January and June are months of superior blessings for me...those are the months that all four of my children were born in.

Today I give you the second birthday post of the week....

Jacob had a very low key birthday yesterday. We had his favorite dinner of homemade tacos, a delicious chocolate cake made by his brother and even accepted an "I.O.U" instead of any actual presents. (NO, I am not a horrible forgetful mother...the Lego store was out of the specific Lego set he wanted so we are waiting for it to come in...we're on the list OK..)

Last year I posted about how blessed I was to be given this little angel of a child and this year he showed his halo and all his little guardian angels were right there with him....don't believe me? Check out this picture....

I have a very good girlfriend who believes that the little specks of light that show up in your pictures are little spirits or orbs... I have to say that in moments like this, how can you deny that theory?? As you can see, my beloved boy is wearing his halo and all his little guardian angels are right there with him.

Happy Birthday Jacob....mommy loves you!

Beyond Blessed

Lily-Anna Grace January 18, 2006
Meeting her siblings for the first time....

I am on day three of a Birthday Hangover...it is what I have decided is happening to me from my youngest turning 4. The emotions are a little much...I don't get worked up about myself aging, but my babies I have a hard time with.

Four years ago I was blessed with the liveliest of creatures. Sweet and gentile, but funny and sassy....she commands your attention and has a brilliance about her that makes people stop and take notice. I have been blessed many times over the past 13 years with my children but the past 4 have been amazing.

I love all my children equally, but have said it a million times over, this little girl completed our Circle of Love. She makes us all complete. She is the finale...our curtain call of children... Circle of Love 2006


2007, First Birthday

2008....

2009.....

To be her mother is an rewarding job, I love her so much! Happy Birthday Lily...

Chomp, Chomp....

Oh, hey there!

What's that you say?? ....Don't talk with your mouth full??? Oh, Sorry.....that is what happens when you have bitten off WAY more than you can chew!!

I don't know what is wrong with me, but I am trying to do it all again!
what happened to my "slothing into 2010..."???? I have a very full schedule this week and yet I have two VERY special birthdays next week, one of which requires (only by my requirement) that I craft like a crazy person...

Before Monday I am trying to make a custom outfit, a Birthday banner, party hats, table decorations and the most perfect invitations for the most adorable "already" 4 yr old. Luckily she only wants two little girls to come over but still...

She really isn't "already" four but one day about 3 weeks ago while i was getting ready for work she came into the bathroom and told me that she was "...tired of being 3 1/2" and wanted to be "this many...(holding up 4 fingers)"

I explained that she was going to be four in just a few short weeks, but she said she wanted to be four now. I said OK and wished her a Happy Birthday. From that moment forward she has been telling everyone that she is already four!

I have asked her several times since what type of party she would like to have for her birthday and she keeps telling me that she doesn't need a party, she is ..."already four...remember we had a bathroom birthday!" and then gives me the look like GEEZ MOM....

Another one for the books....


And, the other birthday is for the most amazing 11 yr old - soon to be 12 yr old who said he only wants to have 3 friends over, eat pizza and watch movies. He also said I could give him an IOU because he knows that the gift he wants is a little out of price range this week. Great Kid....like no other! THANK YOU! Love you Jacob!!
PS: I am thinking of changing my blog name because it is a little difficult to find me if you are not exact with your typing....and that is just not fun!

Another round..

Yesterday, I made another go-around and turned a year older. Last year I had the most WONDERFUL birthday EVER! Literally, it was simple and sweet and exactly what I wanted. I thought it was the best....my husband even had a fancy custom cake made for me that replicated a coffee cup with our shop's logo on it. It was so cute!

August 2008 Birthday

This year was very similar. Not quite as peaceful, but just as simple....My husband surprised me with all sorts of little things that I had mentioned along the way - because I never officially "ask" for any. I don't like that!!... So all my little statements like..."if anyone ever really wants to buy me something, buy me some new dishtowels......" or ..."I really need to buy a blender so I can make smoothies before I go to the shop..." ... and "I really like this magazine, I would love a subscription some time..."

So my presents consisted of a subscription to Clean Eating magazine! YEAH!!! New dishtowels, a new blender and one of the best......a new wedding ring! Not an official wedding ring, not a flashy big Cha-Cha ring....but a beautiful hammered sterling silver band with the word Love engraved on the front. You can see it here....it is called the "Love Triumphant" ring. The little card that comes with the ring made me a little teary eyed....

