Tim Holtz Pocket Watch

I was in a swap over at YourPaperPantry in October hosted by Regan and we had to make a necklace using products by Tim Holtz here was the necklace I made using his pocket watch, hoping my partner liked it.

Order from Blitsy and help me get $10 credit!(link below)

New craft place, Blitsy.... where you can order all things crafty.

New sales begin each Monday, Wednesday and Friday
and last a total of 7 days or until they run out. At first there
will be a strong emphasis on scrap booking and paper craft supplies,
but then will branch out to general crafting supplies.

If you click on the link below and order I will get a $10 credit!

http://blitsy.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/10426/

Happy shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving and look what hubby found!

Happy Thanksgiving Day started off with my dear hubby who got up at 5am to hit the beach before Thanksgiving dinner. He was tired,but he was so happy...he made a great find at the beach today!


The one to the left is his largest find!


Every year for the past 13 years?? we have had Thanksgiving dinner with the Dixon family. Their family is also out-of-state and they don't travel till Christmas like we do. So, we started taking turns *hosting* dinner. It was their turn to cook the bird and what a yummy dinner it was. Between their 7 in their family(and one niece joined us) and our 6...we have to split up into two tables. It was a wonderful day as we celebrated God's bountiful blessings together.

I won something!

LOL! lt was a drawing on a crafty message board I have been a member of for several years...Club POSH...I even made the front page!

My tag is below...just had to make any type of gift tag using a Judikins and/or POSH Impressions stamp.

Would the Pioneer Woman be proud?

I enjoy reading Ree Drummond's blog and have her cookbook where I read and drooled over her Chicken Fried Steak, gravy and mashed potato recipes. Well, it was a windy chilly evening and I had just thawed some cube steaks, so guess what I decided to make...yep~



Cube Steak doubled dipped in egg and flour...my cholesterol just shot up!


Smelled so good frying!


Done!


My MIL would be proud though...my gravy turned out GREAT!


This is NOT the kind of meal you want to serve if you are on a diet!
NOR is it something you make often to eat(unless you are a cowboy or on a farm!).

Presenting the Magic Jelly Beans

Out two older sons formed a group to play at a local fundraiser for a friend's church.
The 15yo boy, Tyler, has leukemia and his parents needed help with expenses when Tyler has to travel for treatment. The fundraiser drew 7 bands...and the crowd looked to be over 150??
It looked like it was well attended and I haven't heard yet how much they raised.
DH and I went to see the guy on the left is our oldest, Seth and the drummer is our middle son, Joel. Josh, (lead singer here in this photo) and Jeff(on the right) rounded out the group.
They have been practicing in our basement every Sunday for a few months now and came up with 5 songs. It was great to hear them in a larger area!
I included one of their last songs(2 parts)...hard to understand the lyrics...but you will tap your foot with the music, I am sure!

23 yrs ago...

...Our first child was born(with his Grandma V.M. Nov 1988) Notice the hands? :


Here he is Aug 2011 with his Grandma V.M.


Here he is with his Grandma and Grandpa Spaulding, his dad and two brothers:


We love you, Seth.

Sad day and happy day!

Today, a dear friend's mom died. She was 89yo and we have known her since moving from Ohio to Maryland. She has watched all our children grow up and has been so sweet to our family.
We were blessed by her smile, her attitude and the how she *modeled* being a Christian woman to all of us.
Those of us left behind will miss her, but knowing she now rests in the arms of our heavenly Father gives us great comfort. No more sorrow, no more pain.

Craft swaps

I am a member at Your Paper Pantry and participated in a few swap this past months.
Below is a slide show...

Courageous

Today, the whole family went to see the movie, "Courageous" together. Our church decided to go to this movie today and there was a wonderful showing of our church family.
There are not many movies out there that your whole family can enjoy, but this one is so worth it.
We have enjoyed watching all the films put out by Sherwood Pictures and the Kendrick brothers.
This movie is the BEST one yet(seems like they keep getting better and better!)
Take your family to see it!

