April Fools!

When I was a little kid my mom would always play the same joke on my siblings and I.  She would look out the front window and say, "Look, it's Big Bird!"  And, of course, we would go running for the window and she would say, "April Fools!"  Why did this work several years in a row?  Cruel mom!

So anyway, in the spirit of April 1st, here are some sites you can go to for inspiration for your own pranks!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A517240

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/

http://www.funmunch.com/events/april_fools_day/april_fools_day_pranks.shtml

One time my friend and I went around to friends and put post it notes all over one brother's car at work and then wrapped the other's in cellophane.  Good times!

Have fun, and be nice!

Saturday Photo Hunt

Theme: Water

I took this last year while vacationing over Memorial Day in the Smokey Mountains. It's on one of the trails, not sure which, but it is beautiful! You gotta love a walk like that!

Friday Feast

Appetizer
What are you proud of?

My daughter.

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?

A starbucks gift card. I REALLY like Starbucks!

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.

Blogging is usually wasting time for me.

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?

1975, my first year. I can't imagine changing more than that!

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?

The point where my grandparents have lived in Tampa, FL. They have this area on the edge of the community that looks out over Tampa Bay. You can sit on a bench and watch the sunset...beautiful!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Amy 13 movies I know by heart! 1. Forrest Gump 2. My Best Friend's Wedding 3. Notting Hill 4. Beaches 5. Grease 6. Ferris Bueller's Day Off 7. Steel Magnolias 8. The Princess Bride 9. Sleepless in Seattle 10. Hope Floats 11. That touch of mink 12. When Harry Met Sally 13. Fried Green Tomatoes Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. The Not Quite Crunchy Parent 2. The Porch Light 3. Wylie's Words 4. Your next!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Milestone Monday

So my friend, Tammy, over at It's a Wonderful Life, is starting this new Monday Meme called Milestone Mondays. Basically it is documenting milestones that have recently occurred in your family for all posterity. The big one that has happened with Lilla in the past couple of weeks is getting 4 molars. You can see her massive amounts of drool in the picture above. She has been in a whole heck of a lot of pain, but maybe it is better to get them all at once like that rather than dragging it all out. Anyway, there is a Lilla milestone for ya!

Is a handbag still a handbag if it has diapers in it?

So, I've been tagged to show you the handbag that I carry by Steph over at Adventures in Babywearing. I don't think you could actually call this diaper bag a handbag because it's an embaressment to good little Coach carrying mamas everywhere! It's from Target, Amy Coe, has oh so elegant lepoard print on the inside and, if you look at the back, has big old letters spelling out most of Lilla's name for the little old ladies who work in the nursery. They love that I leave that on there!

Seasons Change

I think I am going through a season of not being all that interested in blogging anymore. I may have overdone it as I was totally in love and obsessed with it for a time. I find myself doing that with a lot of things. I become enthralled and passionate about them and then overtime burn out and quit. It was one of the reasons I wasn't sure if I should get married. I had done that with many boyfriends previous to my husband and I was concerned it would happen again. Fortunately, I will be married 3 years next week and there is no such sign of that happening!

Anyway, it makes for some pretty boring blogging lately, but, I don't feel alone. I feel like a lot of my blogging buddies are in the same place in their blogging lives. Maybe it will be for a season, maybe forever. I really love to write and it does give me such a creative outlet, so I am by no means stopping, I just feel a need to explain why my blog title fits so well right now...it's all just blah, blah, blah it seems. No real substance! Also, my blogwalking is few and far between and I think that may explain why I'm not visiting quite as much.

I also feel like the warmer weather has kept me away. I just want to be enjoying the fresh air, the outside and long walks. It has really been great in that way!

Lilla has enjoyed being outside, but she has been such a bear lately! She refuses to eat anything so I believe she is hungry all the time. Also, with the addition of all these teeth I really believe she is in pain. We are keeping the asthetaminaphine companies in business I tell ya! Hey, I know that was spelled way wrong and I'm okay with that! Anyway, her constant crying and fussing has worn me out and I feel like I have nothing left to give at the end of each day. I'm so tired all the time. I'm praying to God that He will give me the patience I need to not be frustrated with her. I love her so much and I don't want our relationship to be one where I'm constantly getting aggravated. I honestly don't know how parents with collicky babies do it! It would be so hard! Also, Michael is in Denver all this next week so life just got a little crazier. I am going to be pretty busy, I made sure of that, so I think the week will go pretty fast anyway!

Well anyway, I just thought I'd check in. I hope you all have a great week!

Saturday Photo Hunt

Theme: Empty

This is my friend, Claudia, at her birthday party two years ago. She is saying, "No mas!" (Her family is from Uraguy and speak Spanish!)

