Okay, I love old movies...I just love them. Most of them, anyways. I'm not into old war movies, but I will occasionally watch an old Western. But my favorite, I have to announce here to the world, are the old sappy ones!! The ones with an incredibly corny love story & the typical "hero" character who knows/does everything, and looking handsome & masculine all at the same time. I'd never seen "It Happened One Night" until today. It was on TCM, and they're saluting Frank Capra (no, he's not an actor, he's acutally a director. A phenomenal director. He's directed some of the most well-known classics (and these are only the ones I know about!!LOL I'm sure there's more) "It's a Wonderful Life," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "It Happened One Night," and a new one I'd never heard of today is "Here Comes the Groom."). Anyways, "It Happened One Night" stars Clark Gable & Claudette Colbert (Cole-bear, think "French pronunciation"). Now, I'd never seen Clark Gable in anything except "Gone with the Wind," but I have to say I loved him more in "It Happened...". VERY good. Kinda cheesy, but still very good.


Anyways, I had a good time by myself while Abbey took her nap today. I love Fridays...

Tonight they're having a "Carpenter's Kids Retreat" tonight @ church. It's an overnighter for the schoolage kids (not Jr. High & HS...there'll be a "lights out" this isn't a REAL all-nighter...it's a sleepover, really...). Anyways, we're not spending the night, but we're going for dinner & playing games & stuff. I think there'll be a craft or something, too. I don't think we're staying all that long...

Tomorrow, I don't know what we've got planned. I know that Steve has his Block Banquet, and Abbey & I aren't going, but I don't know what we'll do. Chelle's inlaws are in town AGAIN this weekend, so she can't really do much with me. I'd like to go to the Flea Market, but I don't really want to go by myself with Abbey...Aarrrgghh!! So, we'll probably just hang around the house tomorrow I guess...that's what it's sounding like, eh? LOL

I'd better go. Abbey's getting antsy to leave for church, and so is Steve...I don't know why unless he's going to disappear & mow the lawn while I'm inside...it could happen...but he like to talk with Mr. Ed (he's our youth leader). They work in the same bldg. on base, and go out to lunch with each other a lot. I like Mr. Ed & he's a good Godly influence on my hubby...

Okay, anyways, better go...I really don't know why he's being so antsy...weird...

Love ya'll!! :)

Okay, so I am totally upset on FlyLady's behalf. She's been getting some funky feedback about all her reminders & testimonials & stuff. You know, they can be overwhelming, but after you realize that you don't have to read each & every one, that Flylady's all about how it fits into your life, you can delete most, read a couple, or delete them all, or read them all...Anyways, I'm just frustrated that there are ladies COMPLAINING about a TOTALLY FREE service & CHAOS control help...again FOR FREE!!

Anyways, I totally love the Flylady, and you have to know, I'm not the world's best housekeeper by any stretch of the imagination, and I've definately gone through a funk lately, and my house is pretty much total CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), but just doing a little bit of her stuff a day is really helping. It's just great knowing that I'm not the only one who is living in CHAOS...Not everyone is BO (born-organized), and I'm DEFINATELY not...okay, in ways I am, but I've definately got an "all or nothing" mentality, and get overwhelmed when it's "nothing." Anyways, visit www.flylady.net for more inspiration about getting out of CHAOS!! :)

Okay, moving on...

Steve did NOT win the Idol tickets, and seriously, since Melinda isn't in the final 2, I don't really wanna go, anyways!! I mean, it would've been cool, but my gal Melinda was cheated, ya'll!! LOL I was a little ticked off!! But, thank you all for your votes & support!! It was exciting!!

Of course, I didn't have time to vote on Tues. night, so I really can't complain. I know there's a lot of Jordin lovers out there, but there's something about her I'm just not diggin'. I think it's the McFee feeling of last year...What's his name, Beat Box Boy...oh, yeah, Blake, I had a brain freeze...he's alright, but he's not my favorite, either. I think my Dad wants him to win, though. We'll see...

Oh, and what did you think of Elliot Yamin?!?! I'm not sure I like the hair...But his teeth look great!! :) I just love hearing that dude sing!! :) (LOL @ 'dude').

Tonight was PT practice, and it went well. Steve sang!! I don't know that he'll get up there on Sunday or not, but it was pretty neat that he came tonight.

Besides our fearless leader Jeff, it was just me, and then Steve later, there for practice tonight (oh, and our bass player, drummer, & "sound guy" (using that description loosely!! LOL)). But it was kinda fun just to sing harmony wherever I wanted, as kinda like a back up singer to Jeff...it was fun. I have no idea if there'll be more singers on Sunday, and like I said, I don't know that Steve will sing up there Sunday because we keep Abbey in the sanctuary until sermon time.

