Mel Tells

Rudolph Shirts

2009-11-10T09:29:00.000-06:00

I am now offering Rudolph shirts for little boys and girls! Check out my shop or email me at justbecausedesigns (at) yahoo (dot) com for questions! Thank you!!!

Randomness....

2009-11-09T21:11:00.000-06:00

I love these things.....Thanks Laura!!!

1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light? I would have to wait it out--my luck a cop would be hiding out and see me if I rolled on through that light! :o)

2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything? Ummm...Probably not! I had a good day yesterday and a very productive evening last night!

3. When you reply to some one's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? Well, I have done both, but I really like to reply to them via the email notification that I receive for that blog comment. That doesn't always work though, because not everyone has their email in their public profile.

4. Your favorite Disney movie is: I have always LOVED The Little Mermaid, but now Nemo is running a close race!!!!!!

5. Do you recycle? No....I don't have room to recycle in my home! :o) I am constantly throwing away!

6. Games of strategy or games of chance? BOTH! I do love a good game of Chess against my husband! He is SO awesome at Chess and always has me in check-mate in a hot minute, but I still like to try! I have beat him maybe once or twice in our lifetime together! But there is just nothing like a good game of chance where you don't have to think...Just hope! :o)

7. Do you have any recurring dreams? I don't think so....

8. What did you learn from your first real job? That I did not want to work in the restaurant business

9. Do you buy or borrow most books? Borrow from friends.....And normally I return them unread! I am not a reader!

10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
I don't know if this is really of the past, but I have always said that I will never wear black and brown or black and navy together and I find myself slowly coming out of my shell....Thanks to my dear friend, Amber!

11. When do you start Christmas shopping? November.....or when the funds are there! :o)

12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion? Yes....this happens often at the Smith house over any random thing! :o)

Happy Tuesday!!!!!!

p.s.... I am almost to my 500th post.......do you remember what I told you would happen at 500???????? Stay tuned!

How can I keep from singing

2009-11-05T09:10:00.003-06:00

My heart burst with joy every time I hear this song!

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

Chorus:
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'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

Chorus:
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 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

Chorus:
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

Happy Thursday!

Seriously...

2009-11-01T21:02:00.003-06:00

Halloween is OVER!!!!! Take the decorations down!!!! Or maybe I just need to do some MAJOR fall cleaning! :o)

We noticed this HUGE cobweb in the light fixture above the dining room table tonight while we were eating dinner! I pretty sure my Dad & Sharon are picking their jaws up right now! :o)

Happy November!!!!! I'm off to do some cleaning! ha!

Grab my new button!!!

2009-11-01T00:35:00.002-05:00

<a href="http://justbecausedesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="JustBecauseDesigns"></a>

I am working on re-designing my shop and getting new items added!

Trick or Treat!

2009-10-31T21:04:00.006-05:00

Happy Halloween! We took the kids trick or treating tonight. The boys are really too old for it (Andrew especially), but they still go with Annah Brooke.

When I asked Annah Brooke what she wanted to be for Halloween a few weeks ago, she grinned really big and said, " a black eyed pea." Ha!!!!! I guess she wanted to be like her momma since that is what I was for my Halloween Bunco this month! I didn't argue with her though...cheap and easy!!! Just the way I like it :o)

So a black eyed pea she was! Ready to go trick or treating!
Daddy, Sadie, & ABS Since the boys are really too old for this, they don't really dress up, but we did let them get a mask at Wal-mart. Andrew is the red face and Avery is the gold face. Avery did have some black gown thing that he wore over his clothes that he had from a previous year.
We had a few neighborhood boys walk with us. Every time I take a picture of Sadie, she closes her eyes!!! ha! I ♥ this one! Andrew and Daddy Hope you all have had a fun and safe Halloween! I can't believe tomorrow is November 1st!!! Where did the time go?!?!

Oh, and don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight!!!!

The magic pan...

