New Blog

My mother has been planning this new blog for months and months. I was thrilled when she told me what she had in store for not only herself, but for my sister and I, as well. If you have time, go ahead and click on the link to view our new 'hobby'.

Our Sheltering Tree

Table Setting 4 Kids

Here's a fun way to give kids an extra special welcome to the meal...
....they will gobble it up...

Needed:
Oreos
Whoppers
Candy Corn
White Frosting

Fun Food

Found a recipe for edible play-dough on Kim's Blog.
Check it out here -
1. Easy
2. Yummy
3. Not Messy


***Kim, thanks for sharing! I have a feeling not much will get put into a sealed container...Mmm!

Latest Reads

One thing I love to do: Read
One bad habit: Starting a book and not wanting to put it down to do my chores

*Bible - The kids are so good at memorizing Scripture and it has been so good for me, too.
*Day by Day Devotions for Kids has been fabulous and isn't too long for my little ones.
*Where the Sidewalk Ends - We have enjoyed some very humorous poems.
*100,000 Baby Names - Thank goodness I only had to read through the BOY names!
*Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions - Haven't read too much yet...
*One Simple Act - Fabulous. Fabulous. Fabulous. Shows how giving is so rewarding.

Also:
The 9th Judgement/Kathleen Fuller
The Mercedes Coffin/Faye Kellerman
Twilight's Serendade/Tracie Peterson
A Promise to Believe In/Tracie Peterson
Like Dandelion Dust/Karen Kingsbury
The Thorn/Beverly Lewis

Sunday Snapshot

I got tickled at Ethan the other day when he asked why we hadn't bought any Halloween candy yet. If he only knew that our house is positioned in such a way that is 'off the beaten path' for sugar starved kids, then he probably would have understood why we didn't need to stock up on bags of candy! Doubt too many people will be walking by...;-)

Mr. B.

For those who know my family, you are very much aware of the fact that my father is the one who is constantly telling jokes - whether funny or not. It's not that my mother's side isn't funny - for they are (Uncle Craig and Uncle Ray were crazy)!
My mother, the quiet one, who is an amazing writer and publisher of many books, devotionals, and S.S. material, has a minor flaw. She is horrid (is that too harsh?) at writing words to songs that would be sung to common tunes. Our family makes sure she never forgets this. (Aren't we grand?) Or maybe it isn't the words, just the 3 different keys it took her to sing it for us. (Love you, Mom!) Although, as I mentioned that she is the quiet one, she sometimes comes up with one-liners that totally crack me up. And this last one was no exception.

She recently posted this picture on Facebook with the caption:
"Lovin' my life"


Later on in the week, my mom had commented about how I was working in the kitchen while sitting on a stool. A friend of ours saw this comment and asked, "Wait a sec. I think I missed something...again. (He is in the Army) What's going on with Melanie that she hasn't been able to be up?"
Now, you have to understand that this fellow goes by "Bill Bean". No, that is not his real name. I do believe it's for privacy issues. Or just quirkiness. If you knew him, you'd get it. That's why we love him...! ;-) So...
My mom's response was: "Baby #4, Billy B."

Totally cracking up over here. What? You're not? Well, what if I had her write you up a diddly about Moses crossing the Red Sea to the tune of London Bridge? ....er, or not....

Love you, Mom!
You are the best Mawmaw in the world. Can't wait to see you with #4!

Who likes gifts?

Thought I would share some of the goodies I have put together so far this year....some are my own idea while others are ideas I found elsewhere and liked well enough to use.

1. This was a good winter treat I made for some of the ladies in our church....
(click picture to read note)



2. My friend, Lacy, and I made these up for Valentines for the ladies at church...

-hot cocoa 'icecream' treats

-chocolate heart suckers

-chocolate covered pretzels




3. Made these for my piano students.
Just a bag of skittles, a note and lots of curly ribbon...














4. Delivered to a friend at her workplace:
Pack of gum with a card that said,
"Hope your day goes good and no one chews you out!"


5. Someone had us over and it was the first time in their new home...















6. New homeowners...

















7. Gift for Ethan's kindergarten teacher...




8. Mom's Mother's Day gift...Vera Bradley bag wrapped in none other than Vera Bradley herself...haha...