Friday Link-A-Loos...

This morning I am heading out to get an MRI done on The Jaw.  It has been a long week of annoying pain and headaches and I am ready to begin getting this resolved.  As is everyone who is having to live with me as I start to get grumpy at night.  I will have to say, Mark has really taken care of me when he has been home and the children have been stepping up also. My mother-in-law carted me around to doctors and made me potato soup, which in and of itself is almost worth getting sick for, and my sweet mother is going above and beyond to help with James duty.  She is coming again this morning.  I honestly don't know how women make it without others to help them.  I so hope that I can be of help to others one day like they have been to me.  And I hope to be able to learn how to make potato soup like Betty's so I can actually have some when I am not sick.  I can make it, but its not nearly as good as hers.

I read this yesterday and I realized I needed to re-read it every morning, possibly every hour some days.  I don't catch myself doubting my salvation regularly, but as I read this list I realized I, and lots of other believers, have these thoughts at one time or another.  It's good to know I'm not alone, but its also good to know the KNOWING the Word is even better.  Everytime I have one of these thoughts I need to combat it with Truth.  And I have to know Truth first.  So thankful for His Word that doesn't change with my emotions and feelings of the day.-Thanks Tim Challis.

Friday Link-A-Loos...

Earlier this week Rachel, one of most favorite bloggers, made a reference to royalty and it got me thinking.  You see, I had lots of thinking time this week, as I spent many hours pulling weeds in the garden.  It got me thinking about how I had great plans when I was in grade school to marry Prince Charles or Prince Edward (for some reason I just skipped over poor Andrew and didn't even give him a chance).  I knew nothing about marriage, but I was all over the dresses, hats, and tiaras.  I guess I figured a tiara would cover a multitude of ugly husbands, even if he was next in line to be the king. 

Anyways, in a total waste of time I came across these blogs. 

What Kate Wore
A Tiara A Day
The Royal Order of Satorial Splendour
The Royal Courturier

And then there is my Pinterest page devoted to Bringing Back the Hat.  Because I have always loved hats and think the world would be a better place if ladies wore hats all the time.

What-Not and Friday Link-A-Loos....

~I have been mixed up all this week about what day it actually is. Does that ever happen to you?  It is very odd-feeling.

~James and I did not go on our South American adventure to catch wild hogs.  He forgot and I didn't mention it.  He did spend much of the day "in jail".  His own choice by the way.  He set up a little jail with a chair and talked to us through the "bars."  I drew the line at sliding his lunch through the bars, so he did come to the table to eat. He held one hand up to the chair and ate with the other hand.  He had to be handcuffed you know so he wouldn't try to escape. This little scenario occupied him for a very long time and he was generally quiet as he was in solitary and no one wanted to join him.  I thought about the fact that this was a very strange thing for him to be playing, but you know, the quiet and all....

~Our little fall garden is growing.  Seven rows of peas are coming up like gangbusters.  The pears are ready to make pearsauce, but my mind is not ready to tackle it. I guess this weekend will be the time though.  I will be so glad I did it when I am done though.  Ya'll keep telling me that.

~Laughing at yourself is always good. (Thanks Fear Not LittleFlock)

~Yesterday the kids and I got into a discussion  about what game show we would go on if we could take our pick. At first I said Wheel of Fortune or The Price is Right.  But then I remembered Supermarket Sweep and told them all about it. Matt didn't believe it was a real show so I had to prove it to him. Momma, do you remember watching this together when Tyler was a baby? I still sooooo want to be on this show.  Too bad it doesn't exist anymore.  Only in my dreams......

So what game show would you choose to be on?

Friday Link-A-Loos....

~Laura at Heavenly Homemakers has a great reading and writing list on her blog today.  I'll admit, that as much as I love to write this has not gone over well with my kiddos.  Its a skill they need to learn though and I think this list will help me think through what exactly they should be writing about at certain ages.  I love the second grade one where they make up silly sentences and then illustrate them.  My big boys would have loved this when they were younger.

~I came across this blog this week and really enjoyed looking at some of her posts.

~Rachel was one of my very first blogging friends and she always has me laughing.  This post is a good one!

~Go see little Jonathon's new glasses! Oh my stinkin goodness-he's so sweet!

~Don't forget you can enter some curriculum giveaways on my blog below and lots more at Jolanthe's Curriuculum Cleanout Giveaways.