2009-10-29T23:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Halloween! I am sitting here trying to figure out where the month of October has gone, but it's just that. Gone. :o)

I woke up Monday morning sick and by Tuesday, I just felt awful! I am not one to go to the doctor very easily, but I made myself go Tuesday afternoon! Everyone was pretty shocked when they found out I actually went to a doctor, ha!!!! But, I have way too much to do to let a cold (or whatever I had) get me down. Plus no one likes to be sick :o)

I was already feeling better by Wednesday night as I was in the kitchen baking more of these cookies for the kids.... And then tonight, I have been making brownies. Speaking of brownies...My kids ♥ brownies, especially Avery. The sad thing about it is that I don't make them often, because no matter how long I let those little jokers cool, when I cut into them they still fall apart and I NEVER get cute little square brownies. It is normally just a hot mess!

Well no more, my friends! My MIL gave me and my SIL a happy a few weeks ago, and to be honest, I thought it was such a silly purchase at the time. But after my SIL told me how wonderful it worked for her and I tried it tonight, this magic pan is NOT so silly!!!! I ♥ it....so much that I made two batches of brownies tonight, and plan on using it a whole lot more! :o)

You see, you pour your brownie mix into the pan and then put the divider into it. You bake it with the divider and then once done, it makes PERFECT little brownies!!!!!
No more janked up brownies! I was SO excited! I really love it, MIL! THANK YOU!
She ordered ours from QVC aka her favorite store, but you can read more about the pan here!

Well, I am off to bed. Sooooo glad tomorrow is Friday!

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Decorating for Christmas....

2009-10-29T12:45:00.007-05:00

You do realize that there are only....

Right?

Yes, FIFTY-SEVEN DAYS.......Oh My!!!! I have so much to do and so little time to do it!!!
I just wanted to share a quick idea for decorating the outside of your home this Christmas.....

Perhaps you could do what this clever neighbor on the right did...... :o)

I think this is BRILLIANT!!!! I ♥ it!!!!!

Happy THURSDAY!!!!!!

In case you are wondering....

2009-10-26T22:49:00.004-05:00

The boys do still live here! :o) I realized I have not blogged about them much lately. Mainly because I do not have any pictures of them. When I try to snap pictures of them, I usually get this.... or a goofy look like this....Unless I sneak into the bedroom to snap a picture like this...

Other than that, I don't have really any recent pictures of them!!! :o( I mentioned this past weekend about us doing our Christmas pictures soon and they both moaned and groaned! They so do not like to be in front of the camera! ha!!!

They are having a lot of homework and book reports so needless to say, they are not happy campers! Their nights are usually full with reading and doing equations....blah, blah, blah!!!! Glad it is them and not me! ha!!!

They are both playing football, but I honestly have not really gotten any good pictures this season. Most of their games have been on the same night so Wade goes to one and I go to the other. Normally I have the camera with me, and it has seemed like when I have the camera, they don't get much playing time, but when I have forgotten the camera, they play the whole game...Go figure! My Luck...Note to self....take your camera EVERYWHERE you go and send the back up camera with Wade! :o)

Last week Avery brought home the middle school class ring form...Yes, you read that right. MIDDLE SCHOOL! We didn't have middle school class rings when we were in school, but they offer them now! Andrew got one in 6th grade and now its Avery's turn! :o) And I'm sure Andrew will be bringing home the HIGH SCHOOL order form any day now! My boys are growing up too fast!!!! :o(

They are both doing great though and just keeping us really busy! Hopefully I will have some football pictures to share in the next few days!

Good night!

Holiday fever & weekend fun!

2009-10-25T20:59:00.007-05:00

I guess you can say I have Holiday fever really bad!!!! Not just one holiday, but all of them! I am so ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas! I ♥ this time of year.....seriously!!!!

I have spent the whole weekend doing some of the things I enjoy most!!! Baking, sewing, & painting! And I'm sure there will be plenty more of those activities in the upcoming weeks for me!

