Overwhelming Grace

A little bit of news...

2012-01-24T15:29:00.001-08:00

So my sweet husband took me out to breakfast the other morning for my birthday...he so sweet like that! Over breakfast we discussed many things...one being our foster care license....cause it's that time again to renew...which means another round of visits and paper work oh and training hours...it's not as intense as getting licensed the first time but it does take some effort. We both agreed to spend some time praying about it and revisit the issue in a few days...
I know your all wondering how yummy our breakfast was...and let me tell you it was fantastic...I ant wait to go again with just me and my honey! The French laundry...give it a try for breakfast...you won't be sorry!
So as we headed off from breakfast we went and did some shopping...where once again I came home empty handed! It's like I can't buy anything when I have birthday money to spend....or a short time frame to find something in!
But as we were driving around...I keep playing in my head the things that I've been praying for and finally I just start blurting it all out! I know Tony was thinking "oh boy!". But he listened and was so sweet. I told him I had been praying about our Africa trip. He said "uh huh..." and I said I felt like the lord was saying we should head out To Africa when we normally take our family vacation in late may to early June....he looks at me..."no way,me too! But I just didn't feel like he lord wanted me to say anything to you about he date.". Which is funny cause I felt like I wanted tony to say it...but my impatience got the beat of me! I love how the lord works...tells us both and then when we come together were both on the same page.
So that's one part of our news...please be praying for us...Africa in the beginning of June! Wow...that's gonna come fast! We have a lot to still get done...as it gets closer I'm going to contact the missionary we are going to go with and ask what we should bring to help the people there...I will then be asking if any of you want to help by donating the specific items we are looking to bring...so stay tuned :)

And finally our last bit of news...I think most of you heard but we are 1/2 way to our goal for the people of Africa...the monies we want to take to feed orphans and needy people. We have bracelets to sell...hand stamped copper ring with a leather wrapping for $15.00 or double stranded leather wrapping for $17.00. Shipping is cheap...like $3.00 for 1st class....
We also have a necklace $37.00 hand stamped and sterling silver!
T-shirts for men,woman and children $17.00-22.00-27.00
Keychains $18.00 and $21.00 sterling silver...
All of the above support the people of Africa only.....non of it goes to our family.

The very last bit of news [for now!] is that we [our family] are now funded just over 1/2 way and can now buy all of our plane tickets to get there! Praise God! So exciting!!! We do have some paintings we are still trying to sell and some pillow scarves and sleeves for your home....all can be found on my etsy store.

So praise the lord for all his goodness! Thank you for all of your support...prayers, purchases and kind words....you all are a blessing to us!

Xoxo
Gina

It was this kids birthday!

2012-01-22T19:14:00.001-08:00

I can't believe my boys is now a tween! I mean shut up! Or as the boys use to call it and em still does the "s" word [stupid or shut up!] I love their innocence. I'm praying it continues through their youth.

Isaac James Giraud is 12. Seems like yesterday I was taking him to his first day to school.... Like yesterday that he was looking up to me...instead of eye level...like yesterday that he would sit in my lap and snuggle....thankfully he is still an affectionate boy and will snuggle still for a minute in the mornings.
He truly has lived up to his name...he is always making s laugh!
My prayer for him is to find His identity in Jesus ! And Jesus alone. My prayer is that he always know his dad and I are here for him and always has a listening ear with us...but as crazy as it sounds that He has a dad that can and will do it all better than us...I hope he know and realizes all of those things. I pray that he is always honest...with us...himself and most importantly with his daddy who loves Him more than us...[crazy again right?!].
I spend hours awake some nights just praying for our kids...more for our boys if I'm being honest...because they are getting so big....and I see things in them that I need to be praying for...like a discerning spirit...to be more of a leader because of a following heart....to love much....and judge and be critical less[usually of each other]. God has big plans or these boys. My heart is that they always follow him and his will...that there relationship with God wouldn't be because of mom and dads relationship...but because they've seen his hand in there lives and want what he ha to offer...
I know I'm not alone in these cried to our jesus...and I'm so thankful he hears our prayers and answer them according to his will.
Isaac you are an amazing young man...who never ceases to amaze me! You are generous! Spending every penny you have on others...no matter the cost...you are smart! Way smart....you sure did prove that other school wrong who wanted to hold you back because you said a smiley face in a piece of paper had no feelings because it's not real! You have been prophetical a few times in your life...which alway made me feel dumb...until I realized it was god speaking through you! You are funny! You always keep us laughing between your jokes or your wonky personality or when you choose to throw your Afro on with the gym teacher sweatband and buck teeth!
Please buddy... Love Jesus first and mom second!...and.....
Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. [Habakkuk 1:5]
Love you sweet boy!
Mom!
You are my sunshine...my only sunshine...you make me happy when sky's are grey... You'll never know dear how much I love you...please dont take my sunshine away! [because I sang you this everyday when you were little!]

Could you imagine the difference we could make?

2012-01-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

What if...We all spoke with this in mind...What if we all gave counsel with this as our rule....What if all pastor's used this as a guide for preaching...

The anointing of the Holy Spirit helps me greatly when I preach i would never attempt to teach the truth of God by my own power. One day before preaching at Teignmouth, i had more time than usual, so I prayed and meditated for six hours in preparation for the evening meeting. After I had spoken a little while I felt that I was speaking in my own strength rather than God's power. I told the brethren that I felt as though I was not preaching under the anointing and asked them to pray. After I continued a little longer, I felt the same and therefore ended my sermon and proposed that we have a meeting for prayer. we did so, and i was particularly assisted by the Holy Spirit the next time I preached. I am glad that I learned the importance of ministering in God's power alone. I can do all things through Christ, but without Him, I can accomplish nothing.
-George Muller

This ministered to my heart. I always ask for the filling of the holy spirit when I am speaking to someone...but do I just go to prayer if I don't feel the presence of the Lord? or do I keep giving my wisdom in hopes Jesus will use me.

XOXO!
Gina

A bucket list....

2012-01-13T13:53:00.001-08:00

My 7 year old has a bucket list. Crazy,right?!
So cute. They made the bucket list and completed the list in the same day...sleepover of course!

Xoxo!
Gina

I'm sad...but the Lord has great plans for 2012!

2012-01-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

As most of my blog readers know my brother and sister along with my niece and nephews are moving to california. That is exactly 2246 Miles or 3614 Km
also known to take 36 hours of drive time. that is just too far. I've done a pretty good job not loosing it when I've felt like I was about to uncontrollably burst into tears...I keep telling myself this is not about me! My sister said you know thats only going to work for a short time. Very true.

Today as I was picking up my kids from school....and just kinda not in the mood to talk to people..I went to the school and waited until almost exact let out time...ran in...and waited in the hallway quietly [which again is what I wanted] but also made me sad. My sister knows how to push me....Most people don't believe i'm so quiet but I really am. I prefer to not irritate people with nonsense...i'd rather listen to people talk to me than always be the one talking...however people take that the wrong way too...It just hit me like a ton of bricks...that my life will be more quiet...no longer will I constantly have 5 kids running in and out of our house like i am use to[and absolutely LOVE!]...nor will I have my sister knocking on the door as she lets herself in to just hang out...nor will I have our crazy long trips to the store...that we promise will be super quick and turn into an ALL.DAY.EVENT....
It will be quiet.

As I kept myself from bursting into tears. The Lord reminded me of a message I had listened to on Calvary Chapel Modesto's website...by Damien kyle....about the amazing plans the Lord has for us...for them...for this year 2012. He said if you don't believe it then I rebuke you. He continued on to say the Lord gave us His very best from day one...do we honestly think he's run out of his best? thats craziness! This has been helping me keep my perspective...but then the Lord comforted me in a way He has many times in the past...such as....
When we thought we were not getting our home....
When we've asked for clear direction for our ministry [and thought HE forgot about us!] I know crazy!
When we've had various trials....
When we've learned the hard way that this life is not our home...things don't make us
and many more times....
The radio will play Hope Now by Addison Road ....Its God's way of giving me comfort to know He is in control.
i honestly have not heart his on the radio in months....
So when it came on, as I was minutes from bursting into tears...I knew it was the Lord comforting me. I'm so thankful he knows me ...inside and out.

Pray for us. Pray for Em. She was writing out her birthday party list and she started to tear up realizing that her very best friend will not be next door anymore...and will be missing her birthday party for the first time ever. Em looked up at me and said mama...do you think she can fly back for my party? sadly with a big knot in my throat I said no sweetie. not this time.
I'm thankful for the time the girls had....and the boys...
I'm sad that this chapter in our lives is over
But am trusting that the next one starting will be amazing.

So friends...please pray for us. Pray that a good friend for Em and the boys will move in right next door. Pray for my sister...this is hard on her too....
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away...but blessed be HIs name! Job 1:21

XOXO!
Gina

The hand of God...

2012-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

days from death. Love and Food...now happy and healthy!

Overwhelmed by His GRACE!

XOXO!
Gina

Happy New year!

2012-01-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

I can't believe its the new year. I feel like time has gone a bit slower....which I'm so thankful for. but on the other hand I can't believe its the new year. My oldest boy will be [gulp!] 12 this year. My youngest boy will be [double gulp!] 11 this year. My daughter..the youngest...the princess in a kola costume 90% of the time, ear muffs and all, will be [tripple gulp!] 8! I can't believe it.
I so want to go back in time. I'd love to take all the amazing [and hard] lessons and things i've learned and do it all over again [hopefully] i'd do it better. Not that I did it bad...I just worked part time, yet full time mentally when they were little...and wish I would have enjoyed them more than thinking I will always be in this little stage and they will never grow. having our boys 13 months apart was. well. hard. But I love them so close now. I would [as if I had any control over it] do it all over again if I could.
I'm so thankful the Lord is in control and I'm not.

So my new years resolution...hmmm
pray more. LOVE at all times. To dwell with understanding. to be quick to listen and slow to speak. To feed and love the fatherless. To watch and be amazed at the hand of the Lord over this year. to let Him move me.

XOXO!
Gina
p.s and hopefully a few crafting projects this new year. ;0)

Oh my heart yearns....

2011-12-28T16:35:00.000-08:00

Today I spent a good portion of my day with my little man. The Mister had the older little man at work with him today...and my sister had the little lady...
It was a beautiful date day.

I love to chat about things that are meaningful. Not just the everyday. I asked him...how he felt like school was going...does he feel that he is being more focused and trying harder or is the teacher being softer? He has been struggling with staying motivated to get his work done in the midst of a pile of work...more than He is use to.

That was my little intro into how our conversation of if he really trusts God. Or is it something that Dad and Mom believe? His little heart almost made me weep. He said Mom...I've seen GOD provide for us..I've seen him work! I wanted to just jump for joy. He has seen the mighty hand of such a loving and tender God. My son whom is just 10! He admitted sometimes I have a hard time believing He is real, but I just believe Mom because its right...He's right Mom! [Praise God.] My heart leaped again..because at his age I didn't know Jesus the way my son does. Is my son perfect no. I'm okay with that. I'm in love with the fact that He's honest. Shares where he struggles and where He is at with the Lord.
I told him My heart right now is yearning to go to Africa. I told him I believe God is going to challenge us more than ever before there. He's going to show us how to pray. To pray the way we have prayed before...to be broken for the broken hearted...to not just ask with our mouths but that our hearts would scream to the Lord for His mighty hand of provision and protection for these kids that have nothing. I told Ez that God is going to have us trust him in ways we use to have too...to totally rely on Him. I'm excited for this. I want my kids to see again how Loving...tender hearted....Mighty....Mighty to SAVE our Jesus is.
He said he is excited to go....doesn't know if he could live there...I sence some fear in him...so if you will please pray for him. While he is a big guy...with crazy talent on the ball field....and an awesome personality...way above his age...He is just as tender as can be. I love this about him. I pray he never hardens his heart...that He always stays tender...especially to the Lord.
Yesterday I started reading in Jonah. A missionary of the Lord....one that ran the other way. I prayed dear Lord...is there a correlation? I love that even though Jonah disobeyed God and ran the other way that as He sat in the belly of that whale he cried out to the Lord...knowing that God would not abandon him!....

My sister painted some canvas' as a fundraiser for our Mission Trip...to help provide for our family to get there. We've done some great fundraising for FEED [1] Orphan Ministry ....but hardly any to get us there....

The turquoise one is aprox 6X8...its small....but so perfectly worded...many days I must choose joy! Price:contact us with your donation amount...

This Micah 6:8 is simply beautiful. it is very thin..and has no hanging ability...would sit nicely on a shelf or ledge... Price: contact us with your donation amount....

I pray your day was beautiful.

XOXO!
Gina

What a day!

2011-12-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

I've been so blessed today. beyond measure. started the day out with sleeping in a little...reading my word...being interupted by my sweet princess to recite a memory verse she has been working on..[amazing!] I was in awe.

made coffee. The coffee pot threw up on my counter. such nice neighbors to give me a coffee pot that has bulimia. ;0)

cleaned the whole house. Yep you heard that right. first time in a while...all 3, yes all 3 bathrooms were clean. shocked? I know! me too!

the boys helped. Ezra is the perfect cleaner!

When he vacuums he moves all the furniture off the carpet....seriously...i don't even do that!

Then isaac played a little game with his sister...she made up this mailbox and was hoping for mail in it...sure enough her big bro left her mail...this went on for a good 30 minutes. I love when they play together!

The boys long lost friend showed up...they were counting down the minutes....its so good to have him here for a night...he practically lived at our house the last year when they lived in michigan.

finished wrapping the rest of the presents. finished sewing the boys pj pants...shhhh don't tell them.

baked 2 batches of these amazing sugar cookies....

baked banana bread.

begged my sweet girl to come with me for a manicure date. finally convinced her to leave her bff for an hour to come with me! We got coffee at tim hortons, then ran across the street for the princess some hot chocolate [starbucks...because tim hortons is too watery aparently!lol] i got my nails done. she got her toes done. and she said to me...mom I don't think they understood me cause I told them no design just do every other toe purple and the other ones red...well...hmmmm.LOL..

shes so funny. well first look at her outfit...bunny ears and um flip flops in December when its 35-40 degrees. [i told her shes a little ahead of the game!] then she begged for the pedicure...so we take her over to get her feet in the water and she says whats this? i said its your pedicure...she said huh? i said its okay put your feet in the water...before you new it she had the massage going and all i could see were her bunny ears going up and down and side to side.lol. the last time she had a pedicure she was 5...so it had been a while.

had chinese food for dinner...the Mister picked it up and everything.

and tonight the Mister and I get to exchange our gifts. I'm so excited!

the best day!
priceless!

XOXO!
Gina

P.S and tomorrow we go to Abeantogo coffee in goodrich. to talk with people about our mission....FEED [1] Orphan.
Man the Lord is extra gracious to me! Thank you Lord!

Just a fun project I worked on...a little instagram and pinterest...oh YA!

2011-12-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

I love color. I love burlap. I love design. this is an instagram upload...you can follow me there. I'm not sure how.LOL.! my name? Gina Giraud @ overwhelminggrace?

I'm following this lovly crafty lady. She just made this adorable sign that says "JOY TO THE WORLD" on simple pieces of wood...using i think freezer paper...such an easy craft! oooohhh maybe I should pin it on pinterest! YES. that is what I will do. follow me on pinterest if you haven't yet. so fun. projects and ideas to swooon over!

Hope you having a very blessed christmas! i Know we are. packed. but fun. :) Thanks be to God for finding the joy in sometimes a crazy life. wouldn't trade it for the world.

Merry CHRISTMAS friends.
Gina

Step [2]

2011-12-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Or wait is it still part of step [1]? No I'm going with step [2]!

moving along...Our second step as we are paving our way to Africa for our vision trip is to order the kids passports. who new that 7 years ago when we {the mister and I} originally recieved our passports for a company cruise that we'd get the opportunity to use them again. I'm pretty sure our exact words to each other were, "well those are the only stamps that will be in these before they expire!" Lies. all lies. but who woulda thought we'd be seeing what work was being started in our hearts for the people in Africa? not me!

So i'm excited for step 2. Crazy nervous about steps 3, 4 and 5...i'm not gonna lie!

XOXO!

Gina

P. S

Merry Christmas! [told to me by several store employees lately...total blessing!]

not your mamas style shopping with purpose....

2011-12-09T18:12:00.001-08:00

I just added some new designs that I had been working on a month ago...but sadly got so behind that just now go the opportunity to get them listed.

all the proceeds of this will go to help our family get to Africa. Our trip is coming up in 2012. While we know everyone can not physically go there themselves...the Lord has layed it on our hearts that we are to go....for two weeks. So here is an opportunity for the body of Christ to come together and lift each other up weather its in prayer or monetarily or just reblogging and spreading the word....

the cost will be around $10,000.00 for all 5 of us to go for two weeks. Its a big number. thankfully God is much bigger.