Catching up!

Its been a few weeks since I last posted, but have been busy still with homeschooling, paperwork, phone calls and Internet research pertaining to my mom. She continues to do well in the nursing home, but there continues to be stuff that needs to be done for her and I am so grateful I can do a lot of it from the internet!

Home school is going well, just seems like the day flies by so fast! Our middle son completed his driver's ed class and just needs to get his 6 hrs driving time in with the instructor and then he can go for his permanent license. He has his 60 plus driving hours in..so he hopes to be able to get that by the end of the year.
Middle DS plays drums for our Contemporary service on Saturdays(with his older brother!)
He also plays drums for Sunday Services at least once a month.

Youngest son is doing well in soccer. They are 1-1-1(one win, one loss, one tie). DS made one of the first scoring goals this year. Been getting a lot of rain here, hoping they don't get rained out anymore!

Oldest DS has been hard at work and college classes and has been taking time off occasionally, to go to some concerts of bands he has always wanted to see.(before they get to old and drop from the music world) DS has been playing guitar and leading periodically for the Contemporary Service on Saturdays and Spanish Service on Sundays.

DD has been busy with school and work. She did get a raise in her job after a year....they promoted her not one, but two steps at work! School keeps her very busy now that she is heading toward at Medical Assisting degree. Four classes this semester.
She also volunteered to help out in the Special Needs Sunday School ministry at church. I am so proud of her for wanting to help out in that class.

DH has been busy with teaching Sunday School, Chair ministry(responsible-along with 17yo DS-in making sure 400 plus chairs are put up every Saturday), he is involved in a Men's Prayer Group that meets at a local Chick Filet every Friday early. Plus he is helping with an event for the Men's prayer group at church for next month. We are going to see the movie "Courageous" as a family next Sunday then the Men's group is meeting up the following Saturday to discuss the movie. DH also is leading/hosting out 4 wk Bible Study here in our home from the *Yes series* . I am so blessed to have a husband and father of our children who is led by the Lord.

I get some crafting in when I can...just had a weekend away with some friends up in Lancaster a few weekends ago. Will share more in my next post!

Cozy Crop 2011

Another fun weekend with my scrapping/card making gals! I look forward to getting together every year and catching up with you. Thank-you all for being there!

School begins!

After a wonderful rest filled weekend holiday weekend, today is our official day back to school!
We have a 22 yo DS working FT and going to college PT(Computer Information Systems- only needs seven more classes for his BS)
Also our 19yo DD works PT(Medical Assisting) and is taking 11 hours of college credit.
We have a DS in 12th grade who works PT and a DS in 9th grade this year in our home school.

All have been home schooled from the beginning...just seems hard to believe I am looking down the last 4 years of home schooling. Been home schooling since 1992.

Off to look at their school work from today. :-)

Earthquake, here?

Yes, it was....We felt the Earthquake here in MD yesterday. I posted a few things on Facebook...we couldn't call on our phones for an hour. BUT the Internet was working and lots of people were on Facebook!

I was making egg salad with our youngest DS and the middle son was in the basement(just below us) playing his drums. The floor was shaking and I told the youngest to STOP jumping on the floor...he said, "Mom, its not me!"...I turned around and looked. Thinking DS plays his drums loud but not enough to make that kind of vibration/movement. Then realized it was a tremor and yelled at DS in the basement to get upstairs and out the front door!

All the neighbors that were home in the neighborhood were outside. Thank goodness everyone was okay. Our damage, it knocked over my shadow box upstairs and all its contents and I had to clean that up and dust them! Knocked DH's hats to the floor...the boys VHS player in the basement was knocked off the TV. So, no costly damage we good see.

BUT, after the tremor, oldest DS said to come look at our pool...and you could still see the tremors in the pool. (sorry for the neighbor's teens in the background...they can be boisterous sometimes) Video below....

