all that done with 5 kids around, but pulling them out for him to dress in the morning makes a big difference.)
• Ask him if there is anything special he would like for dinner. Let him choose from what is in the house.
• hug him often
• kiss him often
• be playful... you know what I mean!
• give him peace when he wants to read the paper for a few minutes. He needs his unwind and switch gears time, then let him know about your day.
  
• Don't be a big spender so he has to worry about paying the bills!
  
• Be frugal
• Men do not talk like we do, they give a brief version and that is it. Show him you are interested in what he says, ask questions, but do not "nag" at him.
• Thank him for all he does, not a "thanks for everything honey" but a "thank you for changing the light bulb for me, I could not reach it. You are my hero".
• Make him your hero and tell him. Men need to know that.
• Have a honey do list, but do not nag, and when he does it praise him and let him know you appreciate him.
• Let him know you appreciate him (even if he did not do it) if he feels appreciated and loved he will do more for you and the family.
• Save your loose change and take him out for a meal or a dessert or something special.
• Tell him you love him again, and again and again!
• Tell him you would marry him again
• get the cat out of his favorite chair before he walks in the door.
  

These are just some ideas that do not cost money. You probably have more and I would love for you to tell me in the comments!

What? You do not "feel" this way about your husband? Start finding small things to thank him, etc. Do it just because he is your husband. Eventually you will feel it and he will change as you change. It is cheap, frugal and very mighty!

For more frugal ideas go on over to Biblical Womanhood!

Choose your gifts wisely

This came across my email today and I thought I would pass it on. I guess because my husband's name is Rick I thought it was funnier than it probably is.

MISSING HUSBAND

Rick was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really angry. She told him 'Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less than 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!'

The next morning Rick got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back in the house.She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Rick has been missing since Friday. Please pray for him.

Kids Cup Cakes

Last night I went to a Bible Study that my husband and I attend. They always have some kind of goodies there that are very hard to resist.

There is one woman who makes the yummiest, most fattening things every week. However, she was not there yesterday and someone else brought a treat that reminded me of when my kids were young.

You know how you need cupcakes for the school parties, or just for treats? Well, Lacy made a school treat last night. She took some ice cream cones that were getting a bit stale. Rather than throw them away, she made them into cup cakes.

A few tricks to doing this:

1. make sure your cones stand up and can't fall over, a pan with sides and them in tight works.
2. be sure your cake mix goes to the bottom, if not you will have a gap in there with no cake. Tap them to get the mix down
3. bake as you would any cupcake, checking for doneness as the recipe calls for.

Decorate as you want, or just ice.


As you can see, they can be enjoyed by all ages!

This is 15 month old Scout enjoying one Lacy sent home for her.

She had a shower after she was done!

For more Works for Me Wednesday go to Rocks in My Dryer!

Wedding, Branson and great fun!

Last weekend my husband, mom and I traveled from Texas to Missouri for the wedding of my niece. Becca was such a pretty bride and I wanted to share a few pictures with you.



They were married on Feb. 29 and had a really nice wedding.

I had never been to MO before and this was a real treat. On Saturday my brother took us to do some sight seeing as well as to enjoy a meal at a famous restaurant and see a show in Branson.

If you ever get to go to that area, check out Lambert's Restaurant. You will have a dinning experience like you have never had before. Be ready to catch your rolls, eat all you want, drink all you want (non-alcoholic!) and not spend a whole lot of money. Check out their website!

Branson is a great place as well. We went to see Pierced Arrow and if you want great laughs, good music and some good patriotism check out their site as well. The comedian Jarrett Dougherty is one of the funniest and versatile guys I have seen. If you can't go, get his CD and enjoy!

The Joys of Parenthood

I read blogs. I love to see what other people write and learn from them and hope they from me. Because of this I get feeds from many blogs on my google home page and my google reader. Today I was doing some reading (trying to avoid what I had to do today!) and read a great post on Bringing Good Home. It brought back many memories of when my kids were small and the many things that they pulled, tried, got into and could have been disastrous. Some were.

