Good morning blogger land! These pictures are from 2 years ago at a pumpkin patch that I took the kids to. I really want to go again, but it's an hour or so away and this year and last year I am having on and off again contractions and don't want to go that far away from home. So we're planning on going next year with Daddy this time. He was gone that year that we all went.

This morning the place is a mess. I was too tired last night to clean up the kitchen after we ate. I am still really tired this morning too. Not sure what all I'll get done today either. I got the food put away but that was about it. The living room isn't picked up so that needs to be done also. Cloth diapers are sitting on the couch from yesterday when they came out of the dryer. There are still clothes in the dryer that need to be brought out, folded, and put away. The clothes in the washer need to be put in the dryer. So much to do today. I also plan on going to Walmart to buy a different color of cotton yarn for my knitting. I want to knit a pad for my Swiffer. Instead of buying the wet Swiffer pads and throwing them away, I am going to make some pads that I can reuse. I also want to price the stuff that I need to make laundry soap and cold-pressed soap. But before I go anywhere, I need to get dressed out of my pajamas, kids dressed out of their night-night clothes, and get this house put back together! I took some pictures yesterday of the rolls I made yesterday and of my dishcloth I'm knitting so I can show you what I've been up to. So sometime this evening I'll get them on my computer so I can post them tomorrow.
Yesterday, I had a sign that the birthing of this baby is fast approaching us. I've been waiting for my "signs" to let me know that the process has started. So I was excited when I got one of my signs!! Since explaining my "signs" might be a little too intimate, I'll save you the descriptions! I'll just keep calling them my signs, since that is what it is to me. Even though my guess date is 2 weeks away, my signs also tell me that baby could be within the next 2 weeks. So I doubt I will make it past 2 weeks from now! So that is positive news for me!! Yay!! I could jump up and down with joy. I'm so ready to hold my new bundle of joy.



I hope that everyone has a wonderful day today. I am going to get myself going so I can start my day. I like blogging here first thing. It gets my thoughts in order so that I know what I need to do for the day.
When is your favorite time to blog?

Good morning. My morning is already going. The kids are awake and trying to get moving. They are just chilling on the floor and the couch right now waking up. The baby is climbing all over this floor bear that I bought for my son when he was her age about 7 years ago. I still have on daughter sleeping in. She's only 2 1/2 and doesn't have to wake up yet. She fell asleep on the couch before bedtime last night. She might be growing.

There are a lot of catching up to do around the home today. The dishes need to be washed. I didn't do them yesterday. The floors need to be swept and mopped. All the trash needs to be gathered and taken outside to the trash cans for trash day tomorrow. And laundry needs to be started. Busy busy day ahead. I also have bread to make, more knitting on my dishcloth, dinner to prep, and compost bin to water and roll around. I don't need to vacuum because my sweet husband of mine shampoo'd them yesterday. I am not sure how much of this I will be able to do today. Being hugely pregnant has zapped a lot of my energy lately even though I want to get it all done. Sometimes I just get tired before I can get to everything.

Now as promised... a blog I have found. It's a gold mine of information about homemaking. I've been reading through her past posts and I still haven't gotten to the beginning. She is based in Australia. The name is Down to Earth. You will learn so much on her blog. She's working on a book too.

Well, I'm off to start my breakfast and to get going with my day. I hope everyone has an enjoyable day today and is learning something new.

I'm still here. Still waiting for baby to make his appearance. I'm 37 weeks now. I will write more tomorrow with pictures. I have found a wonderful blog that I have spent the last few days going through and reading. Very inspirational. I will share it with y'all tomorrow. Thank you for staying with me. Lots of changes going on both physically, mentally, spiritually, and with the house. Lol. Its the nesting in me going on. I am nesting both our lives and with fluffing the house getting everything ready for another baby to share it with us. The kids are really excited for baby to get here also.

