If I had a title it would go here.....

Can we take a minute to talk about garden hoses?? They have been the bane of my existence. ( dramatic?? maybe. Truth? absolutely.)

I hate dragging the heavy things around and then they get kinked and you have to stomp back and figure out where the kink is and fix it. I usually end up so angry at the end of attempting to water that it is just easier to avoid watering altogether.

I have a solution.

The pocket hose.

It is a thing of wonder.

Truly.

It is lightweight and does not kink.

I just need 2 of them.

It has put me in my happy place of gardening.


Anyway.

That's my tip for the day. Hope you enjoy.

This has been a busy week. It's only August, but it is actually starting to feel like summer. I don't know why it took so long to actually feel like summer.

We have spent 2 days this week at either the lake or the pool. It seems to put me in my happy place. I have missed the liquid babysitter.

Monday we spent the day at the lake with Joanna and the kids.

As soon as I told Emma what we were doing, she "oh my dosh, I so escited." I looked at her and she had this dumbfounded look on her face. It was pretty cute. Anything that involves her cousin "ei" she is all for!

She spent the day building sand castles with Elisa and laying on her princess towel. Oh the life of a 2 year old.

The boys spent the day pestering the girls and sliding down this slide. We were the only people that day at the lake, so the kids took full advantage of it.

After Maddie buried Elisa in the sand, Emma decided she wanted to be buried in the sand. I didn't think she would stand for it, but she did. She was there for about 20 min patiently waiting to be buried.

Yesterday was spent at a local pool. We were given free passes. I let Emma skip her nap, and while the other kids dove off the diving board, Emma and I went to the kiddy area. Emma swam like a fish and even got enough courage to go down the big slide. ( I of course, failed to get a picture. )

We went with our neighbor and her boys. So it was nice to have another Mom to talk to.

It was also Maddie's birthday yesterday.

The big 13!

Grandma Gail stopped by on her way to work to bring her balloons. She took her out last week for new clothes for her birthday.  She was able to find some really cute bargains.

 

I can't believe that Maddie Girl is 13. All those typical sayings keep coming back to my mind; "where did 13 years go?" "Wasn't it just yesterday she was born?" "It all goes so fast."

And it does go fast.

Does anyone get overcome with a deep sadness as your kids grow and hit these major milestones?

I was just kinda sad all day yesterday.

Maddie's party is Friday night, and I know she is looking forward to that.

Today, Melissa and the girls were able to come over. My shopping spree order was delivered today and the girls insisted on helping me open the boxes.

 I should have done it much sooner bc the girls loved to play in the boxes. That kept them entertained for quite a while.

These girls are so fun. I am so glad they have each other. And I am so glad to count Melissa as a true friend.

It's all around been a good week so far.

The Pampered Chef

3 months ago, I signed up for a... what I believe to be.... life changing experience.

I signed up to be a Pampered Chef Consultant.

I was introduced to the Pampered Chef probably 6-7 years ago. I fell in love with the company and the products right away.

The idea to sell has flitted through my mind, but it was never the right time.

With Jeremy's job being what is was during the spring, I was looking for the possibility of doing some supplemental income. I didn't know what that looked like. I just knew that I wanted to make money while still being home with my kids.

With my passion for cooking, one morning I was talking to God with the thought of Pampered Chef in my mind. I wondered if it was maybe a good time to actually look into this opportunity. But I told God that I didn't want to do anything that wasn't in tune with what He wanted for my life. I told Him that He would have to actually lead and guide me.

Well He did.

4 hours later......

Ellen, who was my high school teacher messaged me on Facebook.

I haven't really seen Ellen in the time since I graduated. I have only ran into her occasionally.

She asked me if I was ever interested in selling Pampered Chef.

Short, sweet and to the point.

I think I might have laughed right out loud.

I said... funny thing..... I have actually been thinking about it this very morning.

I  talked with Jeremy, who was probably a little skeptical but very supportive.

When making major life decisions, I try to take the decision before God and get some leading and some peace.

I quickly went to my Maker for some leading. And did I get it.

1 Samuel 7:3 - Nathan replied to the King, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you."

Isaiah 43:19 - See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness & streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 42:16 - I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn darkness into light before them & make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

If this wasn't enough, I wanted to make no mistake that the Lord was in it. So I put out a fleece. I said I would do this if.....

And the IF came.

It was quite remarkable.

Less then a week later, I took the step and signed up.

And boy am I glad I did.

What a ride this has been so far.

I have some pretty amazing friends and family who have helped me get started on this journey and I am so thankful for them.

