~ surprised by 2 ~

I
had an amazing weekend. My
weekend started Friday night
with an awesome concert put
on at my church. It was kicked
off by some awesome worship

and I don't know about you but that is always good for this girl's soul.

Paula Dunn, was the special speaker and she is a great singer - so Friday night,

she shared a little with us but mostly she sang for us. Then on Saturday, she

sang for us as well as brought us an amazing message.

I will be sharing more about her message in the days to come this week but for now,

I have to tell you about the other part of my weekend.

Saturday night, after I got home from listening to Paula speak -

my sister and her friend, Brian made us dinner.

It. Was. Amazing!

Here are some pics of the two of them working their magic in the kitchen.

It was very sweet to watch their excitement for serving us

dinner.

 It was all a big secret and they wouldn't tell us what they were making and

for the most part they did their best to keep us out of the kitchen and to keep it all a surprise!

 I'm sure you all can relate to how nice it was not to have to worry about dinner

that night and to be served something super special.

It was so thoughtful and so very sweet.

 I just love this picture of these pictures of the two of them working together in the kitchen.

They both really like to cook and try new food.

 The magic moment when the ribs came out of the oven!

He was so proud...

and rightly so!

They were delish!

All of it was amazing!

 They made us BBQ Beef Ribs, Loaded Mash Potatoes, Cilantro Lime Rice,

and an awesome Green Salad.

 For dessert, Casi made Strawberry Shortcakes with Cinnamon Sprinkled over Pineapple.

It was divine!

Thank you, you two!

It was so nice of you to work so hard to make it so nice for us.

Have you surprised a loved one recently?

~ getting direction ~

E
very single morning I talk to my
mom, it’s how I roll. And every
single morning she reminds me to
put on the armor of God and get in
the Word. This morning I was being

a good girl and well… doing what I was told yes, but also doing what I know kicks off my morning right and I was getting in the Word. I was on my computer and was trying to remember a verse that I heard yesterday at church – I knew it was found somewhere in 2 Timothy… well actually I wasn’t sure if it was 1 or 2 Timothy – but I knew it was Timothy – I Googled 2 Timothy and as Google made it’s suggestions to me, I picked 3 and I was so blessed that I did… Although this is not quite the verse I was looking for from church yesterday – this really spoke to me and I wanted to share.

2 Timothy 3 1-7
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

After reading this I was thinking well … I’m not one of those ”gullible” women which in real life, I know I am QUITE gullible but I didn’t quite think this applied to me… THEN I really started being honest with myself. So I asked myself, ”Do I associate myself with any of the people that were described above?” … and honestly, I do. And did you read the part where it said, ”Have nothing to do with such people”?

I felt this morning, this was God’s way of telling me I needed to reevaluate and it reminded me that he didn’t say keep these people at arm’s length, he didn’t say be friendly and stay away from them, he didn’t say let these people into your home and try and befriend them – NO, he said HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SUCH PEOPLE. So this really made me think about who I associate myself with and are they these ”such people”? … or maybe, am I one of these people? GASP!

Lord knows I can be selfish, prideful, and I do like money. BUT I would have to say I don’t believe that any of those things have such a rein on me that they keep me from submitting myself to God and his plans for me but as all sin can, it can "worm" it's way between us and the one Truth.

Now I’ve got to think about the people I've been surrounding myself with, my kids and family with. Are they helpful or harmful – conceited or humble –  love God or do they love with themselves, money or idols? All very hard things to think about…

I always love it when this kind of things happens and where I thought I would end up this morning in my Bible Studying wasn't quite what God had in mind for me. It's amazing to know how powerful his Word truly is.

How about you? How does this verse speak to you?

~ life ~

I've been waiting to share
this with you for a couple of
weeks now. It is regarding
my dad and a topic that is

so dear to my heart.

I received a call from my dad about a month and a half ago.

It doesn't usually work out that my dad is calling me. Usually I sneak in a good chat with him when I'm calling the house and he answers, we chat and then he hands the phone off to Casi or Mama.

It just doesn't usually work out this way that he is calling me -
So I couldn't help but think first off: What's up?...

then he said those dreaded words, "I've got something important to tell you."

My second thought: Who died, now?...

Come on, Man! You're going to tell me something important and you have to prep me by telling me you have something important to tell me? Both my parents do this -& it drives us nuts! I always think somebody died or something terrible TERRIBLE happened. My stomach jumps up into my throat and I get all sweaty and sticky...

but really? how else are they supposed to say it? How do you tell somebody you have something important to tell them without throwing them into a panic attack?

ANYWAYS....

Well thankfully, no one had died.

