Monday, November 30, 2009

Good Christian Men (and Women, too) Rejoice

Don't you love it when a song gets stuck in your head and it just keeps playing over and over and over and over on repeat?

We had choir practice after church yesterday. Actually, we call ourselves "The Ladies' Choral" because no men have joined this year. We are singing a mini-musical called "What Child is This." Part of the finale is the song "Good Christian Men, Rejoice".

I. Can't. Get. It. Out. Of. My. Head!!!!!

All day long, I've been cleaning house and singing (in a singing voice) "Good Christ-ian Men, Rejoi-oi-oice!"

Maybe now it will leave peacefully.

Lyrics:

Good Christian Men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today.
Man and beast before Him bow,
and He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!


Good Christian Men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss.
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened Heaven's door,
and man is blessed forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!




FYI: We sound NOTHING like this! Wish we did.

Stringing Up the Lights

It has become our tradition to put the outside decorations and lights up the weekend aftre Thanksgiving. Saturday was a beautiful day so it was a great day to spend outside.

My dear husband, Doug, braved the wind and put the lights on the house. The girls and I were the cheering section with an occasional job of handing more lights up the ladder. Have I mentioned how much I love this man?



My mom and dad dropped by and I was in a picture taking mood. My dad is 6'2" and my mom comes in at 4'10". They are perfect for each other.

The girls "took a break" to jump on the trampoline. My little own does a good job of beating up her big sister.


This was taken during the scooter riding exhibition. Who knew riding a scooter could be so dangerous that softball helmets need to be worn? They were having a blast.

Thanks for looking! Have you put up your lights yet?

Giveaway Reminder





One more day to enter my Christmas Giveaway #3. Click on the link at the top right to go to the Giveaway post. I'll be drawing the winners tomorrow at 12pm (est).

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sunday Evening Glance at the Week Ahead 11/29/09




Monday:

Clean-Kitchen, Dining Room, Sewing Room, Family Room

Mop- Kitchen, Dining Room, Familiy Room

Laundry

Help Kaylee make a doll quilt.

Work on Scrubs

Correspondance


Tuesday:

Clean- Kaylee's Room, Laken's Room, Hall Bathroom

Laundry- Sheets

Book Giveaway at 12pm

Santa's Workshop- Help Set up 3pm

Write Christmas Cards


Wednesday:

Clean- Our Bedroom, Our Bathroom

Work on Scrubs

PTO Meeting at 6pm


Thursday:

Laundry

Laken's Grammy/Pappy Day

Work on Aprons


Friday:

Straighten up

Work on Aprons

Get movie for Movie Night

Movie Night


Saturday:

Decorate the Church 12pm

Church Bulletin

Bake

Kaylee Basketball Practice 1-3pm


Sunday:

1st Place- 8am

Sunday School- 9am

Church- 10am

Choir Practice- 11:30am

Church Christmas Dinner- 12pm

Coffee Break- 6pm

Dora's Christmas on Disney (check on time and set up DVR)


Evenings:

Work on hand-quilting Blue and Yellow Quilt

TATW IS DONE!!!

That's right. It's done! I finished the binding Friday night and put it in the washer and dryer yesterday. Yesterday afternoon I made 3 throw pillows and a window topper out of the fabric left from the quilt.

I haven't gotten a picture of the finished project yet because I want to take it to my aunt's house. She had a nice big, bright bedroom that will do the quilt justice. My bedroom is just too small to get a good angle of the quilt.

My next project is a small throw quilt for my mom made from blue and yellow sampler blocks. They are from a block exchange I headed up on www.quiltingboard.com.

We just finished up a Fall Block Exchange and the new exchange is Chocolate/Raspberry. yummm.. The blocks have to be sent to me by 1/31/10.

If you are interested, please check out the forum. Here is a link directly to the Choco/Rasp swap. Internationals can participate!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

And the winner is....

The winner of the special Thanksgiving Book Giveaway of Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd is:


Micki!!!!!


You can find her at Irish Muses.


I'll be emailing you for your address.


Thanks to everyone who participated. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

SPECIAL THANKSGIVING DAY BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!



In order to wish you all a "Happy Thanksgiving", I will be having a very special giveaway that will only last for today. Yes, only today. And the book is:

Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd



This book is all about food and baking and lots of yummy goodies. It is set in France but it is about an American who is studying abroad and has to deal with being away from home. She realizes what she is truly thankful for and what is important. Things we should be thinking about on this special holiday.

