Lucero Life

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

2012-02-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a simple, yet tasty crock pot recipe? This was the perfect meal for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and gave us more free time to enjoy playing in the snow with this little guy!

Here is what you will need:

24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
15 oz can black beans
8 oz frozen corn
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
3 scallions, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
salt to taste

Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot.
Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top
Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.
Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.
Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in.
Adjust salt and seasoning.
Serve over rice.

That's it, it is so simple! Enjoy!

Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread

2012-02-15T06:48:00.000-08:00

If you are like my family, there are certain times when we try to avoid buying groceries and save money by eating only the foods we find in the pantry. This often leads to some interesting dinner combinations!

And sometimes I get lucky and find a yummy recipe that will work! Earlier this week I was searching for a dessert recipe using only what I had on hand. I found this recipe for Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread, and decided to try it. I am so glad I did, because it was delicious!!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp.
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
(I used fresh lemon juice instead)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely ground yellow cornmeal
1/4 tsp. table salt
2 Tbsp. Turbinado or sparkling sugar (optional)

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease the sides and bottoms of an 8x8-inch square baking pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine butter, sugar, lemon zest and extract. With a hand mixer, beat on medium high speed til light and creamy; about 3 minutes. Add the flour, cornmeal and salt and mix on low speed until the dough begins to form moist clumps. Dump the dough into the greased pan.

Use a rubber spatula to spread the dough into the pan in a smooth even layer. Dip the tip of a knife in flour to prevent sticking and score the dough all the way through the bars. Cut the bars into finger like shapes. Sprinkle the top with turbinado or coarse grain sugar. (I used regular sugar)

Bake until the tops look dry and are golden, about 35-40 minutes. Immediately cut the shortbread into bars using the previously scored lines as a guide. Let the bars cool completely before removing them from the pan.

Enjoy!

If you decide to try it, let me know what you think?

Love for Life!

2012-02-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

Mac and I may have made it past the seven year itch, but we definitely don't want to be complacent when it comes to our marriage. So, we were excited to attend the Love for Life marriage conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church with our friends Curt & Connie McKim!

We learned so much about how to maintain a happy healthy marriage. One particular speaker was our favorite. His name is Ted Cunningham, and he is the lead pastor at Woodland Hills Family Church.

He spoke about the three journeys that comprise a marriage.

1. Your Personal Journey - God is our life source, you must stay plugged into Him, you cannot give what you don't first possess

2. Your Spouses' Journey - Unplug from your spouse as your life source. When you do this, you become curious of each other's differences and learn enjoy them!

3. Your Journey together - Marriage beautifully pictures what Jesus did for us. Submit to each other out of reverence for Christ. Don't just commit to never leave that person, learn to enjoy life together!

But I have to be honest and admit that my favorite part of the conference was hearing and seeing Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar from 19 Kids and Counting!! I understand not everyone are fans of theirs, but I have a lot of respect for them, and how they raise their children.

We had them sign our books...

and we got our picture taken with them!

They were so sweet and Michelle's advice to me about how to deal with my busy toddler was to have another one :) She said that way Elias will have another playmate and I won't have to entertain him all the time...but I think one more is enough, I definitely don't plan on having 18 more!

Meditation

2012-02-12T15:03:00.000-08:00

When you read your Bible, receive and savor it...like a love letter from God to you. Remember, you're reading in order to meet Someone. Ponder what you have read, and apply it to your present circumstances. Let it go down into the core of your being. And as you read, expect Him to commune with you.
- Bruce Wilkinson

Insta-Friday

2012-02-10T17:36:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have participated in Insta-Friday!

These pictures are actually from a couple of weeks, random moments captured on my cell phone.

peanut butter &jelly is a staple in our home
but as you can see he isn't complaining

someone was caught hard at work on the computer

Bella's allergic reaction before we left for New York
thankfully she is ok now!

I spent my birthday in New York City!!

I am definitely not a morning person
but hanging with this little guy helps

Celebrating 30&7 Years

2012-02-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday was my 30th birthday, and my 7 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we spent the weekend in New York City with our close friends Curt & Connie McKim.

This was my first time going, and I absolutely loved New York!! As soon as I stepped off the train, I could immediately sense the energy of the city. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true, you have to visit to understand!

We were able to see all the big sites, and even enjoy some extra perks like riding a horse drawn carriage through Central Park.

As you might imagine, I took a lot of pictures. Here are just a few of my favorites!

Standing in Times Square

A trip to New York isn't complete unless you see the Naked Cowboy!

Maybe next time we can meet him in person

Enjoying a yummy brownie from Carlo's Bakery

Such an amazing view from the Empire State Building

I do not feel like a 30 year old, but I am happy with where I am in life. I have a wonderful loving family, some of the best friends a girl could ask for, and most importantly I have a wonderful husband who I am still madly in love with...he is my best friend! And together we have the most amazing little red headed boy!

My life is full and blessed. I am looking forward to the next 30 years!

The Beauty Love Left Behind

2012-01-23T08:20:00.000-08:00

My MIL posted this on her Facebook yesterday, and I thought it was incredibly sweet!

I too have the dreaded stretch marks, and other issues that are less than figure flattering after giving birth to my son. But I love the way this mom describes the beauty in it all!

Are we listening?

2012-01-22T16:32:00.000-08:00

"God will speak to the hearts of those who prepare themselves to hear; and conversely, those who do not so prepare themselves will hear nothing even though the Word of God is falling upon their ears every Sunday." - A.W. Tozer

Heading to the Big Apple!

2012-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

On February 5th, I will be celebrating my 7 year wedding anniversary, and turning 30 years old. I don't usually celebrate my birthday, because of our anniversary (and Valentine's Day) but this year I wanted to do something special.

My sweet husband suggested we take a trip to New York City. I have always wanted to go to NYC! At first I was afraid to get my hopes up, but last Sunday we made our hotel reservations and purchased our train tickets.

Now it's official, we are heading to Big Apple! I am so excited. I will be sure to blog about our trip afterwards.

My Grace Walk

2012-01-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

Eleven days into this new year...How are those new year's resolutions coming? If you are like me, you are probably already slacking in some of those (if not all of them) but thankfully it doesn't matter!

God is reminding me in this new year that my worth and my success does not lie in myself. Only through His grace and Son am accepted. That means no matter how hard I try, I can't screw that up.

I am His child, and I can rest comfortably in the thought that when He looks at me, He doesn't see all my imperfections, He only sees His perfect Son!

Quote of the Day

2012-01-05T19:56:00.000-08:00

"I'll take character over reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." - AJ Perez

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called "Opportunity" and its first chapter is New Year's Day." - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

I love the beginning of a new year!!!

I don't really like the idea of "resolutions", however, I do like to assess different areas in my life, and think of ways to improve them.

Today I learned a great way to categorize the different areas of my life. According to Jesus' example in Luke 2:52 "Jesus grew in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and man."

This covers the four areas of life - knowledge/mental, health/physical, spiritual/relationship with God, and social/relationships with others.

So here are a few of the things I would like to attempt in 2012.,,

Mental - I don't ever want to stop learning. I am planning on attending the next women's Bible study at my church, and then whatever other opportunities I can find to stretch my brain.

Physical - Ugh! I need to lose more than just the holiday pounds, but I am going to take it one day at a time. Instead of a target weight, I want to shoot for a more healthy lifestyle. Smart choices each day that will be eventually become habits.

Spiritual - My key word here is discipline, I need a lot more of it. I want to dig into God's word until it becomes a necessity of my everyday activities. I also want God to strengthen my faith, most days it feels smaller than a mustard seed.

Social - I am horrible at picking up the phone and actually chatting with friends/family. I love Facebook, Twitter, etc. but I never want it to replace the closeness that only comes with actually spending time with people. Mac and I also plan to work through some couples devotional books in order to strengthen the most important relationship I have, my marriage!

I hope that you have a blessed 2012!

And that you too will grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

"The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity - hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory - because at the Father's will Jesus became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on a cross." - J.I. Packer

Thank You God for Baby Jesus!

2011-12-16T16:57:00.000-08:00

Last night Elias had his first ever Christmas Party with his class at church. The theme was "Thank You God for Baby Jesus." Elias had a blast, and so did we!

We made Christmas ornaments, sang songs, watched actors tell the Christmas story and ate yummy treats!

I love that my church took the time to have a party for little children. I really believe that even at a young age, children are capable of learning much more than we realize. Also it is never to early to teach your children the true meaning of Christmas!

My husband and I have been busy thinking of fun Christmas traditions to start, in order to keep the focus on Jesus and His birth. Here are a few of the ideas I have found:

Giving only 3 gifts to each person to signify Jesus' 3 gifts
Before placing any presents under the tree, we want to place a manger under the tree with a baby Jesus in it, since he was the first and greatest gift of all
Make a lamb shaped birthday cake, and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus
Let your children use the characters in the nativity to act out the Christmas story, while you read it to them from the Bible

So how about you and your family. What are some of your favorite traditions?

Ready for Christmas!

2011-12-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

The Lucero's are gearing up for Christmas!! In case you didn't know, this is my favorite holiday!

New Christmas PJs, check!

(Thank you again Miss Connie!)

Pictures taken for Christmas card, check!

(this isn't the actual card picture, just a fun out take)

Tree and Christmas lights are up, check!

Advent calendar filled with fun family activities, check!

How about your family?

What I'm Into

2011-12-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

I saw this on another blog, and thought it was cute. Enjoy!

What I'm Into :: December 2011

On My Nightstand: Most of my reading has been daily homework assignments for the Beth Moore study I have been involved in at church. It is on the book of Daniel, it has been intense, but I have learned so much.

Want to Read: Early this year I was introduced to an author, Lynn Austin. I am getting ready to start her book, Hidden Places

T.V. Show Worth Watching:

Up All Night - this show cracks me up! It is about a young married couple who are adjusting to having a little baby. Mac and I can so relate!
Whitney - this is another new show we have recently started watching, it is a pretty funny.
The Big Bang Theory - I will admit it took me awhile to get into this one, but my husband made me stick with it, and it grew on me. Sheldon is hilarious!

Movie I've Seen (in or out of the theater): It has been so long since I have seen a movie in the theater :( But almost nightly we have been watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I had never seen it even thought it is an older movie, but Mac DVRed (is that a word?) it one night for my son, and he was instantly hooked. It is cute, and has clean adult humor in it. So mommy and daddy enjoy watching it too :)

In My Kitchen: My hubby has discovered how to smoke food on our charcoal grill. So we have been eating smoked beef ribs and smoked pork ribs...they are so good! And the best part is that my job is so easy. Just prepare a quick side, and then clean up after the meal.

In My Ears: Christmas music of all kinds! I enjoy it all. Here are a few of the artist in my current playlist: Relient K, Barlow Girl, Barenaked Ladies, U2, Bing Crozby, and Mariah Carey.

