Of a more serious matter...

For those of you who do not know, my mom in law is pretty awesome.
She has a BURDEN... B.U.R.D.E.N for Uganda.
She has been there, I believe twice before, and she is going back again this summer.
In the past she has been gone for a week to 10 days, but this time she is going for a month.... 30 days, 4 weeks.
Can you imagine her being gone from Asher for that much time?....
It's because she has a great heart for missions!!!!

In the past she has requested different baby supplies; clothes, toys, blamkets, etc...
This time she is caring for the mothers.
Watoto Children's and Babies Home is quite a reflection of Jesus.
If you want to read more about them here's there website:
http://www.watoto.com/

Here they support women and children stricken with being orphaned as well as, AIDS, murder, kidnapping, and any other horrible thing you can imagine happening to a family.
Needless to say, women there are superheros.
You would think with such support they would have all their daily, or "monthly", I should say, needs met.
But they don't.
When Ugandan women are menstruating they are often absent and secluded because of lack of supplies to keep themselves clean.
They stay home and do not go to work or school. And if you think about it, some of these younger girls and women are staying home for a week each month! Thats a lot of school to miss.


We have so many resources here in the United States. We take things like this for serious granted.
So here's the game plan.....Ok?
There are several ladies who are actually making cotton, washable, "feminine garments". ( in case any men are reading this):)
And if you think about this route it makes perfect sense! They need something that will last a long time, is environmentally friendly, and comfortable.
So here's where you come in....
You can either
A. Make some of these using this pattern:
http://www.tinybirdsorganics.com/organiccotton/clothpads.html
B. Donate leftover flannel or cotton fabric for others to make them.

C. Donate money to help make and/or ship them to the women that need them.

You can message me or leave a comment if you want to help and what it is that you would like to do...
I, though the sewing troll that I am, am attempting to sew some.
This pattern seems incredibly easy and it's only a small gesture to show these superheros that I care about them. I like knowing that I made it with love and, though it may look a little awkward to my neighbors praying over a maxi-pad, I know that it is going to bless their lives.

^{James 1:27} Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 
Emily

Cleaning out the camera

I am not a photographer.
I want to be better, but that costs moo-lah.....
I take pictures either all the time or not at all.
Does that makes sense?
I guess what I'm saying is when I remember to pull out my camera I go crazy.
Here's just a little bit about what we have been doing at the homestead lately.....

1. The Mill.... she's now 5 months and FINALLY not biting and chewing as much.
2.Buddies. They were just hanging out in the warm sun, playing cars.
3. Asher got a camera from Gma Shelia for Christmas and he LOVES it. He is actually good.
4. Yummiest pancakes I ever ate and made. Recipe here: http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2008/12/milk-chocolate-chip-buttermilk-pancakes/     I will never have Bisquick again!
5.Asher is getting good at riding his Trike... he has great balance and can steer that thing like a racer.
6. He is learning persistence. He was fussing at me because he couldn't get the car off the porch, but I just told him to keep trying.
7. What a sight for a mama to see... only the best thing ever about being a mama to a little baseball fan!
6. Pretending to be at the "office"... he gets in his car with his briefcase ( also known as Rescue Pack) and his lunchpail (Spiderman toolbox) gives me a kiss and then he says he's off to work. This day I made him an office. We'll never go back to pretending.
8. Daddy made him a tent to play under with flashlights and cars... inside fort-making is the BEST! Until we started talking about really going camping and he wanted to do that even more!
9 and 10. Our favorite spot on the swingset.... he loves to slide. He flies down with record speed and I clap when he lands on both feet and laugh when he lands on his bottom!

I'm a pretty blessed gal!
Emily

Truly I did not Tuesday

Ok it's Tuesday again and so here goes my non-confession confession....


Truly I did not watch ANOTHER episode of Real Housewives of Orange County.... what the heck is wrong with me?

Truly I did not clean and cook all day yesterday... this one I am sad about since my baby played by himself all day.:(

Truly I did not clean the office toilet again before I used it.... I mean come on, I'm the only woman in the office, wouldn't you?

