I'm Thankful 2012: Day 6

Today (Tuesday) I am thankful for the right to vote for the President of the United States today. This is a right that our forefathers and the fathers of our children today are fighting for half a world away.  The right to choose our leaders and our laws through the power of the vote. Thank you for allowing me to feel a strong civic pride by and giving me a voice in my government. Thank You for fighting for our right to vote!

Have a great day and God Bless!

I'm Thankful 2012: Day 4

Today (Sunday) I am thankful for the freedom to worship my God.  I live in a wonderful Country where without persecution I can publicly worship my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I have been blessed beyond measure, and through nothing I have or could ever do had my sins washed away and been filled with the precious Holy Ghost.  I do not have to hide that I devote my life to Christ nor is there any law preventing me from sharing that news with anyone and everyone I come into contact with. I am truly thankful for this freedom. 

I dont know where you may be as you read this, I do know that I have followers from across the globe, but wherever you are I hope you are at liberty to practice your religion as you see fit and as often as you choose.  

Have a great day and God Bless!

I'm Thankful 2012: Day 2

Today I am thankful for the wonderful family I married into. For my Mother and Father In-Law, my Sister and Brother In-Law, My Grandparents In-Law, Aunt and Uncle In-Laws, and Cousins In-Law.  I can NOT begin to tell you how wonderful and supportive they are each and every day.
From Nanny and Pawpaw who refused to allow me to put me now seven year old daughter into what they called "the nursing home"  (daycare) when I had to go back to work after Maternity Leave.  Seven years later and that still means so much to me that they committed then and there to love, protect, and care for my baby while I went to work no matter how long that may be.  Turned out I only worked 6 more months before God stepped in and made a way for me to stay home with my baby, but they didn't know that when they came to me expressing their desire. They still love to keep my children for a day, and occasionally overnight.
Then there's MawMaw the Matriarch or the Rogers family who will suddenly appear on my doorstep wanting to know if she can help me out in any way. She comes in like a whirlwind folding the pile of clean laundry, hanging what needs hanging, and putting it away.  If I'm not watching she will sneak doing dishes and sweeping and mopping by me too.  Making it look as if little elves have been hard at work in my home, and one has: a tenderhearted kind lady who loves to help out a busy working mother of three, making my life so much easier.
Next is the Aunts and Uncle In-Laws, and they are all a fun and crazy lot.  One set in particular is more than just an Aunt and Uncle  In-Law they are friends, and great help.  At least once a week Nena has my girls or son to stay the night or they just take them out to dinner.  My kids love to spend time with them.
Next is my cousins In-Law who I love to get together with just to have fun.  One in particular has become more than just family, she is a best friend, and more like a little sister.  There are times she stops by and I know its going to be an all night gab fest just because we can talk anything to death, and part wishing we had more time.
Then there is my Sister and Brother In-Law and their sweet baby boy. What can I say other than I really don't have to add the "In-Law" tag to them DeAnna is truly a sister and Josh a brother. There is an ease of friendship and love between us that is deeper than just a bond forged by marriage.  We worry about, help out, care for, and love each other day in and day out.  We can completely be ourselves around each other, and know that there will be no judgments passed just acceptance. I would trust them with my children any day hands down, and know they would love them and care for them like I do, no doubts ever, and I'm pretty sure they would say the same about us for their son.
Finally there is my Mother and Father In-Law who also really don't need the "In-Law" tag.  We are family through and through. They have been there for Kenneth and I from day one. They have worried, prayed, and supported us through our many life and ministry decisions always standing by our side whether they completely agreed with us or not.  They are AMAZING!  If either of them sees a need we have, before we know it, they are working to provide it, or helping us acquire it.  I can honestly say I do not have to buy my children clothes because my Mother In-Law loves to shop.  Before I can even get to the store to get school clothes she comes in the door loaded down from all the sales she has hit.  It is an amazing blessing that I probably don't thank her enough for.  There is not a holiday or birthday of mine that can go by that they don't acknowledge, and want to celebrate with me, and I know that is not the norm.  I take them for granted far too often, but I am truly thankful for their love support, and for accepting me into their family as if I had always been a part.
So to say that I am blessed and thankful is an understatement.  I have cried through typing this, because it is a matter of the heart, theirs and mine!  That we are able to get along so well and love each other so deeply is a rarity.  I truly thankful for and blessed in my extended family by marriage, and I wish this blessing up every married family.

I would love to hear about your relationship and the blessings you have found in your In-Laws so leave me a comment!

Have a great Day and God Bless!!

I'm Thankful 2012: Day 1

November 1st is the beginning of a new holiday season and a new month. This month I am going to blog everyday until Thanksgiving about something I am thankful for. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I will enjoy the journey of thankfulness.

As I stated before today is the first day of many things, but most importantly it is the first day of the 10th year of marriage with my adorable hubby.  We celebrated nine wonderful years together today.  So I am thankful for those nine years and what they have meant to me.  The security of knowing that there is someone walking side by side with me through this life.  Someone who shares my hopes, dreams, and goals in life.  Someone who makes me smile by walking into a room, giving me a sweet kiss, or with a simple quirky comment.  He knows me in all my silliness, craziness, and faults and still loves me, and knowing all his, I love him still.  It is a wonderful marriage that is blessed by God.  Notice, I never said it was perfect.  That's because God allows us to continually grow as individuals and as a union of one.  I am grateful for every day of life that I have to share in this marriage. 

If you would like to join me in this challenge I have posed myself, please feel free to. I don't have a button, or any large number of bloggers that are doing this with me as a group. Its just something I would like to do to remind myself each and every day how truly blessed I am, and would love it if you did to.  Please leave me a comment if you do join me in this challenge.  I would love to hear from you, and follow your thankful journey as well!!