So, it was a good time tonight...Oh, and I found out that our PraiseFest is gonna be a little different this year. It's gonna be on Sunday instead of Saturday, and we'll just have church outside first, and then eat lunch, and then have more music with guest PT's & groups & such. Now, in the churches I grew up in, that's called a Homecoming service!! LOL But, there aren't a whole lot of hillbillies at this church, so there ya go.

I'd better go. It's past Abbey's bedtime, and Steve putting her down is not sounding promising.

Love you all!!

Happy Tuesday, ya'll!! I realize that 2 posts within one week will probably shock some of you, but I have a few minutes, and thought I'd come here :)

So, Jodi mentioned that I didn't blog about the Fox45 "Sing for your Seats" contest that Steve is currently participating in!! And, I had a real "DUH" moment!! LOL I did totally forget about mentioning that...and I didn't mention my birthday, either...it was May 6th, so a little over a week ago...it was VERY nice :) I got lots of birthday money!! :) So, look out live.love.scrap!! :) LOL Or Hobby Lobby...I'll have to do some comparison shopping so as not to waste any of my birthday money!! LOL

Although, I'm kinda waiting until we hear about this whole Sing for Your Seats thing!! LOL I might need some shopping money in Hollywood!! :) LOL They will announce the winner tomorrow morning on Fox45 during the news...

I don't think the "results" are very true. Either that, or we're underestimating how many other voters there are...All the percentages don't add up to 100 either, so that's what's leading us to believe those are "you'd better vote more" numbers!! LOL Although, that'll stink for the gal that's showing to be in the lead for so long...To think you're winning because of those #'s, and then to not would be a big let down...

So, enough about that...I will share with you tomorrow whether we win or not!! LOL

Oh, something funny, though. This morning they showed all the karaokers on the morning news!! LOL Steve about died!!!!! Bless his heart, I think he turned 12 shades of pink!! LOL

I can't believe I don't really have a big honken commitment at church right now!! LOL Right after the first luncheon we did, we scheduled the Mother/Daughter thing, so I always had something looming over my head, ya know? Well, we probably won't have anything like that until the fall, and maybe not even that, because we'll have our Women's Retreat in Sept. or Oct. or something like that... But I am involved with that...to what extent, I really don't know right now, but we're having a meeting pretty soon. I think the other gal in charge of this thing is kinda like me where I like to know what's expected of me way in advance. We'll be having a meeting along those lines pretty soon...

Oh, we will be having other stuff going on for the ladies in between there, though. In June we're having another of those Chick Flick nights!! Ya'll, that was so much fun, and went over SO well!! :) It was just a great time, and there was MAINLY great feedback!! :) And, in July or August one, I'd like to set up a Ladies' Excursion to Jeffersonville Outlet. I LOVE Jeffersonville outlet, and don't get to go very often. I thought it'd be fun to caravan up there & spend the day shopping together & stuff. No stiff itinerary or anything, but have meeting times & places set up throughout the day to touch base with everyone...

There are lots of ideas runnin' around in this crazy head of mine!! LOL That would be fun to do closer to Christmas, too...sorry, thinking as I type...

Can you tell one of my passions right now is Women's Ministry? I've really had a burden for that, and things have just kinda fallen into place. Again, if there's something in your life that you've been hem-hawing about doing because you're afraid of the outcome...just do it!! :) Obedience is awesome!! And, what a way of outwardly expressing our faith!! :) I heard a cool quote from David Crowder (now, he's not one of my favorite singers, but all his lyrics have always spoken to me, ya know?) Anyways, he said he's not really afraid to take risks...He says God is SO much bigger than our mistakes...there's nothing too big for Him to handle!! :) I'd never thought of it that way. We mess up all the time, and looking back over my life, there's nothing that He's used against me. His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us...And, when we mess up, DaddyGod is always bigger than our mistakes...There's nothing He can't handle...

Now, I'm not talking about going out & doing street drugs & praying for the best to happen. I'm pretty sure regular readers of this blog would understand that, but if you're new, there are "calculated risks," and that's what I'm talking about. But, if you find yourself in the pit, Jesus can reach down & pull you out, dude. But, you're gonna have to put out your hand, too.

