I just feel the need to blog tonight...does that happen to anyone else? I realize I've been MIA this summer, but there have been a few times where I've just wanted to stop everything & blog!! LOL So, tonight I did!! LOL

VBS is REALLY CLOSE!! Less than 2 weeks away, now!! :) I'm not really nervous about things not working out right...I'm just ready to stop talking about it, and DO it, ya know? We've got quite a few things going on, though, in order to get ready for it...One is, we're selling VBS T-shirts this year, (for a very cheap price, and a great profit margin), but the catch is we're making them ourselves...They're not hard to do, and they're VERY cute, but it's just one more thing to have to worry about...Anyways, I'm also getting excited about the set design & stuff...We have to construct a puppet area this year, and there's nothing we can use on the stage already (like a baptismal someone could sit in or whatever...) so, we have to make a "puppet stage" that will blend in with the rest of the themed scenery...and, let me just say, my scrapbooking/paper piecing experience is definately going to come out!! We're making a huge tree out of bulletin board paper, and lots of flowers & stuff...VERY COOL, and pretty easy, really, when the teens & older kiddos help out...Anyways, I'm looking forward to it...I'll have to take pictures again & let you see it...I'm not painting as much as I thought I would have to, either...SO, THAT's GOOD!! :) We'll probably try & keep the puppet thing neutral, but I can use cardboard squares to paint "buggy" pictures on...

Sorry, just thinking "out loud."

Okay, after VBS, we'll start gearing up for Reunion & vacation at the beginning of September!! I can't believe it's so close already...Unbelievable!! Mom & Dad, Chelle, me, and the girls are all going back to the Smokies again after Reunion. That's always such a great week to go, and most of the hotels are cheaper that week, too...So, REALLY looking forward to that!! :)

Then, in October, our Women's Retreat is coming up...The last weekend of October, to be exact...I'm excited about that, too, but we need to get more "on the ball" with that...I've been saying to myself, "After VBS is over, I can really focus more on Women's Retreat..." blah blah blah...

Then, in November, just a few weeks after Women's Retreat, is our Church Bazaar...and guess who crafts for that?!?! LOL Yep!! I actually work there that weekend (Fri & Sat) personalizing ornaments & such...Well, like the ones I showed you like I did last year...I posted those pics, right? That's what I do (mostly) for the bazaar...

Really, though, it's already time to start thinking about a Christmas play, too...I'm really not into all this "production" stuff!! LOL I feel like everything I do is a big "production"!! LOL I'm hoping everyone will be OK with what we did last year...It went well, and we can always use what we learned about doing it last year, as far as set-up & stuff...It can grow, and we can advertise in the community more...

So, always busy busy busy!! LOL I did step down from doing Fellowship (it's a team of people on a rotation that bring in snacks for after church on Sundays). That was just always something I was always forgetting & my heart just wasn't in it...Plus, I need to just let a few things go, ya know? Just because I "stay at home" doesn't mean I have more time for everything else!! A lesson I'm really learning right now!! LOL

I've been wondering about Sunday School & Children's Church, too...I only have CC once a month, but sometimes it can be a little too much since I'm on the Praise & Worship team, too...So, we'll see...We were talking tonight about changing up Children's Church a little, and just re-organizing it & putting more structure (as far as designating each Sunday to a "theme" like "Movie Time Sunday" & "Game Sunday" & "Craft Sunday" etc... I like what Bethany does, too, and has a "Family Sunday"...that could be the 5th Sunday when there is one so it's not all the time...interesting...have to talk to Traci about that one...)

So, lots of stuff going on...especially with church. I really love working like that in the church, and planning fun stuff & things like that. I just want to always check my heart-motive. I always want it to be for God's glory, and not because I like that "accomplishment" feeling, ya know? And, in the midst of all the planning, I don't want to lose that heart-motive, either, and get so wrapped up in the work, that I forget the REASON for the work, ya know? I realize we all can struggle with that, and it's just a season in our walk with the Lord...prayers, though? Thank you!! :)

Okay, better go...There are so many other things that don't involve church (I know!! LOL Shocker!! LOL), but I've run out of time...it's after midnight, and Steve turns back into a grump then!! LOL Oops, I mean pumpkin...LOL

Love you all!! :)

I just have a minute...I just found out about this, and thought you all who are WOF fans would appreciate this article.

http://www.womenoffaith.com/newsroom/mediacoverage/barbarajohnson.asp

Barbara Johnson was the only WOF speaker I really knew anything about that first year I went. I read her books, and they made me laugh & cry, and were instrumental in knocking down the misconceptions I had been taught about God's incomprehensible love for me. Check out her books...