This email was sent to you by Lily®. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to the Lily® newsletter with the following address: larsonwoman@yahoo.com. Our apologies if you received this in error. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add inquire@sugarncream.com to your email address book. Unsubscribe | View Web Version | Change your member settings | Privacy policy | Contact us
Our Yarns	Free Patterns	Pattern Books	Store Locator
Member's Newsletter | October 2010
A Very Lily® Halloween Lily has been crafting a very special brew this Halloween. In preparation for her annual Halloween party, she is working up a delicious treat. Lily knows that all parties need both snacks and style. She's all set in her witchy costume and has some great decorations to boot. For all of your Halloween celebrations this year, you can crochet a holiday Lily doll and liven up your house with these great new patterns. Jump into the festivities and have a blast! Witchy Lily (crochet) Just in time for Halloween, New free patterns from Lily Sugar'n Cream! Crochet these and all of your holiday projects with Lily Sugar'n Cream! To complete your Halloween preparations, download these patterns from the Lily Sugar'n Cream pattern library. Wishing you a safe and exciting Halloween, -The Lily® Sugar'n Cream® Design Team
You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to the Lily® newsletter with the following address: larsonwoman@yahoo.com. Our apologies if you received this in error. Unsubscribe | Change your member settings | Privacy policy | Contact us Copyright ©2010 Lily® All rights reserved.

Backyard Homesteading

So I have had this need to get back to basics. I want to say that it is God calling me to do this. Where else could it come from? I'm not talking about just gardening. I'm talking about chickens (which I cannot do where I live), gardening, canning, preserving, using less energy... things like that. Becoming less dependent on the world and more self-sufficient.

I am starting with gardening since that is the easiest to start with. I am making a compost bin from a garbage can. Thrifty! In between birthdays, births, and holidays, I will buy the wood to make the container style garden beds. I'll make 1-2 beds that are 8x4. Then get the soil added and prepared for spring. I'm already saving our milk jugs to start the seedlings indoors for early spring. Another thrifty idea I got from searching around on the internet.

I've got a list of what I want to plant for the spring. For vegetables, I am planting green beans, sugar snap peas, crowder peas (My grandmother grew and canned these. They were by far my favorite!), carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic, corn, bell peppers, and of course, tomatoes.

For fruits, I would like to plant strawberries, apples, and maybe some berries around the fence perimeter. For the apples, I need to find if there is a dwarf tree version that can be planted in a container. I can't plant trees in my housing area. It's against our lease. We rent here. Same goes for animals. Actually, I think we can have rabbits, but Husband is allergic and I highly doubt he would eat rabbit meat. Lol. To be honest, I am a little hesitant about trying it myself.

Here is more from my book I'm reading right now. If you don't know what book it is, refer to the previous post before this one.


If you're exhausted emotionally and/or spiritually, check these points:

1. Have you rearranged your life to make God first- living in his presence and allowing plenty of time for worship, thanksgiving, his Word, and asking him about things?
2. Have you settled into the best church available, and made your fellow believers second in your life? Are you especially loving a few of then at such a close range, in a "small group," so that you can exchange your joys and burdens and needs, get counsel from them, and be held accountable to them?
3. Have you a plan for reaching those around you for Christ? Are you giving yourself away to the physical and spiritual needs of others?

These three priorities, in this order, will probably give you all the spiritual and emotional stamina you need. But if you say "yes" to these three and your job still exhausts you, you may be in the wrong job.
Work is God's plan for us, so we must find the work that best suits our gifts. We will probably shift in our lives from one type of work to another; that's good. Circumstances may cause this, or maybe those time-capsules going off inside, opening up new interests and gifts.
The source of your money is never your job. If it were and you lost your job, you might have a nervous collapse. No, the source of your money is God. He owns it all; he distributes it as he pleases; and he has promised over and over to take care of the physical needs of every one of his children.
God is always our source! The life of faith demands that we do his will first- before we concern ourselves with supply. That is, before we concern ourselves with supply of money, physical energy, time, or any other need. In the Christian life it's not "seeing is believing"; it's "believing is seeing." First seek "His kingdom, and His righteousness," and after that "all these things shall be added to you" (Matt 6:33).

Now that is how I want to live. I'm not there. At. All. But this is where I want to be. I don't want to be exhausted emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Who does? And life seems to be continually throwing road blocks that I need to overcome. Of course I need God more now that I did last month, last week, or even yesterday. But he will always be there for us as promised. And I love that. I love knowing that I can go to him whenever I need to. I don't have to wait for an opportune time. Every time is the most opportune time.


