Ladybugs & Stinkbugs

Lindsay Downs's invitation is awaiting your response

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 11:10:00 +0000

Lindsay Downs would like to connect on LinkedIn. How would you like to respond?

Musician

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Lindsay Downs's invitation is awaiting your response

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 09:07:00 +0000

Lindsay Downs would like to connect on LinkedIn. How would you like to respond?

Lindsay Downs

Musician

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I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 22:34:00 +0000

Lindsay Downs

Musician

Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas Area

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

- Lindsay

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Last Post

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:52:00 +0000

This is my LAST POST on this blog!

Jeremy & I have been working on a new website, and now that we've gotten it up & running, I'm moving my blog as well. I hope you'll join me over at:

http://jeremyandlindsaydowns.com/blog/

Plastic Wrap Door Trick

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:09:00 +0000

Plastic Wrap Door Trick - More DIY How To Projects

Plastic Wrap Door Trick

Couldn't Resist: Corny Jokes

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:12:00 +0000

A church was interviewing a new organist one Sunday morning. The pastor tells her "I'm going to preaching on tithing this morning then at the end I'm going to ask people to stand and pledge to give money to the church. So pick out something appropriate to play."

So the pastor gives him sermon and passionately pleads at the end "so now if you're ready to give your money to this church, I invite you to stand." At which time the organist starts playing The Star Spangled Banner. The pastor looks over at the organist and mouths "you're hired!"
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Where was Moses when the lights went out?

In the dark.
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How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?
At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad.

How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.

How many Charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One to change the bulb and four to bind the spirit of darkness in the room.

How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb?
Five. One man to change bulb & four wives to tell him how to do it.
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A Christian man was such a good servant that God told him: "Ask me whatever you want and I'll give it to you"
The guys answered: "Make a highway from my house in LA to Hawaii so that I can go on vacation drive anytime I want".
God responded: "well, since you are such a good hearted guy, I was expecting something a little more... 'loving towards your fellow Christians, something less material and more substantial..'.
The guy thinks about it and replies: "ok, since you value marriage and relationships so much, what about you give me the ability to always understand women?"

God responds: "How many lanes do you want on your highway?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
n old country preacher was visiting his church members one beautiful spring Saturday when he arrived at the house of a younger couple. Their car was in the driveway and the windows of the house were open, so it was obvious the couple was home. The preacher knocked on the door, but no one answered. A second knock went unanswered, and a third. So the preacher wrote Revelation 3:20 on his business card and left it in the door. (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.)
The next day after church, the preacher was counting the money from the collection plate when he noticed his business card had been dropped in with the offerings. The couple had written Genesis 3:10 beneath the previous verse. (I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.)

Free Digital Mag Subscription

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:40:00 +0000

I thought this was a neat freebie!

Free Parenting: The Early Years Magazine subscription

via Pocket Your Dollars

Calendar for March

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Okay, do you ever think you are just too busy? Here's what my calendar looks like for this month?

Don't you love all the pretty colors? I have to have multiple calendars in order to organize all of our activities, such as:
- Boys baseball calendar
- Household Chores
- General (scheduling)
- Jeremy's
- Work
- Meal Planning

Can you tell our life gets crazy sometimes? People keep telling us we ought to "slow down", but I'm not entirely sure how that can happen with four kids (one on the way), and three of them in different activities. Somebody let me know WHICH child I should tell CAN'T do the activity they want to do?

Happy March, everyone! Hope yours is peaceful...hehe

Ultrasound

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:48:00 +0000

We had our prenatal ultrasound today, and it went wonderfully! Our baby is healthy and growing just like it should be. We also found out (though the ultrasound tech was hesitant to say "for sure") that Annie will be having a little sister!!

She is incredibly excited. So is Andrew, who says, "I put my wish in for a girl, and I got it!" Matthew kept saying he didn't want "ANOTHER girl!" but he's having to work pretty hard to be disappointed.

Jeremy & I are, of course, thrilled. Now we just have to commence the baby name argument. :) We both have different preferences.

Anyway, without further ado, here's our Baby Girl Downs:

From 2010 03March

Too Sweet!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:47:00 +0000

Mom, thanks for sharing - this is just darling!

Katie's Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0000

Katie's turning 11! Today is her birthday, but we had her party yesterday. She asked for some houseshoes, so Annie picked out the yarn, and I made her some:

Happy Birthday, Katie - we love you!

Overheard

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:20:00 +0000

Annie: When I move to Canada, I'm going to the moon!

Matthew: You're moving to Canada? [Because THATS what was weird about that comment...]

Annie: Sure! (pause) or Mexico.