Check out my [not your mamas Style] on etsy if you wanna shop with a purpose.

theres also a donate button at the top if you don't want anything but wanna help us get there.

XOXO!
Gina

The most perfect day

2011-12-06T15:32:00.001-08:00

for the most perfect day.

Today I had different plans. I had plans of taking the kids to school and coming straight home. Wrapping gifts by a beautifully lit fire in my fireplace while listening to Christmas music and then watching a Christmas movie. Oh and baking while in my jammies.

`So now for reality!

[its okay, i put on my big girl pants to handle it! ha.]

I took the kids to school and hit the grocery store....we seriously had no milk...and tony well he was out of his necessary desserts [popsicles]! So after that I was torn on what to do....I was already out of my Jammie's so do I go somewhere else or head home? I asked the lord. He spurred a conversation on with my mom....and off I went to go do some Christmas shopping. I thought id be in and out in less than an hour....nope I didn't get home until after 12....came home and his my husbands presents....wrapped. Couple of presents....baked some breaddy goodness.....
This is not the image of mine...I forgot before we dived into it!LOL...(oink, oink!)

source <----click that for the recipe!

[I did change out the rum for vanilla extract]

can.not.wait! to eat it!
Cleaned.
Did some laundry...
Listened to Christmas music...
Watched a Christmas movie...

Got totally spoiled as the Mr picked up the kids from school!

And now I sit at Em's dance class...
Did some Christmas cards.
Made a phone call.
Organized my Christmas list.
And now blogging.

The most perfect day indeed. [could only be more perfect if my kids and hubby could have been home with me too!]

I thank the lord for the joy of the lord in the simplest of things.

Xoxo!

Gina

So behind!

2011-12-04T15:09:00.001-08:00

This Christmas season I am so behind. I don't know why. Maybe because I'm finding more fun in staying home and just getting things done around the house rather than shopping. I know crazy words I speak, right?! Don't revoke my girl card I will fix this I promise! I've pretty much got nothing for my kids and husband and only a few things online which were shopping with purpose items....which aren't any main gifts just things to add...
Our December is practically booked which is fun but also I want to take the time and enjoy this season with my kids and husband....and especially my neighbors! That also is my brother an sister. There moving. I'm seriously sad over this...my sister and I were talking yesterday and we were sharing with each other the fits we have thrown within our hearts to the lord. Like a little child not wanting to abide by his parents rules....I've kicked and screamed and thrown myself in the ground and cried....right in the middle of many places like my parents house and church, the shower...pretty much anywhere I really start thinking about what is coming in January....[i don't really throw myself down just in my heart...all though that would be pretty funny to see a grown adult do that...hmmm wonder what a kids response would be to that? Lol maybe I will give it a whirl just to see what the kids think! I know I'm weird and way off subject.] I love my brother and sister and nephews and niece....it's gonna be rough people for reals. but I have to say the lord is good to remind us that these things and times are just season in our lives and not for eternity although they have eternal rewards for lack of a better word. So today I choose to think on the eternal side instead of throwing my big, ginormous, way too old to be doing, fit...I pray I can do this tomorrow too.
What about you? got anything going on? Are you behind? Is anything your going through causing a fit in your heart? I'm so thankful the lord is gracious and accepts are repentance as if it never happened!

Xoxo!
Gina

a tradition, two trees, three happy kids, and a partridge in a pear tree!

2011-11-27T16:27:00.001-08:00

Tradition.....

Every year we stop and get coffee and hot chocolate on our way to the same tree farm for as long as we've lived inGenesee county... really its a guy with a vision who has turned his back yard into a tree farm. Sweet family....I pray the lord blesses them for there kindness to others... They actually said merry Christmas! Can you believe it....okay pick yourself up off the floor...I was as shocked as you.

They tied our trees to our roof... Yes. I said trees...as in two.... I was shooting for three but the mister put his foot down....maybe next year! God has truly blessed us with a nice size house so a few years back I came up with a pretty brilliant idea to get two trees....one for the living room and one for the family room, to my shock my sweet mister said sure! I know sweet right?! And a little bit crazy?! So this last Saturday our tradition continued we headed out the Saturday after thanksgiving and cut down our trees.... Came home and put on some Christmas music and started getting the trees decorated and the rest of the house.

Dark approached soon and the kids ran outside to see the lights...they loved it....I loved it!

Next up on our tradition is to go to braunners... The biggest Christmas store in Michigan and let everyone pick out a new ornament....

Oh and cant forget that on the traditions list is more coffee and hot cocoa and driving around looking at Christmas lights...

What about you???? Got any traditions to share?

Merry Christmas friends!

Gina

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T06:35:00.001-08:00

today I have too many reasons to be thankful. I don't have time to list them all. I'm a little sad that i will be on a plane...but thankful to be on a plane with the ones I love....but sad to not be spending this thanksgiving with my BFF and sister...I think this is the first thanksgiving in 12 years we've been apart.

The Lord is good...we've gone 12 years without being separated on a thanksgiving!

I'm so thankful for a wonderful Godly husband. 3 beautiful children that LOVE jesus!

and for time with close family.

happy thanksgiving friends!

XOXO!

Gina

Shop with purpose this Christmas season....

2011-11-21T14:54:00.001-08:00

This Christmas season a friend online is encouraging each and every one of you to shop with purpose. Help being home an adopted child.....or FEED [1] Orphan....or bring clean drinking water to a village drinking mucky water....or put shoes on an orphans feet and provide jobs for women to provide for there children. An amazing idea! I love it....I see me ordering some of these this Christmas season....and adding notes into the gifts so people know what the tought and support is behind there gifts....

look how cool this stuff is!

and our FEED [1] Orphan keychain is on the bottom...

here it is with the heart...

and our necklace! All to FEED the orphans in Africa!

Thanks to my sister Nic at sweetteashoppes! (nic you rock! thank you!)

Go to my friend LOVE's site and there is a link on her site to purchase with a purpose.

love you rock for putting all this together and including us and (sweetteashoppes)! Thank you!

So Go shop people with purpose!

XOXO!

Gina

we are in california....

2011-11-20T13:54:00.001-08:00

So we are in California for my cousins wedding....we were torn on weather to take this trip or not. But I'm certain of a few things....my cousin and his bride were very blessed we were able to come out...as well as my aunt and uncle....we were blessed to be able to help serve at the wedding....and take a big generation picture with all of our extended family...it will be a cherrished picture until the next one which hopefully won't be as long in between as the last one...I'm also certain that the Lord provisions for this trip are never ending....my husband that has never gained weight before in his life is currently gaining 3lbs a day while he gets his eats on! Everyday is worked around where we gonna get our eats on! Seriously! This is not a joke people. He loves his food....I love him.....even if he has gained a food baby.lol.And I'm also certain that we have heard a really good message this morning at calvary chapel the barn in san bernardino. As I sat in the worship service this morning a song was beautiful to me and it hit me that the lord new that today i would be sitting in this worship service and my heart would be longing for worship and he planned to bless me where I was and also the person next to me and the person across the room..I was overwhelmed by how good and powerful my savior is. I'm also certain that I'm extremely thankful for the time my husband was able to get off of work and still get paid for part of it...ad he is self employed and usually doesn't get but maybe one week unpaid....the kids have enjoyed the time with there daddy...I've enjoyed time with the kids and my husband has enjoyed time with his kids and I've enjoyed this time with my husband. So with a thankful heart I write just a little testimony of what the lord is doing with us. Ok I'm off to get our eats on...again!So thankful.Gina

Were headed out...

2011-11-16T16:19:00.001-08:00

to my family in California. our flight takes off super early in the morning so we are staying at a hotel by the airport to make our traveling less taxing on the kids and well let's be honest us parents too. the kids are enjoying the pool...I'm sure they won't be enjoying there early bedtime...but shhh don't tell them.

On a different note I can't believe thanksgiving is next week! Insane right?!

XOXO.

Gina.

It's wait my brain looks like....

2011-11-12T15:25:00.001-08:00

This explains it all....its what my brain looks like right now! Too much to do!

XOXO.

Gina

FEED [1] Products! a perfect Christmas present.

2011-11-11T17:44:00.001-08:00

FEED [1] Orphan has new products! FEED [1] Orphan <----click that to see them! Spread the word! Wear a product! I love them. You totally will too! They come from partnering with

sweetTEAshoppes <---click that to see her etsy shop! All FEED [1] Orphan products range from $18.00-$37.00 and all proceeds feed the orphans.

and without the heart.....

XOXO!

Gina

Playing hookie....

2011-11-10T07:34:00.001-08:00

Em had field trips today...all day long. She wasn't very interested in the field trips, and I miss her crazy, spunky self! So I said let's okay hookie today...and craft all day, watch elf and to finish we'll snuggle.

Were making Christmas trees...we had pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate milk for breakfast...well actually I had tea with mine....in our Santa mugs....yes I believe Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas and no my kids don't believe in Santa but we still like to drink out of Santa mugs and watch Santa movies....and decorate our house for Christmas....and we can't forget listening to Christmas music for almost two months....oh I love Christmas....I LOVE IT.

XOXO.

Gina. <~ one very happy mama to spend the day with my daughter.

WOWzer!

2011-11-08T09:20:00.000-08:00

Do we have the heart of Jesus for the less fortunate?

Do we trust God and His heart?

Do we trust that He will provide as He leads?

Do we have the peace of knowing how big our God is and what HE is capable of?

Do we leave His needs on His lap and walk away with peace?

Cast all your cares on Him for HE cares for you. Crazy right?! But so true.

I should be sewing. But I'm not. I'm captivated by my Jesus and Him speaking through a pastor that is ministering to my heart.

When is the last time I've claimed a promise of the word of God for the situation in my life?
{ouch!} I love JESUS! I LOVE His word. Claimed anything? Nope. Hold onto scripture for sure!...Hmmm

It was 4 months before God answered Nehemiah's prayer specifically! Thank God its not just me! He answered his prayer right away...and it was wait.

Faith is sometimes just waiting on God.
Isaiah 28:16
Isaiah 64:4

heard this twice now this week...hmm maybe GOD is speaking to me...
God doesn't care so much about ability but Availability.

The only good you might see in me...is not me. ITs Jesus!

Man this message is so good. So perfect. For where we are at right now. WOW God is confirming in my heart that the soft spot I have is... well number one Him having GRACE to let my heart be any bit soft...and two that this IS the ministry He is calling us to. I'm so thankful that HE has been softening me for this for a long time....so that when He has given us a vision I could hear it and be a willing/available vessel because of Him...to do His work. LOVE, GIVE.

Wanna hear? <-----click that!

XOXO!
Gina

Wait who's head is cut off?

2011-11-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I've not posted in a little while...I feel like I'm constantly running around like a chicken with my head cut off!
I've been working on a project to list in my Etsy shop....I'm pretty excited about it...I haven't seen anyone do anything like it...so Lord willing it will be a success....if nothing else it will help with my creative gene that just seems to rear its beautiful, eclectic and sometimes ugly head at the weirdest time! I blame my mom! Seriously...she's like the Martha Stuart...but with integrity and a LOVE for Jesus! Yes our styles totally differ as I've told you before, but she is the one to blame for the creative gene...she passed it along and oh boy. Sometimes I feel bad for Tony and the kiddos cause when I'm in the crafting mood...my family room looks like a crafty mess...but that usually means something cool is in the works....so they don't mind...I guess I just do. I will let you know when I post it in my etsy shop....
Because I've been running around with my head cut off....or wait...is it the chickens head cut off???well who's ever head is cut off I'm running, and sometimes running in circles...so today I went against everything that I am...all that I've ever been....and are you ready? Are you sitting down?...k ready?....i made a LIST! I know! right?! So not me. My husband yes. ME no!~but to make sure I get it all done before we leave for California next week{did I tell you that?were going for a family reunion/wedding/early Thanksgiving.}....
See....I'm a mess!LOL....Todays agenda:
Order crafty supplies online...cause Michigans got almost nothin!
laundry YES! I conquered it!
Ballet shoes for Em
Start packing the family...cause HELLO...they have to look cute...and well left to their own, well hmm!
clean up the house...Cause I'm a blessed mama to be able to stay home and do it! SO THANKFUL!!
List my Etsy stuff....

Oh and my sweet friend that I totally LOVE her heart, and have been praying for her because FOSTER CARE and ADOPTION is a huge calling and aLOT of work...finally got the stamp I ordered for our FEED [1] Orphan Ministry...she's making necklaces...I will post a pick of that too when she's got one done. {No pressure nic! :0) }

Oh and I'm totally listening to Christmas music...cause I think Christmas deserves two months of Celebration...I can muli-task I'm not forgetting Thanksgiving...I TOTaLLy LOVE tHanksgiving. don't hate me ;0)

Ok I gotta go. I'm glad I got to chat with ya for a minute...
XOXO!
Gina

Back in the day to today...

2011-10-29T17:22:00.001-07:00

I've known quite few people this last year and currently who have gotten divorced. It's so very sad to me. Divorce is a result of someone always thinking of themselves.

I was reading this morning and the last couple of mornings in Hosea. It's so crazy to me to read it and know that God spoke to Hosea and told him to marry a prostitute. And to take her kids that are a result of prostitution as his own. And then when she went back into prostitution the Lord told him to go get her back and pay whatever the amount is....and he didn't say divorce her. He said get her back and continue with reconciliation. Crazy. And He new she would continue in this way. And yet he still didn't divorce her.

Today people would divorce each other in a heart beat. Is that really what God wants? God hates divorce for a reason. It doesn't just effect you, but your kids, your parents and siblings and even cousins. No one is above going crazy and doing dumb things....but we can ask God for protection against things that we know we struggle with and protection against our minds and hearts....and of course staying constantly in His word and trying to live a life of righteousness. Never being okay with walking in sin and continual sin.

I know this seems strange for a topic on my blog....but it has really hit me lately just how sad divorce is for everyone...and how selfish it is. I pray Gods protection for me and my family and for you and yours.

XOXO.

Gina

P.s I have a friend who's parents got divorced and realized it was a mistake and got remarried to each other....I say that to say, if you make a mistake like that....ask God how he would want reconciliation.

The pumpkin spice coffee recipe.

2011-10-28T07:54:00.001-07:00

So I posted on Facebook last week about me trying to make my own pumpkin spice coffee. It came out amazing so I thought I'd remake it with exact measurements for anyone who wanted to try some.

2 heaping Tablespoons of coffee....

(remember to do half decaf if your like me and a little to high strung on full strength...a good sign is if your family is staying outside as long as possible while your inside alone...Yah you might want to go half caf.LOL its okay I own it.now.)

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

Put all this in with your grounds and add 9 cups of water.....brew....

In place of white sugar use brown sugar....cause brown sugar rocks anyways..and tastes much better. I add coffee mate to mine also.

So try it and tell me whatcha think.

XOXO

Gina

New Etsy shop....{not} your mama's StyLE!

2011-10-27T06:32:00.001-07:00

I opened a new Etsy shop!

Inspired by my mama and my opposite style!

Right now there are two cute headbands..

Lord willing I will have a new idea in there this weekend...

Stay tuned!

XOXO!

Gina

P.S. Feel free to buy up my two items ;)

a recovering fool....

2011-10-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm loving my air staple gun right now....Well there are many things wrong with that statement...like its not mine...its actually my husbands...but actually its my dads....because the one I got my husband broke and my dad said he'd fix it but until then I could use his....so you see...way to much wrong with my first statement.

All that aside. Today was a beautiful day. Rainy yes. Cold yes. but beautiful none the less. I didn't have to leave the house. We watched Elf, and Grinch...had a fire in the fireplace and I recovered some furniture.... THE.PERFECT.DAY!

SO here is my before on my stools...that my mama gave me....

and because this is just way to plane for my taste...

And the kids had the day off today...so I did this also the piano bench....

I love no cost projects around the house...and days that I don't have to leave the house.

XOXO!

Gina

Mommy just 5 more minutes...

2011-10-18T18:13:00.001-07:00

It was time to get up and get dressed for the day...but Em's request was just 5 more minutes to read her daddys bible.

I'm in love.

XOXO.

Gina

Random acts of kindness....

2011-10-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

Today I came home to a beautiful random act of kindness to my boys. This blessed my heart. I'm pretty sure it was our neighbors across the street whom I don't really know that well...there pretty quiet and I'm very quiet/shy like....I know you'd never believe it because I just ramble on here a lot.....but really I am.

I've left this sweet no note gift on my door step for when my boys come home....they are gonna love it!

Today is such a fall like day! I'm so in love with this weather. Not coat cold...but a sweater is good.

Happy fall everyone!

XOXO.

Gina

FEED [1] Orphan Ministries....