Truly I did not spend too much time on Pinterest..... I have an addiction. I feel it's almost like shopping only not spending the money... it gets me inspired whether I act on it or not.

Truly I did not want to dive in and learn Spanish again.. ( I took it in HS) after hearing awesome-ness from a missionary about his life in Mexico.

Truly I did not want to sleep with my Asher again last night when I went in to check on him and he says,        " Mom, take off your glasses, I want to see your face". Awww... melt~~~~~~

Truly I did not get a little bit jealous when I saw my sis in law's new 3r'd band of diamonds for her 5th anniversary... being painfully honest...it's gorgeous.

Truly I did not get completely BUMMED when I found that the Cardinal's game was canceled that I worked so hard to get tickets too. I like baseball.

Truly I did not daydream about having a little girl and thinking about how bankrupt we would be if we did. I really need to get my sewing-butt in gear if that should ever come true. I heart ruffles.....

Truly I did not flush, not 1, but 2 fish in the last 2 days..... agh.... fish tanks..... we are learning.

Truly I did not forget to put on deodorant today... whoops! I was too worried about putting Asher's car seat in correctly for my Mom's car.... Ah well.. have I mentioned I'm the only woman in the office...

There you have it.... lots of things I didn't do this week. Aren't you proud?
Emily

My must have's for Spring

I love Spring...
I have always loved Spring.
Everything is fresh... air, flowers, smells, fashion.
Whites and pretty bold colors are invigorating!
So here's my "must have" list for me coming into this season of renewal:

#1 and this is NOT limited to spring but to every season...
EOS lemon drop scented lip balm.... I got it at Walgreens but I have seen it at Walmart too. I am in love with lemons... everything about them! The scent doesn't last as long, but it's only $3, I can live with that!

#2 This tablecloth that I'm getting from my Mom, I am planning on setting a bowl of lemons on it! It just looks like Spring! It will brighten up my kitchen so much. (If it can stay clean on Asher's side)

#3 My mom and I had a lot of fun going flea marketing the other day and I saw some jars like this and FELL IN LOVE! I can see my spaghetti, or rice, or a fresh bouquet of flowers in them. I love the lids and the tealish color! Little did I know my Mom had some that were my Grandmother's EVEN BETTER!

#4 I have given up soda pop indefinitely... and truly I didn't really drink THAT much to begin with but it makes me sick, so being the southerner I am... I have something to satisfy my taste buds in place of it:
Sweet Leaf Teas. I have had the Lemonade Tea, and I think it's the best tea I have ever HAD! Of course, it doesn't help that I am obsessed with all things lemon, but it's the right amount of lemon /sugar/ tea to still be refreshing!! I love that it is organic and made with real things. I even let Asher drink it:) (A little bit)
I get mine at Price Cutter in the organic aisle.

#5 Victoria's Secret Chiffon Body Mist. It smells just like fresh cut lilies and lilacs! It is SOO springy and sweet. I have had numerous comments on how good I smell. Much less it only cost me $6, though I bought it after Christmas Sale... next year I will buy a whole lot more! Guess what everyone will be getting for their birthday?

#6 Swiffer Dusters. I don't know if you have discovered Swiffers, but they are an absolute MUST! I bought them a while back and then went for a time just dusting with a cloth diaper and oil. I gotta say, I LOVE the convenience of them and they really do a much better job than my cloth and spray. Much less I feel better not spraying cleaning products in the air for us to breathe. Yes, they don't leave a good smell like my orange pledge, but it's worth the trade. Also, I can get my son to help me! They are a bit expensive but I use mine more than once and I look for coupons. You can usually find some every 3 weeks.

#7  Mrs.Meyers Cleaning Concentrate. Oh... I just ADORE this stuff... so much so that just about every time I go to Walmart I have to smell the scents I don't have. I was turned onto this by a friend of mine. I went to their house and it smelled so clean and a bit like baby wash. I asked her what it was and she showed me this! I bought some the very next week. I threw out every cleaning product I own other than toilet bowl and glas cleaner and I'm hooked. I bough the Basil scent like she had, but they also have Lemon :)) and Lavender and they both smell DIVINE!!!! It is a little more expensive to buy at first, but considering how much you use each time it will wind up being MUCH less than you spend on regular products. It's ALSO all natural which I LOVE!

