Our Vapor

Not much time!

2012-01-26T17:16:00.001-05:00

Only had time to write on one blog today. Head on over to my other blog! Click here.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-21T17:54:00.001-05:00

Our year in a nutshell . . .

I won!

2011-12-09T16:47:00.001-05:00

I am SO excited! I won something yesterday off of a Christmas giveaway! I wrote all about it on my other blog. You can read it here. I never win anything!

It's December! YIKES!

2011-12-02T23:04:00.004-05:00

Where on earth did the time go?? I can't believe that it is almost time to be sending out a new Christmas letter. Maybe I should be working on that.

I know that I always explain why I never have time to blog anymore but it's really not an excuse. It's my job. Jack keeps me pretty busy. He doesn't nap as long anymore so I have to keep him pretty occupied these days. He is starting to notice when we're not around. If I leave the room, he gets a little anxious.

He is noticing more and more about things in our house. He is constantly looking all around him. He LOVES the Christmas lights and can't stop staring at them. He will be six months at Christmas and we can't wait to see how he reacts to all of the excitement.

Since it has been a while, we decided on posting a couple of pictures of Jack from his first Thanksgiving. He loved it. He didn't get to try any of the food (his doctor said no until at least six months). He was still happy though. And, when Jack is happy, we are happy. :o)

Food. . . . That reminds me. Why do I feel so guilty now when I am eating in front of Jack?? He knows that I have food and he wants it! I feel awful that he can't have a taste. I just want to make sure that he doesn't get any food allergies. I know that, if I don't listen to the doctor, and Jack ends up with a food allergy, then I will feel even more guilty. So, at least if I wait and he still ends up with some type of allergy, at least I listened.

I am still trying to adjust to Jack being around. It has been pretty difficult to put off house work. I just can't really seem to get as much done. I have had to learn (and am still learning) that it's okay and it can wait. I try to do what I can, when I can. I still wish that I could hire a maid though. Especially with the holidays coming and going so fast!

Making great strides!

2011-11-03T15:26:00.004-04:00

I just had to share all of the things that our sweet boy is doing now. Yes, it's time to brag! First of all (thank goodness!), his teeth are almost through and his cries of pain are almost non-existent now. Whew. He is reaching for things that I try to hand over to him. The other day, I went to pick him up in the nursery at our church and he reached out to me. Melted my heart. The thing that shocked me the most was that, yesterday, he actually enjoyed eating his cereal for the first time and opened his mouth for the spoon. So, silly faces and noises no more! Finally!

Oh! I cannot forget this! Jackson celebrated his first Halloween this week. Instead of trick-or-treating, we help out at our church for the kids carnival that we call Candyland. We wanted to have more fun with it this year so we decided to dress our little guy up. We have been working on his costume for, well, since he was a month old. We were trying to think of cute and fun ideas that you haven't really seen before. So, we present to you, our lumberJACK:

No, the ax is not real.

Wanting some of that candy!

Started another blog!

2011-10-31T15:17:00.002-04:00

I started another blog to welcome the new chaos is our lives. Don't worry! This is still going to be our family blog but I have started this blog about my life as a wife and mother. I will be posting a lot of things that have helped (or not helped) me. You may see some similar posts (like recipes and things) but that's okay.

I'm so excited about it because I will post any giveaways that I find. I am also going to post product reviews. These will just be things that I (Jack or Jeremy) have personally used that I love. Not necessarily for the company itself--although, if they want, I'd be happy to do so! The blog is mostly to be helpful or an encouragement to wives and mothers but those who aren't (wives or mothers) can certainly read it!!! Just go check it out by clicking on the title above. Welcome to my chaos!

T is for Two Teeth!

2011-10-21T17:07:00.003-04:00

When Jackson started getting some teething symptoms a few weeks ago, I thought, "Boy, this is it!" It was crazy! I ended up doing a little research. It turns out that my husband and I both were early teethers. I also read somewhere that it's quite possible for your baby to have all the symptoms of teething and not actually get his teeth for a few months. That is certainly not what I wanted to hear . . . although, it did explain why Jack was being so "rotten."

Last night, Jeremy came home from work and spent a little time with Jack right away (which he always does after work). Jack reached out and grabbed his daddy's fingers and put them in his mouth (which he always does after work). That is when Jeremy realized that Jack's two bottom teeth were finally breaking through! Needless to say, I am one proud momma! I keep check the poor kids mouth every hour to see if those pearly whites are popping up yet. He probably thinks I'm crazy.

Fall is back in Florida!

2011-10-20T16:29:00.002-04:00

We woke up yesterday and discovered that it was cooler outside! Cool weather is amazing in Florida. You can be outside longer and not have to worry about sweating to death. Although, sometimes you wonder how long this cool weather will last. Usually it comes for a day and then there are a few more weeks of hot weather before it actually stays cool. Today the cool weather came back! I was so excited. We'll see how long it stays around.

Okay, so I will leave you with one of my favorite pictures of our boy. This was taken on Saturday before we left on a trip for the park. It's so funny . . . he knows how to cheese it up for the camera now!

Trials, Triumphs and Teething

2011-10-13T18:37:00.007-04:00

It has been a while since I've written a post. Things have been crazy around here. We have been super busy and not just with Jackson. One thing for sure, I have been embracing my new role as a mom. Sometimes it's a little bit difficult to keep up with the other things that I need to do.

As I have mentioned before, we are fortunate enough to have help in our responsibilities at church so we have managed to cut back with some of our teaching. With that is still some level of worry. Not to mention, I miss teaching the kids full time. It's just not the same. Now when I see them, I wonder how they grow so fast--even when I see them every week!

We have been going through many trials since our new little guy came into our lives. Trials with him and trials with life in general. Our families have gone through struggles and our friends have gone through struggles. One thing for sure, God has been there for me, to help me in my struggles. He continues to show me the areas that I need to work on. I try to live my life in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. So often I fail. It seems like that has been happening a lot in my life lately. I often wonder if the things that are crashing down around me are a result of something that I have done wrong in my life. If not, at least the Lord is using it to cause me to reevaluate my life or the people that I let in my life. Now that I have Jack, I need to keep my focus on God and what He wants for my life. I want my son to grow up knowing the God that I grew up knowing. I want him to learn to love the things that makes God happy and hate the things that God hates. It is my responsibility to teach Jack and raise him up in a way that would bring glory to God.

Alright, so (now that I am a mom) my posts will probably consist of writing about Jack. He is our life and I can't stop looking at him every single minute of every day. He is growing so fast. He just turned 4 months old yesterday. I wonder where the time went.

Along with Jack growing like a weed, he has also started the process of teething. It has been so crazy and I here that it could be a long time before any teeth even pop up. Oh, great. Jack is normally a pretty good baby. He only cries when he's hungry, sleepy or has a dirty diaper. Now that he's teething, I feel like I gave birth to a monster. I call him my teeny tiny teething monster. It really isn't all that bad now that we have figured out different ways to keep him occupied and different things for him to chew on at different times. I have discovered that he loves Finding Nemo and chewing on his burp cloths.

We just started Jack on rice cereal once a day. At times it seems like he enjoys it and then there are times where he looks like he might be sick. He's pretty comical at times. Every time we feed him it is a messy experience but I love it. The look on his face is always priceless.

A mom's work is never finished and the little guy needs me. He desperately wants to be moving but can't figure out the whole crawling thing yet. Until next time, if you're having trouble, find something to chew on!

Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was that they escaped teething.

-Mark Twain

Stationery card

2011-09-25T19:08:00.001-04:00

Festive Family Fall Greeting

Tell them you love them with Shutterfly Valentines cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Schedule

2011-09-14T14:44:00.004-04:00

I am SO excited! It has been about a couple weeks that we have been working on a schedule here for the Jack-man. He is getting up pretty much around the same time every day: between 8 or 8:30. So he has his first bottle pretty early and then he takes a pretty long nap in the morning. I sit him in his swing and he naps pretty much up until his next feeding. That gives me plenty of time to get ready for my day. Then he eats between 12 or 12:30. Afterwards, he will play until around 2:15 or so when he goes down for his afternoon nap (in his crib). He sleeps about 45 minutes to an hour (sometimes more). Then we'll play a little longer before he eats again (between 4:30 or 5). Then daddy comes home and plays with him. Depending on the day (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays are bath around 8ish), he will take his last bottle around 9 and then it's off to bed! This has been so fantastic! He gets put in his crib wide awake. He will cry for about 10 minutes (less now) and then he is out until the next morning! I can't believe that it has been working out so well. I am so excited about it.

Anyway, I plan on homeschooling him when he's able. I was looking up some stuff to see if there is anything I can do now to prepare him for school when he's older. I found a website that has a (sort of) curriculum for infants starting at 3 months of age. He turns 3 months on Sunday so I think we are going to start that next week. I'm really excited about it!

I just went outside to get the mail a little while ago. It is so nice out! I can't believe that Fall is almost here in Florida! I LOVE this time of the year. It's just perfect out (minus the mosquitoes in the evening). I can't wait to take Jack out during the day for some fresh air. It's been too hot for us to be outside for too long. Jack hates to feel sweaty. :o) So, I am celebrating today by putting up our Fall decorations. I can't wait until the day that Jack can appreciate all of this with me!!! Until then, it looks like I'll be able to catch up on my reading! ;o)

Quotes from the events surrounding September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T18:32:00.003-04:00

For a detailed account of the events of 9/11 please clink here.