My dad went on to remind me about an old friend he has, Clay Baird.

I remembered him. I think I could probably point him out to you but I never really had a real conversation with the guy as an adult and I couldn't tell you specifics about him or what he likes or what kind of a life he's had but I know him and my dad are good friends and through the years, have been keeping tabs on each other.

My mom recently reminded me that Clay's grandfather, Jake Baird, and my dad's grandfather, Charlie Fancher, were really good friends. So when the old men were together so were their grandsons (my dad and Clay). That is how Clay and my dad really got to know each other and how they became good friends.

Clay had called my dad to tell him that he had just accepted the Lord as his savior and there was something more he told my dad...
that he was dieing.

Back to our conversation - Dad shared with me that Clay was dieing.from Hepatitis C - he had got this from a blood transfusion that he had to get when he got hurt really badly when riding bulls when he was younger.

His liver is failing. His body is slowly getting poisoned from his liver not working correctly.

then Dad said it...

"I'm going to give Clay a piece of my liver."

..................... I started to cry..................

and then I said, "Are you sure?"

"Are you sure everything will be okay, Dad?"

...... tears, questions, prayers followed......

Dad went on to explain this huge process of how him and mom would have to go to California to get a ton of tests done and get tested to see if their blood were matches and see if their tissues matched and on and on.

So then I decided it was far to early to freak out & really when does freaking out help anyway?

But, I definitely had my doubts and concerns -
 Not that I didn't want this to actually happen & Not that I didn't want this amazing gift to be given -

I just knew it was time to pray, to think about what all this gift means

and what this could mean for our family
and for Clay's.

Clay will die without this transplant... it's inevitable.

I started getting this huge swarm of questions...

What kind of struggles we would go through as a family? What kind of strengths we would draw from this?

Is this safe? Will my dad be okay to live a normal life after this? Will my mom be okay with whatever happens?

So many questions...

Planning and prepping - Thinking and Praying - it was time for such things.

My sisters and I went through all the questions and possible outcomes - we prayed and cried together.
 I believe all of this has given us a good basis for being prepped for this journey.

Obviously, being prepared brings peace for any journey, especially the life-changing ones.

So off mom and dad went to California - they stayed for a few days and dad got lots of testing done...

come home and a few weeks later dad gets the call...

he is the best possible match.

Okay! Now things are getting serious.
More praying, more tears and more planning.

So as of now, mom and dad have to go back to California to see if dad is a tissue match at the end of this month.

If all goes well the surgery will be April 4th...

the day of my parents 31st Wedding Anniversary.

That's right, on my mom and dad's 31st Wedding Anniversary my dad will be getting surgery to give the greatest gift a man can ever give.

I would appreciate all the prayers you can give my family during this time, and I will do my best to update you on details.

My heart swells with pride for my Dad. I adore his selflessness. I adore that he has no shame for God and be it in his school work (oh, yes - in all of this he just started going back to school to get his college degree), his real pay-the bills-work, at church, home, in the ropin' arena, at Wal-mart or up on the mountain top - he is not afraid to sit right down with you and share God's love with you. He's just awesome like that.

 Just thinking about my adoration for my Mama brings me to tears. I watch her cast away lies told by The Destroyer and as she takes hands with God.

Trusting him to unfold the plans for them in this precious journey. 

Trusting God to prep her heart for whatever outcome and undoubtedly she will always give Him the Glory

for all of the precious gifts we are receiving from this journey. She's an awesome example of a wife after God's own heart.

So many gifts...
The gift of life.

The gift of unity for our family and a renewed love for God's mercy, love and grace.

I am thanking God and praising Him for the gift of reflection for myself.
& so many more...

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

I shall think upon such gifts and keep my eyes forward and my nose buried.

This is the only way.

*My mama writes a blog here and please feel free to follow there also for updates.

~ forward ~

After I had our second son, Mr. William, I was blessed by a sweet gal named Trudy, who is the wife to my husband's manager.

Trudy organized a time with me and slaved her little heart away cooking and brought us a dinner to remember! She made us Chicken Enchiladas, Refried Beans, Rice and a scrumptious dessert ( I say scrumptious because I don't exactly remember what she made - case of the mama brain :) I just remember it was REALLY good) There might of been something I'm missing... - Oh! Corn! She brought us corn! Ooooh it was buttery and delish! She totally catered to our every single need. She brought Napkins, Paper Plates, she even brought gifts for the boys (because it was around Christmas Time).

Totally.

&

Completely.

Spoiled.

Us.

Up!

I remember making a vow to myself that I was going to do the same for someone else. I had to! I had to play a part in making someone feel the way that Trudy made us feel. 