2011-10-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

I started a FEED [1] Orphan blog yesterday. This is the ministry that the Lord has been leading my husband and our family into and to start. Feel free to like us on Facebook. Follow us on our blog. I'm hoping that friends and family will pass the word along. We will have our T-shirts up for sale by October 22! And hopefully jewelry soon too.

xoxo!
Gina

Ebay for Africa!

2011-10-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

I have listed a few more items on Ebay for Africa! If you wouldn't mind taking a peak and passing along the link.

Heres one of the outfits!

You can click here to see the outfit on ebay...and bid if you feel so inclined :)

Have a blessed day!

XOXO!

Gina

LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more. {Psalm 10:17-18}

I might have had a problem last week...

2011-10-11T04:29:00.001-07:00

Not to worry! I might have had a problem last week...but this week it is completely under control! Lol. I've already gone a whole day with out TIM Hortons...I'm so proud of myself! lol.

My husband and I had a date day....happens like once every year because he doesn't get days off work like a regular employee would....so He was awesome and took the kids to school so I could sleep in (i did fight him on this but I lost apparently) and then he came home and we just had the rest of the day to do whatever....the weather was beautiful the kids were playing in the yard....it was the most perfect day! I thank the Lord!

Okay I'm off to ~~grab my addiction~~.... take the kids to school and come straight home.....I wouldn't dare stop by my friend Tims coffee shop;)

XOXO.

Gina

Honestly!

2011-10-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I ever question what the Lord is doing or going to do or how He will provide. Today is no exception. For the past couple of days I've been asking the Lord to make clear a few things...from fundraising to midweek study to when we are to leave to go to Africa...with many things in between. Today He has answered some of my questions.

Amazing to me that the God of this universe would answer me. A question of how.

I'm no one special. Except His daughter.

And He takes time to answer me. Simply amazing.

Today I was posed the question...

would you sell everything to care for the poor?

Live even more of a simple life than you might already think you live to provide for the needy?

Dare I say not have a savings account because you provided for someone else's needs.

Do you hear these words?

Give up your savings account for a brother or sisters needs?

That spoke deep to me.

Many people are willing to give up some clothing or their heart or even more... sex's! but to give up your savings account...that is just out of the question.

Dave Ramsey would have a fit! I'm sure that thought has ran through some of your minds.

But Guess what? We don't answer to Dave.

Sure He has some good practical ideas.

But God has a plan.

A plan for you and and a plan for me.

What if His plan was for us to fogo a savings account so one of His children are having heat in there house or food to put on there table...

What we all need to remember is that it is God's money first and for most.

but I think we forget about that.

We feel we've earned it.

But who gave you the ability to earn it? Who provided the j.o.b?

This message really spoke to me.

because I've been struggling with some thoughts lately.

Do we dare purchase the tshirts for our fundraising?

What if we don't get all the money back?

How do I give to others when I'm trying to get my family funded for Africa?

You know, He will provide.

I've seen it time and time again.

There has been instances where God has placed a certain amount of money on our hearts to give to someone and we've said okay Lord...but you know this means we can't put any money into savings this month...and guess what! The amount He placed on our hearts was exactly what a brother and sister in the Lord needed to be able to have heat and food that month.

Being obedient to God's will is so much more important than my savings account.

I don't expect this will change many...but I just want you to know where the Lord is speaking to me.

IF you've not read crazy Love by Francis Chan.

You really should.

He speaks about this.

I want to live more this way.

So here I go...I will be ordering our Fundraising shirts.

Listening to the Spirit lead.

Prayerfully asking God for His will in our money.

xoxo!

Gina

Our prayer requests in case you want to pray with me.

1)Africa 2)adoption 3)homestudy before we leave? 4)Fundraising for the fatherless 5)Midweek study 6)a friends need 7)a decision on my husbands pension 8)when to go to Africa 9) Do we go to california for wedding/thanksgiving/family reunion? 10)Funding for Africa, adoption, homestudy 11)Thankful to the Lord for His goodness!

Seasons and times....

2011-10-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

Daniel 2:21

HE changes times and seasons.

I'm so thankful for that!

A fall like view of my front porch....

My Mantel....

prepping for the next season....

He removes kings and raises up kings.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and

knowledge to those who have understanding.

[overwhemled once again!]

xoxo!

Gina

p.s I spotted this koala bear....scary to find it in our court....I brought her home. :)

Who knew they could ride bikes!LOL.

So thankful/overwhelmed by the Goodness of the Lord

2011-09-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

I'm so overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord. I've seen His hand in so many little things in my life.....my families life and friends lives.

I stopped at a barn sale this last weekend...this was there welcoming sign....so true for our lives.

He is so good. I don't know how else to explain all His goodness but I see it everywhere. This beautiful fall we are having. Opening doors that only He can open. Opening more doors that only He can open. Showing me the changes He has made in my heart and my husbands heart. Seeing His hand in the littlest of things. My kids hearts. Precious!

I'm gonna be honest. I was having a rough time before the Lord revealed what His plan was for our family. I felt as though He had forgotten about me. US. That maybe I was being put on the shelf. I cried out. Why Lord? Have I done something that has grieved your heart? please show me. Not a week later He revealed what His plan was for our family. He has since then blown my mind with His plan and direction. I'm constantly saying Lord we are yours. We just want to serve you. I want to be pleasing to you. A willing heart is all He needs. This is truth. Praise Him.

During the process of planning for Africa there has been many okay Lord you will have to take care of this and this and this. And He has looked I'm sure and said oh honey...you see those as obstacles...okay I will move those out of the way. He has done this with a few things in our life recently, and I love that I can see His hand in it. His hand moving something aside to show us the path is open....to move forward.

How about you? Have you been overwhelmed by things lately?

XOXO!
Gina

Saturday LOVE!

2011-09-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

My bed never felt so good this morning. I honestly didn't want to leave it. We got to sleep in until 8:30 which has not happened in a really long time....not even during summer break! We spent the morning at my nephews soccer game. My brother said he slept with his shin guards on...so cute!

My oldest had an awesome football game(he's the green guy #2 tackling the blue guys!). I was a nervous reck. worse than normal. This team we played(in the blue), we had been scrimaging all season long on thursdays, so it was pretty important for us to kick there sweet keesters. I felt like I was on pins and needles the entire game.

After football we went to the apple orchard. I love fall. Have I told you its my favorite season? Cause it totally is! We all had a great time. My husband was looking at the pigs...thought one wanted to be pet...well it thought his finger was food...and bit him! there only 10 weeks old...I guess what do you expect!LOL....

we came home...and cleaned up our pumpkin vines...we picked our first pumpkin from our patch. Isaac decided to help us out by mowing the lawn...aka he wanted to earn some money...since he just spent all his on his video game! I love that the boys are realizing you need to work for money. No complaints.

We finished day off with spending the evening together just watchin some TV and hanging out...
I loved this day! Perfect if you ask me. and the crisp air just was a double bonus!

Happy weekend! Happy FALL!
XOXO!
Gina

A little update on fundraising.

2011-09-22T15:25:00.001-07:00

My life has been a bit hectic lately. Between football practice, football games, school, piano practice, working out {after a long summer break}, sewing, homework, cleaning, being a taxi...I'm a little wore out. But God. He is so faithful to refresh me each morning....and I'm truely rejoicing in this season of my life. I've found a little time here and there to get a few things going on our fundraising for Africa. I think I've just found the company to print our shirts and hoodies. You would be amazed at how many companies don't return inquiries. I don't understand. But God. I prayed and I believed He lead me to this company. So were moving forward and praying the quality is good.

Also a sweet friend of mine is going to partner with us to help fund our mission in Africa. She will be making hand stamped necklaces and possibly key chains. I'm soooo excited about this. Her quality is fantastic. You will love her work! I love her heart!

My sister inlaw is going to be selling some original paintings to help fund this mission too. She has a gift...using her gifts to bless others...

The eBay listings last week went well. I'm so blessed...now to just list the rest of my items. :/ I will update when I list more.

Well I gotta go help with homework and watch football practice and watch my girl at the fishy park.

XOXO.

Gina

Miscellaneous this and that....

2011-09-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Remember how i said we Ordered T-Shirts last week. Well they came and unfortunately they were not up to the quality I feel would be acceptable. We want to pass along a great product that you {all} would be pleased with while supporting our desire to help feed orphans. So we took a step back...got a great referral to a somewhat local place (Metro Detroit) and I drove down on Friday for a quick meeting. Hopefully by Monday I will have our quote and by the grace of God will order some shirts. I will post the designs when we order....for a pre-sale. That would be fun, wouldn't it?!

Our Sunday was busy and fun. {The} Husband and boys received an awesome blessing to 4 free 50 yard line Detroit Lions tickets. They brought a friend that is being lead in a very similar direction as our family and they had some awesome fellowship while watching the Lions win....shocking I know! Who would have thought the Lions would win a football game....much less 2 out of 2. Okay wake up...I'm done talking sports!LOL...

The Boy had a football game on Saturday...they won. (for the record this isn't sports talk its mom talk. ) We ran into some friends on the football field. It was good to see them...hadn't seen them since baseball. I loved watching our boys play together....

We headed to Sams Club. Ran into the family that took Desi to adopt her. Finally {praise GoD} the adoption should be going through by Christmas or the new year at the latest. I'm so happy for Desi. She will be able to finally move on with her new life and blossom. I was thinking about her around August 31st because that is the day exactly one year ago we took her into our care....this poor thing has been in the system before and now for over a year for the second time. i just couldn't help but pray for her. The song I use to sing to her has been on the radio a lot lately. I can't help but pray when i hear it...I figure its God's way of reminding me, that while my physical job of being her mom is over, my spiritual job to pray for her isn't. As we ran into the Mom she said Desi said the other day that she missed Mama Gina. I can't honestly believe she remembers me. She saw pictures of the kids and remembered them too. I know that blessed my kids....as well as me. A small impact on such a little person. Praise God.

Well it's the beginning of the new week...Hopefully I'll be better at blogging this week....I think I'm more busy with the kids in school then when they were on summer break...

XOXO!

Gina

P.S. Don't you just love this time of Year?!! I sure do.

Fundraising part tiny 1

2011-09-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

So many of you know I use to design and sew little girls clothing. I've sold a lot. I've given away a lot. I thought they were all gone...then all of the sudden I realized I had this pile of used items from Em that I hadn't done anything with. I thought about just giving them away, but then I felt burdened on my heart to list them on Ebay as a tiny part of our fundraising for Africa. So today, I got a few items listed.

You can see them here. More will come later...like the outfits Em and Des wore for Christmas last year...Oh how I loved those!

XOXO!
Gina

Many 1st of 2011!

2011-09-12T11:51:00.000-07:00

I'm about to go pick up my kiddos from school but I had about 10 minutes to kill. I thought I'd show you a few pics of this years 1st day of school pics.

They looked thrilled, don't they?LOL. Handsome and beautiful they do...but fake smiles, Oh MY!

The boys unloading there stuff. Oh man were their backpacks full! Thank God for desks and lockers...otherwise they would have back problems just like my mom and me.

Em walking to her class.

Got into class and started on her morning work. She's a great student!

And Isaac's 1st football game of 2011!! I wore his jersey from last year. I have to trade off weeks with Ezra!LOL. He's number 2. Same number as last year....

1st of many things to come this year. Seasons have changed. EXCITING!

XOXO!

Gina <--- who is off to pick up her kiddos!

Design and order....

2011-09-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

I told you I had designed a few t-shirts for a fundraiser we are going to do to raise funds for Africa. Well today I get to order a couple of samples and I'm super excited to get them!! I'm praying they turn out great. I will post a picture when I can. :P

They did fine. I did fine.

2011-09-07T13:08:00.000-07:00

So today is the kiddos second day of school. Guess what? They did fine. Can you believe it! I worried all night long for nothing. Always seems to work that way. They are enjoying their teachers and their friends. I'm glad they have friends. Glad their teachers are nice. So very thankful!

Guess what happened today? On the way to school, we all take turns praying. Well Ezra was praying and He asked for Jesus to keep his Dad safe while driving today for his job. I drop the kids off...and I get a phone call. Well because I chatting with some moms I just hit ignore, and thought I'll call him back in a second. Then I get a text that says....ITs okay don't answer my call...just wanted to show you what happened to me today.! Attached was a picture of this...

I called him right away. And He hit a deer! Thankfully a truck hit if first and it kept on running and then my husband hit it. I told the kids as soon as I picked them up today. I explained that the Holy Spirit had burdened Ezra's heart today to pray for safety for Daddy....because Jesus knew that He was going to hit a dear today. And LooK how good the Lord is. He is safe and just a large dent on the front of the car, and you can barely open the passenger door...but Praise God HE is okay!

In other news. Pray for us. Were looking to do a fundraiser with some shirts I've designed to help fund our way to Africa. They are pretty sweet looking if ya ask me...Glory be to God, cause I'm a dork! We need wisdom on which shirts to order and how many....i may have a poll up sometime soon to see which ones everyone likes best.

XOXO!
Gina

Anxiety...

2011-09-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

Man I know this day coming is harder on me than it {probably} is on them. The first day back to school that is. Every year I do this. Every year the night before they go back to school I have anxiety...did I spend as much time this summer with them as I should have? Could I have done better? I'm going to miss them so much. What am I going to do with with all the time on my hands? Yes I know I work in Em's class 2 days one week and then 3 days the next...but still!! The tears I hold back the night before. The day of there are no promises...I just love my 3 little people so much. One day I hope I can say my four little people...only God knows.
I always have been anxious when it comes to my kids going to school. What if someone hurts their feelings? What if no one plays with them? What if they eat lunch all by themselves? What if, What if, What if. I am {that} mom. Thankfully I know i can leave it (the burden) at my Jesus' feet, because after all He cares for them more than me....Hard to believe...but true.
Thankfully Isaac and Ezra are in a split class together this year. They will have each other. So important. I pray they always treasure what they have...a built in best friend. And Em LOVES school. I just hate being away from them. I am their mama. I love that....and HATE leaving them.

Today we had a fun day. Got up later...Em and I went to build a bear. Oh she had so much fun. Then we had yogurt together while we walked through the mall. The boys went to the movies. Then we had some family come over that evening. We ate. We laughed. We were able to share some of what the Lord is doing...Oh how I love sweet fellowship.

XOXO.
Gina

Baking with my sweet pea....

2011-08-31T08:45:00.000-07:00

Today, well actually this morning i decided to do some baking. We love fresh baked goods in this house. I took out pumpkin from my freezer last night because while we were at Sams club yesterday, this amazing pumpkin smell filled the entire store...all from their bakery department. I said I'm going home and making something pumpkiny.{probably not a word.} And well I actually ended up making these amazing donuts because the pumpkin had to defrost. I will post some recipes below. The donuts were amazing, but I was still craving that pumpkin something. So I get up this morning, pumpkin defrosted{YES!} and get out the lap top, and I type into google... recipe for pumpkin something. Well who new there was a website for pumpkin something. Had NOTHING of what I was looking for. So I went to my old faithful website...that i just Love. Tammy's recipes. I looked and looked until I found a pumpkin with cream filling cupcake. I used less sugar and oil to make them just regular muffins for morning, and add the cream filling for cupcakes for night. The recipe made two dozen. Perfect. The house smelled amazing. Its like the perfect fall day outside. This is my perfect day. Now if only my son hadn't possibly broken his finger...I wouldn't even have to leave this perfect smelling house today.
My helper was Em for this project....I try to get different kids involved when I bake or cook, so I get a little one on one time with each of them. It works out well for us.

Pumpkin cupcakes/muffins...

Ingredients:

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup oil
15 ounce can of solid-pack pumpkin* or 1 and 7/8 cups fresh pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cream Filling:

1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup milk
1/2 cup shortening**
1/4 cup butter, softened***
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. To make cupcakes, combine eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a mixing bowl and stir well. In another bowl, combine dry cupcake ingredients and then add to pumpkin mixture, mixing well.

2. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick or fork inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

3. To make cream filling, whisk together the cornstarch and milk in a saucepan until smooth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for a minute or until mixture thickens slightly. Cool to room temperature.

4. In mixing bowl, cream shortening, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Gradually add room-temperature shortening mixture, beating until light and fluffy.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut a 1-inch diameter cone shape out of the top of each cupcake. Carefully remove tops and set aside. Spoon filling into cupcakes and replace tops.

this recipe is also from Tammy's recipes...LOVE her site.

Donuts{holes}

1 can of pillsbury buiscuts rolled small into little pieces

1 pan of oil.

fry for a long time....if they seem to be getting too dark, remove the pan from the heat of the stove and let them cook for like 3-5 minute then put back on heat and finish cooking to what appears to be fully cooked donuts holes.

take out of oil, let drain for a second.

use a bowl with a lid or brown paper bag, add sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Place cooked donuts holes in sugar and cinnamon and shake around.

ready to serve hot. :)

Sounds kinda not so good...best donuts ever!

