Sunday, February 12, 2017

Scripture Sunday...2.12.17...



How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
 
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,

But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
 
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.


Psalm 1

Friday, February 10, 2017

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins



I LOVE having quick breakfasts ready for my family.  A nice stash of homemade biscuits, pancakes, muffins, all make quick and tasty breakfast choices for a busy family.

This is just one of the many muffins I like to have frozen in the freezer so we can quickly warm it up in the morning before we start school (and often the girls like them for snacks, too!!!).

Chocolate and peanut butter? YUM!! For breakfast? Even better!!!


Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 egg
¾ cup milk
2/3 cup peanut butter
¼ cup oil
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup chocolate chips

Mix all together and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes. Makes 12 regular sized muffins.

Thursday, February 09, 2017

February reading update...




In the beginning of the year, I shared my reading plans for this year.  I NEED accountability when it comes to this, so I am going to be sharing my progress as the year goes along.  I do LOVE to read, but I can get too busy with other things (internet issues, anyone???), that I simply don't make reading a priority.


So far, I'm exactly where I hoped to be with my reading!!!  YAY!  I finished Say Goodbye to Survival Mode: 9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life in January.


This month, I'm readingThe Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective and am right on schedule for this month, too!!!!  (And let's just say I have got a LOT to learn from this book!!!! Wonderful wisdom from Martha Peace!!)

In the Bible reading plan I chose, I am only a few chapters behind, but I can easily make that up this afternoon during our afternoon rest time.


So what are YOU reading this year???  Please share your favorite reads so far!!!

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Laundering bath mats...





Be honest here... when was the last time you laundered the mats in your bathroom? I'm not talking about vacuuming them or shaking them out or even hitting them against the side of your house to remove any dirt. I'm asking, when was the last time your washed them in your washing machine?? They need to be clean, too!!!

According to Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook on page 25, bath mats need to be washed... are you ready?... WEEKLY!!!!!

So, do you launder yours weekly??? Just think of all the icky things that are in there. No, actually, DON'T think about it- it's a little too disgusting for me. Just decide this week that you will pick them up, shake them out and put them in the washing machine!! Your family will thank you! Not only will the bath mats be pretty and fluffy (and maybe even another color if it's been that long since you've washed them and they are that dirty!! LOL!!!), but you will wash away many germs and allergens that could bother your family, too!! What a blessing!!!

What else does Miss Martha say we should clean weekly in the bathroom?
-clean toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks
-wipe mirrors
-change and launder bath mats, towels, and washcloths
-dust light fixtures
-empty trash bins and wipe the insides and outsides
-vacuum and mop floors

So, ladies, what are you waiting for? Wash those bath mats!!!

Monday, February 06, 2017

Airing out your bed and bedroom...




I LOVE the book by Cheryl Mendelson called "Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House". It is chock full of incredible information and very well organized.

While reading, I got to the chapter about caring for your bedroom. On page 660, Ms. Mendelson advises us to air out our bed and bedroom at least an hour every day.

"Each day when you arise, air the bed. Open the windows, if possible; throw the bedcovers back over the foot of the bed. (If the bedding will otherwise drag on the floor, stand a chair at the foot of the bed to support it.) Let the bed stand this way, unmade, while you shower and eat breakfast. The bed should air for at least an hour if you are going to work, or even longer if you are staying home. This helps immensely toward keeping the bed feeling and smelling fresh until you next change the sheets."

WHY exactly should we bother to do this???
"While you are sleeping, you breathe about two pounds of moisture, along with breath odors and flocks of microorganisms, into the air, your pillow and your bedding. You also perspire, perhaps a cup's worth, and exude skin oils and body smells. And you use up the room's oxygen and replace it with exhaled carbon dioxide. When there are two or more people in the bed or the room, these effects are multiplied. All this explains why, if you sleep with closed windows, the room has a characteristic stale morning smell (although you might not perceive it until you leave for a few minutes and then return.) Unless you leave the bedcovers pulled down and the windows open for an hour or two, the moisture you have left in the bed either does not evaporate or evaporates very slowly, which makes for an environment in pillows and mattress in which dust mites, molds, and other microbial life have more of an opportunity to multiply. Opening the windows lets in new air to dilute the pollutants (microbial and particulate), carry them off, and bring in fresh supplies of oxygen."

