Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Chilly and I love it!

One of my simple pleasures:
Hearing other people talk about how my mom cared so much for others!


On my bedside table:
Still New Moon.. but almost finished.. I WILL NOT see the movie until I finished the book.


On my TV:
Nothing right now.. trying to get ready to go to my dad's tomorrow for turkey weekend.


On the menu for tonight:
I will be cooking way too much for thanksgiving that tonight will probably be popcorn and apples.. a favorite of mine on Sunday evenings growing up as a kid.


On my To Do List:
Pack, laundry, volunteer at jared's school, work on my photo's from my last few shoots, love on my hubby and babies =), Quiet time with my Lord, figure out what all of my mom's recipes I am going to use for Thanksgiving

New Recipe I tried last week:
Nothing new per say, just using more fresh ginger in some of our meals.. yummy!

In the craft basket:
Crocheted christmas ordaments that I have started..
Special project that I am finishing for my mom for her grandkids on Christmas..


Looking forward to: Spending time together as a family together and being their for each other knowing this is the first holiday without my mom. The Lord is our Strength!

Homemaking Tip for this week:
I have to remind myself daily, I may of not gotten done everything on my to do lists, but did I pray for my spouse that day, did I encourage him, and did I take time to play with my children and love on them!!

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
My sil, Abby's blog from last week..
I love the time they took to spend precious time with each of their older brothers.. even if it was just for a few days.. such good memories.

Favorite photo(s) from last week:


This was a fun birthday party we got to go to yesterday.. We don't know a whole lot of people here so this is our only 2nd birthday party and Jared was so excited to go. He even made his friend, Rudy from school the birthday card. On the inside he spelled out "transformers rule." I helped him spell it but he wrote all the letters..

Lesson learned the past few days:
To believe in myself and know that God has given me talents that I need to embraced and Glorify his name with. I have really enjoyed getting back into my photography business lately, especially since being laid off.

On my Prayer List:
This first holiday without my mom. Children that are sick now and need healing from the Lord. My hubby had a big phone interview this morning and it went really well. They will now decide if they want him to come in for a face to face interview. We have prayed over all this and we know if this job is the one, then it is the Lord's will and in His time, not ours.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

I was going to put another verse here and then I read Sandy's above and wow did it ever speak to me, I even got Jesus bumps ( chills =))

A sweet holiday giveaway!

Head over to one of the most creative blogs I have seen. I love reading her blog. She is so over the top creative!

She is giving away this too cute Big girl apron with a matching headband. CUTe CuTe!!



Photo credit : B. Jane Brewing

Brings back such good memories!

I don't think I had ever heard this song before and then I was cooking dinner with mom last year and this song was playing on her CD that John had made for her. We stopped and danced together for alittle bit. Such sweet memories, I can just feel her presence when I hear this song. Thanks Johnny Boy!! I love you mom!

A beautiful song that is so true that my lil brother introduced me too.

A family weekend at last!

( he wasn't doing that.. he was just playing around =))



Since I have been working every weekend full time since the end of august I haven't had a weekend home with my family. Meaning no days off from school with Jared, not getting to go to church with my family, and being together as a whole with Jared.
Well since I was laid off last week this was my first weekend home. I just loved it. I got to play in the leaves with my boys, go to the park as a family and best of all go to church together. AJ was very clinging the whole weekend, didn't surprise me and I love every bit of it!
Jared even asked to rake the leaves in the front yard for $1.00






Yes that would be Jared in his swimming goggles.. he loves those things.. like they are a mask or something.. =)

Jared with his school Mascot and his class.

I volunteered to take the photos of all the kids of the school with the school mascot today for a fundraiser for the PTO. The whole district is actually the tigers so the mascot from the high school came with one of the cheerleaders and we took pics with them. Poor Tiger was tuckered out in the end.

I was laid off yesterday, but that is okay..

Because God is in control and we are praying that Gabe will find a job, the one the Lord has for Him in His time. So I wanted to share how happy I was to do this tonight with my kids knowing I wasn't leaving them for a whole weekend again..

Getting to help at Jared's school.

Fun events that I was able to help with at Jared's school!

Fall Festival - Halloween '09

Corn Maize Field Trip in Shallowater, Tx

This was Jared's first field trip, and I was so happy I got to go. I got to meet more mom's and also have so much one on one with Jared during the day. My favorite thing during the day was when he would ask me ( a million times) "Mommy, I want to hold your hand." Melted my heart.

Letter to my mom

August 12, 2009

It is about 4:40 am and I am sitting with you momma. I put some oxygen on you because you were breathing so fast. You opened your eyes alittle bit, but keep on sleeping. I got here yesterday to see you and be here for daddy. I am happy to be here beside you wishing you could talk to me. I am praying for your comfort and peace momma. I pray for no more pain and Jesus will take you soon. I was so happy to be here with dad last night. He told me more about ya'lls vacation and what a precious gift that was from God. I watched some of the video and loved seeing you enjoy the hummingbirds feed on the red feeder. You were so content just watching them and enjoying God's nature. I laid in bed with you yesterday and you knew who I was. I loved on you and told you I loved you and you told me you loved me. Dad told me you want Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Great thou Art, and Crown Him with many crowns played at the funeral. Dad said you said you loved many hymns and you have always sang them so beautifully like a heavenly angel. I love you Mom! I will miss you dearly! Jared knows so well I believe in his heart that Jesus will make you feel better and will take care of you when you go to heaven. Our last good talk was last week on Weds. I assured you that Gabe and I will be just fine with this whole job thing and the Lord is sure taking care of us. I told you I keep encouaging Gabe and I am his #1 fan. I told you about Aj's potty training. You told me to make sure his "brown bootie" is covered, and don't let him streak through the front yard. You ended the convo with "God Bless, I love you Sarah Renee."

( wanted to have a typed version of this letter that remains at my dad's house, he has read it over 50 times and says it is conforting to him)

( click on the collage to make it bigger)



Jared whole class after the Fall Festival with his teachers Mrs. Schafer and Mrs. Rodriguez



AJ - Spider man ( anti mask of course)
Jared - his fav transformer Optimus Prime