The other night my husband had went to see a movie with his bff...and I decided to do some freezer cooking, since a friend had just posted on her facebook account that she was doing it that day. It was the perfect reminder at the perfect time. Football season is so crazy around here, that the freezer meals work out perfectly. I only made 3 full meals and 4 sides, but it will be just enough for this week...i must say it is hard to do freezer meals when you have a small freezer...I need a freezer for the garage so I can have the hook up for meals...but for now I'm thankful for what the Lord has provided us with.

I made...

Homemade hash browns with onions and green peppers
Turkey bacon
sloppy joe mix...just need to warm and serhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifve.
chicken pot pie..with a cream cheese flaky crust. recipe
breakfast bake...eggs, turkey sausage, homemade hash browns...can just add cheese and warm and serve or warm and place it tortillas for breakfast burritos.
Shreded bbq chicken sandwhich mix. This I just shred the chicken and freeze, then that afternoon put in a crock pot with bbq sauce on low or warm and when dinner time just throw them on buns and add cheese.

I have more things on the list to make...when I make them I will update my blog with the recipe.
XOXO.
Gina
P.S.
I'm going to start listing some resells of my clothing I use to make...I'll post a link to ebay when its up. ;)

Can you do eclectic with carpet???

2011-08-27T07:11:00.001-07:00

Many of the designs we see today, that are eclectic, are usually designed around a rug. As I was designing my living room which suddenly turned into the family room...I was wanting to keep with my theme of eclectic. I searched high and low trying to find ideas of eclectic designs with carpet since we have carpet. I found nothing. Not.one.thing. seriously. So we designed my husbands desk and the rest of the eclectic room just started falling into place. I had grand ideas of burlap pillows and lamp shades, which are very popular right now, as I just went to pottery barns outlet. all the rage people. all.the.rage. However this room I designed has no burlap. Yes raw wood with pottery barn furniture from back in the day...I especially love the coffee table. I bought the base at pottery barn for $19.99...a steal! And we added the wood pallets to the top....I put a thin clear coat on the wood...just makes it pop more, I think I might add one more coat. The chairs around the little table are from my dining room.....we have 8 and don't need them all the time....so I thought i'd put them to good use. The lamps are old....like 10 years. But the shades I just bought at Target {my fav store} on clearance for $6.95 each. My plan was to recover them in burlap, but then when I found the small pillows at meijer on clearance for $5.00, I thought hmmm I may not have to recover those shades. Then I realized I had the larger pillows sitting in the trunk of my bed not being used and I thought....those have got to be perfect. The colors were perfect. Snagged my quilt that my dad and mom made me for Christmas which totally goes with the eclectic theme.

We use to have shelves on the wall...which I kept hitting my head on. and they were {sadly} sagging...I used anchors, but apparently they did not want to be in the wall....so after everything falling a few times, I said...thats it! OUT with those, and in with my Garbage picked old window. I had great plans for this window....because well it had glass in it and I was intending to stencil on it a great scripture or saying...but my boy {the middle} decided to break both of the windows I garbage picked. I loved the rustic look anyway. So I slapped it up on the wall with nails that were already there and added some pictures...and there it is. Fun right?.

Oh and those picture above Tony's desk...I cut those mats myself out of cardstock paper and measured and hung them myself. Thats a pretty big accomplishment for me...I'm not such the precise lady....I usually eyeball things...and well I new I'd be a dead woman if I eyeballed these right above Mr. Perfections desk. :)LOL... Oh the things we learn after being married for 12 years!

This yellow room which i also had GREAT plans at Repainting is now perfect. I love the Yellow with the dark furniture and bright lampshades. its Really perfect. I just need...wait not need, want curtains for this room...and it is done. i'm in LOVE. Whatcha think? Did the eclectic get conveyed well without an area rug? Oh btw i do plan to get a cute dresser and paint it and put it in place of what is under the tv...but for now my $19.99 Pottery Barn dresser will do.

XOXO!
Gina

Forgive me on some of the pics my lighting is off...but you get the idea. ;)

Em's custom outfit...

2011-08-27T06:57:00.001-07:00

Many of you know I use to be a children's clothing designer. My desire to design and sew has been gone for a while. Until recently. I thought i'd give it a go. I had fun, em loves it and it cost me almost nothing but time because I had all the fabrics from other projects. I love it.

I have quite a few resales to list soon....hopefully I can get those photographed and up for sale this coming up week. One is a thanksgiving outfit....perfect for fall too. I Love fall.

XOXO.

Gina

James 1:27

2011-08-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for all the serious posts lately....I promise some fun light hearted posts will come soon...However My heart is burdened for these two Orphan kids.

There are pages upon pages of Orphaned kids you could look at and I did, but for some reason {only God knows} these two kids stuck out to me....

Will you pray with me for these two sweet kids? Lets pray that someone steps up and becomes their family before its too late. See in eastern Europe if you don't an adopted family by 8 you stay an orphan. How sad. Your age determines if your an orphan forever. Thankfully even if a country deems you an orphan God says He will never leave us as orphans in John 14:18.

{Meet Alla}

She is:
HIV+ which is totally managable here in the U.S...
She is healthy and developing normally. click her name to be taken to Project Hopeful to find out more details about her. She is just one year younger than Em. She just looks so sweet. I don't know any of her family history...but she just needs a mom and dad to love her and show her Jesus. Lets pray! God is big!

And this boy's story hit me hard....With all life's difficulties thrown at him, he still strives to serve others...

{Meet Andriy}

His story:
Andriy lived with his grandmother and grandfather, both of whom are invalids. Despite their advanced age his grandparents still drink alcohol and fight. His mother is in jail for vagrancy. His father officially rejected the boy, saying that he was not his son. He is under the guardianship of the orphanage director.
It was observed: He has a good sense of humor. He is very polite and small for his age and gets along well with the other kids.
Camp directors said: he would regularly sit next to her and bring her seconds of dinner before he would get his own. He was soaking up individual attention. They said he gets along well with the other children and is a peace keeper.

Please pray. I know we can not personally adopt all kids...but these two really pulled at my heart this morning. Lets pray God does something really big.

Remember sweet Anika. She now has her forever family. We did a euchre night to raise money without her even having a family...BUT GOD! He knew. Lets see how he chooses to use our prayers for these two sweet kids.

XOXO!
Gina

UP Next...My new room renovations...that I've been working on for weeks now...inspired by our new desk...

Ever been fearful?

2011-08-24T05:23:00.001-07:00

While we were praying and asking God to confirm in four hearts what he was doing I told you I was listening to a couple fearless messages by Francis. Well he played a song that his daughter had just written. Totally spoke to my heart.

{Big time}

I pray that it ministers to you.

and because I thought this was too sweet not to post...My husband being diligent and emailing a missionary in Africa. I love how intent he is on this. When God speaks....he {my husband} listens.

xoxo.
Gina

It's that time of year again....

2011-08-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Sad but happy. I hate that summer is coming to an end. However I LOVE watching my oldest play football! Tonight was the practice at home...daddy is whipping them into shape. We thought our youngest son would want to play football too, so I said I would look into it for him. He was very excited to get to possibly play until he had one practice with his older brother and then he said, "um, mom... I'm more of the watching football kinda guy, not playing." LOL. I thought that was an awesome way to say never mind, i don't like pain!

Fall is in the air. another sad but happy. I absolutely adore fall here in Michigan. You will never see a fall like you will here. the colors. the crisp clean air. wearing sweaters in the morning. I thank God for Fall.

Thanks to everyone who is encouraging us in our new Journey. God is amazing. and we just want to serve Him.

XOXO!
Gina

A step that leads to another step which will lead to another...

2011-08-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

The title of this blog post is a glimpse of our life. He leads us by steps. Some people can handle the big picture. I'm assuming we can not. Well actually I know! just looking back at some of the steps we have taken {being lead by God} that I can not handle the big picture. I, in my own nature would freak out.

God first gave us a step. 6 years ago. To come along side of Chuck and Oralia and raise up their hands while we start this church together. We said okay Lord. We can do that. A friend shared a scripture with us that I'm sure he had no idea the meaning it would hold in our hearts...even to this day.

Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations and watch—

Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

You think that verse sounds like a total blessings from every which way you would look. However it wasn't at the time...but looking back now we know it was. God had to bring us to our financial breaking point. Our physical breaking points. Our fully relying on Him in every which way of every aspect of everything. God took every bit of comfort from us...and said trust in me. Not my nature. I screamed. I cried. I asked God to take the pain away. He said I'm almost done with you in these few areas....be patient....and when He was done....I was different. I learned to rely on God like I've never before. I found my joy in Him. Not in people. Not in things. Just him. We got to teach our kids how gracious our heavenly dad is. The littlest things like a costume which I could not afford to paying our heat bill....He provided it all and my kids got to see what an awesome God/Dad we serve.

Once that step was underway, God said okay now I'd like you to move to Flint where you started the church. We waited, and waited and waited. Then God said if you don't move now there will be consequences. We moved as fast as we could....

{I should preface that during this time my husband had lost his job of 11 years and was unemployed}

We still moved. {Thank God for 401k}

Once that step was underway....God spoke to my heart and my husbands heart to start a spin off of a business my mom currently owned. We did. We made hardly any money for a very long time. God spoke another step to us which was to continue with this buisness....and it will provide for you. Hard to see when your in the midst of it...but He has provided above and beyond what we ever thought possible.

God told my husband His next step....start playing the guitar. He did. And twelve months later he was leading worship for our church.

Three or four months later he was writing worship songs of things God was teaching us through this step by step journey.

God's next step was for us to purchase this home without ever seeing the inside or having a home inspection done...but just purchase it and watch what God will do.

We did. {we were blown away at the goodness of the Lord in all the details of this home}

Then God told us to get involved into the foster care system.

We did. {oh boy was that a roller coaster ride!}

Then I started reading blogs of these poor children in other countries and the conditions of their lives. I cried. I asked God why? Why would children live in conditions like these? I read stories to my husband that just broke my heart into a million pieces. He gave me James 1:27 as a life verse for us....whether it was for the orphans here in the u.s or in another country was for God to decide but either way we are to care for them.

We have three beautiful healthy children and all I can do is think about these kids on the other side of the world with no parents, no food, no water....no Jesus. Finally one day my husband looked at me and asked, will you ever just be okay with not adopting a child from outside the U.S. ? I said yes. Then I prayed God would make me content and not desire to help the orphans in the world if it wasn't His will.

The desire i had was less, but everytime I'd go to the blogs that spoke about the orphans in Africa I'd fight back the tears and pray.

During this time God gave us another step. That it was time to step down as the Assistant Pastor and wife of Calvary Chapel Flint. This was a blessing, as we had felt like our time should be over here for a while, but was patiently waiting God's direction in this area.

We stepped down.

Then we prayed God what do you want next for our family.

God spoke. Go on a mission trip to Africa. Um What God? You want us to do what? Go to Africa. We asked the Lord to confirm this idea through scripture, through a word of knowledge and more specifically take our fear away.

My mom sends me a text with a missionary from Africa's contact info and said thought you might be interested in this...I guess he was in town.{I hadn't really told my mom anything we had been praying about, however she knows my heart for orphans and the needy.}

We decided to talk to our kids....and Our kids are super excited...They can't wait. They have ideas and ideas of things they want to do with kids in Africa. think vbs. :) they make my heart sing praises to Jesus.

I asked my oldest if he had any fears....He said yah I don't like flying...I said me either! I hate it...and he said the sweetest thing to me....I know but Mom you can do it, I know you can!...awe I just love that boy!

Me being a scaredy cat asked for more confirmation!

I've been diving into scripture and listening to online messages. And I honestly was not prepared for all the confirmation the Lord had planned for my heart. Yes I said {MY} heart because, I was the one who needed the most convincing. My first message I chose to listen to was fearless by francis chan on reality's website. Um....insane.

Go Listen to it {now!}

He talked about fear of walking your family through the shadow of death. And if we can't trust the God of the universe to bring us through the shadow of death then what or who can we trust.{btw I'm not implying that things will be perfect but Jesus whom loves His children very much will be with us.} He also talked about being fearful for our children. What about our kids? Shouldn't we think of them. {This I've had a hard time with...think Malaria,drinking water, food, not wanting to tell my children no} Well we are thinking of them. I believe these paths that God is leading us through is going to teach them about Christ too. He {francis} also talked about not worrying about having a crazy savings account with 3 months reserves and having this much in this account and that much in that account...but rather the bible says worry about today for tomorrow has enough worries of its own...if we take that principle how on earth could we be securing our 401k's to the fullest and our reserves for 6 months when our brothers and sisters are dying in other countries because they don't even have food or water for today? Man the Lord really used that to minister to my heart. I don't believe that means totally forsaking everything....but rather changing our perspective to live less and give more. Francis has really lived this out. They sold their house and downsized to give more. He felt the Lord has called him to give $50,000.00 one year...that was more than his current salary...and God provided the $50,000.00. The next year he felt God wanted him and his family to give $100,000.00 and God provided that amount for them to give. Last year he felt God wanted them to give $1Million and they met that goal 1/2 through the year. My point in sharing all that is through this message it showed me when God guides you and leads you he will take care of the details. He has for Francis, and I know He will for us too. This was the first "Okay God, I think i'm okay with your leading". Then I listened to part two of this fearless message.....and in it they talked about orphans, a boy named Isaac, adoption and Gods love. I was in tears, crying like a baby. I encouraged my husband to listen to these messages. He said he would soon.

Then one day I was reading and I felt like God totally spoke to me through His word one morning while I was in my devotions. He said...

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25

That was such an encouragement because I felt like we had been waiting and asking for more confirmation from Him.

Then two days later I was reading again in the morning...just me, God's word and my cup of coffee....and I ran across this verse, and the Lord said to me...send this to your husband.

So I got out my phone and texted him this verse...

Ezekiel 12:25-28

For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’”
²⁶ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ²⁷ “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ ²⁸ Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done,” says the Lord GOD.’”

Just an ordinary verse to anyone but us. I sent it to him, and little did i know God had me send him this verse as he was in the middle of listening to the fearless messages i referred to earlier. After he was done listening to them he called me and said well if I was unsure before I shouldn't have had him listen and send him those scriptures because it confirmed in him what God was doing with our family....as well as He was continuing to confirm in me.

We decided to move forward with what God is calling our family to do. However there was just one little thing that we were like....huh Lord we really thought you were going to give someone a word of knowledge or wisdom about this area of our life...oh well. You've confirmed it enough in our hearts....and through your scripture and messages. Well just last week an example was being given in church and the teacher that night {just as an example} pointed to my husband and said your being called to Africa for a year. Oh man. The Lord is funny. Gracious and Loving. There it was. This man had no idea what the Lord was using him for that night. We just love how God works.

So in a nut shell...we have our next step...GO TO AFRICA!

XOXO!

Gina

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11{NIV}

Stumbling block....

2011-08-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

I've struggled with for years a statement that was made to me about me being a stumbling to two people because I wouldn't do what they desired of me. The thing is I had prayed about this thing that these two people had wanted of me and I honestly felt God say its okay. It's not required of you. Focus on what is required right now, which was my children, household, husband and work. As I did what the Lord was requiring of me and not what people wanted the statement was made that I was stumbling these two ladies. I've questioned and second guessed what I heard from the Lord for years. Lord was I really hearing from you? Was it my own will? Just two days ago I was listening to this really awesome message from Britt Merrick, pastor of Reality churches in California. The message was on judging. He brought up the issue of Christians passing judgement on each other and using the Romans 14:10-13 where it refers to being a "stumbling block". Many times Christians use this with other Christians to get their way or their will. Other times there is legitimacy of something being a stumbling to someone. So my question was how do I know the difference? More specifically how do I know if these ladies were actually stumbled by me or if it was simply them just desiring their way. Well Britt said it well.

The definition to a stumbling block is this:

Doubting the identity, the valitity of the cross and the power of Jesus Christ and your salvation in Him.

After hearing this I felt a huge relief off the back of my mind....that little something that has always made me question if I was misrepresenting the Lord....which is the very last thing i'd ever want to do.

My point in sharing this is two points.

One...please be careful to how we use the Lords word to get what we want. Make sure we are always using it to the glorification of God and not ourselves.

And two...

Sometimes the Lord takes a while to answer some of your deepest questions....but through it He teaches you so many things. Like patience and to know what Gods word says and to look deeply into His word, and let Him minister to you in His timing.

XOXO.

Gina

Oh and one last thing that really ministered to me in that message was to when it comes to judging people and here motives, remember even though we are sure we know the whole situation/motives....we will never have all the information to judge motives, therefore God reserves the right to judge man's motives.

New life...He is GRACIOUS!