Good gracious alive!!! (That's what I said when I first read this!!) Just thinking about all the ickiness that she describes is so, ugh, disgusting!!! Needless to say, after reading this, I started letting our bed air out daily. I do not always open our windows each morning, but I do when it's not incredibly hot, freezing or raining. I want our bedrooms as fresh as possible. And thanks to Cheryl Mendelson, I can achieve that more easily now.



Sunday, February 05, 2017

Scripture Sunday...2.5.17...






"And Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed Him."
Matthew 4:19-20

Friday, February 03, 2017

Friday Favorites... Jane's Tea from Adagio Tea...



While I do enjoy coffee... a lot... I also really love a hot cup of tea.  My favorite for years has continued to be Jane's Tea which is a special blend from Adagio.  I've loved all the teas I've ordered from them (except anything with chocolate in it. Chocolate tea is just weird to me.)  I still brew my loose tea leaves in their IngenuiTEA and it's still delicious every. single. time.  


And guess what???  Should you decide you want to try out any of the teas from Adagio, you can sign up here with your email and get $5 off certificate!!!  YAY!!!  




Y'all be sure and come back here and let me know what teas you tried and loved!! I'm always open for new favorites!!  

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Encouraging links...


When you have a few moments today, pour yourself a cup of your favorite tea and enjoy a few blog posts that have encouraged me this week.

Mrs. White shares about the Company Ready Home

Mrs. Ferrell shares about the Influence of Godly Mothers & Grandmothers

Lady Lydia shares about Letter Writing.  

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Want a peek inside our home?...

We moved into our current home December 2012.  Before that, we had lived in a parsonage that belonged to the church where Mr. U had been pastor.  He moved in in 1995 and when we married in 1998, I moved in.  Almost 14 years of memories made there for us. It was hard to leave!!!

We bought this home toward the end of the housing crisis.  TONS of foreclosures were on the market.  Every single home we looked at (maybe 30) was a foreclosure and we ended up in bidding wars with homes selling waaaay outside of our price range!

We found this home and ended up making offers two different times.  We were surprised that we finally got it and it was in our budget range, too!! What a blessing!!!!

When we looked at this home, we were awed!!  WAAAY bigger than our previous home and it had a fresh coat of paint and new carpet!!!  Since then, we've learned that the majority of foreclosures go through cheap makeovers to make them look good.  LOL  We've learned a LOT!!!!




This is the before picture of our kitchen.  It seemed okay until you opened the drawers and discovered that either the fronts fell off or the inside was so unstable it would barely hold any kind of silverware. We needed new cabinets for sure!  Mr. U tried several methods the workers at Home  Depot suggested and they'd work for a while, but in the end, the cabinets were ruined.

Thankfully, we had a little money from an inheritance and decided that the best investment we could make with it would be to add value to our home in the kitchen.  YAY!!  In May 2014 we were able to update and I am SO SOOO happy with the results!!!


Island- Ikea
Lighting- Pottery Barn
Cabinets- custom made through Home Depot


Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Chocolates....




Some people call these No Bake Cookies or even Boiled Cookies (which sounds so gross to me!!!!), but we've called them Chocolates (pronouncing the end like "latte") since I first made them in 1999!  EONS ago!!

Mr. U got this recipe from a church where he was associate pastor long before we ever met.  The sweetest church secretary, Mrs. Hortense, insisted he have this recipe before he move to his first pastorate. She knew how much he loved them.  She's gone to be with the Lord since then, but her memory remains each time we make these cookies.  

Chocolates
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups uncooked oats

Mix first four ingredients together in a sauce pan and bring to boil for 1 minute. Take off the heat and stir in peanut butter and then oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper or parchment paper.

