LNT Coupon

I just received this in an email and thought I would share it with all of you!

I think I'll have to visit LNT and purchase some more coffee to use in my anniversary present. Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!

Thankful for Blogging Buddies

"This is the day the LORD has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24.

I'm so thankful for a new day, for the blessing of getting to be a wife and mother to the ones I always dreamed about and hoped for and prayed for, for the blessing of my parents and the joy we have being neighbors and worshipping together at the same church, for our new youth minister intern and his precious wife who are expecting a baby any moment, for my Jesus who is absolutely the best gift I have ever received, I have known Him for 32 years!

And...today I am thankful for you, my blogging buddies! Kristen wrote a blog this week about this "parallel world." She echoed how I feel in my heart. When God began convincing me that I should start writing a blog, I was convinced that it would only last for a week maybe two, because what on earth would I write about and who would care to stop by and read it???

And, what about this safety thing??? He kept encouraging and I finally stepped out in faith. I really thought, I'm not so great about writing consistently in my journal, maybe this could be a sort of journal just for me. And then, you came along. Oh, you have blessed me so much! I'm blown away and so honored that you stop by my blog.

It's hard to explain in word how much you, my friends, mean to me especially when we have never met face to face. I know I'll meet you face to face someday, but maybe not on this side of glory. I've laughed with you, cried with you, prayed for you, rejoiced over your precious "we're expecting" news, watched as your little ones grow, and just enjoyed seeing what God is doing in your lives.

It is a privilege and a joy to be on this journey with you. I've tried to explain it to my other friends, the ones that don't blog, but they just don't get it. Boy, are they missing out! I've learned so much from you. My family has appreciated all of your recipes, encouragements to get better organized, sewing projects (even when I wanted to get out the hot glue gun instead), a new way to display scripture (I just love Word Filled Wednesdays), and this day--each Thursday, a day to actually write down what we are thankful for.

So, today, as many days, I'm thanking God for you and for this special friendship we share. You are special and God and I think you are wonderful!

One of my favorite quotes from Max Lucado's book God Thinks You're Wonderful says, "God is Fond of you. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

It's true! You are wonderful. I hope you realize that today!

Word Filled Wednesdays 8/6/08

Have you taken time to look up today?

Oh, the heavens have been declaring the glory of God this week. I've looked forward to the sunsets and the sunrises like a little child this week.

Each evening and morning seem more beautiful than the last.

God loves to show us a little bit of His glory. Don't miss it.

Take time to look up and marvel at His awesome handiwork.
You will be glad that you did.

P.S. For more Word Filled Wednesdays visit my friends
at the 160 Acre Woods.

Chapmans on GMA

I just received an email that Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman will be on Good Morning America with their two sons and oldest daughter Wednesday morning.

Here is a link for a sneak peak: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/?roi=farm-13801060-98506-fa0c9a8070e5880b5e2a3e290ef42889

Let's pray that God uses this venue to bring much glory and honor to Himself and that many will be drawn to Him through this interview.

My Dad preached last Sunday on Why do bad things happen to good people. He challenged us to look at our circumstances not with a why me attitude but with a better attitude. We should ask, "How can God use this?" I can't imagine what the Chapman's are experiencing but I am confident that God is using their tragedy for His good purpose and to bring many to Himself. I've cried for them and prayed for them ever since I heard the news. I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers too.

Kristi

Tackling the Trampoline

Happy Tuesday everyone! We did it! We finally tackled the trampoline~hip hip hooray! My sweet Uncle Tony blessed the girls with a trampoline a few years ago. They LOVED it! They had fun making up routines, practicing cheers, and just having fun. I enjoyed jumping with them (You know it's kinda hard on the old bladder after having babies :-) )

Anyway, we had a huge storm this fall. The powerful winds picked up the trampoline and transported it towards Hannah's bedroom window. Right before it hit her windows, God graciously picked it up and threw it over the fence. It landed in the field in many pieces. I didn't have the heart to tell Uncle Tony. He noticed the trampoline was gone when he came for Christmas.

A few weeks after his visit, two large boxes were delivered to our house. A new trampoline! It was such a fun surprise and blessing. We vowed to put it together when the weather warmed up. Honestly, we meant to put it up around spring break. Spring break's deadline turned into the first day of summer vacation...which turned into...I'm embarrassed to say...we put it together this weekend. Parents of the year! That's us.

Here are the "Tackle the Trampoline" pictures:

The Official Instruction Reader Rachel and her faithful companion, Lizzie.
Su comprende instructiones, Lizzie?