Bless y'all and love y'all!

Has anyone read this book? The Gentle Ways of the Beautiful Woman A Practical Guide to Spiritual Beauty by Anne Ortlund. Three bestselling works complete in one volume. Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman, Disciplines of the Heart, and Disciplines of the Home. I've had this book for quite a few years now and it is one of my go-to books when I need a pick me up. Sometimes I need a restart and this book is just that book that I love to go to. Do you have a go-to book when you need a restart or a kick start?




Here is an excerpt from the book:



This is what separates the winners from the fool-around-ers: setting your face toward truly making God the number one priority of your life.
...Let me suggest four ways; his Spirit will teach you many more.
First, practice his presence. Jesus did! He said, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?" (John 14:10). Yes, Jesus was special; he was part of the Trinity; but he tells us also to abide in him! So we get our clues from Jesus: when we abide continually in the Father, the words that speak won't be spoken on our own initiative; the Father within us will do the works.
Live your life consciously before him, moment by moment. Trust him to help you do it. Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Second, jealously guard a daily quiet time spent alone with God. Jesus did! He sent the multitude away- and prayed (Matt 14:23). When our three babies were age 2 1/2, 1 1/2, and brand new, I found my days were just one succession of bottles and diapers, and I got desperate for times with the Lord! Normally I would sleep like a rock, but I said, "Lord, if you'll help me, I'll meet you from two to three A.M." I kept my tryst with him until the schedule lightened; I didn't die; and I'm not sorry I did it. Everybody has twenty-four hours. We can soak ourselves in prayer, in his Word, in himself, if we really want to.
Third, seek the Lord in occasional longer hunks of time. Jesus did! In Luke 6:12 he spent an entire night in prayer, because he felt the need- he, the Son of God! How much more do we need these extended times with God? Ray and I take one day a month, usually, to go out of town and pray, think, check our schedules, evaluate where we've been, see where we're going, discuss how we're doing as a wife, as a husband. The time is too short!
And fourth, be diligent in your attendance of public worship. Jesus was! Luke 4:16 says that "as was His custom, He entered synagogue on the Sabbath." Certainly the Son of God wasn't going to church "for what he would get out of it." Maybe it was often than the best. He went because he pleased the Father in all things. Be committed to public worship of God every week whether you feel like it or not, whether the preaching is great or isn't! We go for what God gets out of it. He wants us to be there, not via television or radio, but personally with the Body of Christ (Heb. 10: 25).

I truly get so much from reading this book. I highly recommend it if you don't already have this. It is a little treasure for your bookshelves! As I read more, I'll share more juicy tidbits that will help your journey in Christ. Bless y'all and love y'all!

Don't you hate it when "life" happens? Well, "it" happened to me. I am 29 weeks pregnant with our 5th baby. I went last week to take my routine 1 hour glucose test. I failed it for the first time. So I now had to take the 3 hour glucose test. Well, I failed that one too. So now, for the first time out of 5 pregnancies, I am diagnosed Gestational Diabetic. I have a new diet I need to follow. I have to test my blood sugar levels 4 times a day. And so far, my numbers are still high.


So in light of my newfound way of life for the next 2 months at least, I am posting these beautiful pictures of our flowers. They are no longer in bloom right now. They are so pretty though. Doesn't God make such beauties in our lives? You just can't focus on all the road blocks that are thrown at you. Focus on the blessings of God will serve much better.

This picture is the best! I can see myself sitting beside this and just relaxing and letting the worries of life just melt away. This is at our Sea World. We just love that place. We have season passes for 2 years. We will be going quite a lot. The kids love it!

I can't believe I'm doing this. I am selling my embroidery/sewing machine. The money is going towards my class that I need in order for me to take the state licensing exam. Here is the link to ebay if you are interested. It's a Janome Memory Craft 9500. I have extras that are coming with the machine also. I just do not have the time to sit down and do the crafting that I want to do. I tell myself that I will have time when I'm older and the kids are grown and having families of their own. Please take a look at my machine.

