TGIF

For most of my working life, I have always had a job where evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends were just par for the course...until now. I work mon-fri, and even though it has been an adjustment going to work 5 whole days each week, one new thing I can now shout from the roof top is TGIF each week. THIS week in particular, it is said with GREAT excitement and relief! First, we have some very special guests coming to stay the week with us!!!!!!!!!! You know who you are, and we are counting the days!!!!! Second, we have just taken on a new HUGE account at work and it has been incredibly stressful for me and all involved. I have been saying this move to florida has been without a doubt, the MOST stressed I have ever been in my life, and this week here in sunny, warm florida has not disappointed, in that respect. Thankfully, God in all His awesomeness has placed people in my life to help. My family has been so great and in particular, my wonderful hubby, Mike has been so supportive. God has also blessed me with wonderful Christian friends at work, we pray together for eachother, for strength, for peace. Today, in particular two dear friends at work, Teresa and Pam got me through a terrible day. Thank you girls!!!! I guess things can only go UP from here, huh?! I AM thankful to have a job, it just gets overwhelming at times. I know that Mike would love to have my stresses at work :) He has been having several interviews lately, and we are very hopeful that the perfect job for him will come along soon. We know it is all in God's timing....but man is it hard to wait! On a side note, those of you who know me well, know that I love me a good Craigslist find...I found this beauty a couple weeks ago for $40 and snagged it quickly, as I saw an inspiration chair in a model home, which I am positive was at least 3 times more expensive!
What's new with all of you?? B is having a sweet friend from school sleep over tonight, Chase is playing army games on line with his friend (they can talk with eachother while playing against eachother with headsets), Dewey is sleeping at my feet, Mike is watching sports on TV. Sunday we are going to Kelli and Lees for Superbowl Sunday- aka commercials, snacks, friends..:) Miss everyone!!!!

Building friends and Eight is great!

This past week was Brooke's 8th Birthday! On her actual birthday, we just had cake at home, but we had special guests from far away join us. My parents and sister and nephew gathered at my parents house and they face timed us to watch Brooke open her gifts!! We all sang Happy Bday and while we had cake, they ate cupcakes. Technology!! Love it.
Today, Brooke had her party with her friends. She wanted her party at Build a Bear. We had been before, but a few years ago. I tell ya, they know how to throw a party. It is the best money you will ever spend, as a mom, no stress, sweat, tears. Awesome. They got to pick out their new special friend and stuff it, add a heart, brush it and dress it. They have so many fun outfits, too cute!!!
While Building thier new friends, they also got to build up friendships with real friends, by playing fun things! Brooke invited 3 new friends from school who are all soo very sweet and caring. God certainly has blessed my kids, by placing wonderful friends in their lives, so quickly. What made it extra special, was Brooke having one very special friend there, Tia, who she has been friends with for many years.
It has been an extra blessing to bring forward this sweet friendship to Florida from Missouri. As many of you know, Tia is the daughter of our great friends, Kelli and Lee who used to be our neighbors in Missouri. They also just moved to florida and we now live a short 10minutes away from eachother. B-L-E-S-S-E-D!
I know on special occasions like this, however, Brooke is missing her old friends. :(
But I always remember the song from Brownies. "Make new friends, but keep the old, One is silver and the others gold".

And then there's brotherly-sisterly love.....

Oh yeah, did you know that 8 is GREAT!!!

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning

We have been wanting to get over to the beach now for the past few weeks, but one thing after another, kept getting in the way of that plan. So last night, we decided that in the morning, we would get up bright and early and do it!!! So, by 8am we were out the door, and by 8:25 we were on the beach!










This is a state park called Howard park in Tarpon Springs. I didn't get pics, but there are some AMAZING homes all around there!!! Once the kids are out of the house, Mike and I would LOVE to live somewhere like that!