DH was told to go back in the building afterwards, get their keys and go home, the middle son works at the library and they were closing it for the evening, and DD was outside her building for awhile till they deemed it safe to go back in and finished out her shift. Oldest DS was in DC at work were. They were let out early, too.

I am just grateful to the Lord, all were safe.

Psalm 121

Update on My Life

Wow, has this summer flew...and the older I get the fast time goes.

So glad that I was able to get to see my mom three times this summer...she
is doing well and has adjusted to her new home at the rehab/nursing home.
I TRIED to convince her to come live with us, but she said she was fine there and was happy with the place. I would love her here, but will abide her wishes, for in visiting with her, I can see she has adjusted well there. I still have LOTs of paperwork I am trying to get done here for her...thank goodness for the Internet.


Trying to get the boys school stuff in order for school to start after Labor Day...I had forgot a few things I needed to get ordered, so they are on there way here. DD starts back to college Aug. 22...taking 4 classes towards her Medical Assisting degree. Some great news, she was promoted from a grade 1 to a grade 3 at her job(office clerk with the gov't.) and will be getting a raise. She has been there a year! SO, she is actively looking for a car now...so I can have my van back. Just in time for DS2 to get his driver's license and use my van to get himself to work! LOL!

Psalm 62:8

Home!

Arrived back home last night from Ohio after a two week vacation with our parents....we had safe travels!
Our DD came out with us the first week, but had to fly back here after a week to go back to work.
Then our oldest DS flew from here out to Ohio to spend the last 5 days with us and then drove home to MD with us. It was wonderful to see all the kids got to visit with their grandparents.

We always enjoy catching up with our family. My dear SIL and three of her four kids traveled to see us before we left. We enjoyed listening to them about their recent vacation overseas to Europe. Seeing her kids was wonderful and to see how grown up they all are becoming. Wow, that means I am aging, too!?

My mom is doing well in the nursing home. I visited with her every day while I was there. She has made several friends and the staff seem to really like her. My mom has become involved in the activities there: Bingo, coffee chats, virtual bowling, exercise group, and even joined in learning some Hukialau moves for a Luau they are going to have in Sept. She was always a hermit at home but really seems to enjoy getting out of her room to participate.

Catching up on LOTS of emails, paperwork, laundry now...will post pictures soon!

Catch-up day

Well, seems like a day to catch-up here. Just got home from Paneras having coffee with dear GFs...one of whom just got back from serving in Afghanistan for the past year. So happy that she made it home safe! We have missed her in our lil' coffee clutch! Its always great to get together and hear about each other's week!

Our two younger boys haves been helping out with a music camp at our church this week. DD has been so sweet to make her lunch every day as well as her dads and her two brothers. I did give her a break last night and did their lunches...she cleaned the pool filter last night, its been hot this week, but yesterday was the perfect day to be outside! She is such a blessing to me.

We had some issues with our AC this week...clogged pipe and it needed a cleaning...why does that always happen when its the hottest out(90s those two days!)

Then DH had complaints of his right hip hurting. He jumped off something at the work camp he and the boys went on and he has discomfort ever since. So got an X-ray and some pain/anti-inflammatory meds. The doctor thinks it may be sciatica. Pills have been a big help...no report on the x-ray...so no news is good news!?

Getting ready to go to see the music production tonight at church and then heading to DS's loft apt. for a fun movie night. He bought a big screen TV from friends who are moving. I made pasta salad and some chicken nuggets for tonight...wondering should I make some brownies, too??

Off to get some chores done..heading on vacation in a week, got lots to get done before then.

Home Again!

I really enjoyed seeing my mom and visiting with my in-laws, too! BUT, it is good t be home!
Arrived home on Sat. from Ohio safe and sound. Beautiful day to drive 7 hours. Uneventful trip...I love those kind of trips.

My mom seems to be getting to know the other residents and staff and seems more at ease then when I first left her there 5 weeks ago. Her progress with PT is amazing. I can imagine in 3 weeks when we all go back to visit, that she will have made even more progress.
We still need lots of prayer with decisions we may need to make down the road....