I've told you time and time again that I am NO Cookie Mama, and even though I am NOT comparable to the Cookie Queen, I still love making my family sugar cookies! :o) I baked some Halloween cookies on Thursday night and spent most of Friday night icing them! I was so over it that I didn't even do the stems of the pumpkins, ha!!!! They are now almost gone so I promised the kids that I would do more this week so they would have some for Halloween! :o)

Saturday was a day full of football at the Smith house! We had it on ALL DAY long! I did sneak out late afternoon and make a Hobby Lobby & Target run! My friend, Julie, got me hooked on Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer so I had to go ~~wipe them out~~ buy some. It is SO YUMMY and I hate that it is a Limited Edition :o(

My Granddaddy has been on my mind a lot this weekend. He passed away a year ago today so in memory of him, I decided to start painting these..... He grew these gourds (not sure why, but he did)....I had a few last year and just never got around to painting them so I pulled them all out this weekend and got busy! They are all so different and funky, and I can't wait to display them with my Santa Collection in the years to come! I will always think of my Granddaddy when I look at them.

This was the 1st one I painted today....I call it my "trial run" Santa! I don't think it turned out great, but Wade and my parents loved it! I am now working on my 2nd Santa, but I am not done with it yet! I will show pictures when I am through! :o)

I have also been wanting to paint Annah Brooke a Halloween Pail all month and decided I better do it since Halloween is in less than a week! So I started with this....And it turned out like this.....She ♥'d it, but was quick to tell me that she would have it full of candy fast! I assured her that I would carry along a bag for her to "dump" her candy in so she could keep re-filling the pail! :o) Ha....Can you say greedy??? ha!!!I also started on some of my Christmas designs.....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these hand towels. They make such great happies for teachers, friends, daycare workers, etc....Email me today to order yours! Christmas Present Shirt..... I have some new Christmas fabric and I am working on getting pictures of it in my shop. Email me at justbecausedesigns (at) yahoo (dot) com for ordering and questions. Can you tell I have holiday fever?!?! Ha!!!! I so love this time of year! It has been a great weekend and I have gotten a lot accomplished, but still SO much more to do! :o) Have a happy Monday!

Ready to ship!

2009-10-25T20:52:00.002-05:00

I am done filling my Halloween orders, but I do have 3 "ready to ship" shirts that could be yours just in time for Halloween! They are $13.00 + shipping!

I have one 2T spider shirt available. And I have 2 Frankenstein shirts available in an 18 month & 5/6.

If you are interested, please email me at justbecausedesigns (at) yahoo (dot) com! Hurry before its too late!!!!!!!

Monday?!?!

2009-10-19T06:54:00.001-05:00

I sure wish that I were this excited that it was Monday!!! :o)

Bows, shirts, & a bunch of ramble...

2009-10-18T23:45:00.006-05:00

It is really a crying shame that I didn't like to do crafts and sew when my kids were small. I just really got into it in the last 2 years, and I feel like my kids "missed out" on so much fun stuff that I could have made and did for them and with them.

The boys are too old to wear any of my cutsie shirts and Annah Brooke informed me that she probably won't wear them in another year or two. Ha! Bless her! So I guess you can say I am making up for lost time....well, with her at least! I am constantly making her outfits, dresses, shirts, & now bows. I also have two nieces and a nephew who are still small so I can spoil them with some of Aunt Mellie's hand-made items too. :o)

Over the last few months, Annah Brooke and I have really gotten into bows. She has never really worn a lot of bows mainly because she doesn't have a lot of hair to hold them in. Well, I ordered her some before school started and she has been wearing them proudly everyday (with the exception of a few days when she asked could she wear her hair down without anything, ha). I always have a ton of ribbon around as I use it to make my bibs so I decided a few weeks ago to give "bow making" a go....I have been so pleased with the outcome and I hope Annah Brooke stays on her "bow kick" for now as she is going to have a gazillion of them! Ha!!!