This beach is almost like a private island. Palm trees line the beach, and there were barely any ppl there. While there, we saw some amazing sights. When we first pulled up to the park I immediately said to the kids "THIS is why we live in florida!!!" Chase just rolled his eyes at me :) We saw a group of about 5 dolphins swimming and diving just out in the distance from us. We also saw some cool sea creatures...not sure what they were, but it was a mom and baby.
The water was so unbelievably calm. No waves!
We hereby claim this beach, Rogers Remote Slice of Heaven. Oh yeah, then we had Chick-afal-a for lunch. According to the kids it was the "best day ever". I agree.
What are you all up to this weekend? Do you have a favorite place you claim as "yours"??

My new ride

Yesterday I mentioned that I got a new bike. Here she is, in all her purple glory.
I had to get one that is easy on my back, so I went with a beach cruiser! Mike and I just got back from over an hour long bike ride. We rode through our subdivision, and past Chase's school to a subdivision we are considering on building in, AFTER of course we find jobs....details, details. Yes, I came home and downed a mini diet pepsi, but as i am sitting here i am also on my second water bottle for the day. :) I also have ice on my back, just to keep things well. I told Mike, the next time we go for that long of a ride I will have to sit on a roll of toilet paper!! I THOUGHT my seat was cusioned, but not so much! Julie, thinking of you, and wondering how your diet is going?!
Here are a couple random pics too. Monday was Chase's picture day at school and I made him model pose before he left.


Here are some of the cool birds that we see daily in our neighborhood. Sometimes, like here, they even come up to our front porch!!




Have a great day everyone!!!!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

Today will be a mish mash of stuff :)

*I am so proud of Chase. Last week I got a call from the asst principal, saying he had Chase with him in his office. "This is a good thing" he cheered. He said they like to call parents when positive things happen! Chase was recognized by his lang arts teacher for being caring, compassionate, and helpful to ohter kids in the class. This earned him a special prize and the cance to win even more prizes. I am proud beyond words at my son. He is amazing me everyday with the way he has handled this move and adapted to new friends, school, etc. Our friends back in StLouis will never be topped, but it warms my hear to know that he is making the transition so well.

*Brooke is becoming quite the little swimmer! It really helps to have our own pool. She wears a mask and wont go ALL the way under yet, but she puts her whole face in and swims all over the pool!!! finally!!

*Mike and I bought some new bikes to get in shape. The area around here just screams for you to ride your bike around, so even though money is tight, we felt it was a wise investmet in our health!

*I broke my toe about a week and a half ago and it is still sore!!

*Mike and I are still looking for that perfect job!!

*We feel like we are working full time, by looking at the computer for jobs alllll day.

*Chase went to a friends house last night and they took part in a dodge ball tournement with over 500 kids at one of the local churches, they made it to the semi-finals. His team consisted of new friends from school - all of them are new to the area, so they called themselves the "new kids on the block". Chase also had his first sleepover here in florida.

*My biggest prayer has been answered...Chase finding new friends easily here!

*Brooke is getting sooo excited for her birthday next week!

*our next door neighbors are wonderful, Christians!

*Dewey needs a haircut!! Oh, yeah, and he DOESN"T like to swim!

*I am trying to keep from stress getting the best of me, but I have been getting headaches the past few days! So, I finally went to a chiro. I also went for some xrays to help with treatment. I will NEVER find as great of a chiro as I had in St louis :(

*Florida has LOVE BUGS, that are numerous right now and fly around mating..ew..

*The BIGGEST news.....I am weaing off of diet soda!!!! I have been drinking a ton of water and have only had 2 mini diet pepsi sodas today. Those of you who know my addiction, know that this is great for me! Also another reason I have a continuous headache!!

*I am gonna go and try out that new bike of mine!

*Have a great weekend everyone!! I miss all of my friends and family so much!!!!