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month:

Well in this case, next month means next year. I love the start of a new year, like a fresh start. Even though I am not huge on new year's resolutions, I like the idea of being able to start new things, or re-evaluate your life, and decisions you need to make. Also next year means that I will be turning the big 3-0! So hard to believe, I want to have a special celebration with some close girlfriends of mine. Still trying to decide exactly what to do. Either way I have much to look forward to in 2012!!

So, what are YOU into this mighty fine December?

Quote for the Day

2011-12-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it takes away today's peace.

- Author Unknown

Count Your Blessings!

2011-11-24T06:57:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving from our family to yours! I am very thankful for all that God has blessed me with. My husband and son are so important to me, and I looking forward to spending quality time with them over the next few days!

I hope you enjoy your day as well, and that you get to enjoy some yummy food!

Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.

Nice to Meet You!

2011-11-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

We got to meet a sweet little boy this past weekend when Liam Joshua Walker came to visit!

His mommy, Lori Beth, is my best friend, and I have been anxiously waiting to meet her little boy since he was born at the end of September!

These boys are gonna be best friends!

Already having fun together playing in Elias' room.

Aren't they precious?

Thank You Notes

2011-11-17T21:24:00.000-08:00

It is always nice to feel loved and appreciated. So imagine my surprise when I woke up this past Monday to a house filled with thank you notes...

My husband is so sweet!
I am one blessed girl!

Open for Business!

2011-11-16T09:26:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that I have opened my own Etsy shop! After much preparation, Crafty Cricket Designs is now open for business!

Ever since I was young, I have enjoyed crafting and making things with my hands. This gives me the perfect opportunity to exercise my skills!

I have also started another blog that will feature fun DIY craft projects. So be sure to check out the shop, and the blog then let me know what you think!

Speech Therapy

2011-11-02T15:32:00.000-07:00

Recently my pediatrician referred Elias to Early Childhood Intervention because he is still not speaking. After his initial assessment it was determined that he should have speech therapy.

I am glad that he will be getting the help that he needs, but it is still hard for me to admit that he needs help at such a young age....Then I got the following MOPS email.

"My first child was born to talk and possessed a considerable vocabulary by her first birthday. For her recent third birthday, we gave her a copy of Little Miss Chatterbox, with a note inside sharing our fondness for her own chatty ways.

And then came Truett. Our son, 22 months younger than our verbose daughter, is worlds apart from his sister in many ways. Paisley takes the lead, Truett likes to follow. Paisley diapers her babies while Truett has a fondness for rocks. A rock from the garden in each hand, maybe even in his mouth, and he is a happy boy.

My husband and I have wondered whether Truett is on track developmentally in terms of his speaking ability. By twelve months, Paisley had lots to say. Truett, on the other hand, had just managed to eke out “mama” and “dada” at that point. A recent conversation between us went like this: “Truett, do you like your Teddy Bear? Can you say Teddy Bear?” Truett’s thoughtful reply? “Goo Goo Ga Ga.” (This is not a paraphrase. That was his exact response!)

I marveled at my son’s perfect use of baby speak, chuckled in response, then made up my mind that Truett is an avid listener. I can see him processing what goes on around him, and he will have something to say when he is ready. Even our pediatrician has encouraged us to relax, stop comparing and let our son learn and develop at his own pace.

What is it, I wonder, that makes us want to pit our children in competition against one another? God made each of us in perfect, wonderful uniqueness. Instead of comparing our children to anyone else’s accomplishments, we should celebrate their individual talents, personalities and even quirks. My little rock-biter might not have much to say now, but he is learning every day and growing at his own pace. What a blessing to be part of his journey."

We haven't started the in home therapy sessions yet, but I am anxious to hear his first word! Thank you Lord, for allowing me to be a part of Elias' journey!!

Happy Halloween

2011-11-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

I may be in the minority of adults, but I love dressing up for Halloween. My husband is very much the opposite! I am thankful to now have Elias, because it gives me a chance to dress up with him! My husband has even participated a little...because he loves us so much.

The Friday before Halloween we went over to a friend's house and carved pumpkins, and Elias decorated his pumpkin with some markers.

I think they all turned out pretty well.

Last night we took Elias to the Kids Karnival at Thomas Road Baptist Church. My mom made his Peter Pan costume for him. She followed this tutorial.

He was SO adorable in his costume! I couldn't stop taking pictures of him.

I attempted to dress up at Tinkerbell, although the glitter on my wings didn't dry in time so my costume wasn't complete, and Mac participated long enough to get a picture, he was supposed to be Captain Hook.

Babble on in Babylon

2011-10-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying a Beth Moore women's Bible study at my church. We are going through the book of Daniel.

Going into the study I was already familiar with this book of the Bible, but God has opened my eyes to so much more I have to learn!

For instance, I never realized the world in which we live is incredibly similar to the world of the Babylonian empire. Everything around us tells us to embrace the "It's all about me" attitude.

Read this poem that Beth Moore shared. Can you relate? I definitely can!

Brimming closets, shoe racks bulge, one in every color, I'll just indulge.

My wildest whim will oft be met,

bigger, faster, give me, get.

Travel on in Babylon.

May I go first? Knew you'd not care, for my time's precious. You've lots to spare.

I'll slip in front and off I'll go. See, I'm quite fast and well, you're quite slow.

I and me fast friends, life-long.

Prattle on in Babylon.

Nip it here, just there a lift

I just turned forty, it was a gift.

The eyes, the lips, the bosoms do,

sculptured, lasered, injected too.

No wrinkles left, the tummy's gone.

Journey on in Babylon.

Enough of me, how do you view me?

You get one, but give me three.

I couldn't bare to just say no,

it's my desire and rightly so.

Add another and on and on.

Shuffle on in Babylon.

No end in sight that I can see,

today is blocked by the mirror in front of me.

A wreck, a death, tsunami tide,

it mildly stirs me, I must confide.

TV claims tens of thousands gone.

Oh well, let's see what else is on.

Numb to the stunning sight of each new dawn.

Sinking fast in Babylon.

Like a lobster in a pot

who begins to like the water hot,

I've been duped, been tricked, been had,

convinced that truth was somehow bad.

Evil, coddled and cooed and purred, and beckoned me and called and lured.

Now in a place with the lights turned on,

I'm racing home from Babylon.

Our Family Vacation

2011-10-25T12:33:00.000-07:00

There is so much I could write from our vacation to Denver and Wyoming...but you know what they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. So here are a few of my favorites...

I am thankful to say that all of our flights were uneventful, and I was extremely happy to have my husband with us this time!

In Denver, we stayed with my Uncle Kim & Aunt Georgia. Elias and their dog Brody became instant friends!

We got the pleasure of meeting my little cousin Lily. This picture cracks me up, Elias is 18 months and Lily is 9 months, but he insisted on getting into her walker.

We had a fun day at the Denver Zoo, here are the kids checking out the penguins.

This was definitely a highlight of the trip, Elias was able to meet his great grandma Lucero. She is such a sweet lady! She couldn't get over his red hair. I just love this four generation picture!

The camp rules, enough said!

When we finally made it to our camping spot in the mountains, Elias met his little cousins Kadence (pictured above) and Maci. They loved him, he was like a big doll to them!

No this isn't bait, it's the baby fish that I caught at the lake...and yes I am very proud!!!

This is Aunt Lorraine, she makes camping even more enjoyable by cooking amazing food for us, tamales, homemade tortillas, burritos, steaks & eggs, etc.

Calvin (on the right) also makes camp more fun! He is Mac's Marine Corps friend, and he has been a part of the family since his first visit.

This is by far, one of my favorite parts of camping. I love to just hop on a four wheeler and take off.

Elias also got to meet his great Grandma & Grandpa Clark.

Quality time spent with his Papa around the camp fire!

Elias was able to spend the night at his Grama Laura's camp for three nights. They had a lot of fun together! Not to mention his father and I enjoyed the break!

Mac and Calvin shaved their heads to show support for our friend Amanda who is currently fighting breast cancer.

Aunt Lily killed a moose on our last day in camp. Elias had fun petting the moose head.

I loved driving around the snow covered mountains with my boys.

Our last stop in Denver before heading home, we got to spend some time with Mac's sister Sarah and our niece Hannah.

Hannah had fun sharing her ice cream with her little cousin!

Guess who's Back!

2011-10-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

Technically we have been back home for almost two weeks now. But I just now "feel" like I am back into a routine! I cannot believe how busy we have been since coming home from vacation, and on top of that Elias has graciously shared his cold with me!

I will try to get a post up about our family vacation to Denver and Wyoming soon but for now here are some quick things that have been happening with the Luceros.

Elita is gone! She was a member of our family for 4 years. She was a sweet Miniature Pinscher that we helped rescue from a puppy mill. She was never a "normal" dog, but we worked patiently with her and she made a lot of progress while she was in our home. Since having Elias, things have gotten more hectic, and we decided it would be best to find her a new home. Last week we found her a new foster home through a Min Pin rescue. We miss her already, but hope she will be happy in her new home!

Last weekend Mac and I took Elias on his first hayride/bonfire. It was hosted by my MOPS group at a local farm. We had a great time!

Elias also tried his first smore and of course he LOVED it!

And finally I wanted to share a fun craft project I completed at MOPS today. We decorated tote bags, and I learned a very fun new painting technique! Just place inexpensive table doilies against the clothe tote, and dab paint through it, kinda like a stencil.

This is the design I came up with...I think it turned out pretty cute

Not What My Hands

2011-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Do you ever go through those times in your life where you feel God is nowhere to be found? Your prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling?

I am definitely there....have been for awhile now. I guess it is part of my growth as a Christian, but I still hate it!

Last week I decided to begin an close inventory of my life, and ask God to show me sins that needed to be addressed. I need/want a fresh perspective of Him, and I don't want anything in my life to hinder that.

It didn't take long for me to find multiple areas that need work...pride, envy etc. It feels great to confess and begin clearing things out of my life that are keeping me from Him.

However, examining your life that closely is depressing. I now see ALL the sins that have gone unchecked, and have been beating myself up over it.

Then today...He spoke to me and as usual, it was just what I needed!

My church had a special communion service, and God gently reminded me why I celebrate the passover.

Of course I need to take my walk with Christ seriously, and address the sin in my life, but I also must celebrate the fact that I am covered by His Blood! I am no longer condemned!! Can I get an Amen?!?

This song pretty much sums up what my heart is trying to say. Enjoy, and be blessed!!

Insta-Friday

2011-09-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

This is from our trip to D.C. last weekend, you can read all about the trip in my previous post. Elias loved looking out the windows, hope our friends don't mind all the tiny little finger prints all over their glass :)

My son is all about climbing these days. Most recently he learned how to climb onto the couch all by himself. He loves sitting up there to watch TV, while he smiles at you like he is the coolest kid in town. It is so adorable!

Tonight, I got my hair "did". This is my first time getting highlights since I had Elias...so needless to say I was pretty excited about it! This is not the best picture in the world, because I just snapped it quickly to show my hubby how it looked...and yes, he loved it!