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

Tom Brokaw. Even though he is much more liberal than I am, there is something about him I like. I like the way he reports. He is also so into history, as I am. I find him fascinating.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

Meatballs, Brats, frozen corn.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

Lillaville. Hey, that could work!

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?

I think we are about to do a study in our small group on the gifts of the spirit. That would be the next book, I'm sure.

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?

Appearance wise probably height since I'm so short. 5'1 in case you are wondering. Non appearance would be their sense of humor. You can always tell off the bat if someone has one!

Thursday 13

Thirteen Things about AmyMy 13 Favorite Restaraunt Foods 1. Bazbeux Pineapple and Sundried Tomato Pizza 2. Nothing but Noodles Pad Thai 3. Rock Bottom's Chicken Fried Chicken 4. Don Pablo's Steak Fajitas 5. Chili's Chicken Strips 6. Panera's Cream of Broccoli Soup 7. Starbucks (hey, they serve food there!) Cranberry Bliss 8. Le Peep's OJ 9. Hungry Howie's Pepperoni with Garlic Herb Pizza (yes, I love pizza!) 10. Smokey Bones Ribs 11. Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo 12. Santorini Greek Kitchen Gyros 13. O'Charley's Cheesy Potato Soup Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Easter Cookies

A friend sent me this story and recipe for Easter cookies and a good way to talk to your kids about the Easter story in a way that they will love! Lilla is a little too young this year but next year I'm totally doing it!

Easter Cookies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following recipe is making its rounds on the Internet as a freely-reproducible file. If you find it a useful visual aid for communicating the message of the resurrection to children, please pass it on!

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar

You will also need:
Bible
re-sealable baggie
wooden spoon
mixing bowl
electic mixer
cookie sheet
waxed paper
tape

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for several minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20-22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain how the tomb was empty on the first Easter because Christ had risen from the dead! Read Matthew 28:1-9.

I've been tagged!

So I've been tagged by Amy over at Amy's Random Thoughts to name my top 7 songs I'm totally into right now...hmmm...

1. The Backyardigans theme song, so, so strange, I know. However, I have a 13 month old and we watch it about once a day so I hear it a lot. Cute show.
2. How Great is Our God, Bethany Dillion
3. How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Nicole Nordeman
I haven't listened to the radio at all lately so I'll just put some songs I always like
4. Blessed be Your Name, Matt Redman (we've been listening to the Veggie Tales version lately)
5. Your Love is Extravagant, Casting Crowns
6. Daughters, John Mayer
7. At Last, Etta James

The Shoes I can't live without

From Stephanie at Adventures in Babyweaning, the phototag of the day is shoes...here are the shoes I can't live without, same as Stephanie, my crocs. If it is not wet out, they are on my feet. I'll need a pair of sandals for summer!

Blogging for Voice of the Martyrs

So I recently heard about this program where you could be a blogger for Voice of the Martyrs.  It's just a little something Christians can do just to get the word out.  So, many of you are familiar with VOM ministries, but probably some of you aren't.  For those who aren't, let me give you some information about them from their webpage.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand founded VOM over 30 years ago. He was in prison in Romania for 14 years for his faith in Christ. In the `60s he and his family were ransomed out of Romania for $10,000 and came to the U.S. where he began traveling, educating the free world of the atrocities committed against Christians in Communist and other restricted countries. VOM's five main purposes are based on Hebrews 13:3. They are:

1. To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for their involvement in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by providing Bibles, literature, radio broadcasts, and other forms of aid.
2. To give relief to the families of Christian martyrs in these areas of the world.
3. To equip local Christians to win to Christ their enemies who are opposed to the gospel in countries where believers are actively persecuted for their Christian witness.
4. To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries that have formerly suffered Communist oppression.
5. To emphasize the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of atrocities committed against Christians and by remembering their courage and faith.

VOM is currently active in 42 countries around the world.  Please go to their website and find out more about the persecuted church and what you can do to help.  Voice of the Martyrs

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 32nd birthday, and here is a picture of my actual cake. Can we all say yummmmm?!?! My mom and stepdad came in on Saturday and they brought me a cheesecake with four different kinds, this being my favorite. mean seriously, cookie crust, thick creamy filling, chocolate chips to top it off, delicious!

I am so happy to say that I started off my 32nd year well and read the book of James this morning. I have to say, it is one of my very favorite books. It just has so much practical advice and wisdom. If you haven't read it in awhile, or ever, you really should. It is very easy to read and understand and it's only 5 chapters. It actually got me thinking about missions again. Oh, how I want to go on another trip! Our friends from church are going to the Caspian region for at least a year starting in August and I am so jealous! What a terrific thing for them. They have a 15 and 17 year old that are going and I can't imagine a better way for them to start out their young lives. They've invited us to visit next year, so you never know if we might get the bug!

