Sweet Shot: the flowerpot

It's hard to believe that little pot and single part of a six pack of flowers could last this long.

It has been sitting on my windowsill for over 2 YEARS.

Christian gave it to me on our last Mother's Day together.

A big thank you to their teachers for doing this little project in Sunday School. Only God knew how much of a treasure it would be to me!

Kind of like a lot of things in life. You don't really know the lasting impact or how much that little thing you did way back when would matter over time.

Linking up my Sweet Shot at Darcy's today.

i have no creative ideas-- help!

I need some help from all of you creative people out there-- and even those that aren't so creative.

One of our family traditions is to celebrate birthdays and special occasions at Chuck E. Cheese. I love how all the rides and games are only one token, how I can always get coupons from the Sunday paper, and how arriving at 9am guarantees a peaceful and empty establishment for at least an hour or two.

I realize that I also love the little sketch machine that they have.

Maybe we love it a little too much?

My dilemma is this: What to do with all of these pictures?

I am thankful that all the pics have the date written in the corner and are printed on regular paper (rather than the paper that is heat sensitive). Just the ones pictured total 20. I am pretty sure I have some more stashed around here somewhere. I would like to do more than just throw them in an album.

Any suggestions on how to display these without looking tacky or taking up an entire wall?

Does your family have a special celebration place or tradition?

(PS Please please link your email addy to your blogger account so I can reply directly to your comment via email. I love having a conversation with my friends!)

i have nothing to say

It seems I've hit a writing slump. I have things that I want to say or write about, but often they are random, disjointed and not worth mentioning when I finally get around to being on the computer at midnight.

So here I am just writing this down when I have no clue what else I'm going to say. You know it's bad when I don't even post a picture for Sweet Shot Tuesday!

I signed my boys up for Classical Conversations this week. They will be taking the Essentials class. Any of y'all doing CC this year?

We celebrated Noah's 9th birthday today. I was too busy having fun to take pictures or write out my thoughts on the day he was born. In honor of his birthday, I had a piece of Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Cake-- mint chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate cake. I sacrificed my low-carb diet for my son. It's a mother's love, y'all.

Tomorrow is my sister Coco's birthday. I have a few pictures I want to post, but when I realize that she has worse pictures of me, I dare not take the first step in a picture war that I am bound to lose. No one else would think the pictures are particularly bad or ugly, but we would. Why are we always our own worst critics? And when we goof around, why do we worry about other people thinking we're stupid?

Okay, that's it from me.

What's going on with y'all? Anything interesting or, better yet, WEIRD?

(I can't believe I'm going to publish this without a picture. Makes me wonder if I'm getting sick.)

my boys are back in town

The boys are back in town! I sure did miss them while they were at Southland Christian Camp all week.

(Ack. Now I have this song stuck in my head. I'm sorry for forcing the thought of it on you.)

(Noah's "ugly face")

I was a bit apprehensive when they left on Monday to drive to Louisiana. The thought of all those news stories of this youth group or that sports team getting into an accident on their way to some camp or tournament started creeping into my head. Since I am determined to not live in fear, I did the only thing I could do-- pray!

With phone calls not being allowed at camp, I figured no news was good news. Wednesday night I found out that they had a blowout on the way to camp. Praise the Lord that my friend was able to keep the van on the road, get off the highway and even limp along to a service station!

I will admit that when I first heard those words, a panic started rising up in my chest and I began to cry. Yup, I pretty much freaked out inside. We already know that nobody that is ever born is immune to death. And we know that tragedy can strike any family-- and even more than once. We're all in the process of dying right now.

We do not have to be fearful, we just have to be ready.

Because it doesn't stop there, y'know.

Death is not dying, it is just the beginning.

It is very good to have Austin and Noah back home. At their age, it is rather easy-going at our house on a regular basis. Read: Date night (or week) is not a big deal or as necessary as it was when they were tots. David and I really missed them.

We couldn't help but think what this week would've been like with just Christian around. He would've been soaking up all the one-on-one attention! And we would've thoroughly enjoyed lavishing it on him.

I can't wait for our whole family to be reunited again one day.

Then it will really be home sweet HOME!

Will your home be sweet one day? It is only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ that we can be assured of our home in Heaven. Make sure you know where your home will be. And be sure to share the roadmap with those you love (and even those that aren't your favorites).

On the Grill: Teriyaki Chicken

This is a new favorite grilling recipe for me. I love anything that you can marinate* and throw on the grill. It just makes cooking easier when you have almost zero prep during the dinner rush hour. Just cook some rice and throw the chicken on the grill. Easy-peasy!

TERIYAKI CHICKEN (aka chicken teriyaki, terribly clever, huh?)

3-4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 c. soy sauce
2 1/2 c. water
1 c. brown sugar
1 T. chopped garlic
2 T. worchesteshire sauce
1/2 c. pineapple juice (or 8oz can whatever pineapple w/juice you have on hand)

1. Whisk marinade ingredients, making sure brown sugar is fully dissolved.
2. Add chicken to marinade.
3. Marinate* at least overnight. I prefer 24 hours for more infused flavor.
4. Set grill to medium heat and cook until internal temperature reaches 165F. (Okay, I just cook it until it looks done with no pink inside. Does it sound more pro to have the temp warning?)

