{In my Bloodstream}

 Let me just say, right out of the gate. . .The Mr. wanted to know what in the world possessed me to write on my hand in Sharpie.  Before I could get a word out the kids explained (because you know they noticed the very second they seen me), needless to say, he just didn't think Sharpie in the bloodstream would be a good thing.  Really? Well, after a few questions. . ."Did you get a tattoo?" and "What is on your hand?" I cave. I give-up on my idea.  What was genius yesterday around 2:00, was ignorant around 10:00.  Never mind.  I will figure out someway to improve my prayer life w/o doing bodily harm.  It was highly-effective! I have got that sweet soul all prayed up!

Moving on, Monday my babies were all home.  Sis spotted some pine cones in our meat market parking lot and asked if she could get a few.  Absolutely! She is my crafty-queen! I love it!

Delicious Peanut Butter Sprinkled with Yummy Birdseed.  What kind-of bird wouldn't enjoy that?

When she had almost every nook & cranny covered we hung it right outside her window.

Lovely.

{Apply Sharpie to the Hand}

 One area of my life that I have been working on is. . .The Prayer One. . .Y'all I cant help it. . .  I get sleepy.  I am ashamed, as I should be.  I have gotten much better about praising AND praying throughout my day.  I believe I should be worshipping, praying, learning, thinking, or speaking of the Lord at all times.  One or the other.  Or all at the same time. The Bible says:

 

1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

 

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

 

Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

 

Colossians 1:3 (KJV) We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing

 

I know you see the same pattern I see.  Always.

Although I do bathe regulary, Sharpie is a challenge to take off.  I am going to write a letter from the persons name I am praying for on my hand. . . with a Sharpie. . . to serve as I reminder for me to pray for this person.  It will not wear off immediately so I will continue to pray without ceasing until it fades.  Slow fade (love that song, btw). 

 

 

Its just what I am going to do.  Be intentional. . .improve my prayer life. . .its what I am about.

 

 

{Hanging out in the Laundry Room}

Yesterday I mentioned how hard it is for me to hang things on the wall, but I am in a recovery program.

I've had these 3 pictures. . . forever. . .I think all the kids still have their baby teeth!

I asked The Mr. to hang them, but not before I broke out in a sweat & had a tad bit of trouble breathing. 

I contemplated and contemplated. . . 

and finally said. . . "Hang them in the laundry room!!" 

I am enjoying them so far. 

One is crooked at the moment. . .so I must go straighten it!

{Home Sweet Home}

I am home!  As much as you enjoy a trip. . . the best part is coming home.

I learned many things, but my favorite was meeting the founder of Back2Back.  

She is amazing. Here is a bit about her. . .

Beth and her husband, Todd, live with their family in Monterrey, Mexico where they serve as Co-Executive Directors of Back2Back Ministries, an international orphan care non-profit, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.  After graduating from Indiana University with degrees in education, the Guckenbergers  moved to Monterrey, Mexico.  Since founding Back2Back in 1997, they have hosted thousands of guests on the ministry campus. Between biological, foster, and adopted children, they are raising nine children.  

Nine children y'all!  I could listen to her talk all day.  All day.

Since I am sure you know that feeling of "I want to sleep in my own bed", how about a tour?

My bedroom. . . makes me nuts.  One phobia I need to overcome is hanging things on the walls.

I cant do it. I try. . .a crooked picture drives me to more insanity.  Anyways, I almost have my bed to a state of happiness.  I still need some pillow tweaking and something (who knows what?) hanging above. 

Here's my blogging space. . .Well, more like a college students space.  The Mr. has it set-up to his liking at the moment.  The tower ON the desk is growing on me. . . eeeek. 

Sometimes I throw a throw on the bed. . .

This is one of my most favorites of all.  This cabinet.

I have high hopes curtains will adorn each side eventually.  What in the world color? 

This chair was my Mothers Day gift last year. Love. I am thinking it might need a coat of paint?