Scott and the boys arrived home about the same time from their Youth trip down in VA:
Here was a photo of the group that DH worked with all week in the HOT VA sun. Though the week was a great one according to DH and our boys! The workers were blessed in helping out some needy families in fixing up their homes.



DD also arrived home on Sunday from her trip to the Creation Festival in PA. Her fave group was Skillet. She had a great time, but came home with sun poisoning! Its almost gone now though.

After church I ended up taking our youngest DS and two friends(brothers) to a friend's church to go to another youth camp for the week. Our DS was so excited to go...can't wait to hear about his trip on Friday when he returns home!

Had a relaxing day for July fourth...listened to fireworks from neighboring areas all weekend.
Made potatoe salad, cole slaw, baked beans and grilled hamburgers(thanks honey!) Our DD, her BF and another friend washed our vehicles....they needed it after the past week of travels!

I am still getting caught up on things around the house...cleaning the pool...its hot here, I need to GET in the pool today!

Have a blessed day!

Trip to Ohio going well

I made it to Ohio last Saturday. Had a safe and uneventful trip!
Staying with my in-laws and visiting with my mom everyday.

The first day I visited with her, my brother and my cousin and his wife had stopped in for a visit.
It was good to catch up with them and mom really seemed to enjoy seeing them.
I couldn't believe how much progress she had made in under 5 weeks.
She can grip my hand tightly (which she couldn't do the week after the stroke) and she is able to lift herself up from her wheelshair with no assistance. The therapists, nurses and the doctor all feel she is progressing well!

We have had some great times visiting, her depressed mood seems to have decreased and she is getting to know the residents and comes out of her room to the dining room to eat. She wheels herself out!

I appreciate all of you and your thoughts and prayers.
I will keep you posted!

Going to be a busy week...

Next week, we are all traveling...I would appreciate traveling mercies!
I am off to see my mom, DH and the 2 younger teens are off to a Youth work camp, and DD is heading to Creation(Contemporary music festival).

Oldest DS is working(BTW, he is now a permanent employee with benefits!) he and our good neighbors will check in on the cat while we are gone.

Middle son celebrates 17 years!

Who would have thought 17 years ago, this 5 pounds, 14 ounce baby boy would grow up to be taller then everyone else in the family!
Happy Birthday...we love you Joel!


Eating his FAVE chocolate chip pancakes for his birthday breakfast!

Update

Got a call from the rehab center my mom is in, she has been having soreness on her left side hip area. So, the doctor ordered a X-ray of it...waiting on the results.

My MIL sent an email last night to let me know she had a good visit yesterday with my mom. She brought a card stand to put the photos and cards she is getting on it and has it sitting on the TV so mom can see them everyday. MIL said that mom was in a good mood.

Spent time outside getting the pool *fixed* with DH and youngest DS last night. The liner had started to pull away from the side, so we got it fixed thanks to Darryl at Gene Lilly Pool. He told us to heat the liner with a hairdryer to stretch it back into place...and it work!
We are filling the pool now...maybe swim in it by next week?

BTW, I am a member here and a dear crafty friend is giving away a chance to win a necklace and earring set here: http://www.clubposh.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6335 (read the rules) You have till the end of June to make a jewelry piece and then she will have a drawing for the winner. One requirement is you use a JudiKins or POSH impressions stamp. Give it a try!

We have kitchen clean-up duty at church tonight. The last clean-up till the fall.

Phil 4:13

Start of a new week...

(My mom and I on my last visit before returning to Ohio.... )

Sitting here, checking emails, writing emails, Facebook, and thought I would update here.

