Patience is NOT my virtue

Hello again! The title definitely tells it all today. 

I am not a patient person.

Especially when it comes to waiting!

Especially when I am waiting on something that is BIG.

We are waiting on our tax return! 

I am impatient.

It could come any day now and I just cannot wait.

It is too exciting.

All of the money has a purpose!

Some of it will pay our house payments, proper taxes, and house insurance for a whole year!

Some of it will go towards the purchase of a "new to us" van.

Some of it will go towards the paying off of an old debt that seems to be holding my hubby back some.

We already received our state income taxes.

It has been used to fix some things on my poor beat up Kia.

The rest is securely in the bank.

I am also waiting on a nice big back child support payment.

That money will be spent on the kids.

All these plans.

I hate waiting.

I have no patience!

Be blessed all!

One Year

Well my friends, one whole year has passed since I had my teeth pulled and had replacement teeth put in! You may remember my first blog post about my toothy journey. I had my lower teeth pulled the end of August 2010 and my uppers pulled the middle of October 2010. I spent 3 months without any teeth at all while waiting for my gums to heal. January 11, 2011 I got my new smile. I know that sounds really odd coming from a nearly 32 year old but due to circumstances beyond my control, it had to be done.

I have met many people through various websites who have shared their journey with me. Once such website isDentures A New Smile. I have met some wonderful people on that site who are older and younger than me who have had to have dentures for one reason or another. Some of the people on that site had grown up with full dental care and beautiful teeth only to have them fall apart in their teens and twenties.

It really did take me a lot to post about my adventure on the interweb but I want people to know me. The real me. I was so embarrassed at first but you, my faithful bloggy followers, made me feel at ease. You guys didn't judge me, you didn't make me feel bad, you accepted me for who I am. I really do appreciate that!

As for this past year, I really haven't had many problems with my new teeth. I don't have to use adhesive to keep them in and I usually don't unless we are going out to eat. I am still trying to figure out how to get a straight smile as I have had a very crooked one since I was a kid. All in all, I love my new smile, the teeth work well, and I wouldn't go back to the teeth I had before for anything in the world.

The only problems I have had is chewing certain foods. If a piece of meat is tough, like a steak, pork chop, or jerky, I can't chew big bites of it. I have to cut it into really small or thin bites to chew it. The other problem I had is the occasional adjustments that need to be done as my gum lines change. Those are a simple 5-10 minute fix at the dentists office or an at home fix (since my insurance doesn't pay for any adjustments after 6 months) with a sterile fingernail file. It is just like filing an acrylic nail.

Now for a picture of my smile.

 I don't think I ever really take good pictures but there you go. My world has become much bigger and I put myself in it a lot more now that I am confident in my new smile. I hope if anyone who reads this knows that dentures isn't just an "old person" problem. They are a last resort if your teeth cannot be saved or if you don't have the money to save your natural teeth. They are an option if you can't afford dental implants. There is a lot of stigma out there about having dentures but you know what, it sure is better than having a mouth full of rotted, broken, painful, abscessed teeth!!!!

Now for a couple pictures of the day:

Today's pictures are of my 4 beautiful kiddos all wrapped up in their blankets. I put love and hugs in every stitch that is in their blankets so they should have plenty to last a lifetime!!!

Be Blessed Friends!

Hope's Blanket is Finished!

Hello again my friends! I am so very happy to announce that I have finally finished my oldest daughter's blanket! This means I have completed my goal to make each of my 4 kids a blanket!!! 

I decided to make each of my kids a blanket early last year. It all started with a morbid thought on my part. Back then I was worried that the dreaded cervical cancer I had before had come back. Just in case the inevitable happened, I wanted my kids to have something solid they could hold on to. I told them that these blankets would last forever if they took care of them. I also told my kids that these blankets represent part of the love I have for them and each blanket holds hugs from me. No matter what point they are in their lives, they can get a hug from me whenever they wrap up in these blankets. 

