Go. Be. Do.

Having taken the summer off...and then some...I'm ready to join back in and have some more fun making and hopefully meeting goals. November goals... 1. Consistently get back to the Y in the mornings. 2. Begin Christmas present making/shopping.  (Yikes!  Did I just write that?!!) 3. Use gift of encouragement. Happy Days in November!

Having tickets to Talladega was a fun weekend for our family!  We were, as the boys like to say, "VIP" for the weekend.  We had a wonderful time watching the race from really great seats at our chalet on the backstretch of the track.  Included, also, were pit passes.  We rode a tram around the track to Pit Road.  Being on the track itself was awesome...that banking is no joke!  It was a great experience for us.  Once on Pit Road, we saw some prep work being done on tires, met some pit crew members, saw the cars going out of the garage area, and took lots of pics at our favorites' pit areas. Once the race began, we were able to listen in to the drivers and their crews which was so fun for us.  It was so cool to hear them talk back and forth.  Some are more chatty than others.  Thankfully, I can say that I heard nothing that I wouldn't want my boys to hear.  That says a lot of these drivers.  Alex listened intently to Jeff Gordon, cheering him on even though things wer

A walk. Time to think. Time to myself. Simple pleasures. In Search of Beauty 

HaPpY BiRtHdAy, ALEX! Today was a fun day for our household...we took our fall break day today so Alex was in charge of our agenda, as much as a 9 year old can be. :)We began our morning with Alex opening his presents.  The boys had a sleepover on the air mattress in our living room last evening, so that's where we found ourselves for the big moment with a still sleepyeyed Birthday Boy.  Alex had a busy weekend camping and riding motorcycles with his uncle, then he broke out with a terrible rash which kept him from sleeping very well last night.  He was rather quiet while opening his gifts, but he was happy.   We moved on to making cupcakes to share with our friends at Good News Club this afternoon.  Alex has always loved helping cook and bake.  His favorite cake is a white cake, so 24 white cupcakes were on the menu...half to be frosted with chocolate and half with green tinted vanilla.  It made the house smell so good! Cupcakes cooling, we went out for a midmorning Dunkin&#

first batch...perfect! Fall weather always brings out the baker in me...it helps warm the house and gives me a much needed stress relief activity that produces yumminess, too.  One of my favorites to make is sugar cookies.  Closer to Christmas, I'll pull out my Grandma's roll out sugar cookie recipe, but, for now, I used a delicious drop sugar cookie recipe. sprinkles added Drop Sugar Cookies 3 cups sugar 2 cups Crisco 4 eggs 2 rounded tsp. sour cream 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 7 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda 2 tsp baking powder 2 cups milk Sugar Sprinkles as desired ready for freezer Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour, b. soda, and b. powder in bowl and set aside.  Cream together first 5 ingredients in large mixing bowl (recipe will fit in Kitchen Aid mixing bowl very nicely).  Add flour mixture alternately with milk to creamed mixture.  Drop by cookie scoop on ungreased cookie sheets.  Sprinkle sugar crystals on dough and bake for 10-12 minutes.  Leave pla

Exciting day!  Not only did my moose flannel material come from Hancock Fabrics, but also the Max Lucado book that I won from Dorie @ These Grace Filled Days .  I cannot wait to begin working on the blanket for my nephew and start reading the newest book from my favorite author.  Thanks, Dorie! Never underestimate the happiness that the mailman can bring to your door.

Rain-X ® Original Glass Treatment dramatically improves wet weather driving visibility. Simply apply the treatment to exterior glass and watch the raindrops fly off your windshield while driving. Rain-X ® helps improve visibility by repelling rain, sleet and snow.     (excerpt from the Rain-X Original Glass Treatment label)  This is not an endorsement for Rain-X.  And, I'm not getting paid to write this post.  However, I am a huge fan of Rain-X.  I love how it actually works like its label says it should.  The first time I used Rain-X, I was so amazed at watching the rain zip across my windshield, it was probably a hazard at that momement more so than driving without using Rain-X ever was.  Concerning Rain-X...I know how it works.  I like how it works.  I believe it works. So, when my friend Jennifer gave me the best advice ever back in early 2002, I knew exactly what she meant.  And, I have never forgotten it.  I have even shared her

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. You hem me in behind and before, and You lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:3,5 As we stepped out of the house early one morning, the boys and I were discussing the fog that was still lingering around us.  Then, Alex pointed out that the yard was spotted.  I looked with him and saw the spots were actually spider webs.  The dew had settled on the webs and made them almost glow compared to the leaves underneath them.  They were everywhere!  I shuddered.  I am not a fan of spiders.  They really do creep me out.  I don't run screaming when I see one ( usually ), but I do have a reaction to seeing them.  It's hard to describe the feeling I have inside, but it's the same every time.    I know spiders exist.  I know the fall time is one of their favorite times to show up around our house.  I know spiders can be big, brown, and furry.  I know they have several offspring at a time who like to ride pigg