My Neglected Blog

2011-09-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

My poor blog has been put on the back burner for awhile. And because we are heading to Denver/Wyoming next week, it will still be awhile before I can get back into blogging on a regular basis.

This past weekend, we took a trip to D.C. to visit our best friends, Lori Beth & Josh Walker. I am thrilled to have them back here in Virginia! We had a great time hanging out, and relaxing! They just moved into their new house, and have been busy getting settled in. Lori is due any day now with their first child, (Today is actually little Liam's due date) but for now he seems to be cozy and content inside his momma.

Saturday afternoon, Lori and I slipped out for some girl time...and got pedicures. This was my first ever pedicure, and I loved every minute of it! Why have I not been doing this for the past 29 years?

retty pedicure toes

Saturday evening, we all headed to downtown historic Leesburg.

Such a fun place to visit! It is full of cute little shops, and historic buildings. We grabbed some yummy pastries at a small family owned bakery, and then enjoyed some hot coffee in a quiet little coffee house. The cool fall weather made it all that much more enjoyable!

He looks thrilled to pose with his mom huh?

Plenty of cute photo opportunities in Leesburg.

Labor Day Randomness

2011-09-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

I have several things floating around in my head, and I figured I would just post them all at once. So here goes...

For those that regularly follow my blog, I am happy to tell you that my hubby is recovering well from his surgery. He has a follow up appointment at the doctor's office this Thursday, so keep your fingers crossed that the doctor has good news for us.

I am anxiously getting ready for our big trip to Denver/Wyoming at the end of this month. Our trip will include time with my family in Denver, and then hunting/camping in Wyoming with my in-laws. September 27th cannot get here fast enough!

MOPS is starting next week! This year I joined the steering team, and I am looking forward to becoming more involved. Several weeks ago, the steering team got together to discuss the upcoming year. We stayed at Smith Mountain Lake, in a lake house. After all of our "hard work/planning", we spent time on the lake tubing, and water skiing. I completely stink at water skiing, I was never able to get up. However tubing was a blast, even though my arms were incredibly sore for days.

My friend Tony recently started a blog. He is the father of five children, and three of them are boys. His blog Stuff Boys Do, is a must read, especially if you are a parent of a boy. I promise it will make you laugh because you will relate to every post.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading through my randomness. I promise the next post will be more concise!

Happy Labor Day everyone!

Insta-Friday

2011-09-02T07:12:00.000-07:00

Check out this cute link up I found...Sharing the silly, the everyday, the random using nothing but cell phone pics!

So let's see what is currently in my phone...

Great friends, helping babysit Elias during Mac's surgery.

Yay for cooler weather and playtime in the yard!

Mischievous little boy who has now mastered climbing.

Yesterday my hubby surprised me with beautiful roses!

Realistic Parenting

2011-08-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

"...Ultimately the goal of parenting is not your child's happiness. It is not your happiness either. It is not their academic or career success. It is not your reputation. The goal is the glory of God."

My MOPS group just finished their summer book study. You can read more about the book here. Wow! I hope to faithfully apply what I have learned.

But realistically I know that failures are waiting for me at every turn. Thankfully the book addressed that too. So for you other parents that are like me, and wonder how our kids will turn out in spite of all our failures. Be encouraged!!

"Parents need grace. There are many things to do, and most of us are not doing them consistently."

"Yes, God is holy. Our sin is serious. The cross is the measure of sin's horrors. Yet here is the miracle: God loves us. Jesus bore God's wrath in our place."

Earthquakes & Surgery

2011-08-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

That has got to be one of the strangest post titles I have ever put on my blog, but those are the two words that describe my week. Have I mentioned that life has been crazy around here?

Tuesday we had an almost 6.0 earthquake! The epicenter was only an hour from where we live. It shook our whole house. I have been through several before when we lived in California, but it still took me awhile to figure out what was going on. This normally would have been the highlight of my week, however...

Wednesday Mac had back surgery. This has been a long time coming. It all started before he was discharged from the Marine Corps., he began having lower back pain, but because it is hard to prove, they did nothing about it.

Fast forward to this past June, he had a disc protrude out onto a nerve which caused numbness down his right leg. This landed him in the ER, well after I begged him to go...umm and I also called his dad to help convince Mac I was right...or as Mac would say, to "tattle tale"

I have never seen him in so much pain, and it really scared me! The ER doctor gave him some strong pain meds, and sent him on his way, hoping that the disc would go back in by itself.

Now here we are two months later, and he still had partial numbness in his leg and foot. Because he is so young, the neurologist wanted to do surgery to avoid any permanent damage. So Wednesday he was scheduled for a laminectomy.

He is home now and recovering well. As far as we can tell the feeling has returned to his foot, but because of his snazzy socks he has to wear to prevent blood clots, we still aren't sure how much feeling is back in his leg.

Thank you to those that have been praying, and more specifically to those that have helped with meals, or with watching Elias. You don't know how much it means to us me!

Also he should be healed up just in time for our trip to Denver/WY in October...so yay!

Oh and we get to finish our week with Hurricane Irene. We will only get some rain and minimal winds, but doesn't it just seem like the perfect way to end this week?

Medieval Times

2011-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

My husband is OBSESSED with Medieval Times! I have been hearing about it since he went to one in California many years ago, so needless to say we were excited to find out there was one in Myrtle Beach! It is quite an experience, you are served a four course meal that you eat with your hands (no utensils) all while watching a jousting tournament, falconry, horsemanship and sword fights. If you want to know more, check out their website.

I have to admit that my husband was right...it was really fun! We had a great time and it was even more special watching Elias. He loved the knights on their horses, and he liked to clap while everyone else cheered. We even taught him how to boo the bad knight. Unfortunately I never caught that on tape, but here he is clapping his little heart out! Isn't he adorable?

I miss Myrtle Beach...

2011-08-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was a kid, I have enjoyed taking family vacations. I loved my little family of four piling into a small hotel room, eating out and just hanging out together.

This past week I was able to make these types of memories with my husband and son. We just returned from a fabulous vacation to Myrtle Beach! We were there for 5 nights, and I am still wishing I was back at our condo. I will write a few posts later about the trips highlights, but for now here is a condensed list of things I took away from our trip:

1. No matter how old you are, a grown man should never wear a blue leopard print speedo to a ~~family~~ beach!

2. Boogie boarding is: A.) harder than it looks and B.) should only been done if you are wearing a secure one piece bathing suite :)

3. There is a tiny food shop on the boardwalk that makes a mean Gyro...which I will dream about often.

4. Everything is more fun when watched through your child's eyes

5. The Blackwood Family and the McKim family are awesome friends and we are blessed to have them in our lives!!

6. Farnix and Fezzle are now a part of my everyday vocabulary thanks to Balderdash!

7. It actually is possible to go to a time share presentation and walk away with only the free stuff they offer. Oh, and thankfully they do not try to split you up to prey on the weaker spouse!

8. Mexicans actually make decent knights...at least at Medieval Times.

9. Seeing a huge 15 foot alligator up close, is a scary but amazing experience!

10. We should definitely vacation more!!

To see the rest of our vacation pictures, click here.

Joshua Emmanuel Cook

2011-08-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

I would like to ask prayers for a sweet family from my church. Israel and Tiesha Cook lost their 2 month old son on August 8, 2011 unexpectedly to SIDS. Their unwavering faith has been a testimony to so many, but I know that they are hurting more than words can express. Here is a song they wrote as a tribute to Joshua Emmanuel Cook. God's grace is perfect!! (You ~~may~~ will need kleenex!)

Gospel-Powered Parenting

2011-08-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you that follow my blog regularly, you know that I joined a MOPS group shortly after Elias was born. During the summer months we have been going through a book study, and I am loving it!

The book is Gospel Powered Parenting by William P. Farley. I have been learning so much!!

Unlike most parenting books, this one does not focus so much on the techniques of parenting, as much as it focuses on our personal relationships with God.

Encouraging us to base everything about our parenting skills on His Gospel. Simple, yet profound. If you haven't guessed already, I highly recommend this book...so check it out!

Another quick trip to Pensacola!

2011-08-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, my best friend Lori Beth and her older sister Hannah had a joint baby shower in my hometown. My sister helped me purchase a ticket so that Elias and I could join in on the festivities. You may remember that the last time I flew alone with Elias, he was only 10 months old, and it was a complete nightmare! You can read about it here. Although I swore never again to travel alone with an infant, I went against my better judgment and assumed it couldn't possibly happen again. Well...I was wrong!

Our problems again happened while in Charlotte. The first problem was a slight weather delay. Eventually we were allowed to board the plane, we boarded at 8:15p.m. We did not take off the runway until 12:00 a.m. Yup, I had to sit on the plane for four hours with a 15 month old in my lap!! I am still not sure how I managed. We finally made it into Atlanta around 2:30 a.m. completely exhausted. Several people stopped to tell me how impressed they were with Elias, and how well he handled everything. It made my heart proud.

Thankfully the rest of our trip was without incident, and we had a great time. It just wasn't long enough...there is never enough time to see all my friends, or family. Here are few of my favorite pictures:

The whole gang together again!

With my friend Rachel, and her son Eli

My big boy chilling by the pool.

Enjoying a stroll down the beach with my momma :)

Relaxing view from my sister's condo...

He loves the beach...he is definitely my son!

Making memories with his Nana

Running with Perseverance

2011-07-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

I want to say I have really bad luck...but I also know that I have an enemy out there who is determined to discourage me, and lately he has been doing just that. You know the type of week (or couple of weeks) when you feel like everything goes wrong? That definitely describes life at the Luceros lately. Even little things just seem to compound and make big bumps in the road. Here is just some of the craziness that has happened recently: ongoing problems with Mac's back injury (and accrued medical bills), a broken heat pump which means no AC in 90+ weather, not to mention the $5,000 we need to buy a new one, a recent exhausting flight to Atlanta with a 15 month old (I will post on this soon), and yesterday to top it all off, I got a flat tire only 24 hours after purchasing all brand new tires for $900. Ugh!!

Thankfully today God reminded me that He still loves me and is for me, no matter how crazy and ridiculous my circumstances become. Who knows maybe someone out there reading this needs to be reminded of that too!

"Any time that we are tempted to doubt God's love for us, we should go back to the cross. We should reason somewhat in this fashion: If God loved me enough to give His Son to die for me when I was His enemy, surely He loves me enough to care for me now that I am His child. Having loved me to the ultimate extent at the cross, He cannot possibly fail to love me in my times of adversity. Having given such a priceless gift as His Son, surely He will also give all else that is consistent with His glory and my good." - Jerry Bridges

Lloyd Christmas

2011-07-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

After a hair cutting mishap, this has become my son's newest nickname. Poor thing, its not his fault God gave him cheap parents!

Here is the story...After several weeks of debating when and where to get his hair cut, we decided to just trim it at home and save the money. It sounded like a good idea, I mean how hard could it be?!? So after watching some videos tutorials on YouTube, we were ready to go. We set him up in his high chair in front of the TV, and handed him a dumb dumb to keep him happy and hopefully sitting still.