G.R.I.T.S. ROCK Giveaway!!!

Another giveaway y'all!

Check out Miss Janice over at her blog and be sure to enter for her fabulous giveaway! Being from the south myself, I am definitely entering too.

G.R.I.T.S. ROCK Giveaway!!!

Yes, we are G.R.I.T.S.--Girls Raised In The South! And, we do love grits y'all!!! Grits is a comfort food that has helped many a Southerner through tryin' times. Grits are "King" at the Waffle House and they are also a favorite on the tables at wedding receptions, funeral receptions, and posh Southern soirees. Just like the other well-loved Southern comfort food--macaroni and cheese, grits is a Southern lady's blankie!

Exactly what is grits? Grits is made of hominy and hominy is the dried kernel of corn after the hull and germ have been removed.

My giveaway is all about Grits!!! I love grits prepared any style...plain grits with real butter, grits with cheese, or shrimp & grits. When The Queen of Southern Cuisine, Paula Deen was married, the classic combo of shrimp & grits was served to guests at her wedding in martini glasses. Now my daddy would have said that was too high-fallutin' him!!! I love it though...shrimp & grits served in a martini glass! I prepared Paula's recipe last night and we all loved it!!!


Here's some proper Southern grits etiquette for all y'all who live outside the South:

~Grits should always be served on a plate...along with your eggs and bacon and eaten with a fork; unless they are served alone, then you may use a bowl. Of course, they may also be served in a martini glass for a posh presentation!
~Grits are always eaten with a fork, 'cuz they should be thick enough not to run through the tines.
~Never put syrup on your grits--this irritates us Southerners to no end!
~Don't even think about putting sugar on your grits!!! Good Lord.
~Ketchup on your grits?...no ma'am, that's very Waffle House!
~Don't you dare eat instant grits...don't you dare!
~Don't call grits "cream of wheat"--again, very irritating to Southerners!

Recipe for Paula Deen's Shrimp & Grits:
2 servings cooked grits
2 tblsp olive oil
1/2 cup diced tasso ham*
2 tblsp diced onion
2 tblsp diced green peppers
20 medium to large shrimp, peeled and de-veined, with tails on**
1-2 tblsp white wine
1 cup heavy cream
Salt & pepper
Green onion tops, chopped
*Tasso ham is a cajun ham found outside of Louisiana. You can substitute salt pork, pancetta, or prosciutto.
**Miss Janice takes the tails off the shrimp before serving

Cook grits according to package directions; set aside and keep warm. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tasso and saute until crisp. Add diced vegetables and saute until onions are translucent. Add shrimp and saute for 30-45 seconds, or until pink. Remove from the pan and set aside. Deglaze the pan with a little white wine. Slowly add the cream and let reduce until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add grits to martini glasses and spoon the shrimp & sauce on top. Enjoy!

The Giveway...
First up, I'm giving away an apron just like the one I'm wearing today. It's too cute y'all! I get a LOT of compliments on it everytime I wear it!!! G.R.I.T.S. is printed in large pink and green letters and "Girls Raised In The South" is printed below in smaller pink and green letters. Pink & Green...Southern and preppy!!!

Next...I get so many emails from readers asking advice on 'How to be a Southern belle'. To help y'all start Southern Belle 101, I'm offering these two books by Deborah Ford.

"The G.R.I.T.S. Guide to Life"...The unspoken rules and rich traditions that makes Girls Raised in the South so unique! If you're not from the South and would like to learn more about being a Southern girl, this is the book for you. Or maybe you were raised in the South and now you live Lord-knows-where and just need a refresher course on Southern traditions. Love this book y'all!

Another book by Deborah Ford, "Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S., A Guide to Southern Entertaining"--is a must-have for those who want to know how to be the perfect Southern hostess. From Potluck to Thanksgiving Dinner, this book has all the tips & ideas to help you plan the perfect social event!

It wouldn't be proper of me NOT to include some grits!!! And, they are Dixie Grits. Yes ma'am they are!

*Please note that I'm not giving away Jean Paul y'all...just the grits sitting next to him!!!

