Random Acts of Kindness

I grew up where my mom was always doing something really nice for people. Sometimes she would even do it secretly. She is nearly sixty and is still doing little things for people all the time. I call these things Random Acts of Kindness. 

These could be anything from paying for the car's food behind you in the drive thru line and passing them a card from the cashier or taking some cookies to someone and maybe spending time doing some yardwork for an elderly widow at church.  

There are so many things that we could choose from and it brings pure JOY!!! 

Scott and I are challenging our Sunday School class to do RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness) this week.  As you do them, please send us an email, comment on this blog post or text by Saturday night at midnight. Each RAOK will gain you a ticket and we'll draw out a ticket next Sunday morning (for a gift certificate to go out to eat. 

(You DO have to be present to win!)

This is a Pay It Forward Challenge!

You could literally change a life this week by thinking of others. Be ready to share Sunday morning in Sunday School!

Click HERE for some different ideas for RAOK.  

Also, HERE for some really cute and fun ideas!!!

Here's a great video to check out for inspiration!  

I can't wait to see what you decide to do!!!

Freezer Queens

I am involved with one of the most coolest things ever (to me);)!

I am a part of two Freezer Mom Groups. If this is foreign to you, I'll explain. This is where Mommas choose a recipe and make a whole bunch of them and get together to swap. It saves on money, time, headache and it is really just plain ole fun!

My sweet friend Karen was going to teach me how to do this and then I would start my own group but I loved her group so much, I just decided to stay and be a part of two different groups!  Now, I get 32 meals a month!!! 

The group I began is called Freezer Queens. Isn't that a snazzy name?  My buddy Mandy Brittain came up with it!  I think it fits us just fine!

This is our logo and I think it's fantastic!!

What we really do is submit two freezer recipes to our leader and she sends them out to the group for voting. It's fun and more exciting than voting on Who's Who in high school. I literally have the giggles and chills when we are doing this. I can't wait to see what my family will be eating for the next month. 

This month, it was voted from both groups that I would make Chicken Pot Pie. 

Yummy in my Tummy!!!

I decided to get busy early so I wouldn't have to do all the work at the end. 

I put all my chicken in the crockpot to cook and it helped so much!  I could make 3 pot pies with ever package of chicken thighs. You see I have two crockpots going at once. I didn't have to watch the chicken at all.  I just had to throw it in there!  You like my crockpot liners?  No clean up for Sunny!  That makes me smile!!

This is what I did next after deboning my chicken--- very very difficult stuff so pay very close attention! I mixed the chicken with a can of cream of chicken and a can of mixed veggies and half a stick of melted butter. I said it was tough and I really meant it;)

I'm so in love with these roll out pie shells that come two to a pack. It makes me feel more like its homemade. Not sure why because I didn't make them. I just rolled them out!!

I put the other pie crust on top and squished the edges together!  Not difficult at all, but I'm not sure how to make them look really pretty. 

Just picture 32 of these beauties!!! I just wrap in foil and place in a freezer bag!  We label with our name, their name, date and directions with a sharpie. It's important to label before you put hot or cold food in the bag. 

After the big swap up, my freezer sure was happy. Now I just have to find a way to organize it so I can find these yummy meals!!!

This has been such a delight for us just to run downstairs to the freezer and grab a meal to throw in the oven or crockpot. I'm so excited and thankful for my freezer friends!!!

So Embarrassing!!!

I have a terrible terrible way of misinterpreting what others say and tend to stick my foot in my mouth and just embarrass myself so badly!!

I'll never forget the dirty joke I told at a family reunion as a teenager. I didn't even know what it meant. Ugh!!! I won't be telling it on here or it might embarrass you too. ;)



The story I have on my mind tonight though took place in The Dollar Tree. (it seems so many of my stories take place at some dollar store;). I wasn't having the best day but was shopping for goodies for my jewelry show. I was in the toy aisle looking for clappers for my show when a lady came down the aisle looking my way. She smiled and said, "Oh my goodness! You look SO CUTE!!!!". It just made my day. I immediately responded with nearly a high pitched squeal "Oh thank you so much! I don't feel very cute. I appreciate that so much and really needed that today!"

Silence.


She just stated at me without smiling.

At that time, I realize that her little girl is behind me putting on some of the little dress up clothes and a princess crown.

Oh no!!!! Oh no! Oh no! OH NO!!!

She wasn't talking to me!!! She was talking to her little girl!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I walked away quickly as she started to giggle! I wanted to just crawl on a hole right then right there!!!! I had to get out of the Dollar Tree right then but I still had a few things to get and I had to check out!

Never have I hid my face so much as I did then as I would see her out of the corner of my eye! Lol!!!!

We all have these stories. It just seems like I have more than most. Please share your embarrassing moments!

Momma and Daughter Approved Movies:)

Our family enjoys a really good movie.  We are always on the lookout for awesome entertainment that is so enjoyable and clean.  There just seems to be so many movies out now that I don't really think we need to spend our time watching.  Our family agrees that these movies  have been great for our family and might be a blessing to yours.  We'd be so happy for you to try them out and let us know what you think.  

We've watched this so many times and we got to see it with our buddies, the Gables yesterday and I 

think they loved it as much as we did.  

Simply Fabulous!!

Being a teacher, I'd witnessed so much bullying. 

This one is a MUST for elementary and middle school girls!

Molly stole my heart and I love her passion!

One of the Williamson's favorite movies that is so incredibly encouraging!  

Soul Surfer is definitely Mabrey's favorite!!!  

If you haven't seen it, you have to see it today!

This is Ensley's favorite!!! 

We all love it but she could watch it everyday!