I was busy getting my camera ready to get a picture of the first cut, and as I snapped the picture, it happened! Elias' bangs were chopped ridiculously short!! In my husband's defense, he claims he didn't know that hair dries shorter than when it's wet. But seriously how could you not know that? And that is how Elias earned the nickname "Lloyd Christmas"...at least until his bangs grow back. But no matter what, he will always be handsome to me!

This World Has Nothing for Me...

2011-07-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

I am sure that most of you have heard this song before. We sing it often at my church, but yesterday as we sang it, one particular line stuck out in my head. "This world has nothing for me, I will follow You" I hear that and I think YES I couldn't agree more! But then why does my life so often reflect the opposite?

God is gently reminding me (yet again) that He is my number one priority, and nothing else compares. Not surprisingly, my quiet time with Him today was centered around this same idea. Funny how that happened :)

Hebrews 11: 24-26 (Amplified)

"By faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter. Because he preferred to share the oppression and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. He considered the contempt, abuse, and shame borne for the Messiah Who was to come to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward to the recompense."

To me, the phrase "this world" is not just about riches/money. Oh that is definitely part of it, but "this world" includes so many more distractions. Focusing on oneself, obsessing about what size clothes you wear, how much you weigh, how attractive you are, or worrying about your children, wondering how other people see you, living with guilt, addiction to food, drink, or drugs etc. The list could go on and on. But the bottom line is that ALL of these thing are simply distractions from what is truly important. I love this quote by Charles H. Spurgeon:

"The tests of the Christian life, though outwardly not so terrible, are even more likely to overcome us than those of the fiery age. We have to bear the sneer of the world - that is little. Its soft words, its oily speeches, and its hypocrisy are far worse. Our danger is that we grow rich and proud, give ourselves up to the fashions of this present evil world, and lose our faith. Or if wealth is not the trial, worldly care causes difficulty...The devil little cares which it is, as long as he destroys our love for and confidence in Christ. We must be awake now, for we walk on dangerous ground. We are most likely to fall asleep to our undoing unless our faith in Jesus is a reality and our love for Him a fervent flame."

So my prayer today, and hopefully everyday is "God, this world has nothing for me, I will follow You!"

Buy Used, Save the Difference!

2011-07-03T14:07:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I stole this post's title from the 19 Kids and Counting Dugger family, but the concept is definitely one I agree with. I have always enjoyed shopping at Thrift Stores, Discount Stores, or digging through bargain bins looking for amazing deals. Maybe it is because I have never had ample amounts of money to shop with, but I also think it has something to do with the thrill of the hunt. I really enjoy looking for those special treasures that others may overlook.

Recently my best friend Lori Beth told me about the blog Reclaimed Riches. It is a super cute blog, and I love reading it! It is hard not to be inspired by her love for "reclaiming" things. After reading her blog last week, I decided to go ~~shopping~~ treasure hunting at my local Goodwill. Check out these cute clothes that I found...

Adorable shoes - $2.50 each

Cute red summer dress - $4.00

Floral tank top - $3.50

Striped tube top - $3.50

All of these clothes were $16.80 (with tax). Can't beat that! I am already looking forward to my next trip!

Our Garden

2011-07-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

I am very late getting this on the blog. Our garden was actually started back in late April. This is our 4th year of "gardening". We have been quite successful in the past. However last year's garden didn't turn out so well. It's strange how having a baby leaves very little time (or energy) to pull weeds or tend to a garden.

the beginning, after tilling up the ground

This year we were hoping for a chance to redeem ourselves. We planted: corn, squash, green beans, cantaloupe, bell peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes - and we got lucky, our strawberries that we planted last year came back! The weeding was put off for awhile due to my husband's recent back injury, and the garden was looking pretty rough! It is unbelievable how fast things grow here in Virginia. It's nice if you are attempting to grow vegetables, but annoying if you don't stay on top of pulling the weeds every ~~other~~ day.

After a couple days of back breaking work and sweating to death, it finally looks like a garden again.
I will try to get an updated picture on here soon, but for now I will show you some of the yummy veggies we have enjoyed. There are no pictures of the strawberries however, because those rarely make it into the house without being eaten!

the first fruits of our labor

By the way we have ~~a lot~~ tons of zucchini this year, and I am looking for some yummy new recipes to try. If any of you have some, I would love to hear them

Bringing Up Boys.

2011-06-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard of this book by Dr. James Dobson. I just finished reading it, and let me say that I really enjoyed the book, and learned a lot. I definitely recommend it to any parents/grandparents of boys. There are several opinions out there when it comes to James Dobson and his work. I personally appreciate his Biblical perspective on the issues of raising children. This book was very practical and encouraging. So if you have a son, and you haven't read it yet....you should!

And not to discriminate, he has also written a book Bringing Up Girls. Which I obviously have not read yet, but if God blesses us with a girl in the future, it will definitely be on my list of books to read!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-06-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope you are having a blessed week!

(1) What color best describes you and why?
I think I would say blue because I am a loyal friend

(2) How have you changed in the past year?
Became a mom, quit my job to be a stay at home mom. I would say that's a pretty big change.

(3) Have you ever had any surgeries?
I had two of my wisdom teeth surgically removed...not sure if that counts.

(4) Why did you start your blog?
Originally it was to keep up with our Russian adoption, but shortly thereafter we found out we were pregnant with our son, so now I use it to keep family and friends updated on our lives. Besides I think it is fun!

(5) What are you looking forward to this summer?
In July I am going to Pensacola for my best friend's Lori Beth's baby shower. And in August Mac, Elias and myself are going to stay at a condo in Myrtle Beach with the Blackwood Family. I can hardly wait!

(6) Do you have any family traditions for the 4th of July?
We typically go watch fireworks. When I lived in Pensacola, we would all go downtown and watch them over the water. Here in Lynchburg we usually watch them on Liberty Mountain.

(7) What's something new that you've tried in the past few months?
I tried Redken's new Nature's Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner. I really liked it, but it was a little pricy for me, so I will stick to my regular Redken Smooth Down.

(8) What is the perfect a/c temperature?
We keep the house at 70 degrees all year.

(9) What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
HOP at the dollar theater. I wasn't too excited about seeing it, but my nieces really wanted to see it. Surprisingly it was pretty cute!

(10) What song do you think everyone should hear at least once?
Well that's a tough one...How about "What Love Really Means" by JJ Heller.

Father's Day

2011-06-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

I have always been a Daddy's girl. Probably because we are similar in so many ways. Since losing my dad unexpectedly in 2001, Father's Day has always been bittersweet for me. I have several other "dads" that I love and appreciate, but it just isn't the same.

Now this day is special to me because I get to celebrate my hubby! He is a wonderful father to our son. Elias just adores his daddy. His little face lights up when he comes home from work, and they always have fun "just hanging out" together. This year I "helped" Elias make a homemade card.

I found this idea online. The original project used the child's hands for the frog feet. Unfortunately this was not possible because one week earlier, Elias decided to burn his hand on my hair straightener, and I did not want to put paint on his blisters. So I improvised and used his feet instead.

I think it turned out really cute, don't you?

Graduation BBQ

2011-06-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, or haven't been following my blog, Facebook or Twitter - Mac graduated from Liberty University with is bachelors in Biblical Studies. He graduated with a 3.76 GPA, which qualified him for Magna Cum-Laude status! Now that is a great accomplishment for anyone, but since he was able to pull it off with such a hectic schedule (full-time job, full-time family, new baby, serving at church etc) makes me even more proud of him.

To celebrate we had a BBQ. I rented a pavillion at a local park, and we invited several of our close friends here in Lynchburg. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I have to admit that I forgot after the party started. I think it had something to do with me constantly chasing a toddler who had his heart set on eating rocks, grass and just about anything else he wasn't supposed to eat. I am sure you other moms can relate, right?

Here are the pictures I did get....

The weather was beautiful, we couldn't have asked for a better day.

Homemade cupcakes that originally said "Way to Go Mac"

Mac pretending to put Elias into the drink bucket.

Because we live far away from some of our closest friends, and both of our families, I wanted to give them a chance to tell Mac in their own words how proud they were of him. So I sent out an email asking everyone to send me videos of themselves congratulating Mac. Then I compiled it all into one video, and burned it onto a DVD. Mac watched it at the BBQ, and loved it! It meant a lot to him to hear from so many of his close friends.

I recently uploaded the video to YouTube, but was unable to upload the entire video because it was longer than 10 minutes. So if you don't see your video, or your video seems shorter I apologize, it is because it has been slightly edited to to fit within the time constraint.

We all love you so much Mac and we very proud of you and all that you have accomplished. We can't wait to see what God has in store for you!

The Joiner's Visit

2011-06-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

Everyone eating lunch at Dickey's BBQ

Not only did my mom come to visit, but my sister Charity, brother-in-law David, and their family also decided to come for a visit! They have three girls. Adalynn is 7 years old, Brielynn, is 5 years old, and Emilynn is the baby, she is 2 years old. She is exactly one year older than Elias. We actually celebrated her first birthday the day after Elias was born. Now that Elias is older, I really enjoy watching him interact with his cousins. He hasn't been walking long, but he loved tagging along just like he was a big kid.

They will love this picture when they are older huh? :)

The kids enjoying some pool time in the back yard.

CiCi & Uncle David with the little ones.

Girls night out, we went to see the movie HOP at the dollar theatre.

CiCi and my sweet Elias.

Adalynn & Brielynn enjoying some frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog.

Even though it gets a little crowded in our small home, it is always fun to have everyone together under one roof. Here are some of my favorite pictures from their trip.

Nana's Visit

2011-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago my mom came to visit! I love it when she comes to see us. I have always been close to my mom, but the older I get the more I appreciate our friendship. We can talk about everything from spiritual matters to raising a toddler and everything in between. Elias likes to Skype with her, but he especially loved having her here in person, I mean why wouldn't he...she lets him get away with everything! We went shopping, ate some delicious homemade dinners (like Chicken-n-dumplings..yum!), hosted a BBQ to celebrate Mac's graduation, and she even helped me participate in my MOPS yardsale. I hope it won't be long until we see her again!

Playing with the train set at Barnes & Noble.

Shopping together in Sears.

Nana makes the best pillow.

Comparisions

2011-06-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed all the comparisons we make in a given day? We compare prices, movies, schools and doctors. And we also compare ourselves to others. We compare ourselves to Facebook friends posting pictures of themselves on their exotic summer vacation (yes, she’s wearing a bikini) or other moms who blog about their latest craft, recipe or general spiritual accomplishment with their children. We even compare our children’s milestones to other children as we simply try to figure out what we should be doing to encourage their growth and learning

I have to constantly remind myself people are different. I am different. My son is unique. We do things at our own pace and we do the best we can. Who does it really matter to if I don’t have an elaborate (or even balanced!) meal on the table every night? Who really cares if I feel comfortable in a bathing suit, let alone look good in one?