“Terrorism against our nation will not stand.” - George W. Bush – Remarks at Emma Booker Elementary School. Sarasota, Florida – delivered 11 September 2001, 9:30 A.M. EDT

We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. -George W. Bush, Speech after 9/11 attacks

"You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy." --Colin Powell

"The city is going to survive, we are going to get through it, It's going to be very, very difficult time. I don't think we yet know the pain that we're going to feel when we find out who we lost, but the thing we have to focus on now is getting this city through this, and surviving and being stronger for it." --Rudolph Giuliani

The full horror of what has happened in the United States earlier today is now becoming clearer. It is hard even to contemplate the utter carnage and terror which has engulfed so many innocent people. We've offered President Bush and the American people our solidarity, our profound sympathy, and our prayers. But it is plain that citizens of many countries round the world, including Britain, will have been caught up in this terror. --British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Interview, September 11, 2001

This morning we were notified about the horrible news of the series of terrorist attacks in the United States, that have left a great trail of destruction. Mexico expresses its condolences to the Government and the American people for the irreparable human losses. We also express our energetic condemnation to these attacks. I have informed President George Bush of our feelings of sorrow and our solidarity in such difficult moments. --Mexican President Vicente Fox, , September 11, 2001

"Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger." -George W. Bush

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. -George W. Bush 9/11 Address to the Nation

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. “ - President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend–even a friend whose name it never knew. “ - President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001

America will never run...And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. -George W. Bush

Remembrance

2011-09-09T11:28:00.002-04:00

I sit here watching my little guy swinging in his swing and fast asleep. I can't help but think back to the day that he was born. Tomorrow he will be 12 weeks old. I can't believe how fast time has gone. Every day that I celebrate this new life, I can't help but think back to the lives of those I've lost.

August was one year since we lost my Grandma Martin. Life without her has continued on but not without thoughts of what she might be thinking or saying if she were still here with us today. I thought of her the day that Jackson was born. I could just imagine her excitement as she received the phone call that her great-grandson was born.

This month will be five years since my brother, Phil, passed away. I know I post about this every year, but it is really laying heavy on my heart this year. For those of you who don't know, about a month after my niece was born, Phil found out that he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was devastated. Why would this happen to my family . . . to his family? I didn't understand at the time. Now that I think back, I know it was all in God's sovereign plan. I wish so much that my brother could meet my little son. I can imagine him saying, "I can't believe my little sister has a kid of her own." I wish he were here so that he could see his nephew. At least I know that both he and my grandma are smiling down on little Jack.

The last week, I have also been reflecting on the lives lost on September 11, 2001. I remember that I was in college and had just gotten out of my 8 o'clock class when a friend told me that a plane had crashed into one of the towers of The World Trade Center. I remember going to the snack shop and watching the t.v. in there just as the second plane crashed in the the second tower. You could hear a pin drop, it was so quiet. We were all in shock. That is when we knew that this was more than just an accident. Our country was under attack. In chapel, the president of our school told us that classes would be cancelled for the rest of the day. I don't remember much else from the rest of that day, other than I was able to call my mom on the phone and talk to her. It took a while to get through with my calling card (I didn't have a cell phone back then). I just remember that I was a little scared and we talked about how something like this could happen to a country like the United States.

So, this month is a month of remembrance for me. Remembering the birth of my son, the lives of my grandmother and brother, and the lives of those lost on September 11 and the days following. We don't know why God chooses the paths for us that He does. But we do know that He does it to show His sovereign will. Here are some verses that I have found helpful in the past:

Philippians 4:6-Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalm 20:7-Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 17:7-Blessed in the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.

Nahum 1:7-The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.

Psalm 18:30a-As for God, his way is perfect.

Psalm 27:1-The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 37:3-8-Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret--it only causes harm.

Where'd the time go??

2011-08-24T12:45:00.005-04:00

August 18

Wow! We have not made a post for over a month! Sorry about that. We have been a little busy. But I promise to try to post more often. I figure that I will be able to post a little more since I am getting more sleep now than I have for the last 11 months! Jack just turned 2 months last Thursday and he has been sleeping through the night for a whole week. We are thrilled . . . and much more rested! Not to mention, we are finally making it to Sunday School again!!

I guess I should fill everyone in on what has been going on in our lives since our last post. We have had family visitors. My parents were here for the birth of Jack and then my mom came back a week later to help out until I was fully recovered from the hemorrhaging. It was so nice to have them help and to see how they reacted to their 3rd grandchild. Every grandchild is as big of an excitement as the first! :o) At the end of July, Jeremy's mom and sister came to visit. It was Jeremy's sisters first time visiting us and we were glad to show off Jackson as well as where we live. Megan, you need to come back now that we have our schedule all figured out with Jack! :o)

Okay, now it's time to go back to bragging about our baby. Ever since he turned 2 months, he has been so much more fun! Not that he wasn't before--but he is smiling more and laughing. We can actually play with him now. It's a lot of fun. Last Saturday, he actually rolled over from front to back! We were so proud of him--he was terrified. It was kind of funny. Anyway, needless to say, we are having a blast with our little boy. We love him dearly.

We are gradually going into the time of year that I love the most: Fall. However, I wish so much that I could have the pretty Fall colors that are up North. I miss that most of all. I can't believe that we have already gone a whole year. It will be Christmas before we know it! (Another favorite time of year!)

It's also hard to believe that we have made it one year without my Grandma Martin. I still think of her often. Every time I look at Jack, I can hear her excited voice about her great-grandson. I know she would have loved him. She never knew about him because we found out we were pregnant a month after her passing. I still miss her very much.

Sorry it's taking me so long to post this. Jeremy came home for lunch and then I had to feed Jackson. I just wanted to ask you all to pray for Jeremy. While he was home, he received an email informing him that a friend, and former co-worker, passed away. Jeremy had the opportunity to witness to this man on many occasions. He was loved by our family greatly. We will certainly miss him. We covet your prayers during this time.

To finish what I started about Fall almost being here, reminds me that I need to let you know that our schedules at church are winding down! After much prayer, we have decided that we will be giving up being the Directors of our Wednesday evening kids club: The Winner's Circle. We have somewhat mixed emotions. We certainly have loved teaching the children in our church and we have done so every almost Sunday and Wednesday evening since we have been members. Finally, after 5 years, our church family is growing and we now have the help that we have prayed and waited for so long. We are truly blessed and grateful that there are others who are willing to step up and take over some of our responsibilities. We will, however, continue to be the Directors of Children's Church. We figured because of Jeremy's work schedule (and our new family member), this will be the best option for us.

Well, I suppose that is all for now. I will try to post more regularly. As mentioned before, please keep us in your prayers.

Welcome, Jack!

2011-07-01T17:31:00.002-04:00

Well, it's taken me almost two weeks to be able to write about this. We have been a little sleep deprived here and trying to adjust to our new schedule. I just wanted to take this opportunity to let you all know exactly what went on in the days surrounding Jack's birth.

Thursday, June 16, we had our final prenatal appointment. It was a normal appointment and then our midwife talked to us about being induced. It turned out that our options were to either be induced or go back the following day or to the hospital on the weekend to get some testing done (including a stress test) to see why I wasn't progressing anymore. Jeremy and I discussed it with our midwife and really trusted her opinion. We decided to be induced.

Friday, June 17 (our 5-year anniversary) at 5:30 am, we went to the hospital to be induced. I was hooked up to the IV's (and Pitocin) by 6 am. Things were going really well and the contractions didn't seem to bother me as much as I had feared they would. Apparently I was supposed to be in much more pain than I thought I was feeling. Around 3 pm, my water broke. By 7 pm, I still wasn't progressing any more so I asked for an epidural. At 10:30 pm, my midwife came in and said I was 10cm and ready to push! I watched the clock start ticking down the hours with every push, wondering if he was going to make it for our anniversary.

Finally, on Saturday, June 18, at 1:07 am, Jackson had arrived! Thankfully, I had him as a distraction because I started hemorrhaging. I really had no clue what was going on around me. I am so thankful that I had gotten an epidural because they needed to give me shots in my leg to help stop the bleeding. (Of course, I am a wimp when it comes to needles, but I couldn't feel a thing.) The last shot that they could possibly give actually stopped the bleeding. I was that close to needing to have a blood transfusion. We thank God that it didn't come to that and I thank God that I had my little man to distract me and the epidural so I couldn't feel what was happening.

At our hospital, they move you to a different room after you have your baby. Because of all that went on, we didn't make it to the room until around 5 or 5:30 am. We were so tired but didn't get much sleep. The nurses had to keep coming in every hour to check my temperature, blood pressure, and stitches.

Our stay at the hospital seemed very long and we were glad that we finally had the okay to leave on Monday at 6 pm. It was so good to be home!

Happy Memorial Day!

2011-05-30T15:40:00.003-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! We just wanted to take this time to thank those who have fought for our freedom. Thank you!!!

For a little history on Memorial Day, click on the blog post title.

Week 37!

2011-05-25T11:43:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since we have had a blog post. Where does the time go these days? We have been busily preparing for baby Jack. Can you believe that we only have 2 weeks and 3 days until his due date?! We had our 37-week appointment on Monday and I have already dilated 1cm, 50% effaced, and at pelvic station-zero (which explains all of the low back pain I have)! All of these things are great! That means Jack is well on his way . . . but it still could be a little while yet.

So, what are we doing while we wait? Hmmmm . . . good question. A lot of reading, watching television, EATING . . . you know, that sort of thing. I throw in some cleaning every now and then. They say you get the "nesting" instinct when it gets closer to delivery but I haven't really felt the urge to do that yet. Maybe it's because I am constantly cleaning anyway.

It's getting a lot harder to move around these days. I can't really bend over to pick anything up. It is hard to sit for long periods of time or stand for long periods of time. There really isn't a happy medium.

Oh! I have to tell you this! We were sitting on the couch Monday night and I felt a jab in my stomach. I looked down and felt the bulge . . . it was a tiny, little foot!!! I felt the heel and everything. It was so amazing! I just HAD to share that.

So, we will try our best to keep you updated on any news of the arrival of our little boy. WE CAN'T WAIT!!!

Family Visits

2011-05-05T22:36:00.004-04:00

As promised in our previous post, we are posting some pictures from when Sarah's aunts and mom visited a couple of weeks ago. It was so nice to be able to see and spend time with family.

Aunt Laura, Sarah, and Aunt Gina

Aunt Gina, Aunt Laura, mom, and Sarah

Mom's last night in Clearwater.

April Happenings

2011-05-03T10:56:00.006-04:00

As you can tell from our blog posts, we have been pretty busy in April. Our minds have been preoccupied with preparing for the baby and less on blogging. We had to focus on registering at the hospital, taking some birthing classes, scheduled doctor appointments, and various other activities.

Sarah's mom came to visit for a couple weeks for a baby shower as well as to help prepare a little bit for Jack's arrival. She did a lot of work for us and we were very grateful for all the help. Also, two of Sarah's aunts came from up North to surprise her for the baby shower. They were able to spend a few days with her and her mom. (We'll post a few pictures from their visit later.)

