S Club Mama

I had the privilege of hearing Angie Smith speak at the Women of Faith conference I volunteered at in November. She is an author of several books (including this one, Mended , of course) and speaker and mother and wife of Todd Smith (lead singer of Selah ). And I tell you, she seems like she could be my next BFF. She's very sincere and just seems like someone you could chat with forever over a cup of coffee. Although the closest I got was getting her autograph. picture from Angie's website But Angie write how she speaks, very level, very real. Mended is set up like a devotional, but I don't necessarily think you must read it like that. Although there is some deep stuff in there, so I like to take it bits at a time. I'm taking my phrase for 2013 from one of the entries in this book: one better . God spoke to Angie one day to tell her that she didn't need to be superwoman but just could go one better. Are you folding laundry? Do one better and put it away. Ar...

After sleeping in until 10:40 (wow!) - thanks to my sickie kids & husband for getting me sick, I feel much better.  Better enough to make a good looking cherry pie. Now, this is not a miracle, I really did try to make this look like the King Babe in his manger. Better enough to make some delicious looking reindeer for a candy cane hunt on Christmas morn. Better enough to snap a picture of my dapper looking children. Daddy wore a tie so they needed theirs. Better enough to attend a beautiful Christmas Eve service at our church. It was lovely to hear the boys singing carols along with the crowd. And they were excited about the Silent Night candles.  And better enough to not give this kid too much to drink so we don't have a bed wetter. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

We started the day off grumpy...my bad.  With a little exercise and Spirit-induced attitude change, this will be a good day!

another pvBody outfit via SITSgirls Flickr pv.Body was started because the founders, Marcus Greinke and Lindsay Daniels, felt that women were paying too much for active wear (athletic clothing). I agree. My active wear wardrobe is ridiculously small: 1 pair capris (from my mom), 2 pairs shorts (from my sisters), 1 tennis skirt (bought at a discounted price), 1 tank top (from a sister), and tech t-shirts from races I've entered or from my sisters. My running socks are 2 years old, my sports bras are about the same age. I just hate to drop $30 on a top and over $50 on bottoms (less for shorts but still!). I've needed a pair of running pants for at least 2 winters but the price was too much, so I went without. Until now. Enter  pvBody ! I received an outfit worth approximately $150: pants and a tank top. Well, needless to say, I love the pants. They came at just the right time when this Kansas winter has settled in. I've been able to run outside in weather that otherw...

In the midst of news coming in of this school shooting in Connecticut , please pray. Pray for this shooter's family. Pray for these victims and their families. Pray for the school and community. Pray for Our Father to be with them, to heal them, to comfort them.

I love the Sound of Music (it's on sale on Amazon if anyone has an inkling for a secret santa gift...to me - or you know I'd love Take Me Out to the Ball Game or Singing in the Rain , too...). Oh dear, off topic. Anyway! With the sights and sounds and sales of this holiday season come some of my favorite times ever. I don't know if you cheer for the holidays or grimace with a 'bah! hum-bug!' in your heart, but I love Christmas. So I wanted to share some of my favorite things this year. 1. wrapping gifts. I'm not that great at it, but I enjoy it. 2. white elephant gift exchanges. I love passing on good things that we don't use that could be of use to someone else. This year's it's a few kid toys! 3. Christmas music. Music that proclaims that Jesus is Lord on secular stations? Oh yes! 4. my new boots. This pertains more to the weather but I've enjoyed wearing them a lot. 5. Why Do We Call it Christmas? Oh my goodness, I'm in love ...

I have stayed up hours past my bedtime tonight (with my husband MIA for the weekend) in order to do something I've been dreaming about since 2010. When I first started running (I was more in the Jeff Galloway school but my accident then), I was going to register for a full marathon. Then I looked at the training and realized that was not the time. So 2010 came and I ran my first half. In 2011 I ran my second and third. And this year I ran my fourth. I am so proud of each of those accomplishments, but I've still had in the back of my head to run the full monty. I had girl friends who started running approximately when I did who have blown me out of the water and ran 26.2 before me. They've done awesome. And I've eyed their times with envy. I cannot wait for May 5, 2013. I will be running my first full marathon! I'm psyched and so nervous. And now, because I've stayed up so late, I'm going to clean up my sewing project and hit the sack. My kids will be...

*sigh* I've been dragging my feet about writing this review. I thought it looked like an interesting premise and the name caught my attention. I was wrong. Cadaver Blues by J.E. Fishman was nothing like I would like to read. I will be honest that I only got to the end of chapter 40. Until that point, I had overlooked some phrases and words that I don't normally allow in books I read. Mostly sexual innuendos or openly sexual comments. I don't think I realized the secular nature of this book, not that I don't read secular books but not ones like this. So I stopped reading because I strongly believe that what you put in your body via music, books, movies, etc, naturally overflows into your life. I thought this was a SLOOOOOW book, also. I'm at chapter 40 and nothing had really happened with the main plot. Whoa. I disliked the main character, Phuoc Goldberg - I thought he was rude and distasteful. I felt like Mindy was an unbelievable character; she felt too naiv...

I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and really wanted to share it with you. Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . . The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers an...

The Bear Accessories Etsy shop began out of necessity. A necessity of affordable superhero jewelry. There's a story I can relate to! With my boys in full love of all things superhero, it has naturally (at least for me, naturally) boiled over into my wardrobe. But Jessica, the owner of Bear Accessories, is correct: superhero jewelry (and other things) are expensive! Jessica sent me a Superman pendant necklace for review. This is a well-made necklace made from clay; I am not that good with craftsy stuff like that, so I think this is really well done. It's not going to come apart, in my opinion. The chain was long, for me, but a good quality of chain. My only real dislike about the pendant was it was large: 2x2" by 2.5" - not exactly the dainty jewelry I really like. But that's just personal taste. I wanted to share some other Bear Accessory items that I liked and thought other superhero aficionados (or just fans) would dig: Avenger Ornaments ! Avat...