New 'do!

Before and After

This was done on a whim yesterday...I just got tired of all the work my hair was requiring. I feel much lighter now!

Birthday Cowboy!

We had our son's birthday party today. After a day of rain yesterday, we were glad for sunshine and the chance to be outside. We had a small party at our house, because that's what our son wanted. The ''cowboys" painted mustaches on their faces and did a little "pistol practice" with water guns (which quickly turned into a fun water gun battle....showdown at the O.K. Corrall!) They also rode and then roped the pony(which turned into a game of "rope the kids" when my hubby started chasing the kids around)! It was lots of fun and my son was very happy!

Various and Sundry

My middle name is Belle and its been tagged (by Jenn) in a meme. Here's how it works:

You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged, you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. And if you feel like it, tag someone to play.

B -Butterflies, the Monarch kind flock to the flowers in my front yard every year.

E- Eggs, don't like them at all.

L- Laughing....I love witty humor. There's nothing like a good sarcastic dig (not the hurtful kind, of course).

L- Lake. We love to spend lots of time on our boat at the lake.

E- Eating. I do way too much of it....especially sweets.



In other news, I made my first attempt at cake decorating today. We will be having my son's birthday party tomorrow, and I decided to make the cake myself. Here are the results of my oh so ameteur endeavour. Now if you want to see some cakes made by someone who really knows what they are doing, check out my friend's cake blog. I knew Kelley in college and recently reconnected in the blogosphere! You will love drooling over her beautiful creations. I wish she lived close enough to do the cake for tomorrow's party.







5m4m is having another contest. I signed up...sure could use this one.








If you get a chance, check out the lyrics that Crystal posted this past Wednesday. What meaningful thoughts about the comfort and peace God gives his children!




Nan was sweet enough to grace me with a blog award. And not only that, but she put her creative touches to work and remade the award button. If you don't already read Nan's blog regularly, check it out. She has something new and entertaining every day.

So, I will pass on the award to my long-time IRL friend, Jenn. Jenn and I met when we worked at Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico. We worked there 2 years and became great friends. So much so that we went on to be roomies in Tx. I think she's one of the nicest people I know. I love her and miss spending time with her. Just for kicks, here is a picture of us "back in the day (1992)." That picture ought to make you chuckle. :)

Pillowcase Dress

I'm sure you've seen a lot of these dresses on sweet little girls. My sister-in-law has been making them for a while and has even launched her own venture which includes selling these adorable dresses. During her visit last weekend, she told me how to make them. So, I dug around in my drawer of fabric and found a cute piece of Christmas fabric. I sat down last night to give it a try and this is what I ended up with. It was exciting to accomplish something new. I was pleased that it was so simple, and that I was able to complete the dress from start to finish in about 1 1/2 hours.


You can check out my sis-in-law's pillowcase dresses by clicking here.
She also makes ribbon t-shirts which are adorable! Check them out here.

My Song to the King!

I've felt the thunder
speak of Your name
And I've watched the lightning
Your glory proclaim


I've gazed upon mountains
that testify of Your fame


And I've heard the waves on the ocean
echo their refrain



This is my song, my song to the King
And I stand in awe of Your majesty
And I don't have much
but I give everything
This is my song, my song to my King

It seems all creation
is longing for You
From here to the farthest star
they're worshipping You

And who am I God
that You are mindful of me
I'm simple in heart, simple in song
I'm a small offering

This is my song, my song to the King
And I stand in awe of Your majesty
And I don't have much
but I give everything
This is my song, my song to my King

-Pocket Full of Rocks

(photos by Leah Belle @Sweet Tea are copyrighted and may not under any

circumstances be used without express permission)

My BABY Turns Four Today!

Its hard to believe that my baby's no longer a baby! Where did 4 years go? I'm so grateful for this gift from God. What a joy and blessing my son is to me every day.


After the difficult labor that I experienced with my daughter, I wasn't sure what to expect from my 2nd pregnancy. It was a breeze! I was induced at 6:30 am, given an epidural at about 10:00 am and gave birth at 12:30pm. I only had to push 3 times. When my Mom called about an hour later (she lives in another state) and asked how things went, I said I couldn't believe how easy it was! My son came out screaming and hasn't slowed down since. He was never happy about being unable to get around on his own and when he started walking at 9 months, became a much happier child. Now he keeps us on our toes and makes us laugh A LOT!