Me. I’m the one who cares. And I’m beginning to think I care too much. I make time for my son, my husband and myself everyday, placing importance on what I think is for the well-being of my family. Isn’t that what I should really be concerned with? I’m doing the best I can with what God’s given me. And it’s turned out pretty well so far, if I do say so myself. I think it’s time I gave myself a break from all the comparisons.

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-06-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

I have been missing from the blogging world for awhile. Life has been crazy busy lately, but it is the good kind of busy. My family came to visit this past week, along with other fun summertime happenings. So look for some new updated posts soon. For now I just have time for a quick Wee Bit before I crawl into bed. My poor husband is already snoring away on the other couch! :)

{1} how many times have you been a bridesmaid/maid of honor?4 times
{2} what’s the last thing your do before you fall asleep at night?snuggle with my dog Bella - she is the best!
{3} you just won your dream vacation, all expenses paid. where are you going?I would have to say traveling all around Europe. I have never been, and there is so much there I would love to see.
{4} what is your favorite outdoor activity?I LOVE laying out on the beach, soaking up some sun, and reading a great book.
{5} as a child, what did you want to “be when you grew up”? did you end up there?I always wanted to be a mommy, and now that I am one, I can say that I love it - through the good, the bad, and the ugly :)
{6} what are 3 things your dream home would have that you don’t currently have?Wrap around porch, in ground pool, and jet tub in the master bathroom.
{7} what’s for dinner tonight?We had pizza from Papa Johns.
{8} if someone stopped by your house unannounced on a typical Saturday night, what would they find you doing?Hanging out in the living room, playing with Elias, watching TV or a movie.
{9} what’s your average monthly water bill?Usually between $40-$50.
{10} what do you do to relax?Scrapbook, Read, Surf the internet

Smile!

2011-05-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

Now matter what...just remember to smile! :)

Blue Angels Air Show

2011-05-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, the Blue Angels were in town. It was all the buzz around Lynchburg for months prior to the event. Initially I was not planning on going because I am not a fan of huge crowds, waiting in line, sitting in traffic etc. and I have seen the show several times before. However my hubby wanted to go, and I am so glad that we did! The weather was beautiful, and as always the Blue Angels delivered a spectacular show!! But more importantly it was fun spending time together as a family.

Daddy and Boogs riding the shuttle to the show

It was a beautiful sunny day...we both got a little too much sun!

Poor Elias was not happy about wearing ear muffs at first.

Eventually he gave in, and enjoyed hangin out on Daddy's shoulders.

Elias would giggle every time the jets flew over us :)

I'm a hypocrite...

2011-05-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well most of the time anyway. If you don't want to know if you are, than you might not want to watch this video.

"If Jesus offered something real, then you would see it in his people..."

Who do you say Jesus is? Hypocrite?

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-05-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it's Wednesday already. This week is gone by rather quickly, in spite of all the crummy weather we have had. Thankfully today there was a few hours of sunshine, so I loaded up Elias in the stroller and we took a much needed walk around the neighborhood :) And now it's time for a wee bit about me...

{1} do you watch the history channel? if so, what’s your favorite program?Yes, Monster Quest, Pawn Stars, Swamp People, and if Mac is here shows about WWII.
{2} what is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?Curl up on the couch and read a book, or watch a movie. Or take a nap :)
{3} what does your dream house look like?I like traditional southern style houses, with either a large deck or wrap around porch, two story, and a great master suite.
{4} what state were you born in?Florida
{5} do you have a change jar? if so, what do you use it for when it gets full?We do, but lately all loose change goes into Elias' piggy bank :) I usually forget it's there, but when I do, I use it to take my car through the car wash.
{6} what’s the first website you look at when you get on the computer?Facebook
{7} what is your favorite breakfast?I love southern style breakfast, biscuits and gravy, cheese grits, bacon. And I love waffles!
{8} what’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken?When I was 17 I went on a 6 week missions trip to Papua New Guinea. It is definitely like no other place on earth, we also stopped in Hawaii, and Australia while traveling. It was so much fun!
{9} do you prefer your coffee black or with cream/milk/sugar?Lots of creamer and a little sugar. I always love trying new flavors of creamer.
{10} have you ever done a professional photo shoot?Yes, quite a few actually. I love pictures, and so does my family :)

Quote for today.

2011-05-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

"There are two places of advantage into which deserting souls may retire: the name of God, and the absolute promises of the gospel...This act of faith in retreating to the promises, accompanied with a longing desire after that grace you are seeking, while it may not fully satisfy all your doubts, will nevertheless keep you from sinking."

- William Gurnall

Faith Defined

2011-05-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

The other day I read Hebrews chapter 11. I know most people are very familiar with this chapter, and some even call it the hall of faith. I too am familiar with it, and its list of "famous" Bible characters, but for whatever reason the other day it was just super encouraging to me. There is nothing like reading about someone else who has already been through what we are going through, and seeing how their faith paid off in the end! Go read it for yourself, and see if it doesn't encourage you too!

Here are some of my favorite excerpts from the chapter (Amplified Version):

vs. 1 "Faith is the assurance of things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality."

vs. 4 "By Faith Able brought God a more acceptable sacrifice...God bore witness by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through the incident he is still speaking."

vs. 6 "For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him."

vs. 8-10 "Urged on by faith, Abraham obeyed and went to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance... although he did not know where he was to go....though he was like a stranger in a strange country...he was looking forward to the city whose architect and builder is God."

vs. 11 "Because of faith Sarah received physical power to conceive a child...because she considered God who had given her the promise to be reliable and true to His word."

vs. 13 "These people all died, sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of God's promises, only having seen it from a great distance by faith."

vs. 16 "The truth is that they were yearning for a better country, that is a heavenly one."

vs. 38-40 "Men (and women) of whom the world was not worthy...and all of these, though they won divine approval by their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, because God had us in mind and had something greater in view for us, so that these heroes and heroines of faith should not come to perfection before we could join them"

Those last verses really sum it up, these heroes are waiting for us to join them! "We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" I definitely want/need this type of faith! Even if I never live to see the results of it here on earth, I want to be able to say I have run the race always looking to Jesus, who is the leader and source of our faith!

Meet Retro Betty!

2011-05-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

I am excited to share my cousin's vintage jewelry business with all of you! Click Here to see Retro Betty (the blog). My cousin, Kari Dusenbery, started this business of handmade, one of a kind, vintage jewelry, using her amazing artistic ability. Her pieces are unique and SO beautiful!! There are many one of a kind styles to choose from, but if you still don't see anything you like, she accepts custom orders.

Retro Betty is based out of Denver, Colorado, but her jewelry can be shipped to anywhere in the United States. So go check it out, and if you like what you see...spread the word! You can also like her Facebook page here.

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-05-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't been very good at updating my blog lately. I have some new posts in the works, and hope to get them up by the weekend, and for now a wee bit of me...

{1} what profession have you always admired?Teachers. For example, my mother has been an elementary teacher for close to 30 years. I don't know how she does it, she is so good and patient with them. And no matter who they are, kids obey her. She has the teacher look down, and kids straighten up when they see it! I will never have that kind of patience.
{2} what would the title of your memoir/biography be if it was written today?Change is inevitable.
{3} how far do you commute to work?From my bed to my couch..hmm..haha! Before I was a stay at home mom, I drove approximately 15-20 minutes to work one way with minimal traffic. Don't know how you big city people do it!
{4} are your earlobes attached or detached?Detached.
{5} do you eat the unpopped kernels of popcorn at the bottom of the bag?No, I am always afraid of breaking a tooth.
{6} what is the strangest gift you’ve ever received?I can't remember if we were still dating, or newly married, but Mac actually bought me a plot on the moon, as well as a star named after me :) I have a certificate somewhere to prove it.
{7} what is one tv show that you wish hadn’t been cancelled?Friends or Heroes, and I am still not too happy about Steve Carrell leaving The Office....it's just not the same :(
{8} what is something that you are saving money for right now?Plane tickets to head to Wyoming in October.
{9} what hobby would you like to take up?maybe cake decorating
{10} how many times a year do you get really dressed up?Besides Weddings, Funerals, or specials dates with my hubby...I would say Easter is the only time all year I intentionally dress up.

Then & Now...

2011-05-06T21:27:00.000-07:00

Today Mac took his last final exam to earn his bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies! It seems so surreal!! For those of you that don't know our story, or how we ended up in Virginia, let me fill you in with the short version...

Flash back to February 2005, the year we got married. After returning from our honeymoon, we moved to San Diego, CA for the remainder of Mac's military career. In September of that same year, we moved to Pensacola, FL (where I am originally from) and moved in with my mom. This helped us save a lot of money, and pay off debt, however we didn't feel like we were supposed to stay in Pensacola, even though we had no idea where God wanted us to be. While in the Marine Corps. Mac had always planned on moving back to Wyoming to become a welder. But God had very different plans for us! :)

One evening we were listening to special guest Tim Lee speak at my home church. At the end of the service, he asked if there was anyone that felt like God might be calling them into the ministry. Much to my surprise, Mac raised his hand, and there it all began.

We talked about it for weeks after that, and decided that God that was leading us in this direction. The next step was to find a Christian college to attend. After much debate, Liberty University won our votes, and so we were Lynchburg bound.

In November 2006, our adventure began when we moved into a crappy rental house, in a city that we knew nothing about. We knew no one, had no friends, no jobs, and only $5,000 to live on. I would definitely call that a step of faith! :) Our excitement about our new "adventure" quickly diminished as we began to realize the horror of the house we were renting, as well as watching our money run out after months of not finding jobs. It was starting to look like we had made a big mistake, and were going to have to return to Florida, completely embarrassed.

Oh but God had other things in store for us. Things finally started to look up, ever so SLOWLY. By late January, we had both found jobs, and Mac started classes at LU.

Flash forward to today - We now own a home (no more crappy rental). I was blessed with a job at Liberty, which helped tremendously with FREE tuition. Mac still has the same job, and he was recently promoted to a supervisor position. We have developed some great friendships through our church, and Lynchburg finally feels like home to us. And by far the best change we have been through was the birth of our son Elias!

