Bette Davis Eyes

This was the #1 Song on the day I was born in May of 1981... I'm not going to say an oldie but a goodie (because that was mean I'm old!) and I'm not!!! I'm not!!! I'm not!!! I'll just keep telling myself that.

At 28, I'm excited about this stage in my life. I love being a mama of these two boys. Staying home with them is such a blessing. My husband has given me one of the most precious gifts that he ever could and that is time with these boys.

I can't believe how far I've come, (life in general). I was born, as I said in May of '81 - first of three daughters. My mom and dad brought us girls up in a small Bible Church in a tiny one horse town in Idaho. I had an awesome childhood, playing in haystacks, riding horses, sleeping outside on the trampoline on those beautiful, clear nights.

I went to the same exact school building as my mother for both elementary and high school and had at least 5 to 10 same teacher/administrators as she did and looking like her exact clone... well lets just say I answer to Jackie also.

I don't remember the exact moment that I asked Jesus to live in my heart as my Lord and Savior and I accepted him as my Savior but he is the only thing I've ever known. Maybe some would say this is a bad thing, that I didn't get to make that choice... well I'll tell you - I've chose him a million times over, since then.

I went through High School being snobby, stuck up and just plain ugly yet; all along those fruits of the spirit were tugging at my heart and I would give anything to do several years of my life over... who wouldn't? I have a list in my mind of several million things I would do over... it is so hard to let go of the past and to live for today.

But what's the use, it is just a dream to be able to go back and fix those things - those nights I drove my mother to tears, dating a man with - come to find out a wife who was pregnant (but, he said he was going to divorce her!) Sami Jo! You're a Big Dummy!!! is what I thought to myself after escaping that one, and so on and so on.

I thank the Lord every day that I didn't get into a huge mess when I was younger, not that I have everything figured out now (or anything for that matter) and I know there will be many more trials ahead - BUT I'm just so thankful for his hand guiding me through those years... he guided me to meet the Man I married, the Father of our Children and my Best Friend. I'm so thankful for Ben's grace an his unconditional love. I strive and strive to be a good wife and mother; a wife my husband is well-pleased with and my children will be proud of. I thank God everyday for these "every day 2nd chances" to keep trying, to get it right and to honor him.

So as a close to this heartful out pour of a testimony I ask you... Do you know him? - the one that can give you this peace to forget your past and carry on? Did you know he makes it possible to start each day over, every hour, every second, every life? He loves you more than life itself and he proved His love when he died for you on Calvary.

Something I day-dream about and it just gives me goosebumps is the dream of one day, standing in line, and finally getting to the front of the line to finally get to see him...he takes hold of my hand so gently and looks into these green "Sami Jo eyes" and says to me "Well done my good and faithful servant, Welcome Home.".... Ahhhhh chills I tell ya. I love this, I look forward to this and this is what keeps me "battling every day" (as my mom and dad call it).

Thanks for letting me share this with you.

Happy Day, The Lady of the House

Lovely

I was up late...

looking at this awesome gal's blog. She's super chic and I just love the combinations of furniture and decor she thinks up.

I was also up late looking at this: from here,

and these: from here,

and this:from here.

I went to bed dreaming of these:

from this fabulous place.

Loveliness ♥.

Mimi's Pantry

My mom has the sweetest blog (found here) that is always positive and encouraging. I love going there to look at some family pictures, get an up-date about her "Journey", feed my spirit and look at her fabulous recipes to feed my belly in Mimi's Pantry!

Today, I'm taking advantage of her Banana Bread recipe that she has (it is on the 2nd page). Over Christmas, I know I ate one loaf all to myself. Everyone was like - "Where did that loaf go?" and I just turned around and walked back up the stairs *wink*wink*! (I think I did that with my sister's Chocolate Cheese Cake too - I think, I don't really know because I was in a sugar coma most the time we were there - tee hee - Just Kidding!)

I do love this Banana Bread recipe and you should go to her Pantry and try it out too!!

Y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Love, The Lady

Lord, am I just talkin'?

Click here for Chonda!

I just love this. I want my kids to remember me this way.
Learning to walk the walk,
Love, The Lady of the House

These are a few of my favorite things...

Delectable Pears...

a fabulous tear-jerker by a favorite author...

a little coffee with my cream and sugar in a favorite coffee cup...

glass bottles...

beautiful crosses hung throughout our home...

pretty sea shells...

glass canisters that hold my sugar and flower,

basket weave,

lovely glass door knobs,

marvelously aged hinges,


gloriously, wishful, long eye lashes,

precious chubby cheeks,


a well groomed pooch,

(Craigslist for $25 - and she brought it to me)

and a fabulous find.

A surprise for our Daddy

On Saturday our daddy had to work all day... plus he was sick!So Pauly and I wanted to surprise him with some warm

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

So we called Aunt Jo Jo for her Top Secret Cookie Recipe...And Pauly helped me stir the batter and he helped me lick the beaters

*wink wink*...