One of the Many Reasons My Husband is so Great!

This past week was crazy busy! I participated in a local semi-annual consignment sale. Its really a GREAT idea and I'm so glad I get to participate! I ironed, labeled and put on hangers clothes that my children have outgrown. Then this past weekend, I delivered them to the local civic center and worked a 4 hour shift sorting all the clothes that were dropped off. Because I worked a 4 hour shift, I was considered a hostess and was allowed to shop the sale the night before it opened to the public. These sales are great, because nice, name brand, gently used clothing is sold at 1/2 to 1/4th the price that it was originally purchased. This makes it possible for me to buy clothing items for my children that I would never be able to afford from the department or boutique stores.

(a couple of items I bought for my daugher)

I also love the fact that I can sell my items and receive 95% of the price. The other 5% goes to a local charity. I not only sold clothes but also toys, baby bed, double stroller, etc. Everything has to be tagged according to the specifications of those running the sale, and I had so much stuff (years worth) that it took many hours to get everything ready to go. There was more than one very late night in this house, and I was running on very low fuel. There was so much stuff spread across our bed that we had to sleep in our daughters bed a couple of nights. My husband was awesome. He helped me by cleaning items, getting things out of the attic and keeping the kids out of my way.

(my bedroom during the process)

(a pile of stuff I had to get ready to sell...in the garage)

Two of my sisters-in-law (and their children) came from Fl to be a part of this too. Dawn brought items to consign, and she worked a 4 hour shift too. April came to keep Dawn company on her drive and to help my hubby babysit all the kids. I'm so grateful that Joel was willing to give up a whole weekend so I could go work and shop these 2 days. And in case you are wondering, it was well worth the work. I found lots of great items for my kids AND made lots of money! Thank you, sweetie, for all your help...for taking a day off work to babysit...for giving up Saturday to babysit....and for so much more! I love you!

Read April's perspective of the weekend at Its a Beautiful Life.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And I fall down again

I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love?
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I can sing

--Chris Tomlin

Our House Smells Like Peanuts!

I am one of those people that loves the markers of seasons. By that I mean, I love all the things that happen every year at the same time. For example, I love that the Bradford pears are one of the first trees to bloom each March, marking the beginning of Spring and I love that we get to pick strawberries every April marking summer's approach.

We are experiencing one of those season markers right now. Our house smells like peanuts, because we boiled a big pot of them last night. Before moving to SE Alabama, I didn't know a whole lot about peanuts, but I have learned a lot since. Did you know that peanuts grow underground? At harvest time, a machine digs the plants up and turns them over in the field. After 2 or 3 days of drying in the field, a harvesting machine separates the peanuts from the plants and loads them in "wagons" that are hitched to trucks.
We are definately in peanut farming country here, so peanuts seem to effect many parts of our life. Our house is located just 1/2 mile from the peanut coop. Every fall, harvested peanuts are brought in the peanut "wagons"to the coop and attached to "blowers" for curing. Hot air is forced slowly through the wagons during this process. This makes a loud, but low (in pitch) humming type noise. There are many of these running at the same time, so we hear them day and night during peanut season. I have fond memories associated with the sound of the blowers, because my son was born during our first peanut season here. When I would be up to feed him at night, I would hear the almost hypnotic, comforting sounds of the peanut blowers down the road. Every fall, the event of the season is the Peanut Festival. This rivals most county fairs, is attended by just about everyone and climaxes with the Peanut Festival Parade through downtown.
Anyway, all that to say our neighbor gave us fresh peanuts yesterday and we took on the task of pretending to be natives: We boiled them! Boiled peanuts are a favorite snack of this region and we are in full agreement! We have enjoyed the taste of them every fall since we have moved here. But this time, we boiled them ourselves. It was fun and they were tasty. Now, our house smells like peanuts marking the beginning of Fall. It may still be terribly hot and humid and so far no leaves have changed colors, but we know Fall is on its way, because the peanut harvest is beginning.

Click on over to my recipe blog to learn how to boil peanuts.

The photos in this post were taken by Old Shoe Woman and shared on Flickr.

New Photosmart Printer!

Check it out ladies....another great contest at 5m4m! I could really use this, so it was with the utmost love and kindness that I say I hope I win and you don't! :)