So today - I got up - started roasting my chicken at 8:30 am, fed the boys banana pancakes, played around on Facebook and then promptly made my way back to the kitchen for the next few hours.

I loved every minute of it.

I baked these cookies.

Tagging along will be this Chicken and Biscuit Stew

 and this Apple - Feta Green Salad.

and when my sweet boys wake up from their nap - I will load them up...

and we will go for a little drive...

to deliver these goodies to a girlfriend of mine who had

their

2nd baby boy

about a month ago.

::sigh::

Feels so good to do good.

~ little slice of heaven ~

During our stay in Washington we were blessed to have had the opportunity to meet a very kind and generous family that I had been waiting weeks to meet!

But before I introduce you to the fabulous family... let me show you their home!

The home is about 105 years old - it was brought to it's current location in 1940. They had to cut it into two separate pieces and moved it on a horse-drawn sleigh during December.

The home was placed on a pre poured foundation - Amazing to think how they might of accomplished this.
The owner says there are no visible cracks in the foundation.

Previously belonging to her husband's father - the home is full of character and

is spilling over with love and history.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now - for the tour...

This gorgeous vintage oven is what you see the moment you are welcomed in the door.

Her vision for warmth and charm is purposefully placed through her kitchen -

making you feel like she did it all

just.

for.

you. 

In the kitchen you'll find a quaint breakfast nook that is seated with old benches.

This cozy corner was already in the house when they moved in.

I day dreamed of the many families who might of sat tucked away in their comfort as they shared details about their day with each other. 

Her love for thrifty vintage finds was obvious as she gave me the tour through her charming home.

I had to take a picture of the salt and pepper shakers - aren't they sweet? ... or salty? - I mean... Ha!


I just loved her old sink.

The flowers she had placed on the window ledge were so happy -

I'm sure they make her smile on a daily basis.

The birds and the tea towels were begging to be photographed. They were so sweet.

And this is the guest bedroom... I fell in love with this chair.

This print of this little girl was her grandmother's.

So beautiful.

I really love the different textures and design of fabrics that she used in this room.

... and then there was the bead board.

Y'all know how I love bead board. It's just awesome in this room!

Then there was the ticking bedspread... so many treasures.

I could take a beautiful nap in this room - THAT'S for sure.

Next - the gorgeous bathroom!

There was one whole wall full of built-ins.

Talk about a girlly girl's dream!

I just loved the way she used this little three-tiered stand. Very clever.

Such a cute little stand chalked full of little treasures -

like this wire basket...
drool.
drool.

Leopard print can be found throughout her home and it's a fabulous unexpected surprise!

These little storage cubbies were just another awesome detail of the character in their home.

::sigh::

See - Polka Dots!

Just.

for.

me.

How'd she know I love them SO!?

This transom made my heart skip-a-beat.

Here - is the sun room.

Can you tell what the light fixture is?

Yep! Grapes.

So fun.

The sun room was laced with white sheers that I'm sure filters in the sunlight so beautifully and makes this little room very desirable in the warmer months for reading, napping :) and sipping iced tea.

Unexpected treats were all through their home... for example this framed print seen here -
she picked it up at a thrift store,

This was her grandfather's school bell - She adores bells and there were others sprinkled vicariously through their home.

She had antique cowbells too!

Oh yeah - the girl's got style!

and little glimmers here and there to bring in the celebration of the holidays to come.
I just loved this pillow.

and this is her...

My new friend Carolyn.

I just loved this picture - can we be any more alike?  - we're both wearing black and ruffles.


She's just a kick and a fabulous hostess!


She's a delight to be around!

Carolyn and her family are neighbors to my sister in Washington and Jodi introduced us.

We live so far apart but through Facebook we have become friends and often bounce ideas off each other when it comes to lovin' up our homes.

She's super thrifty and well... she gets me.

It's important to have a friend like Carolyn - I hope you are as blessed as I am.

This is Carolyn and her husband Ed (left) and their son William (right) - they have an older son - Joey who had already left to return to college after the Thanksgiving holiday.

This family was a breath of fresh air.

Carolyn and Ed showered all of us with encouragement and compliments.

There was great conversation, wine and fudge - and all of this while we were shimmered by twinkle lights in a beautiful home.

What more could this girl ask for?

They were sweet to our babies and tended to their every need.

For Pauly, that was cup after cup of water - he. was. VERY. thirsty!

We all had a wonderful visit and look forward to seeing them again.

Till then, dear friends ~
Thank you for the wonderful evening and peek into your
gorgeous home.

God Bless you all in your "little slice of heaven"!