Below we have posted a few pictures from Jackson's baby shower that our church friends organized. We are very blessed by the love and support that our church family has shown to us during this time of preparation for his arrival. Jack is already one lucky little guy.

Sarah and her mom

Sarah and her Aunt Kathy (who lives in Clearwater).

Sarah and her cousin, Melissa (who lives in Tampa).

Sarah with her friends who taught preschool with her!

The Lord works in mysterious ways . . .

2011-04-05T16:39:00.004-04:00

This week has been quite the interesting week. And it's only Tuesday!! I have been struggling with the many burdens of pregnancy. Since I am in the 3rd trimester, my emotions are going crazy again. Along with that, I am very concerned with all of the things that we have yet to accomplish before Jack comes to live with us. Yesterday was a VERY self-focused day. Everything that could go wrong, seemed to go wrong. I felt so alone. I began to be very worried about the lack of "stuff" we had for Jack which, in turn, made me worry about labor and delivery. Not sure why, but it did. Now, this is not the focus of my blog post today, but I will share with you only a little bit about my concerns.

I have pretty much come to the conclusion (and have know for a long time) that labor and delivery is going to hurt and hurt BAD. I know that there is absolutely no turning back, nor do I want to. I do not regret the decision of ever knowing about Jack. He means the world to me, and I haven't even officially met him yet. However, my flesh gets the best of me and I tend to worry a lot at times. Such is the case here. I can't seem to get it out of my mind. Because of that, other things have fallen by the way side. Certain chores and responsibilities have become neglected despite my recent blog posts about life management.

Okay, so I told you that this post is about something totally different.

The Lord has already used several people in my life, just in the last two days, to turn my focus toward Him. For that, I am thankful! The first instance occurred around noon yesterday. I was reading a blog post from a friend. Now, remember, I had already been well into my self-pity party. She was talking about the chaos of life and how important it is to rely on the "Person who promises peace." It was just what I needed to get a slap back into reality! If you're interested in reading her blog, you may do so here. I trust that you will find it encouraging. It is so nice to have friends! I'm speaking to ALL of you!

A few hours later, I was back into my pity party. Then, my mother called. All she had to do was hear something in my voice and she asked if I was okay. I couldn't keep the tears from coming. To make a long story short, my parents (my dad is home on Spring Break this week) had some very encouraging words to say as well. I was told to read Psalm 139. If there is ever anything that you are struggling with, I encourage you to go to that passage in the Scriptures. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways (vv. 1-3). Of course, don't miss out on the rest of the passage! It is just as vital.

Not too long ago we decided to switch cell phone companies and plans to save money for Jack's arrival. We do not have a land line, so cell phones are our only means of communication in the even of an emergency. Because of the switch, we have been fortunate to have unlimited texting! Now before, we never really saw a need for it, nor did we even care to join the texting phenomenon at all. But I must say, when you don't have time for a phone call (or think you might be bothering someone) texting is the way to go! Yesterday, I was able to text with several of my family members--almost all at once! It was such a blessing to me. Later in the evening, I was also able to Skype with one of my aunts (and a cousin!) who lives in Indiana!! Ahhhhhhhhh . . . Technology!! What did we ever do without it??

Also, let me say, I have the best husband in the world! I don't want to leave him out of yesterdays encouragement. While, he has been having his own issues to deal with this week, he still manages to encourage me. He is my very own personal cheerleader. He wouldn't like it that I used that term to describe him! Every day he tells me that I can go through with this. That I will be great. There is slight hesitation on my part, but I think I'm starting to believe him.

That brings me to today. I know this is getting long but I don't want to leave this part out at all. I decided that I was going to listen to a sermon. Some of you may know that my brother is a youth pastor. I went into my iTunes playlists and I managed to find a sermon that he preached a couple of summers ago at the church that we grew up in. He spoke on Ecclesiastes and how Solomon sought out the meaning of life on earth. He had all of this "stuff." Are you seeing where I'm going with this?? He had fortune and mansions galore. He even built them for other people!! So, what does Solomon conclude? Our fulfillment is ultimately found in God alone. Not in our academics. Not in our amusements. Not in our accomplishments. Not in our possessions. It's okay to be happy but our satisfaction should be in God. God gave him wisdom and he had the wisdom to figure out the True meaning of life. Solomon says, Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecc. 12:13).

So, my thoughts?? Well, in light of eternity, whatever happens in the delivery room happens. I can't really control it. Whatever I don't get done before Jack comes, it doesn't really matter. All that matters is that my focus is continually on God and God alone. He is where I get fulfillment.

My brother ended his sermon with this quote by missionary, Jim Elliot. May it also be our prayer each day. God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one like You, Lord Jesus.

More Trials??

2011-03-31T10:03:00.003-04:00

"God never moves without purpose or plan...give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long, in darkness He giveth a song... O Rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake. He knoweth the end of each path that I take, for when I am tried, and purified, I shall come forth as gold." -Ron Hamilton

Today, the words of this song are flying around my head. There is so much going on in our lives that, sometimes, it makes it harder to trust. But I have to remember Who brings us in and out of each trial. I can't help but focus on the example of Job in the Bible. (I'm sure that I have made a reference to Job before in my blogs, but we can all use a little reminder once in a while, can't we?)

I really don't want to go into great detail about the specific trials that we are facing right now, that isn't really what is important. The important thing is how we are dealing with our trials. We all handle them differently. My main focus is to make sure that I am handling them exactly how God wants me to handle them. With an upward focus on Him and His Word. Trusting that He, and He alone, will get me through each day. Don't get me wrong, it's often difficult to remember this, but, through each trial we face, God purifies us. The more we want to be purified, the easier the next trial may seem.

Does it always seem that God is around when we face our trials? No, not always. Sometimes it feels as though He cannot be reached. But, I promise you, He IS within reach. We must open our eyes and focus upward. He will always be there to guide us. I encourage you to read through the book of Job. Study the trials that he faced. He had a lot taken away from him but he still chose to trust and love God. Why can't we do the same for the little that we have that is taken away from us? Job 23:10- But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Still Learning

2011-03-29T11:45:00.005-04:00

I can't believe that I actually get a chance to write twice in one month! :o) This seems to be a rarity these days. I just thought I would update you on our baby situation. To date, we are at 29 weeks and 3 days! We have officially hit the 3rd trimester and we can tell already that Jackson will be a VERY active little boy. Even as I write this post, he is kicking up a storm.

We still have quite a bit to accomplish before our little guy is here. Not just in preparation for his arrival but for our jobs and church as well. I am still continuing with one of the things that I love and that is creating jewelry. I have had to put it on hold this year due to pregnancy sickness and such. I am starting to pick back up slowly. However, I have decided that I can't continue with my Mary Kay business at this time. With Jack coming, I need to be totally focused on him and the other responsibilities that my family and church bring. To me, those are top priorities. While I am disappointed, I know that this is the right decision and that brings me great relief.

There are other things going on that I cannot share at this time. But I ask that you pray with and for us as we continue to seek God's guidance in these specific areas. It seems to be a lot to handle at this time but we know that God is in control and will work it out according to HIS will, not ours.

On a brighter note, we have started our 2011 garden!!! We are trying a few new things this year. Jeremy planted corn, squash, okra, and strawberries. We're not sure how well they will grow but we're anxious to see what happens. We also have planted the normal tomatoes and beans. So far everything seems to be growing as planned. We had a lot of rain yesterday and looks like there will be more on the way later this evening.

I can't believe that Spring is already here! The flowers are blooming, the garden is growing, the birds are singing, and the sun stays out longer! It's so wonderful living in Florida this time of the year.

I am still continuing with the book that I mentioned in my last blog post (Life Management for Busy Women). I am learning (or maybe I should say, re-learning) so much. I am reading about managing the home. I am so glad that I decided to cut out some of my other responsibilities in life so that I can focus better on my family and home. I know that life is going to be quite a bit busier when you add kids to the mix. Anyway, one thing I have been focusing on is that my day should start with prayer. You can't have good home management without giving it over to the Lord in prayer first. A second thing is that you always have to be reading! Rather it be from the Scriptures or from books. Learning is the key . . . even when you're out of school! You're never finished with your studies. God has given us many resources to use, we need to take advantage of them.

Well, I have so many more things that I could share with you from this book, but I will have to save it for another post. Jeremy is on his way home for lunch and I need to put into practice what I have learned and re-learned these last two weeks. My family is important to me! Until then, keep God first and family second!!

Casting All Your Care

2011-03-03T01:05:00.008-05:00

I suppose I haven't written in a while. Has it really been 2 months?? Time sure is flying by these days. There are times that I lay in bed wondering where all of the hours in my day went. I guess that's why I'm writing this post at one o'clock in the morning. I have just been thinking about what life is going to be like with a third person living with us.

Oh! This reminds me to update you all on a few things first. At the end of January, we found out that we are going to have a BOY!!!! We are very excited and have been preparing for him ever since. That is one of the many reasons why our posts have been non-existent. Anyway, we cannot wait for Jackson Carter to arrive in June!

So, it has been a few days since I even started this post and I think I am finally ready to finish it. This brings me to why I started writing this post. So much has been going on these last few months. It seems like every time I think that I am finally content where God has me, He shows me another area in my life where I need to be more content. "And be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" Hebrews 13:5.

In a few months, our lives are about to change forever. We will be adding another member to our family. No longer will I only be focused on making my husband happy but my child as well. I have been reading a book by Elizabeth George called Life Management for Busy Women. In one of the chapters, she discusses managing your children. She shares the "guidelines" that she used when raising her own children. It has been very encouraging these last few weeks as well as a nice reminder of what God requires of parents. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matthew 6:21.

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7

Christmas Happenings!

2011-01-06T19:49:00.004-05:00

Here are some photos from Christmas for you to enjoy! We had a great time with Sarah's parents while they were visiting.

Church Christmas Banquet with friends!

Sand Key Park Beach

Sarah's 29th birthday!