This weekend I plan on getting my girl home, making jelly, and trying to stay cool. This recipe should help me in that regards.  Ya'll, don't hate me for introducing it to you. I am not responsible for any pounds gained from the consumption.  Its worth the calories though, believe me.

Friday Link-A-Loos...

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Jessica on Pinterest

The picture of the stove has nothing to do with this post, but I just love it!  Love It!  Can you love a stove?  Not like I love my kids of course, but to me this stove is drool-worthy. 

We are off to co-op today and am I glad of it. School has knocked me down and ran me over and I think yesterday it backed up and ran over me again. Next week are SATS and then we are off for a week!

I've just got a couple of linky-loos to share today:

I have been learning so much from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers.  This gal can cook!

This chick is on a roll!  She is doing great and I know she would love any encouragement you can send her way.

Auntie Leila gives advice on mothering a 13 year old boy.  I have re-read this twice this week.   Why she doesn't move down to Alabama and become my neighbor and mentor I don't know?

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and be sure to stop by Monday for a little giveaway :)

Friday Link-A-Loos....Hilarious Edition

Please folks, whatever you do on the internet today, please take time to go and watch this. It will do your heart and your funny bone good. I was laughing until I cried, the monkey-face, the burp, the gum-smacking, him um, being a male, yeah, I'll just leave it at that.... Hilarious!!!!!! And it is sweet, so sweet. It is so obvious how much he loves her, still. And when he says, "your hair', oh, my heart just melted.

After you get through wiping your eyes and catching your breath go here to see Lisa's take on Goofus and Gallant. Some good stuff!

Rambles and Friday Link-A-Loos....

It's Friday! And this is an even-better Friday cause my Sweet Hubby is on vacation next week! Who-hoo!

~Well, I am on my way to becoming a lady of leisure. Last night my Abbie cooked our dinner from start to finish. And it was delicious. She fixed the Duggar's TaterTot Casserole, english peas, and crescent rolls. I did give her some input on when to put things on to cook so that everything would be ready at approximately the same time, but she did it all. Well, she got her daddy to take the rolls out of the oven because she is still a little afraid of the hot oven. I jokingly asked her if she wanted to take over dinner duties from now on and she promptly said, "no!" She likes cooking, but I don't think she is ready to do it EVERY night.

~Our garden is growing like weeds... (Bahhhhhaaaa). I know, Mark says its a good thing I crack myself up.... The blackberries are getting darker! I love blackberries. We have some strawberries coming in, but something is getting to them before we can. We have lots of blueberries too. I am not a big fan of blueberries, but my family loves them, and I can't wait to make Mark a blueberry cobbler. If the garden and fruit keep up the good work this summer I am going to be super-busy.

~Yesterday we were running errands and I thought I was going to have the chance to use the tv line, but the lady ended up complimenting me on how well-behaved my children were and how adorable and blah, blah, blah... I meekly said "Thank You" and went on my way.

~Our state is still in deep recovery mode from the tornadoes. I want to personally thank Rachel for all she is doing to help. She has two little ones and is staying busy delivering supplies to those who really really need it.

~I saw this video this morning and will admit I teared up a little. I bet you will too.

Friday Linky-A-Loos and Other Random Stuff

Only one link today, but it is a good one-Mark and I both read it. And yes, it is true. Especially about the teenagers and how much they eat. I don't have teenagers yet, just pre-teens, and the amount of food they can consume in a day is amazing.

In other news...

Abbie has been watching the Duggars on Netflix. She is enthralled and knows all about them. It is Duggar this and Duggar that around here. Here brothers are tormenting her by telling her they are not a real family, that they are just actors. She is fiercely adamant that are real and it makes her furious when they tease her. So of course, they just do it more.

Two more weeks of school and then we are off for about two weeks. My brain is so glad. It would rather think about other things (like reading books for pleasure) than mathematics. Unfortunately I have to do some mathematics later this afternoon as I have to pay the bills.

Abbie and FavCousin, along with Tyler and James when he stopped pouting, performed a Thanksgiving re-enactment for us on Thanksgiving Day. Abbie wrote a script and had fun telling everyone else what to do. James pouted and would not participate until he realized no one was paying any attention to him and decided to perform. Here they are rowing to shore and meeting the Indians. Tyler played a very convincing Indian and I was proud of him for getting into the spirit of things. Matt, my contrary child, would not do it. He prides himself on going against the flow. I am praying he will use this for good and not evil as he grows.