Its been a week since leaving Ohio and my mom. Since then I have been called three times.
Being my mom's medical Power of Attorney, they have to call me every time there is a new order written or a change in an order. The doctor finally saw her after a week of her admittance last Tuesday! He only ordered BS checks and B/P checks. Then his nurse practitioner came in on Thursday and ordered the meds she was on when she left the hospital from her stroke on May 22nd. She is on 5 meds now and they are checking her BS(blood sugar) 4 times a day now.

My brother and MIL have been visiting since I left, so that makes me worry less. I know they are keeping an eye out on her.

Made my mom some cards and sending her a photo when I send them each time. I gave her a little album to slip cards and photos in when she gets them. My MIL also took her one of those picture stands to put up current cards/photos, too.

Please keep my mom in your prayers and our oldest DS, as well.

Below is a photo of DH and three sons(DD was taking this photo)
on his birthday May 22.

Home

The two boys and I drove back to MD yesterday. Thank goodness for teens who can drive! Joel drove the first three hours and I finished the trip(take 7-1/2 hrs to drive).

I hated leaving my mom, but she even told me a couple of days ago to go home. She is in good hands and seems more resigned to staying till the doctor says she can go home. She is not happy about it, but she knows this has to be the way for now. She says, at least "I have a great appetite!". She eats everything on her tray! That is a great sign.
My brother says he will visit(since he is only 20 min away...and my in-laws also are 20 min away) when he can. My cousins, have been to see her twice and neighbors will also be coming to see her this weekend hopefully.

The doctor is due into see her today...FINALLY! He only sees the patients once a week and he has to do the admitting orders AFTER he sees her. Its been a week since she has been in.

I am praying mightily for her to regain her strength in her left side, that she will continue to take the meds she is ordered, and the dementia remains on the mild side~praying she will be allowed to go home, but IF not that my brother and I will be able to do whats best for our mom.

Planning a trip back to Ohio the end of June, if I can work that all out.

Thank-you for your continued prayers! ♥ I know God is in control.

My mom had a stroke

In case you were wondering where I have been...

My 81yo mom had a stroke and lives alone at home (8 hour drive from me). She may have had it sooner then last Sunday, May 22, but she didn't call the ambulance till Sunday morning when she fell over and couldn't get up.
She had a mild stroke...only left sided weakness...PTL she is right handed. Her speech and her swallowing are fine.

The doctor would only release her from the hospital to a rehab facility. He wrote an order for 30 days. So, I brought her up to a place near my brother and in-laws. She seemed fine when I left, but by 1am she had called my brother and I in. She was angry and very upset. She wanted to go home. We held together and I stay till 5:30am till she had calmed down. She was still very upset with me, because I am her medical power of attorney. (which she signed in 1993 for me to handle that in case she couldn't)

The doctor won't be in to see her till Tuesday. The hospital had said she had dementia...and with the stroke it could cause it to worsen. He will get an earful I am sure. My mom goes between
resigning herself that she has to stay and at other times remembers that I put her there(though I remind it was the doctor) Her appetite is excellent...her PT is going well, but she is stubborn about calling when she needs to get up. She has fallen once so far and they mentioned if she fell again they would put an alarm on her.

I will be returning to MD on Monday...it will be hard for me to leave her. Prayers are needed for her to be complient so she can gain her strength to go home. AND if not that she will adjust to living with help. Pray for my brother, too, as he will need to be checking in on her, which he hadn't been able to do for these past years.

God is in control.

Just wanted to let my blog readers know...

Our DS canceled the wedding. I can share no details, but know he is
devastated. He is on his feet, moving into a loft apt.
and is getting his stuff moved over there this weekend.

We would appreciate prayers for him. It is hard being a parent and seeing
our children hurt. I am grateful to the Lord for His love and care, for in Him we have hope.

♥

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I just got this new Expression 2 this week(Mother's Day present), so I will be busy after next weekend scrap booking photos of DS's wedding!

Our youngest is 14 today!

Hard to believe our youngest is 14 today!
Happy Birthday, Simon!