Roller Coaster ride

Hello Everyone (that is, if anyone is still out there in blog land). As many of you know, we recently moved our family to Florida, after several years of visiting the Sunshine State. It most definately has been the biggest, scariest, loopiest, steepest roller coaster ride I have ever been on. We feel like God planted the seed in our hearts about 2 years ago, to move here, and things fell into place over the past couple months, to make it happen! Our house was on the market, and sold in less than one month, we found a perfect rental, awesome schools and I even interviewed and got a job....all in a week's time. Now, that is NOT to say that because God's loving hand has been in all of this, that it has been a bed of roses! For each fabulous, bright day..there has also been an even darker,yuck day. We know that God is still with us and is totally in control, but fear and doubt just keep creeping in at unexpected moments! The kids are adjusting well in their schools, and have even had a few play dates! BUT now my job has turned out to not be what I thought it would be..so..I will continue to search for that job that will help provide for my family, but that I will also like :) We prefaced this move with the idea of living more simply and to work to live! I am comforted by God's word in Isaiah 66:8-14 "..8Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. 9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the Lord. "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.11"For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts;you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." 13"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you...14When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants..."

We are definately in a time of threshing. We are comforted also in knowing our good friends and old neighbors kelli and Lee have also felt a calling to move to Florida too. We continue to experience a lot of similiar triumps and pitfalls, and are thankful that they are moving close to us soon, when they close on their new home. They will be a short 10min drive from us.

I am excited about what the near future holds for us here in florida. The animal lover in me is daily in awe of the amazing birds, lizards, and other wildlife that call florida home. I promised myself to never let the site of them, the palm trees, the beach,to lose their AWEsomeness!!

Well, Brooke is wanting to go swimming. Guess I will have to oblige ;) Here is a shot of our pool. Yes, we said we want to live more simply, BUT with a pool. Hey, when in rome....

When you know it's coming..

Yes. It's that glorious time of the year when the buds start to appear on the trees. Little green shoots start to pop out of the once frozen ground. More and more birds start to appear and build nests getting ready for their young. Outside the temperature is starting to rise...the only bad thing is, so is the temperature INSIDE. See, as you all know this is springtime, but also cold & flu season. We knew this day was coming as everyone around us has been getting it. The school nurse even sent home a letter to parents warning it was going around. Somehow, you think, hope, pray it will skip YOUR family. But alas, the flu has hit my sweet Brooke. We just came from the dr and one nose swabbing later...influenza B. My dr said he does not reccomend Tamiflu so Motrin, fluids, rest, and Purell it is. I hope the buck stops there!!! Hoping you all are staying well.

Cake Pops by Koren at Pop Art

I work with an amazingly talented girl, Koren, whom makes these adoreable cake pops! Check out her blog and all of her POP ART creations here.

I plan to order some of her creations for Brooke's Birthday in a few months!!

Blessed

What a great Valentine's Day I had with my family. They showered me with sweet gifts of love! Chase was so proud of his gift as he told me it took him THREE weeks to complete!! It was a book of quotes and words from his heart about his mom. Things that seem like a trivial part of the day to me... Mean the world to him. What a great reminder to me of the impact the role of motherhood has in the lives of our children. What a humbling experience to be a mom - my purpose in this life.
I also got to go out on a date with my husband. We ate bread and pasta while laughing with good friends and listening to live 80s music!! I am truly blessed in this life!

Santa is on my "naughty" list

We have only one "believer" left in our house this year. So, we went to see the big man in red yesterday at the mall. Chase came along, because he still likes to "see" him, but he would not be sitting on his lap this year because "he is a cool middle-schooler now". Brooke was very excited. In the morning yesterday before school, she started to get a little teary eyed though. She said, "mommy, I think I might be on the naughty list!" Why, I said, did you do something that would put you there. (this was gonna be good)- "Well," she said, I was arguing with Chase the other day." I assured her that Santa knew that was normal brother/sister behavior, and that she was a very kind, sweet girl- and is definately on the nice list. That seemed to put her mind at ease, so she was excited to see Santa!
When she got home from school, she changed into her fanciest dress, combed and sprayed her hair, and we were off to the mall. We entered the mall and could see him sitting on his chair, the excitement grew! There was nobody else there, so we went right in. BUT.....you won't be seeing a sweet, priceless picture of this moment of her childhood, that will never again be recaptured. Why??? because you couldn't take your own picture. You would have to pay $18.00 if you wanted a piece of this memory!!!! I asked the "elf" if I could simply take a short video on my camera instead. NO... Mind you this is the same exact Santa and spot that my dear friend Julie visited 3 days ago and got oodles of pics (taken by HER own camera). I was NOT happy. I was dissapointed. I didn't want to make a scene, so I dropped it. AFTER i asked the head elf once more why my friend could take photos and I can't. His reply? I must not have been on duty that day. Great.