Believe it or not, this really was a "shortened" version of our time here, but I hope that after reading this you can see God's hand at work, and understand just how exciting it is that Mac has completed his degree! We aren't sure what future holds for us, but it is reassuring to look back on our 4 years here, and see how God came through for us time and time again! He is so faithful!!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-04-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

{1} have you ever been stuck in an elevator?No, but I am pretty sure I would freak out.
{2} have you ever ridden on an elephant?Yes once at a zoo when I was little.
{3} have you ever met a well known celebrity?No. But I always end up knowing someone that knows someone that does...haha!
{4} do you have any food allergies?I am allergic to uncooked apples...yeah I know it's weird, they make my throat itch, and I break out in hives.
{5} do you know how to sew?No, but I do have a sewing machine. I would like to learn how, but I am spoiled because my mom is great at sewing so I usually just leave it to her :)
{6} did you get an allowance when you were young?Yes, but I don't remember it being a regular kinda thing.
{7} how often do you fill up your gas tank?If I am lucky I can make almost two weeks out of one tank...I drive a pathfinder so its not too great on the gas mileage, and we live far out of town. Gas prices need to go down!
{8} have you ever been stung by a jelly fish?Yes, too many times to remember. I grew up living on the gulf coast.
{9} have you ever been robbed?Yes, I used to have a sweet sound system in my car, complete with speakers, amplifier, etc. In the middle of the night, it was all stolen out of my car, along with a digital camera and cell phone.
{10} what is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?Not so much a bad haircut, but I tried to color my own hair and I ended up with pink stripes (still not sure how it happened), so I tried to cover it up with a dark brown, and it came out BLACK! So I ended up looking very gothic for several weeks.

Copenhagen Cake

2011-04-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

Today Mac joins me at the ripe old age of 29! Two years ago, I started a tradition of making him a special homemade cake for his birthday. If you want to see my previous cakes, check out these older posts: 27th Bday Cake and 28th Bday Cake. I am by no means a professional cake decorator that is my sister's thing. (Check out her cake blog) However, I do enjoy making cakes for Mac that are unique, and fit his personality or interests.

I was trying to think what kind of cake to make this year. At first I was thinking of a transformers cake, since he loved playing with transformers when he was little, and now he loves the new transformers movies. But then I got another idea, and I knew I had to change my plans.

When I met Mac, he was a smoker and a dipper (is that even a word?). I ~~was never a fan of either~~ hated both, and I went through several phases of "well I won't date him unless he quits" "well we won't get engaged until he quits" etc. But those ultimatums came and went. He finally gave up the nasty habits about two months before we got married, and he hasn't picked them back up since :) That being said, it has been over 6 years, and he still craves it often. He always tells me how much he misses Copenhagen. So I thought it would be fun to give him a can of snuff for his birthday....

Made of chocolate of course ;)

WARNING: THIS IS ~~NOT~~ A SAFE ALTERNATIVE FOR SMOKING!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Book Suggestion

2011-04-23T20:39:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy reading Christian fiction, I would like to recommend this book. I just finished reading it, and I really enjoyed it!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-04-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

{1} how often do you do laundry?Usually no more than twice a week, but I am noticing that the older Elias gets, the quicker his dirty clothes pile grows each day!
{2} what is your favorite type of cookie?Hmmmm… that would be a toss up between a sugar cookie, and a peanut butter cookie.
{3} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?Probably pay off school loans, saved up for trips, and we really could use a new dresser
{4} what was/is your favorite subject in school?I always enjoyed all the science, especially biology, I loved learning about animals, and I still do. Too bad we don't have Animal Planet :(
{5} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?No, but I think it would be fun. I probably would have a hard time though, because the older I get the more afraid of heights I become.
{6} what was your high school mascot?The Warriors...go PCA! haha
{7} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?Most likely, what an awesome opportunity that would be!
{8} how often do you go dancing?I have little to no rhythm, and my hubby is even worse than me. But we have been known to bust some moves on the dance floor at weddings, bachelorette parties, etc.
{9} would you rather drive or fly?Depends on how long the trip is, especially now that we have Elias. We have driven to my hometown of Pensacola, and it is a 12 hour trip one way. That is about my limit, any further than that and I prefer an airplane.
{10} have you ever been caught re-gifting?No, but I think I have only done it once or twice.

It's a Boy! (x2)

2011-04-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

Before any rumors get started...I am NOT pregnant with twins. However, two of my best friends, which happen to also be sisters, are pregnant and due only one week apart! They recently found out that they are both having boys! Being a mother of a boy myself...I am so excited for them! I cannot wait for Elias to have two new friends to play with in the future!

Congratulations Hannah and Lori Beth! I cannot wait to meet little Asher, and Liam - I love them so much already!!

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

2011-04-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine posted this article on Facebook today, it was an excellent read, and I wanted to share it with you all.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

I pray that God will allow me to be one of the Christians who portrays Him in the right way, and that He will forgive the embarrassing things I have done in His name.

My Average Couponing

2011-04-16T19:21:00.000-07:00

Have you been watching the new show on TLC, Extreme Couponing? I have to be honest I think most of those people are insane, or as my friend Brittany says they are just thrifty hoarders. :) Even still I am sucker for watching shows like that...My husband cannot understand why I watch so much TLC. So there you have it... John & Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids & Counting, Sister Wives, and now Extreme Couponers are a few of my guilty pleasures.

Ok so enough of that. I wanted to share my savings that I found this week at CVS. As you will see I am more of an "average couponer" than an "extreme couponer", but any money I save is a big help to our little family of three!

Today I spent $15.97 and was able to get all of this...

4 boxes of cereal, 8 pk paper towels, two bottles of laundry detergent, & a bottle of Olive Oil

With a savings of $28.22. Not too shabby huh?

Encouragement & Peace

2011-04-14T09:13:00.000-07:00

"The little world within us, like the great world without, is full of confusion and strife; but when Jesus enters it, and whispers "Peace be unto you," there is a calm, yea, a rapture of bliss"

- Charles H. Spurgeon

"Let us but feel that He has His heart set upon us, that He is watching us from those heavens with tender interest, that He is following us day by day as a mother follows her babe in his first attempt to walk alone, that He has set His love upon us, and in spite of ourselves is working out for us His higher will and blessing, as far as we will let Him - and then nothing can discourage us."

- A. B. Simpson

Powerful thoughts! Be encouraged today friends :)

Remember How It all Began...

2011-04-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight I enjoyed a wonderful evening out with my hubby. Thanks to our good friends RT & Tina Foster for watching our little man. It is such a blessing to be able to leave your child with friends, and go out without worrying about whether or not he is ok.

First, we ate a yummy dinner at Texas Steakhouse, and then went to the mall to get a double doozie from the Great American Cookie Company. I mean if you are going to do dessert, that is definitely the way to go :) Then we just strolled through the mall holding hands, and enjoying each others company.

Recently a friend of mine posted this article on Facebook, and I wanted to share it. I couldn't agree more with the importance of parents spending quality time together. I know personally I feel so much happier, and more connected when we spend time together, just the two of us. So how about you, have you spent special time with the one you love? No matter how crazy life gets, don't forget to remember how it all began. :)

Take One - We were laughing too hard to take the picture!

Take two - Much better :)

I love Spring time!

2011-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well I don't love my seasonal allergies that go crazy this time of year, but that is what Claritin is for right? I love the longer days, the warmer weather, and watching all the plants begin to bloom! This week, Elias and I have once again resumed our daily walks around the neighborhood. He loves to sit back, eat his cheerios and take in all the scenery. Mommy loves it because it is great exercise (approximately 2 miles per round trip), her pale skin desperately needs some sun, and the quietness gives her a chance to think, pray, praise, and just daydream.

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-04-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

{1} what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch?broccoli
{2} did you go to college? if yes, what was your major?Yes, I first went to a Christian college, and didn't really have a major, just took general classes. Then I went to a junior college and was taking classes to work towards being an ultrasound technician. I never finished though, I never really was motivated to finish any higher education.
{3} what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)?I have seen an alligator in Florida.
{4} have you ever been to a fortune teller?No..haha!
{5} can you juggle?No
{6} hardwood floors or carpet?I have carpet in my house, but I would much rather have hardwood.
{7} is it called “soda” or “pop”?I actually say "coke" for everything...yeah I know it's dumb, but I have always said it.
{8} what was your first car?1997 Green Ford Escape, I loved that car. Lots of memories :)
{9} what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?It was a cake from Whole Foods, I can't remember what it was called, but it had blackberries on top - and it was SO good!
{10} how often do you rearrange your furniture?Not often anymore… unless you count moving items up and out of the reach of my son :)

Amazing Grace!

2011-04-06T17:31:00.001-07:00

Boys in Motion - {Link Up!}

2011-04-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been blogging much lately, but at least I have a good excuse. Today marks one week of having a one year old...and I am exhausted :) It seems like over night he has become this busy, active toddler. He isn't walking yet (although I have a feeling it won't be much longer), but that does not slow him down one bit!

Awhile back, I shared this blog post that I found, and I am just now realizing that it is not only a humorous read, but it is oh so true. Thankfully Elias has not started hitting me or anyone else yet. But I definitely have "a child who has the exploring capabilities of Christopher Columbus combined with the wisdom of Britney Spears".

I love his curiosity, I really do, but it can be exhausting trying to keep him out of everything, and making sure he isn't hurting himself. So that is my reason for lack of blogging these days. :)

Well it is Friday, and that means it is time for "Boys in Motion" link up from Home With the Boys.
Here is my picture to celebrate that non-stop energy - if you can't beat 'em, take a picture and enjoy it.

Elias loves wheeling around the house these days in his walker!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-03-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

{1} if you won a trip to Disneyland/world, who would you take with you?Mac and Elias. Since I am from Florida I have been to Disneyworld several times, but now that I have Elias it would be a lot of fun to see what he thinks of it all :)
{2} when was the last time you listened to a CD?I am not sure, I usually used my iPod these days, even more than the radio.
{3} what spice/seasoning is your favorite?I love garlic and onion. Not great for my breath, but it tastes so yummy in food.
{4} if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?Me in a band? ha! Probably would be pop music.
{5} if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?I would love to see any miracle mentioned in the Bible. For instance when Jesus walked on water....can you imagine?!?
{6} if you could go back to school, what would you study?Probably psychology.
{7} if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?A hockey game, with some great seats!
{8} do you drive an automatic or a manual?An automatic, it is not pretty when I attempt to drive a manual.
{9} are you comfortable speaking in front of people?Usually, just depends on the audience and what I am speaking about.
{10} have you ever experienced an earthquake?Yes. When we lived in San Diego, I experienced a couple. I did NOT like them!

Woodland Party!

2011-03-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was Elias' first birthday party. I wanted a unique party theme, so I started surfing the internet, and found this blog. After seeing the woodland theme, I was sold! I used most of the same ideas and only changed a few of the decorations, that I found from other websites. So here are ALOT of pictures showing all the little details :) I put too much work into it, to not share it with everyone! Enjoy!

The birthday boy!

Mommy & Daddy with the birthday boy

An adorable tree made by my friend Connie McKim

The welcome table, with a wish box for guests to leave birthday wishes for Elias.

Each guest "signed" the tree with their fingerprints :)

I made the hedgehog smash cake, and Connie helped me make the grass, toadstool,
and mini-hedgehog cupcakes

Candy robin's eggs in a chocolate nest (made out of chocolate and shredded wheat).

Pretzel rod trees

Smore Kabobs...yumm!

I love the way the kitchen turned out, and the food was great too!

Ants on a Log

The decorated fireplace and all the presents.

The One Year Family tree with pictures of family members when they were one,
so guests could see who Elias looks like the most.

Time for the smash cake!

