Grace Found in my New Vacuum!

We've got more carpet than should be legal, I admit it. We were rough on it when we first moved in to our house...lots of shoe traffic. Then came the children...oh boy. So many crumbs and stains and "unnecessary roughness" on these carpeted floors.

And all along for the last almost ten years we've been cleaning it the same way, using the same vacuum and slowly, almost without even noticing, it's been doing a poorer and poorer job on our carpet. Until, about two weeks ago, it finally gave up its fight and literally broke in two.

I knew we couldn't get a new vacuum right away, so I carefully duct taped it together, and continued to use it until Friday.

We researched vacuums, and not wanting to spend too much, decided on a Eureka SuctionSeal. I put it together rather quickly,  and began vacuuming shortly after. I was amazed at how tall my carpet seemed to be standing, astonished by what was being picked up into the collection bucket.

This vacuum is BOSS! Our entire house feels different. Fresher, cleaner, easier to breathe in. 

Made me think about my life. How many harmful or toxic behaviors are disguised by good intentions? (too much time on the computer, getting angry and snapping over silly or small things) How many bad habits am I pushing around my life with little positive effect? Just as it feels fantastic to get the dust and dirt out of my carpet and house, in preparation for my best friend and her family to come visit, it's time to look into the corners of my heart, and do some house cleaning here too, for my most important Guest. What areas in my life need Jesus to "lift and remove"??As I'm scrubbing the nitty gritty from my pretties this week, I'm going to make a conscious effort to ask the Lord to show me the areas in my life that need a good dusting. And I pray that He reveals His heart to you this week too.

This post is part of a link up through Gracelaced blog. 

Epic Bird Fail

i was lying on my bed yesterday morning with my girlie (she always wakes up before her brother so she can cuddle in the mornings with me)

and we hear a KA-BOOOOOOOM from the living room...where the giant rectangular window is located.

i went to see if there was a dead bird in the yard, but seriously, i looked everywhere and couldn't find him. (unless he bounced into our neighbor's yard)

but what i did find was this greasy...bird shaped imprint on the window as well as a few feathers (the white dots  are feathers)

Copyright 2012 JK

i mean, how sad is that?..that the imprint shows his wings all spread. 

thanksgiving 167-172

Today I'm thankful for...

167. God's provision
168. instant coffee (for when i'm too lazy to make a whole pot and i'm out of K-cups)
169. beautiful days on the weekend to work on our yard
170. my daughter's active imagination, even if she wakes me up numerous times throughout the night with
        nightmares
171. family
172. the upcoming 3 day weekend

No-Bake Breakfast Cookie Balls

Well, hello there friends. I have a pretty easy and yummy recipe that I've managed to take pics and take measurements of that I can share with you.

This is just one of those things that was born out of necessity and the desire to keep my kids from telling me "I'm hungry" 15 minutes after breakfast. It worked. They loved making them and eating them!

They are filling and fun to make.

Here's what you need:

2 cups Rolled Oats
1 cup Peanut Butter (I had smooth on hand but chunky would be fantastic) or the nut butter of your choice
1 small to medium ripe banana
1 T honey
sprinkle of cinnamon

Place oats and peanut butter in a large mixing bowl, break the banana into small chunks add the honey and cinnamon. Moosh together as best you can with a fork or spoon, then roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty. If it seems too mushy, add a little more oats.

Once thoroughly combined, begin rolling into ping pong sized balls. We made 14.

This is a nice base for any other add ins. Flax seeds would be great, raisins or cranberries, chocolate chips...

I am going to refrigerate these in sandwich bags for easy snacks for the kids.

Lil' Baby Lovies

I just finished up an order for 4 16" square baby lovies. Two for a boy and two for a girl. I love how they turned out and I love how they look folded and ready for shipping. 

I think, this will be the next pattern I share.

Have a great weekend!! 

Thankful Thursday 152-166

Lots to be thankful for, especially since I haven't posted for a while
152. My parents went out of town and returned safely
153. My son and daughter BOTH learned how to swing...not just sit there with noodle legs

154. We've taken some really long walks (with no stroller) every day this week...and I can feel the difference!

155. We cleaned up our garage massively, after our garage sale, and then what we didn't sell went to the church Rummage Sale, and then to GW. It's OUT of my garage.

156. We raised a nice little scholarship fund for the church kid's scholarship to camp.

157. Books with cds where the kids have to turn the page with the music...keeps my kids entertained for ohh..46.35 minutes.

158. Getting to babysit a boxer again. Reminds us we love dogs, but aren't ready for one.

159. Finding another awesome pyrex piece.

160. Spending time with my husband's family on Mother's Day. Mmmmmm grocery store deli fried chicken.

161. Spending time with my sweet peeps who made me a mother. :)

162. Starbucks gift cards.

163. A neighbor who handed me seedlings to plant over the wall.

164. Taking something ugly and making it perfect for our house.

(this was a $3 garage sale find that I sanded off the ultra dark finish and shabby chic'd it up)

165. Having a standing "date" every Monday with a friend of mine to WALK and have a play date.

166. Only 22 more days until my bff and her family come down for a visit!

Until next time. Stay Thankful!!

Happy Mom

i love that my littles think of every holiday like it's christmas.
my daughter crawled into bed with me on sunday, and said, "i'm soooo excited, it's MOTHER's DAY!!"
then she asked me to rub her back for mother's day.

                                     

these sweet little stinkers. i thank God everyday for the privilege i have of mothering them. they're funny, silly, smart, amazing and just what our family needed!

my bounty of mother's day flowers

what we made the grandmas...thank you pinterest perusing.

Wanna Read Something Interesting?

Check out my post over here this morning to hear about this modest little pyrex piece I picked up last week.

Reworking something Wrong

I started this cotton blanket for my daughter over a year ago. There was quite a buzz when the beloved Peaches & Creme factory in NC was purchased by a Canadian company and was being moved out of country. I ordered a LOT of cotton yarn cones. A lot. I made my son a gorgeous brown, green tan and orange blanket. Did I show you? If I didn't let me know and I will post a pic.

Well, I started my daughter's blanket. Thinking for certain it would be finished in time for her 3rd birthday. And it wasn't. And the more I worked on it, the more I knew I did something wrong. I made it wider than it would be long. UGH. I was not happy with it. So it sat...and sat...and sat...Waiting in the closet...waiting for me to do something with it. 

And finally, I was inspired. I'm going to make a "patchwork" style blanket with squares.

And it's going pretty quickly. Each stripe is pretty much a square.

Funny how life can be. Reminds me of the verse in Isaiah 55. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD." I can be so confident in doing something the way I think is right on...but if I don't consider what the Lord wants me to do first, it's in vane. Something He will have to rework later. But that's the awesome part!! It's never to late to start over. Even if you've made GIGANTIC mistakes. I read a quote this morning by John Piper. He said, " What makes {the Gospel} good news is that God is long-suffering and willing to forgive and start over with us again and again." Thank You, Jesus, for speaking to me, even in my crocheting!

thanksgiving thursday 144-151

144. the public library and its free dvd rentals!
145. recipes found on the internet that work and are completely delish!
146. lots of dirt in the backyard for the kids to play in
147. an overcast day for the kids to enjoy the outdoors without sun
148. fresh ideas with cotton yarn

149. vaccines that are over until my wee ones are 11.

150. anticipating my bff and her family's visit

151. spring cleaning and finding more items to put in our garage sale

what are you thankful for today??