~ Please meet Kimberly & Trixie ~

"Ben! My washer has moved around the room again and there is water on the floor."

 Ben sighs, "Okay, I'll take a look at it... again."

Ben takes yet another trip to the hardware store a couple of blocks away and shows up back at home with yet another hopeful remedy to keep our washer level and keep it from leaking. It was doing this so often that I'd go into our laundry room and the washer would have turned almost a full circle.

Amazing, right?

SOOOOO Frustrating!

I finally asked Ben if he thought we should just go put a brand new one on our Home Depot credit card or maybe look for one on Craigslist - I was to the point of tears because the majority of our clothes had a gross mildewy smell and well... I was at the end of my rope.

So, I prayed.

I prayed for God to bring us an answer of what we should do... We didn't have the money to go buy a brand new one, as I said we'd have to put it on the credit card and make payments or buy a used one and HOPE we bought it from someone that wasn't in the business of ripping people off... I couldn't deal with it on my own. So I gave it to Him.

It's always easier that way.

A few months went by and my little washer (that could NOT) was actually doing pretty good. It had been a few weeks since it was walking around the room and there hadn't been any leaks. I had cleaned it with Clorox and so the smell was very minimal and so I thought WOW! He healed it! He healed my washer.

Praise God!

and I skipped along my merry way thanking him for his blessings and washed and folded till my hearts content. (notice I didn't say put them away because putting away laundry is NOT my strong point BUT I can wash and fold like nobody's business!)

Then -

ring .. ring...

M - Hello?
AL - Hello Sami Jo!

(it was Aunt Louise or AL as I call her when I'm texting and such)

M - Hey Aunt Louise! How are you?

AL - Well - we're pretty good... I called to tell you, I think we are going to be moving back to Boise...

(they had moved to Idaho Falls about a year ago for work and my Uncle Brad [or UB as I refer to him when texting or otherwise]) was now looking for employment and they figured why not be back where they prefer to live while they wait for employment)

It's a bitter-sweet move (AL continued) but we are just waiting for the Lord to guide us to where he wants us to be permanently.

M - Ahh, well I'm happy you'll be back here so we can see you more.

AL - We are going to live in Mr. and Mrs. M's home as you know they have moved to Switzerland.

M - right, that's awfully nice of them.

AL - yes, it will be nice - and I have a question for you.

(I always hate it when AL says this because... well you have to know AL but who knows what her "question" could be - she's a sharp one that gal and so I silently prepared myself for well... as I said, who knows what she had come up with...)

M - yeah?

AL - The Ms have left their washer and dryer in their house and I have my own I'll be bringing and I asked Mrs. M what I should do with her washer and dryer and she said to just donate or find a home for them... how's your doing?

While she said this a lump crawled up from my stomach to my throat and my eyes welled up in tears.

M - actually my washer is dieing. Oh my gosh? ... really?

AL - yeah! they are front loading and Mrs. M said just find a place for them so you are the first one I thought of.

Still to this day I get goose bumps and want to just sob thinking about it.

M - Oh my gosh... AL, that's so awesome.... really?

AL - Really. So - here's what I want you to do.

Oh great - here she goes again, what is she going to want me to do... I'm telling you this lady takes great pride in being unpredictable and those flashy light blue eyes will burn a hole through your heart... She should really be a salesman - because you can't say no to her... no one can.

M - okay?

AL - measure your stairs from the railing to the wall and ceiling to floor and measure the door to make sure we can get them in there. We will be there Saturday to drop them off.

M - okay, railing to ceiling  - floor to ...

AL - railing to wall and ceiling to floor and measure the doors

you who know AL know first-hand how this sounds...

M - k - let me write it down.

AL - and we'll be there on Saturday...

M - okay, got it. and thanks again - so much - tell Mrs. M. thank you. I'm so excited!

AL - okay - see you Saturday sweety...

M - Okay I'll get it measured and see you Sunday - 

AL - SATURDAY!

M - Sorry, Saturday.

AL - All right, love you, bye.

M - love you, bye.

Please meet Kimberly and Trixie...

Kimberly is the Washer and Trixie is the Dryer - I'm a weird - o. I know. I name things like cars and washers - WHATEVER. I get it from my mother... she's a cuke - I love her.

Anyways, I love them so.

I actually sit in front of them and watch our clothes go around n 'round. I love how they have alarms on them and I can hear it upstairs. They are far more efficient and quiet and well... gorgeous.

Now if only my laundry room got the gorgeous memo...  I think it needs paint... what color - do you think?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So! As you read Mr. and Mrs M and family moved their sweet little selves to Switzerland... or somewhere foreign like that and I have no clue how to send them a Thank you and well AL is unpacking and she's quick but I thought... I know how I can thank them - Sami Jo style.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THANK YOU!

my dear sweet, thoughtful M Family!

