Fancy Flip Flops and Flower Hats

We were scheduled to leave on our vacation Saturday...as usual we are having to delay our plans. I am in the midst of writing a grant and have to finish it before I can go on vacation (due 6/16 I will turn it in on 6/12 - pray for my productivity this week). In an effort to inspire some creativity (I am fresh out) so that my writing in the grant will be above the rest we spent some good family time Saturday and some good craft time Sunday.

Here are some pictures from my time at the craft table...

Fun stuff...Jorja an I will be sporting matching caps and flip flops this summer!

James is Growing Up

My little boy is growing up! James graduated from PreK yesterday. I was so tickled by how important it was to him (which made it very important for mommy too). He practiced by humming the music and shaking hands with anyone that would practice graduating with him. Lots of fun. He is embarking on a new chapter of life - elementary school!

Here are some pictures of my little James that is growing up every time I turn around.

Playing Catch Up

This weekend was so busy! Friday afternoon I had my hair done - which is always relaxing and fun - I am still not sure if I like the new hair do but it's just hair. Friday night was family movie night, we don't have a sit down supper on movie night just everyone's favorite snack foods...tequitos, chips & dip, pizza rolls, wings and a few other things that I thought would be good to try out on the fam! We watched Bedtime Stories, John and I laughed so hard, the kids enjoyed it but I think most of their laughing was at us laughing. Then Saturday Jenene brought Mason and Cloei over to play with James and Jorja and she helped me organize my scrapbooking stuff - what a blessing that was - it was too big of a task for me to conquer alone! Sunday was a great time of worship and learning. Then we came home and I helped John paint the back of the house - we had a fun time - the kids did their own thing in between asking a MILLION questions. Needless to say - the laundry is not done, my baking list is just a list nothing actually got cooked this weekend and the chores well its amazing but they are still here waiting for me! It's ok, I am taking care of it today. Playing catch up but I don't mind because its a beautiful day in San Antonio, and I will get done what I can and the rest will just wait! So I am off to make some yummy sausage and cheese muffins, Texas Governor Mansion Cookies (I got the recipe from Amy and it is a family favorite now) and a chicken pot pie!

Our House

While it is not finished it has come a long way! Wanted to share the excitement with you. John has been painting our house (when it is not raining) and I am SO excited about the new colors!

Here is the before:
And here is the after:

There is still stuff to do but I am so happy with the results of the outside transformation!

I hope to post pictures of the inside in the coming weeks as I continue my spring cleaning and prep for the kids to be home with me all summer!

Have something exciting to share about your house? Please share it with me...I love looking at houses and decorations. Post a link to your post on "Our House" so we can see what you are up to!

Mom

It's her birthday! Happy Happy Birthday to you mom! I know it won't be a fun day because you are having a colonoscopy but I pray that it is the beginning of a fun year for you. I love you and am so thankful to have you in my life. You are a beautiful, strong, smart, loving woman and I am blessed to call you mom!

Jorja's first Pillowcase dress

Well it is really a first for both of us. It was my first pillowcase dress to make and her first pillowcase dress to wear! I have been wanting to make on of these for a while now. My dear friend Tamara shared the idea with me and I finally decided to sit down and give it a try! It was pretty easy. And I have lots of ideas how to improve the next one! These pillowcase dressed are really cute with antique pillowcases - so keep you eyes out for some unique old pillowcases that will transform into cute dresses for your little girl. Hope to have more of these to show - summer is almost here and it is the perfect time for a pillowcase dress!

The tutorial I used for the pillowcase dress can be found here

Trusting Him

The current bible study I am doing has been a blessing to me - daily! I am thankful that God reminded me that I never finished this study that I started almost 5 years ago. The timing seemed to be perfect - which means it must have been His timing!

The verse that is the focus of today's study is Psalm 9:10

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

The writer (Kathy) brings up the most brilliant point here is what she says- "In the past I had always focused on God's promise never to forsake me - but this time I realized it also meant I could trust in Him, no matter what happened to me! I had to make a decision: I decided then and there to claim His promise that I would trust in Him, and I am so very glad" she is speaking of a different situation when she talks about this interpretation but for me it is real in my day to day. Times are hard - everyone is feeling a little pinch in the pocketbook. We get very consumed with the loss of funds in the retirement account or less money in the savings account or will we even have a job tomorrow. But in reality I should not be worried about any of these things - I should keep living for Him and fulfilling my call and trust in the ALMIGHTY Lord! He will not forsake me - I must trust in Him.

This is simple and what many of us know to be true but its the daily life that sometimes removes the focus and allows the worry to set in. But I glad that God continues to remind us of the things that we file away as simple. I think sometimes we do file away trusting Him as simple but is it really simple - for me it isn't. Even though I love the Lord with ALL my heart, I know that He is with me, forgives me, loves me (even when I am not loveable) but I find myself having this trust battle way to often. I have gotten better but I know that He is still at work in me - showing me new ways to trust or as a dear friend puts it "Let Go Let God" (thanks Kimberly for that easy way to remind myself to trust Him).


Father, thank you for your MANY promises, your promise that our faith in YOU will hold strong in times of trouble. Thank you for showing me how to trust you and for forgiving me when I don't put my trust in you and fail. I pray that you will continue to show me outstretched hand when I stop depending on you.