He was actually not very messy with it :) Such a sweet boy!

I also want to say a big "Thank You" to the McKim family, for letting us use their beautiful home, and also for all their help decorating and preparing the food. They are the best!!

Happy Birthday Elias!

2011-03-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Today this little baby...

Turned One Year Old!!!

It is hard to believe that a year has passed already. This time last year I was laying in a hospital bed (exhausted) full of various emotions about being a new mom. It has been an eventful year for sure. Having a baby changes everything, and you never truly understand that until you have one yourself. There have been many ups and downs, but I can honestly say that little Elias has blessed our hearts in so many ways. His contagious laugh, his boyish grin (complete with his "temple dimple"), his red hair, and funny personality...I could go on and on. When I see this picture, it is hard for me to remember him being so little! He is so curious these days, and busy learning new things. We look forward to each new year with him. Tomorrow we are having his party and I cannot wait to celebrate his life with our close friends. (Stay tuned for a future post about the party)

Happy Birthday Boogs!!! Mommy and Daddy love you more than you will ever know!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-03-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

{1} what was your first job?I worked at my church's daycare part time. 16 three year olds in one room was definitely a challenge! :)
{2} have you ever seen a stand up comedian?No, but my hubby and I love watching Last Comic Standing.
{3} when was the last time you played mini golf?I don't remember it has been awhile though.
{4} what was the last picture you took?a picture of the practice cake I made for Elias' Birthday.
{5} burnt food: yes or no?no
{6} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it?Either add it to Elias' piggy bank, or put it into a change jar we keep at the house. But I never have change, because I never carry cash.
{7} can you touch your tongue to your nose?No...my tongue is way too short.
{8} do you scrapbook?Yes, I love scrapbooking, but I have so many pictures that will probably never make it to a scrapbook album.
{9} do you buy lottery tickets?Occasionally we will buy a scratch off ticket, but that doesn't count does it?
{10} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?Behind it, especially post baby ;)

Wonderfully Made

2011-03-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

If you need to be reminded how amazing you truly are, and just how much God loves you...then you should watch this video!

Wonderfully Made from Blue Ridge Community Church on Vimeo.

Couponing at CVS

2011-03-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

I know that several of you are pros when it comes to "couponing", but I am just now learning the ropes, so bare with me. I have always loved clipping coupons out of the Sunday paper, but I never really understood how to use them wisely. I know several people back home (Pensacola) that are very successful with it, and manage to save tons of money at Publix. We however do not have a Publix here in Lynchburg. Our only options are Kroger, Food Lion, or Wal-Mart. Because of this, I convinced myself that my best bet was to only shop at Wal-Mart, afterall they are super convenient and cheap right?

Wrong! I now realize it is better to shop around for each individual store's deals, including CVS & Walgreens. Tonight was my first attempt to bargain shop at CVS....so here is how I did.

I bought this...

For only $27.90

Not too bad, considering I usually pay $25 alone for just the diapers. The pretzel sticks and rice krispie treats were not even on sale (I just needed them for Elias' party next week). So I only paid $23.21 for the diapers and all the toothpaste. The colgate toothpaste was BOGO free. Notice one of them is the Colgate Pro Clinical which CVS usually sells for $5.49. My total savings was $18.14. Not bad for my first time.

If any of you have any coupon saving tips, I would love to hear there. Or if you know of any good blogs, or websites for coupons, please share. Saving money is fun!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hope you remembered to wear green today!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-03-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

{one} scruffy or clean shaven?I think clean shaven, with the occasional stubble looks good. I am not a fan of facial hair, but my husband loves it, so he grows a goatee every few months, then it has to go.
{two} what’s your favorite sundae topping?Not a huge fan of ice cream, so sundaes are not really my thing either.
{three} do you own slippers?Yes, but they are more like sock slippers...and oh so comfy!
{four} did you ever have a tree house?No, but we did have a club house out in the woods where I grew up. It was pretty nice, but I don't really remember playing in it very often.
{five} how you do relieve stress?Go for a drive, or go shopping.
{six} what’s your favorite dr. seuss book?I don't really have a favorite, but I like "Oh, the Places You'll Go!"
{seven} have you ever taken dance classes?No. I am not very good at dancing, but I always have fun when I do!
{eight} which do you use more: the thesaurus or the dictionary?I use dictionary.com
{nine} what’s your favorite form of exercise?Walking or running on the elliptical.
{ten} what’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line?Hmm...I don't know, I once waited in line approximately two hours to get free tickets to see President George W. Bush when he was in Pensacola. Other than that it would probably be waiting in long lines at amusement parks like Disney World, or Six Flags Over Georgia.

Mini Vaca to Norfolk!

2011-03-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Last week was spent in Norfolk, VA. Mac had to be there for work, so we decided to kennel the dogs, and tag along for the week. I am so glad that we did! Even though Mac was in class most of the day, we still were able to see him on breaks, and had lunch with him every day. This was a lot more family time than we normally get during the week.

I was a little worried about keeping a busy 11 month old in a small hotel room, but he did really well. We had plenty of free time, so I decided to take Elias to the local zoo one day. The weather was a little cold, and it was really windy, so we didn't stay long. This was his first trip to the zoo and as expected, he wasn't super thrilled about any of the animals. Except for these little monkeys that he just thought were hilarious! I love watching him learn, explore and figure things out - which he is doing more and more these days! He is so busy!!

Another highlight of the trip was the indoor heated pool at the hotel. This was Elias' first time in a pool, and he LOVED it! I was worried about putting him in because he had diaper rash, but he never complained. The water seemed to help dry it up some. I think we will be swimming quite a bit this summer.

If you want to see all of the pictures from our trip, click here.

Busy exploring the hotel room.

In front of the lion exhibit at the zoo.

Relaxing in the pool!

Birthday Fun!

2011-03-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ok ready or not, my little boy is turning one on March 25th. Less than two weeks away! Check out his adorable birthday invitation...

Stay tuned for more details and pictures of his woodland themed party. I am sooo excited!

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-03-09T14:18:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of blogging this past week. I am currently in Norfolk, VA enjoying a mini-vaca with my boys. Well technically Mac is here for work, but me and Boogs tagged along and made a trip out of it :) We are having a great time. I will blog and post pictures about it hopefully next week. Now for some Wee Bit of Me Wednesday...

{one} what color is your kitchen?Red, white and black. I have decorated with the fat chef theme, and all my appliances are black. The walls are still white, any suggestions on what color I should paint them?
{two} do you have a good luck charm?nope.
{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?pen
{four} can you use chopsticks?yes, however I still can't use them to eat rice.
{five} do you prefer baths or showers?showers. Sometimes a bath sounds nice, but usually the tub needs to be cleaned and it doesn't seem worth all that work.
{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?I LOVE ranch (so does Mac) so it goes quickly in our house. We use it to dip lots of things!
{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?No.
{eight} do you have any allergies?I have seasonal allergies like pollen, and I also have an allergy to fresh apples. They make my throat itch, and last time I was covered in hives after eating only one bite.
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?I like them both, just depends on my mood.
{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?nope, that is just dumb. Maybe if I was a guy, but even then - still not a good idea, you would be better off walking.

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-03-02T17:05:00.000-08:00

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?I have had pairs in the past with holes in them, I did not buy them that way though, they were just worn from wearing them so often.
{two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?umm, lately? no. Elias has been having rough nights (we just found out today he has his first ear infection). But I do love my sleep, and I don't do to well without it.
{three} what’s your favorite way to eat an oreo?I usually just eat them whole, and I am in love with the fudge dipped ones that come out each Christmas!
{four} do you wear shoes in your house?not usually, but I do like to wear socks or slippers because my feet seem to get cold, and I hate them being dirty.
{five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?Mac, then my mom.
{six} have you ever been in a food fight?When I worked with the youth group at my church in Pensacola, we had a huge food fight one time. But I am not a fan of being covered in sticky food under a blazing hot sun :)
{seven} do you snore?Sometimes, I think it is worse when I am super tired, or getting sick. But so does Mac, so I don't feel too bad :)
{eight} do you know how fast you type?I haven't actually taken a typing test in so long. Back then I was in the 60-70 words per minute. I would guess I am about the same.
{nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?nope.
{ten} how do you like your popcorn?Buttery and Salty - and sometimes I like to throw some of that extra seasoning they offer at the movie theatre - their popcorn is the best!

11 Months Old

2011-02-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

On February 25th my baby boy turned 11 months old. It is really hard for me to believe that, and even harder to believe that this time next month he will be 1 year old. I haven't given an update on him in awhile, and since I know his grandparents read this blog, here goes. . .

Just this week he began to crawl (the technical way), however he still prefers to scoot, roll, and army crawl his way around
He pulls up on furniture, although he still needs some help to get all the way up
He will take a few steps as long as someone holds his hands
He opens and closes his hands really fast when he gets excited - it is too cute! He is known in the church nursery for this when they break out the Cheerios :)
He loves to babble - Mama, Dada, Baba (bottle), Nana are a few of his favorites
He only has his bottom two teeth so far, but I think his top teeth are close to coming in

If you are squeamish, you may want to stop reading here. . .you've been warned! Last week Elias had diarrhea and thanks to that developed a nasty diaper rash, so we let him "air out" on an old comforter in the living room. Well I learned the hard way that you should never leave an un-diapered child alone. I left to fix my hair, and when I came back approx.15 minutes later, I found this. . .

Not only did he play in it, I believe he ate some! Gross! I immediately threw him into the tub - dry heaving the whole time. :)

Invisible Mothers

2011-02-26T21:05:00.001-08:00

For all of you unsung heroes, better known as "Mom". . .

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' Some days I'm a crystal ball: 'Where's my other sock? Where's my phone? What's for dinner?'

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals--we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does."

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for Me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, "You're gonna love it there..." As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers. The Will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Boys in Motion - {Link Up!}

2011-02-25T18:36:00.000-08:00

It's Friday which means time to share your favorite photograph of your boy (or boys) in motion! Celebrate that non-stop energy - if you can't beat 'em, take a picture and enjoy it! Join me and link up at Home with the Boys!

Elias learning to take some steps with the help of his Aunt CiCi

New Haven Gang!

2011-02-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Another highlight of my trip to Florida, was the reunion of the "New Haven Gang". (The neighborhood girls I grew up with on New Haven Drive). We have remained friends over the years, and still love getting together. It is rare that we are all in town at the same time, so this was a treat! We share so many special memories, and always laugh until our sides hurt. Most of us have kids of our own now, so it is always fun to watch them play together.

The New Haven Gang - Lori Beth, Heather, Little Hannah, Big Hannah, Rachel, Charity & Leigh Anne

"The Eli's" (my Elias, and Rachel's Eli)

Lucas and Elias

Sisters and best friends

Our Surprise Trip to Pensacola!

