Flower Protocol

Apparently after 8 years there is still some confusion with my man on when and when it is not a good idea to send flowers. Let's start with Exhibit A.


The Large Pot of Chrysanthemums.


These were a very good choice. They will be here all Fall, unless I kill them like my Chives/Basil. See Exhibit B.



I was too sad to do a "I killed my herb garden my Mother In Law gave me that I was so excited about" post. So, I thought I'd include them in the Flower Protocol post. I babied these things for nearly 5 weeks. I'm thinking I was overzealous with the watering can because I gave them a drink everyday while visions of Fresh Salsa and Loaded Baked Potatoes danced in my eyes. Thankfully Becke', who claims not to have a green thumb, has basil growing out the wazoo, and she has given me permission to bum some off her. Oh my Lord it sounds like I've taken up smoking. No people. Just a love of fresh herbs. For the love!


Back to Exhibit A-the potted Chrysanthemums. These were well deserved after a big come to Jesus meeting my Dear Husband and I had Thursday morning. Flowers are always a good idea if any tears have been shed. And a perennial for the garden, WOW.

Let's talk about Birthdays. This is the only occasion where a bouquet of flowers from Kroger is a very bad idea. Really. For a birthday I want something like an Orange Vanilla Trapp Candle or some Lampe Berger Oil. Here is a good rule of thumb. Anything kind of extravagant that you don't need is probably always a good birthday choice. Hence the $25 plus tax candle example.

Now, let's look at Exhibit C. These were a precious touch. These are, "Hey babe, I was mowing and as I was dumping the clippings behind the fence I frolicked through the field to pick these for you because I Love You" flowers. Score!



I really hope I have been able to clear up any confusion for the confused reader.

Rice Cereal Good

Last night we had Mamaw and Aunt Linda over for Texican Pulled Pork BBQ-one of my very favorite recipes to make. Here they are with the boys reading books.
Here is our little fellow eating Rice Cereal for the first time. It was a big hit with him, he loved it!

We are on the 3rd day of rice cereal and it is so stinkin' cute! He opens his mouth when he sees the spoon a comin'! His little belly is SO BIG and I love it. Jbird has been so content and happy the last couple of days. Thank you LORD!

He has been a very fussy little booger the last month. I'm talking screaming all the frickin' time bless his heart. It was so bad that we'd have people over and he'd just be screaming his little heart out and the company would be like, "uh, does he need something? Can I hold him?" I was just so accustomed to the constant crying I was used to it. He'd be fed, diapered, rested, had his Zantac and/or Gripe Water (basically the works). We may be outgrowing the tears.

Happy Birthday Mr. Matt!

Happy Birthday Mr. Matt! We are praying for you and proud of you for the sacrifice you are making to fight for our country! God Bless you on your special day!

Love,
Shane, Anna, Stinky Pete, Moose, Little Darlin', Woody & Jessie

I know she didn't.

I was having lunch with a friend at Lenny's today.

Enjoying the best sandwich I have had in awhile. It was very, very good. The kind of good that makes you feel like rainbows are in the sky and unicorns really are flying around. Ok, that was wierd, but I'm just trying to say my little corner of the world was diggin' my lunch today.

My friend left to head back to work and I hopped up to get a refill on my Dr. Pepper. I was very excited to finish the last half of my sandwich and the rest of my Doritos. Key word here being "last half of my sandwich."

I go get my refill, and head back to the empty table. Key word here being "empty table."

The clean table nazi's wisked off my lunch into the trash.

What a bunch of haters.

Potluck

Sunday School:
This morning the 4 year olds at church were short handed so I sat in. One little girl prayed her little heart out, and she prayed and prayed and it was SOOOO sweet to hear the sound of her voice. She ended with asking Jesus if he'd come have a slumber party at her house.

Broken Feelings:
2 nights ago I got on to my oldest and he told me I broke his feelings.

The best advice I've heard this week:
Lighten up and start laughing more. Quit taking yourself and others so seriously.

My prayer for our family right now:
That our home would be filled with laughter and that God would enable us to laugh. A lot.

The Zone:
This weeks' zone to focus cleaning is the Living Room.

Good Smell:
Every single one of my neighbors, including us mowed this weekend. It smells so good and looks so pretty.

