Sometimes Life Just Sucks

Sometimes Life Just Sucks

Monday, January 22, 2018

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Sometimes our struggles seem almost more than we can bear. They definitely test our faith and leave us wondering WHY. 

On June 12, 2017 my 10 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. We went to the doctor because he was feeling unwell. From there he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance where he spent 5 days, two in the pediatric ICU. 

NO you can NOT fix type 1 with diet and exercise or weight loss. There is NOTHING you do to get it and there is NOTHING you can do to take it away. You have to count every carb you take in and counter it with insulin. Yes shots! For EVERY meal and snack per your carb ratio and at bedtime. It will NEVER go away! It's a life sentence! It needs a cure!

WHY my child?
WHY can't I take this instead?
WHY any child for that matter?
WHY is there not a cure for this?
WHY does my baby have to cry himself to sleep about this sometimes?
WHY so many pokes to get blood for blood sugar checks?
WHY does he have to get shots just to eat?
WHY does he have to carry an emergency injection in case his blood sugar drops too low and passes out?
WHY does he have to depend on others to know what to do in that situation?
WHY has the joy been sucked from my happy go lucky boy?
WHY does my once happy little character now seem so down all of the time?
WHY does this mama shed more tears now?
WHY do so many know so little about this?
Why why WHY???!!!!!!!!!! 
Almost more than we can bear.

I thank God for an appointment within 30 minutes of me calling.
I thank God for a doctor that knew exactly what to check for. 
I thank God for local medical care.

If you want to learn more about type 1, PLEASE do. If you have something to share with us about it (we are still learning) AWESOME! If you want to pray for us, YES we will accept every bit of prayer you want to offer up for us.

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Halloween 2012

Halloween 2012

Thursday, November 1, 2012

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Another Halloween has come and gone. We had a great time carving pumpkins, eating jack o lantern pizza and pumpkin cupcakes, trick or treating, and more fun and games at the Fallelujah fair! Lots of goodies and sweet treats!

I thought our jack o lanterns were so great I had to share.

Awesome Cross and Fish by this little soldier.

Vampire and Bat by my adorable little skeleton. Can you see a face and a bat (above)?

We hope you had a safe and fun Halloween. Now to eat all that candy candy candy!

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Back to School 2012

Back to School 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

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First day of school, that was yesterday yes it was! I now have a 3rd grader and my little one is starting Kindergarten.

Overall the day turned out great however the morning was a bit difficult. Not for my little one as one would expect, but for my 3rd grader. What???  He had MAJOR anxiety and was a nervous wreck. I just don't get it. He knows the kids in his class, ALL of them! Every single one! He is however moving to the "BIG KID" playground and apparently that is difficult (for boys?). He is now one of the younger kids on the big kid field. To top it off he is little for his age. (Asthma parents, is your kid small from taking the asthma meds?) He ended up having a good day but dreaded going again this morning. Hang in there E mama is praying for you. You will do fine. Joshua 1:9 is the verse I shared with him this morning before school. Also shared  the song Underdog by Audio Adrenaline. You may be little but you've got skills babe use them. Mama is your biggest fan!

This little guy ↓ did great! His best friend from preschool is in his class so that makes it fun and his teacher is like family! When we pulled into the drive after school yesterday and he gets out and says " I don't know what I was so nervous about." Love that! He had a good day.

This my friends is what we bust our hiney for, it's why my husband works overtime and why I sell on my website and on etsy. It's not for shiny new cars or fancy cell phones, not for shoes or handbags. Believe me, we have NONE of that but we sacrifice for this...

...to send our children to a school where prayer is a normal part of the day and learning about God and the Bible is a regular part of the curriculum. The sacrifice and hard work is so worth it.

Hope everyone else starting up the new school year is doing fine.

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The Death of A Fish • Goodbye Nemo

The Death of A Fish • Goodbye Nemo

Monday, June 25, 2012

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Who knew the death of a fish could be so sad. On 6/10/12 my husband and son found my son's fish dead. I'm sitting in the living room and suddenly hear my son crying. This cry sounded different like something was really wrong. I go into his room to discover the sad news. He was sooooo upset.

We got him this fish as a reward. You see he was terrified to go to the dentist. As he had already had a bad experience once. You know how it goes first time parents dealing with first time experiences. The child flipped at xray time. And I mean flipped! Now they tell me he needed some work done and we have to go back in a few. Then they give me all this info about the gas they will use and a papoose board if needed and so on! So then I started to flip and was a nervous wreck especially at the thought of that papoose board. Are you kidding me with that thing, should that even be legal?!