Also, Woody from Toy Story showed up last night.
Oh, our chickens have all grown up and are giving us eggs daily. Its about time. And I wanted to to introduce you to Rosita, aka, The Ugliest Chicken Ever. Mark thinks she is pretty, but not me. But she is our best layer so I am happy we have her. And she lays green eggs which are very pretty. I like to watch her run though. She waddles, just as I did when I was expecting.

A Winner and Friday Link-A-Loos

Ya'll are awesome! You thought of so many phrases and sayings that I had not thought about. I hope to be able to work on my Say It Like A Southern Gal page soon. I hope you keep thinking of more and letting me know.

Last night I had Matt pick a number for the giveaway and he picked Rebekah! I promise it's not rigged! Rebekah, I'll get your prize to you as soon as I know what it is! How's that for a responsible blogger giveaway? But it will be something nice, really nice. (says Eddie from Christmas Vacation.)

I sooo love reading blogs. I really do feel community with many of the women I read. I love that I have gotten to meet some of you in person and hope to get to meet many more. You make my day when you leave a comment and I find out more about you. I have found quite a few new blogs lately as I have been entering giveaways like a mad woman trying to win some Christmas presents. I won a CSN gift certificate on Rachel's blog and once I was there I have been trying to win more. You could do all your Christmas/birthday shopping at one time!

You can go to Frugality is Free and she has a linky each week with only CSN giveaways. She also has a weekly book giveaway linky. Many of the adult fiction are books I'm not interested in, but I love to get books for the kiddos. And free is even better!

This blogger doesn't post much, but when she does it is good stuff~Fish In My Hair. Funny stuff.

I love me some hot apple cider and this sounds really good~Hot Caramel Apple Cider at Snowflakes to Hotcakes.

I really want to try this-homemade noodles. It makes me think of my mom's homemade dumplings she used to make. Mark doesn't like dumplings or we would have chicken and dumplings here at least once a week.

And finally, my BFF, Rebekah, is having a big fund-raising/giveaway over at her blog. They are getting close to bringing their sweetie home. This would also be a great place to shop for Christmas gifts.

Today is a school day and this afternoon we are hitting the library. Tomorrow Mark is teaching Abbie's Heritage Girl Squad about fishing. The girls were so excited to be able to fish! I was like, "Really?" I'm more interested in sitting by the lake and reading a good book. But I'm boring and/or lazy like that. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Linky-A-Loos

Today will be spent schooling, laundrying, and baking. Because tomorrow is this. Go check out Rebekah's blog to see what she has been up to this week. I'll be at the Bluegrass Festival myself to help out (that is, if I can find it). Rebekah, if I'm not there by 10 will you call my hubby or my daddy and tell them to come find me. Thanks.

I think MamaHen's laundry day dilemma may be solved.

I am not the only one who is on a learning curve with the hobby-farm.

Where was Leila when I had my first born? I truly am thankful for older women who are willing to teach the younger women and will just tell it like it is. By the way, yesterday in Bible Study I was put into a small group with the young nursing women. Not sure why, cause I don't nurse James, but there I am. So I am the older woman now. The only thing I can think to tell them is, "PLEASE PLEASE put some socks on your baby. It is freezing in this church. That baby can't tell you his little feet are cold. You have on socks and shoes, why don't you put some on your baby?! Just feel his little feet and his fat little legs! They are cold. Just bring a little light blanket and cover your baby up." Would that be too harsh? I am really starting to sound more and more like a grandmother.

And last but not least, Kate is leaving in 38 hours to go get her two daughters from the Ukraine and she is fully funded!!!!!

Friday Linky-A-Loos

Well, my house is clean. Nana came and conquered. Now I just need to find someone to take the kids until tomorrow. And then I will just sit and look at my clean house. And go out to eat because I don't want to mess up my clean kitchen. Any takers on the kids?

I just have two link-a-loos today. I had several through the week, but now I can't remember where they are. Or what they are. I had a little notebook and I would jot down links and such. But, I can't find it. Imagine that?

Kelly, from Generation Cedar, linked to this blog this morning. Pretty funny stuff.

If you have a little girl you might like this hairstyle blog.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Linky-Loos

First of all, a washing machine update...cause I know you have been on the edge of your seats worrying about it. It is fixed. I did end up going to Mrs.Jennifer's Wednesday afternoon to do two loads and while they were washing she and I solved all the problems of the world. I just don't know why Obama won't call me about the big decisions. Probably because he wouldn't like what I have to say...