Rules for the Giveaway:

~For one entry--you must leave a comment on this post.
~For two entries--you must be a follower of my blog or let me know if you are a new follower.
~For three entries--you must post about my giveaway on your blog.
~For four entries--you must be a follower of SocialGraces101 (that's me y'all) on Twitter or let me know if you are a new follower.
~For five entries--you must tweet about my giveaway.

Good luck to everyone! I'm taking some time off be be with family this week. This giveaway will end at 12:00 midnight E.S.T on Friday, July 30th and will be announced on Saturday, July 31st.

(Remember, enter on her blog!)

What are your plans for the weekend?

I am redecorating our home. I'm doing one room at a time and have decided to start with the most important room in your home. The entryway/foyer. This room sets the tone for the rest of the home when you walk in. What about when your guests walk in? What do you want them to feel? How do you want to feel or your spouse at the end of a long day? My entryway is not as grand or as big as I would like, but it is still big enough to do something with. I am starting by changing the wall color. When we moved in, all the walls were one color. Arizona White. Which is just short of a dingy white, if you ask me. I'd rather have stark white walls. However, we didn't get to choose. I've slowly over time painted some of the rooms. The kitchen is a soft buttery yellow color. Then we found the color on clearance that our oldest son wanted for his bedroom. So we bought it right then! Then I saw another clearance gallon for our bedroom. I liked it until I gave birth at a birthing center and they had the exact same color! (Yuck!) So now I can't stand the color.

I decided on Cafe Latte by Glidden. It's such a nice neutral color. I can easily add the other colors and have it coordinate. I was looking for a table for one of the walls at Ross and found the perfect mirror instead for the wall. Yay! I love it when I find a goody! I'll most likely head to Home Goods to find a table for my entryway. I'd really like a Bombay style table. I am so excited to start this project.

I'd love to hear what you have planned for the weekend. I hope to finish the painting by this weekend. We'll see.

Entrepreneurship

What does this mean to you?

There are a few women that I truly admire for their entrepreneurship abilities. Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Mary Kay, Jenna Jameson, Bethenny Frankel, among many others that are not so famous.

Today, a friendly blogger I follow, did a review of Bethenny's accomplishments. She did such a splendid job that I am just going to leave her review for you to read here. The Life of a Suburban Princess is the blog I'm referring to. Here's what she had to say:

She attended the Natural Gourmet Culinary Institute in New York to become a chef. After she graduated, she formed BethennyBakes, a company that provided wheat-, egg-, and dairy-free baked goods, meals for private clients, and a custom-meal delivery service. The company ceased production upon the launch of Frankel's Skinnygirl brand in 2009. (SP - She was creating allergy-free baked goods when this sort of thing was unheard of! She herself says she built her company out of rubble!)

Bethenny was one of 16 candidates in The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She made it to the series finale before losing to Dawna Stone. (SP - How amazing is that?! To even make it onto the show is a huge accomplishment!)

Bethenny is currently one of the seven women featured on Bravo's series The Real Housewives of New York City. On June 10, 2010, Bravo TV aired a series spinoff, Bethenny Getting Married?. The show follows Frankel through the planning of her wedding and life with Jason Hoppy. (SP - Imagine being so interesting! If cameras followed me most days there would be a lot of footage of the dishwasher being loaded, laundry being folded....)

In March 2009, Frankel's first book, Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting, was published by Fireside. (SP - My own book is in the works so I know what goes into it - to be picked up or approached by a publisher is huge!)

In December 2009, Her second book, The SkinnyGirl Dish: Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life was published, also by Fireside. (SP - Her first book was such a huge success the market warranted a second one!)

She released an exercise DVD, Body by Bethenny, in spring 2010. (SP - I dont have the time, energy or motovation to put an exercise dvd on let alone make one!)

The Skinnygirl Rules, an audiobook read by Frankel, was described as a summary of the first two books.

She is currently working on two more books, A Place of Yes, and Naturally Fit Pregnancy, as well as a skincare line. (SP - remember when she told KKB she comes from a place of yes? At that moment my entire view of Bethenny changed!)

On June 10, 2010, her new series, Bethenny Getting Married?, had the highest ratings of any series debut in Bravo history with over 2 million viewers. (SP - I havn't even watched my own wedding video!)

