Let It Snow!!!

My Sister and Me

My Sister and Me--that's what we are going to call ourselves--we made aprons to sell at the Holiday Market this year, and the ones below are still available for purchase if you are interested. We are going to the Holiday Expo in Buffalo on December 4th and will also have pillows available there (sorry, no pics yet). All items are made by us! The aprons have a fully adjustable strap, so they can be custom fit. Let me know if you want one!







All Aprons $25
Custom Ordering Available $30
Childrens Aprons Available $15-20 depending on design

Happy Halloween!

Just Clowning Around

My Turn....Finally

So some of you may be wondering why I haven't posted in so long. Here's why:

Caleb, who, by the way, is finally potty trained, has discovered the computer! His favorite game right now is Fisher Price's Little People Discovery Airport. I am amazed how fast he has learned to not only play this game, but to get the computer started and get the game going even when the CD is not in the computer. He's a pretty smart kid!

Let me update you on my niece, Lisa. They finally got the results back from pathology. The growth it turns out was malignant. They are going to have to do another surgery to remove the other side of her thyroid. The growth was encapsulated, and they believe they got everything, but they are going to go ahead and remove the rest as a precaution. She will have surgery on the 14th, so please keep her in your prayers.

Finally, after things being pushed back because of Ike, our fall schedule is finally getting going. My First Place group starts tomorrow evening at 5:00. If you haven't signed up, don't worry--there is still time. Just let me know. The ladies bible study group is doing Beth Moore's bible study Daniel. I am so excited! I have been wanting to do this one for a while. The first video and the first week of homework are great! The 4-H Food & Nutrition club had to post-pone our first meeting, so we are scheduled to have the first meeting on October 21 at 6:30 at the concession stand at the fairgrounds. Whew...I'm exhausted just thinking about it, and those are just MY commitments! Mike and the boys have a ton of other things....fishing club, Madisonville 4-H Club, men's bible study, children's choirs, AWANAS, UIL practice........

Well, that's all for now...I'll leave you with pics of my latest craft. No, the kids didn't do this one...I watched Martha Stewart's Halloween special (I usually can't stand her, but I think Halloween suits her...) and was inspired. She made spiders using glow sticks and styrofoam balls. Hers were really cute, and were used in a dark setting (so she didn't paint them, and they glowed green). But since I want mine to be cute during the day and I want them to last longer than glow sticks, I painted them black and used....what else????....beads!!!!!! I'm going to attach monofilament and hang them on the porch, but I couldn't wait to take pics so the one is resting his head on a candle...

Good riddance Ike!!

I am so glad to have electricity again!!!! I never would have made it as a pioneer woman! I have to have air conditioning! In addition to having no A/C or lights, Mike was sent to Angleton to look for an escaped prisoner. But things are back to normal again, and we all have a much greater appreciation for modern conveniences like electricity, Wal-Mart, gas stations, and grocery stores!

As you may know, Texas A&M at Galveston is relocating to College Station for the remainder of the semester. My department has 22 graduate students that reside on the Galveston campus. Some of the students (and some of our faculty) have lost everything. Please pray for them!

Update on Lisa

Than you for all of your prayers! Lisa is doing well after her surgery. They removed half of her thyroid. The pathologist in the OR could not determine if the growth was malignant or not. She went back for a follow-up last Monday, and the pathologist still could not determine if the growth was malignant, so he sent it to MD Anderson. MD Anderson will not be able to get back to them for at least 2 weeks (thanks to Ike).

If it turns out to be malignant, they will have to go back in and remove the rest of the thyroid, but if it is not, there is a good chance that the remaining portion will function normally, and she will not have to take medication. Please continue to pray!

Please pray...

Please pray for my niece Lisa. She will be having surgery on Wednesday to remove a growth from her thyroid. There is a 90% chance that the growth is malignant. If it is, they will remove her whole thyroid, and she will have to have radioactive iodine to kill all thyroid cells in her body. If it is not malignant, they will remove half of her thyroid. Either way, she will have to take thyroid medication for the rest of her life.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

OK. I'm a bad mom....Caleb's 4th birthday was August 30, and I am just now getting around to posting a happy birthday to him. Oh, well, he still loves me! I will post a picture of him soon.