You are supposed to wait until they are completely cooled before you eat them, but I LOVE them when they are warm and gooey. :) Mr. U likes to put them in the refrigerator and eat them the next day, however. People usually leave these at room temperature, but you eat them however your family likes them best!!

Monday, January 30, 2017

Homemaking Inspiration...





I LOVE a clean and tidy home.  My home is FAR from perfect and I'm always searching for new ideas to organize as well as new inspiration to keep on decluttering!!!

Y'all, I happened upon a beautiful home and the homemaker has made several videos sharing how she keeps her home- sooo  many ideas and such inspiration!!

Her name is Allison and her videos are at Cultivating the Kingdom.  She calls it a Theological Home Tour and she shares all the "whys" behind why she has decorated and organized like she has. GREAT ideas!!

Hope y'all enjoy the videos as much as I have.  :)






Sunday, January 29, 2017

Scripture Sunday...1.29.17...



"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULSFor My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
-Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Today in my home...





Happy Chinese New Year!!!!!  For anyone new to my blog, we brought our oldest daughter home from China in 2007.  Each year we get together we fellow China adoption families and have a big meal to celebrate Chinese New Year.  It's a fun time for us to see friends- old and new.  

So, that said, today we will be meeting friends for lunch.  :)  We also will do our weekly grocery shopping.  I usually grocery shop on Saturdays.  We do the bulk of our shopping at Aldi and then stop by Publix to pick up anything that Aldi doesn't have. 

I work on my grocery list for the upcoming week either Friday night or Saturday morning.  I keep a running list during the week so that I can add to it whenever we run out of something and I know I need to pick it up.  So making the grocery list consists of listing the meals I plan to prepare for the upcoming week and listing the ingredients needed for those

I also need to spend some time decluttering our school area.  It's actually in the dining room of our home and it's become quite the dumping area for our books, papers, toys, crafts.  UGH!!  I need to measure and figure out what kind of shelves I can get to make it a little more tidy and functional (which probably means a trip to Ikea soon! YAY!).

And, in case you didn't notice, I GOT A BLOGGY MAKEOVER!!!!!  I found the cute design online and Mr U set it up for me. YAY!!!  A makeover was looooooong overdue here! I'm so excited! This design makes me SMILE!!!!


Friday, January 27, 2017

BBQ chicken sandwich and coleslaw...



Busy days call for quick meals!!  We've made this a hundred times and we still love it!!!  I put the chicken in the crockpot, and my 6 year old quickly helps me mix up the coleslaw (it's better after it's been sitting in the fridge for several hours!!!).  Easy and delicious meal for the busy days.


BBQ Chicken Sandwich

3 pounds chicken 
1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce 
Hamburger buns (we love them slightly toasted!!!)

Place chicken and about a cup of the BBQ sauce 
in the crockpot on low 7 hours or high 4 hours. 
Just before serving, take the chicken out and shred 
with a fork.  Stir it back into any sauce that's still 
inside the crockpot.  When plating, add extra sauce 
to the meat mixture or just add extra sauce to each 
sandwich as you fix them.  


(Got extra BBQ chicken?  Make BBQ chicken pizza!!!  Once your pizza dough is rolled into place, spread a layer of BBQ sauce on and then top with BBQ chicken, thinly sliced red onions,  fresh or pickled thinly sliced jalapeños, and your favorite cheese (I'd use extra sharp cheddar!!).  Serve more BBQ sauce with the pizza in case anyone else wants to add more.)


Coleslaw  


  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 T distilled white vinegar
  • 2 1/2 T lemon juice
  • 16 oz bag pre shredded coleslaw mix


  • In a large bowl, mix together sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, vinegar, and lemon juice.  Carefully stir in pre shredded coleslaw mix.  Mix well.   Store in the fridge at least 3 hours before serving.  






Monday, January 23, 2017

Happy National Pie Day 2017!!!!





Did it sneak up on you?  National Pie Day!!!  YAY!!  A reason to make pie!! 

