That is where I was this week!! LOL It has been one CrAzY week!! But fun, too... Monday, I got to church a little later than planned (about 3:00 instead of 2:30) and hadn't been to Wal-Mart yet, like I had planned. Okay, no big deal, right?!?! NOT!! LOL BIG DEAL!! LOL I wanted Princess to get her nap in, so as I waited "patiently" for that, precious minutes were slipping by...Anyways, I never would've made it if it weren't for some pre-teens/early teenagers there to help with the signs, the little cards that needed laminated, and a "window frame" for a train that someone painted for the "Crafts Depot" (not in pic, but VERY cute!! :) I'll have to find a pic of that) Anyways, it was supposed to start at 5:30-6 as registration time, and kids sitting in the sanctuary (as you can tell, the sanctuary is a big multi-purpose room.) Well, thankfully, no one was there, yet, and I flashed out my handy-dandy roll of duct tape!! LOL That, my friends, along with prayer, is what held VBS together this week!! LOL Everywhere you looked, there was something held together with duct tape!! LOL It was pretty funny...

Anyways, after the mad dash of Monday night (oh, and another funny thing...I had gotten all this cardboard at the last minute from Lowe's on Sunday (because I ran out of it Sunday morning, and was desperate, so I called them.) Anyways, I had all this cardboard. Our theme was "Arctic Edge: Where Adventure Meets Courage" so everything was supposed to be very big bear lodgey...While at Wal-Mart on Saturday afternoon, I found this contact paper that was wood grained (not textured, just the pattern), and had a great idea instead of painting a bunch of cardboard like wood, I could just peel & stick this stuff onto cardboard (and hold it together with the duct tape on the back if need be!! LOL) WOW, was that a timesaver... Anyways, Monday night I had these "peices of wood" that I wanted to have framing the doorway as people came in through the sanctuary doors, and it was NOT up at 5:20p.m., and as people were walking in, I told them to grab a piece of duct tape and stick some cardboard together!! LOL I guess you had to be there LOL).

Monday night was the worst...then Tuesday night went a *little* smoother than Monday, but here's our dilema...Our church has a daycare, and they use the multipurpose room ALL THE TIME....Well, we had cleared it with the director that they could have their kids out of there by 4:30-5p.m. so we could start setting up the sanctuary for VBS...Tuesday night, it WAS 5p.m. when I went into the sanctuary & "kicked them out"!! LOL They had all their toys still out there, and it was a mess!! So, Tuesday night was kinda a mad dash...Then, Wednesday, it was AWESOME!! LOL I got there about 4:30ish, 4:45ish & just had to set up my scenery & when the head director got there, she had her hooligans (she's watching a few kids from church this summer) got there, they arranged the Bible study areas for us...SO nice to have some kids there & to have something that simple for them to do so they are 1. Doing something constructive and 2. Out of your way!! LOL All the kids were so very willing & great helps this week.

So, those were just my logistics reports...Our mission offering for the week was 101 & some odd cents (going to the American Baptist Affiliated Missionaries), and I know that there were LOTS of seeds planted this week!! The music was actually pretty cool & not *too* lame (you know what I mean!! LOL). There was a DVD drama instead of half-hearted actors from the church to watch (which made life that much simpler this week!! LOL), and we had a "mascot"...our Youth Minister got a moose get-up :) He didn't really have a name for himself, but the kids started calling him "Moose Head Ed" LOL :) Lots of fun :) And, there was a contest between the boys & girls for the missions offering, and I kinda volunteered him to get a water-balooned :) LOL The winning team got an extra water baloon!! Boys ended up winning, after the girls dominated every night but Friday...

On Tuesday night, we took home 2 extra kiddos...overnight...They live with their grandparents & their Grandma had a shoulder re-replacement (this is like, her 3rd surgery this year or something), and they wanted/needed 24/7 care for the kids this week. So, when the Hugs lady called me (Hugs is a ministry in our church that helps when one of our families is faced with a crisis situation/emergency situation & provides meals, running errands, and this time, short-term childcare for families in the church. There's a list of volunteers that the lady in charge of it gets to contact others & asks for help for our families during those times...) Anyways, I'm starting to wonder if this family is taking advantage a little of this Hugs service...Granted, they're older people & don't have a lot of family around here, except their church family...It's just starting to look that way...Anyways, so, they came home with us on Tuesday, and we had them until right before VBS Wednesday night (5p.m. their Aunt came & picked them up & was taking them to KI on Thursday)...Then, I picked them BACK up on Friday morning around 10a.m. They didn't leave until 10:30a.m.ish on Saturday for their next stop along the Hugs list :) LOL They weren't bad, and thankfully, we had VBS to keep them occupied on Tuesday & Friday night!! Friday during the day, they just had to come with me for my girly luncheon at Carebear's house :)

This morning during church, the kids who came to VBS sang 2 songs for the congregation & I had all the helpers/workers stand up for some much needed applause!! Everyone was just so great & when VBSHeadDirector & I said to jump, they all asked how high!! LOL :) Very good group of willing workers this week (what a blessing!!).