Saturday we had a talent competition for the youth at church and then yesterday they got to perform their talents at a nearby nursing home. What a great thing that was! To see these young people already desiring to serve the Lord was really amazing. My heart just melted to see them singing in praise and worship. It made me sad for the waste of so many of my own years but so happy for them that they are just at the beginning. I do hope they spend them wisely! Being young is hard, you just want to fit in and feel happy. So many emotions and everything feels like the end of the world. It's so funny to look back and thing how little high school really means. My goodness, it's 4 years of so many others. I hope I can show Lilla that!

I hope today is a bright and sunny one for you all! Take care!

Don't forget to wear green!

Saturday Photo Hunt

Posting a day early because I have a busy day scheduled for tomorrow. As you can guess, this was the toast at my wedding. I wish I could remember what my brother in law said, something along the lines of, "Welcome to the family, another Amy!" (that's his wife's name)

Have a great photo hunt you all!

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

My new bedroom, furniture and paint...yeah!

My 19 month old niece saying my name last thing before bed...so cute!

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?

Your dog gets fur all over the clean sheets

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

Quoting bible verses, from Genesis to Revelation, whichever ones I know.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

How do people who are mean to others sleep at night?

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

Thin spaghetti noodles with olive oil, garlic, parmasean cheese and parsley...delicious!

Thursday 13

My appetite is really weird today so my 13 is based on the foods I've eaten today! Thirteen Things about Amy1. Lime chips 2. Chili 3. grape juice 4. grapefruit juice 5. cadbury cream egg 6. pear 7. croutons 8. water 9. chicken nuggets 10. cinnamon roll 11. Vanilla bean ice cream with butterscotch topping 12. About to eat brussel sprouts 13. About to eat a salad Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

All is well

Today was Lilla's ear tube day. The poor thing has had so many infections, it just had to be done. I was worried because, although it's routine, it's still surgery and they still use an anesthetic so, well, I'm a mom. You know how that goes!

Anyway, we got there around 6:30am. Woke up at 5, it was seriously not pretty. I heard the alarm clock and just laid there. Michael started out gently trying to wake me, it slowly got louder and more intense until he nearly had to shove me off the bed to get me moving. I am so not a morning person! I was actually awake the whole time, I just didn't want to move.

So we go to Riley, which is seriously one of the best children's hospitals in the world. In little old Indiana, who knew? Anyway, we go there and it's so early there is hardly anyone around and I got lost, of course. It took me ten minutes to figure out the elevators aren't working. So, I go down the only stairs I can find and I wind up in the furnace area or something. Oh yeah, leave it to me. So, I hike back up the stairs and as I am confusingly trying to figure out on a map how to get to outpatient, a kind soul walking past took pity on me and helped me out. I did finally find the place and Michael shortly followed. He was parking the car, in a garage way far away as, apparently, he was confused too. Oh well, I guess we could use the excercise, right?

Anyway, we got in, put the PJ's on the peanut, soon they came in to have us sign some forms, before we knew it they were taking her to the OR and had it done in a jiffy. Everything went well and, hopefully, she will have no more earaches! Yahoo! This was really one of the best hospital visits I have ever had. All of the staff was beyond friendly and helpful to us. I really don't have any complaints because they were so nice. I'm sure they hire people like that on purpose because it helps the kids feel so much more comfortable. For anyone who needs to have their kids go to a hospital, I would definitely recommend Riley!

We stayed for about an hour so they could monitor her. She just laid there and nursed the whole time. Although I'm trying to wean her, I'm glad I was still nursing today. She was scared when she came out and it really gave her comfort. Anyone who thinks you shouldn't use it for that, oh well. I feel like if that is the worst thing I do as a momma, I'm doing pretty good.

We took her out in this cute little cart they have at Riley, she loved it!

I think what this experience taught me more than anything is how happy I am to have a healthy child. There are so many sick kids out there and mine just had to have tubes. Although I think Riley is a terrific hospital, I hope we never have to visit again!

Have a good day all!

I've lost it, I've lost it, oh where could I have tossed it?

*Update* Here are the pictures!!

____________________________________________________________________

A short while back I was feeling rather proud of myself as I hadn't lost my keys in a long time. I thought, "Hey, go me." I must be getting better at this remembering thing since I've been so organized lately. Well, organized can be a relative word. Organized for me that is. Well friends, I gotta tell ya, pride comes before a fall.

So, we are redoing our bedroom. New paint, new furniture, the whole sha-bang. It is fabulous I tell ya, as the only major purchase we've ever made was our house. We are savers, not spenders, so this is fabulous for me. I got the bedroom suite I've always wanted and I didn't have to manipulate at all to get it. It's coming today so I'll post pictures later. I am excited!!