Honeymoon Island State Park

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T15:13:00.004-05:00

Here is a copy of our Christmas letter that we mailed/emailed out this year:

Well, here we are, once again. Christmas is quickly approaching and it’s time for another Dail family Christmas letter. We have quite a bit of exciting news to share with you all. First, we’ll start with updates on how we have been doing.

Jeremy is continuing with his job at Corvest. He is feverishly preparing for catalog printing. This means that his business trip will fall a little closer to Christmas than in the previous years, possibly even after New Year’s Day. He has also been doing a lot of freelance work this year and designing for various church ministries. Sarah started working part-time as a Mary Kay Consultant in February. She loves the idea of working from home so that she can still get things done around that house. We are still actively

involved in our church and are encouraged to see how God is working in our church family. Our congregation keeps growing. Four years ago we had about 30 on Sunday mornings. Now we have about 75-80 each week!!

In June we celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary. In some ways it seems like the years have just flown by us. In August, we had to make an emergency trip to Indiana. After 92 years, Sarah’s Grandma Martin passed away. We miss her very much, but we know that she is in a better place and we will see her again someday. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

In November, we were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our nephew, Samuel Philip Martin. He was born on November 21 at 2:41pm. He weighed 9 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 22 1/2 inches long!! He is very precious to our family. Congratulations to Sarah’s brother, Andy, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth!

While we’re on the subject of babies, we would like to announce that we will be adding to our family in June!!! We are very excited, nervous and quite impatient. It seems as though there is so much to do in preparation for another human being to be living with us. Sometimes we’re not sure how it will all get accomplished (or how we’re going to pay for it!) but we know that God will supply all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).

One thing that we think about during the Christmas season is how much we are loved. Of course, we love our families and are loved by our families. But the love that we are most thankful for is the love that our Heavenly Father bestowed upon us when He sent His only Son to die for all of the wrong that we have done (John 3:16). And, as Romans 8 says, NOTHING can separate us from that love.

Please keep us in your prayers throughout the next year, as we strive to raise our family as one that glorifies and honors God. We trust that you all will have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

With love, in Him,

Jeremy & Sarah (and baby Dail!)

Romans 8:38-39 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels

nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height

nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us

from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The pictures you've all been waiting for . . .

2010-12-11T14:03:00.002-05:00

Our little nephew: Samuel Phillip Martin!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that this day is almost over. Thanksgiving is always a time for us to look back on the year and remember what we're thankful for. This year, we weren't able to be with our families. It was a little difficult for me because I wasn't able to meet our new nephew. His name is Samuel Phillip and he was born on Sunday, November 21 at 2:41pm. He was 9lbs. 15 oz. and 22 1/2 inches long. Once we get some good-quality pictures of him, we'll certainly write another blog post!! We are so thankful for our families and we missed not being with them this year.

We are also very grateful for the friends that God has placed in our lives. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with a few friends from our church and it was such a blessing. We really had a blast with them today!

Lastly, we are thankful for the life we have in Christ. We would be nothing without Him and on a road to destruction and eternal damnation. Sometimes we take our salvation for granted, but we truly are thankful for Christ's sacrifice for us.

James 1:16-18 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Thanksgiving already??

2010-11-15T11:01:00.004-05:00

So, I guess it's been a little while since we have last updated our blog. We just got back a couple of Sundays ago from a trip to North Carolina. Jeremy was in a friends wedding and we also took some time to visit with our families that were near the same area. We were hoping that our nephew would come while we were visiting but he has decided to wait a while. His official due date was yesterday. We are hoping to "meet" him very soon.

I can't believe that next week is Thanksgiving already. It seems like the year has flown past us! This year we are planning to spend Thanksgiving with some friends from our church. They have family who live in other states as well. I usually love making and preparing all of the food that I usually do but I am actually looking forward to relaxing more this year. I only have to make two dishes!!!

Christmas is only six weeks away! Thankfully we have most of our shopping done already. We have actually been shopping throughout the whole year. It is a good feeling to be this far ahead of the game. And shopping this way was much easier and less stressful . . . at least for me, anyway. I think this year we will be staying home for Christmas as well. We have made a lot of trips this year and just don't really have the finances to travel. It will be sad, but hopefully we'll get to spend some part of the holidays with family.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I will try to blog more regularly in the future.

Fall is almost in Florida!

2010-10-04T10:52:00.005-04:00

Okay, so it has been a while since I have written. Sorry about that. A lot has been going on around here. I will try to fill you in on the happenings of our summer or most of it, that is. Some of it went by in a blur. You will see why in a moment.

So, in June we celebrated our four year wedding anniversary!! That is quite an accomplishment--although, it doesn't seem like we have been married that long. We were able to really do anything special this year since Vacation Bible School fell on that same week. We were bummed about that (or, at least, I was) but we had a lot of fun with the kids in VBS. We were put in charge of the games and we really enjoyed it this year.

Forgive me, for I cannot remember exactly what happened in July. Oh, well.

In August, we had to make an emergency trip to Indiana. After 92 years, my Grandma Martin passed away. It has been a very rough time for my family. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to cope with her loss. We miss her very much. Thankfully, we know that we will see her again someday.

September came a little earlier than we thought it would. Yes, I know it comes the same time every year, but it REALLY came earlier this year!! I had to travel back to Indiana for my cousin's wedding. I was also able to help my parents a little bit with things that needed to get done around their house and my grandma's house. After I arrived back from Indiana, we started our Wednesday evening kids club (Winner's Circle) at church. This becomes the time of year when it really starts to get busy and stressful. (Though it seems like the summer has been full of nothing but stress.) We don't have as many kids in our Wednesday night class as we did last year. We are trying not to get too discouraged about it. God has been doing a great thing in our church family and we pray that He will do great things in Winner's Circle this year as well.

It seems as though September has brought a lot of prayer requests too. So many things are happening around us to people we love so dearly. Galatians 6 says, "Bear one another's burdens," and that is certainly what we have been doing. We have been lifting our friends up in prayer. It has truly been a summer of growing. September has also brought a lot of work to us: Jeremy is diving into another catalog season and he has been doing some freelance work here and there, there are more preparations for church going on, and we have been busy trying to find (and add) more "space" to our house.

So, now it's officially October! This is one of my favorite times of the year. The weather starts getting cooler here in Florida and it is even more enjoyable to go to the beach. (Jeremy had a day off last week and we went to a beach that we have only been to one other time. We found the biggest shells!!!) We are excited about the next couple of months. We will be getting a brand new nephew soon and we can't wait to meet him! We will be in North Carolina for a wedding around the time of his arrival and we hope that he comes while we are there!!! So, until next time, take a look at some of our summer memories.

Helping with our church VBS on our 4th anniversary.

VBS game time

VBS kids

My last picture with Grandma Martin.

Lunch before Grandma's Funeral.

My cousin, Ken, and his bride, Jessica.

Smarvelous Creations

2010-06-26T15:46:00.003-04:00

I am pleased to announce the opening of my new store: S'marvelous Creations on Etsy.com. If you'd like to go check it out, I have made a link available on the side bar just for you. Hope you visit! I have also added some pictures below. The first is of my new logo and the following are of the new special occasion/wedding collection. Enjoy!

Just a few pictures from our summer so far

2010-06-22T20:30:00.004-04:00

My God Is Near

2010-06-03T12:32:00.003-04:00

Jeremy and I have the privilege of singing the special this Sunday morning at our church. We get to sing quite often though, since our church is so small. Anyway, a lot has been happening all around us. Struggles with our Nation, in our jobs, in our church, with our friends, with our families outside of the home, within our homes, and, sometimes (okay--MOST of the time), even spiritually. I'm not just speaking of me and Jeremy. I am sure that there are many of you out there who are struggling in many of these areas as well.

The song that we will be singing on Sunday is titled: My God Is Near (written by a friend of ours, Mac Lynch). I won't go into detail about why this is so special to me now. I am sure you might understand when you read the words. Below the words to the song, I will add a verse passage that I recommend you all to read in which this song was based.

My God Is Near

Make me know Your presence, Lord, the King of glory here.

You know each thought and action, hope, anxiety and fear.

How can I hide from Thee? Can darkness hide iniquity?

Oh, how can I unfaithful be, when You are very near to me?

When God is near, all the world seems far away.

When God is near, every fear is set aside.

When God is near, how can I stray, how can I falter?

I'll stay upon the altar. I know my God is near!

Make me know Your presence, Lord, when I feel so alone.

You know each trial and testing, pain, the hurt that is "unknown."

Oh, why can I not see Your hand so firmly guiding me?

Oh, how can I untrusting be, when You are very near to me?

When God is near, all the world seems far away.

When God is near, every fear is set aside.

When God is near, how can I stray, how can I falter?

I'll stay upon the altar. I know my God is near!

Based on Psalm 139:1-12

2010 Garden

2010-06-02T15:11:00.004-04:00

So, I was looking at our blog, and I just realized that we haven't told you about this Springs garden yet. I can't believe it! We ended up buying more tomato plants than we thought so we had to add about 6 more feet to the other side. We have already eaten lots of green beans, a few tomatoes, and a cucumber. Hopefully our cucumbers will continue to grow and our other tomatoes will ripen quickly.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

2010-05-26T16:57:00.006-04:00

Now that I have your attention, I am fine. Really, I am. I just wanted to make sure that you are all still out there.

So, it is officially summer here (in my mind). We finished our last week of our Winner's Circle kids club last Wednesday. While I love teaching the children, I am so glad to be able to be back in the auditorium with the "big people." Since, I am on the subject of Winner's Circle, I have to tell you all about the fantastic job that the kids did this 11-weeks. We have 3 sets of 11-weeks to give out points. If they make it to 375 or higher, they earn a certificate and a prize each time. This time, we are able to give a prize to 3 of the kids. We will be taking them out for pizza after they all get out of school. Apparently, the love that reward because the minute Jeremy told them, they started cheering and yelling. It's nice that we can reward them for their hard work. And, hopefully, we will have more that will get there next year.

We are gearing up for Vacation Bible School. I am a little more nervous this year because I won't be teaching a class. Instead, Jeremy and I will be doing game time. It seems to be more pressure because we have to think of something REALLY fun for all of the ages. I still don't know exactly how much time we'll have or where we will be stationed in the building, so that is making it a little nerve-wracking too. Oh, well. I am sure that we will have a blast.

