Turns Out I'm Not A Flop, I'm Gettin The Boot!

I really really wanted to be flip flops like my friend Kathleen.....but turns out I'm cowboy boots. And I do believe this fits me better after all! And because a few of my Texan friends kinda like Dirty Ted this song, I think I'll end the weekend with a replay!

Yeeehawwwwww!!!!

You Are Cowboy Boots

This doesn't mean you're country, just funky. You've got a ton of attitude and confidence. You're unique, expressive, and even a little bit wacky. You wear whatever you feel like – and you have your own sense of style. You are straight shooting and honest. You tell people how it is. Low maintenance and free wheeling, you're always up for an adventure. You should live: Where you can at least get to wide open spaces You should work: In a job that allows you to take change

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Live Simply, Simply Live, Give Simply, Simply Give....The Shirts Are Going Outttt

Oi! (Stole that from you, GiGi, is that okay?)....Ethan, Youth Pastor at our church just emailed me and asked how many shirts I wanted to order and I realize...I didn't follow up on this! I'm fixin to get these addresses to all who indicated they wanted to play along with The T-Shirt Post. I'll be emailing you today or tomorrow for those addresses. Then no reason I won't have time on Friday to get those going, and I cannot WAIT to see the blog posts!

I have, however, been giving the living simply phrase a great deal of thought. Is this living simply, or is it living....simply?

My inclination was living simply, learning to do without the 'things' I have grown accustomed to, so that's where I'll take this (some things, such as Tab, I didn't get to choose! WHERE IS TAB?????). Yet there are things I am willing to do without so that I put myself in a position to help my friends in the nursing home as well as the two kids we have sponsored through Compassion. I am turning more and more to the store brands, because while I scoff at saving $.50 on a bottle of "Meinz" ketchup, if I did that just ten times through my shopping trip, that'd be $5.00. Five bucks per week would be $20 plus a month. My little guy, Gervasio, could purchase something useful in Kenya for that. The trick will be to dedicate that savings to them, write it down after each trip and save it.

I've got other convictions. I don't need to go to lunch with friends each week, I've save tons there. I don't go often anymore. And when I do lunch, I don't need to be the hero and pay for everyone (I do that often, I think it's insecurity on my part--they shouldn't pay to be with me, I should!). I am beginning to look at my life, see how discipline has been as absent as a man at a bunco party.

Even more important, I need to tithe more and on a regular basis. Put that money in the basket FIRST, then everything else will follow....or not. Maybe I do without for a few weeks. That scares me, I am struggling with that. But over the years, I've come a long way in my thinking about money, about life emphasis. And I trust my church to know best where to put that money--there are people helped in ways I'll never hear about. But I know if I need them, they'll be there, and my friends who put money in that week won't know about it either. I guess that's my goal for the remainder of this year and the year coming up.

So...the confessions are out on the table, you see I have been and still am selfish with my worldly possessions. I'm going to send out the shirts along with a Sharpie....first to the North, going to Coffee Mom in Canada, and the Southern one starting with D in Texas.....and they'll keep the chain going (I'll put in the addresses of the next in line) and perhaps add some friends of their own to that list.

If you want to OWN one of these shirts, the proceeds go to charity...they cost $10 plus a few bucks shipping (I'll pick up the handling, lol). Ethan knows the little girl who designed it and prints them. Let me know, give me the size you want (XL is quite large) and I'll see that you get one ordered. I plan on making these shirts part of my Christmas shopping, it really is a nice little shirt, good quality, the black and white is simple, goes with any pair of jeans you'll find in any given consignment shop!

No You Make ME Smile....All Y'all Do!

Edit: I'm in the process of updating my blog template and have lost all my links and awards, etc. I'm rebuilding them--but it takes time. If you're not there yet, I still love ya, I just got tired.

I have been fortunate enough to make a new blogger friend this week, Trinity. She's a beautiful wife, mom and much much more over in Indonesia. This is the gal I was talking about who was hosting the giveaway in honor of all the family celebrations coming up! I'm certain she'll make sure I receive the top prize, right Trinity? Right?

Ahh, well, even better than the prospect of winning a prize, she says I make her smile. It amazes me when I read all my friends blogs, all of you, and you lift me up so high, I enjoy every single one of you, and then one of you tells me you noticed something about me. It's humbling, indeed, and I never get used to that. Listen to me, I'm sounding like a movie star accepting an award--but it's the truth. Okay, okay, I'll get on with the award (and Trinity, I'll do my tag next week, thanks for the post idea!!).