4-H Food Fun!

Carrie Rose and I are starting a new project group for 4-H--it will be the 4-H Food Club! We will have a booth at the 4-H sign up night on the 28th. Be sure to check us out! I am decorating an apron to wear--what do you think? This is just a plain white apron that I am embellishing.

School Starts Monday

Casey starts 4th grade on Monday. My how time flies--I cannot believe I am old enough to have a 4th grader! He has Mrs. Starr and Mrs. Navarro. We got to meet them last Thursday at Meet the Teacher day. I think it is going to be a great year! Please remember to pray for our students and our teachers as they all start a new year.

A&M starts on Monday as well. The students are already back and traffic in College Station is awful. Driving back and forth during the summer months is so easy compared to the fall. I truly wish I could find a comparable job in Madisonville!

We found it!

My friend Teresa painted this cute little "lovin' spoon" for me--well, for Caleb. He was so excited the day she dropped it off, he loved it! Then he got a little "lovin'" from it and decided it wasn't so great after all. And then it disappeared.

When I said that I couldn't find it, he told me it was "hiding". So I asked him where he had put it. First he told me he threw it. Then he told me it was under the refrigerator. Then he told me he put it in the potty and flushed it.

So, after a week or two, I went to Wal-Mart and bought a bag of "lovin' spoons". They weren't quite as cute, but they would get the job done. When Caleb saw this, he conveniently found the original spoon under the recliner. I have even caught him trying to hide it under there once since it has been found!

Luckily, it does it's job so well that I do not have to use it often. Usually just showing it to him changes his attitude! Oh, my sweet little Caleb! I love him!

S M A K !!

The J-Force did a great job tonight!

Happy Birthday Casey!

My baby is 10!!!!! His birthday was Friday, and he and Mike spent the day together! On Saturday they fished with the 4-H club at Fort Boggy from 8 a.m. and then at noon his party started! We didn't leave Fort Boggy until 2:00! Thank you Saundra & Leslie for cooking! I really appreciate it!

Hannah Montana in 3-D!

Pics

Check out my new blog!

I have added a link on the right to the Madisonville 4-H Fishing Club blog. Mike is managing this club, and we are going to try to keep the schedule updated and post relevant information and pictures. I'll post some pics as soon as I can get them from our photographers! If you'd like to join us, and are a member of 4-H or would like to become a member of 4-H, let us know!

Treats for Troops

Just a reminder about Treats For Troops!!!

Mon. June 30--6:00
FBC Madisonville ~ FLC

Bring goodies to pack boxes for soldiers! (lip balm, hard candy, letters, Thank you cards, pictures from your children, batteries, sunscreen, ziplock bags, beef jerky)

Also bring a salad, veggie dish, or dessert AND the recipe to share! If you work or don't cook....don't worry! Please still come! This is the perfect opportunity to invite an unchurched friend or neighbor!

If you have a soldier that you would like a box to go to please call the church office asap 348-2686. We are sending 30 boxes. Get your soldier's name on the list with an ADDRESS!

Also, I'll will be teaching everyone how to make a keychain with fun beads!

Let's show our troop that we love them and appreciate what they are doing for us! What a great opportunity to let Jesus shine through the women at FBC Madisonville!

Come and join us! Pass this on to your friends!

Happy Anniversary!

So June 20th was our 16th wedding anniversary, and we decided to celebrate by taking a trip. Thursday morning I dropped the kids off at my sister's house, and we took off for Fredericksburg. We had a great time. We stayed at Angel's Lodge Above the Creek. It is a great little bed and breakfast just off of main street. We were off of Main, but still close enough to walk to all of the shops. I definatly recommend Angels Lodge, and a drive out to the Cotton Gin for dinner at least once!

Isn't he sweet?

Well, looks can be deceiving! Anyone out there with advice on what to do with a 3 1/2 year old (he'll be 4 August 30th) who still isn't potty trained? It's not that he can't. He can. He can go all by himself complete with the whole hand washing thing. And he does....at daycare...for Ms. Tosha. But not at home. Not at church. Not at daycare if Ms. Tosha isn't there!!!! Unless of course he wants to. He is so headstrong (maybe a little bit like his mom??). Anyway, I've read the books and the websites. I've tried bribing. I've tried patiently waiting until he is ready. I have tried all I know to do, but I welcome suggestions!