As moms we sometimes think we will not survive those years. I had four kids in 5 1/2 years, then another one 5 years later. When #5 was coming I consoled myself that at least this one would not do something one of the others had done, so I should know how to handle everything.

I had already had a child put a paper clip in an electrical outlet and burn his fingers and welded the outlet shut (to this day mind you!). I had a child feed motor oil to the next one down the line. I had them pull diapers off in the front yard while a nosy neighbor was watching us with binoculars. Quite the eye full she got as the diaper was also full.

Then there was the child that climbed on everything. The crib had to be pulled down when she was 7 months old because we could not keep her in it. There was the daughter that got on the top of a 5.5 foot dresser to play around the room without touching anything. Swung on the door to hit the bed and hit the frame instead. Lost 3 teeth and cut up her lip in the doing.

The list goes on from the first 4, so what else could another one do?

Try climb on the stove, open the door of the oven, turn on all the burners and walk back to my side so fast she was never missed. Until the kitchen was on fire! Or eat the border off a cake for 300 people and tell me it "only a little bit, no one will notice". Or strip her clothes off and open the door for the mailman (we lived in the city).

I could go on and on, but each child is different and believe me, what they pull as kids is nothing to what they pull as teens! Mine were good teens too, no real problems, but still a wild, fun ride.

We do survive. Relax, discipline when needed and laugh a lot inside. When it is Halloween and your daughter is in the back of a police car dressed up like a jail bird and the cop drives by your house, remember it will be a good story later. (She did nothing wrong, someone whose door they went to did and they called the police!, of course I did not know that when she went by in the back of the car!).

Life is a journey. Enjoy the trip. You will survive!

Free Source for MaMa's

Today is Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood and I want to share a free source of help that I found.

Mamasource has so much, mom run businesses, babysitter services, and a source to ask questions and get answers from other moms. Mamasource is geared to your community. You sign up, put in your town and you will be connected with other moms and sources in your area.

For more frugal ides go to Biblical Womanhood.

Scrapbook Help Needed

Today is Backwards Works For Me Wednesday at Rocks in My Dryer. This means that it is a time when I ask for your help and you leave me a comment helping me!

I am looking for ideas for starting a scrapbook. Now, I have never done a scrapbook but have bought all kinds of supplies and have been getting my pictures sorted. I want to make a family scrapbook to share with my kids but am stuck on the starting part. I have ideas, but do not know how to decide to make the pages, where to start in the book or anything. I want to include great grand parents as well as recent.

Do you have ideas how to get started? How to get that first page going? I am normally creative, and think once I get it going I will be fine, it is the starting that has me baffled.

Any ideas would be very appreciated!

To help others, go to Rocks in my Dryer.

I wish I had pictures!

Last Thursday we left Texas for a trip to Springfield Missouri to attend my niece's wedding. She wanted to get married on February 29th because she thought it would be fun. Well, it was fun!

My mom, husband and I drove the many miles to Springfield and I saw country I had never seen before. Even though I have been to many states, I had never been to Oklahoma or Missouri before and enjoyed the opportunity to not only see more of this country we live in, but to also spend some time with my brother and his family.

When we got out of high school we went our separate ways. Not out of anger or anything, but it was the way life took us. He went to a ministry in CA and eventually met his wife there and I went to Philadelphia and met my husband there. As a result, we have both lived in different places and our families did not get together much.

His kids are really neat and I enjoyed them so much. Paul John and Shirley spent most of the time with us as they are the younger ones that are still home. Even though they are twins, they are as different as could be!

Hopefully I will have some wedding pictures to post before too long. I did not take any so need to depend on my sister in law to send me some, hopefully soon!

My mom leaves to go back to New Jersey on Wednesday and then things may return to semi-normal around here and hopefully my posting will be too. Between my computer going down, the visit and wedding I feel like I have been neglecting my blogs.

Take time with family while you can. We will not always have them to enjoy!