Anyway, I digress. We bought the suite on a whim on Sunday so Monday I had to rush out and buy paint before they come with the furniture. This is seriously the only time my husband will let me paint so I got to get while the gettings good! So, I go to Menards, get my paint. Come home, start taping things up, start painting, blah, blah, blah. We decided just to grab a pizza last night and so I was out the door to get it and realize my wallet is gone. Where could my wallet be, I wonder?? I do a quick search of the car, the diaper bag, the house. No wallet to be found. Since I went to Menards with my sister I figure it's in her car, no big deal, just use Michael's card. This morning I call my sister (That's her to your right in case you were wondering) and ask her to look, she searches everywhere, no wallet to be found. OH MY GOSH! Panic starts to sink in. I have to call Michael to get the bank account number, he starts getting irritated. Fortunately no one has used the ATM card. Good news. I search and I search and I search. Seriously tear up the house, it is definitely not here.

I pray about it.

I then try Menards just to see if there might be some shred of decency left on the planet and someone has turned it in. There is and they have. My wallet awaits me...

I'm thankful that God answered my prayer today and took care of me. It's amazing how when we ask him for something he provides. So loving.

Wordless Wednesday

What we did today...

In case there was any question, I found out today that kids love the zoo. We bought the annual pass. Good times.

Saturday Photo Hunt

Photo Hunt theme of the week: ARCHITECTURE

So, as my late grandpa would have said, I am a day late and a dollar short. But hey, I still showed up right? So, here is my first entry into another meme I would like to participate in, Saturday Photo Hunt. The link is in my sidebar. Anyway, the theme is architecture. This picture is of the "Castle" at Word of Life Camp in Hungary. We went there in the summer of 2005 to teach English to kids at the Christian camp. We loved it. We were hoping to go back this summer but due to not knowing if Michael could get the days off until this week, the trip has filled and it doesn't look like we'll be going back. Of course, God could change something, but at this point it's a no go. Oh well, we know that ultimately God is in control of everything, including this, so, life goes on. Maybe next year.

Have a great day all!

Blogroll for Photo Hunt

I Won Something, who knew?!?!

So, as everyone who reads my blogs knows, I've been busy all week meeting some new fabulous people over at 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party. It has been a blast! Who knew that so many terrific bloggers were out there? I wish I had time to visit them all, but seriously, I have to eat, sleep and take care of a one year old, so, it's just not happening. Oh well, I did stop at like 100 or more so it's been great!

Anyway, they also had a prize giveaway and yours truly, Ms. Not so lucky, actually got my first place prize pick, a $20 gift certificate to Starbucks. Yes, I will be enjoying a hot caramel apple cider, a hazlenut steamer and a strawberry frappacino in the near future! Yep, you guessed it, I don't drink coffee, but I love Starbucks. Hey, I used to live in Seattle, it's an institution! Actually, there was this hole in the wall coffee house called

Thanks so much to Love, Laughter and Laundry for sponsoring this particular prize. I will definitely be thinking of you with a smile as

Lilla Lesson #692

OK, so I actually don't know how many lessons God has taught me through my precious daughter in the last 13 months, but I know the number has to be pretty high. It seems every day is overflowing with things that God wants me to see and learn to grow closer to him. Today was no exception.

So, let me paint the picture for you. Lately Lilla has been very clingy to me so the only way for me to get a quick shower in the morning is to put on our Laurie Berkner band dvd. (for those of you without little kids for a long time, it's this 3 man band, of sorts, that sing and dance little kid style. Little kids love it and it keeps there attention for a bit, which, I need sometimes so I can take a shower. The songs are really cute so I approve of this.) Anyway, I take a quick shower and by the time I am out Lilla is coming down the hall to find me. I pull out Lilla's toys from under the bed, she plays for a few minutes and then comes in the bathroom while I dry my hair. Of course, she wants me to hold her, which I can't at the moment, so I put her on the sink. See before picture.

Well today she decided she was getting bored of just sitting there brushing her teeth, so she thought it would be a good idea to get into the sink. She'd get in, couldn't get out, get frustrated, yell and scream until I took her out and then do it all again. Ugh!

I started thinking about this in relation to me and how many times God has to get me out of the same sticky situations because I just don't learn. I keep going back for that "sink" because I just can't resist it. And then, when I can't get myself out I kick and scream and whine and say, "Why me?!?!" Oh, but God is so loving and kind to lift me out again and again. Won't it be nice on that final day when we will never sit in "the sink" again? I can hardly wait!

Have a great weekend everyone!