I've loved the first two books in the French Twist series and can't wait to read Piece de Resistance. I featured this book on my Teaser Tuesday post.

I also will include a recipe postcard that Sandra sent me. The recipe is for "Easy Caramel Latte Cake". mmmm...

Here are some ways you can have your name entered:

1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite Thanksgiving food is. 1 entry

2. Be a follower or become a follower of my blog. 3 entries

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and let me know that you did. 5 entries

4. If we hit 26 (because its Nov. 26th) or more participants by the deadline, everyone who blogged about this giveaway will get 3 more enteries.


That's a possible 12 enteries. Let's have some fun with this giveaway!

This giveaway ends Thanksgiving Day at 9pm (EST) so hurry up and enter!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My Book Haul From Ollies

We went grocery shopping this evening but first I wanted to stop in Ollie's to check out their scrapbook paper. Of course, I can't go past the book section. I go up and down, row by row looking for great finds. And, I usually find some. And, I usually get in trouble for spending so much money for so many books when I already have a huge TBR pile.


What's a girl to do? Buy more books, of course. Then give hubby the "puppy dog" face to show that I know I shouldn't, but I really just can't help myself.

I came out of there with 9 books this time. 9 books for approximately $35. How could I resist? Especially when I was able to find Camy Tang's complete Sushi Series and most of these books "were" on my Wish List.


So, here they are:
















































1. At the Scent of Water by Linda Nichols

2. The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke

3. Sushi for One by Camy Tang

4. Only Uni by Camy Tang

5. Single Sashimi by Camy Tang

6. You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman

7. Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul by Canfield, Hansen and Lorenz

8. Favorite Recipes from Quilters by Louise Stoltzfus

9. A cute Teacup Journal



What do you think?

Oh, and I also got Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh in the mail today. Yay!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

14 Simple Tests to Prepare You for Parenthood


I saw this and thought it was just too cute to not to pass on. And, oh, so true.


FOLLOW THESE 14 SIMPLE TESTS BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO HAVE CHILDREN.

Test 1 - Preparation
Women: To prepare for pregnancy:-
1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front.
2. Leave it there.
3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.

Men: To prepare for children:-
1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself
2. Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.

Test 2 - Knowledge
Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour.

Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers..

Test 3 - Nights
To discover how the nights will feel:

1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.
2. At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am.
4.. Set the alarm for 3am.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea.
6. Go to bed at 2.45am.
7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.
9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.
10. Make breakfast.

Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL.

Test 4 - Dressing Small Children
1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hang out.

Time Allowed: 5 minutes.

Test 5 - Cars
1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon.
2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player.
4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat.
5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Test 6 - Going For a Walk
Wait.
Go out the front door.
Come back in again.
Go out.
Come back in again.
Go out again.
Walk down the front path.
Walk back up it.
Walk down it again.
Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.
Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6 questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way.
Retrace your steps.
Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.
Give up and go back into the house.

You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.

Test 7 - Communication
Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.

Test 8 - Grocery Shopping
1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.
2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight.
3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Test 9 - Feeding a 1 year-old
1. Hollow out a melon
2. Make a small hole in the side
3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side
4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an aeroplane.
5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.
6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.

Test 10 - TV
1. Learn the names of every character from Peppa Pig, Thomas the Tank Engine,Dora the Explorerand Disney.
2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.

Test 11 - Mess
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains
2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look?
4. Empty every drawer/cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor & leave it there.

Test 12 - Long Trips with Toddlers
1. Make a recording of someone shouting 'Mummy' repeatedly.. Important
Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet.
2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Test 13 - Conversations
1. Start talking to an adult of your choice.
2.. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above.

You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Test 14 - Getting ready for work
1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting.
2. Put on your finest work attire.
3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it
4.. Stir
5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt
6.. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture
7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel
8. Do not change (you have no time).
9. Go directly to work

You are now ready to have children. ENJOY!!

Teaser Tuesday



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My Book Is:
Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd


Page 161

"Pastry should be light," I said. "Not heavy, sitting in your stomach afterward. They should be whipped and formed to be as airy as possible, silky as possible. A puncutation to the meal."

Philippe smiled at me. "Exactement! You get it now."

Christmas Book Giveaway #3

This week I'll be giving away 2 Christmas books.



