Aunties are the best!

This is my sister, Rhoda, and my nephew, Evan. She is trying to be the "Best Auntie" but we all know that I have that title! LOL!

Augh!! Auntie's kisses!!!!

Weirdos, I say! :)

Look at those chub chub cheeks!!

He is such a ham! I love that little boy! :)

Cracker Barrel...

Here are a few pictures from Cracker Barrel...Summer is trying to be cute so she can sweet talk me out of my mashed potatoes and gravy! :)

My sister, Rachel.

The most adorable baby nephew in the world...Jack Jack!!!

My heart belongs to Cracker Barrel!

My niece, Kylee. She will be in K-5 this year.

My brother-in-law, Adam, and my nephew, Evan.

My meal of roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, dumplins, biscuits and sweet tea...and that is all I need to say to end this post. :)

Back To School...

Call me crazy...but we started our new school year today! We were all prepared and organized...our school DVD's had arrived...the girls were getting bored this summer...so why not? My husband said, "Already?? Why so soon?" LOL!

Addie is in 3rd grade this year. Holy cow. I read my teacher manual for this year...she has spelling trials and spelling tests, book reports, science notebook project, History quizzes, tests and map skills, Patriotic and Character notebooks for Penmanship, Daily Journal Entries and Creative Writing activities, Reading Skill Sheets and Brain Busters along with quizzes and reading homework, Arithmetic quizzes, tests, speed drills and homework, Bible tests, Health and Art class...

Oh my.

This first day, we are getting a feel for a 3rd grade day. I typed out a schedule for her and posted it by her desk. We are also establishing routines and procedures of where to turn in classwork/seatwork, tests/quizzes, and lastly homework.

Autumn is in 1st grade and is doing a great job. This is her 3rd year home schooling and has come so far!

Sierra had her first day of school - K-4! She absolutely loved it! She is thrilled to have her own school desk, supplies and papers. I am excited to have her involved in our home schooling day.

And Summer gets to hang out in the school room - playing or talking. :)

I am thankful that the Lord has allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and to teach my children in these precious years.

Today's Accomplishments

I like days where I accomplish a whole lot! :) Today was a day I liked.

Before it became too warm, I mowed, trimmed and watered the lawn. I sorted the recycles, put out the garbage for trash day, pulled some stray weeds and watered my tomatoes, peppers and flower plants. I swept the garage, did the dishes three times, washed and dried three loads of clothes. I ironed a stack of clothes that had been patiently waiting for attention and read my Bible with a cup of coffee. I baked a batch of pumpkin bread - one loaf for our neighbors, Bob and Ida, and one for Papa Vern. I made a chicken, broccoli and stuffing casserole to go along with the bread for Papa Vern since he is not able to get around very well and the girls and I made an afternoon visit to his home. I made lime chicken fajitas - wrapped in whole wheat tortillas topped with diced avocado, light sour cream and cheddar cheese for dinner. Yum! We rearranged the office/school room, vacuumed and dusted. I read all the teacher manuals for K-4, 1st and 3rd grade for this school year. I organized the first two weeks folders for each daughter along with their corresponding school papers for each day. We organized their school books and supplies in each of their desks. I bathed the girls, nursed the baby and kissed them good night after we watched an episode of Andy Griffith together. :)

Makes ya feel accomplished when you list it like this...right? LOL!

Have a good night, my friends! :)

No Conditions Involved!

On Sunday nights, my husband has been preaching a sermon on "Breaking the Chains of Religion". Last night in his sermon, he said this statement...

"We have the 'Daisy' theology."

You know...he loves me, he loves me not. We do something wrong - God doesn't love us. We do something right - God loves us. Nope! It sure doesn't work that way!

God's love is not based on circumstances. It is based on Calvary!

In the past 6 months, I heard a pastor say from the pulpit...that not anyone has the right to come before God and ask "why?" He said that you are not allowed that privilege unless you have your life and relationship right with God. The other pastor said...do not expect your prayers to be answered if you do not have your relationship right with God.

I understand what these men are trying to say...but I feel that is religion.

God loves me no matter if my relationship is right with Him or not. Why? Because I am His child.

I have four children. They are often not obedient...but that does not revoke their child status. They are often rebellious. But that does not mean that I don't meet their needs. They are often simply rotten. But I still love them.

I know that I am a child of God for I have accepted Him as my Saviour. I am a child of God.

If you are His child, God loves you.

No conditions involved. Period!