Edging:
What is my deal with a good edging job? It makes me so happy to see a nice yard. Really. It is up there on the list right next to a love for chips and salsa.

The Word:
A couple of weeks ago I wanted to read about heaven. Ezekiel seemed like it talked about heaven so I turned there. The page before in my Bible was turned to Lamentations. There was a verse that talked about "The crown has fallen from our head." I have been asking God to rid me of any desire to be on the throne in my life, and for Him to be ruler of my days.

Busyness:
Is everywhere in our lives right now. We are in the midst of one of the busiest times of the year with school starting back. We are trying to make the most of it. It is hard. But a good kind of hard.

Good hair day:
I hope every single one of you has a good hair day tomorrow and that you get your 5 a day in. Or if that pretty much ain't happenin' then I hope you catch all green lights on your way to wherever it is you are going!

I Love my Bimbo!

Hi! It's me, Little Darlin'. I had to post to tell you about my new toy that my daddy calls the Bimbo. I like my new Bimbo. When my mommy used to put a centerpiece on the table for dinner it was a vase with fresh flowers and 2 tapers on either side. Now it is a lime green Bimbo with ME inside cuz I'm real cute and everything. Plus, I talk, blow raspberries, and coo and the flowers could not do neat tricks like that.
I had a little floor time I wanted to show you. I'm getting real big and everything. Mostly I still like to eat, sleep, and my Bimbo is helping me look around and I like that most of all.

That's all I have for today. Catch ya later.

Clothed with Kindness

Making It Personal by Joan Horner (founder of Premier)
August 19

As we continue studying the Proverbs 31 woman, we
read that she rose “before dawn” (verse 15). This
woman had self-discipline and a servant’s heart, which
is one of the marks of a great leader. Not all of us are
morning people, but early morning can be a great time to
plan the day.

She was an executive in every sense. She made real
estate deals, found bargains, and worked hard. Proverbs
31:18 says, “her lights burn late into the night.” One Bible
commentary I read suggested this phrase meant that a
candle was left burning to show that their home was a
place for the needy. Interesting thought. Always ready to
help someone.

Along with everything else this lady had a firstclass
designer wardrobe. Her garments were regal and
elaborately embroidered. But more important was the
clothing of her heart. She was adorned inside with wisdom.
Those who knew her best praised her for her kindness.
Though this woman is a perfect ideal no one can
completely emulate, we can seek to clothe ourselves with
kindness—a wardrobe that never goes out of fashion.
She is clothed with strength and dignity. . . . When she speaks, her words
are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.

Proverbs 31:25-26

Clothed with Kindness
How can I serve my family with kindness this week?

So here's my question

do all Olympians have naturally perfect white teeth or do they all have veneers?

YEAH!!! Shawn Johnson just won a gold medal. She is so stinkin' cute and bubbly. She's my FAVORITE!!! That big ole' smile. She looks like a kid on a Christmas morning on the platform getting her Gold!

Maybe Crest White Strips are a proud Olympic sponsor. I just cannot get over the perfect teeth.

And the trampoline event is so slammin' awesome, Seriously, it is really cool to watch.

I mean really.

Emeril's nachos ruined my Life is Good t-shirt. It was a really cute one that says, "I'm with the band." I put the blasted thing in the dryer without double checking to see if the ginormous mess I made washed out completely.

I mean really. How hard can it be to remember to put Spray N Wash on the Wal-Mart list.

So now my Life is Good shirt will become my painting tshirt even though I haven't pained in like 8 years.

BAM!

We kicked it up a notch around here tonight and made Emeril's Shredded Chicken and Cheese Nachos with Pico de Gallo. It took nearly 2 hours to prepare and was so good that I have no words to describe it.

My suggestion on making this meal is to do it when you don't have kids underfoot and you have a glass of wine in hand. You can take your time and enjoy! I realize this may not be the 2 hour weeknight dinner recipe you've been searching for, but it is a very fun weekend dinner with friends! Becke', you are going to be all over this like white on rice, I just know it! You're getting giddy already I can tell!