Forever Christmas by Christine Lynxwiler





Christmas Dreams by Rebecca Germany, Mary Hawkins, Veda Boyd Jones and Melanie Panagiotopoulos


To enter:


1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas cookie (1 entry)

2. Be a follower and mention it in your comment (1 entry)

3. Blog about this giveway and let me know that you did (2 entries)


That makes a total of 4 entries possible for these drawings.
The drawings will be held on Tuesday, December 2 @ 12pm.
I can't wait to hear about those yummy cookies!

And the Winner Is...

The winner of the Christmas Book Giveaway #2, A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher, is:


Carol: choco1950...... (How appropriate!)


I'll be contacting you for your info.



Thanks to everyone who participated!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Trip Around the World Is SOOOOO Close

I am so very close to getting finished with my cousin, Steph's, Trip Around the World. I finished quilting the border tonight and now only have the binding to do and then....done.

Well, except for the pillow cases and throw pillows. But after they are done, off to Iowa it will go.

Here are the fabrics that went into making the quilt. I'll post picture when its done.

Books Received From Giveaways 11/23/09

A HUGE thank-you to Trish Perry and Cathy Bryant for giving me the chance to win the following books. It was such a pleasure getting the mail today.

Cathy Brant, who you can find here, sent me White Picket Fences by Susan Weissner. I know how much Cathy enjoyed reading this book, so I hope to read it very soon.

Trish Perry, who you can find here, sent me a signed copy of her book, Too Good to Be True. I can't wait to read it. And it is my very first signed book!

Thank you both sooo much! It was a lot of fun actually winning something. I never win!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sunday Evening Glance at the Week Ahead 11/22/09

These are the highlights of the week ahead. (Boy, isn't that sad.) This doesn't include my everyday tasks such as dishes, cooking, devotions, exercise, showering, etc.


Clean: Kitchen, Dining Room, Sewing Room, Family Room
Mop: Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Room
Laundry

Clean: Kaylee's Bedroom, Laken's Bedroom, Hall Bathroom
Laundry: Finish
Christmas Book Giveaway #2 @ 12pm.

Clean: Our Bedroom, Our Bathroom

Menu Planning for next 2 weeks

Parent/Teacher Conference (not sure what time yet)

Prayer Meeting/Bible Study @ 7pm

Thanksgiving Day!

Dinner at Mom & Dad's @ 1pm

Girls Sleepover at Gram & Pap's

Black Friday Shopping @ 5am

Balance Checking Account
Write out Bills
Grocery Shopping
First Place 4 Health Meeting @ 8am
Sunday School @ 9am
Church Services @ 10am
Choir Practice @ 11:30am
Soup and Sandwich Luncheon @ 12pm
Sunday Afternoon Nap
Coffee Break @ 6pm
What does your week look like?

Scripture Sunday 11/22/09


On Sundays, I would like to post the main Scriptures that were used in either the Sermon, Sunday School or Bible Study that day. Feel free to post your Scripture Sunday, also.
Philippians 2: 12-18 (NASB)

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

15 so that you will prove Yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights In the world,

16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

2010 100+ Reading Challenge


I've been looking for a good reading challenge for 2010 and this one seems like the perfect one for me. I can read anything I want at any time through the year. I just have to read 100 during 2010. No problem.
If you want to join, click on the picture above and sign up with Mister Linky.


Here are the rules:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
My List of 100 Books:
1. Talk of the Town by Lisa Wingate
2. The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
3. Becca By the Book by Laura Jensen Walker
4. A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley
5. Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter

Friday, November 20, 2009

Geta's November Quilt Giveaway


Geta over at Geta's Quilting Studio is giving away this beautiful shadow trapunto quilt. Go over and check it out.


Grace Like Rain...

It has been rainy here in good old Pennsylvania. Soppy and wet with the dogs tracking mud in not to mention the hit my curly hair takes as I run and in out of the post office or dollar store.

But, I love walking in the rain. The ideal would be to have a little warmer temperature than it is now though. It reminds me of a picture I came across this summer when it was hot and humid. As I looked at the picture, I could almost feel the rain drizzling on my face. I could feel the relief that it brought from the hot day.

Then I thought how the words are so appropriate. Because of grace, I can also feel relief. Relief from guilt and fear. In a word: forgiveness.

