What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm joining in on the What I'm Loving Wednesday's.....

I LOVE these flowers that I bought to take to my friend Beth's grave.  The vibratant colors are just like she was vibrant and full of life!  She died 3 years ago in July tragically and at the young age of 31.  She had such a positive energy and I can only image the fun she is having in heaven.  Every year since her death, myself and two other girlfriends go to the cemetary (around her birthday) - while it is sad it is also a great way to talk about and rememeber a great friend.  I still miss you Beth.....

I am absolutely loving this new soap that I bought at Target on the sale rack.  The brand is Method, all of their products are Naturally-Derived, and Biodegradable products.  I just started trying this brand and after this soap purchase I can tell you that I am definitely a Method fan.  It is part of the Spring Soap collection (we all know that I am obsessed with soap).  Daffodil Bouquet is the scent and it is fabulous!!  The smell is seriosuly delicious.....I walked around smelling my hands for a solid half hour!  Go get some.    

What is not to love......

I can't wait to go see this movie.  Channing Tatum makes me swoon. 

I can't wait to buy some of these fun new summer OPI colors.  The bright pink looks really FUN.  I think I might finally be ready to branch out from my all time favorite I'm Not Really a Waitress.  We'll see.

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday.  That's only a few of the many things that I'm loving today!

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"

-Ephesians 2:8 

Sleeping Soundly

Naptime around our house is becoming, unfortunately a rariety.  I love nap time, I try to enjoy naptime every time that we possibly can but as Jack gets older the more difficult it becomes to get him to lay down.  Imagine my surprise last weekend when I walked in his room to find him snug in his bed sleeping soundly.  What a beautiful sight.  I wish I could sleep this soundly.  Oh, to be a innocent child again!

"Disciple your son, and he will give you rest, he will give delight to your heart."
-Proverbs 29:17

7 Confessions

I am taking a cue from my friend Candace today and blogging about 7 Confessions.  Candace is super talented, sweet, smart and creative.  Go check out her page at Violet & Grey.

1.  Every time I wash my hands in public places, I have to pull 5 paper towels from the dispenser.

2.  I imagine myself as a famous singer multiple times a day, everyday.

3.  I love to go to bed early, early as in 8:30pm.

4.  I would wear the same jeans and t-shirt everyday if I could.

5.  I worry that Jack will be an only child

6.  I have a blanket and pillow that I sleep with everynight that I've had since basically birth.  I do not take them on road trips for fear that I might forget them.

7.  When I buy new clothes I am afraid to wear them in fear that I will wear them out too quickly or they will get ruined so I often time leave them hanging in my closet for months.  I wore a shirt this week for the first time that I purchased over a year ago.  It was very hard for me.

Let the Lenten Season Begin

I love the beginning of the Season of Lent.  It holds such promise and while I am certain that I should feel the promise of God's love all year long, this season for some reason fills me with a renewed sense of hope.  An opportunity to once again promise myself to God and try my hardest to let him live through me, and a hope that I will be a better follower, and a more loyal disciple every day.  


One of my favorite songs that we sing in Mass on Ash Wednesday is written below.  The words are SO very true and the promise of God's love leaves me moved everytime I sing or read these words.    

Ashes

We rise again from ashes,

From the good we’ve failed to do.

We rise again from ashes,

To create ourselves anew,

If all our world is ashes,

Then must our lives be true,

An offering of ashes, an offering to you.

We offer you our failures,

We offer you attempts,

The gifts not fully given,

The dreams not fully dreamt.

Give our stumbling direction,

Give our visions wider view,

An offering of ashes, an offering to you.

Then rise again from ashes,

Let healing come to pain,

Though spring has turned to winter,

And sunshine turned to rain.

The rain we’ll use for growing,

And create the world anew

from an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

Thanks be to the Father,

Who made us like himself.

Thanks be to his Son,

Who saved us by his death.

Thanks be to the Spirit

Who creates the world anew

From an offering of ashes, an offering to you.


I hope this Lenten season fills each of you with hope and a understand that the road God has layed out before us may not be a easy but it will surely be worth the reward.   Wishing everyone a Happy Lenten Season and a successful 40 day journey that will allow you to walk even closer with God.


"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

First Corinthians 13 - Christmas Version

If I decorate me house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lighst and shiny balls,
but do not show love to my family,
I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime:
but no not show love to my family,
I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen
Carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels
and crocheted snowflakes,
attend a myriad of holiday parties
and sing in the choir's cantata
but do not focus on Christ,
I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decrating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and
endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust,
but giving the gift of love will endure.

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas! 

Evan William turns 2

My sweet nephew Evan William turned 2 years old on the 23rd, which was also the day we left to go to New York.  He had a Thomas party at home the weekend before the Thanksgiving Holiday and then we also celebrated this special little guy on his real  birthday.  When we arrived in NYC we walked to a Pizzeria for pizza and birthday cake!  New York pizza anyone?! It was delish. 

Evie's b-day cake, complete with a Thomas train!  To say this cake was amazing is an under statement.  It was whatever comes after amazing.  The icing literally melted in your mouth.  Perfect amount of whipped and not too sweet! YUM!

Getting ready to blow out his candles!

Evan with his amazing Parents.  They have so much love to give and are wonderful, Parents to their three angels!

Happy 2nd Birthday Evan William!  You are such a ray of sunshine and you bring so much joy to my life!  I love you Evie!

A Flying We Will Go

We headed out on Wednesday to NYC to spend Thanksgiving with my McDonough family.  My Dad is from NY so he wanted all his grandkids to experience the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and all the sites and sounds of the wonderful city!  It was a GREAT trip - the kids had such a good time.  Here are a few outtakes from the flights to NYC (We went from OKC to Dulles and onto La Quardia).  Good times!

Hyped up and ready to leave OKC behind

In Washington Dulles airport - they loved the wall that changed colors

Jack and Aunt KK

Jack loves his Sweet Cousin Maggie

The Knuckleheads in the van leaving the airport and heading to the hotel to see Pa Pa!

Let the good times Roll.