So, that was my week in a nutshell...there are so many stories to share, still, and I promise I will try & share them as they come to me this week...

Speaking of this week....Guess where we're going tomorrow night?!?! The Ohio State Fair to see Steven Curtis Chapman!! :) YAY!! :) Then, on Wednesday, we're going to the Columbus Zoo (free child's admission!!)!! YAY!! :) So, I won't officially get to crash until Tuesday!! LOL Although, I pretty much crashed already when we got home from church & lunch :)

Talk to ya'll later :)

Here I am!! I am swamped right now, and for the next couple of weeks, but I'm here!! LOL This coming week is our VBS...we're doing "Arctic Edge: Where Adventure Meets Courage!" VERY cute stuff, and it's very Alaska-like stuff...this is a backdrop I've painted...

It was actually pretty easy to paint. I used a light projector to draw my design (a die cut I've had for a few years from the Smokies that has a silouette of trees & a bear), and I just kinda freehanded the rest. Now, I'm still not done, this has been an insane week, and this next one will only be that much MORE insane...

Not only is it VBS week, but I'm keeping a couple of kiddos from church for 2 1/2 days (overnights) while a lady has surgery & is recovering this week. These kids' homelife is questionable, they've been passed around the family, and are with their Grandma & Grandpa right now...and that situation just got a little strange...Please pray for this family...we'll call them the West Virginia family...Just a lot of weird stuff/rumors/etc...

So, after VBS week, on the 7th, we're going to the Ohio State Fair!! :) STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN FOR $12!!!!!!!!! Can you say, YAY!?!?! LOL So, of COURSE we're going!! LOL I think Princess will LOVE it :) The fair, anyway...we'll see about the concert...

THEN, on Wednesday (not this coming, but the following Wed.) we're going to the Columbus Zoo!! We've got a free child's admission coupon off of a Diet Coke 2-liter!! :) When I told Mom & Dad, they wanted to come, too, so I think Princess will ABSOLUTELY love that!! :)

Here's an ADORABLE pic of CutiePie!! :) Mom went to Utah for a family reunion (no, we're not Mormons for the average passer-by)... So, while she was gone, I got to watch CutiePie for them, and took this pic of her in Princess's old swing...

Now, a disclaimer, I took both these pics with my cell phone, so that's why they're blurry...my digi cam is charging up, and actually, we'd misplaced the rechargable batteries, so it was dead at the BEST photo ops this week!! Of course!! ::rolling eyes:: Oh, well...

Let's see, what else have I been up to? I've really enjoyed having some girl time this summer with my teacher friends!! :) Carebear & English are a lot of fun, and it's been GREAT keeping in touch with them so much this summer!! Lunch time has worked out to be the best time to meet!! :) It's been a lot of fun!! :) This week we're meeting at Carebear's house since I have VBS...It's been GREAT to have "girl-time." And, it's been great for Princess to have another little girl to play with!! English's daughter will be 4!! this September!! So, a little bit of an age difference, but they seem to really get along well with each other. It's so much fun to see them playing girly things :)

We finally put Princess in her big girl bed last night!! She did OK, but kinda fell out of her bed a couple times (always softly, we only know because King found her on the floor a couple times when he looked in on her). So, other than that, it went well...Now for tonight, and tomorrow's naptime!! I'm a little nervous about naptime...

Today, I went to breakfast with Mom & the "Hen Party" gals (Mom's friends from HS & growing up...and my cousin Shoptilyadrop, MathTeacher, & SingingCousin (and actually, Phyl, that sings with Dad, too, came :) ) It was NICE!! We met at Clifton Mill, and WOW does it ever look different in the summertime!! LOL FYI, Clifton Mill is a MAJOR Christmas lights display from Thanksgiving thru Jan. 1st or something like that...In the summer all the trees are full & there's lots of overgrowth where there's just twiggy trees in the winter...But the mill still works during the summer!! It's a very pretty view :)

Well, I think that brings us pretty much up to date...King's been VERY busy with finishing up his quarter at school this week. I think that's why I don't get online very much...I don't usually get a chance during the day, and when I normally would get on at night, he's on here, so I don't get on at all...Just a vicious cycle LOL I've been trying to read, though, but feel VERY out of the loop!! I hope you all still check my blog!! LOL :)

Talk to ya later!! :)

So, I meant to talk about this the last entry, but I got sidetracked with the photos!! LOL I believe Missy asked about my friend Carebear's love life in a comment a couple of entries ago...Well, yes, she is seeing someone right now!! LOL I'm SO happy for her, and just between us journal goddesses, I think she's found "the one"!! She's so funny & cute about it all...her mother is beside herself!! LOL (something you might not know about Carebear is that she has always been very tom-boyish & not really into girly things, which her mom really hates!! LOL She's always been like, "See, Mandy wears makeup" so we always laugh because every time Carebear does something even a little bit girly (like get her hair & nails done for a wedding), her mom is so funny & gets so excited!!)...