My kids are weird.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Latest Crochet Project

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:19:00 +0000

Here's the latest crochet project I've finished:

I started out using this yarn for some gloves, but Andrew begged me to mak him a blanket. I couldn't resist a request like that!! It was a quick turnaround too- only 3 days. Andrew was so excited- he says whenever he takes it to Grannys it will give him something to remember me by. :)

PS- this is a great quick project. Just grab some fuzzy yarn, a HUGE crohet hook, and double crochet only in the back loops. It works up real fast and looks really nice.

PPS- don't ever make Andrew something if he knows you're working on it for him. It takes twice as long because you have to stop every row and show him how big it is!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sick

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Today I'm sick. While this is never fun, I think it's LESS fun on a Saturday. It's just a chest cold, but the medicine that I'm taking to break it up is NOT on friendly terms with my stomach, so the nause that had passed with the onset of my 2nd trimester is back with a vengeance.

While I'm laying here as still as possible, I was thinking how grateful I am to live in the same city as our parents. I've said many times, I don't think we would have as many kids as we do if we were very far from our parents!! I know many people don't have this blessing (or do but don't think it IS a blessing, haha), but I'm so thankful our kids have close relationships with their grandparents, and that they are willing and able to help us out when we need them!

Just a special thanks to Mom and Dad, and Danny and Donna. We appreciate you guys!

Free Axe Sample

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:27:00 +0000

Okay, so I don't use the stuff, but Jeremy does sometimes, and you may want to give it a shot. :)

Click here to get your free sample:

http://www.samsclubmemberservices.com/showcase/unileversamplecenter.aspx

Interesting Facts about my Favorite Hobby

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:20:00 +0000

I LOVE crocheting! I enjoy everything about the hobby - EXCEPT unraveling knotted yarn - from picking out patterns, to choosing yarn, to figuring out how to store all my stuff. Oh, yeah, and actually crocheting. :)

I found these neat trivia facts about crochet from Crochet Magazine:

Do you know why most crocheters in times past held the crochet hook in their hand like a pencil? In the 1800s it was thought that it gave the lines to the hand a more feminine and graceful look. Now, many crocheters hold their hook in the palm of their hand, in what is often called the "knife hold," to reduce carpal tunnel.

Here are a few more bits of crochet history you may find interesting:

It is believed that crochet began as a cottage industry in Ireland as a supplemental income during the Irish Potato Famine. You can read more about it here.

It is believed that the earliest forms of crochet were created using a bent finger instead of a hook.

The word crochet is derived from the Middle French word croc or croche, meaning hook.

The earliest written reference to crochet didn't appear until 1812, and it didn't become the highly popular craft that we know it as today until the 1840s.

In the 19th century, before printed crochet patterns were widely available, crochet samplers were a valuable teaching tool and source of creative inspiration. These decorative pieces were handed down through the generations to become not only treasured family heirlooms but important sources of crochet instruction. They were often added to by other family members or joined together into impressive collages or simply preserved in family albums.

The first national crochet contest in the United States was held in 1937. Representing 32 states, 214 people entered the contest.

Ann Orr, one of America's most popular and prolific crochet designers of the early 20th century, became the principal editor and designer for Coats & Clark's needlework publications while still only a teenager.

Crochet patterns have an underlying mathematical structure and have been used to illustrate shapes in hyperbolic geometry that are difficult to reproduce using other media or are difficult to understand when viewed two-dimensionally.

Sweet Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:11:00 +0000

You know, as a parent, those precious moments you have where you just have to stop and cry because it's so beautiful? We had one of those last night when we got home from church.

Normal night, normal business (especially since it was a Sunday). Everybody's ready to get inside and watch the Super Bowl (and eat, cuz we're all hungry!). We park the car, and open both sliding doors. Jeremy goes around to get Jacob out of his car seat (all as usual). As the door opens, Jacob gets this look of wonder on his face and looks up at the sky and says, "Wow! Daddy!" We looked up and saw...stars. Big deal, right? Only, evidently, Jacob had never looked at the sky before, and what he saw amazed him.

Jeremy said, "Yes, Jacob - those are STARS. God made them." Jacob is staring at the sky and says, "Star! Mommy, STAR!" He was completely in awe of these beautiful shining things in the sky. I just had to sit where I was, with a few tears in my eyes, completely overwhelmed at seeing my son LEARN something new - and being overcome by the beauty of God's creation.

It also made me think of Raymond's sermon today about pride. One of the ways, he said, to combat the pride that is inherent in all of us is to simply LOOK UP. We look up at the heavens and are reminded of just how small we are. And I was reminded one more time last night, as I looked at my precious boy, and his wonder at God's creation.

Symptoms of a Crochet Addict

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:09:00 +0000

You know you're a crochet addict when...