Great Women's Bible Study

Okay, I hardly ever do titles, but thought I'd pop one up there today :) Today is "Ladie's Bible Study" at my church, and I absolutely LOVE our teacher. She's very sweet, funny, real, and wise. Just a blessing...Anyways, I shared my "God Breeze" story from yesterday, and shared that I'm going to start posting layouts on ebay, and during our prayer time Kathy (the leader/teacher) prayed that God would bless the work of my hands & that He would bless our family financially through them. I thought that was a very wise way of putting it. I know that there are a lot of lay outs on ebay that don't have one single bid, and there may be a busier time for it than others, but I believe this is where God's leading me right now...

Anyways, just praying for continued blessing & wisdom & leading with all that....

So, I told you yesterday there was lots of stuff to share!! :) Well, I'm involved with 2 big planning "committees," if you will, for 2 very important biggies...and I guess you could say 3 because I just remembered something else. The first one is VBS!! I'm a "co" leader, and actually, am doing the skits every night (there are at least 2 every night, 3 the 1st 2 nights!! I'm not an actress!!) Anyways, that's a biggie coming up. I helped "lead" last year, if you'll remember, and it was a lot of fun, but a LOT OF WORK!! I think we've got more of a handle on it this year, though, actually, because we've been meeting once a week the last 3 weeks (at McD's since we both had our kids, and we shut down/were run out of the playlands all 3 times!! LOL). Anyways, these weekly meetings have been helpful in keeping us on track, and giving us a "deadline" for certain things to be done. It's going to be very cute, btw!! It's all about bugs!! :)

Then, #2 is our Women's Retreat in October, and we've been meeting every 2 weeks (at least 2x's a month) to gear up & get ready for that. We're actually basing the theme & talks on Sheila Walsh's book "I'm Not Wonderwoman, but God Made Me Wonderful." It was amazing at that first meeting, we got to talking, and comparing notes, and the themes of that book was exactly what we were talking about. So, that was another God Breeze!! :) It's always neat to see how God works & speaks to us about stuff...

And, #3 I just forgot about is our PraiseFest '07. That's in September, and I still haven't heard very many details...But I'm not "in charge" of that...

Anyways, so, busy, busy, busy...Oh, and have I mentioned that we're also thinking on homeschooling Abbey? Yeah, I'm crazy!! LOL No, I really have been impressed with everything I've read about it so far...Lisa Welchel (no, I do not just read books by her & Sheila Walsh!! LOL) has a book called "So, You're Thinking About Homeschooling" and it was an excellent read. It prompted me to read her book "Creative Correction" or something like that. And, THAT has been a GOD SEND!! I can already see how it's working on me & Abbey, both. Anyways, 2 VERY GOOD reads, even if you're not really into wanting to or finding out about homeschooling. I love what it said about "socialization." You'll have to read it to understand!! LOL

So, lots of pondering in our hearts around here, and a lot of trying new methods of disciplining our 3-year-old Diva...And, lots of meetings!! LOL I even met my friend Amy @ Live.Love.Scrap. last Saturday for a free cropping day, and we had a BLAST!! It was some VERY MUCH NEEDED girl time & sharing...for both of us!! :) I just love getting together with her, though...

Anyways, I'd better go...Steve expects me to make dinner out of nothing!! LOL ;) j/k :)

Whew!! It took me all day to get this site lookin' the way I wanted it to!! FINALLY!! :) I guess I still need to update those little calendars on the side, but I'm tired of doing that for now!! LOL Now, to be fair, I didn't acutally spend all day on the computer!! LOL It just felt like it!! :)

So, I've been a busy bee lately!! I've really wanted to blog, but haven't had time to really devote to just sitting down & blogging, and it's been bugging me!! I've totally had some, "I've gotta blog that" moments...