Thankfulness

Our new First Place bible study is "Choosing Thankfulness". Last week we were challenged to make a list of 5 specific and personal ways that the God of gods and the Lord of lords has been good to us. Really? Just 5? That was on day 1 of the study! So what am I thankful for? Let's see....

My family
My childhood
The wonderful parents that I miss so much
My beautiful children
My loving husband
My sister & her husband & kids
My home
My church
That I live in a country where I am free to worship as I please
Freedom
Friends!!! Lots of them!
Lunch with the girls
Bunko
42
All of my "things"
My job
My education (do you know there are still places in the world where women aren't taught to read?)
Books
Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Pat Harper
First Place (47 lbs. so far!!!! Whoop!!)
Bazillions of beads!!!
Steak
Max & Ruby & Diego (they keep my little one busy! Yes, they are TV shows!)
Daycare!
Machines (esp. the dishwasher & washing machine!!)
Computers
Beautiful Flowers

So I know my list is long, and some of the things on it seem a bit silly...but they are all things that make me happy, and I am thankful for them! And the list is still incomplete! What are you thankful for?

Opinions & Advise Please!

Okay--this was my first attempt, so don't be too harsh! Do any of you make pendants with clay? This was my first attempt. I saw a similar (but much prettier) pendant and just had to try it! But I really don't know what I'm doing, so I could use any advice, hints or opinions....

Rock Solid

The Children's Choir at our church presented their Spring Musical--Rock Solid--today. Casey played Cliff, a youngster who wanted to go his own way, blazing his own trail with no help from anyone. Until he fell and needed rescue. He did a great job, as did all of the kids!

Clover

First Place

The second session of First Place has drawn to a close. I did not do as well this session as I did the first one, but I did okay. I will be leading another group this summer. We are going to do the study Life That Wins. If you'd like to join in, let me know!

I am going to post some before and "in progress" pics. I can't post "after" pics, because I am a long way from done! The first one is from September 2007 (red shirt), the next from January 2008 (black shirt), and the last from today(red shirt again--it fits much better!).

Retreat!

Last weekend was our Ladies Retreat. We did another "retreat in a box" called Heart Spa. Our guest spearker was Julie Woodruff. The retreat was wonderful! Well, everything except the pedicures! (Sorry, I don't like feet!) Anyway, here are a few pics! Sorry--there aren't any of the late night facials that I'm at liberty to publish!

40 Pounds!

That's right! 40 pounds!!! Since I began doing First Place last September, I have lost 40.75 pounds! I cannot believe that I ever let myself get to the weight that I was at, but I am so glad it is coming off!


I have to admit that it has been hard to lose anything since Mike and I started leading a group in January. I never imagined how much different it is to lead a group than to be a participant. I am never sure how our group feels about our leadership role, but this week one of the participants took time in the group to say thank you, and to tell us that we are doing a good job. I cannot tell you how much that encouraged me! Most of the time I feel like I am flying by the seat of my (loose) pants! His kind words have inspired me to be good and stick to the diet better than I have been.


First Place is such a good program! The bible studies are great, the diet is great, the fellowshipping is great....and I can use my success to witness to people who I ordinarily would not think about witnessing to! Praise God!

Whew!

The 2008 Madison County Fair & Rodeo is over! Casey sold his pig on Thursday night at the premium sale--Thank you to Mr. Bryan Risinger!!!!!!!! We have all been trying to catch up on rest today. Here are a couple of pictures from Thursday.

The Big Day!!!

Casey showed his pig at the fair! Mike made the decision not to show our white hog, and went with the blue butt instead.

Casey won second in his class! He will be in the sale on Thursday night!

Of course Caleb couldn't let his big brother get all of the spotlight! He showed in Pee-Wee Showmanship, and the judge said that if there had been a Spirit Award, that he certainly would have won it! I wish I had a video of it to post, but alas, I do not have enough memory on my camera to video for that long! Take my word for it--it was hilarious!

Easter!

Easter was tons of fun!