2011-08-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

God is amazing. Isn't He?! He is so gracious to us. I think us as Christians sometimes take that for granted. We don't mean too. But we are just so use to His grace that we forget to recognize it and thank Him for it. Today I thank the Lord for His Graciousness of my newest Nephew. Things kinda went crazy for a bit. Blood pressure issues for my sister. Sugar levels for the littlest man. Bleeding issues for my sister. And a husband who is standing watching all of this and asking God to intervene and be gracious to Him....as we all were praying.

Praise God, the sugar levels have been stabilizing. Oralia's blood pressure is better, but still a little too high...and the bleeding is getting there.

He.IS.GRACIOUS!

Ever hear of meal train? I have some friends that have started using it...and I thought what a great way to bless my sister and brother. I started up a week long of meals. You simply click the link and it will take you to their week of meals, what they like and dislike, and you sign your name into a slot of what you will be bringing. Then the day your scheduled to bring a meal, you just simply text them and let them know your stopping in when dropping off the meal or you just drop it on the door step.....
Don't live close enough to do the meal train? There is a comment section that you could just let them know you love them and are praying for them. I'll leave the link here. Its really a great way to bless a family celebrating new life....and HIS GRACE!

Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Amen!

XOXO!
Gina

A little of this, a little of that.

2011-08-12T09:01:00.001-07:00

{just a little fun}

My husband and I have been working on this idea of a desk for a few months.
Remember I posted a similar desk a while back.
Well this is our version of the desk. I absolutely LOVE it!
We still have the back shelving to add.
A new computer to add.
But all in due timing.
Ever thought of making something out of pallet wood?
DO IT!
Its fun.
However it is painstakingly awful to remove the nails from the boards.
Patience.
much patience is required!

and in case your wondering yes freezer paper sticks to wood...too much!
You can't get it off after your done making your stencil.
Thank goodness we did it on the back side as a tester first.

Ever wondering how a girl who has no knowledge of how to put a computer together did indeed unassembled and reassemebled the whole computer herself.
My secret {take pictures with your phone!}
Ha. I know. Silly. But it worked!

Next up staining the pallet coffee table I made in like two minutes!

{In all seriousness}

For all those who have been praying for us. Thank you. God is speaking. We are just asking when we should speak what He is doing in our hearts and for our family. This remains in my heart, and the goal of my life...I just want to serve my Jesus.

XOXO!
Gina
P.S
{our familes life verses}
Lamentations 3:25
Habakkuk 1:5
James 1:27
1st Cor. 13:4-8

My {our} Day....

2011-08-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

Woke up early to get Isaac to a 9:15 doc apt. {poor guy has a kidney infection}

Read the most amazing part of scripture today {for where I'm at}

Lamentations 3:25

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.

Praised God for his confirmation in our steps.

A new life verse.

{we have quite the list going.}

Got some coffee.

Got everyone dressed and out, to the doc on time...praise the Lord {if you know me, you know why I say praise the Lord...I"m usu a couple of minutes late ;) }

Doc apt. went well, continue our meds.

Came home & worked out. {gotta get back at that.}

AS I was working out started listening to a second session of Francis Chan.

OH.MY.WORD.

I cried.

Tried to hold my hysterical cry.

God spoke to my heart.

I just want to please you God.

To serve YOU.

This message showed me how.

To not live in fear.

I'm a fearful person. Its who I have always been.

Francis said it so well.

"we all have an experation date"

"Why live in fear of doing things for God in fear that we can actually make that come sooner"

"as if we have the power to do that!"

so I parafrased the second quote, but thats basically what he said.

True.

Then his daughter sang a song, this song is dear to my heart.

Powerful.

Amazing.

To the God I serve.

Spent the day praising God.

Spent some good quality time with my oldest.

He helped make me a late.

He helped me grocery shop.

All that after we dropped off my husbands car to be worked on.

I was literally climbing in from the passanger side door.

Its a 2 door coupe people.

ITs tiny.

I guess I should have tried climbing in through the windows like the old t.v shows.

Oh well.

Next time. ;)

Part of the repair covered under warranty.

Praise God again.

Thankful God showed me all the beauty that He had His hand in today.

Not my nature either.

But God.

XOXO.

Gina

Road trip...

2011-07-29T12:39:00.001-07:00

We are headed out on the road...just me and my honey. Expecting God to speak to us...He is so faithful.

Rental car. Hotel room. Bible. My honey. Kids with my parents. Listening ears.

XOXO.

Gina

World vision....

2011-07-28T07:27:00.001-07:00

Our family recently sponsored a child from world vision....and while I new these people in other countries are hurting and struggling just to be able to feed half of there family one meal each day {usually the youngest first} I didn't realize the the severity of it until I started following world vision on Twitter. I didn't anticipate hearing words like drought and famine....and then we play it off as though the drought isn't that bad, if they can just walk farther to get to the water. But this year God decided to show me what a drought looks like in a very insignificant way, yet seemed so powerful in my mind. Sometimes all I need is a visual to understand and that is exactly what I got yesterday.

Yesterday as I was getting on the freeway heading the wrong direction I thought well God must have a reason or a plan, and then I turned my head and saw this area that i've seen a. Hundred. Times. But then I realized it looked different. Where there is normally water there was none. Where there is normally wildlife wading there was none. Where there was normally green plants and trees around it was brown and yellow from lack of water and heat. Where the water should stand was dark brown dirt cracked from heat and drought.

The image so clear in my mind, and I thought wow. Lord we could really use some water.

That same say we were on our way home from dinner, it was my sweet husbands birthday, and it was a 45 minute drive home so I thought i'd surf twitter. World vision tweet. Drought. Famine. A mamas story on life in Kenya. I reD the story aloud to my husband as he drove, and it took so much in me to controlling my emotions. This mother has 7 children. She is unsure of her own age. She being a mother {like any good mother would} sacrifices her own needs for food to feed her family. She is malnurished and walks miles a day just for aittle dirty water. She had twins one died. They married there 14 year old daughter off to be able to provide for the family as they traded her into marriage for some livestock. However with the drought the livestock have now died. They also felt if they married there daughter off she would be provided for better than they could have done. They have a farm to grow mayza, however no water no crops. There children are hungry, but they have learned to not ask for food as they know there is none. All their kids are sick...the twin daughter who is 5 is pretty sick, worse off than all of their children, but they can not afford a doctor because it costs $1.16 in u.s money.

Are you kidding me....I yelled to my husband. $1.16!! I spend more than that each day on a soda. Or coffee. $1.16 could save their daughters life. I just can't imagine all that this drought and famine has cost these poor people.

World vision is asking for $10.00. If you can text 4AFRICA to 20222 this could help provide for families like this mama and her sick children.

I hugged and kissed my children extra long tonight and praised God for His blessings....and I prayed for rain and provisions for Africa and any other countries struggling as they are. See this mama isn't alone. She is one of many that are in this condition. God dumped bucketfulls of rain on us last night....oh how I pray He did the same for Africa.

You can read more of there story here...

http://wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf/updates/C188CE91EE415E7C882578D900712D94?opendocument

Sweet Jesus you promise to provide for our needs. Please do so for this family and all that are just like them. Amen.

XOXO.

Gina

Pampered!!

2011-07-25T14:01:00.001-07:00

Totally a shallow post here, but my husband blessed me today with a pedicure....and I decided to try a new place.....oh my I'm in love! They are old school technology and I love it. She even talked to me which doesn't ever happen at all the other places I've been in years past. She even told me I look way too young to be married and have kids. Oh yes I'm for sure coming back.

XOXO.

Gina

P.s. thank you honey.

days at the beach.

2011-07-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

I love days with my kids! and today was no different. Time with my kids and a friend.

Wish it didn't start pouring on us...sand and rain make...are you ready?? Mud! I know can you believe it! Yuck. Got back to the car after yelling to the kids a couple of times "I dropped that can you pick it up please?" Being such troopers in the rain, they grabbed everything we dropped and kept hustling behind. Love my kids, and there willing hearts.

Thankful for the fellowship of my friend today too.

Oh Ezekiel....

2011-07-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

You had me at hello.
{aka:now it came to pass..}

This very well could be {MY} book.
XOXO!
Gina

Whatever...

2011-07-22T05:34:00.001-07:00

Phil.4:8

I'm so thankful for reminders like these.

XOXO

Gina

Is she really mine?

2011-07-21T12:41:00.001-07:00

This is so not me...I don't like hoppers as Emma calls it. :)

She's been rockin this bathing suit everyday this summer, I think its her favorite attire. It's a good thing its stinking cute!

The joys of summer.

XOXO.

Gina

Change....

2011-07-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

So the last post I talked about change.

Change is hard for me.

While I prayed so very hard for this change to come quickly as I felt our time was up where we were at, however I wasn't prepared.

I'm still not.

God is bigger than all my fears.

I hold onto that very tightly.

On Sunday My husband stepped down as the assistant Pastor of our little church.

God had been stirring this in our lives for almost a year now.

Theres no hidden sin.

Just simply obeying the voice of God.

He seems to move us after we following only the first step.

We are still waiting his next step.

He is leading our family, and we are listening.

Even though we have prayed for this change for a year now it still is hard. We've invested 5 years into starting this church.

We've prayed for this church for 7 years now.

We moved our family 1 hour away to start and assist at this church.

We were the first ones there.

The last ones to leave.

We prepared for each service.

We were the worship team.

Cleaning crew.

Coffee Ministry.

Outreach Ministry.{so awesome!!}

Was the children's ministry for a year or two.{felt like three!}

We were the set up crew.

The tear down crew.

We did all we could to lift the arms of the Pastor and his wife {which just so happen to be my brother and sister(inlaw)}

We did all that needed to be done so they could minister to those that needed them.

We've watched our children grow up in this church.

For the very first time three weeks ago I got to see my sons passing out communion.

{My heart was joyful.}

I said all that to say...It is hard seeing this kind of change. It is awesome to see where the Lord has taken this church.

I still remember the feelings of overwhelmed and excitedness with each journey.

I didn't do everything right.

But my heart and my thoughts were pure.

I just want to serve my Jesus.

Everything we did was done without anyone seeing, recognizing or applauding us.

We were/are okay with that.

Where do we go from here? Only God knows, and is showing us each tiny step at a time.

We are listening.

We are waiting quietly.

Our children are patiently waiting.

This is where he has us, will you please pray with us?.

XOXO!

Gina

{Hope}

2011-07-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

This morning as I was about to start reading my word, I do as I normally do and pray. Asking God for wisdom and understanding while reading His word. He prompted on my heart to sing quietly to him:
And when my heart is overwhelmed, please lead me to the Rock, that is higher than I, that is higher than I.

Then He prompted me to share my heart of not liking Change. A change that is or maybe has been prayed for, while welcomed, is not in my nature to enjoy. I shared with Him how Drastic changes scare me....and then i said I was thankful for Your timing Lord and help me to rest in You.
I know nothing to the ordinary eye...except then when I dove into my word this morning everything that I shared with My Daddy was right there in front of me in His word. Things like Encouragement, I can't think of a word to sum up this...but when you know that He knows everything in your heart, when it was broken into a thousand pieces and then you realize you weren't alone in it, even though you already new it at the time, seeing it in His word was just a blessing....or when you just felt discouraged, or completely overwhelmed by a burden of the Lost and all you want to do is share the gospel with as many people as you can, and get a ginormous loan and adopt every child you possibly can....so that they will see Jesus and Love. ...That was my morning with Him this morning. Truly amazing.
In Lamentations 3
One thing that really ministered to me was in verse 19-20 when Jeremiah attempted to change His mood by remembering his past experiences but all it did was make him feel worse....Man has this been me many times...either the Enemy reminds you of what you use to be and are lacking now, or what you never have been....But then when I continued on I was so blessed to get to verse 21 where Jeremiah remembers the Lords goodness and faithfulness...And when we focus on our troubles the more convinced we will become of our isolation our hopelessness and our inability to extricate(def: to free or remove from an entanglement or difficulty) ourselves from the present trouble. But when we focus on the Lord we are finally able to rise above, rather than suffer under our troubles....Man such a blessing to be reminded of this!

Then in verse 24 I hope in Him= I love this. Hope is not a wishful thought, but a confident expectation in the Lord. Hope is a waiting attitude. {did you see that! Confident expectation in the Lord and Waiting!!}

Then in Verse 25 Those who wait= Acceptance of God's will and His timing. {did you see that again!! His will and His Timing!!}

And lastly in verse 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly. Now that we have the def of hope...it would read like this...
It is good that one should have a confident expectation in the Lord and wait quietly. {Man just where I'm at!! hope and quiet waiting.} Being quiet is usually my last action. I'm asking the Lord to help me in this.

So Here I sit and hope and wait quietly. His timing. Where He leads.

XOXO.
Gina {just a girl that is loving the book of Lamentations!}

Summer bliss...

2011-07-14T05:39:00.001-07:00

I just love this view. How could it get any better. I need more days like this...Gods word and encouragement and my babies.....and my sisters babies. The Lord is good.

Our busy week is coming to an end....our house guest will be leaving soon....I'm a little sad. Wish he didn't have to go. I'll post more next about that.

XOXO.

Gina.

Rainy Day....

2011-07-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

All I need is you Lord. All I need is you.

When I see you I find strength to face the day.

Worship that is ministering to my weathered heart this morning.

I'm a bit down. Prayers are requested.

XOXO.
Gina
P.S. Can I pray for you for something?

Oh.my.word.

2011-07-01T11:34:00.001-07:00

This is going to be my husbands new desk and wall unit....I'm in love...I'm still trying to decide what kind of message I'm going to stencil onto the desk....I want it to be a personal message that he can look down at and it make him smile....

Possibly a message and a scripture.

So this desk and wall unit on one side of the room and my painted piano on the other side. Oh this room is starting to get cozy. I'm super excited to get this project done....I think my husband will LoVe the space....poor guy works from home on this tiny little desk....all to please me. He's a keeper. I am blessed to be married to such a wonderful man of God.

XOXO.

Gina

Summer Love...

2011-07-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

We had a campfire the other night....the kids LOVED it! They enjoyed having the sticks in the fire and then of course roasting marshmallows. I forgot to get chocolate and graham crackers....so we just did marshmallows....however I am fully prepared for this weekend with chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows.....I don't think there will be any complaints this weekend.

We charish weekends like this because with my husbands job he doesn't get any time off paid....and usually can't find someone to run his business when he's gone....so therefore he doesn't get a lot of time off.....I'm very happy to have our very first weekend in a long time together without any "have toos" and be all together.

What should we do??? I see bonfires and grilling....got any other suggestions? We were invited by our sweet friends to their cabin, but again us being a bit stingy with our family time that has been very missed lately I'm afraid we had to decline....however I see a get together in our very near future with our sweet friends.

So how about you?? Whatcha got going this weekend??

XOXO

Gina

Milestones...

2011-06-28T05:46:00.001-07:00

This baby girl is taking milestones. I remember when each kid learned how to ride their bike. It really dies surprise me how long Em has taken. She is my biggest dare devil ever....riding all the scary rides at Disney world, loving thrilling scare seeking adventures....but when it came to the "removal of the training wheels".....this kid wanted nothing to do with it. We''be attempted this for almost three full years and each time she got herself so worked up, that we just put the training wheels back on...well not this year. Her second try with daddy and she was taking off on her own. This child...when she has a will she will have a way. and when she doesn't have a will and its not important....Ya might as well give up.LOL. cause she already has.

So Em's big milestone happened at 7.

Ezra's happened at 5 1/2

Isaac's also happened at 7.

I'm so thankful I can honestly say I remember each child learning at each time in their life, how to ride their bikes. Being their for those milestones. Not being too busy to not watch or being off at work....

Gina

James 1:27

2011-06-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

Last night I watched a video on a sweet girl meeting her forever family and there final process of adopting and bring there baby girl home....I tried so hard to fight back the tears.....probably one of the most amazing videos I have watched in a long time.

My heart has been on James 1:27 a lot lately. My heart is so overwelmed with the beautiful children God has given me. He is more gracious, than I could have ever asked for. Sometimes I feel guilty because my heart hurts and longs to hold a sweet little orphan that has no mommy or daddy...and to want to show them what love is....and what our Jesus is in our household, and how amazing He is to us. Part of me says God gave you three healthy beautiful children, how can you want more...and there's times I pray God would take this yearning from me if it isn't Him in me.....but really I have no answers. I want what His wants for me. I don't want to walk in my own will.

So I just pray. Pray that God would provide a Family and love to each orphan out there. Pray that I would have enough boldness to do whatever God is calling me to do. Please pray with me. Let's watch God move mountains that only He can move.

XOXO

Gina

What I {absolutely} LOVE about summer!

2011-06-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

~Kids sleeping in, {Me} Getting up early to have my quiet time with God. (Now to just get the kids to sleep in!)

~Not having to get ready to go until later in the afternoon...unless I spontaneously decide to fun to the store, then you all get a real treat, cause I probably will still not gotten ready to go ;)

~Softball on Tuesday nights from 5:30-8pm...That my friend is NOT a typo!