Through the Pampered Chef platform, I have been able to meet some pretty fantastic people, and I am looking forward to being able to meet many more.

I was just able to go to the  The Pampered Chef National Convention, which was held in Louisville, Kentucky.

I am not much or a "world traveler," so I was pretty excited just to be able to get out and enjoy this great nation. (sounds cheesy, I know, but it's true. This girl has never even flown. Shocked?)

 

 

I was able to meet some pretty fantastic people with some pretty similar goals in mind.

I don't know if I have ever been so sure that I was SuPpOsEd to be in a certain place for a certain time then that weekend. On Wednesday before I left, I started to question whether or not I should go. I saw my checkbook and thought.... I don't know about this Lord. I truly want to go, but I don't know how this will work.

While I was on my way to the bank, I was listening to the radio and a lady was talking and she made this statement..... if you are wondering about how you are going to get somewhere, just trust God to get you there. With tears in my eyes, I knew that that was meant for me to hear.

So off I went on a grand adventure.

I was looking forward to really immersing myself in the company and doing some in depth training.

And boy did I get it.

Ellen has talked to me about what my dream is. Do I have a dream? I didn't know how to answer that.

So I was really praying and hoping that I would get something to dream about.

Before going on this trip, I would think about actually going further in this company and I leaned more toward the Doubting Thomas side of life.

But now.

Now, my outlook has totally changed.

I feel like I have a fire now. The passion for not only this product but for how this can change other peoples life, like it has already changed mine.

I learned so much while I was in Kentucky. And I am so very excited about the direction that the company is going.

Can I tell you that I pretty much work for the greatest company? See all this?? This is great products that I was able to get either free or at a HuGe discount. I have another box coming my way as well.

And can I also mention that earned a $400 shopping spree with Pampered Chef!!!!!!! I don't think I can begin to tell you how excited I am. I am making my wish list and will placing my order very shortly.

I hope that you don't feel as if I am bragging. That really isn't my goal.  I just am in wonder about how God can take absolutely NoThInG, and turn it into SoMeThIng.

If you are struggling with something, don't hesitate. Walk in obedience with what you KnOw God is telling you to do. You will never regret that.

Thursday Ramblings...

Oh my word.

I cannot brag enough about the roast in the deep covered baker. You can get it here.

When Jeremy walked into the house, he said "You can smell that all the way by the alley, I was hoping it was coming from our house. " Isn't that what all cooks like to hear?

When the roast was done, He proceeded to stand over the roast with a fork and pick at it.

Between Jeremy, and 4 boys (the neighbor kids stopped by) , there wasn't much left when I got home from my party. :)

So yes, I think it was a resounding success.

Yesterday, I was able to try a new Pampered Chef recipe that is coming out in the fall. It's a risotto dish that is made in the rockcrok. you can see it here.  Since my stove is broken, (it really is a shame for someone who likes to cook, hopefully its a quick fix.) I decided to make it on the grill. ( I could have made it in the microwave, but since I had the grill on, I thought why not! )

Jeremy may or may not have had 4 helpings.

And yes, it was that good.

In other cooking/baking news

 

This happened last night. Here is the recipe.

 

Thanks pinterest.

 

It was a delight after a long day smothered with vanilla ice cream.

 

Today will be filled with doing more laundry. And at some point going to the park. I promised Emma we would go. She is pretty excited. She can't wait to swing on the swings and slide down the slide.

 

Anyone else loving this weather? It's been perfect for me.

 

Well, I am off. Have a blessed day.

 

Just a Tuesday in July

I was Betty Crocker this morning. *pat on back

I made homemade granola. Here is the recipe.

It is in the oven still, but I am very anxious to see how it turned out.

I have decided upon recent weight gain that it is time to start doing something about it again.

I went to the gym yesterday. *again. pat on back

I haven't went since May. ok. Maybe April. Whenever Tancy went on her magical cruise. That's the last time I was there. *no pat on back here.

I have biked. But not regularly.

Anyway. Enough about that.

As you may know, I have 2 dogs. And my house smells like a pound. ( It probably doesn't, but... well I would hate for people to walk in and think... oh I smell putrid dog. ) So I thought I would spiffy up my couches. I wish I could just throw them right in the washer and then hang them on the clothes line for some real added freshness. But since that's possible, I don't quite know how to clean them. If you have any suggestions, PLEASE let me know.

My dogs aren't allowed on the furniture, but they still end up smelling like dogs. *gag me

Anyway, last night I poured 2 boxes of baking soda on them in hopes of deodorizing them. I will let you know how it works.