We decide to tell my son if you do good at the dentist we will get you a fish. Well he did brilliant! So straight to the pet store we go! We get a fish, a bowl, some rocks, and a small plant to make Nemo a home. We thought a little fish to keep him from being placed in that board was worth it. Fish don't live long anyway right? Well that's what we thought.

Little did we know! You see Nemo was almost 5 years old! This kid got this fish when he was just three and he just turned 8. He's had him for more than half of his life! His bowl was upgraded several times which finally ended up being a small tank. A tank that was right on the nightstand next to his bed.

It made me sad to have him crying in my arms saying I love Nemo. :( Poor little guy. I feel so bad for him.  I knew this day would come. I just thought it would have been a VERY long time ago before my son actually got attached or even really understood. Nemo lived soooo long, it didn't even cross my mind at times. You see my friends the death of a fish happens to be very a sad thing in our home. Goodbye Nemo you will be missed.

Here's a picture from happy times.

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Family Number Necklace {New in the Shop}

Family Number Necklace {New in the Shop}

Monday, January 16, 2012

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Just added to the shop is the Family Number necklace. It features 2 sterling silver discs that are hand stamped and soldered together. The number represents the members in a family and then the family/last name is hand stamped below. A single freshwater pearl and a sterling silver ball chain finish it off. 

This would be great for grandma too with the number of grand kids. Come check it out!

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What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #14}

What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #14}

Friday, January 6, 2012

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Hello! We have a giveaway going on over HERE! Go check it out. I posted this photo sometime back and never said what I ended up doing with these thrift store frames.

We made a family art gallery in our dining room.

We painted the frames all different colors cause as mentioned before I am a color freak! Spray paint works best. I tried craft paint cause of the great color selection but it was not covering very well. We added a wire to the back side of each frame and a clip for hanging our art work. We added one small shelf for a tiny easel art piece. And we added some vinyl wording that says Family Art Gallery.

Here is some of our handy work lol! 

We love it because we can change out the art as often as we please. And seeing our art displayed encourages my kiddos to want to create more art! LOVE THAT!!! All the frames were picked up at the thrift store for under 2 bucks each and one was given to me by my mom. Can't beat that!

Now lets see what you linked up last time.

Jeannie Marie & Company found these Friendly Village dishes.

Sweetpea's GoodJunks found some Pyrex! I love all the Pyrex finds. I don't come across too much Pyrex around here.

And this my friend is what I love about the thrift store. So what did you find lately? Share it!

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project

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Thrifty Link Party Holiday

Thrifty Link Party Holiday

Friday, December 30, 2011

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Hello, I am taking a much needed break this week to tend to family issues. I hope to be back next week with the What I Love About the Thrift Store link up. I'll share some of your links from last week. Thanks much for linking each week I love seeing what you all find. And writing each thrifty link up post really gets me itching to go out and find something great!

May you all have a blessed and happy New Year!

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What I Love About the Thrift Store {Link Party #13}

What I Love About the Thrift Store {Link Party #13}

Friday, December 23, 2011

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Hey thrifty friends! Glad to meet up again! I have a few things to share this week but first wanted to let you know about the giveaway going on today on the facebook page! You can win a gift certificate for $50 to spend on some Cap Creations jewelry! Or use it as a great last minute Christmas gift. Click on over to the facebook page HERE to enter.

I recently picked up these beauties! Don't you just love all the color? I'm a color freak though lol!

 

Now these next two photos are not actually thrift store finds. But I wanted to share them and all their vintageness. These were my mom's when I was growing up and she gave them to me a few years back. I loved these angels when I was a little girl. They were soooooo pretty to me. I wanted that one's hair on the right. I would stare at them for hours.

And this one belonged my husbands mom. This was the nativity set that he grew up with. It does include all the pieces. What a family treasure right?

Just a few of my things now lets see what you got!

Tales From Beyond the Nook  found these. They are so pretty!

Treasures in Thrifting Land found these and I think they look so neat in a bowl like that. Go see her other Christmas finds too!

Sir Thrift-A-Lot found some more fantastic Pyrex with lids!

And this my friend is what I love about the thrift store. Come share your finds!

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What I Love About the Thrift Store {Link Party #12}

What I Love About the Thrift Store {Link Party #12}

Friday, December 16, 2011

5 comments

Super busy with Christmas orders right now but wanted to pop in real quick for our thrifty link up. If you are waiting on an order it will be out soon. If you've placed an order thank you SO MUCH for your business! We are happy you selected us to be part of your gift giving this year!

Here are a few more Christmas items that were picked up at the thrift store. These lovelies help decorate our home for Christmas!

I so have a thing for vintage ornaments! They are all just so lovely. I see them and I can't resist them. There were finally enough to do our tree this year with them. Are they not lovely?

This vintage looking Santa is great because his toy sack in the back is the perfect spot for holding candy canes.