You’re proud to be called a “hooker”.
You have a room for your yarn, not a shelf or a draw, you have an entire room.
When someone greets you they start off by say, “What are you knitting?”
You have more crochet hooks and patterns than you can count or will ever use.
You have a designated crochet bag that you carry projects in, and the bag isn’t small.
You always keep a crochet project in your car or at work, just in case you have some down time.
Your hands get fidgety when you go a day without crocheting (as if you would ever do that).
You have a play list of music or movies that’s called, “Play While Crocheting”.
You memorized when the major yarn stores have discounts and coupons.
You crochet with things other than yarn, such as plastic bags, cassette tape, duck tape, t-shirts, etc.
You’ve learned to die yarn with Kool-aid and spin yarn out of your pet’s hair.
You wear one of those necklace medallions that cuts your yarn for you.
Your number of WIPs (works in progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) keeps multiplying, and you blame it on your cat/dog/spouse.
You are crocheting while reading this post.

Thanks to Crochet Spot!

These Are Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:12:00 +0000

Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 P.M., an older African American

Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway

Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had

Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally

Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man

Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and

Put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his

Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a

Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a

Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A

Special note was attached.

It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway

The other night. The rain drenched not only my

Clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.

Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God

Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving

Others."

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

Third Important Lesson - Always remember those
Who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,

A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and

Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in

Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and

Studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the

Waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on

The table and walked away The boy finished the ice

Cream, paid the cashier and left.. When the waitress

Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the

Table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,

Were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had

To have enough left to leave her a tip.

Madi's Conversation with Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:12:00 +0000

Some of these you just have to pass on.

Wednesday night at Awana:

MADI: I want to stay with you Granny.

ME: Go to your class; you'll have fun.

MADI: I don't want to have fun. I just want to spend time with you. I love you. You're my favorite.

ME: Go to class Madi.

MADI: I'm hungry Granny.

ME: You can have a cookie later.

MADI: I don't want just a cookie. I want a Rice Krispie treat.

ME: Go to your class Madi. Now I know why the teacher says GO TO THE CORNER MADI

From Granny

Why Didn't I Do This a Long Time Ago?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Okay, so most of you know that I've been feeling HORRIBLE with this pregnancy. It's a good thing we had a school break for the last month (or so) because either way we weren't doing school, and it's much better if it's planned. :)

Well, the last few weeks have been much better. I've still been feeling very sick, but at least I feel like a human sick person and not a zombie. I've been slowly getting back into the swing of things, but only a little bit of a time. At this point we've added back in doing dishes (yeah), actually getting dressed during the day, school, and MOST of our other household chores. The main thing I have NOT been able to get caught up on is the laundry. (I mean, I barely stay "caught up" even when I'm feeling really well, so a month of misery got me WAY behind.)

This week the kids & I had our "chore meeting". Once a month or so I change up all the kids' chores so they don't get bored (or don't get bored as QUICKLY). They're always ready to do a different chore, so I hear them saying things like, "I hope I get 'vacuum'. I hope I get 'take out trash'." for about 3 days. :)

Well, this time, I took all of the kids' chores and divided them up between Annie & Andrew. I told Matthew he only had one chore: LAUNDRY. (He doesn't realize at this point that it will take as much time as four other chores.) He was very excited. He's my OCD child anyway, so putting him on a job like this - that is never "finished" - was the best thing I ever could have done. I showed him how to work the washer and dryer, how to sort clothes (he still has to ask me before can start the washer), and set him to work. He's even folding. (He's not folding like Momma would do it, but - hey, I'm not complaining.) Within one day, almost all of our laundry is done, and Matthew is as excited as can be - AND SO AM I.

So, I'm asking myself - why didn't I do this a month ago? I guess it's because I still have a hard time realizing that he's 8 - and that 8year-olds CAN accomplish a lot if they're properly motivated. Why do we assume that our kids can't do these things?

AARP Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:55:00 +0000

Obviously, I'm not a member of the AARP, but this letter is very eloquent, and I wanted to pass it on.

This was sent to Mr. Rand who is the Executive Director of AARP.

THIS LADY NOT ONLY HAS A GRASP OF 'THE SITUATION' BUT AN INCREDIBLE COMMAND OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!

This has been authenticated by Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/aarp.asp

Dear Mr. Rand,

Recently you sent us a letter encouraging us to renew our lapsed membership in AARP by the requested date. I know it is not what you were looking for, but this is the most honest response I can give you. Our gap in coverage is merely a microscopic symptom of the real problem, a deepening lack of faith.

While we have proudly maintained our membership for several years and have long admired the AARP goals and principles, regrettably, we can no longer endorse it's abdication of our values. Your letter specifically stated that we can count on AARP to speak up for our rights, yet the voice we hear is not ours. Your offer of being kept up to date on important issues through DIVIDED WE FAIL presents neither an impartial view nor the one we have come to embrace. We do believe that when two parties agree all the time on everything presented to them, one is probably not necessary. But, when the opinions and long term goals are diametrically opposed, the divorce is imminent. This is the philosophy which spawned our 200 years of government.