Bethenny posed nude for PETA in September 2009. The photo was featured on a billboard in Times Square as part of animal rights group PETA's anti-fur campaign. (SP - No one wants to see me pose nude, not even for a cause!)

Just 3 weeks after giving birth Frankel posed in a size-4 swimsuit for Us Magazine. (SP - I would love to be a size 4!!!)

Once again, thank you to Wiki for making me look like I know a lot more than I really do.

If I had this cheeky little bod I would wear a bikini too. Everywhere.

In the middle of all of of this Bethenny has come out with her own drink and a new brand!

I have invested some time into getting my own drink off the ground and let me tell you, it isn't easy!

I am picturing something like this in pink and green with my logo on the side!

Bethenny graced the cover of People last week - the first Housewife to do so.

If you have seen her new show you will know just how hard Bethenny works. She did not come from money or fame...she simply worked hard her whole life to get to this place. In a time when so many people think everything should be handed to them Bethenny has earned every dollar she has made with her drive, ambition and hard work.

She is a great example of what we can accomplish when we set our minds to it!

Have a fabulous day!

Posted by Suburban Princess at Tuesday, July 20, 2010

This is the phone that I upgraded to. My previous phone was a Blackberry 8320. The gold edition. I loved my Blackberry. However, most places stopped making Blackberry apps and my screen was starting to get scratched up. I needed a new phone. I was due for an upgrade. I wanted to keep my full keyboard but try out the touch screen also. I also had to have the Android market. There are just too many apps being made for the Android to not be apart of it. And the new iPhone 4 is a joke! Plus they are still with AT&T who will never be apart of our lives again! So their loss. Not mine. And from the reviews, all the iPhones are being left in the dust by the Android market. Now I just have to get use to the typing on it. There were shortcuts with the Blackberry. Now I just have to learn this new phone.


This is also what I just bought. I'm so excited to receive it tomorrow. I have put it off for a while debating whether or not I was ready to give up the actual books with pages. Plus I didn't want the eye strain. But after much research and hearing from family and friends, I have taken the plunge now that Amazon has lowered the price. Woohoo! I am really looking forward to my new toy! And I just couldn't wait so I also ordered 2 books for it. And I figured it would be nice to have something to read without having to weigh by bags down when I'm in the hospital after giving birth for the 5th time. It is still boring after a while and you just can't wait to get home.



I have heard good reviews for the ex-debutante. And the second book is by the same author. I normally like these kind of books so I thought having 2 would be good in case I finish the first one really fast. (I'm known to finish a book after a day or so.)

Anyhoo. So now that I am catching up to the technology craze... Lol.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

These turned out so yummy! I implore you to try these. Utterly mouthwatering. When I picked this up from the grocery store I originally thought they were chocolate croisants. I was wrong. I didn't read the can. You unroll them into these twist shapes. Yes, one can only produces 5 of these delights. "Oh, but there are only 4 in the picture," you say. I just couldn't resist them warm straight from the oven. I also went back for another one right after this picture was taken. I have no self control while pregnant. Hence why I leave all the "goodies" in the grocery store and don't bring them home. That way I won't gain like a gazillion pounds during this pregnancy.

My handsome young boy is almost done with this school year. We both are excited! He will be entering into the 3rd grade and his sister will be entering Kindergarten at the same school. It is hard for me to believe that I will have school children. Not just one in school, but more than one. Whew. Hard for my brain to imagine. I will still have two at home and one born at the end of the following month. So yes, I will still have my hands full at home. How do I do it?

I've gotten a few gadgets lately. I upgraded my Blackberry to a myTouch Slide. I am truly happy with this upgrade. I am hard to please which is why it has been a long time since I had a new phone. I really enjoyed my Blackberry. But it was time to join the Android market. And this phone has features of both that I love and couldn't part with. I have also decided to go ahead and get the Kindle. I had my reservations about just how good it really is and held off on ordering one. Same with the iPad. With all the problems the new iPhone 4 is having, I didn't want to order the iPad and it have lots of problems too. So I am still holding off on that one. Anyway, so I received said Kindle in the mail just the other day. I was in fact impatient and ordered a few books for my Kindle. I was glad that I did. I have already finished 2 of the books and now am on the 3rd one. What a great device it is. I am most likely going to order one for Husband too. It would be so nice to get rid of all my books and have less clutter everywhere. The books are overtaking my bookshelves and the floors. I need to purge, yet again, and get rid of more. The ones I have left I really want to keep though. So now I can order them on the Kindle version and donate the books themselves to my local library. They loved my last donation. I had 4-5 plastic bin containers full.