Alright, that's all I've got for today, chicas. I'm in a really wierd word mood right now, can ya tell? How many times do I really use the word "dude"? LOL I would never use it in my "speaking" voice, as Jodi talked about on her blog!! LOL There are words I just reserve for my "written" voice!! LOL

Seriously, better go...I really want to grill out hamburgers tonight...YUM-O!! :)

Hey!! Long time, no see, eh?!?! LOL

I don't really have time for a full recap, so I thought a little pictoral post of the past month or so would be fun to catch you all up :)

Okay, so this was actually the beginning of March...but aren't they cute?!?! They have the same outfit on!! LOL And, both in pigtails!! :) SO CUTE!! :)


They are the Isaacs, and they tour with the Gaither Homecoming concerts...THEY ARE AWESOME!! If you're ever in the mood for some good/different bluegrass, they're VERY cutting edge. I really love them. They're not nasally bluegrass, either, if you know what I mean. Their music is AWESOME, too. We also have ties to them...Grandpa used to play bluegrass with Joe Isaacs, and after Joe got saved, he would invite Grandpa to come and hear his family...I thank the Lord for bringing people into my family's lives to help witness in ways that I'm not able to...sometimes we're just too close to the situation, ya know? Sorry for the deep thought on a pictoral post!! LOL



Katie Lynne turned ONE!! :) This is the cutie at her party gettin' ready to dig into the cake!! :)
Abbey got a bike right before all the cold weather hit before Easter!! She LOVES her "Cinderella" bike!! :)


These are all on Easter!! :) Abbey got to wave a flag & sing with all the other kids at the beginning of the service!! It was so stinkin' sweet!! :) Then, afterwards, we got a ton of pics of the girls both in their dresses...then after lunch, and a quick snooze in the car, we went to Great-Grandma's for an Easter Egg hunt!

****INSTERT IMAGE**** Okay, so I don't really have a picture of me doing anything between Easter & Women of Faith, but let it be known that I was coordinating a Mother's Day thing for church...those pics to follow...


THIS is Women of Faith...that first picture is Dr. Henry Cloud, the co-speaker for the pre-conference (I will not ever miss a pre-conference after this experience!! It was just AWESOME!!) That is a picture of how comfortable we were, too, on Friday morning/afternoon compared to sitting on each other's laps on Friday night & Saturday!! LOL Then, that's Jodi & Jeanna at Cracker Barrell on the way home from the conference...I have to tell you, I had some real breakthroughs...especially Friday morning & afternoon...


The Sunday after WoF we had a Potluck & Praise Sunday night...and we had a cook out!! It was very good, and Pastor Paul really spoke to my heart, and it was just an extension of the great speaking & talks I'd heard all weekend...a very "real" ending, if you know what I mean...After conferences, I always experience a high for a couple of days...I was definately still on one, and trying to contain myself a bit so I didn't freak anyone out or just chatter about everything that happened over the weekend (which I did, btw...)...Well, Pastor gave an object lesson...He had all the kids pick as many dandylions as they possibly could & hand them out to the adults...then he asked us all what kind of lessons we could take from these little dandylions, as sort of a devotional topic...It was funny he would bring up dandylions, because just that past week, I was looking at them in my yard...we have millions of them!! Well, I would notice that as the sun went down, they would close up...Well, I spoke up & said that they're their fullest when the light hits them...I think my "deepness" shocked Pastor a little bit!! LOL If you don't know me very well, I think I come off as flakey, so whenever I start sharing all these crazy wierd deep thoughts with people, I get a startled, "Wow, you really thought of that?!?!" look on people's faces!! LOL Anyways, it was just a great lesson to bring some extra closure for me.

This was Thursday night after WoF, and before the Mother's Day thing. We went out for ice cream (Abbey had her 1st Banana Split with Mommy!!), and we saw lights for that junky kinda carnival place just down the road...So, we drove by it, and of course, Abbey says, "Can I ride the merry-g0-round, Mommy?!" So, there were only fifteen minutes left until they closed, and there wasn't anyone there, so we bought her enough tickets to ride 2 rides. She rode the merry-g0-round twice!! LOL She LOVES merry-go-rounds...

Here's a picture of the Mother/Daughter "Tea," and believe me, we used the word "tea" loosely!! I've never been to a "real" tea, and was in charge of this one...I only drink Iced Tea, and SWEETENED, please!! LOL Luckily, there were only a couple of ladies who actually knew how to do a real tea, and they understood that this was more about fellowship than anything else. I did have a few problems, though. My friend Dawn was having a really sick spell (long story...she's got a lot of health issues that are very uncommon), anyways, she couldn't even come, let alone help me with anything. I did have people to do food, but other than that & our speaker (who was great, btw...she's a former member who is actually a pastor of her own church now...she's a certified lay pastor...I had never even heard of this before she completed her training & such). Anyways, it was really nice to have her come & share with us. She & her husband were one of the first couples who really welcomed Steve & I to COTC, and Doug, her husband, was our first SS teacher there. Oh, he also fixed our central air last year!! LOL :) Just great to see her & have her there!! :)