~Baseball on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. {Yep sports are taking over this princess', non sports lovin, life!

~No consistency on dinners. Some nights its 6pm others its 8:30pm. Except Thursdays its always 10pm for adults...

~Paper plates. Can I get an amen?!?! {Hello, I'm on summer break too!}

~Kids making their own breakfast and lunch

~crafting!! Oh the ideas in my head...stupid U-create and Remodelaholic! {You should see some of my freezer paper shirts I've made!!}

~Summer mornings on my porch {That is when the mosquitoes decide they've feasted enough on the neighbors and leave me alone!}

~Family vacations(a LOVE/HATE relationship!)

~A weekend alone with my man, away from home(only a LOVE relationship!)

What about you, what do you LOVE about summer?

Were packing...

2011-05-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

No Not heat. :) For Disney World silly!
We'll be back in a week from Friday....

This was us last year. We have a great travel agent that has made this barganista feel this is a really great price and so enjoyable...who doesn't like all inclusive?!

XOXO!
Gina

I'm in tears....

2011-05-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

I was telling my sweet{yes he really is as sweet as I say} husband just the other day, When God moves, HE MOVES! You can't stop Him. You can choose to not be used by Him, but His will will be accomplished. Gods will was accomplished for Anika! There is still hurdles for this family to over come...but Honestly with tears in my eyes and heart....JESUS CHRIST is AMAZING! The story is just .....JESUS! He's the only one that can burden our hearts for the things that burden His, and if we choose to move when He moves us the result will be glorifying! This family chose to move, to purchase plane tickets in faith, to listen to a quiet voice or maybe a loud roar....either way they Listened....Which is somewhat of a difficult task at times....They chose to push when God said PUSH!
I said it once I'll say it again...When GOD moves, HE MOVES! {can I get an AMEN?} ;)
WARNING...Your gonna need some tissues...

THis is Anika's families story...stolen from Loves blog ;)
Nathan and Brandy married 16 years ago having no idea that a large family, nor adoption was in their future…but God knew. Once they began having children, one came each year for four years. Their bio kids are 12, 11, 10, 9. They thought they were done, but there was something stirring in the heart of Nathan. He wanted to adopt a little girl from Russia. Brandy thought he was crazy! She told him that she was not closed to the idea and asked him to pray that God would soften her heart. Soften it He did. Now her heart beats passion for the orphan and she feels that she can’t do enough. They brought home their youngest daughter, Aeniah, from Russia in 2008. Yet, somehow they just knew that God intended to bring them two daughters from EE. Just as they were settling into comfortable with Aeniah, and wondering if they had heard wrong, God prompted them to start a homestudy at the end of 2010.
They initially found Anika in February of 2011, but received closed doors because of their family size. They accepted the closed door, but she had captured their heart and they always wondered if she’d ever found a family.
Early in May, Brandy, who had not been on social networking for many weeks, made an impulse decision to briefly check in on the Twitter world. While there, a tweet stood out that said something like this, “Maybe YOU can be the one to change this little girl’s life.” So she clicked the link. On the other end of that link was Love’s blog advocating for Anika. Even though Anika had grown up a bit, Brandy knew right away that the little girl staring back at her was the same one that had captured her heart in February.
So she prayed, reminding him of the closed doors and felt God telling her that she needed to “push” and watch as He was going to move mountains. He brought the passage in Matthew 17 to mind, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” As she began to dive into that passage more, she also learned that other translations follow up that verse with “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Strangely enough God had been teaching her over the past few months about prayer and fasting. She knew this was where the rubber was going to meet the road.
After asking and waiting, Russia decided to allow Anika’s family to have up to five children in the home. Mountain one moved.
The next mountain that looked impossible to move was that there were two other families in line wanting to bring her home. So again she asked her friends to join her in fasting and praying in the wait time while those families made their decisions.
Thursday, May 12, 2011 their family celebrated the “Gotcha Day” of their first adopted daughter. Three years ago they walked away from the orphanage with her. As Brandy meditated on the significance of this day, she begged of the Lord to let this be the day that she would hear that another mountain had moved—that she would be allowed to be Anika’s mommy.
At 4:11 pm, her phone rang and she knew that either good news or bad news awaited her. She braced herself for either. On the other end of the phone, the social worker shared that Anika was available to her family, but there was one catch…Anika’s family would need to be able to travel to Russia in June.
Funny thing is that Brandy & Nathan already had a trip to Russia planned for June, plane tickets bought and visas ready. A whoop of joy went out in the home of Anika’s new family! A happy dance was done by all as Brandy reflected upon what she knew ever since February when she first saw Anika, but was afraid to believe--that Anika is her daughter!
Brandy and Nathan now face new mountains as they must have all of their paperwork done, translated and registered in Russia before June 7. They have seen far too many mountains moved for Anika to believe that these mountains will not move also. Feel free to join them on their journey as it unfolds. Brandy is writing out His story through her story in detail on their family blog.

INSANE right?!!

If I can encourage you, if GOD speaks, Listen and move in His timing....

XOXO!
Gina

Party for Anika!!

2011-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

So we had a wonderful Euchre night. Such great fellowship....each of these ladies hearts are so beautiful and it was so perfectly displayed last night as they all graciously gave to Anika's new family! Yep thats right she has a family!! I will post about her new family right after this post.
Our Euchre night....
Emma made banners for the party....I LOVE her heart! She was excited to do so....I think it made everyone feel welcome. ;)

WE played cards...We ate, We fellowshipped....some of us were really loud {ehhmmmm, not me;)} We ate some more!, we {PRAYED} ....For Anika, for her family, for the orphans and for us to be used by God in even this smallest way and maybe some {ehhmmm, not me again ;)} prayed to WIN!, We laughed, I almost cryed a few times....and GOD was Glorified! Can we do this once a week?!?! I know it would get pricy....my coffee habbit would have {HAVE} to be kicked to afford that....Timmy Hortons might disown me...We'll see, it would be worth it ;). WE also gave out a few small prizes.. I know I said there would be NO prizes, but I blame my mother. I can't not be crafty and make gifts that cost me practically nothing when I have the itch....a perfect excuse to try some new ideas that have swirling around in my brain lately. I loved them. I hope everyone who won loved them too.

Sorry some are blurry...my iso wasn't set right ;(

We raised $300.00 for Anikas new family! How awesome!

The prizes....

We are all just a small part to this big puzzle, and it blows my mind that God is so graciously choosing to use me to help. I am yours Lord, be glorified.

XOXO!
Gina
{Confession}
Oh all right, stop yellin ladies, it was me that prayed to win, and me again who was ridiculously loud...But I blame my awesome friend DARLA! Love you Darla! ;)

Love for Anika is tomorrow! eekk!!

2011-05-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

I'm so blessed with how many people are rallying around this sweet little peanut! I'm sure her forever family will be blessed beyond measure with even the smallest geasture...I can't help but think of the story where the woman gave all that she had, which were two mites, and the Lord was so pleased. Is God moving in your heart to give? Directly? To host a Love for Anika party? To host a party for someone elses adoption? Are you called to just pray? What are you being called to do? Let me encourage you to do whatever it is that you are being called to...God will provide whatever you need to fulfill your calling in this area, weather you need a quiet place and time to pray or $100.00 to pay for a party to raise money for Anika or another waiting child or $50,000.00 to adopt a child or two...God is bigger than any obsticles our feeble eyes might see...Trust Him, for he cares for you.
I will post pictures of our Love for Anika euchre party on Wednesday.
Xoxo!
Gina

New projects I've been working on....

2011-05-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

I'm so thankful for the ability to be crafty. To be able to put that crafty itch into good use and make some fun things for our house...and its much cheaper than buying them! I promised I'd post a pic of the boys new beds, that {YES} we made...Thank you Ana White for the directions! Silly me thought I'd just run right up stairs and take a quick pic of the boys beds...but of course their beds weren't made, and no one wants to see a messy bed....totally makes the bed not look cute....ahem I mean "cool"...cause their boys! So after a quick bed making this is what they look like....I love the color of stain we choose.

Today I'm a bit under the weather. My son had a cold at the beginning of the week and I told him I loved him very much but Please don't share! Well he has a hard time listening at times...this was definitely one of those "times"...cause guess who has a scratchy throat....well besides my son...yup me too....I'll have to find a way to "thank" Him for the gift. :)

This was a little picture frame we made for my mom's bday party in March...they came out so cute...they could be recipe holders or picture frames, or maybe to hold your favorite verse on. Do you have a favorite verse or saying? I'm sure it would look super cute on one of these babies....and guess what those flowers on the top are made of....sugar/gum-paste thats right bought them at Michaels in the cake decorating section...if you were crafty and could make your own that'd be awesome, but I'm not that kind of crafty!....

While I was sick and had the house to myself today I made a few things...first up, I had taken this picture of the kids two or three summers ago, and had it blown up at Sams club thinking it would fit this frame I had purchased at a Garage Sale a while back....and to my sadness the picture was too small or the frame was too big...either way you look at it, it wasn't gonna work....so I himmed and haughed for like a year and a half(procrastination is something I've learned from my sweet husband, and what he learned from his sweet mama LOL) then finally it hit me, I bet I can use two frames and that really awesome wallpaper to fill in the gap....this is what I came up with....

IT will match the curtains I'm going to make Perfectly! I just have to wait for Mothers Day to get here, so I can have my fabric. ;) I wrote down all the codes and took pics, so I'm hopin, and prayin. :) I'm thinkin their has GOT to be a way to make burlap more pleasant to the touch. I really want to cover my chairs in my dining room with the burlap....anyone got any suggestions? This will complete my dining room decor...if not I guess I gotta keep looking. Which in the big scheme of things is okay with me, theirs always going to be more important things.

Finally I made these beauties today. I've never thought to make a cupcake with coffee filters. Yep thats right, those are coffee filters, and they look like flowers to me....This is the kind of cupcake you use a fork with. :) This is the kind of cupcake you could give as a gift if ya ask me...If my MIL wasn't a baker I'd maker her some...but I'm thinkin this would be a pretty lame gift thats in that profession.

Anyway thats what I've been up to....oh ya and planning Anika's Euchre party fundraiser...You know you could always link up and do your own Party....I'm thinkin those beautiful Cuppys would be an awesome fundraiser too.... ;)
Praying for her daily.
XOXO!
Gina

Okay it is time.....Have Mercy on me!

2011-04-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

The time has come to be a part! Be a part of something God is calling us all to. To care for the Orphans and widows-James 1:27. Well remember Anika. I posted about her a few weeks ago. She needs a home. She needs her new parents. I love Love's heart and wanting to help this sweet little girl. As I was praying Dear Jesus what is my part? This song came on... Push play as you read the rest of this....

why does Anika wait?
the real answer is because her family just hasn't found her yet,
but i would guess that 2 other things play into it.
the fact that she is HIV+.
the fact that her adoption will cost a total $33,000.

i couldn't quit thinking about her. i woke up thinking about her.
i fell asleep hearing the gentle whisper that her family was out there...
that she wasn't our daughter, but we could help her home.
i would hug our Anika...safe, secure, loved....& be filled with sadness
for the Anika across the world who might have no concept of what those things mean.

so, i just want to clear up those 2 'barriers' that are keeping her waiting.
first, the fact that she's HIV+.
if you haven't heard the truth about HIV, you have to visit Project Hopeful.
the truth is that there is ZERO risk of transmitting HIV to someone else through casual contact.
this includes: hugging, kissing, biting, sharing food, taking a bath, sharing a toilet seat.
HIV is very manageable & with proper care, people with HIV have a normal life expectancy.
children with HIV need to take medication twice a day & see their
pediatric infectious disease doctor every few months.
that's it.

the second barrier? i understand that adoption is expensive.
the beauty in that is the way it allows others to rally around you
and bless you. so, i believe that Anika has a family out there.
i want to bless them.
i want them to see her sweet, little face & know.
i want them to not have money be an obstacle.
i want to make the difference for one. for Anika.
[and pray that it ripples, ripples, ripples.]

here is where you come in.
don't run. this is so easy. so fun.
i am giddy with excitement to watch this play out.

150 people [you!] have a get together in the month of May.
they invite 9 of their friends to have a night in instead of a night out.
each of those 9 friends [and you!] bring $20 to donate to Anika's adoption fund.
150 parties x 10 people x 20 dollars = $30,000

Anika's life spared from an institution & the hope of being part
of a loving family simply because you shared her story & had
a fun night with your friends in her honor!

why does Anika wait?
the real answer is because her family just hasn't found her yet,
but i would guess that 2 other things play into it.
the fact that she is HIV+.
the fact that her adoption will cost a total $33,000.

i couldn't quit thinking about her. i woke up thinking about her.
i fell asleep hearing the gentle whisper that her family was out there...
that she wasn't our daughter, but we could help her home.
i would hug our Anika...safe, secure, loved....& be filled with sadness
for the Anika across the world who might have no concept of what those things mean.

so, i just want to clear up those 2 'barriers' that are keeping her waiting.
first, the fact that she's HIV+.
if you haven't heard the truth about HIV, you have to visit Project Hopeful.
the truth is that there is ZERO risk of transmitting HIV to someone else through casual contact.
this includes: hugging, kissing, biting, sharing food, taking a bath, sharing a toilet seat.
HIV is very manageable & with proper care, people with HIV have a normal life expectancy.
children with HIV need to take medication twice a day & see their
pediatric infectious disease doctor every few months.
that's it.

the second barrier? i understand that adoption is expensive.
the beauty in that is the way it allows others to rally around you
and bless you. so, i believe that Anika has a family out there.
i want to bless them.
i want them to see her sweet, little face & know.
i want them to not have money be an obstacle.
i want to make the difference for one. for Anika.
[and pray that it ripples, ripples, ripples.]

here is where you come in.
don't run. this is so easy. so fun.
i am giddy with excitement to watch this play out.

150 people [you!] have a get together in the month of May.
they invite 9 of their friends to have a night in instead of a night out.
each of those 9 friends [and you!] bring $20 to donate to Anika's adoption fund.
150 parties x 10 people x 20 dollars = $30,000

Anika's life spared from an institution & the hope of being part
of a loving family simply because you shared her story & had
a fun night with your friends in her honor!

So Here I am.

I'm giving this a go on my blog, and I think I'm going to host a Euchre night at my house...instead of prizes, I'm gonna ask that each person donates $20.00 to her fund, and all Euchre fines will go to her account as well. I'm just a small part of this puzzle, but if enough small parts of a puzzle unite we can make something beautiful!

So if your in and want to donate, you can click the link above to donate...Please comment and express your heart on this. :)
XOXO!
Gina

Have I ever told you?

2011-04-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Have I ever told you the story about our house? OR the story of us moving from close friends and family to what feels to me like the middle of Know where! Aproximately 6 years ago God burdened my Husband and My heart for something more. He did the same in My brother and His wife. That burden became a church. A church in the Middle of nowhere! Yep. I thought I was strong and could handle a move like this....granted its only an hour away from our close friends and family, but its an hour away! That little church began in a home in Flint, mi. My husband and I moved a year after the church started to the flint area without a job. Yep.

Hubby lost his job.

Why?

Cause God wanted us to move.

Why?

To start the Church.

Why?

Because we felt there was so much more to this life than the everyday.

Why?

because autopilot for our lives is just not okay...and because we said "Lord we are yours, use us how you want." HE said "Really? :) " We said "Yes Lord." HE said "ok."

I really wish He would have said how much pain would be involved cause I might have said "Lord I'm yours, but please don't let it hurt so much!" LOL. Yes I really do pray that sometimes. I.am.human.

So here we are up in Flint, hubby started his own job as a spin off of my mom's buisness(what a blessing!) But unfortunately it didn't make enough. We struggled really hard. We didn't understand what God was doing. We've moved and were still struggling?. I honestly thought once we made the move, everything would be magically fine. We lived on food stamps for a while, we had a gas man come to shut off our gas in the middle of winter...that was probably the most traumatic thing for me, a mom, just wanting to keep my babies warm and safe. We had two leased vehicles we couldn't afford to pay for. My BIL lived with us and He was jobless also, and in the middle of the night we had a repo man come to our door and act like he was going to break our door down just to get his car. I won't ever forget that feeling. I honestly was at my wits ends. I cried out to God. I asked why us? Why this life? He slowly answered our prayers for more work for my husband and why we had gone through so much. He was not only showing us what we really need to live off of(No new cars, only used, no credit...if you can't pay cash for something you don't need it, eating out is a nicety not a necessity) but more importantly He was changing our hearts. Giving us compassion and a heart for those that go through rough times. He had to bring us to the end of ourselves so we could actually see others and their circumstances. I praise God for that time. I wouldn't change it for anything, but am also praising God that we are now not in that season of life.