2011-02-25T05:42:00.000-08:00

February 19th - marked the 10 year anniversary of my dad passing away. My sister was worried that this anniversary would be especially hard for my mother, so her and my brother-in-law, David, offered to fly me and Elias down to spend time with Mom, and help keep her mind off of everything. Thankfully we pulled it off, and were able to keep the trip a surprise : )

I wish I could say that the trip went off without a hitch, but that could not be further from the truth. I was extremely nervous about traveling alone with Elias, especially being his first time flying. He did wonderful, and was such a trooper. However, the airlines were not nearly as cooperative. Our connecting flight in Charlotte, NC. was cancelled, due to bad weather. So there I was stranded overnight, with my 10 month old baby. I did not get my luggage, and only had my carry on bag. That meant I only had 5 diapers and 8 oz of formula. After attempting to get on another flight, a short melt down (crying like a baby), and some quick heartfelt prayers and I finally made it to a local hotel. Elias did as well as could be expected, but he was uncomfortable being in an unfamiliar place, and wanted to be held the entire night. I believe I got approximately 3 hours of sleep. The only available flight the following morning was to Montgomery, Alabama. My sister came and picked us up there, and then we drove the remaining 3 hours to Pensacola.

Thankfully that is where the craziness ended, the rest of the trip was great and I am thankful that we went. My mom was so glad to have us there, and admitted that she was dreading the weekend and she was glad we were there to distract her. Besides, she will take any opportunity she gets to love on her grandson! Here are some pictures from the trip...

The day we surprised her...I look a little rough...it was a LONG trip!

Quality time with my sister.

Nana & Elias on the fishing pier.

The weather was gorgeous!!

Cousins - having fun shopping at Publix.

My big boy :)

My traveling buddy passed out in the airport...waiting to go home.

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-02-16T17:07:00.000-08:00

{one} what is your favorite breakfast food?Waffles, or breakfast taquitos from Whataburger!!
{two} how many pairs of shoes do you currently own?I have no idea, but most of them no longer fit. My feet grew after my pregnancy, so I need to get rid of some of them.
{three} city or country?I think is referring to where you prefer to live? I would have to say country. I grew up at the end of a long dirt road, in the middle of the woods. Even now, Mac and I live 20 minutes outside of Lynchburg, in a small "town".
{four} what is your favorite part of your job?Elias gives good kisses, and his laugh is the best. :)
{five} what is your favorite junk food to snack on?I love sweets, like cookies, cake, chocolate....I can never turn them down!
{six} have you ever been mentioned in the newspaper?Just for my wedding announcement - back in 2005.
{seven} do you use post-it notes?When I worked in an office, yes I did.
{eight} do you have freckles?just a few on my nose, and some on my shoulders.
{nine} is it okay for men to wear pink?I think it is ok, but I am not a big fan of it. My husband ~~doesn't like~~ hates it, so I don't really have to worry about it happening in my house :)
{ten} when was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?I don't know, probably when Mac was in Iraq, several years ago.

My Valentine!

2011-02-15T19:29:00.000-08:00

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my husband works crazy hours, so we rarely get to spend evenings together. Unfortunately this also included Valentine's Day. We saw this coming, and decided to celebrate early. We enjoyed a delicious dinner Sunday evening at the Olive Garden. Mac also surprised me with a love letter. Thankfully I didn't read it until we got back in the car, I am a huge baby, and it doesn't take much to make me cry :)

Yesterday we exchanged cards but that was about it. I would be lying if I said I wasn't bummed. I am one of those people who love Valentines, and I love celebrating it.

However, I was not prepared for my surprise tonight! Elias and I went to meet Mac at work for his lunch break, like we often do, hit up a drive through and eat in the car. But when Mac came out to the car, he informed me that he took the rest of the night off, and that we were going to eat Indian food. I love indian food, definitely one of my favorites. Instead of dining in, we decided on take out, simply because of how Elias was dressed...haha, he had no sock, or shoes because I wasn't planning on taking him out in public : )

So there you have it, we celebrated Valentine's a day early and a day late!! I love my boys so much, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope you also had a great Valentine's Day with that special someone.

Elias ate dog food!

2011-02-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, and that means it is time to celebrate my little guy's energy! :) Join me and link up at Home With the Boys.

I actually have two pictures, with a story to explain them...

We have two dogs. Bella we bought as a puppy, and Elita came from a Miniature Pinscher rescue. Elita is "special", because she was abused by her previous owners. She mostly hides out under our end table, so from the beginning we have kept her food bowl in the living room, and have just never broken that bad habit. Yesterday I heard Elias get into her bowls, thankfully they were empty. So I took the opportunity to get a picture

(thinking in my head this would be a good "Boys in Motion" shot.)

Several minutes later, I decided to feed the dogs....I am sure you can see where this is going :) I called Elita to come out (which she did) and I filled up her bowls. For whatever reason I did not move Elias away from the bowls. After all I thought Elita will eat and then he will have nothing to get into.

Wrong! Elita didn't hang around, I guess because she is still a little unsure of the baby. So you guessed it, Elias got into both bowls. Pouring water and dog food everywhere. I was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher, and when I came in a minute later to check on him. He already had some in his mouth, and was grabbing more.

So it is now official, my kid ate dog food! :)

Wee Bit of Me. . .

2011-02-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

{one} ice: crushed or cubed?Crushed - I like to chew my ice after I finish my drink.
{two} what is your worst traffic pet peeve?I have SO many - here are my top 3 (which have worsened since living in VA!)1. Pulling out in front of me, but not speeding up2. People who stop in merging lanes3. Ignoring the arrows in store parking lots - apparently in VA, the arrows are only suggestions!
{three} what room in your house best represents your personality? Probably my living room, I love the colors in it.
{four} do you save old birthday cards?Yes, if they are from my hubby, family or close friends.
{five} when was the last time you went on a picnic?I don't remember the last "technical" picnic. But at least once a week, I take Elias to meet Mac for dinner, and we usually eat in the car :)
{six} do you regularly check your horoscope?nope, never.
{seven} when you’re home, what do you wear on your feet?I have some slippers that are so comfy, but they are getting ratty, I should really get a new pair.
{eight} what’s your favorite gambling game?I usually play slots if I go to a casino, but Mac loves Roulette, so if we are together I will play that.
{nine} have you ever written (or started writing) a book?No, I am not a great writer, blogging is as fancy as it gets for me!
{ten} what is your favorite musical?I am not a big musical kind of person, but I would love to see the Phantom of the Opera some day.

Community of Moms

2011-02-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

Last night was L-O-N-G. I went to bed at 12:30 (after waiting for my hubby to get home). Elias woke up at 2:00, and refused to go back to sleep until 5:00 this morning. I was checking facebook, reading blogs, playing games online...anything I could do to stay awake...all while my little guy rolled around on the floor, playing, laughing, babbling like it was 4:00 in the afternoon, not 4:00 in the morning!! He was up again at 8:00 this morning, and has been going ever since. Mommy is struggling, to say the least : ( Then I found this encouraging story in an email.

After a particularly long, sleepless night, I decided I’d earned a latte. I dropped my oldest son off at preschool and headed to Starbucks with the baby. But as soon as I pulled into the drive-through line and placed my order, he woke up and started to cry. I knew he was fed and clean, but he wouldn’t stop crying no matter what I tried. My car was blocked in the drive-through line, and I had no choice but to wait it out. Hormonal, exhausted, frazzled and leaking breast milk, I finally pulled up to the window for my latte after what felt like an eternity. I was fighting back tears as the barista at the window handed me my drink. But when I tried to pay he shook his head.

“The lady ahead of you in line already paid for your order,” he explained. “She said, ‘From one mom to another.’"

I felt a wave of relief. The baby was still crying. I was still leaking. I was still exhausted. But I was no longer alone. I was reminded that I was part of a larger, sometimes anonymous, community of moms doing their best for their kids. I don’t remember if the baby stopped crying before I drove all the way home, but I do remember how good that latte tasted. Dear God, you designed us for community. Teach me to both receive, and contribute to making the most of mine.

It is good to know we are not alone! So to the other moms out there who are exhausted, frustrated or just discouraged...from one mom to another...hang in there! We have the greatest job on the planet! No salary could ever compensate for what you do. Treat yourself to a latte today (I think I am going to) and remember to encourage other moms that you know. You never know who might need to hear it. : )

My Birthday & Anniversary Weekend!

2011-02-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

So it is Monday again! I really never get used to how quickly the weekends fly by. This past weekend was definitely a good one for me. Saturday was my Birthiversary, or Annibirthday whichever way you want to say it. I was married on my birthday, so we try to find creative ways to celebrate both : )

First of all I am now officially a member of the "Forever 29" club! No I don't feel that old, but that is just how it is. I also celebrated 6 years of being married to my best friend! Our good friend Connie McKim offered to watch Elias, as well as let him spend the night with her. This was a first for us, since we have only been away for a few hours at a time, and although we missed him dearly, we really enjoyed having the evening to ourselves, just the two of us!

We enjoyed walking around downtown Charlottesville, window shopping, and even stumbled on a hockey game at an outdoor rink. Mac was so excited! :) So we watched one period before it was time for our dinner reservation. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Melting Pot. I have never eaten there before, so it was a special treat. The food was so good, and the dessert was over the top!! I thought I wouldn't be able to eat much dessert after eating all the other courses, but I didn't have any trouble. We cleaned that plate in no time!! Here are a few pictures of our evening out!

The shops were all artsy, because they were close to the UVA campus.

Cooking up the main course!

The dessert dippers for our chocolate peanut butter fondue!!

Me stuffing my face - shamelessly :)

Me and my hubby at the Melting Pot : ) I love him!!

By the way Connie and her family survived their night with Elias : ) He did wake them up a couple times during the night, but overall things went well. I cannot thank them enough for being so thoughtful!

Forgiveness

2011-02-07T13:37:00.000-08:00

"You don't forgive someone merely for their sake; you do it for your sake, so you can be free. Your need to forgive isn't an issue between you and the offender; it's between you and God. Forgiveness is agreeing to live with the consequences of another person's sin. Forgiveness is costly; we pay the price of the evil we forgive. Yet you're going to live with those consequences whether you want to or not; your only choice is whether you will do so in the bitterness of unforgiveness or the freedom of forgiveness...Forgiveness deals with your pain, not another's behavior."

- Neil T. Anderson

Boys in Motion - {Link Up!}

2011-02-04T12:49:00.000-08:00

Elias is now learning to pull up :)

God is Purple

2011-02-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

Today at MOPS, we watched a video by Emerson Eggerichs, and I really enjoyed it! You can find out more about his ministry here. He believes the key to a happy marriage isn't simply communication, like the old cliche says, but that it is understanding.

Simply stated, "Women need love, Men need respect. It's as simple and as complicated as that."

It is not hard to see that men and women are extremely different. However, this doesn't mean that one is right, and the other is wrong, they are simply different people who were designed by God to work together. Women see things through a "pink" filter, and men see things through a "blue" filter. So instead of using a "pink" filter or a "blue" filter, remember God isn't pink or blue, He's purple. Look at each other through purple eyes, and together you can reflect the image of God.