This year's pie is a very easy my-children-can-make-it-all-by-themselves chocolate pie.  And yes, my girls made it.  :)

Easy No Bake Chocolate Pie
1 box instant chocolate pudding
1 3/4 cup milk
graham cracker pie crust
whipped topping
chocolate shavings

Mix the chocolate pudding and 1 3/4 cup of milk.  Whisk together very well for about 2 minutes until pudding starts to thicken.  Pour into pie crust and let chill at least an hour.  When ready to serve, top with as much whipped topping as you like, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, slice, and enjoy!!!


We celebrated (and blogged!!!) National Pie day in 2009 and 2011.  Yummy days for sure!!


Are YOU celebrating National Pie Day in your home? If so, what did you make? Please share!!


Sunday, January 22, 2017

Sunday Night Biscuits...





 I haven't been making biscuits nearly as often as I used to.  The family still loves them just as much, so why not?  I've gotten lazy!!  I'd MUCH rather my family eat homemade biscuits over store bought stuff any day of the week (though, truth be told, that does happen!!!).  Homemade biscuits are so easy to make, they're budget friendly, too!!  Sooo I've decided that I'll make 12- 15 on Sunday nights and put them in the freezer. That way, we can pull them out for a quick breakfast or snack or even use them for sandwiches. 

My recipe for Easy Homemade Biscuits.

I always ALWAYS use a pastry blender when making biscuits.

It helps to have a helper in the kitchen, you know.  :)



 When cleaning up the mess from making biscuits, I've found it VERY helpful to use a dough scraper.  It helps scrape up all the flour and dough scraps from the area on the counter you've made your biscuits on. 

Another way we LOOOVE to use our homemade biscuits is in this yummy recipe- Chicken and Ham "Pot Pie"

Sooo do y'all make homemade biscuits? Do you even LIKE biscuits???  It can't be just a Southern thing, can it??  :)










Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Weekly Cleaning Routine....






(LOVE my little lady with a broom or what????)

I've posted before about my weekly cleaning routine, but as we all know, life changes. :)  So from time to time, a homemaker may need to revamp her routine to make it easier AND so that she can teach her children to clean, as well. :)

With this being a fresh new year, I decided it was a good time to switch things up.  Here's how I'm handling things here... for now. :)

Monday- bathrooms, launder clothing
Tuesday- dusting, launder towels
Wednesday- vacuum, launder sheets, bath mats, shower curtain liner
Thursday- mopping (including bathrooms), launder clothing
Friday- catch up, launder towels
Saturday- groceries
Sunday- REST!!

(I got the basic idea from Becky at CleanMama.  She has an AWESOME site!!!)

I have daily chores, as well.  You know, things that must be done every day or the whole house will end up looking like a pigsty!!!!  

-Make beds (but air your rooms out first!!!)
-take care of mail as soon as it comes in the door
-wipe counters in kitchen as I cook
-sweep floors
-tidy school room at the end of each school day (not clean it, just tidy it- put stuff back where it belongs)


Thursday, January 12, 2017

Homemade all purpose cleaner...





I've been making my own homemade cleaners for a few years now.  It originally started with me wanting something more natural so that it wouldn't hurt Elizabeth's skin when she was a baby.  I started using baking soda to clean the bathtub and a steam mop for all my mopping.

For some reason, not too soon after Elizabeth was home, I started having problems with my hands cracking open.  I haven't been diagnosed with anything in particular, but I have discovered that a lot of the strong fragrances in cleaners and soaps greatly irritate my skin.  Oh, and antibacterial soaps are the worst!!!!  I try my best to steer clear of anti bacterial anything as well as fragrances, but, come on, I'm a girl! I LOVE good smelling products!!!

One product I started making was homemade all purpose cleaner.  I discovered the wonderful scents and great benefits of essential oils this way!!  This is my favorite all purpose cleaner recipe...

Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

16 oz glass spray bottle
2 cups distilled water
2 tsp washing soda (Arm and Hammer)
1 tsp borax
1 tsp liquid castille (I use Dr Bronner's*)
30 drops dōTERRA essential oil**

Mix it all together in the spray bottle and shake thoroughly.  Easy peasy!!!