Break the chains of religion and stop putting conditions on God's love!

Saturday Night...

Where has the time gone? The summer is flying by us...I never seem to catch up. LOL!

I spent some time today cutting coupons and organizing my coupon binder. I have failed miserably this summer to stay on top of it. :/ After a late spring, I just wanted to be outside getting projects done and put my couponing to the side. I still have a few projects I really want to accomplish the next two weeks...but I have vowed to do couponing this week...even if it is just one item! :) There are some good back-to-school sales that I need to hit!

Speaking of back-to-school, we are starting our fresh, new year of home schooling in just two short weeks! Yikes! We are starting 2 weeks early because we take one week off for Nana's yearly visit and one week off for our family Disneyland trip. :) The girls' DVD's are arriving on Wednesday. We also have to buy their needed supplies, another portable DVD player and get the school room organized! I still can't believe I will have 3 home schooling this year...it can't be possible that Sierra is starting K-4. Wow. I have a feeling it will be a very busy school year. :)

That is all my ramblings for today. :)

Grandma and Her Funeral

My family: Dad, Mom, Rachel, Rhoda and me

What a busy and different week it has been! As you know, my Grandma Holt passed away last week. I spent Wednesday and Thursday... in a semi-frantic way...buying a plane ticket, making many, many calls, scheduling babysitters, doing laundry, packing, cleaning house. It takes a lot for a wife and mom to leave her home and to leave Daddy by himself with 3 kids and 2 dogs. ;)

Last Friday morning, Summer and I flew out for the east to Chicago. My sister, Rachel, picked me up from the airport and I stayed with her family. I loved getting to see our newest nephew, Jack David, who is 6 weeks old and is affectionately called Jack Jack by our family. :) It was fun for our 10 month old daughter, Summer, to see all my family who have never met her in person. She is a very easy going baby and makes up to anyone who will talk to her. LOL!

My other sister, Rhoda, was also able to come for the funeral from Mesa, AZ. It was the first time in over 3 years that we have been together as sisters and we had a blast. :) Well, we kind of pick on Rhoda - who has blonde tendencies - so maybe that was part of the fun! LOL! One of the best memories was singing Happy Birthday to her out to eat for her 30th birthday meal...the restaurant going dead silent as we sang...and then the entire restaurant clapping and cheering for her! Nothing like good fun! Ha ha! :)

I was also able to visit with so many of my extended family that I have not seen in years. My Uncle Rodney and Aunt Sandy were kind to open their home for all of us to stay. Their fridge and counters were packed full of food that friends and family brought over for everyone.

On Sunday, the viewing was held. We were all amazed at the loved ones lined up...for a solid 3 hours...waiting to view the body and give their condolences to the family.

It was truly the love of a small community and a tight family.

I believe this is how it is supposed to be...

Monday, the sweet service for my grandma was held. We then left her body to be put in the ground at the graveside service. And yes, it was just her body. She still lives in my heart and memories in my mind.

To be honest, I don't feel that it has hit me yet...it is very odd to me. I can hardly understand it...it doesn't seem to me that she is gone.

I love you, Grandma.

My Grandma...

Today...our family had a pretty big shock. My Grandma Holt went to Heaven today. Her health had been declining over the past few years. Even though we knew one day it would happen, I didn't think it would be "this" day. But it was. It was the day she graduated to her new home with Jesus.

Grandma always did joke about winning the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. :) She would buy a new home...well, she received that new home today! Courtesy of her Heavenly Father!

I have so many memories of my Grandma...but my mind is a little tired to share tonight. I will soon...

So tomorrow, I hope to finalize my plans in going back to my home state - Ohio - for the funeral and to be with my dear family who I have not seen in over 3 years. I look forward to laughing and remembering the great times together with our dear Grandma.

And I will remember my oldest daughter's words today..."I bet Great Grandma is up there in Heaven going to "Jesus' Museum and Depot" - where you can see all the Bible stories and everything is free! And you can take a train to tour Heaven!"

Yep. Grandma is definitely the blessed one! :)

"What Will You Do With My $100?"

My husband being a pastor for a year now...one of the burdens...is the finances of the church. In the one year of our church, we went from the small conference room at the Hampton Inn for $90.00 a week to now having a permanent building to call home for $1,624.89. (LOL! I do the bill paying so I know. :) A big jump. A large step. A big undertaking for our small congregation of believers.

Finances will make or break most anything...marriages...businesses...and churches. So in being the wife of the pastor, I share that burden with my husband.