My daughter and brother made me this very lovely cake...isn't it beautiful?!?! It was barely edible....heaven help me if she ever reads this...Honey, it was a lovely thought, and very pretty...mommy just needed a bigger glass of water...or maybe some milk!.... but honestly it was one of those moments when we ONLY stomach it because one of our children made it!

But, the BEST of the BEST....I was given the gift of four beautiful children and a husband who truly loves me. I have made many a wish for frivolous things in my younger days, but now when I make my wish and blow out the candles - I wish for the REALLY BIG Things, like......

That this man makes it home to me every night....

That they only know the best of Life...and all their dreams come true...

And, that he NEVER has to feel another day of discomfort or pain again. He has been through enough for all of us.....

Happy Birthday all you August babies!! Enjoy it however it comes to you!

Time Warp

I am living in a time warp...and not the cool fun kind where you get to dress in fun period clothing! The kind where Life and everything else takes place~ moves so fast you wonder when did that happen??? ~ The kind where your "baby" turns 13 and you have no idea where the time went????

My beautiful daughter turned 13! I can't believe it!! 13....how does that happen???? Where did that time go??? This was the hardest birthday for me, I didn't get all weird about my 25th, 30th, or 35th birthday! But, my baby turning 13...that did it for me! It also reminded me not to take time for granted.....easier said than done! I could go on and on about the reflective thoughts that I have had since this particular birthday but I won't do that to you!

Among other things she is becoming a beautiful Young Lady...so many things to be proud of. She became a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Finished up her school year as an Honor Roll student - all four quarters, and made us SO Proud!



She Played another AWESOME season of softball. Her athletic talent, combined with her work ethic I am hoping will pay off in the form of an athletic scholarship.





Simple things make her very happy, little cake, a few presents, her family and she is a happy girl!





Hopefully it will be a little while before she becomes a total teenager...we are dealing a little with the attitude, but so far that is the only thing surfacing. No Boy craziness, no Fashion craziness...just a little attitude. Or BIG attitude depending on the day. I will take it over any of those other options.

I love you baby!

Eleven years in the making

Eleven years ago last night, I was blessed with one of the most wonderful blessings I will ever be given. I gave birth to a little boy who came to me wrapped in the wings of an Angel. A little boy who's entrance into the world was very surreal and terrifying. A little boy who we were told might not make it through the night and if he did there was "no guarantee what his future would hold..."


What we have 11 years later is the smartest, sweetest, most genuine young man that I have ever known. More proof that Doctors are only human and not in control of Gods plan and another reminder for me that God does have a plan for us from day one. A beautiful boy who's blue eyes show a wise man destined for greatness inside of a sweet little boy.




So sweet and sincere, he will make a wonderful husband and will without a doubt put his wife on a thrown and LOVE her genuinely and sincerely.


I honestly could go on and on about this young man, I gush about him frequently. His genuine interest in learning, his love of reading and respect of nature are admirable. His compassion for people and desire to help those in need is breathtaking. His brain all filled with facts is mesmerizing! His dry sense of humor, hysterical!


Most days I can't believe that I helped to create and gave birth to this little man, but every day I am reminded how thankful I am to God for this little angel.


Happy Birthday Jacob, Your momma loves you!

I have been so blessed

It is after 9PM and my day has just begun. There is still laundry to be done, dishes to be washed and lunches to be packed. All left undone last night for the sake of a party, a family day and the celebration of a Princess.

Three years ago yesterday God blessed me with the final piece of my circle of love, a lovely little creature that would fill each and every day with adventure. Her destiny is sure to be GRAND! There is no question about it! Those big blue eyes filled with curiosity, that beautiful little smile that melts the hearts of all you meet. Thank you for the joy you bring to my life every day!!

When your a Princess your day begins around you while you sleep in the lap of luxury in your mommas bed....

When you wake you put on on your custom made Princess Crown...and love it!!!

You always have a spare....this one comes from a lovely french place...I believe the name is "Targ-et"???

Who can resist that beautiful smile! This is the smile and the crown you wear all day while you work at your Mommas shop.

When you come home there is a YUMMY Banana-Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese frosting! And, even a Princess loves to help bake.

At times, the Kingdom is not in full alignment, and you have to break out the Pout!

We all try NOT to laugh as you spout your demands from the cutest little pursed lips! We love you Princess....you are our one and only!

Love your Momma.....

You thought I ran away didn't you???

....You thought I ran away??....I am sorry...as much as I would like to someday it just too crazy around here for that to happen!!