So, I know I've shared with you all that I've been thinking about selling some pre-made scrapbooking wares, I just didn't know how to do it as far as a home-show kind of business...well, today Steve did the checkbook & said he just prayed over it & he wasn't going to worry about it. Then he asked the Lord to clearly & specifically show us how to earn a little extra money, if it be him getting another pt job, or me doing something. He was at work when he did this, and I hadn't talked to him yet. Well, as you know I had a lot of computer time today, and I put a couple of things up on ebay. While I was there, I did a search for "pre-made scrapbooking pages" & a TON popped up...towards the top of the list was a double lay out (only 2 co-ordinating pages w/ the same theme for those of you who aren't into scrap lingo), and it had 10 bids on it, 5hrs left, and the top bid was $61!! I emailed that to Steve, and said, "I think I've found what I'm supposed to be doing!" He immediately calls me laughing, and says, "You'll never guess what I just prayed about not even an hour before I got your email!!" So, we had a God-moment today. Okay, every moment is a God-moment, but you know what I mean...

It makes me want to just rake off the kitchen table & set up scrapbook camp!! :) LOL Now, I did more "research" on ebay just to see what the going rate for a pre-made scrapbook page(s) were going for, and was surprised to see that there were some more lo's going for $25-35 (and that was a 1st bid), and there were lots that had no bids, but there was still time, ya know? There were also ones that were only going for $5-$10, and some $15, so you get the picture. So, there is a want for this type of thing. Just exciting :)

Okay, there's tons more to share, but I gotta go...Steve made me a s'more!! :) YUM-O!! :)

Love you all!! :) I hope the new look is easy on your eyes!! :)

Okay, so why haven't I ever really checked out Proverbs 31 Ministry before?!?! It's awesome!! A lot of their website stuff isn't free, though, but they have a monthly magazine that was reasonable, and they have a daily email devotional (that's very good, btw) that's free, but to get on their mesg. boards it's $15/year...So, right now, no msg. boards for me, but I am really thinking about the magazine...Oh, they have a big honken conference called "She Speaks" in NC (where they're headquartered), and it's a conference for writers, speakers, and leaders of women's ministries. All of the topics sounded totally awesome & relevant, not just there to fill in the gaps, but when I saw the price tag, I realized why!! LOL It's jam-packed full of info & stuff, but it was almost $500!! That included your hotel room & at least 3 meals I saw, but WOW, that was a sticker shocker...Anyways, that's one of my dreams, to be able to go there one day, because every day I really feel more affirmed that women's ministry is where I'm being led.

If you've never heard of Proverbs 31 Ministries (from now on referred to as P31), here's the link www.proverbs31.org . It's a ministry devoted to women's needs & interests, and most importantly our walks with the Lord. Very interesting stuff, and worth the pop over there to really get a better feel for what they're all about...I was just very impressed with that conference!! :)

Today's been nice & slow. Abbey's napping right now, and in a little bit we'll go to get my eyebrows done. I made some sweet sun tea today (easy as pie, and SO stinkin' good!! :)) Sun tea is the lazy summer way of makin' tea. There's just something so refreshing about it. Maybe it's because I can remember my Mom making it in the summer. You just fill a glass jug full of water, pop in 6-7 (or more if you prefer) iced tea bags, and set it out in the sun for about an hour 1/2 or so, and then sweeten it when you bring it inside. I learned a trick from Paula Deen, though, about that, and really, my Mom probably did it, too, I just don't remember that part. You make a "syrup" so you don't have any "crunch" in your drink. Just boil equal parts sugar to water (really, you're just heating it up to dissolve the sugar), and add it to your freshly sun-brewed tea!! Ahhhhh!! :)

My glass jug (the kind with the push-spout thingy at the bottom) leaks, though, so I had to pour it in my Pampered Chef gallon pitcher with the thing you move up & down to mix it all up with. It's easier to handle, too... I'd like to just get a new glass jug. I had 2 & they both leak...

Wow, how's that for rambling?!?!

I'd better go. I was really on here to find a bee puppet pattern that was cute for VBS, but I can't find anything so far...still looking...I'm starting to think I could make us one that would be cuter than anything I've found so far!! And, I might actually try it!! :)

Talk to ya'll later!! :)