I know, I know, I really shouldn't be thinking about me being off this Earth at the ripe young age of 31 but you know, I was scared!

Anyhow, here is Hope's blanket. It is a twin bed size! I used Red Heart Super Saver in colors Hope picked out herself. She even decided the order in which the colors should go.

I just did a simple border of 2 rounds of double crochets. The outside edge has 834 double crochets and 4 chain one spaces around!!!

I am super happy to have Hope's blanket finished! She now has a nice hug from me to wrap up in and I can get back to work on my random ripple blanket!!!!!

Picture(s) of the day:

My hubby brought home this Ethan Allan ladder shelf from his job the other night! It is originally over $100 dollars but he got it for $25!!! We used it to replace our old wobbly cabinet that held our books and dvds. However, something else has taken residence on our shelf!!!

Our sweet kitty Daisy thinks the books make an excellent bed.

 (maybe I should crochet her a little blanket)

Be blessed friends.

A Mother/Daughter Project

I am a crocheter by nature. Most other crafty things are way beyond my radar. I try to knit but I constantly drop stitches or my knitting is way too lose. I try to hand sew and my stitches are loose and not very uniform. I try to machine sew and my machine and I just do not get along. My threads want to bunch up or break and I just want to throw my sewing machine out of the window. I am a crocheter by nature.

My oldest daughter on the other hand seems to be able to pick up on things rather quickly. She is very good at drawing animals, people, anime. She gets ideas to create things out of paper or a cardboard box and it turns out perfect every time. I am so impressed with her abilities at 12 years old I tend to just sit in amazement most of the time and watch her create and build and draw and whatever else she is doing.

My daughter came home from school a week ago talking about the quilted purses the girls at school had. She just loved them and she wanted one. We looked on line at the name brand ones on everyone seemed to have. The style and color my daughter wanted was $55. I couldn't believe my eyes!

So, we came up with a brilliant plan for her to make her own purse. We went to the library and checked out books about purse making. We watched videos on YouTube about purse making. Taking the bull by the horns, I went to our local grocer which carries some supplies and bought 2 fat quarters in the same purple tones, a zipper, some cord for the strap, some purple thread and some quilt batting. That afternoon I surprised my daughter with her new project.

She laid everything out on the floor and began imagining just what her purse was going to look like. She begged me to get started that night. She made a deal with me saying she would do all of the designing and cutting if I did all of the sewing. I agreed.

Three long, brain breaking trying to figure out how to sew these pieces together to make a nice looking bag later we came up with this........

Here on the back of the purse are two pockets. (sorry about the color differences...I think I was playing with the flash)

There are also two pockets on the front. One tall one for pencils and such and the shorter one for her cell phone.

There is a pocket on the inside as well.

 I learned a lot about my daughter and myself while doing this project. 

1. My daughter is an amazing designer. 

2. I can do anything I set my mind to.

3. I learned how to put a zipper on something. (I always thought it was way too hard)

I am really proud of her for having the insight to design this purse. I am also proud of myself for letting my technical side shine and really using my brain to figure out how to create my daughter's design. Making, pinning, and sewing this one, single purse showed me that I am more than what I give myself credit for!

Oh and now she wants us to make them to sell. The materials were $25. She wants to sell them for $40. We have no orders yet! Maybe we can make some to sell at some festivals! I dunno...it's an idea!

Now for my picture of the day. Here is a picture of my dad's side of the family minus two members: Aunt Hazel who wasn't there and Uncle Jack who is deceased.

From top left: Aunt Brenda, Aunt Vergie, Uncle Johnny, Uncle Floyd (or Butch), Aunt Rose, and Aunt Linda (My family says I look a lot like her)

Bottom from left: My Dad Rick, my Grandma Rosa, and my Uncle David.

Be Blessed y'all!