Here is the picture I did get... Look real hard, can you see santa WAY in the backround? Nice.
Brooke has been wearing these play glasses around, because some of her friends wear real ones, and she thinks it's pretty cool :)


This pic is in the little tunnel area you walk in before seeing santa.


We did have a great time at the mall though, the kids got a drink at the Bubble Tea house and Subway for dinner. Brooke rode the merry-go-round and we had fun browsing around!

Daily Reminders

About a year ago I was over at a freind's and saw a really cool picture hanging on her wall. It was her family's last name spelled out with letter art. Soon after that I started to "see" letters all around me in every day things, and started to start a collection of my own. My first attempts were not so pretty. It is a lot harder to do than it looks, but it is fun for me. I recently made some framed art for some friends to buy as gifts for Christmas. It is DEFINATELY more of a challenge when doing it for a paying customer....I want it to be perfect. Here are some of the 'words' I made for them. They serve as great daily reminders of God's love. I also had the challenge of doing a LONG last name. "PRAY"
"BALLARD"
'JOY'
'HOPE'
Sorry for the Blessed path scribbles.....have to protect anything on line :)

We had our Women's Christmas Banquet last evening at church and I got the opportunity with my sister, Kathy, to make little plaques using some of my letters and her crafty skills for table hostess gifts!!
"JESUS"


I don't know if anyone finds these interesting at all, but I would love the opportunity to make something for you....maybe to give as Christmas gifts or for yourself. $5.00 a letter plus frame or you can frame them yourself :) Thanks

Advent tree tradition time

Last year I started doing an advent tree to help the kids get excited about Christmas (okay, like they really needed help in that department)! Each day they take turns opening the numbered boxes, to discover a small surprise of some sort. It is the very first thing they do when waking up! I put things as simple as gumballs, chocolate gold coins, chapstick, toothbrushes, new christmas socks, make your own card kits and ornament kits, note pads, pens. Most of it comes from the dollar bin at Target (not the candy or toothbrushes (made in china). This year I found some adoreable little pots that look like santa and a snowman, to grow grass hair. I put a note in box #1 for them to 'ask mom' for the gift of the day, since they wouldnt fit into the tiny box. I decided to give them these the first day so they could hopefully have grass 'hair" on them by Christmas. Box 25 is always the same. I tell the kids it is the most "expensive" and biggest gift of all. They open it to find baby Jesus. Then we all go over to the Nativity scene and place Him in the manger.

This year it is a teaching tool in a different way as well. Chase opened #1 so he will be opening all the ODD numbered boxes, so Brooke gets all the even #'s. She has been really learning all her odds and evens, because she wants to know all the ones SHE will get to open! :)
What are you doing with your loved ones to get you in the Christmas mood??

A new tradition

We had a great Thanksgiving with family. Ate too much. I still cannot believe it is this time of year already. We went to my brother's house for Thanksgiving. They have graciously hosted it for the past many years. It is always sooo good!! My sis in law makes some great popovers and her desserts are to die for!! Anyway. For the past year or so, my parents have all the grandkids over the day after Turkey day to help decorate their house and tree for Christmas. The kids really enjoy this time with Grandma and Grandpa and of course their cousins. My parents also love the time with all of them, but mostly enjoy all the help putting the ornaments on the tree and setting up their Christmas village. They have decided to make this a new tradition! What kinds of Holiday traditions do you all have with your families or friends??