Here we go! We think we can! We think we can! We think we can!

Looking good!

We are almost there. Ding-dong:

Cousin "J" stopped by to offer support and to play a few games of Mario Kart. (Have you been practicing lately?) Okay, back to the trampoline:

Are we ever going to get to jump????

Yippee!!! Three cheers for Uncle Tony and our new trampoline!!!

Look at these mad skills!

I can jump higher than you!

From trampoline-less (I almost typed tramp-less...I crack myself up) to this! Isn't it pretty? You need to oooh and ahhhh a little louder. I can't hear you!

This baby took a while to put up but we had fun in the process. It is so nice to have a trampoline again. Way to go Daddy, we couldn't have put it together without you. Thank you Uncle Tony. We love you sooooo much!

Menu Monday 8/4/08

Happy Monday to you! Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world. I can't believe we are in the month of August. Can you? Where has our summer gone? I feel the need to clean out the freezer and use what I have before I stock up in preparation for school. So, here is my menu for the week:

Monday:

Salmon patties, mashed potatoes, & squash and tomatoes from the garden

Tuesday:
General Tso's Chicken fried rice and egg rolls

Wednesday:

Paninis after church

Thursday:

Orange Roughey and veggies

Friday & Saturday:
Off to hear some contemporary Christian bands.

Sunday:

Chicken and Rice (Mr. Incredible's fave!)

Missing You

(Mom, Aunt Faye, Hannah, Me, Rachel-1998)

Well, I'm feeling a bit melancholy; not quite like the joyful person that I usually am. You see, I'm missing someone that I love dearly. Today would have been her birthday. My eyes are flooding with tears as I type. I didn't realize how much I needed to get this out of my system, until now. I'm talking about my dear Aunt Faye. She has been in glory for many years now, but I always seem to get a bit sentimental and melancholy on this day, her birthday.


Oh, she was not the average, typical aunt. She was SPECIAL! She had the best laugh. I miss that laugh. She was like a second mom to me. Aunt Faye and Uncle Tony were blessed with hairy children who had four legs and wrinkled faces-they raised bulldogs. She and my mom, her sister, were the best of friends. I loved watching their sisterhood; I admired it. Amazingly, God must have seen this in my heart because He blessed me with two incredible daughters. Isn't He good! I just love watching sisterhood. It is a very special bond.

There are moments in my girls' lives that I see my dear Aunt Faye and my mom and I just have to giggle. It is so fun to watch! I always think of her when I visit a Hallmark store. Many years ago, we were looking at cards and she found a funny one with a shark. The inside read, "I love you Jaws because." She had everyone in the store laughing with her. Her laugh was so very contagious!


She always called me on my birthday and she sang to me. Do you have an Aunt like that? Oh, it is a very special thing, my friend. I remember her 40th birthday. Our family (my mom, dad, brother, and I) snuck over to their house and t-pd it (wrapped it in toilet paper), forked it, and had a lighted billboard sign placed in her yard wishing her a happy 40th birthday. You could see her house from the end of the street. She loved it!

Christmas was her most favorite time of year. Unless we were coming for a visit, and then that was her most favorite time of year too.


Okay, the tears are starting to flow and the ugly cry is very near, so I think I better wrap this up. I just need you to know, that she collected the most beautiful dolls. There are too many to count. She collected many different types of dolls from German bisque, Kessler dolls, to home made craft show dolls. She was so proud of them. They each had a special story behind them.


My Aunt generously blessed my daughters and myself with these amazing dolls. When we built our house, I had the privilege of designing a doll cabinet to put these treasures in. The cabinet maker told me that it was the largest doll cabinet he had ever made. It turned out beautifully. I have it in my formal living room. I often sit in that room and reminisce about my dear Aunt Faye. Here is a picture of the cabinet and some of the dolls:

The doll on the top left (she has a honey bee on her nose) was the last doll Uncle Tony surprised Aunt Faye with. The doll on the bottom right belonged to my Granny.

(Me, Hannah, Rachel, and my Mom (Granny))

Last year we hosted a Ladies Spring Celebration at our church. We made it a special tea party. Several of us rented costumes and dressed for a "high tea." We used Aunt Faye's dolls to decorate the lavish table. It was such a fun celebration!

If you are still reading this, Thank you! You know this heart of mine just feels a little bit better. And one day, when we get to Heaven, you will just love my dear Aunt Faye too. She will be the one with the contagious laughter.

Kristi