Have a great day and God Bless!

Words of Fall

So in the spirit of decorating for fall I had to make my own fall subway  printable.  It has been framed in my living room for a couple of weeks.  As I lay on my couch last night admiring my touches of fall I thought to myself "Why am I keeping my fall words to myself? I should share!"  So this post is just for that purpose.  If you want it...Take it!!!  right click and "save as" to wherever you like on your computer.  Then go print it.  I saved this in a 4x6 size since the .25 frame I got from the salvation army was a 4x6 (score!! and since I forgot to take a picture of it today I will have to post it later...sorry!).  So, moving on, here is the printable.  I did it in greens (the frame is an awesome green color!) chocolate browns, oranges, and turquoises. LOVE these colors for fall!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and that you will forgive me for not having a picture of it.
Have a great day & God Bless!

Its Fall Ya'll

In case you don't live in North America I need to let you know...its FALL!  The leaves are brown, yellow, red, and orange, and that's just in my back yard!  I love the crispness of the cool wind, and the sound of the leaves blowing across my paved driveway.  I love the crunch they make underfoot, and how my kids love to pick out especially beautiful ones for us to examine a little closer.  I love boots, sweater, and hot cocoa, as well as all the soups that this time of year encourages making. Its just wonderful.  In case you havent figured it out yet...I LOVE FALL.
To capture just a little of that outdoor crisp feeling I decided to bring a little bit of nature indoors.  But, how could I possible display it so that the sentiment could be fully imparted?  Enter my on the cheap DIY Hurricane Globes/Apothecary Jars:

These are super cheap and SUPER simple to make.  I labeled them Apothecary/Hurricane simply because they are the Apothecary Jar style that is very popular right now, but I haven't made the lids to go on them yet since I wanted my fillers to be able to stick out of the top.  The Hurricane part comes in because they are straight up and down type containers with no curves and as mentioned have no lids.  So its my own hybrid version.  

First you start with these supplies that I picked up at the local Dollar Tree store for a grand total of $6:

I picked up two martini glasses, two tall glass vases, one short glass pillar candle holder (so similar to the vase which was totally awesome) and the more fanciful of all the holders the taper candle holder.

I spray painted the two martini glasses and the taper candle holder a flat black (I decided against the shine for this project) 

Next I applied glue to the top of my bases and set the jars on them. I like this glue for long lasting hold on a variety of surfaces, but it does take a while to dry with a good seal.  So don't rush this one.  It is worth the wait!

Here is what you have once the glue dries firm:

I liked them as they were, but I like to add flair with little detailed touches.  So I added the ribbon and the chalkboard vinyl cutout labels.  I also added my "fall". Which were the pine cones gathered from my yard and acorn gathered from my Aunts yard by my children.  Here is the finished product from a different angle: 

Every time I look at them I am reminded of the crispness of Fall.  I love them and the are a great compliment to my faux mantle.  

I hope you are having a wonderful fall or whatever season it is where you are.  Embrace it and bring it into your home with you (unless it is just the rainy season and in that case curl up with a good book and a hot cup of tea).

Let me know what you would do differently or if you have made something like this on the thrifty.  I love saving my pennies!

Hope you have a great day & God Bless!!

Its a fun Pumpkin Wreath

I have just finished up a project that turned out way more sophisticated than I expected... Have you ever had that happen?  I was going for a cutesy vibe, and when I was done it was more of a Chic vibe.  All I know is I LOVE it!
I love fall and I love pumpkins in the fall!  On Pinterest I have seen this little dryer vent coil thingie pumpkin that are just sooo cute!

You can click here to learn more from the orriginal creator at a wonderful blog called a diamond in the stuff.

I liked the way the lines made it seem pumpkiny with a twist on the traditional, but I like to be unique and I had not seen a wreath done like this.  Since I am in need of one for my kitchen door I thought this could be just the thing to spruce it up.  So the first thing I did was to head down to my local hardware store to pick up some of this dryer vent and some orange spray paint. I was out a total of 8 bucks. Since I only used half of my dryer vent, and half of the pray paint I am calling this a $4 craft.
Anywho my first snag was in the dryer vent section where this type of vent was NOWHERE!  only a hard metallic type of vent could be found.  I mean like weapons grade "I'm gonna cut ya" metal/aluminum can type ends. So that's what I brought home along with the afore mentioned orange spray paint.

 Anyway, after being sliced a few times while extending it out and finally getting the ends duct taped together, I commenced to priming it and then spray painting it with my lovely pumpkin orange paint.

With that task completed I went scavenger hunting in my yard, and came up with this awesome specimen for a pumpkin stem!

I attached it to the wreath with hot glue (I tried E6000 which is usually the best long lasting permanent glue but it just wouldn't adhere well to this rough stick).  Then it looked a little bare, so I dug this moss out of my craft stash.

I squirted a little more hot glue all over the top of the wreath and front of the stem, pressed the moss onto it, and voila!

I adore how it turned out.  I was a little worried that it didn't look very pumpkinish, or as cute as I thought.  My worried were relieved when a couple of friends stopped by, and started ooing and ahhhing over it.  They honestly didn't believe me when I told them I made it.  They thought I had purchased it somewhere like Kirklands (that's how upscale it looks not cutesy like I was expecting!).  I think its the hard metal venting I used that gives it such a professional air, and not just a crafty look.  Anyway, I then attached a scrap piece of brown knit, stretchy fabric to the back with hot glue.  I used that to tie it the wreath hook that hangs over my door, since the hook doesn't fit around the hard wreath.  Here is the final picture of it hanging on my kitchen door greeting all who come to visit with a fall cheerfulness.

What do you think?  I would love to hear how you might have made it different.  Leave me a comment you know I CRAVE them!!!  lol

Hope you had a great day and God bless

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