31 Days of Love Marriage Challenge

I woke up to the smell of onion. Not just a hint of onion but loud overpowering onion. Yes, I cooked with an onion last night but WOW, this was very strong! It took me about 2 seconds to realize that I didn't do the dishes last night before I went to bed. I think these things grow overnight! Things were not looking good this morning.

I also woke up to my hubby gone early to work. We spend our mornings with coffee and devotions and giggly time together. Nope, he was gone. UGH--He definitely had to leave early.

I had a decision to make. I could pout and throw a little hissy fit to myself or I could get over myself and start my day with God's Word by myself. I chose the latter and of course, it turned out to be a blessing. I went straight to my blog looking for a Bible Study from some of the blogs I love to read. I went to the Time-Warp Wife that my buddy Holly McGinnis told me about. She had a "31 Days of Love" Marriage Challenge on her site and I felt led to check it out.

I love challenges like this but I'm funny about Day 1 starting on the first day of the month. It just makes sense and I can keep up with it a little bit better. Not today, I'm too impatient for that. I started it today on June 26th and it fantastic!!!! Just gonna have to keep up with it with the days not matching up. Got me right into the word with coffee by myself this morning. I should be alone. It's a Marriage Challenge! I need to be alone to do this so I can giggle, pray, plan, and think about my husband.

Isn't God amazing!! He knows exactly what we need when we need it. Click here to check out the challenge yourself. I encourage you to put time and energy into your marriage. It's so important and should be handled with care. I'm so crazy about this man of mine and want to nurture our marriage because it's one of the most important things we have. Isn't he so cute!!

The Perfect Little Bean

I have a feeling I may be a nerd.  I just think that maybe that I am.  What's so funny is that I don't mind being a nerd.  I could be a whole lot worse.  Not only am I a nerd, I'm a passionate nerd.  When I enjoy doing something, I love to give it all I've got!

Just sometimes, my timing is a WEE bit off.  

A few weeks ago, we were about to go to the beach and had a heap of things to accomplish before we went, including moving all of our furniture for the painter to come in and paint our house.  No Problem except I went and bought a TON of green beans to put up.

Yeah, didn't go over too well with the Mr. either.  

This week, I HAD to go again and get the BEST rattlesnake beans in the world.  I have no idea of the name of the place but it's just fabulous.  Nobody works there in the daytime.  You just pick out your veggies and put your money in a little safe.  It's so so cool. Makes me think that there are still some great trusting and trustworthy people left around here. 

This is the cool no-name place in Wellington!

My heart really beats fast when I'm there.  I'm not sure why but I feel like I'm in competition with the other people there to get the most and prettiest produce.  Weird I know!  :)

Mabrey even loves to help me measure because she's a true math girl and likes to 

figure out the best deal possible.  

Nothing better after a day in the sun swimming to help Momma put up veggies.  

Time to blanch---boil for 3 minutes

I added immediately to ice water to cool for 3 minutes

Beans are bagged and ready to freeze.  I stick a straw and suck all the air out to prevent freezer burning.  It makes me feel a little light headed and yucko but it works like a charm.  I actually put up six bags today!  YAY!

For some reason, this gives me incredible happiness; just putting up food for my family makes me feel like I'm doing some healthy for them.  Maybe this cancels out our McDonalds tea and chicken nuggets today.

I love harvest time and canning and freezing season!

EVEN IF MY TIMING STINKS SOMETIMES!:)

Amish Obsession

I have a problem.  I am considering getting help for it.  I think I have an obsession with Amish people! Shocking I know. 

 They are absolutely fascinating!!  I might would even consider being Amish but the whole air conditioning thing along with no deodorant, no hot water, no musical instruments, and a few other things including not having Baptist faith gets me everytime. 

 I guess I'll just stay non-Amish.  LOL!!!

Back in January, our family went to Nashville for a New Years vacation.  On the way home, I came up with a brilliant idea to visit Ethridge, TN.  It was just 30 minutes off the beaten path and everyone seemed to agree to go.  It's the home of the largest Old Order Amish population in Tennessee and was calling my name.  

We went on a buggy tour to the farms and it was breathtaking!  

Ok, I actually stole this pic off the internet.  They have this unspoken rule that no pics should be taken of them so since I didn't want to disrespect, I just got this cutie pie one to show on here.  Anyway, they look just like this and the buggies were the same:)

We saw horse and buggies everywhere!!!  I was so giddy, nobody could stand to be around me!!!

It was only the coldest day of the entire year!!

I really think he'd make a fine Jedidiah! 

 I'm still not sure why we aren't Amish.  

Ensley was SO in her element, just not sure about the NO ballet rule in their world.  Nah, she'd never love being Amish but she was just about as fascinated as I was.  

Sherry and I have decided that we were born in the wrong century. We really could have lived in pioneer times.  Sure would hate not having our Iphones though. 

Mabrey wouldn't be caught dead in a bonnet there so I took a nice picture of them in Nashville to display for you.  Don't they have the sweetest smiles?  

When our world is so busy and hectic, it's so nice to visit slower, simpler times.  

It makes me stop and think what's really important.  

~Top 10 things I've learned from the Amish~

10.  Clothes hanging on the line is just beautiful.

9. Little girls look precious and modest in dresses.

8.  Sometimes you don't need the things you "need".

7. Submitting doesn't mean being inferior.

6. Teamwork and humility have their place.

5. Gardening really is the best way.

4. The slower way of life is the most attractive to me.

3. Their discipline method with their children is 

the BEST I've ever seen.

2. Besides God, family really is the best thing there is.

1.  That I am not cut out to be Amish.