Look at that vintage detail! Love it!

How here's a bit of what you all linked up last week!

Joyful Treasure Hunting picked up a pair of these chairs for 10 bucks!

And check out what Shabby Cottage Collectibles found.

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project

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What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #11}

What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #11}

Friday, December 9, 2011

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Christmas festivities are in full swing around here! Not to mention making and packing jewelry orders like Santa's little helper! Busy Busy!!! Did you grab the free Christmas printable yesterday?

Keeping with the Christmas theme I have a couple of thrifty Christmas items to share. I love vintage Christmas decorations. I snatch them up real quick anytime I see them. How about you?

I was so excited when I found these little toy solders at my local thrift store. They are about 12 inches tall. They are styrofoam, plastic and fantastic! Have you ever seen anything like them? I haven't!

This lovely angel was just waiting for my to pick her up. She measures about 11 inches tall. Not sure what she is made out of but the crazing on her face is neat. Sorry you can't see it in the picture.

Do you have any vintage Christmas items? I'll be sharing more next week.

Now on to you guys! We had a good turnout last week. I'm so glad that some of you are coming back each week. And glad to see a couple of new people too. Are you guys enjoying this thrifty link up? Thanks so much for joining if that's you! 

Cheerful Thrifty Door found toy solders too. They come apart. So fun!

So what did you find lately? Love for you to join us!

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project

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What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #10}

What I Love About the Thrift Store {link party #10}

Friday, December 2, 2011

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Do you have a Goodwill Bookstore near you? I love thrift store books because of the bargain you get on them. My kiddos and I hit up our Goodwill Bookstore with a mission! We needed Christmas books and we needed 25 of them to do a Christmas countdown. Yikes that's a lot! Check out what we found.

The doh-doh bird in me forgot to take pictures before wrapping them. But they are all Christmas or winter theme.  We snagged the Polar Express hardcover for 45 cents! I just saw it on my kiddo's scholastic order form for 19 bucks! And I am looking forward to reading Flavia and the Christmas Legacy. Thinking it might become a favorite for years to come.

We wrapped them like gifts and placed a number on each. Every night the kids will take turns opening one and the whole family (Dad too!) will read it together until we get down to 1! Got the book idea from The Idea Room, (thanks Amy) but we added the countdown numbers. You can snag our numbers HERE. By the way the kids loved wrapping these too! They are just for us so who really cares how well they are wrapped more importantly they had fun with it and mom wasn't hovering over them making sure they looked perfect!

And this my friends is what I love about the thrift store! I will probably be sharing many thrifty Christmas finds soon. Hope you like vintage Christmas cause I sure do. Now lets see what you found!

Speaking of vintage Christmas, Tatter and Fray found these Vintage Christmas Ornaments.

These owl trivets are from Joyful Treasure Hunting. Be sure to check out her mom's Pyrex collect too! WOW!

Thanks for joining us!

Linking up at:
S- Fleamarket Finds M- Apron Thrift Girl Tu- House of Grace, Coastal Charm, F- Shabby Nest, The Thrifty Groove S- Penny Worthy Project

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Ella

Ella

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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Where to begin...(sigh). September is a hard month for us. It's hard to believe it's really been 10 years since your passing. We miss you terribly and it's hard around here without you. Yet, at the same time it seems like just yesterday that we said goodbye. Looking back I remember thinking why couldn't it be after your birthday that you pass. Then thinking that I was just thankful that it wasn't on your birthday. Duane says that God knew that the tragic events of 9/11 were going to unfold and this is why he called you home so early. He knew he was gonna need your help up there.

It hurts my heart deeply that our boys don't get to know you in person. The wonderful you! They know you through the stories we tell though. About your crazy, witty, quirky personality and your positive, go get 'em, winning attitude! You are talked about quite often to them. The little one loves taking you flowers. He will ask out of the blue. Then we all make a wish at the humongous fountain that is near your headstone. But I'm sure you already know all this.

Ella we love you dearly. I wish I had more time to know you as my mother in law. 4.5 months was not enough but I'll take it. And I am thankful for the couple of years I knew you before I married your son. He is a wonderful husband and a super father and I thank you for showing him how to love. He has his moments and I know when he's missing you.

It seems that your song, the one you two danced to for the mother son dance at our wedding, it ALWAYS comes on at just the right time. It's like a little reassurance that even though you are gone you are still here. It's like your little way of saying it's okay.

On this 10 year anniversary of your passing and always we miss you and we love you. And in 2 days happy birthday.

Here's to you...

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Toothbrush

Toothbrush

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

2 comments

Do you ever use the wrong toothbrush? I do. lol!  But shhh don't tell my husband. And the instant I put it in my mouth I know it's not mine cause it's all blown out and needs replacing. Yuck!!! Why don't I EVER notice before it's in my mouth?