They Hate Me

Okay, they don't hate me BUT I found out this past week that my daughters ages 12 and 10 think I hate them! I honestly thought I would have at least 3 more years before I had to deal with that kind of teenage angst! I was wrong. Last week, in two different situations, where I was correcting a behavior of one of my girls, I was told that I hated them. 

Those words coming from my precious daughters were nearly more than I could handle! I had a mom who would blow up at me and yell and nit pic so much I hated myself! I honestly felt I could do nothing right in her eyes. Honestly, a couple of times I have turned into my mom BUT I realized my own behavior, corrected it, and apologized to my little ones. I never want my kids to feel like I did so I work really hard at being a kind, loving, compassionate, understanding, and tender mom. 

Sadly, I don't really have too many other mom's I can talk to about this kind of stuff. So I will pose the question to you:

Have any you moms had to deal with this?

How did you handle it?

I know I was STUNNED when those words came out of the mouths of my little girls! All I could do was say, "I am sorry you feel that way! I don't hate you at all! As a matter of fact, I love you!" 

I know those words were probably just their emotions from their pubescent minds and bodies and I am glad to report we are all okay AND we have talked it all out. All 3 of us are in much better place now.

I just want my daughters to know they can come talk to me about absolutely anything! I want them to know I am here for them and I only have their best interests at heart.

Now, I have my picture of today to show you. ........

This picture was snapped with my blackberry. My hubby and I were heading back from some shopping and saw this stream coming down the hills. The weather has been super rainy nearly spring like storms rolling through. The water rushing down was spectacular.

Be blessed my friends.

Just some random but organized thoughts.

Howdy friends! 

How do you like the cowboy intro? Well I have been doing some thinking and I have come to realize that my poor neglected blog is kind of boring. I honestly do lead a rather easy going and rather boring life if I must say so myself. I rarely get together with friends and family as I don't really have too many family members interested in my day to day of being a stay at home mom and I have only one friend here in Ohio. Most of my friends are still back in Georgia where I am from.

I don't really get out too much on my own either. Our vehicles aren't really up to par and quite frankly I am kind of scared to go anywhere alone for fear of my vehicle breaking down. Not to mention, where do I go? Where does a woman go just with her own company.

I don't host get-togethers either. With only a few family members and only one friend...well to be honest, when I try to organize a cookout, a dinner, even a jewelry party, no one ever shows. 

Most of these problems in my boring life are due to my being a hermit for those several years. I didn't get out at all. I didn't meet people. Honestly, I am unsure how to go about interacting with people at this point. I do chit chat and add my superior knowledge to things I am superiorly knowledgeable about but as far as being a confident guest or host...Pshht...

Last night, I also thought about my day to day life. Honestly, I really do the same things every day! I get up in the mornings and get the kiddos off to school or feed them. I eat breakfast. I shower. I tidy up a bit. I crochet sometimes. I watch tv. I walk the dog. In the summer months I tend my garden. I eat lunch. I cook dinner. Help the kids with homework or chores. I feed them again. I monitor baths. I send them to bed. I exercise. I bathe again. I go to bed.

Kind of boring huh.

The only time things change around is if my hubby is off work or there is an errand that just HAS to be ran. Occasionally I will be invited to a family or friendly get together. I don't know. Do you guys enjoy hearing about the things that happen in my life? Would you like more of my thoughts or feelings on stuff from day to day? Should I just quit blogging all together?

I thought about those who do the 365 blogs. They post something every day. Shoot some people do it and gain recognition for it like Julie from the movie "Julie and Julia". She turned her blog into a book and then a movie. I'm not too sure my little spot of blogland would ever turn into something like that. However, I would love to try to post every day. To show little snippets of my daily life. My life as a mom, a wife, a daughter, a spiritual being. I want to let all of you really get to know me. I want you to know my fears, my heartbreaks, my triumphs. I have many balls in the air from raising my kids, from trying to prove to myself I can follow through with something that is good for me with my healthy eating and my weight loss goals I have for the next 5 months.

