Motivation

My friend, Abby, introduced me to a website that has a daily cleaning schedule that you can download for cheap.  I started it in the fall of last year and slowly got away from following this super easy schedule.  

I am not a motivated person.  I'm very content with putting things off - sorry Wes.  In this season of my life my work is my husband, my boy and my home...and some occasional cakes.  I want to do it well and right now I don't feel like I'm doing too hot.

So with spring on it's way...wishful thinking I know...I have a renewed desire to work harder at the job God has given me.  

This is my Monday chore list.

Change dishcloth/towel

Change hand towels in bathrooms

Inventory refrigerator contents and
plan meals around leftovers

Vacuum main/public rooms
on 1st floor

Replenish toilet paper in bathrooms

Clean toilets

Clean jewelry

I just purchased this book.

and I'm going to do this.

"She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day."  Proverbs 31: 18 (the Message)

Where's the Love? Wednesday {2.23.11}

This is what I"m loving this week.

Max's cheek and thumb get majorly chapped from sucking his thumb A LOT.  Aquaphor works wonders.

Seriously - if Max could have only one toy, it would be these things.  He never gets bored with them. 

Peek-a Who? is Max's favorite book of choice.  He chooses it every time.  I'm not kidding - if I hold up this book and any other book, he always grabs for this one.  If I make an executive decision to read another book, he is always looking around to see where this book is.

I found this easy recipe for hummus.  Perfect snack w/ veggies and crackers.

This is my favorite blog right now.  God has definitely given her a gift of writing.  Check it out and be encouraged.

My good friend, Rachel,  asked me to make a cake for her grandpa's 89th birthday.  Loved making it for my friend and for her sweet grandpa.   

Nothing says Grandpa like plaid, right?

 I heard this in church on Sunday.  "God has always wanted his people to live differently because of their heart for Him." (not to earn His love.  So glad I don't have to earn anything.  I'd be in big trouble.)

My boy is clapping and it makes me smile. 

Where is your love today?  Tell me...and others... what you love right now.  If you have a blog, add a link to your blog post below.  It can be fun, lighthearted, deep and meaningful or a little of both.  It can be one thing or many things  If you don't have a blog, share what you're loving as a comment below.

I'm feeling a little insecure about doing my first link up, but I'll be ok if nobody participates. :)

Tuesday's Treasure

Been feeling lately that I need to step out side of my own little world. Had an idea to highlight an organization that helps others in need each week. I would love for you to join in praying for these "treasures" that demonstrate the love of Christ.

To start things off, I wanted to give you link to a site that will hopefully remind you how much need is really out there and much we really have.  

Nevermind the Joneses.

Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner

I just won my first blog giveaway!  I'm very excited and I won a cd from this site!

This is what one of the authors of We Are Grafted In has to say about Seeds of Worship.

These CDs, which are also available on iTunes, totally rock, and I mean that literally and figuratively. The band takes great Bible verses and sets them to great music. After listening to them, God’s word will be hidden in your child’s heart – and yours. Because get this – are you sitting down – I find myself listening (and jamming and singing very loudly) to Seeds even when my kids are not in the car.

I chose this cd.

Something else amazing about Seeds Family Worship - when you order a cd, they give you 2 so that you can pass one on to someone else.  You can be a part of planting seeds!

Max's 1st Swim

Went to Grand Rapids to see my sister and boys while my bro-in-law was out of town.  Loved seeing them.  Loved making a memory of Max's first pool experience.  

Kobe, Maxwell and Keaton waiting for thier swim trunks.

Valentine's Day

Wes and my first Valentine's day together consisted of a homemade meal, tulips (favorite flower), Skittles (favorite candy), a horse and carriage ride all done by Wes.  I decorated his dorm room with balloons attached with little cards that said what I loved about him.  ( I hadn't said, "I love you" yet, so this is the closest I got.)

These days, we don't do much for Valentine's Day.  (Wes just read this and said it sounds depressing.) However I did do an experimental Valentine's Day treat that I thought Wes might enjoy.

banana spice cupcakes with peanut
butter frosting and a dollop of jelly

And I also did - what I thought was a - genius photo shoot of our favorite valentine...  

After this awesome idea I had, I went to download the pictures onto the computer, leaving Max to play with his toy train.  Heard him cough, went to check on him and found this.

tape doesn't go down as easily as paper...

Not going to win any Mom of the Year awards.  In all of my excitement, I failed to remove my "genius" addition on Max's shirt...

Wes - I love you and I'm so glad you love me.

Paula's

Five years ago, Wes won a gift certificate to Paula's on Main.  It's a pricier (for us), eclectic, mainly seafood restaurant.  It's the type of restaurant that Wes and I would save for a special occasion.  That is exactly what we did.

We were going to save it for when I got pregnant.  I had these fantasies of driving Wes to Paula's blindfolded and seeing the surprised look on his face when he would figure out that the reason we were in Paula's parking lot was because we were going to have a baby.  Obviously, this didn't happen...and whenever Wes would come across the certificate he would say, "Do you just want to go to Paula's?"  My response was always, "I refuse to go until there is a baby in the picture."  ( I promise I said this in a very loving way.)  We always joked that we hoped the certificate didn't have an experation date.

Friday night we went to Paula's.

I love the toy hammer sitting so nicely next to the plants

(I'm surprised we didn't go straight from the hospital when we brought Max home.)  Apparantly, the last 7 months have gotten away from us, but we finally made it.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalms 27:13-14  

I'm so thankful that part of His goodness included our little Max.  

Be On the Lookout

Max has really been practicing hard for his next piano recital.  Be on the lookout for another spectacular performance.

In other Max news...

He cries while eating his veggies (he still eats them, just doesn't enjoy them)

He's starting to scoot backwards on his hands and knees.

He plays a mean game of peek-a-boo.

Wes and I couldn't quite get his shirt buttoned around his wrists last Sunday.  Makes me giggle every time I think about it.

One of our favorite sounds right now is hearing Max slam his legs down in his crib when he's trying to go to sleep or when he wakes up.

I started a newsletter for Max's birthmom.  The teacher in me was all about it.

Max's Uncle G hat is still a little big...

Florida Picture Post

Last Thursday, Mom, Maxwell and I hopped on a plane to visit my Grandparents in Florida.  This is what we did.

* Arrived at G and G's house at 1:15 am.  Should have been 11:00 pm.  Max was a trooper.

waiting to leave...

* Did crossword puzzles

* Snuggled with Grandma and Grandpa

 

* Had breakfast with Grandma's BFF

* Went shopping at the "pink mall".  It hasn't been pink for a long time, but we still call it that.

* Bought the above sunglasses and enjoyed eating them.

* Went to the pool.  Apparently, 70 degrees is too cold for Floridians.  Not for us Midwesterners.

* Ate the best popcorn in the world...made by Grandpa...lard and all.

 * Went to our favorite place - Anna Maria Island

* Got in an accident - Long story short.  Grandma, Mom, Max and I were on our way to dinner and a man ran a stop sign and hit the side of our car.  He could have T-boned us, but Grandma moved the car just enough that he mainly hit the back tire.  Thankful that God protected us and the man.   

One of the officers gave Max this snoopy after the accident

* Left Florida a half hour after we were supposed to be home...another delay.

* Were greeted by my husband and dad - red roses for mom, pink roses for me.  :)

Loved getting a taste of warm weather.  Loved seeing my grandparents.  Loved beating the snowstorm.  Loved seeing my bed.  Loved seeing my husband.


Love being home.