I am running out of decent maternity wear. I just found out the other day that Lilly does maternity! It is available at Pea in a Pod. Which turns out perfect because the mall that I like more than the others has this very store. Lilly, here I come. She also has her new agendas available in 18 month formats. That is awesome! I love mine!

Well, I really should get off and get ready for bed. But I'm feeling like a little indulgent snack. Strawberries with melted chocolate to dip them in. Yum.

Testing

I am testing again from my Blackberry.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

What a cutie she is in her bath! She loves it in here. Although after a while it gets to be too boring sitting down. I didn't get a picture of her standing because I had both hands on her the whole time! I would sit her back down and she would roll over and stand back up! Too much to see. See behind the sink is a bar, and it's open to the back room where I can see the TV from the sink. So naturally, so can she if she stands up and looks that way. Sneaky girl! I love her anyway.

This is what I'm reading now. Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn ordered off Amazon. I'm only into the second chapter right now. I tend to read a lot of parenting style books to better myself as a parent. Some ideas work for us and some do not.

Hello everyone.

I haven't posted in quite some time. Sorry about that. Life has been quite busy and I am relearning some things. Basically trying to slow down my life and learn how to relax. Life with 4 kids and 1 more on the way was a little too much for my brain to comprehend. And enter the panic attacks. I haven't had a full blown attack in over a month now. (Praise God!) But it has made me deal with each aspect of my life and what I need to purge and what I need to focus on.

I have been keeping up with each of you though. Reading your blogs has been a nice break for me in my hectic days. I love keeping up with what is going on in each of your lives. I had hoped that some of you would post more often, but here I sit not posting at all. Not very fair now is it?

I am still not ready to return to church. I have a good church. I don't know anyone from the church, but I love the messages and the way the pastor delivers his message. I have been attending this church off and on now for 3 or 4 years now. Like I said though, off and on. I have not been very disciplined in attendance.

I have been using my new toy. It's not new, but a used toy, but still new to me. It's a Janome Memory Craft 9500. I bought it used from a friend of mine. I got taken advantage of the deal, but I am still glad that I have the machine. I've embroidered a few items already. Once I figure out how to add pictures on my Macbook Pro I'll add some. The only way I have found to add pictures is to drag them onto my desktop screen and then add them that way. There has to be a better way that I do not know of.

My baby girl has a rash, red eyes, and is tired all the time. She will still play, but is tired as she does it. We have an appointment with her pediatrician tomorrow morning. I hope they know what is causing this rash. She is not a happy a happy girl these past few days. It is hard trying to make this girl happy. I can't carry her all day and night, but that is what she wants. And it is especially hard since Daddy isn't home to help. As soon as I sit, she will fuss again. I'm hoping we get some answers tomorrow.

School is still going on. Big Man still has 2 weeks before summer break. He's looking forward to his summer. I have him signed up with Scouts. He'll be a Cub Scout this year. I've also ordered the Keepers of Faith book for him also. Now I understand that most of his activities will overlap the two, but they can be used for both programs. My other 2 older daughters are signed up for Keepers of Home program. One is 4 and one is 2 1/2. My 4 year old starts Kindergarten this fall. She'll be ready for her program while the younger one has the preschool edition of the program. Both are old enough to start learning about homemaking. I am looking forward to all of them starting their activities. I should look online for a group nearby. I highly doubt there is, but it will be worth a look if there is.

I will post more often. I will make a point to not go so long without posting from now on. I am here and alive. Don't give up on me yet!