I am not sure. . . 

Would you paint it? 

See those silver pieces above the cabinet? 

I love that sort of thing at the moment.  Mercury Glass & Silver pieces.  The "genie looking one" is from Mom for Christmas.  Treasure.to.Me. 

Have a wonderful week!

Here is Beth's Blog if you would like to follow her!

P.S.  God is amazing.  Be sure to seek him out this week. . .He is everywhere.

{I am Tonia Hobbs over there too. Sunny FL}

Yesterday after school my son took a notion to bake a cake. . .his first thought was the "normal" cake-in-pan-iced. Then he shifted to cake balls. . . 

but he ultimately chose a "volcano cake" with molten icing.  It was just fun in every-way!

It also made a fun-hot-mess! Its okay! I don't sweat things like that! 

Isn't he getting so big?  

He has the best sense of humor! He makes me laugh everyday!  He hates being late.  He feeds the dog everyday.  He makes excellent grades.  He loves the Lord.  He loves spending time with his friends. 

He loves the Bourne Movies. He loves Jack Johnson.  He is much like me. . . really.  But ever so often he will do something and I cant help but say, "Son, you are just like your Dad." (and that is not a bad thing)

 He is very particular about his clothes and room.  He is a tidy little boy.

He is a delight to me! He is precious-precious!

Today I am cleaning up the volcano mess and packing.  I am heading out early in the morning for 

SUNNY FL! I bought this shirt yesterday to celebrate! 

A trip to FL is a celebration!

I will join 100's of Children s Pastors from all over the country. It is a time of refreshment, praise & worship, 

and learning.  It is great to hear what other churches are doing and seeing how God is working. . .and

using people like me to do it. Everyday. 

I spent some time doing my kids a little "chalk art" with the date of my return. 

They are into dates.  

They love a good "count-down"! 

At 5:15 am "Daddy Duty" will officially begin. . . I am going to go ahead and lay clothes out today for Buddy and Sis.  The hair is just going to be a gamble. . . it might get brushed. . . it might not.  Teeth brushed?  Who knows?  I just pray.  Earnestly.  

This will be my last blog post until I return! 

BUT you can follow me on Instagram.

I am Tonia Hobbs over there too.

{Dinners and Winners}

Today I wrote my very first little note on my Lilly Pulitzer note cards.  She would be so proud. 

As I was grabbing this evenings dinner at our local CV's I spied Jolly Rancher Apple for the Scentsy!

  Oh my!

(They had watermelon too.  It was really a tough call, but I went with the Apple.) 

I am melting her right now so I will let you know if its a winner. 

Speaking of dinner and winner . . .  this ladies post today is perfect!

I am so the "5:00 Lady"!  Everyone's tired and whiny and starved.  I am tired.  No dinner plans.  Ugh.

It is my hearts desire to do better! I actually have been doing much better.  We have no extra activities going

right now and have been home most every night.  Warm dinner and togetherness is the most perfect combination.  I love her ideas and I am beyond on board!

I am so ready for her "nitty gritty"!

 I also decided that it was high time I started taking this job, that I was apparently going to have to think about every day, seriously. Edie @ Life in Grace

{I am Grateful.}

{The Hunt! The Score!}

Sooo, my last post was a real cliff hanger. . . I know y'all were anxious to see loads of weekend excitement! Well, the above was the most absolute delight of my day.  We all piled on the couch and enjoyed! 

Thank you, Mrs. Emily for loaning them to me!

The Mr. went to the Polar Bear Plunge today to support Special Olympics.  I usually go watch "The Plunge" but I didn't this year.  I was super excited when he brought home a new white long sleeve t-shirt!

(Those are my favs!) 

Tonight I have been piddling around the house.  Moving "junk" here to there. . .and there to here. 

I found this Congress book over the holiday and I love it! 

I love old books.

This thick green one was my dads dictionary from grade school. 

The Girl Scout Handbook was my grandmas.  Treasure. 