My Mary Kay business is kind of stuck in a rut right now. It's a little difficult to be selling where I'm currently at. I have been in Florida for almost 4 years now but, since our church is so small, I really don't have that much client base. I had hoped that I might have had contacts via word of mouth, but that didn't really happen. I guess, in the back of my mind, I knew that it might not happen. That is basically why I started my jewelry business, S'marvelous. However, that too, seems not to be profitable at this point. I have some new jewelry designs and ideas that will come out in the next couple of months so maybe that will help. I have a fan page on facebook, so check that out. If I get a few more sells, I might be able to set up a shop on etsy.com, which is what I intended to do originally. It costs money to do that, and I just don't have the funds right now.

So, even though, I am struggling in business, I am not struggling spiritually. What I mean is that the Lord has been teaching me so much lately. Although I do not have time to go into detail, I will say that He is making it very clear to me and Jeremy that Clearwater, FL is where we need to be at this point in our lives. We are enjoying every chance that we get to minister to the people here. It has truly been a blessing to see God work in the lives of the people we minister to and minister with. For that, we are very grateful.

It's a Wonderful Life

2010-05-07T16:56:00.002-04:00

So, this week has been awesome so far. First of all, the weather is getting a little cooler so things won't be all hot and sweaty . . . at least for a little while longer. Second of all, I have been able to hang out with a couple of my friends this week!

Yesterday morning, my friend, Jaimeé, came over for a while. We have been trying to get together for coffee at least once a week. Sometimes it doesn't always work, but we try. It has been fun actually hanging out with someone.

Then, late this afternoon, my friend, Heather (from college), stopped by! She is in Clearwater for her brothers graduation. It was really nice to get a chance to talk with her. It is always encouraging when I get to see the people that I went to school with. Most of them were there with me in some of the most difficult times in my life.

Tomorrow morning we will going to Clearwater Christian College's graduation ceremony. It will be bittersweet. We are excited for two of the students (Sarah & Ryan) who have been helping us at our church over the last four years. It will be sad because we are not sure that we will see them again this side of heaven. But . . . at least we'll get to see them tomorrow.

I know that the week will end fantastically because my mom is coming tomorrow night! She will be here for Mother's Day and I know that will be fun for her . . . me too . . . as she will be staying a whole week! Hopefully we will be able to go to the beach a few of those days. :o)

Also, Jeremy has just informed me that he is taking next Friday off. We very rarely get to spend time together, so that is a real treat!

I'm so excited, I don't think that I will be able to sleep tonight.

Sweet Sounds

2010-05-02T21:46:00.002-04:00

I don't usually blog on Sundays. It's usually a pretty busy day. But I really wanted to share this. One of my favorite things in the world is to listen to kids singing. Every once in a while the Children's Church class that we teach gets to sing during the morning service at our church. Today was one of those days. I'm always nervous for my little kiddos to get up and sing. Today, there were only four of them there but they did a wonderful job. We were so proud of them. That is why I decided to blog about them. They are the cutest kids and they work so hard when it is their turn to sing in church. It is so great to have a good group of children that want to learn so much about God. We have been truly blessed.

Today . . .

2010-04-29T15:24:00.003-04:00

So things have been crazy busy since the last time I wrote. I just got back from visiting family in Indiana. My dad turned 60 so we had a surprise party for him. It was such a busy week but I had a lot of fun visiting with friends and family. If I didn't have so much to do back home, I might have stayed a lot longer. The more I go back, the harder it gets to leave. Sometimes I wish that everyone would just be in one place. Anyway, I am feeling really mopey today and I think that I caught something while on the plane because I have a sore throat and no energy today.

I have some exciting news to share! My brother, Andy, and sister-in-law, Elizabeth, are going to have a baby!!! We're so excited and thankful that God has worked everything out for them. Be prepared for pictures around November or December. :o)

I just wanted to let you all know what has been going on lately. Stay tuned . . .

Guess what?!

2010-03-31T08:41:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to tell you that I have officially found a name for my fabulous jewelry line! I created this 'company' so that people can purchase stylish and unique handmade jewelry at affordable prices. So, how did I come up with the name? Glad you asked! I am a HUGE fan of Audrey Hepburn and have a goal to watch every single one of her movies this year. One of the movies I have watched was Funny Face, in which she co-starred with Fred Astaire. There is a delightful song in the movie entitled S'wonderful S'marvelous. Thus, that is where the name comes from. Where can you get this jewelry? Glad you asked that too! Just become a fan of S'marvelous on facebook! Don't forget, you must be a member of facebook first. Don't worry. It's easy to join and FREE! Hope to see you on there!

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

2010-03-26T22:41:00.002-04:00

We tried this recipe the other day. We LOVED it. Just thought I would share it with the rest of the world.

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon celery salt

2 pounds tilapia fillets

*Preheat broiler. Grease broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.

*In a small bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.

*Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2-3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. Remove the fillets from the oven and cover them with the parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.

Just a thought for today . . .

2010-03-22T17:29:00.002-04:00

The will of God will never leave you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Happy Monday!

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

2010-03-05T13:21:00.007-05:00

I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was still running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

This is one of my favorite children's books of all time. I guess it is because I identify with little Alexander almost on a daily basis. Yesterday was no different. By the way, if you've never read the book, I definitely recommend it to you.

The laundry has been piling up for a couple of weeks due to a broken washing machine. Jeremy was able to fix it on Tuesday evening of this week. First, let me tell you that I have been fighting a cold or allergies (or something!) for about a week now. Well, yesterday I thought I was feeling a little bit better so I decided to tackle the laundry. I tore off all of the bed sheets so I could wash them first. I went outside (our washer and dryer are located in, what we call, the utility shed) and set the wash cycle to begin. I came back inside and decided I felt well enough to wash the dishes . . . luckily, we now are the very proud owners of a portable dishwasher! So, I started that cycle. About 35-40 minutes I went back out to put some more laundry in the wash and heard the sound of trickling water. I opened the utility shed to discover water seeping out all over the floor but not dripping down the machine itself. (Mind you, I was already sick and it is a bit chilly out for Florida this time of year.) I opened the lid to discover that the water had not stopped the filling process and so the water level kept rising and rising. Panic immediately set in but I still managed to shut the machine off before I ran inside to grab the phone to call Jeremy at work. Then I started the removal process of all our gardening equipment that had been sitting in a pool of water. Fortunately, Jeremy was able to take a half day off and rushed home to assess the damage.

Next, let me tell you that I was already so frustrated because I was not feeling well and it was cold outside. Then, I realized that the washer was filled with our bed sheets and if we didn't get the problem fixed, we would be sleeping with no blankets that night. All of this came in the middle of other problems that are going on this week and so, I was in tears when Jeremy arrived home from work. Jeremy looked inside the washer but outside the washing drum (which the water had been trickling into and all over the wires inside). He checked to make sure everything was alright and looked for the cause of the overflow. To make the story not quite so long, he called our neighbor (and landlord) --who was also sick-- and he came to check out the situation. It turns out, the tubing that tells the water when to stop filling up, popped off.

Now all things are fixed and I was able to get two loads of laundry washed last night. Bad news, I am feeling worse today than I was yesterday. Although, yesterday, I felt very much like Alexander.

Update . . .

2010-02-25T18:00:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to let all of you readers out there know that we are still alive. There just hasn't been much to blog about in a while. We will let you know as soon as anything interesting happens to us! Until then . . . watch a movie or something.

A new beginning . . .

2010-02-19T14:16:00.003-05:00

Okay, I'm still here . . . please forgive me if I have been a little preoccupied. You see, I started my own business!!! I am now a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. For the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to iron out all of the details. I still have a little ways to go before I know all that I'm supposed to. But it's been really fun so far.

I really like this company. Mary Kay Ash founded it on the principle God first, family second, and career third. I have never been a part of a company like this. They focus on the importance of God and family. Not to mention, it's nice to be able to work the hours that I want so that I can be available to take care of my home and my husband.

With that being said, if any of you need anything, you can visit my website. I am so excited about this new opportunity and I couldn't wait to share it with you! Please pray that things will run smoothly as I step out into entrepreneurship. I will try to keep you posted on how it goes!

Thought for the day

2010-02-10T14:17:00.000-05:00

Just meditating on this passage today . . .

II Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Cleaning rituals, enthusiasm, and faith . . .

2010-02-04T16:17:00.003-05:00

I am in the middle of cleaning our house from top to bottom. We have some friends coming to visit us tomorrow evening and they will be staying with us for a few nights. We are so excited because these are our first overnight house guests that are not family!

So--a part of my cleaning ritual is to listen to music. I don't know, it kind of gets me in the right mood because, come one, who really likes to clean?! I must admit it, there is a sense of satisfaction when it's all over and everything is spotless. But, to really have a cheerful heart about it, I need to listen to Christ-centered music. As I was dusting (one of my other cleaning rituals), a song came on that really got me thinking about our upcoming revival at our church, which then caused me to start thinking about my life and the sin and struggles that I face every day. I must confess, this doesn't happen every single time I clean. Usually I am so focused on the tasks that lay ahead. But God was tugging on my heart today and I am SO GLAD that He did!

You see, sometimes I feel so weak. I am not a perfect person. Whether I am out shopping, at church, or cleaning at home, I am constantly sinning. Can you honestly say that you can't sin for even a second? Even wrong thinking is a sin . . . you know, like when you can be so disgusted at your 4-12 year olds for their lack of enthusiasm in the lesson during Children's Church. Well, how many times have I lacked in my enthusiasm for spiritual things? Christ died for me! Even if I was the only person on earth, He still would have died for me! I can at least be enthusiastic about that! So, what song caused all of this thinking, you ask? My Faith Still Clings . . .

My sin is great, my strength is weak, 
My path beset with snares;
 But Thou, O Christ, hast died for me, 
And Thou wilt hear my prayers.

Refrain

To Thee, to Thee, the Crucified,
 The sinner’s only plea, 
Relying on Thy promised grace,
 My faith still clings to Thee.

The world is dark without Thee, Lord, 
I turn me from its strife 
To find Thy love a sweet relief; 
Thou art the light of life.

