Project 365 - Week 44

 Week 44.

Another busy week it seems.  But with lots of fun things going on!

And another week of lasts.   Jared had his last band competition for High School and we went on our last college visit.  I really don't like all these lasts!!!

My middle son turned 20 this week......unbelievable!

Seems it was pretty eventful!  Here it is:

Sunday

So very excited!!!

I have been wanting a Cricut for a while now but they are very expensive.  I had finally decided to spend some early birthday $$ on the smallest one today, but Michaels was sold out by the time I got there.  So Alyssa and I decided to try Wowmart and to my surprise this very expensive one was marked at a price over 50% off, way lower than everywhere else!!  And there was only one left...I grabbed it.  However, at the check out we found out it was mismarked, but guess what? They had to give it to me for that price!!!  They were not too happy, but I did the happy dance all the way to the car!!!!

Monday

Working on a Pinterest project with my new Cricut!!

Tuesday

Happy 20th Birthday to my boy! 

 Started my day at 5:30 am at Zumba and got pretty sweaty and stinky!!

Got home and lotst track of time and all of sudden realized I had to be at the dentist....with no shower!

That poor hygienist!!

Jared's band had a competition tonight!

They received all Excellents!!!

Wednesday

My finished Pinterest project.

It didn't turn out exactly as I wanted, the background should be darker but the paint caused the contact paper to curl up, so I only got to spray it once.  It still is pretty cool on my red wall!!!

Thursday

Took Jared for a college visit today in northwest AR.

It was a great day but anyone who thinks that marching band is easy should have been there to watch these kids marching in 50 degrees in the rain!!!  Jared and I were in the car!!!

Friday

 Having fun playing around with the Cricut!!

so cool that it cuts vinyl for the walls!!

Saturday

Alyssa and I had early hair appointments in Conway this morning.  Alyssa took this shot as we cross over the Arkansas River.  It's a bit blurry but it was a gorgeous site with the steam coming up off the water!

So how was your week?  did you capture it in pictures?

Pinterest craft...

I am loving finding new craft ideas on Pinterest!

I saw this one a while ago and decided to try it....

I first wrapped a canvas with some Christmas fabric I bought at Hobby Lobby.  Then I printed out the text and decided what size I wanted it to be....

Next, I cut out the words on contact paper with my new Cricut....that I got for 50% off because it was mismarked!  Still doing the happy dance about that!!!

I then adhered the words to the fabric and then sprayed painted it with black paint.

 It turned out better than I thought it would at first.  For some reason the paint caused the contact paper to shrivel up.  so I was only able to put one coat of spray paint.  The project called for several coats so that the background was completely black and the fabric would then pop through the words.

But, I think I like it like this!!!!  

And it looks great on my red wall!!!

Another last..

I am heading out today for what will probably be my LAST college visit.

And to go along with the whole "last" feeling, the weather has decided to be gloomy today....ya, doesn't help the mood.

My boy has pretty much decided he wants to go to Anderson University in Indiana (cue wailing.  it is 11 hours away!), but he is visiting one last university here in Arkansas to make sure.

This particular University is only ONE hour away....one one versus two ones is a much better number in my book!!!

However, I want my son to be where God is calling him.  Where he will not only get the best education for his choice of major but where God will grow him to the man He wants him to be.

As his mom, I would of course like that to be closer...I have gotten a bit used to having all 3 of my children in the same state again....but I also realize that God's plans don't always line up with mine...but His are always better!!

So, I think I will just look at this day as a "mother/son date day"!!!

Wow. just....wow.

My friend, Michele, posted this on her FB page and I just had to share it with ya'll...

Go HERE to see this video!!

Project 365 - week 43

 Week 43.

I was sad to see my son leave to go back to college at the beginning of the week.  We had so much fun with him here over fall break.  However, would you believe that we did NOT play ONE board game?!!  I think that is a first, but these boys were tired and slept a majority of the time they were here!!! .....and then ate the rest of the time!! ha!

Here's my week:

Sunday

Our church had a picnic outside after the service today.  

It was a perfect day for a picnic and so fun!

 Monday

Pumpkin bread is a family favorite!

