Grandbabies

I realized I haven't posted any pictures of my newest grandbabies.  The picture of Elise, I did not take--that was done professionally.  The picture of Gracelyn, with the Valentine's outfit on, I did take.

Cleaning, fixing and playing!

Well, this week has been a busy week, filled with cleaning my room, and rearranging it a bit.  I wanted to move my dresser and some other smaller furniture around.  I did that, and I will see how I like it this way.  If I don't, I will change it back.  I also installed a revolving tie rack for my dh.  It was meant to hang on a large dowel closet rod, instead of my 1/4 inch closet rod.  So, after some adjustments, I got it to work.  Hubby really likes this!!  It holds a lot of ties, and brings each around on a revolving rack.  I even sewed up a pair of pants for Sam.  This is his second pair, from the material I bought before.  I goofed on the first pair, and forgot to wash the material first.  Yep--the pair of pants shrunk.  How discouraging!!!  This pair turned out ok.  He's not a complainer, and is just happy he got some pants that fit him nicely.

I did end up getting the new camera!  I love it!!!  It takes some very nice pictures!!  See the picture of the rose I took?  So, I've been playing with the camera, and taking lots of pictures.

I have also been working on the Living Last Supper play.  Added in a part of Communion.  Trying to find people to play the parts.  Still short on 1 part.

Jon is going to school for a CDL license.  He just got his permit, and drove a huge semi truck over to our church. 

Hoping to have a relaxing day.  I know I need to cut the boys' hair, but we will see how much I get done.

"The Skin Map" an audio book by Stephen Lawhead review

"The Skin Map" by Stephen Lawhead, is the story of Kit Livingstone, who accidentally finds a Ley Line, which is a form of time travel.  He sees his great grandfather, Cosimo, who has been dead for 100 years.  Cosimo instructs Kit into the Ley Lines.  Kit then finds his way back to his time, and finds his girlfriend, Wilhelmina (Mina) is rather upset that he was late.  So, to explain to her what happened to him, he takes her to the Ley Line, but they end up getting separated.  She ends up in Prague, with a coffee house and pastry shop.  He is trying to find pieces to the puzzle, and find Mina again. 

The story is filled with murder, mystery and intrigue.  There is a map, tattooed on skin (hence the skin map), that everyone is after, as it unlocks the secrets.

I struggled in the first couple of chapters, getting used to the narrator's (Simon Bubb) English accent.  But, after I was used to it, the story was very interesting.  The narrator did an excellent job in doing all the different voices for each character!

This was a good book, and kept you interested along the way!  The characters do go to pubs, and drink their ales.  I do wish the author would leave that out, as I would like to see Christian books without alcohol in them.  However, aside from that, I can't wait for the next book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audio book on cd free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Scoliosis

Well, time sure has lapsed, and so much has happened.  Matthew, my little sweetie, fell out of a tree house a couple of months ago.  We had taken him into ER right away--thinking that he had dislocated his shoulder.  The x-ray said his shoulder was fine, but, when we left the ER, he could not stand up, nor walk.  The docs said to give it a few days, as it was quite the fall.  After a couple of days, he was able to walk upright.  But, the pain never left.  A couple of weekends ago, he was really fussing about it a lot, so I took him to see his regular doctor, who was quite concerned about it.  He did an x-ray of his whole spinal column, only to find out Matthew has Scoliosis.  They do not think that the fall caused the scoliosis, but rather, the fall made it flare up, and actually helped diagnose it.  He has an appointment on March 9th with a Scoliosis doctor, and we will see what they will prescribe for treatment.  From what I've been told, it could be as easy as just keeping an eye on it, by having x-rays done every so often, or it could mean wearing a brace, or even surgery.  We are grateful it was detected so early.  And, as a bonus--his heart murmur is gone!

Last week, my daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, weighing in at 7 pounds, 1 ounce.  I was in the labor room with her, and she delivered with no pain meds, but that wasn't her choice.  She had a fast, hard labor.  Both mom and baby are doing well.  Baby is a bit jaundiced, but she was given a lamp to bring home.  Hopefully soon we will be done with the lamp, as this is day 2.

We are getting ready to start up with the Living Last Supper practices.  We still need to find a couple people to fill some spots. 