I have NEVER had this issue (ever) but here's the problem I secretly wanted the orange toothbrush really bad. But to save him from having to use the pink one I took pink instead. Apparently I still want the orange one. Pink toothbrush I don't like you.

So do you ever use the wrong toothbrush?  Someone please tell me I'm not the only one. Or do you just give your hubby the pink one?

Photo source This is Glamorous

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A Gift

A Gift

Friday, August 26, 2011

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Here's a little gift for a blog buddy.  I am so happy for her family! And their adoption of Judd! He will truly get the love he deserves now!!! The beautiful awesome God love!! Yeah!!!

Have a good weekend friends.

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(CLOSED) Do you do bento lunches? & A Giveaway

(CLOSED) Do you do bento lunches? & A Giveaway

Friday, October 1, 2010

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Remember this very cool giveaway for all these goodies HERE from Another Lunch? Well guess who won! Yep! We did! And I must say bento lunches are pretty cool! My boy loves them! All of the goodies we won are very fun to use! She even threw in an extra bento box and these!
Thank you Another Lunch!

Keep in mind I'm just a bento beginner, but here are a few of our lunches! You can't really tell in the photo but that sandwich is a doghouse with a puppy punched out, in the center.

He loves these little rolls. Flattened wheat bread, cream cheese, salami and roll em up!
Sick a pick in it!

 Are those little sauce bottles cute or what?

Bento lunches sure are fun but what is even better is the fact that they are waste free. Well except that Capri Sun. I also always try to throw in one of these printable lunchbox cards! My kid likes the cards as much as the lunch! He even asks, "is there gonna be a note in my lunch?"

If you need inspiration for bento lunches I suggest you check out Another Lunch. She has some really fun ideas over there! I'd really like to try the egg shapers!

One of the things in our prize package was this book by Susan Yuen. Want it???

We'd like to pass it on to one lucky winner!

Just leave a comment, or tell us which product we should try next for our bento lunches!
Blog, tweet or facebook this giveaway or follow this blog for extra entries!
Good Luck!

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Prayers of a Little One

Prayers of a Little One

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

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Last night as I was putting my littlest to bed, he took it upon himself for the first time ever to say his prayers all by himself! It went something like this.

Dear God,

Thank you for today, thank you for a good day today.

Ummm Jesus, when does Santa come? Oh yeah, in the morning...
...of Christmas.

Jesus, please let the army men sleep good and protect them and don't let them fall...
... off a Cliff.

And Jesus I don't want to go to church anymore.

Amen

Cute!!! This kid does not like going into the nursery at church. I love that he said his prayers all by himself! Awesome! So what do your kiddies pray about?

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It makes my heart smile...

It makes my heart smile...

Friday, September 10, 2010

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...to meet all of these families that are ready and willing to adopt!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway HERE in the name of adoption!

Meet Joshua and Hilary Helms

We have a three year old biological son, Jude- who brings more joy to our lives than we could have ever imagined! I'm blessed to be a stay at home mom to Jude, and Joshua is an AP World History teacher and soccer coach at McKinney High School. Several months ago, after praying that God would break our hearts for the things that break His, our lives radically flipped upside down with the burden of adoption heavy on our hearts. In truly seeking God's will for our lives it has become overwhelming clear that His truth calls us to care for the orphans. We are in the early stages of an international adoption from Ethiopia with All God's Children International, and we are desperately seeking to be obedient to this God given burden to live out of love... and sometimes out of our comfort zone! We are in uncharted territory and are entirely relying on God in ways we never have before- it's a great place to be in life! He is blowing our socks off in the way He is unfolding this story of bringing home our child! We are humbled at how He is using His people to write His story in our lives through financial generosity, encouragement, and prayers! We cannot wait to tell our sweet Ethiopian boy of the amazing, faithful ways God brought him into our family! We'd love to have you be a part of this story as well!

Check out more about us at: An Inexhaustible Love

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Free Printable Lunchbox Joke Cards

Free Printable Lunchbox Joke Cards

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

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Hi there, I hope you are having a nice Wednesday! I have some printable lunchbox joke cards for you today. Be sure to get the notes from yesterday and come back tomorrow for the bible verse cards. Here's a thought, have them laminated and then you can just wipe them clean and reuse!

Click on image below to enlarge, click on it again to enlarge even more, right-click and save. Print at home (I used card stock) and cut. Kid jokes can be found HERE.

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Happy Planting

Happy Planting

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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We had a couple of small areas that needed a little sprucing up. 

So the boys and I planted.

Nothing like some pretty flowers to make your day! And even better when they are growing in your own yard!

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