I made some today for Jason to take back to school.

Tuesday

Jason left to go back to college today :(

We had such a great visit with him and his roommate.

This is what I found after he left.....oh.my.word......look how clean this room is!

I love him!

Wednesday

My Thankful Tree is filling up!

Thursday

Steve is sick AGAIN with a bad cold....ugh.

This time we are trying this.

Friday

Alyssa has been wanting to decorate the walls of her apartment but she is on a budget.  Today we went out and found this cute fabric and stretched it on a canvas.  All was on sale and it turned out so cute!!!

We then covered some smaller canvases with a coordinating fabric.  She is going to pin pictures on those and hang them on either side of the larger one!!

We were both very pleased with how they turned out...and I had a great afternoon with my girl!

Saturday

 My big kids, plus two of Jared's friends carved pumpkins today.
They turned out GREAT!

 Now to roast the seeds!!!

So how was your week?

Lack of knowledge...

Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge..

Isaiah 5:13

I am currently studying Isaiah and this particular scripture has hit me pretty hard.  At the time Isaiah wrote this, Israel was being rebellious, they had abandoned God and He had many things to say about what they were doing wrong. 

But this one simple verse is so telling....

they went into exile for their "lack of knowledge"

How much do you/I know about God?

How much have you/I studied His Word, the Truth?

How many books have you/I read this week and how much of scripture have you/I read?

As if this scripture wasn't convicting enough, God brought it into my full view with my devotion today....

For is it not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.

Deuteronomy  32:47

It's puzzling that so many Christians try to live the Christian life without reading their Bible, except for sporadic perusals of God's Word, seeking a pithy thought for the day.  The Word of God is not merely a source of helpful suggestions, preventative warnings, or inspirational thoughts: It is life itself!

God gathered the children of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land to review their pilgrimage with Him.  They had spent forty years in a desert because their parents had not trusted God's word.  Their parents died without seeing the Promised Land because they had not believed God's word.  Even the revered Moses was soon to leave them because he had not shown proper reverence for God's word. Many of them knew those who had been put to death as a consequence of their disobedience to God's word.  Over the years God's word had become the most important thing in the life of the Israelites.

God commanded His people to bind His words on their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, and to regularly discuss them in their homes (Deut. 6:4-9). So essential was His word that it was to hold a prominent place in the daily lives of His people.  

Our reverence for God's Word is reveled not only by what we say but also by what we do.  Spending more time reading and studying the words of people rather than the Word of God, reveals our hearts' condition.  To blatantly disregard God's Word is to reject life itself.  To obey God's Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us.

We can't fully know Him without studying His Word.

Not just what other's say about it, but the Scriptures themselves.

I, for one, do not want to be like Israel at that time.  

I want to know Him.

I want to know His Word.

Project 365 - Week 42

Week 42.

So Steve and I both got hit with an intestinal bug while we were in Tucson.  I was starting to get over mine when it hit him on the way home....then I relapsed on Tuesday.....then he relapsed on Thursday.  I am feeling pretty good today, but he is still a little puny....ugh.

However, that didn't stop the schedule from moving forward and we still had a pretty busy week!!  Jason is home this weekend for Fall break, along with his roommate, so I am envisioning a lot of family games and FUN!!!  

I just love when my kids are home.......sigh.

Here's my week:

Sunday

My last view of Tucson...

Monday

 Steve and I came home from Tucson not feeling very well, so I made some chicken soup tonight.

Tuesday

What do you see when you look at this picture?

It makes me sad.

I pass this church everyday....and this says to me "no outsiders welcome".  

Wednesday

 Someone came up the street too fast and took out my neighbors mailbox.  This is the 2nd time their mailbox has been annihilated!!!

Thursday

 Alyssa got out of school early today so we decided to try a new cookie recipe together

Oh my word these are SO GOOD.

They have pretzels, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips in them.  

Go here for the recipe!

Friday

 Friday nights mean marching band!!!

I know I am biased, but Jared really is a great drum major!!!

Saturday

 My favorite little guy turned ONE today!!!

I can't believe it!

His mama and daddy had a very fun party for him and guess what....