You have blessed more than you know - you blessed us and we're paying forward the blessing by donating my perfectly fine dryer to someone in our church.

Our cups are running over here in Boise, Idaho.

Every. last. one. of. them. (even Daphnie's :)

We adore you all and miss you - as we know our Aunt, Uncle and cousin (and I think even Fancher) miss you oh so dearly and it tugs at our heart strings to see them miss you all so very much.

We're blessed to have met you and spend last New Year's with you and we will treasure that memory forever.

Peace be with you and God Bless you all.

Sincerely, 

Ben, Sami Jo, Paul and William ... & Dapher doo.

P.S. Wow! Just as I wrote that my dryer beeped... lol!
It's a God thing.

xoxo

picnics, again friends, a new due and blueberry ketchup!

Fridays, we do picnics!

picnics on the lawn,

picnics at the park,

picnics in the living room watching Little Mermaid.

yummy food,

the purple picnic blanket,

and two little boys with their mama,

having a picnic,

=

fabulous memories.

this last Friday I took the boys to one of our favorite parks.

we picked up Wendy's

Pauly reminded us to pray... as usual.

he's a good boy.even I picked up myself a little treat (apple pecan salad - try it!) good gracious Pauly!

are ya starvin'?

so stinkin' cute!William likes chicken and french fries, too. & he likes riding the tractor. he wanted to be as cool as big brother, of course.

while we were playing - Pauly made friends with two brothers that were there.

they weren't quite sure what to think about Pauly.

he's friendly.

(that's totally an understatement)

i sure love Fall... don't you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Saturday morning, i woke up early.

i did my hair and make-up

(I wanted to look okay - I hadn't seen this gal in 9 years!)

and went to meet up with an old friend.

we met at the most adorable coffee house -

it had fabulous pastries, yummy looking food,

awesome antiques and vintage signs every where - let's just say...

i will be going back.

i wish i would of took pictures

but

meeting up with this gal had me SOO nervous -

i couldn't even hardly sleep the night before.

i'm pretty sure it took me like a half our to pick out my outfit

and this is NOT my regular.

so i totally put like an hour and a half into getting all dolled up and i pull up to the coffee house and there she was that little stinker

in her WORKOUT clothes and looking

adorable as ever.

one word came to mind but I'll reserve saying it for those "virgin ears" out there *wink!

but REALLY!

i was totally nervous for nothing!

we had a wonderful time catching up

and even though I felt kind of embarrassed,

as i have definitely gained a ton of weight since she saw me last

and we sort of parted ways under a little bit of a unfortunate circumstance -

there is no doubt about it - we had a wonderful time when we were friends "back in the day"

and i'm encouraged that we have the opportunity to take up where we left off.

isn't she cute?

i've so missed her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

next, i headed to go get my hair done -

(look at those shmeered bugs on my window!)

it had been almost a year...

OH THE SHAME!

i can't believe i just admitted to that...

and i'm over it!

OKAY! so this is the

BEFORE: and this is

AFTER: i really liked the way it turned out.

thank you, Harmony!

you're a genius, woman!

so, i'm sure you are wondering...

where the heck were her children

when she was gallivanting around having

coffee and getting her "hair did"?

well... Mr. Man of the House was totally watching the boys -

with flying colors I might add!

Ya -

there was NO drama whatsoever.

whatever dude!

i always have drama... what's that about Pauly and William?

you're little angels for daddy?

You're.

In.

So.

Much.

Trouble!

so because the hubster did stay home with the kiddos for me -

i had to take him home a treat.

have ya heard?

Boise, Idaho is the home of the most fabulous fries!

Boise Fry Company!!

they were on "America's Best" on Food Network -

did you see it?

you can go here and you can see for yourself!

One more reason why Boise rocks!!!!

GO Boise State!!

You get to order what type of potato you want, the cut, and then you get to sauce it up with their

famous salts and ketchups. They have a really cute little cafe and all the art is by local artists,

which is such a great way for them to help

out local artists - don't ya think? they invite people to write little comments on message boards.

comments about how they like what type of potato is their favorite and

how they like to season their fries! Very cool.

I brought home yam fries to the boys with vanilla salt & Blueberry ketchup!

(that's right!)

and their special fry sauce.

YUM!

Now that you're drooling... :)

Have a wonderful Monday, Dolls!

P.S. Don't forget Wednesday -

I choose that

special someone

for

informal introduction...

it might be you and,

so don't be late!

♥