Jewelry swap

I am in my first jewelry swap at POSH Club and these were the pins I made to exchange out.
The dominoe tutorial I found here: SakuraColorProducts YouTube channel
The top and bottom dominoes I colored with Copics and the middle one I use Sakura's Souffle pens.

Our Anniversary

Twenty eight years ago today, I married the most wonderful man...

Thank-you, God, for guiding us together all these years and blessing us with you grace and love.

It was wonderful to have a dinner prepared by our DD...gumbo(Dad's fave) and Chocolate chip cheesecake(Mom's fave).



Flowers from Jadon E.~ Shanon's BF

Your Paper Pantry Flower swap

Last Month, I participated in my first flower swap here at YPP. The flowers I received were beautiful...Thank-you Julie Walters for hosting this swap!


Cari M.



Barbara G.



Tina Marie F.




Kristen H.

Got our van back!

The body shop called and surprised me, they were done fixing the $5,700 worth of damages done to the van! It looks as good as new. Hope it stays that way for a long time.
The only thing, they forgot about our front license plate...no holes drilled or a license plate to be found. Scott called the body shop and they said it came in with no bumper, or license plate and the tow truck said they delivered the van with a bumper(not sure about a license plate??...no matter, we had to go and stand in line and get replacement license plates. What a hassle, BUT I am happy to have our van back.

DD's Van Accident

Last night DD was in a van accident...her first, coming home from work.
She is fine, just shaken up...she got out of her van to ask the women if she was okay....and the women went off and was upset and saying that she was such a good driver. The woman didn't ask our DD once if she was okay.
The woman was going south and DD was going north when the lady turned left and didn't see DD due to a bus in the lane between them also going the same direction as DD. Neither airbag deployed. Thankfully, that both were not hurt. The policeman said the woman was at fault...but we have to wait till the report to be ready...not till Friday.

Oldest DS moving back home!

DS has decided to move back in with us, so he can save some money... we are thrilled.
Middle DS was HAPPY to move back in with younger DS, so oldest DS could have his old room back. The brothers and DS's fiance moved everything the past couple of nights...he slept here last night. Its great to get hugs from him again and seeing him every day! His wedding will be here before we know it!

Big weekend for our Youth!

Our youth at church every year get the opportunity to run the whole church service and this was their weekend. It was a wonderful time of seeing them open up and share their talents for the Lord.
Our youngest here is 13yo and was the *preacher* for three services: and our middle son, was the drummer for the Praise band and he also did a skit.
Seems all our kids were involved...our oldest son organized the praise team and had them practicing for the past several Saturdays. He also was in the skit with his fiance here:

Our dear daughter ran the slides for the worship.
It was a great Sunday worshiping the Lord together.

Youth Cake auction

It was the Youth's annual cake auction...they had over 25 cakes and made approx. $2600 for their youth trips this summer.
Joel made a Pumpkin Roll
Simon made his Black Bottom Cupcakes!

YPP Sweetie Crop crafts

Been watching some friends on You Tube who kept mentioning Your Paper Pantry ...decided to check it out and join in. They have some wonderful inspiration there, as well as fun challenges and swaps!
There was a Valentine Sweetie Crop this past weekend and I was able to finish up a few things...
Sarah(click here for her YT channel) made some beautiful Valentine cards and Julie(her YT channel) made some cute treat bags.
So here is my treat bag I made:



...and my card and ATC I made(design by Sarah!)

DS trying to keep warm!

This is what 102 feels like...poor boy! He was chilling so bad he put on his outdoor fleece hunting hat!

February SU Club

These were card designs that Paula Oesch came up with for our SU Club this month.
I so enjoy going to Club and making cards! Now to get them sent out!

Movie I watched...

Watched this movie this past week...excellent testimony! Can't believe I hadn't heard of it
before. Borrowed from the library, but plan to buy a copy for our church library.
The power of believing in our Lord as seen through Angus Buchan's life.
See the review here:
http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Like-Potatoes-Frank-Rautenbach/dp/B001QB5SS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296490486&sr=8-1