 ....he LOVED his cake!

So, did you have a great week?  Maybe in some of your pictures we will get to see some fall colors!!!

Letters of Intent

I am joining Foursons for Letters of Intent today.

 

Dear Schedule,

You are making me crazy.

I really don't like being so busy and it causes some unacceptable effects in my day:

* I'm so tired that when I sit down in the afternoon, I fall soundly asleep

* paralizes me to figure out what to do first and then nothing gets done

* makes me go to the grocery store multiple times in the week because I am not on top of things and tend to forget the ONE item I need when I am there

* gives me no time to blog...hence the lack of posts

* gives me only time to visit other blogs and not comment...I hate that

* makes me have to decide what things I am going to do when I want to do ALL of them!!

* is causing my son's senior year to go by WAY too fast!

What is that you say?  I said yes to all those things on my calendar, not you?

That is beside the point and your deflecting blame will not excuse the fact that you are too full.... atleast that's my story and I am sticking to it!

So, dear schedule, please, please calm down.  Please do not allow me to add one more thing to you.  You could add a flashing message on my calendar that says "No more room" when I try to add something.  Or maybe it should have a voice message that says "Hey you! You're doing this to yourself!  STOP" ......I might listen to you....no, really....I might.

Oh, who's kidding who.....I wouldn't.

Ok, dear schedule, can we atleast put our heads together and come up with a way to get me through this season with my sanity in tact?

Sincerely,

The woman who can't say no when she sees something that needs to get done and wants to do it all

Project 365 - week 41

 Week 41.

This was such a fun week for me.  I always love going home and visiting my family but this week we celebrated my dad's 80th birthday....it was a blast!!!  I have such a wonderful family!!  It is going to be hard to go home tomorrow for sure!

Here's my week:

Sunday

Today we taught the kids about the temptation of Christ.

I wanted them to understand what a temptation was, so we took a "temptation" walk.

The kids were told that as we walked, they had to stay ON the path.  If they made it to the end of the path, there would be a wonderful surprise..

But along the turns of the path there were things to tempt them to leave the path....games, money, toys, candy, cupcakes.....they could leave the path if they wanted and enjoy that one thing, but then they would forfeit the surprise at the end...

 There were people at each station trying to tempt the kids to come enjoy the items they were offering.  We told the kids to recite "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" to help them stay on the path....

...every child made it to the end!!!

and the surprise was that they received everything on the path that was tempting them!!!

After the older kids did the walk, they came back and buddy'd up with a younger child and walked with them and encouraged them to stay on the path too.

It was a GREAT lesson!!!

Monday

It used to be Sunday that I had a hard time getting a picture...

...now that has changed to Monday...ugh.

I put my dad on the plane today, it would have been hard to say goodbye except for the fact I am flying out there in the morning for his 80th birthday. 

I could have flown with him, but I didn't want to miss my bible study tonight.  This Isaiah study has been so good, so convicting...I don't want to miss any of it.

 Tuesday

 You know I am in Tucson when you see this picture!  Eegee's is local and the first place I hit after getting off the plane!!!

Playing around with my camera in my mom's backyard.

Wednesday

Doing my bible study on my parents back porch.....great way to start my day!!

Went to Trader Joe's...so wish we had one in Arkansas.  Did you know brussel sprouts grew like this?  I didn't!!

 My cousin and her husband flew in for dad's party and we all got to have dinner tonight.  Steve flies in tomorrow.

Thursday

 Celebrating Dad's 80th birthday!!

 He was so in his element and having a ball!!!  

I loved seeing people I had grown up with but hadn't seen for years!!! 

It was a great evening and a huge success!!

Friday

  Spent the day showing my cousin's husband around Tucson.  I miss the desert more and more each time I come home...so beautiful!

 Then in the evening, everyone came to mom and dad's for dinner.  I made rosemary skillet chicken for everyone.

Saturday

This morning, I got to visit with my dear friend, Cecilia.  It was so great to get caught up on each other's lives!!  Cecilia and I were best friends in HS and in each other's weddings.  She recently moved back to Tucson so I look forward to getting to see her more often!!!

So how was your first week of October?