Almost a year after our move up here we had a choice to make. Continue renting our home, or step out in faith and buy a home. I new God was calling us to buy a beautiful big house, but we didn't know how we were going to afford it. After talking to the owners, we purchased the home for $50,000 under market value.

The owners had just remodeled the kitchen putting $20,000 into the kitchen alone, new carpet....pretty swirley kind, new windows, new roof, a top of the line water system, new hardwood floors. More than we would have ever hoped for or picked out for ourselves, But GOD. God picked this house out for us. We did not. Being so confident this was Jesus leading us to buy this house, we didn't even look at the house before we purchased it, no inspection. We signed our papers to purchase the home, and when we got the keys we came into our new home and sat down and prayed and thanked God for His provisions in our lives, and then I cried as we walked through our home. I'm reminded by this entire journey of moving here jobless, starting a buisness, starting the church and buying a home...

Habakkuk 1:5

Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

I would have not believed it if He were to tell me all that was included in this journey. But wait one more thing...almost 9 months after we closed on our home, because we purchased our home, we got the tax credit and was able to pay cash for our 2005 Toyota Sienna. A God van. Honestly. Any other van with the same year and all the bells and whistles would have cost us another $6,000.00 but God!

This journey has not been easy, But God. HE is with me. He has provided over and above what I can ever hope for or imagine.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understandings, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.-Proverbs 3:5

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen-Hebrews 11:1

And as its just the day after Easter, and I still stand in awe of my Lord. He is simply amazing. He has continued to burden my heart for more things. Like I said in my last post there is so much more. My Grandpa. My heart is so heavy for Him, he is on His 3rd or 4th round of cancer, and I sat in church yesterday praying for him. That He would give His life to Jesus....My heart just hurts for Him. Please pray for Him with me. Thanks.

XOXO!
Gina

There's so much more!

2011-04-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today my heart is yearning for so much more. Trying to wrap up how I'm feeling and to describe it all may take a bit...so please bare with me. This weekend our kids blessed my husband and I with a weekend away at a hotel, dinner and a movie. They've been saving up their allowance for a while now, and they called my mom and asked her to help them with this surprise. I'm so blessed beyond measure! This blessing took all of their money. There was nothing left for themselves and they were okay with that. The joy that was on their faces was so cute...they could barely contain themselves telling us our surprise. I've noticed when we are obedient to what Jesus calls us to do, it has more than one effect. Our goal has been to bless others with our money. Praying and asking God fervently what is His desire for every penny of our income. He has shown us many needs. I pray we have been obedient every time. I pray I haven't missed any opportunities because of my fallible mind, and heart. This obedience has had a trickling effect. Our kids have been apart of every time we have given to bless someone. Our kids gift of blessing us has now had a trickling effect. They told kids at their school what they were saving for and what they did and now some kids from their school are saving to buy their big sister a car! They have $20.40 saved for the car! What a blessing. Obedience in faith produces more than we can ever imagine or hope for.
My heart is yearning to be a part of something more. An outreach ministry of some kind. Once a week? I'm not sure what God is calling me to do, but I know being complacent is not what he desires for me. I'm ready for another foster child. I'm ready to be used by Him. I want to adopt a child. Theirs a specific child that I'd love to have. She's 2 1/2 and adorable. She needs to be loved by her parents. Their hasn't been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about her. I pray for her. Pursuing adopting her would mean throwing out all logic, practicality out the window and trusting God. I'm okay with that....if that is what God is calling us to do. I want to love the unloved. Being a foster parent was an awesome experience. I'm excited for more if that is what God has for us.
Reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, He speaks about giving. Giving to the point that you have to trust God for the necessities in life. In a very strange way I'd be okay with that....giving so much that you need to trust God for your needs. I'd like to see our churches follow this. Giving more than we are comfortable with. Giving to the orphans, widows and homeless.....to the point where you must trust God to pay your monthly rent. To be okay with not having a savings because your treasure is in heaven, and heavenly things.....could you imagine giving to someone who is so down and out and them seeing Christ through your gift....a treasure in heaven and heavenly things for sure! I'm tired of churches living among the poverty stricken people and seeing so many needs but looking at their budget sheet for the year and saying...oh well it doesn't fit in cause if we do this or that we won't end our year with what we want to have in the bank. The bible says it will all burn one day. We can't take it with us. I'm not saying to be stupid, but I'm saying we need to trust God more, and paper and savings less.
Do you want to be a part of something more? Are you already doing something more than the everyday? I'd love to hear from you. Want to help Anika get her parents?

It takes between $20-$25,000.00 to adopt a child out of U.S. There is an account for Anika. You could donate. I'd love to see her account get so much money that finances wouldn't become an issue for her new family. Trusting with God all things are possible.
xoxo!
Gina

Love, whats that?

2011-04-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm reading Crazy Love by Fancis Chan. What an amazing book. I've learned a lot reading this. I know for my life, all I want to do is please my Lord. He is why I live where I live, why I do what I do everyday, HE is my everything. But I am human. I do screw up, fall short every single day, have feelings(heavens to betsies!) and emotions(wow, watch out now) and guess what...I am who God has made me. I don't desire to please Gina every second of the day. People see me that way. It hurts. Today I don't know how to handle that. I am constantly giving it to the Lord, but honestly there are days where I just want to give up. I feel like I try so hard to please God, to please my husband, to please my kids, to please my family and friends....For all of it to fall short. I hate screwing up. HATE IT! Honestly today is one of those days where I just say come quickly Lord Jesus!

This morning during my devotion I was reading in Jeremiah 7:6 that says "if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place or walk after other gods to your hurt.
v.7 then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. "

A couple of things I noticed there which I know is not really in context of this verse but I underlined the walk after other gods to your hurt, its interesting what our hurt will cause us to do. Usually it is things we would not do, run to places in our mind that we would not normally, places in our mind where we would say "No that is off limits". Which is probably why the enemy (who might I remind you all is alive and kicking hard!) uses our hurt. I pray against this and for strength from Jesus because I am weak! Also this entire verse 6-7 reminds me of how Gracious God is! How many times did he tell this to the Israelites and to Judah? Verse 5 He says repent! Repent and turn towards God. See this is God's work, not our human finite minds work. We can not cause a person to change their ways or be someone different no matter how many dirty looks or come to Jesus meetings we have with people. God is God and we are not. Praise the Lord! God is Love, we can Love, we can...WE need to choose to. He commands us to.

Speaking of love...
There's a little girl I'd love to Love. Her name is Anika, she is HIV+ and I see her sweet face and want to just scoop her up and Love on her. To show her Jesus!
She's in Russia!
You can find her here....
For those of you who think WHAT?! She's HIV+ ....its actually a very livable disease in the U.S. Not so much in other places like Africa. Unfortunately because she has HIV the possibilities of her being adopted are not great. SO sad. But with God all things are possible. I really do want her! Pray for me. :)
XOXO!
Gina

My first tutorial! A vase!

2011-04-08T12:38:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited that I came up with something I think is so original and looks so real!!!
Here is the final project... ((CLICK THE PICS TO ENLARGE THEM)

well two to be exact...

I think they'd make perfect wedding centerpieces or just a decoration piece in your house...I have one downstairs and one upstairs. Okay I'm going to try to explain this as best as possible....but I must forwarn you that I am a bit hopped up on coffee today! I can be like Will Ferrell from "Kicking and Screaming" when I get to excited with too much caffeine in me. ;)

This projects takes about an hour to and hour and thirty minutes...

Supplies needed:
Paintable wall paper from home depot.
Glue(crafty kind)
Paint
Paper Towel
Stain
A box of some sort....choose your size and shape...

So here goes...
FIrst you start with a box...

The yellow one is just one box, the turqoise one is two long tissue boxes shoved(gently) inside each other to the desired length, then duck tapped together for stability. I did also duck tape the large yellow one as my box looked like it could cave in at one point, so I just gave it some stability.

Line up your box to your wall paper...

Start wetting the wallpaper...

remember this wallpaper dries quickly so only wet each section at a time....press onto box....wet next section, press onto box...While doing this, keep in mind to turn under your lip to the bottom and your top. Keep this going till the whole box is covered.

Once covered, I like to glue down my last edge, to ensure it stays down....

Let it dry for about 10 minutes.

Start painting. I used a paper towel to paint mine...I had absoultley no paint brushes in the house, and the paper towel worked just fine.

Let the color dry for about 30 minutes or until color is dry to the touch.

Once dry to the touch, take a darker colored stain and dip a new paper towel into the stain....brush off the stain til its pretty dull....then blot and brush down with the paper towel that has stain on it....then take a clean paper towel and rub off the stain to give it super dull look....Continue until the whole vase has the look your desiring.

Let dry.

Add flowers, possibly a ribbon and some moss and some sticks and your done.

Easy and AWESOME!

This project will cost you almost nothing to do.

Let me know how yours came out...I'd love to see....

XOXO!
Gina

Its been a very busy week!

2011-04-02T17:36:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a little bit. I have been super busy. We started on our beds...and as of today they are both finished...I will have a picture soon...as soon as they're stained. The first bed took 6 hours and the second just under 4 hours. Not too bad. They are sturdy as I'll get out. They feel like I purchased new mattresses but I didn't...guess that shows how awful the bed frames were! We ended up making the farmhouse twin bed instead of the pictured ones, because after I thought about it, my boys would probably prefer a bed without the boxes underneath...kinda seemed a little too kiddish...and well since they are 11 and 10 now, you know!
Since I finished that project I did take our left over wood and made the American Girlish bed that is on Ana-whites blog. Let me just say....the big beds were easier than that little toy bed! Honestly I thought I was going to rip my hair out...and just as I'd feel that way, my husband to the rescue! YAY!!

What we learned with our 1st builds:

Not the best idea to cut a 2X4 in half to get a 2X2...just go and buy one!

You will probably get irritated with your spouse while building...you know your always right ;)

Don't assume your husband or your wife knows where your hands are when picking out wood...this will result in smashed fingers! OUCHE!!!

You will probably get irritated with your spouse while building...HE knows He's always right ;)

Don't think you can do it better than your husband...like when it comes to screwing in the screws because you just might miss the screw and screw your finger instead...OUCHE!!

You will probably get irritated with your spouse while building...you know your always right ;)

Don't use the length of your pinky to measure the wood overage...Not exactly precise! oyy!!

You will probably get irritated with your spouse while building...HE knows He's always right ;)

Laugh hard at the opportunity to laugh, if you don't you may just end up cryin!

You know your always right! ;)

We are on spring break this week so hopefully I will be able to post some more, I promise to post a pick of the beds once they are stained!

XOXO!
Gina

Prioritizing my projects....

2011-03-21T16:07:00.001-07:00

I have so many projects that I want to do {like yesterday!} so bad. I need to start to prioritize them, because I'm starting to feel overwelmed. Want to see my projects....maybe you can help a sista out?!

1.) I need to make two of these beds....I love this site, she has the instructions and everything!

2.)kitchen knobs that I found at an amazing deal at Anthropoligie....clearanced down from $10.00 to $2.95....I need to cut the bolts down and install them...plus figure out the rest of the knobs because I want them looking eclectic....

3.)paint the kitchen island.

4.) make kitchen valance...cause the one I have is ugly!

5.)make this pottery barn inspired clock.

6.)make cubbies, if the beds go well.

7.)paint the piano like this but I'm thinking red!

8.)paint and make a cushion for this stinken cute pottery barn coffee table I found at pottery barn for $19.95!

9.)decorate the living room.

10.)refinish our deck.

11.)fix our master bath.

I really hope this wood working/making stuff out of wood is something i'm good at, because I really want to stain more stuff. We recently stained our kitchen island, and I LOVE it! I got hubs a compressor with a staple gun, brad gun and nail gun....and I can't wait to try the nail gun....

So not too many projects right?!?! The beds have to be done asap, as the boys bed broke the other day, and we duck taped it together, and guess what...the other night I walked in to check on them and the broken bed that was duck taped...broke again!...poor kid is laying sideways to sleep. So pray for me! Pray i'm like this master carpenter of wood projects :)

XOXO!
Gina

How I'm reminded....

2011-03-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

My husband wrote me a sweet note for our 12 year anniversary. He said "You are treasured, you are sacred you are His....How I love those words more than anyone knows.
enjoy!

XOXO!
Gina

My baby boy turned 10! He's such a joy....

2011-03-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

It was this kids Birthday last month...Just after Em's. He turned {10}! I can't believe it. He is such a joy. He is full of life, always wanting to help(after all his name does mean helper!)...as he gets older, I see him growing and maturing into the little man God wants him to be. I pray that all the seeds that have been planted in His mind and heart over the years will continue to take root. I told him just the other day, i believe God has a calling on His life. He LOVES kids so much...I can see him working with kids someday. I encouraged him to continue to surrender his life to God each day, and be amazed at what He has planned for His life. I know it will be amazing.

He's learning to play guitar like his daddy. He started taking guitar at school, and his dad is giving him some lessons on the side...as we speak. He loves to play baseball. Infact last weekend we spent two hours at tryouts for his team this year. Tryouts for a 10 year old, seems odd to me, but he was totally excited. So we had to naturally get him a new bat!

For one of his birthday gifts, he got to go snowboarding. He loves to snowboard....it seems he only gets to go once a year, because of school and time, but He enjoys it so much!

One of my favorite pics of {MY} Boys! All three in one pic doesn't happen to often! I LOVE the looks on each of their faces.

I love this little man....I continue to pray daily for protection over his mind and heart to be pure and holy before our Lord. God is so good! He has blessed me a million times over.
One more birthday to share!
Gina

{Its like}..sending off your first child to college...

2011-02-25T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today is like sending off our first child to college. {Yes} you read that right. I know my kids are only 11, 10 and 7....But today is special.
Over 6 months ago, God put a calling on our life....a calling to Love the orphans and needy children within the U.S. This burden has grown in my heart more and more each day....6 months ago, we received our very first placement. We said we only wanted {1} no more than that. We new our little family would be overwelmed if we accepted more than that. So our first placement was for {2}! Yes that is right two. Wanting to be used by God, to plant seeds, give a home to the homeless and to love the unloved....we said {Yes}... What do you think happened? We were overwelmed of course! Yes we were able to do those things...but probably not to the best of our abilities. God intervened and moved one of the 1/2 sisters to their Grandma's house. So us being down to {1} child, we were able to focus on what God was stirring on our hearts. Did we know the question would come one day "Do you want to adopt her?" Nope...didn't think that far...infact there were many days that I couldn't think past the hour I was in....But soon enough this question arose 5 months into Fostering this sweetie pie. After much prayer we simply had to say probably the hardest words ever, "NO."
Many have wondered how on earth could you say "no!" Well its not an easy decision. Its NOT one made lightly. When this blonde haired, blue eyed 2 year old looks at you and says Mommy, I love you...How do you say "no" to that? The easier decision would have been for us to say yes. But that would be "status quo" ....and that simply isn't good enough for our family anymore. We live our lives each and every day to serve our mighty, powerful, loving God. One that cares for each orphan, each person. After praying all the way up to the day she was to move to her adoptive family...it finally hit me. I was praying God if you do not want this to be say the word, and we will look crazy, but thats okay...we will keep this little girl if it is your will. Then I realized God doesn't hide His will from us....We are diligently seeking Him asking for His will, and He only wants the best for us and Her. Peace....we were at Peace. God new He just needed to remind me that His love is greater than anything or anyone's love....And because He loves us, He is not going to play games with us....or hide His will, as if to play hide and seek. Awe...so Thankful!
So as my husband, I, and our 3 kids got into the car with this sweet little girl that didn't quite know how to handle her feelings....we continued to pray and ask God for comfort for her and her new family. I had spent countless nights rocking her and telling her how much we love her...How much God loves her....That she is treasured, sacred and HIS! I'd sing her that song from Mercy Me....and she would just smile....I told her many times that this is her song. And That when you ever feel sad, that you can ask Jesus for a hug and He will hug you and make you feel happy again. Her eyes got all excited! Its so crazy because at 3 years old she understands all of this. She is super smart...and I know that the seeds planted while she was at our house will continue for a lifetime in her heart and mind. Praise God! Wow, did I get side tracked! So we got to their house and took her in, with the rest of her belongings(man did this girl have a ton of stuff!! Dropped off with us with NOTHING, and left with as much stuff as my own babies have*smile*). She immediately came in went to go down stairs...we said wait! We need one more hug...She hugged everyone and I was last. I had done very well controlling my emotions outwardly even though I was a wreak inwardly...Until...She squeezed my neck longer and harder than she had ever done....I smooched her cheek several times and Said "Desi, WE LOVE you so much...and like I always do, but who loves you more? JESUS!" We hugged her new parents, and it was all I could do to get out of the house before I literally broke down...I clung to my Jesus! My husband was so sweet and caring to try to take care of me that night and through the weekend....and I just LOVE him so much! What a gift from God he is to me. The weekend was rough for all of us...but we still new we did exactly what God was wanting. My wise husband had some words of wisdom from the Lord for me...and I just love it! HE said " Honey, just because our hearts hurt for this little girl,(and many across this country) doesn't mean she's(or any others are) ours...it just means we have the heart Jesus wants for these kids." How true. So all weekend long I kept checking my cell. Waiting for the text of everything's okay, or everything is a disaster...something, I just so badly wanted an update. Finally Sunday night I got word. Thank you LORD! Everything is going okay. Desi misses me a lot. I pray she can move on and love a new momma...but never forgets us.
Desi has come so far since she moved in with us. My husband and I are amazed at how good the Lord is to make changes in her life that make her adoptable.
Your comments are always welcomed.
XOXO!
Gina

Emma's 7th Birthday!