She wanted a witch's hat shirt to wear to school so I made her one...

along with a Halloween bow to wear! Then I was playing around and made her a few more....And I can assure you there are tons of more bows in the making! :o) I made my sweet nephew this little turkey shirt. And before you ask...Yes, this turkey will get eyes, just not today! ha! I will also be adding this shirt to my shop in girl and boy fabric!

I made my sweet nieces some Halloween spider shirts to wear for the next few weeks. I love how they turned out!

And they get a Halloween bow too!!!!

This is the owl shirt that I made for Annah Brooke to wear Friday for her party, but I didn't even get a picture of her wearing it b/c she changed so we could paint!
This shirt has also become quite popular too! I have had several orders for this shirt! "Who" doesn't love an owl? :o)Sorry for all of the rambling! All of my free time is wrapped up in sewing lately so I don't have anything else "good" to talk about! :o)

Hope you all have a Happy Monday! I'm off!

Whooo's Birthday?!?!?!

2009-10-17T19:13:00.011-05:00

We have been in party mode all weekend celebrating Annah Brooke's 9th birthday! The party started Friday morning when she celebrated with her class with these cupcakes for morning snack! I'm sure the kids were bouncing off the walls by lunch from all of the sugar! :o)

The BIG party started Friday night when we had 4 silly girls over for a slumber party! This was Annah Brooke's 1st sleep-over at our house and we all had a blast!!!!

We are "owl" crazy right now! Owls are so in, and we LOVE them!!! We decided on an "owl themed" party after Ms. Lucy had an owl party last month. I made her invitation after I was inspired by the talented and creative Jenny Holloway! Jenny is so good and if you need notecards, invitations, announcement, etc...go check her out! You will be so glad you did! We started with Pizza and juice drinks! I thought we ordered too much pizza, but let me tell ya, these 5 little girls CAN eat! ha!!!! I figured they would maybe eat one piece.....NO, they each had anywhere from 2 to 4 pieces!!! ha!

We even had some very special out-of-town guest come in to party with us! We've known all week that they were coming, and we have been counting down the days!!!!!!

Aunt Samantha, Mrs. Shannon, Macy, & Lucy all made the trip for the party! Nana Sharon was coming too, but ended up not being able too! She was missed! :(The girls had a dance-off and danced the night away! Ms. Macy showing off her moves! I think she "get it from her mama!" ha!!!We kicked all of the guys out, but Daddy was having a hard time leaving! ha!!! He hung around for a little while and watched the girls paint! Look at these little Picassos! MM watching sweet Lucy....She is SO into it! ha!I ordered some cookies to match her invitation from my bestie, aka The Cookie Mama! So adorable and SO good!!!!! This was her cake that I made to match the invitation as well!!!! I am no cake decorator, but Annah Brooke LOVED it and that is what matters! :o)I forgot something very vital for the party....CANDLES for the CAKE. So what do you do with a house full of girls at 9:00 at night when we are ready to sing Happy Birthday?!?! We use TOOTHPICKS, ha!!!!! This was not the greatest idea, but it did the job. :o)She got lots of loot! She was so proud of her $50 bill from MM & PawPaw along with all of the other money she got! :)She got a very cutsie gown from Macy, Lucy, & Mrs. Shannon. Gran Gran wrote her a special little poem in the card from them. She got some CUTE clothes from them as well! Lucy, Annah Brooke, & Macy in their matching gowns! These girls are definitely BFFs! :o) FINALLY!!!! Around 3 a.m. they were all sacked out! :o) Shannon and I were so relieved! ha! We sat up and talked for a bit more until I fell asleep in mid-sentence! ha!!!
We had to have a few more pictures this morning before they had to leave!

Look at those adorable shirts that Shannon and her mom made for Macy & Lucy!!!! They ALWAYS look so precious!

Me & my BESTIE!!!!! I SO love this girl! She is the BEST!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL for making the trip to come make Annah Brooke's 9th birthday so special! We had a blast!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNAH BROOKE! We LOVE you baby girl!