Our Daddy got home just as the first batch was coming out of the oven. Daddy loved his special surprise!! and even Billy couldn't resist a little lick...

A message to Mimi and Papa from Billy

I asked Billy if he wanted Mimi and Papa to come see him and this is what he did... I think that means yes you two!! I had nothing to do with it...

uneventful on a Friday night

Conversation between mama and 2 year old...

Boy: Look mama! Look mama! Look mama - starts drawing on the table instead of on paper...

Mama: nnnnnuuuhhhhmmmmm

Boy: stops and continues drawing on paper...

Boy: Baby's cryin' mama

Mama: He's okay, he'll go to sleep soon.

Boy: Look Mom (drawing)

Mama: What is that?

Boy: Frog mom, frog mom, frog mom, Mater mom, Mater mom, Mater mom

Mama: Nice...(tired/fake enthusiasm noted)

Boy: Baby's cryin' - cryin' mom... baby's cryin mom... cyin'

(1 minute later)

Boy: Baby's happy mom, baby's happy mom... happy mom

Mama: yep.

Boy: wsat mom? wsat mom? (shows drawing)

Mama: (shrug)

Boy continues to draw for a few minutes... ... ...

Mama thinks: quietness is a beautiful thing

Boy: wsat mama? (pointing)

Mama: (keeps typing... ) is bored, T.I.R.E.D!, and wishes her husband was home...

Boy: wsat mama, wsat mom, wsat?

Mama: What is it?

Boy wsat mama, wsat?

Mama: What is it?

Boy: Ok

Are you waiting?

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am peaceful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it's not easy

But faithfully, I will wait

Yes, I will wait

I will move ahead bold and confident

I'll be taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve You while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting

I will serve you while I'm waiting

I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Artist: John Waller

The other night I watched Fireproof. This was not the first time I had seen it. I had watched it once before... but this time I paid more attention... I heard this song on the movie and fell in love instantly to the point I was rewinding the movie over and over. Now, I have it on my blog and you can listen to it here.

Wait for the LORD, and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land... Psalms 37:34

Happy Day, The Lady of the House

Can you say Anthropologie Giveaway?

I knew you could! Go here to sign up! Sarah at A Beach Cottage is totally fabulous! You'll love her dumpster diving finds she spruces up with a little (okay maybe a lot!) of white paint (see honey, I'm not the only one) and then adds it to her perfectly beachified (totally not a word)cottage in a little seaside town in Australia.

She has great ideas for us penny pinching people (say that 5 times fast) who love our little houses to reflect our coastal style.

Enjoy! & go sign up! (it ends 1.22.10)

What's for dinner Mama?

Last week I made this meal for us. It is Ranch Chicken Nuggets w/ a mustard dippin' sauce, Butternut Squash and Green Beans.

The Butternut Squash - I just cut in half and put in a casserole pan (cut side up) with a little butter, salt and pepper, and a tiny bit of brown sugar. Baking at 400 for 1.4 hours. I like it cooked well so I can take out the meat and mash it up. This squash came from Ben's garden, it was delish!!!

The Green Beans - I also put in a casserole dish and tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper. I baked them for about 1/2 hour at 400. My favorite way to cook grean beans!

The Chicken Nuggets - I took boneless chicken breasts and cut into strips then dipped them into flour, then ranch dressing, then bread crumbs. I put them on a cookie sheet lined with tin foil and baked at 400 for about 45 minutes to an hour.

The Dippin' sauce - I took deli mustard with about 2 T mayonnaise and 1/4 c of sour cream and stirred it up, giving everyone a little glass bowl of it.

Man! This was a yummy meal and easy and healthy too! At one point all of it was in the oven at once. I like baking verses frying of course for health reasons and it doesn't make the huge mess... just toss the tin foil right! My kind of clean up :)

Have a wonderful day y'all!

my little Frankenstein

Remember Frankenstein from Big Daddy? Well...

Blockhead

These are Pauly's blocks that came from Mimi and Papa. The other night I wanted to construct a masterpiece (which was quite hard to accomplish with a 2 year old that adores to knock things over!) While fending like a running back doing the heisman I constructed this masterpiece! Isn't it fab!

Had a craving

My 2 year old had a craving for apple the other day...

My sweet...

I hoped one day it would finally happen...

I prayed for you as long as I can remember...

I had my doubts at times...

And then He sent me you...

And you are more perfect than I had ever dreamed you could be...

More wonderful than I could ever imagine...

My sweet, My Paul, My son.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.
Psalms 127:3

Dream

Dream when the day is through Dream, and they might come true Things never are as bad as they seemSo dream, dream, dream....

Come Fly with Me - - - - - - - - - - Let's Fly, Let's Fly Away

Auntie Jo Jo was here last week.

And Bailey Boo.


And Mr. Birch Too!


The kids played.And laughed.


And Billy got to fly away...

A Cheerful Heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Prov 17:22