Now, there's trouble x2!! LOL Right after the Mother/Daughter thing, we headed to Wilmington to Brenden's 6th Birthday party!! I cannot believe those boys are turning 6 already!! Time flies...We had a great time there, and it was nice to be at a party I wasn't in charge of!! LOL Abbey had a blast & didn't want to leave!! Of course!! :) Oh, funny thing...after we left the party, we went to McD's...we just felt like we hadn't really eaten all day, so we got dinner (nothing against Darrel & Mandie's food!! LOL It was definately NOT their fault!! LOL We just felt like we nibbled all day...) Anyways, Abbey really hadn't eaten anything but fruit & cake all day, so she had nuggets & apples at McD's...She had 3 apples left, and Steve asked her how many were there, and she counted them...well, then he asks her, "How many's left?" Without even LOOKING at the other apples, she says, "Two." Like, DUH!! LOL Both our jaws dropped to the ground & I said, "That's it, I can't teach her math!! She's already at my level!!" LOL It was just so funny!!

This was just yesterday!! YAY!! Now you're all caught up!! LOL Mom, Chelle & I went to Kohl's for makeovers (for a Mother's Day treat), and afterwards, Mom took us to Red Lobster for linner (not quite lunch, not quite dinner...) Anyways, we had fun!! :)

This is what's living in our attic...Steve found it in our shed today. It's just a baby, and we think it fell down & might be injured. It's cute in a pathetic sort of way, but if it weren't injured, I would NOT think it was cute. It didn't try to run away from us, and it moved really slow, seeming to favor it's little back leg. We have no idea how to get rid of them, and if there's more up there...***just got a shiver*** Besides calling an exterminator and paying at LEAST $150, we don't know what to do...and trust me, we really don't want to waste $150, ya know?!?!

And, ssssssssshhhhhhhh, don't tell them, but this is what I made for Mom, Chelle, and my Aunt Ollie for Mother's Day. That's a recipe, in my Granny's handwriting, for her carrot cake & cream cheese icing. That's also a small picture of her. I made 3 different versions!! The official name for this is "altered clipboard." If you google that, you'll see so many cool ideas!! Think paint can & cigar boxes. I don't know which of the 3 I like best. The one in the middle was the 1st one I made, and then the white daisy one, then the block one. I'm really happy with how they turned out. Although, I owe a lot to the rub ons I got today. Those are one of my FAVORITE things!! :)

Well, I'd better go...I hope you've had an enjoyable time catching up with me!! :) I didn't mean for it to take so long, but you know how it goes...I haven't had time!! :) Hence, the pictures!! LOL

Talk to ya'll later!! :)

HAPPY APRIL!! Wow, I can't believe April's here already!! And, that means 3 things: 1. Easter!! Praise the Lord, He is risen!! 2. Steve & I are going on a mini trip to Amish country...JUST THE 2 OF US!! 3. Women of Faith Conference with the Cousins!! YAY!! Litterally a "hoppin' " April, but lots of fun!! :) My first goal is to have the house running self-sufficiently (think FLYlady) before we go to Amish country. I hate leaving a messy house, and hate even more to come home to one. Just burdens me the whole time knowing that there's a house to clean & clothes to unpack as we're coming home...

Anyways, the bulletin board is DONE!! :) And, it looks really cute, if I do say so myself. There were people wondering about me, I think, when I was painting black polka dots on the white bulletin board paper, but now that it's all finished, I've heard lots of great comments!! :) A picture will be taken & shared with you this week!! LOL

So, today, Steve surprised me by coming home around 5p.m. & saying that he called off at Block, and we gave Abbey a big surprise!! :) We bought her a Princess bike towards the end of March, and had thought we'd just give it to her for Easter (yes, we do Easter presents, almost like Christmas, but why not? We're celebrating the Savior's Ultimate Gift fulfilled, ya know...) Anyways, we'd thought about saving it for Easter, then I got to thinkin', we don't always have to wait to give her "big toys" for special occasions/holidays!! She's our kid, and we don't really spoil her, so why not give her a bike? Plus, the weather forecast for Easter is COLD again, so we thought she'd like to ride it before the weather gets cold again, then she'll be excited again after the weather warms up again, too!! LOL We might have been thinking too much about that in the first place, though...

So, all that to say, what a big girl my Abbey May is!! Her bike's a Princess bike, and it has training wheels...we had thought about a tricycle first, but at Meijer she pedals that so fast, she almost turns herself over when she turns!! LOL So, a big girl bike it was...and the price was right, we got it on sale. SHE LOVES IT!! So, it was worth it, giving it to her early...now I just have to figure out what we're actually giving her on Easter...LOL But, she'll get stuff from Mom & Dad...

Okay, I'd better go. We're going to get pizza tonight (Fox's...YUM!!), and then I need to get some laundry detergent..we're completely out! Aren't you glad I shared?!?! LOL

Love ya!!