Halloween Bunco

2009-10-08T23:22:00.007-05:00

I started playing Bunco last month for the first time ever!!!! A couple of friends from church were starting up a brand new group and asked me to join! I was so excited as I've been wanting to join a group for a while now. We did not all know one another, but I can already see great friendships being made! This group of ladies are a blast to hang out with! I am so thankful to be apart of this group!!

We had our October Bunco tonight at my house. Since it is October, I decided to go with a "Fall/Halloween" theme. We had chili, corn dip, pumpkin bread, & dice sugar cookies. We also had a costume contest which was a lot of fun!!! I was a little worried when I told everyone to come dressed up that I would be the only one, but they out did themselves! I was so excited to see them showing up one by one dressed up!!!! We had a few ladies that didn't participate only because they got off work late! That was okay too!!! :o)

Carla & LauraAshley, Jamie, Mindy, & LeighSusanne, Cheyenne, Shamra, & PamLet the games begin!!!!!!!!!!!Crazy Laura!!! This girl is a HOOT!!!! You can't really tell, but I was a black eyed pea! A co-worker gave me that idea yesterday and I LOVED it! I had never heard of such, but you just black out one eye and then I sewed a "P" onto a white shirt!!! Ha!!! Mindy showed up as a black eyed pea as well, but she wasn't in this picture! lol!!!! The great thing about Bunco is that you have winners, but you also have a loser prize. I actually was the "biggest loser" last night! I don't know what was wrong, but I couldn't seem to roll a "6" to save my life. lol!!! I bought a cute pumpkin platter for that prize so I was tickled to win that!!! :o) We had a great time, and I can't wait till next month!!!! :o)

Do any of you play Bunco?

Rainy afternoon

2009-10-04T18:51:00.004-05:00

I have been wanting to make Annah Brooke some fall outfits for some time now. My friend, Julie, gave me a pattern for ruffle pants Friday so I decided to get in here on this rainy afternoon and give it a try. The pattern only went up to a size 4 so I had to make my pattern for Annah Brooke from the size 4. I've never really sewn with a pattern and to be honest a pattern has always been intimidating to me. :o) I quickly got over it and got busy sewing! :)

I love to sew, but I really LOVE to sew when it is for my baby girl! She just sits and watches me and ask questions and it really makes my ♥ smile. She did inform me that probably in about another year or two she would be too big to wear ruffle pants like this! Ha!!!! LOVE IT! No idea what she is doing :)Now we just need to figure out what shoes to wear with these outfits and we'll be good to go! :o) I can assure you that there will be more outfits to come!

Pumpkins & gourds galore....OH MY!

2009-10-03T23:48:00.007-05:00

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

The kids spent last night and today with my MIL & FIL so Wade and I took advantage of having a "no-kids" day. We got up bright and early this morning and headed out to go pumpkin shopping. I LOVE this time of year, and I have been having a fit to get my house decorated for fall. Honestly, I can't believe I haven't already decorated, but we've been super busy!

Anywho...back to shopping. Wade took me to 2 different Farmer's Markets today, and he was ever so patient while I looked and stacked and looked and stacked. I finally found THE. PERFECT. PUMPKINS...and gourds might I add! I was in heaven!

After stopping by two different fabric stores (yes, he took me fabric shopping too:o) we rushed home to decorate! Normally I do a fall scene in the front yard with hay bales, scarecrows, mums, & pumpkins, but this year I decided to do things a little different, and I am very pleased with the outcome!