And I have the pleasure of passing this along....I think you've all met my friend Cat--you know we met online in another website for Christian moms and turned out we were practically neighbors. I met Cat for lunch, then a movie, then from that point on, she's been a dear friend of mine. She and her family have blessed our church by becoming members, and we couldn't love them more. How does Cat make me smile? Cat makes me smile mostly in our little Wednesday study we're doing with our pastor. We sit on the couch together and it's hard not to just burst out with laughter sometimes. Ask her how she spent last week sucking up to the pastor, all intellectual and stuff! Cat, you make me smile.

Another goes to a new friend I've made--Karen. Karen is new to our church family as well and what a welcome addition she is. It isn't always easy to come into a new church and slide right in, I know this, but Karen and her family have done that. She's got a blog too, couldn't believe it! It's used mostly to update friends and family on her family, and if you want to peek inside a beautiful, giving family's life, go check out Casting Crumbs.

Next, Kathleen (Coffee Mom) who STILL patiently awaits the DD coffee I have promised her--Kathleen, it is here, I promise I have not drank YOUR coffee although I'm out and I'm tempted. I will get it mailed and you will be very surprised. Kathleen lives in Canada and homeschools her children too. I can't tell you how many giggles and flat out laugh-till-I-cry moments I've had on her blog--she doesn't take herself too seriously. I like that. If I start taking myself seriously, I read her and remember I'm not all that!

Everyone I know knows Sharon. Sharon Sews--in fact, she's been so busy sewing up my pink jacket she forgot to get my mailing address to mail it to me. Email me, Sharon, I'll send it right over. Sharon is not ONLY a seamstress to be reckoned with but she's also a supermodel now (her modeling post is HILARIOUS! She's beautiful & funny.)

One more blogger has been on my mind of late. My friend Cheryl at Word Quilter. Cheryl is a beautiful person inside and out. Of late, her life's been quite jumbled with ups and downs and looks like on the uppp side of life right now, and I just adore her. She makes me smile because I've never known someone who can have so much dumped on her plate and turn around and indicate she knows for certain this will all be alright. Cheryl, love your curtains, but you need to update that blog. So here ya go!

Alright off to do housework now. I finally took the weekend off from typing--I feel so free! Tonight is bunco night for the women at church and I'm sooo gonna win prizes there. And of course, you know I'll have someone take my picture so I can post me there winning.

Winning Week (what's up with that?)

After years of not winning a single drawing drawing (seriously), I'm happy to say I broke that streak and have in the past few weeks won not one, but TWO! I should be out buying Powerball tickets in multiple quantities, maybe later. The beautiful nautically themed quilt I won from Coffee Mom arrived (along with three chocolate bars...thanks, Kathleen because I need those...). I don't have a picture posted of it yet, but I will before the day is out so come back! She obviously has great talent here, and I secretly covet that ability! I love to sew but cannot hand sew for the life of me! Thanks, Kathleen, I'm loving this quilt.

Last weekend while at a Vacation Bible School meeting (believe it or not, they do allow me to take part every year, lol) I won a backpack. Okay okay, mine was the second name drawn, but still counts, yeah huh it does. It's part of the sports theme we're doing this year, made to look like a basketball jersey. Again, photo will be upppp soon. I'm sorry, I am not doing well with this back to work thing, but eventually I get things done!


Okay, this next part I do have a photo of...the first of our neighborhood's swim team meets was last night; and while I missed the first half for a prior committment, I got to see my son Cody swim one event. It's his first year on the swim team (we've only been in this hood for two) and he did a fabulous job! He took first in his first two events (which I missed!), and I...I mean HE...will get ribbons for all of them. So...because I'm the mommy, I get to brag a little and post the few pictures I did get there in time to snap! I'm a bit biased, but I think my son Cody is amazing, he gives everything he does 100%. And he's aDORable.

Okay....this is 1/2 of what I promised....the quilt (and candybars!). It's hard to see, but it's a nautical quilt and has been largely hand-quilted. It's truly a work of art....thanks Coffee Mom! (I look a little wired here--I'm very sleepy, working like mad and it's showing...ugh! so cut me a little slack, plz--hehe it almost looks like I'm cross-eyed in the first one).

No Way!

I can finally say I am a winner!! That's right, me, who never ever wins EVER, put my name in Coffee Mom's quilt give-away and I actually get to keep it! Not only is that astonishing in itself, but the quilt is beautiful! I'll post pictures as soon as I get it...and thanks, Kathleen.

Okay, so this is my official Friday post a little early in light of that exciting news I couldn't hold! And...while I'm at it, a few HAPPY BIRTHDAYS:

Happy birthday to Jamee's son, my very amazing nephew, Max!

Maxwell

Happy birthday to my very handsome brother-in-law, Jeff (you can pay me for that in quarters, ok?)!

Jeff

And finally, happy birthday to my friend Cat's husband, Jeff--we'll see you at the BBQ Bash! I don't have a picture---yet, so here is Cat:

xoxo