I am thinking of getting a new camera.  Decisions are just so hard--can I justify the expense?  Is it too big a camera for what I need?  I have a point and shoot now, but for distances it's not the best.  I am looking at a Canon DSLR T3i.  We shall see.  They have a really nice sale on now.  :)

My fruit flies are finally almost gone.  I thought they were totally gone, but I just saw a couple more.  Someone told me to put out a plate of apple cider vinegar, with a drop of dish detergent in it.  Seems to have done the trick.

So, if you think of it--will you pray for us, as we make adjustments in our house, with a new baby, and the added decisions on treatment for Matthew's scoliosis?  Thank you!

Saturday & my all time favorite app!

Well, I am still alive and kicking!  The last few nights, I broke down and took Nyquil, as I had been coughing all night long.  It didn't work!  Still coughed anyway!  But, last night, we prayed I wouldn't cough at all, and I propped my pillows up, and slept so good and sound, I feel so rested!

My very favorite, all time app is--- COZI!!!  Wow, what a help!!!  It is a family organizer--it has a built in calendar, shopping lists that are fully customizable, to do lists--for each family member, a journal area, menu planner, etc.  I can access it from my computer, my iPad, or my Smartphone.  You put on a family password, and each member of the family can access it--and I think my children have enjoyed adding to my shopping list!!  I can now go paperless when I am out shopping, and it is so nice.  It has now replaced my Palm Pilot.  You can also set up email reminders, and it will email everyone the family's schedule for the week.  I really like it!!  So, if you need some organization in your life, go to http://www.cozi.com.  Oh, and did I mention---it is FREE!!!!!  There is a paid version of it as well, so you don't get the ads, but the ads are not annoying as they are in some free stuff I have on my iPad.

Germ warfare

That is what I feel this sickness is!  The coughs and colds are flying around this house!  I have been spraying Lysol on all surfaces that are touched a lot.  i.e. doorknobs, lightswitches, etc.

I hope this isn't a bad winter for us.  So far, we have had the stomach flu, and now colds/coughs.  I am laying in bed today.  Sometimes, to fend off a nasty cold, if I lay low for a day, and eat lots of oranges, sleep when I need to, I can put that cold right out of here.  So, that is what I am doing.

Along with my days of busy sewing, I should mention that I also answered a bazillion phone calls.  All in the life of a pastor's family.  Some calls were regarding the upcoming Valentine's banquet.  Most were questions about a Sunday School bill. 

Today, I made the sign up sheet for the catered Valentine's banquet.  As well as got the bulletin announcements emailed.  Isn't it nice?  A young lady volunteered to do this week's bulletin!!  I love it when people come alongside and share a burden.  Normally, my hubby or I do the bulletin.  I also ordered the offering envelopes.

The weather has really gotten cold, and I will be staying home tonight, as hubby doesn't think I should be going out in the cold night air.  I didn't tell him I wasn't planning on it, as I am still in my jammies.  :)  We really need to boost our immune system.

Do you have any proven methods of getting rid of fruit flies?  I have been plagued with fruit flies since before Thanksgiving.  Every time I think they are gone, they come back in droves.  Either that, or we have a new infestation.  Did you know fruit flies also like bread??  Gross.

Sewing

I have been in a sewing mood lately.  I made a diaper bag, did a bunch of mending, and sewed up a lighted swag, and a pair of pants for Sam.

I am so pleased with how the diaper bag turned out!  I was so scared to make it, as I didn't have a pattern, and just wasn't sure I could do it.  I have had the material for about 2 months, and finally got up the courage, yesterday, to get it out, and work on it.  I made a pattern out of newspaper, so I could make sure it fit on the material.  The material I bought, was actually in a kit for a messenger tote, super small!  I bought 2 kits, and hoped I could pull it off.  Before I got it out, I prayed and asked for God's direction, in knowing how to do it.  Well, I am very pleased with how it turned out.

I am a Grandma, again!!  Josh & Brittany had their first baby, a little girl!  She weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and they named her Elise.  She has lots of dark hair.  Poor Brittany had a long, hard labor (about 36 hours), and they had to take Elise by C-section.  But, Mom and baby are now doing well.