I am going to take you on a little "fall tour" of our home! :o)

Front door

I have seen the pumpkin topiaries for the past few years so I gave it a go this year. We wiped down the pumpkins really well, and then Wade sprayed a coat of varnish on each of them to give them a shine! I ♥ it! I want to add some fall leaves to it, but I didn't have any today. Maybe this week?! Hope so! I had a small wash tub that we filled with pumpkins, gourds, & corn on the other side of our front door. I really like the way it turned out too! Kitchen

You know I just had to make me some pumpkin towels to hang on my stove!! :o) Happy Fall Y'all napkins, pumpkin spice candle, & Fall trail mix. This is sitting on the center of my bar, but I guarantee you it will not look like this long. Those are Reese Pieces all around the candle and I have caught Wade and the kids digging into them more than I can count tonight! :o(My breakfast areaI found this cute little fall basket at a garage sale back in the summer. It is sitting in my foyer filled with mini gourds and pumpkins.

Dining Room table

I also found this cute little covered dish at a garage sale this summer and I have been dying to use it. I put a few mini pumpkins in it and it sits in the living room on the inn table. FireplaceSo there you have it.....my fall decorations! I ♥ FALL!!!!!!!

Have you all decorated? What all do you do?

Happy Fall Y'all!

Bulldog Weekend

2009-09-27T23:05:00.002-05:00

We spent Saturday in Starkville tailgating at the MSU game! This was the first game we have been to this season, and we had a great time! I got to keep my niece, Reagan, and we had a fun little photo-shoot! Isn't this the cutest lil' bulldog? She is growing so fast, and I was so glad to get to spend some one on one time with her!

While we were all at the game, Annah Brooke went to the Disney Live Concert with Rylee. They had a great time at the concert! Thanks for taking her along Aunt Heather! She had a great time!
Our tailgating "neighbors" had a bulldog so the kids let me snag a picture of them posing with "Bully"! :o)

Hope you all have a great Monday! I have another busy week ahead of me!

Apple Dumplings

2009-09-24T22:51:00.002-05:00

I am participating in Kelly's "Show us your Life-Desserts". I posted this recipe a while back, but wanted to share it again!

I love it when I find a new, easy, yummy recipe! My mom made these awesome Apple Dumplings for us this weekend and I just had to share!!!! They are so easy to prepare and will make a great dessert or breakfast food. I promise you that they will be a hit no matter what time of day you eat them :o)

Sorry, my picture isn't the best, but you get the point....

Apple Dumplings

2 packages of Crescent Rolls (do not let them get room temp-need to be cold and firm)

1-1/4 cup of sugar

2 Granny Smith apples

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 sticks of butter

1 cup of Mt. Dew

Preheat oven to 350

Peel and slice apples into 8 slices each (we use an apple wedge).

Wrap each slice in a crescent roll triangle and place in baking pan.

Combine butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan and cook on medium low, stirring until it becomes a gravy-like consistency.

Pour the mixture over the wrapped apples then pour the Mt. Dew over that.

Bake for 30 minutes then place a piece of aluminum foil loosely over the pan and bake for 15 more minutes.

ENJOY!!!!

For additional satisfaction, top with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and dig in! :o)

Halloween T's

2009-09-15T10:45:00.006-05:00

It is not too early to start thinking of Halloween and the holidays! I am taking orders right now for Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas shirts and towels! Get your lil' pumpkin a shirt today and you'll have it in time to enjoy through the whole month of October. Any of my designs can also be put on hand towels.

I have more designs coming soon, but this is just a few of the ones I've done so far.

Candy corn towel or shirt
Tie shirt

Pumpkin shirt or towel

Monster shirt

T-shirts-$13.00

1 hand towel-$8.00

Set of two towels-$12.00

Email me today at

melanieshea78 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

More designs coming so keep checking my STORE!

Thank you!

Crazy Love Winner

2009-09-14T14:37:00.003-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS Suzanne from Suz Speaks!!!! You are my winner! Get me your address ASAP and Crazy Love will be on its way!!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as Wade and I have!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! I hope each of you still go and purchase this book! It is truly awesome!!!!!! You will not want to put it down!

Stay tuned!!!! I have some yummy recipes to share with you!

CRAZY LOVE Giveaway

2009-09-06T15:18:00.005-05:00

If you are a regular reader of my blog then you may remember me mentioning the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan.