2011-02-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

I know I promised more pics of Emma's actual party, but I'm tellin ya I haven't stopped in a few weeks....This is the first chance I've had to get online and post pics.

{Cake time...}

{and of course it couldn't just be a plain cupcake, we did decorate your own cupcakes...}

{Her first bite....}

{Maybe just a tad too much candies??? I LOVE it!}

{A few favorite gifts...}

She's growing up into such a beautiful young girl....
Next is Ezra's 10th Birthday!
XOXO!
Gina

Valentines Day....

2011-02-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

We had an awesome Valentines Day...Busy but Awesome. I had lots more plans to make the house so red and pink and blue....but when I was sick almost two weeks ago, it really kicked my butt! I haven't felt the same, energy, that I use to, so exhausted! Then taboot my back went out right after I started getting over my sickness! So between me still being tired, and my back hurting so bad that I was crooked...My Valentines plans were a little less than I had hoped. My Day started as a normal Monday, Get up at 7am, get the kids breakfast, and start getting my self ready to go. I had plans to make heart sandwiches, and make sure there were extra love notes in each lunch, however my sweet husband decided to make the kids lunches....So thankful for that! So all I had to do was sneak my Valentines card and candy into my husbands lunch, I thought I was soo sneaky!LOL...by 8 were off to get the kids to school, and my phone started with text messages at 8:15....My message read: keep your phone on you today, you will receive a text every hour on the hour! How sweet! He sent me such beautiful and meaningful text messages all day....Kinda hard to keep my phone on me while I'm being at teachers assistant in my daughters class. I get out of school at 1, go pick up Desi, our foster child, from her pre-adoptive parents home....it was her first long visit at there house. She did GREAT! Came home. Got Desi down for her nap, and started cooking our tripple layer heart shapped vanilla cake with chocolate ganache with red heart sprinkles. Dinner came around, and we had fun placemats from Target, Valentines candies, homemade Valentines Cards, sparkling cidar...all as a surprise for the kids at Dinner. They loved it. I think I will need to try a little harder next year, although they were pretty excited for our "fancy" Valentines Dinner.
As I sat down to Dinner, my Love, had gotten me a card from him, and a card from our kids, and a special placemat....Man He A.L.W.A.Y.S beats me! I just LOVE him!
How was your Valentines Day?
XOXO!
Gina
P.S. We actually celebrated our Valentines together on a date night on Friday night...P.F. Changs is my new favorite restaurant! Its absolutely amazing!! Were already ready for our next date night there.

Sneak peak of Em's bday party decorations....

2011-02-04T19:01:00.001-08:00

Can't believe its This girls 7th Birthday!

Simple, but fun. Em has really been lovin, Paul Frank's line from Target....SO for her 7th Birthday party we decided to go with that theme....only one problem since we picked up all the plates, napkins, and invites....there was absolutely.nothing.else. in this line for the Birthday party...no table cloths, no goodie bags, NOTHING....so me wanting to please my baby girl decided we could still work with it. Usually I'm pretty over the top on my ideas for decorating for things for Em, but I had just received the "gift" of a cold this week, and all my creative jeans walked out the door when this oh so lovely "gift" arrived! Why can't things like the 20lbs I need to loose walk out the door....something helpful.....but nope, what I needed most was gone! vanished...nowhere to be found. My brain hasn't worked since Tuesday morning...another thing I could have used. Okay enough rambling that probably doesn't even make a whole lot of sense! LOL...

Happy Birthday my Sweet Em!

More pics will come of her actual party later....
Gina

Birthdays, and fun stuff!

2011-02-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

So this weekend is this girls 7th birthday! How the heck did that happen....feels like she just turned 4 last year! Man how time flies. Her Birthday wish list was quite long....she requested A.N.O.T.H.E.R. build-a-bear...Good Lord how many of those could this girlfriend have and need! Next on her list was a real live puppy...UM, NOT. HAPPENING. Then she said O.K. How about a cow...but wait how would you wrap it? I thought oh goodness child! Even though I want a cow when I go to the Amish community in Indiana, we live in a subdivision...they don't allow cows! Trust me...I've already asked! HA! My sweet friend was very clever and said get her one wrapped up from Mcd's! HA! Perfect!!
Anyway back to her Birthday....She has requested a Paul Frank Birthday party....awesome...found the plates and napkins at Target the other day...picked those up...then looked for goody bags and other party items from Paul Frank, and guess what?!? They don't sell any girl items in party supplies! UHHH!!! And me being always running late this year, could have probably ordered it online, but again because I waited to the last minute...I'm up a creek without a paddle, or wait more apripo would be I'm up a snowy Hill without any Uggs!(since we are suppose to be getting 15 inches of snow tonight!..Yes the snow day I've been praying for for a month now!) Well they already called the snow day this afternoon, so I guess I will have all day tomorrow to work on some handmade decorations....I hope they end up looking close enough to Paul Frank! My daughters teacher last year made her a Monkey hat...Oh. MY. WORD! Its amazing! I will post pics of it after the party....and a linky to her site.
Speaking of OH. MY. WORD! Check this site out....I so want to order some of these....

If they made them in adult, I'd have one of every style! There working on older kids this spring/summer....but if you have a little person with feet under size 8....You have got to get a pair!

ON another note....we just celebrated this boy's birthday...

He turned (GULP) 11 :( I just can't believe that either....I'm not liking this whole thing of kids getting older....
Winter is such a big time of year for us for Birthdays....We have one more to celebrate after Em's this weekend...and then we also have Desi's which is in March...but thats a whole nother blog post ;)

XOXO!
Gina

My day Yesterday....

2011-01-27T05:46:00.001-08:00

Boy was it a day yesterday....Not sure if you all know, but I'm a Christian, not some wacky Christian, but a Christian that just wants to serve Jesus. I still dress super cute, I don't wear 50 cross necklaces around my neck...I like style, eklectic and funky as my mom likes to put it....yes I indulge in a little self pleasure....OH how I love thee pottery barn!LOL...But in all that I want my will to change to HIs will. I want my heart to break for the things that His heart breaks for. I want to love and extend Grace as He has done for me. Well as most of you know we became foster parents.....WOW! Is all I can say on somedays. He has taught me to Love when I am truely hated, He has taught me that His will may not always be pleasant. He has taught me to have a heart for the hurting and broken hearted. He has taught me to extend Grace upon Grace upon Grace, even when my both of my checks have already been slapped....foot stomped upon, hair pulled out and kicked while I'm down....No I'm not joking! This has given me a small, morsel of a glimpse of how Jesus must have felt as He WAS loving His people.
So yesterday as I was so Broken hearted, felt like I had just completely blown it, by being stressed out and uneasy about life itself...
I came to HIm like this....

With my polish all half off, But He didn't care....Come to Him as you are!
HE said I will give power to the powerless, Strength to the weak.....Oh man was I weak yesterday....
Thankful today is a new day....
Many days I come to Him this way, and He picks me up off the ground and Loves me, comforts me, and says O.K. time to get back up and keep going!
Ever have one of those days?
XOXO!
Gina

Kroger deals...shopping trip yesterday....

2009-12-31T08:11:00.000-08:00

I spent 81.00, saved 89.00..Not too bad! I LOVE when they run there 5.00 off sale...Its usually when you buy 10 participating items, but this time it was when you spend 25.00 in P&G coupons...and there was no limit...so I went ahead and purchased a ton of stuff, incuding my husbands 9.00 deoderant...well with coupons, it was brought down to 7.00 each(I purchased three...but the nice thing is when you purchase the P&G items it counts the full price towards the 25.00, and doesn't minus the value from the coupons you use, so you can actually make money off this deal if you do it right...And I asked an associate while I was there if all P&G items were included, and she said only the ones marked...but that is actually not true. I purchased the Basic Bounty paper towel individual rolls because of the coupon thats always in the P&G paper...if you buy 2 Bounty towels you get 1.00 off...our store doubles which makes the paper towel rolls free...after looking at my reciept they included that in the P&G sale...also Aussie products only some were marked, but actually all are participating..So heres a little idea of what I got yesterday with the P&G sale and coupons combined...
(*means included in P&G Savings)
*6 rolls of Bounty Basic paper towels individual rolls 1.00 each - (3) 1.00 MQ DBLED = FREE Plus 6.00 counts for P&G savings
*Aussie Hair spray $3.24 -1.00 MQ DBLED =1.24 plus $3.24 counts for P&G savings
*Aussie Hair spray $3.24 - 1.00 MQ DBLED = 1.24 plus $3.24 counts for P&G savings
*2 ALways Infinity pads 32 count 7.00 -BOGO MQ Plus -1.00 P&G card savings=6.00 plus $14.00 counts towards P&G savings
*Gillette Shaving Gel $2.00 -1.00 MQ DBLED = FREE plus $2.00 counts towards P&G savings
*Gillette Shaving Gel $2.00 -1.00 MQ DBLED = FREE plus $2.00 counts towards P&G savings
*Gillette Clinical strength deoderant $8.45 -1.00 MQ DBLED = $6.45 Plus $8.45 counts towards P&G savings
*Gillette Clinical strength deoderant $8.45 -1.00 MQ DBLED = $6.45 Plus $8.45 counts towards P&G savings
*Gillette Clinical strength deoderant $8.45 -1.00 MQ DBLED = $6.45 Plus $8.45 counts towards P&G savings
*Crest pro health toothpaste 4.0 oz $2.50 -1.00 MQ DLBED = .50 Plus $2.50 counts towards P&G savings
*Crest pro health toothpaste 4.0 oz $2.50 -1.00 MQ DLBED = .50 Plus $2.50 counts towards P&G savings

So all those good prices and you get 10.00 off!! So $18.83 out of pocket!!

I promise I will give you an update on whats coming up next week....Can't wait to share!

Gina

Merry Christmas a few days late!

2009-12-28T16:38:00.001-08:00

Sorry its been a little while since I posted....I haven't stopped sewing, cleaning, cooking, moving furniture around...and I'm not sure if it will stop until after February! I have 5 birthdays from now until February...I will do my best to keep up on the blog...posting deals, and hand crafted items....

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! We sure did....I ended up with the slippers above...a much long want, but couldn't bring myself to pay 48.00 for some slippers....well they ended up getting marked down to 28.00, I thought well thats not terrible...but as I went to go check out they wanted to charge me 10.00 for shipping! I was like what?!? So I sent BODENUSA an email and just stated that there shipping charges were outrageous for a pair of slippers...after 4 days, I recieved an email back saying they'd like to offer me a 10.00 credit on my next order to cover my shipping charges....Now thats what I'm talking about! I went ahead and ordered my slippers and am anxiously awaiting them! I also recieved the other picture above...very excited about the Kitchen aid Professional 600 mixer! This will make bread making much easier!! :) I also recieved another amazing gift...but you will have to wait for a week to find out...I will also post some pics of the kiddos and there Christmas morning...It was a lot of fun!

Gina

Walgreens John Frieda root awakening .49 each!

2009-12-17T05:52:00.000-08:00

Wow! I just found you a super deal to all of you John Frieda Hair Care lovers.There is this flyer that can be found at your Walgreens store.... The coupons are good through 12/24 and can be found in stores. One of the coupons in this hand out is for $3 off John Frieda Root Awakening. Use that coupon plus a new coupon that just popped up on Smartsource to get the product for only 49 cents each!
John Frieda Root Awakening Hair product Buy 2 for $11.98
-$5/2John Frieda printable coupon
-$3/1 Walgreens coupon from this hand out (will deduct $6)
Pay $0.99 for two after coupons!
This would be a great way to get to $25 to get the $5 Holiday register reward. Happy Savings!
XOXO!
I will be running to Walgreens today!!
Gina

Elf Cosmetics sale...1.00 items plus free shipping!

2009-12-17T05:47:00.000-08:00

ELF Cosmetics is offering FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS w/ no minimum. A lot of their items are only $1.00 so you can score some serious deals!!! Not kidding most of the stuff on the site, like eyeshadows, lip stuff, eyeliners, nail polish, etc is only $1.00.

Use coupon code ELFCMO to get free shipping.

Start shopping here...
XOXO!
Gina

Target run...

2009-12-17T05:42:00.000-08:00

Delmonte Veggies on sale at Target for .50 a can...Use 1.00/4 printable and get them for .25 a can...Great deal!!

Swiss miss Hot cocoa 1.00 use 1/1 printable here
XOXO
Gina

Meijer trip yesterday....

2009-12-16T08:57:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I headed to Meijer cause we needed a few groceries....1/2 way through the month and had only spent 100 bucks if that on groceries...Love couponing!! So I wanted to pass on a few deals I thought would be helpful for my blog readers...
Kelloggs Cereal 5 for 10.00 plus a free gallon of meijer brand milk when you buy 5 cereals...
Use the 5.00 off four Kelloggs cereals here and one printable coupon for corn flakes with honey 1.00/1 from here makes your cereal .60 a box!

Bakers chocolate 1.99 - .55 MQ from Sunday paper

Large Meijer eggs .99

Kraft Cheese 1.49 for 8oz bags use -1.00/2 printable coupon = 1.00 per bag of cheese

Apples 2.50 for 3lb bags

Motts Apple juice Naturals 1.67

Motts Apple sauce 1.67

Lays chips 1.99

Frozen veggies 1.00

Philli cream cheese .99 -.55/2 = .75 each

Blackberries 1.00

Meijer butter 1.50

Flipside crackers sale 2.19 -55 MQ

Plus for every 100.00 you spend on General merchandise you recieve a 5% off coupon for groceries with a max of 20% stackable..last week I purchased the PS3 for my boys for Christmas and received three 5% off coupons and stacked those together for this shopping trip...but the best part was the cashier said she had to take the 15% off after the MQ coupons(I know doesn't soung like the best part...but keep reading..it gets AWESOME!), so I said okay, and after looking at my reciept the computer gave me the 15% before coupons even thought she scanned them last! I was soo excited! Oh and theres a coupon out right now that I forgot to print! I was sooo bummed its the 5.00 off any 25.00 grocery purchase!(I guess it reached its print limit...I should have printed it the day I saw it...sorry for not posting on it sooner...I've been soo busy!) So I could have saved another 5 bucks on top of that cereal deal...they would have ended up paying me to take there cereal!LOL....And I love to suport Kelloggs since there operating in michigan and well we need to support our local jobs!

XOXO
GIna

The Childrens place...5.00 rugby sweaters...

2009-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

So I saw this deal yesterday online 5.00 rugby sweaters, and theres a coupon available too for 10 % off....but you still have to pay shipping....so I called my local store and they were running the special in the store as well....and they would hold my sizes...so if you still need Christmas sweaters I'd head over there...give them a call and have them hold your size!

Gina

Meijer: Maxwell house coffee....super cheap plus free sugar!

2009-12-09T16:21:00.001-08:00

Sorry I've been off the radar for a bit on my blog....Life has been crazy again....

There a Maxwell House coffee Deal only at Meijer....

Buy 4 Cans of Maxwell house coffee 10-12 oz cans 1.79 each

Get a free 5lb bag of sugar when you buy 3 cans of Maxwell house coffee...

Plus When you buy the 4 cans of Maxwell house you get 4.00 in catalina coupons off your next order....

Turn around and roll this offer to make your next transaction of coffee and sugar only $3.16 plus you have 4.00 to use on your next order....Keep rolling this deal til you have an enough coffee for a very long time!

Can't beat this price on Coffee....

~Gina

Halmark and croc's deals....

2009-12-04T18:06:00.001-08:00

Halmark is offering a printable coupon of 5.00 off any 5.00 purchase...this is the same as the coupon that was in many magazines....would make for a nice discount on an ornament....Go here to find the coupon...

Crocs is having a deals of the day sales...todays is this...Sports License Cayman and Kids beach

They’re marked down to $9.99, and you can get an additional 10% off using code UEIMKRKY3ISA, making them just $8.99. Economy shipping is FREE through December...Go here for the deals...
XOXO!
GIna
P.s...Sorry no pics...Blogspot isn't liking my pictures for some reason... :(