I wouldn't say we necessarily worry. But it stays on our mind a lot. :)

Yesterday morning, I read this verse in II Chronicles 25:9... "And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this."

Yes, he surely is. I am grateful for everyone person that is faithful to the Lord and tithes...they give back to God simply what is His.

As I look at the tithe that my husband and I give each week in the church offering...I can ask God..."What will you do with the $100 that I have given to Sierra View Baptist Church?"

And the Lord answers me..."I am able to give thee much more than this."

Yes, the Lord will take care of Sierra View Baptist Church...His church.

And for that reason, there is no worry. :)

Chicago Style...

Well, it is summer. And that means hot dogs.

Tonight, I tried making our own Chicago style dogs! Pretty fun! The girls even tried them too...well, Addie skipped the mustard and they didn't do the peppers but they still tried them. :)

Chicago dogs are beef hot dogs on a poppy seed bun (OK...we did regular hot dogs on regular buns...LOL!) topped with a dill pickle spear, tomato wedges, mustard, sweet relish, hot peppers, chopped onion and celery salt.

Pretty good!

A Fresh Salsa Week...

This week has been a slow motion week. Ha ha! I think it seemed that way because of the heat...but this week promises to cool down in the 80's...wonderful! I also battled a cold all week which dragged me down quite a bit.

A Monday holiday of the 4th threw my week off. On Tuesday, I thought it was Monday. On Wednesday, I thought it was Tuesday. It did seem to make the week go by faster though. :)

So Tuesday, I unpacked from the weekend, did laundry, ironing and house cleaning. It is just nice to be caught up and enjoy your clean home.

Wednesday, we had a family over from our church for dinner. Since it was so warm, I decided to go with tacos. I also made homemade salsa - or pico de gallo as the hubby calls it. Mmm! It is my sister's recipe and so yummy this time of the year! I am wondering why tomatoes are still so expensive though. :/ I also made a new recipe for the meal...Orange Cream Fruit Salad which tasted like orange sherbet! Quite yummy! We had wonderful fellowship with our church family.

Thursday was my office work day. Hmmm....not my favorite but it has to be done. Paying all the bills, balancing the family budget, doing the little things here and there that have been sitting on my desk patiently waiting to be done. :) The feeling after it is all done is much better than when you are doing it. LOL!

Friday, we did a few errands in town, cleaned the church building for Sunday services and went to one appt. for Sierra. Then it was off to home to make brownies and more salsa...and then to dinner at the Traynor home.

So this morning, Summer and I (the early birds of the family) are up enjoying the cool morning and watering the lawn and plants. It takes a lot of watering here in the desert. :) For lunch, the hubby and I are taking off to do a few things for the church and have a lunch date. Happy sigh. :) Hope you had a wonderful week!

My 4th of July

I hope you all had a blessed 4th of July holiday with your friends and family!

We had a wonderful day at Sierra View Baptist Church with a great Sunday morning service and a delicious potluck picnic at the park. It was pretty warm...nearly to the melting point! LOL! The kids found their refreshment in the small stream right by our picnic area. Our 3 yr. old seemed to enjoy lying in the mud at the side of the stream while the other kids smeared mud on her! Geez! :)

We then hurried home to take off for an evening camping outing. We enjoyed a quick get-away in the foothills of the Sierras under the beautiful trees. :) That is an inside joke...my husband loves trees! LOL! Our friends, David and Danyelle joined us on spur of the moment and we enjoyed their company. :)

On our way home, we took the scenic drive again...LOL!...through Carson City and Virginia City...and then home sweet home. A long shower and back to a soft bed. :)

On a side note, because of our late start to summer and all the late season snow, I saw on our local news that they opened a few of the ski resorts and you could actually go skiing on July 4th right here! They said it was only the 4th time for Squaw Valley Resort to open on July 4th! Pretty neat I thought! :) We still have a bit of snow on top of Peavine - the mountain I see from my living room window. Love it!

Freebie!

I am trying to fit couponing back in my schedule...and in the mail came a FREE Gillette razor and 2 cartridges that I had signed up for awhile back. :)

Eagle Falls...

This is Eagle Falls.

It was so full with the snow melting and run-off.

Another breathtaking part of God's nature!

Eagle Lake....

OK...this is Eagle Lake. One of the many mountain lakes tucked away in the Sierras.

Taking a break after the hike and just taking it all in...

It is absolutely one of my favorite places...

Check out how clear the water is...

Simply amazing!