*I use unscented so that I can smell the essential oils well, but feel free to use any scent of liquid castille you love!!

**I use any combination of oils that I'm in the mood for!!  My current favorite is 15 drops of wild orange essential oil and 15 drops of rosemary essential oil. 


What You Need:
16 oz. glass spray bottle (you can purchase one here)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 3/4 cups water
30 drops d
ōTERRA essential oil (see suggestions below)
1 teaspoon borax

Recommended Essential Oils: 
15 drops each of Lavender and Lemon
10 drops each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Wild Orange
30 drops On Guard blend
15 drops each of Grapefruit and On Guard
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to spray bottle. Shake thoroughly.
- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/spring-cleaning-all-purpose-spray/#sthash.88EF67Qp.dpuf
What You Need:
16 oz. glass spray bottle (you can purchase one here)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 3/4 cups water
30 drops d
ōTERRA essential oil (see suggestions below)
1 teaspoon borax

Recommended Essential Oils: 
15 drops each of Lavender and Lemon
10 drops each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Wild Orange
30 drops On Guard blend
15 drops each of Grapefruit and On Guard
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to spray bottle. Shake thoroughly.
- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/spring-cleaning-all-purpose-spray/#sthash.88EF67Qp.dpuf
What You Need:
16 oz. glass spray bottle (you can purchase one here)
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 3/4 cups water
30 drops d
ōTERRA essential oil (see suggestions below)
1 teaspoon borax

Recommended Essential Oils: 
15 drops each of Lavender and Lemon
10 drops each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Wild Orange
30 drops On Guard blend
15 drops each of Grapefruit and On Guard
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to spray bottle. Shake thoroughly.
- See more at: http://doterrablog.com/spring-cleaning-all-purpose-spray/#sthash.88EF67Qp.dpuf

Sunday, January 01, 2017

Welcome to 2017!!!!!!









Happy New Year!!!!

Hard to believe that 2017 is already here!!!  2016 FLEW by!!!  My mother always told me that time flies when you get older- she's not kidding!!!!

So, what plans do y'all have for this new year???  Any goals that you've set?  I always renew my plan to read through the Bible in a year.  This year I'm following this plan.

I'm also committing to reading more books for myself this year.  Yes, we read tons of great books in our homeschool and I do enjoy them all, but I want to read to challenge myself, as well.  Jami Balmet from Young Wife's Guide is hosting a Christian Reading  Challenge for Christian Women and I plan to read along.  :)

And, of course, at the beginning of each year I ALWAYS renew my commitment to eating healthier and exercise.  HA.  Doesn't everyone??  I TRY to stick to low carb (keto, THM S) meals, but I still cook and bake regular for everyone else.  Mr. U keeps his type 2 pretty much under control watching his portions and exercising.  I want to lose weight, yes, but OH HOW I LOOOOOOOOVE TO BAKE!!!!  A lot of times the girls and I will bake and give it away.  :)

So tell me about yourself! I'd love to hear plans and dreams for 2017!!!!



Monday, July 04, 2016

I ran across a tasty blog!!!




 Oh y'all!!!!!  I've discovered a WONDERFUL blogger after my own heart- she LOVES baking and cooking for her family!!  Her name is Jenny and her blog is Planner Perfect Meals.  I'm pretty sure y'all will be drooling over all her recipes like I have been this morning as I have scrolled and read her blog.  YUM!!  Yes, I will be trying MANY of her recipes (not sure about roasted beets, but I just may give it a go!!!!)

Sooooo where will I start first?  Easy!!  Her Homemade White Bread!!  My girls and I all agree we NEED this today!!!  :)

Wednesday, June 08, 2016

Cleaning inspiration!!!

I've been in a cleaning rut lately.  Y'all ever had that happen?  I do the basics so it's not DIRTY dirty, but not spotless, either.  I haven't had a cleaning routine in a bit.  Sad, I know.  Life has just been super crazy ever since we moved!!!! 