Temptations lure and fears assail
 My frail, inconstant heart;
 But precious are Thy promises, 
And they new strength impart.

Unfold Thy precepts to my mind, 
And cleanse my blinded eyes;
 Grant me to work for Thee on earth, 
Then praise Thee in the skies.

Pictures of the Week

2010-01-29T12:13:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since we've blogged. We have been busy getting back into our routine since we returned home from Christmas travels. Not to mention that we have been sick with the flu this week. But, we are back!

We are lucky that we live in such a beautiful are of Clearwater. We live in the city but are located in an area that is surrounded by trees and wildlife. We are about 1/8 of a mile off of a busy road so we barely hear the traffic. It seems as though we live in the country. We have often heard sounds of coyotes and our neighbors have seen them. Last week we were able to see two of them and quickly snapped a picture of one of them before he ran away!

Then yesterday, I was sitting outside and something flew over my head. I looked up and saw this beautiful hawk! Aren't God's creatures amazing?!

Picture of the Week

2010-01-11T13:54:00.002-05:00

This weeks POTW was taken at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Pictures from Christmas 2009!

2010-01-09T13:34:00.010-05:00

We spent Christmas in North Carolina with Jeremy's family this year. We also were able to see Sarah's brother and sister-in-law as well. They live in the same city as Jeremy's sister (and also attend the same church)! It was nice to see them before they headed up north for Indiana and Michigan. We were also able to attend a UNC game and visit with some friends while there. So . . . here are some pictures from our trip up north.

Christmas at Andy & Elizabeth's house (and Aggie, too!)

Sarah & her brother, Andy

Taken at Andy & Elizabeth's church

Jeremy & his sister, Megan

The Dail siblings & the Martin siblings

Chapel Hill, NC - UNC game!

Jeremy's family: Rea & Eric, Megan, mom, and us!

Harker's Island, NC

Atlantic Beach, NC

Chapel Hill, NC - UNC Basketball Museum

Sarah was SO excited!

Our first picture of 2010!

Good-bye, 2009!

2009-12-31T16:56:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to say Happy New Year everyone! Be safe!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-25T15:06:00.002-05:00

We trust you are enjoying your holiday. We certainly are enjoying ours! Is there a better way to spend the time celebrating Christ's birth than with the people you love?

We just wanted to take the opportunity to wish all of our readers (and maybe just some passers-by) a very merry Christmas. We hope that you look to the real meaning of Christmas rather than just the gifts, the food and family. While all those things are nice, there is just so much more to it. A baby was born one night, long ago. His name is Jesus. Jesus was born THE King of kings. He came to earth to save us from all the wrong things that we have done. Since we have excepted Him as our King, we ask that you do the same. It will be the best Christmas that you will ever experience. So look to the One who will save you from your sins for He is the best gift of all.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

A couple fun tips that save money . . .

2009-12-16T11:25:00.002-05:00

I got these next two tips while watching the Rachael Ray Show.

#11

Do you get tired of flat soft drinks? Just squish the air out of your soda bottles after you pour your drink. Replace the cap and stack the soda bottles in the refrigerator. Next time you get your refill, it will be as fresh as if you just opened the bottle for the first time.

#12

Don't you hate it when you buy a gallon of ice cream and you go to get it out of the freezer the next evening and it has already started to crystallize? All you need to do is take some plastic wrap and squish it down into your ice cream container after each use. Your ice cream will be as fresh as the day you bought it! (Seriously! It really works!)

Picture of the Week

2009-12-14T10:56:00.003-05:00

This week, the POTW comes from an email I received from a friend. Sometimes, I feel like the house on the right at Christmas-time.

Mocha Marble Fudge

2009-12-11T14:54:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

Butter for greasing

1 can (14 oz) condensed milk

1 tablespoon instant espresso coffee powder or coffee granules

1 bag (12 oz) white chocolate baking chips (2 cups)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

1. Line bottom and sides of 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil, leaving foil overhanging 2 opposite sides of pan; grease foil with butter.

2. In 2-quart nonstick saucepan, mix 3/4 cup of the milk and the espresso powder. Stir in white baking chips. Heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread in pan.

3. In same saucepan, mix remaining milk, the chocolate chips and vanilla. Heat over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Drop by spoonfuls over espresso layer. Swirl mixtures with table knife. Gently press with hand to smooth top.

4. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until cooled and firm. Remove from pan, using foil to lift. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

Saving Money

2009-12-09T14:39:00.003-05:00

Okay, so it has been a while since we have done our normal blogs posts. Things got pretty crazy around here (and still are!) but we still wanted to show you ways that you can save money since Christmas is approaching.

Money Saving Tip #10

I really love to drink coffee . . . especially Starbucks . . . but that can get a little costly. I’m not afraid to ask for Starbucks gift cards every year for Christmas or my birthday. It makes me happy and Jeremy happy (b/c he’s not spending all that cash on my coffee fetish). I haven't spent money on Starbucks for almost 4 years! Remember, gift cards aren't impersonal if you give someone a gift card to a store they really love.

Chocolate Mint Thumbprints

2009-12-07T12:26:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract

2 egg yolks

16 drops green food coloring

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

3 tablespoons whipping cream

3 tablespoons butter

18 thin Andes mint candies, unwrapped, cut in half diagonally

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in peppermint extract, egg yolks and food color until blended. On low speed, beat in flour, baking powder and salt.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Using end of handle of wooden spoon, press a deep well into center of each cookie.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set. Reshape wells with end of handle of wooden spoon. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

5. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, cream and 3 tablespoons butter on High 1 minute, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Fill each well with about 1 teaspoon chocolate mixture; garnish with candy piece. Let stand about 1 hour until chocolate is set.

It's beginning to "look" a lot like Christmas!

2009-12-01T23:09:00.003-05:00

Sarah's parents came for Thanksgiving and since we will not be able to see them for Christmas this year, we had to celebrate Christmas and Sarah's birthday while they were here. We were able to get in the Christmas spirit a little bit early when we went to The Botanical Gardens last Saturday.

Picture of the Week

2009-11-30T16:12:00.000-05:00

Candied Sweet Potatoes

2009-11-24T10:42:00.002-05:00

Ingredients:

4 med. sweet potatoes (2lbs)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3 T. butter/margarine melted

1/2 cup chopped nuts or tiny marshmallows (or both)

Preparation:

1. Peel fresh sweet potatoes; cut into 1 1/2 in. chunks. Cook fresh sweet potatoes, covered, in enough boiling water to cover for 10 to 12 minutes or until just tender, drain. (Or cut up canned sweet potatoes.)

2. Transfer potatoes to a 2-quart baking dish. Add brown sugar and melted butter; stir gently to combine. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until potatoes are glazed, stirring gently twice. Sprinkle with nuts and/or marshmallows; bake 5 minutes more.

Make-ahead directions:

Prepare as directed through step 2. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Uncover and bake as directed.

Cranberry Sauce

2009-11-19T13:48:00.003-05:00

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil rapidly for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups cranberries. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until skins pop, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Serve warm or chilled with poultry or pork.

Makes about 2 cups of sauce.

Picture of the Week

2009-11-17T23:02:00.003-05:00

Sorry, readers. We did not have a chance to post yesterday.

Taken at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.

Crock-pot Turkey Breast

2009-11-13T12:39:00.003-05:00

I thought that I would post some recipes that you might want to try out over the holidays. I will try to post all of them before Thanksgiving so you have them if you want to try them.

________________________________

Last year we did a full Thanksgiving meal for just the two of us. We didn't want a whole turkey because we new it would take a very long time to finish it. We decided to just get a turkey breast. I have a small oven so I knew that I would need the oven for the other dishes that we wanted. I looked online and found this recipe for the crock-pot!

Ingredients:

1 small to medium turkey breast

1 stick of butter

salt

Preparation:

Wash & pat dry turkey breast. Season lightly with salt. Place in crock-pot with 1 stick of butter. Turn on low for 10 to 12 hours. (Great to do overnight!)

Make sure that you still baste the turkey or it will be slightly dry!

A little Veterans Day history

2009-11-11T12:40:00.005-05:00

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. (www.history.com/content/veteransday/history-of-veterans-day)

For more on the history of Veterans Day, please go to www.history.com/content/veteransday.

We would like to thank all of our family & friends who have served or are currently serving in the military.

A "hint" of Fall

2009-11-09T12:37:00.002-05:00

It's been a little while since we last posted. Life is getting more busy. But, in the midst of a busy week, I was able to spot just a hint that fall was coming. The best surprise of all . . . it was actually colorful!

Bow the Knee

2009-10-29T10:10:00.002-04:00

This past Sunday evening our church had a singspiration and a time of testimonies. One of my friends sang a solo. I wasn't able to be in there during it because I had to go to the fellowship hall to get the food ready for afterwards. Our church just recently starting recording the services digitally so Jeremy let me listen to the part of the service that I missed. When I heard the second verse of this song, it fit perfectly into my life the last few months. The words are below and you can listen to the song here.

There are moments on our journey following the Lord
Where God illumines ev’ry step we take.
There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,
As we try to understand each move He makes.
When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him.

Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee;
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King, bow the knee.

There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,
The cold and lonely winds won’t cease to blow.
And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;
We are tempted to believe God does not know.
When the storms arise, don’t forget we live by faith and not by sight.

Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee;
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King,

Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee;
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King,

Bow the knee, bow the knee, bow the knee.
Bow the knee . . . . .

Money Saving Tip #9

2009-10-28T14:27:00.003-04:00

Fix and eat more meals at home.

Eating out all the time can be very expensive and unhealthy. If you are worried that you don't have much time to cook or you don't feel like cooking a whole meal, then crock-pot meals are what you want. You just fix them and forget them! If you're stumped or looking for a new recipe to fix, check out the recipes that we post here on our blog. Also, you can check out www.allrecipes.com.

Kids say the funniest things!

2009-10-27T16:29:00.002-04:00

Melanie asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any more. Said Melanie, "If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."

Steven hugged and kissed his Mom goodnight. "I love you so much, that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."

Brittany had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"

Susan was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."

Danni stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I cost?"

Tammy was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"

Mark was engrossed in a young couple who were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"

Clinton was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"

James was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"

and my favorite kid quote ever . . .