# 8 Shabby Apple Boutique. While it is out of my price range for most days, I will definitely be saving up some fun money to buy a dress or 2.... I LOVE the South Pacific Line and LOVE this blue Sacred Falls dress!And of course for my lemon theme I love this Soliel dress, that so happens to be on sale!

#9 Tweet Baby Designs. I saw this website from another blog that I stalk; http://raechelmyers.blogspot.com/.  I want to figure out how to make the chomping bracelets and necklaces. So unique, practical, and gorgeous! Watermelon,Creamsicle, and Lemongrass.

(http://www.etsy.com/shop/tweetbabydesigns?ref=pr_shop_more)



#10 Stella Bella Boutique.(http://www.etsy.com/shop/stellabellaboutique) Awesome, feminine jewelry and fairly reasonable prices! I love it ALL, but here's some of my favorites:

Alright folks that's my list. Thanks for letting me girl out on you today!



  Emily

Truly, I did not Tuesday

OK so I am taking a post idea and adapting it to my own for this week.
You recap your week or days in truly not me's....... to confess our laziness or fallibleness in a silly way.
Here goes:
  
Truly I did not pray to God to allow me to get through and get Springfield Cardinal Tickets--- but hey, I got some:)
Truly I did not let Asher roll in the dirty garage all afternoon and laugh when he was covered with dirt from head to toe.
Truly I did not allow Asher to stand on the couch arm and jump onto the cushions..:)
Truly I did not eat out every single meal over the weekend.... tea room, chili's, Quiznos.....
Truly I did not sleep with Asher in his twin size bed because my husband was snoring too loud.
Truly I did not think about working out, but instead ate 4 oreo cookies dipped in milk.
Truly I did not watch 2 episodes of Real Housewives of Orange County...
Truly I did not mourn over Asher's hair when he got a haircut and cry, only to go get him out of his bed at 2 am to sleep with his Mommy because she missed her baby.

This was fun... truly. 

Can I just say.... I am ready for spring!

Sunshine

Shorts

Playing outside

Flowers

But I think that the one best thing about Spring is....

GARAGE SALES!!!!!!!

Something about having $10 in your pocket and feeling like you could bring home the world!
Rich and I have started something for Lent..( well not really for lent --just to purge ourselves for the betterment of ourselves)
We are not going to spend anything on wants.. no toys (except for birthday and Easter basket), no clothes, no shoes, no entertainment.
We are wanting to try to simplify things and save some money along the way.
All the more reason to shop at Garage Sales!!!!
I work on Fridays but planning to wake up early on Saturdays and head out. By myself, with my Mom, my sister... who ever wants to go!

I love the thrill of the hunt!

Randomness and no eye makeup

What is it about me that has all the aspirations in the world and not a bit of motivation to start any one of them?
I feel like I can give a great idea hours and hours of thinking about it, but to sit down and do it...... I fail.
I have realized that my wants are greatly getting in the way of my do's.
It's almost like you have so much to accomplish, that you don't even want to start?
This is a time of year that a lot of Christians take part in Lent. A time to fast from things that give us worldly pleasure in order to grow our relationship with our Lord.
Here's where I am at.
I am convicted for the fact that I am greatly and richly blessed... if anything at all for the fact that I have the most wonderful family.
Yet here I am, day after day, wishing I had more.
I wish I had a bigger house for our soon to be growing family. ( in the next year or so)
I wish that we did not have to worry about money... and truly, we really shouldn't have to. God has given us plenty for our needs. We just want to indulge ourselves in things that really don't matter.
These are just a few of the things that seem to plague me each day.
I think that it's time to buckle down and really get down to the things that DO matter.
I am tired of having this gigantic monkey on my shoulder. It does nothing but bring a person down.
What is it that will make me sacrifice the most as well as bring my mind and heart to the focus that it needs is still being decided...
Mainly I just want to simplify my life.
I'm curious..... if you have ever taken Lent, what did you / planning to give up?