Thankfully, I recently discovered a YouTube channel called How Jen Does It.  She's a fellow Christian and she loves taking care of her home!!!  Watching her videos have been sooo encouraging to me and YAY I want to tidy up our nest soo much more after watching her videos!!!

Here's a recent video going over 5 Habits for Maintaining a Clean and Organized Home.  In the notes, she provides links to other videos with more homemaking help!! 



Happy homemaking, y'all!!!

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Home...




"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him."

Lady Lydia, Home Living (Ladies at Home)

Sunday, February 28, 2016

100 Questions....

I was visiting Mrs. Pepper at Pepper in my Pie and she had this list of fun questions and answers!!  Here's my go at them....

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed? Open.  Our closet is in our bathroom, so it doesn't really matter. 

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels? Mr. U does.  tee hee

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out? Tucked in at the foot of the bed, hospital corners, but untucked on the sides. 

4. Have you stolen a street sign before? No!! How awful!

5. Do you like to use post-it notes? YES!!!!!!!! 

6. Do you cut out coupons but then never use them? Used to.  Now I shop at Aldi and don't worry about coupons

7. Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of bees? Bees!!!  I've never been stung by one, so I am assuming they simply don't like me.  YAY!

8. Do you have freckles? Yes.  Especially once I get out in the sun. 

9. Do you always smile for pictures? Of course!  How could I not!?!?!

10. What is your biggest pet peeve? One???  Oh dear.  I'd have to double check with Mr U to be sure, but I'm thinking it'd have to be using poor grammar and/or bad spelling.  (I even had to correct some things on this quiz!!!!!!!)

11. Do you ever count your steps when you walk? Only when I go up and down our stairs.  I hate that I do it. I get on my own nerves! HA!  (17 stairs if you are curious!!!)

12. Have you gone #1 in the woods?  NO!!!!!

13. Have you ever gone #2 in the woods? No!!! I do not camp and am NOT an outdoorsy girl at all.  

14. Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing? Yes!  Mr U says I have my own personal band that follows me around that only I can hear. LOL!!  I have music in my head all the time.

15. Do you chew your pens and pencils? No.  So nasty.  You have NO idea who touched it before you!! GERMS!!!!

16. How many hours did you sleep last night? Six and a half.

17. What size is your bed? King

18. What is your song of the week? Don't have one.

19. Is it OK for guys to wear pink? Of course!!  My dad and my husband both look fabulous in pink!!!

20. Do you still watch cartoons? With my children, yes.

21. What is your least favorite movie? Least favorite?  There's a zillion that I haven't seen. Can't pick one.

22. Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some? Bury? I'd put it in savings!!

23. What do you drink with dinner? Water.

24. What do you dip a chicken nugget in? Nothing.

25. What is your favorite food? Mexican!!! Especially SALSA!!!!!

26. What movies could you watch over and over again and still love? Any Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell movie.

27. Last person you kissed/kissed you? Mr U

28. Were you ever a boy/girl scout? Brownie and then Girl Scout.  

29. removed this question.... unnecessary..

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper? I cannot remember!!!  I need to work on this!!!  Thank you for the reminder!!!

31. Can you change the oil on a car? No.

32. Ever gotten a speeding ticket? Yes.  3.  :(

33. Ever run out of gas? No.

34. What’s your favorite kind of sandwich? Subway ham and swiss with everything and extra oil and vinegar.

35. Best thing to eat for breakfast? Smoothies!  (Currently Snickers Protein Smoothie!!!)

36. What is your usual bedtime? 11:00

37. Are you lazy? Sometimes

38. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween? Different things.

39. What is your Chinese astrological sign? I have no idea.

40. How many languages can you speak? One. English.  Specially SOUTHERN English, y'all.  :)

41. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? Taste of Home. 

42. Which are better: legos or lincoln logs? Legos

43. Are you stubborn? Yes.

44. Who is better: Leno or Letterman? I do not watch them.

45. Ever watch soap operas? Used to in high school and college.  Do they still come on?

46. Are you afraid of heights? Yes!  

47. Do you sing in the car? Of course!!!!

48. Do you sing in the shower? I hum.  

49. Do you dance in the car? LOL!!  YES!!!!! 

50. Ever used a gun? I've only ever shot a BB gun.

51. Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer? Does my wedding count??

