Last night we had a pampered chef party, which ended up being more a of virtual party but we still had a blast and those of us there- ate well. YUM! Check out our demo on facebook ->HERE<-

February special- I will be closing and submitting this party TOMORROW! =)


The party aftermath... I told you we ate well ;-) Brown Sugar Dijon Brie is my FAVORITE!


Preview the Spring catalog --> http://issuu.com/pamperedchef/docs/pamperedchef-ss18catalog_266aacedd47d9d?e=18598180/58094193

And just because... dog.


In case you need reminded....

Winter won't last forever...

Winter is not my favorite season. And I feel like its been winter for a long time...spiritually as well. I just feel barren and empty.  When it is winter its hard to remember spring and summer will come again.... but they WILL!

My devo from Friday and boy did I need it! I can slip into that pit so easily lately...


I finished listening to this book on Friday.  The quote below really grabbed me.  I am trying to work on the voice I hear in my head...she has been very negative lately.  Trying to reclaim my joy and sense of well being...

Just because-


So today I am thankful- its easier on days where my heart feels lighter...but I have to start choosing again. The heaviness- I'm so tired of it. I am a child of God. Dearly loved.

Thankful-

• Mikayla is HOME!
• For secret sister reveal on Friday and friends. Such wonderful good friends.
• Birthday celebrations on Saturday
• Sitting between two of my most favorite people in church on Sunday
• dentist appointment 3 for 3 - cavity free kids! :)
• Encouraging texts
• new books
• when God sends you a devotional on PEACE just has the discouragement and anxiety begin to overtake again

Have a great Monday.... tonight we are having Pampered chef party at my house.  I am thankful for Mikayla who convinced to me to go through with it.  She helped me pick the recipes and go shopping. I'm so happy to have my girl home for the week.  If you can't be there in person stop in at Amy's Pampered Kitchen around 6ish to see us LIVE stream the demo ;-)

In this world you will have trouble.

Isn't that the understatement of the year.

But then He says "Take heart- I have overcome the world." And in the midst of everything. The sea of swirling doubt, fear and anxiety. My soul breaths a sigh of relief. I am reminded- I am not doing this alone. This crazy life I don't particularly care for in this moment. This hard, hard season- where everyday I struggle to get out of bed. Where I just want to roll over and say enough already God. I can't do it anymore. And I can't. Not alone.

But He is with me. His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9) where I am weak He is strong.

I am working my way through this book A Wife's 40-Day Fasting and Prayer Journal: A Guide to Strategic Prayer. 

It never ceases to amaze me how God's word speaks to my heart each day.  Reminding me to be strong and courageous.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.   James 1:6 

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.   1 Corinthians 16:13 (this one is becoming something of an anthem for me.)

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7

At Ash Wednesday service last week my Dad also referenced this book. I'm about half way through and finding his incites into the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm, quite intriguing.  When I am overwhelmed reciting these two calms my spirit.

Love is in the air . . .

I've been anxious lately. My fear and insecurities getting the best of me. I was anxious too, about it being Valentine's day today- a million what if's running through my mind. But as always God reminds me- HE is the one I need to be turning to. On day 3 of a fiercesome headache- I haven't been in the Word as I usually am. The devil has been poking at the chinks in my armor. But I will not despair. I will not give up.

I woke up to this on the kitchen counter.  =)


I'm so thankful after all these years, I can still call this guy mine. <3


Walked in the bedroom last night to find this...


Monday night was the science fair...

More to read...


Finally another run- hoping for a couple more this week- if I can ever kick this headache :-/

my life is a disaster. . .

That's how it feels anyway. I just can't seems to get a handle on it. Tired. Overwhelmed. Failing at pretty much everything.

On the heels of my frustration and even talking at Moms Connect about decluttering. (We had been talking about changing the atmosphere of our home as moms). This book showed up in my emails yesterday.

Hmmm...I'm fairly certain I got it out of the library once before... and never even opened it. The kindle version was on sale for $1.99. I checked the library- they only had the audiobook. I was not in the audiobook mood. I'm currently having a love/hate relationship with audiobooks. Its complicated :P Anyway- I popped over to amazon to check it out. I read through all I could on the preview and was left wanting more- so I took the plunge and spent the $1.99 to gain access to the rest of the book.

Its not earth shattering. Its simple, almost well yeah duh, advice. Things like you should wash your dishes and sweep your kitchen daily. Well yeah. Creating must do habits. That are not optional. I'm about half way through the book. Have perused her blog a little, and hope to maybe possibly listen to some of her podcasts.

While the book probably won't change my life- it gives me hope- I am not alone. Hope that maybe I can get my house under control.  Couple that with the fact Lent begins tomorrow and another blogger always runs her 40 bags in 40 days program at this time.  Maybe I can get rid of some of the crap cluttering up my house.

I mean seriously a week ago I almost cried over a pair of shoelaces. I was attempting to clean off my sewing machine (I was not entirely successful). I asked if anyone needed the shoelaces. (I got them free at a race back in September). No one did- I stated to the house in general- I'm just going to throw them away then. My husband suggested maybe I should keep them.  Why? I queried. All of my shoes come with shoelaces. And then I started to tear up, confessing the clutter was suffocating me and I was on the verge of losing it.

So some wins-

• I made the bed. This is something overall I do fairly well with.
• I washed the dishes in the sink this morning.
• I swept the kitchen floor.
• I started a load of laundry
• folded blankets in the living room

I'll keep making little steps, little changes. Hopefully it will start to add up...

the weekend...

My sister and I went to bookclub on Friday night. I almost let the weather deter me.  But I'm glad we went. This is our new read- I'm waiting for it to come in at my library.

Hannah has been spoiling us- making breakfast on Saturday mornings. 

Saturday night we had a date night. Our first one in ages, and the start many, many more.


My DAD preached at our church on Sunday <3 He talked about how Jesus can bring Hope to even the most hopeless of situations.  If you are so inclined you can check it out -->HERE<--

Hannah and I made the jalapeno popper cheeseball again for our Super Fellowship Party.  Wanna check out our facebook LIVE video from last year? It's (((HERE))) Also can you believe its been a year since we started doing Live videos?? Craziness.

I hung out with my friends the first half. But a lot of people left at half time.  So the 2nd half I sat with my mister and watched the game. It felt good.

Our first cookie order is going in! Need some girl scout cookies? Shoot me a messgae!


This guy! I can't even...