Shredded Chicken Nachos with Pico de Gallo
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2006

For the Chicken:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast diced into 3-inch strips
4 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups thinly sliced onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups chicken stock
4 teaspoons fresh squeezed lime juice

Set a wide-mouthed 3-quart saucepan with lid over medium-high heat and add the oil to the pan. Season the chicken pieces with the chili powder and salt and toss the evenly coat. Add the chicken to the pan and sear for 3 minutes per side. Add the onions to the pan and saute for another 3 minutes. Add the garlic to the pan and saute for 1 minute. Pour the chicken stock over the chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce to a low heat and cover. Continue to cook the chicken until very tender, about 1 hour, stir the chicken to shred it and continue to cook, covered, for another 30 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, stir and mash to shred the chicken meat and add the lime juice to the chicken. Set aside as you prepare the nachos.

For the Nachos:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 small can chopped green chiles, drained
2 cups grated sharp yellow Cheddar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
8 to 10 cups corn tortillas
4 cups shredded chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup green onions finely sliced
3/4 cup sour cream, for garnishing
1/2 cup sliced pickled jalapenos, for garnishing
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnishing
Pico de Gallo, for serving, recipe follows

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat and whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not allow the flour to color. While whisking constantly, add the milk in a steady stream. Add the green chiles and bring the sauce to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and bubbly. Add the Cheddar, salt, and cayenne pepper and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Cover and remove from the heat.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large, ovenproof shallow casserole or on a large baking sheet, spread half of the tortilla chips in an even layer. Top with half of the chicken, and half of the Monterey Jack cheese. Top with the remaining tortilla chips and chicken. Pour the hot cheese sauce over the chicken, then evenly spread the remaining grated Monterey Jack over the top. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the nachos are heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. Garnish with the sliced green onions, sour cream, pickled jalapenos and cilantro. Serve with the Pico de Gallo alongside.

Yield: 6 servings

For the Pico de Gallo:
1 (14-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup chopped yellow onions
2 tablespoons minced cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno pepper, stem and seeds removed, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Emeril's Red Hot Pepper Sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt

In the bowl of a food processor, combine all the ingredients and pulse until the salsa is of uniform consistency but still slightly chunky, about 7 pulses. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until ready to serve the nachos.
Yield: 1 cup

My Favorite Summer Things

Pure Grace Lotion and Perfume, My all time #1 pick of the YEAR! Smells clean, fresh and wonderful!
White Cheddar popcorn seasoning. SO good sprinkled over popcorn and served with a Dr.Pepper and night of Olympics.
White Powdered Hostess Donuts. Enough Said. Get a bag and a glass of milk today.

Flirty Mango Shaving Gel. This stuff ROCKS! Very summery smelling!
Suave version of Biolage. This is the best smelling shampoo I've found aside from the expensive stuff. Even if you don't buy this, it's worth a trip down the shampoo aisle for a whiff! Just don't squirt it up your nose on accident because then you might hate me.
Olay Body with micro beads and seaweed extract. Anything with seaweed is a good summer choice. And you may want to buy the blue poof to accompany this as it makes it seem beachy!
Here is the tri-fecta! Especially good for those days when you have worked your tail off in the sun, around the house inside and out, and you want to take a shower before bed to be clean so you can enjoy your clean sheets and pj's.
And last but not least, Superhero's!

Amazing Grace

The funeral for Mr. Butler was amazing. He wrote the sermon that was preached at his funeral and wow, it was good. I wanted to share some highlights that stuck out to me.



Those who die daily die easily.



Living is not happiness. Living with God is happiness.



How do you prepare for trials and struggles? When you are healthy.



God will give you the strength at just the right time-not in advance.



We are all only a heartbeat away from heaven or hell.



Examine yourself daily.



Our suffering lasts only a little while, but our glorious life in Christ will last forever.



He will make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Not everyone who says to me, LORD LORD will enter heaven. Only those who have done the Lord's will. When we stand before God many people will say, didn't I go to church, give money, teach Sunday School, etc, and the Lord will plainly say, I never knew you, away from me you workers of iniquity.

Iniquity means a gross injustice or wicked sin or act. All we have to do is to do the will of God. What is the will of God? To repent and believe.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. Ps 84:10

Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is because of sin. The victory in death is through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

I will give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

The preacher shared that Mr. Butler said the word AMAZING probably over 200 times before he died. He said it was INDESCRIBABLE what he saw as he drifted in and out of sleep.

I cannot wait to go home. And, I'll leave you with a picture of my boys snuggling during naptime right now. I love those guys!