Anyways...I came home from CBS yesterday and commenced to washing. Today will be catch up day with laundry and school. Abbie is spending the night with Nana tonight and James with Aunt Jill (go check out her blog today, too cute!) so Mark, the big boys, and I can work in the yard sale tomorrow. We have to be there at 7 AM!!!! yikes.


I found some posts I just loved this week so I thought I would share...

Hilarious.

Missy did it again-a great post.

I had Tyler pick a number for the random commenter drawing and he picked #8, which is Jennifer. She has the sweetest blog and I have been reading for a long time.

Friday Linky-Loos

My brain is tired. I just had all three big children in here arguing "their"side of the story and Little James was chipping in for good measure. No matter that I couldn't understand half of what he was saying, he just kept talking. Help me Rhonda.

I found this blog this week and I have NO EARTHLY IDEA what it fascinates me so much. But it does.

Life As Mom and Money Saving Mom are having their Freezer Cooking Days this weekend. I really would like to do this. Right now I will just have to read about it and live through them. One day though, one day though.

Awhile back I found these Bible ABC coloring pages for toddlers/preschoolers. Thought that some of you might be interested.

And I thought I would tell you how I make my roast in the crockpot. The secret is that you have to cook it all day. The longer the better (as long as there is still liquid in there). The secret recipe comes straight from my mom and Jill also makes it likes this.

1 roast (I buy the cheapest one I can find that will feed us)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can French Onion soup (Campbell's makes it~~I have never seen a store brand)

Put it all in the crockpot and add one soup can water(or two, whatever looks right to you). Cook it all day (7-9 hours depending on the size of the roast). It makes a thick gravy and I usually serve it over rice or mashed potatoes.

That's it!

Friday Linky-Loos

I only have one link today and it is a goody-Missy from It's Almost Naptime had me crying while laughing this morning. I guess it connected with me so much because we have had soooo many animal funerals here I can't even begin to keep count. Go get a good laugh.


My mom is keeping all four of my kiddos this weekend so Mark and I can get some needed R&R. She is an incredible mom and an incredible Nana. Thank you Mama!!!!!!!!!

Friday Linky-Loos

Okay, I am still stuffed. We had lunch at my mom's yesterday and it was delicioso! My mom can make some mean chicken and dressing. And Jill makes this chicken cheese ball that could be a meal all to itself. I contributed an apple pie and sweet potato casserole. It was a yummy day.

Today I just have one link and I'll admit I'm pretty partial to this girl. My Abbie has been begging (do you see a pattern with her?) for weeks to have her own blog. I have been hesitant because that just means one more thing for me to keep up with. Mark and I talked though and we have decided to let her have one, but it will be private for family and close friends. She will have assignments for school to do on the blog, but she will also be able to just write what she wants. Her Daddy surprised her by setting one up without telling her and she was one happy girl (to say the least). We should have waited and gave it to her as a Christmas present. She was that excited. We are going to send out the emails to family soon, but today, if you have time would you go over and leave Abbie a comment. She would love it.

Abbie's Blog

Today will be a day with Mark's family and watching the Alabama/Auburn game. That's a pretty big deal here in the deep south. We are not a big football family at all, but it's a fun game to watch. Tonight Mark's mom is making a big soup supper for everyone and I'm going to make another apple pie. Here's hoping for a restful family-filled day.

Friday Linky-Loos

***I tried to think of something clever to title this but obviously it didn't happen.


The kids and I are headed to the Missions Fair this morning. And then home for an exciting weekend of cleaning the house and the yard because the social worker is coming Friday. I am determined I am not going to get all upset and antsy this time. Ha Ha Ha Ha!!!!!!


I thought I would share some neat links I have found recently~~~~~


Some of you know I love the Little House books. Lizzy at A Dusty Frame told us about this site. Love it!


If I could ever get up the gumption I want to make this~~Family Rules Canvas


My real-life from high school friend Kathy is about to go to China to get their Baby Girl. You should run over and ooh and aah because she is precious.

And, if you go watch this and don't end up smiling then something is wrong with your smiler and your heart is obviously not in the right place :). And, by the way, is that woman next to Simon not gorgeous? I'll take an extreme makeover if I can end up looking just like her. Go watch and get to smiling!



Hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!!!!