I am breaking out some green for Spring.

(Jumping the gun a tad. . .) 

If I could find a set of these Spode Woodland dishes. . .my heart would stop beating!

I love them.  They cost as much as an organ.  (yes, I mean a body organ).

I want to find a neglected box of them tucked away in the corner somewhere at an antique store.

For cheap.  I am such a dreamer. 

All the glass is empty again. . .mmmm?

What can I dump in there?? 

Along with my Bible Study change for 2013, I am also hoping I can figure out some sort of way to

feed my antique problem, passion, love, habit,. . . desire.. . I am not sure what you call it.

All I know is my heart starts beating fast upon arrival of the antique stores. 

It's so much fun to me! The hunt! The score!

We'll see. . . 

{Zero on the Excitement Level}

I went to town today. . .I came home with an ironing board cover and a new can opener. 

Mercy. . . lets hope I manage to get into something more exciting this weekend.

{DayCation/Bible Study/Inhaled Play-Doh}

Hello there! I must begin to try and explain what I was saying yesterday. . . .  It is simply finding a place and taking refuge! Resting. Relaxing. Sucking up the air. Running in the breeze.  Listening to every single bird chirp.  Closing your eyes.  Raising your head. Let the sun or the rain beat down on you! Enjoy the day!

Take a friend. Go alone. Leave the phone.  Its the atmosphere.  Its the soaking up all of Gods free goodness.  You can do this in your stinking backyard! Drag a chair to a park.  Or. . . you can drive. Park your car in the trees.  Sit. Slurp a drink. . . for hours. 

Stay close. . .or go.  Take a short trek to somewhere new.  That somewhere should make you feel like you are far far away. . .from the stresses and worries.  Its a DayCation.  Get a tank of gas.  Pick a place. And explore.  Enjoy meeting someone new.  Listen to a story.  People most often will talk if you smile and say Hello.  Oh how I love long talks with complete strangers! It is freeing!  I could go on. . and on. . .thus take the "Flying Fish" for example.  It made me feel free! and I had fun! I escaped for a bit.  I am not talking about running from reality.  I am encouraging being a free spirit!

 (If I get too much more free I am going to start wearing sunflowers in my hair).  

Stopping the insanity of doing the same thing everyday darn day of my life!

I am there!  

One simple (but yet kinda major for me) change I am making this year is . . . leaving my Bible Study I have been going to. . . for. . . years.  Years, people!  And for the last couple of weeks I just thought I would 

find me another one. . . 

But days passed and conversations about cracked pots happened. . . and now. . . I am praying about leading one! 

It might be just me, myself, and I.  But I am in "go for it!" mode! Well, and "prayer mode"! What in the

world to do????!!!!????  As you can see I have scoured the internet tonight for "what in the world" to do?

Yes, I seriously looked at the Seal Team book. That boy is from AR and he paid the ultimate price. 

I am a HUGE practical application person.  Learn. Apply. Do. Teach Someone Else!  Who teaches someone else! You see?  Books or Bible Studies, and perhaps a session of ideas and challenges to help us be better mothers, friends, wives... just wherever a person is. . . I want to meet them there.

It will be swell.  It will.  As soon as I put my finger on it.

Will you pray with me about this?

Better yet. . .join me!

Speaking of swell and well. . . look at this precious boy, would you?

That is a dinosaur.  A Play-Doh creation. 

Oh yes, I thought of this one too. . . Fresh Air! Who doesn't need Fresh Air??!!

He brought me that dinosaur and before I snapped a photo 

I inhaled a big whiff of it.  Who in their right mind wouldn't do that?

Feel free to share any thoughts, or maybe a great Bible Study experience you have had. . . 

{Her Post}

I got giddy when I read her post! I have so much more to say. . . but it will have to wait!

Talk Soon!

(I do have a point to make about the photo above!)

{My Little Tyler Wilson}

He is so proud to wear "8".