Anyways, the girls came over for lunch, but Carebear got there first, and we had some time to chat before English came over...She couldn't hold it in that long & spilled it about her new "friend." They met at a Habitat for Humanity project, and she said he was wearing an old '80s/'90s Christian band T-shirt, so she knew he was "safe" to talk to...Well, he had come with a group from his church, but they had already left for lunch & he'd stayed behind, so after they worked for a while, Carebear & her cousin asked him if he wanted to grab some dinner with them at Wendy's & he came. She said that afterwards, they exchanged emails & phone #'s, and they've kept in contact almost every day since!!

Let me share with you the "God-thing" in all of this (not that I'm saying that even if I couldn't "see" the God-thing, that He wouldn't be there...it's just neat to see how He works!!) Anyways, a few months ago, I remember really being strongly impressed upon to pray for Carebear, for a future partner. I've been a Christian long enough to know that if the Lord places someone in your thoughts & heart, you should at least say a small prayer for them right then & there, because maybe they need a some intercessory prayer right then...Anyways, I believe I was in the shower, and I just got to thinking about her & her love life, and just started praying that the Lord would bring someone to her life (a friend) and that He would give her the grace to accept His will, whatever that meant. Well, when she said they'd been dating almost a month, I suddenly remembered that moment I had prayed for her!! It was roughly (because I don't log all these prayers!! LOL) around the same time she met CuteDork (that's what we'll call him because when she talks about him she says, "He's such a dork, but he's a cutie" and kinda grins all over, if ya know what I mean...so, until I meet him, that's what I'll refer to him as here...And, let me clarify that just because I have "dork" in his nickname, that is by no means a derrogatory (sp?) remark...I often refer to myself as a dork, and am proud of it!! LOL We have to embrace our dorkiness, people!! We all have at least a little bit in us!! LOL) So, anyways (I know I've said 'anyways' a lot, whatever...) Yes, she is dating someone!! :) My first impression is that this is the guy. I've seen "dating" Carebear (if you know what I mean), and this time she's different, and a GOOD different. She's all blushy & grinny & ya know, that "I'm-pretty-sure-this-is-it-but-it's-too-early-to-buy-the-Bridal-magazine IT"!! LOL I'm so happy for her!! :)

Anyways, moving on...

We have FAB's party tomorrow, and along with Missy's it's my Dad's birthday, too, so I have no idea what we're doing for that...We'll see, I guess. I think I'll get him a "lounge-around-home" outfit. Mom says that's what he's been mentioning he's wanting...Weird, but, hey, if it makes him happy :)

I'd better go. Is it a bad thing when you want to pull your hair out at 8:00p.m. and you can't blame it on PMS? Just asking :) LOL

I have since rearranged this little grouping by my front door. But, this gives you an idea of what's out there :)

I know, these are out of order, but like I said, they've been moved already!! LOL I have to get out there & take a new pic soon...I'm seriously thinking about painting the words white so they'll show up against the house better...easy fix, and still "neutral" no matter what kind of decor I decide to go with...Oh, I've also gotten a mini stool out there now, too...

These are roses that were here when we moved here...I thought they were gonna die, but they've sprung back up, even healthier this year...

Zucchini

Tomatoes & one of my marigolds...

Green Peppers :)

Watermelons from seed!! :) I didn't buy the starter plants of these, they're acutally from seeds I put in the ground!! You should see them now!! All the rain & stuff we've had, all these veggies are really starting to grow a LOT!!

Well, that took a lot longer than I thought...Uploading pics...Oh, well, since I'm at it, here's a pic of Jodi & Missy's dad I took at the anniversary party!! LOL I told him I'd put it on the internet!! LOL

Well, I'd better go...I've gotta get Abbey roused up from her nap, and then we're going to dinner & shopping with Daisy & Sweetie Pie :) No PT practice for me tonight (I've got the dreaded 'summer cold' argh...) so I'll just enjoy worshipping from my seat on Sunday :) That's always a nice change of pace, sometimes. Hope you all have a great Thursday!! :)

Happy 4th of July!!

I realize it's been over a week since I've posted...it's been a VERY busy week & a half...Just so much, and it would take forever to explain it all!! LOL I've just been a busy little summer bee!! LOL

My veggie garden has just totally gone wild!! (in a good way!! LOL) There are these thistle things that keep trying to take over, but my garden hoe has come in handy!! SO much easier weeding with that instead of on my haunches with a trowel (sp?). Anyways, I've got some good, healthy veggies coming in...As I was showing one of my friends (some of you might know her as Carebear, my friend since the 6th grade), I said, "Ah, man, I missed a weed!!" She said (in her deadpan-kind-of-way), "You are really old!" LOL It was just a weird, I'm into my garden moment!! LOL It is kindof an old-person thing for me to get all excited about, though, so I'll not wax poetically about it anymore for you...There's something very satisfying about planting something in the ground & watching it flourish under your care, though...

We're at Mom & Dad's right now. We just had the best ribs & burgers & Krispe Kreme bread pudding!! With a few little tweaks, that bread pudding will be sin incarnate!! LOL It's already sin!! LOL

Well, I have a bunch of photos of stuff I've been doing around the house that's been keeping me busy (along with all the visiting I've been doing & all-around run-around kinda stuff). I'll try & post that tomorrow...

I'd better go...Hope everything is well with you guys!! :)