I have lots of catching up to do! I have been "making" all sorts of crafty creations recently, Nice change from the past month! Have you ever crafted out of desperation??? Any good crafter has! So here is my "desperation" craft AKA my brothers Birthday Gift! LOL. It was his 21st birthday (yes, there is a BIG age difference between us) and I am sure he would have loved some cold hard CASH, but so would I....so he is going to have to get a job, OOPS, I mean be happy with my craftiness!! This is not an original idea, I actually give him a picture of my kids for every holiday :) He loves his Nieces and Nephews so I am sure that he enjoys and appreciates it.

My craft desperation, I mean my lovely thoughtful gift, took about 30 minutes - yes I knew his birthday was coming...I was just procrastinating!! And I already had supplies on hand as any good hoarder, again I mean good crafter, does. I grabbed a few photos from my files, printed them in the 3x5 size, got a few pieces of paper, and a scrapbook size (12x12) frame that I actually had on hand. You could also do it with an 8x11. I didn't even have time to clear off my work desk, so I sat down on the ground and had a little "circle time" with my materials.

TA-DA!!!

I thought it turned out really cute!! Not a masterpiece, but for a 30 Minute project, not too shabby!

Then....on another crafty little adventure we decorated these cute little "Piggies" for our church. Our church is participating in the Heifer Project so the kiddies each decorated their very own piggie that we are planning on "fattening" up and then donating the money at the end of the Sunday School year. After the piggies are emptied, they are going to auction them to other church members, or if you can't bear to part with your piggie - take pictures of them to make into note cards also available for auction. I plan to get involved in the picture taking, can't you imagine how fun it would be to take the piggies "on location" and put them in a fun setting that matches their personality!! Fun, and charitable!! Love it!! I think they came out pretty cute! There are only 3 of them here, the other little piggie has gone missing! He is actually hiding from the big Big Bad Wolf...otherwise known as Miss Lil' who is in love with the Piggies! Oink, Oink...she loves to talk to them and oink at them. It is too cute! Anyway, I am rambling...

And on more for today's post...we made these yummy cupcakes last night...which you will be shocked to know are not only VERY YUMMY, but they contain a spinach/blueberry puree and are basically SUGAR FREE!! Which I PROMISE you - you can't even taste!! One of my guy's can't have sugar & carbs in the "simple" form so I am always looking for yummy treats that are sugar free or darn close. You can find the recipe for these little yummies here. My daughter made the cute little cupcake toppers and picked out the icing color.

There you have it...all the cards on the table! I am on a mission to finish the cutest little apron set for the me and the kids. I will show em' off as soon as they are done!

Did you miss me????

No, I didn't run away or go on vacation....Nothing that fun!! I just got buried in life and my craft studio...I enjoyed the craft studio part better!! Made a few cute little outfits for a girlfriend...a cute Easter shirt...and started on some bows, worked on invitations.

I did discover a few things (besides dust bunnies and a wealth of scrapbooking supplies I forgot about) these past couple of days....I have pretty great kids who are "caring" and "care" about other people. I see them take their ability to "make something with their own two hands" and give it to someone else to make a difference. Even something as simple as a birthday card can make a difference for someone!

My daughter did something completely beautiful ~ sweet ~ selfless ~ and totally caring for someone else today. Someone she has never met, and will never know. It makes me a little emotional to really "think" about it. So your asking what did she do??? Well.....let me preface this by saying that she knows that I am participating in a huge auction/effort to donate $$ to the surviving family of a woman who was killed with four of her children by a drunk driver on New Years Eve. Today she wasn't feeling well so she stayed home from school and while she was upstairs she decided - on her own -to make a necklace to add to the auction efforts. She brought it down to me and asked if I would auction it off for the family. It is a beautiful necklace and was carefully made by her, to the best of her crafting ability. I am so proud of her, she is a beautiful girl inside and out!!!

Search Ebay from now through the 20th, with the search terms "Beth & Angels". Ebay prohibits us to tell you that the money from the auctions will be donated to the families of the surviving victims - but all money is being donated, some sellers are taking out their fees but donating everything else!

Ok, the second thing I figured out this weekend....I found that I let myself get buried in life and didn't take time to "capture" the moments that were burying me!! I barely took any pictures this past year!!!! I have 4 digital cameras. one always within reach, and barley took any pictures!! What is wrong with me!!! I am feeling very "reflective" right now because my "baby" is turning TWO on Friday!!! TWO ~ where did two years go???? And then on Monday, one of my other "babies" is turning 10....how do these things happen!?!?!?

So part of my FOCUS is to Focus on keeping track of all those little details....each and every one!!! More photographs...More pages to scrapbook....More cards to make...yeah! My ADD just kicked in.....ahhhhh