A Tribute to Mike Butler

This is a post to honor my good friend Katie's dad, Mr. Butler. I met Katie when I moved here 14 years ago. She was instantly a good friend. We would stay up late at night chatting about any and everything. We loved Point of Grace and cheese dip. Her room was decorated with gold and angels. Today her dad went to be with the Lord. Her parents are some of the most godly and neat people I have ever met.

Mr. Butler was a theologian who loved to study the Scriptures. He spoke at his daughter's funeral last year and it was amazing. The truth he spoke was very profound and I was wishing I had a pen and paper to be taking notes. He built his wife the house of her dreams with his own hands. He always had a smile on his face and loved his family dearly.

His wife Vickie is one of the most godly ladies you will ever meet. She has a servant's heart and love's the Lord and her family. And she loves her husband dearly. I always noticed what a neat marriage God blessed them with. When she would speak of her husband she would speak with a heart of giddyness and love, even after all these years.

The Olympics began today and I've been thinking alot about heaven this afternoon. One of my best friend's in the world has a daughter, sister and dad in heaven now. I'm watching all the nations parade across the screen. It is amazing to think that one day someone from every nation will be represented around the throne.

My heart grieves for my dear friend and her family. We sang the song, "It Is Well With My Soul" Sunday, and I've been singing it this afternoon.

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound,
and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Horatio Spafford

"I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 54:10

"There I will make the Valley of Trouble to be for her a door of hope and expectation." Hosea 2:15

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed' says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

Bedtime Conversations

SP: Mommy, I like to snuggle you because you're pretty and lazy.
Me: Do you know what lazy means?
SP: Yes, it means you are funny and you are a babe.
SP: Boys are not babes, only girls are.

Just so ya know.

Houston, We Have A Problem

Yesterday Stinky Pete got his arm stuck in a toy at Mrs. Heather's. I'm talking his entire arm was stuck in a tubey part of a toy. I was freaking out. I just kept thinking when he's in school, there will be the huge Fisher Price toy hanging off his left arm. That is going to be lovely.
We somehow got his arm unstuck and learned life lesson 1, 289, "It's not a good idea to squish your arm down a small tube opening in a toy."

Last night Moose let out a cry which quickly turned into the, "Houston we have a problem" cry. I have never heard this cry. When we ran in the living room there was blood all over his face. Luckily my family has hypochondriac tendencies and we are all well educated by WebMD, so my training let me know we needed a cold washcloth. We pinpointed the problem to a busted lip, inside his mouth. He hit his mouth on the back of the couch. After we got that situation fixed, Moose wanted a little band-aid therapy. It does not matter that the boo-boo is inside his mouth.

Now we are calling him Jacques, Lumiere, Mr. French or any other french name that comes to mind other than small fry.
Seeing how beautifully band-aid therapy worked on Moose, I thought I'd give it a whirl. (can you hear me, I'm talking really quietly here...I have been out of lipliner for going on 3 weeks...I don't want my mom to hear because that is a major no-no with her) Not about to buy liner until Clinique Bonus days, I've been holding out. Wearing only Bamboo Pink-no liner. Faux Pas. So, I thought I'd try the band-aid therapy, and guess what, it worked! You don't even notice I'm without liner!


Try it for whatever ails you. We know you'll like it. Band-aid therapy may not be suitable for women who are pregnant or nursing. Band-aid therapy may not be right for everyone. Talk to your doctor before you start band-aid therapy. Band-aid therapy may cause weight gain, weight loss, gas, diarrhea, loss of vision, bad hair days and dry mouth.

Potluck

Operation Family Breakfast: Is going great. We kicked it up a notch this morning with the addition of Sausage. French Toast day is DH's speciality!


Pineapple: There is something so cheerful about citrus fruits. Pineapple was on sale at the store so we bought one. Sheer joy!
Operation Christmas Child: Is in full swing at our church. We hit a gold mine at the store last night with summer clearance. The kids who receive the boxes enjoy brightly colored things. We found hats, sunglasses and jumpropes. We are off the the most fun start ever.

Road Trip: Little Darlin' went with his Momma on a business trip this week. He is a great traveling partner and a great little buddy. We got to visit with old friends, and in my book there is nothing more fun than hanging and laughing with good friends.


A Joke for you courtesy of Brittney:

Happy Saturday!