Once upon a time, we looked forward to being part of the senior demographic. We also looked to AARP to provide certain benefits and give our voice a power we could not possibly hope to achieve on our own. AARP gave us a sense of belonging which we no longer enjoy. The Socialist politics practiced by the Obama administration and empowered by AARP serves only to raise the blood pressure my medical insurance strives to contain. Clearly a conflict of interest there!

We do not understand the AARP posture, feel greatly betrayed by the guiding forces that we expected to map out our senior years and leave your ranks with a great sense of regret. We mitigate that disappointment with the relief of knowing that we are not contributing to the problem anymore by renewing our membership. There are numerous other organizations which offer discounts without threatening our way of life or offending our sensibilities.

This Presidential Administration scares the living daylights out of us. Not just for ourselves, but for our proud and bloodstained heritage. But even more importantly for our children and grandchildren. Washington has rendered Soylent Green a prophetic cautionary tale rather than a nonfiction scare tactic. I have never in my life endorsed any militant or radical groups, yet now I find myself listening to them. I don't have to agree with them to appreciate the fear which birthed their existence. Their borderline insanity presents little more than a balance to the voice of the Socialist mindset in power. Perhaps I became American by a great stroke of luck in some cosmic uterine lottery, but in my adulthood I CHOOSE to embrace it and nurture the freedoms it represents as well as the responsibilities it requires.

Your website generously offers us the opportunity to receive all communication in Spanish. ARE YOU KIDDING??? Someone has broken into our 'house', invaded our home without our invitation or consent. The President has insisted we keep the perpetrator in comfort and learn the perps' language so we can communicate our reluctant welcome to them.

I DON'T choose to welcome them.

I DON'T choose to support them.

I DON'T choose to educate them.

I DON'T choose to medicate them, pay for their food or clothing.

American home invaders get arrested.

Please explain to me why foreign lawbreakers can enjoy privileges on American soil that Americans do not get?

Why do some immigrants have to play the game to be welcomed and others only have to break & enter to be welcomed?

We travel for a living. Walt hauls horses all over this great country, averaging over 10,000 miles a month when he is out there. He meets more people than a politician on caffeine overdose. Of all the many good folks he enjoyed on this last 10,000 miles, this trip yielded only ONE supporter of the current administration. One of us is out of touch with mainstream America . Since our poll is conducted without funding, I have more faith in it than one which is power driven.

We have decided to forward this to everyone on our mailing list, and will encourage them to do the same. With several hundred in my address book, I have every faith that the eventual exponential factor will make a credible statement to you.

I am disappointed as hell.

I am scared as hell.

I am MAD as hell, and I'm NOT gonna take it anymore!

Walt & Cyndy
Miller Farms Equine Transport

Multimedia message

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Breadmaker Cornbread

Don't we live in TEXAS?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:20:00 +0000

What's with this forecast?

10.5 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsay) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:43:00 +0000

Well, I've had my first official prenatal visit, and I am 10 1/2 weeks along in this pregnancy. Matthew wants to know how many more we have to go. Though we weren't able to hear the heartbeat yet, it looks like everything is going well, and we will be able to have this baby at home, just like we did with Jacob. It really was the most amazing experience, and, while I would never try to talk anyone into doing it, we thought it was a very special opportunity, and something the we really enjoyed.

I hope to be out of the morning sickness phase of pregnancy pretty soon. It has been bad this time around, but it is getting better...most days. It has been stressful trying to get everything done, though, especially over the holidays.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years, which you can probably tell since I didn't post ANY during that whole time! Here are a couple of special milestones:

FIRST Thanksgiving at home without Mom & Dad. (They went to Leanne's. I'm glad they got to go, but it was really weird without them here.)
Jacob's third Christmas, but the first one where he really KNEW what was going on. He very much enjoyed it when it was HIS TURN to open a present.
Matthew got a DSi, which I really enjoy playing. :) We also had to tell him "the truth" about Santa because of some attitude issues we were getting into. It marks kind of a sad milestone - he's growing up.
Annie got her ears pierced for her birthday, so all she wanted was to get earrings for Christmas. It is the highlight of her day when she gets to change earrings. :)
Andrew got a scooter for Christmas. It wasn't burnt orange, like he requested (evidently they don't MAKE burnt orange scooters), but evidently it still rides pretty well, and he enjoys it.
New Years was spent with my Mom's family - my cousins, aunt, and grand-mother were here. Dad made tacos (yeah!), and we all had a really great time. It was very special to have all of us together to bring in the New Year. Matthew was very disappointed when his only "boy cousin" (his age) had to go home. I think he'd move to GA if we let him.

Those are just a few of the special things that happened over the past few months. What about your holidays? What are some of the things that stand out to you as special memories?