52. Do you think musicals are cheesy? Love musicals!!!  (Well not all of them)

53. Is Christmas stressful? Yes but probably becasue I procrastinate.

54. Ever eat a pierogi? Yes. YUM!!!

55. Favorite type of fruit pie? Peach!!!

56. Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid? Wife, mother, teacher.

57. Do you believe in ghosts? No.  

58. Ever have a Deja-vu feeling? No.

59. Do you take a vitamin daily? Yes.

60. Do you wear slippers? Yes.

61. Do you wear a bath robe? Yes.

62. removed...nobody's business...

63. What was your first concert? Gaither Trio with my family growing up.

64. Walmart, Target, or Kmart? Target.

65. Nike or Adidas? Neither.

66. Cheetos or Fritos? Cheetos

67. Peanuts or Sunflower seeds? Peanuts.

68. Ever hear of the group Tres Bien? No.  

69. Ever take dance lessons? Yes. Ballet and Jazz.

70. Is there a profession you picture your spouse doing? Both of us?  No.

71. Can you curl your tongue? Yes.

72. Ever won a spelling bee? No.

73. Have you ever cried because you were so happy? Yes.

74. Own any record albums? No.

75. Own a record player? No.

76. Do you regularly burn incense? No.

77. Ever been in love? YES!!!  With Mr U!!!!!!!

78. Who would you like to see in concert? I'm soooooo over concerts.

79. What was the last concert you saw? The Gettys.

80. Hot tea or cold tea? BOTH!!!!

81. Tea or coffee? BOTH!!  In copious amounts!!! 

82. Sugar cookies or snickerdoodles? BOTH!!!!  In copious amounts!!! :)

83. Can you swim well? Pretty good.  

84. Can you hold your breath without holding your nose? Yes.

85. Are you patient? Yes, and no.

86. DJ or band at a wedding? Neither.  Typical Southern church weddings have receptions at the church with no band or DJ.

87. Ever won a contest? Cooking contest for a Christmas Cookie.

88. Have you ever had plastic surgery? No.

89. Which are better: black or green olives?  Neither!!!

90. Can you knit or crochet? Crochet. 

91. Best room for a fireplace? Ours is in our family room.

92. Do you want to get married? I AM married. :)

93. If married, how long have you been married? 17 years.

94. Who was your high school crush? Doesn't matter- Mr U is waaaaaaay better!!

95. Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way? No.

96. Do you have children? Yes.

97. Do you want children? I want my children, yes, and I would happily accept more if the Lord chose to bless us with more.  

98. What is your favorite color? I've always had a hard time with this question!!  I love pink.  And I love blues and whites together.  But, ugh, to pick ONE?  I can't. 

99. Do you miss anyone right now? No.

100. Who are you going to ask to answer these questions next? Whoever would like to answer, let me know!!  These were kind of fun!!!!

Tuesday, December 01, 2015






I LOVE caring for my family and our home.  I LOVE being a wife and a mother.  I am living out the dream I had all my growing up years!!!  I never dreamed of a career- I dreamed of being a homemaker!!!!


Sunday, October 18, 2015

Light Has Come... a new Christmas CD...



Christmas will be here before we know it!!  And one of our family's absolute favorite artists has a new Christmas album out!!  John Albert Thomas is a gifted musician for sure!!

Merry Christmas, y'all!!!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Watch me....

 Watch Me....




How we SHOULD be walking and living as Christians.

Who is watching YOU?  And what kind of example of Christ are you setting?


Sunday, September 27, 2015

Does your family find peace at home?







“I believe that a godly home is a foretaste of heaven. Our homes, imperfect as they are, must be a haven from the chaos outside. They should be a reflection of our eternal home, where troubled souls find peace, weary hearts find rest, hungry bodies find refreshment, lonely pilgrims find communion, and wounded spirits find compassion.”
Jani Ortlund

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