By the way, I keep getting a whif of the granola baking in the oven. ( on a pampered chef stone no doubt ) It smells PrEtTy amazing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok. It's done. And I really like the flavor. The only change I would make would be to not bake it as long. My oven bakes hot and I think it's way to done. Some parts have almost a burnt flavor to it.

But I will most certainly be making it again.

In other news......

Guess who decided she was going to potty train!!! We woke up yesterday morning and thought today is the day. And she did it. She had one tiny accident yesterday at nap time but she knew she had to go and was trying to get there. Which I still consider a success.

She has even gone #2 on the potty. *woop woop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Goodness, now it is well into the afternoon.

We ( Maddie and I, who was on a serious book shortage )  went to the library. It was Emma's first time to the Library. She picked out 1 book. Lol. If you know me, I will probably forget to return her 1 book and the stupid thing will cost me an arm and a leg. I think I am going to set a reminder in my phone to return the book. Maybe that will help. May I also add, no accidents at the library?! :)

I have a party tonight. I love saying that I get to go to a party. That's what it really is. I get to spend time with people and try and help them releave some stresses of the day. We get to relax and enjoy each other's company even if just for a little bit.

I have in the oven a roast. I usually do it in the crockpot on low all day. But today I am trying it out in the Deep Covered Baker. I will let you know how it goes.

Last night I cooked 2 pork tenderloins.... in the microwave. EEK!!!! I am not usually a microwave chef, but I will tell you, they were surprisingly moist and juicy. I made a homemade BBQ sauce and we had BBQ Pork over some Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. DeLiSh!!!!

Next on the agenda is a chocolate lava cake in the microwave.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

P.S. I don't think the baking soda on the couches worked. Any tips will be greatly appreciated. I detest dog smell.

Walk in His ways

I had kind of an a ha moment this morning....

Don't you love those??

I have been thrown into some uncharted waters as of late with an issue with my neighbor. We have always had good neighbors and so this has all taken my by somewhat of a surprise.

Don't get me wrong.

They are good people.

They really are.

I do not want to go into the details of all that has been happening.

But I will share my heart on the matter.

I think that healing and restoration comes when people stop pretending and start being real with each other.

I want to be genuine.

So here goes.

In the beginning I really feel that I was innocent in the matter.

I did not know where her frustration and anger were coming from. ( and I still don't ) 

But as time went on, walls were built. Walls of bitterness and anger and frustration. Walls built from lack of communication and common decency.

You can't delete your neighbor off of facebook and expect to then have them deleted out of your life completely.

Especially if we are both children of God.

Which I truly believe we are.

Which makes this whole thing even sadder.

So since this is unchartered territory.

I took it to the only place where I know to turn when my heart is overwhelmed.

I took it to the Rock that is higher then me.

Every morning, I have just poured my heart out to God. I have prayed that he would show me my heart and the wrong that I have done.

And he has.

And I trust will continue to do.

In the meantime..... I have felt this whole pulling from my sin nature to "get even" to allow my heart to be bitter and angry and to really seek to be justified in the wrong that has been invoked on me.

But when I open the bread of life.... my instruction book..... I read to love your neighbor as yourself..... to not repay evil for evil...... to love deeply..... to turn the other cheek...... to have my love be sincere ( yikes.... have you ever heard the saying fake it till you make it?? I think that's what I try to do sometimes.) But I am commanded to have a sincere love.

And I truly believe all this.

I TrY to live like this.

It is my hearts desire.

But I have FaiLeD. miserably.

I have acted out of anger and just complete frustration.

And I am sorry for that.

I don't know how to make amends now.

But I trust God to guide me in it.

But back to my point....

So I read all this stuff about how I am supposed to act and respond.....

and then I have been reading in Psalms and in Isaiah and there are verses like this...

Psalm 59:10-13 - God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. But do not kill them Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring then down. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips,  let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.

or

Isaiah 25:10-12 - The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain; but Moab will be trampled in their land as straw is trampled down in the manure. They will stretch out their hands in it, as swimmers stretch out their hands to swim. God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands. He will bring down your high fortified walls and lay them low; he will bring them down to the ground, to the very dust.

What a contrast right??

In my flesh..... YES!!! This is what I want. I want God to come and repay them for all this craziness, all this unrest.

Back to my Aha moment....

 I really am getting to it.

After pondering these verses.....

I ran across this little prize.

Isaiah 26:7-8 - The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of my heart.

I think that yes, God WANTS me to be kind and loving. He knows I am going to fail, but that is the beauty of Him. He is quick to offer grace and mercy and forgiveness at the foot of the cross. And in so doing, I can pour grace and mercy and forgiveness on those around me. And I am willing to do so.