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen," the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he knew the answer so quickly. "How do you know that?" "Easy," the little boy said. "All you have to do is add it up, like the Bishop said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."

Picture of the Week

2009-10-26T16:34:00.001-04:00

New fruit on our tangelo tree!

Catalogs, Thanksgiving, and parties!

2009-10-23T14:27:00.005-04:00

I will try to post my normal Friday recipe later. I just wanted to share with you what is going on with us.

It's fall again (yay!) so that means our schedule is getting really busy. Jeremy is nearing the end of catalog season. It will officially be over the beginning of December. We are a little over a week away from November and that means the holidays are just around the corner. Right now we're preparing for fall parties and Christmas. The ladies at our church have a fellowship coming up the first weekend in November so Sarah is busy preparing for that. Then Jeremy's mom will be visiting and we will do our Thanksgiving dinner for her. (We are really excited because we will be getting two Thanksgiving meals this year!!) A few days after she leaves, we will be having a party for some of the kids in our Winner's Circle kids club. (Those who earn a certain number of points, get a party.) Then, of course, is Thanksgiving. Hopefully Sarah will be able to try her hand at that apple pie again!! Her parents will be visiting us then. After Thanksgiving, we will be preparing for all of the Christmas festivities. We will have the church Christmas Cantata, another ladies fellowship, and a few other Christmas parties. It's going to be a busy season but it will be very enjoyable. So, you understand if we forget to write a post once in a while. But please keep checking our blog for pictures of all of the activities!

For a little pumpkin trivia, click here.

Money Saving Tip #8

2009-10-21T22:59:00.002-04:00

Okay, so you have a savings account but all of that money goes for clothes, food, or buying this years Christmas presents. Why not start a separate savings account for vacations? Just put in about $10 each week. You'll have your money for the every day things that you need and you can make sure that you will have money for that special trip you've always wanted to take.

They're back!!!

2009-10-20T13:41:00.005-04:00

Most of you, I'm sure, can remember back to a blog post that I wrote on September 11, 2008 titled Leaping Lizards! Well, I thought for sure that we were out of the woods on that subject since we have a cat that adopted us. Jeremy and I were really grateful for that. But apparently, I am not immune.

I attend a weekly Bible Study on Tuesday mornings or at least try to--when I'm not away on vacation or incredibly sick. So today was like any other Tuesday. I got to my classroom and I was preparing to sit down, when all of a sudden (cue creepy music) I see out of the corner of my eye, a lizard. You've got to be kidding?! Well, I noticed that it was on one of the chairs at the table. So, being the kind hearted person that I am--I did not want someone to sit on it--I tried to get it off. That crazy thing wouldn't budge! Someone walked by and asked if I needed help. So I explained the situation. We decided that we should just push the chair out of the room, down the hall, and outside. Brilliant! So, I proceeded to push the chair, all the while internally freaking out and silently praying that the thing wouldn't jump on me.

Once, again, I remind you, I am NOT afraid of lizards. They only really bother me when they are not where they are supposed to be . . . which is OUTSIDE.

So, I'm pushing the chair on the carpet and I get to a spot where the carpet ends and tile begins. I think to myself, this is not going to work. I am going to scrape this chair along the tile, the lizard will freak out and jump straight at me. So, I notice that there is carpet on the other side of the tile and I decide that I will carry the chair across the tile section to the other carpeted section. I picked up the chair and carried it across with much success. That is, until I set the chair back down. That lizard did not want to be on that chair anymore! He jumped so high, I thought for sure he was coming to attack!! I screamed, several other ladies screamed, and that little lizard took off running through the cafeteria! Oh, no! I have let the monster loose!!! After running zig-zag around the cafeteria flailing my arms about, he finally stopped under a table to catch his breath. I thought, I've got you now! I crept up and he started running again, right into the kitchen and under the prep counter! This is REALLY not good! People cook food in there. What am I going to do?! So, another dear lady decided to help me. She got on one side of the prep counter and I on the other. Neither of us could reach him, so I grabbed a broom from the supply closet. I guess the broom only made him more nervous because he ran under the oven for cover. That little booger must have known we would not be able to reach him there so we had to give up. As far as I know, he is still there. I'm sure he enjoyed a smorgasbord of crumbs for his lunch.

Picture of the Week

2009-10-19T14:49:00.001-04:00

The sunset on Friday evening.

Saving money while grocery shopping . . .

2009-10-15T14:38:00.003-04:00

Money saving tip #7: Always have a grocery list when you're doing your grocery shopping

Then you won't buy things that you don't need. It also helps to write out a meal plan for each week. That way you know what you're going to make and when you're going to make it. If you write out all of the ingredients you need for that weeks meals, you go through your cupboards and pantry and find the ingredients that you already have and cross them off your list. Those you didn't cross off, go on your grocery list. If you follow these steps, you are sure to save money on your grocery bill.

Picture of the Week

2009-10-12T15:24:00.003-04:00

Fall is here! Unless you live in Florida. Nevertheless, this weeks POTW is from Sarah's visit to Indiana. The trees weren't as beautiful as she expected but she was still delighted to see some of the fall colors coming out. This picture also portrays the thought that comes to every one's mind when flying from Florida to Indiana. . . . In Florida, every house has a pool. In Indiana, every house has a barn.

Indiana Trip

2009-10-09T21:44:00.004-04:00

We're a little behind on our blog. I was able to go visit family for a week. My cousin, Kyle, got married on October 3rd. I was glad that I was able to join them on their special day and spend time with my family.

Sarah and niece, Hannah.

Kyle & Ashlee's wedding

Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, and they blossom when we love the one we married. -Unknown

A trip to the Old Bag Factory.

Picture of the Week

2009-09-28T10:30:00.004-04:00

Today's POTW will be a little different. We wanted to share some pictures of Sarah's oldest brother, Phil. He passed away 3 years ago today from Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Phil holding Sarah the day she came home from the hospital.

Phil's birthday-showing off his ND coat!

Christmas (One of Sarah's favorite pictures of Phil.)

Sarah's high school graduation.

The day Phil's daughter, Hannah, was born.

Sarah with her brothers on our wedding day.

4th of July with his daughter.

Send a little Greeting

2009-09-16T17:31:00.003-04:00

#6: Make your own greeting cards

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, parties, do I seriously need to keep going?! There are so many family members and friends and there are so many important dates that we had to keep adding to our calendar, that we finally decided that we were sick of going out and getting a card each time. Plus, once we got to the greeting card section, we could never find the card that said exactly what we wanted. That is when I decided that I would make my own. You always have a card on hand, you don't have to waste time searching for the "right" one, and you don't have to worry about anxiety when you flip that card over and realize that the "right" one is in the wrong price range. So, see for yourself! It's pretty simple and you'll save more money than you could ever imagine.

Picture of the Week

2009-09-14T18:09:00.003-04:00

One thing we love about this time of year is football! This week's POTW is of Matt Grothe & BJ Daniels. We went to the first game of the season two weekends ago and were able to sit on row 3 right behind the team. Sarah was able to snap this picture of Grothe telling Daniels that it was his turn to go in.

Crock Pot Chilli

2009-09-12T21:24:00.002-04:00

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 lb. ground round

* 2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce

* 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with onion and garlic (or you can add onion & garlic separately)

* 2 cans (15 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed and drained

* 1 envelope McCormick chili seasoning

* garlic powder to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon

* 2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste

* salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:

Brown the hamburger. Drain. Add hamburger and rest of ingredients to slow cooker/Crock Pot and cook on low 8 to 10 hours.

Cake Mix Cookies

2009-09-10T13:47:00.002-04:00

I forgot to post a recipe last Friday, so this week, you will get two new recipes. I made these cookies on Tuesday and they were wonderful and so easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 box cake mix (any flavor)

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

*I also added Reeses Peanut Butter Chips to the recipe. Feel free to experiment!

Preparation:

*Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

*Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl

*Drop by spoonfuls on greased pan

*Bake for 10-12 minutes

Enjoy!

A penny saved is a penny earned...

2009-09-09T14:52:00.002-04:00

Money saving tip #5: Make your own cleaning solution

I use white vinegar and water to clean counter tops and tables. It also adds a nice shine to the stainless steel faucets. Do you have a mess in your microwave? Easy! Just add 2 tablespoons lemon juice or baking soda (Using lemon juice leaves a nice fresh scent!) to 1 cup bowl of water and place in your microwave. Heat on high until the mixture boils, then let it boil for 5 minutes so that the steam accumulates on the walls and door of the oven. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior. Do you hate dusting? Save those used dryer sheets! They work really well on your electronics. The static electricity will repel the dust so you won't have to dust as often. They also work well on blinds.

If you have any money saving tips about cleaning (or anything else!), send them my way. Others might like to read them too!

Picture of the Week

2009-09-07T14:20:00.003-04:00

Today's picture was taken yesterday afternoon in the parking lot of Olive Garden. We were walking to our car and heard all of these birds chirping. We looked up, and the trees were full of parrot-like birds.

Cut your costs!

2009-09-02T10:49:00.002-04:00

Money saving tips (continued):

#4- We cut our own hair

Actually, Sarah cuts the hair. It's really easy! For men, just use hair clippers with guards. They also have tapered guards that you can use around the ears. For women, if you're wanting a nice layered look, flip your hair over and cut straight across. When you flip your hair back over, you'll get the perfect amount of layers. If you get really good at it, start your own side business!

Picture of the Week

2009-08-31T14:19:00.002-04:00

This week deserves two pictures! These were taken in March of '07 at Taylor Park in Largo, Florida. We saw 7 alligators that evening!!

Yes, we were this close to it!

Chicken Enchiladas

2009-08-28T22:08:00.002-04:00

This recipe was given to me by a friend. It's so delicious!!

Ingredients:

Chicken breast

cream cheese

shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream of chicken soup

sour cream

soft taco shells

Preparation:

Cut up and brown chicken breast. Grease 9x13 pan. Spread cream cheese on taco shells (I use quite a bit). Put some of chicken and cheddar cheese in each shell. Roll up shells.

Topping:

Mix can of cream of chicken soup and some sour cream. Pour over top (if it is too thick add a little milk). Top with more cheese if desired.

Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.

Save Your Dollars!

