it just became more real

Jacob is leaving Tuesday for Haiti. He will be going with a surgical team from the children’s hospital where he works . He will be doing what he does best.

 
I am excited for him.

I am nervous for him.

I love him.

God is in control and HE will be glorified!

picniking

***thanks for introducing me to all the fun, Meg

 

don’t you love this last one? blurry, but i don’t care – it’s my favorite. that’s what he wanted most for his birthday. tape. so we got him three rolls of colorful tape.

no, i didn’t make the cake. mine wouldn’t have been that cute.

just having fun with the rebel and picnik

Healing Hands in Haiti

Have you been able to help the people of Haiti yet?

If you would like to see the relief Healing Hands International already has in place and what they have lined up for the following weeks, go here.  You can make donations on their website or by calling (615) 832-2000. 

$50. That’s all it takes to supply clean water to 100 people a day.

Fifty dollars.

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Here is collection (piece meal) of thoughts from worship and Bible class this morning. I had to write (type) them down again so I could further sear them into my mind for the coming week.

2 Kings 4:1-7

God provides.

Luke 12:22-31

”Instead, strive for his kingdom…..” 
(the whole passage was read, but this bit stuck out for me)

Psalm 34

God always shows up!

Matthew 14:15-21 

God can do great things with little things.

Celebrate. Praise Him for His marvelous work.

What little things are you celebrating and praising God for today?

oh, brother

*for my sister, Jennifer and other brother, Timmy
 
Jonny – that’s what I call him. He is now 22, as of this last Sunday. 

When he was little his nickname was Bruiser.


 
He’s goofy. He’s smart. He’s charming. He LOVES his nieces and nephew. He’s good with animals. He hates onions, celery, and mushrooms.
 
 
He’s also hurting. Physically and spiritually.
 

A week ago, he lived just around the corner from me and Jacob. Less than 1/2 a mile. He would pop in randomly. Sometimes to come cook cornbread because his oven didn’t work or sometimes just to play with the dogs. He would come here to take showers when his hot water heater went out. He would just stop by and shoot the breeze.


For the next 6 months, he will be living 20 minutes away. I am both glad and sad. His apartment before was a dump and it was getting worse. His apartment now will be more dependable but I am not so sure about his roommate. 

 
Sometimes I feel like Jonny’s mother more than his sister. Or maybe I am just a big sister and I feel like that because he has no mother. He was 10 when our mother passed away and 20 when our dad died. I wonder what he would be like without those completely life altering circumstances. Oh well. I cannot dwell on that.
 

I know he has a heart of gold. I know God works wonders. I know prayer works. Now, if only I would remember that every night.

Jennifer, quit crying.

that Country Living lampshade

I saw it and gasped. I really liked it. Without a doubt I knew I would be making it. Easy, easy but time consuming.


Don’t be fooled by the cover. That lamp may be $39.99 but the lamp SHADE is another $59.99!

Here’s my version…..

Pretty, huh?

I found a much less expensive shade at Garden Ridge and used a 40% coupon to get the stencil at Michael’s. The paint is some leftover from something else. And I improvised by dabbing on the paint with a wadded up napkin rather than a sponge.

Perfect? Nah.

I kind of like how the paint is thick in parts and thin in others. It really shows when the light is on.

Jacob really likes it. Before I went to bed last night, I admitted I liked it but didn’t love it like I thought I would. He said that didn’t matter because he liked it.

Linking up to DIY day at A Soft Place to Land because you can SO do this yourself!

January junkin

Any given Saturday you can usually find us at estate sales, yard sales or an antique store. We just have fun looking at all the cool stuff and finding things we had as kids. I guess you could say that junkin’ is one of our hobbies. It’s fun for us.

Well, today we hit the jackpot of all jackpots. Okay, not really, but I am really excited about today’s find.

We went to an antique store close to our house and were looking for a pipe for him and a chandelier for her. No such luck, but we did find these so insanely large they moved up with my cheeks when I laughed awesome glasses. Cute, huh?


Our adventure then took us to the thrift store across the street in hopes that we could steal away ten more minutes out of the house. That’s when I saw it.

White. Dark legs. I knew those sleek and curvy lines from years of dreaming in catalogs .

Could it be?

I checked the tag. It just said “couch” and “$90.00.” I was on a mission now. I decided I needed to flip this couch over to hunt for a label. Then, my senses came to me and I simply lifted the middle, slipcoverless cushion to find……


Yep, she was. So, I grabbed the cushion with the “Couch $90.00” tag and started towards the front. But Jacob had noticed another tag. It said “Couch $79.98". I began sniffing the couch all over to make sure it had not been peed on. I was looking for rips (it has one small one). I was expecting to find broken springs or busted legs. No smells. One rip. No breaks. A little surface dirt. SOLD.

When we got to the front and handed the tag to the lady, she said “Oh, you’re not going to pay this much.” My heart sank. “What?” I happened to stammer out. “It’s not going to be this much” she said coolly. I (stupidly) asked, “Why?” Again, she said, “It’s not that much. I can mark it up if you want me to.” Jacob and I together, “NO!”


The top tag is the tag on the couch. The bottom is our receipt that shows what we paid tax and all. Steal? I think so.


We got the couch after a trip home to get Jacob’s truck. I ran the vacuum over it (a few times) and cleaned it with damp washcloth. It is now drying from a round of febreeze.

We have already picked out and bought a slipcover on eBay (only $149)! I am am one happy junker tonight.


If you want to see what we bought yesterday while junkin with jacob’s family, go here. It sold in less than 12 hours for more than twice what we paid for it! Woo-hoo!

it’s almost here……

the BEST chicken ever

This recipe came from a fabulous lady that I went to church with and was close to back in college. It is so good and so easy! We have it so often I have the recipe memorized.

What you’ll need:
1/2 cup butter (or margarine), melted
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast



What you’ll do:
In a pie plate or shallow bowl combine butter, mustard, and Worcestershire. (Sometimes, I marinate my chicken in this mixture for about 30 minutes.) In a plastic bag, combine crumbs and cheese. Dip chicken in butter mixture, then shake in crumb mixture. Place in 9x13 pan. bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.
(I do not take pictures of every bit of the process, sorry.)



What you’ll think:
That really is the BEST chicken ever!

Shown with (lower fat) homemade alfredo on angel hair pasta and steamed broccoli. Goodness on a plate!

out with the old, in with the news

okay, so for the news I told you about the other day. (as if you really remember or care)

Jacob got me a new camera! He found a screaming deal on ebay, of course. And like I said I have been having some fun with it.


How do know someone got a new camera for Christmas? They take pictures of everything. Like one of three Christmas turkeys.


Then, your husband takes it for a little joy ride and you get pictures like this.


bye, bye Kodak Z710. You shall be retired to my classroom forever.


Hello, Rebel. You and I shall become great friends. I just know it.

last photo taken with the Kodak