The difference in these verses that I see is that the showing love to my neighbor part implies something that I am commanded to do. It is up to me to die to myself, to my flesh, to the part of me that wants to get even. And the verses in Psalm and Isaiah are up to God to deliver.

It is my job to stay connected to the Giver of Life. To my Abba. To my Lord.

He promises that He will protect me from harm. And from those who slander and have an evil intent in their heart. He has promised that He will vindicate me.

My job is to walk in the way of His laws. And even though I feel like I am not quite walking... more stumbling through this life, being tripped up by my own stupidity.... I wait for Him.

Because His name and renown are truly the desires of my heart.

I WaNt others to see Jesus in me.

Even though I fail at this on a daily basis.

To be moldable clay that God can form and turn into a thing of beauty.

Love each other deeply

My heart is kinda a big pile of jumbled mess. One that I am fervently trying to let God figure out.

I don't know how much to "put out there" or if I should even be blogging about this at all. And I don't honestly even know quite where to start.

I have liked to think of myself as "one who loves" maybe I have deceived myself. I have thought that I was pretty easy to get a long with. Of course there is always those few who really grate on your nerves and you can't stand. But I had few people on that list. I would and still do overlook a lot of faults bc I know we are all human and everyone of us have quirks. But for the most part, I thought I was pretty easy to get a long with. How you see me is pretty much how I am. I try my best to be open and honest with anyone who cares to get to know me. I really like to try to get to a deeper relationship with people. I feel that is where we learn the best from others.

I have recently encountered a situation where someone's actions have befuddled me to the very core of my being. They are a loud, professing Christian. Yet they are acting as anything but Christ-Like. ( I think I need to rewrite the book....When Godly people do ungodly things. )

I don't necessarily think that this person is attacking me personally, but the neighborhood as a whole.

To say that she is upset is putting it lightly.

For what.

I'm not quite for sure.

She won't talk to anyone. At all.

She has deleted and blocked us all off of facebook and then seems to thinks that she can delete us all out of her life.

She wants to end any cordial communication, and will seek this matter lawfully is she needs to.

What matter?

Again.

Don't really know.

This is where I am confused.

As a Christ follower.... am I ever allowed to just end a "cordial" relationship?

Romans 12:16a - Live in harmony with one another

17-21 - Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to revenge; I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty; give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

I John 3:18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:23 - 24 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.  The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

I John 4: 7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.  This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.  And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

I John 5:2 - This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

I am not saying that I have this all figured out. I don't.

I absolutely love the peace and life that the word of God brings. You go to the Father for leading and direction, and he pours it out to you.

The hard part is putting it into practice.

The hard part is not loving in speech, but in action.

Dear neighbor. If you are reading this, please hear my heart. I refuse to end a cordial relationship. I am commanded by our Father not to.

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sin.

Above all, love each other deeply. because love covers a multitude of sin.

Above all, we are commanded to love. Deeply.

Love.

Christ love.

Agape love.

Will cover a multitude of sin.

Your sin.

My sin.

I want to be known as a child of God.

I want our neighbors to see that their is a God and that he is a God of love and peace. Not hatred and bitterness and strife.

I John 2: 3 - 11   We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.  But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard.  Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.  But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

I do not want to live in darkness. I do not want this little....good....corner of our world to be covered in darkness brought on my the evil one.

Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I know my battle is not with you friend.

When you are ready, I have something to give to you. I saw it at the store and thought of you. I would love to give it to you over the magic fence.

 

I blame it on the weather.....

So this week saw me with an unplanned project.

It was one of those days that I saw 1 thing that had to be done, which led to something else, which led to something else, which led to painting the cabinets.

That's normal.

Right?

My friend Tancy and I joke about my cabinets. They aren't exactly the most organized. I know where everything is. But.... well.... they drive her nuts. Like NUTS.

She's even come over and organized them for me.

Anyway.

Tancy isn't the issue. (this time)

My cabinets were.

When I painted the top cabinets blue. I didn't love it.

I dealt with it bc we just went through all this work to paint them, I couldn't be like..... yah, Jeremy, I hate the blue. Let's paint them again.

So I dealt with it.

Until this week.

You see, I was kinda bored. The weather was cold and rainy, so Emma and I couldn't go outside.

I just happened to have a gallon of paint laying around.

Well.

The rest is history.

It brightens up the kitchen, which I need, bc I have terrible lighting in there. I am so jealous of you women who have a beautiful window over your sink.

I'm thinking about removing ^ that piece of wood in the middle of this cabinet. I think it would look better.

Anyway. Hope you all have a great weekend. This lady has exciting news coming! Come back soon!