Wade and I started reading this book 6 weeks ago with our Sunday School class, and it has been such an eye-opener and breath of fresh air for both of us individually as well as in our marriage. We have each grown so much in our spiritual walk with the Lord in the last few weeks and it is just such an awesome feeling.

I have learned to slow down and just sit back and be in awe of our Creator. I have learned to appreciate and adore all of the little things in life that go unnoticed so often when we are wrapped up in our crazy, busy lives. God has convicted me in several areas of my life. I have had to change and give up some things that were pulling me down and that were unpleasing to Him! I feel good!!!! I actually feel great!!!! God is faithful....all of the time!

In this book, Francis helps to guide you into having a true intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. A relationship that is just oh so amazing. I am falling head over heels in love with Jesus Christ and it is indescribable! It is "Crazy Love".

I have an extra copy of this book that I would like to pass on to one of my readers. All you have to do is leave one simple comment on this post by Sunday, September 13th. I will draw the winner the following Monday. If you already have this book, enter anyway and you could give as a gift to someone in your life if you won! Feel free to spread the word about this giveaway.

Good Luck!!!!!

Game Day Fun!

2009-09-05T22:21:00.000-05:00

GO STATE, GO STATE!!!!!!!

We had an awesome day here at "Smith-Wade" Stadium!!!!! It was a packed crowd....all 5 of us were piled up in here! ha!!! I made us some yummy, tailgating appetizers (MS State Sin, Pork Loin Sammies, & BLT Bites) so we pigged out and then cheered on our Dawgs!!!! We even pulled out the cowbell and got a little bit rowdy! :o)

We had awesome seats right on the 50 yard line!!!!! :o)We also had the best cheerleader ever!!!
And we even had half time entertainment......wrestling!!!!

Oh, it has been such a great day!!!!!! Family, football, & food!!!!!! Life is good! :o)

Now I get to be a good wife and dress up in Red & Blue tomorrow to cheer on the Mighty Ole Miss Rebels!!!!! Ha!!!!!! Hotty Toddy!

Standing out....

2009-09-04T21:20:00.004-05:00

Have you heard of this song? WOW! It is really awesome! This song is such a reminder and encourager for me to stand up, step out, be different and share Jesus' love with everyone!

Hello, my friend
I remember when you were
So alive with your wide eyes
Then the light that you had in your heart was stolen
Now you say that it ain't worth stayin'
You want to run but you're hesitating
I'm talkin to me

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's a really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it
There's a girl on the streets, she's cryin'
There's a man whose faith is dyin'
Love is calling you

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

Why do we go with the flow
Or take an easier road?
Why are we playin' it safe?
Love came to show us the way
Love is a chance we should take
I'm movin' out of the way

Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason believe
(Stand out)
Don't let your lights go down
Don't let your fire burn out
(Stand out)
'Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe
Why don't you rise up now?
Don't be afraid to stand out
That's how the lost get found
The lost get found

So when you get the chance
Are you gonna take it?
There's really big world at your fingertips
And you know you have the chance to change it.

GOOO DAWGS!!!!!!

2009-09-04T12:31:00.008-05:00

Its that time of year! SEC football! Whoop Whoop!!!!

I have always liked football, but I have never been a die-hard, gotta watch every game, wear maroon & white, and yell "fight, fight, fight" kinda girl.
If I have tickets to go see the Dawgs play, then YES! I'll go, but I don't rearrange my weekends around college football....

UNTIL NOW!!!!

I about know my Dawgs schedule by memory and plan on being in Bulldog Country a few times this season! The rest of the weekends we'll be watching from "SMITH WADE" Stadium! HA!!!!!

I'm not quite sure what happened (and neither does my husband), but this girl is PUMPED about some MSU FOOTBALL!!!!!!! I have been counting down the weeks and it is here!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!!!
HAIL STATE! HAIL STATE!!!!