2009-08-26T15:39:00.006-04:00

It's Wednesday, that means it's time for another money saving tip!

#3- Don't go the Movie Theater

Just wait until the movie is out on DVD and rent it. The cheapest place to rent, that we have found, is out of Red Box (available at Wal-Mart & Walgreens stores) for only $1 a day. Or, if you want to keep it, you can always buy it from iTunes. The best part is that you are in your own home and you don't have to sit in a crowded and chatty theater. Plus, snacks are free!

Picture of the Week

2009-08-24T13:13:00.004-04:00

Alright, we're back on a schedule again. Whew! Hopefully our posts will become more frequent and "on time." This week's POTW (from the beginning of the summer) is of our niece, Hannah.

Easy Chicken and Swiss Cheese Crock Pot Casserole

2009-08-21T20:24:00.003-04:00

We have enjoyed this recipe so many times, I feel that it is time to share. Try it once and I PROMISE you will enjoy it too! It is one of our favorites and it's so easy. You just throw in a crock pot and forget about it. Let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

*4 chicken breasts, boned and skinned

*4 slices of swiss cheese (sometimes we use shredded cheddar or mozarella)

*1 can cream of chicken soup

*1 can cream of mushroom soup

*1 cup chicken broth

*1/4 cup milk

*2 cups boxed stuffing mix (we use the whole box)

*1/2 cup melted butter

*salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in crock pot. Pour chicken broth over chicken breasts. Put one slice of swiss cheese on each breast. Combine both cans of soup and milk.

Cover chicken breasts with soup mixture. Sprinkle stuffing mix over all. Drizzle melted butter on top. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Money Saving Tips

2009-08-20T12:08:00.005-04:00

Since this is a time of economic downfall, I thought that I would take the opportunity to share with you each week, one thing that we are doing to save money.

#1-Shop at discount stores for food and clothing

We buy our food from either Save-a-lot or Aldi. Prices are very reasonable and we have cut our grocery bills by more than half! As far as clothing is concerned, I try not to pay full price for anything unless I am shopping at Wal-Mart. (Wal-Mart's prices are already reduced and they always have clearance racks.) There are other good stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Bealls (only in Florida). Thrift stores are good places to check for furniture, shelving, or other things to decorate your house.

#2-If you have a yard plant a garden!

I am adding #2 on this week because it goes along with #1. We planted a vegetable garden and saved money on our grocery bill as well. The summer months here are too hot to really plant anything . . . but that is only 3 months out of the year and we are saving enough money on food anyway. Plus, we were able to help out some of our friends at church with the veggies that we couldn't eat right away.

__________________________________

I will not always end these money saving tips with a comment but I feel that, since this is our first one, I must! I encourage you to keep track of what you're spending money on each day and week. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Think about what is most important in life. Can you get by with just the bare essentials? One thing that I find important: meditate on Proverbs 6:6-8, which says, Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. The ant is always preparing. Have you ever wrecked an anthill and stood by to see how quickly the ants build it back up? The moment you knock it down, those little ants are scurrying around to fix their home. They are always prepared. I feel that I should prepare how I am going to spend my money and choose to spend it properly. Also, consider the Proverbs 31 woman. How did she spend her money? It wasn't on herself but on the needs of her family. She carefully thought out how she would spend it before she spent it. So, before you buy choose wisely. Good luck and happy saving!!!!

Picture of the Week

2009-08-19T11:07:00.003-04:00

I know it has been a while since our last post. Here is this week's POTW:

Taylor Park-Largo, FL

Obama visits small town, Wakarusa

2009-08-06T15:43:00.004-04:00

I (Sarah) am originally from Indiana. The church I attended while growing up was in a small town called Wakarusa. Yesterday, President Obama made a trip to an RV manufacturer there to deliver his speech. Here is a short video about the event. One of the main reasons I am blogging about this today is because my dad was interviewed by Fox News out of Chicago. (My dad is the first man that is interviewed.)

Picture of the Week

2009-08-04T13:57:00.004-04:00

I figured that we would start something new on our blog. Each week, I want to share a different picture with you. This weeks Picture of the Week was taken at Busch Gardens in Tampa.

Our life prayer

2009-07-31T13:41:00.003-04:00

Lately we have been thinking about how long we are going to be here on the earth. We thought it might be a good opportunity to explain why we have chosen Our Vapor as the title for this blog. Don't ask us why we never took the time to explain it before, I guess maybe we just thought everyone would search every inch of our blog to find out why we do what we do. Then I started asking myself, Do I do that on every blog that I read? Sadly, the answer is no.

We chose Our Vapor because that is exactly what life is . . . a vapor. If you read James 4:14 (at the top of our page), you will understand why we say that. We are only here on this earth for a short time and we don't know what tomorrow holds for us. (Coincidentally, our pastor spoke on this very thing Wednesday evening.) We don't want to be downers, but we realize that one of us, or both, might not wake up tomorrow. If that should happen, we want to be prepared to meet our Savior.

So, with that being said, here is our prayer for our lives:

O Lord, Thou art my King, and who am I to question Thy way? Whatever the loss, whatever the cost, draw me closer to Thee everyday.

O Lord, Thou art my life, and who am I to understand why you died on a tree for a sinner like me? Lord, to self make me willing to die.

O Lord, Thou art my all, and who am I to walk without Thee? My sin I forsake, Thy cross I will take. Now Thy servant, dear Lord, make of me.

He knoweth the way that I take. A knew heart within He'll create. That I may walk worthy and come forth as gold. He giveth and taketh away. -- Mac Lynch

Don't Be Afraid

2009-07-10T14:14:00.009-04:00

Mac Lynch

When deep water curls around you and fear replaces faith,

When the floods would seem to overwhelm God's promises of grace,

When the fires seem overtaking and all seems torn and tossed,

Trust His Word, O truly listen, here Him say, "All is not lost."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

I have redeemed you; you are mine; don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

You are a precious child to me; don't be afraid."

I am with you thru the water, I'm with you thru the flood.

They will never overwhelm you: I have bought you with My blood.

Even though you walk thru fire, I'll go with you all the way.

I'm your Savior, truly listen, here Me say, these words I say:

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.

I have redeemed you; you are mine; don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid, don't afraid.

You are a precious child to me; don't be afraid."

__________________________________________________

I feel that songs or books must never be a replacement for scripture. However, sometimes God uses a them to encourage us, remind us, or bring us back to Him. The song above is a song that God used to encourage me in the last few weeks. No matter how overwhelming life can be, all I need to do is trust His Word because He has promised to go with me through every trial and test.

Edgar

2009-07-02T22:11:00.003-04:00

A little over a week ago there was a big thunderstorm. We were at our neighbors house and after the storm we went outside and found a little soft shell turtle walking around on the driveway.

We're down to the end . . .

2009-06-23T13:59:00.003-04:00

We are down to the last few pictures of our garden. The weather is getting too hot for many of the plants to stay alive. Also, the last couple of days, we've been getting these big caterpillars that attach themselves to the tomato and banana pepper plants. We haven't found them eating any of the ripe tomatoes, they have only been eating the green ones . . . so far.

On the bright side, our carrots are finally starting to grow!! Right now the carrot plants are the only plants that are still really healthy. Hopefully we will be able to eat them soon.

Through The Years

2009-06-19T07:27:00.004-04:00

June 17 we celebrated 3 wonderful years together. We can't believe how fast it has gone by! We thought that we would take this opportunity to show you how much we have changed through the years.

June 17, 2006

June 17, 2007

June 14, 2008

June 13, 2009

A Great Vacation!

2009-06-18T14:16:00.006-04:00

We just got back from a friends wedding in Easley, SC. It was the same week that our 3 year anniversary fell on so we decided that we would celebrate that as well. It was good to see some of our friends during that week. Here are some pictures from our trip:

Us at the wedding waiting for pictures.

A beautiful picture!

Jeremy helping the ring bearer.

The new Mr. & Mrs.

With our friends: Lyndi, Allison, & Megan (Jeremy's sister).

The last time these guys were all together was for our wedding 3 years ago.

The ladies at Buckey's after the wedding.

The guys at Buckey's.

The group (minus us & Steve).

At the Greenville Pickens Speedway!

With our friends, John & Allison!

The crew with the winner of the race, #3!

At the Greenville Zoo.

At Butterbean in Bushnell, FL.

At the beach after we got back. What a great way to end a great vacation!

A visit home...

2009-05-28T16:31:00.013-04:00

I went home to Indiana for a week because my friends, Andrea & Daniel, got married at my home church. It was also a great excuse to visit family. It was hard being away from Jeremy for a whole week but it was nice to be able to see everyone. Here are some of the pictures from my visit.

Andrea & Daniel's Wedding-May 23, 2009

Would you believe that I used to babysit her and her sisters?

The happy couple!

I got to see Miss Mardi & Mr. Ken! It has been 4 years since I've seen them!

Me with my friend, Libby. She will be working at The Wilds this summer.

Me with Samantha & Krista.

Me with Heidi. She will be getting married in July. I also babysat her and her brother.

Hannah is Daniel's sister. We were in the same society in college and worked together at The Wilds.

Kat and I went to school together but I met her at camp. Her husband, Andrew, grew up with Daniel.

Me and my niece, Hannah, making microwavable Chocolate Mug Cake.

My cousin, Addie, and her little boy, Jordan.

Me, Addie, and our cousin, Katie.

Katie & I with our cousin, Mona.

Our friends, Mac & Beth, sang at the wedding and had a concert at my parents church on Sunday night.

Me with Katrina and her little girl, Kaylee.

Tomato Cages

2009-05-14T17:25:00.003-04:00

You're probably getting bored with all these garden photos . . . but we're really excited! Monday evening we bought some smaller tomato cages so I put them around the plants on Tuesday. It's a little easier to walk between the rows now. Hopefully it keeps the plants a looking a little healthier.

It's almost time!

2009-05-11T17:00:00.002-04:00

I did some weeding in the garden this afternoon. I was also able to pick a few of the vegetables. It won't be long now and we'll have so many that we won't even be able to eat them fast enough! I've posted some pictures of the yellow peppers and cherry tomatoes. Also posted, is a picture of the whole garden and the veggies that I picked today.