*Marinade is a noun. Marinate is a verb. I never gave it much thought until I was writing this recipe down. You can read more about the distinction here if you are so inclined. (You can still learn in the summer! I know, I'm such a dork.)

I'm linking this up with Robyn at Our Homeschool Home.

i just realized this today

When Austin and Noah went to Camp Agape last year, they each returned home with a handmade blanket of their very own. They have had these blankets for a year now.

I remember thinking "Oh, cute how Noah has a construction quilt. And Austin with those frogs that look funny like him." :)

It wasn't until today that I noticed something that is probably very obvious to everyone else.

One has fwogs and the other has Dozers (my blog nickname for Christian).

The boys didn't even pick them out, y'all. They were "randomly" handed to them. (I don't believe in random, do you?)

I can't help but believe that God revealed that (obvious) detail to me TODAY for a reason.

Because He loves me like that.

Sweet Shot: His Hand in the Sky

I have often seen God's hand in my life.

On this day, I saw His Hand moving across the sky.

And it took my breath away.

They were like spotlights running across the land.

I stand amazed in the presence...

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him,

upon them that hope in his mercy;

-Psalm 33:18

I'm also linking up with Jennifer here:

I Heart Faces: Pets

Hello, Snowball.

Yup, Snowball in June. Some of her favorite hobbies are squirrel hunting, barking at turtles, chasing tennis balls without returning them, and wrestling with Hank, our Redbone Coon Hound.

Isn't she beautiful?

To see more pets or join in the fun, run on over to i heart faces.

Woot woot! I made #8 with this one! That's two extra treats for you, Snowball!

I am such a follower

I got this from Melissa, who got it from Meredith... no, not the flowers... keep scrolling down.

What color are your socks right now? It's summer and way too hot for socks. Ick.

What are you listening to right now? Revlon commercial on TV.

What was the last thing you ate? PB&J on white bread, store bought. Jelly not jam so no nutritional value.

Can you drive a stick? No. I prefer cars. (I know, groooan right?) Can't drink coffee and drive at the same time if I did.

Last person you spoke to on the phone? My sister Coco.

How old are you today? 35 years, 2 months

What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Women's Figure Skating Long Program at the Olympics

What is your favorite drink? Do you even have to ask? Starts with a C and rhymes with toffee.

Have you ever dyed your hair? No, but the white hairs are growing like weeds. It won't be much longer now. I know that lighter hair is supposed to make you look younger, but I am very tempted to go darker. Do you think it would just make me look mean?

Favorite food? Korean food. Second place would be anything that someone else cooks.

What is the last movie you watched? The Young Victoria

Favorite day of the year? I don't have one.

How do you vent anger? Depends on the severity. Medium anger means yelling. Extreme anger can lead to crying. I have to go for a walk or make myself go to my room to cool down. I have thoughts of smashing things but the thought of also having to clean it up keeps me in check.

What was your favorite toy as a child? My bicycle with the back seat that I got when I was 5. I remember hauling my little sister Lele around in it. Too bad I left it in the driveway where it got run over by the neighbor's car (we lived in a duplex).

Favorite Season? Spring and Fall although anything that isn't summer is ideal.

Cherries or Blueberries? Ranier cherries and blueberries from Moorehead's Farm.

Living situation? Yes, I am alive.

When was the last time you cried? Today. I was going through all the boys' books and sat there remembering those sweet moments of reading with each of my kids. They all loved train books the most! I miss reading to Christian. I bet he would be able to read to me by now.

What is on the floor of your closet right now? shoes, clothes that don't fit, and a small laundry basket.

What are you most afraid of? bugs with exoskeletons that fly erratically.

Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? pepper jack and cheddar cheese.

Favorite dog breed? English Springer Spaniel, although I have always wanted a Siberian Husky. Too bad Houston would be torture for a dog like that.

Favorite day of the week? Monday.

How many states have you lived in? 4. Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Georgia.

Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.

What is your favorite flower? Peonies with Hydrangea (blue) coming in a close second.

Did you get an H1N1 vaccine? No.

Let me know if you play along. I considered adding a few questions of my own but *yawn* I just can't think of anything. Feel free to add your own and mix things up a bit!

loving my new coffee

My friends Zephyr and Nathan just started a new business-- Cane Creek Coffee.

Yes, COFFEE. Yummy coffee grown in the mountains of Western Honduras and freshly roasted in Tennessee. Coffee and Tennessee are two of my favorite things. Does it get any better than that?

Oh wait, it does. Did I mention that my friends have a coffee business? Great coffee and friends really do go together. Especially if said friends can supply my addiction help make my mornings bright and perky. :)

Since I prefer a dark, bold coffee, I tried their French Roast, Chocolate Almond and Cinnamon Hazelnut coffees.

But not all in the same morning... boy, would I have been bouncing off the walls if that were the case!

It was a tough decision but I would say that the Cinnamon Hazelnut was my favorite. Mmmmmm...

If you want to try something new and delicious, visit my friends at Cane Creek Coffee and order a free sample!

Do you have a favorite coffee?

(or are you a tea drinker? i don't want my proper friends to feel left out. do you have a favorite tea?)

I'm linking up with TidyMom today. Hop on over there to see what other peeps are lovin'!