I hope my loyal readers (I love you!) will stick around and I hope I gain a few new ones as well. Most of all, I would love to be able to reach out and help some of you out there who may be dealing with some of the same issues I have, I do, I am.

What do you all think?

Outside with a dollhouse sneak peak

Hello my friends! Sorry I haven't been around to tell you all about all the many different things going on around here. I have been so busy with things! Of course I have been doing the normal housekeeping mommy things but on top of that I have been going this way. I have 2 new members of my extended family. A new 2nd cousin named Mckenna and a new great niece named Kennedi. They were born just a day apart from each other. McKenna's mom's pregnancy went well and labor went well. Baby Kennedi's mom had very high blood pressure and had to deliver at 36 weeks. Luckily both of these beautiful little ones are perfectly healthy and both moms are enjoying their new bundles to the fullest.

Other not so great hospital stays have been going on as well. My best friend's mom was in the hospital. She was found unresponsive one morning and taken. She has pneumonia and because her white blood cell count is high they suspect cancer but because the pneumonia was so bad the blood cell count could be a result of her body fighting that infection.

I also found out (over Facebook) my Aunt has cancer and isn't doing too good. My step-father was in the hospital and they don't know what is causing his symptoms. It could be something neurological or something a ear, nose, and throat specialist can help. Finally, my poor husband has been doing really badly with his Crohn's Disease. Just one thing after another here!

Ok enough of that deep stuff. I am not feeling too much like myself today so I decided take some pictures.

Here is a pic of the sunlight from behind me lighting up this old tree in my front yard. I have loved having 50 degree weather, sunlight, and blue skies this winter.

I have done a little yard "tweaking" while the weather has been warmer. 

I have been "overwintering" some onions in my garden beds. The weather has been so warm they haven't yet went dormant.

The top of a tree in my neighbor's yard. I love to see the green leaves on the trees but I think there is something mystical about the bare branches on a blue or gray backdrop.

My partner in my picture taking, my 3 year old chiweenie Tinkerbell.

The ivy growing under my front porch. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When my hubby and I first married we lived with his disabled parents. His mom used to be very crafty and creative. She was a genius when it came to the early computers. Then she had an aneurysm in her brain that partially paralyzed her left side. Before her injury she would make dollhouses and sell them to people. She had one that was her's just sitting around collecting dust. She couldn't work on it or restore it herself so when my hubby and I moved out I asked her if I could take her "Southern Mansion" with me. I promised to restore it for her and the rest is history.

Up until we moved into this house I didn't have an area I could properly put it to work on it. My hubby and I have been talking about wanting to restore it and have been shopping around and getting ideas for it. So we finally pulled it out of storage and I have started pulling out the "carpet" and the wall paper.

This doll house is 4 feet long and about 2.5 feet tall. It is also about a 2.5 feet wide. 

Here you can see the entire 3rd floor. We plan on making the left side a game room and the right side a theater room.

Here on the second floor is the baby's room but I think it will be turned into an child's bedroom.

Directly to the right of the baby's room is the landing for the stairs and the bathroom.

Directly to the right of the landing, on the second floor is the master bedroom.

Finally directly to the right of the master bedroom is a child's room which will become the baby's room. The floor has been removed from this room. And as you can see, the kitty has claimed the 1st floor "play room" as a bedroom.

On the 1st floor, directly to the left of the play room is the living room with a gorgeous bay window.

Again, to the left is the dining room.

Finally to the left of the dining room is the kitchen.

My mom-in-law put tons of hard work into this dollhouse. She personally wallpapered each room. She had some furniture that was made by her father and unfortunately was broken throughout the years. My father in law had hand cut and glued real shingles on the roof. My mom in law had also made siding out of popsicle sticks.  However, the inside which has almost been completely stripped down is all I am going to show you for today. You can expect more updates as I work on this project.

That is going to be all for now. Hope to see you all again soon.

Be blessed.