Photobucket

So, my questions is: Do you like to walk in the rain? Or what gives you the quiet, peaceful feeling that we all strive for?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Movie Review: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

We went to my brother's this evening for dinner and a movie. After some debate, we finally picked G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

I had seen the trailer for this when I took my husband to the theater this summer for his birthday to see the second Transformers movie. I thought at that time that it looked like a good action flick, and I was right.

There was a good bit of violence (mostly shoot-outs) but come on, its GI Joe.

Product Description (from Amazon)
Based on Hasbro’s immensely popular action figures, G.I. Joe is the ultimate elite fighting force, engaged in an extraordinary action-adventure matchup of good versus evil! In G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, the G.I. Joe team, armed with the coolest hi-tech gadgets and weapons, travels the world from the Egyptian desert to the polar ice caps in a high stakes pursuit of Cobra, an evil international organization threatening to use a technology that could bring the world to its knees.


I can't honestly give my opinion of this movie without telling you my absolute favorite part. It was: Channing Tatum.

If you get a chance, check it out.

1st Place Journal: Sing Praise

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine. My grandmother loved this song. Everytime requests were taken during Praise Time in church, she requested this song.

Listen to the words and feel them in your soul.



Do you have Blessed Assurance?

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Strut Your Stuff Thursday

Go strut your stuff at somewhat simple. It's fun to see everyone's projects.

giveaways

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Honest Scrap Blog Award


I would like to thank Lori at Some of My Favorite Books
for presenting me with this awesome award...I am honored!!

Since I've received this award, I have to now tell you 10 honest
things about myself, as well as, pass the award along to
10 more bloggers of my choice.


Here are 10 honest things about me:

1. I sometimes sleep in way too late.
2. I hate cleaning bathrooms.
3. I like to crumble chips up in mac-n-cheese. mmm..
4. I've always thought it would be fun to be a librarian.
5. I have way too much fabric.
6. I can't resist Reese Cups.
7. I went to Disney World for my honeymoon.
8. I don't like scary movies.
9. I had postpartum depression/anxiety.
10. I burn scented candles constantly.

Now for the 10 bloggers I'm passing this award on to:

1. Amanda at http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
2. Laurel at http://themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com/
3. Kerri at http://lovelylittlehandmades.blogspot.com/
4. Marsha at http://marsha-kitchen.blogspot.com/
5. Rel at http://relzreviewz.blogspot.com/
6. Steph at http://somewhatsimple.blogspot.com/
7. Liv at http://teatimewithliv.blogspot.com/
8. Shelly at http://atticgirl.blogspot.com/
9. Tina at http://thehomesteadheart.blogspot.com/
10. Melissa at http://polkadotchair.blogspot.com/

Booksigning in Hagerstown, MD

There's going to be a booksigning in Hagerstown, MD on November 28, 2009. There are lots of great authors listed as coming. Its only about 1.5 hours from me so I really hope to go.

Click on the flyer to see the details.


Maybe I'll see you there.

Christmas Book Giveaway #2

In my second Christmas Book Giveaway, I will be giving the lucky winner "A Carol for Christmas" by Robin Lee Hatcher. Please leave me a comment if you wish to enter. Mention in the comment that you are a follower and you'll have two chances to win.

What would you give up for love?

For Carol, it was her most precious dream: her passion to sing.

But was her sacrifice worth it now that her marriage is losing its spark? In this heartwarming novella, two people discover the true essence of Christmas and its power to rekindle the flames of love.

I will be drawing the winner next Tuesday, November 24th at 12pm. Thanks for entering!

And the Winners Are:

The Winners of the Christmas Book Giveaway are:




GAYLA COLLINS!!!









DEBORAH!!!! (dleathers....)




I'll be emailing each of you for your snail mail.
Thanks to everyone who participated in my first giveaway! I had a blast.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Christmas Aprons

I found the cutest Christmas fabric the other day. I just had to buy some and make myself an apron and hotpad. This is my oldest daughter modeling for me.





I made this apron last year to give as gifts to the women in my family. So, even though we might be apart during Christmas, we'll know that we're all wearing our aprons.

Fabulous Fall Fun!

It was so nice out this afternoon so the girls went out to jump on the trampoline. Some leaves had blown on it and they took full advantage of them. They had sooo much fun and I had to snap a few picturs.

In case you're wondering, yes, my littlest is in her nightgown. She's a PJ girl. If I'm lucky I can at least get her to put clean PJ's on in the morning. Getting her dressed to go out of the house is nothing short of a battle. Guess I'll have to get her some "dress PJ's".