I have a couch that is the same style as the couch shown in the lower right corner. I love the blue and white stripes and am thinking of having our couch reupholstered like this one shown. What do you think? Too bold? I am looking to update our home. It's so cluttered and messy. There is no rhyme or reason to anything. Just kind of thrown in here from moving around a lot. My husband is military so moving is inevitable for us. Even now we are contemplating moving into another home that is 5 bedrooms. So that would be moving yet again.

We've been back from our vacation to Texas now for about a month. I've had a few surprises in my life and I think we are finally getting back to a somewhat sense of normalcy. Which is kind of hard to do apparently. I, on the one hand, am forever grateful. I don't like bad surprises. Only the good kinds. Like presents, good food, and new friends. I like my old friends too, but sadly, cannot see them as much as I like. Distance is a huge factor here. I have an ocean between one of them and quite a few states between another. I consider these 2, my besties. I can talk to them about anything. And I am grateful for that!

On the better light of things, we are expecting another baby! I can't tell you what a shock this was to us. I think it is still a shock to my husband, but I am now happy and accepting of another baby. I think he will be happy once the baby is born and is healthy. Although, if it is a boy, he will be beyond ecstatic! See, we only have the 1 boy, our first, and the 3 girls. I am hoping to keep the sex of this baby a surprise, but I don't think that hubby will go for it. I will have the ultrasound tech write it down and put it in an envelope. Then we'll see how long it can stay a secret. The ultrasound isn't scheduled yet, but it will be late July or early August. It will depend on how booked they are. I am starting to get excited about adding another baby to our already full home. What a full family we will be! Plans are in the making for another vehicle also. We only have the one right now and it fits just us as it is. We have a Ford F150 quad cab. So it fits all of us nicely, but it isn't going to fit anyone else. So a second vehicle is going to be added in addition to the baby. However, I haven't been able to narrow my sights on what it is that I want. Anything full size SUV or a minivan. We are not entertaining the idea of full size vans. We just aren't going there. We weren't even considering minivans, but after thinking about it they just have better gas mileage and are easier to get in and out of. But I am partial to the full size SUV's. I just LOVE them! But I have some time before I have to decide.

Well, I hope that all you mommies out there are going to have a wonderful Mother's Day. Bless all of you!!

I am sorry that it has been such a while since my last post. I was packing for our little car trip with 4 kids and 2 adults and 1 dog. The car ride by itself was 2 days one way. Then we were scheduled to stay at my parent's home for 2 weeks and then start back. About 2 weeks before the trip, my husband and I found out that we are expecting baby #5! What a shocker for us to find that out! So with the nausea getting worse while we were visiting, I also had my first anxiety attack that lasted an hour in the middle of the night. That was not my idea of fun. So we cancelled the rest of our vacation and headed home to have my blood work done again. Come to find out, it was my thyroid that was out of whack. We've been back for about 2 weeks now and I am just now starting to get my body back in control somewhat. I still have to remind myself everyday that I am not in control. God is in control and I cannot be the one who has control.

I am looking through my homemaking books and finding inspiration and motivation around my home that will help get my heart and mind in the right place so that my body will eventually follow. I am enjoying going through my past issues of Country Living. That has to be my favorite magazine. I also enjoy MaryJane's Farm magazine. (Speaking of which, I need to renew my subscription.)

My little 2 year old is trying to potty train herself. I think its the cutest thing ever until she goes for the 3rd time in a row without breaks in between. I know I should just let her, but I get frustrated. My days are getting more demanding and my body isn't keeping up and it's getting to me. My baby-baby, who is almost 6 months now, is eating baby food and baby cereal along with her formula. She's requiring less naps during the day and more active time. But she has the widest smiles that light up her whole face. I just love it!

Before leaving on vacation, I was on a quest to have my house uncluttered and clean for our return. I was almost there. Our house has always been a cluttered home from day one. We have piles of clothes in a basket waiting to be folded here, a pile of papers, books, magazines on the floor next to the corner there. Its sad really. The dining room table is crowded with sewing machine, sewing boxes, material folded, coupon binder with coupons waiting to be clipped and filed into the binder. Get my picture here? Clutter everywhere. Now the corners and piles are only a few. I'm getting there until I hit my setback. Hang in there. God will provide exactly what I need. Right now it must be rest because that is all I can muster.